TheFred

Whatever Nancy did, it doesn't seem to have had that much impact. Continuing to act on instinct more than anything, she begins another chant. Though noticeably different, the dark, infernal words are just as unsettling to hear, as Nancy points at a nearby Skum and attempts to exert her will upon it. Actions Spend 1 Mythic Power to cast (DC 15) on a nearby Skum, probably O8 but whatever's left alive really. Nancy's difficult terrain should be gone by now I think. Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2079966][B]Nancy Netherwater[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, [B]Init:[/B] +3 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16, [B]Resist:[/B] Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 [B]AC:[/B] 18, [B]Touch:[/B] 13, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 15, [B]CMD:[/B] 12 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) [B]Mythic Power:[/B] 2/5, [B]Spells:[/B] L1: 3/5, [B]Other:[/B] Unearthly Terrain 6/7, War Blessing 2/2 [B]Special:[/B] Spell Resistance 7 [B]Active:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, Init: +3 HP: 16/16, Resist: Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 AC: 18, Touch: 13, Flat-footed: 15, CMD: 12 Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) Mythic Power: 2/5, Spells: L1: 3/5, Other: Unearthly Terrain 6/7, War Blessing 2/2 Special: Spell Resistance 7 Active: None

Approaching the next doorway, Molgrug can hear the sounds of... well, something, anyway; he'd been minded to think "the sounds of battle", but perhaps "the sounds of a sort of flailing exertion" would be more accurate? Something to consider when writing his memoir of this experience. "Well now, I say, what are you lot up to now?" He asks, flinching back as he sees some kind of dead ghoulish creature passing back and forth across the aperture toe-to-toe with Brandisher. "Don't you have anything better to do than messing about with these undead? You all left a potentially-valuable artefact behind for this, need I remind you?" Actions Move along to where the others are fighting and offer moral support. Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2794812][B]Molgrug[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, [B]Init:[/B] +2 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16 [B]AC:[/B] 17, [B]Touch:[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 14 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) [B]Soulmelds:[/B] Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) [B]Spells:[/B] Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water [B]Special:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, Init: +2 HP: 16/16 AC: 17, Touch: 12, Flat-footed: 14 Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) Soulmelds: Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) Spells: Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water Special: None

Bianca Pohlo Her musings interrupted by the arrows, Bianca can only watch in horror as the injured Snappy is dragged away. With her knowledge of magic not extending to healing, she hovers awkwardly nearby, simply trying not to get in the way. "Um... is he...? Um, will he, er, be all right?" She asks awkwardly. "Is... can I...? Is there anything I can, er, do to help?" Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=1797520][B]Bianca Pohlo[/B][/URL] [B]Initiative:[/B] +2, [B]Senses:[/B] Low-Light Vision, Perception +3 [B]HP:[/B] 9/9 [B]AC:[/B] 12, [B]Touch:[/B] 12, [B]Flat-Footed:[/B] 10, [B]CMD:[/B] 11 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2 [B]Spells L1:[/B] Enlarge Person, Expeditious Excavation, Grease [B]Spells L0:[/B] Daze, Detect Magic, Acid Splash [B]Arcane Reservoir:[/B] 2/4 [B]Condition:[/B] None Initiative: +2, Senses: Low-Light Vision, Perception +3 HP: 9/9 AC: 12, Touch: 12, Flat-Footed: 10, CMD: 11 Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2 Spells L1: Enlarge Person, Expeditious Excavation, Grease Spells L0: Daze, Detect Magic, Acid Splash Arcane Reservoir: 2/4 Condition: None

Molgrug considers continuing to talk at the ice-man until either it relents and gives him the shard, or the hot air melts the ice. Molgrug has nothing if not patience, after all. However, with his futile efforts at dislodging it proving more than a little underwhelming and sounds coming from the halls ahead that suggest his compatriots may have managed to get themselves into some other embarrassing and compromising situation that Molgrug just has to see, he decides that discretion is the better part of success. "Right, well, I tell you what, you just hold onto this for now," he suggests. "Just checking that it's, um, secure, yes." He gives the crystal a little pat before scurrying off. Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2794812][B]Molgrug[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, [B]Init:[/B] +2 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16 [B]AC:[/B] 17, [B]Touch:[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 14 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) [B]Soulmelds:[/B] Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) [B]Spells:[/B] Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water [B]Special:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, Init: +2 HP: 16/16 AC: 17, Touch: 12, Flat-footed: 14 Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) Soulmelds: Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) Spells: Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water Special: None

