Charles P. -(Samuel)-: Hi?
Wizz is here, but not. It's Schroedinger's GM.
How about we get the pre-session chatter out of the way while he's comatose! What're your feelings and/or thoughts on what to do with ourselves?
Durk: Hmm.
You said something about teaming up with the pirates to go after Janus?
Charles P. -(Samuel)-: One of the rumors was that the pirates were recruiting new crew members, bc they're low. A second rumor was that they are planning to rob the Church of Janus. I think there could be some strong synergy there, for us.
It even your thief who found the rumor! So there's a good chance that you can set up a meet 'n greet.
Upon reading the session log, I see that they were in fact a single rumor after all. So that synergy was definitely intentional.
Durk: Les do eet
Samuel asks his new thief friend to set up an interview, after plumbing her for rumors
Wizzzargh (GM): The pirates are somewhere on the north side of the island.
Samuel: How does Kus feel about stealing from a lawful entity? That's definitely not lawful, now that I think about it. Oh well, Allignments are for losers.
Wizzzargh (GM): At the beginning of the campaign he wouldn't have been enthused, but the church of Janus's rotten nature is coming to light, so
Kylesa: "Steal from the rich, give to the poor!"
Kylesa smiles devilishly
Kylesa: "The poor being me..."
Samuel: No interview then. I guess we'll try the ole' "wander around aimlessly."
It's a small island.
Kylesa: I assumed I just heard a rumor and I don't actually have contact with them
Wizzzargh (GM): Indeed
Samuel: I figured they'd have a way to make connections, since they're recruiting. But taking in rando's who show up looking for them works too. Or maybe it's a situation where they approach you.
What about that sword master? Is there a better location on him?
Maybe I can stop by for monolouges and duels on the way back.
Wizzzargh (GM): You can see the 'mountains' that are the spine of Ebeth from anywhere on the island, so it's probably just a matter of getting close enough to spy which giant bone spur the temple lies atop.
Samuel: Cool.
Samuel heads for the coast!
Samuel: The northern one. We'll walk along, until we see a ship, or some such.
Wizzzargh (GM): Though there's a handy horn to walk up to the top of the giant skull this side, there's no easy way down to the north coast, so you're gonna be heading through the forests and swamps/spine to reach there. Though the island is indeed small, the rough terrain will probably take an entire day to get through...
The first leg of the journey will be through the Wodebeth, a corruption of the phrase 'Wood of Ebetheron.' Thickets of bamboo provide 'walls' that direct travel around larger dragon-trees that tower into the sky, 60 feet tall or more.
Wizzzargh (GM): Ni'len, the idea is to meet up with pirates and maybe ancient swordmasters. Seems more of a Bers mission but whatevs.
Samuel brings that Haste Necklace.
Wizzzargh (GM): (To GM) rolling 3d6
(
2
+
1
+
1
)
= 4
Wizzzargh (GM): (To GM) rolling 4d6
(
6
+
1
+
3
+
5
)
= 15
Samuel: (The whole "Reverse Time," thing never got any traction, so I'm just going to use it for free haste spells.)
The trip through the woods is uneventful, though you do find an abandoned axe stuck in a half-felled tree and footprints leading north.
Samuel: "Hey. I'm not in any rush. Let's investigate this!"
"It's headed in the same direction as us anyway."
Ni'Len: Swordmaster sure... bers.. but pirates?
i dunno
Also... How much money and xp was stated in the log... i cant seem to find it...
If i even got any of the loot
Wizzzargh (GM): in addition to what was in the log, there was 200gp from last session each
The footprints look to be in a rush, and from several booted footprints. Strange other footprints join them- small, but deep. Tracking the footprints, you find a dead peasant with a sword wound on his back, cut down as he fled, by the looks of it.
Samuel: (The main goal is to hurt Janus. Bers can probably get behins that.)
Ni'Len: kk
The fresh corpse of the peasant is joined by some cries of alarm and despair a bit northeast of your position! Looks like this is an ongoing thing, not old news.
Samuel rushes towards the noise, drawing blade and shield!
