Serpent's Skull [Racing to Ruin] (IC)

[lostsole31]

Aron, sensing that her team will be put to it on some level, holds off on her morning divinations beyond her basic meditation and prayer, followed by soulfoul tunes on her flute.

Gelik will be writing copious notes and taking to himself for as much as an hour. Then, he meditates for half an hour. He shapes veils that are uncommon for him. First, a wicked pair of arms ending in giant pincers are brought forth from his waist. Added to his throat is now a choker of feather and bone, which seems to be a bit low-brow given his normal sartorial flair. Finally, his form seems somewhat hazy and out of focus, as though he were immersed in a light mist.

[Robert821]

In the Morning, Torber will check over his clothing and boots, make sure all are in order, pull out his local map that he has been working on, marking any details he can recall from last nights hunting/gathering and scouting trips, grumbling to himself, "This should have been done last night." Packing up his inside gear, so that he only has to stow his tent when ready.

Arriving outside from his tent, Torber Sniffs the air, checks the fire, sees that it is large, grabs a stick and scraps some embers off to the side. Pulls out his mess kit, "Anyone Hungry?" he asks loud enough to be heard. settling down to start cooking breakfast.

after that is done and cleaned up, Torber then goes through a short training exercise program with a long stick, and machete and dagger, and finally punching the air, ending with a moment of stillness.

"Anyone up for a short foraging trip?"

[Blackhawk101]

Fronaldo will rise at the appointed time and ready himself for the day. He will spend some time mixing various chemicals at his portable lab before cleaning up and meticulously stowing his belongings and gear in his pack. When he hears Torber call for breakfast, he sprints to join him. He will volunteer to assist with foraging if there is time. He pulls out a goblin sized hand crossbow to help bring down small game they might encounter. He offers to take point when they are ready to proceed; dagger in one hand and mutagen in the other.

Spoiler

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prepare extracts. Add reduce person extract to first level allotment as shown on his sheet, leaving one slot open.
prepare Dex Mutagen.

[GM_Dave]

Pim wakes up early, and spends three hours reading while he lays out his harrow cards. He forms the cards to provide a reading, and he takes his time looking up the meanings of many card combinations in his books. He lights a cone of insense that smells like a storebought mixture of sandalwood, and frankincense; powerful, but aromatic.
The last ten minutes of his study is when he does his augury. He will draw a card, one for his future; and another, for the future of all.
When he casts augury, he draws his card, and flips it face up. He inspects it with much humming.
He will ask the harrow if it is a good idea to use the entrance they intend.
Once he gets a look at the cards, Pim will have a grave look on his face.
He wont mention the outcome to anyone else, and will just get ready to take his things, and head out; but, one thing he does out of the ordinary is the removal of the the tyrant card from his "throwing" deck, and then return all the other cards from his "spellbook" deck, along with the extra tyrant, and put them away in their cases.

[lostsole31]

The party, having prepared itself for the day, and the initial foraging done (?, see Discord message), the party heads towards Tazion for their first official foray.

It is Aronnahar's belief that one of two things have happened. Either the trap that Pim sprung yesterday has been reset, or it hasn't. Either way, that tells her something more than going through a different entrance would have given.

So, the party is at the southern/southeastern entrance to Tazion. Unlike last night when it was evening, it is Tor-ber whose senses are at their ascension. But with Pim helping and pointing out what he saw yesterday, Tor-ber easily sees the camouflaged spike trap. It is set so that anything coming in the entrance would be snatched up. That instantly tells Aron what she wants to know .... that the owner of this trap patrolled this area in the past 12 hours to reset the trap.

So, do you trip the trap? Disarm the trap? Bypass the trap by going to a different entrance or just climb over the way and enter the hard way?

[Robert821]

"If I am to guess, all the major in's and out's will be trapped similarly." Torber remarks, "That said, not to tip our hand, can we disarm it, but make it look like it is untouched?"

[Blackhawk101]

Fronaldo had been impatiently hoping from foot to foot as the group milled about, but pipes up excitedly when Torber suggests disarming the trap.
“Oh, I can do that!”
He removes his pack and removes a small leather bound parcel from the left pouch. He shrugs back into the pack straps before moving forward to the trap and examining it. He unwraps a set of gleaming implements and sets about disabling the trap but leaving it so it appears intact.

Spoiler

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Use 1pt. Guile pool to aid skill check +2
MW thieves tools +2 bonus disable device
attempt to disable trap and leave it appear intact
(1d20+21)[32]

if successful : The small dexterous fingers manipulate the tools with skillful precision, clipping here and probing there as Fronaldo moves carefully around the trap.
“That should do it.”

If not: “Whaaa!”

