The Pathfinder Society sends you to Kaer Maga, the City of Strangers, where you are ordered to find a local Pathfinder associate who sent a strange letter to Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng in Absalom. When the local associate turns up dead and you find evidence linking his death to a mysterious organization called The Shadow Lodge, it's up to you to track them down and solve the man's murder.
Prisim notices that there are several of Dakar's men lining the wall, mostly human. They seem well-trained, battle-hardened, and hand-picked to guard the leader of the Commerce League.
Dakar says, "Splendid. And yes, Mr. Goodleaf, I value the Society's cooperation, and so would never tarnish its reputation with such base requests. Now, on to the matter at hand: the Shadow Lodge. The Society believes that this organization is not real, but it is very real, and they're using Kaer Maga to start their little war on the Pathfinders. In fact, I know for certain that one of their leaders is holed up in the Naderi Theater in Bis, training and collecting his goblin minions. He ordered the assassination attempt on you in the Halflight pass. After that attempt, I began to suspect he was not a Pathfinder. Wymund Pratt is his name. You will find him there at the theater."
"And try not to die, Pathfinders. I like cashing in favors that are owed to me."
Gnome Ranger 6 (CORE) | HP 54/58 (1 NL) | AC 22* | T 15* | FF 19 | CMD 23* | Fort +7 | Ref +8* | Will +6 | +2 vs. illusion, +1 vs. mind-affecting spells/SLA (+2 if psychic), +1 vs. disease, +1 vs. distraction of swarms | Init +2 (+4 urban) | Perception +10 (+12 urban) (low-light vision) | Sense Motive +5 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Conditions:Haste(*), Longstrider
"We do a pretty good job at that, not dying I mean. At least for the most part... We need to give Mr. Pratt a visit." Chip touches his longsword when he says the final part of the phrase.
HP 45+0/47(+10); Reroll @+4 1/1;SPELLS: Lvl 1 5/8; Lvl 2: 2/6; Lay on hands (2d6) 0/1; CLW wand available 44/50 Gnome CORE Sorcerer-5: AC 13 (17 mage armor); Fort +5; Ref +4; will +3; Perc +7; Init +1;
"Can you tell us anything more about this Wymund Pratt?" asks PRisim.
"Is he a mighty warrior, a priest of some dark god, or perhaps a wizard? Such information would be helpful in our planning... and in protecting your interests of course."
Male Halfling 5th level Bard | HP 37/37 | AC 21 | T 14 | FF 18 | CMD 15 | Fort +5 | Ref +9 | Will +6 | Init +5 | Perc +10 | Bardic Per 15/15 | Spells: 1st - 5/5, 2nd - 3/3
Garrett nods. "How very interesting. I wonder why this fool feels he will be successful in wagering war on the Society with merely a handful of goblins?" He shakes his head in response to Sigil. "I do not know that particular spell; however, perhaps I could locate a scroll or two, would be quite handy in this fight."
Dakar wishes you luck and the bags go down once again around your head and you are lead out into another cart that bumps and jostles you about the city until it stops once more and you are lead out. The bags come off and you find yourself standing in the same place you had been an hour before.
Anyone may buy what they wish as they move through the city.
You make your way along the side streets and heavy traffic of Bis toward Naderi Theater. One such dingy alley provides respite from the crowds. However, here the Shadow Lodge has set up an ambush for the Pathfinders!
Several members of the party notice the shifty piles of garbage, and the telltale signs of an impending attack with keen senses. They leap into action at the sight of the goblin ambush. The goblins, hiding in filth and behind barrels in the alley, leap out brandishing cruel short swords. A woman leads them from the rear, shouting orders at the pack of goblins.
Lod, Blend, Garrett, Horse, and Zipper may act in the surprise round.
Blend snarls, ware everyone, more of these damned goblins!. Drawing his bow he taps horse into a forward lurch to find a better spot to employ his archery skills.
Mechanics:
We move to the other side of the goblins, it provokes from green if he has combat reflexes.
Badger (RAGE(!)) | HD 4 | HP 38/42 (1 NL) | AC 20*#! | T 12*! (16 incorporeal)# | FF 15*! | CMD 20* (24 vs. trip) | Fort +7^! | Ref +5#^ (Evasion) | Will +3^! | Init +0^ (+2^ urban) | Perception +4^ (+6^ urban) (low-light vision, scent) | Rage 4/7 | Active Conditions:Endure Elements, Haste(*), Longstrider, Mage Armor(#), Sickened(^)
Chip can't give an order for Zipper in the surprise round, so Zipper is going to notice the threat but await orders, so basically he loses the surprise round action because Chip didn't notice. It's how it goes for Animal Companions. :D
The goblins move in a flurry of motion as if they'd been planning this all day. Two step in to gang up on Chip while another two charge straight for Blend and Horse, howling in goblin. The last steps up to strike at Lod. Most of the goblins' swords deal shallow cuts, if they hit at all from the manic creatures.
