A dwarf in time IC

[pathfinderq1]

Karienna Maguen d'Sivis; gnome beguiler 3

Karienna peered around the other party members, trying to get a sense of what might be in the room. The strangely-capering figure was a most unpleasant surprise, and she gave a startled squeak as the being began to move towards them. This was why they had brought the burly dwarves along, she reminded herself, as she wracked her brain to see if she had ever read about such creatures...

OOC: If she actually got into the room, she will step back out- otherwise she will move no closer than the doorway, and probably not even that far. She wants the heavily-armored folks to have this dance. Initiative +1= 10; Knowledge (arcana) +10= 19; rolls http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1545768/

 

[Forgefly]

Scherzo alla Bladey Thing

Before any of you get a chance to do more than gasp, this deadly dancer is upon you, leaping from a broken pillar more than 15 feet away it lands gracefully on one “arm” still spinning. In a single pirouette, more akin to a whirlwind of bony blades its three remaining blades find targets: one leg skitters across Brorgar’s mobile wall, his other leg cutting through Revek’s surprise to painful result, his free arm catches Vonval across the chin as he grabs his holy symbol. ( 3 points slashing to Vonval and Revek)

Overcoming his initial shock Brorgar lashes out with his axe aiming as best he can for the center of this whirling mass of blades. He strikes true, but the blow which would have hacked off an arm instead glances off a leg blade doing minimal damage, as the mad monstrosity continues its whirling dance.

Vonval takes extra time and great care in his invocation and is able to make connection to his dark patron calling for the curses of Khyber, in spite of the blades whirring around him. At his final syllable a cloud of shadow seems to coalesce from the many shadows in the block strewn room gathering around the dancer hampering its movement and then fading back into nothing, leaving no obvious signs on this aberration of nature.

Revek curses, “May every stone you touch be rotten, misbegotten figment of a bard’s dreamweed” He drops his bow and dives through the storm of blades into a front roll and comes up with axe in hand, but is unable to find an opening in the whirling of the blades.

That whirling is interrupted for the first time as Ulzim’s ray cuts across the dancer’s body, causing it to stumble and its dance to slow, the blades seemingly more clumsy in their motions.

Though slowed down slightly and perhaps a little less perfect in its spin the dancer hops from limb to limb to limb with each hop one of its limbs reaches out slashing at those surrounding it. Missing both Brorgar and Revek due to it spell induced clumsiness, it is nonetheless able to catch Vonval off guard cutting and bruising his right arm.(7 Damage) It then launches itself once more into the air tumbling over Brorgar and Revek landing on another pillar, dancing and spinning all the while.

The Deadly Dancer

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Ulzim Zuccabar d'Sivis

Ulzim watches the dancing thing move with a peculiar curdling combination of fear and fascination. Fear because its movements are lashing around and cutting into its party members, slowly mowing down the protection between himself and its sharp blade-limbs. Fascination because he has never yet seen such a creature, and also perhaps a hint of pride that he was able to strike at it so well. The artist in him would have liked to challenge it on its own ground, dancing upon the raised stones, matching it blade for blade... but the practical side of every gnome asserts itself. He would be quickly skewered for such arrogant folley.

Instead he mutters soft words of weakness under his breath and points at the dancer, a coruscating ray springing from his hands, trying to find a place to strike and drain it of strength...

OOC: Ulzim's ray attack. (1d20+5=10). Since it's only a 10, I think I'm in trouble. Whomever it hits takes: Strength damage from ray of enfeeblement. (1d6+2=3).

 

[pathfinderq1]

Karienna Maguen d'Sivis; gnome beguiler 3

Karienna was stumped- whatever this thing was, she had no idea. And she very much doubted that any of her simple mental magics would have an effect on whatever passed for a brain in its "head". Grumbling, she tried to get a clean shot with her crossbow.

OOC: targeting the thingy with a crossbow shot; +4 to hit (or +0 if it is in melee); 1d8 potential damage (cold iron bolt)

 

[Forgefly]

Skill Challenge: Deadly Dancer

Minds whirring, each of you have a key to this puzzle, in what you have learned in your past.

