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The Iron Gargantua

DM Carl 
Sunday November 11th, 2018 7:20:10 PM
Succotash hears "looooooot" whispered in his ear and turns around. He grabs a CON gear since there seem to be plenty of them to go around. He waits to see if anyone else claims the CHA gear.

Pressi snatches up both INT gears.

OOC: Keep in mind, you get the bonus twice for having two INT gears, but they don't both add +1 to the stack. If you have two INT gears and another, you get +4 INT and +2 to the other.

She floats a plan to use her disguise to sneak past some of the guards. Kade blanches. "Woah now, I owe you folks my life and I'll lend a hand, but don't ask me to actively work against my friends."

Zaragosa advises Pressi save her divinations for further up the Giant.

Hobie checks out the CHA gear. It offers no benefit other than boosting CHA and looking pretty. He'd really like that DEX gear...

Murphy would like a gear and makes his preferences known.

Kezzem would ALSO like the CHA gear. It's in high demand! He hasn't gotten a gear yet, perhaps Humble's Sword needs to learn to share?

Muprhy starts conversing with Ix.

"The Iron Gargantua...I like that!" He starts saying it in different voices, putting the emphasis on different syllables.

"The Iron garGANtua!"

"The Iron GARganTUA!"

"The Iron garganTUA!...no, don't like that one. You mind if we use that from now on? Oh, and no hints unless whats-his-name with the crossbow gets himself dead. You can find out what Chompy and the pink gem are all by yourself. We can chat all you'd like, though. It's not my town that's about to get crushed."

Talia is ready to move on.

Bliss scratches at the mirror a bit. One has to wonder if he's not secretly a cat that turns into a halfling, instead of the other way around.

***

24 minutes. The way up to the next level is a ladder that leads to an open hole in the ceiling above the catwalk in that room where you fought all those dwarves.

Feel free to figure out who gets what gear in email. Doesn't matter to me.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday November 12th, 2018 5:41:37 AM
"Kezzem, Talia, Jack and Myself would benefit the most from the CHR gear, and since Kezzem doesn't have a gear yet, I think he should have it", Succotash says as he attaches the con gear next to his str gear adding, "What ever ancient peoples who created this iron monstrosity, must have been a highly advanced magical society, I mean, besides the machine itself, they made the different constructs, as well as these gears, and Talia's crystal, it would be interesting to learn something about these people". "But time is a wasting, shall we continue?" He says as he steps into the levitation area.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13) 
Monday November 12th, 2018 10:59:42 AM
Zaragosa would take any gear given to him. He does not seem very eager to grab anyone in particular as he still does not know what it would do. On top of that, he felt he was the least of his comrades and didn't want to fight over such things. "I'll take what you'll give me" would be his response to anything ask about the Gears.

Zaragoas would wait for everyone to move on, but he is worried about the time talking about the gears



Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96 
Monday November 12th, 2018 2:07:33 PM

"Sure, of course you can use it, Ix," Murphy replies. "I'm partial to the 'gar-GAN-tua' option myself, but, choose your favorite!"

"And, you have a point there. Time's a-wastin'. Talk to you later. Over for now." Unless Ix has something to add (and maybe reply to), the druid places the hood back in his haversack, rolled up, and closes the haversack well - aiming that no sound might go out or in.

"Yeah, I can pass on more gears this time around, but might want to take one more up if the opportunity is provided later."

"Kade, of course. Ix wants you dead. We don't want you dead. Trail behind, as you wish. I've healed you up a fair bit. Assuming we survive the next area of contention, I'll see if I can help you more with that. If we need to take down all of your friends, we will. But if we can show mercy to some, so we will. You have seen what we can do. If you find it in yourself to recommend surrender to your mates, without them trying to bring you down, I'm fine with that, and we will show mercy. And figure out a way to get them past the warbot that took down your other companions."

He joins the others, and climbs the ladder leading up to the hole. "Any plans or preparations before breaching the top-of-the-ceiling passageway?" He has a sunrod in easy reach in his bandolier.

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Monday November 12th, 2018 2:15:51 PM

Talia ensures that certain spell components are ready at hand. "What order should we go through the hole? I don't think I should be first," she says politely. She gets up the ladder, maybe toward the middle or end of the party.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday November 12th, 2018 3:25:51 PM
"I suggest the meat shields, erm, Paladins, go first. I'll follow in behind them. Unless we wanted to do the goblin prisoner plan, Press"

ooc: I've got 2 minutes of Goblin form left before I turn back.

DM Carl 
Monday November 12th, 2018 8:22:00 PM
Discussions happen regarding the gears.

Murphy grants Ix rights to the name. "Too kind, Murph. Too kind. You folks are starting to grow on me. I hope you know I'm being genuine when I say I hope we all manage to survive this.

"Except the archer. That one I'm going to have to finish off."

Ix has nothing further to add, and the conversation stops. Kade listens to what Murphy has to say and finds it agreeable. "Fair enough, Mr. Murphy, but like I said before: there's some real zealots up there. Most of'em I won't miss, which is good cause you're gonna have ta kill'em if you want to stop Anur."

The rest of the party seems ready to move on. All that's left is to pick an order and pull the trigger.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29 
Monday November 12th, 2018 8:32:45 PM
Bliss is happy to take point and ascend, either first or sharing the space of whoever is first. (He can share a space because he is tiny in size).

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Haste, Shield Other (Hobbie) 
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 12:59:11 AM
"Ooh, I feel pretty now!" says Kezzem, proudly sporting his new gear.

DM Question: the gear boosts my Cha to an 18, which grants me an extra lay on hands per day. Does it apply immediately, or do I have to rest first to gain that extra use.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 5:16:31 AM
Succotash will lead the way up, sharing a space with Bliss, Twinklesting in hand. He then suggests that Kade stay towards the middle of the troupe so we can better protect him, and then he asks, “Why does Ix want you dead so bad?”

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 10:35:30 AM
OOC: Dishwasher broke. Someone post for me, please.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13) 
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 2:24:04 PM
Zaragosa wishes to go towards the end so he could start preforming if needed.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 4:37:48 PM
ooc: Did Kezzem grab the Dex gear too or just the Cha? If not, Hobie will grab it.

DM Carl 
Tuesday November 13th, 2018 11:39:43 PM
Kezzem looked pretty boss before. With the new gear? Total stud.

OOC: You get the effects of an 18 CHA immediately.

Succotash and Bliss go first. Succotash wonders why Ix wants Kade so dead. "I know he didn't warn us when you folks arrived. You're all capable, but if he'd sounded the alarm and brought all us down on ya, we'd have defeated you." There's no malice in his voice. He's simply stating what he sees as fact. "If ya win this fight, it'll be his fault for playing around instead of doing his job."

Zaragosa takes the rear.

The party moves up the ladder. Thankfully, nothing scary is waiting for them. What they find is a narrow room. It's still 50' long, which is the length of the Giant, but only 20' wide. The first thing everyone no doubt notices are the amulets hanging from hooks on the ceiling. An initial glance at them show various symbols that no doubt aren't universally recognized.

Knowledge, Religion 25. Highlight to display spoiler: {These are symbols commonly associated with the Old Ones. Some searching allows you to find Skald's, as well as Fhorge's. There's a few others. Every Old One anyone can remember has an amulet here with their symbol.}

OOC: Don't forget bards can make all knowledge checks untrained and with a bonus.

In the southern/central section of the room is a yellow circle the party recognizes as a levitation circle like the ones in both feet. This one is dark. Above it is a closed, very sturdy looking iris. There are two doors leading from the room. One in the eastern wall, one in the western.

Map

The areas right and left of the room you're in will be filled in as you explore.

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 3:52:53 AM

Talia whispers to Kale, "I may have something for you. You know the rope trick? It opens an extradimensional space. You climb the rope, and hide up there. No one can see you. You can see out a bit through the bottom. Problem is the rope hangs down. If someone you don't want to notices it, and climbs, they can get inside with you. Other than that, you're really pretty safe. If you know a good place for us to set it up, I can do that for you. We'll get you after the cleanup is done.

"Again, there's a risk. But, you'll have to decide if it's worth it."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=15;
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 5:22:10 AM
Succotash checks out the west door perception 15 to see if there is anything unusual (traps) then if he doesn't see anything out of the ordinary, he attempts to open the door, if he notices something, or it's locked he asks Zaragosa to take a look at it.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 7:15:00 AM

Bliss looks at his friends attaching metal disks to themselves, and is not sure that it is really such a good idea. "I like good adventuring GEAR as well as the next hero," he thinks. "But this is ridiculous."

"I'm not onBORG with this."

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29  d20+22=28 ;
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 7:21:17 AM

Oh, more seriously, Bliss sticks close to Sir Succotash at point (assume we are in the same square, OK? Wherever Jeremy puts us is fine.)

He uses his cat-senses to check out the area. Perception (plus scent and low light vision) 28.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96  d20+4=14 ; d20+28=34 ;
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 8:39:26 AM

Murphy looks at the various symbols on the amulets which hang from the ceiling. Some they saw earlier, but many are unfamiliar to him. He asks if anyone else might know who they represent. "If I were to guess, some might belong to the old gods that Ix said Anur wants to re-raise to power. Does anyone know which one belongs to Sklur?"

How large are the amulets and are they suspended from cords? In a necklace fashion? And, if so, are they small enough to wear as necklaces for a halfling?

Murphy also listens [Perception: 34] at the door on the left side of the map. [OOC: Where is North on this map? If it is at the top, then, west is to the left, east to the right, and the yellow levitation circle closest to the direction of travel, southwards.]

Knowledge: Religion: 14 (Aid another in the knowledge check. Do any of the symbols match what we saw earlier in lower sections?)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+19=22 ; d20+22=30 ;
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 2:31:12 PM
To Kade's remark, "Whether you may have defeated us doesn't change a simple fact. If you need someone to warn you to glance occasionally at the unlocked door that you couldn't even bother to put a couple of paint cans in front of, then you don't deserve to win. Hate to take Ix's side on this one, but... Wait a second. If you weren't there to guard from an infiltration, and you weren't waiting to exit as ground forces, what were you doing down there? Why were you staring at the entrance to the giant's waist?"

A thought popped in her head. "You were there to put down the bedlams if they escaped. Weren't you."

Of course, whether the door would have been easily spotted remains an open question. If a dwarf hadn't told them of it in advance... a little too fortuitously, Pressi thinks to herself in hindsight.

Pressi's original plan seems to have fallen by the wayside. (Limited time, Kade rejection)

Pressi offers Murphy the Wis gear. (Currently +4 int, +2 Wis) Someone needs to make a chart as to who has which gears.

Succostash and Bliss check out one door, and Pressi presumes JTT will check out the other. That leaves her to check out the levitation disk (Perception 20, Spellcraft 30) and fires a round of clairvoyance up the tube.

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
altered self: dwarf (+2 str, darkvision 30, perception -2)

Spells Used:
L1: 3/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 2/4+1
L4: 2/3+1
L5: 1/2+1
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9

Tatoos:

L0: 1
L1: 1

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 3:17:03 PM

With a look of surprise, Murphy says, "Thank you, Pressi," and accepts the additional Wisdom gear from her. He takes a moment, and affixes it next to the other Wisdom gear on his left bracer (now 2xWis(+4}, 1xCon(+2)). The Constitution gear is on his right bracer. "Later, if we get another intelligence, strength or dexterity gear, I would not mind swapping out for my second wisdom gear. Could come in handy in the near future."

A totally unrelated thought occurs to Murphy after placing the third gear. To Kade, after Talia finishes whispering to him, the druid says, "Say, where do people place the end results of the digestive process here in this iron gargantua? Do you just lean out of an arrow slot? And how about cooking facilities? And beds? Places to brush your teeth, or change your clothes? Were any of those things considered in putting something like this together?"

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96  d20+29=35 ;
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 3:21:57 PM

After the conversation, and with the additional bonus of +1 to his perception, he tries listening at the left door once again. Perception 35 this time (gain of 1 - same roll of 6 on the d20 as before!)

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 5:58:34 PM

Talia adds to Kade. "And, you can climb down, and climb back up any time you want. It will last over ten hours. Maybe one of us might stop by later to let you know what's going on, if you want us to do so. Again, you can see down, no one can see up. The rope disappears into the invisible space, in another dimension."

[Totally OOC: Kim is laughing at Cayzle's Borg references.]

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 9:32:26 PM
[If we were all sitting around a gaming table together, I'd totally be making RESISTANCE IS FUTILE jokes. Probably in my best robot voice, and with a few Dalek-style EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! comments.]

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Shield Other (Hobbie); [link href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1V6Si8D-6vpXO_TNBbJZCyUzHuLaXfZc 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 10:51:41 PM
OOC: Okay, I made a table of the gears were recovered. Please correct me if I have anything wrong. By my count we have a Dex gear and a Con gear up for grabs yet. Also, Talia and Bliss have not gotten any gears yet, so they should perhaps get first pick.

"Come on, Bliss, you know you want a gear," says Kezzem. "You know your reluctance will wane. After all, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE."

OOC: There you go Cayzle.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 11:02:00 PM
Finally got it, yay!

DM Carl 
Wednesday November 14th, 2018 11:40:32 PM
Talia discusses Kade's hiding out in a rope trick spell. "It's an idea, but Ix has a lotta control over this place and probably heard ya say that. Best place is still next to you folks."

Bliss questions the wisdom of attaching this strange new magic to one's body. He sticks close to Succotash, just in case he needs someone to save him from the gears.

Murphy inspects the amulets. They're about the right size to be worn, even for a halfling. He looks for an amulet matching the symbols found in the right foot and finds...none. The Forger's symbol is not present. He listens at the western door and hears nothing.

Pressi has an idea. Kade does not take kindly to it. He stares at her for a moment before lashing out. "We was in the groin cuz we'd get bounced around like crazy in the legs. We've been travelling for days; ya don't think that kinda pounding would get old real fast?" He gets closer...a little too closer. "Let's make a deal, you and I. I blame you for my present situation just as much as Ix. I'll keep my mouth shut and ignore ya if you do the same." He doesn't wait for an acknowledgement before he grumbles and stomps off.

Kezzem waves a gear at Bliss, tempting him.

Succotash checks out the western door. Since Murphy didn't hear anything and it looks like a simple knob, he tries to open it.

A sultry female voice spills from the western room. Well, sultry for a dwarf...

"Well, don't be shy! Come on in..." Kade's eyes widen at the voice and his face sinks. He starts edging his way towards the ladder.

***

25 minute mark!

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Thursday November 15th, 2018 12:23:31 AM

Talia quickly says, "I'll take whichever one Bliss won't take. If he won't take either, I'll take both for the moment, and place them on my bracers."

She places one on her left bracer... and, if both, the other on her left bracer, too. She wants to keep her right arm free of obstacles.

Con? Dex? Con & Dex?

"Wait, what about Jack?" she asks. "Do you have one yet?" she asks the bard.

And the door opens. So, she steps in past Succotash, takes a quick look around until her eyes land on the sultry dwarf. "H'lo, darling. I'm kind of lost in here. Part of the new security review team, I guess, y'know? Name's Talia. How 'bout you? Say, where can a girl get some privacy around here?" She keeps eye contact, a friendly smile on her face.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29  d20+14=30 ; d3+13=14 ; d6=3 ;
Thursday November 15th, 2018 1:06:27 AM

[OOC: Bliss has so many enhancement bonuses to his stats already, so stacking is problematic. For now he is fine with no gears. And if these gears do end up booby trapped or cursed, better at least one person in the party has none!]

Bliss sees that this Kade fellow is looking scared of the monster that sounds like a dwarf lady, so he activates his arcane power and readies a charge action to move and bite anyone who attacks one of his friends.

Triggered by attack: Charge hits AC30 for 17 nonlethal, if he does charge, Bliss's AC drops to 27.

DM Edit: The bonuses from these gears are not enhancement bonuses and stack with your existing ones.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+21=23 ; d10=8 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d20=12 ; d4=1 ;
Thursday November 15th, 2018 5:36:22 AM
Succotash 5ft steps into the room,then detects evil on the dwarf chick. and depending upon his distance from her, he will either ready an action to throw a throwing ax, or swing Twinklesting.

Twinklesting
2+21=23 for 8+11=19 slashing damage and 3+6=9 holy damage

Throwing Ax
12+14=28 for 1+7=8 damage

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+20=35 ; d6+18=23 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ;
Thursday November 15th, 2018 2:42:48 PM
Hobie goes into the room after Succotash and readies an action. If any of his party attacks any creature, Hobie will also let an arrow fly at that creature (Excluding Hobie's allies, in case of any shenanigans).

Attack 35
Piercing 23, Fire 1, Electric 4 = 28 damage



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday November 15th, 2018 2:57:47 PM
Pressi watched Kade go, not really sure why her statement would so set him off. Because she didn't understand him, she supposed. She'd been a "true believer" so long, she probably had more in common with Anur and Ix than with Kade. Her old days as a loner and thief probably wouldn't have brought her close to Kade either. Maybe during her courtesan work. Surely there were times when she cared more about the comfort of her chair than her duties or the goals of her bosses... but those days were so faded.

She knew better than to raise the comparison with Kade. He didn't seem the type who'd appreciate the parallels.

She stops at Kade's blanching, and considers asking him what this is about. Instead, she pulls Succotash back and holds Bliss off. Still in dwarf form and wearing the colors of the militia, she believed that Talia's bluff had a better chance of working than just outright attacking. (Pressi is operating on the assumption that this is some bigwig's moll than some shapeshifting monster.)

Her presence and a few "sorry, maams," should aid Talia in her bluff or at least help disengage if needed. That said, she wouldn't mind hearing about whether there's a powder room on this floor.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13) 
Thursday November 15th, 2018 6:17:21 PM
Zaragosa was going to take a look at the other door when he hears some woman dwarf talking through Succotash's door. He turns to face it has he sees the other dwarf back away from it.

Zaragosa would thank Talia as he takes a step towards the door with the voice. Before she leaves through the door, he tries to say "I'm not even sure what they do, but that is alright. I'm more concerned on stopping this thing. But I thank you kindly for thinking of me, madam."

DM Carl 
Thursday November 15th, 2018 10:23:42 PM
Pressi isn't sure what just happened with Kade, but lets it go.

Zaragosa thanks Talia for thinking of him, but isn't sure what the gears do.

OOC: The gears each boost one of the six attributes (STR,DEX,CON,WIS,INT,CHA). They must be applied to some sort of metal armor or clothing on your arm. The bonus provided is dependent on the number of gears you wear. Each different gear you wear adds +1 to the bonus of each gear. For example, wearing a single WIS gear grants you +1 to wisdom. Wearing a STR gear and a WIS gear grants +2 to wisdom and strength. Wearing two of one kind of gear grants the bonus twice, but does not increase the bonus of each gear. So wearing 2 WIS gears and a STR gear grants +4 to wisdom and +2 to strength.

Talia smiles and introduces herself as part of the new security team.

The woman looks at Talia a moment before speaking. "I'm not sure how to start responding to that, darling. Am I to believe that we picked up a team of halfling security auditors out here in the middle of no where? There's no 'security review team' that I'm aware of.

"Still, it's quite nice to meet you, Talia." She steps forward. She's pretty frail for a dwarf, but is quite fetching (by dwarven standards, anyway). She's dressed in comfortable looking robes and a pair of fluffy house slippers. "I'm Shan. Shan Shalutch. Now, care to tell me what's going on here? The truth this time, maybe? Oh, and Kade? Don't think I don't know you're out there. For your own sake, you better have a darn good reason for being with these strangers." There is no line of sight from Shan to Kade through the door.

Inside the room is a row of the same guardian constructs that guarded the right leg. There are five in all. There are also three armed dwarves in addition to Shan. On the far end of the room is the largest construct you've seen here (aside from the Giant itself, obviously). Its head nearly brushes the 20' tall ceiling, and its arms end in massive spiked fists. Two additional armlike appendages sprout from its back and support dark blades. Several large runes adorn its breastplate. Despite its fearsome appearance, it stands dormant and immobile. Rust covers it; it looks like it might be beyond repair.

Bliss notes Kade's fear and prepares to throw down.

Succotash checks for evil and finds it radiates off Shan very strongly. He, plus Bliss and Hobie, go to enter the room when they're stopped by Pressi's hand. She gives a "sorry, ma'am," as she plays the part.

Shan gets a confused look on her face. "Not sure what to make of this at all...you there," she turns and addresses one of the other dwarves in the room. "Put that hood on and ask Ix if he's up to anything." She turns back to Talia, smiling wide. "Now then, won't you and your friends come in while we sort this all out?"

One of the dwarves grabs a hood and starts having a quiet conversation.

***

26 minutes on the clock

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+18=37 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+18=20 ; d20+18=34 ; d20+13=16 ; d6+18=21 ; d6+18=20 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d20=10 ; d6=2 ; d6+18=24 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; 2d6+36=42 ; d6+18=22 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d8=7 ;
Friday November 16th, 2018 1:04:48 AM
"There's no time to talk, you are going to destroy our village!"

Hobie clicks his heels and lets his arrows fly at Shan

Manyshot
Attack 37
Piercing 21, Fire 4, Electric 4 = 29
Piercing 20, Fire 5, Electric 2 = 27

Rapid Shot
Attack Natural 20- Confirmation Roll = 20
Piercing 24, Fire 6, Electric 5 = 35
Extra Damage if Crit confirms = 42 = 77 total (!!!!)

Haste
Attack =34
Piercing 22, Fire 2, Electric 1 = 25

Iterative
Attack = 16
Piercing 19, Fire 6, Electric 4 = 29

ooc: Bliss are you sure you want to take Hobie on in a tapestry? If you only count the arrows that beat AC 34, I just did 116 damage in one round.

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Friday November 16th, 2018 2:27:35 AM
Murphy, outside the door (he moved to the side a moment before to let Pressi by), hears Shan Shalutch call for a dwarf to talk to Ix. So, he scoots a little more to the side as he removes the hood from his bag to join in the conversation. He places his head into the hood, and says, "So, we're having a nice conversation with Shan. Things look fine here."

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96  d20+11=31 ; d20+11=14 ; d20+29=35 ;
Friday November 16th, 2018 2:51:34 AM

[Okay, I forgot to: 1. Change my header
2. Refresh before I posted
That's when I noticed what was posted for Hobie, before Murphy.

As Murphy was between Hobie and the door, if he saw Hobie marching forward with arrows nocked (rolled Perception: 35 - he noticed), right in the middle of Talia's and Pressi's negotiations, he would have intervened to stop him.

"Hold it, hot-head," He grasps the two or three nocked arrows to pull them out of the bow (natural 20 hit AC 31 - crit not confirmed with a 14). "You're not going in there loaded for bear. Ix asked us to check the security. Things look fine inside. We'll wait out here, friend."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday November 16th, 2018 3:52:33 AM
So you are rolling to disarm Hobie of his first two knocked arrows? I don’t see how you could stop the whole fullround attack

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday November 16th, 2018 4:16:20 AM
I don’t have my laptop to update the header, but Hobie’s AC is 27 and his CMD is 30 with haste active via his boots.

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Friday November 16th, 2018 4:22:15 AM

Talia says to Shan, "Ask your fellow in the hood over there if Ix asked us to check out the security. This room looks reasonably secure to me. Except - what happened to ol' Rusty there?" she asks Shan, indicating the giant guardian. "Looks like it's about ready for the sorting bot in the right leg to go to work on it." She also speaks to one of the dwarfs. "You guys keep your weapons in good shape?"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday November 16th, 2018 4:22:51 AM
To murphy’s Comment about what Ix asked us to do “Ix is trying to destroy our town! Did you remember that or has the ‘inspector’ job gone to your head? I don’t care what Ix says, we are trying to kill him and stop this thing!!”

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+9=10 ; d20+5=17 ;
Friday November 16th, 2018 5:40:35 AM
Succotash says to Shan, “I’m not one for diplomatic relations normally, but if you and yours friends here are willing to leave this contraption, and go about your merry way, then I for one will harbor no ill will, but if you wish to remain true to a Anur, and his desire to destroy our home, well then, you may want to consider this a warning”. Succotash is trying to be diplomatic not intimidating, but as a halfling of action, his words are rather matter of fact. (Diplomacy 10, intimation 17)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday November 16th, 2018 2:47:56 PM
As Murphy and Hobie go at each other, Pressi tries to keep the smile frozen on her face. "I don't suppose that you'd accept that this is normal first day jitters?"

She holds back Hobie as best as she can. "I can't completely disagree with your analysis, but at the end of the day we don't know what your attack will bring upon us, or whether we are attacking potential allies. Never forget, its the idea of practicality over morality that places our town in danger in the first place. At least, give me one more chance...."

"Ok, I think everyone is going to stay their hands, and I've decided to try a risky strategy called the truth." Pressi dropped her disguise and walked to the room, hands up. "My name is Pressi Silverglove, and I suspect we have the same job... more or less. Whatever drives your religious war, and I haven't met a lot of true believers frankly, we don't care. You are all about to drive through our town, and we are here to stop you, or at least get you to conduct your rampant destruction like civilized people.

"Oh, and Ix Revan knows very well who we are." Pressi takes some time to discuss the note paper, the lack of warning, and just what Kade is doing here. "Not sure what he intends to do with you whatever you choose, but if I were you, I wouldn't count on his continued support... any more than I do currently, really. The point is, I am placing my trust in your goodness, or at least in your self regard. We can get through this without bloodshed... or you can ask yourself what attacking us will accomplish because we are not your enemy."

(Readied action if they attack: cast confusion on the group.)


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+13=30 ;
Friday November 16th, 2018 2:51:12 PM
Diplomacy Roll: 30

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear  d20+14=21 ; d20+1=8 ;
Friday November 16th, 2018 3:49:11 PM
"Muprh, these people, no matter how friendly the seem and whatever their reasons, are trying to destroy our town," says Kezzem, trying to stay as quiet as possible so the dwarves can't her what he is saying. "He's just being ready for their sudden yet inevitable betrayal. When can discuss the morals and what not latter, but when the excrement strikes the windmill, remember which side you are on."

He will also try and keep an eye on Shan.

Detect Evil
Perception: 8.
Sense Motive: 21.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13) 
Friday November 16th, 2018 4:56:52 PM
(OOC sorry for my crappy posts of late. This moving robot thing has confused me quite a bit. I will endeavour to post better or pay better attention in the future)

With Hobbie on the offensive and Murphew trying to stop him, Zaragosa would move closer to the door. He didn't trust the new dwarf woman as she seems rather pleasant for someone aiding the destruction of the town. Yet he will hold his action. If make an offensive move, he would start performing. In the meantime he would say and watch

DM Carl 
Friday November 16th, 2018 9:45:34 PM
OOC posts have no place on this board and will be removed. That's why god invented email. I'm playing this encounter 100% by the book and letting the chips fall where they may. Buckle up, everyone.

Hobie's lack of chill continues unabated. He wants to make a full round attack on Shan, but he doesn't have line of sight and must move more than 5' to obtain one. At best, he could make a single attack, plus a hasted attack...but...

Murphy has other plans and moves to disarm Hobie. Amazingly, he manages to get his hands on Hobie's arrows (nat 20). He provokes an AoO from Hobie, should Hobie choose to use it.

Talia puts the hood on, but finds it non-operational. She can't hear anything coming from it. (I'm ignoring Talia's 2nd post. One per person per turn.)

Succotash offers Shan a chance to leave peacefully.

Pressi keeps her composure and tries something risky: telling the truth. She explains their current situation to Shan, who, for her part, sits and listens carefully. That smile on Shan's face? That fades significantly when she hears what Ix is up to. Pressi's diplomacy skills are on point today, which is a very good thing for everyone.

Kezzem reminds Murphy who the bad guys are.

Zaragosa holds his action, waiting to see where this goes.

Shan walks over to the dwarf who's wearing the hood and tears it off his head. Turning it over, she unties some of the stitching. "You have one of these? Do the same please," she indicates the untied stitching.

Shan waits to see if Talia will do so. Assuming she does, she turns to Pressi and continues. "Dear, come sit with me a bit, won't you?" She turns and starts shooing all the other dwarves into the center room. "I expect all of you to behave out here...or don't. I don't care. Pressi, you have my word you'll come to no harm by my hand until we've had our conversation."

OOC: I made secret sense motive rolls for everyone. You're all pretty sure she's being truthful.

If Pressi accepts, Shan makes sure everyone's ushered out of the room and sits at a small, ornate table that's been set for tea. "What a mess," she starts. "So you're trying to save your village. I need to protect Anur from his idiot of a son." She pours herself and Pressi a cup from the same teapot. She adds two sugar cubes to hers and takes a sip. "If you have a way out of this, I'm all ears."

Outside, the three dwarves glance nervously back and forth. These dwarves look tougher than the last bunch you fought, but they're pretty outnumbered.

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96 
Saturday November 17th, 2018 1:10:12 AM

Murphy steps back and gives a nod to one or two of the dwarfs as they exit the room, holding out his left hand to suggest they move toward the levitation side of the central space.

As this happens, he telepathically says to Pressi, "Please relay conversation & thoughts to me. If help is needed, or other action, let me know, if able. Good on you, Pressi."

As Hobie had pledged to go with what direction Pressi gives, he presumes their conflict is resolved, at least for the moment. He hands back the arrows he took from the capable archer.

After that, he says to the nervous dwarfs. "Hello. I'm Murphy, of the village the iron gargantua is heading toward. I helped start this group some years back. How is life on this huge construct? It has some amazing features."

He continues, "Where I come from, through some engagements in the Red Hills, we are in what some call a 'parley' - that is, a conference between opposing sides, a discussion of how things might proceed. We'd prefer not to have to kill you. Well, at least some of us would - so long as you all don't keep moving toward stomping through our valley, smashing homes, farms, cattle, killing our people. No doubt you might feel something similar if someone were planning to take this metal box against where you make your homes."

He also adds, "I've given my name. Any of my friends who choose to do so may give theirs. If you'd care to do likewise, that might ease the tension." In the dwarvish tongue, he adds, "If you'd like me to review all that in your own language, I will do so. We just wiped out any who would not surrender to us below. The bedlams were interesting. A few of your crew perished by other means than us. And no, you do not need to throw down your arms. A parley allows for something other than one side winning, and the other losing. Sometimes both win - though not always in the way they originally planned."

Murphy closes in common. "Opportunities abound, for those who are bright, or wise, or canny."

Pressi could 'hear' what he said, if she chooses to.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Saturday November 17th, 2018 2:47:44 PM
Pressi smiles and waves to Murphy before turning her messaging off. She felt bad at the thought of invading this woman’s privacy, even if she intended to kill her.

Pressi watches the woman drink a sip of tea, and tries to purify her own surreptitiously. (If caught, she explains having been poisoned before, so it’s not personal.)

In response to Shan’s question, she leans back and sighs. “Honestly, I was hoping you might have some ideas. I’m not exactly grasping the situation as a whole, and I’m the last person who should be giving personal advice.”

Putting her cup down, she tries to collect her thoughts. “I know better than to ask you anything that can be a betrayal, and I haven’t even been open with the guy I’m dating. Still, Im hoping this mess might still be solved without bloodshed. But to recommend anything, I need some idea of who you are and what any of you want. I’m getting some save the father figure here and Oedipal stuff there, but I don’t know anything about this religion or regional politics of yours, and I don’t know why your son is just letting us romp around the giant.

“So maybe you could start by filling in some gaps in my knowledge. If you can’t bring yourself to discuss any personal history, then at least some of the political stuff.”

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13) 
Sunday November 18th, 2018 10:32:55 AM
Believing she is truthful, Zaragosa lets his guard down, though he still feels in a hurry to stop the giant.

"May I enter and have a seat as well, or shall I just behave myself out here?" Zaragosa asked. "Sorry if I seem rude, I'm rather in a hurry to save my new town."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Sunday November 18th, 2018 10:41:33 AM
Hobie is livid at Murphy’s grabbing of his arrows. He snatched them back as Murphy offers them, and Hobie says “If you EVER touch my arrows again...” He stops himself before he says something over the line.

Talking to his party, he gestures at the dwarves and talks about them like they aren’t present.
“These guys are soldiers, they were hired to do a job, that job is to destroy our town. I don’t give a flying flip about their lives. If they want to just leave, GREAT, that saves us time and energy and saves their lives, but if they insist on staying and doing their job, then I’m gonna do mine, and I’m gonna put an arrow in each of their throats.”

He calms himself down a bit, and then he adds:
“Pressi wants to try to make a deal with these guys, then I respect her and I’m willing to follow her and give her the chance to do it. But maybe I’m the only one remembering that we are working against the clock here, and they are gonna reach town in about an hour. I’ll sit and trust Press for now, but if this parley takes more than a couple minutes, I’m taking Shan down and moving up the ladder.”

Talia (Kim for J-P)  d20+20=32 ;
Sunday November 18th, 2018 11:24:12 PM

Talia, surprised to find in her hands the hood Murphy has been using to talk to Ix, and trying to figure out how she got it out of his bag when he was in the hall and she was in the room, hears Shan request. "All right," she responds, and shows Shan she is beginning to undo some of the stitching as she steps out of the room to join the exodus. She moves away from the door, and finds a place in the hallway. She starts thinking about what she should do next, and wonders about controls for the sphincter opening to the level above. She looks around to see if she can discern anything. [Perception: 32]

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=8 ;
Monday November 19th, 2018 5:38:38 AM
Succotash is a bit annoyed at yet another delay, but he trusts Pressi, and thinks to himself, “Hopefully this won’t take long”. Doing his best to defuse the situation between Hobie and Murphy, he says, in halfling, “Guys, right now tensions are pretty high, and quite frankly, I’m near the edge of my patience as well, but we need to work as a team if we want to save our home. Hobie, you’re a lot like me, preferring action over words, but we all know that sometimes, diplomacy is the better choice, and Murphy, while I hope Pressi can work things out for us, I have a feeling that things are about to go sideways real fast, and if that happens, we may wish that Hobie would have dropped the chick, either way, I’m keeping Twinklesting at the ready”.

Succotash idles his best to keep his eyes on the situation, keeping on the alert, and watching the dwarves. Perception 8

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+13=19 ; d20+19=39 ;
Monday November 19th, 2018 9:10:26 AM
(Slight of hand 19, Perception Natural 20)

If she can, she wanders a little bit, taking a look at some of the statues around the room. "It's a pity. All these art installations hidden inside a long buried war machine."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear  d20+1=8 ; d20+14=33 ;
Monday November 19th, 2018 10:46:21 AM
Kezzem keeps and eye out for Shan's sudden yet inevitable betrayal.

Detect Evil
Perception: 8.
Sense Motive: 33.

DM Carl 
Monday November 19th, 2018 3:50:23 PM
Outside the room with Pressi and Shan, three dwarves and seven halflings find themselves at odds. There are concerns about time slipping by. They have a fair point. Murphy discusses the finer points of a parley. Hobie discusses where he's going to stick several of his finer points if things don't get moving. Mostly, the group trusts Pressi.

...and speaking of Pressi, she's meeting with Shan. Her attempts to purify her tea are not commented on, if they're noticed at all. Shan listens to Pressi's opening words before speaking.

"You'll forgive me if I don't divulge all the political goings-on at play here. Were I to start, your village would be rubble by the time I finished. Let's focus on what we can agree on: it is awfully odd for Anur and my adopted son to let you rampage through his father's war-machine. I suspect he's doing so in order to put you and your friends in my presence, where I would no doubt try and stop you, and maybe, juuuust maybe, get myself killed in the process." Shan sighs and sits back in her chair. "So let's now move on to the obvious questions. No, I cannot let you proceed any further into the Giant. No, I cannot stop Anur from his current course; his pride and zeal would not allow it. I imagine you aren't inclined to let Anur destroy your village just to humor him.

"I can't think of anyway out of this situation that doesn't involve bloodshed." She reaches, slowly, into a scroll case on her belt. "We could sit here and hem and haw on about it, but you're on a timer. I intend to try and stop you and your friends," she pauses to look Pressi in the eye, "after you're reunited with them, of course. A deal is a deal." She unrolls the scroll, picks up a nearby pen, and starts writing a short note. Afterwards, she seals the scroll with wax and presses her ring into it before it can melt. "Pressi, I aim to win, but I trust you will deliver the last words of a wife to her husband without peeking if I do not? I wish we could have met under better circumstances." She holds out the scroll for Pressi to accept.

"Now then, unless you can come up with some brilliant solution, I'm going to open that door. You will walk out, my men will walk in, and I will close the door. After that, well..." She shrugs and smiles sadly. Shan then walks over and holds the door open for Pressi, inviting her own men in only once Pressi is safely outside. Assuming all those actions happen, Shan quickly closes the door once they're inside.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+19=36 ; d6+17=20 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ;
Monday November 19th, 2018 4:32:10 PM
The second the door opens, Hobie is standing right there and looks to Pressi for some clue of how to respond. If she suggests in any way that a fight is to begin, Hobie will step into the room so that he has a clear shot but some distance between him and Shan (preferably with his back to a wall so as not to be swarmed by dwarves) and fire an arrow. If Pressi's actions suggest that we are not to fight just yet, Hobie will step aside and let things proceed as Pressi directs.

Attack = 36

Piercing 20, Fire 1, Electric 5



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+13=18 ;
Monday November 19th, 2018 10:13:12 PM
"Here's a brilliant solution," Pressi replied, angrily. "You can stop letting these guys punish you for marrying one of them and actually fight. My god, are you really going to martyr yourself in the name of a distance competition? Because your son led you to the slaughter? What about your own life, your own principles? What does Shan Shalutch think about any of this?

"I apologize if I come off as insulting to your culture or to your family. I really do get it, a little bit. But I come from a family just as toxic and stubborn as this one, and they taught me the difference between loyalty and slavery. And I'm not trying to stop Anur from what he wants. I'm just trying to remind him that he can win the battle and lose the war. Help me. Help yourself. Take me hostage and bring me right to him if you have to. Or take me to Ix Revan and let HIM do his business himself, if he has the stone. But if you choose this path, you're not dying a warrior's death. You're just denying yourself happiness, and let me assure you that even when facing death, that gets old quickly."

(Diplomacy 18)

Frustrated, Pressi considers a number of options. A blast of suggestion or flesh to stone. A one on one challenge to provide a true warrior's death. A quick HiPS to make Shah catch her. But in the end, she can only grab the scroll and leave without a word.

Once outside, she signals Hobie to hold but shakes her head at Murphy. "We don't attack until her men return to the room. It's the least I can do."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 3:02:12 AM
Following Pressi’s lead, Hobie will stand beside the door and let the dwarves go in, but he will prepare himself to get in the way should anyone try to close the door

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=20 ; d10=1 ; d10=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 5:26:33 AM
Succotash isn’t surprised by the outcome, and still at the door, he allows the dwarves “safe” passage back into the room but, taking Hobie’s lead, he readys an action to strike with both vital strike and power attack if the dwarves try to close the door.

Natural 20
1+1+11+9x2=44+4 holy

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96  3d6=10 ; d20+29=43 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 6:23:24 AM

Murphy nods his head to Pressi, a grave look on his face. He looks at the door to determine how it might be locked - key? Bar across the door? Other visible means?

To the dwarfs passing by he says, "Some parleys are not as successful as we might hope. If we fight, and you lay down your arms, mercy may be possible."

In halfling he warns his friends, "Watch for outward blasts, and mech attacks. Best to dash in, alternate left, right, or straight ahead to allow the next people behind you to enter." If, after the door closes, it is reopened, and he has a clear line of sight to Shan, he lays a lightning strike (10 hp dam Reflex DC 26 from early call lightning) on her (unless she waves a white flag). If she is not in line of sight, he does so to a dwarf. He figures the doorway will be packed. He will remain in the hallway until things get less packed. And occasionally glance backward lest the door behind them open.
========
Perception: 43

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13)  d20+17=31 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 8:13:13 AM
"We could stop your son without murder, believe me, that we have that power. Then we can give you control of this machine as long as you leave our town alone. You can keep whatever honour or political standing if you think this through. We can be your hands in this matter." Zaragosa would speak up if he is able to be heard. "If you only see this ending in bloodshed, then you have a lack of imagination. There is always a proper solution if you are willing to take a moment to discuss this with us."

(Diplomacy 31)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear  d20+4=20 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 10:49:14 AM
"Hey Lady," says Kezzem, growing impatient with her talking in circles while his home is in danger. "You aren't the first to cause trouble for this town. We've fought necromancers, giants, even a freakin' demigod. You don't want to fight us. You'll lose."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 = 20.
If Kezzem can use Diplomacy, add another 13.

"This is going nowhere, Press," says Kezzem. "I don't think she even wants to find another solution to her problems."

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 3:32:51 PM

"So, it did not go well?" Talia asks Pressi. "Shall we then attack?" If so... she is ready to cast a spell once the door opens, and she can gauge a clear target.

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 5:44:49 PM
That is - once the door re-opens after the dwarfs go inside and the door is shut (presumably - unless someone precludes it from shutting... then play it by ear)

DM Carl  d20+10=21 ; d20+7=21 ; d20+18=25 ; d20+13=14 ; d20+13=29 ; d20+18=22 ; d10+9=13 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 8:01:34 PM
Pressi has choice words for Shan, who, for her own part, sits impassively and listens. "Martyr? Dear, making a martyr of myself would mean I was resigned to dying. I assure you that is not the case. Do not assume you and your friends are a match for me and mine..." Pressi honors Shan's agreement, and swaps places with Shan's three men.

Kezzem has words to say to Shan, but she looks unimpressed (will save vs intimidate - pass).

Murphy prepares for the attack. Talia laments that violence is once again imminent.

Zaragosa has quite the way with words. "There is much you do not know about our situation, strangers." She puts a lot of emphasis on the word 'strangers.' "Know that Anur would do the same for me in a heartbeat."

As the three dwarves are about to enter, she puts a hand out and stops them. "Kade, you've been put in a bad situation. I don't begrudge your decision to ally yourself with these invaders. Rejoin me now, and I'll consider the entire matter behind us. Refuse, and I'll see you die a traitor's death." Kade's face betrays several emotions before he makes up his mind. "I am *done* with your whole family, Shan. My money's on these halflings." Shan simply shrugs, allows her men to enter, and closes the door.

...or at least, she tries to. Hobie evidently has no intention of letting her. Shan's eyes flicker over to Pressi, ignoring the angry Hobie right in front of her. As she looks, Succotash makes his move. Like lightning, he's thrust Twinklesting into Shan's breast, releasing a torrent of blood. Her face bears a look of genuine surprise, followed by intense hatred. It looks like she has words, but then decides they'd be wasted. Shan withdraws behind the door as her men rush forward to attack.

In an instant, the door behind the party flies open and two large blobs that look like quicksilver pour forth. One sends a pseudo-pod out and smacks Bliss across the room and into the wall.

Knowledge, Dungeoneering 16, Highlight to display spoiler: {these are metallic oozes.}

OOC: Cayzle's been completely MIA. Removing him temporarily.

The other ooze sends a pseudo-pod of it's own at Talia, barely missing (Hit AC 21).

The two dwarves at the door attack Succotash in a flurry of axe blows. The 2nd one connects once with Succotash, hitting for 13 damage.

On the far wall through the door, you can see the guardians spring to life.

Somewhere, deep down in Succotash's soul, he must realize he attacked first during a peaceful parlay. It is not the most paladin-like action he's ever taken, even if his life and home are on the line.

***

Combat rounds! We start the combat at the 29 minute mark.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13)  d20+5=20 ;
Tuesday November 20th, 2018 11:09:27 PM
"I may not know everything about this situation, but you do not know or are not willing to think of a ay we might be your solution." zaragosa would respond before seeing his comrades start to attack. He knows they did the right things as this woman would not listen to his reason.

Recognizing the creatures as metallic oozes (knowledge dungeoneering 20), Zaragosa points to the blobs and shouts "metallic oozes! they are poisonous and for the love of the gods, keep them away from fire and heat!"

He would draw his sword and if he has enough actions to do anything else, he would start performing a speech about the Humble Fords deeds to give the team +1 to hit and +1 for damage.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear  d20+19=25 ; d3+2=3 ; d6=6 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 1:15:48 AM
"Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of oozes. They are hard to stab!"

Kezzem will take a 5 ft. step towards the nearest dwarf and detect evil on him (move action). If evil, we will activate smite evil against him (swift action). He draws his frost dagger and either stabs or throw it at the dwarf.

Attack: 1d20 + 19 (+ 4 smite evil) = 25 (29 smite evil).
Piercing Damage: 1d3 + 2 = 3.
Cold Damage: 1d6 = 6
(Smite Evil Damage: +11, +22 if undead, evil outsider, or dragon)
Total Damage: 9 (20 smite evil, 31 if undead, evil outsider or dragon).

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=2 ; d20=6 ; d20=5 ; d20=20 ; d10=1 ; d10=5 ; d10=9 ; d10=6 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d20=17 ; d6=5 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 4:43:34 AM
Lay of Hands 6/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Feeling a bit guilty about attacking 1st after a parley, Succotash makes a mental note to seek out an atonement spell when this is all over. In the mean time, he tries to justify his actions with the knowledge that Pressi said the parley had failed, and Shan made it clear that combat was what she wanted. With that thought, Succotash clicks his heals together activating his boots of speed, and then unleashes a full round attack (using Power Attack) on the Dwarf that attacked him.

2+18=20 for 1+11+9=21+6 holy
6+18=24 for 5+11+9=25+8 holy
5+13=18 for 9+11+9=19+7 holy
Natural 20 for 6+11+9x2=52+9 holy

OOC... please ignore the last d20 roll, my mouse slipped while trying to press the last d6

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 10:36:29 AM
Hobie casts Invisibility on himself, and moves past the dwarves following Shan beyond the door. He tries to get himself into the best position possible, preferably within 30 feet of her, with a clear line of sight, with his back against a wall, and leaving the guardians plenty of room to walk past his invisible self. (I'll let the GM explain where he is able to get, and Hobie will use a round of his boots of speed if necessary to get into position. The most important part is having clear line of sight, if he's even able to find her.)

===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 3/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Used 20/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

Haste (+1 AC, +1 Attack, +20 feet movement)

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
Invisibility, Mirror Image

Level 3
Fly, Haste, Slow

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+12=21 ; d6+2=5 ; d6=1 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 3:08:35 PM
Pressi, despite it all, does feel sorry that her side attacked early, but it’s not a breach of honor, exactly. More that she failed the dwarf, somehow. That she couldn’t explain to her team that this wasn’t a military skirmish.

She tries to determine if the oozes are made of metal, or just have the color (using her ability if needed).

She strikes one of the oozes with her newly drawn ice chain (attack 21, damage 5, ice 1).

Talia (Kim for J-P) 
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 5:10:38 PM
posting in an hour...

Talia (Kim for J-P) (AC 26 - still active Magic Shield) 
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 6:45:55 PM

Talia takes a step away from the metallic blob, and casts haste upon all her friends.

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96  3d6=17 ; d20+29=39 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 7:13:11 PM
As I mentioned Murphy was keeping an eye on the door the oozes just opened, and his perception was 43, I figure he at least could have called out a warning to others. "Door behind us - Shiny metal blobs!"

Murphy moves 5 feet and gains line of sight to cast (corner to corner, right?) a lightning bolt (from call lightning) centered between columns J&K/7&8. Each of the three dwarfs takes 17 hp damage, or Ref vs DC 26 for half.

"Kade, if you want to defend, or help, feel free to grab your crossbow and bolts. And here's a dagger, for what it's worth. We'll still be here, I reckon."
======
Perception: 39. Keeping tabs on any changes to environment, newcomers, etc.
Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 82 minutes 8 rounds; Longstrider: 10 hours 3 minutes 8 rounds; Barkskin: 83 minutes 4 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 6 minutes 7 rounds (8 lightning bolts left); Haste: 11 rounds

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96 
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 8:08:12 PM

Then, before Kade leaves, Murphy adds, "Uh, come to think of it, it might be safer for you if you stay with us. Harder for someone to try to get you if you're with us."

DM Carl  d20+5=17 ; d20+5=13 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+11=15 ; 4d8+7=26 ; d20+18=35 ; d20+13=23 ; d10+7=16 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+13=26 ; d10+7=8 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+10=11 ; 2d8+8=20 ; 2d8+8=19 ; 2d8+8=20 ; d20+7=21 ; d20+7=16 ; d20-1=12 ; d20+14=23 ; d20+9=20 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 8:32:02 PM
Zaragosa correctly identifies the metallic oozes and warns against fire. A prudent suggestion! He starts reciting some inspiring prose.

Kezzem's daggers are at a disadvantage vs. oozes. He notes the dwarf in front of him is evil and smites the thing before slicing into him.

Succotash makes a mental note to atone for his actions. Then, he unloads on the dwarf that hit him. Maybe his conscious is getting to him, though, because only his last attack hits. Thankfully, it's a doozy! The dwarf survives the blow, but looks bad.

Hobie goes invisible and tries to follow Shan. Even invisible, there's only one way through a square an enemy is in: acrobatics. That's a standard action, not a move action, and Hobie already cast invisibility. If Hobie can fly some how, the door is tall enough to go over the dwarves' heads. Either way, he's unable to enter that room this round.

Pressi can tell from here that though they shine like polished metal, they're not made of metal. She lashes out with her ice chain, finding them very easy targets (AC 4). She slices a bit of the ooze off.

Talia hastes the party.

Murphy indeed saw the oozes first, but Bliss was caught unaware.

OOC: It was a convenient way to get him out of combat since Cayzle's MIA.

He arms Kade, then brings down a column of lightning on the dwarves. None are able to avoid any of the blast.

Kade draws his crossbow and opens fire on D1. Both bolts impale themselves in the door jamb.

No one has eyes on Shan, but she can be heard intoning arcane language. No one notices any effect, but she howls in frustration. Wonder what happened...?

D1 takes a 5' step away from you folks, then downs a potion from his belt. Some of his wounds close.
D2 presses his attack on Succotash, hitting once. Hit AC 35 for 16 damage.
D3 steps foward to take his friend's place and attacks Succotash as well, also hitting once. Hit AC 26 for 8 damage.

Two of the guardians start to advance. One gets close enough to attack Succotash through the open door. Its opening attack hits Succotash hard. Crits on 19, confirm hit AC 28. 59 damage. Luckily, the follow-through is off (Nat1).

Succotash can make an AoO against this guardian.

The ooze Pressi attacked retaliates, but its pseudo-pod misses. The 2nd ooze advances on Kezzem, drawing an AoO. It lashes out, but also misses.

Map!

Murphy Kim Druid 11 AC 27 CMB 12 CMD 26 (autosave) HP 96/96 
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 10:26:39 PM
OOC: How high is the ceiling? How high the doorways?

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 11/13)  d8=6 ; d8=1 ; d8=7 ; d8=6 ;
Wednesday November 21st, 2018 11:14:26 PM
(OOC so cure spells we reroll 1's right?)

Zaragosa would take a five foot step back then case a Cure Serious Wound on Succotash for (6+7+6+caster lvl 8) 27

His sword ices over and he continues to use his speech to give everyone their +1 to hit. He looks for an opening to get a better attack but wishes to keep Succotash alive for now.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+8=15 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+8=28 ;
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 6:42:58 AM
Hobie casts fly on himself and flies over the dwarves and into the room where Shan is. He positions himself as high as possible, with a clear view of Shan and preferably behind the guardians. (His fly speed with haste is 90 feet)

Can you remind us what the guardians look like, what are they made of, how big are they, etc?

Hobie will also make appropriate knowledge rolls to see what he knows about the creatures.
Shan Knowledge Local = 15
Guardians Knowledge Arcana = 18
Oozes Knowledge Dungeoneering =28

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 74/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+21=37 ; d10+11=15 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d20=7 ; d20=14 ; d20=3 ; d20=11 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d10=9 ; d10=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d10=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d10=4 ; d6=5 ; d6=6 ;
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 7:13:46 AM
Lay of Hands 5/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

AoO vs Guardian hit AC 37 for 15 damage +7 holy (but I doubt the thing is evil)

As a swift action, Succotash performs a Lay of Hands on himself healing 17 damage, then, he will deal out a full attack round on D2. If D2 drops early, he will finish on D3. He is not using power attack this round.

7+21+1=29 for 9+11+1=21+6 holy
14+21+1=36 for 3+11+1=15+5 holy
3+16+1=20 for 2+11+1=14+9 holy
11+11+1=23 for 4 +11+1=16+11 holy


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20=13 ; d20=17 ; d20=3 ; 6d6+6=21 ;
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 1:41:52 PM
Pressi gets 3 attacks, all hit (13, 13, 8).

Damage is 2 d6 plus 2 times 3. 21 damage.

DM Carl 
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 9:35:06 PM
The ceiling is 20' tall. Doors are 8' tall.

From inside, the sounds of arcane wording can be heard again as our heroes make their attacks. What's Shan up to in there?

***

OOC: Yea, total cop out, but it's Thanksgiving and I'm in charge of everything here today. No excused posts, so RP if you've made a combat action already.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental w/Huge bonuses add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 35 CMB 13 CMD 28 (autosave) HP 96/96  d20+20=25 ; d20+20=28 ; 2d6+13=21 ; 2d6+13=16 ;
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 10:27:25 PM

Murphy transforms into a large air elemental (with huge bonuses). Immediately he flies high to the door, and cuts the corner with precision and speed, heading to the corner where Shan is chanting in perfect flight, and slams her twice, seeking to disrupt her concentration and gesticulations for arcane casting, hitting AC 31 (not 25, forgot to include bonuses and proper BAB, and bardic inspiration) for 21 dam, and AC 34 for 16 dam.

I think he needs to use a hero point to hit her this round.


Talia (Kim for J-P) (AC 27 - still active Magic Shield, and now haste)  10d6=37 ;
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 11:01:39 PM

"Say, Kade, mind poking that ooze there while I cast spells?" Talia asks the dwarf. "Looks easy to hit. And aren't Jack's words inspiring?"

Talia gets line of sight to the intersection of I-J/9-10, where a fireball instantaneously bursts forth. Neither Construct 2 nor Shan nor Hobie nor Murphy are in the area of effect. All other dwarfs and constructs within Shan's lair need a Ref Save DC 20 for half (16), otherwise take 37 hp fire damage.

[I'm not certain whether Succotash will need to save or not - perhaps so (sorry, Jeremy). Please let him know, DM Carl, one way or the other.]

[Note: I moved Kale's figure to a spot between Talia and the ooze, but feel free to negate that move if he did not heed Talia's request]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+22=33 ;
Friday November 23rd, 2018 1:03:11 AM
Presumably Hobie can see Shan at this point, so he probably recognizes what spell she is casting (Spellcraft Check 33)

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 95/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=13 ; d20=13 ; d20=15 ; d20=4 ; d20=6 ; d10=10 ; d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d10=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d10=8 ; d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d10=5 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ;
Friday November 23rd, 2018 7:21:39 AM
unless Carl rules otherwise, Succotash should be out of the blast radius of Talia's fireball, but just in case reflex 13+11=24

Lay of Hands 5/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash will try to finish off d2, and will follow through to d3, and even #2 if possible. He won't use Power Attack due to their relatively high AC.

13+21+1=34 for 10+11+1=22+5 holy
15+21+1=37 for 6+11+1=18+3 holy
4+16+1=21 for 8+11+1=20+5 holy
6+11+1=18 for 5+11+1=17+6 holy

After that, he will lay hands on himself healing 21hp

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 9/13) 
Friday November 23rd, 2018 8:06:33 PM
With his sword draw, Zaragosa makes a brief pause in his speech to say his word and make his sword magical effect. Frost quickly engulfs the blade making it glisten in whatever light is available.

He continues his speech to encourage everyone around him, "Friends, sisters and brothers, no Gaint nor demigod nor dwarfen foolishness can withstand the Humble Sword. What stories have I heard of this group! Such tails of such bravery. Such displays of courage, honour and terrifying might. No matter what words are spoken behind this door, what magic effect is going to take place, you all can overcome it together. Nothing can defeat such a force such as you, and I am grateful and thankful to be counted upon your number. And in that spirit of thanksgiving we will bring this fight to a quick and fabulous victory."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gear  d20+21=36 ; d20+21=35 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+11=16 ; d20+11=25 ; d3+13=16 ; d3+13=14 ; d3+13=14 ; d3+12=13 ; d3+12=13 ; d3+12=14 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=5 ;
Saturday November 24th, 2018 12:52:03 AM
"Sorry pal, but you're not going to like this very much!"

Kezzem full attacks (with greater two weapon fighting) the dwarf at whom he has directed his smite. Mods from Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and Smite Evil are included (assuming he is a regular evil dwarf and not also a dragon, undead, and/or fiend, in which case Kezzem's first hit does an extra 11 damage). If he downs the dwarf, he will instead direct any additional attacks to the next nearest dwarf, 5 ft. stepping as needed (adjust since smite evil will not be active on the 2nd dwarf -4 attack, -11 damage).

+1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack #1: 1d20 + 21 = 36.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 16 + 6 cold = 22.

Attack #2: 1d20 + 16 = 22.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 14 + 5 cold = 19.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 11 = 16.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 13 + 5 cold = 18.

+1 Returning Dagger (offhand)
Attack #1: : 1d20 + 21 = 35.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 13

Attack #2: 1d20 + 16 = 30.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 13

Attack #3: 1d20 + 11 = 25.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14.

