Eberron: Tales from the Hounds (Inactive)

Game Master Kayne Rhal

"Hand over the schema and I won't harm you!" As he says this he moves for ward a bit drawing a crossbow and aiming it in your guys general direction.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
CB: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

Sense Motive Check please

Seeing no one being intimidated by him, he shrugs waiting for your answer.

Threll he's just outside your range, if you want to continue readying I'll let you keep the rolls.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Lore:Constructs because why not?: 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (11) + (3) + 8 = 22

"OK, progress, but here's the thing. One: We don't have the schema. Two: We aren't giving it to some random stranger. Three: I said it before and I'll say it again, we've spent years in and out of Cyre. Y'know, the Mournland? Why does every two-bit thug think they can intimidate us?" Rather than draw her shield extract, she lifts her own, looted crossbow and points it at the Warforged, holding her rapier in her right hand at her side. "Whatever enlarging magic you used is gonna wear off whatever bolt you fire and it's like twice as hard to aim while taking that into account, so this is just blatant scare tactics because you know you can't take us. Who do you work for, anyway, that's willing to throw away their people like this? You should work for someone with good benefits, decent resource management, and a concern for the lives of their operators."

If he shoots, I also wish to shoot, if only to make this a proper Mexican standoff. Otherwise, my plan of swashbuckler dodging remains in place if he closes to melee.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

XI can't tell if he can back up this threat, but he's not seeing any reason to believe this warforged is in a favorable position.

"I've already sharpened my blade on one ambusher today, and you didn't even get the jump on us. Answer her or I'm going to start collecting scrap metal."

Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9 meh

If he shoots, XI advances to power-attack.

Threll waits patiently for the fight he is sure is unavoidable.
"If he charges, I've got you. I need 30ft, just get him there"

"Thats some adamantine balls you have miss! With a gravely chuckle he drops the cross bow drawing out a longsword. As he charges forth Thrells shocking grasp discharges into the creature. It shrugs it off continuing to advance into XI.

XI you have the option to dodge or accept the overrun

No matter the XI choice, he'll get an attack on Seras. You did provoke him.

Charge against Seras: 1d20 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 14 = 34
Dmg to Seras: 2d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 + 2 = 20
Sorry Seras, good news is that your not dead!

Well its all your guys' turns. Good luck

Threll takes moment to calm himself... and to take aim
Move action Bullseye shot,
Action Point! Caster Level +2

This lightning flies long and loud from the mark on Threll’s hand
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 3 + 4 = 29
Damage: 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 1) + 12 = 20

Can I dodge him and attack?

Guardian steps to the side to avoid his charge 5' step and bring his blade down on the attacker...

@Tbrell how's are you boosting your caster level with an Action point?

@XI Sorry No, but I will take that as a normal attack for your turn.

Seras takes the longsword despite her attempt to move out of the way. She stabs her rapier at the offending Warforged, striking deep through gaps in his Adamantine plating before backpedaling To the southwest like a fencer, guard raised. She barks an order to the Iron Defender, jabbing her crossbow-laden hand at the Warforged. "Kill!"

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Confirm: 1d20 + 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + (5, 3) + 6 = 19 2 points of inspiration and an action point. He does not get away with this.
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 2) + 10 = 17

Threll until I know how you used an Action point to boost your CL, i'm just taking 2d6 (4,1) +6 dmg for 11 dmg.

The lightning goes through the warforged and sparks off all of his armor spikes. XI's blow is devastating as usual but while the blow rips him open he still stands. "Filthy flesh lover!. Seeing the tiny woman step up he mocks her, "What can you do with that toothpick?"27-DR=24

Finally the Iron Defender moves in and rips out the warforged throat, permanently putting it down. 15-DR=10

Total dmg dealt this round: hp 44-11-24-14-12=-17 dead
I was truly hoping to get 2 round out of this guy.

Seras and Xi you get an attack of opportunity against another Final messenger since your expecting them.

Side note if you want to get one yourself and not pay for it, grapple is also an option.

Since I didn't need that point on the Parry, let's try depriving the enemy of intelligence.Would you stop reporting back already?: 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (17) + (6) + 8 = 31
I actually hit two critters in one combat!: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Seras is waiting for the by-now routine Final Messenger, and her sword stabs out towards the wing joints of the tiny construct with a flicker of lightning-fast movement. "I'm getting oh-so-tired of these people." She rummages through her bag for a healing potion, downing the sickly-sweet concoction with a wince and relaxing slightly as the magic begins to stitch the slash across her torso shut.