Vadoma, slow to act, now begins weaving a spell. She points a finger and a coruscating ray springs from it, shooting toward Blend, but it weaves wide, hitting an apartment building behind him. "You will never succeed, Decemvirate puppets!" she taunts.
Male Halfling 5th level Bard | HP 37/37 | AC 21 | T 14 | FF 18 | CMD 15 | Fort +5 | Ref +9 | Will +6 | Init +5 | Perc +10 | Bardic Per 15/15 | Spells: 1st - 5/5, 2nd - 3/3
Garrett maintains his inspiring speech, while drawing his whip as he takes a step to clear his line of sight! He lashes out with the weapon and attempts to yank the feat out from underneath one of the nearby goblins!
Badger (RAGE(!)) | HD 4 | HP 38/42 (1 NL) | AC 20*#! | T 12*! (16 incorporeal)# | FF 15*! | CMD 20* (24 vs. trip) | Fort +7^! | Ref +5#^ (Evasion) | Will +3^! | Init +0^ (+2^ urban) | Perception +4^ (+6^ urban) (low-light vision, scent) | Rage 4/7 | Active Conditions:Endure Elements, Haste(*), Longstrider, Mage Armor(#), Sickened(^)
Full Attack
The badger steps up to claw goblins. Chip would direct him in this order for the ones still up: Red, Green, Blue. Bite Attack (Inspire Courage):1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17 Bite Damage (Inspire Courage):1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Lod's nails drive a deep gouge into the goblin's chest and it gasps in pain. Blend fires two arrows in quick succession. The first sails wide, but the second pierces the goblin's shoulder. Horse has trouble hitting the creatures as they skitter underfoot. Blend's attacks open him up to the goblins' counterattacks.
Garrett lashes out with his whip and manages to trip the goblin facing down with Lod I'm assuming Garrett targeted blue, and it falls to the ground with a shallow thud. Prisim blasts the human woman that is the goblins' leader with a handful of color of her own.
Vadoma, will save:1d20 ⇒ 11
And the woman screams as the golden dust fills her eyes and she staggers about, utterly blind. The goblins, seeing their leader afflicted so, press the attack, but have little luck. The goblins around Horse's hooves gnash and howl at the creature while moving slowly toward flanking positions. The goblins ganging up on Chip miss the mark with their wild attacks. The goblin engaged with Lod, however, stands up provoking from Lod, and strikes at the halfling warrior again. The attack weaves through Lod's defenses, and this time the cut buries deeper.
Chip's longsword buries itself into the creature's neck and coats the blade with dark, fresh blood. With a final grunt, the goblin falls to the ground, dead. Zipper, seeing the goblin fall, then is upon the other goblin attacking Chip, biting and tearing. One attack manages to get through the creature's defense and it screams in pain as Zipper's claw rends leg muscle.
Concentration:1d20 ⇒ 2
For her part, the woman, still blinded, reaches deep down within her for her magic and begins to cast a spell, but is struck by Silgil's magic missile and loses her concentration as the magic dissipates.
Bold may act.
Round 1 / Round 2
Current party buffs: inspire courage +1
Blend (Horse -2)
Garrett
Prisim
===========================
Goblins (Red, Blue (-6, Need AoO from Lod), Yellow (-12), Green (-4), Purple)
===========================
Chip(-2)
Lod (-5)
Silgil
===========================
Vadoma (-4, Blind)
===========================
"This city really needs to get its goblins under control!" Lod complains as he swipes at the goblin trying to stand up and then turns his rage on the others.
Start with blue, 5' step forward to attack green if blue falls.
The goblin is torn apart under Lod's assault, leaving the halfling's claws dripping with foul-smelling blood. Then he steps up and delivers a gash across another goblin's green's chest.
Bold may act.
Round 2
Current party buffs: inspire courage +1
Undeterred by the goblins Blend clicks his tongue,, causing Horse to back up a step to avoid the potential flank. He then lets fly again with another pair of arrows at the damaged goblin.
Male Halfling 5th level Bard | HP 37/37 | AC 21 | T 14 | FF 18 | CMD 15 | Fort +5 | Ref +9 | Will +6 | Init +5 | Perc +10 | Bardic Per 15/15 | Spells: 1st - 5/5, 2nd - 3/3
Garrett drops his whip and draws his short sword as he moves into the melee with his comrades. He strikes the injured goblin while continuing his inspiring performance.
