Eberron: The Mark of Death (Inactive)

Game Master BloodWolven

Cil doesn't resist as Falko pushes her bodily into the kitchen. She cranes her neck to see behind, seeing Rook fall to the ground and the monster in armor cut his way toward the Tavern.

Feeling like she was in a strong current, buffeted and turned about, she couldn't think about what was happening to her friend , her refuge, her pragmatism took control....giving her only one option....flee!

"Let's get out of here! " Cil says, her voice calm and assured suddenly "That means everyone! Out the back!"

She runs to the back door, pushing it open taking a quick look outside

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Sharea where do you want to place the gust of wind? It will only impede one of the four spots, either of the windows, the stairs, or the door. The door is unlikely your spot since it will likely impede your allies (Rook, Rhobannon, and Shalyna). There is no targets yet at the staircase at the moment.

Falko and Cil book it to the kitchen, Cil makes it to the backdoor but just gets her hand around the handle when she hears something slam into the door like a body. Shalyna gets to Rook and pulls him up in her free arm. Sharea moves to the kitchen after casting her spell.

Rook smiles at Shalyna and clings to her the best he can quickly throwing one dagger and dropping the other. The hustle from upstairs seems to quiet down, they likely are looking through the rooms before coming down to the ground floor.

To open the back door, there is no strength check required since it opens into the kitchen. Please post your actions for this round.

Map/Grid of Rusty Tankard flight!

Rhobannon delays until after Shalyna.

Round 3: FIGHT!

Shalyna turns and runs for the kitchen.

"Okay, why's the door still closed? We need to go!"

I will place it on the window then. The next round I shall move back to the kitchen and use another magic missile.

round 3

College hisses to the others "Ware the door!" then steps to the side and swings it open, whipping her rapier free at the same time.

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Once Shalyna has withdrawn with Rook in tow, Rhobannon will move back as well, unless something pops up that prevents him from doing such.

The big guys slowly makes his way into the tavern to make sure he does not fall as he steps on bodies. He stops before Rhobannon with a great grin on his face, "What do you protect this filth, why? We shall be blessed by the dark blood not them! Stand aside and no harm will come to you, otherwise..." With his last word he looks to his silver greatsword and the blood on it.

Sharea shoots the big guy with a magic missile but it seems to have little effect besides him glaring at you. The shifters move up, through the buffeting wind, through the door behind their leader, and the other door. Many are now in the tavern. Shalyna quickly moves to the kitchen and the others follow, Rhobannon does a quick retreat. Cil draws her weapon and opens the door to have a person drop onto the kitchen floor. Meanwhile Saronis slams the door shut and secures it with a wooden board. Though it likely won't hold for too long.

AoO, for Cil if she wants it on the falling body.

With a quick thud a body of someone falls into the kitchen as the door opens. He looks up at you scared, with a cut on his forehead he just rolls to the side. Three ruffians stand outside with clubs and look up at you a bit confused. The boy on the ground looks to be in his early teens and the quality of his clothes are poor but clean. The thugs are obviously thugs, likely not associated with the situation developing on the other side of the tavern.

He waits for Falko's action then Rook quickly shouts, "Let us through Theric and the runt is yours." Still clinging to Shalyna he gives the group an option that may not have been there had they not rescued him.

Is it bad that I want them to not let us through? Howl asks wistfully.

At this point I don't know, Shalyna answers silently.

Runes glow blue and crackle with lightning as Shalyna's eyes glow to match.

"Or you could all just call it even and leave, that would probably be better considering the mountain of metal mortis about to do that door there the enormous hurt," she suggests meekly.

if they ask what she's talking about...

"The big bloody walking pile of doom that's killing everyone he meets is going to be hacking his way in any second now," she answers nervously.

Coil instinctively moves forward, her rapier poised to puncture the unfortunate ribcage, when she is brought up by Root's statement.

Pulling back, she raises an eyebrow at Shalnya, the says "The girl has it right. We're fleeing what's behind that door, you should so the same."

Without sparing a glance at the boy on the ground, she motions the others to continue outside.

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Round 4

At Shalyna's words, Cil's words, and Rook's words, the thugs look to their leader who steps to the side. Considering the well armed group and what they say the thugs let you pass with no hindrance.

