I'm a bit worried about whoever is trying to use AoE-fire spells on ship (made of wood, with a Distillery and an Alchemy-lab on it). Is that the Summoner?
Also why is the Alchemist so at odds with the others, or at least makes it sound like that to us? A question we can hopefully answer from his corpse.
He seems like he had been expecting Taldans to bust the place, and this was why he tried to surrender. He is the only drow who is necessary for the production of various drugs, which we assume is what House Basri deals in.
A pouch of coin changes hands, the weight assayed with a flick of the wrist, and then Ulenar speaks again: "First of all, a few weeks back it was a home cousin of House Basri, that is what the locals call someone from a branch of the family who claims lands outside of Taldor, the better houses give them work for the patriarch to earn their keep. They postured and pontificated, as is their wont, said the Viridian Throne would be most displeased if we kept digging into who was selling purple worm poison to street thugs in the Dog's Teeth. At the time I was inclined to think duergar. We kept digging, of course, and got some pretty strong hints at it being one of the shameful kin, though none so strong as who showed up next."
It is possible he had dealings with them, and may have had ideas to stay on after the drow incursion was 'seen to', as was their promise to the elves. Hence calling us traitors, because he thinks we were sent by House Basri and are cleaning up everyone, him included.
Working with surface dwellers requires a different mindset from raiding them. The others have murder on their mind; he had plans.
His answer when it comes makes her flinch back more than even being sprayed with molten glass: "Do you think they care little assassin? When there are such handsome heads in the offering to lay before the altar of the Blood Marquis? You have given them a chance for murder and they shall take it. May you die in strangling embrace!"
Shax has no organised church thanks to the deranged nature of most of his worshipers: his cultists are generally lone, deranged killers or warmongers seeking luck and glory in their deeds.2 Some of these monstrous sadists are not insane loners, but the corrupted scions of decadent noble houses led through hedonism and cruelty to kidnap the poor and unfortunate and exact Shax's bloody will upon them.5 Notable cultists of Shax include the Marquis and Marquess Cosymnos, minor Taldan nobles. 6
In addition to lone, surface-dwelling psychopaths, Shax is also worshiped by the drow of House Vexidyre in the depths of the Darklands who serve as deadly controllers of Zirnakaynin's markets.7 He is also worshiped there by chokers and deros.8 The marilithVarmirhias, who dwells within Zirnakaynin, is known as the "Daughter of Shax", but it is not clear if she is actually related to the demon lord.9
The Blood Marquis is a title for the Demon Lord Shax.
Shax is mostly worshipped by lone murderhobos, and not the fun sort of murderhobos like your everyday adventurers, but he does have some organized followers, including the a Drow House in Zirnakaynin, where we just so happen to have a Writ of Free Trade, which we showed the governor, and was in turn seen by whoever was on the observing end of that Scrying device the governor has in his office, the one given to him by House Basri.
These Drow are apparently manufacturing drugs to sell down in the Darklands, and if they're also worshipers of Shax that means they are likely from House Vexidyre of Zirnakaynin.
If the Alchemist knows there is a group with that Writ of Free Trade operating in Cassomir at the behest of the governor, then he probably has ties to someone in House Basri. If that's the case, it's probably a good thing we didn't take the Venture-captain's advice to just sit back and let the Elves handle things.
As for the Alchemist himself, I think he is from a different Drow House, or he was part of a different Vexidyre operation, the drug running one, that got co-opted by the Shax worshipers among their hierarchy. He probably had a good thing going up here on the surface, then these murderhappy assholes show up and the next thing you know he's got adventurers busting in his escape hatch.
The princess is coming to town in a few days, after all, and there are the Taldan Marquis and Marquess among Shax's prominent mortal worshipers. The Shaxites showing up could be part of a plot hatched to target her.
The spell isn't an ongoing effect that can be Dispelled. It just did a certain amount of damage to the barge's hull across a wide area. It's not currently sinking, but it can only take so much damage before there is a hull rupture.
If it comes down to that, Kori is going to cast a Hydrophobia spell on the Drow out of spite.
Luckily it's also pretty low-damage and not that likely to cause more fires by itself.
If we kill the Summoner soon, we should have a chance that the ship survives. Part of it being transmuted into molten glass can't be good, but it's already by the shore, so not like it has to stay seaworthy for long.