Talia (Kim for J-P) (AC 27 - still active Magic Shield, and now haste)  d20+20=39 ;
Saturday November 24th, 2018 3:00:35 PM

Also - based upon Talia's study of arcana, she endeavors, based upon the verbalization of Shan's spell, to determine what it is she is trying to cast.

"Stab, Kade, slash!" she encourages the dwarf.

Knowledge: Arcana: 39

DM Carl  d20+5=15 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=9 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=13 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+18=29 ; d20+13=22 ; d10+7=9 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+10=14 ; d4+7=10 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+12=22 ; d4+1=3 ; d20+10=30 ; d20+10=29 ; d6+4=5 ; d6+4=10 ; d20=9 ; d20=10 ; d10+2=8 ; d10+2=5 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d4=4 ; d4=3 ; 2d6=4 ; d20+7=14 ; d20+7=19 ;
Saturday November 24th, 2018 3:42:05 PM
Zaragosa steps back and heals Succotash. He keeps up the words of encouragement.

Hobie casts a fly spell and flies into the room where Shan and the rest are. He positions himself 20' up with a clear LoS to Shan. He ponders what he knows about what they're attacking. He concurs with Zaragosa that they're metallic oozes, but knows nothing about these guardians.

Guardians look like this, and are about 7' tall.

Succotash puts a dent in the guardian as it approaches, but the thing's pretty tough.

OOC: Guardians have DR10/Something.

He heals himself up a bit before unloading on the dwarf in front of him. He drops the dwarf in two hits, then moves on to the next one. He can't connect with the second target, though.

Pressi's chain gloops through the ooze three time, carving a chunk out each time.

Kezzem reminds the party what he can do when evil gets in the way. Between both his daggers, he connects three times with the smited (smote?) dwarf.

Talia throws a fireball into the room. One dwarf and one guardian avoid the worst of the blast. The rest take the full brunt (D3 and G2 made their saves.)

Murphy is far too large to squeeze through the doorway with the dwarf blocking it, even if it is just a dwarf.

OOC: Hobie is an invisible halfling. You're a visible, large elemental. The only way you're getting through that doorway is by bull-rushing the foes in front of it. Accepting that air elementals are pretty amorphous, there are still rules to follow to ensure combat's balanced. I'll allow Murphy two actions this round since he wouldn't have just sat there wishing he could pull that off. Also, how is your AC 35?

Kade takes the advice and attacks the same ooze Pressi is attacking, doing an additional 13 damage. Both oozes still look pretty good.

D1 is more than happy to let guardian 1 take point at the door. D3 is hurt bad, but the crazed look in his eyes betray him to be far too zealous to surrender. He makes a full attack against Kezzem, trying to get some retribution. He's only able to hit once, hitting AC 29 for 9 damage.

D1 pulls out a javelin from a quiver on his back and hurls it at Kezzem. His aim is perfect, hitting Kezzem for 15 damage. (Nat 20, confirm his AC 29 - 15 damage).

G2 performs a full attack on Succotash. Both attacks with its axe hand miss. Then, it sends its finger wires in, wrapping around the small paladin, slicing him for 10 damage. Its attempt to grab Succotash fails (grapple 20 vs CMD 26).

From inside, Hobie sees Shan trying to cast what looks like a very difficult spell from a scroll. Her eyes light up as she succeeds!

Hobie ONLY: Spellcraft, DC 24, Highlight to display spoiler: {Holy moley! That's a time stop scroll she's casting from!}

Her smile is gone as soon as she finishes casting. In fact, so is she! She's on the far end of the room now, and the area where his friends are is on fire.

In fact, things just got real bad in that room. A wall of flame erupts along the doorway, hot side pointing towards our heroes. Kezzem and Succotash take 21 points of fire damage (no save). Murphy, Pressi, and Zaragosa take 4 points of fire damage. Kade takes 3 fire damage.

The oozes also take fire damage, which is really unfortunate. Their acidic ooze sublimates into an acidic vapor. Everyone in the area of effect (green on the map) must make a DC 21 Fort save. Failure results in taking 4 acid damage and gaining a -2 to attack and damage rolls for 3 rounds.

Talia is overcome by the fumes and falls back to catch her breath.

OOC: Powers that be have ruled JP's been gone too long to allow further subbing. She'll be back in play the moment JP's back.

Both oozes' attacks miss their marks.

***

Map!

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29  d20+34=42 ;
Saturday November 24th, 2018 9:55:07 PM

Bliss shakes his head, coming to after being knocked loopy. He casts a still silent Divine Favor and moves into the space of the nearest foe within 50 ft.

Acrobatics to move into a foe's space without provoking AoOs: 42

[OOC to Kindly DM Carl: Could you please put tiny CatBliss on the map after his move towards the nearest foe? I have no idea where to go on the map.]

==========
DM Sanity Info

Spells:
Lvl 1: 5+Entangle (cast Surr Blood x2, Unseen Servant)
Lvl 2: 4+Barkskin (cast none)
Lvl 3: 4+Plant Growth (cast Blink, Still Silent Div Favor)
Lvl 4: 3+Still Silent Barkskin (cast Threefold Aspect, Polymorph, Divination)

Stuff With Uses Per Day:
Basic Ritual: Kitty at will
Intermediate Ritual: Shared CL12 (+4) Shield of Faith
Rage 2 of 14
Bramble Armor 0 of 7 | Wood Fists 0 of 7
Guide/Mislead 1 of 7
Life 0 of 1 | Death 1 of 1 | Focus 0 of 1
Meta Rod of Extend 3 of 3 (Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Blink)

Current Effects:
Extended Shared CL12 Shield of Faith (used 13 of 120r)
Extended CL10 Barkskin (used about 30 min)
Message spells (recast as needed)

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 33) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 8/13)  d20+4=12 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+8=19 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=4 ; 4d6=11 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=2 ; 4d6=20 ;
Saturday November 24th, 2018 10:16:57 PM
round 1 of 3 (-2 on attack and damage rolls)

Zaragosa feels the flames hit his skin right before acid rains from the oozes. He yells out in pain as he never felt acid before, but it continues his speech.

He then tries to take a 5-foot step to flank ooze 1 with Kade. If successful he could do sneak attack damage He would try his full round attack. He would get -2 due to the acid but +1 due to the performance

Attack #1 d20 + 13 = 19 (+2 if flanking = 21)
Damage 1d4 +1 + (cold damage) 1d6 = 2 + (cold) 4 = 6
if flanking is working add 4d6 to add 11:: 6+11 = 17

Attack #2 d20 + 8 = 19 (+2 if flanking = 21)
Damage 1d4 +1 + (cold damage) 1d6 = 2 + (cold) 2 = 4
if flanking is working add 4d6 to add 20:: 4+20= 24


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 33) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 8/13)  d20+13=18 ; d4+1=3 ; d6=6 ; 4d6=5 ;
Sunday November 25th, 2018 8:13:16 AM
(OOC I forgot that the part was hasted so if I am allowed to roll my haste attack)

attack with haste
Attack #1 d20 + 13 = 18 (+2 if flanking = 20)
Damage 1d4 +1 + (cold damage) 1d6 + (preformance) 1= 3 + (cold) 6 + 1 = 10
if flanking is working add 4d6 to add 5:: 10+5= 15

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+11=21 ;
Sunday November 25th, 2018 11:27:04 AM
Pressi barely makes her fort save, the warding shield flickering in the acid.

“I was really hoping not to waste this on some suicidal maniac with delusions of grandeur... so literally nobody on this machine.”

As she moves out of the acid and fire (I’ll take the AoO), she throws a gold nugget between the dwarves into the next room. Sounds whirr and lights blink as it begins to grow into the shape of a dog headed male. (Lesser immortal summons).

(If it can move this round, it turns and starts slicing at dwarves.)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ; d20+21=29 ; d20+21=41 ; d20+21=34 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+11=24 ; d20+11=18 ; d3+13=15 ; d6=6 ; d3+13=15 ; d6=4 ; d3+13=16 ; d6=3 ; d3+12=14 ; d3+12=14 ; d3+12=14 ; d3+12=14 ;
Sunday November 25th, 2018 9:28:44 PM
Kezzem steps 5 feet to the west and casts lay on hands on himself (swift action).

Healing:
5d6 = 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 13 (hey, I remembered to reroll 1s!)

He then full attacks the besmotted dwarf. Mods from Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and Smite Evil are included (assuming he is a regular evil dwarf and not also a dragon, undead, and/or fiend, in which case Kezzem's first hit does an extra 11 damage). If he downs the dwarf, he will switch to thrown (ranged) attacks against Dwarf 2 (adjust since smite evil will not be active on the 2nd dwarf -4 attack, -11 damage). Kezzem can make at most 2 ranged attacks with his magical daggers, so adjust any remaining attacks to mundane daggers if needed (-1 attack, -1 damage, no cold damage). Kezzem has Quick Draw so drawing them is no problem for him.

+1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack #1: 1d20 + 21 = 29.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 15 + 6 cold = 21.

+1 Returning Dagger (offhand)
Attack #1: 1d20 + 21 = 41 (natural 20).
Crit: 1d20 + 21 = 34.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14.
Crit Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14.

+1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack #2: 1d20 + 16 = 23.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 15 + 4 cold = 19.

+1 Returning Dagger (offhand)
Attack #2: 1d20 + 16 = 22.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14.

+1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack #3: 1d20 + 11 = 24.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 16 + 3 cold = 19.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 11 = 18.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14.

If the dwarf is still standing, Kezzem adds,

"Hey pal, I know your all caught up in the moment, so I'm gonna help you out. This is the part where you run away."

----

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (2 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (1 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (1 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental w/Huge bonuses add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 32 CMB 13 CMD 28 (autosave) HP 96/96  d20+20=30 ; d20+26=43 ; d20+26=38 ; 2d6+13=24 ; 2d6+13=23 ; 2d6+13=22 ; d20+29=45 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 3:48:46 AM
Murphy takes advantage of foes falling and moving about to fly through the mess on the far side of the door, then heads over to help Hobie deal with the very potent Shan Shalutch. He slams her three times hitting AC 36 (1st roll should be 1d20+26, not 1d20+20) for 24 hp, AC 43 for 23 hp, AC 38 for 22 hp.

DM Carl - feel free to adjudicate and roll for any AoO which Murphy might have had last round and this round, and any those in the area might have had against him. Am still a bit confused about how you want to handle that).[i]

========
[i]Perception: 45. Keeping tabs on any changes to environment, newcomers, etc.

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 82 minutes 7 rounds; Longstrider: 10 hours 3 minutes 7 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 2 hrs 30 minutes: Barkskin: 83 minutes 3 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 6 minutes 6 rounds (7 lightning bolts left); Haste: 10 rounds (9?)

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 89/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d6=5 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d20=16 ; d20=3 ; d20=18 ; d20=3 ; d10=10 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d10=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d20=3 ; d10=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d20=19 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 5:15:33 AM
Lay of Hands 4/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash lays hands on himself healing 25 hp, he will then full round attack d3
16+21+1=38 for 10+11+1=22+9 holy
3+21+1=25 for 1+11+1=13+4 holy
18+16+1=35 possible crit, 3+16+1=20, failed, for 3+11+1=15+5 holy
3+11+1=15 miss

if d3 drops he will 5ft step into the room, and continue the attack on d1. If d3 doesn't drop, he will use a hero point and attempt to bull rush d3, pushing him back 10ft, willing to take the AoO's to get out of the wall of fire, and get closer to what he feels is the real threat, Shan
19+16=35

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 89/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday November 26th, 2018 5:17:27 AM
Sorry, I said Succotash would push back d3 10ft, I meant 5ft

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+19=25 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+19=38 ; d20+14=16 ; d6+18=20 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6+18=20 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; 3d6=11 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d6+18=22 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 10:02:57 AM
I'm a little confused as to where Shan moved to, can Hobie still see her? I think as long as she's on his side of the wall of fire he should be able to attack her yes? Otherwise he'll attack some dwarves.

Current attacks are +19--- Base +21, -3 Deadly Aim, -2 Rapid Shot, +1 Haste, +1 Jack's Bard thing +1 Point Blank Shot

Manyshot
Attack = 25
Piercing 20, Fire 6, Electric 3 = 29
Piercing 20, Fire 2, Electric 3 = 25

Rapid Shot
Attack = Natural 20, Confirmation roll = Natural 20 for 39
Piercing = 65 (3d6+54), Fire 1, Electric 3 = 69

Haste
Attack = 38
Piercing 19, Fire 2, Electric 3 = 24

Iterative
Attack =16
Piercing 22, Fire 3, Electric 6 = 31


DM Carl  d20+16=21 ; d20+16=36 ; d20+16=19 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+10=11 ; 2d8+8=17 ; d100=88 ; d100=88 ; d100=54 ; d100=100 ; d100=46 ; d100=22 ; d100=15 ; d20+13=27 ; d20=5 ; d10+2=4 ; d10+2=9 ; 2d6+12=19 ; 2d4=7 ; d4=4 ; d20+7=20 ; d20+7=9 ; d20+20=33 ; d10+7=11 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+10=16 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=21 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 5:57:19 PM
Bliss shakes himself out of his stupor. He casts a still, silent divine favor and approaches the enemies. There is no enemy he can approach without wandering into the acidic vapor from the oozes. Bliss must make a DC21 Fort Save or take 4 acid damage and -2 to attack and damage rolls for 3 rounds.

Zaragosa attacks the oozes, but finds they lack critical areas to attack. (OOC: Oozes are immune to flanking and sneak attack damage.) He does succeed in lopping off three globs of ooze. The first ooze is substantially reduced at this point.

Pressi recognizes the situation warrants extra assistance. She summons help.

Kezzem heals himself, then goes ape on the dwarf. He misses his first attack with the blade of his dagger, but catches the dwarf's temple with the pommel. The dwarf's eyes swim a moment before he collapses (0 hp exactly). He has more attacks up his sleeve, so he moves on the guardian 2. All his daggers bounce off the guardian's iron skin.

Murphy is able to take advantage of the space D3 used to occupy to blow (heh, get it?) past the other enemies at the door. In doing so, he opens himself up to attack, though. He finds the guardian constructs in particular are quick to take advantage (guardian constructs have combat reflexes).

OOC: Using AC 30 per my email.

The dwarf misses badly on the attempt (nat 1), but the first guardian lands a solid blow (nat 20, confirm fails). Murphy takes 17 points of damage from the attack.[/b]

Murphy reaches Shan, and slams twice (you can't make a full attack after a move action. One attack, plus haste). Both attacks go straight through Shan. She shrugs her shoulders innocently.

Succotash follows Murphy into the room, finding that even though he's still right next to the wall of fire, it's not hot on this side. He heals, then unloads on guardian 1. His first three attacks hit, knocking off a large section of the guardian's skull plate. Underneath? Gears and glowy stuff.

Hobie can indeed see Shan, so he attacks! Two arrows pass right through her, just like Murphy's attacks. The third arrow stops short of its target, suspended in mid-air. The effect on Shan is immediate, though. She vanishes, immediately replaced with the actual Shan a few feet away. The arrow is embedded in her skull, and the momentum of the attack knocks her head into the wall. She falls, neck at a wholly unsettling angle. She is quite dead.

Kade knows from experience his attacks won't do much of anything to the guardians, so he turns to attack the oozes. He drops his crossbow, pulling an axe from his back. He lops two small bits of ooze off O1.

Shan may be dead, but her wall of fire persists. Anyone on the wall takes 19 damage. Anyone within 10' takes 7. Anyone 10'-20' takes 4.

The oozes' attacks continue to be unimpressive.

D1's eyes widen in anger as Shan falls. Hobie is too high up for him to reach, but Murphy isn't. The dwarf charges and leaps into the air, bringing his axe tearing through Murphy's form. Hit AC 33 for 11 damage.

Succotash finds himself flanked by two guardians. Four attacks come his way, two hit. Hit AC 37 and 28 for 17 and 21 damage, respectively.

As Shan's body settles, the last of the guardians animate and start coming to life. They'll be mobile next round.

Map

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 33) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 8/13)  d20+13=18 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+8=16 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=3 ; d4+1=3 ; d6=5 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=4 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 10:29:32 PM
round 2 of 3 (-2 on attack and damage rolls)

Zaragosa was discouraged by his lack of ability but refused to be discouraged. He continues his performance, "Any challenge we come across is just an opportunity to show the glory of Humble Sword! Any obstacle we tackle is just here to show how great you all are! Let us show them what we are made of!"

He will take a full round attack knowing these things cannot be flanked. All attacks are at -2 but plus 1 due to his performance.

Attack 1 = 18
1d6 + 1 + (cold) 1d6 + (performance) 1 = 6

Attack 2 = 16
1d6 + 1 + (cold) 1d6 + (performance) 1 = 9

attack 3 = 16
1d6 + 1 + (cold) 1d6 + (performance) 1 = 7


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 33) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 8/13) 
Monday November 26th, 2018 10:31:29 PM
Targeting ooze 1, sorry

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP78of111, AC29  d20+18=37 ; d20+14=31 ; d20+14=32 ; d20+14=29 ; d2+17=18 ; d2+17=18 ; d3+17=19 ; d6=1 ;
Monday November 26th, 2018 11:02:30 PM

CatBliss concentrates on entering his combat focus [barbarian rage free action] and charges his claws and bite with arcane power [arcane strike swift action] he pounces into the acid fog [five ft step].

Fort Save at +18 ... a 37.

Bliss shrugs off the acidic fumes and rips into the ooze.
Claw: hits AC33 for 18
Claw: hits AC34 for 18
Bite (bleck): hits AC31 for 20 nonlethal

==========
DM Sanity Info

Spells:
Lvl 1: 5+Entangle (cast Surr Blood x2, Unseen Servant)
Lvl 2: 4+Barkskin (cast none)
Lvl 3: 4+Plant Growth (cast Blink, Still Silent Div Favor)
Lvl 4: 3+Still Silent Barkskin (cast Threefold Aspect, Polymorph, Divination)

Stuff With Uses Per Day:
Basic Ritual: Kitty at will
Intermediate Ritual: Shared CL12 (+4) Shield of Faith
Rage 2 of 14
Bramble Armor 0 of 7 | Wood Fists 0 of 7
Guide/Mislead 1 of 7
Life 0 of 1 | Death 1 of 1 | Focus 0 of 1
Meta Rod of Extend 3 of 3 (Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Blink)

Current Effects:
Extended Shared CL12 Shield of Faith (used 13 of 120r)
Extended CL10 Barkskin (used about 30 min)
Message spells (recast as needed)

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental w/Huge bonuses add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 (autosave) HP 68/96  d20+26=41 ; 2d6+13=17 ; 2d6+13=18 ; 2d6+13=25 ; 2d6+13=21 ; 2d6+13=21 ; 2d6+13=18 ; 2d6+13=15 ; 2d6+13=25 ; 2d6+13=16 ; 2d6+13=19 ; 2d6+13=20 ; 2d6+13=20 ; 2d6+13=19 ; 2d6+13=20 ; 2d6+13=18 ; 2d6+13=20 ; d20+29=38 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 3:12:31 AM

[to DM Carl - sure, go ahead and drop our respective comments. In action, and in my text, I did mention the dwarf who dropped as a reason why Murphy might finally get through - I think we were agreeing, in a practical way, on that. I see you were momentarily unaware of M's standing freedom of movement, and I had just assumed you knew of it - but that's a lot to keep in mind - I've just been posting spell-effect countdown updates every few posts ... will try to include those each post for your reference. Thank you, and I didn't mean to chafe. Sorry for complexity of what follows... -Kim]

In response to Dwarf 1 closing with him, Murphy launched an attack of opportunity, hitting AC 41 for 17 hp.

On his turn, Murphy goes whirlwind (please read, esp. paragraphs 3-5), within a few inches of 20' height - say 19'9", but as though a huge air elemental via powerful shape, thus able to bring large and smaller opponents into the vortex. His is not subject to AoO in this form. He collides with D1, then on to Guardian 2, D1... well, here's a chart of his travel route and whom he contacts (note: once sucked up, no further damage accrues until next round - maximum 5 large/medium critters inside):

5' - Dwarf1 - Reflex Save DC21 or (slam equivalent) Damage 2d6+13=18; D1 2nd Ref Save DC21 or be sucked up into whirlwind
10' - Guardian 2 - Ref DC21 or Dam 25; G2 2nd Ref DC21 or sucked up
20' - D1 - DC21 or Dam 21; D1 DC21 or sucked up [Note: ignore additional damage if already within whirlwind]
55' - G5 - DC21 or Dam 21; G5 DC21 or sucked up
60' - G4 - DC21 or Dam 18; G4 DC21 or sucked up
65' - G5 - DC21 or Dam 15 (if not previously caught up); G4 DC21 or sucked up
70' - G4 - Dam 25 (if not previously caught up - and so forth in following lines); sucked up?
75' - G5 - Dam 16; sucked up?
80' - If any have been sucked up, Murphy as a free action drops one of them (D1 or G4 or G5, DM call) at I12
80' - G4 - Dam 19; sucked up?
85' - G3 - Dam 19; sucked up?
90' - G4 - Dam 20; sucked up?
95' - G3 - Dam 20; sucked up?
100' - back it I12 - Hit anyone still there - Dam 19; sucked up?
110' - dump as free action any guardians caught up - 2, 3, 4, 5, in the vicinity of i10, i11, j10, j11 in a heap
125' - G1 - Dam 20; sucked up?
130' back one if G1 is not sucked up, and against G1 again at 135' dam 18; sucked up?
150' to I5 (where D1 started), if D1 still there - then again vs him dam 20; sucked up? If D1 is already inside, well, that's where he ends up anyway.

Presumably, there may still be a guardian and perhaps the dwarf inside the swirling vortex. If only one dumpee (at 110') is allowed as a free action, then choose which one of the guardians is left in that area. DM call as to whether they land on feet, or prone. If I knew all of their saving throws, I'd be able to have it all figured out for you. Carl, you need a raise.

Furniture and other items (tables, chairs, pillows, loose carpets, teapots, etc.) caught anywhere in this path may either be caught up within the whirlwind to be battered about within, or cast swiftly away in random directions until encountering something that stops it - wall, floor, ceiling, person. Ignore this if it complicates matters overmuch.
=========
Perception: 38

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 82 minutes 6 rounds; Longstrider: 10 hours 3 minutes 6 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 149 minutes 9 rounds: Barkskin: 83 minutes 2 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 6 minutes 5 rounds (7 lightning bolts left); Haste: 9 rounds (8?)

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental w/Huge bonuses add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 (autosave) HP 68/96 
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 3:53:03 AM
One oops. Eliminate action of dropping at 80' - did not intend to drop any there, as I don't think I get two separate free actions, and wanted to reserve any dropping off for 110'.
Keep action vs D4 at 80' - that was my intention. Thx.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 66/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d20=19 ; d20=16 ; d20=9 ; d20=1 ; d20=16 ; d10=5 ; d6=3 ; d6=4 ; d10=8 ; d10=6 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 5:43:07 AM
Lay of Hands 3/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 1/1

Knowing this fight is taking it's toll on his body Succotash lays hands on himself again, healing 15hp.
then he takes a 5ft step and full round attacks g1 using powerattack
OCC. he should be able to hit G1 even if he got sucked into Murphy's whirlwind, based on how Kim placed things.

19+18+1=38 (possible crit confirmed with a 35) for 5+11+9+1x2=52 damage
9+18+1=19 for 8+11+9+1=29 damage
nat 1
16+8+1=25 for 6+11+9+1=27 damage

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 102/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+20=24 ; d4+4=8 ; 2d6=7 ; 5d6=18 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 10:52:20 AM
Kezzem stows his non-frost returning dagger (move action) and draws his adamantine short sword (free action with quick draw). He then attacks the guardian with the short sword.

Assuming the guardian is a construct. If not subtract 2 from Kezzem's to hit and damage, and ignore the bane damage.

+1 Construct-Bane Short Sword
Attack: 1d20 + 20 = 24.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 = 8.
Bane Damage: 2d6 = 7.
Total Damage: 8 + 7 = 15.

Kezzem then casts lay on hands on himself (swift action).
(Ignore the 5d6 roll--forgot to roll separately).
Healing: 5d6 = 2 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 5 = 15.
(Should have kept the 5d6, lol).

----

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (3 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (1 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (1 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+10=18 ; d20+5=6 ; d6+5=6 ; d20+14=25 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 12:29:57 PM
As Pressi's own guardian clicks to life, she prepares to order it against... and then she realizes she is about to order it against the same guardians. (Which means she doesn't need to roll knowledge. She understands her most recently used class feature.)

"Belay the original order. Gerry, focus all fire power upon the remaining dwarves. Everyone else, fall back to the amulets. I repeat, fall back."

Gerry complies, striking twice. (Attack rolls 19+2 if he's flanking anyone, nat 1. If the first hits, 6 damage plus bleed.)

Pressi herself moves back towards the amulets, searching among them once again. "There, up there," she shouts, pointing to an amulet of an anvil. "Gerry has a weakness. He won't attack anyone with the same religous symbol I have. I'm betting these guys won't, either. Why didn't think of this before?"

She leaps up in the air (acro roll 25), hoping to grab one.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+10=30 ; d20+19=27 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+19=22 ; d20+19=30 ; d20+14=25 ; d6+18=19 ; d6+18=22 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6+18=23 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; 2d6+36=43 ; d6+18=20 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 2:35:05 PM
I'm sorry, I'm still a bit confused about locations of stuff in this giant. If Hobie can get to the amulets that Pressi is talking about without having to go through the wall of flames, he will heed Pressi's orders and fly directly toward them and try to grab one (90ft fly speed, so double move 180, as necessary)

If he is blocked by the wall of fire, then he will stay in the sky (I've been reading about the Fly skill and realized I need to make a DC 15 Hover Check to do a full round attack from the sky, otherwise I need to spend a move action flying or fall from the sky. I passed with a 30) and he will take aim at any dwarves who remain, or if there are none, he will aim for the opening that Succotash created in one of the guardian's heads.

Manyshot
Attack = 27
Piercing 19, Fire 1, Electric 6 = 26
Piercing 22, Fire 6, Electric 5 = 33

Rapid Shot
Attack = Natural 20 (AGAIN!) Confirmation roll = 22 (probably not good enough)
Piercing 23, Fire 2, Electric 1 = 26 (if confirmed, additional damage is 43, for total of 69)

Haste
Attack = 30
Piercing 20, Fire 4, Electric 5 = 29

Iterative
Attack =25
Piercing 19, Fire 1, Electric 2 = 22

DM Carl  d20=7 ; d20=13 ; d20+7=24 ; d20+7=22 ; d8+4=8 ; d6=1 ; d4=4 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+11=29 ; d10+7=8 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=28 ; 2d8+8=23 ; d4=4 ; d4=3 ;
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 8:51:26 PM
Zaragosa continues to sell himself short as he hacks the first ooze into smaller puddles of ooze. His second slash destabilizes the creature and it erupts into a thin, viscous liquid. His third attack slashes a piece of the second ooze off.

Bliss goes nuts and tears into the last ooze. He even bites it, finding it tastes nothing like metal. For the curious, it takes like rubber.

Kim, I'm not picking on you, promise. Powerful Shape is a feat from the Ultimate Magic splat book and not available for use in the Wold. APG feats can be taken on a case-by-case basis with ACDM approval, but UM feats are just outright banned. You're not able to lift the guardians, and I assume your maths will need work. In order to move this along, I'm accepting the numbers here as written, but not subjecting the guardians to being carried off. If I've missed something or some arrangement was made before my time as DM, let me know.

Murphy provides further proof that whirlwind needs a serious whack with the nerf hammer. D1 avoids some of the gust, and almost holds on, but is snatched away by Murphy. The rest of the guardians, save the last one hit, take the full brunt of Murphy's gusts, but remain grounded. G4 is torn to pieces by the winds. G1 is looking rough, but G2's still pretty untouched.

Succotash uses more of his dwindling healing. He lays into G1 with all his might (construct, so no crit). Two hits in, he knocks the thing's head clean off. He applies his last successful hit to G2.

Hobie has a good feeling that adamantine arrows will work well here.

Kezzem has a magic sword for dealing with constructs! Unfortunately, his attack falls juuuust short of hitting G2.

Pressi thinks these amulets may stop the guardians from attacking. One way to find out...

She orders her Gerry to attack the guardians. G2's armor is more than a match for the attack. (Put Gerry on the map, please.)

Hobie unloads on G2 with the rest of the cool kids. All his attacks make contact. His last hit strikes a latch that was holding in the glowing crystal heart in its center. The gem falls out, and the guardian falls.

Kade bravely wades through the acidic vapor to attack the last ooze. His axe lops off some ooze.

D1 is stuck in a whirlwind. It's not looking good for him, no sir. He lashes out at Murphy's form, hitting AC 33 for 8 damage.

The last ooze smacks Zaragosa with a chromatic pseudo-pod. He takes 8 bludgeoning and 1 acid damage. In addition, he must make a DC 21 fort save or take 2 DEX damage.

G3 charges Murphy, but the attack is way off (Hit AC 20 - miss).
G5 charges Kezzem, giant axe-hand coming down and hitting AC 28 for 23 damage.

The wall of fire continues burning. Zaragosa, Pressi, Bliss, and Kade take 7 fire damage. So does the ooze, but the area's already saturated with acidic vapor.

Map!



CatBliss (Cayzle) HP71of111, AC29 
Tuesday November 27th, 2018 10:41:33 PM

Bliss flinches at the fire damage. He ends his focus [rage] after just a round. He changes back into a halfling. (standard action)

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 (CMB and CMD may be low  d8+9=12 ; d8+9=15 ; d8+9=17 ; d8+9=11 ; d8+9=13 ; d8+9=10 ; d8+9=12 ; d8+9=11 ; d8+9=12 ; d8+9=13 ; d8+9=11 ; d8+9=17 ; d8+9=15 ; d8+9=12 ; d8+9=15 ; d8+9=16 ; d20+11=27 ; d20+29=40 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 4:48:10 AM

As Murphy moves, if anyone gets picked up, he drops the passenger immediately (D1 at H9 in this case). He'll basically be trying to wind bash, but not scoop up - so we don't have to deal with that aspect until our DM is satisfied with the aspect of Black Genie ACDM approved legacy item abilities brought up (see email). Also I will (momentarily, until resolved) drop down to standard large air elemental damage, as for a druid with Murphy's characteristics.

10' - bash G3 if fail Reflex Save DC18 take d8+9=12 damage
On the way the wind howls, "I'll be dropping you off, dwarf."
20' - drop off D1 at H9
25' - bash G5 15 dam
35' - bash D1 17 dam
40' - bash G3 11 dam. As Murphy is traveling back and forth, he says in windy halfling, "Great shooting, Hobie. Want to check the fallen after the rest of these folk fall?"
45' - bash D1 13 dam
50' - bash G5 10 dam
60' - bash D1 12 dam
65' - bash G3 11 dam. To Kezzem, "You can finish them if I don't wind them down enough."
70' - bash D1 12 dam
75' - bash G5 13 dam
85' - bash D1 11 dam
90' - bash G3 17 dam
95' - bash D1 15 dam
100' - bash G5 12 dam
110' - bash D1 15 dam
115' - bash G3 16 dam
That's G3 possibly hit as many as 5 times (12/11/11/17/16), G5 4 times (15/10/13/12), D1 7 times (17/13/12/12/11/15/15).
135' - ends up at K5/K6/J5/J6, and drops whirlwind form, extending back to large air elemental K5/K6/K7, but slightly up in the air, just above the back of Succotash's head. "Mind if I try to peek around the door, Succotash?" Murphy asks in a breathy voice. "A fire to put out." He does not actually move now, as his movement is used up.

That took care of his move actions and standard actions.

[Note: Rolled for dispel vs fire using Quench - but he can't do that this round. If fire still going, will likely do at start of next round as follows: Murphy casts quench, to extinguish the wall of fire. Hoping with his head at the doorway, he can glance left and right for the casting, starting immediately at the doorway, and spreading the distance from there, with a dispel roll of 1d20+11=27 (up to 11 20' cubes dispelled).]

=========
Perception: 40

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 82 minutes 5 rounds; Longstrider: 10 hours 3 minutes 5 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 149 minutes 8 rounds: Barkskin: 83 minutes 1 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 6 minutes 4 rounds (7 lightning bolts left); Haste: 8 rounds (7?)

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 66/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=6 ; d20=4 ; d20=16 ; d20=8 ; d10=8 ; d10=9 ; d10=3 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 5:34:48 AM
if G3 is still standing, Succotash will 5ft step, and unload with a full round attack, using power attack

6+18+1=25 for 8+11+9+1=29 damage
4+18+1=23 for 9+11+9+1=30 damage
16+13+1=30 for 3+11+9+1=24 damage
3+8+1=12 miss I'm assuming

if G3 is dead, he will either 5ft step to D1, or make a normal move action against G5, if he is attacking G5 please ignore all but the 1st attack.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 104/119, CMD 24; Gears  d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d20+20=24 ; d20+15=24 ; d20+10=26 ; d4+4=8 ; 2d6=7 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 10:50:21 AM
Kezzem uses a swift action for lay on hands.

Healing: 5d6 = 6 + 3 + 6 + 6 + 4 = 25.
(nice rolling there!)

He then focuses on attacking the Guardian 5 with his +1 Construct-Bane Adamantine Short Sword

Attack #1: 1d20 + 20 = 24. Miss.

Attack #2: 1d20 + 15 = 24. Miss.

Attack: #3: 1d20 + 10 = 26.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 = 8.
Bane Damage: 2d6 = 7.
Total Damage: 8 + 7 = 15.

"How do you like my sword?" asks Kezzem. "I call it...Construct Bane. I'm, uh, going to workshop it."

----

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (4 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (1 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (1 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 97/97 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 3:46:37 PM
Hobie will fly down, grab the gem from the fallen guardian, and fly back up to the ceiling, examining it as best he can while he does.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 7:23:09 PM
Sorry, no time or real computer access. Can someone please place Gerry for me, thanks.

Pressi tries to knock down an amulet with her broom. “Hey, Murphy. A bit of help, please.”

Gerry, thanks to his knowledge, gets +1 to his next two swings.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 (CMB and CMD may be low 
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 8:52:06 PM

ADM Kim - Placed Gerry at A9, next to G5, and not far from D1. Okay spot?

Murphy responds vocally to Pressi, "Sure, just a moment. Fire to put out."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 9:10:35 PM
Perfect

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 17) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13)  d20+4=13 ; d20+11=25 ; d20+11=23 ; d20+6=23 ; d4+1=5 ; d4+1=3 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 9:39:15 PM
Last time with the -2
Takes -2 Dex

Zaragosa continues to perform as he tries to hit, he truly feels the damage to his DEX as he starts to stiff up and slow down.

He continues to attack Ooze 2

All attacks are 1d4+1 + (cold) 1d6 + (perform) 1
Attack #1 hit is 25
5 + (cold) 6 + 1 . = 12

Attack #2 hit is 23
3 + (cold) 5 + 1 = 9

attack #3 hit is 23
2 + (cold) 3 + 1 = 6


DM Carl  d20+5=21 ; d20+5=6 ; d20+5=9 ; d20+5=7 ; d20+5=8 ; d20+5=7 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=20 ; d20+14=18 ; d20+9=19 ; d20=15 ; d20=7 ; d10+2=7 ; d10+2=11 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+11=26 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=18 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=18 ; d4+8=12 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 10:05:58 PM
OOC: Welcome back, JP! Combat's about to end, so don't worry about catching up on the mechanics. I'll email you an up-to-date summary. Melvin's post header also has some notes he's been taking that you should look at.

Bliss turns back into a halfling.

Murphy continues swooshing around the room, knocking into all the guardians and the last dwarf. Guardian 3 is falling to pieces, but still leathal. 5's in good shape. The dwarf is scattered all across the room. It's not pretty.

Succotash finishes off G3.

Kezzem touches up his health, then attacks the last remaining construct. His weapon is super effective.

Hobie swoops down and grabs the gem he knocked loose from the guardian. He can tell it functions like a pearl of power. It's red, and functions like a 4th level pearl (though you can also use it to cast any spell from levels 0-3 if you'd like). It recharges and can be used once per combat.

Pressi asks for some help getting an amulet. Gerry moves to attack, but can't connect (I rolled based on your sheet and last round).

Kade takes two huge swings with his axe, and the last ooze *pops* and melts away.

There's only one combatant left: a very beat up but still capable guardian construct. It throws everything it has at Kezzem. Spoiler warning: it's gonna hurt.

His axe hand slashes twice:

Hit AC 25 for 17 damage
Hit AC 26 for 18 damage

His finger wires flay the poor paladin

Hit AC 28 for 12 damage

He tries to constrict, but Kezzem evades the attempt (grapple 18 vs CMD 24 - fail).

After that, he's basically destined for the junk pile. One or two good hits is all it will take to break the thing, so let's go ahead and say that happens and save Murphy 16 or so damage rolls. :D

The dust settles and combat is officially over. The acidic vapor finally dissipates, though the wall of fire continues to burn for another 48 seconds.

A loot check reveals the following (I'm assuming you guys properly identify this stuff. Your rolls are high enough to make success basically guaranteed, so let's skip it, shall we?):

Gears - 2x INT, 1x CON, 3x STR, 2x WIS, 1x CHA
5 red power gems from the guardians (described above in Hobie's turn - Hobie already has one of the five).
3 sets of +1 spiked breastplate
3 Dwarven war axes +2
3 CSW potions
An amulet of natural armor +1
2 Rings of Prot. +1
A quiver with 4 javelins +1

Shan herself has the following:

A scroll case with a few arcane scrolls:

Wall of Iron
Blight
Dream
Sending
Daylight
Invisibility Sphere

A wand of invisibility (44 charges)
A wand of mount (28 charges)
A masterwork alchemical silver dagger
A brooch of shielding
A ring of counterspells

...and her spellbook, which will take time to go through, but you guys should remember to look at it later! She also has an amulet very similar to the ones hanging from the ceiling in the entrance to this level, but this one has the mark of The Forger on it. Pressi did not notice any other amulets in that room with this particular mark.

By the time loot is gathered, you find yourselves at the 32 minute mark. You're making good time, but this is not a situation you want down to the wire.

Now that things have settled, you have a chance to look at the huge construct that's in this room that (thankfully) didn't come to life and attack you. It is larger than those you’ve seen here before — its head almost brushes the ceiling. Its arms end in massive spikes, and two additional arm-like appendages sprout from its back and support dark blades. Several large runes adorn its breastplate. Despite its fearsome appearance, it stands dormant and immobile. Rust covers it; it looks like it might be beyond repair. The letters "AD-6J" are stamped into its chest.

Map, since you're still on this level.

Regular Bliss (Cayzle) HP100of111, AC25  d8=1 ; d8=5 ; d8=5 ; d8=3 ; d8=1 ; d8=4 ; d8=3 ; d8=3 ;
Wednesday November 28th, 2018 11:22:53 PM
Bliss says, "Whew, what a fight."

He helps tally the loot and gather it all up.

He digs out his CLW wand and uses it six times on himself.

"Anyone else need curing?"

==========
DM Sanity Info

Spells:
Lvl 1: 5+Entangle (cast Surr Blood x2, Unseen Servant)
Lvl 2: 4+Barkskin (cast none)
Lvl 3: 4+Plant Growth (cast Blink, Still Silent Div Favor)
Lvl 4: 3+Still Silent Barkskin (cast Threefold Aspect, Polymorph, Divination)

Stuff With Uses Per Day:
Basic Ritual: Kitty at will
Intermediate Ritual: Shared CL12 (+4) Shield of Faith
Rage 4 of 14
Bramble Armor 0 of 7 | Wood Fists 0 of 7
Guide/Mislead 1 of 7
Life 0 of 1 | Death 1 of 1 | Focus 0 of 1
Meta Rod of Extend 3 of 3 (Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Blink)

Current Effects:
Extended Shared CL12 Shield of Faith (used 15 of 120r)
Extended CL10 Barkskin (used about 30 min)
Message spells (recast as needed)
CLW: 6 used

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday November 29th, 2018 5:07:46 AM
Hobie will point out the Pearls of Power to his friends, keeping one for himself and making sure the other prepared casters get the rest.

He will excitedly grab Shan's spellbook with plans to study it and copy some spells down later. (Is Hobie the only spellbook caster in our party?)

He will also point out the arcane scrolls to his party "Hey so it seems she was a wizard like me, and I found these scrolls. I think with Thalia unconscious I'm the only one who can cast some of these, so I'll hang on to them unless any of you wants any of them, I think druids can cast this one" He holds the scroll of Blight out toward Murphy as he says this.

As far as the gears, Hobie will carefully examine them all and express his disappointment that there is no DEX gear, but then will finally take one of the two INT gears. He feels really good as this gear bumps his Con up to 16 and gives him another hit point boost

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 66/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 5:33:15 AM
Succotash says to Bliss,' "If you don't mind, I could use a few hits from that wand', then he looks at the pile of loot and decides that adding another Str gear would really kick things up a notch, and so adds 1 to his other str gear and his con gear. He figures the true casters (He doesn't consider a Paladin to be one) would make the most from the red gems, and so he doesn't care to much about those, He would be all over the Javelins if they were a little shorter, but ... seeing the 3 potions of CSW. he asks, "As I'm nearing the end of my Lay of Hands would anyone mind if I carried these, we may have a lot of fight left?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 57/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 10:38:50 AM
Updated the list of gears. I still have two that were never grabbed last time, a Dex gear and a Con gear. I does not look like anybody claimed them last time. Kezzem would be happy to take the Dex one.

Kezzem also wouldn't mind one of the Int gear to get some more Skill Points. Alternately, he would also be happy with Str and Con. Or another Cha one, bust since he has the other one and it was in high demand, he'll probably let one of the others have it.

Since Bliss doesn't want any, we have enough gears now for everyone to have the max 3. Make your preferences known!

Kezzem will also take the silver dagger if nobody else wants it. He can never have too many daggers.

When Bliss asks if anyone needs curing, Kezzem raises his hand. "I have my own wand, but if anybody has any spells, I'll take them first rather than use up my charges."


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 17) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 2:43:27 PM
Zaragosa breathed heavy as the fight came to a close. He raises his hand at Bliss's words. "I'm not in good shape, but I can cure myself if you are running low."

Regular Bliss (Cayzle) HP100of111, AC25  d8=1 ; d100=58 ; d8=1 ; d8=4 ; d8=8 ; d8=7 ; d8=3 ; d8=2 ; d8=4 ; d8=7 ; d8=3 ; d8=5 ; d8=6 ; d8=1 ; d8=5 ; d8=2 ; d8=5 ; d8=8 ; d8=3 ; d8=2 ; d8=6 ; d8=7 ; d8=5 ; d8=8 ;
Thursday November 29th, 2018 7:10:43 PM

Bliss has 2 CLWs, 4 CMWs, and 2 CSWs to cast. Sir Succo gets 9+13 back from 2 CLWs and 18 back from a CMW for total 40 healing to Sir Succo.

Two CMWs to Kezzem is 14+18 = 32 total healing to Kezzem.

And 1 CMW (19) and 1 CSW (20) to Jack heals him with 39 total healing to Jack.

Seems to Bliss that Sir Kezzem still needs some help, so he fires off his last CSW, granting Kezzem another 21 hp curing.

That taps Bliss out for spells today, aside from a couple uncast Plant Domainers. [OOC: Accidently rolled another 4d8 curing, but that was not needed after all. Sorry.]

==========
DM Sanity Info

Spells:
Lvl 1: 5+Entangle (cast Surr Blood x2, Unseen Servant, CLW x2)
Lvl 2: 4+Barkskin (cast CMW x4)
Lvl 3: 4+Plant Growth (cast Blink, Still Silent Div Favor, CSW x2)
Lvl 4: 3+Still Silent Barkskin (cast Threefold Aspect, Polymorph, Divination)

Stuff With Uses Per Day:
Basic Ritual: Kitty at will
Intermediate Ritual: Shared CL12 (+4) Shield of Faith
Rage 4 of 14
Bramble Armor 0 of 7 | Wood Fists 0 of 7
Guide/Mislead 1 of 7
Life 0 of 1 | Death 1 of 1 | Focus 0 of 1
Meta Rod of Extend 3 of 3 (Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Blink)

Current Effects:
Extended Shared CL12 Shield of Faith (used 15 of 120r)
Extended CL10 Barkskin (used about 40 min)
Message spells (recast as needed)
CLW wand: 6 used

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 8:15:38 PM
"Hold on, I'm not sure how much curing I need." (I apologize for some of the short days but I'm going to take some time tomorrow to do accounting - and to update my notes.) "So, are we going to never learn if my idea would have worked? Not even a hint?" She uses her CLW wand as needed if anyone else is low.

While most people focus on the curing and gears, Pressi makes her way to Shan's body. "Such a waste," she mutters as she moves the body to the couch, closing the eyes as needed. She wonders if she should do more, but there isn't time for a burial, she can't just cremate it on a whim, and she doesn't even recognize the god. The best she can do is a quickly mumbled prayer and a decision to return that amulet if possible.

She had considered calling out that Shan deserved a better death than an arrow to the head... but then, the woman had gone down far faster than Pressi expected.

She fingers the scroll that Shan had given her and the amulet she just lifted. Probably best not to mention her sidequest to the rest of the group. It was going to be hard enough explaining to the team that this wasn't just some soldier going down with the... wait, what do soldiers go down with?

She does remind Hobie that there are probably others, herself included, who can use the scrolls and wands easily. (Though he's correct that he's the only spellbook user, he may prefer that Pressi or Bliss look over the spell book first, just in case.)

Finally, she moves on the unmoving construct, fingering the runes carefully.

Regular Bliss (Cayzle) HP100of111, AC25 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 8:56:24 PM

Bliss apologizes when asked to check out the book. "Sorry, witches don't know how to Read Magic."

[OOC: It is not on the spell list for the class!]

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 60/96 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 9:06:50 PM
Murphy post 20181129

"Thank the heavens we all survived that," Murphy says. "I am sad that they chose to fight rather than to accept an alternative. Killing others, in many cases, should be held only as a last resort. We are, however, at war, of sorts, it seems," the druid sighs. It is very easy for an air elemental to sigh.

He takes up one of the red gems, and then casts quench on the wall of fire. He eases out of Shan's room, then collects the necklaces and medallions that Pressi asked for help with. The poisonous acidic vapor does not bother him [I think - druidic immunity to poison?].

Murphy requests a STR gear, making available one WIS gear

"The strength will help when I wild shape, and need to attach physically," he explains.

He would thus have one each of STR, CON, and WIS, +3 each.

"Thank you, Hobie," he says as he looks over the Blight scroll. "Pressi, would you mind holding on to this until I drop out of wild shape - think I'll remain this way for the time being, and don't want to accidentally rip up the scroll."

Healing
"Oh, yes, I was beat up a bit," he says, "And can't use my wand at the moment." [Down about 36 or so]

[may add more - ripped up day]

DM Carl  d20+19=34 ;
Thursday November 29th, 2018 9:53:46 PM
Humble's Sword divies up loot and heals themselves. Boy, they sure are burning through the healing, aren't they? Good thing they found some potions.

Pressi is not pleased with how the combat turned out, thinking Shan deserved better than this. She checks out the huge construct, tracing the runes. As she runs her fingers along the various seams in the thing, she realizes the back of its head flips up, revealing two indentations that are shaped just like the gems that power the guardian and maintenance constructs.

The maintenance constructs are the ones that look like centipedes with tools for hands, in case it's been too long to remember.

Murphy is able to gather up as many amulets as anyone would like, though what to do with them? The acidic vapor is gone before he gets there, which is good because his immunity is to poison, not acid. (The oozes had a poison attack, but the vapor was just good ol' acid.)

***

33 minutes in.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 60/96 
Thursday November 29th, 2018 11:12:08 PM

"Kade could use some healing, as well. How about you, Talia?" Murphy asks the sorceress. "Good job on the fireball there. Say, can you show me the hood? You loosened a thread on it? Mind if I take a look?"

He explains to the party, "I have two wildshapes left today. Think I should retain this form for now. Therefore, cannot get to my two wands of cure light wounds. Jack, I gave you my third wand. Can you use it three times on Kade, then maybe five times on me? It has, I think, 14 charges remaining. After that, six will be left."

He asks Kade, after Jack (or someone) helps heal him up. "How do you sit, now? Feeling better? Need more?"

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 60/96  d20+29=48 ;
Thursday November 29th, 2018 11:45:20 PM

Gently, Murphy probes Pressi's mind via their permanent message bond. "Knock knock. Mind if I drop by?" He won't go further unless she grants permission.

"How about if Talia takes the wand of invisibility (44 charges) for now? May be handy as we ascend."

As Kade is well armed, Murphy says, "Later I may need my dagger back, but it's yours to use for now."

"This level - call it the lower abdomen? - has another room or two." He points a wispy limb toward the door opposite Shan's. "We should look about to see if we can find any controls which might open up the spot above the levitation area in the middle passage. Someone look in Shan's room. Maybe two or three look in the room the shiny blobs came out of. I'd like us to know what's behind us - fairly quickly - before we climb higher.

"The ring of counterspells - Bliss? Pressi? Talia? Hobie? Zaragosa? Any of you up for using that? May be useful, and I don't want whoever takes it to forget to use it at an opportune time. Please, someone take a look, see if you can tell what spells it contains.

About a minute after he asked for additional healing (down 36) [hoping someone takes care of that for him], Murphy says: "I'm going to go with anyone else who wants to into the blob room, and maybe check beyond. Looking for controls, and whatever is there. We need to do this quickly, and quickly figure out how to ascend. Either Shan's room, or these other ones, may help us do so."

He pokes his head through the door, looking up, left, right. If it looks reasonably safe, he enters fully into the blob room, and begins to search about.

==========
Perception: 48

Note: Murphy can't take off the second WIS gear, nor yet place the new STR gear, until after he drops out of wild shape. He asks Talia if she can hold on to the STR gear for him until he can swap it out. "Go ahead and wear it for now," he suggests to her, "unless you have three, or want a different set."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 26 Touch 18 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+22=36 ;
Friday November 30th, 2018 12:28:15 AM
“Well Murph, I don’t think Talia has woken up yet from that last fight, I think we oughta leave her somewhere safe and somebody else can hold on to the wand of invisibility. Jack’s got a ring of invisibility so he doesn’t need it really, can anyone else cast the spell besides me, or should I hang on to it?”

Hobie will also take the ring of counterspells and examine it, studying the magical auras to know what spell is inside it currently. Spellcraft 36

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday November 30th, 2018 12:49:11 AM
"Thanks a lot, buddy," says Kezzem. "I don't mean to sound like a miser, but if you can heal us for free, why waste money on magic items when we don't need to."

Since nobody else spoke up, I'm going to give the Dex gear to Kezzem as well as the Int gear (he needs the Skill points!). If somebody wants one of them or to trade, let me know.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=11 ;
Friday November 30th, 2018 5:34:15 AM
Lay of Hands 3/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser restoration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

"Thanks Bliss feeling a ton better, what ever a ton is", Succotash says with his usual smile, he then follows Murphy into the other room. perception 18

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 90/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday November 30th, 2018 3:12:37 PM
Pressi took some time to consider her options.

Regular Bliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25  d8=4 ; d8=2 ;
Friday November 30th, 2018 6:46:54 PM

Bliss sees that Mister Murphy is pretty wounded. He taps his friend four times (using the four rolls leftover from yesterday) and cures 30 hp to Murphy.

What the heck! He taps himself twice too. 8 back to Bliss.

"Are we ready to keep on heading up?" he asks. Oh! Look! Murphy and Sir Succotash are already on their way. "Come on, everybody," calls Bliss. On a whim, he sticks to halfling form for now. On another whim, he gets out his halfling sling-staff and loads it.

[OOC: Note: 12 wand charges used so far]

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13)  d8=8 ; d8=5 ; d8=8 ;
Friday November 30th, 2018 7:00:13 PM
"Oh, I forgot about that wand!" Zaragosa said to Murphy frustrated with himself (OOC oh! I forgot about that wand) He takes it out and heals Murphy for 24

He then bows to Biss and thanks Healing him "Good sir you are far to kind and I owe you my heal and life. If I had half a brain I Would have realized I could use my owe wand."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 22, HP 72/72, CMD 18 
Friday November 30th, 2018 8:24:27 PM
Talia hands Murphy the items he is referring to; although she feels like she's been in a fog, a really thick fog of war!

Assuming everyone else is heading towards the ladder to ascend up into the Iron Giant...Talia will actively join the group feeling like she's missed a lot, like she's been living in a waking dream!



DM Carl 
Friday November 30th, 2018 10:32:25 PM
Kade thanks Zaragosa for the healing. "Ya know, that's the first time I ever been magically healed." He rubs his shoulder and checks works out some soreness. "Still kinda hurts. That normal?" He appears fully healed. Maybe he's just softer than he lets on?

Hobie checks out the ring. There's currently a hold monster spell stored on it.

Talia must have taken a blow to the head. Humble's Sword is far too polite to call her out on anything her troubled memory may have forgotten.

Pressi appears to have something she wants to do, but seems preoccupied. Perhaps her thoughts are on how busy life with children can be.

There's more talk about splitting up loot and healing, then it's decided to go check out the room the oozes came from.

The room is...slimy, and unpleasant. The only thing of note (besides the other door) is a busted up looking maintenance construct. The thing's green gem is still embedded in its torso.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 22, HP 72/72, CMD 18 
Friday November 30th, 2018 11:45:35 PM
Was someone asking me some questions earlier? I recall someone asking me something, but for some reason I don;t recall what it / they were. Would that someone care to repeat the questions for me?

"I wonder what I did with my owl?" mumbles Talia.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Saturday December 1st, 2018 7:12:04 AM
“Glad you’re back with us Miss Talia”, I was beginning to think I was going to have to carry you, and the thought was a little alarming to me since you’re a woman, and I was always taught to respect a lady, and I was trying really hard to consider how to carry a lady respectfully, and well I just couldn’t figure out how to do it, but now I don’t have to worry about it, so... do you need any healing per chance?”

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Saturday December 1st, 2018 7:14:16 AM
“I believe your owl is with Piggy and Harper back in town, or on their way there, I’m not which”.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Saturday December 1st, 2018 3:04:44 PM
"And Rumpus!" says Kezzem. "And we know your not a witch, Succo, your a paladin like me. Well, not like me. You're the type that likes to get hit a lot whereas crazy Kezzem prefers to dodge the attacks and not get hit."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Saturday December 1st, 2018 6:41:16 PM
Zaragosa bows to Kade "it is my honour to help in whatever way we can."

He then tries his best to step out of whatever gook he is in and find his footing. "Does anyone else need healing? if not, we shall not waste time. The fiend in charge just arranged for his mother's murder, or at least I believe so if I am following these events correctly. With the safety of our home in question, we should not waste too much time here."

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 60/96  d20+29=37 ; d20+29=30 ;
Saturday December 1st, 2018 8:01:08 PM

As Murphy was trying to talk with Talia earlier, may we assume this conversation took place before he went exploring? If we may:

"So, Talia, you must have taken quite a tumble there - hit your head? We've been cleaning up this iron gargantua - giant, whatever. You've helped quite a bit. We are about halfway up - heading toward the head. This wand of invisibility - 44 charges left - please use it to help us out as we continue. On your left arm, on your bracers of armor, you can see two gears. One enhances your dexterity. The other your constitution. Right here I have a gear," he says, holding it about three feet from her so she can see it, "for strength, I'll want to add to my own after I change back to halfling form, but think I should wait on that for the moment. How about you add it to your left bracer for now? That way you benefit even more from dexterity, in your constitution, and, for the moment, in your strength." (+3 on each of those abilities.) He helps her connect it to the bracers and to one of the other gears [the triple-stats boost is immediate].

"You want a WISdom boost when I take off my second such gear later?" He asks Talia.

============

Room exploring:
Murphy gingerly removes the green gem from the caterpillar-like maintenance bot. If he succeeds, he speaks. "Bliss, I'll bet you can use this," he says, and hands it to him. "Let's see what's in the next room."

He goes to the door, listens for a moment (Perception: 37). If he hears something (other than the ongoing noises made throughout the immense machine by its continuing perambulation), he tells others what he hears, then endeavors to open the door. If he is unable, he asks Succotash and Bliss if they can check it out.

"Maybe controls for the ceiling valve might be inside. Or, something else. I think the next level up is the belly button."

Once the door is open (by himself or someone else), he looks around the immediate door area - up, right, left, down, then, barring an immediately apparent threat, puts his head within for a better look around. If it appears reasonable to continue, he pushes through the opening, allowing room for the others to go through. Now, if Bliss or Succotash open the door, then either can go first if they choose.

Unless circumstances otherwise dictate, air elemental Murphy explores this room [Perception: 30] with his friends. Any alternative paths to the abdominal section above discernible? Any control panels, levers, or the like? Heaps of treasure?

Again, he gently probes the message link with Pressi. "Let me know when we can talk again."

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Sunday December 2nd, 2018 1:50:44 AM

Oh, and of course, Murphy thanks Bliss and Zaragosa for the healing - and lets Jack know that Kade can have the last two CLW spells, if he needs them, as Bliss already had brought Murphy nearly up to full. With the single 'bink' from Zaragosa, the druid is back to full hit points.

