1. GM Edwin's Zeitgeist Campaign

Game Master Insnare

Sarya motions to the Bravura to come closer and speaks to him quietly, "no sense in getting butchered going through what is likely a trap laden entrance... I want you to circle the mansion, find any weak points such as windows, grills and so forth. Report back to me."

@Stover

"Chief my associate over here will circle the mansion... Considering his talents I suspect he may find points of entrance that we would not."

Johnathan stares off vacantly, eyes empty. He has a crisp new RHC uniform on and his crossbow in hand, but he doesn't seem aware of his surroundings, moving wax-like and following orders silently.

The one quality road in The Nettles curves around Cauldron Hill,
heading up to the manor of Mayor Reed Macbannin, located a thousand
feet up the twenty-three hundred foot high mountain. Here the gentle
slope of the lower mountain turns to a steeper and rockier rise of stone,
making Macbannin’s rich manor the gatekeeper between the slum homes
of thousands and the cursed mountaintop.
The compound’s high iron fence surrounds a manor house, servant
houses, a stable and a track for horses, a carriage house, a red-brick gardener’s
building, and overall beautiful landscaping with myriad flowers.

The Bravura makes his way around the fence until he feels that he is way to close to the eldritch dangers of Cauldron Hill and then makes his way back the other direction unti the same is true.

He then makes his way back to Sarya and says, "The only other entrance into the compound is to climb a fence blocking off Cauldron Hill and then from the rear but that is not a feat I am willing to take part in. You could climb the wall at different locations. I have seen sixteen normal house staff who were cleaning, weeding and such and then two others who looked were trying to blend in with the others but you could tell they were not trained for gardening."

"Interesting..." Cretien notes.

To Johnathan, he notes "You're going to want to keep your wits about you. This may be our most dangerous mission yet."

Falko takes in the information: "Either we face the Hill, or we take the front door... Perhaps there is a way some of us can get access first? Can we think of an excuse to go see the Mayor?"

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Delft says, "Macbannin is a very well-connected man, and I highly doubt that noone tipped him off to our coming. The only one that might be able to go in with some kind of excuse would be Sarya but even then it would be thin. I guess if you use your disguises you may be able to get in."

Johnathan stares blankly past the manor at Cauldron Hill.

"Ok, here's what I suggest: I disguise myself as a shady individual, go to the gate and says that I have an important message for the Mayor from his friend at RHC? We'll see if that gets the gate open. If not, then you guys charge in?"

Sarya looked thoughtfully at the manor and then an idea entered her mind...

"My friend here said two of these people were not your normal, run of the mill servants... If we could capture them I could get their tongues to wag... I think we should get all the information we possibly can before proceeding."

"As much as I hate to agree with the Dreamie, that sounds better than faith in a thin disguise."

"Yes, but they're in the compound... that doesn't solve the 'getting in' problem..." answers Falko, while keeping an eye on the road, wondering what kind of trouble they're heading into.

I wish we had more time! And better information!

Delft chuckles "The tongues will definitely eventually wag, we could just present the warrant and do our search, without being so complicated. If I didn't take a Danoran musket ball during the Third War, I would probably agree with you and do the climbing myself."

I am all for it. I am not one for all the sneaking around because i am no good at it he says with a smile

How do you guys want to do it? Sending in the NPC to capture someone is complicated. Because it takes away from the PCs plus he would need to climb the gate, stealthily traverse the courtyard, get into the house, knock out the right guy, and carry him back all without being detected. oh and climb the wall with an adult strapped to his back. If a PC wanted to do it, I would lay out the DCs but having me run an NPC hireling like that not so much. You want to have a couple of you climb the wall while the rest talk that is fine with me.

Sarya is being genre savvy at this point... She's already figured that the mansion will be booby trapped top to bottom as such she is being cautious...

Sarya looks at the compound thoughtfully and then an idea occurs to her... It's crazy but it might work.

"Chief do you happen to have a map of the sewer system? If a large enough connection exists, which I suspect it might giving the size of the mansion we might be able to get into their via the cellar..."

