The Tearing of the Weave (IC) Pt 2

[J-H]

Kilus follows in the back, his bow at the ready.

[Ghostfoot]

A quick scout around the exterior of the keep uncovers little else - more tracks reminiscent of a great cat, and a ramshackle wooden footbridge that spans the creek at a narrow point, the trail leading deep into the dark swamp towards the Shadowscale warren, according to your recently rescued lizardfolk Steersissk.

You find yourselves back in the shadowy great hall, the portal an orb of crackling dull white light suspended in the center. To the north is a rusted iron door leading into the keep's tower. Beyond, Temiryl hears muffled scratching and periodically and unsettling wet tearing sounds...Gathan flexes his claws in anticipation...

Spoiler: Map 1

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Spoiler: Map 2

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[Dexam]

Temiryl cautiously approaches the door, examining it carefully for any traps or alarms. If all seems clear, she looks to the others to see if they are prepared; then sword in one hand, she flings open the door and steps to the side.

Spoiler: OOC

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Search: (1d20+14)[33]

And just in case:
Hide: (1d20+12)[26]
Move Silently: (1d20+12)[32]
Listen: (1d20+13)[32]
Spot: (1d20+13)[18]

After opening the door, Temiryl will be in square U-19.

[u-b]

Anthony will stand right in front of the door at the time it's opened, with sword raised and ready to strike.

[Ghostfoot]

Temiryl and Anthony step close to the door, the hulking reptilian Gathan looming behind. William's chant rings out and your prepared weaponry glistens with fey frost as the musical power infuses you. Temiryl flings the door open as Anthony stands blade at the ready...

The foul smells of gore and viscera wash out of the open doorway. Beyond, a dark octagonal room, your light illuminating wicked hooks jutting from the walls on which hang the dismembered carcasses of several creatures both wild beasts and humanoids. In the center of the chamber a decrepit spiral staircase winds to the darkness of the upper floor of the tower.

From where you have disturbed it from it's task at a low workbench dissecting a black frog the size of a cow, a large form pads lithely towards you. "You are not supposed to be here" it hisses, "But this is good. I do crave fresh meat!".

It rears up in the room in front of you, a six-limbed feline beast with flickering gray-black fur. It's claws, forearms and chest spattered with dark blood from its messy business.

Spoiler: rolls & info

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initiative
Tem (1d20+3)[11]
Ant (1d20+3)[7]
Kil (1d20+3)[21]
Wil (1d20)[12]
Gathan (1d20-1)[0]
Halish (1d20-1)[0]
Lizardfolk (1d20)[1]
naughty kitty (1d20+7)[22]

naughty kitty moves forward for its action

Spoiler: Map

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I'm sure you guys have light, but I forget. Tell me if not

=> Party

[u-b]

You see Anthony suddenly disappear, but you still pretty much hear him charging forward in his heavy armor, and maybe see the wound caused by the attack. The light, coming first from his shield, and now just from nowhere, still illuminates the area.

Spoiler

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Swift: Cloak of Deception
Full: Battle Leader's Charge

Cold iron longsword: (1d20+20)[24] for (1d8+21)[27] (+13/+4 base, +1/+1 knowledge devotion, +2/+0 invisible, +2/+0 charge, +2/+2? inspire courage, +0/+4 leading the charge, +0/+10 battle leader's charge) vs flatfooted AC

AC 21 for the round and still invisible, but because of the light coming out, the location is known.

Iron Guard's Glare in effect. While you are in this stance, any opponent that you threaten takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls against your allies. This penalty does not apply to attacks made against you. Enemies you threaten become aware of the consequences of the stance.

[Dexam]

Temiryl incants and gestures at the cat-beast with a small clear crystal. All colour fades from the elf woman, rendering her invisible, as a blast of bright light assails the creature's face.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Blinding Colour Surge: Will save DC 16 or Blinded for 1 round. Invisibility for 6 rounds.

[J-H]

Kilus

Hearing the predator's voice, Kilus could tell that whatever the party was facing was hostile and cruel. He jogs forward to where he can see it, then narrows his eyes and gives a low, long whistle that somehow echoes into the sound of a distant, howling wind.

Spoiler

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Move to W20.
Winter Chill: (1d6)[6] cold damage and target is fatigued. Fort DC 16 negates.

[Dimers]

William rushes into the room, passing Anthony and daring the beast's already bloody claws. He turns back to face the creature, readying himself for a vicious charge.

