1209 replies and 94 files omitted.
>>169860>>169856Posey slowly approaches the porch of the building, peering into the entrance.
>>169860>>169861Peering into the entrance, posey can see a wooden floor, a kitchen, and the edges of a living room. The boards are creaky and weak, and may break. The door is already broken
>>169862Posey opens the door with her horn.
>>169864I guess I should roll Search
[1d20+1 = (5+1) = 6] >>169864>>169863Posey does
not burst into flames.
Posey can see a kitchen with a cabinet door open, and a drawer open. She can see a couple pots on a stove. Over in the other room, a sofa, a picture in a frame... not a lot of decoration. There are two rooms branching off.
>>169866>Pots on the stove>Sofa>Not a lot of decoration"Not what I expected from a vampire lair... Best look for his coffin, or, whatever he slept in. We'll know this is the place when we find a pouch of his ancestral earth." Posey says, levitating the couch cushions to look beneath, as she slowly walks across the hallway, towards the bedroom.
"Unless... Could this have been the place where he was born?"
>>169867A broken plate on the floor by a table near the front window, a knife on the floor and a rather small stain of what Posey may assume to be blood, but honestly not much.
Posey does find a coin under the couch.
"No." August says. Posey could hear him follow after her into the house. "Let Panolovich was born in his family's noble estates in the Zakatie province of what was then the Severyanan Domain of Equestria. He was very far from home."
>>169866Posey levitates a pot to peek at what remains inside
"A vampire wouldn't be one to cook, although, perhaps he was the feral type that wouldn't alter his lair since the night he moved in. Perhaps some hard memories."
>>169868"Then he should have had his coffin shipped in from overseas. When we find it, we can say for certain we've found his lair."
Posey says, levitating the coin.
"As well as most of his possessions."
She looks up to the group.
"Let's search the remaining rooms. I sense he's been here; either this is where he laired, or it's the home of one of his unfortunate victims, perhaps both."
Posey moves towards the nearest room.
>>169868Posey stamps the floor firmly, listening for any hollows beneath.
Listen check
[1d20+2 = (1+2) = 3] >>169871My luck is begining to turn
>>169869Just the completely decomposed remnants of... something, though clearly there was something in the pots at one time.
>>169870Posey should be aware that as kind of a general rule, the group members do not follow Posey into the building. August is with Posey, but the others, while in easy earshot, are not in direct line of sight.
Looking into the bedroom, Posey can see that there is a broken lamp near the door, disheveled and decayed sheets and a blanket on a moldy mattress stained by a (small) amount of blood.
>>169871The wood breaks, and Posey's hoof falls through, likely several feet.
>>169873"Bucking hel-" Posey shouts as she falls through the floor
Does she fall into a cellar, or just beneath the floorboards.
Posey dusts herself off and examines her surroundings.
If she can still reach the bed, she checks under the mattress, for any objects hidden within it.
>>169874Only her hoof breaks through, not the whole pony, so she can't really tell what she broke into without an examination.
Under the mattress is...
A box, and a few coins.
>>169875Posey levitates the box, and coins as she pulls herself up.
She opens the box.
>>169876A silver heart shaped locket, some cash, and a photograph
>>169877>SilverPosey grimaces slightly, but opens the locket nonetheless to see the image inside, levitating it a good distance from herself, towards August.
She examines the photo.
>>169878>>169877Posey reads August's expression, to see if he recognizes the face.
>>169878Posey opens the locket to see an aged, black and white photograph of a stallion and a mare, looking at each other and nuzzling. The mare has a necklace, and her mane is back. The stallion has a kind of short cut.
The photograph depicts and stallion and a mare, evidently the same two with a similar mane cut and the same necklace, standing next to each other posing with a filly in front and between then
>>169879August takes a moment, and with his own blue-green aura takes the locket, and then (if Posey lets him), the photograph.
"I think that might be... one of the missing."
>>169880Posey lets him take it.
"Perhaps one of his victims then. He likely found them here and made quick work of them, pots still on the stove..." Posey says
"I'm questioning if he laired here at all... Best check the remaining room though, just to be certain."
>>169881The remaining room is a bathroom, with a decayed, simple tub, and a simple sink. The only fact of note is that the door locking mechanism is physically broken.
"He had to have been invited in..."
>>169882"Perhaps he seduced his way in, posing as a weary traveler, or perhaps he just caught one of the residents with his gaze through the window and enthralled them... Or perhaps these ponies were just hospitable and kind enough to invite a stranger in without question..." Posey says, scenarios trailing through her mind as she pauses
"...I don't think this is the place." she says
>>169883"No bodies... It's possible that some escaped, unless they were enthralled and marched to his actual lair. An aristocrat like him probably wouldn't do his own dusting."
>>169883"It was the latter... I am sure of it..." August asserts. But he makes no argument to support this bare assertion.
>>169884"I don't think anypony escaped here." A pause, and "I doubt he had much to dust."