Ni'Len: 16577.5
Kylesa draws her shiny new bow and nocks an arrow
Kylesa runs off after Samuel
Bers is in the middle of the route sitting on the ground in her usual fashion.
As you rush through the forest, you burst from the trees and see 3 peasants with their backs to a swamp. They are being backed into the water by 5 small beetle-folk with spears who have spread out so the peasants cannot break out, and a huge beetle-man wielding a massive two-handed sword is advancing upon them. Bers is observing the scene crosslegged.
Wizzzargh (GM): 5
Samuel: (Oh dear. That's too much for us to fight... I guess it's a good thing I brought the Haste Necklace!)
Wizzzargh (GM): The beetle-people do not seem aware of your arrival yet.
Samuel hasn't spoken, so far, and doesn't now. He simply points at the big beetle, and begin unleashes a Void Cut!
Kylesa: "Crush 'em!"
Samuel: Sword attack, rolled with a +2 flank bonus. 6 1
Wizzzargh (GM): Sam swings his blade in midair wildly. Bers might have something to say about his poor form...
Kylesa takes aim at the big beetle
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 11
Damage
7
Samuel: This is revenge for all of Pimpernells great battles.
+4 suprise bonus. That bug prolly beats it anyway.
Bers:
Bers attacks with Silver Broad
Attack
hits AC 8
Damage
4
Wizzzargh (GM): The bow clacks off the heavy armor of the beetle to no effect save for gaining its attention. It turns halfway and rotates its heavy head to aim a single eye towards your failed volley of attacks. "Unworthy flesh/to paint my blade/" it grumbles, and turns to face you, gesturing for the spear-bugs to keep the peasants in-line.
Samuel: Welp, since this guy definitely isn't going down in the suprise round... Samuel spins the enchanted Hourglass!
Wizzzargh (GM): That was the surprise round, back to you lot.
1/9th of the sand is lost, and Samuel is Hasted.
3
On second thought, Kus will stand forward to defend his liege and companions, so the beetle won't be going after Kylesa after all.
Samuel: (Oho! I forgot about him.)
Wizzzargh (GM): If Bers were to step forward as well she could draw the creature's attention on the front lines this round and strike in melee, or keep on void cutting
Samuel: (Just for the puposes of making my rolling easier. I'd like to know what the + situation is with the Phylactory blade.)
Bers: (brb for a lil bit have to do something else... bers continues attacking etc as makes sense)
Wizzzargh (GM): Just +1
Samuel: oooor stares into oblivion?
Wizzzargh (GM): She'll critique Samuel's skill (or lack thereof) and step in if things get dicey, how bout
Sam did want to learn void cutting from her, after all...
Kylesa, you can fire at the beetle without fear of hitting Kus (except on a nat 1) since it's so tall.
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 10
Damage
1
Oof
You strike the beetle's helm to no avail- looks like you'll have to hit a chink in the armor to penetrate it.
Wizzzargh (GM): 11 1
The beetle lazily brings down the huge sword on Kus, who holds his shield high and is driven to one knee by the force of the blow. 1 damage taken.
Samuel: Can I circle behind it for that sweet, sweet, flanking bonus? It was kind enough to engage us solo, so I might as well take advantage! I'll be turning my back to the little bugs, but hopefully I'll get some warning from my mates if they decide to get involved.
(Wow. Hit's AC 18 on an 11...)
Wizzzargh (GM): You've got the haste so sure, though you'll just make one attack this round. And it is next round.
Samuel attacks rapidly, but he's a useless sack of shit, so it probably doesn't make a difference.
Samuel: 24 5
The short black blade drains color from the beetle's shell as you try to drive it through with a thrust. 44
Wizzzargh (GM): Feel free to roll for kus as well.
Kus surges to his feet again, silently accepting the bugs attentions, and battering it's shell with a few quick blows 5 7
Wizzzargh (GM): So far only the profane phylactery blade has had an effect on the beetle's thick shell. As for the beetle, it crouches, spins to face samuel, and pulls the sword back, winding up for a powerful blow.
Next round!