Spoiler: mechanics

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Moving into the room and hoping the beastie is blinded so it can't make AoOs. I want to end at Q24 if that's a legal space, Q23 if it's not.

In leading the charge stance. Bard song is granting +2 to fear/charm saves, no bonus to attacks, +2d6 cold weapon damage.

[Ghostfoot]

Anthony vanishes from view and you sense him charging forward. The creature hisses and lashes out with its claws, blood splattering the wall as it claws him for 12 damage even as he swings his invisible blade. The creature flickers, some sort of effect distorting its exact position but Anthony's blade arcs true and strikes it for 20 damage, it's hide somewhat resisting the weapon and completing unaffected by the frigid dragonfrost.

Temiryl also vanishes from sight, casting a spell at the creature but the magical effect dissipating with no impact, as does Kilus' spell of howling cold wind.

William dashes past, one of the beast's many claws lashing out and catching him a nasty gash for 8 damage as he does. Steersissk, the recently rescued lizardman, launches into the room as does his former chieftain Gathan. The hulking lizard warrior claws at the feline shadow-demon roaring in anger as he hits but his blows completely ineffective!

Back in the portal hallway next to Kilus, the cleric Halish observes the spells fizzling and the ineffective attacks. He holds his holy symbol high as he intones a prayer to Mystra, the divine courage washing over all of you.

"Trickster knight!" hisses the creature in anger. It lashes out at Anthony, many claws raking the air as he invisibly dodges and blocks most of them, a claw raking him for 10 damage and the beast then lunging forward to clamp its jaws on him biting for another 4 damage.

Spoiler: OOC rolls & actions

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ghirrash readied attack vs invisible Ant
miss 1-50 (1d100)[51] hit
claw (1d20+13)[32] damage (1d6+6)[12]

no AoO vs Ant due to maneuver

Ant vs displacement
miss 1-50 (1d100)[68] hit

Tem vs ghirrash spell resistance
caster level check (1d20+6)[10] vs SR? Spell Fail

Kil vs ghirrash spell resistance
caster level check (1d20+7)[8] vs SR? Spell Fail

ghirrash AoO vs Wil
claw (1d20+9)[23] (incl. -4 IGG) damage (1d6+6)[8]

Gathan vs ghirrash
vs displacement miss 1-50 (1d100)[92] hit
claw (1d20+6)[25] damage (1d6+3)[5] + cold (2d6)[8] damage & cold resisted - no effect

Halish move & cast bless (everyone except William (who is out of effect): +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects)

ghirrash vs Anthony
claw (1d20+13)[25] damage (1d6+6)[10] miss 1-50 (1d100)[80] hit
claw (1d20+13)[18] damage (1d6+6)[7] miss 1-50 (1d100)[6] miss
claw (1d20+13)[25] damage (1d6+6)[8] miss 1-50 (1d100)[2] miss
claw (1d20+13)[14] damage (1d6+6)[8] miss 1-50 (1d100)[9] miss
bite (1d20+7)[21] damage (1d4+3)[4] miss 1-50 (1d100)[55] hit - Fort DC16 or paralysed (1d4+1)[2] rounds

Spoiler: Map

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=> Party

[Dimers]

Almost too quickly to follow, Wil rushes at the beastly creature and brings down his morningstar. His chant momentarily turns into a yell with the exertion.

Spoiler: mechanics

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Initiating battle leader's charge, which precludes attacks of opportunity for the movement. Now all I have to worry about is that miss chance ...
Charging to Q21, making my AC 16 for this turn 20 with Temiryl's Haste and Anthony's Protection Devotion
Miss on a 1-50: (d100)[57]
(d20+9)[24] to hit for (d8+16)[23] damage and (2d6)[2] cold

[Dexam]

Noticing the blurred form and failing spells, the invisible Temiryl decides that the creature is unlikely to be brought down by direct magical assault. Gesturing and chanting with increasing rapidity, she points at most of her allies and also herself, the enemy's movements seeming to slow relative to her as the spell takes effect.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Haste on everyone except Halish.

Everyone gets +1 AC, +1 Reflex saves, +30' movement (not that it matters this close), and 1 additional attack on full attack actions for the next 6 rounds.
EDIT: forgot that everyone also gets +1 to attack rolls.

[u-b]

Anthony waits for a second to time his furious attack at the best possible moment.