Luckily it's also pretty low-damage and not that likely to cause more fires by itself.
If we kill the Summoner soon, we should have a chance that the ship survives. Part of it being transmuted into molten glass can't be good, but it's already by the shore, so not like it has to stay seaworthy for long.
@DragonParadox, just how thin is the layer of transmuted material on the floor? Is it mostly a single contiguous piece of material or are there a bunch of disparate broken shards all over the place?
@DragonParadox, just how thin is the layer of transmuted material on the floor? Is it mostly a single contiguous piece of material or are there a bunch of disparate broken shards all over the place?
It's a few inches thick and mostly continuous other than where people were because obviously when you made your reflex saves you disturbed it as it was setting.
It's a few inches thick and mostly continuous other than where people were because obviously when you made your reflex saves you disturbed it as it was setting.
I don't know what you changed in the latest edit, but Sir Pisca's hitpoints are back to their erroneous value (should be 83/99 after getting hit by two drow, without counting an additional -7 after making the reflex save).
in Goldfish's plan, he intends to have Kori use radiant burst in the next room similar to how we tried to chuck in a fungal stun vial; angled so that it won't affect the party. Does that seem like it might have risks similar to the Vial?
@Goldfish I think it might be wiser to try a SR: no spell.
On Barbed Chains: does being tripped leave you open to sneak attacks?
If yes, then target the Summon and summoner with barbed chains.
If no, trafet the Summon and a full-attack looking person.
in Goldfish's plan, he intends to have Kori use radiant burst in the next room similar to how we tried to chuck in a fungal stun vial; angled so that it won't affect the party. Does that seem like it might have risks similar to the Vial?
@Goldfish I think it might be wiser to try a SR: no spell.
On Barbed Chains: does being tripped leave you open to sneak attacks?
If yes, then target the Summon and summoner with barbed chains.
If no, trafet the Summon and a full-attack looking person.
Sorry, @BeepSmile, no Barbed Chains for the Summoner. Burst of Radiance allows Spell Resistance, but we'll just have to chance it. Kori is casting the spell at 8th level, and the Drow probably has SR 15 or 16, assuming the Summoner is 9th or 10th level. That's basically a 50/50 chance of overcoming the SR. Summoners don't have great Reflex saves, so beating the SR gives us a good chance of Blinding him. And even if he makes the save, the unavoidable 5d4 damage will make Cob's job easier.
The fact that we aren't at risk of some sort of luck check going bad where the spell is cast just at the wrong moment where the line of effect hits a hand or leg of the summon has me more relaxed about casting the spell.
I can't figure out how that Eidolon has 103 HP. If it's 10th level, it has 8 HD, for an average of 44 HP. It's Bipedal, so it has a base CON of 13, which adds another 8 HP. Assuming it has the Toughness feat adds another 8 HP. If the Summoner buffed it with a Bear's Endurance spell, that adds another 16 HP. And if the Summoner has the Summoner's Call feat and used it to boost the Eidolon's CON by +2, that would be another 8 HP. All together, that would be 84 HP, and it would be a serious investment in making the Eidolon beefy.
If it had the Large-sized Evolution, it would benefit from another +4 CON, which would provide another 16 HP. That would get it to 100 HP, close enough to 103 for dice RNG if it's initial HP was rolled, but I already checked and the chambers are not big enough for a Large-sized biped to move around.
So with that in mind, I believe it actually only has 52-ish HP and the other 51-ish HP is the Summoner's HP pool figured into the mix using his Life Link ability.
Life Link (Su)
Starting at 1st level, a summoner forms a close bond with his eidolon. Whenever the eidolon takes enough damage to send it back to its home plane, the summoner can sacrifice any number of hit points. Each hit point sacrificed in this way prevents 1 point of damage done to the eidolon. This can prevent the eidolon from being sent back to its home plane.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Nov 22, 2024 at 9:04 AM, finished with 37 posts and 6 votes.