>>169885"You think this was his lair then?" Posey asks, not quite sure where to go from here
>>169886"No. But I don't believe that this house was purely a target of opportunity. I think it was targeted because his lair would have been impossible to hide from here."
>>169887"Within eyesight then..." Posey walks out to the porch
From the porch, she eyes the collapsed part of the roof and attempts to scale it
"Give me a boost, will you darling?" Posey asks, giving her tail a swish
Rolling Climb
[1d30+6 = (5+6) = 11] >>169888>Rolled 1d30Umm, I'm gonna just reroll
[1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26] >>169889Well, now I feel like I cheated
>>169888>Trips>mare sexuality>>169889>Nat 20>>169890In so many ways>>169888August leans down, lets Posey stand on his back (given the armor, that isn't uncomfortable), then bucks her upwards, allowing her to grab onto the edge of the roof, and pull herself up. The corrugated metal roof feels a little week, but Posey is light enough that it isn't
too dangerous.
>>169891Posey gets to the highest point in the roof, and uses the vantage point to scout the area.
With her low-light vision, she should be able to see in this clearing, with the half moon.
She peers all around the clearing, searching for anything out of place.
>>169892Time for the ultimate test of Posey's luck
Roll >>169893Idk what to roll, but I'm going to take +2 from being high up. Apply any other mods afterwards.
>tfw no Action Points[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11] >>169894Trees behind her (to the east), trees to her left (to the south), trees to her right (the north), and to the west past the mist covered field, a thinning of trees with a few hill-like formations and what seems to be a barn or a shed next to a lower area, evidently a dried creek bed.
>>169895"West!" Posey calls, from the top of the roof, before she scales down and heads in that direction.
"Careful. We're incredibly close." Posey says, As she continues her paranoia-inducing sword dragging gimmick, walking in a slow, zig-zagged pattern around invisible obstacles.
>>169896Posey can lean over the edge, hang onto the roof, then hop down with August to catch her.
To traverse the field, she may cut directly across the tall grass, follow the dirt road, or perhaps follow the tree line on the right.
>>169898Posey travels as stated above, cutting across the tall grass, sometimes inspecting the tips of weeds, mimicking the interest of a botanist.
>>169899Posey crosses the high grass of the field, with August and the 6 of the team following behind, though with a bit of distance.
Roll Spot
Roll Listen >>169901Posey doesn't notice until she's fairly close. But then, to the right, coming from the edge of the forest, Posey sees glowing red eyes, and the silhouettes of three forms. She can hear grass moved aside, and a very low pitched growling.
Posey can tell that they have the forms of wolves but are
significantly larger. Some indescribable quality - or perhaps it is their unnatural eyes - gives the impression that Posey has not encountered a regular wild animal, simply trying to protect its territory, but something much more...
malevolent >>169902So, you mean like, LARGE larger?
>"Heh, Aunty Lilac's pooches bigger."Posey thinks to herself, a shudder running down her spine as she recalls the memory, as she fiercely stares down the wolves, with equal malevolence in her eyes.
Thinking fast, Posey makes my a biologist and as a move action closes distance with the nearest wolf, to boop it on the snoot.
"Git!" she shouts
The bones one her armor rattle, letting her demoralize as a free action (applying -4 Size Penalty).
[1d20+7 = (1+7) = 8]And she makes a boop attack
[1d20+5 = (9+5) = 14]More importantly though, this activates her Dreadful Wrath, emitting a Frightful Presence, which should force all creatures within 20 ft of her to roll a save or be Shaken for one minute.
>>169903>Nat 1 demoralizeWell, there goes my whole plan. Hope they fail their saving throws, because this might turn into melee soon.
>>169903Like, larger than you'd normally be comfortable fucking with larger.
Evidently, dangling bones in front of hungry dogs does not scare them.
The attack
hitsTechnically, everycreature is either more than 20 feet away, or immune to frightful presence >>169903From behind, cracks of thunder
Bang Bang BANG Bang Tat Tat Tat Tat Tat Bang Bang[1d20+2 = (16+2) = 18][1d20+3 = (4+3) = 7][1d20+4 = (5+4) = 9][1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17][1d20+4 = (6+4) = 10][1d20+7 = (7+7) = 14][1d20+1 = (12+1) = 13][1d20+1 = (18+1) = 19][1d20+1 = (1+1) = 2][1d20+1 = (15+1) = 16][1d20+1 = (16+1) = 17] >>169905The wolf she booped is more than 20 ft away?
Okay, gonna roll Iaijutsu, since this is the first round
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]Slam damage
[1d6+7 = (5+7) = 12] >>169910>Wolf immune to fearWell... Fuck...
I'm going to roll Religion as a free action, to identify if these wolves are undead, or influenced by undead
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13] >>169910>>169907Posey can hear bullets wiz by, and more than a few splat directly into these possessed wolves. Possey herself is able to break the nasal cavity. of the one in the middle... But it does not fell them.
Surely any forest creature would cut their losses, and run back into the forest, right? Or better, it would die. Right?
