/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>184745
"An immobile creature cannot dodge or defend itself from attack, and I could pump raw entropy directly into its core. A living creature can be affected by my powers. So long as it is alive, and not undead or constructed, my powers should affect if." She says
"One touch. A boop-de-grace, you could call it." she concludes

I haven't had the chance to coup-de-grace a non-trivial enemy with a weaponlike spell attack in a long time. I am so excited for this.

>>184748
"Stalliongrad hasn't had a potential hivemind. Imagine what would happen if Communism worked, cuz pony individuality were vanquished." Brie shudders involuntarily

>>184741
"Come back for dinner, maybe?" Heather says

But Virgin is able to leave the room

>>184732
>Can it be countered?
It can at least be shut out under certain circumstances
>Does it have a specific range
Probably, as it hasn't been noticed before they arrived on the island
>AoE
Area of Effect? Wouldn't that just be Pi multiplied by the range squared?
>Duration
It hasn't ended yet
>Other imitations
Baring certain channels, it's a slow cook

>>184733
I want to say yes, but I feel like this would have horrific unforeseen consequences

>>184740
y u make noodle sad

>>184747
If Posey touched herself and poured this spell into herself, would it kill her?

>>184750
"I wouldn't miss it," she cheers back.

Vir attempts to navigate her way out of the church and back out on the streets.

Flapping sounds, and a set of griffins fly down back into view. One of them says "what was that?" While others shout in a foreign language. A single "Baa" is heard from the mist, and Mala walks over towards the corpse of the dead sailor.

The sun hangs low on the southwestern horizon, and as the party walks the hill and closer to the old village, the southwestern hill that marks the southwestern edge of the island casts a long shadow, dramatically darkening the dull, brown-green grass. A light, but chill wind blows, and with it, the fog eases.

>>184752
Vir goes outside to see the large, concrete neoclassical structure of the bank across a small park within a roundabout with a statue in the center that has been planked up, evidently for repairs. Going into the city, there is a department store on one corner, a cinema in another, and then a few buildings with restaurants and shops in mixed use buildings before endless rowhouses start to dominate.

>>184753
Nice description.

Vir goes up to the nearest creature and asks them, "Excuse me, sir/ma'am. Do you know where the Blackhooves hold up?"

>>184754
Roll Gather Information. Wisdom Modifier

>>184745
>Poor flower...
Posey draws another flower and gives it to Kira
"Every flower withers eventually. Their fleeting, ephemeral nature makes them all the more beautiful."
>>184750
>It can at least be shut out under certain circumstances
>I want to say yes, but I feel like this would have horrific unforeseen consequences
I can't think of any, except that players who succeeded would be able to approach it with a degree of confidence that they resisted it.
The alternative might be the suggestion that this monster has an (Su) domination ability that it can just spam every minute/round until we eventually fail our saves even if we initially succeed, and imho that is a little bit unfair as far as monster design goes, especially since all the other characters besides the Cleric have lower Will saves than Posey, but if that's how it is, bring it on, I'll fight whatever it is..... Also muh nat 20.
>>184751
No. She is undead, not alive. It would heal her. Charnel touch can only damage living things.
Also, it's not a spell. Charnel Touch is an (Su) ability, but she could also deliver a spell alongside it. My idea was to coup-de-grace what appears to be an immobile living creature with a negative energy touch attack that should bypass damage reduction, hardness and energy resistance.
>y u make noodle sad
I just really like the "withers a flower in her grasp" aesthetic. It makes me feel like a powerful Necromancer, even if I still can't cast animate dead. It also fits my death/flowers theme. Rosey Ring always has her pockets full of Posies, just so she can do that trick.
>>184753
>A single "Baa" is heard from the mist
Oh good, Mary is okay. We can go get her after we defeat the traveller. Unless Kira would like to go track her down now.
>The sun hangs low on the southwestern horizon
"We must go soon, before the cold arrives."