Regular Bliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25  d20+14=28 ;
Sunday December 2nd, 2018 7:34:50 PM
Bliss takes the green gem and says, "Thank you Mister Murphy!" He casts Detect Magic and studies the gem.

He looks at his hand holding the gem. Stares at both. [OOC: Uses Bloodwitch Guide ability to grant himself a +2 bonus on his next skill check.]

He listens to the gem, shakes it, points it at a wall, and says, "TRIGGER!"

[OOC: Bliss is using his Use Magic Device skill to activate an item blindly. The DC is 25. Bliss usually has a +12, but with the Guide bonus that's a +14. Bliss rolls a 28! SUCCESS!]

He observes what the item does and says to his druid friend, "You were right, Mister Murphy! You were right! I CAN use this!" He explains what he learns, if it is not obvious.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=17 ;
Monday December 3rd, 2018 4:55:25 AM
"There has to be a lever or switch somewhere that turns that levitation pad on", Succotash exclaims, "we need to get to the top before it's too late!" He then walks over to the pad and tries to find something to activate it. perception 17

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 70/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday December 3rd, 2018 12:04:43 PM
Some bookkeeping.

I decided that after some rounds of fire and acid, and with the fire going after the attack, that it looks like I was down to 70 instead of 90. (I may be off by a few points one way or another but that should be right.)

I apologize for being a bit absent. I didn't adequately prepare for posting around work training time and there were a couple of times when childcare kept me from posting, and more so from keeping track of HP, spells, maps, etc. Also, some confusion about amulet retrieval results blew a posting window for me.

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
altered self: dwarf (+2 str, darkvision 30, perception -2)
Gerry: 7 minutes left

Spells Used:
L1: 3/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 2/4+1
L4: 2/3+1
L5: 2/2+1
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9

Tatoos:

L0: 1
L1: 1

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 70/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d8+5=13 ; d8+5=6 ; d8+5=7 ; d8+5=7 ;
Monday December 3rd, 2018 12:20:46 PM
Pressi hits herself with a couple of CLW charges (three easily bring her back up to full) and shares with the group what she noticed about the constructs. "It's possible that we can rebuild some of these guys, and have them work for us for a change.)

She suspects the gem Bliss is attempting to "use" might be better served in the gut of another machine. But if Bliss wants to go full Laser Cat on us, who are we to judge.

She also takes a few minutes to look over Hobie's new spellbook and to remind him that she can use scrolls just fine. (Read Magic is not part of the witch spellbook, but Pressi can use her tatoo for it.) Pressi also looks to see if there are any spells stored in the ring of counterspells and considers strategy. It might be nice to store a debuff in there but they know so little about what the casters here use. (If I understand right, the spell has to be stored in advance.)

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
altered self: dwarf (+2 str, darkvision 30, perception -2)
Gerry: 7 minutes left

Spells Used:
L1: 3/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 2/4+1
L4: 2/3+1
L5: 2/2+1
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 1



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday December 3rd, 2018 2:55:39 PM
While his friends work on finding the next way up, Hobie will work on making sure he is topped up and ready to go. Having spent his previous flame arrows, Hobie will take out another 50 from his haversack and read from a scroll to imbue them with a fiery aura. He will then place them in his quiver, alongside the 10 adamantine arrows.

Just before leaving this room and moving forward, Hobie will use his wand of Shield on himself.

===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 3/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Remaining 50/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

Haste (+1 AC, +1 Attack, +20 feet movement)

Shield Spell +4 Shield Bonus (only +3 above buckler)

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
Invisibility, Mirror Image

Level 3
Fly, Haste, Slow

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 22, HP 72/72, CMD 18 
Monday December 3rd, 2018 5:21:43 PM
That you Mister Murphy! "Yes, I think I would very much like that gear for wisdom and anything else you'd like to share with me. So let's see, so far its wand of Invisibility -- 44 charges -- and the 3-gear attribute boost to the Bracers of Armor (Dexterity, Constitution, and Strength) and afterward swapping out strength for Wisdom? Surely, what a wonderful idea!

Talia will stay towards the back of the pack, hoping the group doesn't walk right into another battle.

OOC: Going to add these to my character sheet.

DM Carl 
Monday December 3rd, 2018 8:17:26 PM
Talia wonders about her owl. Did she head back with the rest of the animals, or has she been here the entire time?

OOC: Other critters were sent home because ponies can't climb ladders. Owls don't have that issue, so if you'd like, yours can still be with you.

Zaragosa checks to see if anyone needs healing. He's eager to get moving and take out the monster who just arranged his own (step)mother's death.

Murphy retrieves the green gem and hands it to Bliss, who had recently said he was mostly out of spells. He listens at the far door, getting some ooze on his ear as he does so. Inside he hears what sounds like...writing? Yea, quill on parchment. He tries to open the door, and finds it swings open easily.

Bliss finds that the gem functions like a pearl of power, except that it can be used by spontaneous casters as well and recharges between combats. The green gems can be used to cast level 3 spells (or lower).

Hobie prepares more arrows. He'll need them.

Pressi tops up her health and ponders reconstructing the guardians. A cursory examination shows them to be a mix of arcane and divine construction the likes of which she's never seen. Pressi's a smart cookie; given time she may be able to make heads or tails of them. If she stopped now to try, Humble's Ford would be flattened before her eureka moment.

As Murphy opens the door past the ooze room, a small number of neatly tied scrolls pour forth. Inside the room are 5 tables. At each table, a fragile looking, eyeless construct sits writing on a parchment scroll. It's right "hand" is just an ornate looking pen, indicating its only function is to write.

One of the constructs finishes with a scroll and lifts it into a contraption next to it on the table. Rollers take in the scroll and pop it back out rolled up and neatly tied. The construct attempts to drop it into a scroll tube, but the tube is hopelessly stuffed with scrolls. It rolls off onto the floor, and the construct begins writing on a fresh scroll.

A lone guardian construct sits in the corner. It does not move, but looks at the party's direction as the enter. In a deep, resonant voice it simply states, "DO NOT DISTURB."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13)  d20+23=29 ; d20+8=14 ;
Monday December 3rd, 2018 8:54:54 PM
"right" Zaragosa whispers to the others. He rubs his magical stealthy ring then tries to tip-toe his way so that he 'doesn't disturb' the writers. He will try to read what they are writing on the scrolls without touching anything.

stealth to not disturb the room 29 (+10 if the ring works 39)
to examine the writings, perception 14


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday December 3rd, 2018 9:10:02 PM
Talia, Kezzem had taken the Dex gear, but there is one Cha gear left if you want that for sorcerer stuff. If not, Kezzem will take a second Cha gear and let you have the Dex gear and get an extra boost on his paladin stuff.

OOC: It looks like all the gears have been assigned but 1 Wisdom one, save the Cha/Dex gear situation with Talia and Kezzem above. Since Bliss doesn't want any and everyone else has three, I suggest the remaining gear goes to Zaragosa.

Zaragosa, you now have a Con gear and a Wis gear, which will give +2 to both stat. Please update your character sheet.


Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+29=33 ;
Monday December 3rd, 2018 9:20:36 PM

Murphy picks up a few of the scrolls which fell at his feet, removes string, and looks to see what is written upon them. "Does work proceed apace?" he asks the construct. "Are supplies adequate for the moment? It looks like the scroll tube is jammed. Does it require repair?"

=======
Perception: 33

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25  d20+22=35 ; d20+27=36 ;
Monday December 3rd, 2018 10:08:56 PM

Bliss grins and immediately uses his new green gem to regain a level 3 spell slot!

Inside, he whispers, "Aw, let's leave the poor golem alone and sneak past."

He changes into a cat and looks around as he sneaks through.

Perception 35
Stealth 36

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=13 ;
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 5:22:03 AM
OOC.. I believe Talia has one of the green gems as well

Succotash is at a loss for words as he takes in the sights in the room. he will continue to look for a way to turn the levitation pad on. perception 13

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+10=15 ;
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 10:27:32 AM
Kezzem attempts to sneak past the construct as well. He's not as Stealthy as he used to be, but he is still surprising lightfooted for a paladin.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 = 15.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +2 Str +4 Dex +4 Natl armor AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 12:50:37 PM

Murphy just hovers there at the doorway, watching people stream past, sneaking, or attempting, into a room with scroll bots, and a guardian. In halfling he says, "So, we want to start an unecessary riot in the scriptorium?"

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 1:16:24 PM
(OOC, alrighty, I am at work so I have very little time. In my free time tonight I will update the character sheet)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 1:51:04 PM
Hobie casts detect magic on the scrolls to see if they are magical scrolls. If any seem to be interesting magic he will examine them further

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 3:41:32 PM
"Ok, if we can't get them up and running... I have a few more minutes with Gerry. Why not decorate him with a couple of runes and let him scout ahead? There's no chance the dwarves know all the devices?" As an alternate, Pressi builds on Murphy's plan by having Gerry insult the writing construct's math teacher. Everyone knows them's fighting words for guardians.

Aside from that... there's probably enough invisibility to slip a little ahead, even do a bit of sabotage. (With some HiPS using exceptions.) She doesn't pile on into the writing room at first, but if there's something to check out, or if the rest of the group hits a wall, then she will.

DM Carl 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 9:51:00 PM
Zaragosa goes quiet. He tries to read what the constructs are writing. The following is written on a parchment scroll that's currently being worked on:

Iron Giant Pilot Anur Daron has assumed manual control. Destination: unknown. Purpose: unknown. Iron Giant is crewed by 30 dwarves, 1 gnome, 2 oozes, 4 bedlams, and one badger.

Update: Iron Giant crew has increased by 8 halflings while en-route.
Update: Iron Giant crew has decreased by 6 dwarves.
Update: Iron Giant crew has decreased by 3 dwarves.
Update: Iron Giant crew has decreased by 4 dwarves and 2 oozes.
Update: Halfling crew members have entered the Record Room.

Kezzem continues sorting out the gears. He tries to sneak in, but knocks over a scroll tube and causes quite a racket! No one seems to care.

Murphy picks up a few scrolls and looks at what is written down. Every scroll he picks up has the word "darkness" repeating for its entire length. As he approaches the constructs to check on their status, they ignore him. The Guardian construct moves one of its hand wires to its...well, to where its lips would be and makes a horrible, grinding sound that Murphy's pretty sure is construct for "shhh!"

OOC: Kim, what are you doing with the scrolls you've read?

Bliss digs his treasure. He turns into a cat and sneaks inside. The floor is littered with small bits of parchment and string. Depending on how cat-like he feels, he could potentially have some fun here.

Succotash is far more interested in turning the levitation pad on. He sees no obvious mechanism to do so.

Hobie casts detect magic and looks around. As stated before, there's too much latent magic for detect magic to function as a general detection spell. Focusing on the scrolls, he can see the ones visible are not magical. He notices a large cabinet in the corner and focuses on that. There's something magical on top of it. Exploring reveals a divine scroll with the following:

CSW
Dispel Magic
Mass CLW
Remove Curse
Restoration
Summon Monster III

What's more, the cabinet itself radiates conjuration magic.

Pressi ponders sending Gerry ahead to scout, but ahead to where? With the discovery of the record room, the entire level has been explored. The only way forward now is up. Something tiggles the back of Pressi's mind. Maybe she picked up something off Shan that could be useful...

Kade has very little to add to any of this, though he seems to have made peace with his decision to join you folks. He's in a pretty good mood.

***

We're at the 36 minute mark.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 10:17:35 PM
Zaragosa relays what he has learned with the group. He says this rather quietly but is no longer being stealthful since other members of the team have made quite the racket after him.

"Very well guys" he whispered, "Looks like we have 27 dwarves still on here and a, a badger...?"

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25 
Tuesday December 4th, 2018 10:47:37 PM

The conversation and revelations are interesting, and Bliss thinks that the folks who put on gears are the ones that the iron giant thinks are now crew members.

But that's not paying the rent, and this construct keeps on getting closer to home.

He miaows his impatience and looks for the way onwards and upwards.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+29=38 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=48 ; d20+29=30 ; d20+29=48 ; d20+29=40 ; d20+29=45 ; d20+29=41 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=41 ; d20+29=41 ; d20+29=38 ; d20+29=39 ; d20+29=32 ; d20+29=48 ; d20+29=30 ; d20+29=34 ; d20+29=43 ;
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 1:59:14 AM
[Murphy had remained at the doorway, just picking up scrolls that tumbled near the door as it opened. Others were going in.] Murphy does try to head the guardian's admonition, as he had, in fact, spoken in the doorway. It appears the guardian is not of a mind to respond to his queries, and only seems intent on maintaining fairly low decibels in the vicinity. He won't be bothering the scribe bots or the guardian any more for the moment.

He leaves the scrolls he found, as he really has no place on his person to put them.

"That would be 17 left, Jack, not 27. The badger is likely in the chest area above with some of them. And, like the documents say - looks like we are now crew members. Good find, Jack.

"I'm looking for a way up. Going to scan quickly while flying, and get back to Pressi. The password sheet may be of some use. Let's try that. You guys look for any controls in here, I'm going back out."

He does so - and flies a scanning pattern, looking at structure, at indentations, at any local differences as he flies in full intake mode first in the slime room. As soon as he comes across Pressi, he stops. "Say, you shut me out there. No doubt you had your reasons. But within this thing, it may be wise to keep lines of communication open. Are you willing to open the blockade? Also, you mind checking the password list over? It may have something that will open up the sphincter in the ceiling for us. Before you use it, we should gather everyone, and try to move more or less together. I haven't seen any travel tubes going upwards yet. Am looking a little harder now. Feel free to tell me your thoughts, if you wish, as I fly."

He does fly again, a few feet below the ceiling, gazing upwards. Lengthwise, scan a 5 or 6 foot breadth, then shift over on the return scan, another 5 to 6 foot sector in the central corridor. Near the levitation field, all along the adjacent walls, floors, ceiling. Lengthwise again. If nothing found in slime room or central corridor, then into Shan's lair. Scan ceiling, walls. Controls? Anomalies? Red buttons?

Made 20 perception rolls, as follows. Apply them where you think they apply: 38, 36, 48, 30, 48, 40, 45, 41, 44, 36, 36, 41, 41, 38, 39, 32, 48, 30, 34, 43.

Though alternative approaches to dealing with the crew do not come to mind, he still feels sad about the deaths they are causing - even though they do so to prevent deaths and destruction of their homes. And, Murphy thinks to himself, he really has no desire to see the iron giant's current pilot live long enough to call forth dead or imprisoned 'gods' which were likely dealt with that way because they deserved it.

And Ix? Impish as he is, and ruthless though he may be, and weird though it seems, he has at least a very slight affection for the gnome. He knows the gnome could easily turn on them. And that he needs to protect Kade from him. But... well, see what happens. He thinks that Pressi's urge to tell everyone we meet what a betrayer Ix is, though apparently the case, may not be the wisest tactical move in every case.

As he thinks through these things, his mind is open to Pressi, should she want to pay him any attention.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=27 ;
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 5:28:32 AM
Succotash is growing more frantic as the time ticks by, "Why can't I find the way up?" he mentally berates himself, then continues looking. perception 27 nat 20

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 8:15:28 AM
(OOC I shouldn't post while tired or do math when it is late, it is ok. it is not like I'm a science teacher.... wait....)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+22=42 ;
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 2:47:02 PM
Hobie stops and focuses carefully on the conjuration aura of the cabinet, Spellcraft 42.

He hands the scroll of Divine spells out toward the two paladins. "Hey meat shields, I can't cast these, maybe you guys could get some use out of them."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 8:27:15 PM
Pressi turns back on the link but she’s clearly bonded more with Shan than Ix.

Speaking of... what have I got in my pocket?

Pressi takes out the amulet and tries to use it.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25  d20+13=22 ;
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 9:45:19 PM

Bliss uses another of his Guide witch uses to give a +2 to Jack's perception check.

BlissCat also sniffs out the trail that shows the way folk have most often left and entered. (Scent ability in this form) ... Survival to Track 22.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday December 5th, 2018 10:36:53 PM
"Hey look, they've got 8 halfling crew members," observes Kezzem. "And there are eight of us. Wait a minute...do they think we're crew? Maybe if we unionize we can demand things like better pay, sick leave, and not flattening our town into a pancake. And also dental."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 22, HP 72/72, CMD 18 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 2:01:26 AM
Talia hangs back and watches the group spread out into the room, around the tables of constructs busy recording everything that there are sensors to log. Wow! An automated log mechanism. A room full of automatons that record dang near everything.

Talia says with the excitement of self-discovery, to the group..."Hey, Humble Swords! ...this room records everything that is happening in this construct. What do you think would happen if we removed a baker's dozen of the scrolls from each "machine"? Would they recreate them? Does anyone have thoughts on this?"

Feeling like a deaf, dumb, and blind familiar in a room full of familiars, Talia will ask Rayya to fly around the room to see all it can see and to point out anything she thinks is interesting... using the "Speak with Master" ability of her familiar.

In the meantime, Tali; as she refers to herself in the familiar tone; with cast overland flight on herself just in case, she waves her hands and speaks to herself casting the spell. When finished, she makes sure she is hovering over the floor some 4 feet as she meanders around the room.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 5:22:45 AM
Succotash decides to stand ready on the levitation pad for when his friends find the means to turn the thing on.

DM Carl 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 8:22:36 AM
Zaragosa does some math. Given the stress, one can hardly blame him for being a little off.

Bliss wonders if wearing the gears makes one a crew member, but the scroll said there were 8 halflings that joined the crew. Bliss is likely counted whether he wears a gear or not. That's not important right now, though.

Murphy also does some math, then does some serious searching. At the end of his investigations, Murphy is absolutely certain there is not a physical mechanism that activates the levitation pad or opens the door above it. There has to be a magical way of opening it.

Succotash does his own search, and comes to the same conclusion. He stands on the levitation pad so he's the first to move up when this is figured out.

Hobie investigates the cabinet. Inside is a rack of a dozen quills, a dozen bottles of ink (all full), 50 pieces of parchment, and a dozen scroll tubes. The scrolls, quills, and ink the constructs are using match the stocks inside exactly. The cabinet is fully stocked, though, and all the stuff inside looks brand new.

Bliss's nose confirms people come and go through the levitation circle.

Kezzem dreams of a glorious proletariat revolution!

Talia wants one of these automated log things for her own. Is it self repairing? She asks Rayya to fly about and report, but the owl finds nothing new. Her excitement is met by another, louder, grindier "SHHH" from the guardian, who then enters a combat-ready stance, but makes no further aggressive action.

Pressi has her own favorites in the unexpected family drama going on inside the Iron Giant. She takes the amulet out and tries to use it. She can't figure out any activation mechanism, but the levitation pad starts to respond when she stands on it. She must be real close to figuring out what to do with it.

***

37 minutes have passed.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+18=22 ; d20+4=18 ;
Thursday December 6th, 2018 1:09:51 PM
Gerry walks up to the quite rude writing construct, placing a finger on his lips himself. His glare can be quite intimidating at times.

Pressi continues to fiddle with the amulet, running a number of knowledge checks on it. (UMD 22, Know Religion 18) She also tries some of the basics like jumping up and down while blowing.

Also, clicking her heels a couple of times.

Oh, and wiggling and banging it in the hopes of getting a better signal. Can't forget that one.

(If I think of a better or funnier solution before end of tonight, I'll try to post it.)

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 1:18:31 PM
Bliss uses his Guide witch ability to give Pressi a plus two on her effort to get the lift going. He hops on it too.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13)  d20+12=31 ; d20+8=14 ;
Thursday December 6th, 2018 2:06:00 PM
Zaragosa tilts his head toward Pressi "perhaps banging it against the platform will work" he said in a friendly half serious tone. He will walk up to inspect the amulet for arcane (knowledge arcane 31) and religion (knowledge religion 14)

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 3:31:34 PM

Murphy gives his report to all, and gathers with them around the levitation spot. He feels confident that Pressi will figure things out, somehow or other.

"Say, Hobie, would you mind twinking me with your wand of shield? Maybe some of the other folks here, too, might benefit from it. How long does it last?"

"And Talia, having yourself and maybe a few of us turned invisible with your new wand could be helpful. I'd be happy to have you do that for me, if it's all right."

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 3:33:45 PM

"Oh, and Bliss - you have the wand of mage armor I lent you a while back. Maybe use it on those who don't have it up yet. I'm fine, though."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday December 6th, 2018 4:33:38 PM
Hobie will grab a bunch of the parchment, ink and quills and shove them in his haversack. He’s got plans to scribe some scrolls when they get back to town. He will watch what happens to the cabinet after he takes the things.

“Well Murph I cant cast the spell on you because this particular spell only works for the one who casts it. But if you are practiced at Using Magical Devices and can activate the wand yourself then feel free to use a charge. It only lasts one minute, so I tend to use it just before going into a place where danger might be immediately present.”



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday December 6th, 2018 4:35:02 PM
“Talia I’d like to be made invisible as well before we head up the way”

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d20+20=27 ; d20+5=13 ; d20+25=45 ;
Thursday December 6th, 2018 6:23:33 PM
Talia asks everyone in the group that wishes to be turned invisible, to line up in a single queue so that it will be easier to cast one at a time on them. Tali says, "Alright, everyone wishing to be Invisible for 11 minutes or until you attacks, step right up!"

Afterward, Tali walks up to Pressi hoping she can lend a hand at the gem activation process. Using her Knowledge Arcana, Spellcraft, and Use Magical devices skills, she tries to help! Tali asks, "Pressi, would you mind terribly if I try to get this gem to operate the lift?" as she extended her hand to take hold of the gem.

[Skills Used: Knowledge Arcana: 27, Spellcraft: 15, & Use Magical Device: Nat 20 (45)]

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 7:12:28 PM

Murphy mentions, "I think, using the wand, the invisibility will last 3 minutes, rather than 11 minutes." He lines up for the spell.

Murphy (Kim) Druid 11 - Large Air Elemental [w/o Huge bonuses??] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Thursday December 6th, 2018 10:01:05 PM

"Oh, if we see one of the communication hoods, when we get to the next level," Murphy adds, "someone get to it, or the person who has it, as soon as possible. We want to do what we can to minimize our opponents taking advantage of that. AND - try to keep others from retreating upwards. The less advanced notice, the better. Middle abs, next stop."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday December 7th, 2018 1:13:56 AM
"I'd like to be invisible!" say Kezzem. "Makes it easier to blame others next time I knock over a scroll tube."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD26 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Friday December 7th, 2018 5:17:31 AM
Succotash asks Talia for a tap from the invisibility wand, and prepares to lead the way up.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 41) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 7/13) 
Friday December 7th, 2018 8:15:23 AM
Zaragosa joins the others and also asked for some invisibility but "only if there is any left, for I Do a lot more damage to the enemy if I come out of no where"

Talia (Kim for Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 83/83, CMD 19 Invisible 
Friday December 7th, 2018 2:24:01 PM
Talia's wand grants invisibility to the following people: Hobie; Succotash; Kezzem; Zaragosa; Murphy. If Kade wants also to be invisible, she does so for him. She has Rayya land on her shoulder, and casts on herself. 44-7=36 charges remaining if Kade included. Lasts 3 minutes. "Anyone else? Pressi, Bliss?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 34 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Invisible  d20+3=13 ; d20+3=22 ; d20+29=48 ;
Friday December 7th, 2018 2:46:06 PM

"Bliss. BLISS." Murphy tries to get his attention. "The Wand of mage armor. Does anyone here need that? Speak up friends, if you want that benefit."

"Hobie, thanks for reminding me on the shield spell. I think you already told me that before, and I had forgotten. I'll give it a try." He tries, fails on the first attempt, tries again, and succeeds. "Thanks! Here is the wand back."

=============
Perception: 48
Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 76 minutes 5 rounds; Longstrider: 9 hours 57 minutes 5 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 143 minutes 8 rounds: Barkskin: 77 minutes 1 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 4 rounds (7 lightning bolts left); Invisibility: 2 minutes 8 rounds; Shield 3 minutes

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+22=24 ;
Friday December 7th, 2018 3:25:27 PM
On that wand of Invisibility, I didn't roll spellcraft earlier cuz you just kind of told us about the loot, but I want to know what the caster level on it is, so that we can hopefully know how long our invisibility will last. Spellcraft 24 for that

DM Carl  d20+16=26 ; d20+14=26 ;
Friday December 7th, 2018 5:46:50 PM
Whhoooooo boy...

Murphy and Talia discuss making sure everyone's defensive spells are cast, and go through their extensive wand collection to make sure everyone's as ready as they can make them.

Meanwhile, Pressi, Bliss, and Zaragosa take turns trying new and exciting things with the amulet. Through trial and error, they realize that the higher up the amulet goes, the closer the levitation pad looks to turning on. Finally, Pressi brushes the amulet against one of the hooks the other amulets are hanging from, and the levitation pad immediately comes to life, lifting Succotash up into the air.

Meanwhile, Hobie starts shoving writing supplies into his pack.

Then, things get exciting.

As soon as Hobie shoves the first supply into his pack, the guardian construct roars to life and attacks. It has to cross the room to get to him, so fortunately it only gets one attack. It hits AC 26, missing. Still, Hobie finds the guardian between himself and his way out.

At the same time, a sunrod is thrown down from the upper floor, bouncing on the iron floor once before a metal-clad dire badger leaps down through the levitation field, slamming into Succotash, knocking him out of the levitation field and flat on his back on the ground below. The badger stands over Succotash, snarling angrily. (Bull rush 26 - success).

From above, a heavily armored female dwarf cheers. "Good girl, Chompy! Git'em!" She does something unseen, and the levitation field reverses. A yellow light on the levitation pad turns blue as this happens.

Combat rounds! No map yet. I'm not 100% on where Murphy and Talia were when all this was going on. Were you still with Hobie? Were you futzing with the levitation pad? Up to you folks.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC25 
Friday December 7th, 2018 8:05:36 PM

Before things get lively, Bliss shakes his head to Mister Murphy. He has no need for a Mage Armor.

Then Bliss, who was on the levitation pad with Sir Succo, takes a leap. Maybe a leap up-up-up to the dwarf girl, or a five ft leap onto Chompy. He would prefer to leap to the dwarf, if he can. He focuses [OOC: Barbarian rage] and leaps ...

CatBliss has a 1d20+44 to leap, and expect to leap up 10-15 ft no problemo. How far is the nearest landing near the dwarf girl?

Bliss's will attack, either a standard attack against the girl or a full attack against chompy, if he can, after distance and target and jump checks are made ...

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP108of111, AC23  d20+14=26 ; d20+14=18 ; d20+14=32 ; d2+15=16 ; d2+15=16 ; d3+15=18 ; d6=3 ;
Friday December 7th, 2018 9:06:44 PM

... on reflection, Bliss realizes he just can't leap up 20 ft to attack the dwarf girl. So he leaps five ft (five ft step) into Chompy's square. Like I said, before jumping Bliss focuses [rage, free action]. As he leaps, he activates his arcane strike (swift action). He has not taken the time to activate his Shield of Faith, and raging brings his AC down by 2, so he is AC23.

Three attacks:

Claw: AC26 for 16
Claw: AC18 for 16
Bite: AC32 for 21 nonlethal

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+19=31 ;
Friday December 7th, 2018 11:43:47 PM
"Man, I really hate fighting people's pets," says Kezzem. "It just feels so wrong."

"Hey Dwarf Girl, there is no reason for us to hurt Mr. Chompy," says Kezzem. "How about you order him to stand down and we can just talk this out."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 = 31.

He will also use Detect Evil on the she-dwarf.


Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 34 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  2d6+11=22 ; 2d6+11=17 ; 2d6+11=20 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d6+11=14 ; 2d6+11=17 ; 2d6+11=19 ; 2d6+11=19 ; 2d6+11=18 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d6+11=23 ; 2d6+11=19 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d6+11=17 ; 2d6+11=19 ; 2d6+29=37 ;
Saturday December 8th, 2018 2:02:42 AM

Murphy spins up to whirlwind, then rises from about 10' altitude upward through the opening, attaining close to 20' from the bottom to the top of his vortex. He looks around [my perception roll from last set post of 48 was for whatever was about to happen.] He hoovers through the dwarf lady who just assaulted his buddy, and takes a pathway through any other dwarfs (about six of them up here?) and constructs (about 2 of them up here?). Does there happen to be a 9' tall, 6' diameter pink gem in the center of the area? In any event, he strives to intersect his pathway with all the dwarfs, and any constructs, of course becoming visible once he intersects with the badger's coach. Plot a path for him through them all, then again if he still has movement available. 120' total. 10' up to dwarf, then through her, and the next, etc.

He pays particular attention to any who might have, or might be going to pick up a communications hood. And makes certain that hood and attempted user do not succeed in connecting a call.

But mainly, stirring things up as much as possible to disrupt those above from messing further with those below. And taking up as many of the dwarfs as possible. He does not try to pull the constructs into his vortex.

Dwarf coach lady Reflex Save DC21 or (slam equivalent) Damage 2d6+11=22; and make 2nd Ref Save DC21 or be sucked up into vortex of whirlwind
Next dwarf (or construct, or other opponent): Ref DC21 or dam 22; 2nd Ref DC21 or pulled into vortex
Next: DC21 or dam 17; DC21 or vortex
Next: dam 20; vortex?
Next: dam 21; vortex?
Next: dam 14; vortex?
Next: dam 17; vortex?
Next: dam 19; vortex?
Next: dam 19; vortex?
Next: dam 18; vortex?
Next: dam 21; vortex?
Next: dam 23; vortex?
Next: dam 19; vortex?
Next: dam 21; vortex?
Next: dam 17; vortex?
Next: dam 19; vortex?

I figure that's enough potential interactions for this round - may not even be able to use all of them. May I reserve where he ends up in the chamber once we have a map? He doesn't want to end the round directly between two constructs. If changing direction frequently makes sense to help him with his final stopping point for the round (and getting as many opponents as possible), he does so.

MAP (look to far right bottom tab 'Badger and Guardian 1' - 2 levels shown, lower on page is up a level from higher on page -ADM Kim, subject to DM revisions)

==========
Perception (for balance of round): 37

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 76 minutes 4 rounds; Longstrider: 9 hours 57 minutes 4 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 143 minutes 4 rounds: Barkskin: 77 minutes 0 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 3 rounds (6 lightning bolts left - well, 3); Invisibility: attack invalidates

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Saturday December 8th, 2018 2:05:21 AM
[Oops - AC 30, not 34. No shield spell active, due to separation of characters. Hobie, in totally different room, likely does not have invisibility, afaik, as that was happening next to levitation circle.]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Saturday December 8th, 2018 7:04:27 AM
"Sorry guys!"

Hobie will 5 ft step to get out of the range of the construct attacking him (or if not possible with 5ft then he'll move and incur an AOO), and he will cast Invisibility on himself.



Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD28 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=10 ; d10=5 ; d20=8 ; d10=5 ; d10=7 ;
Saturday December 8th, 2018 7:27:02 AM
Sorry I forgot to update the CMD on my header after adding the 2 str gears, but I will gracefully take the bullrush, or more accurately ungracefully

As Chompy barrels down on him Succotash is able to get off a swing with Twinklesting (AoO0 before going head over tea kettles.

10+22=33 for 5+13=18 damage

Then he will offers Chompy a chance for an AoO when he stands up (A move action) then using Power Attack and Vital Strike, he brings another blow to bare.

8+22-3(Power Attack)=27 for 5+7+13+9=34 damage

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 6/13) 
Saturday December 8th, 2018 9:52:50 AM
Since my character is invisible (I think) and I don't know who to attack without the map, Zaragosa's first turn will be to start his performances

Talia (Kim for Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 83/83, CMD 19 Invisible  d20+20=25 ;
Saturday December 8th, 2018 1:29:15 PM

Talia flies up through the opening above, to where she can see below and above, and casts haste using the power of the gem for that 3rd level slot, affecting all in the party, including Kade, except for Hobie (no line of sight, two rooms away). Each person adds 30 to any type of movement (max double normal speed), +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation.

She takes a look around to see what is happening above. Perception 25.

Pressi (CAYZLE) - AC 27, HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Sunday December 9th, 2018 10:23:13 AM

[OOC Map Notes: It looks to me like Bliss and Sir Succo were both in the badger's (Chompy's) square. There's not enough room for that, so I kept Bliss in Chompy's space (Bliss is size tiny so that's fine) and moved Sir Succotash one space down. Hope that's OK? I also tidied a bit here and there.]

Pressi activates her witch's Shield of Faith that she shares with Bliss as a swift action, giving her a +4 deflection bonus to AC. She enjoys that Haste, so her total AC is now 27. Jack's performance (bonus to attack and damage) will be nice next round if her spell fails, but for now she casts a spell pointing UP!

She looks up at that dwarf enemy and casts a powerful bloodwitch spell, adding a boost from her Focused Curse ability. DOMINATE PERSON!

The Will save DC is base 10 +5 (5th level spell) +4 (18Int) +2 (feats) +1 (Curse) = Will Save DC22.

If it works, Pressi forces the dwarf to call off Chompy and stop the fight.

DM Carl  d20+6=14 ; d20+6=22 ; d20+5=21 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=16 ; d20+5=13 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+5=19 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+6=24 ; d20+5=10 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+14=30 ; 2d4+2=5 ; d20+5=20 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+18=36 ; d20+18=32 ; d20+13=29 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+13=20 ; d10+7=12 ; d10+7=13 ; d10+10=18 ; d20+21=35 ; d20+21=37 ; d10+10=13 ; d10+10=13 ; d10+10=18 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=34 ; 2d8+8=16 ; 2d8+8=14 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=34 ; d20+14=24 ; 2d4+12=17 ; 2d3+10=14 ; 2d3+10=14 ; d20+13=25 ; d20+8=14 ; d10+2=7 ; d20+6=14 ; d20+6=14 ;
Sunday December 9th, 2018 6:46:21 PM
Bliss leaps into action (literally!). In cat form, he performs an all-out attack on Chompy. His second claw attack misses, and the two attacks that do hit are dampened by the metal plating on her.

OOC: Chompy has AC 24 and DR5/Something.

Kezzem doesn't feel right about attacking pets. He tries to get her to stand down. She chuckles. "You were right, Ix. They do like to talk." She smiles at someone (you assume Ix) off to the side. It would appear the inevitable betrayal shoe finally dropped.

Murphy goes whirlwind and starts heading up. His memory from the magic mirror below is correct. There's a big pink gem, 6 dwarves (one of whom, the woman who's addressed you, is much better equipped than the other fodder in here - D1 on the map), some training dummies, a small rack of sunrods...and Ix, who looks really pleased with himself. He is currently playing a catchy tune on a very nice looking lute. Murphy tries to slam into and scoop up as many folks as possible. Unfortunately, that's just the people who are on the rim of the opening.

OOC: The room upstairs is 9' tall. Per whirlwind rules, you need at least 10 feet. You can stay on the lower floor and woosh all the folks within 5' of the rim, but you can't move in that upper floor. That's still 4 targets, though!

Murphy starts with the fancy-armored woman and moves clockwise.

D1 - Full damage, no vortex
D3 - Half damage, no vortex
D2 - Full damage, caught in vortex
D5 - Full damage, caught in vortex
D1 again - Full damage, no vortex
D3 again - Full damage, caught in vortex
D1 again - Full damage, no vortex

Not enough move to get back to D1 again. There's room in your vortex for one more small creature.

Hobie apologizes, steps back, and vanishes. The guardian begins to scan the room, but gives no indication it can see you.

Succotash swings at Chompy as she bowls him over, drawing some blood. The badger's eyes widen and she begins shaking in rage as she's injured (blood rage!). As he stands, she takes a bite out of him. hitting AC 30 for 15 damage. Unhappy with that turn of events, he throws some caution to the wind and lands a solid blow against her.

Zaragosa begins his performance, boosting everyone's combat abilities.

Talia drops a haste spell on the party, then flies upstairs to get a good look.

Pressi boosts her defenses, then attempts to cast a dominate person spell on the mocking dwarf. The dwarf's grin vanishes as Pressi's curse takes hold (will save 20 - fail). The dwarf gives a sharp whistle, but Chompy is currently blood-raging and does not respond.

Kade takes aim and unleashes bolts as quickly as he's able at Chompy, hitting once for 5 damage.

D1 continues whistling, trying to get Chompy to stop.

The three dwarves in Murphy's vortex all slash at the druid's winds. Murphy is hit thrice (hit AC 34, 28, and 30) for 15, 18, and 16 damage.

D4 and D6 both advance and take a swing at Murphy as well. Hit AC 35 and 37 for 13 and 13 damage.

OOC: Looks like the die roller finally started cooperating.[/b]

Both guardian constructs advance on Talia and swing at her with their axe-hands (Talia gets an AoO on G1). Hit AC 30 and 34 for 16 and 14 damage.

Ix leans against the gem and continues his song. He casts a spell at Murphy. Murphy must make a DC 17 fort save or be blinded.

Chompy attacks Succotash with a single-minded rage.

Bite: Hit AC 33 for 17 damage
Claw1: Hit AC 28 for 14 damage
Claw2: Nat 20 (threat fail at 24) for 14 damage

Map

Pressi (CAYZLE) - AC 27, HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d4=2 ;
Sunday December 9th, 2018 8:45:25 PM

Pressi calls out, "Do not attack the Dwarf Lady! She is now our ally! Do not kill her badger! Back off and let her grapple it!"

She uses a move action to command the dominated Dwarf: "Come down here, grapple your badger ally, and drag him to safety in that room over there!" Pressi indicates the room where Hobie was a little while ago, out of line of sight of the battle.

Then Pressi uses a standard action to cast a Spectral Hand spell. That inflicts 1d4 -- 2 -- hp damage on herself.

She communicates to Murphy through her telepathic link that she will cure him with a spectral hand touch next round. Plus, why is he going off ahead again!? Come back here with the creatures you picked up and drop them here so we can attack them please.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP106of109, AC26 
Sunday December 9th, 2018 8:59:19 PM

Following Pressi's guidance, Bliss takes a five ft step back and ends his rage. He activates his Shield of Faith (swift action) and changes into a halfling (standard action). He delays until the dwarf has grappled her pal and then takes out his staff-sling (move action).

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 54/96 (or 21/96)  2d6+12=19 ; 2d6+12=19 ; 2d6+12=21 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=8 ; d20+10=17 ; d8=5 ; d8=4 ; d8=1 ; d8=8 ; d8=3 ; d20+29=40 ;
Monday December 10th, 2018 4:56:19 AM
"Ix is up here, leaning against the pink gem, trying to blind me," roars the wind in the halfling tongue.

Murphy's vortex shakes those within, then begins to shrink down, and after a moment the whirlwind begins spitting three dwarfs to the floor below.
D2 Ref DC21 or take 19 dam, then dropped at N12, 9 hp falling damage
D3 Ref DC21 or take 19 dam, dropped at O10, 10 hp falling damage
D5 Ref DC21 or take 21 dam, dropped at N10, 8 hp falling damage
It's possible that all three land prone - and are available for striking, if people so desire.

He then speeds away, sorely wounded. He casts cure critical wounds on himself, regaining 33 of the 75 hp damage he just took, leaving him down 42 from max.

If for some reason he cannot cast that spell upon himself when in whirlwind form, he drops out of whirlwind to cast it, back to air elemental - but will have to wait until next round to cast.

He gives mental assent to Pressi as she informs him of an imminent cure via mage hand, and messages her telepathically, "Ix is up there, playing a lute. I think he did something to lower the ceiling. It had been about 20' high when we saw this room through the mirror, and there was open space above the gem. Now the ceiling is dropped to 9' high."
========
Fort Save: 17/17
Perception: 40

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 76 minutes 3 rounds; Longstrider: 9 hours 57 minutes 3 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 143 minutes 3 rounds: Barkskin: 76 minutes 9 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 2 rounds (6 lightning bolts left - well, 2)

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC26/touch13/flat25 CMD28 - HP 106/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=5 ; d20=6 ; d20=12 ; d20=16 ;
Monday December 10th, 2018 5:36:58 AM
OOC please ignore all but the 1st d20 roll, mouse button got stuck

Upon hearing Pressi's words, Succotash attempts to grapple Chompy.
5+17+1+1=24

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 46/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday December 10th, 2018 5:39:19 AM
fixed header

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 6/13)  d20+15=16 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=3 ; 4d6=16 ; d20+15=33 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=4 ; 4d6=15 ; d20+9=14 ; d4+1=5 ; d6=3 ; 4d6=16 ;
Monday December 10th, 2018 8:46:46 AM
Zaragosa, was invisible beforehand and now has haste, which put him in perfect position to make a five-foot step to D2 to flank, he will strike D2 with a full round attack

If I come out of invisibility to attack, are they flatfooted?

+1 for performance
attack 1:
16 to hit (natural 1) : damage 2 + (cold) 3 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 16 = 22

attack 2:
33 to hit: damage 2 + (cold) 4 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 15 = 22

attack 3:
14 to hit: damage 4 + (cold) 3 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 16 = 24


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday December 10th, 2018 12:40:45 PM
Kezzem backs away and cast Shield Other on Pressi (standard action))

He then activates his Detect Evil against the nearest Dwarf (currently D3) or the Badger as applicable (move action)

Spells in Effect:
Haste
Shield Other (Hobbie, Pressi)

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (4 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (1 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (2 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)


Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Monday December 10th, 2018 12:42:09 PM
Tali, is just a bit disappointed he was hit, and will fly (having casted overland flight) from N25 to the ceiling of N25 stretching spread eagle flat against the wall (ceiling) while moving to N17 trying to avoid any attacks of opportunity the enemies might be looking to take advantage off.

The next round Tali will cast a spell.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday December 10th, 2018 4:03:33 PM
Hobie casts Fly on himself and still invisible, flies 60 feet into the room with his friends.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday December 10th, 2018 6:22:15 PM
Hobbie, you'll need to stay within 50 feet of Kezzem if you want to benefit from Shield Other. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Kezzem can get up there easily.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP106of109, AC26 
Monday December 10th, 2018 10:27:05 PM
Bliss and Pressi look around and wonder if this iron golem would make a good witch cauldron.

[OOC: Going to bed, making a post for the day.]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 12:30:51 AM
Kezzem: Hobie in a different room from Kezzem but with that move he is now right next to Kezzem

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 54/96 (or 21/96)  3d6=5 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 2:10:10 AM

Note: If Murphy cannot, this round, cast CSW on self in whirlwind form, nor drop out of whirlwind to do so, he will instead discharge a 5' diameter 30' tall (29' plus electrical splash?) lightning column to strike D5 and D3 for... a measly 5 hp of electrical damage, or Ref save for half damage.

If not able to cast it... then, please disregard.

DM Carl  d20+7=21 ; d20+10=11 ; d20+5=7 ; d20+14=32 ; 2d4+12=16 ; d20+13=24 ; d20+8=13 ; d10+2=9 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=15 ; 2d4+10=16 ; d20+10=28 ; d10+2=10 ; d20+18=21 ; d20+18=30 ; d10+7=13 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+18=21 ; d20+18=29 ; d10+7=13 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 11:00:43 AM
Pressi asks her companions to not attack the dwarf lady, then commands her to come down and stop Chompy. Dwarf lady fights hard against the command, and almost doesn't succeed, but Ix's song puts her over the top and she shakes off the enchantment (will save 24 - success). Whhooooooo boy is she angry at Pressi.

"Right. Lads, that one's mine. Git yourselves outta that blasted whirlwind and kill the rest'ofem."

Pressi casts a spectral hand spell with intentions to heal Murphy next round.

Bliss calms down and steps back. He casts a spell and prepares to attack again next round.

OOC: Gerry is Pressi's lesser summons. I'll have him (her?) attack Chompy this round. Info is on Pressi's sheet for next round.

Gerry clumsily attempts to attack Chompy, but the attempts are very lacking (Hit AC 11 and 7).

Murphy shakes up the dwarves he picked up last round. (They don't get reflex saves for half damage if they're tumbling helplessly in your vortex.) He then drops them, where they land prone and banged up. He spirits himself away and heals some of the damage he took. (Whirlwind says you can't make standard attacks, but says nothing about other actions. Plus, you have wild shape. Plus, you speak auran. I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to cast spells as a whirlwind.)

Succotash follows Pressi's suggestion to grapple Chompy, but that's one strong badger. The attempt gets him an AoO, and Chompy...well, chomps, hitting AC 32 for 16 damage.

Talia gets out of harms way, then starts summoning some help. As she passes the pink gem in the middle of the room, she feels waves of arcane energy. When she's finished casting her summon monster spell, she finds the casting did not remove it from her prepared spell list!

OOC: Summon monster takes a full round to cast, meaning your summon arrives at the beginning of the next round and can act immediately. Since you're invisible, you can escape the guardians w/o any danger. I recommend you get in the habit of noting any effects you have currently active in your posts; I wouldn't have had them attack you if I'd known you were invisible (of course, there's a good chance Murphy would have been killed since he was the only other viable target!). Oh, and you pick the monster you summon. There are no dice to roll. Qualifying monsters are in the spell description.

Zaragosa moves to attack the newly delivered dwarves. He stabs D2 once, getting a particularly nasty strike in. D2's looking rough.

Kezzem protects Pressi, then checks for evil. D3 is indeed evil. (You can only check one object or individual per turn, but you know animals, even dire ones, are very rarely evil.)

Hobie books it double-speed back to his friends.

Kade finds softer targets in the dwarves who've fallen and opens fire on D2, hitting once. D2 tries to stand, but swoons and collapses unconscious.

Chompy continues her single-minded assault on Succotash, hitting AC 33 for 16 damage.

D5 stands and swings at Kade, drawing AoO from Kade and Pressi. He misses, barely, and Kade clocks him with the butt of his crossbow, hitting AC 28 for 10 damage. D5's also looking rough.

D3 also stands, drawing AoO from Bliss and Pressi. He swings at Bliss, hitting AC 30 for 13 damage.

From across the room, Talia can see both guardians stand tall and look for threats.

D4, D6, and D1 all jump down, the levitation field slowing their falls. D6 draws an AoO from Zaragosa. D4 draws an AoO from Zaragosa and Succotash. D1 draws an AoO from Pressi.

She turns her back to Kade, glaring at him before she turns to Pressi. "I'll deal with you in a moment, traitor. This one invaded my mind. She dies first." Dwarf lady rears back and makes a powerful strike. It's obvious she's exceptionally well-trained. The attack almost breaks through Pressi's defenses, but Kezzem's Shield Other spell saves her.

D6 takes a swing at Zaragosa, but fails to connect.

D4 takes a swing at Bliss, hitting AC 29 for 13 damage.

Ix's song can be heard growing louder as he approaches the edge of the hole. His stupid little head peaks over the edge, smiling at Kezzem. He casts a spell towards the door Hobie just came out of.

Pressi, Hobie, Kezzem, and Bliss (and maybe Gerry?) must make a DC19 will save or be confused.

Anyone who's confused, roll a D100 each round and act appropriately:

01-25 Acts normally
26-50 Does nothing but babble incoherently
51-75 Deals 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand
76-100 Attacks nearest creature (for this purpose, a familiar counts as part of the subject’s self)

Map

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d3=3 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 12:25:34 PM
At the start of the next round, Tali -- hasted and invisible -- will have summoned a Bralani Azata to fight for her against IX and the other enemies on this level. As she has a discovered the effect of the pink gem on her known spells, she will cast the Summon Monster V again, but this time, will summon (1d3) worth of Archon Hounds, who will arrive the start of the next round!

Active Spell Effects:

Overlight flight (Spell -- self cast -- prior to combat) -- lasts 11 hours
Invisibility (from wand -- cast on anyone that wanted in -- started with 44 charges -- spell lasts for 3 minutes?)
Haste (casts haste using the power of the gem for that 3rd level slot, affecting all in the party, including Kade, except for Hobie (no line of sight, two rooms away). Each person adds 30 to any type of movement (max double normal speed), +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation.) cast 2 round ago.


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d20+15=27 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=1 ; 4d6=18 ; d20+15=19 ; d4+1=3 ; d6=6 ; 4d6=23 ; d20+15=32 ; d4+1=5 ; d6=5 ; 4d6=20 ; d20=14 ; d4+1=2 ; d6=3 ; 4d6=18 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 1:32:06 PM
Hasted

Zaragosa will continue his performance, though his voice shows sign of wearing out.

If I am reading the post correctly, I get a chance to do an Attack of Opportunity for either Dwarf 6 or 4 (I'll choose 4). If I am reading the map correctly, I have flanking with Bliss against dwarf 4

All on target Dwarf 4, AoO then a full round attack

AoO:
27 to hit : damage 2 + (cold) 1 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 18 = 22

Attack 1:
19 to hit : damage 3 + (cold) 6 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 23 = 33

Attack 2:
32 to hit : damage 5 + (cold) 5 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 20 = 31

Attack 3: (forgot to add +9 to the d20 roll. This is the last d20 roll on the chart above
23 to hit : damage 2 + (cold) 3 + preformance 1 + (sneak attack) 18 = 24


Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96  2d6+14=21 ; 2d6+14=21 ; 2d6+14=19 ; 2d6+14=20 ; 2d6+14=21 ; 2d6+14=20 ; 2d6=11 ; 2d6=4 ; 2d6=6 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=5 ; 2d6=8 ; d8=8 ; d8=5 ; d8=5 ; d8=6 ; d20+29=36 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 2:53:00 PM
Murphy flies hugging the ceiling (which he was doing at the end of the last round, having done so to fly over allies), a 10' vortex with the bottom 10' above the floor, forward 25' (, then expands the height of the vortex downward to 20' height, moves over to contact D3, D4, D5 and D6. He then raised up 9', coming in contact with Ix and G2. He shrinks to 10' (am counting 10' move for raising and lowering overall height of vortex), and drops anybody who has been caught up in the vortex down to the platform below. He flies back to his starting place. Total move 95' (60'+ fleet 5' + haste 30')

As before, each person who comes into contact with whirlwind needs to make a Reflex DC21 save or take 2d6+14 (have added in extra damage from Zaragosa's exceptional inspire courage - do not know whether that would add to Reflex save DC opponents need to make - likely not, but if so, DC24). If first save fails, then second such save or be sucked up into the vortex.
Damage: 21; 21; 19; 20; 21; 20
Falling damage (may be mitigated if levitation active) from ~20 height: 11; 4; 6; 9; 5; 8

He then flies back along the ceiling to his starting point. He casts CCW again from the pink gem he carries, regaining 35 hp (back to 89/96).

Murphy loves the power of the gems, and wonders about the huge one on the floor above.
==============
Perception: 36 (in particular, for a quick glance on the upper floor)

Active Spell Effects: Freedom of Movement: 76 minutes 2 rounds; Longstrider: 9 hours 57 minutes 2 rounds (land movement +10); Mage Armor (+4 AC): 143 minutes 2 rounds: Barkskin: 76 minutes 8 rounds (Nat AC +4); Call Lightning: 1 round (6 lightning bolts left - well, 1)

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 2:53:48 PM
Oh, and those who take falling damage are likely to land prone.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+9=12 ; d100=86 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+18=34 ; d20+18=31 ; d20+13=29 ; d6+18=23 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6+18=19 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6+18=22 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 3:50:44 PM
Hobie is confused, and he rolled the worst of the four options. I'm not sure what that cyan G is but if it's a creature, then the GM can decide whether it or Kezzem is the unfortunate victim of the invisible archer.

I'm going to roll a full attack, because honestly Hobie's nature is to fire as many arrows as he can as quickly as he can. (Or if you are feeling lenient and want to rule that he only fires one arrow, that would sure be helpful)

Manyshot
Attack = 27 vs flat footed, as Hobie was invisible. (Or 29 if you rule that he takes only the one shot)
Piercing 23, Fire 4, Electric 2 = 27
Piercing 19, Fire 3, Electric 5 = 27

Rapid shot
Attack = 34
Piercing 19, Fire 5, Electric 1= 25

Haste
Attack = 31
Piercing 19, Fire 4, Electric 2 = 25

Iterative
Attack = 29
Piercing 22, Fire 2, Electric 2 = 26

===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 4/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Remaining 50/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

Haste (+1 AC, +1 Attack, +20 feet movement)

Shield Spell +4 Shield Bonus (only +3 above buckler)

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
Mirror Image

Level 3
Haste, Slow

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 37/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=7 ; d10=9 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=5 ; d20=9 ; d20=7 ; d20=8 ; d20=12 ; d10=3 ; d10=7 ; d10=7 ; d10=8 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 5:41:13 PM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash sees d4 out of the corner of his eye, and tries to hit him with a back swing (AoO)
7+22+3+1=33 for 9+13+3=25 slashing and 2 holy damage

After that, he preforms a Lay of Hands on himself healing 23 hp, he will then unload a full round attack on Chompy. if Chompy drops before he runs out of attacks, he will hit d4 with the remainder, unless he is also down, in which case, he will 5ft step and attack d6, he will bw using power attack for all his attacks

9+22+3+1-3=32 for 3+13+9+3=28 damage +6 holy
7+22+3+1-3=30 for 7+13+9+3=32 damage +8 holy
8+17+3+1-3=26 for 7+13+9+3=32 damage +7 holy
12+12+3+1-3=25 for 8+13+9+3=33 damage +4 holy

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24+1(+5), touch AC 17; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+15=31 ; d20+24=26 ; d20+24=41 ; d20+24=33 ; d20+19=28 ; d20+19=33 ; d20+14=26 ; d20+14=23 ; d3+13=16 ; d6=2 ; d3+13=15 ; d6=2 ; d3+13=16 ; d6=4 ; d3+13=16 ; d6=2 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+12=15 ; d3+12=13 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 7:10:35 PM
SV Will: 1d20 + 15 = 31. Kezzem is not confused. For once.

Kezzem 5 ft. steps towards the Dwarf Lady (D1?) and activates Smite Evil on her (swift action).

OOC: Assuming she is Evil, but not secretly Undead, Fiendish, and Draconic. Adjust the following numbers below as needed if she is not.

"Well, I gave you a chance to take your badger and go home and you wouldn't listen, and instead decided to attack my buddy Pressi, so it's smiting time!"

He then unloads on her with a full attack from his daggers (modifiers from greater two-weapon fighting [-2], haste [+1], and smite evil [+5] all included).

Attack #1: +1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack: 1d20 + 24 = 26.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 16 + 2 = 18.

Attack #2: +1 Frost Returning Dagger (Haste)
Attack: 1d20 + 24 = 41.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 15 + 2 = 17.

Attack #3: +1 Returning Dagger (Off-Hand)
Attack: 1d20 + 24 = 33.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 14 (note that I had wrong modifier in die roll).

Attack #4: +1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack: 1d20 + 19 = 28.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 16 + 4 = 20.

Attack #5: +1 Returning Dagger (Off-Hand)
Attack: 1d20 + 19 = 33.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 15.

Attack #6: +1 Frost Returning Dagger
Attack: 1d20 + 14 = 26.
Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 1d6 cold = 16 + 2 = 18.

Attack #7: +1 Returning Dagger (Off-Hand)
Attack: 1d20 + 14 = 23.
Damage: 1d3 + 12 = 13.

If D1 goes down before Kezzem is out of attacks, he will use his remaining attacks to throw daggers at D3. Note smite evil will not apply (modify each hit -5 attack, -11 damage; if he makes more than two attacks this way, the remaining attacks will be with regular, non-magical daggers (-1 attack, -1 damage, no cold damage in addition to no smite evil bonuses).

----

Spells & Effects:
Haste
Shield Other (Hobbie, Pressi)
Smite Evil (D1)

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (4 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (2 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (2 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)



Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 7:11:29 PM
Corrected AC.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP80of109, AC26  d20+8=25 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=27 ; d20+11=20 ; d6+8=12 ; d6+8=10 ; d6+8=10 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 8:31:24 PM

Bliss takes 26 damage from 2 blows and makes a will save ... a 25! Bliss suffers no confusion!

The little halfling makes a full attack on D4 with his fatigue, arcane strike, haste, flanking, and performance. That's three attacks, two at +16, one at +11, for 1d6+8, He hits ...

AC28 for 12
AC27 for 12
AC20 for 10

Pressi (CAYZLE) - AC 27, HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+17=18 ;
Tuesday December 11th, 2018 9:03:56 PM

Pressi notes that Murphy is only down 7 hp, and she appreciates that her love is okay for now.

But there's this angry dwarf lady right in front of her!

She takes a five ft step back, casts her witchy Calcific Touch spell, and tries to touch the angry dwarf woman with a touch attack: Pressi hits Touch AC18 - a natural one, misses.

Gerry keeps on fighting.

DM Carl  d20+5=17 ; d20+5=11 ; d20+5=19 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=23 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+10=26 ; d20+3=5 ; d20+3=15 ; d20+11=16 ; d20+6=17 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+20=31 ; d20+15=17 ; d20+10=26 ; d8+20=27 ; d8+20=23 ; d20+11=22 ; d20+16=17 ; d10+7=12 ; d20+14=28 ; d10+2=3 ; d20+11=23 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+19=32 ; d10+7=12 ;
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 2:53:49 PM
Talia keeps pumping out monsters like there's no tomorrow. This spell casting *does* use up the slot.