I drink healing spell: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

It doesn't do much of anything, really, but it stanches the slow oozing of blood. "Threll, can you come down here and use that wand you're carrying around on me? He got me bad. Probably shouldn't have laid on the 'surrender or die' so thick, huh?" The investigator slumps against the wall and holds out a hand, which is promptly occupied by scratching the Iron Defender behind its metal ears, where the runes that allow it to proprioceive are located. It's essentially the same as scratching any dog in a hard to reach spot, even if it is metal beneath her fingers instead of fur. "Good puppy. What should we name you, I wonder?"

Seras' blade clips the wing of the final messenger, as it hit the ground it twitches and stills. As Seras is imitating dog owner behavior the Iron Defender cocks its head in her direction. Faintly behind her you can hear the sounds of the other Iron defender growling at the open door.

After the final messenger is brought to Seras she'll note it needs a bit of repair and could then be attached to XI. Then the longer he wears it the farther it can go. Once attached XI can assign a person or place for its return.

I'm looking for an appropriate room map, so bear with me.

Threll will Taking ten for a total 14 climb down from the roof and break out the healing wand, tapping Seras who looks a tad worse for wear. Fast healing 1 for 1 minute, 10hp total
”Looks like that hurts, Doc.”

He will take a moment to pat the head of the iron hound who culled the construct. ”Good boy-“

He pauses, thinking for a moment, before asking, ”What’s its name, Doc?”

Guardian picks up the metallic little bug and inspects it curiously.

So... we install this little guy in my plating? Does it have access to my thoughts before it returns home, or does it just report my last known location?

While waiting on the healing to fully take effect you go over the body of the Warforged. Like the others there's not much too it other than a few measly mundane items, but a few gems stand out.

got a map just can't do anything with it at work, will post later with it.

Detect Magic

Threll sets his eyes aglow and studies the warforged’s gear and quickly singles out the glowing articles. He studies then for a moment, trying to identify their properties.

After studying for a moment he returns his attention to the building and the remaining growl of an iron defender.
”Seems like the last dog has a problem. Doc, he likes you, why don’t you search the hovel while we remain here, unbitten? We can keep watch.”

Bolts are flaming bolts.
Scabbard is the Scabbard of Lead Blades; allows the user to cast lead blades on the weapon stored in the scabbard 1/day.

”Looks like we have some gear for you Doc. The bolts burst into flame on command and the scabbard gives you access to some kind of nature magic that alters its physics behave heavier without actually being heavier.”

He offers both to Seras. ”Not like Me or Eleven can use them.”

"Sure," Seras replied after her wounds stopped knitting themselves back together with a feeling like dirty oil. Was it universal truth that healing had to be so unpleasant? She stood, rolling her shoulders. "Hope that doesn't scar. Come on, Tamatoa," she called to the dog, finally tying off the alterations to the construct's spell matrix by giving it a name. She'd have to etch it properly, later, but it was stable and that could wait until she checked it over for damage tonight.

She pushed her way through the door, taking her time to search the room if the other Defender still allowed her to do so, but she kept her rapier at the ready just in case it didn't.

Gonna try and take 20 for 25 perception, picking up the Sunrod in my offhand if I don't get mauled.

As you work your way through the room, you notice that your ignored by the remaining Iron defender. It growls occasionally but usually only when one of your companions sticks their head into the room. Slowly you work over the fallen stone work. As you get closer to the destroyed Iron defender crushed by the stone, you notice a something pinned beneath the stone and the head of it.

Finishing up with the shelves you only find one thing left to investigate. A huge forge and furnace combination, that looks like a primitive version of the same components found in any shop or enclave. The forge and furnace fill the easternmost wall. Three depressions, evenly spaced atop the forge, show a pentagon, a triangle, and a square.

--------------------------------

Seras can you give me a Int check please.

Strength: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Intelligence: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Seras attempts to shift the rubble, but, failing to so much as budge it, gives it up as a bad job. She pockets the two sunrods and rewraps the rest of the found equipment in oilcloth, creating a small pile outside.

As you think on the problem of the rubble, you remember something that caught your interest as you were tinkering with Tamatoa. You came across the a command sequence that you had to over write. The sequence itself was a bypass protocol that would allow certain people to pass. It would allow 2 types of people to pass, those with the Mark of Making, such as yourself and those with items of the house. You recall that the journal would fall into that second category as it reacted to a house ring in much the same way.

Seras pokes her head outside the door and tosses the journal to Guardian. "I figured it out!" She exclaims. "The Defenders are programmed not to attack anyone with a House Cannith Dragonmark or a House item. I really need to get one of those damnable rings, even if I just keep it on a necklace or something." She shrugs. "Anyway, I've got some rubble in here that's pinning something, but I need some help shifting it. Lend me a hand?"

Threll replies with ”Heavy lifting? I’ll watch the shadows, thanks. Lemme know if you encounter a problem requiring the clever application of lightning.”