>>184755
[1d20+2 = (4+2) = 6] Info

>>184753
"We had company. We will be investigating the village which looks occupied. I recommend that you stay here and out of sight."

Is there a place where the griffons can seclude themselves?

>>184758
They could probably fly to the lighthouse.

>>184756
Kira: "I know, but...it still seems mean to shorten a life like that for little reason. Even if it is just a flower."

Kira takes the offered flower, and pins it in her mane. She smiles at the unknowingly undead mare.

>>184753
Kira leads the party towards the village (hopefully) safely, deciding that they can go find the sheep after they deal with the Traveler.

Kira: "It sure does look different from home..."

>>184757
The first little pony, a brown earth pony stallion on the street near the department store, says "Why would you ever want to do that?" And when pressed, says, "No, I don't know where they are

>>184756
Okay, so Posey is aware that Charnel touch not merely can't kill everything, but can actually heal some things

>>184761
>Okay, so Posey is aware that Charnel touch not merely can't kill everything, but can actually heal some things
Yes, she is well aware of the limitations of the lvl 1 basic weak attack that she uses in every encounter. She just proposed it as a way to deal with an immobile yet living creature that supposedly resists physical damage.
I guess there's a nonzero chance that this thing could be undead, based on its description. Let's see if Posey knows this:
Religion
[1d20+11 = (17+11) = 28]
And Arcana, in case it's a construct or other creature that is immune to necromantic effects
[1d20+11[

>>184762
Arcana
[1d20+11 = (5+11) = 16]

>>184761
Well, shucks, Vir thought. Maybe Celestia can help me?

She turns her gaze towards the sun. She stares at it intently, beseeching it for answers... She turns away and rubs her closed eyes.

Buck that hurt.

>>184764
The sun hangs in the sky just a little to the southwest.

It's probably best not to stare at it.

Celestia does not reveal the secrets.

>>184765
Vir let's her gaze wander over the masses before her. She scans them with her skinhead denominator. She is sure that one natzhe pig can guide her to another. [1d20+2 = (16+2) = 18] Search

>>184766
>denominator
Is not the right word but I can't find the one is it. You probably knwo tho.

Bats in spot check.
>EEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>184766
Target aquired

Vir spots her prey. A soldier in a beige uniform, walking down the street a little ways up, next to another one. He has on a cattlemare's hat, and a rifle with bayonet slung across his back

>>184766
Vir thanks Celestia in her head for all the recent luck she has had with spotting things.

>>184769
She skips merrily over to them, forgetting in her happiness of finding them that she kinda hate their guts. Oh well.

"Hey, you guy look like Blackhooves. Could you point me to your,,," Vir says and roll her hoof in the air, "...Reception desk?"

Are we going to the village tonight?

>>184771
The pony, a beige pegasus, looks back at Vir skeptically.

"Blackhooves? Why are you looking for them?" He moves in closer and narrows his eyes. "Are you a rebel."

The black unicorn stallion, also in a soldier's uniform near him jumps in
"If she were a rebel, she'd know where it was."

>>184772
If we get everyone

>>184717
Dust ponders
"Explosives are not common in my line of work
They are not as effective in the savannahs I lurk
However at least attempts I can make
But strong fire may be the result you take"

>>184775
Kira gasps. "Alchemist's fire! I know I'm not anything like an expert alchemist, but I do have some training in alchemy and if you have the materials I can help you with making some!"

>>184714
He goes inside and goes to the cafeteria//restaurant inside the hotel
>>184776
Gott Strafe Amerika Inshallah

As the party progresses along the bridge through the dim, grey fog, they pass the ruins of low, stone walls that once demarcated padolcks and fields, and see small stone buildings, just big enough for a pony to fit inside.

Through the fog, and in the distance, gunshots. A roar. And the outlines of a few buildings

>>184778
He's been there a couple times. It has separate rooms for eating, distribution of food, and of course, a kitchen

>>184779
Silver: "They are under attack."