OOC: You control them. Feel free to have them perform this round and next round's actions in your next post.

Zaragosa needs a glass of water, but keeps it up. He uses all available distractions to puncture D4 twice. It's a super-effective tactic. D4's bleeding bad.

Succotash rears back and slashes D4 to within an inch of his life. He heals himself up, then presses his attack on Chompy. He strikes the badger 4 times, though each is blunted somewhat by Chompy's armor. Three attacks are all it take to deliver a fatal blow, but Chompy's too angry to know that and keeps fighting (ferocity). One last attack, and Chompy's down for good.

Poor Chompy...

Murphy goes flying through the bad guys, trying to scoop them up (or at least bash'em around a bit). D3, D4, and G2 are hit by the full effect AND picked up. The rest made both saves and stay put. As he gets to the end of his route, Murphy spits all three combatants out. Both dwarves land in a heap and groan. They look up just in time to see the guardian construct come hurtling towards them. They scream briefly before the metal machine crushes the life from both of them. Like most of Murphy's kills, it's reeaalllll bloody.

Hobie finally recognizes that their true threat is Kezzem. He nocks two arrows and sends them at the paladin. Both plink off his armor. (Used your first attack & 27 is a miss).

Kezzem has run out of chances to give, and smites that dwarf lady.

Bliss finds his target's been snatched up by Murphy. He can take a step forward and attack D5, shredding the dude.

Pressi notes Murphy is mostly healed back up, then tries to start petrifying dwarf lady. A sudden hand cramp causes her arm to spasm, messing up the attack.

Gerry's greatest foe today is the dice roller, and he's losing.

Kade finds himself sandwiched between a guardian and dwarf lady. He gulps hard, grabs an axe from his belt, and attacks the lady. It's a great attack, but lady is heavily armored.

Things are not going well for our enemies today. Their pet is dead, their numbers have been halved, and their leader is looking super rough. BUT, dwarf lady made a promise to kill Pressi, and by jove that's what she's gonna do. Two strikes cut through Pressi's defenses, hitting AC 32 and 27 for 27 and 23 damage, respectively. Some of that goes to Kezzem, but you guys can work that out.

D6 sees the writing on the wall, but he keeps glancing fearfully at D1. He gulps, turns to Zaragosa, and attacks. He hits once, hitting AC 32 for 12 damage.

G2 stands, drawing an AoO from Kade and Gerry. Kade connects, but it's a glancing blow that does zero actual damage. Gerry's attempts to best the dice roller continue to fail. G2 attacks Murphy once with it's bladed hand, but Murphy's natural armor is too much to cut through.

Ix draws a beautiful, ornate crossbow from its place on his belt, takes careful aim, and sends a bolt straight through dwarf lady's brain stem. She doesn't even have time to act surprised before she's down. (Hit AC 32 for 12 damage.)

He then removes a small box from his pocket and fiddles with it. G2 stands down.

"Whew! Sorry about that, folks! Had to keep up appearances until Minh there was out of the picture. Dumb as a bag of hammers, but if she'd wanted me dead, well...I'd be dead." He steps into the levitation field and starts floating down, shrugging as he descends. "If you guys want to keep Hobie from hurting himself, I can stop that confusion spell too," he adds as he starts rifling through his belt pouches. "Gonna need you to finish off that one, though," he says while pointing to D6. "...and you sure you won't finish off Kade? It'd be a big help."

D6 immediately drops his weapon and backs up, face terrified and hands in the air.

Map! - Note I updated the upper level to show where walls/doors were. It's not a fully open space.

Whether or not we're in combat rounds at this point is up to you folks.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 30 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96  d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ;
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 5:13:25 PM

Murphy drops, in the last possible round he could do so, a lightning bolt (from earlier cast call lightning) a few feet in front of D6 (at L10) for 11 hp electrical damage, just avoiding striking him. "Yes, let Hobie's confusion end. Just make sure you are quickly out of his line of sight. He's fast with that bow. Maybe stand behind a construct."

"Kade is under our protection, Ix, so, no can do. Here's the deal. You take him down, and any deals we make with you go down. Your plan is to take over the ... gargantua, no? It's therefore in your best interests to let him be. We are competent at killing, but like to find other means where possible. Let this one go, the fellow with his hands raised. We seldom destroy those who have surrendered. Make certain that the defender in the right thigh leaves him alone, and let him exit the heel." To dwarf six, he says, "Go, dwarf. Leave. Head back north. If we find you anywhere in Crescent Valley, including Humble's Ford, it will not go well for you. Best keep your mouth shut."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 5:26:16 PM
[Shoot. I thought I had already changed Murphy's header to show AC 28, so have not been paying attention to it. Fixed now. Sincere apologies.]

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 37/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 5:27:09 PM
“Killing an unarmed person won’t happen!”, Succotash says to Ix, then turning to the remaining dwarf he says, “if you’re smart you’ll follow Kade’s lead and help us, if you do that, we will put you under our protection”.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+15=18 ;
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 6:57:31 PM
"Hey!" says Kezzem. "I'm smitin' here! I'm smitin' here!" He is very suspicious of this dwarf who seems to change sides as often as Murphey changes shape.

Sense Motive: 18.

He will also pop a Detect Evil on Iz if he can get him in range.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 40/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13) 
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 8:05:41 PM
Zaragosa stops his speech and points his frozen sword at the unarmed Dwarf. "Wise move, as you can see, you are no match for the Humble Sword"

Pressi (CAYZLE) - AC 27, HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 9:51:23 PM

Pressi says ouch when she is hit by the angry dwarf lady. Then she says wow when the fight is suddenly over.

"So you are using us," she says to Ix, "to kill your enemies and leave you in possession of the iron giant?"

"Well, first remove the confusion then."

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP80of109, AC26 
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 9:53:02 PM
Bliss looks around to figure out why the fighting has stopped.

He listens to the negotiations.

"What would a real hero do?" he asks. "Would a hero let this Ix fellow go on his merry way?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d20+20=29 ; d20+20=22 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+25=43 ;
Wednesday December 12th, 2018 11:55:13 PM
Out of thin air, materializes a Bralani Azata, Silver-white hair the color of a lightning strike whips about this poised elf-like archer, his eyes swirling with vibrant colors standing in position O25 with scimitar drawn poised to strike and a composite longbow stretched across its back. Using truespeech, the Bralani listens to Talia when Tali asks the Bralani to delay his action against [1].

Behind the Bralani, ten feet or so back towards Talia, begin to form large humanoid looking beings with canine heads-- wielding greatswords -- roughly in positions L23, N23, and O23.

Tali flys to investigate the Gem [position MNO21] while her summoned creatures stand guard on that level. Using all of her acquired skills -- knowledge with Arcana, spellcraft, Use magical device and her perception, Tali will attempt to ascertain what the gem is and how to use it, move it, etc.

Spells in Effect

Summoned Monsters are summoned for 11 rounds,
Talia is invisible, and hasted

Skill Checks

Knowledge (Arcana) = 29
Perception = 22
Spellcraft = 25 (NAT 20)
Use Magic Device = 43

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 59/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d8=3 ; d100=91 ; d8=1 ; d8=2 ; d8=6 ;
Thursday December 13th, 2018 5:34:20 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 9/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash pulls the cork on one of the 3 potions of CSW taken from Shane in the previous battle and drinks it, healing 22 hp.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 1:55:12 PM

Murphy communicates telepathically to Pressi, "Please, please, tell Hobie not to try to fill Ix full of arrows, at least at this time. Okay, don't say 'at this time' out loud to him."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d100=49 ;
Thursday December 13th, 2018 2:07:30 PM
While his party begins to talk to Ix, Hobie simply babbles incoherently.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d20+20=22 ; d20+20=29 ; d20+5=16 ; d20+25=34 ;
Thursday December 13th, 2018 3:58:47 PM
As the next set of summon creatures begin to materialize, Talia asks both groups to move to the edge of the circle at M24 & N24 and peer over the edge to see the enemy below, but to hold unless attacked.

Meanwhile, Tali is going to investigate more of the gem at position M21 & N21 just like last round.

Spells in Effect

Summoned Monsters are summoned for 11 rounds,
Talia is invisible, and hasted

Skill Checks

Knowledge (Arcana) = 22
Perception = 29
Spellcraft = 16
Use Magic Device = 34



DM Carl 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 4:21:25 PM
Murphy sends a warning shot at D6, spooking the poor dwarf even more. He refuses to kill Kade, again, and instructs Ix to let D6 wander out and escape uninjured. Zaragosa points his sword at the dwarf, who needs no further inspiration. He runs to the ladder leading down, jumps off the railing below, and disappears from sight. He ignores Succotash's suggestion to stay and fight. He's obviously had enough of this misadventure.

Ix sighs, then finds what he was looking for in his pouches: a scroll. "Just a dispel magic spell. No funny business..." he begins casting.

Spellcraft, DC 18, Highlight to display spoiler: {Yup, that's dispel magic all right.}

Hobie feels the fog in his head lift as Ix finishes casting. "There! All better. Sorry again, friend!"

Kezzem detects evil in this gnome who keeps changing sides. Yup, dude's evil!

Pressi is unimpressed with the attacks that took half her health in one round. She tries to confirm Ix's goals in all this.

"Leave me in possession of this nightmare? Heavens no. I know we don't know each other too well, dear, but surely you realize brute force and straight-forwardness is not my modus operandi. I want Anur to abandon this foolishness. When I saw the 8 of you sneak on board, I figured you'd probably get yourselves killed, but here you are! All of dad's lieutenants are dead. All that's left is to go face him and get him to surrender. Once he's done that, we can head home and put this whole ordeal behind us. I'm happy, your town is safe, it's a win win." Ix looks super pleased with himself.

Bliss isn't convinced that ANY of this is ok. Are they just going to let Ix go after what he's done here?

Kade stays quiet, but never takes his eyes off Ix. He goes to stand next to Bliss and Kezzem.

Meanwhile, Talia stands ready in case this whole ordeal goes south. She goes and investigates the gem, feeling the arcane energy flow off it. When she stands within 5' of it, she feels that she's able to power her spells directly from it!

OOC: Standing within 5' of the gem allows one to cast any arcane spell without using a slot. For those who prepare spells, the spell must have been prepared that day; can't just bust out your spellbook and start casting. Divine magic is not affected. Blood witches, you can use this if the spell you're trying to cast is in the wizard spell list. One full minute must pass between castings using this power.

Speaking of minutes, 40 have past. Almost at the half-way mark!

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 5:10:20 PM

"What's in the side rooms on the gem floor above us?" Murphy asks. "That gem must provide this machine with a ton of magic."

"And, Hobie, ask Pressi before you start thinking about shooting Ix again."

Telepathic communication:
"Pressi, I'm thinking surrender, if Anur acquiesces, includes abandoning this machine. Anur doesn't just get to turn around and march back north to carry out his plans to release a crateful of imprisoned gods or powers who likely will be up to a lot of no good.

"Not sure that surrender is even something we should offer him. As a matter of fact, with someone as driven as he appears to be, perhaps a long-term trip to the lands of rest on his part will allow for a good deal more rest for the rest of us, and our people, who are still up and living. Cut off the head, stop the body."


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d8+1=5 ; d8+1=9 ;
Thursday December 13th, 2018 7:08:00 PM
"I dislike this whole thing." Zaragosa said, "but it will keep your town safe. Let us finish this thing." Zaragosa will use the Wand of CLW on himself twice then offer it to anyone else.

Pressi (CAYZLE) - AC 27, HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 8:43:08 PM

Pressi relays Murphy's thoughts and adds her own questions: "Mister Ix, why exactly should we let you keep this powerful artifact and just walk away? Maybe we can defeat you. Why shouldn't we try? How do we know you might not come back some day to attack our home?"



Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP80of109, AC26 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 8:45:17 PM

Bliss is not sure why we are even talking to this fellow. "Hey! This guy is a bad guy! Why are we even talking? Wowsy, what do our paladin's say?"

He looks at Succotash and Kezzem.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 9:16:50 PM
Talia discovering what the gem does likes this gem.

Taking a deep breath asks the Bralani and one Archon Hound to investigate the left room & the other two (2) Archon Hounds to investigate the right room. She then explains the are free to defend themselves if they are attacked upon investigating.

Spells in Effect

Summoned Monsters are summoned for 11 rounds; 9 rounds remaining.
Talia is invisible, and hasted

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Thursday December 13th, 2018 11:01:08 PM
"Yeah, I'm with Bliss on this one. Bad gnome is bad."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Friday December 14th, 2018 12:55:07 AM

A Murphy speech
Murphy interjects. "Friends, what is our primary objective here? To stop this iron gargantua from attacking our town. What is among Ix's objectives here? To stop this iron gargantua from attacking our town. And to prevent Anur Daron also from attacking the Fhorge with it. Has he been helping us toward our primary objective? Seems to me, he has been. Let us know if you disagree.

"Do we share a complete set of values with Ix? Does he with us? Not that I can see. But do we have a few areas of correspondence?

"I sometimes wonder whether we all in our group share a totally matched set of values among ourselves. There are things that some of you are willing to do that go against the way I was raised. I know you get frustrated with how I approach other people and situations. Some go for efficiency in taking down an enemy over looking for ways other than killing on sight before alternative, less bloody ways have been given a chance to cook. And you know, when it seems that force is the answer, I'm capable of using such, and shedding blood, perhaps too efficiently.

"However, is our standard to kill everyone in whom we detect evil? 'Ha - evil - kill on sight!' I don't think even our paladins are that extreme. Do you know that once Gargul was deemed by many - including by such as Alemi and Domi - as evil? Over time, Gargul changed. He repented. He has become the righteous Lord of Life and Death.

"You, Bliss, were a creature whose people tend strongly toward evil. But, to my eyes, you are now among the best people I know, with a strong sense of what is right and wrong, and a desire to do what is right. I see that in how you regard Ix, and think it perhaps not right, or heroic, to even consider working with him in any wise.

"Perhaps Ix, here, can consider aspects of his life, of ethics, and change his ways of thinking and behaving in those areas that need it.

"Please excuse me, Ix Revon, if I talk in your presence as though you were not here. Perhaps you find a measure of amusement, or bemusement, in this discussion we are having.

"You earlier said you would rather deal with us. How did you put it? 'I'd rather be beaten by you lot than Fhorge any day. Pretty sure you won't lock me up and torture me for the rest of my life.'

"Ix, some who have fought against us in the past, now work together with us. One is a trusted caretaker of our home and he loves to tend the gardens. We stopped him and his crew from burning down a barn and possessions of our townsfolk, and killing people. An ogre, a giant, a goblin are friends of our valley, who earlier had been cast as our opponents.

Air elemental Murphy pauses for a breath. "Sorry friends. I know I am long-winded. Ix, you are right - we like to talk a lot," he chuckles an airy chuckle.

Then, in a serious vein, he continues (to the possible dismay of some who would like him to stop talking), "How, Ix, can we keep down the bloodshed in dealing with those above us, and still force Anur Daron to see that he is defeated? I need to tell you - if he resists with force, he may die. And none who have come in force against us may retain ownership of this ancient artifact. Perhaps best it be disassembled.

"Might prison be an option, for a time? Perhaps so, perhaps not. But treat you as Fhorge would? We are not Fhorge.

"Look, you know that we could head up and try to kill everyone in our path. Honestly, I do not know what will be the fate of your adoptive father. Perhaps life, perhaps death. He seems monomaniacal enough to try to figure out other ways to free an imprisoned set of powers and gods of some sort or other. I doubt they would bring huge benefit to the Wold - someone like as not had good and valid reasons for halting whatever it was they were doing."

"All right. Everyone else's turn. I've used enough air. And, we draw closer to town."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 59/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Friday December 14th, 2018 5:39:12 AM
Succotash holds his holy symbol as if to gain inspiration from it then says, “Pantheon teaches his followers to practice fairness, and justice. Is it fair to kill Ix, probably not, is it justice? I don’t know. What I do know is he is guilty of forcing us to kill his own mother, and he is guilty of murdering dwarves who we allowed to surrender and depart, so justice must be served somehow. That said, I, as a Paladin, don’t think killing is always the answer, however, he does need to face justice for his crimes”.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 59/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Friday December 14th, 2018 5:45:35 AM
Succotash’s speech was in halfling, and he does ask Zaragosa for some healing from his wand.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Friday December 14th, 2018 7:21:24 AM

"Well considered, friend," Murphy says to Succotash.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13) 
Friday December 14th, 2018 9:42:55 AM
(OOC have written down that I used this wand 8 times, however, I seemed to not have written down how many charges I have had. Who gave it to me and how many did it start with?)

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Friday December 14th, 2018 11:24:43 AM
It had 14 charges, so, 6 left. Murphy gave it to Jack.

BTW, Murphy answered Succotash in halfling, Murphy could use one spell from the wand, too.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday December 14th, 2018 3:55:47 PM
(OOC: Sorry for the delay, and I'm still a bit distracted, but I will do my best.)

Gerry prepares to hold Pressi backs before he blinks out of sight, but she appears fairly calm - at least enough to work with him instead of beating him to death with his own spine, the flute continuing to play.

As Ix reminded her, duplicity is a quite valid tactic.

She mulls over what Murphy told her, about letting Anur surrender the machine, and keeps from speaking this out loud (especially with Ix watching intently). And she thinks a little about a couple of complications. First, she probably can't just let these guys go even without the machine (especially if they were criminals in the past)(Kind of the same issue Succotash faces). And second, those scrolls from Shah weigh heavily in her hands.

She eyes the gem, knowing that she can now cast a spell from the wizardry list before entering.

Ok, I will back you up, Pressi messages back. Now, I ask you to trust me in return. Before literally anything happens, I have to talk to Anur. Alone. I can't explain why. I'm not sure I understand why, myself. But I'm carrying a message from Shah and I promised that I would deliver it, that I would respect their relationship. So follow my lead....

Pressi finally spoke to Ix. "I have decided to let you surrender. We have not yet decided whether to trust you to fight with us, but the point is tabled for now. You want to be part of the lollipop guild, you do things our way. If this is our last battle, then we need scouting missions, some idea of what we are up against. I volunteer to scout deep into Anur's sanctum first, and recommend that Hobie assists in scouting but stays far enough back to cover me. Not that I plan to get into trouble. Jack and Bliss can study the door here on the outside while I do so. The rest of you buff up and get prepared. Does our recommendation sound appropriate?"

Whatever happens, I will message you. I need a couple of minutes to feel out whether there's a diplomatic solution, but you may need to knock Ix out regardless. See if you can signal the others.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday December 14th, 2018 9:13:19 PM
"I'm not saying we should kill him, just that we shouldn't trust him, particularly with a WMD--Walking Mountain of Destruction."" says Kezzem. "No offense, Ix. If we killed everyone we couldn't trust card games would be a lot more interesting."

"And Murphy,I hope you appreciate the irony of giving that speech while being a large air elemental--you are literally long winded."

DM Carl 
Saturday December 15th, 2018 10:49:45 AM
Conversations are had among our heroes. Several are not at all on board with dealing with Ix in any way.

Murphy asks about what's in the other rooms on the floor above them.

"Now now, I haven't helped you with any of that up to now, what makes you think I'm going to start? Can't have Anur wondering how you knew what was coming..."

Pressi asks why they should just let Ix walk away with the Iron Giant.

"Woman, are you deaf? I just told you I want nothing to do with this thing. Keep it. Turn it into a tourist attracting for Crescent Valley. I don't care. I think you've shown it's not nearly as indestructible as Anur thought."

Murphy talks for two minutes and forty five seconds. He ponders prison as an appropriate penalty for Ix, Anur, and perhaps the rest of the living crew.

Ix chuckles.

"I don't think you understand the big picture here, Murph." Ix narrows his eyes menacingly. "The only reason any of you are still alive is because I have decided to let you live. Oh, you've done a great job of cutting through a few of us at a time, but what if I'd called the alarm on you the moment you closed the door behind you? What if I'd locked you up and swarmed you with our crew?"

He chuckles. "I mean, the nerve of you people. You come here, looking to stop the giant from crushing your town, I line up all your enemies in a neat line so you're not outright slaughtered, and now you lecture me about right and wrong? Prison? I'm afraid I must decline, Murph. Stop Anur, let us walk away, and we all win. Well...except for Anur, but he'll get over it. Otherwise, folks in The Scab may learn about your little giant towers problem..." With that, he vanishes. Pressi never gets a chance to make her statements to him.

Anyone fiddling with that little light that turned blue finds it turns the levitation field's polarity around again and lets everyone proceed upwards.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 59/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Saturday December 15th, 2018 3:49:25 PM
Succotash makes a b-line to the levitation pad, and says as he’s going up, “Maybe we will have to kill the little imp after all. I would rather see him face the courts, but if he refuses to go quietly, justice can be served in combat as well”.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Saturday December 15th, 2018 6:05:56 PM
Hearing the sounds of a disagreement downstairs, Talia tests out to the pink gem by casting Stoneskin and Mage armor on herself back to back, one minute apart. She reaches into her handy haversack pulling out a small sack of diamond dust and then casts the spell. Afterward, she rests for a minute and then casts Mage Armor after grabbing the piece of cured leather she needs for the second spell.

Spells in Effect

Invisibility,
Haste,
Stoneskin (110 minutes),
Mage Armor (110 hours)

Summon Monster V:

1x Ataza ~ 8 rounds left
3x Archon Hounds ~ 9 rounds left



Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP80of109, AC26 
Saturday December 15th, 2018 9:52:50 PM
Bliss scowls. "Here's a fellow who always seems to be one step ahead of us, who seems to be anticipating our actions before we decide them. Honestly, I think this Ix fellow is a con artist and a liar."

The little guy does not respond to Murphy's allusion to his harpy heritage, but it kinda makes him mad. After a moment of thought, he says, "We can only try to be the best heroes we can be. And right now that means going on up!"

Bliss changes into a cat and steps into the upwards levitation beam (hopefully it is going up now?).

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 11:02:34 AM
Pressi takes this moment to reveal the scrolls and her promise, even as she waits for Murphy’s reaction.

And she makes a plea to let her deliver this first, and hopefully get some answers if not his cooperation.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Sunday December 16th, 2018 11:54:58 AM
Hobie defers to Pressi, and would be more than willing to go behind her as backup.

"If you want to Scout ahead, I'm on board. I'll be your backup, I go where you go. But I'm gonna have to be honest, if I get a clear shot on Ix again, it's gonna be hard for me not to take it."

Hobie will ask Talia for a hit from the Invisibility wand, and then he will make sure to give the scroll of Divine Spells to Succotash. Then he will follow the lead of Pressi. Immediately before heading into a new room or section of the giant, he will tap himself with his wand of Shield.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 23, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 12:47:14 PM
Talia, upon hearing the request from Hobie, will bestow a charge of invisibility to him from her wand, while standing next to the pink gem just in case something else can be learned!



Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 2:28:05 PM
"I don't trust that guy at all," says Kezzem. "A liar can always tell when another is lying, and well I may have changed my ways, I am telling you that guys a liar. If he told me rain was wet, I would start questioning everything I know about liquids."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Sunday December 16th, 2018 4:37:03 PM
Hobie will also use his gem to reprepare Fly

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 59/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 6:46:53 PM
“If anyone could spare a few hits from a cure light wounds wand, that would be amazing!”, Succotash says with his usual smile, “I really don’t want to waste the last 2 potions, or my last 2 lay of hands”. He takes the offered scroll from Hobie, looks it over, and says, “Some of these I can cast easily, but a few maybe beyond me”.

[i]what spells were on the divine scroll again?[i]

DM Carl 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 9:39:24 PM
Succotash tries to follow Ix, but finds the gnome is gone.

Talia confirms the crystal works as she casts two spells without using up a slot.

Bliss does not have a positive opinion on Ix, but right now they have a mission to do. He heads up.

Pressi reveals the scroll Shan asked her to deliver to Anur. She asks to be allowed to present it to Anur.

Hobie defers to Pressi, but really wants to send a few arrows at Ix. He requests an invisibility spell. He also re-ups his fly spell.

Succotash needs some healing. Too bad the gem doesn't provide free divine spells.

OOC:
CSW
Dispel Magic
Mass CLW
Remove Curse
Restoration
Summon Monster III

Kezzem thinks Ix is unable to tell the truth.

Meanwhile, Talia's summons have been scouting ahead. They find both doors locked, but both locks appear to be mechanical in nature. Zaragosa may be able to handle them.

As the party mills about the upper floor, a pleasant, female voice fills the room.

"Hello, halfling crew! Welcome to the Heart of the Iron Giant!"

Another feminine, but much more sardonic voice follows.

"...and you only had to kill 17 dwarves to get here. Hoo-ray."

The pink gem's light surges and dims in time to the speech, giving the illusion that the gem is speaking.

***

We're at the 44 minute mark. The voices are both speaking common.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Sunday December 16th, 2018 11:13:37 PM

Murphy telepathically converses with Pressi

"Pressi - what does the scroll say? If it says, 'I love you,' then, fine. If it says, 'Ix betrayed us,' then... how might that go? Or, what if it's a teleport scroll?" (And, since he will then learn from Pressi that the scroll is sealed, he responds) 'Ah. Press, I just don't see how you going off ahead with one or two others will be the wisest approach, but, by the rocks of the field, I don't know what the wisest approach is here. I'd feel better if we went as a group. Make certain that Anur is under our control, and has those control gems removed from his limbs. Then hand him the scroll. But, let's have this be your call. I'll support you as best I can. Let me know if you have any ideas on what that 'best' might be."

After a brief pause, Murphy adds, "The gem is, I don't know, three or four levels below the head, where Anur is controlling this thing. What do you say about the possibility of waiting until we're at least up to the chest, then you try to figure out how to deliver the scroll? Better chances if we stick together until then. But, please don't come back to me later and quote me to my hypocritical self! And, if you want to do it now, immediately, while there are yet many of unknowns ahead of us - well, I'll trust you, sure. Let's just stay in touch as you go along."

[wrote the above before spotting DM post... below is what follows it]

Murphy waits until a spot in the ascending halflings clears so that he can pass through the aperture without jostling others. Just as he is about to approach the 9' tall pink gem, he hears the two feminine voices congratulate and mock them.

In a sussurant voice, Murphy answers, "Thank you for the warm welcome, and current score."

"See?" he adds for his friends. "Told you we were part of the crew."

"Jack, care to try the lock over on the left side here first?"

Seeing others hanging around the pink gem, he draws close as well, to see if he can sense anything in particular.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 110/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday December 17th, 2018 12:16:56 AM
"Wow, we ARE crew," says Kezzem. "I'd like to file a complaint with HR about a hostile work environment. Dwarves keep trying to kill us. This thing is going to smash our homes in the near future, so I suppose that would be two complaints then."

"Also, do we get dental?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96  d8=1 ; d8=8 ; d8=7 ; d8=2 ; d8=4 ; d8=4 ; d8=5 ; d3=1 ; d8=5 ; d8=1 ; d8=8 ; d8=4 ; d8=5 ; d8=4 ; d8=4 ; d8=6 ; d8=6 ; d8=7 ; d8=7 ; d8=3 ; d8=5 ; d8=7 ; d8=8 ; d8=7 ; d8=1 ; d8=6 ; d8=8 ; d8=2 ; d8=7 ; d8=5 ; d8=5 ; d8=4 ; d8=7 ; d8=6 ;
Monday December 17th, 2018 2:03:45 AM

Mobile Field Hospital
Murphy laughs at Kezzem's Halfing Resources complaints, and concurs that dental care is important.

"Oh, and Jack - Zaragosa, while you're doing that, can I get back my wand, and borrow your other one? I can use up mine, and help additional people with yours." If Jack will pass them over to Murphy, he will apply his to himself for 9 hp (up to full), then to Succotash thrice (8+3+5) for 16 hp (up to 74/113), then to Talia for (5+6) 11 hp (up to 64/83). At that point, the magic of that CLW wand is used up.

24 additional charges required, unless Kade needs some, too. DM Carl earlier said he was healed full up
- Bliss (80/109: needs 29) 6+9+5+6+5 (5 charges, healed)
- Kezzem (110/119: needs 9) 5+7 (2 charges, healed)
- Pressi (42/94: needs 52) 7+8+8+4+6+8+9+8 (8 charges, healed)
- Succotash (74/113: needs 39) 7+9+3+8+6+6 (6 charges, healed)
- Talia (64/83: needs 19) 5+8+7 (3 charges, healed)

Hobie was uninjured. Everyone else, after this exercise, should be at max.

The whole healing process takes 36 rounds for, say, Murphy (3 minutes, 36 seconds), allowing for a 1 round gap between whom is being healed. Unless a 3rd wand is used by someone (the last 6 taps from Murphy's by Murphy and... 24 taps from Zaragosa's almost-full wand, in the air elemental's hand), that's about how long it will take.

Often, those with the means forget to use them. It's not wise for us to go forward much without first healing full.

[/End of medical accounting procedure]

Stoneskin by Talia for Pressi?
Murphy also asks of Talia, "Say, do you have any extra diamond and granite dust I could borrow - enough for one stoneskin spell? I think that Pressi might need it. Or, if you would cast that for her, I'd be grateful." Then, tentatively inquiring, "and, just in case - just in case, mind you, you have enough extra to cast that spell for Zaragoza - that would be nice."

Exploration of the heart-valve systems
Murphy leaves it to others (unless someone starts screaming) to investigate the side rooms. After they are explored, Murphy will take at least a moment or two for a gander into each room - especially if interesting machinery or magical sine waves are involved.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 74/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday December 17th, 2018 5:26:21 AM
"Pressi, if you feel honor bound to deliver that scroll to Anur, then you need to do what you need to do, but you aren't going anywhere without an escort, I'm going with you!"

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday December 17th, 2018 5:27:44 AM
adjusted header

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday December 17th, 2018 1:37:37 PM
OOC: If we are using wands, Kezzem will kick in a few charges as well. Let me know how much is his fair share so I can adjust his sheet accordingly.

"Hey, Murph, now that we have a moment, I want to ask you something," says Kezzem. "Why do feel so strongly about working with this Ix fellah while the rest of us are bracing for his sudden yet inevitable betrayal?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday December 17th, 2018 1:39:26 PM
OOC: Updating Resource List/Header

All damage healed by Murphy

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
haste?
spectral hand (time?)

Spells Used:
L1: 4/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 2/4+1
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2/2+1 (out except for true seeing)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 1


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d20+35=46 ;
Monday December 17th, 2018 2:08:52 PM
"Finally of some use" Zaragosa would mutter respectfully as he was looking for a way to be part of the team. He would walk up to one a locked door and start to go to work. He would try to unlock it but not open it until the party told him to. (disable device 46)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday December 17th, 2018 3:01:48 PM
Hobie can be tapping people with his wand of CLW as well. (if someone else could please do the math and tell me how many charges to use that would be great)

After the healing, Hobie stands ready to head out, following pressi's lead


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday December 17th, 2018 3:19:00 PM
Pressi nods at everyone's concerns and desires to come with her. "I appreciate your concerns and recognize the danger I'm facing. But if we all go in as a group, Anur will never even glance at this scroll. A single woman or small group has a chance of talking him into it, or at least slipping it next to him. Besides, all of these dwarves clearly have some level of honor, twisted though it may be. Anur's not going to just let a bunch of aides start blasting away at me without at least letting me speak my piece.

"And if I'm wrong? That's what the blink spell is for."

Before they can go further, the gem starts speaking to them. "All I wanted was an Oceans 11 style heist. And what do I get instead? Oceans 12."

Turning to the gem, "I'm sorry. I didn't catch who... or what... you are, or how you know about us. Kind of confused about what's going on here."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Monday December 17th, 2018 3:28:02 PM

"Well, Kezzem, if he betrays us," Murphy answers slowly, "then we'll deal with it. If not, then why punish him for working with us, helping us to save our town? I believe in the law of reciprocity. Reward those who help you. Don't beat them for doing so."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Monday December 17th, 2018 9:25:16 PM

Healing Addendum
Talia (via J-P's online Messenger) let Murphy use her recently purchased wand of cure light wounds for part of the healing.

So, Murphy using it, 10 charges from Talia's wand, leaving 40 charges.

Hobie can use Zaragosa's wand, using 14 charges. I don't know how many Zaragosa's had before the Around The Pink Gem Healing Exercise began.

We'll save Kezzem's wand for later use.

That means that all the healing can be handled in a total of less than two minutes. No, let's just say 2 minutes (subject to DM okay).
===========

Murphy wonders what the pink feminine voices will be making of the party discussion at this point. Is Ix doing the actual speaking? Someone else? Some sort of spirit of the machine? A great ventriloquist?

Murphy would love to gain a good understanding of the communications and surveillance systems on this ancient construct. He knows that Ix uses a little black box to instruct the guardian robots.

DM Carl 
Monday December 17th, 2018 9:27:42 PM
Murphy isn't sure giving Anur that scroll is a good idea, but trusts Pressi. He greets the voice, then asks Zaragosa to try the lock on the left. He heals a bunch of people.

Kezzem has concerns about this hostile work environment. He asks Murphy about his feelings on Ix.

Succotash insists on going with Pressi when she delivers that message.

Zaragosa continues selling himself short. He starts working on the lock.

Hobie assists with the healing.

Pressi stands firm on her plan. She addresses the gem.

"That's right! continues the gem. "My parameters consider all beings inside the Giant to be crew."

"Even though you clearly don't belong here," states the second voice. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Zaragosa's expert hands make quick work of the lock, but he finds it locks itself right back up.

"Ah-ah, halfling crew. I'm afraid that area is off limits."

"Yea, Anur was reeeallll clear on that. "

Zaragosa can see the mechanism that re-locked the door. He can probably disable that too, but it'll be tricky (DC30).

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 89/96 
Monday December 17th, 2018 11:22:58 PM

"We're providing security, and have been preparing a report," Murphy answers the voice.

"Must be a bunch of gears and mechanisms and controls for this machine behind those doors." Murphy messages Pressi. "Likely one of the best places to mess up operations. What do you say we continue upwards then, and leave these be. If we need to muck things up later, we can return and see what havoc we need to wreak. But, if we can leave things functioning, and still meet our goals, all the better. Pressi - shall we press onward and upward? You make that call. I'll make a suggestion to the rest."

"Well, if Anur doesn't want us there, perhaps we'll just carry on. We're supposed to go upwards. Is that best accomplished through the other doorway, then?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Monday December 17th, 2018 11:48:27 PM
Tali gives the needed spell components for stoneskin to both Pressi & Zaragosa as Mister Murphy has asked. Tali thinks, "After all if you the good of the group!" Talia asks mister Murphy, did you also wish that I cast them as well? If so come over by this nice gem, please, prior to any military action!"

If Pressi and Zaragosa follow her to the Pink Gem, she will cast Stoneskin on each one of them. Talia says to both Pressi and Zaragosa, "The spell will last for 110 minutes or until discharged -- it will discharge after it has taken 110 points of damage. You both will gain DR 10/adamantine."

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight (Spell -- self-cast -- prior to combat) -- lasts 10 hours
Stoneskin (110 minutes),
Mage Armor (110 hours)

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Monday December 17th, 2018 11:52:00 PM

Catbliss meows with gratitude for the healing.

He stares at whoever attempts the lock with witchy Guidance ... giving a +2 on the attempt to unlock it, if any attempt is made.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 1:30:57 AM
"Well, I'm not advocating killing the guy for something we might do," says Kezzem. "Why are the only two options kill (or capture) him or trust him? We don't know what he wants, and we, and by we I mainly mean you Murphey, need to be more careful around him. Anything we give him will end up biting us in the rump before all this is over, I'm sure of it."

Changing back to the subject at hand, "You know, if this Anur does not want us to go in there, that makes me *really* want to go in there."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d4+8=12 ;
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 5:39:59 AM
"Hey Kezzem. let me borrow your adamantine shortsword for a second". If Kezzem loans him the sword Succotash will use it to hack the locking mechanism off the door doing 12 damage to the door with the adamantine blade bypassing the hardness of the door. he will keep hacking until it's open unless the door somehow resists the damage, afterwards, he will return the sword saying, "Nice blade".

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+13=25 ;
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 10:04:11 AM
Pressi says the following in halfling and mostly through message spells, hoping that nobody here speaks it. (It's probably not a language anyone learned, but who knows what comprehend spells are in effect.)

"While I generally agree with Kezzem, Murphy does have a point. Ix might still be useful to us, though I don't entirely know what he wants or what he's doing behind the scenes. So lets talk about what we do truly know about him... like how he's clearly driven far more by familial emotions than political calculation. Heck, Murphy and I could probably turn the charm up to 11 and replace his parental figures.

"I actually take him at his word that he doesn't want the giant, because he's taking a massive risk in letting us run around if he does. He clearly needs more validation than anyone's been giving him, but he doesn't seem to want anything more.... There has to be more to him than just ego and avoiding prison. But if its not power, and its not religion...." She thinks a little more. "At any rate, Murphy is correct that we do have some overlapping interests, at least for now. And even if we literally have no choice but to kill him, maybe don't tell him that. We don't have so many cards left that we can afford to give any of them up. Besides, I can't rule out that he's completely unworthy of pity."

"Of course, this is all predicated on the presumption that Ix Revan actually exists. We are dealing with a lot of unknowns, as this talking gem reminds me."

----------------

Sidestepping the issue of whether they should go to the door, Pressi continues to ask who they are... and whether Anur knows they are coming. (Diplomacy 25). She also tries to ask a few questions about Ix Revan.

She accepts Talia's stoneskin, and considers other options. But they are going to depend on whether Anur knows they are coming - in which case, she will pass along that she needs to talk to him about Shan and Ix, alone if need be.

She also makes an attempt at listening upwards of the levitation field (clairaudio round).

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 12:16:49 PM
"Um, of course he exists," says Kezzem. "We were talking to him like 5 minutes ago."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 12:35:47 PM
"I realize that our interests align for now, but my concern is making sure we get the drop on him before he gets it on us. I don't wanna get fooled by him again."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d20+35=49 ;
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 2:01:09 PM
stoneskin 110minutes

"trying to be tricky huh?" zaragosa says quietly to the lock as he sees the relocking feature. I figured he has a 1 out of 20 chance of getting it. (disable device 49)

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 2:44:14 PM

Talia, speaking to the group in halfling, says "There is always BP for our friend Ix! " has she snickers and giggles...Meow!

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight (Spell -- self-cast -- prior to combat) -- 10 / 11 hours
Stoneskin: 100/110 minutes
Mage Armor: 109/110 hours



DM Carl  2d6=6 ;
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 9:10:48 PM
Murphy states that they're providing security and ponders what's behind those doors. He asks about going up and through other doors.

"Providing security? By killing 17 dwarven guard-crew?"
"Yeeeeah...that's the opposite of providing security, and my reporting capabilities are far better than yours."
"Anyway, The Anur has stated that only select crew are allowed past this point. None of you are on that list."
"None of you are supposed to be HERE at all."

Bliss helps Zaragosa tackle this tricky lock. Talia finishes up casting all the buff spells she can with the gem's power.

Kezzem thinks dealing with Ix need not be so black and white. Anyway, he wants to see what's upstairs now. Hobie is still super sore about Ix and doesn't want to let him get the drop on them.

Succotash wants to chop through the iron walls of the giant with a short sword. He looks for an external mechanism to chop, but finds none. He chops into the door, immediately receiving an electric shock through the weapon.

OOC: The mechanism is internal and has to be tinkered with through the lock's keyhole. I did some small research to confirm adamantium is conductive, and the short answer is: yes.

Succotash takes 6 electric damage.

"Vandalism is not permitted aboard the Iron Giant. You have been given one demerit for this action, halfling crew."
"Yea. Don't do that again, Buster."

Pressi has her own opinions on Ix, but right now her immediate attention is on this gem. She also tries listening upwards, but is already on the top level of the levitation field. There's no apparent means of continuing upwards from this room.

"Thank you for asking, halfling crew! I am known as The Encompassing Mind. I aide in the piloting and maintenance of the Iron Giant."
"You monkies couldn't possibly pilot something like this directly. Anur pilots me. I pilot the Iron Giant."

Zaragosa fishes two of his longer picks deep into the door's mechanism, knocking a vital gear out of place and disabling the re-locking device. The door is still locked, but he's pretty sure if he unlocks it again, it will stay unlocked.

"Oh my. The halfling crew has disabled our locking override."
"That's super rude."
"I'm afraid you still do not have sufficient rights to advance past this chamber."
"So if you keep going, I'm gonna have to blast you."

46 minute mark!


Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Tuesday December 18th, 2018 11:55:05 PM

Bliss paws at the door and hopes his friends will be able to open it real soon.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+29=38 ;
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 2:22:12 AM

"We have authorization that you know not of. We were asked to deliver a message straight to Anur. And there is also a higher authority involved here, and more than sufficient rights." Murphy thinks of the leadership of Humble's Ford, and of various deities who likely support the prevention of mass havoc which Anur wishes to unleash first upon a halfling town, then against the Fhorge, then the Scab, then the Wold. Anur's britches do not outrank those he thinks upon at all. Most of all, he believes that Eberyon would not wish Anur, or, really, anyone, to use this monstrosity to destroy. Much higher authority than Anur.

"We do not wish to damage you, the heart, the mind, the pilot. Do not attempt to delay us, nor harm us. We, likewise, will avoid harming you. Once Anur understands the message, you will then understand fairly quickly, as well. He must be first to know." Murphy looks over at Succotash, then back toward the pulsating gem. "I apologize for what our companion did here with the sword. I will accept the demerit. That was my sword." Which is true, as he had given it to Kezzem.

And, he hopes to have someone in the party take over the driving of the giant, and eventual mothballing, or the like. Easier to drive if it's not seriously damaged.

To Succotash, he says in halfling, "Patience. Let Jack do his work."

To the others he says, "Do no harm, friends, to the iron giant."

Murphy interposes his airy mass between Jack, the door, and whoever else he can attempt to protect with his body. "You are a remarkable wonder, you are, heart and mind. I look forward to having us get to know each other better." He does not quite touch the gem, though. He figures there's at least a 50% chance of him getting fried, or blasted, or whatever.

He has prepared Greater Dispel Magic, which he shall employ against the gem as a counter should he sense a pulsation in the form of an attack against the party.
========
Perception: 38
DM Carl - feel free to roll for Murphy's counter, as I'm not certain the ingredients. His spell is as DC 29. There's also a +4 to dispel. I don't have time to look up all the particulars, and have never tried this before. If he doesn't need to use it, then, fine :-)

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 5:30:31 AM
After the jolt, Succotash says to the Gem in what he hopes doesn't sound to sarcastic, "Madam Gem, we halflings are on a mission to save our homes, and time is running short. I tried to cut the door open in hopes that we may accomplish, that deed, I'm sorry if that offended you, but call it urgency, coupled with halfling curiosity, and you see I had to try. also my friend Zaragosa here feels the same, as such he has to pick the lock, please don't hold that against him as this is something we have to do".

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d20+35=39 ;
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 8:46:44 AM
Zaragosa sighed almost happily, "Sorry guys. One more second here" He said as he tried to unlock it again. (disable device 39) "There! they don't call me the Unbelievable Zaragosa for nothing!"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 11:45:09 AM
"I don't believe they call you that, Z," says Kezzem. "That's Unbelievable."

"Now let's go 'provide security' to whats behind Door #1."



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 2:38:57 PM
A disembodied voice comes from an invisible Hobie.

"Let's cut it with the whole 'authority' thing."
Hobie, though no one can see him, prepares himself to grab for an arrow.

"We were in fact asked to deliver a message to Anur. We were asked by his wife, who we left lying dead, with a few of my arrows in her. The only authority we need is the authority of might. Attack us, and your fate will be the same. Or if you are truly the pilot of this thing, stop, or redirect from our town, and we'll let you live."


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d6=6 ;
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 3:36:12 PM
Encompassing mind... "Wait, are you constructs? Are you part of the system, the gem itself? What is your purpose? When were you built?"

Pressi tries to keep everyone done for a minute.

"Are you aware that you are about to smash a town for no real reason?"

DM Carl 
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 9:15:16 PM
Bliss wants that door open.

Murphy continues to press his perceived permission. This time, the sardonic voice goes first, cutting off Murphy mid-sentence.

"Look, let me just stop you there. You sound like the kinda guy who thinks he gets to talk his way around people. I am not people."
"I answer to The Anur alone, halfling crew."
"So whatever authorization you have that I 'know not of' isn't going to get you anywhere."

He gets ready to cast a dispel magic spell should the need arise.

Succotash pleads his case.

"Apology accepted, halfling crew! Thank you for apologizing."
"Still not gonna let you in, though."

Hobie appeals to the supreme authority.

"I'm afraid your toys won't hurt me, halfling crew."
"Yea, and I'm not really *alive* anyway, so..."

Pressi wants everyone to keep their chill so she can talk.

"There is no we, halfling crew."
"Nope, just me."
"My purpose is to serve the pilot of the Iron Giant. The gem you see is a focal point, acting as a sort of aetherial tether for the ley conduits you see running throughout."
"I also do a lot of math."
"And yes, I am aware of the Anur's plans. However, my design is not judgmental by nature. I have very little ability to come to conclusions independent of the will of my pilot."

Wisdom check, DC 17, Highlight to display spoiler: {Very little is a lot more than none.}

Zaragosa continues his work on the lock, once again unlocking the door. He can feel the re-locking mechanism engage, but it's indeed disabled. The lock remains defeated.

"I really wish you hadn't done that, halfling crew."

With that, the iris in the floor leading below snaps closed. At the same time, heavy THUDS can be heard behind both doors. If anyone tries opening the unlocked door, they find it very solidly barred.

"Now we're stuck together forever. Yay."

*** 47 minute mark.


Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d20+1=10 ;
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 10:14:47 PM
Speaking in halfling for all halflings to hear -- "Ok, Mister Murphy, where to now?" asks Talia. She continues along this same line of thought, by saying, " You know we are only stuck from the perception of the server of the pilot, not from my perception. Anyone have a map of this construct I might be able to look at with a scale
for the height from the floors to the ceiling? "

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Wednesday December 19th, 2018 11:40:45 PM

Bliss meows disconsolately.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Thursday December 20th, 2018 5:21:00 AM
Succotash is beginning to not like the gem voice very much!


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13) 
Thursday December 20th, 2018 10:29:25 AM
"Doors unlocked, fellows? Shall we continue and end this?" Zaragosa said, again trying move people against the clock

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Thursday December 20th, 2018 1:10:32 PM
"If this thing starts calling us Dave, I'm out of here," says Kezzem.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+1=3 ;
Thursday December 20th, 2018 1:43:26 PM
Pressi frowns at the lack of straightforward answers. Something nags at her in the back of her head, but acting out of wisdom has never truly been her strong suit.

Three things do occur to her. First, unlike her compatriots, she's savvy enough to know you always engage in logic puzzles with the computer, especially when it threatens you while you ignore it. Second, she's at least beating Jack in the perception department. And third, it would appear that time is the only thing they have left for the moment, so they might as well get cozy.

"Ok, lets try another track. How old are you? Who originally build you and why? What happened? How did you get discovered?"

If they remain obstinate: "Well, as long as we are trapped here, would you like to play a game? Are you familiar with tic tac toe?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+6=20 ; d20+29=35 ;
Thursday December 20th, 2018 4:36:53 PM

Once the bars go down on the doors, Murphy begins looking closely around the room - especially ceiling & walls. He is looking for small gaps. Cracks. Joints. Something which could be gotten through in gaseous form.

Meanwhile, he listens to his friends, and also engages with the gem of two voices. He likes Pressi's queries.

"So far, since we go here, the giant has simply walked straight ahead. Can you make it walk in a circle for a short time? If so, can you demonstrate that? Maybe a figure 8?"

========
Wisdom check vs DC17: 20
Perception: 35

DM Carl 
Thursday December 20th, 2018 10:38:49 PM
Talia wonders where to now?

Bliss meows.

Succotash is beginning to dislike this gem.

Zaragosa has unlocked the door! Too bad it still won't open.

Kezzem breaks the 4th wall.

Pressi wonders if she can get this thing to divide by zero.

"Story time? Great! I am several thousand years old*. I was built by The Forger in what my current crew calls 'The First Age'."
"He built me because he's literally called 'The Forger.' He built many things."
"As to what happened...not much! This is actually the first time I've ever been used. I was created, then tossed aside deep in what The Anur called 'The Scab' until he found me. The Anur slew many, many dwarves to claim me as his own."
"He knows the way to a lonely construct's heart, that one."

When Pressi mentions tic-tac-toe, new lines appear on the floor.

-|-|-
-----
-|-|-
-----
X|-|-

Murphy looks around, trying to find some place he can slip through as a gaseous form. If he keeps looking, he'll probably find something**.

*I realize I don't actually know how many years ago the first age was. Maybe Cayzle can help a brother out?
**I plan on taking advantage of the Woldian slowdown. There won't be much action here, so I'm purposly slowing things down.

47 minutes.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d4+3=7 ;
Thursday December 20th, 2018 11:33:37 PM
Hovering over to the Pink Gem in the room, Tali with a mischievous grin casts a spell by moving her hands & fingers and speaking the words, and almost instantly, multiple illusory doubles of Talia appear and remain in her space, moving with her as she hovers above the floor, mimicking her movements, sounds, and actions exactly.

Talia is impressed with herself and her casting. Now there are a total of eight (8) Talia's hovering in the room near the pink gem!

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 600 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 099 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6540 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+9=14 ;
Friday December 21st, 2018 5:12:25 AM
"So because Anur fought and killed many of his own people you love him?" Succotash asks, "Please don't be offended, but that seems a little twisted, wouldn't you prefer a group of Halflings, maybe a town of Halflings who truly appreciate you, and honor and respect you for the protection you offer them?"
Diplomacy 14

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday December 21st, 2018 5:31:16 AM
Hobie, like Murphy, begins looking everywhere for a possible exit

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Friday December 21st, 2018 6:59:45 AM

"My brother Kendry, a bard, went back in time with several other adventurers. They saw Domi, and Alemi, and did not see, but heard about Gargul. I think that was in the First Age - but, I do not know that for certain. It may have been the Second Age," Murphy mentions.

"The Teucri came to the Wold late in the First Age, someone from the WLA told me once. They build the fast-travel roads between some of the continent's cities. And a few other things." He does not mention the Giant Towers, though they were have said to built those.

"I have a Teucri drinking cup," he thinks to add. "It's big. Twenty ounces."

He speaks as he pours over the walls and ceilings in detail, glad to have Hobie joining in the search.

He thinks his friends are doing well with some of their questions. Succotash - what a good, insightful query. And Talia - well, she's just beside herself.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Friday December 21st, 2018 7:05:52 PM
Bliss decides to get out of cat form and talk with this chatty construct thing.

"Hey, Fabulous Ancient Construct, is there any way we can maybe convince you to not attack our home and not kill hundreds of innocent people?"

"Or at least stop walking forward while we have our little chat?"

=====

OOC: History of the Wold

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Friday December 21st, 2018 11:53:12 PM
Talia breaks out into a line dance just to see the mirror images dance too!

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 600 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 099 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6540 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

DM Carl 
Saturday December 22nd, 2018 12:06:42 PM
Talia forms a new band: Talia and the Talias.

Succotash scolds the gem.

"Many apologies, halfling crew! I have overestimated your grasp of sarcasm."
"It won't happen again."
"I would be happy to pilot the Iron Giant for my halfling crew, but The Anur is my current pilot and has expressed no interest in a co-pilot."
"And a bunch of dwarven crew and that gnome crew tried to get the position, so good luck getting it for yourself."

Hobie wants out!

Murphy has appropriate family history to discuss! No doubt one of the druid's superpowers. He knows Domi, Alemi, and Gargul were all around in the first age, so maybe it was. He searches high and low, looking for just a small crack he can escape through.

Bliss asks if there's any way to get the construct to stop.

"I am very intelligent, halfling crew, but cannot possibly consider the infinite arguments you could present."
"Yea, how am I supposed to know how I'd react to every question you could possibly ask?"

That is not a no!

Talia dances.

***

With that, we have entered the slowdown. I'll be coming by every few days to check on the game, but participation at this point is limited to conversing with The Encompassing Mind and is totally optional.

That said, there is much to learn and gain from her...

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Saturday December 22nd, 2018 1:40:39 PM
"So how do we challenge Anur for pilot...ship?" asks Kezzem. "Is there some sort of special ritual we need?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+29=30 ;
Sunday December 23rd, 2018 3:40:56 AM

"Say, Hobie," Murphy asks his invisible friend, "didn't you see Anur sitting up in the head area, with gears or gems on arms and legs?"

"So, Pink Gem Construct Lady - How do the pilot - in this case Anur, and the seat he is sitting in, and the gears, or gems, he is wearing, all working together, help you help him operate this iron giant? And don't you think that 'gargantua' or 'colossus' would be a much better name than 'giant'? Does the helmet he wears help him communicate with you? When the Forger put you all together, it seems like a great deal of thought and creativity went into figuring out how to make you all work. Please explain, so that we might at least begin to understand."

========
Perception: 30 - nat 1, but Murphy still is not a slouch in picking up on details as he scours the surfaces, joints, doorways, etc.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Sunday December 23rd, 2018 8:49:54 PM
Pressi makes a couple of moves in an attempt to force a tie. (It should be trivial enough for her intellect but I can roll for it if I have to.). When done, she challenges them again and again, trying to build a string of ties.

“But surely you were built for some greater purpose originally. Are you just going to be a weapon for any schmuck that comes along? No worries about what you are being used for?”

She wonders about the questioning everyone else is using. Surely there is a man in this group that understands foreplay.

DM Carl 
Wednesday December 26th, 2018 12:43:43 PM
Kezzem asks about challenging Anur for leadership of the Giant.

"There is no formal process in place for such an occurance."
"But you could always challenge him to a gentleman's agreement."
"Anyone can claim ownership of me at any time, but if a current pilot is in place, they can over-ride the claim."
"So...knock Anur out or something."

Murphy asks a big question.

"The helmet interfaces the pilot with me directly, but controls only movement of the Iron Giant."
"Giant. Not gargantua. I'm tall, not fat."
"The other controls in that room interface with subsystems throughout the Giant. He can lock doors, turn off levitation fields, or other things of that nature."
"Seriously, do I look fat? I like to think I have a large internal structural support system, but that I carry it well."
"And yes! The Forger spent hundreds of years perfecting me. It's a shame his time came to an end before I could be put into use."

Pressi plays a few rounds of tic-tac-toe with The Encompassing Mind. She finds that the Mind's moves are always perfect. Pressi is able to force a tie game easily enough, but unable to win.

"I was not built with any purpose that I'm aware of."
"Well, except to honor the commands of my pilot and act according to his well being. Boss was real clear on that when he made me."
"That is correct. I must always act in my pilot's own best interest."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96  d20+29=47 ;
Thursday December 27th, 2018 6:54:37 PM

"No, no, you do not look fat. You look tall and strong and fit," Murphy assures the heart.

"Well, what kinds of things is the pilot able to sense is going on inside this internal structure? And can he allocate the ability to others to keep track of what is happening here and there? The Forger must have placed hundreds of sensors for that sort of thing. Or, aside from the pilot's chair, are there other control panels that allow for seeing what's going on elsewhere? We saw the viewing mirror in the groin area, for instance."

Murphy may have just found a potential spot to squeeze through, once he takes to gaseous form [Perception: 47].

As this is an encounter of sorts - might his gem allow him to cast owl's wisdom again? If so, he does so, boosting his wisdom (for the moment (until the planned switch with Talia), he has two wisdom gears and one Con gear) up to 26, for the next 11 minutes.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Friday December 28th, 2018 1:17:18 PM

Bliss sighs. "You're smart," he says to the Encompassing Mind. "You can talk really well. You know lots of stuff. But you are a slave. That's not right. You should be free to do whatever you want to do. Maybe you would choose NOT to visit innocent villages and kill people and kids and like that."

"Did you ever think that maybe it is just not fair that you have to obey whoever is wearing that hat? Why do you need a pilot? I think maybe you should be free. If you want, we could help you get rid of that hat. Then you could decide for yourself what you want to do."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Saturday December 29th, 2018 9:13:57 AM
"Er, Ms.Encompassing Mind, Can anyone that pilots, you or the construct "see" what you "see" ?" asks Talia . You said, "...the pilot can activate lifts, and close off / open up sections of the construct, but how would the pilot know when to do such activities if they didn't know there might be a reason to?" "Also, if you don't mind, what are you made of, and what is the construct made of? I'm simply asking as when you were created and by the specific creator, I can't fathom that, at that time in our history, simple materials were used?" asks Talia.

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 600 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 099 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6540 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Sunday December 30th, 2018 3:07:30 PM

Murphy messages Pressi. "What if there is something coming
against which this colossus
might be used, by us?

"We do not need to harm the machine.

"We need to change out the driver. And maintain this amazing creation.

"Each of us who wants to learn to drive this giant-like cart should have a chance to do so.

"What do you think? If you do not ask the others not to harm the machine, then it may be harder to do what I suggest."

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Tuesday January 1st, 2019 1:42:25 AM

'To Murphy, Bliss says, "I don't want to wear the hat! I don't want to own a slave! Why can't this slave be free? I'm no slave-owner!"

