[Planescape] Squaring the Circle Redux - IC

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

The kobold backs away in alarm, peering at you from behind a large piece of rubble with wide ruby eyes. But as you hold out the dagger patiently, he timidly creeps forward to examine it with ginger interest. "Uhm.... yous say this for me? *yip*" he asks in evident confusion. After some gentle prodding, he takes it cringingly, as if expecting the whole thing to be a taunt or cruel trick. When nothing happens, he makes a few experimental slashes with it and then tilts his head curiously at you. "Why yous give shiny sword to nobody like me? *yip* People gives stuff, always wants somethin' in return. Whats you want?"

In the meantime, you take this chance to get a better look at the little guy, and note with some relief that he isn't entirely unprotected; he's wearing dirty patchwork leather armor-- not pretty and likely vermin-infested, but serviceable in a pinch. He also carries a tiny sliver of a dagger at his waist though you suspect the blade to be rusted and notched, judging from the condition of the battered scabbard. Aside from a crude pendant of a mouse skull hanging about his neck, that seems to be the extent of his gear, though.

"I wish nothing in return. Just defend yourself well, that's all I ask. And if you have need of food or anything of that nature, just ask us," Blade says with a nod.

 

[Ashy]

"I wish nothing in return. Just defend yourself well, that's all I ask. And if you have need of food or anything of that nature, just ask us," Blade says with a nod.

Burrow approaches the couple, a smile upon his features. "Ya've nothin' to fear from my friend, Blade, lil' one. She is as true a friend as one'll ever know." His smile is punctuated by a nod. Then his face darkens and he looks to the mansion before them, pointing with his rounded chin. "We are going in there, lil' one and much danger lies within. If ya mean to follow me in there, ya'll need to stick closer to us, do as we say and be ready to protect yourself. Also, I'll need to know your name."

Burrow's smile returns. "So, do ya mean to follow me in, then, lad?"

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

The little kobold looks surprised by Burrow's question. "My name iz Rupert, yes! *yip* But most times, I get called 'hey, you!' or 'runt'... grrrrr!" Then the first half of Burrow's statement sinks in and he blanches under his brown scales. "Yous going in there!? Yous all barmy! *yip* Place looks like no good, not at all! I iz not that smart, *yip* but even I knows that em--"

But the rest of Rupert's statement is lost when the wind rises suddenly with a moan, and its icy fingers seem to sink straight into your bones and settle there. The undergrowth, previously filled with the soft rustlings of wildlife, has grown ominously quiet. In the brief silence, Rupert lets out a terrified squeak. "Badplacebadbadbad!!"

There is the sense of something hideously corrupt and baleful awakening and coming to attention... and seconds later, you are all plunged into shadowy darkness. The ruddy glare of Torch's sky dims to a deep maroon and you are little more than dark silhouettes to each other in a deepening twilight.

In front of Zoe rises a terrifying spectre: a large, bestial form with great tattered wings and four arms, each ending in powerful talons. It grips a sinister greataxe in two of its claws and its golden eyes shine vacantly like lamplight with a millennia of madness. Eldritch runes seem burned into its essence, its insubstantial flesh writhing in torment around them. Its twisted and deranged visage fills you with a nameless dread that threatens to overwhelm you and sap your strength and vigor. The ghostly fiend shrieks in rage and pleasure both and attacks Zoe savagely, it enchanted blade cutting a gash in her thigh. Fortunately, the blessing of Shaundakul cushions the blow.

Initiative (status):
Flaust (51/51, -4 Str, -2 Dex, -2 Con)
Vlad (85/85)
Burrow (100/100)
Grizzle (62/62), Aegis, Arbor, and Tor (33/33, -3 Str, -3 Dex, -3 Con)
Fiendish Ghost (uninjured)
Rupert (uninjured, ability damaged)
Zoe (100/104+15, +4 Str)
Blade (106/106)
Claw (62/62, -4 Str, -2 Dex, -2 Con)
Kiaros (54/54)
Donner (94/94)
Hrothgeat (42/42, -4 Str, -4 Dex, -1 Con)

Everyone made a Fort save, except Kiaros who was immune. Blade, Burrow, Donner, Grizzle, Vlad, and Zoe all succeeded and took no ability damage. Aegis, Arbor, Claw, Flaust, Hrothgeat, Rupert, and Tor failed; results are listed above (hit points have been adjusted for lower Con). Ghost made a single attack against Zoe, hitting her for 19 points of damage.