Kira hurries to lead the party towards the sound of combat.

>>184779
"It looks like their 'Fellow Traveler" grew tired of waiting. We haven't arrived a minute too soon."

He strides along their right flank.

>>184779
He walks over to whoever looks like they're in charge

>>184777
What a cute damn noodle holy shit.
Dust smiles at her enthusiasm.
>>184779
Oh lovely, combat tonight.
Dust follows the rest of the party along

To the left, and closest, abutting a stone wall is what must have once been a house, with its roof long since caved in. It has a rectangular shape, and is probably 20 feet by forty feet, perhaps smaller. To the right is a low, three foot wall that has openings on the left and right. Beyond that is a small, round conical building.

But what is most interesting is what is beyond that in front of them. It is a home identical in shape to the one mentioned before - made of stone, rectangular in shape, and though it has half a chimney and the walls on the ends extend up in a triangular shape, there is no roof.

Inside of this building, which has several empty window spaces, there can be heard speaking, and then bang.

Between the party and the building can be seen two ponies in uniform, trembling. One has a rifle, and is levelling it at the building. On the wall of the house closer to the party is standing one of those black, starfish things. Another appears to the far right in the mist.

Perhaps most interesting is what lurks through the mist further away. At first it can be seen only in outline, but as it comes closer, more detail can be discerned. It's massive, twelve or even more feet tall, with long, spindly legs. It walks on its four, stilt like legs before it approaches the ruined house, where it stands up right. Whether it has grey fur, or if it is completely naked with grey skin is hard to say, though it surely is mostly grey with large patches of bare, pink skin as if it were the product of biting for mites. On its head are not one, but two large heads, both appearing equine in shape, and with one head more evenly placed than the other, as if an additional head had been sewn on. Indeed, the face has the appearence of grafting and sewing, with large scars that look as if facial reconstruction after grave physical trauma had been done, and lips that are so odd in shape as if to suggest the mouth were sewn shut. The eyes are golden and mostly normal looking, save that they focus on nothing. Ears are equine, pink on the inside, and stand up. The thing leans over, picks up a stone that has fallen off of some ruined structure, and tosses it inside of the ruined house, with a shout of "Blyat!" following

>>184782
A large, fat yellow unicorn with a red mane and a white uniform is the best contender. He does not seem to know Dark Star

>>184784
Silver: "Что, во имя Селестии, это такое?"

Kira: "Okay, that is definitely not a pony. Ponies are cute and huggable. That is definitely neither cute nor huggable."

Okay, so, how far away are these demonic entities from the party?

>>184784
The elders were right, the oceans are bad, if only for the fact that by crossing them Dust has exposed himself to this.
Knowledge religion, surely if this thing is a demon Dust has heard of it.
[1d20+9 = (16+9) = 25]

>>184784
Cavaliere draws his revolver and takes cover behind the wall. He talks in a low voice to Silver and Kira.

"There is another one of those–" he gestures to the starfish "–on the right. If we take the one out in front and then the one to the right, we could fan out and attack from multiple directions."

>>184787
It's an abomination

At this moment, over 100 feet for the closest starfish, and 150 feet for the tall, two headed creature. The fog is easing up, visibility is at least 200 feet. The party seems unnoticed so far

>>184789
Okay cool. That doesn't technically rule out undead. But uh, I don't like thinking about this thing. It's very horrifying
Dust looks to the others. One of his ears is twitching wildly and his eyes seem a lottle larger than normal. He seems tk be waiting for instructions

>spot check
Catching up

Am I to assume Brie is at his 40' elevation? Im gonna just skip the middle-man and roll.initiative
[1d20+4 = (19+4) = 23]

>>184794
Technically the enemies are distracted and therefore the party has the opportunity for a surprise round. but if Brie wishes to sacrifice any kind of stealth and just fly right at them, sure, he can roll initiative

>>184797
>>184794
The big question to ask ourselves is if we want to engage them with our ranged weapons as is and advance while firing, or if we want to sneak closer before revealing ourselves.