Cretien is wholly unequipped to climb the fence, sneak about and return with a hostage. He isn't opposed to another PC doing it, but it isn't going to be him doing it unless the whole party is going.

Are you being genre savvy or are you metagaming...hmmm :) why would the mayor's mansion be booby trapped? Do you leave pugil stakes and hand grenades in tin cans in your home?

Delft shakes his head to Sarya's request saying "The sewer system doesn't extend up this far up Cauldron Hill. You should talk to the rest of the group regarding their jaunt up here a few days ago. There is a probably a cellar, but anything deeper could bring some spirits to the fore."

To be honest the bravura is not here to do all of the heavy lifting if one of you came with him he would do it but not alone. If this man gets killed because of callousness it could have a negative impact on the Family Prestige

Sarya is being savvy because she lived in Ber...and Ber was not always so stable, as a result Dream Merchant compounds were (and still are) heavily warded. Sarya's more acquainted with magical glyph type traps though then the mechanical variety.

Sarya is also thinking that the mayor if he is truly the mastermind behind all of this would have prepared defenses...

"If we have to go in front I recommend the acquisition of a nice, firm ten foot stick. We Dream Merchants utilize quite a few traps to defend ourselves in Ber and beyond, however our's tend to be of the magical nature... I suspect that the mansion's defenses will be more mechanical in nature."

Sarya looks at the tiefling pointedly...

Does anyone remember trapezing across the dungeon with your handy ten foot pole?

The group of you walk up to the front gate as the morning sun peeps just above the roof of the mansion. You make your way to the gate and at the gate stand two female guards, both toting muskets and as you approach the one on the left says, "Halt, who goes there?"

Sarya studies both of the female guards and thinks... They are probably paid little for this job and I doubt they are paid anything good... Give them the chance to go quietly.

Sarya's tone is brisk and business like, yet clearly "focused".

"We are here to arrest the mayor, RHC business. If you leave now you will not be prosecuted nor jailed, any court appearances you make will be only as witnesses."

diplomacy1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

GM by "focused" I mean it should be evident from Sarya's tone that these people are mooks, she has far bigger fish to fry then them.

The guard laughs and says, "Arrest the mayor, really, you do know he was appointed by Governor Stanfield and personally recommended by King Aodham. You young lady aren't even a member of the RHC, from your accent you must be from the land of minotaurs."

She sees the rest of the group and notices their uniforms and then nods to the other guard who whips out a mirror and starts to signal the main house.

Former Soldiers

She then makes small talk until the signal comes back

She then says, "Do you have a warrant or something?"

Here is the necessary paperwork that will allows our presence and our searching of the premises.

Falko lets out a deep sigh of concern... [i]Whatever happened to my plan? They just walked right up there! Oh well, let's roll!"[/b]

The woman looks through the search warrant reading it in detail and then signals the other one to signal the information to the manor house.

Then the second one nods and says "Yes sir... uh hub, yessir. Ok right away uh hum...

She then turns to the group and says, "Right this way, the mayor will be meet you in the garden shortly. He said he will clear everything up."

The other one opens the gate and they lead you inside.

Falko lets out a deep sigh of concern... [i]Whatever happened to my plan? They just walked right up there! Oh well, let's roll!"[/b]

i was thinking the same thing

Sarya was trying the "nice way"... It didn't work.

Sorry Falk, I just wanted to move the game forward... if you want to do something sometimes you should just take the initiative yourself. :)

Shortly after being led to the garden and in front of the two streams, Mayor Macbannin walks out of the mayor house and towards the group and he says, "My associates told me you have some sort of search warrant. Very Interesting. May I see it please?"

Still vacant and still, Johnathan quietly casts Detect Magic, looking around the garden then up at the sky. He barely seems aware that they might be fighting for their lives shortly.

Johnathan

Sense Motive DC20

When Johnathan sees the Mayor, he casts Mage Armor and draws his crossbow off his back. He seems to have finally come back to reality and looks like a deer caught in the open.