Kus strikes at the beetles blade, which was drawn back nearly into his face 18
Wizzzargh (GM): With the beetle's back turned, Kus strikes at the massive sword and strike a telling blow, pressing it even closer to the beetle's body- mace is d8 btw
Kus: (That was basically a grapple roll, since I wasn't trying to harm the beetle. Just disarm it, or disable the blow that it had telegraphed.)
(I could roll damage too, if it doesn't work.)
Wizzzargh (GM): Nah that's fine- Kus presses down on the sword to prevent it from being whipped back at Sam! 20
The beetle shakes him off without issue, but the oncoming attack was interrupted.
Samuel attacks!
Samuel: 10 3
7 7
Wizzzargh (GM): Sam unleashes a flurry of blows that the beetle slaps aside with an armored hand now that it's facing him, parrying the swift strikes.
Just Kylesa now
Samuel: (Philosopher king is Samuel's best option. Bc warrior king is not on the menu.)
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 5
Damage
2
Time to break out the descending AC jokes again
Wizzzargh (GM): seriously
Kus: This has been a theme, lately.
Wizzzargh (GM): Another errant arrow. Bers says something snide about maybe trying to use your speed to strike precisely rather than wildly, and the little beetles cheer for their champion.
Kus whaks the bug in the back, bc new round 17 3
Wizzzargh (GM): The big beetle, spun and crouched, looks like it's gonna use it's horn to gore samuel.
A successful blow that cracks across the countryside.
Samuel: (Can I use an action to rush around behind it? Can it turn fast enough to track me?)
Wizzzargh (GM): It can once it reaches its own initiative, but you're basically giving up 2 attacks for one flank attack that way, if you think that's worth it
Samuel: I do not.
Attack! 11 2 and again! 14 3
Wizzzargh (GM): Before you can aim at the vulnerable bits, the beetle surges forward and bucks its head, trying to send you flying with its horn! 9 5
But with your speed, you were able to evade.
Kylesa, care to try once more to fish for those sweet thiefly flank attacks?
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 9
Damage
1
Well garsh darnit
Wizzzargh (GM): Uh, forget I asked...
Samuel: (Double damage bc of the homebrew rule!)
(0x2)
Wizzzargh (GM): Next round. Bers sits back down, sword across her lap, clearly unimpressed with Samuel's swordsmanship.
Samuel: Jabs viciously, in a panic. 11 7
6 2
Kus is the only one being useful around here 11 6
Wizzzargh (GM): tink
boink
Dang, no wonder people use big polearms in battle to fight knights, this armor is hard as hell to penetrate with one-handers.
The beetle swings it's two-hander one-handed from behind to follow up its horn charge, looking to cut Sam's ankles out from under him. 22 11
Wizzzargh (GM): Sam tumbles off in a roll and recovers, but is shook by the vicious swipe.
Charles P. -(Samuel)-: (The haste effect has lasted 4 rounds now. I'm hoping that the necklace casts as a 20'th level wizard, since the spell lasts 1 round per caster lvl.)
Wizzzargh (GM): Kylesa, got anything?
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 18
Damage
2
Wizzzargh (GM): Finally, an arrow lodges in the huge back of the beetle warrior!
Kylesa jumps up and down excitedly
Samuel: (Top of the round?)
Wizzzargh (GM): yup
Samuel continues to be worthless 13 4, 24 9
Kus continues to be a far better candidate for king than Samuel 15 2
Kylesa:
Kylesa attacks with Longbow
Attack
hits AC 19
Damage
7
(Here we go)
Wizzzargh (GM): Kus hits due to flanking, and Samuel took out one of the eyes of the creature... then an arrow strikes deep inside the gaps of the armor! The beetle's head fades to white, and it staggers back, raising a hand!
Beetle: You win this day/ so let me go/or thy three humans/death will know!
The spear-beetles point spears at the peasants menacingly, and the big one starts to scrabble away backwards into the forest.
Kus rushes to block the beetles path "Leave your weapons, and try not to kill anyone else today."
Samuel: (That was supposed to be Samuel, but Kus is just stealing the spitlight hard, today.)
Wizzzargh (GM): The beetle snaps its blade in two and scrabbles into the underbush. Once out of sight, the little spear beetles rout and leave the peasants unharmed.