Instead, Posey has only pissed them off. The one next to Posey bites at her, while one to the right lunges for August, and one to the left for another soldier.
Attack against Posey:
[1d20+11 = (11+11) = 22]Attacks of opportunity
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23][1d20+7 = (16+7) = 23][1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19][1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19] >>169913Ouch
That's enough to hit her.
Do I roll initiative now, or are we just doing this in order?
>>169913[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19][1d4+1 = (4+1) = 5][1d4+2 = (1+2) = 3][1d8+10 = (6+10) = 16][1d8+10 = (5+10) = 15]>>169915[1d8+10 = (8+10) = 18]>>169916Basically when there is a suprise round, the order just follows after that.
Posey's turn.
>>169917Posey begins fighting defensively, to gain +2 Dodge bonus to AC, and boops the wolf on the nose again, this time with her Charnel touch
[1d20+1 = (13+1) = 14] >>169924What kind of weapon is doing 8d6 damage?
>>169925A 9-millimeter submachine gun
>>169918>>169917The wolf attacking the soldier goes down in a hail of bullets, but the wolves attacking Posey
[1d20+11 = (20+11) = 31]And August
[1d20+11 = (19+11) = 30]Are wounded, but still active
>>169927All the submachine guns I saw dealt 2d6 with burst fire options, but I'm not proficient in them anyway, so idgaf.
>>169927Ow.
>>169929Posey is now at 16 HP.
This means her Fast Healing quality activates.
Don't wolves trip on a hit?
>>169930It is. But when it hits 4 times it's easier to type 8d6
>>169931The crit nat 1'd on a confirmation roll>>169930Our Botanist mare is fortunate to have a strong Paladin BF to heal her with lay-of-hooves, and cure her wounds with his healing magic.
>take a crit wolf bite to the throat/belly/vitals>torn open>No extra damage because undeadI might have to make another disguise check soon...
>>16993021, actually. Forgot DR
She's still down to half health though.
>>169932FUCK
>>169934Posey regains 1 HP, for a total of 22. She stops healing, as her health if above half now.
Posey considers her options, although with the machine gun firing she thinks she can afford to conceal her spellcasting for another round.
So she begins fighting defensively, and touches a hoof to her wound to recover another hit point, putting her at 23.
>>169935She also takes a 5 ft step back, away from the wolf, as a free action with no AoO
>>169935>>169937>>169936Posey moves back from the wolf, to see it snort blood out of its nostrils, and look back to Posey with glowing red eyes, and blood dripping from its frame. Then an explosion of red blood, and another, and another, and another, with its rib cage start to open. It's eyes go dim before it falls over on its side, onto the ground.
To her right, half of the skull of the wolf attacking August is blown off, and it too, falls down.
The horror is over. They've won.
>>169938Hooray
"..... And THAT is what happens when a vampire lairs in an area." Posey says, covering her wounds with her cloak to conceal them as she attempts to heal up over the course of as many rounds as she can manage.
"Who's hurt?"
>>169939Posey suggests the group take some time to catch their breaths
"I have to dissect this wolf's brain, or, what's left of it. I need to check it before the vampiric entropy leaves the body. It'll only take a couple minutes." Posey lies, as she waddles off behind the wolf carcass to heal her own wounds over the course of 20 rounds (2 minutes) with her Charnel Touch.
Also, untrained Heal check for autopsy, to see if Posey notices anything odd about this possessed wolf
[1d20+2 = (18+2) = 20]
>>169941I guess I should roll bluff for this
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11] >>169939Posey can see that there are two casualties
One is one of the soldiers. This is not quite any random soldier, but one who Posey could discern from conversation is named "flaring lamp." In his late twenties or maybe early 30s, a unicorn with an indigo coat and a black mane, he carried a military bolt action rifle with a bayonet fixed - a bayonet that he logged right through the wolf's eyeball. As one of two to receive military grade weapons, he's clearly a higher ranking member. Flaring Lamp had previously given Posey death glares, was taken off into private by August and whispered to at the Tavern, and stared straight through at Posey when she attempted to charm him. He was by the leader's side all night, he did not drink, and he clearly is not pleased by August banging Posey based off of his reactions. His jack had been torn through severely, and he does not remain standing.
Then the second is August himself. His steel breast plate has been bent, his helmet is damaged, and he is severely injured himself.
>>169941>>169943"It's a wolf. And it died of lead poisoning." The leader says, before turning his attention to August
>>169939Posey is severely injured, and her injuries are visible. She will likely need more than her dress to hide it.
>>169942The wolf seems to be actually slowly starving to death. It's dehydrated. And it seems to have incessantly scratched at its fur on its legs until the fur comes out. Its muscles were becoming atrophied. There is no visible sign of fungal, mite, or other parasitic infection anywhere on its body.
>>169946>Wolf descriptionYep. This thing was enthralled alright. It neglected itself and mindlessly guarded the territory.