[X] Operation Salty Barnacle, Stage Four -[X] Gorok expends one Mythic power to use Fleet Charge as a Swift Action to attack the Alchemist, then continues Power Attacking him. --[X] Fleet Charge: +21 [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale)], 1d10+16 damage [+2 (Luck) +5 (Morale); 15-20/x2 --[X] Power Attack: +20/+20/+13 [+1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale)], 1d10+16 damage [+2 (Luck) +5 (Morale); 15-20/x2 -[X] Kori uses the Silent Spell Metamagic Rod and Inspired Spell to cast a Silent Burst of Radiance spell into the next room while apprising Sirim and Leontas of the situation so far using Dark Whispers. --[X] Burst of Radiance Spell: DC 18 Reflex saving throws to avoid being Blinded for 1d4 rounds (Dazzled for 1d4 rounds on a successful save). Evil creatures also take 5d4 damage. 8th caster level vs Spell Resistance. -[X] Cob expends one Mythic power to Shadow Teleport as a Move Action to the Summoner's location in the next room, then expends another Mythic power to use Surprise Strike as a Swift Action to Sneak Attack and inflict the Disoriented condition on him. --[X] Surprise Strike Sneak Attack: +24 [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale) +1 (Trait)], 1d4+14 +3d6 damage [17-20/x2] --[X] Piranha Strikes: +19/+19 vs Disoriented AC (-4 AC vs Cob's attacks) [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +5 (Morale) +1 (Trait) +2 (Piranha Strike)], 1d4+18, +3d6 damage if further Sneak Attacks are possible [17-20/x2] -[X] Mina uses Wild Arcana to cast a Stinking Cloud spell into the next room after Cob teleports. --[X] Stinking Cloud Spell: DC 19 Fortitude saving throw to avoid being Nauseated. -[X] Sir Pisca continues to block the doorway, Power Attacking the Eidolon. --[X] Power Attack: +19/+19/+11 [+1 (Haste) +2 (Morale)], 2d6+9 damage [17-20/x2]
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Nov 22, 2024 at 9:04 AM, finished with 37 posts and 6 votes.
[X] Operation Salty Barnacle, Stage Four -[X] Gorok expends one Mythic power to use Fleet Charge as a Swift Action to attack the Alchemist, then continues Power Attacking him. --[X] Fleet Charge: +21 [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale)], 1d10+16 damage [+2 (Luck) +5 (Morale); 15-20/x2 --[X] Power Attack: +20/+20/+13 [+1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale)], 1d10+16 damage [+2 (Luck) +5 (Morale); 15-20/x2 -[X] Kori uses the Silent Spell Metamagic Rod and Inspired Spell to cast a Silent Burst of Radiance spell into the next room while apprising Sirim and Leontas of the situation so far using Dark Whispers. --[X] Burst of Radiance Spell: DC 18 Reflex saving throws to avoid being Blinded for 1d4 rounds (Dazzled for 1d4 rounds on a successful save). Evil creatures also take 5d4 damage. 8th caster level vs Spell Resistance. -[X] Cob expends one Mythic power to Shadow Teleport as a Move Action to the Summoner's location in the next room, then expends another Mythic power to use Surprise Strike as a Swift Action to Sneak Attack and inflict the Disoriented condition on him. --[X] Surprise Strike Sneak Attack: +24 [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +2 (Luck) +5 (Morale) +1 (Trait)], 1d4+14 +3d6 damage [17-20/x2] --[X] Piranha Strikes: +19/+19 vs Disoriented AC (-4 AC vs Cob's attacks) [+1 (Mythic) +1 (Haste) +5 (Morale) +1 (Trait) +2 (Piranha Strike)], 1d4+18, +3d6 damage if further Sneak Attacks are possible [17-20/x2] -[X] Mina uses Wild Arcana to cast a Stinking Cloud spell into the next room after Cob teleports. --[X] Stinking Cloud Spell: DC 19 Fortitude saving throw to avoid being Nauseated. -[X] Sir Pisca continues to block the doorway, Power Attacking the Eidolon. --[X] Power Attack: +19/+19/+11 [+1 (Haste) +2 (Morale)], 2d6+9 damage [17-20/x2]
Looking over my plan again, it seems that upon rewriting it I left a bit of for Cob. Nothing really changes, but it was supposed to say that he would attempt to Sneak Attack first, before using Surprise Strike, if the situation allowed for it, and that he would continue attacking him using Piranha Strikes.
EDIT: Here's the full section for him in my plan post. Looks like I screwed it up and the tally missed part of it.
-[]Cob expends one Mythic power to Shadow Teleport as a Move Action to the Summoner's location in the next room, then expends another Mythic power to use Surprise Strike as a Swift Action to Sneak Attack and inflict the Disoriented condition on him.
use Surprise Strike as a Swift Action to make another Sneak Attack against the alchemist. He continues using Piranha Strike to attack him. If his teleport puts him into position to Sneak Attack before using Surprise Strike, he does so first.