Cil gets one move action out into the alley behind the tavern. Knowing her way is safer to stick to the alleys she moves along to a little known entrance to a back alley. The group follows her and soon they are followed by the thugs as they slam the back door seeing the big menace break through the other door.

Do you do anything to hinder or call off the pursuit behind you?

-----

Alley way after alley way, soon most are lost in where they are but not Cil. She turns down the last alley way to one of her safe houses. An old catfolk healer that goes by the name of Has.

Rhobannon keeps up with the group, searching his mind for infusions to hinder their pursuers, but finds none.

As they pass by the unlucky target of the thugs, Falko grabs him by the collar and says in a low voice: "Better run with us for now..."

Then he just runs and runs without question, following Cil, hoping to loose the bloody madness on their tail.

Sharea hastily runs for it as she sees the others depart, gathering the skirt part of her dress with the left. She has used half her magical power so far and there is no telling how long this chase will last. On several occasions she considers to use an illusion to distract their enemies from their trail, but it does not seem absolutely necessary, so she abstains from it.

"If it helps, I can use illusions to create false dead ends to hide our route, hide chasms in the tower or create a non-existing threat, just tell me where, I don't know the environment as good as you do and my power is not unlimited." she hisses to Cil.

"blessed by the dark blood", echoes the words of that thug in her mind. She tries to dig her mind and all the books she read for a clue; she may not be an expert on cults, but if it has anything to with magic... Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Do you know a good place to hide where we can recover and figure out what's going on?"

Did that guy have spell resistance or simply so many hit points that he does not care about a magic missile? I can use a Silent Image to hinder our pursuers, but I have already used three (2 x Magic Missile + 1 x Mage Armor) of my six spells today. (The Gust of Wind was a dragon mark power, not a spell.)

The magic missiles appeared to do little damage to the big leader of the shifters.

Cil knocks hurrily on the door and the old catfolk answers, he looks at your group and quickly says, "What are you waiting for get in, hurry, hurry." With the group in his little shop room it is rather cramped. He lithely moves through your group and opens a trap door. Cil enters it and likely the whole group does as well.

Below there is no light, for those who have darkvision you are in a larger room with drying herbs hanging from the ceiling. It seems to be a storage room but further in you find a table, several chairs, and half a dozen bed rolls.

"Whu-- Whuh's goin' on? Why're those shifter guys killing everyone," Shalyna gasps as she stumbles into the cellar, "and what's with all the herbs?"

On the way to the safe house, Cil is single minded in seeking the safest route, only glancing aside at Sharyn , nodding to her to attempt her illusions.

Seeing the safe house at the end of an alley, realized she had no idea if the girl had actually managed to divert any of their pursuers. Pausing, she checked the cross streets, the looked back at the others crouching in the darkness behind her , their eyes on her, hopeful...They depend on me... she thought, wondering, What strange events to put this on my shoulders

With a quick shake of her shoulders, she motions everyone forward and crosses the street to the herbalists' house.

Once inside in the dark, she mutters quietly "Keep the chatter to a minimum. We'll figure out who's who and what's what when we're safe."

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The group waits in the dark for about an hour and still no pursuit has followed. The thugs and shifters had all been thrown off their trail, or at least it appears that way.

"On the 13th month, the eve of death comes upon us. that's what that man said to me. Said The Traveler himself asked him and mentioned me! Asked me to make sure you would stay safe... He said he was a wererat; name Baric Nodlec. Rings a bell?" says Falko with a panting voice, once he's caught his breath.

"13th month? The Travelor?!? Wererats, shifters, and lycanthropes, oh no! Cil what have you gotten us into?" He asks not believing the words he is saying becoming incredulous even more as he goes on.

He then looks up at the ceiling and quietly says, "Well back on the path again I suppose. Where to next? Cil was there a reason you collected us to the Rusty Tavern?"

Rook looks up from his sitting position next to the wall where Shalyna placed him, "So does anyone have some healing magic? I already used my potions during the battle."