>She will likely need more than her dress to hide it.Posey hides behind the wolf while she heals herself, using it as cover as she touches her hoof to her wounds.
>>169947I guess I'll roll Hide, to conceal Posey's healing process behind the wolf.
She did fail that bluff check though...
[1d20+9 = (17+9) = 26] >>169944Is Flaring Lamp actually dead? Are the others tending to him?
>>169948>>169947The other ponies do not seem to buy that an autopsy is really warranted, or that these wolves had anything to do with "vampiric entropy."
>>169949Flaring Lamp is alive, and the other ponies do ask Posey if she is hurt, but seem a bit more focused on August and flaring Lamp.
August gives Posey an odd stare, and then limps towards Flaring Lamp.
>>169948The wolf is just large enough for Posey to crouch behind, combined with the tall grass.
>>169950Posey heals her wounds over the course of two minutes.
She cuts off one of the wolves' heads for good measure.
Posey says she's okay, and that the wolf only "knicked" her.
To cover this up, Posey only heals herself up to 37 HP (5 less than her maximum), leaving a gash visible.
I guess this requires another Bluff check
[1d20+10 = (8+10) = 18] >>169951Posey takes the large sword and cuts the head off of the wolf with its skull still intact, as a disease-researcher would do when examining a rabid dog.
How long does it take for them to patch up Lamp?
>>169950>>169953>>169952August gives Posey a look telling her that he has chosen to heal himself and Lamp over her, and he knows that she knows it.
Posey is basically left alone as she patches up herself, as they take just as long for Lamp and August. Lamp is heavily bandaged, and August has replaced his broken guard helmet with a steel changeling drone style helmet.
>>169955Posey wraps the wolf's head in a sheet of cloth and returns to the group, with a silent nod.
"... Not much further now." she says eventually, as Lamp gets to his feet, her tone flat, as her head tilts towards the west
>>169956One of the soldiers remarks
"Could anyone have heard that? Would the military know?"
Another
"Why would wolves attack us?"
August has a foreleg over Lamp's shoulder. August has scars visibly heeled by magic. He's clearly in pain, but he stands stoically, and looks towards Posey.
Posey is damned near at her destination. In front of her, a barn, or something like it. To the side of that, a mound. And beyond that, a dried riverbed.
>>169957"Where there are vampires, there are wolves... Enthralled and driven to madness. I wrote a paper on it..."
Her tone turns grim though
"Although, it's not normal for them to stick around after the vampire is slain..."
Posey slowly walks towards the barn.
>>169958August says under his breath
"No. It isn't." and has a serious expression. He takes his shot gun, turns it upside down, and inserts one, two, three shells, and cocks it with a loud "click clack." He moves side by side with Posey.
Posey is not attacked by any creature as she moves towards the barn.
>>169959Posey walks into the barn.
>>169960Opening the door of the unlocked barn Posey sees...
Piles of rubbish
A big bin of what is now rubbish.
A pair of stalls.
A few implements like leather harnesses and a scythe hanging
A pony-pulled plow on the side.
>>169962Posey finds a skeleton in each stall. It looks like two ewes, though it's hard to tell
>>169963Posey checks beneath the pile of rubbish, looking for any trapdoors.
>>169964It’s decomposed plant matter, basically soil at this point. There does not seem to be any trapdoor beneath it. Note that there is a loft in the barn, and a rather large covered cart pushed towards the back of the barn between the stalls.
>>169965Posey checks the covered cart, then the loft.
>>169966The cart is reasonably large, with a big back designed to carry cargo, and a door, walls, and roof that covers it. It is empty. There is a wooden door with a stone wall behind it, slightly recessed and evidently going to a root cellar.
The loft is mostly empty, with some decayed straw, but interestingly there are several articles of clothing up there - shirts and jackets. There is a walkway that allows a pony to walk out to an opening with a wooden plank, that allows a view over the riverbed, part of the meadow, and the forest.
>>169967"He was definitely here..." Posey says, as she examines the articles of clothing
She turns and moves towards the root cellar.
>>169968The articles of clothing belong to a stallion. One is a set of robes, while another is a formal dress jacket of (semi) contemporary design
The root cellar is hard to access, with the cart parked a little too closely too it, and the door not wanting to open.
>>169969"Get the others. We'll have to push this out of the way." Posey tells August
>>169970He nods. A set of ponies arrive, but only one is needed to move it. A beige earth pony hooks himself up to the cart, and after a brake unapplied, moves the cart, albeit with difficulty given the rusty axels.
>>169971Posey waits for the cart to be moved before attempting to open the door.
>>169972This is done. The door however, remains uncooperative
>>169973Posey requests help from the other ponies, to either push down the door, or pull it out (provided that somepony brought any rope).
>>169974They door is bucked, broken, and then removed.
Posey can see immediately there is a small set of stone stairs into a subterranean chamber
"Here we go..." Posey says, as she moves down the steps
>>169975Posey walks down the stairs.