Whilst the rest of the group are heading off to investigate whatever horrors lurk ahead, Molgrug lingers behind. He's always known he was travelling with a bunch of nincompoops, but even so he can't help but be slightly baffled that after identifying their whole reason for being here they've decided to march off and leave it behind. "Yes, well, you don't mind if I hold on to this, do you?" The ice-entombed whatever-he-is naturally doesn't respond. Unfortunately, the ice also covers the crystal shard, and Molgrug tugs at it to no avail. "Hmm... seems it's a bit iced over... reminds me of a time I had to audit the fourth-quarter returns figures for a group of gelugons. Now that was an interesting case, let me tell you! Hmm... bless it, it's a bit... stuck... grr..." He tries chipping away at the ice with his claws. If only he had been so frazzled by that portal - a simple fire spell would melt all this in no time! Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2794812][B]Molgrug[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, [B]Init:[/B] +2 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16 [B]AC:[/B] 17, [B]Touch:[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 14 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) [B]Soulmelds:[/B] Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) [B]Spells:[/B] Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water [B]Special:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, Init: +2 HP: 16/16 AC: 17, Touch: 12, Flat-footed: 14 Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) Soulmelds: Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) Spells: Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water Special: None

Ah, drat, that probably means that Molgrug actually can’t pick it up then, since he doesn’t really have anything to chip away at the ice with or anything (other than his claws and 8 Str, I guess). Guess we’ll just have to leave the thing that we’re actually here looking for behind, huh?

DUR: 0/30, LUC: 0/30, Wounds: 0, Traumas: 0 Pools: Insight 4/4, Moxie 6/6, Vigour 1/1, Flex 2/2 "Most interesting," Aeos remark. They look at the doctor with interest, sure that there’s as much to be learned from his own demeanour as there is from the unfortunate Null. "Well, we should have to observe them a little longer in order to make a diagnosis… but, we wonder, are you sure the problem isn’t mechanical? All this talk of “crashing”… well, synthetic morphology is well outside my area of expertise, but these cases… they are not exactly known for their reliability. Uploading the ego to simulspace should quickly answer that."

Also I am away atm visiting family and stuff so I’ll try and get a post up but am not that active right now.

What’s the deal with this? I’ll grab the shard if I can but if it’s properly iced over (I was assuming it wasn’t, but best to check) then no point.

I'm away for a bit over this weekend and stuff too. I'll try and get a post up at some point, but I'll be around a bit less.

I'm visiting family and stuff over this weekend; I'll try and get a post up, but I won't be doing any maps or anything for sure. Hopefully that won't be necessary, at least yet, but we'll see.

At any rate, I think it's everyone hiding in the bushes now to act? I have family stuff on over this weekend so my availability may be limited, please bear with me folks.

You know what they say, a shard in the hand and all that. To me, the course seems clear: grab the shard, then go find the sceptre, then leave and kill those doofuses (doofi? doofus?) who "hired" us, then conquer the rest of the world. Anyway... is the shard-holding hand encased in ice too? From the description it sounded like it was mainly the rest of him.

I'm not here to tell anyone how to run their games, and the whole "interview" thing has obvious benefits... but yeah, it's a load of work, so that comes as no surprise. That's why people normally leave the pregame threads just to run by themselves - which is of course one of the things that some of us greatly dislike about them, so the interviews IMO are a step up... but they're are a lot of work.

Also... all the other characters have realised that this is the whole reason we're here, right? Seems a bit silly just to leave it behind.

If everyone just leaves, I'll grab it myself. And, if whossisname does prove able to cling on to it, I'll employ the power of persuasion to get him to let me take it. Molgrug can be very persuasive!

Well come on, what do you have minions for if not to fetch things for you? 🤨

As much as I’m fully expecting some magical shenanigans or whatever, I’m a bit amazed that these supposedly super-powerful arrogant fiends are scared of a guy who’s so old he can’t move. If he’s powerful enough to stop us just snatching the crystal off him, why doesn’t he just go get that sceptre himself? And if he does have some fight in him, we can just push him over or turn him upside down or something and leave him there, see how he likes that!

Four whole days since he said he'd been a bit ill and had RL stuff to catch up on?