His eyes get a bit bigger at the mention of Baric, he quietly adds, "Baric is one of my contacts, let alone one of my brothers of changing. I always thought that those words of prophecy and such were nonsense."

heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Rhobannon looks at Rook's wounds, "You'll need some surgery. I can operate, but I will also need someone with healing spells to assist."

heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 and also looks like someone to Aid Another, although if he saw it failing he has an infusion that can increase his skill to the threshold

Thinking to himself some more, he adds, "I could probably make some trinkets that can heal, actually. But such would deplete my daily energies such that further combat would not be wise."

There is no one else that has the skill heal, unless you go get the healer up in his shop. Either way with the infusion or the healers assistance you can make the first check. If you are using a healer's kit it would give you a +2 to the check as well using one 'use' of the kit. Anyone with healing?"

The group discusses what they know in the dark. Keeping quiet listening for pursuit as a few of you talk.

Rhobannon moves Rook to the far corner and begins to set up what he needs for the surgery. It would be better with some surgeon's tools but he can improvise with a dagger. -2 on check. He sets up a light of some kind and analyzes what he has before starting the surgery.

Saronis with little knowledge of what is going on goes over to Rhobannon, "I have my healing belt. I may not be able to assist but I can heal three times if needed just let me know when you need it."

heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

He listens to Rhobannon as he talks about what he is planning on doing with the surgery and Saronis surprises him with his combat medic training. He actually knows what to do and assists. LOL, of the most unlikely of person to have a rank in heal...

That is my bonus using a use of my Healer's kit. So my 19, +2 from Saronis, -2 for not having tools, +3 for my infusion, puts us at 22 heal to do surgery. Not sure what your healing belt does, but I can use my Charge Storing class ability to make one-use items of cure light wounds at 1d8+3 each. I can make 9 such items per day, so I suppose I should use that before you use your belt.

It takes Rhobannon and Saronis several hours to get the surgery done. Rook has a strong body and heals quickly. What do you do during that time?

There is no sign of pursuit, not even the next morning.

Falko could help with healing magic. He can cast CLW three times if needed. Then he gets to rest I think for the night?

Before Rook passes out, Falko grins back at him: "So did I... Yet it's not what we believe that's making a difference tonight, but what they believe. Right or wrong, they're out to kill. There's been much blood drawn in the name of intransigence and xenophobia in the past. Now it's in the name of prophetic madness..."

Later, Falko uses his priestly training to support the work of Rhobannon and Saronis. He knows little about surgery and caring for patients, but he listens attentively and remains nearby should they need divine intervention.

Shalyna doesn't sleep the entire night. She sits with Howl resting on her shoulder near the trap door. It isn't until the morning that she loses her grip on consciousness as exhaustion finally catches up to her.

knowledge local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"Basic told you all that?" Cil asks Falko, shaking her head, then looks st Sarongs "I haven't the foggiest , all I know for sure is the job..."

She grows silent for a time, watching over the ,initiations of Root's injury like a mother hen.

Once she sure he'll pull though, she turn to the others [b]"The gathering was intended to propose a join endeavour. I have a client, a bit unusual but steady, he, or she has asked me to put a team together for a lucrative job. I'm too bring my team to his residence on the 3rd of the new year....

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Once the surgery is done he asks those who helped and then others if they can't, "Can you produce water so that we can clean up this mess and our own."

-----

In response to Cil, Saronis asks, "Any more information on this job? Hopefully it can take you away from Sharn until the shifters interest dies down. I am willing to protect. Though if the mission involves certain groups I will have to hold back. I need to go collect the rest of my gear but if the meeting is on the third I have time." He then states letting the others know his standing.

"I cannot produce water magically, and have only one waterskin. With travel on the horizon, I'd rather not use that."

Awoken by the sudden chatter, Shalyna listens long enough to learn what the issue is and casts a spell that whisks the blood, stale sweat, dirt, and grime from Rook's clothing and skin. She does so for the others as well before collapsing back into exhaustion.

"Should be gu'enuff fe'now," she mumbles before passing out again.

"I'm as Saronis. I'd be interested in work, but it depends what kind... Things might settle a bit once the millenium is behind us."