>>169976>>169977Is Posey waiting for other ponies to shine their electric torches, or is she just using dark vision? It's not exactly a well illuminated room, and I do not think she has a torch.
>>169978Posey waits for the ponies to shine their torches down, because it would be a bad idea to reveal that she can see in the dark.
I have to step out for 15-20 minutes to shower. If I don't take a shower every day, I will lose my mind.
I'll be back ASAP though. Maybe type up a description of the lair?
The room is natural cave that near the entrance has stones on its side to presumably keep back soil, but is limestone elsewhere, sometimes carved. The floor is dirt and stone, mostly level. At one point is was likely used for cool food storage. There is a stone wall at the far end with a wooden door that clearly closes off more of the cave.
Peering into the room, Posey can see that the room is rather populated with a number of curious items. Shelves, multiple pine rectangular boxes. There's a set of armor. Two of them actually. A pair of rifles sitting up against the shelves, and helmets that look just a bit premodern.
As Posey steps down the stairs, there is a blue glow almost like Saint Elmo's fire near her hooves, but it vanishes. The stairway is narrow and only permits one pony to come down at a time, although realistically jumping down to the side of the stairs is viable, as the distance is not that great.
>>169981>there is a blue glow almost like Saint Elmo's fire near her hoovesRolling Arcana, to determine the effect of this magic
[1d20+7 = (18+7) = 25]>Peering into the room, Posey can see that the room is rather populated with a number of curious items. Shelves, multiple pine rectangular boxes. There's a set of armor. Two of them actually. A pair of rifles sitting up against the shelves, and helmets that look just a bit premodern."Looks like we found the treasure, colts." Posey shouts back, inviting the other ponies in after her.
Posey moves through the room, and proceeds to the next door
"His coffin should be here somewhere."
>>169982It's an alarm spell, activated by entering a warded area.
August enters, though he looks confused, like he didn't expect this.
The other ponies follow behind, but Posey can tell that they are descended from prey animals... frankly, they still are prey animals. They look paranoid, and easy to spook.
The door to the next room is actually unlocked this time.
>>169983>It's an alarm spell"Say... Was this vampire a mage, by any chance?" Posey asks, nervously
"That was an alarm spell..."
Regardless of this, Posey proceeds through the next door.
>>169984"No." August answers bluntly.
On the stone wall, and on the wooden door, Posey sees the movement shadows, evidently of her teammates following right behind her. These shadows must only be blocking one electric torch of several illuminating the wall, because the shadows are a light grey, only blocking a part of the light against the wall. She can hear the clanking of armor behind her, the sound of a sword being pulled, and then the sound of a rifle being cocked behind her, a sign her teammates are ready to enter the next room with her.
Posey opens the door to see a comparatively large cavern. Dim moonlight shines through a hole in the top, and part of it comes down on a coffin, although several can be seen. Throughout the cavern, Posey can see, through the black and of her darkvision, the silhouettes of creatures standing up, and looking over towards Posey. She can make out slim but solid bodies, raised ears, and golden eyes. It were as if she had awoken a number of cats, although these are larger than cats, and more numerous. Every now and then, a streak of light from the electric torches, or from the moonlight, hits one of these creatures, and exposes yellow or pink matted fur, or a weathered pine coffin, or a chiseled limestone wall that has been completely covered in scribbles. What Posey does not need the electric torch to see is the dozen golden eyes that open, and rise above the rock floor.
Then Posey hears sounds from the ponies. "Fuck!" "What is that?" And "Oh shit, did you see that?" And she hears the sounds of August's armor clanking, him unsheathing a sword, and multiple ponies working the bolt of a rifle. And she can hear that her teammates and August are not, in fact, right behind her, despite what she heard before. The cowards have barely entered the room and are much further behind. Certainly have seen nothing that Posey has in the next room.
>>169986Posey rolls knowledge (Arcana) to identify these creatures
[1d20+7 = (2+7) = 9]And Religion, in the even that they're undead
[1d20+7 = (11+7) = 18]And then promptly closed the door, deciding to deal with this after she addresses whatever her teammates saw, hoping the door will delay them.
"Yeah.... There's a bunch of monster cat-things in there... Coffins too... Coffins, plural..." Posey announces
>>169987She can't really tell. They are solid, so either not undead, or something like thralls, vampire spawn, or zombies.
Her teammates are frankly seriously spooked and have not the slightest idea what waits in the next room.
"Careful! You could hit the botanist."
"Fuck her!"
And a third pony
"I thought we'd have Fascist goons at worst! What are these?"
>>169988Well, I guess I may as well try and use this feature
Posey opens the door, and flashes her symbol
Rebuke Undead
Rolling
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19] >>169989Posey Rebukes undead as a 10th level Cleric.
Rolling Turning Damage
[2d6+10+4]
Since turning is considered an attack, this would activate her frightful presence, in case they're not undead.
>>169992Well, I was, until you asked that just now...