Oh, another question: how much space is between this new abomination and the trapped commies?

Not a whole hell of a lot. 15 to 20 feet. There is a stone wall separating them, but it's tall enough to just lean over into the roofless structure.

>>184797
Rolling for initiative doesnt mean jumping in front of them and announcing "were fighting", it means the next thing Ibdo will be clmbat related

>>184785
He thinks to himself
"How dysgenic."
he walks over to him
"Hello."

>>184801
Okay, that definitely changes things. My vote is that we attack from where we are with our ranged weapons and advance. We can draw the attention of these abominations towards us and away from the survivors.

>>184804
If we want to draw attention, I have an absolutely wonderful method. But I want confirmation that that's what we want to do.

>>184805
Cavaliere's eyes are wide as he watches through a gap in the wall, and he quietly opens the cylinder on his revolver to check it before closing again.

"Do you have a plan to distract them?"

>>184806
Dust slowly nods
"To myself I can draw them
Though on my own I cannot take him
I ask that you all have my back
If this is our plan of attack"

Is Posey kill?

>>184807
Silver readies his rifle, and Kira readies her bow.

Silver: "I have your back, my friend."

Kira: "Me too, Dust!"

I'm excited to see Dust's break dance routine

Did you know he was once on the Australian Olympic Breakdancing Team?

>>184808
Mala looks up at Silver

>>184809
Silver gives his friend Mala some pets. "Ready to take out some more demons?"

>>184810
Brie flashes Silver a hoof-sign
"Lets do this."

>>184808
Posey is unresponsive

>>184807
The griffon nods.
"They are intent on the ponies there which might make it difficult. If you can lure them, we can hit them from three different angles as they approach. Make sure to not get close to the sealers in the back."

He moves farther along the wall to have a flanking shot from the right.

>>184809
If we can be said to advance strategically, Brie would be preparing to stealthily swoop, but I imagine that requires checks so Ill wait.

>>184808
Sorry, I got distracted. I'm here

>>184809
You're getting booped mister. Booped very hard
>>184808
>>184813
That's two. I'll wait for Posey and Brie to chime in

>>184815
Yay! You get to see the abomination we're seeing! When you're done reading up, what are your thoughts on our plan of attack: do we attack now from range and draw the monsters to us, or sneak in closer and risk more harm coming to the commies?

>>184784
Okay, Posey sees two monsters that haven't seen us yet.
It looks like they're targeting somepony in the building, likely surviving commies.
My money is on this monster being something like a modified spellwarped Ettin. It should be defeatable at our level of power.

We could either go around the distracted monsters and leave the commies to their fate, which would save our resources and avoid detection by the others, or we could save the commies and get information.
These decisions are a lot easier when killing things gets you XP.... But I say we should kill it anyway because they are ugly and ugly things are bad.

Since we haven't been detected, we should get a surprise round. If attack strategically, we could end the fight on round 1 without risking detection by the others. We already know the starfish can be slain, and I have doubts that the abomination has more than 70 HP.

>>184820
>arguing with the guy offering to be living bait for the party
Okay
>>184822
Would you like to use the zeeb as bait?

>>184823
Im not arguing, Im saying Im already committed to killing

Rosey Ring readies her bow.
Her Dreads ready their rifles.

"As an experienced warmagus and expert in all things dead or dying... I propose that we kill them to death."
>>184823
Healers never go in first. Healers stay in the back lines.
We should send the thief in first. The thief is the close range fighter anyway.
Just make sure Silver is within charging range (60 ft) before we begin the surprise round.

I could argue both ways. Theres merit in saving commies, theres merit to dealing with the SOURCE of the problem. Not dealing with this problem might bute us in the ass, or it could save us time and effort. Brie thinks the airship is probably about to take off and doom the planet, so going around is agreeable

>>184826
That's the decision we were deciding on: attack from range where we are and draw them away from the commies, or sneak in closer for the attack and risk further harm coming to the commies.