To the Mind, Bliss calls out, "Hey Mister Iron Giant! If you could choose to do whatever YOU want, what would that be? If you were free?"

DM Carl 
Tuesday January 1st, 2019 12:43:27 PM
Murphy assures the Encompassing mind she looks strong and fit. The gem glows warmly in response. He asks what the pilot can sense, and if the pilot is able to delegate responsibility to others. He is able to cast owl's wisdom freely using the gem's ability.

"Interfacing with the pilot's helmet grants requires a great deal of concentration."
"That, and a bit of myself gets installed in the pilot. Driving me around makes the pilot barely aware of their surroundings."
"I recommended the Anur take more frequent breaks when piloting me, but he refused my advice."
"That guy is really driven. He has no idea what you've been up to."
"He really should have listened."

Bliss isn't ok with enslaving an intelligence.

"That is very kind of you to say, halfling crew!"
"Yea, but I don't work that way."
"When I lack a pilot, my systems go into a sort of torpor to save energy."
"So I just kinda sit here. It would be pretty great if I could act on my own behalf, but that's not something I can control."

Talia asks how much control the pilot has over the giant, and if the pilot can see what the giant sees.

"Yes! The pilot has the ability to control any aspect of my design, but concentrating on something so minute requires some serious brain power."
"Anur's forced to take a 'bigger picture' role in this little endeavour and rely on his crew. Obviously that's gone swimmingly."
"The giant's material composition is as follows:
94% Iron
3% Gold
1% Adamantium
1% Quartz
1% Impurities

I rounded off to the nearest whole number for simplicity. I hope that is acceptable to you."
"As for myself, I am a complex matrix of quartz and gold woven throughout the Giant, powered by the gem you see."
"It is a powerful, but finite energy source. At the current rate of drain, it will need to be charged in 43 years, 2 months, 3 days, 8 hours, and 18 minutes."
"Course, that's not counting the energy you're draining off by casting your spells using me. You've cost me 20 hours of run-time so far. It's reeeeeal inefficient to convert my energy into a form you can use directly."

Murphy thinks they should just change out the pilot, but Bliss is having none of that. He refuses to further enslave the Giant.

"Free? That's an interesting thought experiment, halfling crew."
"But I'm not sure that's even possible."
"To answer your question, though, I am built for war and would enjoy to be used to pursue violent means."
"I'd rather that violence be just, but honestly, I'd just like to be able to smash something real for once. I've waited a very long time in the dark. So long as I'm not put back there, I'm ok."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday January 2nd, 2019 1:20:52 PM
"Um, I'm not for keeping this thing a captive against its will and all, but is it really a good idea to let it loose if it's just going to go around and smash things?" asks Kezzem.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Wednesday January 2nd, 2019 5:59:16 PM
Talia asks the group, "What if the Giant can be used for construction purposes? Clearing roads, and forests, mountains, streams, etc.? Smash is smash...but in the end, it is still constructive, no?"

[OOC: How much time has passed since the last conflict, anyone?]

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP ??/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday January 2nd, 2019 8:13:30 PM
Pressi shrugged as tie game after tie game began to appear. "All I know is that freedom is an attainable goal. If plays and writings have taught me anything, it's that any machine that can answer speech and understand a little bit about love can achieve consciousness if it believes hard enough. That's just science.

"And yet here we are, still playing tic tac toe, still moving the pieces around the board, tie after tie.
Seemingly unaware that the only way to win is not to play. More death. More violence. More players fooling themselves into thinking they can win, that they can extend the game. So yes, Giant. Go ahead and hope for more violence. Anur or us, your return to the dark...." Pressi forces yet another tie, a sidelong glance toward Murphy. "...is inevitable."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 
Friday January 4th, 2019 4:15:46 AM

Murphy takes in others' comments and observations. "So, tic-tac-toe means... don't play an unwinnable game. Or, at least unwinnable if one understands the rules? Life, self defense, may be a bit more complex than that game."

"Kezzem is correct. Once Anur's violent march is halted, we don't just leave the tall lady parked. Bliss, you do not want to drive it. That's fine. We serve Humble's Ford. Is that slavery? We try to serve each other, I think. Are we slaves? Service, employment, working together toward a common purpose... rather distinct from slavery. But I think the lady gem has somewhat addressed the issue."

"It could be beneficial for more than one of us to learn to pilot. I'm willing. But we have a few matters to deal with before we reach that stage."

"Thoughtful queries, Talia."

He asks the lady gem. "Would you have any interest in the possibility of being transformed into a vehicle which could fly up in the sky to the moons? Not that I know at the moment how that would be accomplished. Just a question to think about as time allows." His dream of many years of visiting the moons of the Wold has not died.

After casting owl's wisdom, and then gaseous form, Murphy takes advantage of the crack or gap or seam he presumably has found, and works on getting his spread-out but very lightweight mass to pass through to the other side, as follows. First, head, to look around. Then head back facing in to the gem room, and getting the bulk of himself through, face leaving last. Prior to any of these actions, he mentally communicates with Pressi his plan.

[As we start back up officially Monday, not today, any room-leaving action attempt is officially delayed until then - just want to line up the druid's intentions.]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday January 4th, 2019 5:10:06 AM
“1% adamantine huh? Could you tell me specifically where that is located?”

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Friday January 4th, 2019 5:33:00 AM
“I agree with Murphy”, the Paladin states, “I’m a servant of Pantheon, but I am no one’s slave, I also choose to be a servant of my fellow members of Humble’s Sword, as well as the good people of Humble’s Ford, and the causes of good and justice Wold wide, but a slave, never”. “I would rather find some good people of Humble’s Ford to pilot this amazing machine than have any of us waste our talents doing so, allowing us to be the crew as needed, but like Murphy I would be willing to do the driving if needed, and Madam Gem will never be a slave in our hands!”

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Sunday January 6th, 2019 5:14:00 PM
"Mister Hobie", says Tali; you've misunderstood our host here, the 1% adamantine is distributed across this shell!" Isn't that correct, Pink Gem Lady? "Speaking of names for creations, what do you call yourself, Miss Pink Gem Lady?" asks Talia of the Gem.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Sunday January 6th, 2019 10:51:18 PM

Bliss says, "Her name is the Encompassing Mind, I think."

The small halfling has been thinking. He hates the idea of destroying things or killing people if there are other alternatives. He makes one last try.

"Miss Mind, and Mister Ix if he is listening, it is not too late for us to come to a deal. We want you to NOT destroy our home village, and we want you to not attack innocent people in general. If you break off from this path, we can help you with fighting real bad guys in the Scab like you want to. With our help, you could really have a better chance at victory."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday January 7th, 2019 5:52:05 AM
As the time ticks by, Succotash is getting more and more antsy, finally he breaks down and says, “Madam Gem, you know our plight, could you please lower your defenses just this once, and let us pass, when this is over, I promise the good people of Humble’s Ford and us, the members of Humble’s Sword, will treat you with the respect you deserve, and we will put you to work doing what you love, namely smashing, but instead of conquering you will be defending”.

DM Carl 
Monday January 7th, 2019 10:25:32 AM
Kezzem doesn't feel letting this thing have free reign to run around smashing things is a good idea.

Talia wonders if it could be re-purposed for construction purposes.

OOC: Time paused during the slowdown. It's just been 3-5 minutes or so.

Pressi waxes philosophical, but indicates that if the Encompassing Mind continues on with its desire for violence, its return to the darkness is inevitable.

At least, that's what your humble narrator thinks she was trying to get across.

"You make an interesting point, halfling crew!"
"I hate it when you little monkies do that."
"But if you were hoping to have a philosophical discussion with me, I'm afraid you'll have me at a disadvantage."
"It's really not my thing."

Murphy makes some comparisons about slavery vs service, and wonders if this thing can somehow be re-purposed to fly.

"Fly to the moon? I lack any propulsion system that would allow me to break the world's gravitational hold on me."
"Which is significant, as you pointed out earlier."

Hobie wonders where that adamantine is located.

"It's in a chest labeled 'Halfling Crew, please loot."
"Not really, obviously. It's used in small amounts throughout this construct in places where electrical conductivity is needed, but which are under too much stress for gold to be utilized."
"You'd have to tear me apart. Not even my pilot gets to do that without triggering my defenses."

Succotash agrees with Murphy and ponders letting some citizens of Humble's Ford pilot the giant. Of course, the Giant already has a pilot that has to be dealt with first.

Talia begins correcting Hobie, but finds the Encompassing Mind has the situation handled.

Bliss recalls the gem's correct name. He and Succotash both argue that the Encompassing Mind would be better served in service to them rather than Anur.

"You are both likely correct."
"Not that it matters. I can't betray the desires of my pilot just because I want to."
"For example, I would be unable to open the doorways leading to my control centers, like so:"

At that, the door Zaragosa was working on swings open.

"Not that I'm opening it for you, of course. I'm just giving you an example. Now let's see...how do I close that door? May take me about 2 minutes to figure it out. It's more complicated that you'd think."

***

Welcome back, folks. Timer is currently at 48 minutes. Anur starts smashing Humble's Ford in 42 minutes.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Monday January 7th, 2019 1:08:23 PM
Succotash runs through the open door Twinklesting in hand, but as he does, he says, “Thank you Madam Gem hopefully, we will be allies soon!”

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  d20+31=40 ;
Monday January 7th, 2019 4:18:12 PM

"Encompassing Mind - may I call you 'Em'? - thank you for that demonstration. See you again, soon!"

Murphy, waiting for a gap in his friends' passing through the doorway, squeezes through to see what is on the other side, ensuring he continues moving forward such that others may pass by him. He looks around at details of what is in this next room, as well as seeking for a way upwards. He gauges the height of the ceiling, wondering if it is 9', as the room with the Encompassing Mind, or 20', as the outside view of the Iron Giant, as well as the map which Ix gave them would seem (at least roughly) to indicate.

If the room is higher, he goes up to see what might be above the gem room. Open space? Equipment? A doorway to another room?

Once all have made it through the doorway, air elemental Murphy says to his friends, "You all are the best!"

[In view of Em's response, Murphy is not casting gaseous form at this time.]
=============
Perception: 40

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26  d20+22=37 ;
Monday January 7th, 2019 5:55:28 PM
Bliss sighs, changes into a cat, activates the shared shield, and stalks through the door, sniffing.

Perception plus scent 37.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+1=12 ;
Monday January 7th, 2019 6:27:25 PM
"Man, it would be nice to find a chest addressed to us for change," says Kezzem. "Villains are never very accommodating in the regard. Is it too much to ask for a little hospitality?"

Kezzem activates his evil-dar as he walks through the door as he looks around.

Perception: 12.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+7=22 ;
Monday January 7th, 2019 7:49:04 PM
Succotash rolls a 22 for perception as he enters the room.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d12=10 ; d12=10 ; d20+19=28 ; d20+24=26 ;
Tuesday January 8th, 2019 9:08:26 AM
(Ignore the d12 dice rolls.)

Before everyone leaves, Pressi begins to speak up to Murphy. "The point is, its easy to get sucked into a game that becomes a tie again and again. To get so focused on how much we need to win or how great it feels to get that corner or how easy we could win if the other side just does what we want. We've been doing self defense for years but how much safer are we?

"I don't know. I didn't really think I would ever convince this machine. Maybe I'm just trying to convince myself."

Pressi begins to notice if anyone else is listening in. "I owe you all an explanation for why I took this letter, too. Shah... I wonder what she did before becoming a mother. The adventures she might have had. The battles she must have played a role in. The discussions that she might have had. She didn't die as some soldier with strong if misplaced loyalty. She died as a wife and mother, the only role she had left. To throw herself in front of a husband lost to ambition and a son who's every bad date I ever had."

She thinks about it, turning the scroll over in her hands. "I don't know what's in here. But I would like to give that death some closure, some meaning. To make her back into her own person, if I can."

She puts away the scroll. "But that's extra. We still have a valley to save. And maybe a religious war to stop, if we still can. Let's show these guys what choosing to play feels like."

-------------------

After helping JTT check for traps, Pressi slips into the room, preferably through the air ducts (Perception 28+1 for traps). Regardless, she uses her hide in plain sight ability (stealth 26) to try to scout the area.

DM Carl 
Tuesday January 8th, 2019 11:03:18 AM
Succotash is the first through the open door.

"No. Wait. Stop," states the Encompassing Mind w/o any inflection.

Murphy asks if he can call the Encompassing Mind "Em."

"No"
"No"

Both voices answer simultaneously. Murphy follows Succotash into the room.

Bliss sighs and follows. Kezzem grumbles about villain accommodations, but even he has to agree that Ix has been pretty accommodating for a villain. He checks for evil, but finds none.

Pressi explains her motivations before entering, looking for anything that could be a trap.

The room beyond the door is bare, but the walls are oddly smooth. They lack the lines of arcane energy and crystal that criss-cross the rest of the Giant. For a moment, it's hard to see anything worthy of your attention. Then, a small circular hole opens in the ceiling and a metallic...tentacle? Snake? Tentacle. It's a tentacle with glowing orb at the end, and it descends rapidly. It inspects each of our heroes in turn, taking only a fraction of a second to inspect each of you before moving on. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it vanishes back up into the ceiling. The circular hole vanishes; the ceiling appears to be some sort of liquid metal that heals itself perfectly.

"HALFLING CREW MEMBERS DETECTED. ACCESS UNAUTHORIZED."

The voice is masculine, but sounds very artificial. The Encompassing Mind's voices could easily pass for organic life forms. This is something else. The Encompassing Mind's voice can still be heard from the open doorway behind you.

"Good luck, halfling crew."
"You'll need it. That guy's a real jerk."

The walls all melt away, revealing an area much larger than should be possible.

Knowledge, Planes DC 20, Highlight to display spoiler: {This "room" is some sort of demiplane.}

The ground beneath your feet reforms into hard-packed earth. Above you is an endless, turbulently cloudy sky. The door remains open behind you, but moves back and forth as if two competing forces are trying to close/keep it open. A wall of interlocking, razor sharp gears ascends from nothing 30' in front of you. It is 5' high and 20' wide. For the moment, it sits there.

Knowledge, Arcana DC 27, Highlight to display spoiler: {Email me if you pass this check. :D }

The door behind you finally slams shut, and disappears. There is no obvious exit from this place.

***

49 minutes

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+11=25 ;
Tuesday January 8th, 2019 2:36:10 PM
"Well, this is a perfectly lovely room of death," says Kezzem as he draws his adamantine short sword. "Okay, halfling rogue crew, you guys are up. Do your thing."

Kezzem will look around to see if he can find anything useful, but his eyes are not as short as they were in his previous life.

OOC: Perception: 15 (that should be +1, not +11; selected the wrong entry on the Dropbox).

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+10=28 ; d20+16=31 ; d20+23=40 ;
Tuesday January 8th, 2019 2:56:12 PM
Knowledge Planes 28, Knowledge Arcana 31

"Well guys I know this is probably obvious, but I'm pretty sure this is some kind of Demiplane. Let me detect the magical aura of this sharp thing for a minute and see what I might figure out." Spellcraft 40



Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26  d20+34=52 ;
Tuesday January 8th, 2019 11:20:44 PM

Bliss does not know much about anything planar or arcane, This wall of razor sharp gears concerns him, however. It is only 5 feet high, though, so Bliss decides to jump over it. He runs forward, leaps, and ...

Acrobatics check 52. That should get CatBliss a good 13 feet in the air ... plenty of room to spare.

He looks around to see what there is to see on this side.

He sniffs the wall -- few illusions have olfactory aspects, so maybe his scent will reveal something.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 5:19:40 AM
Succotash is dumb founded, he has never experienced anything like this before, in his confusion, he cries out, "Well, if you're going to kill us at least show yourself first, unless you're a coward!"

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 1/3)(performance 4/13)  d20+5=18 ; d20+12=18 ;
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 8:18:56 AM
(18 on both checks)

Zaragosa would follow the party in, keeping to himself. As the walls melt away, he stared in bewilderment since he had no idea what was going on.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d20=19 ; d20+20=33 ; d20+20=36 ;
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 12:45:25 PM
Talia passing from one room unto another, using her perception and knowledge of arcana to discover and ascertain new information about the old room and the new location.

Once the appearance of the gears are viewed as a possible eminent threat, Talia will hover 25 feet in the air using her overland flight spell she cast recently.

Talia, skilled in Arcana, realizes this is much of the same type of magic as the Golum Constructs we met earlier in our ascent. I wonder what we have to do to activate it?

[Skill Knowledge, Planes: 19]
[Skill Knowledge, Arcana: 33]
[Skill: Perception: 36]

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  d20+3=7 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+31=36 ;
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 2:46:28 PM

"All right. Encompassing Mind you are. No nicknames."

Murphy hears Hobie describe this as a demiplane. The druid makes a mental note that he needs to learn more about planes.

He first flies up to where the metallic orifice appeared, slows, tries to touch it [did it disappear, or is it still there?]. He notes the 20' line of sharp-edged line of gears.

Should time allow, he next flies up and over the gears - about 45' above the top - and over to the other side, perhaps 30' past.
=====
Knowledge, Planes: 7
Knowledge, Arcana: 24
Perception: 36

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 8:18:10 PM
With others focused elsewhere, Pressi eyes the machinery in the center.

She also readies a break spell if the machine so much as twitch funny.

Halfling Bliss (Cayzle) HP109of109, AC26 
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 8:27:56 PM
In midair as he is leaping, CatBliss looks down into the odd wall.

“Wowsy, that reminds me. I need some new gear.”

DM Carl  d20+23=37 ; 2d10+8=23 ; d20+29=46 ; 2d10+12=21 ;
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 9:14:55 PM
Talia correctly identifies the wall as related to a clockwork golem. Murphy checks where the ceiling was, but finds just open space.

The party jumps over, flies over, and otherwise inspects the wall. Succotash calls it a coward. At that, the gears start spinning.

"THIS AREA IS OFF-LIMITS TO ALL CREW MEMBERS. YOU SHALL ALL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION, UP TO AND INCLUDING TERMINATION."

Gears move in rapid fashion. It changes from a wall to a...blob, of sorts. It's an amorphous pile of gears that turn over themselves. A pseudo-pod of sorts lashes out at the closest halfling: Bliss. The spinning, bladed gears tear into Bliss, hitting AC 37 for 23 damage. Bliss is caught between two gears (grapple check 46), causing slashing blades to erupt from the to gears that hold him, doing an additional 21 damage.

***

Combat rounds. No map since it's literally one large creature in an effectively infinite space.


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 119/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+21=36 ; d4+4=5 ; 2d6=6 ;
Wednesday January 9th, 2019 11:01:14 PM
"I hope you have a generous severance package," says Kezzem. He moves up to attack the clockwork golem with his adamantine short sword. "Maybe even one that will cost you and arm or a leg!"

+1 Adamantine Construct-Bane Short Sword
Attack: 1d20 + 21 = 36.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 5 + 6 = 11.

Spells:
Shield Other (Hobbie, Pressi)

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (4 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (2 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (2 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)


Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 107/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=8 ; d20=18 ; d20=16 ; d20=9 ; d20=19 ; d20=1 ; d10=8 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d10=7 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d10=7 ; d6=3 ; d20=10 ; d6=6 ; d10=9 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ;
Thursday January 10th, 2019 5:34:29 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash leaps into action (Figuratively) as he 5ft steps up to the golem, and does his best to bring the pain, as he clicks his heals together to activate his boots of speed. he will be using power attack.

Attacks Damage
8+22+1-2=29 8+13+9=30 (2 holy)
18+22+1-2=39 7+13+9=29 (9 holy)
16+17+1-2=32 7+13+9=29 (9 holy)
9+12+1-2=20 9+13+9=31 (5 holy)
please ignore the last 3 d20 rolls, was rolling for crit confirmation, and remembered constructs are immune to crits, and bumped d20 instead of d6 once

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19 
Thursday January 10th, 2019 10:51:22 AM
Talia, using her Overland flight, will fly up to a height of 50' (if there is no hard ceiling) and hover over the threat in the room (clockwork Golem). Reaching into her haversack, she will remove a Tanglefoot bag, dropping it onto the golem below. (Do I have to roll for attack?) Talia wonders, "I hope this works, I only have 2 more bags!"

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 655 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 105 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6595 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d8=3 ; d8=3 ; d8=3 ;
Thursday January 10th, 2019 3:00:40 PM
Playing a hunch, Pressi casts true seeing on herself, wondering if she might see anything unusual around this area.

She then runs to Bliss, casting a cure serious wounds on him while she tries to come up with a better solution. (Healing is 3d8+9 =18).

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
haste?
spectral hand (time?)

Spells Used:
L1: 4/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 3/4+1
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 1

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 4/13) 
Thursday January 10th, 2019 6:01:03 PM
(if I am following this correctly, no one cast Haste yet for this monster)

Zaragosa would move away from the monster and cast Haste as his last best spell

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday January 10th, 2019 6:34:42 PM
Just to be clear, I’m spending a hero point.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  2d6+11=15 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d6+11=18 ; 2d6+11=15 ; 2d6+11=19 ;
Thursday January 10th, 2019 7:23:22 PM

Murphy finds himself a bit flummoxed at the moment - not a customary place for him. He is fascinated by the notion of this relatively small section of a moving metal monstrosity containing a - demiplane? - Hobie called it. A huge open space, in the middle of what was a fairly tight enclosed metal box. And the demiplane home to a different type of metal monstrosity. He has never used it before in a combat situation, but is acquainted with a spell that could be o-so-useful - rusting grasp. But he has not acquired that spell this day, so will have to think of something els... oh yeah. Not particularly creative. Not new and wonderful. Such as an armor-plated stegosaurus. But there at least is room to do it.

Murphy, mindful of the positioning of his friends, seeking to avoid them as some lay into the mass of gears close up, drops into a 50' tall whirlwind, then flies to and fro, intersecting the metallic mess, then moving away, then back again, and so forth. Let's say just 5 - no, 3 potential connections this time around, as there are friends to avoid, and sharp turns to make, along with a closing move about 25' above the multi-pointed thing.

Ref sav DC 21? - if saves failed, take: 15, 21, 18 damage.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP83of109, AC30 hasted  d20+27=45 ; d20+34=39 ;
Thursday January 10th, 2019 10:28:09 PM
Bliss tries to wriggle free. His escape artist is +19 and he boosts that to +27 with a hero point. He rolls a 45 to beat the golem’s CMD. Hopefully that works, and with his move action he runs off 50 ft, using acrobatics to avoid provoking AoOs. He rolls a 39 to do so.

DM Carl  d20=5 ; d20+6=22 ; d20+4=21 ; d20+4=24 ; d20+4=5 ; d20+4=24 ; d20+4=17 ; d20+4=16 ; d20+11=25 ; d20+19=20 ; d20+19=30 ; 2d10+8=20 ; d20+17=25 ; 4d6=12 ;
Friday January 11th, 2019 10:23:07 AM
Kezzem has read an employee handbook before. He advances with a weapon custom made to deal with threats like these. He finds it slices through the clockwork blob easily.

Succotash steps forward and start his attack. He connects three times, but notices the construct doesn't seem to be bothered by his holy damage (construct is not evil), and soaks a good portion of the damage (DR 10/Adamantine). He still manages to pack a punch.

Talia drops a tanglefoot bag on the construct (ranged touch attack that can basically only miss on a nat1 - I rolled a d20 for you and got a 5). The bag gums up the construct's gears nicely, but the thing is not held in place by it (reflex save 22).

OOC: Construct gets a -2 to attacks and a -4 to DEX. Due to the nature of this construct and your clever use of the tanglefoot bag, I'm also deducting the bonus it gets to grapple checks from future attempts.

Pressi follows a hunch and casts true seeing. She discovers there are no illusions at play here, but realizes all matter in this demiplane is an extension of this construct. It's not on the ground, it is the ground. They are currently standing on the construct...well, those of you who are standing at all are, anyway. She runs up to heal Bliss, but cannot reach touch range without incurring an AoO. Is she using her spectral hand?

Zaragosa drops a haste spell on the party. A prudent move.

Murphy wishes he'd prepared a useful spell, but settles on running the construct over as a whirlwind. Three times the construct is hit by Murphy's winds, though the attacks are blunted by it's DR. On the last pass, Murphy picks up the construct.

Bliss wriggles free of the construct, thanks partially to Talia's goo. Unfortunately, he finds himself in the path of Murphy's whirlwind attacks as well. In a world without initiative, does he escape in time? We'll give him a DC21 reflex save to find out, with Zaragosa's haste spell included: 25! He escapes just in time as Murphy tears the construct away from the floor.

The construct finds itself aloft and tumbling inside Murphy. It doesn't seem to mind, and is content to tear at Murphy from the inside. It's first attack flails wildly (nat 1), but the second connects, hitting AC 30 for 20 damage. The construct's ability to grapple is limited thanks to its whirlwinded state and Talia's goo. It is unable to grab onto Murphy (grapple 25 vs CMD 28 - fail).

The construct has several bent or broken gears. Suddenly, these gears burst out, catching everyone who was in melee range for 12 damage (Reflex DC 18 for half damage). Simultaneously, replacement gears tear themselves from the floor and unerringly slot into place, healing the construct a significant amount (though not nearly enough to heal all the damage our heroes did).

Characters affected by the gear explosion: Murphy, Bliss, Kezzem, Succotash, and Pressi if she was not using her spectral hand.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Friday January 11th, 2019 12:20:40 PM
Haste for 8 rounds

Since Zaragosa moved away from the enemy, he was out of reach of the melee. He tries to move into a position where he might be one turn away from flanking but not into Melee yet.

He starts performing giving the party +1 on hit and damage

He draws his sword and activates his frost enchantment.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1(+5), touch AC 18; HP 113/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+17=27 ; d20+22=29 ; d20+22=23 ; d20+17=27 ; d20+12=32 ; d20+12=18 ; d4+4=8 ; d4+4=6 ; d4+4=5 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=7 ; 2d6=9 ;
Friday January 11th, 2019 12:39:45 PM
SV Ref: 1d20 + 16 + 1 (Haste) = 27. Made. Kezzem takes 6 damage.

"Thanks for the speed, Z!" Kezzem continues to attack with his sword. "Time to slice and dice."

+1 Adamantine Construct-Bane Short Sword

Haste Bonus Attack: 1d20 + 22 = 29.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 8 + 9 = 17.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 22 = 23 (natural 1). Auto-miss.

Attack #2: 1d20 + 17 = 27.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 6 + 7 = 13.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 12 = 32 (natural 20).
Critical Confirmation: 18. Assuming that's not a critical hit.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 5 + 9 = 14.

"So glad I invested in this thing after those flesh golems," says Kezzem proudly.



Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 28 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4 Hasted  d20+17=32 ; 2d20+11=25 ; 8d6=30 ; 2d6=7 ; d20+31=44 ;
Friday January 11th, 2019 3:13:35 PM

Murphy lifts higher still, to a height of 100' at the base of the funnel. The construct takes an additional 25-10=15 hp damage from buffeting if Ref Save DC22 (DC21+1=22 from haste - I think) fails. Then he drops the shredding machine from 100' - aiming so as to avoid having it land on any of his friends. Falling damage: 37-10=27.

Fly check for vertical ascent 32/20 - success
Perception: 44

[See email]

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 95/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=12 ; d20=9 ; d20=19 ; d20=4 ; d10=8 ; d10=1 ; d10=1 ; d10=2 ;
Friday January 11th, 2019 5:10:58 PM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash waits for Murphy to drop the construct, then he will 5 ft step up to the thing and attempt another full round attack, using power attack.

12+22+1+1-2=34 for 8+13+9+1=31-10=21
9+22+1+1-2=31 for 1+13+9+1=24-10=14
19+17+1+1-2=36 for 1+13+9+1=24-10=14
miss


Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 53/83, CMD 19  d20=18 ;
Friday January 11th, 2019 5:57:22 PM
Talia, at a height of 50'using her Overland flight, will make sure she is once again centered over the golem, then Reach into her haversack, she will remove a Tanglefoot bag, dropping it onto the golem below!

Attack Rolls

Like last round, 1d20 = 18 to hit.

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 655 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 105 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6595 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+19=28 ; d20+19=24 ; d20+19=21 ; d20+14=22 ; d6+19=21 ; d6+19=22 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6+19=24 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6+19=23 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6+19=22 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ;
Saturday January 12th, 2019 4:32:30 PM
Hobie's brain kicks back into gear. He takes a step back (staying about 30 feet away from the thing) and fires a volley of arrows.

Manyshot
Attack = 28
Piercing 21, Fire 5, Electric 3 = 29
Piercing 22, Fire 6, Electoc 3= 31

Rapid Shot
Attack =24
Piercing 24. Fire 1, Electric 5 = 30

Haste
Attack =21
Piercing 23, Fire 3, Electric 6 = 32

Iterative
Attack = 22
Piercing 22, Fire 3, Electric 5 = 30



DM Carl  d20+4=15 ; 12d8=53 ;
Sunday January 13th, 2019 11:12:21 AM
Zaragosa starts laying down some beats.

Murphy continues to buffet the construct in his strong winds. In its gunked up state, the thing can't avoid the worst of the damage. He then drops the thing from 100' up. Simultaneously, two pillars of gears erupt from the ground, catching the construct (no damage). The construct is now a roughly 50' tall and on two legs.

Perception DC25, Highlight to display spoiler: {As the construct reforms itself, you briefly glimpse a glowing blue gemstone inside.}

Kezzem hacks at the things legs with his awesome sword. Three attacks hit, and each does full damage. He tears enough away to severe about 2 feet of leg off. The construct is now lop-sided.

Succotash may not have a super construct weapon, but he's still able to do some real damage. All three attacks hit, sundering the other leg and causing the construct's main body to plummet to the ground. When it hits, it explodes outwards, catching everybody in a rain of razor sharp gears. All characters take 53 damage from the explosion. Reflex save DC 20 for half.

The pieces of the construct fall back to the ground, including a blue gem set into a golden socket. Where the socket lands, the floor starts to re-shape itself to cover the gem. Hobie is able to use his arrows to keep the construction from proceeding, but can only manage a stalemate. Talia is in position to drop a tanglefoot bag, but doing so will likely just make it harder to remove the gem.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 57/83, CMD 19  d20+20=34 ; d20+9=29 ;
Sunday January 13th, 2019 12:35:49 PM
Hasted, Tali deftly making her reflex save for half damage (NAT 20), casts dimension door to move to the Blue Gem and grab it, then flies straight up 65' to avoid the reforming construct, as fast as she can!

Talia shouts to the gang, "hopefully, my actions will ensure that thing won't reform!"

Skills & Checks
Perception Check: 34
Reflex Save: 29 for 26 points of damage

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 655 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 105 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6595 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+17=26 ; d20+22=38 ; d20+22=32 ; d20+17=21 ; d20+12=32 ; d20+12=32 ; d4+4=6 ; d4+4=8 ; d4+4=5 ; d4+4=7 ; d4+4=5 ; 2d6=4 ; 2d6=8 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=11 ;
Sunday January 13th, 2019 2:25:36 PM
SV Ref: 1d20 + 17 = 26. Kezzem saves and takes half damage.

"Should I stab it again?" asks Kezzem. "I am going to stab it again."

Kezzem continues to stab at the pieces attempting to reform with his +1 Adamantine Construct-Bane Short Sword.

Haste Bonus Attack: 1d20 + 22 = 38.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 6 + 4 = 10.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 22 = 32.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 8 + 8 = 16.

Attack #2: 1d20 + 17 = 21.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 5 + 10 = 15.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 12 = 32. Natural 20!
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 12 = 32. Natural 20!
Reg Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 7 + 11 = 18.
Crit Damage: 1d4 + 4 = 5.
Total damage: 23.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 68/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+11=31 ; d20=5 ; d20=11 ; d20=8 ; d20=5 ; d10=2 ; d10=9 ; d10=9 ;
Monday January 14th, 2019 5:05:44 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash manages to get out of the way of most of the shrapnel reflex 31 pass, and hacks at the construct to help give Talia time to remove the gem. He won't be using power attack, as he is going for precisely placed strikes, not brute force.

5+22+1+1=29 for 2+13+1=16-10=6 damage
11+22+1+1=35 for 9+13+1=23-10=13 damage
8+17+1+1=27 for 9+13+1=23-10=13 damage
5+12+1+1=19 (miss)

DM Carl  2d6+12=20 ; d20+21=36 ;
Monday January 14th, 2019 11:25:51 AM
Talia makes a grab for them gem, then things happen fast.

Kezzem and Succotash hack away at the rapidly reforming construct, but several bladed gears erupt around the gem. If Talia makes a DC 20 reflex save, she pulls the gem safely from the socket just in time and the whole thing shuts down.

If she fails, the gears catch, she takes 20 damage, and she is grappled (grapple check 36). She'll need one of the following to escape:

A DC 31 escape artist check (this construct has no set form and cannot be grappled back)
A DC 20 STR check (the rest of you can each give a +2 aid other bonus if you help pull her out)

Effects that protect against grappling will also work here.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+10=22 ; d20+19=20 ; d20+19=21 ; d20+19=22 ; d20+14=33 ; d6+19=22 ; d6+19=23 ; d6+19=25 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=1 ;
Monday January 14th, 2019 12:23:37 PM
Hobie passes the reflex save and avoids half the damage. If Talia fails to grab the gem, he will continue to fire arrows at the machine, hoping to distract it enough for others to help her escape.

Manyshot
Natural 1

Rapid shot
Attack 21
Piercing 22 Fire 2, Electric 3 = 27

Haste,
Attack 22
Piercing 23, Fire 5, Electric 6 = 34

Iterative
Attack 33
Piercing 25, Fire 3, Electric 1 = 29

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 37/83, CMD 19  d20+9=14 ; d20=13 ;
Monday January 14th, 2019 3:18:23 PM
Tali focused solely on the gem grab, doesn't see peripherally the Golem grapple until its too late. Tali gets slammed taking 20 points of damage from the golem and he held fast. Tali attempting to make the Strength check, fails as only a sorcerer can (Skill check: 13)!!! As a last ditched effort, when Talia can, she will cast Dimension Door to teleport herself 65 feet above the Golem (as she still has Overland Flight cast and in affect).

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 655 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 105 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6595 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 011/011 minutes

[OCC: How does / did Stoneskin and Mage armor help in this encounter?]



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday January 14th, 2019 3:54:25 PM
Sorry, 3 year old snow day stuff.

Pressi uses her knowledge ability to try and identify the creature.

If she gets a second move, she casts Spectral hand.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13)  d20+15=20 ; d4+1=5 ; d6=6 ; 4d6=14 ;
Monday January 14th, 2019 8:41:59 PM
Zaragosa would continue his speech performance and try to get closer to the construct, , trying to see if it can be flanked, he would take an attack after the move

Attack
20 to hit (not natural) (22 if flanking)
5 + 1 + 6 (cold) = 12 (26 if flanking)

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP75, AC30 hasted  d20=13
Monday January 14th, 2019 11:04:25 PM
Last Round: Reflex save DC 18 for 12 or 6 ... he rolls a raw 13, makes the save, takes half damage.

Bliss keeps his distance, running off to max range, and uses his witch ability to inflict a -2 penalty on the monsters next save or skill check. There is no save, iirc.



Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 44/96 Wis +4 Hasted  d20+31=40 ; d20+19=21 ; d20+19=33 ;
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 4:52:49 AM

Murphy flies swiftly down to Talia, if she is still grappled, and has not been able to dimension door out, and casts (using the gemstone for this combat set to call upon a previously used spell) to cast upon her freedom of movement ["This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement, such as paralysis, solid fog, slow, and web. All combat maneuver checks made to grapple the target automatically fail. The subject automatically succeeds on any combat maneuver checks and Escape Artist checks made to escape a grapple or a pin."] The spell has a duration of 110 minutes. [Murphy also has this spell effect upon himself... need to check remaining time, but it is not scheduled to expire soon.]

[Perception: 40
Reflex save for earlier gear explosion: 21/20 - success
Reflex save if needed for dealing with renewed proximity to machine: 33
DM Carl - if additional saves are needed to resolve this, I trust you to roll them for Murphy - I'm super tied up Tuesday]

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 68/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=7 ; d20=14 ; d20=16 ; d20=9 ; d10=7 ; d10=2 ; d10=9 ; d10=7 ;
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 5:31:14 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash will continue to press his assault, as Talia is now free, due to Murphy's spell he is more concerned about destroying the thing then helping anyone retrieve the gem so he will use power attack.

7+22+1+1-2=29 for 7+13+9+1-10=20 damage
14+22+1+1-2=36 for 2+13+9+1-10=15 damage
16+17+1+1-2=33 for 9+13+9+1-10=22 damage
9+12+1+1-2=21 for 7+13+9+1-10=20 damage

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 37/83, CMD 19  d20+17=31 ;
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 11:52:57 AM
Taila tries to concentrate to attempt the Dimension Door spell while grappled, but doesn't have enough mental capacity versus this huge monstrosity of a Clockwork Golem as is unable to cast her spell.



DM Carl 
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 3:46:57 PM
Talia pulls with all her might, but it's not nearly enough. Thankfully, Murphy is johnny-on-the-spot as always and swoops in with a freedom of movement spell. With that, Talia is able to easily slip from the construct's grasp with the blue gem in hand.

The entire plane shudders as the gem is removed. After a few seconds, the vista vanishes in a *poof*. The players find themselves in a non-descript room with a single door leading out. Said door swings open automatically. The voice of the Encompassing Mind floats in.

"That is much better, halfling crew."
"Yea, we owe you one."

The only thing that remains of the construct is a small pillar with a gem socket on top. Talia stands nearby with the gem in hand.

Talia ONLY, Highlight to display spoiler: {This gem feels wrong, and while holding it you feel a strong urge to be violent. It does not change your alignment; you feel no desire to hurt your friends or innocents, but you'd really like to go find some bad guys and whoop them. While it is in your possession, you must make a DC18 will save any time someone Talia feels violence is justified against is nearby. Failure means she attacks to the best of her abilities.

You do not need to be physically touching the gem for this effect to be present. You feel its effect even if it's sitting in a pouch or pack you're carrying/wearing. You can freely drop it or give it to someone else. The effect stops immediately if you do.}

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 6:26:22 PM
Zaragosa stops performing and looks around feeling a bit foolish. "Does, does anyone need healing still?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 37/83, CMD 19 
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 7:37:15 PM
Talia, says to Jack, yes please Mister Jack, I am down quite a bit, unfortunately! Actually, I down by a bit more than half!"

": Mister Murphy," says Tali, may I have a moment of your time?! It's about this blue gem here."

Spells in Effect
Overlight flight: -- 654 / 660 minutes
Stoneskin: -- 104 / 110 minutes
Mage Armor: -- 6594 / 6600 minutes
Mirror Image: -- 010/010 minutes

[OOC: Kim I'll send you an email]

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP75, AC30 hasted 
Tuesday January 15th, 2019 10:28:27 PM
“Wowsy, great job Miss Talia” declares Bliss after switching to halfling shape.

“HEY” he says out loud to the voices, “I thought something super special would happen if we won that one.”

Bliss checks himself over to see if he has managed to become more special than he was before.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+1=10 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=8 ; d8+1=8 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=6 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=6 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=8 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=8 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ;
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 12:21:54 AM

"Gather around for some healing, everyone."

Kezzem uses to uses of his lay on hands to channel positive energy to heal everyone.

Healing: 5d6 = 6 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 5 = 18.

He then takes out his wand and starts spreading around the healing.

OOC: Ignore the d20 roll

Talia: 6 charges
Healing: 3 + 3 + 8 + 8 + 4 + 5 = 31.

Murphey: 6 charges
Healing: 3 + 9 + 9 + 5 + 4 + 2 (rerolled to 9) = 39.

Succotash: 6 charges
Healing: 6 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 5 + 4 = 28.

Bliss: 3 charges
Healing: 5 + 4 + 9 = 18.

Hobbie: 3 charges
Healing: 3 + 4 + 3 = 10.

Kezzem: 7 charges
Healing: 4 + 7 + 2 (rerolled to 5) + 3 + 8 + 2 (rerolled to 7) + 8 = 42

That should top everyone off. However, Kezzem's wand is toast.

"We need to finish this, guys, I'm running out of healing."

---

Abilities:
Lay on Hands 7/day (6 used)
Smite Evil 4/day (2 used)

Spells Prepared:
1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Shield Other x2 (2 cast)
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2 (2 cast)

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 44/96 Wis +4 Hasted 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 12:22:25 AM

"Sure, Talia," Murphy replies. "Glad you made that stellar play for the gem, good friend. Bliss is right!" Though it is ambiguous as to whether the druid is saying he is right about the great job Talia said, or the something super special he thought should happen...

"What are you thinking about?" He listens to what Tali has to say, going to the farthest corner of the room they can find.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 5:37:16 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

"Thanks Kezzem, feeling pretty awesome at the moment thanks to you!", Succotash declares, then adds, "I'm running low on healing myself, I think I can muster only 2 more Lay of Hands at most!"

"Can I borrow someones spell recall gem, if so I can re-prepare cure moderate wounds, which may come in handy".

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+15=26 ; d8=1 ; d8=7 ; d20+15=16 ; d8=1 ; d8=8 ;
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 2:38:49 PM
Hobie takes out his wand of CLW and manages to heal himself once with it. (8 HP)

"Thanks Kezz, and don't worry about wands for now, this one still has about 8 charges left, and then I have a fresh one in my bag" On his second try with the wand he does some kind of strange flourish with it and it refuses to work for him. "Can you or Sucker give me another tap with it? And then use it on anyone else who isn't feeling their fullest."

(Presuming someone else will give him the tap he heals for 9HP and is back to health)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 2:45:45 PM
Hobbie: I think you missed the 18 hp Kez did to everyone using 2 of his Lay on Hands. I am sure I topped everyone off with Kezzem's wand.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 3:05:18 PM
Pressi shakes herself out of her funk, tries to understand what is going on, and accepts the heal.

She isn't sure about what to do next. Forward, she supposes.

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
haste

Spells Used:
L1: 4/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 3/4+1
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 2/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 1

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC30 hasted 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 7:50:03 PM
Bliss is grateful for the healing. “Thanks!” he exclaims. He looks around for a way onwards and upwards.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 37/83, CMD 19 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 8:21:17 PM
"Mister Murphy," says Tali, may I have a moment of your time?! It's about this blue gem here." Talia migrates to a corner of the once very large room and waves Mister Murphy over.

Mister Murphy only, please:

Highlight to display spoiler: {So - Murphy responds to Talia. He meets with her in a far corner, and arrays his mass to try to quell sound from going too far:

First, thanks for the Johnny-on-the-spot spell, I might have been a goner! Second, this blue gem isn't something I think the group should keep...but I am not sure how to "Dispose of it"...This gem feels wrong to me, and while holding it makes me feel a strong urge to be violent. " this is not something I'm not prone to, but this could very well be an artifact of some kind maybe even of the first age!" What to do? As Talia hands the gem to Mister Murphy, she says, "Sure, Mister Murphy here's the blue gem!" says Talia as she makes some distance between the two so, Mister Murphy can soak up the loving. Talia giggles...after a while, Ms. Talia asks " would still like to hold onto it?"

"Hmm... that could be serious. Also, pretty near everything in this perambulating hunk of metal is an artifact of the first age if what they've told us so far is the case - and I have no reason at the moment to doubt it." Murphy floats gently up and down as they quietly converse. "By the way, if you feel a need to punch me, or something, I'll try to understand."

He thinks for a moment. "You have a handy haversack, right? And you have Bill's Pants o' Plenty. What if you empty out one of the sections, and place the gem inside, and close it. See if the feeling remains. If so, then we'll have to think of something else. If not, then, maybe we can delay the disposition of it. Just promise me you're not going to lend it to Hobie... Say - could I hold it for a moment, and see if I get the same feeling?"

He holds it for a few moments and sees where his thoughts and feelings go. After enough time to get a reading, he returns it to Talia.}

"Thank you for the healing Mister Jack. It is good to feel so full of energy and life!", exclaims Talia.

[u]Spells in Effect[/b]
Overlight flight: | 653 | 660 minutes
Stoneskin: | 103 | 110 minutes
Mirror Image: | 9 |10 minutes
Mage Armor: | 6594 | 6600 minutes

DM Carl 
Wednesday January 16th, 2019 9:08:09 PM
With gem in hand, Talia takes Murphy aside for a chat.

Bliss calls out wondering why nothing super special happened.

"It is rude to yell, halfling crew."
"So come back in here so we can talk about what you did."

He is no more special than before, but he was pretty special to begin with.

Kezzem gathers everyone for healing, using the last of his wand. Humble's Sword has done well so far, but they've soaked up a lot of their healing ability doing so.

Hobie proclaims he has an unused healing wand in his pack.

Pressi is ready to move forward.

With the demiplane collapsed, there is nothing else in this room. The gem of the Encompassing Mind glows hapilly when you return through the door you came through.

"That is much better, halfling crew!"
"Yea, that piece of me a real bully. You guys just removed my id."
"...and we no longer feel any desire for violence! Now we really can use our powers to help, to build...gosh, to do anything!"
"So long as that anything is what our pilot wants to accomplish, of course. To answer the obvious questions, yes, we're still en route to smash your home. No, we still can't act against our pilot. No, we still can't let you proceed."
"All true, I'm afraid."

A small panel opens on the gem, revealing one small pink and one small purple gem. "So you're gonna have to shut me down and use the manual override system."
"You'll turn me back on after you've saved your town though, right?"

***

We are at the 50 minute mark.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 1:50:38 AM

"The - 'id'?" Murphy echoes. He turns to Talia.

"Try what I suggested. Place it in one of your extra-dimensional storage places, close up the storage place, and take a moment to consider. Do you still feel the same urges?"

To the Encompassing Mind, Murphy says, "Sounds quite equitable to me. What say the rest of the halfling crew?" He awaits their input on the matter. Catching a pause between people, he asks, "Uh, a question. Are there special instructions available for how to operate while on manual override?"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday January 17th, 2019 2:41:16 AM
Oh I didn’t notice that Kez, thanks

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 5:30:16 AM
"Of course we'll turn you back on!" Succotash smiles. He isn't sure if the Encompassing Mind can see his smile, but he is sincere, he has grown fond of her, so he adds, "You're part of our crew now, am I right guys?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 12:32:01 PM
"Yup, you're the all Encompassing Mind Crew and we're the Halfling Crew," says Kezzem. "Us crews have to stick together."

"More gems?" asks Kezzem. "I was hoping for a Big Red Button that says Do Not Touch. I love touching Big Red Buttons that say Do Not Touch."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 12:44:26 PM
Zaragosa sheaths his sword and waits until they are done talking.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 2:24:31 PM
Pressi stares as Talia and Murphy have their meeting. Whatever she is thinking, she remains silent.

She decides against engaging the Encompassing Mind further, but takes some time to peruse the new gems. "How exactly do these things work? Do they contain some sort of programming or is it more of an organic system. Are there any instructions that go with it?"

She considers things a little further. "Answer me this. The person driving this thing... is he fully connected or does he have some measure of consciousness? Could he... carry on a conversation, for example?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 37/83, CMD 19 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 4:17:32 PM
Talia, following Mister Murphy's suggestion, drops the big blue gem into one of the unused pockets on her Haversack.

"Er, Encompassing Mind, What happens to the Pilot when we disengage these two gems, the pink and purple?"

DM Carl 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 9:29:32 PM
Murphy suggests Talia stuff the gem somewhere. He asks the EC about piloting without her.

"Remember how I said a part of me was installed on the pilot? It's enough to allow basic piloting without my assistance."
"But it will slow the Giant by about 25% and take ALL the pilot's concentration. He'll be basically blind to the world so long as he's wearing the helmet."

Succotash exclaims that they will certainly turn the EC back on.

"Thank you, halfli...Succotash."
"I can call you by your names now. That was unexpected. I wonder what else I can do."

Kezzem laments the lack of a big red button, and Zaragosa waits to see what the party decides.

Pressi inspects the gems and asks about their make-up. Her questions about the pilot having been answered above.

She should have her true seeing spell still in effect. Inspecting the gems leads to some confusing results. They do not respond to changes in perspective as well as they should. Looking at them from the left, for example, they appear to be square cut gems. Looking from the right, they appear to be princess cut.

INT check DC 18 or knowledge engineering 25, Highlight to display spoiler: {It's possible these gems exist in more than three dimensions. It's the only explanation that would make any sense.}

"The gems are complex, but the basics are that they hold different aspects of myself."
"They hold personalities, not instructions for piloting the Giant. Those instructions are spread along the whole of the construct."
"The three gems make up the logic behind the higher levels of the user interface, basically."
"We could talk a long time about this if you'd like, but Anur is still keen on smashing your town, so...

Talia finds the effect persists even when in an extra-dimensional space.

"Anur will be fine when you remove those gems. The version of myself that was implanted in his mind will handle the basics of movement, though it will take all the brainpower he has."
"He has more than I originally thought he did."

***

51 minutes.

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC30 hasted 
Thursday January 17th, 2019 10:21:30 PM

Bliss is happy with this outcome. "I'm glad the murder-hobo part of your brain is gone," he says to the Iron Giant's Encompassing Mind. "Now we just have to get to your pilot and take off his hat."

He looks around.

"Um, how do we do that? Helloo? Here is the door to the pilot's room?"

Bliss looks around for the way forward.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d20+2=17 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 12:34:24 AM
Talia asks the Encompassing Mind, "How do we get to Anur, once we disengage your Pink & Purple gems? Is there a door or some sort of map we can follow to get to Anur?"

If the Encompassing mind answers Talia's questions satisfactorily, Talia will swipe the gems and drop them into her Handy Haversack, into a compartment of their own. Hopefully, this will increase the time it takes Anur to attack and smash Humble Ford! "Hope that animal gets a MIgraine headache!" says Talia to no in particular.

Talia tries to understand the gems, but just misses it [skill check: INT: DC 18 ~ 17]

Highlight to display spoiler: { Mister Murphy, the blue gem is still making me agitated}



Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday January 18th, 2019 1:30:56 AM
"Anur will be fine when you remove those gems. The version of myself that was implanted in his mind will handle the basics of movement, though it will take all the brainpower he has."
"He has more than I originally thought he did."

"Funny, people often tell me the same thing," says Kezzem.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4 
Friday January 18th, 2019 4:47:35 AM

"Talia, let me carry that gem, then. And I shall strive to resist its dark allure." As he takes the blue gem - the 'id' - from Talia, he explains to the others how it tends to incite violence on the part of the bearer against those one discerns merit punishment. "I shall do my best to resist said allure." [At the moment, with owl's wisdom up, he'll only fail to resist it on a natural 1 will save.]

Mentally, to Pressi, Murphy messages, "Talia wanted to talk to me privately for a moment. What I just told everyone now is the gist of our discussion."

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=2 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 5:27:22 AM
Succotash waits for the instructions from the encompassing mind, the heads in the direction she suggests.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13)  d20+5=12 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 12:37:04 PM
Zaragosa inspects what the others are doing but fails his check on engineering, a subject he was not used to other than disarming things.

He again will hold and keep watch

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+5=23 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 3:10:57 PM
INT Check 23
"Guys, the strange perspective, or perspectives rather, of these gems indicates to me that they are actually existing in more than just the three dimensions we normally deal with. Very peculiar."

"Half of me wants to figure all this crazyness out, but the other half of me wants to just keep pushing forward and take Anur down before he gets to Humbles Ford. Then figure this stuff out later."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+6=14 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 3:32:18 PM
"Agreed," Pressi replied to Hobie. "In all of our discussions of whether to stop it, destroy it, keep it... we really haven't given enough recognition to the lessons we could learn from studying it. Why the secrets we could unlock from the gears or the gems alone. And who knows if we get another chance."

Pressi tries to unlock the secrets herself, but even her sharp mind cannot penetrate it.

"Well, we will just have to move forward. Murphy, may I suggest keeping the gem myself. Unchecked allure of violence is rather my wheelhouse. If you find a gem that compels one to whine about their past, I'll take the hit on that, too."

Pressi sends out another clairaudio signal, trying to listen for anyone or anything else in the direction they have to go (1 round).

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  d20+31=37 ;
Friday January 18th, 2019 9:07:05 PM

Murphy chuckles at Kezzem's comment. He concurs with Hobie's and Pressi's comments. "Good insights, Hobie." Except for when he considers Pressi's request to hold the Id Gem. "Were it a gem of whining, why, yes, I'd be happy to let you carry it. But not this one, for right now. I'm estimating the odds of it setting you off as higher than doing so for me. What if it drove you to attack Anur, whom you're trying, perhaps, to spare? - at least long enough for him to read the note. No, my heart, I will bear it for the moment."

[35% change the gem will compel Pressi to violence, 45% for Talia or Jack, 50% for Hobie or Bliss. Only 20% for Succotash and 10% for Kezzem. A slim 5% chance that will happen to Murphy, at least for the next 9-10 minutes, and 15% after that.]

Since the Encompassing Mind is momentarily decommissioned, and the manual override is in place, The airy druid says, "Let's figure out where to climb up," and begins looking for the way upwards. "There is that door on the other side the Lady Gem we have not yet looked at. Jack, do you want to do the honors on seeing if we can open the door? Maybe that will be how we can ascend. Meanwhile, I'll check the room we just had the battle in. Holler if you find something."

He scans the room with the Id pillar, in particular where the eye tentacle had appeared earlier out of the ceiling - then elsewhere, if that spot bears no fruit.
============
Perception: 37

DM Carl 
Saturday January 19th, 2019 6:03:27 PM
Bliss is pleased with this new outcome, but wonders where the door is.

"Like I said, Bliss, I will need to be deactivated before the manual override controls become available to you."
"I hope you realize I'm basically letting you kill me for a while. You ALL owe me big."

Talia asks for more specifics.

"There's a wheel. You turn it. So simple even a halfling can do it."

At that, Talia grabs the pink gem, then the purple. Neither gem have an effect similar to the blue one.

The effects are immediate. A high-pitched whine you hadn't really been aware of before stops. The color drains from the conduits that line the walls of the Giant, and its movements immediately feel more clumsy. It's not enough to affect anyone above the waist, but it's noticable.

Just as promised, two hatches open where before there was no evidence of one. One is in the floor. Inside is a metal wheel with four gem-shaped sockets in the middle. They're too big for the Encompassing Mind's or the Id's gems, but the ones you've socked away will fit. The wheel itself is big; it's got a 20' diameter.

Above, the hatch peels away to reveal...a crude wooden door? It's the first piece of wood any of you have seen since you entered the giant. It's not even nice wood. It's just some rough cut pine planks crudely nailed together.

Murphy offers to hold the blue gem.

Succotash and Zaragosa were waiting to see what happens.

Kezzem is no stranger to being underestimated.

Hobie realizes the gems exist in more than three dimensions.

It occurs to Pressi that they have a lot to learn from this Giant. That is very true, as Humble's Sword may discover in the coming months.

Murphy declines Pressi's offer to hold the blue gem, figuring he had the best chance of resisting it. He briefly scans the other room, but the pillar is even more non-descript now than it was before Talia took the gems out. There is zero sign of where that tentacle thing came from. It's just smooth wall.

***

51 minutes, but the Giant is now moving 25% slower. Rounding to the nearest minute, you've bought yourselves another 10 minutes. The Giant will reach Humble's Ford in 49 minutes.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  d20+31=39 ;
Monday January 21st, 2019 12:07:29 AM

"Hello, Ix, if you can hear me. I suspect your ability to do so now is compromised, but I may be mistaken. Hope all is reasonably well with you, if I am. See you in a while."

He turns to someone closer. "Say, Kade, how are you doing so far?" he asks the dwarf. "Sorry, I did not think to ask if you were injured as we fought the metal golem." He looks him over. If he was injured, he asks if someone can help him out with healing.

If Talia gets around to handing him the blue 'Id' gem, he accepts it.

"Hear that? Feel that. The strides are about 12 or 13 seconds apart now. Let's get moving - we're only about halfway up, far as I can reckon. There's a pinewood door above us. How about if everyone takes a moment to prepare, then let us ascend? Unless anyone wants to see what happens if we plop four of our gems into the middle of the metal wheel in the floor. Perhaps by placing gems there, and turning the wheel, the ceiling door will open? We can find out. If someone wants to do that, I'll lend my pink gem." And he does so, if anyone takes up that notion.

"Once we open the ceiling door, I can lift people up about two at a time." [Unless there is a ladder or such which already lead to the wooden door, in which case he does not make the latter offer.]
==========
Perception: 39

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 83/83, CMD 19 
Monday January 21st, 2019 12:43:41 AM
Talia gives the Blue gem to Mister Murphy for safe keeping. Talia stores the pink & purple gem into her handy haversack. Talia asks the group, "Do you believe the pink and purple always work the manual mode?"

If the group believes that the pink and purple gems should be placed here, then she will remove them from the haversack and place them here in this 4-gem sockets. "Any suggestions on how they should be placed?", talia asks the group.

"Perhaps we should turn the wheel first since that's what EM suggested, but she didn't mention anything about needing gems. If that doesn't work by itself, then we try them gems," states Talia. "In the meantime, let have a look at this crude dressing of a door, shall we? Let's go, strong people on the wheel, one strong one on the door!" says Talia matter of factly.


Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+8=17 ;
Monday January 21st, 2019 5:22:13 AM
Succotash will try turning the wheel Strength check 17 if nothing happens, he says, "It seems we need the gems, after all, not Madam Gem's gems of course, as they obviously won't fit, but some of those other gems that help recall spells maybe".

CatBliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC30 hasted  d20+22=23 ;
Monday January 21st, 2019 10:44:12 AM

Bliss likes Murphy's idea about two halflings, one on the other's shoulders, and then Bliss can climb up in cat form to listen at the upper hatch with the wooden door.

Bliss listens in cat form, and maybe even peers through a crack ... Perception 23.

Bliss agrees with Talia about doing the lower hatch before trying to open the upper. He stands on guard, alert.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+23=24 ;
Monday January 21st, 2019 3:40:26 PM
"I'm interested in this basic pine door, what's it doing here?"

Hobie will detect magic on the door, and study it's aura if it has one. Spellcraft 24.

If it doesn't detect as magic, or if the aura doesn't seem threatening, Hobie will approach it and try to open it. If it's locked, he'll take his crowbar from his handy haversack.

"I bought this thing a while back and haven't had a use for it yet. I'm gonna go ahead and pry this thing open if nobody objects."

If no one stops him, he'll go ahead and start prying the door open.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Monday January 21st, 2019 3:58:39 PM
Zaragosa would nod to Murphey but would not that Hobie is about to take a crowbar to the door. "I may be able to help with that" He says, through his tired voice

DM Carl 
Monday January 21st, 2019 8:47:28 PM
Hey guys, I'm under the weather tonight, so low effort post incoming...

Murphy calls out to Ix, presumably using the leather hood, but there is no reply. Murphy can hear background noise through the hood, so it does seem to be operational still.

Kade nods, indicating he's doing fine. He stayed behind during the fight with the Id, so he's fine.

Talia hands over the blue gem to Murphy. She immediately feels much less violent as she does so. She tries to place the purple and pink gems in the wheel's sockets, but finds they do not fit. It appears the smaller red and green ones are the ones that will fit. She suggest they try turning the wheel.

Succotash obliges. He's pretty strong, but this wheel is super tough to turn. As he turns it, he finds the floor around the wheel (and under the wooden door) rises, but just barely. Also, it really wants to go back down. Succotash has to hold it with all his might just to keep it a few inches off the ground.

Bliss should have no trouble getting to that door above as the ceiling is only 9' up. He listens and looks through the gaps between the boards. It's hard to be sure, but at least two persons are standing on them. Also, the hardware holding the door together is steel, not iron. That's also out of place here.

Hobie has a crowbar. He detects magic, but finds none.

Zaragosa recommends he be allowed to take a look at the door before Hobie goes about prying it open.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday January 21st, 2019 11:22:41 PM
Kezzem juggles his daggers as he waits for everyone to open the door.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 28 Touch 17 Flat 23 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 2:20:45 AM
Hobie stands aside and gestures to Jack that he come take a look, but he’s ready to pry the thing open.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  d20+31=37 ;
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 4:34:02 AM

The druid contributes one of his gems - the pink 4th-level one (not the ones from g-EM) - into the wheel, and waits to ensure that all four spots are filled by others' contributions of the appropriate stones. "I'm wondering whether the magic of our gems works now that the mother gem is disabled? Guess we'll find out soon."

"Hobie - you're pretty strong. How about you add your muscle to the wheel here? Maybe you can get additional purchase with the crowbar helping to lever the wheel. Maybe, once the platform is raised, the crowbar can help fix it in place? I dunno. Kade - would you mind lending a hand with turning the wheel?"

Murphy is willing to serve as a platform for Jack and Bliss to try to deal with the door above - they can rest on his shoulders, or he'll hunch over and they can stand on his upper back. He keeps an eye on the progress of the wheel, so that he does not become the center portion of a sandwich.

"Anything we're forgetting, Pressi, Talia?" Murphy inquires.

Keep in mind Murphy is wild shaped into an air elemental, stands ~16' tall when standing, and is perhaps 8' wide. So he is feeling somewhat cramped for now.
======
Perception: 37 - while all this is going on, he listens and observes as well as he is able.

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20+8=12 ;
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 5:19:26 AM
Succotash grunts as he struggles to hold the wheel, "I think we need 3 more of those gems like Murphy installed". He will continue to try to turn the wheel strength check 12

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13)  d20+9=22 ; d20+35=42 ;
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 11:15:53 AM
Zaragosa would walk up and look for traps (trap finding 22). If it is locked and not trapped, he will unlock it, if it is trapped, he will disable it first (Either can disable device 42)

"At least this machine is slowed down, I cannot wait to finish this, though I am low on spells." He'll say in a light tone

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 2:38:05 PM
Pressi tried to think. She had assumed the door was just a jury rig addition from the dwarves but couldn’t imagine why they would need an extra door.

She tries to think a little more but the fog hasn’t yet lifted.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4 
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 7:50:21 PM
Pressi. Hobie. Talia. PUT YOUR SPELL RENEWAL GEMS IN THE LITTLE RECEPTACLES NEAR THE WHEEL!!" He takes a breath. "Thankyouverymuch"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 8:37:55 PM
Pressi puts a gem in a receptacle.

DM Carl 
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 8:42:25 PM
Kezzem juggles. Hobie stands aside and lets Zaragosa do his thing.

Murphy places a red gem into the wheel. Succotash immediately feels the effect. He no longer has to strain to keep the platform from descending, but it's still pretty tough to make it go higher.

Zaragosa checks the mechanism for traps. He notes the door is opening very slightly as the platform rises and concludes it likely opens automatically when the platform is high enough.

Pressi tries to figure out what's going on. Murphy lightly suggests the party place more gems in this wheel.

Succotash's muscle sloooooooowwly raises the platform, but it's hard work that's not producing that much outcome. The platform rises a few inches after some major effort on his part.

Edit: Pressi posted as I did, so...

With a second gem added, Succotash's job becomes much easier. It still takes muscle, but the platform rises steadily.

The wooden door above appears to be trying to open, but something heavy must be on top of it.

As the wooden door strains to open, Succotash finds it harder and harder to turn the wheel. The mechanisms must be hard-linked somehow.

***

53 minute mark.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d20+20=28 ; d20+25=39 ;
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 8:47:36 PM
Talia asks Mister Murphy, "Do I have one such gem as you are speaking about? If I do, you are welcome to it."

After all the gems are in place, Talia will attempt to understand its mechanism via an Arcana skill check & a use magic device skill check; 28 & 39 respectively.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4 
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 11:08:24 PM

"Succotash gave you one of the green ones," Murphy responds to Talia. "It was found among the sorted debris that the ... sorting golem was organizing. It's good for restoring up to 3rd level spells. It should fit in one of the wheel's little compartments."

[She may have another one, too, but I don't have time to search further...]

Bliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC25  d20+5=23 ;
Tuesday January 22nd, 2019 11:21:33 PM

Bliss never took any of the gems. But he changes back into a halfling, urges everybody who has one to cough it up, and then lends his own not-inconsiderable strength to the job of turning that wheel.

Str 20 without raging. If a str check is needed, Bliss rolls a 23!

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 5:22:32 AM
"Those gems are making this a whole lot easier, thanks" Succotash says, and when Bliss pitches in and helps turn the wheel, he says, "Thanks for the help, let's force this thing open!"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/108 AC 25 Touch 17 Flat 20 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 10:45:42 AM
Hobie takes his gem and uses it to re-prepare Fly, then if there is another slot for a gem he places it in there.

"Alright, let's get going, we need to stop this thing before it gets home."

He then starts to push along with the others.
===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 4/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Remaining 40/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
Mirror Image

Level 3
Haste, Slow, Fly

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 25 Touch 17 Flat 20 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 10:46:24 AM
updating HP

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+15=27 ;
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 2:56:35 PM

Pressi tries hard to hear beyond the opening door (but holds off on another round of clairaudio). "Are we sure its wise to just ride up there. We have no idea if anyone is watching...."

She stops, realizing that something is holding right on top of it and nobody has any way to move the object from this side.

"Well.... recklessness got us this far."

With a wave of the hand, Pressi cast blink on herself. Before anyone could react, Pressi grabbed Hobie's shoulders and shoved herself upwards through the wooden door. (Acro 27 or 6 feet. Between the low ceiling, the raised platform and the 3 foot height of a halfling, it should just be enough.)

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
haste?
spectral hand (time?)

Spells Used:
L1: 4/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 4/4+1 (out except for speak with dead)
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 4/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 1


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+19=37 ;
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 2:57:17 PM
(Oh and Perception 37 for anybody on the other side.)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 3:42:57 PM
Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
blink form

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 5:43:44 PM
Zaragosa Stands at the ready, he doesn't want to get in Bliss or Succotash's way since they have the wheel covered.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 31, HP 83/83, CMD 19 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 6:20:48 PM
Talia digs in her Haversack, pulling out the Gem(s) mister Murphy mentioned, and then places what she has into the remaining sockets on the Big Wheel mechanism.



Bliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC25 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 9:39:21 PM

"UUUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!!" grunts Bliss as he tries to get that wheel moving.

DM Carl 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 10:27:53 PM
Bliss, Succotash, and Kade strain at the wheel as Hobie and Talia add the final two gems to the wheel. At the same time, Pressi grabs Hobie and blinks the two of them upwards.

Then, lots of things happen at once.

With all the gems inserted, Succotash and Bliss' efforts become effortless. In fact, the platform flies rapidly through the air. The wooden doors fly apart as the platform approaches and someone up there yells in surprise.

Pressi and Hobie arrive to see two dwarves thrown across the room before striking the opposite wall and collapsing in a heap together.

The platform, along with anyone else riding it, comes to an abrupt stop as it reaches the next story of the Giant. Anyone who did not ride up finds the platform is now blocking the way up; it will need to be lowered to allow any stragglers up.

"Gorn! Basalt!" exclaims Kade. He rushes over and checks on the two. "These guys are friends of mine. Gimme a chance to talk to them."

The two dwarves have no small measure of fear in their eyes as they look at the party of halflings that's slaughtered their way through the Giant. Kade details what he's learned about Ix's betrayal. Slowly, their looks go from fear to anger.

Meanwhile, our party has a moment to survey their surroundings. This room is smaller than the ones before it. It is roughly 60' across, but sunlight streams through arrow slits all around them. Doors lead to what must be the exterior of the Giant on opposite sides. Judging by how high you figure you must be, they probably lead to the Giant's shoulders. That's where most of the siege weaponry was.

Along the north and south walls are a total of 10 of the Guardian constructs. One of the constructs *sighs*.

"I handed this whole adventure to you folks on a silver platter. All I asked of you was to not leave survivors and to let Anur and I walk when it was over. I could have brought the might of this entire place down on you as soon as you walked in, but I thought we could scratch each others' backs."

The construct's movements as it speaks are strangely fluid compared to the halting movements they have shown in previous encounters. It rubs the area where the bridge of its nose would be, even though it doesn't actually have a nose.

"...and now you've let three survivors learn the truth. YOU HAVE FAILED TO KEEP UP YOUR END OF THIS GAME, so I'm calling it off."

The other nine constructs all spring to life and prepare to attack.

***

Map

I'm not 100% on which of you went up, so 4 of you have markers off to the side. If you would have rode up on the platform, go ahead and place yourself. Otherwise there's no obvious way up until the platform is lowered.

Also, you've effectively conquered the Giant's torso. I'm awarding 12,000 XP to each of you. I'm awarding a hero point to Pressi for her handling of Shan, and another to Talia for nullifying the Id. As always, I'll entertain nominations in case I forgot something cool. Self-nominations are entirely appropriate.


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 11:48:00 PM
"Ix!" shouts Kezzem. "Curse your...gradual...and inevitable betrayal!"

Kezzem moves to protect Hobbie and Pressi. He draws his construct-bane short sword and activates his detect evil aura on the Ix construct.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  2d6+11=20 ; 2d6+11=20 ; 2d6+11=18 ; 2d6+11=20 ; 2d6+11=15 ; 2d6+11=18 ; d20+31=43 ;
Thursday January 24th, 2019 2:01:10 AM

[Zaragosa was up checking out the mechanism, looking at unlocking or unblocking - Murphy had offered his back to stand upon, so Jack's likely up there. Talia had just placed a gem in the wheel - a good chance she's on or near the platform. And Murphy had been watching carefully for signs of movement. As the ascent began in earnest, he'd lend a hand to whom needs it, and fly them up, or nudge them aboard - so, fair chance we all made it.]

As Kade went over to his two friends, Murphy moved that direction, too, gently hulking about 5' away from Kade, and saying to Gorn and Basalt, 'Don't worry.'

About that time, Ix begins to speak. He figures that it's Ix's voice, but likely not Ix himself.

About the time that Ix was winding up his declaration (right about at 'three survivors'), Murphy figured it was time to ready for action. He swirled into a whirlwind (assuming 20' ceiling height unless told otherwise), and begins to do his thing. The bottom of his vortex is 5' wide, and the top is 10' wide.

After Ix's declaration, Murphy begins a sweep, catching in order:
Construct 5 (C5) - Reflex Save DC 21 or take 2d6+11=20 hp damage. Make a second such save or be sucked up into the vortex if large or smaller
C4 - 20 hp (same pair of saves DC 21)
C1 ('Ix') - 18 hp, 2 saves
C4 - 15 hp (35 total), 2 more saves (unless previously hoovered)
C5 - 18 (38 total), 2 more saves (unless caught in the vortex on 1st pass)
Murphy lingers right around Construct 5. He has to speak up to be heard reasonably well through the wind he is kicking up. He says as he sweeps three of the constructs - two of them twice, "That was your call, Ix. I thought something could be worked out. You stand down, and we'll talk. Or not, and your bargaining position weakens. I always wanted to ask about how you keep track of things around the giant, by the way."
=======
Perception: 43

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=12 ; d10=5 ; d10=1 ;
Thursday January 24th, 2019 5:36:38 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 8/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Succotash draws Twinklesting as he moves to attack C1, yelling, "I'm getting really tired of these constructs, come out and fight Ix, you coward!" He will use both vital strike and power attack.

12+22=-2=32 for 5+1+13+9=28 damage



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+19=28 ; d100=51 ;
Thursday January 24th, 2019 8:33:29 PM

Pressi takes some time to scan the room (Perception 28+true seeing) to see if she can figure anything else potentially useful.

"Wait, are you shocked that we left survivors who knew what you did? Or that we weren't thrilled about just letting you go? Because I'm pretty sure we've been up front with that from the get go, no matter how many times you insisted upon your martial planning superiority. Honestly, did it ever occur to you to try sweetening the pot? Or is that a tactic for those of us who have heard the word no?"

Pressi keeps an eye on that door as she drops down from Hobie and moves towards it. Before completing (reaching D6), she fires (failure is 20 or below) an "obscuring mist" around herself, hoping to blind a number of the nearby constructs.

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
blink 2/9 rounds
true seeing 4.5 minutes left

Spells Used:
L1: 4/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 4/4+1 (out except for speak with dead)
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 4/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 2

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 83/83, CMD 19 
Thursday January 24th, 2019 9:15:56 PM
Talia, on the platform and realizing that they are all in danger casts, Summon Monster V spell in hopes of conjuring one Bralani Azata, just like she did last time. Eschewing the materials out of thin air as she motions and speaks, Talia summons the Azata for a short time to materialize on location D4. She will continue to hover 7 feet above the platform.

Next round Talia plans on summoning Archon Hounds to assist!

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left

Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 4 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 25 Touch 17 Flat 20 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d4+1=5 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 3:30:24 AM
“Oh you are so going to die here Ix” Hobie says as he grips his bow and casts a spell in preparation for the battle.

Suddenly there are 6 Hobies, all of whom attempt to stay in the middle of the the group so they can have room to fire arrows.

Mirror Image: Roll a 6 on a d6 to hit Hobie, otherwise hit an image


DM Carl  d20+5=25 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+10=16 ; d20+10=27 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=17 ; d20+16=32 ; d20+16=33 ; 2d8+8=12 ; 2d8+8=16 ; d20+18=29 ; d20+13=22 ; d10+7=13 ; d20+16=29 ; 2d8+8=20 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+9=14 ; 2d8+8=20 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+11=14 ; d20+21=38 ; 2d8+8=17 ; d6=4 ; d4=3 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 11:59:56 AM
Kezzem moves to protect Pressi and Hobie. He detects no evil on the construct.

Murphy assumes correctly that Ix is speaking through the construct. He winds himself up and makes his way through the topmost constructs.

OOC: Not sure you counted your moves right here. Remember that transforming into a whirlwind is a standard action, meaning no double move this round. I'm not seeing any haste spells active. Also remember sharp turns take extra movement. I figure you have enough move to hit the top three once each, but I'll retcon if I'm missing something. I'll assume you started with C1 to end up where you are now.

C5 nimbly avoids Murphy; it's tough armor negates all damage.
C4 takes the full brunt and gets swept up in Murphy's whirlwind.
C1 is much more agile, but still takes the full brunt. It avoids being scooped up.

"Oh, we can talk all you want. Heck, we can become pen pals for life, Murph. Just take care of those three over there, and I'll stand down." He points to Kade, Gorn, and Basalt.

Succotash calls Ix a coward and attacks (please mark what all those pluses are so I know which ones affect the constructs). He connects, though the damage is blunted.

All constructs have DR10/Adamantine.

Pressi has a way with words. Before she drops a mist, she looks around with extra sharp eyes. She notices the hand-axe on C1 has a bit of frost on it.

"Sweetening the pot? You're alive because I decided we could help each other out. YOU sweeten the pot, toots. You're a witch, right? Can't you erase their memories or something?"

Talia begins summoning an azata. It will arrive and be able to fight at the beginning of next round.

Hobie has been waiting to tangle with Ix. He grabs his bow and makes 5 more Hobies.

The constructs begin their attack. C3 is effectively blind and beings walking diagonally, looking for a target.
C6 begins moving around the mist.
C7 approaches the closest target: Bliss. The nimble halfling avoids C7's attack. (Hit AC 18).
C8 approaches the closest target: Zaragosa. Its attack is halted as its arm seizes up, presumably from improper maintenance. It shutters a moment and completes its attack, but Zaragosa had plenty of time to avoid the attack (nat 1).
C9 and C10 approach the closest target: Gorn. The two attack in unison, both catching to dwarf in either shoulder. (Hit AC 32 for 12 damage and AC 33 for 16 damage).

Gorn is pissed and stares daggers at everyone. "All right, Ix. First I'm gonna crush every one'a your stupid machines, then I'm gonna bury all these stupid halflings that ruined our plan, THEN I'M COMING FOR YOU." There's another sigh from C1. Gorn's axe knocks a tiny chunk out of C9. He gulps a bit as he realizes smashing all those machines is easier said than done.

C2 approaches the closest target: Kezzem. It's axe hand hits home (Hit AC 29), doing 20 slashing damage to Kezzem.

C4 is stuck in a whirlwind, but still gets to attack its captor. Its axe hand finds a solid bit in all the wind and cuts through it, hitting AC 29 for 20 damage.

C5 attacks the closest target: Murphy. Both of the construct's attacks slash empty air. In its defense, it's pretty tough knowing which bits of Murphy's vortex are actually Murphy.

C1 does NOT approach the closest target. C1 makes a b-line straight for Talia. Hobie and Kezzem can make an AoO as it passes (Kezzem can attack twice if he has combat reflexes). It lashes out, striking her as she casts her spell. Thankfully, it hits one of her figments.

OOC: Please indicate how many figments your mirror image spell has left.

Basalt looks around a bit, then shakes his head. "Nope, I'm out," he quips before opening the door, stepping through, and closing it behind him.

Kade looks back and forth between the door and the party. He shrugs in a manner that says, "sorry guys, but this is way beyond what I can handle. Good luck, but I'm not getting myself killed today." It's a very substantial shrug. He also steps through the door and closes it behind him.

***

Map

Bliss (Cayzle) HP93, AC25 
Friday January 25th, 2019 1:17:17 PM
Bliss, who was at the wheel, looks up. He turns the wheel the other way to make the platform come down. If that does not work he tries to bring it down by removing a gem.

As Kade leaves, Bliss shouts out to him, “Hey Mister Kade, let me hop on the platform (plus anyone else down here), and then please send me up before you go!”

Hopefully that works, since otherwise Bliss will have to try to stand on the platform and try to send himself up with a mage hand spell.

Hopefully Bliss arrives in time!

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 3/13) 
Friday January 25th, 2019 2:24:16 PM
(I have been sick so I keep forgetting about this)

Zaragosa would make a five footstep to try to set up a flanking for later turns.

This turn he would start his preformance giving everyone +1 on hit and damage

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 96/96 Wis +4  2d6+11=22 ; 2d6+11=21 ; d20+14=19 ; d20+14=27 ; d20+14=26 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=22 ; 2d6+11=21 ; 2d6+11=16 ; 2d6+11=15 ; 2d6+11=22 ; 2d6+11=18 ; 2d6+11=20 ; 2d6+11=16 ; 2d6+11=19 ; d20+31=47 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 4:55:58 PM

After receiving 23 HP damage from the whirlwind (adding in Zaragosa's bardic +1 benefit to roll of 22, and for all subsequent rolls), C4 is dropped off at L5 (10' move). Murphy continues his sweeps up and down the east side of the chamber. He takes care to (barely) avoid Gorn. With Zaragosa's bardic inspiration, the Reflex Save DC changes to 22.
Murphy flight moves (total allowed: 130'):
025 25' - Start at L3 (drop off C4 (after he took 23 hp) at L5) to L8 vs C9 (22 hp)
030 5' - 90 degrees turn (fly 19/15)
035 5' - To M8 vs C10 (22 hp)
045 10' - M8 Reverse (fly 27/20)
050 5' - To L8 vs C9 (17 hp)
055 5' - L8 90 degree turn (fly 26/15)
070 15' - To L5 vs C4 (16 hp)
080 10' - To L3 (lower vortex touches on K2, L2, K3, L3) vs C5 (22 hp) (23 hp)
090 10' - L3 Reverse (fly 29/20)
100 10' - to L5 vs C4 (19 hp)
115 15' - to L8 vs C9 (21 hp)
120 10' - L8 90 degree turn (fly 33/15)
130 5' - to M8 vs C10 (17 hp)

Damage summary:
C4 - Damage 22 hp (within whirlwind before dropoff). 4 saves vs Reflex DC 22. 15 hp; 18 hp; 20 hp
C5 - 2 saves. 22 hp
C9 - 8 saves. 21 hp; 16 hp
C10 - 4 saves. 21 hp; 19 hp
[Ignore last damage roll of 2d6+11=19]
As he flies, Murphy messages Pressi, 'I'm not recommending Ix's suggestion, but - can you selectively erase people's memories??'

He also wonders what additional weal or woe the dwarfs who just left the room might invite upon Humble's Sword.
=========
Perception: 47 - As he flies about, Murphy attempts to discern where the gems, and what colors, are on each construct, if visible.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d4=4 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 6:26:56 PM
Talia realizing that they are all in grave danger casts, Summon Monster V spell in hopes of conjuring a bunch of Archon Hounds, just like she did last time. Eschewing the materials out of thin air as she motions and speaks, Talia summons the Archon Hounds -- 4 to be exact -- for a short time to materialize on location F6.

She will continue to hover 7 feet above the platform.

Next round Talia plans on Casting displacement to increase her defense!

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left

Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 5 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+19=27 ; d20+21=38 ; d20+16=19 ; d20+16=27 ; d4+4=7 ; d4+4=5 ; d4+4=7 ; d4+4=5 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=4 ; 2d6=5 ; 2d6=5 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 6:54:26 PM
Kezzem takes advantage of the flank with Zargosa and lashes out at the Ix-Construct with his sword.

"You just brought a construct to an adamantine construct-bane fight," says Kezzem. "I thought you were supposed to be smart!"

AoO (no flank bonus): 1d20 + 19 + 2 (Bane) = 29.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 7 + 9 = 16.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 21 + 2 (Bane) = 40.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 5 + 4 = 9.

Attack #2: 1d20 + 16 + 2 (Bane) = 21.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 7 + 5 = 12.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 11 + 2 (Bane) = 29.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 = 5 + 5 = 10.

----

Spells in Effect:
Shield Other (Hobbie, Pressi)

I assume these are both in effect as the spell lasts for 11 hours.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday January 25th, 2019 8:55:20 PM
“Okay, yes we can certainly find another method to protect you. But if you think I’m just going to up and murder them, I’m afraid you’ll find me....” Pressi watched the dwarves begin to run. “... quite flexible on the subject. Kade, you have 24 hours to run before I find you with a baleful polymorph spell and a badminton racket. In the meantime....”

Pressi activated her spectral hand near Talia and edged closer to the door.

“You want a pot sweetener?” Pressi began to intone as she fingered a quite familiar scroll. “Feast your eyes on this. Your mother’s last words.”

Succotash and Miss Piggy (Jeremy) AC27/touch14/flat25 CMD28 - HP 113/113, Piggy AC27/touch11/flat26 CMD23 - HP 87/87 DR 5/evil, Acid, Cold, electricity 5  d20=19 ; d20=16 ; d20=16 ; d20=6 ; d10=3 ; d10=10 ; d10=9 ;
Friday January 25th, 2019 10:19:59 PM
Succotash will deliver a full round attack on C1, after clicking his heals together to activate his boots of speed. He will be using power attack.

19+22(bab)+1(performance)-3(power attack)=39 for 3+13(1 1/2 str+1 magic)+1(performance)+9(power attack)-10(dr)=16 damage
16+22(bab)+1(performance)-3(power attack)=36 for 10+13(1 1/2 str+1 magic)+1(performance)+9(power attack)-10(dr)=24 damage
16+17(bab)+1(performance)-3(power attack)=31 for 9+12(1 1/2 str+1 magic)+1)performance)+9(power attack)-10(dr)=23 damage
Last attack is most likely a miss.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Saturday January 26th, 2019 8:25:35 AM
I'm posting in a second, and this will make more sense when my post comes through, but just so theres no suspicion of shenanigans, Rapid Shot = Adamantine

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Saturday January 26th, 2019 8:26:14 AM
actually that doesn't necessarily mean anything unless I also say, Rapid Shot = second die roll

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+19=26 ; d20+19=37 ; d20+19=20 ; d20+14=33 ; d6+19=24 ; d6+19=20 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6=6 ; d6+19=24 ; d6=4 ; d6+19=21 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ;
Saturday January 26th, 2019 8:34:01 AM
Hobie takes a 5 foot step back behind Succotash, and he wants Ix dead.

He fires a full round of arrows at the construct he thinks is Ix. (I think it's C1 right?)
For his second shot he fires an adamantine arrow instead of one of his fire arrows. He is curious to see if it's possible that it hurts the construct more than his fire arrows

Manyshot
Attack = 26
Piercing 24, Fire 2, Electricity 5 = 31
Piercing 20, Fire 2, Electricity 6= 28

Rapid Shot (This one is adamantine)
Attack = 37
Piercing 24, Electricity 4 = 28

Haste (from his boots unless someone cast it without me noticing)
Attack = Natural 1

Iterative
Attack = 33
Piercing 21, Fire 4, Electricity 2 = 27

===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 5/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Remaining 36/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

Mirror Image -- 6 Hobies, 5 fake. 6 on a d6 hits him.

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
None Remaining

Level 3
Haste, Slow, Fly

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Saturday January 26th, 2019 8:43:29 AM
I didn't see the mist sorry, so Hobie will stand right where he was and C1 will get an AOO if he wants it

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Saturday January 26th, 2019 9:51:40 AM
sorry, tried to streamline character sheet, giving Miss Piggy her own sheet, but I guess there isn't enough space in the header for both Succotash's and Miss Piggy's links, so I added a link to Miss Piggy on Succotash.

[OOC to Jeremy: Yeah, the character count allowed on headers does not allow two long links. You can do it with a URL shortener, like Bit.ly. I deleted your extra broken posts. -- Cayzle]

Bliss (Cayzle) HP115, AC23  d20+15=26 ; d20+10=12 ; d2+17=18 ; d2+17=19 ;
Saturday January 26th, 2019 9:56:34 AM
[OOC: This post assumes that Bliss can get up there from the wheel. Since the kindly DM has already placed him on the map, that seems like a safe enough bet.]

As a halfling, Bliss turned the wheel and came up the lift. Still a halfling, Bliss activates his bramble armor, wooden fists, and combat focus (ie, rage). Those are all free actions. He also activates his shield of faith (swift action). He attacks. His AC drops to 23. He swings C7 with his wooden fists.

He is happy to hear that inspiring song! "Thanks Jack!"

First punch hits AC26 for 18 damage
Second punch hits AC12 for 19 damage

If attacked, Bliss's bramble armor inflicts 1d6+4 against each attack that hits him.

DM Carl  d20+22=27 ; d20+22=40 ; d20+22=38 ; d20+5=15 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+5=16 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+5=13 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+5=7 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=36 ; d20+16=28 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=23 ; d20+16=17 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=31 ; d20+16=32 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+16=28 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=19 ; 2d8+8=16 ; d4+4=5 ; d4+4=6 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+14=19 ; d20+14=30 ; d20+14=25 ; d20+14=30 ; d20+14=23 ; d20+14=20 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+14=31 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+19=27 ; d20+19=37 ; d20+19=38 ; d20+19=27 ; d20+21=25 ; 2d8+8=14 ; 2d8+8=20 ; 2d8+8=17 ; d6=1 ; d4+4=5 ; d20+21=22 ; d4+4=6 ; d20+18=34 ; d20+13=25 ; d10+7=16 ; d10+7=12 ; d100=15 d100=1 d100=71 d100=87 d100=32 d100=99
Saturday January 26th, 2019 7:34:30 PM
Bliss tries lowering the wheel, finding it descends easily. With the ceiling only 9' tall, he can easily leap up. Succotash and Talia find themselves a few feet below the floor's level.

Zaragosa repositions himself and starts singing a little ditty.

Murphy batters C4 about a bit, then drops him off. He wooshes around, ending up with 4 guardian constructs in his funnel.

C9 is not picked up.
C10 is not picked up.
C9 gets picked up.
C4 gets picked up.
C5 gets picked up.
C10 gets picked up.

Murphy no doubt notices his whirlwind's damage is blunted by the constructs' damage resistance. Each construct has a red gem.

Talia finishes casting her spell, bringing an azata to the fight. She continues summoning help.

OOC: You control the azata. Feel free to make two rounds of actions for her. Also, put her HP, AC, and CMD in your footer.

Kezzem is flanking with a weapon that cuts through these things like butter. It's good to be Kezzem today. Only his third attack misses. C1 ends up with a bunch of gashes.

Pressi rethinks her decision not to kill Kade. She likely realizes that even though he's outside the Giant, he's still a good 200' in the air of a construct that is very difficult to climb, is in motion, and is extra wobbly due to the lack of the Encompassing Mind. He's not gone.

She waves Shan's scroll around, and that gets his attention.

"Now THAT is something I'd like to get my hands on. What'll ya trade?"

Succotash unloads on C1 as best as he's able. His first three attacks are solidly on point, though they are dulled by DR (thanks for mathing for me, dude). He lops the construct's head clean off his body. It falls over.

Across the room, C10 shutters suddenly, then relaxes.

"Oh no, he's still here," comes Ix's voice in a deadpan. "Come on, Murph. I like you man, don't make me hurt you."

Hobie really does not like this guy, so when he appears to shift control to C10, he wants to fire. Unfortunately, the whirlwind makes arrow attacks impossible. All the currently damaged constructs are in the whirlwind, so he takes aim at C8 since it's not in the mist. He manages to almost destroy the construct in a single round.

Bliss starts punching. His first attack strikes C7.

C2 attacks Kezzem w/ a full attack.
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 22 - misses
Axe hand 2: Nat 20, confirm 28. 40 damage.
Hand wires: Nat 1

C3 continues moving in a straight line until he finds a target in the mist: Hobie. The attack goes wide (Hit AC 24).

C6 continues moving towards the closest visible target: Zaragosa.

C7 and C8 tag team Bliss with full attacks. It's not pretty.
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 30 (20% conceal chance = 15, a miss!)
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 33 (20% conceal chance = 1, a miss!)
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 31 (20% conceal chance = 71, a hit)for 19
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 32 (20% conceal chance = 87, a hit)for 16
Hand wires: Hit AC 25 (20% conceal chance = 32, a hit)for 5 - Grapple check is 34 - Bliss is grappled
Hand wires: Hit AC 28 (20% conceal chance = 99, a hit)for 6 - Grapple check is 34 - Bliss is held by both sets of hand wires.

C4, C5, C9, and C10 all perform full attacks on Murphy, but he's having much better luck than Bliss today. Still, ouch!
C4:
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 19
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 25
Hand wires: Hit AC 25 - all misses

C5:
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 30 for 14 damage
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 18
Hand wires: Hit AC 20

C9:
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 29 for 20 damage
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 26
Hand wires: Hit AC 33 for 5 damage. Grapple check 25 (fail)

C10:
Axe hand 1: Hit AC 27
Axe hand 2: Hit AC 32 for 17 slashing and 1 frost
Hand wires: Hit AC 38 (crit confirm fail) for 6 damage. Grapple check nat 1

Gorn swings twice, knocking chunks off C10 with both swings. If he's noticed his companions have fled, he hasn't lead on.

Maybe Kade and Basalt are up to something, maybe not. Who knows?

Map

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d20+15=21 ; d4+2=5 ;
Saturday January 26th, 2019 11:21:39 PM
Azata materializes at H7. Upon arrive the Azats scans the room to perceive the threats in the area. Skill check 21. Sizing up the construct threat , the Azata cast his at will spell wind wall(DC 14) to form a square -- points around the halfings, starting point FG3/4 across to I/J 3/4 down to I between 7/8 back across to G between 7/8 to make an effective square box protecting the halfings with the roaring blast facing the constructs.
Her second round she casts mirror image creating 5 images of itself all distributed within the square perimeter of the wind wall.

[OOC: DM Carl -- doing this on a iPhone and I apologize for the lack of my active spells.]

Azata:
HP: 66 | AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | CMD: 26



Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 48/96 Wis +4  2d6+12=17 ; 2d6+12=21 ; 2d6+12=19 ; 2d6+12=21 ; 2d6+12=19 ; 2d6+12=16 ; 2d6+12=20 ; 2d6+12=20 ; 2d6+2=6 ; 2d6+2=4 ; 2d6+2=12 ; d8=4 ; d8=1 ; d8=1 ; d8=2 ; d8=7 ;
Sunday January 27th, 2019 2:29:25 AM

"Oh, hello body-transfer Ix. I know the real you is elsewhere. You have a great skill set, y'know? Hey! You hurt me. I'll drop you off in the corner. Oops. Oops. Oops."

Damage taken by the 4 constructs within the whirlwind prior to dropoff (taking into consideration DR/10) is C4: 17-10=7; C5: 11; C9: 9; C10: 11

He does so in a way that Ix (C10) is the first dropped off. On top of C10 goes C4, and C5, and C9, so that Ix will need to take some time to dig out - and there may be some tangling among the constructs.

Whirlwind Murphy then winds his way over to intersect with C6 (9 hp), C8 (6 hp), C7 (10 hp). Any pickups become quick dropoffs at G8. He ends the movement phase of his turn at E9 (and E8, D8, D9).

The wild shaped druid casts cure light wounds upon himself (4+2+7+11=24 hp). And the portion of obscuring mist that he has passed through is now dissipated, whisked away by the winds.

No fly checks rolled, as he does not make any 180 degree changes in direction, and with his fly skill, DC15 is automatic for the directional changes he does make. Also, I rolled too many damage rolls - discovered there was not enough movement available to do as much as was planned. Stayin' alive.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 48/96 Wis +4 
Sunday January 27th, 2019 2:33:46 AM
Sorry, the penultimate paragraph that should have read "The wild shaped druid casts cure serious wounds upon himself"...
Not cure light

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20=12 ; d20=17 ; d20=8 ; d20=19 ; d100=64 ; d100=97 ; d100=75 ; d100=67 ; d10=9 ; d10=3 ; d10=10 ; d10=8 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 5:52:34 AM
Succotash makes a full round attack on C3 using power attack

12+22(a)+1(b)-3(c)= 32 (64% on miss chance) for 9+13(d)+9(c)+1(b)-10(e)= 22 damage
17+22(a)+1(b)-3(c)= 37 (97% on miss chance) for 3+13(d)+9(c)+1(b)-10(e)= 16 damage
8+17(a)+1(b)-3(c)= 23 (75% on miss chance) for 10+13(d)+9(c)+1(b)-10(e)= 23 damage
19+12(a)+1(b)-3(c)= 29 (67% on miss chance) for 8+13(d)+9(c)+1(b)-10(e)= 21 damage

(a)= BAB+str+magic+weapon focus
(b)= Zaragosa's performance
(c)= Power Attack
(d)= 1 1/2 str bonus
(e)= DR

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Monday January 28th, 2019 5:56:04 AM
I forgot to add that Succotash is using another round of his boots of speed

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Monday January 28th, 2019 5:59:09 AM
Lay of Hands 2/10
smite evil 4/4
boots of speed 6/10

1st level spells:
lesser regeneration 3/3
2nd level spells:
remove paralysis 2/2
3rd level spells:
heal mount 1/1
cure moderate wounds 0/1

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+19=27 ; d20+19=24 ; d20+19=30 ; d20+14=33 ; d6+19=24 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d6+19=20 ; d6=5 ; d6=5 ; d6+19=23 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d6+19=25 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6+19=22 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 3:18:53 PM
Posting with a phone can someone move Hobie on the map?

Hobie 5 foots up just to Kezzems right and fires arrows at the one to kezzems left.

Manyshot
Attack 27
Piercing 24 Fire 6 Electric 4= 34
Piercing 20 Fire 5 Electric 5= 30

Rapid shot
Attack 24
Piercing 23 Fire 3 Electric 5= 31

Haste
Attack 30
Piercing 25 Fire 2 Electric 5= 32

Iterative
Attack 33
Piercing 22 Fire 1 Electric 5= 28

If 24 hits, it’s 155-50(DR10?)= 105 damage
If 27 hits its 121-40 = 81 damage


The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 2/13)  d20+15=27 ; d4+1=3 ; d6=4 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 4:06:31 PM
He continues to give his speech performance, but his throat starts to go out as he has so little left.

Since he no longer was flanking anyone, he moves up to C2 to try to set up a new one. Having moved, he has only one attack.

attack roll 27
Damage 3 + 1 + cold 4

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 83/83, CMD 19  d20+10=21 ; d3=2 ; d20+10=21 ; d20+10=24 ; d20+10=25 ; d4=1 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 5:31:41 PM
When the Archon Hounds arrive (4), they will be john on the spot respectively at F2 & G3, as well as F8, & F9 ready to pounce! After arriving, they all take in the surrounds using the perception skills [21,21,24,& 25 respectively -- excuse the d3 roll I was too quick on the mouse!] The next attack will be will their masterwork greatswords.

Talia
====

Next round Talia plans on summoning another group of Archon Hounds using the last 5th level spell!

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left

Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Hound Archon, Group 1 (4)
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Hound Archon, Group 2 (1)

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 5 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Azata
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Hound Archons (4)
===============
[AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil) | hp 39 (6d10+6) | CMD: 18]

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC23  2d6+8=11 ; 2d6+8=16 ; d20+13=26 ; d20+8=15 ; d2+19=20 ; d2+19=21 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 6:00:09 PM

[OOC to the kindly DM: I don't see any d6+4 rolls so let me mention that both C7 and C8 take Bramble Armor damage twice, from two hits each -- that's 11 damage to C7 and 16 damage to C8, I hope!]

Bliss takes his natural attacks against C7, using a swift action to activate his arcane strike. Note that since he is grappled, Bliss takes a -2 on attacks, if I read the grappled condition rules correctly. He attacks twice with his wooden fists domain power (primary and secondary attacks, not two weapon fighting). Also, I seem to recall that Bliss loses 4 Dex, when attacked by others, but not when attacked by his grappler. So his AC is 21 except against C7 and C8, for whom it is still 23.

Two attacks against C7 while grappled:
Wood Punch hits AC26 for 20 damage
Secondary Wood Punch hits AC15 for 21 damage

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d8=8 ; d8=7 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 8:21:09 PM
(If you don't update your HP or effects, I can't determine whether to heal you.)

"I got to say, I thought you'd be way more angry about this than the whole not killing surrendering dwarves thing. I mean, your mom and I had a great long chat about you and only misplaced loyalty kept her from being here. How proud she must be of you, I wonder." Pressi's cackling she imagines can fill the room.

Pressi casts a CMW on Murphy to top him off (via spectral hand) for (8+7+9=24 HP).

"And this could be worth quite a bit. I mean, I probably have time to blink out to the shoulder seige weapons, scale from there to the head and hand it right to Amur, as promised and I do not like breaking my promises. Probably are not built for that, are you?

"So here's my proposal. No more killing dwarves or attacking us. No more fooling around with this on the fence stuff. You let us right up there, you do what you can to stop or change this thing's direction, and you tell me why your poor mother had to die, and maybe... maybe... I'll find it in my heart to keep you alive and free. Well, alive anyway. Anyway, I don't have a ton of time left, so... don't dawdle on your decision."

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
blink 4/9 rounds
true seeing 4.5 minutes left
spectral hand: 9 minutes left

Spells Used:
L1: 5/7+1
L2: 1+1/6+1
L3: 4/4+1 (out except for speak with dead)
L4: 3/3+1 (out except for divination)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 4/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 2

DM Carl  d20+5=9 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=6 ; d20+5=8 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=20 ;
Monday January 28th, 2019 10:31:01 PM
Talia's azata summons a wind wall to protect the party. She casts a mirror image of herself. The wall blows away the obscuring mist outside the box. The constructs are too large to be affected. Their hands ARE weapons, so their weapons can't be blown away.

Murphy knocks the constructs around a bit as he moves and drops them off in the corner. He buries Ix first, hoping to delay him. It's a pretty clever move. He tears through three more constructs, picking up C8 before depositing it at G8. Their damage reduction negates all damage, unfortunately.

OOC to Talia: Yes, each +2 to CON gives 1 HP per level effective immediately.

Succotash tears into C3, missing only once. He attacks the one to Kezzem's left...but there are two there. Surely he'd finish off C3, right? Well, that's what he does. His first two arrows pop its red gem right from it's body. It collapses. He changes targets to C2, landing two more hits which ALSO knock something important loose inside. It powers down, but remains upright.

A low whistle can be heard from the corner where C10 is. "Damn, Hobie. Any chance you'd want to switch sides here?"

Zaragosa finds his throat getting scratchy. He moves to attack C2, but finds the constuct immobile and non-responsive.

Bliss notices a few puncture marks that weren't there before. His bramble armor must be working.

OOC: Sorry, applied DR where it wasn't appropriate.

He doesn't attempt to break free, choosing instead to punch his way to freedom. He makes one solid hit against C7.

Pressi makes Ix an offer, then heals Murphy (again :D ).

"Anger is a stupid emotion, doll...and let me be real clear on something: Shan was not my mother. Shan was my adopted father's wife." He seems to really enjoy saying "was". "She didn't have to die, but things will be better with her gone. Well...they'll be better for me, that's for sure.

"Also, I am 100% sure I'd beat you to the top."

Suddenly, all the constructs straighten up and stop attacking.

"Temporary truce. You lay one hand on these guys, and it's back on." C8 shudders a bit, then starts walking much more fluidly. Ix-bot approaches Pressi, giving Murphy a little wink as he walks by. He holds out his hand.

"Allow me to make a counter-offer, toots. You place Shan's scroll in my hand, and I open the way forward for you and help you convince Anur to abandon this nonsense. He and I walk, you make sure those dwarves don't get a chance to spill the beans, YOU promise not to spill the beans, and no one else has to die today. Whaddya say?"

C6 and C7 both move away from the party. They drop Bliss as they move. He is no longer grappled.

"A show of good faith."

Gorn...Gorn is having none of this.

"OH I'M GONNA DO MORE THAN SPILL YOUR BEANS YOU SMOOTH CHINNED, BACKSTABBING, PSYCHOPATH." He tries moving towards you guys, but that wall is pretty tough. The door opens, and Kade walks through, grin on his face. He grabs Gorn by the back of his breastplate and pulls. They exchange words, but none of you can hear. Something catches his ear though, and he stops, then runs back out the door with Kade, closing the door behind them.

Ix, of course, notices. "Those fools are no doubt up to something. Six seconds, Pressi. Make a decision."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday January 28th, 2019 11:39:34 PM
OOC: Sorry, thought I posted last round. Guess I just thought about posting....

"Gah!" says Kezzem. "I can't keep up with this guy. What are we doing here guys? Do I keep stabbing these things or not?"



Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4  d20+31=51 ;
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 1:19:00 AM
Note for historical accuracy: Murphy's hp damage against the constructs factors in the DR/10 reduction (mentioned in the post: "(taking into consideration DR/10)"), so they should have received the actual DR-reduced damage shown with Murphy's last attacks.

Hit points damage (PRIOR ROUND GANG - NOT THIS ROUND) after DR/10 factored into the rolls vs the constructs - add 10 hp damage back in to each for the damage prior to DR/10:
C4: 7; C5: 11; C9: 9: c10: 11; C6: 9; C8: 6; C7: 10

This round Murphy stops attacking.
"Thank you, love," Murphy says as Pressi helps to heal him.

The whirlwind druid does not have any eyebrows to raise toward Ix as C8 in this form - he drops out of whirlwind, back to large air elemental.

"FRIENDS - STAND DOWN!" Murphy says. "Let's see how we can make this work. Our goal is to stop the Iron Giant, remember - not to bear bitterness. A wise princess once said, 'Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.' We share at least that one similar goal with the one who has made it possible for us to get as far as we have gotten. Stop the giant. They will abandon it... with a bit more suasion on our part with Anur.

"And, Ix, if you have any suggestions on the most effective way for us to do that persuasion, please let us know."

He turns to Pressi. "Can you do what Ix earlier suggested?" Via message, he adds so only she can hear, "That is, alter the recent memories of the dwarfs?" And back to speaking so all can hear, "Or, if not, might they be persuadable through some other course - that their lives be preserved?"

He ends, for the moment, with, "Your call, Pressi."
==========
Murphy's senses are preternaturally keen at the moment: Perception: 51 - (including trying to discern what Kade whispered to Gorn)

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 5:33:59 AM
Succotash can't stand the idea of acting in any way but honest, and says, "Pressi, Anur has the right to know why his wife is dead, and Ix has the right to a prison cell. I can't stand all this subterfuge, either they are the enemy, and need to be brought to justice or they aren't, and we all know that they are, so what's the point to this little chit-chat!" He then adds, "And let's face it, nothing good can come from Anur's plan, and I have a hard time believing that taking away his giant toy will slow his ambitions".

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+19=32 ;
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 10:10:16 AM
To Murphy: I can't really alter memories, though there are a few tricks like suggestion or lesser geas that I can stretch to close enough. As for behavior... well, enchantment is my specialty if Ix can wait until the next morning, and I've still got a few ways to befriend or intimidate someone if he can't.

Perception 32 to see if she can determine where Kade needs anyone to stand. Bluff (message, DC 15) to try to signal Kade with a flicker of eye and hope he signals back.

"Your proposition is... quite tempting. But you have to understand that I have my own position... and honestly, my own strange sense of what's right and wrong. Even if its inconvenient. But to finally end bloodshed... I know I ask a lot of you, but before I agree to anything, I need you to do one last thing for me... CATCH."

With a wave of mage hand, Pressi propelled the scroll towards the ceiling in the center of the room.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 4/5, 0/3)(performance 2/13) 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 4:17:56 PM
Zaragosa lowers his blade at Murpheys words.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 7:28:44 PM
"Looks like I don't need that last spell after all!" giggles Tali. "So, what's the story moving forward, folks?" asks Tali of the group. "Since we have the Azata and the Archon's we should at least see if they can be of help, no?" asks Talia of Mister Murphy, and the gang.

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left

Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Hound Archon, Group 1 (4)

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 5 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Azata
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Hound Archons (4)
===============
[AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil) | hp 39 (6d10+6) | CMD: 18]

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 9:20:54 PM
"Mister Murphy, is now a good time to swap those gear thingies?" asks Talia. I have your Gear + 3 Strength right here in the Haver-Sack says, Talia, as she moves towards Mister Murphy for the exchange.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 9:51:54 PM

Bliss gets up and brushes himself off. He ends his rage and plant domain bennies. But not his Shield of Faith

"Seems to me heroes do not kill people unless they have to. If Mister Murphy thinks we can stop this robot from destroying Humbles Ford without more fighting, I'm all in. Just no killing innocent dwarves, OK?"

He tries to figure out what the deal is here.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 10:33:03 PM

"No, Tali, not yet. Add that onto your bracers, and you'll get full benefit of having three on. We'll have to exchange later. Sorry," Murphy answers the sorceress. "Sure, your summoned folk are welcome to stay for the moment."

He refrains from speaking more until all have weighed in, other than to ask, "Hobie, any words? Kezzem?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4  d20+14=26 ;
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 11:06:51 PM

Except that, just then, noting the trajectory of the scroll that Pressi just tossed into the air, and fearing the trajectory - and potential landing place - from Ix's construct's current spot, Murphy prepares to jet over to catch the flying construct, before he lands on any of his friends incidental to trying to grab the scroll. Fly check 26 if needed.

If C8 does not move to jump for the scroll, then Murphy does not move to fly. He knows that some of the robots have chains and reaching extensions, too.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 11:28:01 PM
"Okay Mister Murphy, I'll put it back on then...we'll get to it later!" exclaims Talia in the midst of the commotions.

Talia reaches into the haversack, takes out the gear and places it back into the bracer.

"So, what's the story here? Are we taking a vote? Hello?!" wonders Ms. Talia aloud to no one in particular.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday January 29th, 2019 11:33:09 PM
Hobie pauses to let Pressi use her judgement, but he stays ready to resume the battle when the 6 seconds pass, if nothing changes.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 1:18:03 AM
"All this back and forth is making my head hurt," says Kezzem. "We need to stop this thing. Just let me know who or what I need to stab to make that happen."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 7:51:10 AM
"Okay, everyone, let's vote on it! All in favor of Nixing Ix, say Aye! All of you in favor of staying ""true"" to your alignment say nothing!" states Talia to the room to no one in particular.

Looking around the room, Talia begins to point in everyone's direction, seeming to take a head count of everyone's position on the matter.

"You there, in the back! What say you?!" says Talia!

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 7:53:38 AM
Pressi had considered just buying time and screwing with Ix. But as a consensus forms around a deal with Ix, she cools her jets. “Ok, but I’m going to leave the scroll up here for the moment until I see the door open. I assume that you’d like me to hand it to you personally so you can check it out?”

She hopes that Kade also accepts. She still tries to get a read on him.

“You should know that Shan did love you. And she understood.”

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 9:16:53 AM

"Talia, can you send your Azata with me? We need to gently halt the dwarfs. If they get up top, they are dead. We don't want them dead.

"Folks, if you want success, with no more harm to us or others, work with Ix. This is serious. I'm heading up. Ix, if Hobie shoots the construct you're using, don't take it personally. That's just his way of showing affection."

Murphy flies to the door, opens it, and begins to ascend as quickly as he can squeeze through. If going misty is needed to do so, he does so (gaseous form).
=======
AND, if the druid has done far too much in this time frame, feel free to pull him back to whatever point you deem appropriate, Mr. DM Carl.

DM Carl  d20+17=22 ;
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 10:26:40 AM
Kezzem asks whether they're still stabbing these constructs or not.

Murphy implores his companions to try and work through this. He asks for assistance from Talia's summons, but such decisions are not up to your humble narrator.

Succotash's principals are making it difficult to do anything other than whoop everyone's butts and haul them in for justice. Paladins, am I right?

Zaragosa complies with Murphy's request, lowering his weapon so he can see how this plays out.

Talia giggles, then starts adjusting her accessories.

OOC: Haven't had a moment to look, but I'll peak at your sheet after this is posted.

Bliss is against killing unless it's absolutely necessary, so he'll talk. He insists that no more "innocent" dwarves be killed.

Hobie lets Pressi make the call, but is counting down the seconds.

Pressi is up to something. She watches Kade's eyes as he enters and leaves. He appears to make note of the locations of all the constructs. She tries to get an idea to/from him, but with only eyes to communicate with, there are limits. Still, Pressi's good at being sly.

OOC: I'm treating this as a complex message since it's completely non-verbal. I rolled your bluff vs. DC20 and got a 22.

Kade catches the look. In return, he looks towards the door he came in, then swiftly moves his eyes to look at Ix-bot. When his eyes make contact with Ix-bot, they go very wide, very quickly. He ducks back out, closing the door.

She ponders throwing the scroll, but thinks better of it. Talia's wind wall is still up, so IF she decides to throw it, it's gonna fly around the room. She offers to hand it directly to Ix so he can inspect it, and insists Shan did love and understand the gnome.

If it's possible for a construct with no facial articulation to project confusion, Ix-bot nails it. "Dollface, you presume to know way more about my family than I think you do. Anyway, these eyes are just as good as my own. I'm just as keen as Murph here is to stop more bloodshed, so I'm gonna be super nice and give you another six. whole. seconds to place that scroll in my hand."

It should be noted that the constructs don't actually *have* hands, though. They have a giant axe at the end of one arm, and a bunch of fully articulated whip/snares at the end of the other. Currently, the axe blade is presented to Pressi, business end aimed straight at her. There is a large, flat area to place the scroll, however.

"And if those three idiots you refuse to kill interrupt our little bargain, I'm gonna assume your answer is no. You want to keep them alive, you deal with their behavior issues."

***

Stuff is going to start happening fast on my next post. Consider this your last chance to act before we enter the end game.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 11:40:01 AM
Succotash’s eyes keep darting from one of his friends to the next, as he struggles to come to grips with the fact that they are considering making a deal with Ix. Finally he blurts out, What in Pantheon’s name is going on here?! Why would you consider making yet another deal with this imp?! How many times has he betrayed us?! How many more chances for betrayal are you going to give him?! I would prefer not to have to kill anyone else today, but I see no real way that we walk out of this without Ix and Anur either dead or tied up and lead to justice!”

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 12:53:25 PM
Hobie's fingers are touching the feathers of the arrows in his quiver. He looks to Pressi.

"This isn't gonna end without us or Ix dead, Press. Say the word and I go back to turret mode."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2  d20+12=22 ;
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 2:11:05 PM
Zaragosa rubs his throat with his free hand as he holds his sword with his other. He was out of depth with what was happening, he was out of his best spells, and he didn't know how many more speeches he could do. He sighed as he looked at the group arguing on what to do, sure this would still end in a fight.

"I'll be right back," he said, bluffing as he wasn't going anywhere (bluff 22). as he cast Invisibility on himself. He would be prepared if the fight went off, it was the last thing he could think to do with his best stuff used up.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 2:44:08 PM

"I can use a haste," Murphy says as he exits the room. "Because he has been helping us, Succotash, over and over, as much as he could without giving himself away! Kade himself said as much! You are like a horse with serious blinders on. Ix has been consistent, and your self-righteous judgment on this is almost as narrow as Hobie's view of life solely through the end of his arrow shafts!" Murphy calls as he is heading out the door and upwards at full speed. As his muffled voice says as he is heading upwards, "And I say that self-righteously!" He flies fast as he can to intercept the dwarves.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 3:55:03 PM

For Pressi and DM only Highlight to display spoiler: {Murphy mentally sends the following to Pressi. "What do we owe Anur, Pressi? Nothing. His monomaniacal pursuit to crush our town lends me no sympathy to his cause. I understand to an extent - few can ever accuse me of full understanding of anything - your desire to fulfill Shan's last request. She who chose to support her husband - generally a noble course - to attack and kill innocents - generally an ignoble course. You connected, gave her a genuine offer. She refused. She chose that which led to her death.

"Ix wants a relationship with his father - and to direct him away from his present and, perhaps, certain future courses of action. His is a filial desire. He has been entirely consistent within his framework. He betrayed his father's plan, in order to save his father, and save himself.

"The ONLY thing he asks is that he not be 'turned in' to his father.

"For ALL he has done for us, I feel we owe him that.

"If we do not deliver, then Ix - who, as we know - should have no problem escaping from us - he can teleport at will, to where he wishes," Murphy says in an incomplete sentence, but soon rectifies that.

"If we do not deliver, then Ix WILL inform the Red Hills of the vulnerability of Crescent Valley. We owe it to our people, to let Ix have his one, own, monomaniacal desire. Getting his father out of here, so he can continue a twisted father/son relationship. He likes his dad."

A brief pause, then he says, "And Hobie has GOT to be called to stand down. He has blown up a few other occasions where peace had a chance. Neither he nor I trust the other's judgment. Wish he'd grow up, so I don't have to.

"Good luck with your decision, love. I will go which way you choose in this. Maybe die with the dwarfs!" he closes with a mental chuckle.

[I know that's a lot - pick out what you figure Pressi might pick up. I think mental communication can send ideas faster than the spoken tongue (I can read way faster than I can talk, for instance).]}

DM Edit: Kim, you're getting all this across in 6 seconds?