Gonna roll Intelligence to see if Posey would be smart enough to know why this is a bad idea:
[1d30+3 = (17+3) = 20] >>169994Six creatures creatures, plausibly undead, they should have already seen us. Moonlight implies and entrance above. Coffins in the room... Ghouls, maybe? Rebuking would give an advantage in combat.
The vampire should have had spawn. Perhaps these are his thralls.
Posey looks behind her, to check if there is anything obvious she's missing.
GM, I'm getting tired here, can I get a hint from that Int check?
Also, I know you're about to make a new thread, so I think maybe we should pick up again tomorrow.
>>170000I roll to boop the pony on the snoot
[1d20+5 = (17+5) = 22] >>169996Posey turns to see that behind her are the spectral forms of four soldiers - four soldiers who clearly are not from Posey's posse, nor the Military, but take the form of bygone wars. These ponies are not solid matter, but blacked silhouettes with dark grey eyes. The weapons and armor they wield are physical implements binding them to this realm.
Two of them hold bolt action rifles, albeit rusted and war damaged and of an older and likely foreign design. One has the form of a pegasus, and in the light of the torches it can be seen that he wears a uniform that must have been green in color with red shoulder patches, and a green and pointed hat. The other is an earth pony who wears a white uniform with black patches, and a white cap with a black trim. Only the rifle is made of matter.
Besides these are two soldiers in armor. One is a unicorn who wears a set of plate armor, a shield with a sun on it, and wields a longsword. The other is a pegasus with Lamellar armor, a pointed metal helmet, and a spear. The weapons and armor are dull and rusty, though as before, they are solid and well defined, while the shadow is not.
Posey's teammates are directly on the other side of these entities. Not helpful, given where the bullets go if they miss... or rather, should the bullets pass straight through.
>>170004Can Posey redirect her Rebuking check to these creatures instead?
>>170005Also, rolling Religion, to determine the type of undead
[1d20+7 = (4+7) = 11] >>170005She could
It might be worth thinking about whether she'd rather rebuke the creatures in that room, or this one>>170006Incorporeal, and tied to possessed physical objects.
>>170007Well, she can simply close the door on the creatures in the room. Also, I would like some incorporeal pets, if possible.
>>170005>>170006Should Posey rebuke the undead, she could certainly rebuke or even command one or more
>>170009She rebukes them
With an effective Cleric level of 10, anything with 5 or less effective HD should be commanded. Anything that isn't TPK level should be rebuked.
Posey can control a max of 7 HD, reminder that term resistance doesn't apply to max HD commanded.
With 24 HD effected, this might actually be enough to effect the creatures in both rooms, although she can only control 7 HD.
>>170010All four of the spectral soldiers lower their weapons to a more relaxed position, and stare at posey, even as they lower their heads and assume a cowed position.
The members of the ELF team are themselves spooked and awed. August has a wide smile across his face.
>>170011Are they commanded, or just rebuked?
If they're commanded, Posey would know telepathically.
>>170012Two commanded, the other two rebuked.
>>170013>"Hide beneath the floor, until I call for you."Posey speaks to the incorporeal soldiers telepathically.
"These goons are going to hold for exactly one minute!" Posey shouts back
"And the other room is full of monsters, although with bodies this time." She continues.
GM, I'm too tired to go any further. I gotta sleep now.
Today was fun. Maybe we could try again tomorrow, if we have the time.
>>170014The two obey, and seep beneath the floor, leaving their weapons and armor behind.
If which ones are commanded is determined by proximity to Posey, this would be the knight in armor, and the white soldier with the rifle, as they were moving forward to attack Posey. The soldier in lamellar and the green and red uniform were moving to attack August, who was on the other side. Of course, it could be any two.
The ELF team members look onto Posey with a bit of confusion and awe, and yell things like "They are scared of you!" "What happened?" And "There's more of them?!" August simply smirks in silence and moves forward.
>>170015>Today was funYay! I did something right
Sure, I think I'll be able to continue tomorrow
>>170016Incorporeal entities dropped corporeal weapons and armor? Interesting. Those might be ghost touch items, in which case we're rich.
Rolling religion (free action) to see why.
[1d20+7 = (2+7) = 9]"Yes, there's more in the next room. Go to the door, stick your guns in, and light up the room." Posey says
>>170016>>170017>>170010What Posey is proposing is that the ponies storm into the room and exterminate the corporeal undead. She doesn't specify how she rebuked them, but this is an opportunity to attack while they cower in awe.
Does the team comply?
I won't be able to stay up too late tonight.
>>170017>Whyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jLRhCPm6aY&pp=ygULaGF1bnRlZCBndW4%3DThe ponies don't seem to have any difficulty obeying these fairly direct orders, moving down the stairs. The ponies speak, seemingly talking to Posey, asking things like "How did you do that?" and "do you mean 'light 'em up' as in shine a light on them, or shoot them?"
The leader, whom Posey ought to have figured out is named "Succored Brave," ask August a question:
"Is Plivy actually dead?"