[lostsole31]

Success! Fronaldo is able to bypass the trap to get the party through and leave no trace of his tampering!

Crossing the threshhold, you are still in jungle, but there are stones on the jungle floor marking out something like a path going WSW to NE. Do you follow one direction or the other of the path, or do something else like plunge blindly ahead in the thick forest (which does include heavy undergrowth, unlike most jungle)?

[Blackhawk101]

Fronaldo replaces his tools carefully in his haversack before donning it once again. He draws his favorite dagger in his right hand and a small vial of green fluid in the other.
He steps carefully past the now dormant trap so as to not disturb it. At the fork in the path he looks back at the party for guidance. His head tracks back and forth as he continuously scans the jungle for threats.

Spoiler: Fronaldo >>>Collective

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“Which way?”

Spoiler

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green vial is his mutagen.

[lostsole31]

Aron smiles at Fronaldo. Normally, at times like this, it is Fronaldo's job to assist Tor-ber as best as he is able in reading and identifying the terrain.

Tor-ber (and Fronaldo) can report that there isn't much foot traffic heading to the right. While there isn't a ton heading to the west, it is a sign that coming into the entrance and heading west is what several small-sized, simian-footed creatures seem to do. That said, it seems that the trees are just as much a highway (and more) than the ground itself. So, some type of small-sized ape (for they are too large for "monkeys").

Aron nods, and she wants to go that way, with Tor-ber and Pim in the front to be wary of danger ...

... Gelik and herself in the middle ....

... and Fronaldo and Xhanfaerd being aware of threats from the rear.

What does everyone have in-hand at this time? Aron doesn't have anything in hand starting out. Gelik has a very finely crafted longsword, which is comical, really, as he is faster than he is strong and would have done better with a rapier. Then again, it is more of a metal "safety blanket" than anything he can be expected to use to good effect. He also has his fine buckler readied as well.

What about everyone else?

[silphael]

Before going any further, Xhanfaerd surrounds himself in a force field, and places his maul on his shoulder, taking a light, near dancing, stance.

Spoiler: OOC

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Before adventuring, Xhanfaerd casts Mage Armor. He has his earthbreaker in hand, and takes his Silver Crane Waltz once the Collective is established.

[Blackhawk101]

Fronaldo moves into the position at the rear of the group as indicated by Aron. He has his returning dagger in his Right hand and a vial of mutagen in his left.

[GM_Dave]

Pim nods, his red hair trailing in time to his body language. As he walks, he keeps a very spry step, almost as if he was ready to take flight at any moment (but those who know him know that this is more due to his personality, rather than any ability to quickly fly in actuality). He holds his throwing cards close at hand, on his hip case, one finger on the release mechanic.
As they reach the cross roads, Pim will take a look around, and say
”I’d rather keep this moving, those trees do not look advantageous for us. I say we avoid the tracks, lest we walk into an ambush. But... then again, what if those are false tracks... what if? What if-“ Pim trails off in his own world of possibilities. He will think deeply, but will otherwise defer to the others decisions, and is simply ready to throw down should the need arise.

[Robert821]

"Let's keep our eye's sharp, and ear's clean, people!" Torber pulls his machete out in his left hand.

Nodding to Aron, eyeing Pim, and tilting his head to the west path. In his mind he is running through his powers, readying his call weaponary and inertial armor to start, but then minding his fluidness in combat, and moving forward.

[lostsole31]

The party travels roughly 175' to the west or so before a major area clear of jungle (but not dense undergrowth) to the relative north. A single massive ruin rises from the dense brush, consisting of concentric rings of crude stone columns surrounding a yawning pit in the earth. Heavily overgrown with jungle plants, weathered writing and stylized pictographs cover the columns.

About 60' from you, and 20' from the yawning pit (itself 80' from the front line of you) are four small creatures that see you emerging from where the jungle belches you forth. The scream and whoop angrily.

Initiative Begins (Note I did not specify "Combat), Round One ...

R1T21: Fronaldo, you are in the back, and the group has 10' spacing between ranks, so this is happening 90' from you. What do you do?

[Blackhawk101]

Spoiler: Fronaldo>>>collective

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“Okay...you guys see the angry monkey creatures, right? What should we do?”

He delays, waiting for a response.

[lostsole31]

R1T21:

Spoiler: Fronaldo >>> Collective

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“Okay...you guys see the angry monkey creatures, right? What should we do?”

He delays, waiting for a response.

R1T20: Pim Starseer, what do you do?

Fronaldo delaying ...

[GM_Dave]

Pim will draw a card, holding it in a defensive stance, and moving 5Â’ back.