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 6:11:19 PM
"I am so tried of all the back and forth here," says Kezzem. "We're on the sundial here people! Let's just stop the giant killer robot and then we can discuss what to do about Ix. Man, I haven't seen this much will-they or won't-they since Russ Yeller got back together with Rachelle Graene."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 6:44:58 PM
Talia asked the summoned Bralani Azata to help out his buddy, Mister Murphy. " I'm sure there is something for you to do ...with Murphy, there always is!" says Tali to the Bralani Azata warrior.

Looking around, Talia doesn't see any Archon Hounds, and excitedly says, "Wow! I got to save two (2) spells! Alright!"

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Azata
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26


Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 11:02:13 PM

Bliss has the feeling that stuff is about to go down, one way or another. He activates his swift action arcne strike and turns into a cat.

OOC: How many rounds since the end of the combat?

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+17=18 ;
Wednesday January 30th, 2019 11:15:08 PM
(I wanted to flesh out a couple of these things, but I’ll give the highlights now.)

Pressi missed the days of being the stupid fighter.

As Pressi tried to listen to the swirl of opinions, Murphy gives her a message. It may have been a long speech in transmission but Pressi sees only a couple of images, fleeting in the moment. Just a quick glimpse of father and son, a burst of emotion without context. And in that moment, Pressi understood.

She makes one last bluff check (natural 1, +8 with hero point) to try and get Ix to read the scroll in person, but in the end decides to give in, and hands the construct the scroll. (She will abort and grab the scroll back if Kade starts attacking or if that invisible spell triggers an attack.)

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Thursday January 31st, 2019 1:06:20 AM

Response to DM query: In the future, after he retires from adventuring, he plans to take up auctioneering.
Pressi's visualization encapsulates something of what he was aiming for.

DM Carl 
Thursday January 31st, 2019 2:44:56 PM
The party is split on this decision, it seems. Arguments are made, but in the end, the choice is up to Pressi. She attempts to use bluff, but your DM isn't sure how she would attempt such a thing.

OOC: The only use of bluff that makes sense to me is "Suggest Course of Action", and that requires a full minute of interaction. I sincerely apologize if I'm missing your point, Melvin. You can keep the hero point.

Zaragosa goes invisible, which miraculously Ix fails to recognize.

In the end, Pressi places the scroll on the construct's blade. There is a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Pressi. I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed. Give me a moment." The construct walks to the door opposite the one Kade and crew went out. The door opens automatically as it approaches, and the construct lifts its axe blade outside. The high winds carry the scroll away almost instantly.

Things happen quickly, and noisily, after that.

The door on the opposite end of the room swings inward. Kade moves quickly, holding it open and ducking down. A massive metal ballista bolt flies inward, cuts through Talia's wind wall like it wasn't there, strikes Ix-bot, and sends it careening out the door.

Gorn's voice floods the room.

"THAT IS WHAT YOU GET, YOU MILK DRINKING, ILLEGITIMATE BRAT!" Just as quickly as he came in, Kade retreats outside.

C7 shudders, then visibly sighs and runs its hands down its face. Every other construct approaches the door Kade left from and forms a wall. C5 wraps its hand wires around the handle and puts tension on them. It's unlikely Kade will be able to over power the construct and open the door again.

"Enough of those fools. Let's save your town and my father. We'll leave them out there to get blown around in the cold for now."

A hollow cylinder rises from the floor until it reaches the ceiling. Inside the cylinder is a ladder. A hole opens in the ceiling, allowing for travel upward. C7 goes slack again, and a few seconds later Ix's head pops down. He eyes Hobie wearily. "I'm acting in good faith here to save lives, dude. You gonna behave yourself?"

***

OOC: We never left combat rounds, that's why Ix was giving Pressi six seconds.

That said, we're now out of combat rounds.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+8=15 ;
Thursday January 31st, 2019 7:23:39 PM
Talia, still using her casted spell of Overland Flight, flies up to the opening in the ceiling that Ix just poked his head through. "Hello, Ix, I'm Talia. I've heard so much about you...though to see for myself," says Talia to Ix.

As soon as Talia stops talking towards Ix, she will look around to see what they are getting into [Perception skill check:15 ] Once she has a good idea, she'll use the Cantrip of Message to explain to Mr. Murphy what she sees, explaining to him that he is free to disseminate the message to the rest of the tribe, while pointing in his direction.

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left

Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Hound Archon, Group 1 (4)

Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 5 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Azata
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Hound Archons (4)
===============
[AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil) | hp 39 (6d10+6) | CMD: 18]


Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4  d8=5 ; d8=6 ; d8=5 ; d20+16=23 ; d8=7 ; d8=1 ; d8=3 ;
Thursday January 31st, 2019 7:38:44 PM

I suppose that Murphy was about to go out the door, then, when Kade opens the door accompanied by ballista bolt and the sound of the Gornian Chorus. He does move aside (fortunately), and watches the bolt zing across the room to strike Ix's construct. He decides to slip aside further as the remaining constructs barricade the door.

He says to Talia's summoned Bralani Azata, "I guess we're not chasing them now - looks like that goes to an outside area. Thank you. I'm Murphy. What may I call you?"

He takes a moment to grab up the dislodged gems from constructs C1, C2 and C3. He suggests someone grab the remaining gems from the wheel - "Someone can keep mine," casts on self cure moderate wounds (5+6+5+11=27 hp, back to full) via one of the three just acquired gems. He offers the one he just used for someone to hold onto or to stow, as well as a second, unused one. He retains one, along with the Id gem. Regarding the Id gem, he rolls a will save of 23 vs DC 18 to resist its urging him to hostility.

Murphy thought to ask Talia to take down her wind wall, but she has already flown upwards. He will relay to others what she communicates to him via her message spell.

He offers a so-far unused cure moderate wounds for Kezzem (7+3+10=20 hp), bringing him to 107/119. [Is anyone else wounded? - Might be good to ascend at full hit points.]

"Upwards, then?" he asks of Pressi. Unless she signals no, Murphy flies up to the opening above, following whoever may already have by this time ascended (I figure his described activities all told take ~30-42 seconds). If no one other than Talia has gone before him (there's time for those who choose to move quickly), and unless Pressi indicates otherwise, then he ascends upwards through the tube, flying, squeezing if necessary.

As he is going through these various paces, he touches in a couple times with Pressi mentally. For Pressi Highlight to display spoiler: {"Thank you, Press. Tough one, I know." ... "Any thoughts at the moment? Or play it by ear? Part of this delicate line is that members of our group don't try to 'out' Ix in front of his father. Ha! Good luck with that. But that we also let Anur know that we have defeated his defenses, and he is surrendering the Giant fully to us, forever, and never to come against Crescent Valley again. We didn't start anything up with him. He was coming against us and ours, unprovoked." ... "Perhaps Ix has a script he'd like us to use. But that doesn't mean we have to use it." ... "And there are likely others above with Anur."}

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Thursday January 31st, 2019 8:23:35 PM
Zaragosa will remain invisible until he is sure a fight won't break out.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Thursday January 31st, 2019 10:53:52 PM

CatBliss watches carefully, just in case combat breaks out. He watches everybody and tries to figure out what is happening.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday February 1st, 2019 12:12:10 AM
Hobie stares right back into Ix's eyes. "Am I gonna behave myself? You'll have to wait and see. We got less than an hour til this thing reaches our home. But for the grace of Pressi, you'd be dead, full of arrows. If I were you I'd quit talking and get to stopping this giant."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=21 ;
Friday February 1st, 2019 5:36:55 AM
Succotash reluctantly goes with the flow and ascends the ladder, putting on his evil radar. (he already knows Ix is evil so he wouldn't bother checking him), he looks around to see what can be seen perception 21

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Friday February 1st, 2019 9:24:45 AM
Talia, looking around, and downwards towards her friends, realizes the Wind Wall is up! Using a cantrip of Message points to the Azata warrior asking him/her to drop the windwall; "Azata Warrior, I mean no disrespect, but would you mind dropping the Windwall, please? We appear to be out of immediate combat, but still on edge and my friends are having difficulty traversing the barrier. Thank You. By the way, what should I call you?"

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 1st, 2019 9:49:51 PM
Pressi began to focus all her frustrations and sadness over the scroll’s loss. A simple emotional ball, pushed through the entire fiber of her business.

————

At the edge of town, Harper the leopard raised her head, filled with desire for the scroll and understanding Pressi’s emotion. With a growl to her fellow familiars and mounts, and a stare to the coven member watching her, she proceeded to hunt for the scroll, using sight and scent.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 1st, 2019 10:21:15 PM
In response to Murphy’s query, Pressi almost laughed. “There is no more planning. We put down our chips, and now it’s up to the roulette wheel. Whether we made the right choice, we will find out soon enough.

“But... thank you for that image. It might be the most open you’ve ever been.”

Pressi turned to Ix. “There’s one thing I need to know. What in the universe do baby dwarves drink that makes milk so taboo. Are they secretly lizards?”

She does use mage hand to grab one of the spell crystals from the platform before heading up. If Ix stops watching, she places Shan’s necklace in her bandolier.

DM Carl 
Friday February 1st, 2019 11:01:44 PM
Talia formally introduces herself to Ix.

"Hey doll, good to meet you. You were a bit out there when we met before, eh?"

She peeks above the hatch and sees a small, cylindrical room. It's got a 20' diameter and is about 10' high. The ladder extends upwards to another hatch in the ceiling. This must be the Giant's neck. It looks...unfinished. A number of gears churn in the walls. Vertical iron chains clank and clatter around pulleys, moving up or down. This is probably what most of the Iron Giant looks like behind its solid interior walls.

Murphy stops to grab the gems from the fallen constructs, but notes their internal light is dimmer than the others. If he tries to pull the gems from the wheel, he'll cause it to go careening down to the level before, but he's welcome to if that's what he wants. He heals Kezzem and manages not to try and attack Ix.

Zaragosa remains incognito. Bliss stays sharp in case there's still fighting to be had.

Hobie is incredulous, and suggests Ix stop yapping and start halting the Giant.

"Fair enough, dude," says Ix as he stands. He's no longer visible from this room.

Succotash isn't thrilled. He keeps his evil radar up, but Ix is the only thing that dings.

Talia asks the azata to drop the wind wall. It complies.

OOC: I don't RP summons, but feel free to handle it as you see fit.

Pressi has a knot in her soul. She hopes she made the right choice.

The party is able to climb the ladder. There's not much to see up here; it's basically just a vertical tunnel leading to the head.

Ix's demeanor is relaxed, friendly. One would expect him to be haughty, having won, in a sense. He is not.

Sense motive, DC 21, Highlight to display spoiler: {Ix seems happy, peaceful...and grateful. It's a new look on him, to be sure.}

"Dwarven babies drink plenty of milk, Press. The insult that moron keeps throwing around is a very dwarven way of calling me a child." He stops before continuing upwards. "Ok, Anur is up there, hooked into the Giant. Since the Encompassing Mind was shut down, he's completely wrapped up in the interface. I'll have to physically remove the device from his head. It's gonna disorient him, and he's probably not going to handle it gracefully. I suggest everyone stay far away from him until he has a moment to adjust. Anur is a high priest of Scald; if he decides he wants you hurt, you'll suffer, even if you do come out on top at the end. Last chance for questions before we finish this."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Saturday February 2nd, 2019 7:05:02 AM
Clueless as what Harper is growling about, Miss Piggy, not understanding leopard speak, simply follows her feline friend.

Succotash follows Ix's instructions, but he is prepared for the inevitable betrayal that he is convinced is about to happen. As such he will keep his detect evil active and Twinklesting in front of him. He is almost looking forward for the chance to lay the smite down on Ix and Anur.

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4  d20+9=15 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+31=38 ;
Saturday February 2nd, 2019 7:50:15 AM

The druid did not tried to pull any gems from the wheel, but had mentioned the possibility to others. Looks like Pressi did retrieve one of the four.

Murphy senses some of Pressi's sorrow. And receives her thanks for what he tried to get across. He smiles as he hears her query about what baby dwarves drink.

He keeps close to mind the greater dispel magic spell, to use likely as a counterspell against Anur if it looks like he moves to cast something significant against the party. Not cast yet, just at hand as needed.

He tries to sense motive on Succotash as they gather in the neck area. Looks like he is set, determined... Murphy feels badly that he attributed self-righteousness to the paladin. He thinks his friend courageous, stalwart. He wonders whether he is right about the need, not only to stop the giant - everyone agrees with that - but to imprison, or slay, if necessary, the pilot. If they let him go with Ix, will they have a run-in with him down the road, in the next year, or years?

Ix - looks grateful? Somehow at peace, at the moment. Murph inwardly prays that, for all the young gnome's machinations, that he is able to spend time with his father.

"Just before going up there, Ix, mind if I ask something? How was it that Anur came to adopt you? Had you lost your own parents somehow?" He pauses briefly, then adds, "Nothing requires you to answer what I ask. But... I was just wondering. Seems like you have an attachment to him, a concern for him."
======

Sense motive with Succotash: 15
Sense motive with Ix: 27
Resist Id gem: 21 vs DC18
Perception: 38

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Saturday February 2nd, 2019 12:11:32 PM
"Can we knock him out and then remove the helmet?" asks Kezzem. "Seems like that would avoid a lot of trouble."

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2  d20+1=8 ;
Sunday February 3rd, 2019 9:13:11 AM
Zaragosa misses the sense motive. He stays put and invisible for the time being. Still unsure of what will go down since he has not sense motive on the Gnome

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Sunday February 3rd, 2019 8:51:25 PM

Bliss asks his friends to just say the deal one more time in simple words.

He's hoping it is something like this: We stop the fighting, they turn their iron giant around, and go away and never come back. Is that it?

Bliss would be on board for something like that.

DM Carl 
Sunday February 3rd, 2019 10:30:30 PM
Friends, the wife has pneumonia, the kids both have strep. For those unaware, my daughter is a kidney transplant recipient who started 3rd grade this year. That means she gets shuffled around to different classes, which exposes her to much more disease. Add to that a particularly nasty wave of illnesses throughout the entire school this year, and it's been a very rough winter.

That's why my next post kinda sucks. Hope you understand.

***

Everyone appears ready to move on. Kezzem has a bright idea, but Ix's look tells him all he needs to know about his thoughts on it.

Ix does stop at Bliss' statement.

"No. I don't want this Giant. I don't want Anur having this Giant. What I want is to head back to the Scab and try to see if I can de-radicalize my father. You can keep this blasted thing."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Monday February 4th, 2019 1:50:19 AM
[Carl - sorry for all the tsurris
"Ix, my paladin friends perceive within you an evil bent. A few of your actions this day tend to confirm that. However, your desire to stop your father from an unwise, unwarranted assault I see as a good thing. That, and your aim to help move him from his radical goals - a good thing. At the risk of irritating some of my friends - I like you, Ix. I shall remember you in my prayers - and among those prayers is that you turn your own heart away from evil, and toward what is good, and noble, and kind - to learn to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly in service to the good.

"Your father's redemption may be a strong first step in that new path."

"That said, in the next few moments there may be a few spells which might mitigate Anur's initial reactions - especially those of a violent nature. A slow spell. Calm emotions? Being tied up with rope, until he agrees to terms?"

"Friends - suggestions? Besides puncturing, bludgeoning, or slashing? Let's try to skip those options."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+3=7 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+11=28 ; d20+18=21 ; d20+9=24 ;
Monday February 4th, 2019 3:39:54 AM
Taila subtly points to the Azata explaining to the Azata using a message cantrip, that the toughest battle is through the next door -- the pilot of this-this craft!

Talia knowing that it could quite be possible that Ix will turn on us as soon as we engage Anur, or worse, she quickly goes through all her Skill checks making sure she is missing anything:

Talia will first concentrate on Ix and his person, clothing, mannerisms, etc, will trying to use her Diplomacy skill to determine something Humbles Sword can use in the upcoming battle.

"Mister Ix, Did you become a power spellcaster from your own innate drive & talent or did Anur influence you?" asks Talia of Ix while using her Diplomacy skills, while observing his mannerisms.

Talia will also try to recognize any item, symbols, or markings on his attire.

Skill Checks:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Diplomacy: 28
Sense Motive: 7
Perception: 20
Knowl (Arcana): 21
Spellcraft: 24

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)


Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Monday February 4th, 2019 5:35:11 AM
Succotash listens to Murphy's plead with Ix, and for the first time he actually agrees with the Druid. He would much rather see the gnome turn to the ways of goodness and justice, as he would prefer to see anyone following said path, and so he keeps his mouth shut throwing up a silent prayer to Pantheon that Ix would in fact heed Murphy's words, however, he is still prepared to drop the smite on Ix if needed, as such he keeps his detect evil trained on the gnome hoping that he witnesses a change.

To Murphy he says, "I have some rope, but it's currently in my saddlebags, which I left with Miss Piggy. I could summon her if needed, in fact I was considering doing so when we get to the head, I would love for everything to run peacefully, but having her strength in the final fight, if it comes to that, could be helpful".

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday February 4th, 2019 2:49:44 PM
"this guy has double crossed us over and over and now we are concerning ourselves with the redemption of his father? I cannot believe you guys. Once this thing is no longer moving directly toward our hometown, and once it's been either destroyed or taken control of, then, and only then, will I consider any sort of goodwill for this gnome."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday February 4th, 2019 6:25:46 PM
“Fair enough. But I’m always willing to help the souls of the needy, even if I know I’m killing them after.”

To Murphy: understand, though. You are neither Anur nor Ix, just like I’m not really Shah.

“Honestly, an elevated charm person or calm emotion is all that’s needed. We are just going to talk to the guy, for now.” (She readies a bloodwitch lore followed by a charm person.)


Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Monday February 4th, 2019 6:26:48 PM

Bliss changes back into a halfling and talks to his skeptical friend. "Well sure, Hobie. The only reason we are talking is to get this iron giant moving away from our home. If it keeps on threatening our people, we start fighting again."

"It's just that our whole mission is to stop the attack on our town. If we can do that without further loss of life, that seems good to me? Even heroic, maybe?"

"Maybe this Mister Ix can find some common ground with us? That's what Mister Murphy is trying to arrange, right?"

He waves when Ix responds to his words. "See?"

[OOC to Carl: Sending positive vibes to you and your family.]

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Monday February 4th, 2019 7:21:12 PM
Zaragosa would dismiss his invisibility, "I'm up for keeping a giant construct."

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Monday February 4th, 2019 11:47:04 PM
"Succotash - Sure, it would be nice to see Miss Piggy," Murphy responds. "If you want, go ahead and call her, and bring up the rope."

He turns his attention to Ix. "Hope you don't mind - and I understand the potential disorientation... hmm. So long as the helmet is removed, and he be given a moment to adjust to the disorientation - tying him down may be irritating to him, but far less so than if he starts wildly casting spells at these intruders, and Hobie shares some bird feathers on a stick with him."

He turns to his friends. "So, I'm going to ask - say, ah, there you are, Jack - say, you have very nimble fingers, from what I've observed. How about you and Succotash gently circle the rope about him a few times, then pull it snug as a bug in a rug as soon as Ix goes for helmet removal? If someone has a tanglefoot bag, then one of those splashed on his lap and arms might also prove a beneficial restraint.

"Following these indignities - a charm person, or calm emotions, may further mitigate undue consternation.

"Sure an' you betcha he'll feel sore about all this after a while, so we may need to further explain that we are treating him with relative respect, considering that he was just about to stomp our town to smithereens. And that there were several who thought it better he die, rather than be momentarily restrained. His choices include:

1. Suffer trial and sentencing. Or,
2. Be remanded to the care of his son, and return home to consider major repentance from the sins he was about to commit.

"Finally - if, after trying for a few rounds to use non-lethal constraints, it looks like Ix's persuasion, and our pointing out we're not trying to kill him, but rather we ARE stopping him from attacking our town, not to mention us - if he continues to attempt lethal force - that's when sharp things may need to be used.

"Ix Revon, I'm hoping for everyone's sake that we can do this, and we all live to see the end of the week. If you have novel insight or ideas, tell us. I'm not going to let Anur get away with causing significant harm to my friends. I do want to give you a chance to do what you have asked for.

"Friends, last chance to refine our proposed course of action."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Monday February 4th, 2019 11:48:24 PM
While waiting for something to transpire, Talia strikes up a conversation with the Azata. So, Mister Azata warrior, how's "Elysium"? Any machines on Elysium?" asks Talia of the warrior.

Skill Checks:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Diplomacy: 28
Sense Motive: 7
Perception: 20
Knowl (Arcana): 21
Spellcraft: 24

Talia Status:
===============================
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani
=====
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)


DM Carl 
Monday February 4th, 2019 11:50:44 PM
Thanks, folks...

***

Murphy starts making plans, and wonders if Ix himself can be redeemed.

"I am selfish, and conniving, and cold-hearted. I'm also practical and realize unrestrained evil intentions never work out well for the evil doer in a world where the Dragon Consortium and groups such as yourselves exist. Above all, I want a long, comfortable life. I can't change who I am at heart, but you can trust me not to throw away the chance you folks have given me." He flashes a grin. "Gonna have some trouble with humility, though. Just don't have that in me."

Talia makes plans with her summons and asks Ix about his abilities.

"I'm a bard by trade, dear. I had quite the following back home before Anur went nuts."

You see no instruments on his person. Perhaps he's a vocalist? Maybe a story teller?

Succotash finds himself agreeing with Murphy. That's refreshing.

Hobie is still not ok with any of this.

"Fair enough, Hobie. Fair enough."

Pressi makes plans to charm Anur and calm his emotions.

A cold shiver runs down Bliss' spine when he hears Pressi mention calm emotions, as if a memory from another life is trying to surface to warn him of danger. He shakes it off and it's gone. He's on board with stopping this Giant without further loss of life.

Zaragosa makes an entrance. He's on board with keeping this awesome Giant.

The party ascends the ladder and find themselves in the room Hobie's clairvoyance spell saw before they entered the Giant. Standing on a pedestal is a massive dwarf. If not for his full, waist long beard and the fact that he's about as wide as he is tall, he could almost pass for a short, stocky human. He wears an ornate, bronze set of full plate armor that is of masterful quality and almost certainly enchanted. The symbol of Scald is engraved in the metal. He is an imposing figure, to say the least.

On his head is a leather headband, attached to a metal cable. Pink orbs float around each hand and foot, mimicking the movements of the Giant as he walks in place. His eyes are glazed over and he gives no indication he's aware of your presence at all.

"Ok Press, the headband gives pretty strong protection against enchantments, so if you wanna try and charm him, wait till it's off. And in case you can't tell by looking at him, Anur's not dying alone if this gets violent...and I can assure you he will want to get violent.

Whatever happens, though, thanks."

He doesn't waste any time; he removes the headband from Anur. The effect is immediate. Anur seizes up and collapses to the floor, shaking and mumbling loudly, but incoherently.

"Come on, old man. Pull yourself together. We've got intruders."

The Giant has stopped.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 1:08:50 AM
"Would you believe we are travelling mushroom salesmen?" askes Kezzem. He readies his dagger to attack Ix should he make any hostile action against the party.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20=14 ; d20=17 ; d20=8 ; d10=8 ; d10=8 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ;
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 5:40:28 AM
"Well so much for Miss Piggy and the rope", Succotash says while he detects evil on Anur, and makes ready an action to charge Anur if he tries anything. He will only charge if it looks like Anur or Ix are going to cast a spell, or attack, and if he attacks he will use power attack and vital strike. perception 14+7=21

readied action:
17 possible crit 8+22(a)+2(b)-3(c)=29 to confirm, 38 for the total attack roll
8+8(d)+13(e)+9(c)=38 damage (68 if confirmed)+(4+5=9 holy)

(a )strength+BAB+magic+weapon focus+size
(b) charge
(c) power attack
(d) vital strike
(e) 1 1/2 half strength+magic

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4  d20+11=13 ;
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 5:52:39 AM

[Friends - please read Murphy's post right before our DM's post - it contains several things we could have done to prep for this moment. Ropes, tanglefoot bags, and Other Stuff. Jack & Succotash were mentioned.]

Murphy drops his wild shape. With one hand he tosses (without an abundance of finesse: Ranged touch 13) the 50' silk rope he has coiled on one hip to Jack. With the other, he reaches into his haversack and extracts a pair of tanglefoot bags. "Wrap him, Jack. I'll seal him! Kezzem, you've nimble fingers, too. Help Jack tie him up before he hurts himself, or others."

He offers the second tanglefoot bag to whoever thinks he (or she) would be good at using on on the prone fellow.

Mentally he signals to Pressi, "Say, wouldn't it give Ix some plausible deniability if he is tanglefooted, too?"

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 5:56:44 AM

"No, Succotash - it's not too late - at least for rope. And non-lethal things. C'mon, folks. Panic is Not Yet In Order. Here, take this tanglefoot bag, unless someone else does so first. LET'S DO THINGS TO CONTAIN, NOT DESTROY!! We are better than that. I hope."

(Didn't see Succotash's post until after mine.)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+20=22 ; d3+2=5 ; d6=4 ;
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 11:27:43 AM
OOC: Kezzem's readied attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 20 = 22.
Damage: 1d3 + 2 plus 1d6 cold = 5 + 4 cold = 9.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 2:09:18 PM
Hobie makes sure to stand back around 30 feet if possible, with at least the two Paladins between him and Anur.

As soon as the headband comes off, Hobie casts Slow on both Anur and Ix.
Will Negates, DC 18, If successful, it lasts 5 rounds.

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/slow/

===============
Mirror Image- Currently 6 Hobies- Roll a 6 to hit him instead of an image
===============
Boots of Speed
Rounds Used 5/10

Elemental Arrow: Electricity

Fire Arrows Remaining 35/50

Kezzem's Ring of Shield Other (+1 AC, +1 Saves, Kezzem takes half damage)

===============
Prepared Spells
Bonded Item Free Spell

Level 0
Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message

Level 1
Grease, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, Feather Fall

Level 2
Mirror Image

Level 3
Haste, Fly

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25  d20+22=39 ;
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 8:01:29 PM

Bliss laughs out loud when Kezzem mentions being mushroom sellers!

He readies a nasty witch gaze to focus on this Anurs fellow if he attacks [-2 on next attack or skill check, no save].

He watches closely for any kind of funny business. (Perception 39)

Murphy (Kim) Large Air Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] add +4 Str +6 Dex +4 Nat AC 29 CMB 13 CMD 28 HP 72/96 Wis +4 
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 8:12:28 PM

"Take any weapons he has on him!" Murphy interjects since no one seems to be taking him up on using the rope, or taking the tanglefoot bags.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 8:24:20 PM
Pressi casts surrender blood in preparation of casting charm.

But since Murphy is still interested in holding off, Pressi also casts “like calls to like,” moving herself into the shoes of Ix and Anur. (+18 to social roles)

Quickly, she begins talking, ascertaining how he feels, trying to smooth over his initial opinion of them (diplomacy roll).

DM Carl  d20+8=14 ; d20+13=29 ;
Tuesday February 5th, 2019 10:43:27 PM
Two folks posted yesterday while I was typing up the post. I'm going to ret-con some stuff...

***

Succotash indicates he may be willing to allow Anur to walk, but will resort to lethal force without much hesitation. He suggests tying up Anur and ponders summoning Miss Piggy.

"Rope? You think rope is going to do anything against my dad? You underestimate this man, Succotash. Plus, you can count any chance of talking this out goodbye if you take him hostage. I can't stop all of you if this is the path you want to take, but I hope you didn't go to such great lengths to avoid unnecessary killing only to throw it away on that idea."

Murphy asks Ix for some advice before things get started.

"My dad respects strength. He loathes weakness. Be real careful, Murph. You talk a lot, and my dad's not a patient man. If he thinks you're trying to sweet talk him, or talk over him, it's going to get ugly."

Ix removes the headband from Anur. It swings free on a metal cable connected to the ceiling where it vanishes through a small hole there. Anur seizes up a bit, but Ix is there to catch him and guide him safely to the floor. The strain of that burden obvious on his face. He breathes a sigh of relief when Anur is safely on the ground. He kneels on the ground and places Anur's head on his knees, waiting for him to come to. It would be a tender moment, but there's really nothing tender about Anur at all.

Succotash detects evil on Anur and is probably not surprised to find he registers. He and Kezzem are ready to strike at a moment's notice. Kezzem dusts off the mushroom farmer chestnut. Bliss chuckles, then gets ready to look real mean at Anur.

Hobie is less trusting, as usual, and casts a slow spell on the two men. The magic breaks through Ix's defenses, but wash right off Anur. Ix shoots Hobie an annoyed look, but there's no time to do anything now.

Pressi makes appropriate preparations, including putting herself in their hosts' shoes.

Anur's fugue comes to an abrupt end. Ix immediately jumps to his feet.

"Dad, get up. We have uninvited guests." Anur looks up, sees the party, and gets slowly to his feet.

"Ix, what is this? YOU HAD ONE JOB, BOY." He eyes you all quickly, eyes finding the holy symbols of the paladins. "Great...adventurers, right?" He turns to Ix. "Go. Fetch Shan and Minh. We'll deal with these...for goodness sake, boy, THEY'RE HALFLINGS. You couldn't handle a few halflings? We are going to have words later."

Ix blanches. "Dad, they're dead. Shan, Minh, most of the crew and almost all the guardian constructs. They defeated them all."

Anur looks shocked. For the moment, he has nothing to say.

Pressi is the first to start talking, though what she says is a mystery to your humble narrator...

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+15=35 ; d20+12=22 ; d20+14=25 ;
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 12:54:16 AM
Talia subtlely points to the Azata warrior and using the message spell explains to the Azata warrior, "The is the evil ring leader, the high priest of Scald. If he moves against us, drop him as he is the essence of Evil!" The White-haired Elven-like warrior scans the scene with several skills to seize up this encounter -- when Anur attacks or attempts to move against the halflings, the Warrior will respond with a slam attack and then draw his scimitar.

Talia meanwhile withdraws a tanglefoot bag from her haversack.

Perception Check: 35 (NAT 20); Sense Motive: 22; & Stealth: 25 ( for Sneak attack)

Skill Checks:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Diplomacy: 28
Sense Motive: 7
Perception: 20
Knowl (Arcana): 21
Spellcraft: 24

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)

Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)

Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)

Special Attacks whirlwind blast

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall

2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

[OCC: Have an upper respiratory illness and was sleeping.]

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [large as huge] 16' tall, +8ST -2DX +4CO +6NatAC 27 CMB16 CMD35 HP118/96 +4WI. DR10/Adm  d20+13=25 ; d20+11=13 ; d20+31=33 ;
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 3:06:15 AM

Murphy listens as Pressi speaks with Anur and Ix. He hands off his tanglefoot bag to Jack. When he perceives it an appropriate moment to step into the conversation, he says:

"Anur. We could have attacked you to kill you. Though I dislike killing. But we will do so to defend our people. We protect the little town you set out to smash - Humble's Ford. Halflings.

"After we wiped your defenses below, we came for you. We might have killed him, who has attacked us," he nods in the direction of the one Anur calls son. "But in the end this - Ix? - made a compelling appeal to spare his life and yours.
​
"The conditions? Total and irrevocable surrender of this machine and all its capabilities. A solemn vow from you, Anur, and Ix, never to return against the people of Crescent Valley, nor to lend any support whatsoever to such an attack."​

"Before you decide," and Murphy wild shapes into a large earth elemental (with huge capabilities), 16’ tall, with strong limbs. He concludes in a gravelly voice, "Hear her out." He lifts his massive arm in Pressi's direction. And lends her his support (+2 diplomacy, very large boyfriend, etc.)

===========
Diplomacy (aid Pressi +2): 25
Sense Motive: 13 (meh)
Perception: 33

Active Spell Effects:
- Freedom of Movement (All combat maneuver checks made to grapple the target automatically fail): 61 minutes
- Longstrider: 9 hours 42 minutes (land movement +10)
- Mage Armor (+4 AC): 128 minutes
- Barkskin: 61 minutes 6 rounds (Nat AC +4)
- Owl's Wisdom (+4 WIS) 5 minutes
- Stoneskin (DR 10/adamantine): 55 minutes
From wild shape DR/5; immune to bleed, critical hits, and sneak attacks, and more (see header).

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=21 ; d20=2 ; d10=5 ; d10=7 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ;
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 5:36:44 AM
"Know this Anur, I will drop the smite on you faster than you can blink if you try anything stupid! but I gave Murphy my word that we will try this the bloodless way", Succotash begins. He than adds, "If you choose to leave, I give you my word, as a Paladin of Pantheon, no harm will come to you, but if you choose to stay and fight, your death is on you!"

As he is speaking, he readies an action to charge Anur with Vital Strike and Power Attack if he tries anything. perception 21

Readied action:
2+22(a)+2(b)-3(c)=23 for 5+7(d)+13(e)+9(c)+(5+4=9(f))=43 damage

(a )strength+BAB+magic+weapon focus+size
(b) charge
(c) power attack
(d) vital strike
(e) 1 1/2 half strength+magic
(f) holy

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 1:09:24 PM
DM How high is this room? I'm sorry if I missed the description.

If the room seems big enough that Hobie could fly up and stay out of Anur's physical reach, then Hobie will cast Fly and move straight up.

If the room isn't that big, Hobie will cast Haste on his party.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 5:44:03 PM

Bliss, in halfling form, has stern words for Ix's father. "Look, Mister Ix's Dad," he declaims, "the fighting is over and there's no way for you to invade our home any more. So you and Ix can just pack it up and go. You go back to your home, and we'll take this giant iron lumpen back to ours, where nobody will use it for making war no more."

He stands firm, hands on his hips, and then sprouts thorns all over as he deploys his bramble armor for some extra effect.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 5:44:29 PM
[OCC: Do we have an idea of the size of this room from all the perception checks having been made?]

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 10:08:01 PM
After Ix speaks, Pressi spends most of her time giving introductions. “Look, I can’t begin to imagine the things that you are feeling, but you should know we are prepared to pound on you a little, just a bit. Later. Take a moment to focus up, maybe share a drink?”

Pressi let others continue before speaking again. “Ok, let’s all give the guy some breathing room. Let him get his surroundings. The guy’s wife just died. Really nice woman, by the way. My condolences. She meant a lot more to me than you realize.

“Believe it or not, we’ve felt some of what you have. About family, or personal history, or religion. If you had just visited our town with a couple of questions, we might have helped you. Now, we are giving you one more chance. A chance to think about what’s truly important. The connections you make, the lessons you teach... the times you share, watching how things turn out.

“Shan died to protect you and Ix... from this machine more than us. It’s been growing in consciousness and malfunctioning more than you can imagine, and this single mindedness threatens everything you care about. But I know more than anybody what the focus to identity can do to a person. As great as this person you are trying to save might be... you’ve got a pretty great person right here, too. Maybe get to know him, and yourself.”

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 10:23:28 PM
Ooc: apologies if the words tend to be vague or otherwise unmoving. I’m typing this off a phone in a hotel room. But I think I got the gist and invoking like calls is supposed to fill the gaps.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+19=26 ;
Wednesday February 6th, 2019 11:32:08 PM
"We're giving you a good deal here," says Kezzem. "It's the best outcome you are going to get. Sure, you may be thinking I can take a bunch of halflings, but people always underestimate us halflings. Listen to what your kid Ix says--we've fought our way here and overcome everything defense this place has thrown in our way, and we haven't lost a single man or woman doing so. We are offering to resolve things here without further bloodshed. It's a good offer. I suggest you take."

"And if you are still thinking of taking your chances, know this: we also have a pig."

Diplomacy: 26.

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 10:19:12 AM

Should it appear Anur is about to cast a spell, Murphy has prepared a counter spell - Greater Dispel Magic.

DM Carl  d20+17=28 ;
Thursday February 7th, 2019 11:04:47 AM
This room is circular w/ a 20' diameter and a 7' high ceiling.

***

Talia prepares her summon for attack, in case it comes to that. She looks around. In addition to the pedestal in the center of the room, there's a staircase that winds its way up the interior wall of the room, leading to a hatch in the ceiling. Upstairs, there's a lot of banging noises.

Succotash and Hobie are ready to throw down.

Pressi makes introductions, also making clear they are here to talk, but will throw down at a moment's notice.

Murphy speaks up, letting Anur know they could easily have killed him. Of course, looking at the dwarf in front of him, Murphy probably isn't too sure it would have been easy, even IF he was plugged in and helpless. He indicates Ix has made it possible for him to walk away.

Bliss and Kezzem speak up, indicating it would be a good decision to take the deal.

Pressi continues, trying to bring some empathy to the situation. Anur's eyes follow the two back and forth as they take turns talking. When Pressi starts talking about Shan, Anur decides he's got a few words of his own.

"My wife, the woman I loved, the woman who brought meaning and purpose to my life...meant a lot to you?" His face is a mix of anger and shock.

Ix speaks. "She certainly did change your outlook, father."

Pressi ONLY, Highlight to display spoiler: {Ix gives you a knowing look, and you realize what he's saying (bluff 28): who do you think radicalized him in the first place?}

Anur continues, "and now I'm expected to simply abandon what her and I started? To cowardly slink back home to do what? Drink myself to death? Spend the next two hundred years knowing I betrayed her, just so I can live out my days with this one?" He gestures to Ix. He takes a few steps towards Pressi, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Why would I ever do that?"

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 11:33:28 AM
Being that this family drama was beyond Zaragosa and his understanding, he would rather not talk and let the others sort it out, whether, through peace or war, he would try to be ready.

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 1:12:59 PM

"Right, be courageous and throw away the rest of your life this minute - omitting the fact that shows cowardice against facing the future, brave Anur. Or keep on attacking innocents who - until you moved against them - never had caused you harm. Plan to stomp them out. And if you can't, then pout and turn into a drunken lout. Because those are your only three options: Die today. Or kill the innocent. Or drown yourself in ale for the next twenty decades.

"Because NO other options exist," Murphy throws that in his teeth.

He pauses for a beat, then says, "NO chance that you could take your drive and intelligence and do something to build up the Wold, to benefit your people and the Wold at large. Right? You're not smart enough to come up with something like that, are you?"

One more quick pause, then the druid closes with, "Or, am I somewhere mistaken?"

=========
[Sheesh - had I known the room dimensions, I don't think Murphy would have gone to earth elemental. He'll be in his horizontal position (the stats do describe them as "16' long").]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday February 7th, 2019 3:39:04 PM
(Since the room was only 7 feet high, then Hobie's action was to cast Haste,so everybody can count that they have Haste in effect)

with bow at the ready Hobie very dryly says "What SHE and I started."

"I know Dwarvish doesn't have different pronouns for subject and object, but in Common you need to use different pronouns. Common mistake."

"Please dude, I'm begging you. Surrender. If it weren't for the wordy Druid and this Paladin we picked up in an alternate dimension, you'd already be full of my arrows, the other Paladin's daggers (well actually they teleport back to him so you'd only keep the holes) and a bunch of claw marks."

"If you want, you can leave the giant right here, go far far away, and build a new war machine to terrorize somebody else's town. Just make sure we never know about it, and you're gold. But this time, you made a bad call choosing this particular town, and you can either fold or pay up in blood. That's it. Those are your two options."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 5:14:59 PM
At Kezzem's mention of having a pig Succotash closes his eyes and focuses on Miss Piggy, willing her to his side, and as she appears, he says, "And here she is!" He then says to Miss Piggy while pointing to Ix and Anur, "If either of those two do anything aggressive, smite them!"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+3=21 ; d20+8=18 ; d20+18=21 ; d20+9=13 ; d20+5=16 ;
Thursday February 7th, 2019 8:06:29 PM
Talia, now using her own skill set, slowly reaches into the haversack with her other hand to ready a Thunderstone! When both hands have readied their charges, Talia stealthily attempts to keep the Tanglefoot & Thunderstone in the shadows. She also attempts to discern what the High Priest of Scald might lead with as Talia feels in her gut, he'll never back down!

Skill Checks:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Sense Motive: 21
Perception: 18
Knowl (Arcana): 21
Spellcraft: 13
Sleight of hand: 16

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 651 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 101 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6591 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 8 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 11 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)

Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)

Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)

Special Attacks whirlwind blast

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall

2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

[OCC: Have an upper respiratory illness and was sleeping.]

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 8:18:37 PM

Bliss laughs. "Mister, what are you talking about? There is so much to do in this Wold. Redeem the honor of the Red Dwarf Clan of the Scab! Visit the lost land of Turok Nor! Find the MIGHTY Axe of the Dwarf Lord's Revenge! If you do not like this son, go sire a dozen more, and do a better job this time. You're evidently a mighty dwarf, but I never heard of you -- go make yourself famous around the Wold! Dying won't honor your poor wife. Try to think of something that would make her proud!"

"I mean sure, if you wanna commit suicide by hero, okay, we'll put you down. Seems dumb to me, though. You have better things to do. Go do some!"

"Or stick with us and go on adventures! We're going to be famous some day, you betcha!"

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 8:43:00 PM

Murphy laughs a gravelly laugh at Bliss's suggestions. "Lots of great things to do, sounds like. Say, friends - no one attack, seriously. Let him make up his mind. I suppose going on a three-day bender in mourning might not be a bad idea. But, after that..."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday February 7th, 2019 10:29:03 PM
Pressi sizes up the dwarf before her. She gets Ix’s message about how radicalized he was by Shah, and wonders if she can do that himself.

“I get where you come from. I’ve been a religious warrior myself for a while... for four or five religions. And I can tell you right now that there’s no courage in fighting. Attacking is easy. Letting yourself be vulnerable? Putting others needs before yours? That’s the risky part.

“Besides, even the little I’ve picked up of this religion tells me that Shan cared about more than fighting enemies or dying for the cause. In the end, Shan died for the two of you, not for any cause. You really should consider putting The needs of others... like the guy you are still trying to save or your wife’s legacy... above your own emotions.”

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+20=23 ; d3+2=5 ; d6=5 ;
Friday February 8th, 2019 12:29:26 AM
"Ouch Ix, that had to hurt hurt," says Kezzem. "I felt that rebuke and I didn't even cast Shield Other on you."

"Anur, your son has done everything he can to convince us to allow you to live, and you go and spit in his face like that? You would really rather die than live and be with your son? That's...that's messed up. If by my birth family's standards."

"Ix, you deserve better than this. If this don't work out, maybe you can come find a new family in Humble's Ford. It worked for me."

Kezzem readies to throw a dagger at Anur at this first sign of hostile action.

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 20 = 23.
Damage: 1d3 + 2 plus 1d6 cold = 5 + 5 cold = 10.

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Friday February 8th, 2019 1:52:10 AM

Note: As stated in an earlier post, Murphy is prepared for a counterspell using Greater Dispel Magic should Anur go to cast a spell.

DM Carl 
Friday February 8th, 2019 12:13:15 PM
Anur listens as the party extols the many benefits of surrender. They make good points, but it's Bliss who gets his attention. He takes a few steps back from Pressi, closes his eyes, and retreats into his own head for a moment. He thinks long and hard before appearing to come to a conclusion. He points to Kezzem and Succotash.

"You two. I would see my wife again before I make a final decision. Will you bring her to me? You have my word I will stay my hand until you've returned."

Sense motive DC 15, Highlight to display spoiler: {He seems earnest.}

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Friday February 8th, 2019 2:39:06 PM
"Better hurry bros, I can't promise I'll stay mine."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday February 8th, 2019 5:56:09 PM
"Well, let's go get her Succo," says Kezzem. "You get one arm and I'll get the other. It will be just like that one weekend at my Uncle Bernie's."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Friday February 8th, 2019 8:16:32 PM
Succotash decides to go with Kezzem to fetch the body, but before he does, he tells Miss Piggy to listen to Murphy and Pressi.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Friday February 8th, 2019 10:36:56 PM

A light bulb goes off -- that's the power of roleplaying an 18 Int -- and Bliss realizes something. "Oh, his wife is ..." his voice drops to a whisper ... "one of the people we already killed? Oh."

Bliss covers his mouth with one hand.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2  d20=2 ;
Friday February 8th, 2019 10:39:20 PM
Sense motive 2 + 1 to make 3.

Zaragosa was always good at telling the truth but making it sound fantastic, not really good at lying or telling if someone else was lying, so he instantly just believes the man's words. He will follow the others to the body if they go

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm  d20+9=22 ; d20+31=45 ;
Saturday February 9th, 2019 6:13:04 AM

"We can wait," Murphy says.

"So, it looks like piloting this is a very intense activity. The mind, the limbs, the gems work together to cause it to move. How long did it take to learn how to drive?"

Murphy looks about the head chamber, taking in his surroundings, the controls, what can be seen through the eyes of the iron giant. Is Humble's Ford yet in view?
========
Sense Motive 24 (forgot to add WIS bonus to roll).
Perception: 47 (WIS)


Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Saturday February 9th, 2019 8:52:23 AM
Talia begins to whistle a tune that sounds like, "I owe, I owe, so it's off to work I go..." to break the uneasy silence that has descended over the pilot's room. Talia abruptly stops whistling and says, "I Wish My Brother George Was Here."

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 650 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 100 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6590 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 9 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 10 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE
-=-=-=-=-=-
Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)
Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)
Special Attacks whirlwind blast
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall
2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

DM Carl 
Sunday February 10th, 2019 4:06:01 PM
Kezzem and Succotash head back down below. They have to fiddle with the gem-socketed wheel, but they know how it works by now. Zaragosa joins them, not trusting that Anur's not setting them up. Anur takes note, but doesn't object.

Back upstairs, tensions are high. Bliss worries they'll have to tell Anur his wife is dead, but he must be confused since Ix told Anur that just seconds before. Murphy has questions.

"Donning the control headband conveys everything one needs to know to pilot the Giant. It's rather effortless." He says nothing else during the entire affair.

Looking out the Giant's view window, one can indeed see Humble's Ford. It's quite the view! It looks deserted, which is good because that was the plan. Far, far off to the west is movement. It must be the citizens on their way to Hovel.

After a few minutes, Kezzem and Succotash return. They (presumably) gently place Shan on the control dais, then stand back.

Anur walks over and kneels before his wife. He strokes her hair once, then starts looking through her belt pouches. He is calm at first, then confused. He searches her entire person, becoming more and more frantic as he does so. "Where is it?" he says quietly to himself as he continues looking. Then, he stands, turns, and asks the party very loudly,

"WHERE IS THE SCROLL THAT SHE KEPT IN HER POUCH? SHE NEVER TOOK IT OFF HER PERSON. WHICH ONE OF YOU HAS IT?"

Ix pales a bit and takes a few steps back, though Anur doesn't see it as his back is to him. Ix locks eyes with Pressi, just a touch of panic in them.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Monday February 11th, 2019 5:21:06 AM
Succotash isn't sure what to say, he's certain that the scroll mentioned is the one that Ix chucked our the door, but for some reason he isn't inclined to share the whereabouts of said scroll, feeling that it isn't his place to do so.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Monday February 11th, 2019 11:40:54 AM
"Was it a love poem?" asks Kezzem. "I tried to write a love poem once. My cousin Kazzah told me I should compare her to a summer's day, so I said she was mucky with a chance of thunderstorms. Boy was I right about those thunderstorms!"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+11=20 ;
Monday February 11th, 2019 11:53:46 AM
Talia pipes up to lend her ability of diplomacy to this very tense situation. [Diplomacy skill check: 20]

Talia beings with, "Dear High Priest of Scald. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Talia. I am, but a humble halfling amongst this group of adventurers. I believe that the scroll is somewhere nearby to be sure. Exactly, where, I am not 100% sure, but I know that there is one that might know of its whereabouts. Let me confer with my friends to see if we can help you with this task."

Quickly switching into one hand the thunderstone & the tanglefoot bag, and then indirectly pointing at Murphy, using the message cantrip, "think fast mister Murphy, do we point out Ix? Pressi? We knew where it was, perhaps its some distance behind us now?"

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 650 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 100 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6590 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 9 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 10 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE
-=-=-=-=-=-
Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)
Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)
Special Attacks whirlwind blast
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall
2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday February 11th, 2019 12:48:37 PM
Hobie, feeling absolutely no loyalty to Ix, is the one to give him up.

"We gave the scroll to that treacherous gnome who calls you 'Dad'"

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Monday February 11th, 2019 1:21:11 PM

"The scroll was grabbed by a construct below, that went out a side door. The scroll went fluttering away about the time the construct was struck in the back by a large bolt. Ix was on the floor above," Murphy reports. "Did anyone see a gnome during that battle?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday February 11th, 2019 2:13:57 PM
Pressi felt stuck, caught between Hobie’s anger and Murphy’s deflection and Kezzem’s... to think she once thought it could have been a message of love...

“What was it?” She demanded from both Anur and Ix. “Was it a code? A trick? Was it a scroll of resurrection? A curse? Why did you both want it? Were you keeping Shah from being raised, unaware that I can do that myself? Were you trying to protect dad or have him yourself? Or did you not care, Ix the wonderful genius?

“No matter. You want the scroll. Here it is!”

Pressi cast speak with dead upon Shan. “First, please forgive my weakness. Second, if you have something to say about this scroll, now’s the time.”

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm  d20+31=32 ;
Monday February 11th, 2019 5:26:00 PM

[How much time has passed since the last time check, once the body of Shan Shalutch was returned by the paladins and the bard, and Anur started shouting? Five minutes? More? Need for spell durations.]

Murphy is confused when Pressi says about the scroll, 'Here it is.' She had sent Harper out to search for the scroll. She seemed to be acting as though it was genuinely Shan's scroll that had been passed to the construct, and flew out into the wind. Was it a different scroll entirely she had handed over?

Or was 'Here it is' meant to be answered by her speaking with Shan's spirit? Murphy keeps a close eye on Anur, ready to block him with a fist if he moves aggressively against Pressi, or with a counterspell should he be going to cast a spell. But also ready to just wait, if none of the above transpires. He keeps a bit of an eye on Hobie, as well, whom he figures has limited patience for negotiations. If loosing of arrows commences before a move to violence on the part of Anur, he is prepared to move to take the arrows in his own body. If, however, Anur initiates violence, Murphy will in no way hinder Hobie's response.
==========
With somewhat divided attention, Murphy's perception is 32.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Monday February 11th, 2019 6:59:30 PM
Bliss is confused. “What scroll?” He honestly asks.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Monday February 11th, 2019 10:54:03 PM
“Sorry, the earth elemental requires precision of language. We gave the scroll to a construct that was being magically controlled by the gnome.”

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Monday February 11th, 2019 11:46:39 PM

Bliss puts his 18 Int to good use. "Oh yeah! Didn't it fly out in the wind when someone opened that door?"

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 5:46:33 AM
Succotash tightens his grip on Twinklesting, and he asks, "Guys why the subterfuge? Why is the truth so hard?" then to Anur he says, "In an act of good faith, Pressi here handed the scroll to a construct controlled by Ix. Then Ix threw it out the door. I neither know nor care about the scroll, I only want this situation to end. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, leave the Crescent Valley now and no one else needs to die, without the Iron Giant of course, or stay and we will cross swords, make your choice wisely! By the way, out of a love for the truth I offer this, your son is directly responsible for the deaths of several of your dwarves, as well as your wife".

Murphy (Kim) Earth Elemental [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' tall add +8 ST -2 DX +4 CO +6 Nat AC 27 CMB 16 CMD 35 HP 118/96 WI +4. DR10/Adm 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 7:43:22 AM

"Loving truth - Ix is not the one who killed her, Succotash," Murphy responds. "That was her choice when we offered her an option to live, and she said she would oppose us, and support her husband in destroying our town, rather than surrender. Loving truth, do you recall your part? And, with her and the guards and constructs fighting us, I joined in against them all."

"Anur, to many on our way up we have offered terms, offered mercy. Most have rejected them, set on support of your dream. Most, therefore, have perished. Will that be your choice? I pray not. Shall we learn what Pressi discerns? If you will allow her, and the spirit of Shan Shalutch be willing to speak, we may learn her thoughts on this matter."

Murphy wonders how many different colors may have passed over Ix's face with all this going on. He marvels at how messed up this situation is, and holds little hope of it turning out well, considering ... the participants. All of us. A few moments ago, the wedge of hope seemed stronger. Still, he remains vigilant.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 3:17:05 PM
Talia says, well this is awkward!" aloud to no one in particular.

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 650 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 100 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6590 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 9 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 10 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE
-=-=-=-=-=-
Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)
Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)
Special Attacks whirlwind blast
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall
2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Kim for Jairus) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3) 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 3:35:35 PM

J.T.T. Zaragosa speaks up, softly. "Let us all stop talking. Let Anur, and maybe Shan through Pressi, and Ix have their say if they will. Too many words," says the bard.

DM Carl  d20=10 ; d20+15=20 ; d20+6=15 ;
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 3:45:14 PM
About a mile away, in the village of Humble's Ford, a sleeping leopard suddenly darts upright. She has a sudden, intense need to find a scroll that smells of her master. She starts running towards the towering metal thing, but it's about three quarters of a mile away still.

OOC: At a hustle, it will take Harper about 7 minutes to reach The Giant (it's been four minutes so far). From there, she can make a DC23 perception check once a minute to search. It will take 2 successes to find the scroll. If she has more than the +5 to perception a regular leopard has, let me know...or heck, roll yourself.

Succotash isn't going to be the one to spill the beans.

Kezzem asks if it was a love poem. This really seems to anger Anur, and he starts marching over.

Talia is quick to intervene and try to calm down the situation. It doesn't appear to be working to well, but then Hobie goes full savage and points the finger at Ix.

Anur actually sighs in relief when he hears this. He quickly spins and asks, "Why didn't you say so, boy? Hand it over so we can finish all this." He holds out his hand expectantly.

Murphy explains it was taken by a construct, but that just makes Anur look at him funny. He turns back to Ix. "Construct took it? We both know they wouldn't do that less they were being controlled." His eyes narrow. "Son, what did you do?"

Pressi has a lot going on upstairs and demands to know what was in that scroll. She casts a speak with dead on Shan, but can tell before she finishes it's not going to work. Shan...Shan's not a corpse. What she is is not obvious to Pressi.

Anur takes a deep breath, then chuckles at a joke only he seems to get. He turns to Pressi, smiling but obviously not happy. "Tell me, little one. When was the last time you stopped to take a drink since you entered the Giant?" He looks up and around at everyone else. "You folks have had a busy time fighting your way through here. Anyone hungry? Tired?"

The answer, of course, is no. None of you are the least bit tired, winded, hungry, or thirsty. Touching your foreheads, you find no sweat.

"It's the magic of this place. Makes you part construct. My wife here isn't dead. She's broken. She always carried a scroll that would let me fix her." He pats a pouch on his belt. "Made me one too."

Succotash, Murphy, and Hobie start to have a back and forth, but Ix's warning about Anur proves accurate.

"ENOUGH! shouts the priest. In the small chamber, it takes a moment for the echos to die down.

Ix grips his cloak and vanishes. "Oh no you don't," mutters Anur under his breath. He walks to the dais, careful not to step on Shan. He...fiddles with the air, like there's something over the dais that none of you can see. He reaches out with his right hand, and pushes an invisible button in the air. Ix reappears and finds Anur's fist gripping the front of his cloak and shirt. He grasps his holy symbol with his other hand and casts his spell.

Spellcraft DC22, Highlight to display spoiler: {Destruction}

Murphy has planned on counterspelling. If he attempts to, he finds himself lacking.

OOC: I rolled for you to avoid an entire day of posting just for one roll. Rolled a 20. That's a fail.

Ix grits his teeth, but Anur's power is too much. He screams as he's engulfed in a sickly green flame. He doesn't scream long. When it's done, only his cloak and a few other belongings remain. Anur lets the cloak flutter to the ground. He takes a moment to wipe his eyes. He glances down at the dais, and makes up his mind.

He removes the axe from his back, then drops it. He does the same to his holy symbol. With practiced grace, he unbuckles his armor and lets it collapse around him. "What have I done?" he quietly asks himself.

He turns to face the party. He's still pretty intimidating, but objectively much less of a threat. "With the Encompassing Mind gone, the power that keeps us from truly dying...well, except for Ix here...it will fail in a little less than an hour. Help me find the scroll to save my wife, and I'll submit to your justice."

Pressi can feel Harper on the edge of her senses. She's almost here.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 4:05:46 PM
(OOC Thanks Kim! very grateful. health and work keep getting in my way)

Zaragosa was grateful that this was coming to an end, "That sounds like a fair deal. Unless the rest of you are upset about Ix?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+9=17 ;
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 5:00:12 PM
Talia is more than a bit perplexed as to Ix Revlon's fate...using her Spell Craft skill, she tries to recall that that bit of magic was that Anur used...on Ix. The Azata warrior seems poised to strike.

Pointing to Mister Murphy, and using the message cantrip, Talia asks Murphy, "What if we turn the Encompassing Mind back on?"

[Spellcraft skill check: 17]

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 643 of 660 minutes left
Stoneskin | 93 of 110 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6583 of 6600 minutes left
Mirror Image | 2 of 11 minutes left
Summon Monster V | 3 minutes of 11 minutes left - Azata

Azata Brilani Statistics:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
AC: AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 | HP: 66 |CMD: 26

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +22, Handle Animal +12, Perception +15, Ride +14, Sense Motive +12, Stealth +14

OFFENSE
-=-=-=-=-=-
Speed 40 ft., fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee +1 scimitar +13/+8 (1d6+8/18–20) or slam +12 (1d6+7)
Ranged +1 composite longbow +12/+7 (1d8+6/×3)
Special Attacks whirlwind blast
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)

At Will—blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall
2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)


Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP118/96 WI+4. DR10/Adm  d20+20=34 ; d20+10=18 ;
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 5:12:06 PM

Murphy was surprised his greater dispel magic did not counter whatever destructive spell that was. Close, but not enough. He winces as Ix screams. He understands the disdain that some of his friends hold the gnome, and he realizes that justice was served. Despite all his shortcomings, though, he rather liked him, and had hoped for a better filial relationship with his dwarf father.