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

"So, you think all of this has something to do with this job." Sharea mumbles in the half dark, busy cleaning her dresses and getting them straight again to achieve some sense of normality. "I wasn't even in on it, so why target me? And why let me run? What was this show of Force meant to achieve... the authorities don't care about the usual gang war down there, but as soon as members of..." she wanted to say "dragon marked houses are involved that drives it too far", because that did not just include Falko, whom she was originally referring to, but also herself.

She made sure all shutters were tightly closed before she cast a light spell on her dagger.

"I do have a contact, I might talk to... if we manage that in silence. You're thinking what I am thinking, Cil?"

Sorry, I would have had a Cure Light Wounds potion, but that's a little late now, I suppose.

As the grime, blood and such whisks away, he looks to Shalyna and gives his thanks, "Thanks Shalyna, that sure beats the process for cleaning."

No worries Sharea, it looks like we have plenty of healing.

He looks over at Sharea, and says with grim thoughts on his mind, "They are after you and Cil. It would not be safe for either of you to be in public right now and the whole group moving together will likely draw attention. Cil I know you can change but the Shifters have likely prepared for that. After everyone is rested Rhobannon and I will go collect my gear. Then come back here. Anyone else as unprepared as I?"

There are no shutters you are in a root cellar and such. There is no obvious way out except the way you came in.

Cil listens to Sharea and Saronis, nodding then points to the back corner "There's a trap door there that you can use to leave unnoticed..." . She was about to continue , when a blue halo appears above her head. With a wry smile, she says "My client's novel way to communicate...". Her eyes go unfocused as she obviously begins to communicate...

The halo fades and Cil's eyes re-focus on the here and now. "Seems my client's had his/her own issues with the shifters, want's me to meet up with his/her contact immediately." she turns to Saronis, "Go get your gear and get back here, we'll go to the meet together, my client expects trouble. "

As Saronis nods, all business, her face softens and grabs his arm, pulling him into a fierce hug, "Sorry you didn't get one of these earlier...I really appreciate you being here, Sar."

So, I believe that Shalyna is fatigued since she stayed up all night.

Shalyna! Wake up, it appears we are about to be moving.

Howl, can't I sleep for a little while longer. I can barely think I'm so tired, the young magus thinks sleepily.

Come on, girl, I know you're tired, but you need to focus, so wake up and get ready before I take drastic measures.

Just wake me up when we're about to leave, Shalyna shifts in her sleep, settling deeper into her coat.

Alright, don't say I didn't warn you, Howl sighs.

Blue-white sparks dance along Shalyna's sword as the young woman jolts awake and her hat goes flying.

"Howl, you jackass! That hurt," she shouts at her sword before spying her hat and looking at the others. It's obvious Shalyna is not human, her eyes are golden and more like a cat's than a man's. Her eyes end in points, like an elf's, but short red and black striped fur covers their outsides. Her hair is red and black as well. Her mouth, now hanging open as her eyes grow wider, has four sharp fangs where her canine teeth should be.

At the mention of his name Rhobannon looks over. The light of the dagger had cast a serious pall over the already dire situation.

religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Internalizing his notice of the strange girl's features, Rhobannon remarks, "Well, I guess we had better hurry to the stairs. Where is our destination? A skiff might be advisable. Less chance of getting sniffed out or attacked."

Sharea tries to find out what that halo was and how the message was relayed. She will also cast detect magic if she may do so in time before the effect fades.
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Thank you, indeed." she added friendly to Saronis.

"You have a client you don't know? Is that in any way related to the trouble we're in as far as you know?" Either Cil wasn't willing to give the gender of her client away or she didn't know it. Sharea suspected the latter.

Pondering, she arches her head a little. "I hope this is not a trap to call us, even though subtlety did not seem our chasers' speciality so far." She wasn't exactly comfortable that the idea of checking Baric was so easily discarded, especially since they were going to go out anyway. They needed more information. Yet it was indeed very difficult to say who was friend and foe at the moment.

She raises an eyebrow on Shalyna's outburst. If it wasn't for those strange spark, she would have thought it was a bad dream. Understandable given the circumstances. Right now Sharea isn't quite sure whether she just witnessed a misplaced prank or whether there is indeed something wrong with Shalyna. "Are you alright?" she asks, focusing her those steady green eyes; calm yet with the promise of an underlying fury.

If that was magic (including supernatural effects) Sharea would notice, due to the earlier detect magic.