Guardian carefully enters the room at Seras' request, unsure about the defender in the room. He walks over to the boulder and puts all his might into trying to lift it...

Strength to lift: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Hmm, maybe too soon after the battle.

add some aid-another if it will help.

Can they take 20?

Yup

Guardian gives an embarrassed look to Seras at his initial, feeble attempt and then pushes on it with all he's got until it lives. You almost think the warforged sweats, but maybe he's leaking oil.

taaaaaake 20 for 24

With much struggle XI lifts clears away the stone work, revealing the crushed Iron Defender, next to its crushed head is a Pentagon shaped rod.

Seras leans down and picks up the rod, examining it carefully. "Hmm... And what's your secret?" She walks over to the wall and holds it next to the pentagon-shaped hole, trying to puzzle out if the mechanism needs specific items or just items of a specific shape.

Knowledge Engineering (Gadgetry): 1d20 + 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + (5) + 9 = 17

Lock and trap system. It requires 3 keys. Possible combination setup. Rod seems to be a key. Lock connected to plates at feet as some type of trap for wrong combination. Trap is magic based, evocation.

Tucking the Sunrod behind her ear like a pencil, Seras walks towards the door out of the room. "We've got two more keys to find," she declares. "Guardian, is the writing in the journal still visible?"

@Guardian, No its not.

The pages appear blank again.

Seras chokes down the urge to swear violently, and instead wonders if there is a way to trigger the journal with a mark of making or, failing that, if the Iron Defenders themselves count as House items.

So miss spark what are you gonna do?

Guardian holds out the journal for Seras to take, assuming she's better equipped to reactivate it.

Seras slides the first key into her bag and steps outside, rolling her shoulders back and tilting her head so the Sunrod falls from its precarious position into her hand. "We need to find a square key and a triangular key. No luck on the journal. Need one of those stupid rings, even if wearing it would just get my hand caught in gears all the time. Where do you think we should look next, Threll?"

Threll ponders quietly for a moment, then shrugs and begins rifling at his belt pouch. "Either we can go have a ring made for you, and possibly lose the trail of whoever else is after it in the process, or we can search around without direction here. I mean the first key was left here, the others may be close."

Finished fumbling, he withdraws a silver coin. He flips it in the air.
Fate: 1d2 ⇒ 2

"Search here it is!" He smiles then, and returns the coin to his pocket before continuing, "Doc, Eleven, I can't come in the house right now..." here he shifts to Bonded Mind, "can we leave whatever loot here in the hovel, maybe group it up and hide it? We come back for it later; No need to carry other's armor around until we need to haul it back."

EDIT: Visibly having a 'lightbulb moment' Threll asks, "Doc, couldn't you just play back the message from the hummingbird-thing, from that guy’s chest, the warforged thing. You said it was some kind of messenger."
Per GMPM:Yup, requires a spellcraft to tweek it but yes, but it has to be done before mounting

While the Seras and Threll are deciding about making the ring are staying in the ruins, Guardian decides to simply shuffle along the shelves, looking among them, pushing objects back and forth to see what might reveal itself...

This room is so cluttered, one could hide quite a bit here!

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 sigh

"When either of you is done, I would like to take a look around in there. Dragon eyes and all."

Threll will then take a moment to retrieve the crossbow their enemy dropped before their fight.

Guardian fumbles with it in the beginning, frustrated by so much humanoid debris and nonsense, but then starts to sort the contents of the shelves into piles on the floor so he can eliminate and isolate spaces.

Perception take 20 => 25

after this result he'll move onto the forge and/or furnace

Nothing new is revealed.

Guardian then proceeds to scan the forge and furnace inside the building.

Perception take 20 for 25

He decides to step outside again and look back over the body and belonging of the defeated warforged.

Perception take 20 for 25

As guardian exits, Threll will stop him for a moment. "If you're done, mind if I trade you outside duty so I can look around in there?" He asks for the journal.

"Yes, and here is the journal as well." He hands it over to Threll before continuing to look around outside.

"Thanks!" He takes the proffered journal and continues inside. He spends some time looking around before stopping at the crushed Iron Defender.

He stands there, staring at the rubble and the crushed Defender. After staring for a long time, he half-mutters,
"So hey, you found the rod near the smashed Iron Defender..."

He thinks it better to voice the next via Bonded Mind,
"What if they all have rods in their heads? Three slots, three dogs, perfect hiding place; it doubles as a defense mechanism."

Seras let's out an intrigued hum, leaning down and examining Tamatoa for any sign of another key.

Not sure what to roll for this given I've already been all up in this robit once but I wasn't looking for anything like this.

You've given Tama a full on magical inspection but not a physical one.

shouldnt have given you the final clue and seen how long I could dragon this out.