Actions: Free - Drop whip. Free - Maintain Inspire Courage. Move - Move into position on map and draw short sword while moving. Standard - Attack Green!
HP 45+0/47(+10); Reroll @+4 1/1;SPELLS: Lvl 1 5/8; Lvl 2: 2/6; Lay on hands (2d6) 0/1; CLW wand available 44/50 Gnome CORE Sorcerer-5: AC 13 (17 mage armor); Fort +5; Ref +4; will +3; Perc +7; Init +1;
Prisim keeps her eyes on the other spellcaster, ready to throw more magical missiles into her if she casts again. She moves slightly sideways as she does so, giving her a better angle.
readied magic missile:2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5
concentration if required due to threat being nearby:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
@ Blend: Yes I believe that is a roof, so it is likely a protrusion of the building or outhouse built onto it of some kind.
Horse is unable to find purchase with his bite and hooves as Blend and Horse work as a team to fend off the goblins harrying them. Blend takes aim and plunks an arrow into the goblin he'd damaged before, and it crumples to the ground dead, and then he looses another arrow into the dead goblin's comrade. Garrett, still inspiring his fellows, steps forward and delivers a nasty gash to the arm of a goblin. It looks haggard and bloodied, but still alive and dangerous. Still fighting on, the goblins glance fearfully toward the woman, now cackling in her blindness. Their shoulders slump, resigned to death, and their attacks are wild and misplaced.
Silgil moves up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Prism and readies his wand to hammer the hapless spellcaster again is he tries any shenanigans. Unlike Prism he is more open to firing and will loose the thing if ANY standard action is taken. Fleeing is OK though. She should flee.
"I said stand down you daft woman! Your goblins are almost all dead and you yourself are blind! What the blazes are you thinking?!?"
Chip's longsword misses the mark, but opens the way for the short sword to weave past the goblin's defense, finally cutting it down. Silgil and Prisim ready their own spells to combat the enemy spellcaster while Lod also waits for the woman's reply. They don't have to wait long, as she begins half-laughing, half-chanting a spell of dire intent. But she loses concentration yet again. "Kill them, minions! Kill them all! You know my power! The age of the Pathfinders has ended! Wymund will make short work of you!"
Lod, seeing that the woman will not relent, moves up and attacks, gouging her shoulder with a claw strike.
Vadoma, concentration from Silgil's missile:1d20 ⇒ 15 Vadoma, concentration from Prisim's missile:1d20 ⇒ 12 Vadoma's will to end blindness:1d20 ⇒ 19
Bold may act.
Round 3
Current party buffs: inspire courage +1
Male Halfling 5th level Bard | HP 37/37 | AC 21 | T 14 | FF 18 | CMD 15 | Fort +5 | Ref +9 | Will +6 | Init +5 | Perc +10 | Bardic Per 15/15 | Spells: 1st - 5/5, 2nd - 3/3
Garrett rolls his eyes at the woman's insane dedication he moves over to the blind woman and sticks his short sword into her side. "You were given the opportunity to parley. Know that we did not seek your death."
Garrett's short sword slides between the woman's ribs and dark blood pools along her clothes. She slumps against a nearby crate, and the look on her face as she fades is one of true belief that her works will continue far after she is gone. All that's left is a single goblin warrior, who, seeing his leader fall, seems about to run.
Bold may act.
Round 3
Current party buffs: inspire courage +1
Vadoma's currently sitting at -3, unconscious, if anyone wants to stabilize her. I'm going to call this combat over unless Blend would like to shoot at the fleeing goblin, in which case go ahead and roll.
Out of Combat!
The goblin turns to flee down the alley and you see the woman lying there against the crate, bleeding out.
Male Halfling 5th level Bard | HP 37/37 | AC 21 | T 14 | FF 18 | CMD 15 | Fort +5 | Ref +9 | Will +6 | Init +5 | Perc +10 | Bardic Per 15/15 | Spells: 1st - 5/5, 2nd - 3/3
Garrett removes a coil of rope from his Handy Haversack and tosses it next to the unconscious woman as he begins to search her for any clues. "Could you on you strongmen tie this fanatic up tightly after I'm done? No sense in healing her back to consciousness only to let her cast more spells on us."
I just realized that I don't have any healing options for Garrett... O_O. I think I'll be remedying that immediately after wrapping up this encounter...
Blend dismounts and heads over to the woman. Checking that she is securely tied and disarmed he draws out a wand muttering, you don't deserve this but we need answers. A pale blue light erupts from its tip and he places his hand on the woman's shoulder, filling her with healing magic.
Cure Light:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
If she does not revive with that he will use a second charge.