Spoiler

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Delay: Until after Kilus, Halish and Gathan. This might provide additional modifiers or have other effects.
Step: Step to S19.
Full: Attack with longsword.
Swift: If the target is not downed by now, activate Protection Devotion.

Granted next: (1d2)[1]

Cold iron longsword: (1d20+17)[30] miss (1d100)[53] for (1d8+7)[13] and (2d6)[8] cold (+13/+4 base, +1/+1 knowledge devotion, +1/+0 haste, +2/+2 furious counterstrike, upd: +1/+0 bless not included but applies)
Cold iron longsword: (1d20+17)[25] miss (1d100)[84] for (1d8+7)[13] and (2d6)[7] cold (+13/+4 base, +1/+1 knowledge devotion, +1/+0 haste, +2/+2 furious counterstrike, upd: +1/+0 bless not included but applies)
Cold iron longsword: (1d20+12)[29] miss (1d100)[22] for (1d8+7)[10] and (2d6)[11] cold (+8/+4 base, +1/+1 knowledge devotion, +1/+0 haste, +2/+2 furious counterstrike, upd: +1/+0 bless not included but applies)

Iron Guard's Glare in effect. While you are in this stance, any opponent that you threaten takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls against your allies. This penalty does not apply to attacks made against you. Enemies you threaten become aware of the consequences of the stance.

Protection Devotion conditional, giving everyone +3 sacred bonus to AC for 10/10 rounds.

Anthony will have AC 27 if that becomes relevant.

[J-H]

Kilus
Fingers blurring, the Spirit Shaman fires two arrows in quick succession.

Spoiler

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I'm really feeling the lack of 5e cantrips.

Attack (1d20+8)[18] for (1d6)[1]
Attack (1d20+8)[22] for (1d6)[6]

[Ghostfoot]

Wil rushes the beast from the flank, catching it off-guard as his morning star arcs about, frost sparkling, smashing into it in a mighty blow for 18 damage. In the portal hall Temiryl, invisible, works her magic and you all find your speed an quickness enhanced. Kilus shoots into the fray, one of his arrows hitting a glancing blow for 1 damage.

Back in the melee the two lizardmen claw and rend at the feline fiend, mostly ineffective as it easily dodges and bats away their flailing attacks suffering only a minor scratch from Gathan for 2 damage. Halish fires his crossbow, misses, and so hefts his morngingstar and wades forward. In a calculated move Anthony steps to one side. Waiting for the opportunity he times his strikes with quickened sword blows, two landing solidly on it despite its displacing nature, hitting for 8 & 8 damage.

The strikes are true and final, cutting down the fiend with a mortal wound sending it collapsed on the ground in a widening pool of black blood.

Spoiler: rolls

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Steersissk vs ghirrash
claw (1d20+4)[11] damage (1d4+1)[2] cold (2d6)[2]
claw (1d20+4)[6] damage (1d4+1)[3] cold (2d6)[7]
claw (1d20+4)[11] damage (1d4+1)[4] cold (2d6)[2]
bite (1d20+2)[13] damage (1d4)[2] cold (2d6)[11]

Gathan vs ghirrash
claw (1d20+8)[22] damage (1d4+3)[5] cold (2d6)[8]
claw (1d20+8)[22] damage (1d4+3)[7] cold (2d6)[3] miss 1-50 (1d100)[32]
claw (1d20+8)[21] damage (1d4+3)[7] cold (2d6)[7] miss 1-50 (1d100)[69]
bite (1d20+6)[19] damage (1d4+1)[5] cold (2d6)[10]

Halish vs ghirrash
crossbow (1d20+3)[7] damage (1d8)[6] cold (2d6)[7]

[Dimers]

"Well done, crew!" William crows. "Another horror defeated! Does anyone know what this thing was, anyway?" he continues, going down on one knee to inspect the fallen creature more closely. A thought occurs to him and he glances up. "Sir Anthony? Do you want healing? I could practically feel those blows myself."

[u-b]

"A serious beast. Never heard of the particular variety, but I would have been in some real danger if we did not down it as quick as we did." Anthony makes sure the beast stays down, then continues. "Yes, healing would be most welcome. I have a wand, so don't spend anything you need for future combats."

Spoiler

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Anthony has 29/55 hp at the moment.

[Dexam]

Dismissing her spell of invisibility, Temiryl holds a cloth over nose to ward off the stench of rotting meat as best she can. She begins examining the body, looking over the creature's workbench, and searching around the room, trying to determine what the thing was up to.