Fey-blessed steel passes through flesh and into the wood below it as Gorok pins the alchemist to the deck with a gruesome blow to the spine, his spectacles flying off to shatter on the wall of the hull, as Cob scrambles out of sight and into shadow, only to emerge somewhere among the other drow, judging from the screams.
Lets see if you can't make them scream some more...
As the bloody claws reach out, you raise a rod of ivory set with marks of silence and will upon them judgement's light. The spell is done, the gift of blindness given, but the monster returns it with bloody claws latching on and tearing like a cruel child ripping the limbs off spiders. The pain makes your head swim, red spilling over the edges of your vision.
Fuck visions, they didn't warn you about this.
As you stumble back, hitting your leg on the low table, you see Pisca desperately try to hack into the monster, his whole sword already slick with gore, turning in his hand as though the ever-flowing blood conspires to keep it alive, just to keep it killing.
It speaks, spitting sharp syllables, though from what orifice you do not dare guess: "Father is pleased, he has sent me a worthy meal!"
It does not seem to notice or care about the poison cloud blooming behind it at Mina's command. One of the guards, who had been about to try to stab Pisca under the arm where the metal plates meet, falls to the ground and starts dry retching. The other's made of sterner stuff... and sharper wit. He calls out something to the others and turns to run.
Gorok to hit (AC 21): 27, 23, 32, 19 (3 Hits, 1 Miss)
Alchemist takes 56 Damage (Roll)* -> Alchemist now at -15/81 (Unconscious) I had marked the damage as +30 instead of +48, but the roll was still good so I kept it
Cob to Hit (AC 27): 39, 26, 27 (2 Hits, 1 Miss)
Drow Summoner takes 50 Damage -> Now at 42/92
Akorian Caster Level vs SR (DC 22, 13, 13): 28, 12, 20
Reflex Save (DC 18): 14, 15 (2 Successes, 1 Failures)
Drow Summoner and One of the Guards take 12 Damage -> Summoner at 30/92
Eidolon Attack (AC 21): 23, 29 (2 Hits)
*Rend Triggers*
Akorian takes 33Damage -> Now at 32/65
Pisca Attack (AC 24): 22, 24, 22
Bloody Eidolon Takes 21Damage -> Now at 28/103
Fortitude Save vs Stinking Cloud: 13, 27, 14
Drow Summoner and One of the Guards are Nauseated
Why can't all your enemies have as much sense as demons and Chelish knights? you think, annoyed even through the agony of torn flesh. It will heal, but your reputation won't if those drow escape to wreak mischief on the city.
"Leontas, how are you holding up?" It's a good thing the spell only needs a whisper to carry to the upper decks.
"Smoke poisoning and the regular kind from the bastards putting shit on bolts. I have three men down, they have three dead, but that was with the charge behind us. How many more of the fuckers are down there?"
"Three... four, but I don't think the big one would fit through the hatch."
"That's not very comforting, you realize that, right?" An edge of wry humor comes through, tinged with an edge of pain, though less than yours.
"If you wanted a comforting job you should've become a gardener," you call back as Gorok swings back to cleave the thing's head off before it can grasp at your limbs again. Now all you have to do is kill the summoner.
Gorok to hit (AC 24): 29, 38(2 Hits)
Bloody Eidolon Takes 43Damage -> Banished
One of the drow further in to the hold calls out something that includes the name of their demon god. Really, he should have spared his breath. Cob rams a dagger through his foot and another one in his back as he stumbles. Cob has a lot of daggers.
"I think that's the last of them..." Mina says after a moment, peering cautiously around Gorok and Pisca. The floor and walls are covered with blood and sick, as well as other less recognizable substances.
"How many did you say there were?" You hear Leontas ask after a moment.
The final guard, the one who made it through your and Mina's spells, had also managed to run through a gauntlet of sellswords and fight though Sirim's enchantments to throw himself into the water.
What do you do?
[] Chase after him, let none escape
[] Leave him, one more murderer in Cassomir won't change much, the important part is you stopped the operation... and you even have prisoners
[] Write in
OOC: Man, that one drow underling sure earned himself a name today, literally. He was 'drow guard' in my notes previously.