August answers "He must be" but does not make eye contact with Succored. He instead walks straight towards the door Posey is at. He takes a small gun and places a large cartridge in it as he walks. When he nears Posey, he looks straight at her, and speaks at a volume his comrades cannot hear. The gun is placed to the side, and with magic he grabs his sword.
To this point, Posey has either avoided suspicion, quelled it, or at least, any suspicion has not been worth mentioning. August, however, asks Posey bluntly, unequivocally, and unavoidably,
"Do you intend to use the undead against us?"
Bluff check if necessary.
>>170020>"How did you do that?" and "do you mean 'light 'em up' as in shine a light on them, or shoot them?"Posey makes a gesture to indicate that she means shoot.
Reminder that they should have a bonus to attack rolls vs rebuked creatures.
>"He must be"Yeah, I believed that until the wolves appeared...
>"Do you intend to use the undead against us?"Full disclosure to GM:
Well, my original plan was to use defiling magic to Still+Silent a summon swarm spell, chalking it up as "unbalance of Harmony", and act inconspicuous as the swarm slowly bled them to death as they helplessly fired their weapons into a swarm of 5000 bats (impervious to weapon damage; they brought electric torches instead of fire, so they'd be screwed).
I was hoping to conceal the rebuking too, or pass it off as turning, but I guess a paladin would know better.
So, Posey hadn't intended to use the undead on them, but depending on the type of these creatures, but she did make those ghost-things (yet to be intensified) were going to be a contingency to incapacitate them when the opportunity presented itself.
But I guess that counts as a yes, so Posey's going to have to do some bluffing
"W-what? I don't even know how I'd do that..."
I would take 10, but this is a combat scenario, so I guess I have to roll. Darn this -2 penalty
[1d20+10 = (3+10) = 13]>hauntedNow I gotta look up the rules to deal with a Haunting Presence.
>>170021AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
>>170020Sorry I took so long to respond.
>>170021August takes a moment to respond, but it's a mere moment.
"Your complete lack of interest in the War; your complete lack of concern that you were meeting up with seven, well-armed ponies; you didn't ask me to use a condom; how you knew there was a vampire lair in the region despite claiming that you knew nothing of Plivy, though his death having been plastered all over the news; that stunt you pulled killing the oak tree; how those enthralled wolves barely harmed you, and the nonsense about autopsies. But what really gave you away, how I
knew, was the flavor of your magical aura; your complete lack of love...
Your lack of soul."
He shakes his head, and a wide, toothy grin moves across his face. "
I knew what you were... I could ignore it so long as you were useful and weren't a threat. Until you had us almost walk past those Spectres, Spectres you just ignored, and called off when it was inconvenient. I don't think you're a full blood, but I take it Plivy must be your uncle. That, or your cousin, for you to want to return here..." He unsheathes his sword, and takes it out.
Please note that August is "on guard" and no surprise round can be gained against him, only initiative.
>>170024>you didn't ask me to use a condomWell that's what I get for doing a guy a favor...
>Your lack of soul*Ears droop*
>SpectresWait, are we talking like, proper nown Spectres? The ones that are as strong as wraiths?
>initiativePosey let's out a long, fake sigh (she does not breath)
"It was fun while it lasted, August."
As part of Initiative, Posey invokes a duel of wills, using an Intimidate check, against her most deadly opponent, August.
[1d20+9 = (19+9) = 28]https://dndtools.net/skills/tome-of-battle-the-book-of-nine-swords--88/intimidate/I take it August isn't the type to submit or ignore the challenge?
He should roll opposed.
Initiative
[1d20+9 = (13+9) = 22] >>170021>>170024He holds for a moment, but only a moment, before his ears move back, and he pulls back a couple feet. He yells,
"
She's a half-Vampire! She's been controlling the undead and will use them to kill us! Kill her! Now!Posey wins the initiative, however
>>170025>Obvious win in initiativePosey moves with blinding speed, her golden eyes flash with a predatory gleam, black veins pulse around her limber hooves as she moves into full cowabunga mode.
Posey opens with a telepathic demand to her controlled spectres (Standard action
>"Take the others from the rear. Ensure that none escape. Focus fire on the leader, but the Paladin is mine."Since Rebuking is considered an attack, this activates her Frightful Presence, which should affect everypony in the room who is not immune to fear (save DC 17)
Posey then takes a move action to move further into the room, goading August to follow him.
>>170027Wait, shades? That's even better.
Also, I am now reminded of the fact that DNs have Undetectable Alignment as a lvl 1 spell, but I was too retarded to cast it.
>>170026With a Standard action and a move action, Posey's turn is over.
>>170028>shadesNo, just like thralls that can fight with weapons but are incorporeal and thus easily missed
August choses to take this time to move even more feet backwards. Closer to the exit, away from potential hidden undead, away from her so his comrades can shoot her without penalty, and so that August may buff his teammates more easily. August switches from his melee weapon, his sword, to his trench gun, a combo ranged/melee weapon.