Samuel: Nice.
Wizzzargh (GM): The peasants are, of course, thankful, and thinking twice about the lumberjack life...
Samuel interrogates the peasants(in a nice way) then ressurects the dead guy and sends them on thier way
Wizzzargh (GM): Much impressed by the healing powers of the Pearl and Crown, they promise to sing your praises back in town, and only after much shooing do you finally get them gone. Before they go though, they can tell you there's a canoe you can use to cross the swampy area.
Samuel: (It's not really the time, right now, but I'd also like to bring up the fact that I wanted to retroactively heal a cripple or something, since the weekly use of the crown wasn't used, last session.)
Wizzzargh (GM): I think youmentioned that somewhere, yeah
Samuel heads looking for yon canoe
Yon Canoe is found after some minutes. There are towering spires of vegetation overgrown rock- or bone, you suppose- poking out of an expanse of weed-choked marsh that looks to be 1d10 feet deep in most places.
Wizzzargh (GM): see discord for ref
Samuel keeps on keepin on
You pile into the canoe and pole through the marsh. You can see a red-tile-roof temple atop one of the bone spires.
Samuel: "Hey, Kylesa. Do you think you could climb up there?"
Kylesa: "Yeah!"
Samuel can provide some rope/spikes/hammer, if needed.
Wizzzargh (GM): It's a few hundred feet up, but there's plenty of ledges and handy trees to cling onto, so no need to roll unless there's a crisis.
It'll probably be a long wait, so those waiting below can snack on lunch while they wait.
Assuming Kylesa will indeed climb up now?
Kylesa begins the ascent
She arrives at the top without incident perhaps half an hour later, hearing the sounds of sparring. A young man with black hair, shirtless and sweaty, is sparring with a large beetle-man, each wielding slightly curved quarterstaves of dragon-bone, by the looks of it. Small trees grow from cracks in the bones, and the temple has a rock garden of pebbles, or perhaps worn down bone fragments.
Wizzzargh (GM): They got some flashy moves and by their banter, seem quite familiar with each other.
Kylesa approaches
Human: Oh, who's this?
Bers: back
He backs away from the beetle, and they plant their staves down, breathing heavily.
Human: That's quite the climb you just did- are you also seeking tutelage under Thousand Autumn Leaves? Name's Lasharr, by the way. He winks
Kylesa: "Tute- tute-what?"
Beetle: Training.
The beetle's voice is gruff and low, in contrast to the young man's chipper attitude.
Kylesa: "Naaaaaaaaaaah...I think Mr. Boss man wanted to see if a swordmaster or something was up here."
Lasharr: Oh. Well, there is. He turns away and grumbles something about this place being a real sausage party.
Beetle: There are/No sausages here
Lasharr: Never mind Whale-Belly, just... never mind.
Kylesa tilts her head and blinks
Kylesa walks over to the edge of the bone tower thing and screams down
Kylesa: "HE'S UP HERE!"
You in the boat can see Kylesa screaming something at you, but 300 feet of mountain echoes and buzzing marsh bugs don't do much for comprehension.
Lasharr: Oh, not me. Or Whale-Belly, for that matter. He playfully prods the big beetle. I doubt they can understand you way down there, though...
Kylesa waves and jumps up and down
Lasharr comes to stand next to you and peer down at the distant figures in the boat. After a few moments, he sighs and returns to sparring with Whale-Belly.
Kylesa: (So Charles just disappeared?)
Bers: (Sorry i did a bit.)
Wizzzargh (GM): You aren't the only one, seems like...
Kylesa: (He was kind of leading the session)
Bers: sry
pause till later?
session end?
Wizzzargh (GM): Well, if neither of you feel like driving the session, we could.
We can assume Kylessa returns, informs people of the state of the temple, then further assume peaceful contact was made with the pirates and put the negotiations with them in #tavern
Kylesa: Sounds like a plan
Bers: kk
Kylesa: I'm not really one to drive sessions
Bers: and I am not one to drag through.
Wizzzargh (GM): SInce this was just a short session, I'll dictate that downtime will be whataver happens in #tavern, and experience will be
311.42857142857144
+125, so 426 each