Spoiler: Pim to Collective (everyone)

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”Ready everyone?,” ,he thinks to the collective.

“First, I draw my a card,” which he does, after which, a magical energy is transferred from the cards unto Pim, the fortune of the Harrow.
“Now, I activate my card enhancement. With this, I can place a defensive card on my next turn,” he pantomimes, even though his talk of “turns” is a staple taken from his favorite game of Towers.

He recites his actions aloud, preparing to mentally stack his advantages, and relishing at the thought of using his skills in the field.

In his mind, he thinks of fantasies of fancy; of games; and of the perfect steps to ensure their victory with maximum efficiency. Sadly, those who know him have seen how obsessed he can get, and not always to his benefit.

As he surveys the enemies, he prepares to give an unnatural stink eye to any approaching enemy.

Spoiler: Actions

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MA: 5’ step back
SwA: enhance cards using magus pool for +1 and defending (i cant benefit from defending until next turn)
SA: holding to attack the first simian that approaches him within a distance of 30’ around him ( his range is 20 on the first inc. so if the simian in question is charging him he will instead wait until that is 20’ away from him instead. Otherwise, he will attack the first within 30’ )
His card is modified by the alignment of the card he draws, which will determine his crit range.

[GM_Dave]

Spoiler: Attack for held action

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(1d20+9)[17]

this post has to be at least 10 characters long

[lostsole31]

R1T20: Pim draws a card, holding it in a defensive stance, and moving 5’ back. ”Ready, everyone?,” he thinks to the collective while at absent-mindedly speaking allowed.

“First, I draw my a card,” which he does (and says, only vaguely teping it), and he notes that it is the Waxworks (CE), not a bad card for him.. “Now, I activate my card enhancement. With this, I can place a defensive card on my next turn,” he pantomimes, even though his talk of a "turn" is a staple taken from his favorite game of Towers.

He recites his actions aloud, preparing to mentally stack his advantages, and relishing at the thought of using his skills in the field. As he readies his aim at the closest simian, he will prepare to use shocking magic on his card. Meanwhile the rest of his deck begin to fly out of his secondary Harrow satchel. Right now, they are orbiting in a tight halo around his head .... too fast for him to read them to "cheat," but easy enough to grab (or defend him if necessary).

R1T18: Tor-ber, you have a machete in hand. What do you do?

[Robert821]

"Anyone have an idea on weather they are friendly, or up to no good?" Torber asks out loud.

As he is asking, he sheathes his machete, squares his shoulders, sets his left arm like he is readying a shield.

Spoiler: Manifesting

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manifesting Focus Shield, standard. Also making a sense Motive roll: [[roll]]1d20+7[[roll]]

[lostsole31]

R1T18: "Anyone have an idea on whether they are friendly? or up to no good?" Torber asks out loud. As he is asking, he sheathes his machete, squares his shoulders, sets his left arm like he is readying a shield. There is a temporary visual warping around Tor-ber before that visual warping ends, a sign that he has put up his force screen. From this distance, he can't really get any kind of sense if they are openly aggressive or standing with a territorial, oh, wait .... never mind ....

R1T17.1-17: ... as one of the creatures gives out a great shrieking cry, hopping up and down. It is small, walking upright like a man, but definitely has simian features. He(?) bursts forth with breathtaking speed. As it closes faster than anyone here can move, Pim is readied with his spell. Lightning arcs about onto a picture of a waxwork figure and he throws it forth to hit the thing in the upper torso for 4 + 18 electricity. The card doesn't return to Pim's hand, but rather to his deck which orbits him. The simian screeches again in pain, making a course correction to focus less on Tor-ber and more on Pim. But the sudden pain of the hit and the course correct is too much for the obviously amped up and not natural speed of the creature that it ends up spraining itself with a bad miss against the gnome, causing itself 4 DEX damage.

R1T16: Xhanfaerd, what do you do?

[Blackhawk101]

Fronaldo quivers like he wants to dash forward and engage the. Monkey man in some witty repartee, but decides to continue to delay.

[silphael]

His hammer in hand, Xhanfaerd gets close to the ape-man and unleash a focus empowered attack, aiming to mangle him and one of his allies.

"Let's see what you got !"

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action : get in melee.
Standard action : Chains of Doubt, spending 2 PP and my focus to add 2d6 damage, +1 to the DC, and also affect the green one.

Attack - (1d20+11)[18]
Damage - (8d6+7)[26]
Both my target and the green have to roll Will vs DC 18 to avoid being Nauseated.

(Ignore those two last lines if no crit threat)
Confirm - (1d20+11)[21]
Damage - (6d6+14)[30]

[lostsole31]

R1T16: Fronaldo quivers like he wants to dash forward and engage the monkey man in some witty repartee, but decides to continue to delay.