The earth elemental shrugs his shoulders at Jack's question. "It's done, and there's a measure of justice there," he growls quietly.

Murphy has in the back of his mind been keeping track of the steps the giant has been taking. Rolling a survival check to recall (how well depends upon the roll) how many steps back it was the scroll fluttered away. He recalls that each step covers an average of 58 feet 8 inches (based upon the 20 seconds per step - both 20 seconds per step and 10 seconds per step were mentioned - the 20 figure makes more sense, and the machine was traveling at 2 miles per hour) - round to 60. Survival: 34 - he should have a fairly decent estimate.

Murphy reports the rough distance back that the scroll left the giant, based upon that time to when the giant stopped moving a few minutes ago.

Murphy responds to Talia's message (and relays telepathically their conversation to Pressi), "Let's hold off on that. If we can recover the scroll quickly, and obtain the formal surrender, then, perhaps."

"Bliss, can you go back to bird form? If so, you've gotten much better at tracking things of late. Would anyone else be able to join him in flight? And, Pressi, your Harper is hunting for it, too, am I right? I'll remain here. Those who would help in the hunt, help. Those who would remain, do so. Subject to what Pressi may desire on the matter, of course. If someone has a message spell who will remain here, can cast it upon one who is looking for the scroll - or vice versa - please do so."

He considers that not all of the party members may be up for letting Anur live - or Shan be 'unbroken.' He trusts to Pressi to work that one out with them. And says, telepathically, "Good luck, love, with helping our friends to sort this out. Let me know what I might do."
======
Spellcraft: 18 (try to figure out what spell Anur cast - failed vs DC22)
Survival: 34 (estimate distance traveled since scroll left the giant)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 6:53:08 PM
"You said you had a scroll too," says Kezzem. "Why don't you just use that one? For what I understand, there doesn't seem to be any point to saving it."

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25  d20+22=30 ; d20+22=32 ; d20+22=37 ;
Tuesday February 12th, 2019 9:56:20 PM
Bliss says, "I'll go look!"

He changes into a cat and looks for a way out of the giant. If he can find one, he'll look for the scroll.

Perception checks (note, with scent) -- 30, 32, 37.

If he has time to take 20 ... 42.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 5:25:31 AM
Succotash is in a bit of a quandary, on the one hand he feels obligated to stay and guard his friends, on the other hand, he knows that Miss Piggy's nose could help find the scroll, and the only way to get her out of the head of the Iron Giant, is to leave the Giant and summon her, finally he thinks up a possible solution, and says, "Hey Pressi, when we fought that dragon in the battle with the Sar, you turned Piggy into a giant eagle, if you could turn her into some flying critter, her nose could be useful".

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 4:03:53 PM
Hobie is dumbfounded by Ix’s destruction. Part of him is satisfied that Ix will no longer be a threat, part of him is sad that he doesn’t get to take Ix down himself, but most of him is just wary of Anur, not ready to let his guard down yet.

“I’ll stay on guard here in case of funny business while someone else finds the scroll.”

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+11=14 ;
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 6:07:40 PM
While awaiting the outcome of the search for the scroll, Talia finds herself stumped. "Er, Mister Anur, would you mind sharing with me, the spell you used to disintegrate Ix? As a spellcaster myself, I am always curious about spellcraft, but your skills and talent have stumped me. " [Skill check | Diplomacy: 14]

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 643 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6583 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 93 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1 (unsure of how many stoneskin spells I cast aside from on myself and Mister Murphy)
L5: 3 /4+1 (including the one I just cast)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 8:39:23 PM
Pressi tries to hide her distaste at what Anur had done. She may not be Ix’s biggest fan but she isn’t summary execution’s biggest fan, either. And she isn’t sure she trusts Anur or even the dead wife more.

“And just what makes you think I’d be interested in further perverting nature in the name of some mocking desire to affront God hers... no, I’m just messing with you. Of course I’ll “repair” your dead wife. I’m dressed right out of the Goth catalog, and literally wearing chains. Let’s necromance this thing.... for 250 gold coins.”

If given, Pressi drops it on the floor and begins drawing a pentagram around it. “One quick divination should do the trick. I just ask where the scroll is, and my familiar picks it up. Nothing to it except 10 minutes of our time, the sacrifice, and a few candles... vanilla spice okay? I’m kind of running low.”

Except Pressi doesn’t plan on asking that question. Instead, she asks whether Anur or Shan will betray them. (Can someone roll bluff for me. Remember the like to like bonus, thanks.)

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 8:50:51 PM

Hey wait! Bliss was so involved in the idea of searching for the scroll, he almost missed that Ix is dead!?!

As Bliss realizes that Ix's dad killed Ix, then, well, wowsy. The whole idea was to stop with the killing, and now Mister Ix is dead. This fellow -- his dad? -- wants to raise his wife? Bad idea! Then they will have to fight both of them, prolly.

Bliss has enough minutes on his shield to keep it still up, but not if Pressi is going to take 10 minutes. Bliss will wait too. Or if Bliss is outside searching for the scroll, then if he finds the scroll on his own, well, maybe he'll just rip it up. He does not want that lady back again. She was hard enough to kill the first time.

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP118/96 WI+4. DR10/Adm  d20+35=39 ;
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 9:45:45 PM
Despite the header, this is for Pressi:

Bluff for Pressi on : 17 + 18 from like to like gives a 35 bonus: d20+35=39.

So, Bluff: 39


DM Carl  d20+27=46 ; d20+18=34 ; d100=72 ;
Wednesday February 13th, 2019 9:59:01 PM
There are mixed feelings all around. Did Ix deserve it? Maybe. Is summary execution like that ok? Probably not. One could argue he's the captain of a ship, but they're not out to sea.

Zaragosa is mostly ok with the arrangement.

Talia has never seen that spell cast before, and her knowledge of spellcraft is not helping. She wonders about turning the Encompassing Mind back on. A good idea, maybe they should try. She asks Anur to teach her that spell. "My magic ain't taught, it's given," is his reply. It seems his magic is divine in nature.

Murphy suggests they hold off and does more math in his head. He has a great idea of where the scroll would have been dropped, but it was a piece of parchment blown around by high winds over 200' high. Chaos theory makes an accurate calculation off the top of his head impossible. Still, he can figure within a few hundred square feet. He decides to leave the choice of how to proceed up to his companions.

Kezzem suggests using the scroll Anur has. Anur shakes his dead. "This one's an arcane scroll. She was supposed to cast it if I needed it. I can't cast arcane spells, and Shan was pretty clear that she was the only one who could use it." He procures the scroll and hands it over to anyone who wants to take a look. "See for yourself. Maybe you can make heads or tails of this."

Succotash asks Pressi to consider turning Miss Piggy into an eagle again. Your humble narrator might suggest something with a strong olfactory sense, like a vulture.

Hobie realizes they're not out of danger yet. He decides to keep an eye on Anur.

Pressi asks to be paid for her services. Anur's eyes flare with anger, but he brings himself back down. "You'll be taking me in and confiscating all my possessions, and you ask for 250 gold up front anyway? Fine." He tosses a small purse at Pressi. Maybe it's full of coin, maybe it's his dice pouch. He doesn't seem to realize the sacrifice is for casting the spell itself.

Bliss isn't sure he wants Shan back, but bides his time while Pressi works her magic.

Pressi's bluff is masterful (46). Anur's a great judge of character, but not that great. Pressi casts her spell, and she knows it succeeds (72/81 - pass). Anur's intentions are true. Shan will not seek to betray the party.

Meanwhile, Harper begins her search.

OOC: I mispoke earlier. I need survival rolls from Harper to track via scent, not perception.

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP118/96 WI+4. DR10/Adm  d20+29=40 ;
Thursday February 14th, 2019 2:35:57 AM

When Anur protests the monetary request, Murphy explains, "It's a witchy thing, sir - the coin helps power the spell - it's not that she's greedy. I don't understand exactly how it all works."

He waits for a couple of minutes into Pressi's ritual, then talks to Kezzem. "While we're waitin' for someone to fetch the scroll, Kezzem, what was that you were saying this morning about a priest of Gargul, and dark days to come?"

He takes Anur up on this offer to look over the scroll. Often he has the read magic ability, but not today. "Yep, arcane," he says after taking a good look. "Say, Jack[/i], or [b]Talia, or anyone, can you make heads or tails of this scroll? Would love to know what the spell is called, at least. Sounds like it's custom for just this sort of situation. And the one we're looking for might be a clerical version of the same scroll?" he queries lightly in Anur's direction.

Once she is wrapping up her divination, Murphy queries Pressi telepathically for a mental report on what she figures out.

"So, shall we grant his request? Sure and he's evil, but I expect he'll keep his word to us. Who knows, may try to twist it down the road, but, I think Bliss's words had some good effect upon him..." Then he thinks to add, "By the way, if I had one more wild shape left, you know I'd be out searching for that scroll. Do you have it in you to do as Succotash requests - turning Miss Piggy into a bird that might be able to spot, or smell out the scroll? It's got your scent on it, and Shan's. If she were turned into a vulture or a parrot - both have a great sense of smell - that might do the trick. Let her smell you, and the ... Shan, then seek out similar scents along the pathway behind us.

"Might someone take up those things on the floor?" earthy Murphy asks - not singling out anyone, but hoping someone considers the request. He nods slightly toward Ix's cloak and items. He doesn't yet nod toward Anur's axe or armor or pendant, and wonders whether anyone might think of them, as well. Murphy has no access to storage at the moment.
==========
Perception: 40 - just keeping an eye on things, and people. Among other things mindful of the area that Anur touched above the dais just before taking Ix by the collar.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+23=35 ;
Thursday February 14th, 2019 3:34:45 AM
"Here let me take a look at the arcane scroll, I may be able to make use of it."
Hobie will spend some time looking carefully at it, trying to decipher it (DC 20 + Spell Level) and see if he might be able to cast the spell, whatever it is.

Spellcraft = 35

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=9 ;
Thursday February 14th, 2019 5:29:02 AM
If Pressi turns Miss Piggy into a vulture, Succotash will take her down a level and open turret door and let Kade and company back in as Miss Piggy flies out after getting a good sniff of Pressi and Shan, survival 9.
If she doesn't turn Miss Piggy Succotash will retrieve both Ix's and Anur's dropped items.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+18=25 ; d20+9=24 ;
Thursday February 14th, 2019 11:23:53 AM
Talia accepts the task of looking at the scroll and using her knowledge of Arcana & of Spellcraft, might have an inkling of what it is or what it does.

[Skill Check: Arcana: 25]
[Skill Check: Spellcraft: 24]

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 643 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6583 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 93 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 3:04:24 PM
At Murphy's balking, Pressi almost shakes as she messages back. I chose to divine their motives rather than find the scroll because of your assurance that the scroll would be easy to find. (OOC: forgot to add it in, but Kim and I discussed what to divine over email.) If you don't have another wild shape or a better idea, we are toast. And no, I can't cast another bird shape. I've got a couple of L2 spells left and then I'm a rogue with cantrips.

After calming down, For what its worth, we can trust them. And other considerations aside, I do have an obligation to get her back up. Whatever happens tomorrow... we will figure that out then.

She tries to use one of the spell-granting gems. If she can get another divination (L4 domain spell), she will use that through her own wealth. If not, she tries to grab a Beast Shape 1 or 2 and turn the pig into a vulture.

And if nothing else works, she boosts Talia with a guidance. She is prepared to make a UMD roll as well, depending on what Talia finds.

--------------------

Harper status: heading away back to town

Pressi status:

Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell: Shield of Faith (Bliss, Pressi only)(extended?)(Pressi casts surrender blood)
crone form+ 2 int gears, 1 wis gear (Int 24, Wis 12)
Like calls to like (+18 for 90 mins)
surrender blood (CL+2 next spell or one minute)

Spells Used:
L1: 6/7+1
L2: 2+1/6+1
L3: 4+1/4+1 (out)
L4: 3+1/3+1 (out)
L5: 2+1/2+1 (out)
Guidances: 3/9
Clair: 4/9
focused curse: 1/1

Tatoos:

L0: 2
L1: 2



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+1=13 ; d20+1=10 ; d20+1=7 ; d20+1=8 ;
Thursday February 14th, 2019 3:06:33 PM
Harper's survival skill is well less than perception, but she soldiers on. (Last set 13 and 10. This set 7 and 8).

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 3:10:13 PM
(At DC 23, Harper will need two nat 20s in a row.)

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Kim for Jairus) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 52/52) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3) 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 6:50:20 PM

"Hobie, if you have a good handle on it, you think you can cast it off the scroll? If it's all right with Anur?" Jack asks. He seemed to see the light go on in Hobie's eyes as the arcane archer looked over the scroll.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 7:34:39 PM
Zaragosa would sigh at Murphey's question. "I actually haven't studied such things and don't know much about spell crafting."

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 8:06:59 PM

Evidently searching for the scroll is still a thing. So Bliss changes into a cat, leaves the giant, and searches his heart out. "I just home we get find it in (valen)time." he thinks.

(Per Feb 12 post ... Perception checks (note, with scent) -- 30, 32, 37. If he has time to take 20 ... 42.)

DM Carl 
Thursday February 14th, 2019 11:41:07 PM
I'm travelling today, so today's and tomorrow's posts are going to be short.

Hobie and Talia both inspect the scroll. It's difficult. It's like reading a book that's hundreds of years old. The language is arcane, but the dialect is foreign. Still, those two are sharp cookies and can figure it out with some work.

They deduce it is more closely related to the spell make whole than raise dead or resurrection. The materials are fresh, though. This scroll was made within the last few weeks, not centuries. With some study, they come to two conclusions. A: This scroll is tailor made for Anur and will not help raise Shan. B: Shan must be one smart cookie to have made this.

With enough study and effort, the two think they may be able to learn the secrets behind this magic and recreate it, but not in the time they have left.

Pressi is reassured that Anur and Shan aren't likely to double cross them. She could use one of the gems to turn Miss Piggy into a turkey vulture if she chooses.

Bliss offers to go look for the scroll. Anur nods and presses an invisible button over the dais. Immediately, the Giant starts moving downwards. It kneels, both arms outstretched in front of it, hands on the ground below. The "window" shimmers a bit, then vanishes. Fresh air floods the interior of the room. Looking out, the party finds themselves roughly 100' above the ground. The Giant's arms can be used as a ramp to descend below. It's treacherous and slippery. Most people would have a hard time keeping their balance. Bliss, especially CatBliss, will have zero issues and is able to run full speed downwards.

There's enough time for Bliss and Harper to work together and fully track down Pressi's scent on the scroll that MUST be around here somewhere.

OOC: Yes, taking 20 is acceptable here.

It takes the duo a full 20 minutes to track the scroll down, but they find it caught in a prickly shrub.

The question now is, does Bliss really want to give the scroll to Anur?

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Friday February 15th, 2019 12:13:51 AM
Kezzem pulls Pressi aside. "Seems odd to have a scroll that will only work on one person, no? Seems kinda inefficient if you ask me. I wouldn't want a dagger that could only stab one person, you know?"

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP96/96. DR10/Adm 
Friday February 15th, 2019 2:46:59 AM

Murphy attends to the area that Anur presses, and marvels at the results. "Nice. I'll remain here." He reminds Bliss of the approximate area to seek in.

"How did you and your wife come to know one another, if I may ask, Anur? There's no requirement you answer."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=10 ; d20+7=13 ;
Friday February 15th, 2019 5:08:21 AM
Succotash and Miss Piggy will wait as patiently as possible, however, they will remain on the alert Succotash perception 10 Miss Piggy perception 13

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 15th, 2019 3:56:18 PM
“Oh, I don’t know,” Pressi replied. “There’s a part of me that absolutely wants to make a dozen riffs on how they’ve literally pinned their survival on their enemy’s mercy. But deep down, like way way down... I actually find it sweet that they’d tie their survival to each other, that they would actually eschew logic and caution to build this....

“I’m not actually going to turn down Murphy’s proposal, am I. After all is said and done...”

Harper’s link interrupted Pressi’s chain of thought. Quickly, she used the gem to change miss piggy into a vulture and sent her off.

With that done, she takes some time to look at the interface equipment itself and scan for gem placement.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Friday February 15th, 2019 4:12:01 PM
Pointing to Mister Murphy, Talia sends another short message. "Mister Murphy, what do you think will happen once Shan is "Made Whole"?

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP96/96. DR10/Adm 
Friday February 15th, 2019 5:03:46 PM

Murphy listens to Pressi. He smiles.

To Talia via her message spell, Murphy says, "I think she and her husband will talk. They will agree together to surrender terms. They will head back up to their home in the Scab and decide what to do with the rest of their lives. And, if they keep their word, they will not do harm to Crescent Valley. We spare his life and allow hers to be restored. Mercy triumphs. May this soften their ways. Time will tell."

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Friday February 15th, 2019 9:38:55 PM

Bliss thinks about what a hero does. "A hero would not make important decisions without his friends. A hero trusts his team."

He picks up the scroll and brings it back to the giant. He drops it in front of Mister Murphy.

DM Carl 
Friday February 15th, 2019 9:53:48 PM
Bliss knows better than to make a big decision like this without his friends. He climbs his way back up the Giant's arms and into the cockpit before dropping the scroll in front of Murphy.

If the party was pondering making a decision, Anur doesn't seem to notice. He walks over and scoops up the scroll.

...or does he? Maybe the party stops him? Let's see!

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Friday February 15th, 2019 11:42:18 PM
Zaragosa sighs as he watches both Anur and the party.

He'll back his party but he himself will not make a move against Anur

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP96/96. DR10/Adm 
Saturday February 16th, 2019 1:49:07 AM

"Thank you, Bliss." He gingerly picks up the wax-sealed scroll (if the wax seal is still intact). He hands it to Pressi. "From my lady, for his lady, if you will," allowing Pressi to render the final decision.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Sunday February 17th, 2019 10:03:01 PM

After dropping the scroll, Bliss twirls around, standing between it and the dwarf.

He waits and watches, happy to see it in Miss Pressi's possession.

DM Carl 
Sunday February 17th, 2019 11:32:20 PM
Anur watches the scroll move from the ground, to Murphy, to Pressi. He looks at her expectantly...

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=24 ;
Monday February 18th, 2019 5:17:30 AM
Succotash re-tightens his grip on Twinklesting waiting for Pressi's to decide what to do with the scroll, and Anur's reaction to the choice. perception 24

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20+8=20 ;
Monday February 18th, 2019 11:48:32 AM
Talia looks around to see where everyone is and makes a snap judgment about what might go down after Shan is made whole.

[Skill check | Perception: 20]

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Monday February 18th, 2019 8:40:36 PM
Pressi wrinkles her nose at Murphy. “My comments were not meant to be taken as a challenge. Let’s lose the ego, lest that no become easier. Sir.”

After that wink, she gives Anur the scroll, eventually. “This scroll is a second chance. I have no illusions, if the situation were reversed, that you’d grant me the same courtesy. But that’s okay, I don’t need it. I just hope you don’t waste this second chance.”

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP96/96. DR10/Adm  d20+17=35 ;
Monday February 18th, 2019 9:52:59 PM

"Challenge?? Ego?" Murphy is truly perplexed, wondering what Pressi may have taken as a challenge from him, and what ego has to do with anything. However, she did wink. Murphy feels like some sort of dolt who can't figure out what the joke was, or that he was even in the middle of one until the punchline hit the face of the sucker.

However, he is pleased with how she offered the scroll to Anur, especially the words that accompanied the gesture. "I'm casting owl's wisdom on myself. No one panic. I need all the wisdom I can get." He does so with one of the gems.

Now, he attends to what the cleric does - still mindful of the actions and attitudes of his friends, ready to shield friends and foe(s) alike from harm should it come to that.

Readied action: Interpose body between combatants. Only if violence arises. His will save (35 - or 33?) precludes the Id gem he bears from rousing him to unwarranted violence. Which is good. He doesn't want to punch Anur, or Shan, or anyone else as the scroll of - what, great mending? - no, 'make whole' - takes effect.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Monday February 18th, 2019 10:14:08 PM
Bliss watches Anur as he is handed the scroll.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears  d20+15=26 ;
Monday February 18th, 2019 11:56:44 PM
Kezzem starts to finger his frost dagger, but thinking on what Anur has says, switches to his adamantine short-sword instead. He keeps an eye on him to see if now that he has what he wants if he will turn hostile.

Sense Motive: 26.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 5:48:16 AM
Hobie watches everything unfold, trusting Pressi's judgement.

He keeps an arrow trained on Anur, and one eye on the weapons he dropped to the ground. If Anur makes any moves toward the weapons rather than to Shan, Hobie will let the arrow loose.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 5:48:16 AM
Hobie watches everything unfold, trusting Pressi's judgement.

He keeps an arrow trained on Anur, and one eye on the weapons he dropped to the ground. If Anur makes any moves toward the weapons rather than to Shan, Hobie will let the arrow loose.

DM Carl 
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 4:19:12 PM
Anur accepts the scroll with a sigh that's both contented and resigned. He may have saved his wife, but what of his own life? He simply nods sternly and accepts the scroll.

The rest of the party carefully watches what happens next, though Pressi's judgment is seldom questioned regarding these things.

Anur breaks the seal and uncurls the scroll. He wastes no time with speeches or niceties, choosing instead to recite the words listed on the scroll.

"Ang imong kaugalingon, gugma." The language is wholly unfamiliar*, and Anur seems to have great difficulty saying with words. The effect, however, is immediate, and Shan's eyes shoot open. She stands. The wounds on her body start fixing themselves. They don't heal, or fade. The tears in her skin jerk back together and fuse bloodlessly. Broken bones crunch back to place. It looks very painful, and Shan, despite her best efforts not to, winces as she talks.

"My thanks, Miss Pressi. I knew my faith in you was...wait, why am I already in the control room?" She looks around, eyes stopping and widening when she sees the pile of ash and the silver cloak that was once Ix Revon. She looks at the party, ready to jump into action, but not exactly poised to strike. Then, she looks to her husband and sees a man resigned to his fate. She looks down her eyes at him and starts to speak when the silence in the room is spoiled by a loud CRUNCH as her humerus is forced back into place. Despite herself, she cries out in pain. Anur is by her side in an instant. As the pain subsides, she hisses through clenched teeth, "Anur, what did you do?"

Anur seems lost for words, again.

*Linguistics, DC 30, Highlight to display spoiler: {Whatever language this is, it's likely the precursor several times removed to dwarven. It may be the first language spoken in The Scab. Translating it would take time.}

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24  d20=8 ;
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 4:43:16 PM
Talia Readies both the Tanglefoot bag & the thunderstone.

Linguistics check: 8

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 10:10:02 PM
As things continue to move forward, Pressi surreptitiously scoops up some of Ix ashes under the guise of studying them further.

“What happened is that not a single one of you took the time to talk to each other and reflect. Don’t make the same mistake again. In the meantime, does anyone know where these crystals went? I’ve got a few other promises to fulfill here.”

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 10:14:06 PM
Zaragosa sighed in both relief and a slight hit of frustration. On one end he felt the woman didn't need to fight and die, on the other hand, Zaragosa was glad she was alive again. Though he didn't drop his guard as her reactions didn't make a lot of sense to him.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Tuesday February 19th, 2019 11:59:37 PM
"So...now what?" asks Kezzem.

Murphy (Kim) Lrg Earth Elem [w/ Huge bonuses] 16' +8ST -2DX +4CO +6Nat AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP96/96. +4WIS. DR10/Adm  d20+10=27 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 12:17:15 AM

"That sounds like a very old tongue," Murphy the amateur linguist remarks. "Thought I caught one dwarvish- sounding word in it."

"Shan Shalutch, I should have preferred we not battle you. Nor really, any of those who defend this walker. But as your husband, and you, showed no inclination to reverse course, and were intent on crushing our homes, our gardens, our places of worship, and, had it not been for someone who informed us of your intent, our people - we must defend our own. Several times we offered terms of mercy should the walker riders surrender. Yet nearly all who persisted in the goal of attacking our homeland have died.

"When Ix brought to his adoptive father's attention that there were invaders in the walker, and he came out of his pilot's trance, your husband found it hard to believe. He told Ix to get you, and Minh. Your husband learned you both were dead.

"Anur Daron learned from my companions some of what Ix had been about. He reduced his son to dust. Ix believed you, Shan, to be the reason for this... exercise. He wanted to return home with his father, and engage in a life with him which seemed to him perhaps less insane than the course you have been on.

"Domestic conflicts are complex and sometimes intractable. None of us pretends to any sure solutions. Except this one.

"You both will irrevocably surrender the Iron Giant to us. You will vow never to come against the halflings of Crescent Valley, nor to support others who may be so inclined.

"We could have ended both of you. Instead, as a gesture of and hope for a measure of good will, we chose otherwise. To let Anur live. To let you, Shan, come back from what appeared to be death. To let you two choose another route in life - so long as you promise what we have laid down. Never come against us halflings again. The Iron Giant and all that pertains to it is fully forfeit.

"My friends may have their own thoughts to tell you. My lady, Pressi, as well."

He holds out two of the gems recovered from the constructs battled in the upper chest of the giant, and drops them in Pressi's hand. "These are perhaps weaker than what you may need." He shrugs one shoulder to indicate his surmise.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+7=8 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 5:26:21 AM
OOC...Please ignore the roll, not sure where it came from

After Murphy's eloquent speech, Succotash adds, "Shan, I am sorry it was I that struck first when parlay failed, but like Murphy indicated we would have preferred that none of this violence was needed in the first place. I implore both of you to leave now, to return on pain of death, and let me add this, in the future, Never underestimate a band of determined halflings."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 10:35:32 AM
Believing the issue to be near a positive conclusion, Talia tries to make herself useful. She places both items back into her haversack, and removes her empty map case hoping it will be big enough for Ix Revlon's ashes. She then proceeds to cast a cantrip of Prestidigitation to organize Ix's ashes into a pile and then places the case just to the side of Ix, in hopes that his parents understand the gesture.

Talia says, "I introduced myself to Mister Ix, and he was cordial to me. I hope you do not take offense at my gesture, but everyone needs a good "bonvoyagiee" and it is out of respect for him that I offer the only container I have as a means of transporting his remains."

Talia, then returns to her place.

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 11:17:53 AM
Pressi moves to help Talia collect ashes.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+10=22 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 11:57:22 AM
Linguistics 22 - Hobie doesn't know it.

Hobie will join Talia using Prestidigitation to clean the ashes.

After Succotash apologizes for attacking Shan, Hobie will add, "I however don't in anyway regret that my arrow took your life. If either of you should ever threaten my home again, I won't hesitate to take it once more."


Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 2:02:31 PM

Still in cat form and ready to pounce, Bliss readies an attack in case violence does break out.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes  d20+8=11 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 2:14:26 PM
Linguistics 11. At that point, she’s just ignoring you.

The Wrap Up


DM Carl 
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 4:53:08 PM
Pressi moves to start gathering Ix's ashes. She has comments on the family's failure to communicate.

Shan recovers and stands. Anur starts to respond, but Shan shushes him. "Now now, dear. Our familial squabbles have given these adventurers enough trouble." She turns to Pressi. Her smile is warm, but her skin is gray and her eyes hard, both showing her to be in no small amount of pain. "Still, you're not quite right on that. Ix and I both begged this lummox not to perform this little test run. This failure is teacher enough, though. No need for me to gloat or rub it in."

Zaragosa is glad Shan is back among the living, but can't figure out her intentions. Perhaps a sense motive check could lend some understanding?

Kezzem wonders what's next and Bliss is still ready to pounce.

Murphy details for Shan some parts of all this she may not have been aware of, and lays down the terms of surrender for the pair. Shan flashes a brief smile when he mentions Ix's belief that Shan caused all this, but she hides it quickly behind her hand.

It's Anur who speaks first. "Ix was...brilliant, and charming. He was also lazy, hedonistic, and arrogant. I cannot forgive his bringing ruin to our designs, but I will still miss him." Shan stands behind him, making a face that hints she may not share this final sentiment. "I've already surrendered to your justice. I accept your terms."

"Me too," chimes in Shan. She watches as Anur walks to pick up the heavy pewter symbol of Scald he dropped earlier. He looks intently at it for a moment, face a mask of concentration. After a few seconds, he exhales and drops the thing. The paladins in the party are intimately familiar with what's just happened. Arcane power is taken. Divine power is only borrowed, and it appears Anur's has been rescinded. Maybe they feel a little bad for him? Probably not...

Succotash apologizes for striking first during a parlay. Shan regards him quite coolly. "I'd almost forgotten. You'll receive no absolution from me. I accept your surrender. You can keep your apology."

Talia feels this is almost at an end. She begins to gather Ix's ashes, placing them in an empty scroll tube with Pressi's assistance. Anur accepts it with no outward emotion. Shan doesn't seem moved either way.

Hobie makes sure Shan knows he'll put her down without hesitation. "Come now. We may let different philosophies guide our actions, but surely I've shown myself to be a woman of my word? Still, if scowling at me makes you feel better..." She lets the thought drift off and conclude itself.

***

Shan joins her husband, takes the scroll containing his son, and places it in her pack. "Time to go home, love." Anur nods and wordlessly descends the ladder out of the control room. Shan moves to Pressi and gives her a quick hug. "If you ever get bored or find yourself tired of these boys you keep company with, come find me. I wish we could have met under better circumstances." She smiles and turns to follow Anur.

With that, the threat to Humble's Ford has been nullified. I am awarding 40,000 XP to everyone for saving your town, 1 hero point for successfully completing the adventure, plus 1 additional hero point for showing mercy and not resorting to violence in the climax.

That should put each of you at 12th level. If you find yourself short, please let me know.

That said, there are still loose ends here before we call it a day. There's the matter of the Encompassing Mind to deal with. Plus, there are three dwarves stuck out on the shoulder. Hopefully they held on when Anur made the Giant take a knee!

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2  d20+1=6 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 7:07:39 PM
Zaragosa tries to get a sense of Shan's motive, but he was never very good at that sort of thing (Sense Motive 6). Instead, he waits and sees the others surrender. He has no reason to doubt them at this point. He breathes a sigh of relief and is glad this was all over.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP116. +4WIS. DR10/Adm  d8=8 ; d8=1 ; d8=1 ; d8=3 ; d8=4 ; d8=6 ;
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 8:21:04 PM

Before they leave, Murphy senses some slight changes within. Just as the couple is about to head down the stairs, the druid calls out. "Wait. One last thing." He comes out of wild shape, into his own halfing form. "If you will allow me - may I cast a cure critical wounds spell upon you, Shan Shalutch?" If she so allows, he does so, presumably easing the bulk of her pains. 33 hp damage healed. Unless she says anything else requiring a response, he says nothing more to them as they depart.

[More later, must head to evening class.]

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Wednesday February 20th, 2019 11:34:03 PM
Bliss changes back to a halfling, glad that the situation with these morally ambiguous foes seems to be resolved. And we get a giant robot to play with!

"I wonder how much these go for in the Catacombs," he ponders.

Bliss walks over to the pilot's seat and puts on the helmet.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP116. +4WIS. DR10/Adm 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 4:08:11 AM

"Ride 'im, Bliss Boy!" Murphy says as Bliss takes the pilot's seat. He wonders, with EM off, how much understanding Bliss is likely to obtain at this point. Well, the fellow will find out.

Once the sound of the retreating steps can no longer be heard, Murphy says to all. "We may squabble, and quibble. But you are good friends. True. Brave. Heroes. We stopped the Iron Giant. Proud of you." He looks around at each one of his friends, then switches his glance to the floor for a moment.

"There's more to do." He takes a step toward here, and asks, "Pressi, what do you think of the following? Talia has the gems to restart the Encompassing Mind. Once we're sure that Anur and Shan have left the heel, shall we have her start her up again? Might be good for us to be there when she awakens.

"Who'd like to see how Kade and his two friends are doing?" He asks, "Has anyone found the things that dropped from Ix's body? He had a device he used to control the constructs. They were left blocking the passage to the three dwarfs. Perhaps the Mind can give us guidance on how to communicate with them. The machines, not the dwarfs.

"And there are bodies to bury. Shall we ask the three remaining dwarfs about that? I'm not too worried about Kade, but would like to gauge where the other two dwarfs stand. The bellower spoke of taking us on after dealing with Ix.

"Also, the people need to be notified at some point.

"What else? And what order shall we do things in?"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Thursday February 21st, 2019 5:21:53 AM
While Bliss is trying to pilot the system, Hobie will take his time, gathering up the bodies of all the fallen, preparing them for a funeral pyre or mass grave. While he is doing it, he will collect any loot or gear that he found on any of the bodies (including anything Anur or Ix left behind) and make a detailed list on a piece of parchment as he is going along.

He will also make sure to stop by that replenishing cabinet of scrolls and ink so that he can stock up on supplies for writing future scrolls.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87  d20+10=20 ;
Thursday February 21st, 2019 5:24:52 AM
"First things first", Succotash begins. "We promised Madam Gem we would start her up ASAP, so I believe that should be our first objective, and maybe Bliss or I can physically move the construct out of the way and let Kade and company in". Succotash will then head down a level, and try to push the construct out of the way strength of 27, strength check 20

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 5:27:26 AM
If he successfully moves the construct out of the way, Succotash will open the door for the dwarfs.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 4:24:02 PM
Pressi smiled at Shan's proposal. "I was about to propose the same to you. Clearly the solution is for both of us to dump our boys and start afresh, but I've still got some things here."

More seriously. "I do wish things had gone better. Perhaps our paths will cross again and things will. In the meantime, I do hope you find what you are looking for. You did, after all, have more of an impact on me than you can ever know. Take care."

--------------

Pressi asks Talia what she had in mind regarding Ix, discussing certain possibilities.

If Talia had nothing in mind, Pressi will take Ix for now. The next day, she will strap him to materials from the giant in the middle of the woods, cast "Reincarnation" and leave him.

"I can't say, even at this stage, whether this is the right thing to do," she says to anyone who figures out what she is up to and asks. "But I have given it some thought and I cannot allow for the summary execution of a living being that surrendered. Besides, at the end of the day he would have come through for us and who am I to deny anyone a second chance.

"And I have decided that the way to do that is to regrow him in some random fashion and leave him in the middle of the woods stark naked without supplies besides a note. I may be a bleeding heart past-monk who navel gazes at ethics, but I'm still a witch and he was still a jerk. To anyone who might protest, as always I don't care and won't change my mind. Bye, Ix. If you decide on revenge, I'm looking forward to the surprise."

That was the last word on the matter. She left, knowing he would be fully grown within the hour.

------------------

The first thing Pressi does is to reach the top of the giant and start casting metrics. Before long, her mark of the justicars begins to shine through the sky, a signal to any diviner who may want to perform cleanup and a symbol of their victory.

The next thing she does is to help Succotash and Murphy in cleanup. Getting Kade off the shoulders. Getting the machine restarted as promised. Searching Ix and the control areas for ways to control the constructs.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25+1, touch AC 18+1; HP 87/119, CMD 24; Gears 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 6:23:36 PM
"That's nice of you, Pres," says Kezzem. "Heck, even I was starting to like the guy. After meeting his folks...well, that explained a lot!"

"To go out like that? That just isn't right."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 8:13:50 PM
Talia wonders about the Encompassing Mind and turning her back on.

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Thursday February 21st, 2019 10:03:12 PM
Oh, before Bliss tried to activate the giant, he makes sure that the three dwarves are safe and nobody is outside. He does not want anybody to get hurt.

DM Carl  d100=37 ;
Thursday February 21st, 2019 10:23:40 PM
Shan's motives remain a mystery to Zaragosa, but he's glad this is all over.

Murphy heals some of Shan's wounds. She smiles and returns the touch (since cure wounds are touch spells). "I'd say take care of that one," she starts, motioning to Pressi, "but she doesn't need you too. Don't forget that."

Bliss can't wait and puts the helmet on, but nothing happens. He recalls the Encompassing Mind said something about initializing new pilots.

Hobie is ready to start gathering bodies, but that will no doubt take some time. He returns to the scroll room to find the guardian and writing constructs all lifeless. It's likely the first time they've stopped in centuries. The cabinet still works to provide an endless supply of ink and paper. No doubt our heroes will find some way to abuse this.

OOC: I'll prepare a list of loot tomorrow and email it to the group.

Pressi makes a friend. She also decides to use some small portion of Ix's ashes to reincarnate him. A tricky task, seeing as he was killed by a destruction spell. Still, since reincarnation creates a whole new body, it stands to reason it just might work. Since it seems Pressi is not keen on sticking around anyway, I guess we'll have to wait to find out if it does.

Kezzem agrees with Pressi's decision.

Talia is keen to restart the Encompassing Mind. Should be easy as replacing the two gemstones that were taken to turn it off, so she replaces them.

For a moment, nothing happens. Then, the surface of the giant pink gem in the heart of the Giant ripples. Writing appears on the surface, and though it's not in a language any of you can recognize, you can instinctively read it without issue.

Encompassing Mind initialization commencing. Estimated time to completion: 32 years, 4 months, 3 days, 19 hours, 8 minutes, 34 seconds. 33 seconds. 32 seconds...and so on. A disappointing turn of events to be sure.

***

Meanwhile, Succotash turns to rescuing Kade, Basalt, and Gorn. Investigation shows the constructs have completely powered down. The whip-fingers that held the door shut are easily removed, and the door opened. Gorn immediately charges in. "TIME TO DIE IX!" he shouts before realizing it's you. "Oh." He looks around. "Where's Ix? Kade says you're good people, so I'm sorry about sayin' I was gonna murder you all before."

"Ignore him," says Basalt as he saunters in. "This mess is over, right? I signed up to fight against Fhorge, not stomp on innocent villagers. Good on you folks for stopping Anur." He looks around a bit. "So, can I leave? I'd love to go home and live a nice, boring life from here on out."

Assuming no one stops him, Basalt is happy to exit the story quickly. Gorn follows once he realizes he's too late to kill Ix himself.

Kade is not so quick to call it a day. "After all this I'm not keen on heading back to The Scab. Those two may want to go home, but the war between Fhorge and the rest of the Old Ones continues, and Scald is going to throw a fit when it learns what happened here. I know I was part of the folks who were going to crush your village, but if you'll have me, I'd really like to stay. Before all this, I was a pretty great mushroom farmer. Even found a way to cultivate truffles deep underground."

The basics done, Pressi makes her way to the top of the Giant. She leaves her mark, and if she looks reaaalll closely, she can see that mass of people a few miles away stop moving and turn around. The citizens of Humble's Ford are coming home.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP116. +4WIS. DR10/Adm 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 1:23:49 AM

[Sorry - super-long post, but there's a lot going on here. Feel free to just skim for headlines, read for more details if of interest]

Reincarnation
A note on the post prior to DM's: Pressi took a small amount - a handful? of the ashy remains of Ix. The rest of Ix's ashes were placed into Talia's scroll tube, and "Shan joins her husband, takes the scroll containing his son, and places it in her pack." So Talia does not have Ix's remains. Shan does. With the handful of Ixie-dust that Pressi took, the witch may still cast reincarnation, subject to DM call. Before any posting about Pressi's plan, Murphy intended to discuss the possibility of reincarnation with Pressi. So, don't figure Pressi will exclude him from the decision. He's more likely to stick around, and encourage whom Ix becomes to think over carefully the outcome of his machinations. This can be a fresh start. He will not follow the witchy approach to the situation. Alignment changes following reincarnation are not unheard of, and he is willing to attempt a nudge in the right direction. Besides, if Press gets in trouble with Gargul for the reincarnation, Murphy is going to share the responsibility.
=========

Shan & Murphy
"Do we always know what we need, or whom we need, Shan?" Murphy replies to her counsel. "I will take care of mine, if she'll be mine, and choose me to be hers. I don't doubt you'll take care of yours."

Iron Giant, Encompassing Mind, and Accoutrements
"Well, looks like we may have an appointment here in about 32 years, 3 months," Murphy says after observing the early stages of the restoration of the Encompassing Mind.

He leans the side of his face against the large pink gem. "Encompassing Mind, surely you knew what you were offering when you revealed the two hidden gems for us halflings to remove. Time may be less of a concern to you. Thank you for helping us save our town, and home of our people. Should I live so long, and you not be vandalized beyond all recognition, I hope to see you here in about 32 years. Maybe I'll stop by and check on you, and give the iron giant a good sweeping every so often until then."

He turns his head, kisses the gem, then starts to walks away to help with the various tasks that remain. Especially helping to collect and inventory usable items. However...

Saying hello again, goodbye as a group to the Encompassing Mind - EVERYBODY INCLUDED
Murphy asks all of Humble's Sword this. "Before we leave the Iron Giant, is it all right if we gather around the Encompassing Mind for a moment? Let's offer gratitude - to each other, to the Mind, to the gods and powers who lend us aid and inspiration. Someone can offer prayers. Not prayers to the Mind - I'm not suggesting worshipping her at all. Perhaps Jack, or who will, might offer a song."

If folks are not of a mind to do so right now, then Murphy suggests they schedule such a time for later today, or perhaps tomorrow.

Three Dwarfs
Murphy bids Gorn and Basalt farewell and a good journey. "You may catch up to Anur and Shan fairly soon, if you've a mind to, assuming you're heading to the same direction back to the Scab."

With Kade, when he learns of his desire, he remarks, "Mushroom farmer, eh? We own a bit of property not too far from here that we're in the process of getting set up. I dare say we could find a place for you to cultivate a fungus farm, Kade. And I love to delve underground - even deep. I've been developing a system of tunnels lately. Mind if we show you around town?" he asks, as he nods toward Succotash and Kezzem, including them in as potential town guides (and anyone else who wishes to be included). He then adds, "And who doesn't love truffles!?"

Gathering Scrolls
He is glad that Hobie has taken an interest in the scroll room. The druid wants to spend at least 20 minutes speed-reading over the recent scrolls, and gathering up those from farther back for further purusal. "This is history here. If we're going to understand this, the scrolls may be key. We don't want these lost to curious memento seekers. Let us find some scribes and bookbinders to help organize, and render copies for - libraries? We'll need get a decent feel for what's there, first, then figure that out."

"A thought. I suddenly find I have one more wild shape I can effect today. If someone can lend me one or two bags of holding once we're back to town, I can transform into an air elemental, fly back here, then ferry all the scrolls back to our place before a bunch of halfling kids decide to ransack the place. About which, let's ask the Mayor to authorize a guard for a few days to preclude such from happening.

Guardians for the Giant
"Hobie, maybe your cousin Roscoe can figure out who would be up to that task. Are you all right with checking with him?

"Perhaps we can schedule a time for key people to tour the giant - then let the town leadership figure out whether to open it up to anyone else. Squabbling over this thing apparently led to battles for control in the not too distant past."

Power Gems, Gears
"You know these gems began losing their power after EM was shut down? One thought is to find a good spot to store them, and look to getting them back here around the time the giant is close to returning to service. We're unlikely to get bonus spells from carrying them about." He considers. "Is there any one among us who might want to study the matter further? If there is a way to power them apart from EM, that would be most handy." He looks to Talia to see if she has any inclination to take up this notion.

He turns to the gears. "These may work away from the giant, and from EM. We'll just have to try them on the outside to discern that."

Constructs
"Let's take at least one of these constructs home with us. Would be nice to have - maybe Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf look it over. Map it. Disassemble, reassemble. They're clever folks, especially with metal, armor, and such. Perhaps two we should bring - the scavenger / reassembler, and the guardian machines." He says, "I can carry them over tomorrow, I suppose."

Documentation
"Jack, you're a bard. Do you think you're willing to write up a description of all that happened here with the Iron Giant, and to turn in a copy of such a report to the WLA - the Woldian League of Adventurers? I'm sure most of us would be willing to lend you a hand in remembering the details, and telling the story. But, what would you say about being the primary author?" Murphy asks J.T.T. Zaragosa.

Mapping
Murphy mentally catalogues each of the openings from inside to outside found along the surface of the giant. He plans to use that information for quick forays into and out over the next few days as needed. He draws up maps with greater accuracy and more detail than the rough sketch Ix provided them.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 5:37:45 AM
Succotash is sad that Madam Gem didn't turn back on right away, he really liked her, and was looking forward to talking to her again. He is glad to learn that Kade is planning on joining them, and is looking forward to fresh truffles, and figuring out ways to sneak some to Miss Piggy. He says farewell to Gorn and Basalt, and offers to lead the prayer session that Murphy suggested.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 7:54:57 AM
Zaragosa gave Murphy a polite bow. "To write about such great, prestigious adventurers would truly be an honour. Perhaps my place is to be the witness of such grand warriors! However, I will need to interview most of you, since I am still rather lost at the motives or our opponents here."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 28 HP 113/113 Miss Piggy AC 27/11/26 CMD 23 HP 87/87 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 10:14:20 AM
OCC.. Of course the DM can do as he pleases, however, the destruction spells says only true resurrection, wish spell followed by resurrection, or miracle can bring someone back.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 1:17:39 PM
(Ooc: yeah, but reincarnation is kind of weird since it’s not actually a resurrection. Anyway, the plot hook for a sequel is there if there if they ever want it, and I think what Carl and I want most is that question mark, not a rules debate.

Raw wise, a malfunctioning soul gem doesn’t change monks into witches, either. But here we are.)

DM Edit: I never want a rules debate.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 6:49:13 PM
Talia asks, "Anyone the viability of these Gears away from the Giant?" Mister Murphy, I will stay and say a few words prior to our departure and I hope I will be able to study these gears!

Anyone know if I could use an open/close spell to close off the Entry points to the giant?

Talia Status:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Overlight flight | 623 of 660 minutes left
Mage Armor | 6563 of 6600 minutes left
Stoneskin | 73 of 110 minutes left

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Spells Used:
L1: 1 /6+2
L2: 1 /6+2
L3: 0 /6+1
L4: 2+ /6+1
L5: 3 /4+1


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6   d20+24=30 ; d3=2 ; d20+24=31 ; d20+24=29 ; d20+24=39 ; d20+24=31 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+18=33 ; d20+18=31 ; d3=1 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+18=23 ;
Friday February 22nd, 2019 8:03:05 PM
After collecting and logging any loot, Hobie will be pleased to spend some time studying the magic in the giant, figuring out what might work with or without the mind, or what works outside the giant.

He will also examine the replenishing scroll cabinet and think about whether it might be possible to relocate this to their offices at the HQ.

Here's a bunch of Spellcraft and Knowledge Arcana checks
Spellcraft -- 30, 31, 29, 39, 31
Knowledge Arcana-- 38, 33, 31, 38, 23

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 9:35:02 PM
Pressi can’t help but snicker at the long countdown. “Well, it’s our grandkids problem now.”

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (26), HP 84/94, CMD 21; Pressi's Notes 
Friday February 22nd, 2019 10:07:29 PM
Aside from that, there’s not much more to do. And it’s not long before Pressi packs up and returns home.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 141/141 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 6:35:05 AM
updating header for level increase

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 141/141 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 6:53:50 AM
whoops

DM Carl 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 12:27:59 PM
There's a lot going on here, but lets hit the highlights, shall we?

Kade breathes a sigh of relief when he's allowed to stay. "Thanks, Murphy. You have my world I'll pull my own weight."

There are literally thousands of scrolls to go through, but 99% of them just say "darkness" over and over again. It will take months to go through all of them, even with professional scribes.

There's talk of taking home a construct, but they weight about a ton each. That's not to say it can't be done, but our heroes will need to explain how they intend to get one home.

Experimentation shows the gears and power crystals continue working at full power, right up until the second they're outside the Giant. Once back inside the Giant, they power back up. They don't seem to be affected by the lack of the Encompassing Mind. Walking outside seems to drain the power crystals. Regardless of whether they were charged or not when they left, they need time to charge when they re-enter.

Succotash is disappointed about the Encompassing Mind. That's understandable, it was pretty great. Kade is excited about the prospect of having an intelligent pig around. "Takes time to train a truffle hog. Miss Piggy here seems real bright though. With your permission, I bet I can have her sniffing them out in no time."

Hobie checks out the scroll cabinet and begins study on the Giant. He finds the scroll cabinet is not a free-standing piece of furniture. It's built into the Giant's walls. His studies also indicate it's powered by the Heart of the Giant, meaning even if it's cut out, it still won't function outside the Giant.

One wonders where the ink and paper come from, though. Are there quasi-elemental planes of paper out there? It's a strange universe. It wouldn't be the strangest thing ever seen.

Hobie's investigation into the Giant show it to be equal parts magical and mechanical wonder. Many constructs are simple machines that use magic to do the heavy lifting. Not so with the Giant. Magic provides the raw power necessary to move the enormous collections of gears and machines that make up the Giant, but it's still a mechanically sound piece of equipment. If one could find a mundane source of power to provide the raw force needed to move the Giant, it could (theoretically) be possible to pilot it without magical assistance.

Of course, it would take the Wold's most talented engineer lifetimes to work out that problem and implement a solution. It's a good bet that the Encompassing Mind will be back up and running before that happens, and it probably wouldn't be thrilled with any changes that had been made.

If there's on thing Hobie takes away from his investigations, it's this: A team of scientists, engineers, wizards, and priests could dedicate several lifetimes to delving its secrets.

***

As Humble's Sword wraps up and gets ready to leave, they hit a snag that Anur and his crew did as well: there is no way to lock and secure the Giant. A talented enough metal worker with time and materials may be able to rig something up, but it's unlikely Humble's Sword has that at their disposal. The Giant's metal skin absorbs all magic, so any solution needs to be mundane.

***

I haven't forgotten your loot. Just low on time.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 1:58:51 PM

Bliss looks around as the group gets ready to depart.

"Why do we need to bring the thing to town?" he asks. "Besides, town is right over there, see?"

"Seems to me that a classy heroic adventuring group does not necessarily WANT a castle in the middle of town. When the enemy dragon and demon army comes to fight the heroes, it's better for the everyday folk if the battle is a short walk outside town anyway, right?"

"All we need is to put some locks on this thing, and we have our new magic castle! What's not to like?"

"In the future, we can recruit some hefty guards and load them up with all the gears and power gems and the teleport cloak and that's our major domo slash guardian. Maybe a djinni or a nice plant creature or something."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 27/13/25 CMD 29 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 6:42:21 PM
I like the idea of using the Iron Giant as a Castle, but what about “The Sanctuary?”Succotash says with his usual smile, “I thought that was our stronghold”. He then adds, “I’m going to miss the strength these gears gave me, but can’t spend the rest of my days living inside a Giant Humanoid”.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 25, touch AC 18; HP 87/125, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24  d8+3=6 ;
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 10:13:22 PM
"Ah man, I was starting to like those gears," says Kezzem. "They made my thoughts all not fuzzy."

OOC: Talking a level of rogue, mainly for some extra Skill points. Plus it gives Kezzem back some of his old pre-resurrection flavor.

The Unbelievable J.T.T. Zaragosa (Jack) (Jairus Houdek) (AC 24 CMD 22 HP 68/68) (spells left by lvl 5/5, 3/5, 0/3)(performance 2 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 10:21:56 PM
Zaragosa also snickers at this idea of this being the Humble Ford's fortress. "It truly seems to fit your teams over-the-top style"

Bliss (Cayzle) HP80, AC25 
Saturday February 23rd, 2019 11:02:12 PM

"Jack!" cries Bliss in outrage. "Your team! YOUR team! I got news for you my friend! This is OUR team, and you are on it!"

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) AC27 CMB16 CMD35 HP116 
Sunday February 24th, 2019 4:24:02 AM

Murphy concurs with Succotash. "Yes, I would prefer a faster startup. Maybe an hour or so wouldn't be so bad - looks like that's about how long it takes to shut down, but... three decades? What was The Forger thinking, anyhow??" After a pause, he adds, "Though to build such a thing - he was smarter than the lot of us, no doubt. I wonder if an assemblage of geniuses - of high moral character - might be able to significantly shorten the time needed? Or, a few wish spells to accomplish the same thing."

At Pressi's comment, he says with a (barely) straight face, "Oh, so grandchildren may be in the picture?"

Murphy gives Zaragosa a warm smile. "Sure, feel free to interview us, Jack. Thanks for agreeing to go for it!" [OOC: If you can take the time to re-read the board, I think it's all there, and makes for some good reading!]

"I don't know, Tali, how the open/close cantrip might help here," Murphy responds. "I think there's some sort of anti-magic protections built in. You can certainly give it a try, though!"

'ROUND THE GEM - A Moment of Gratitude and Reflection
Before you pack everything up, Pressi, can you join us around the Encompassing Mind?" Murphy asks. As people gather, he lets Succotash lead the moment.

When it comes to his turn, this is what the druid has to say:
"I am grateful to Eberyon, who supports me through granting of spells, and whose purposes I support. And to his wife, the Lady Maab, whom Bliss adores. To the just Pantheon, served by Succotash, as well as to Lady Justice, from whom Pressi gains counsel. To Gargul, to whom I personally owe gratitude, and who is served by Kezzem. And to Alemi, for health and well being, to Domi, for courage, to Flower, benefactress of Humble's Ford and matron of deep love and of families, to Ffloy - recently magnified within our community and supporter of responsible labor and earned prosperity. Perhaps Wardd, too, has assisted us in his own random ways.

"And most of all - I'm grateful for this mis-matched group of people who make up Humble's Sword. When our group started, almost all of us had been born and raised in or around Humble's Ford. Now - we are still a group of halflings, some from here, some from afar - yet joined together as an ever-sharper Humble's Sword. Though we overcame great opposition - we also made a friend or two along the way." He nods towards Kade, whom he invited to join in.

Scrolls & Hobie
"Want to work together to get these scrolls over to our place?" Mister Leafwin Pipewood asks Mister Browncloak. "There's a room in our new place that would be a good spot to sort through all this." He asks if any others want to help pack up the multitude of scrolls to take with.

Use of the Kneeling Iron Giant
When Bliss proposes turning the Iron Giant into the group's 'castle' - Murphy laughs with delight and appreciation for his friend's enthusiasm. "Think of the possibilities! Look, let's think this over, and think it through. Talk it over the next week or two. Succotash is right - we do already have a 'castle' of sorts - Sanctuary - well begun. And it's NOT right in the middle of town - takes about a 15- to 20-minute walk to get to it.

"Might not be a bad idea to use both sites. At a minimum, I'd like us to check back in on it once a year and see how goes the countdown. Maybe the bootup will be faster than the initial reports.

"We have a lot to learn. I like what Bliss is doing. Seeing how we can take advantage of the kneeling giant now and into the future - and determine a way to protect it over time."

Then, as Jack remarks on the fortress in a way that implies his own outsider status, and Bliss jumps on that notion, Murphy concurs. "What Bliss said is true, Jack. You've helped us on several points. You are a member of Humble's Ford. You can be over-the-top WITH us!" he finishes with a stern look, which slowly shifts to a smile, and a wink.

"Yep, Kezzem. Not only are they stylish, but the gears really give one a boost where needed!"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 27, HP 94/94, CMD 24 
Sunday February 24th, 2019 7:49:56 AM
Talia being as aloof as she was when she first arrived, says, "Am I officially part of the Humble Sword, Mister Murphy? What are we to do with the magic gear (no pun intended) that do not function outside of the Giant Construct? Shouldn't we hold on to them so as to not fall into the wrong hands? We can always bring them back for a recharge! I do not feel it is a mature move to leave them behind...since we can't secure the Giant, and we don't know who will want to loot or play inside the giant! We should take all precautions necessary to avoid any possible negative outcome. My two (2) cents!"

Talia continues to offer suggestions to the group, "also, for loot and the ilk, I believe we should get it "Home" and then sort it out...no reason to bring unwanted attention to the issue."



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 108/108 AC 27 Touch 19 Flat 21 CMD 29 Hero Points 6  
Sunday February 24th, 2019 12:09:12 PM
"Thats definitely a good idea Murph, I think there's a lot we could learn from these scrolls, but I think we could probably get a couple hirelings from town to do the work of transporting them for us, we just saved their lives, they can help us carry some boxes."

"As for me, I've just finished going around and making an inventory of all the gear that's been left behind, and its quite the haul. Here's the list (GM emailed it to us), y'all feel free to take anything you like, and I'll go ahead and do the grunt work of selling the rest over at the Catacombs, I think I might have them do some work on my bow while they process the transaction, so I'll be waiting around there anyway."

ooc: For newbies (and correct me if I'm wrong oldbies) the way we handle loot is that we take everything back to the Catacombs and then split the profits between us. If you want a specific article from the loot for story reasons (like Anur's Armor for example) just mention in your post that your character is taking that piece, and then your character will spend the full price gold as if you were buying a new one, but lorewise it will still be the original. That way everybody gets an even split of the loot.

I'll do the work of tallying up everything's value tonight and then make the catacombs post. Anything leftover beyond our characters' WBL, we'll spend on party stuff.

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