"Why are we in here alone..." he whispers.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Delft says, "Constable Holbrook, you are not alone." as spits a fat wad of chaw on a well manicured bush.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Falko moves forward and first says: "Angus, could you keep an eye on those two gardener. I fear for their lives, as they are handling tools of weed destruction for which they have obviously no training, and could easily pluck their own eyes, instead of an offending shrub..." before turning to the Mayor: "We have evidence tying you to the assassination of skysser Nevard. This is a grave crime, and you would do well to explain yourself with clear words!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Macbannin looks at Falko listing to what he has to say and then
his expression darkens and he says,
“Delightful, so you found me out?” He shakes his fist melodramatically, “And
when I was so close to finally unlocking this mountain’s dark power!” feinting to give a sinister chuckle he stops himself and then grins. “Come on, be serious,” he says, with the tone of someone
who’s done humoring small children’s fantasies. He continues in the tone
of someone who’s entreating others to be reasonable: “You haven’t told
anyone about this yet, have you? You seem like good people—and good
officers, too, I’m sure—and I wouldn’t want to see you get in trouble for,”
he chuckles, “jumping to wild conclusions. I appreciate your diligence…
but I have nothing to hide!”

At this, he spreads his hands wide. “Here,” he says, decisively. “I’ll
show you I’m not up to anything. Allow me to give you the guided tour!
Take as long as you want to look for anything amiss. Do we want to
start in the basement? That’s where the villain’s always getting up to
his nefarious deeds of ill import, right? Or the attic? Isn’t that where
the villain is always stashing the evidence of dark goings-on? What’s
your pleasure?”

Johnathan shakes his head emphatically. "We should arrest him and figure out the details after."

He looks to Delft, not as afraid anymore, but clearly still on edge.

"All right. I always enjoy tours. Open the gate." says Falko flatly, blusing from the mayor's stab at him.

"No no no, no no no no no no no," Johnathan murmurs, raising his crossbow at the Mayor. A few drips of acid fall from his shaking hands, then sparks which make little glowing embers when they land.

"We have to," he nearly sobs. "Have to. Souls pour themselves into endless mouths. Endless teeth. So dark, dark. We can't," his mumblings turn completely incoherent from there, and he slowly starts squeezing the trigger.

If someone doesn't intervene, his next action will be attacking the mayor

Sarya spoke, her voice brutal and not kindly disposed.

"You are to remove all personnel from the premises into the yard, in plain view of us all. A team of RHC agents will be called in to investigate the premises top to bottom. Any hint of resistance will result in your immediate and summary execution."

Sarya's voice is then mocking...

"Do you think us so stupid to allow a suspect to give us a tour into a house filled no doubt with so called "servants" masquerading as assassins? Do you think us so blind?"

Sarya's with John on this one. The Bravura's story about the two "shady" servants gives Sarya a lot of room to be suspicious...

Well Johnathan, earth is intervening for you.

The ground begins to tremble. Several seconds of deep rumble precedes a deafening crack as a fissure
cuts through Macbannin’s manor house. The rear half of the house
heaves upward 10 feet, and the rest sways and crumples, threatening to
collapse completely. The hiss of fluid under pressure comes from within
the damaged structure, followed by the horrified screams of dozens of
workers. A moment later the wretched stench of burnt oil wafts through
the garden in a thin, visible fog, and flowers begin to wilt.

The tremor causes Johnathan to pull the trigger 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 hitting the mayor 1d8 ⇒ 7

The mayor breaking the bolt in his shoulder says, "Woman, you don't even work for the RHC and for Risur which makes your demands even less likely to bear fruit. Nice shot, son"

Macbannin’s eyes widen with shock, but he recovers with amazing
aplomb. Almost casually he shouts to the window where his butler
is watching: “Creed, check the reservoir. Everybody else, kill these
people for me.”