[1d20+1 = (16+1) = 17][1d20+1 = (18+1) = 19][1d20+1 = (5+1) = 6][1d20 = 13][1d20 = 15][1d20 = 16][1d20+4 = (18+4) = 22][1d20+4 = (15+4) = 19] >>170031Posey's AC is 22
Thank Orcus for undead mastery.
Posey supernaturally dodges most of the bullets, or blocks them with her dastana.
The 22 hits though.
>>170025>>170029Flaring Lamp is the first to have his rifle up, pointed at Posey, and discharged at Posey
[1d20+2 = (4+2) = 6] >>170031Oh wait, was that initiative
>>170034I might be in trouble...
>>170033There are rifle shoots, and the clanging of steel, but not from the soldiers, as the undead minions move in to attack Succored Brave
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14][1d20+5 = (14+5) = 19] >>170036>>170032The Bullet fails to penetrate, but the sword hits
[1d8+3 = (8+3) = 11]He shoots back
[1d20 = 6][1d20 = 5][1d20 = 6][1d20 = 18][1d20 = 12] >>170037[1d2 = 1]>>170033Four more soldiers follow, shooting at Posey
[1d20+2 = (20+2) = 22][1d20+1 = (5+1) = 6][1d20 = 3][1d20 = 4] >>170038>>170033Confirming, and damage
[2d8 = 11]One bullet hits the ghost of the crusader
[2d6 = 10] >>170039Are these bullets magical silver?
-5 Damage reduction, if not.
>>170040Posey takes out the big guns
She defiles
She defiles to cast a Quickened Spectral Hand, which she casts by using two lvl 1 slots with versatile spellcaster.
She conjures the spectral hand right in front of August's nose.
She takes a move action to fast (g)raze, as she attacks the open wound of the world, increasing her Defiling Radius by 30 ft, increasing her caster level by 2, and causing all living creatures within her defiling radius to take a -1 penalty to all rolls for 1 round.
She then spends her standard action to cast Bestow Wound on August, at 9th caster level, she further defiles to make the spell Empowered, then maximized.
She defiles further to omit the 10 gp cost of the spell
And just for the fuck of it? Heighten it to 9th level for maximum deforestation.
She then makes a touch attack with the spectral hand, targeting Augusta snoot. She uses Charnel Touch to increase the damage of bestow wound.
[1d20+8 = (14+8) = 22]Save DC 23
Posey accumulates 18 Defiler points, putting her at 20. If she tries a stunt like this again she'll become an NPC.
All vegetation within a 370 ft radius crumbles into toxic defiler ash.
>>170042She has DR from being a half-vampire too. Silver or Magic
>>170043............
I realize that I misread the description for bestow wound, and most of that was completely unnecessary and wasteful. You can't empower or maximize bestow wound.
>>170043Anyway, rolling damage for the charnel touch
[1d8+1 = (2+1) = 3] >>170043I can't believe I typed all that for a spell that'll deal a maximum of 8 damage
Posey realized that she is not as smart as she thinks she is.
>>170043August is booped by the spectral hand, and scrunches intensely.
He levels his gun, and shoots at Posey
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18] >>170047Flaring Lamp shoots at Posey
[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]The undead attack Succored Brave
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21][1d20+5 = (10+5) = 15] >>170051The bullet finds him, the sword does not
[2d8 = 6] Posey heals the amount of damage she dealt with Bestow wound. It should bring her up to full.
My golly, that was the dumbest complex turn I ever took in d&d.
>>170051>>170052But he's still up, and shoots at the crusader again
[1d20 = 17][1d20 = 15][1d20 = 7][1d20 = 14][1d20 = 14] >>170054>>170051The other four shoot at the crusader
>>170055>>170043>She has DR from being a half-vampire too. Silver or MagicNo. She has 10 more HP than our other fighter, and more than any NPC. She has vastly more AC than any other player character or NPC in the setting. She's damn near immune to any kind of melee or ranged weapons as is. When I okayed the character sheet, it was with DR/2, which I was aware of and that was what was written on the sheet. This is a level 5 campaign.
>>170056For the record, it was a sliding bar. I should have made that clearer. My bad.
>>170059Posey clears her head from the enormous, environmentally-devestating brain fart she just had, and begins fighting defensively, for +2 AC
Her spectral hand boops again
[1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8] >>170061And she misses a touch attack. Great.
Posey moves, looking for any source of cover or half cover in the room.
>>170062>>170059Posey looks for any cover in the room.
>>170061Posey does not hit
Okay, now I see why you think that she's fuckedTo be honest I thought she'd try to make a deal or something, hence why when August told her he knew he didn't immediately attack her or announce it to the room>>170063>>170062Cover is... not great, unless she wants to take her chances in the other room.
To both the left and the right, there are bookshelves. As these are up against the wall, they may offer partial cover.
>>170062Flaring Lamp shoots at Posey
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11] >>170064Posey moves near the door of the other room
>>170064Posey didn't expect mercy from a Paladin after being exposed. It's not what members of the Dread League would be told.