With so many of the skum suddenly appearing, as if out of nowhere, Nancy isn't sure what to do. Her ability to affect the terrain seems to be slowing them down a bit, but she knows it won't last long. Still not really sure what she's doing, she begins another chant almost by instinct, not even sure where the words are coming from. Focusing as best she can, she tries to channel her power outwards, instilling fear and hesitance in as many of the skum as possible. Actions Move Action: Move down to N6. Standard Action: Use to cast (for 1 MP). It should hit all the skum aside from the ones right at the bottom. DC is 15, and it lasts 4 whole minutes if that matters. (Feels a bit weak, but it's one of the only AoOs available) The should last one more round. Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2079966][B]Nancy Netherwater[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, [B]Init:[/B] +3 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16, [B]Resist:[/B] Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 [B]AC:[/B] 18, [B]Touch:[/B] 13, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 15, [B]CMD:[/B] 12 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) [B]Mythic Power:[/B] 3/5, [B]Spells:[/B] L1: 4/5, [B]Other:[/B] Unearthly Terrain 6/7, War Blessing 2/2 [B]Special:[/B] Spell Resistance 7 [B]Active:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, Init: +3 HP: 16/16, Resist: Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 AC: 18, Touch: 13, Flat-footed: 15, CMD: 12 Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) Mythic Power: 3/5, Spells: L1: 4/5, Other: Unearthly Terrain 6/7, War Blessing 2/2 Special: Spell Resistance 7 Active: None

I think Shenoah going and applying some healing actually gives her a great excuse to get involved in the combat, and endear herself to the group. Obviously, Erico, if you want Jen to die ignobly and then create a new character you are welcome to but, like I said, I tend to treat at least the first combat as a bit of a test run so I think everyone gets a pass this time. At any rate, it's over to everyone else to act.

Cora Kaluuya The door to the Purple Dolphin swings open once more and a young octotaur girl enters, looking flustered. Though she looks broadly human from the waist up, she walks in a strange, undulating motion on eight tentacular legs, with which she manages to bump into a number of tables and chairs as she makes her way towards the bar, almost spilling a few drinks. The tavern area is crowded and there seem to be a lot of colourful characters here but, knowing she is running late, Cora doesn't pause to take much of it in. Instead, after peering at the sign for a moment, she turns and makes her way directly for the stairs. May as well ask about the officer jobs! she thinks. I'm sure there'll be space in the crew if I don't get it. Upstairs, she straightens her jerkin and hat hurriedly before rushing towards the front desk. "Uh... hi there!" She says, her tone cheery but a little nervous. "Is this the interviews for the Swift Vengeance? I'm Cora. I'd like to apply! Er... sorry I'm late; I got a bit lost on the way here! I'm not used to not being able to swim over things. But I'm here now and, um, I think I would be a great fit for this job! I know all about the sea, and sailing, and, um, pirates, and I know all the stories, and I can breathe underwater and swim - obviously - and I can read and write, too, and, um, I know I might not look it, but I'm pretty good in a fight too! And I can multitask! I see you don't seem to have a lot of my folk here - we're really good at that - and, oh! I know a little magic too! I should have mentioned that first, huh? So, uh, yes, you should interview me! I mean, you should give me the job.! What do you think?"

That's sad. We'll be sorry to see you go. 😢

"Yes, well, very good," Molgrug says, confused as to why these supposedly-powerful former lords of evil think it would be difficult to take a bit of crystal from a person who's basically dead and can't even move. "Payment up front though, I'm afraid. Kerapsis, grab that crystal won't you? Don't worry, Dasher, we'll go look for your sceptre." Perhaps a magic sceptre is worth something in its own right? It sounds powerful, at any rate. Statblock [URL=/sheets/?id=2794812][B]Molgrug[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, [B]Init:[/B] +2 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16 [B]AC:[/B] 17, [B]Touch:[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 14 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) [B]Soulmelds:[/B] Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) [B]Spells:[/B] Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water [B]Special:[/B] None Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Spot/Listen +7, Init: +2 HP: 16/16 AC: 17, Touch: 12, Flat-footed: 14 Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +6 (+2 vs mind-affecting spells, +4 vs poison) Soulmelds: Mage's Spectacles (1), Lightning Gauntlets (0) Spells: Command, Resurgence, Obscuring Mist, Sandblast, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Create Water Special: None

I've added a few extra details in my last post, hope that helps.