Encounter Map​

Map Notes: Everyone is identified by the initial of their first name, except Blade who is identified by an "S" (for Stopthrust/spiker) and Arbor, who is identified by a "R" (for aRbor/riding dog). PCs are in gray, companions are in white, and enemies are in red. The triangles are headstones, the cross shape is the statue, dashed boxes are ruined outbuildings, and each square = 5 feet. When moving, please use the coordinates along the top and left side to identify the space your character is moving to.

 

[Serpenteye]

Kiaros drifts along behind the group, a silent underground shadow appearing only for the briefest moments in the open. He continues to view the depravity and squalor of Torch with little more than a calm indifference. He had seen mortal beings devour themselves and eachothers for millennia. It was foolish, wasteful and vile, but it was their nature.

Kiaros:

Spoiler

[Kiaros rolled Spot 8+20=28] In the course of your stroll across town, you notice that the party seems to have picked up a few extra hangers-on. There's a lone kobold skulking along, mostly intent on Burrow, though he looks more nervous and fearful than threatening. More concerning is the group of tiefers spread in a loose v behind and to the sides, keeping pace with the group. If you wish to do something before the group gets to the estate, just let me know.

If he was around when the group spoke about the kobold he won't concern himself about it, more than smiling to himself briefly. So, they have picked up a little pet. I wonder how long he'll last.

Spoiler

When he notices the tiefers he will not alert the group, knowing that doing so would alert the tiefers thay they had been discovered. He will instead fall behind the group and watch the stalkers more thoroughly, making his way up and down their ranks looking at them from behind, beneath and from the sides. He'll try to determine how many they are, who's their leader and what their intent is.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Kiaros:

Spoiler

There are a total of 7 tiefers and they seem to have two leaders, a fellow with donkey-like ears dressed in leather and another berk with black teeth, black nails, and black eyes dressed in a chain shirt. Most of them appear to be rogue types and are quite familiar with the territory when you were in Upper Dohin, less so when you descended into the lower city. [Kiaros rolled Listen 17+20=37] From bits of whispered conversation, you decipher that they are part of one of the thieves' guild in Torch, and that they suspect the party to have been hired by another guild for some mission or other. The guy with the donkey ears seems quite eager to confront the party but the other tiefer persuades him to wait and follow.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Vlad sighs and reaches into a belt pouch, removing a scroll of bless. After casting the spell, he moves against the wall just north of the door, waiting for the party's bashers to move in before he advances.

OOC: Center the bless spell at the intersection of D/E 12/13 — the intersection right between Burrow and Donner (10 rounds, +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear effects). Move to H10.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

OOC: Oops, just noticed this. Kajamba Lion, the stoneskin spell requires 250 gp worth of granite and diamond dust as a material component but I could not find that under Vlad's equipment... So until he finds/gets some of that, Vlad cannot cast the spell.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

OOC: Okay, no worries. It'll change his tactics, but not much else. Thanks.

 

[Thanee]

Zoe Windwalker

Seeing the terrifying ghostlike creature rise from the ground before her, Zoe stops dead in her tracks. She was expecting trouble in the mansion, but not this. Since her companions seem already aware of the danger, there is no need to utter a warning.


If down to 20 hp or less...

Endangered from the assault of the four-armed aparition, Zoe begins to voice a prayer to Shaundakul, while her right hand starts to glow in an eerie white and refreshing winds disturb her blonde hair. As she lays her hand flat upon her chest, the revigorating energies of her spell immediately flow through her body. Afterwards, she draws her sword, while slowly getting closer to the ghost.

OOC: Cast Heal on the defensive (Concentration +19); 5 ft. step to G6; draw sword.


If down to 60 hp or less, but still above 20 hp...

Endangered from the assault of the four-armed aparition, Zoe begins to voice a prayer to Shaundakul, while magical energies form around her right hand and refreshing winds disturb her blonde hair. As she lays her hand flat upon her chest, the revigorating energies of her spell immediately flow through her body. Afterwards, she moves back a few steps, drawing her sword while she does.

OOC: Cast Vigor on the defensive (Concentration +19); Move to G10, draw sword.


If above 60 hp...

Drawing her sword from the scabbard on her back, Zoe gets ready for the unavoidable. She swings her massive sword wide and powerful towards the fiendish undead, while slowly getting closer to it.

OOC: 5 ft. step to G6; draw sword; Power Attack 4, Attack +15, Damage 4d6+16.

 

[Ferrix]

Donner quickly leaps astride Grizzle Fastmount Ride take 10 = 26, telling Aegis and Tor to stay put, he urges his riding companion to leap over Claw Jump +20 as he charges the spectre with his longsword. Power Attack for 6; +1 Ghost Touch Longsword +16 (2d6+24, 19-20/x2)