"Ugh! Let's get this searched as quickly as possible and get out of here - the odour is quite nauseating."

[J-H]

Kilus
Kilus uses his wand twice to heal Anthony, and examines the dead creature. "It wasn't a natural species, but beyond that, I'm not sure."

Spoiler

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2 charges of Lesser Vigor, 22hp of healing.

K: Nature (1d20+2)[3] on what that thing was

[Ghostfoot]

Temiryl can only guess that the feline-like fiend shared certain of the crueller aspects of more mundane felines, and enjoyed toying with and killing the various dead creatures about the chamber. The seems no rational reason for the myriad of torturous injuries that it has subjected the captives to.

Other than the staircase winding upward, and small doors east and west. Temiryl observes two large wooden chests against the walls.

The rest of you inspect the slain fiend's body. William believes it is a ghirrash shadow beast - a creature native to the Plane of Shadow whose ilk are occasional cajoled & bribed to serve others more powerful.

Spoiler: knowledge planes

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Anthony (1d20+2)[11]
William (1d20+7)[27]

[Dimers]

William waves away Kilus as he starts to apply the wand. "No, let me -- Sune pours fresh blessings in my cup daily, but the wand won't refill. ... I think the beast was what's called a ghirrash," he continues as he steps closer to examine the chests with Temiryl. "I vaguely recall it from a book I read years ago. If I'm remembering right, they're not known for leading operations themselves but can be enticed to work for others. Of course, we already knew that there's more to this threat than what's here in this decayed keep."

[Dexam]

Temiryl cautiously examines the chests in case they are trapped. If no immediate dangers present themselves, she opens them and searches the contents.

Spoiler: OOC

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Given we're not really in a hurry, I'll take 20 on the Search checks for 34

If they're trapped, she'll attempt to disable them.

If they're locked, take 20 on Open Lock. NB: Myth-Weavers is down at the moment, so I don't have access to the exact figures, but it should be somewhere in the mid-to-high 20's.

[Ghostfoot]

Temiryl checks over the chests extremely thoroughly, careful not to trigger any nasty surprises. Gathan paces about the room, seeking out any further opponents as Halish quietly stands guard near the doorway.

Eventually she steps back, confident that no tricks or traps are present. Unlatching and opening the two chests she discovers they contain various items of interest - coins, vials and other items.

Spoiler: loot in the chest

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• 2,600sp
• 850gp
• a silk pouch containing three jewels (amethyst 140gp, amethyst 112gp, deep blue spinel 300gp)
• a potion of barkskin
• a potion of levitate
• an arcane scroll of confusion
• a silver brooch in the shape of a cat (brooch of shielding)

[J-H]

Kilus

"We are getting very rich, aren't we?" Kilus marvels at more wealth than came into his whole village in a year. "I hope we put it to good use. That cat brooch looks nice."

Spoiler

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Brooch of Shielding is the only item of use to him. He's less likely to be targeted than someone up front though.

[u-b]

Anthony shrugs. "Let's pack this and take the boat to next station?"

[Dimers]

William nods to Kilus. "It's frankly astonishing how much wealth this Sharran operation has put away. I'm glad it's in better hands now."

[J-H]

Kilus
Kilus looks faintly embarrassed. "Yes, I suppose. I don't really know what to do with this much. Of course, we still have to not die in the process." He shrugs.

"Shall we move forward?"

[Dexam]

"I can only assume that at least some of this wealth has come from those the Sharran's have duped. That said, I might take this scroll if that's okay? It might be useful if we run into a large group of foes." Temiryl stashes the scroll and looks about. "It seems like we're done here. To the boat, yes?"

[Dimers]

William gives a quick nod. "To the boat."

[Ghostfoot]

"I will take the prisoner back," states Halish, nodding to the bound shadar-kai ferrymaster. The reptilian chieftain Gathan exchanges words with the other lizardman. "He will send several of my tribe back, to work the oars on the boat. That way you won't have to swim."

Between them, Halish and the rescued lizardman Steersissk heft the captive. "Mystra's blessings to you" he says as they approach the swirling white orb portal and vanish back to your own world. Some time later four more lizardfolk appear through the portal, skulking nervously in the strange colourless environment.

With these four, and Gathan, you make your way to the vessel The Necreme. The lizardfolk take the oars and slowly the vessel moves away from the jetty into the wilderness of the bayou, shadowy fixed lanterns marking the route ahead.