>>184827
OOC, I don't think it's the Traveler's plan to use the airship. It would risk exposing itself to danger traveling to the airship, the airship would still need repaired, and it's pretty well safe where it is right now. It just needs to get the ship unbeached so it can get to Stalliongrad and gain access to the bodies and minds it needs.

>>184826
Does she ready her bow at 150 feet distance?

>>184825
The thief can go in, but how he goes in will affect whether he gets a surprise round, or the enemy gets a counter initiative roll

>>184823
"Hey there mister put down ya vape
I got the best rhymes on my mix tape
Cause' I'm the fine stiped fellow ev'ry unicorn wants to rape"

>>184826
But... But my cool moment....
>>184830
Alright I'm gonna be doing more than booping

>>184830
Well, all hes gonna do is position himself for a delayed action charge attack, waiting on....
Silver to.move first
Aimed at the abomination. The charge attack grapple.maneuver

Alright everypony, figure out what you want to do

You can get closer, but if you don't, range increments are a thing

>>184831
"Cause this hero don't wear no cape"

Cavaliere moves closer along the right side, attempting to remain concealed or behind cover, so he won't have 4 range increments to deal with.

>>184828
Brie gives Silver a signal "I move on your lead"

Uhhhh,... is this thing bigger than 'large'?

>>184833
How far away are we?
I would like to be within 100 ft before beginning the surprise round
Silver should be within 60 ft, so he can charge into melee

Also, pony movement speed should be 40 ft

It's already close to midnight. Can we wait until tomorrow to start combat and use this time to strategize?

>>184830
She moves to 120 ft distance.
I forgot she's using a bone bow.
>>184839
I'm sorry if my absence messed up the session. I had to go minutes before GM posted that long description.

>>184839
This, ngl

>>184839
If Posey is right, strategizing is most of the work

>>184837
See >>184790

>>184834
He can take advantage of a 3 foot wall, and the stone storage hut.

>>184840
Nah, you're fine. I've just had a shitter week and I need sleep

>>184840
Ur fine, it didnt come together, thats okay

>>184837
And griffons? Their mismatched limbs might mean they're not quite as fast.

>>184842
What's his distance now?

I'm fine with leaving this off until tomorrow.

Our highest initiative characters are almost guaranteed to win initiative after the surprise round. If the abomination has as many hit points as an ettin or similar melee monster of expected challenge rating, we may be able to kill it before it moves if we focus fire. If we end this combat on the first round, we can start tomorrows session with more exploration, so I would rather do this now.
>>184842
Since the fog is white, can I claim a +2 circumstance bonus on any Hide checks to avoid potential notice for moving within the first range increment of my bow?

>>184846
Brie has a 23 on initiative, but set to synch his attacks with Silver. We might all want to synch attacks, come to think of it....

Assuming we all hit vs a flat footed creature...
>2d8
>2d8
>1d10+3 + [???] Iajutsu
>2d8
>2d6 + 2d6
>1d4 + 3d6
>2d10

We can probably kill the big guy on the surprise round. My bigger concern is if the stargish has any telepathic abilities that could alert the enemy.

I say we attack anyway.

>>184849
Oh wait, I forgot two characters. Oh well

I would like to make our attack rolls tonight, so this encounter will be settled for next session.

What say the ponies?

Err… creatures

>>184852
Oh, I thought the ponies were the ones under attack.
If there are dominated ponies, this encounter might be a bit

>>184852
I'll ammend my previous to say, Brie will wait on somepony else to START moving, intent on a charge attack at the biggun

>>184853
GM Pone is talking about us, not the ponies under attack. Those ponies are definitely not dominated.

I want Dust to have his cool moment, though.

>>184856
I would prefer to have a surprise round, tbh