Brorgar:

Spoiler

You once heard a story about man,named Paimon, who was punished by having his arms and legs cut off and replaced with blades, you can't quite remember what he was punished for

Vonval:

Spoiler

In your knowledge of the planes, you once came across a blasphemous hint that there were ... vestiges, echoes of fragments of once living entities which though they now lay outside the conventions of reality have nevertheless continued to exist; and that these vestiges are consumed with a hunger for the experiences of living. This aberrant monster seems to remind you of that fact for reasons you aren't sure.

Karienna:

Spoiler

Your knowledge of magic and all things arcane informs you that a creature such as the one now before you could indeed be stitched together by magic, though you've never heard of such a monster. Perhaps more important to your mind are these markings which are reminiscent of summoning or binding circles. Wherein dark and forbidden powers might be brought into our world and controlled or bargained with.

Ulzim:

Spoiler

Long ago when Malleon was first resettling Shaarat, there was a story of a great ball held by Malleon, attended by a certain mysterious dancer. Perhaps the finest dancer anyone at that assemblage had ever seen. Midway through the dance the dancer's cloak was pulled off, after blood was seen dripping in his wake, revealing a man whose arms and legs had been hacked off and swords used for prosthetics. After being unmasked the dancer called down a curse upon the gathering and disappeared in a flash of light never to be seen again.

 

[The Rolling Man]

Vonval, dwarf cleric, hp: 16/26

Something about the dancer reminds Vonval of a vestige, an echo of the living. It hungers, hungers for our life. He thinks. Maybe it will content itself with the goblin. No, the others wouldn't allow it and besides, it wants all of us, I know it.

Later, as his spell seems to fail and the creature wounds him deeply, Vonval begins to have doubts. How can I put the fear of darkness into a creature that has no eyes? Nah! Blasphemous thoughs! Khyber will help us prevail.

Seeing that one of the creature's asset is its mobility and not sure how to further affect it with spells, Vonval reaches for a bag full of a gooey concoction, a gift given to him by an old orc shaman. Vonval then waits for the right time to throw the thing at their enemy, hoping to glue it to the floor.

[SBLOCK=OOC]Vonval draws a tanglefoot bag (move action) and readies an action to throw it at the creature once it has no cover and isn't in melee with anyone. Range touch attack (1d20+ 2=15)[/SBLOCK]

 

[FreeXenon]

Brorgar (Male Dwarf Tank 3) -- AC: 23; HP 34/34; Init: 14

Brorgar grumbles as the nimble dancer attacks and then retreats. He hates mobile units with a passion. He steps forward a little bit more to give the rest of the group, especially Vonal, a little more breathing room, and then hefts his axe, readying it for the creature to dance to its doom. He hopes that a little more distance will allow him more time to see an extra opening in the creatures 'dance'.


As he moves forward he yells out "Paimon. This reminds of a legend that I have heard of Paimon having blades for limbs as a punishment? Does that ring a bell?"



[OOC: AoO: 24 - 5 dmg; Readied Attack: AC 20 - 8 dmg;

Opportunity Attack and Readied Attack verses the Dancer (1d20+6, 1d10+3=[18, 6], [2, 3], 1d20+6, 1d10+3=[14, 6], [5, 3])]

 

[Forgefly]

Ulzim:

Spoiler

Let's not forget about action points, ahem, ahem

OOC: Ulzim's ray attack. (1d20+5=10). Since it's only a 10, I think I'm in trouble. Whomever it hits takes: Strength damage from ray of enfeeblement. (1d6+2=3).

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

OOC: Ulzim's action point. (1d6=1). Still don't think that helps too much...

 

[Forgefly]

Round 2

As Brorgar settles into place, axe readied to destroy the deadly dancer if it gets closer, Vonval throws his tanglefoot bag at the whirl of motion. The bag seems to be disintegrated by the spinning of arm and leg blades, but that seems to only spread the oily black substance more effectively, and very quickly the dancer is glued to the floor unable to move.

Karienna bolt flies wide, striking one of the many blocks in the room.
Crossbow and damage (1d20 4=8, 1d8=3)

Revek, walks back and picks up his bow.

Ulzim’s ray seems to be going wide until, concentrating he adjusts his gestures minutely to score a hit, his pulsing ray leaving the dancer looking tired and weak and very stuck.

The dancer struggles feebly to free itself from the black goo which holds it immobile stopping its graceful dance.