Shalyna stares at the others, panic beginning to light her bag-lined eyes. She grabs her hat and pulls it over her head and holds the brim down as she curls up tight against the wall.

"I-I am fine," she answers, "P-p-p-please d-d-don't h-hate m-m-me."

Now Sharea is completely surprised: "Hate you? Why, I am worried. I don't hate you." She reaches her slender hand out for Shalyna and offers it along with an encouraging smile.

"*sniff* R-really," Shalyna asks as she looks up at Sharea from under her hat. Gold eyes glowing softly in the shadow it casts on her face.

"I'm all packed and ready to go. I'm worried that the shifters are still out there and pick us off one by one. I prefer if we move as a pack." offers Falko to Cil.

After taking care of the halfling Saronis likely quickly falls into a meditative trance.

Still a bit out of it being still slightly intoxicated or just sleepy his reactions are a bit slower. After the brief hug he smiles and nods to her. Not saying a word he moves to leave a bit lighter in his steps. He heads for the trap door over his shoulder but then stops in his tracks at Shalyna's sudden appearance, his eyes widen in surprise, he quickly says, "Welcome to Cil's company nothing is ever as it seems, we trust and we accept, make sure that your actions count, hopefully by the spirits we will have more time to talk. Rhobannon you coming or not?" He turns without a response and quickly finds the trapdoor and lifts it. He descends knowing that he will need to be quick.

Religion DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Planes DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

It is up to the player if their character was too nervous last night or something along those lines to truly get any sleep. So you are fatigued if you want, if it makes sense that you would be.
Please post something to that effect as we move into the new day.

Likely the group got some rest last night but that all depends on how they would deal with this situation. Sharea likely every time she tried to get some sleep quickly woke from the nightmares of her recent sight of the massacre. Saronis dealing with years of being in the military and getting sleep when he needs was out soon after taking care of the halfling. Falko was likely listening and waiting all night just in case the safe house was found. Rhobannon likely slept with little reserve. Shalyna fitted in her sleep all night having strange dreams when she was asleep.

The next day is soon upon the group of thrown together pawns. Soon they will know the game and hopefully they can rely on each other. Saronis is quickly on his way especially after the message from the client.

It takes him 5d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 5, 1, 4) = 15 minutes to get back to his flat with luckily no delays. He works his way back after collecting all his gear and letting his landlord know the place may be rented out. Likely taking his time and making sure he is not being followed he comes back to the secret entrance three floors below Has's healing house another 45 minutes later. Unless they need to make a stop anywhere else?

They make it back free and clear, at least they think... Perception checks just to be sure for any that leave and come back...

Rhobannon sleeps with little issue, knowing that enemies are unlikely to get to where he is before he can react, unless the one who owns the place was a problem...

"Right behind ya."

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Perception : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

He does his best to keep an eye out and even tries to be stealthy to get back into the safe house's secret entrance.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Neither Rhobannon or Saronis see anyone following them, even though they took time to check and take extra care in their movement back.

Now back to the secret entrance. They close the door behind them and secure the door with the slats of wood. Up the ladder to the trapdoor which lifts easily if no one secured it again. Otherwise they knock and wait.

Soon the group is once together again.

If you need to collect anything else, we can say you did it at the same time as Saronis and Rhobannon's excursion. We will likely need to do some checks and possibly some RP but it depends on who goes out...

As a whole the group exits, leaving Rook behind to recover... Which exit?

Moving to Dava's Gate takes 5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 1, 2) = 18 minutes. Cil leads the group to a fine looking restaurant with the name on the sign of Dava's Finest Vintages. Only one man sits outside and the waiter and staff look out at the adventurers with concern.

The young human lad has an unnatural sparkle in his eye which comes and goes as his curled coppery hair sways with just the slightest of head movements. The lad stays in his seat and his stark blue courtier clothes don't seem to have a single wrinkle in them, then says, "Come now have a seat I have been waiting... Saronis I am glad to see you made it! Oliver, I will be needing..." He points at each of you counting you up then continues. "...three bottles and six glasses." The waiter inside shooes the staff back to work and collects the bottles as another of the staff brings the glasses, of course they arrive well after you say anything...