His hammer in hand, Xhanfaerd gets close to the ape-man and unleash a focus-empowered attack, aiming to mangle him and one of his allies. "Let's see what you got!" He shatters the monkey-man in the left knee for 23, which blows its leg off and drops him outright.

Seeing that grisly end to one of its own, another of the monkey-men (green) retches.

R1T15: "Charau-ka!" shouts Gelik, beginning his oratical performance while advancing mock-heroically with fancy longsword raised high. "But think not on end swarmed by the scourge of the Mwangi. Think instead, revel if you will, on the glories that await us when we pry open the secrets of TAZION!"

Spoiler: ALCON

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That is him using inspire courage, by the way.

R1T14-9: The other charau-ka advance regarding the challenge, even the one that is nauseated. The two unfettered throw rocks at the foolish little man, but both miss.

R1T8: Aron steps up several feet, a little behind Gelik, and calls on her strange powers of the moon and the night to cast a spell. It is as if small pieces of the very night form as bits of dust to puff out to cover two of the charau-kas(red and blue). Blue seems fine, but red seems to have some of its vitality taken away ... perhaps tiring as if it were nightime.

Spoiler: Pim, Xhanfaerd, Gelik

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She cast dust of twilight.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

[Blackhawk101]

Ending his delay after Gelik’s performance, Fronaldo moves straight forward and stops on Gelic’s left. With a flick of his wrist he throws his small dagger at the monkey man in front of Gelik.

Spoiler

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move 30’ forward
throw dagger at green Charau-ka.
Risky Strike
to hit - (1d20+10)[19]
to dam - (1d3+5)[7]
with another flick, the dagger will return to him before his next turn.

[lostsole31]

R2T21: Ending his delay after Gelik’s performance, Fronaldo moves straight forward and stops on Gelic’s left. With a flick of his wrist he throws his small dagger at the monkey man in front of Gelik. The dagger plunges into the already retching guts of the beleaguered charau-ka for 9.

R2T20: Pim, what do you do?

Tor-ber on deck, Xhanfaerd in the hole ...

[GM_Dave]

Spoiler: Collective

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"Something tells me they aren't here to give us a warm welcome!"

Pim grimaces at the sight of the mutilated creature as its leg flies off, but quickly acts to protect the group from the remaining simians.
He will raise his hand with fingers out stretched, and magically directs the hand of large card shaped emanations that rotate around. One of his card effects floats over to the center of the two simians on their left, and once the "card" reaches the intended spot, it evaporates into magical motes, leaving behind several(?)(see below) silhouettes of winged snakes that hover near the enemy. They cackle with electric energy, and immediately begin biting the simians.
Then he will lower his hand with intention, as he swiftly causes the remaining cards near him to flip vertically several times before eventually laying flat. The newly created barrier of cards encircle Pim, as he takes a step back.

Spoiler: Actions

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Free: Allocate 1 to ac for defending property on cards
Standard: Cast Summon Monster Lesser from arcanist pool for 1d3 ((1d3)[2])aerial vipers
Swift: 5' step south

Vipers: Attack the blue simian

[lostsole31]

R2T20:

Spoiler: Pim >>> Collective

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"Something tells me they aren't here to give us a warm welcome!"

Pim grimaces at the sight of the mutilated creature as its leg flies off, but quickly acts to protect the group from the remaining simians.

He raises his hand with fingers outstretched, and magically directs the hand of the large card-shaped emanations that rotate around. A picture of a an Eclipse (LE, WIS), and the Wanderer (NG, INT) float over to the center of the two simians on their left, and once the "card" reaches the intended spot, it evaporates together into a magical mote, leaving behind a silhouette of a winged snake that hovers near the enemy. It crackles with bioelectric energy with a bright top and the belly seeming to drift into barely seen shadow. Once directed by Pim, it nips the simian in the chest for 1 NL + 1 electricity, but the simian does not appear otherwise hindered.

Then he lowers his hand with intention, as he swiftly causes the remaining cards near him to flip vertically several times before eventually laying flat. The halo of cards splits off into three rings of cards that spin around him even faster, but do not interfere with his movement, senses, or attacks.

R2T18: Tor-ber, what do you do?

Xhanfaerd on deck, Gelik in the hole ...

[Robert821]

Torber moves forward and a little left of party, giving himself plenty of room, as he reaches out his hands and manifests a Guisarme from his Call Weaponary, using some of his power.

Spoiler: Swinging for the blue!

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Risky Striking the blue Charua-ka with the summoned Guisarme: (1d20+8)[25]; (2d4+14)[21]