Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Belkregos]

Belloc couldn't help but notice the matron's scrutinizing gaze sizing up the staff. He tries to suppress the hint of jealousy gnawing at the recesses of his mind. As he extended a touch towards the matron, invoking the dark power of vampiric magic (vampiric touch),

"You fancy yourself superior, perhaps? An attempt to captivate the attention of the great one?" he inquired, a wild smile playing on his lips. "Well, I stand as the guardian of his passage."

Maintaining an unyielding gaze, he sought a connection with her eyes, simultaneously attempting to extract the very essence of life from her.

This seems like an attack.....

If so, I will need an attack roll for this action, as you are required to touch the staff to her for that power to be effective. But since she is distracted by the staff, I will give you a +2 on your roll.

Belloc
I thought you wanted to dance... or are you just teasing? the great one embrace has costs!

he laughs

release my companions, it's obvious you don't know the depths in which you're swimming

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Feeling Groggy
Late Afternoon?

Kainaxarthos keeps his charmed guise up for the Matron, who looks around the room at her handy work. She seems convinced that almost all of the group are now willing to do her bidding. As she starts to answer the clerics question......"There are a small group of them living in a cave directly across the riv..." when Belloc steps closer and tries to touch the woman with his staff. She is just barely able to dodge the touch, and for a second, you see her expression change dramatically, into something far less hospitable and kind. Then, instead of returning any attack, she simply takes another step backwards and continues her dance, speaking in a very matter-of fact fashion.

"I invite you into my home and this is how you repay my kindness? Trying to attack me with that.....that......thing!?!?" She points to the staff and Belloc's friends clearly remember the way they felt the first time they witnessed the strange magical item. She flings off her castanets, reaching into a pouch at her side as she twirls about.

"Friends, you won't let this bad man hurt me, will you?" A trickle of doubt swims around in Belloc's mind, as if the staff itself may have tipped off his attack on the superior sorcerer.

Xenos, Drest, Ceana, Akhilleus, and Sik all wish to continue watching the Mother dance, unable to do anything else, really. While Ceana, Cyril, and Taibhse are actually somewhat offended by Bellocs sudden action, looking at the sorcerer with disdain in their eyes, suddenly willing to do anything for the Matron. Anything at all.

The Matron looks at Belloc one last time, hoping she doesn't need to resort to more drastic measures than simple charms. "All I need do is tell your....I mean my new friends to put a stop to your aggression. Would you like that or are you suddenly willing to listen to an old woman's reasonings?"

Kain quickly surmises that only he and Belloc were able to resist the frog witch's magical charms, odds he isn't very thrilled about at the moment.

There is a slight commotion of noise near her bed, but nothing shows itself in that area yet. The tiny doll-like figure still rests on the pillow there.

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17 Beguiled
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22 Diseased/Beguiled
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7 CLW Enamoured
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13 Enamoured/Beguiled
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32 Beguiled
Taibhse (Sh1) AC5 7/7 Enamoured
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 9/12 Diseased/Beguiled

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

Is very confused as this woman who he finds most worthy of serving is claiming his great mentor and friend is attacking her. Sure the great staff may have nearly touched her, but what problem could that be? He is trying to sort out these conflicting issues.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest watches the very mesmerizing dance.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus also watches the very mesmerizing dance.

[Belkregos]

Belloc
sensing the sensing the capricious nature of the staff's favor shift and balance, the thought of i favoring another jolts his sense of self, a tinge of jealousy urns to furious envy and his confidence come roaring back ready to crush any doubt, thirsty for her life force he follows through with a rage filled attack bringing down the staff upon the dancer and the mighty power it contains

you lust for it do you! he snarled, eyes ablaze with fury. "Its power will strangle you and you will know it's true cost, only I can contain its power and quell the ominous spill of its taint. Its curse stops with me, even if I must pay the ultimate price. I will contain it, halt its transgression, and bear the burden alone. Proceed, if you dare, and watch as your soul crumbles."

vampiric touch staff attack

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

He watches in horror as Belloc is unable to keep his cool for the second time. "Belloc! We are guests! Stop that!"

Kain shakes his head, lamenting that only he and the Matron aren't under an influence at this point. And he's not entirely sure about her.

Trying once more to end an intra-party feud before it gets bad, Kain will command Belloc to 'Sleep'.

[OGRE MAGE]

Can we get a Save vs. Sorcery from Belloc then, please?

[Belkregos]

[hedgeknight]

Ceana

Still mesmerized by the old woman, the druid is shocked by Belloc's actions...and says so.
"Belloc! What in the name of Yoon'Deh are you doing? Is that staff controlling you again?"
Without even realizing, Ceana has her falcata in hand.

[OGRE MAGE]

I will say this again.....If players don't post an action for their character in between my updates because you don't think there is anything you can do.......
I have no way of knowing that.
I can't read minds, so I am essentially waiting for a post that will never happen.
This slows the action down unnecessarily.
Please don't do that!!!

Under The Zakath Desert
Feeling Confused
Late Afternoon?

A massive snow white toad begins to hop towards its Mother from somewhere under the bed. It doesn't get too close to any of the party members, seemingly intent on protecting the Matron and avoiding violence along the way. The rest of the frogs and toads that fill this place seem to become a little agitated as well, leaping and hopping about the room and the vast garden area beyond.

While most of the group seems totally enthralled by their strange looking hostess and her undulating gyrations, Belloc isn't having any of this nonsense. Ignoring the woman's threat, he strikes at her again, this time using the staff to actually hit her instead of simply touching her with it. Staff Vampiric Touch:[3d6]=16

Listening to the wizards comments, the others wonder if his staff is controlling his actions, causing a few of his friends to take action against him. As the Matron reels backwards from the blow, foiling the next spell she had on her lips, Bellocs friends are shocked to see that one of the powers of his creepy staff actually drains the health from an opponent, and bestows that damage back to the wielder in a disturbing vampiric fashion. As Belloc puffs up from his sudden health boost, feeling more invigorated than ever before, Matron falls backwards and almost drops to the floor. It is clear that the wound and the draining was almost enough to kill the poor woman.

With her dance suddenly and violently stopped, Xenos, Drest, Akhilleus, and Sik are able to shake out their cobwebs, wondering why they were so enthralled with the woman in the first place. However, Cyril, Ceana, and Taibhse retain their intense love for the woman, and refuse to let anything else happen to her. Ceana goes so far as to draw her sword to protect her hostess, while Kainaxarthos actually uses his magic to put a stop to their comrades aggression. He commands the mage to sleep, which causes Belloc to fall to the floor, where he is almost instantly leapt upon and quickly covered with frogs and toads of every size, shape, and color.

When she pulls herself back up from the blow, the Matron and her massive toad don't look quite the same anymore. But even in her true form, with grey mottled and warty skin, distorted demonic features, and thick mane of pink frizzy hair, those in love with her still intend to protect her with their lives if they must.

IMG_3453.jpeg (150.81 KiB) Viewed 1822 times

With the tone of her voice now somewhat less cordial than before, she commands any who truly love her to stop her attacker. "SEIZE HIM!!! And bring me that damn staff!!!" She pulls a potion bottle from her robes, popping the seal before putting the elixir to her deformed lips.

Actions!

Okay, since this might go either way here, let me know if you'd like to see a battle map for positioning purposes.

Enamored PC's must obey her orders.



Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22 Diseased
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7 CLW Enamoured
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13 Enamoured
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC5 7/7 Enamoured
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9 +16
Sik (Ba1) AC5 9/12 Diseased

IMG_3456.jpeg (49.21 KiB) Viewed 1817 times

[shaidar]

A map would be very useful, thanks!

[Rex]

Yes, map please.

Can a backstab be used to attempt to knock someone out?

[OGRE MAGE]

Position map has been added to the update.

Yes, you can "pommel strike" on a back-stab, but only if the opponent doesn't already know you're there.

[shaidar]

Xenos recoils from the matrons true visage.

"Attack the matron, kill her and break her spell!" he urges those around him

He spits a command at the frog-woman "Sleep!"

Initiative: [1d6]=5

[Rex]

Drest

Drest grabs the end of the table in front of him and charges the Matron, pushing the table in front of him as a ram. He will attempt to slide the table by/between Kain and Belloc.

Move 50.

Here are some rolls in case they are needed.

In case rolls [1d6]=3 [1d20]=14 [1d100]=18

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

Again, Belloc is too fast for him, and again chaos ensues. Kain watches in fascination as the frogs seem to envelop the listless Belloc, but he is still able to hear the commands and jumps to act.

He moves to kick the staff away from the group, possibly getting there before the table slams into his side. Kicking it towards Sik. "Don't pick it up!"

"Watch out for that White Frog!"

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus jumps towards the Matron and attacks her with his broad sword.

"It's a pity. We could've made a good deal... If you weren't a monstrous fiend!"

Broad sword (one-handed) - To hit: [1d20+2]=20+2=22; Dmg: [1d8+3]=6+3=9

Broad sword (one-handed) - To hit: [1d20+2]=11+2=13; Dmg: [1d8+3]=1+3=4

I understand Akhilleus is a couple feet away and it's possible only one or even no attack reaches the Matron, but I post them just in case.

By the way, I wasn't expecting that. That picture gives me the creeps. Cool.

[OGRE MAGE]

By the way, I wasn't expecting that. That picture gives me the creeps. Cool.

Good to hear!

A Peter Mullen classic!!!

[Belkregos]

Belloc

The life force surged, augmenting Belloc's vitality as he prepared to complete the task and overcome the would-be usurper. Yet, a sudden betrayal unfolded as his limbs ceased to obey his will, and his eyes closed in surrender to a sticky wave of encroaching darkness.

Moans and screams escaped him, akin to the desperate cries within a lucid dream, where every attempt to awaken felt like pushing against an unyielding force. He struggled against the enveloping shadows, attempting to force his will upon his disobedient body.