MAP

Initiative: Sarya 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14, Johnathan 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9, Falko 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, Chretien 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11, Angus 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12, Mayor 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21, Gardeners 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19, Staff 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19, Delft 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4, Bravura 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Mayor, Gardeners, Staff, Sarya, Bravura, Angus, Chretien, Johnathan, Delft, Falko
Round 1

The mayor takes a five foot step back and shoots a ray of enfeeblement at Angus 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 flat footed touch... miss

Gardener 1 moves to attack Chretien with his short sword 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 miss

Gardener 2 moves to attack Sarya with his short sword 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 hit 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7 sneak attack damage

Staff 1 moves through the stream and throws her knife at Chretien 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (11) - 3 = 8 miss

Staff 2 throws her knife at Delft +2 for height from the balcony 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 3 = 13 hit 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Staff 3 moves to throw her knife at Delft 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 3 = 14 hit 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Staff 4 moves to throw her knife at Delft 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1

Staff 5 double moves next to Delft

Staff 6 double moves along the balcony.

Staff 7 double moves along the balcony

Staff 8 double moves up the pathway towards the battle.

Staff 9 double moves along the balcony

Staff 10 double moves across the garden

Staff 11 double moves along the balcony

Staff 12 moves along the balcony and throws her knife at the bravura 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 3 = 0 stabbing her foot 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage

Staff 13 throws her dagger at the bravura 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 2 - 3 = 18 hit 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Staff 14 moves to attack bravura 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14 hit 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Staff 15 moves to throw her knife at Falko 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (6) - 3 = 3 miss

Staff 16 double moves towards the rear of the group.

Sarya

Sarya moves just out of line (five foot step) from her attacker as blood pours down her flank...

She quickly fires a green blast at the gardener...

attack1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

damage2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Using Terrifying blast, gardener two must make a will save dc 14 or be shaken for 1 round.

Sarya's attack misses its mark.

The bravura attacks the staff member who attacked him 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 hit 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 cutting the staff member deep.

Angus, Chretien, Johnathan,

don't have permission to see the map

Johnathan screams as the tremors start, shooting the Mayor and reloading with trembling hands. He whispers almost incoherently, "Not leaving here, here, can't escape fates..."

He touches Cretien's shoulder lightly, eyes elsewhere.
Skyseer's Foresight: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Welp, don't use that roll :)

Johnathan will cast Magic Missile at the Mayor, both bolts.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

DC 15 or be dazzled for 1 round.

Cretien's Turn

Cretien's mechanus charges the mayor.
slam: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
bonus dmg?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Cretien hits a button on his bracer, activating a Shield of shimmering force (+4 AC)

Angus attacks the gardener with his longsword 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 hit 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

A.O.O against mechamus 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5 miss

The mechanus slams the mayor and Johnathans missles hit him leaving a grievous wound knocking him onto the ground unconscious.

Delft says, Dang professor that is an amazing doohickey.

And then shoots the woman next to him 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 hit 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 and her head explodes upon impact of the bullet.

Falko

Falko's voice rises through the dim of battle: "MACBANNIN IS DOWN! SURRENDER NOW WHILE YOU CAN AND LIVE ANOTHER DAY! OR FACE DEATH AND GO DOWN THE BLEAK GATE FOR ETERNAL SUFFERING!!!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

sorry internet company is doing work on the connection cable so it was down for the past 48h

Falko attempts to cow the enemies but is so far unsuccessful.

GM Rolls 1d20 ⇒ 15 and 1d20 ⇒ 7

Another tremor erupts next to a servent forming a sinkhole... Acrobatics >DC10 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 fail she falls in.

Round 2

Gardener 1 attacks Chretien with his short sword 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 hit 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Gardener 2 5ft steps to attack Sarya with his short sword 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 hit 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

I will finish this in the morning

Staff 1 moves through the hedge and is next to Chretien

Staff 2 throws her knife at Delft +2 for height from the balcony 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 3 = 2 miss

Staff 3 throw her knife at Delft 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 3 = 9 miss

Staff 4 moves to throw her knife at Delft 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 3 = 14 miss

Staff 6 moves and throws a knife at Delft 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 3 = 6 miss

Staff 7 double moves along the balcony

Staff 8 attempts to climb out of the sink hole DC 10 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 success

Staff 9 double moves along the balcony

Staff 10 attacks bravura 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5 miss

Staff 11 double moves along the balcony

Staff 12 throws her knife at the bravura 1d20 + 2 - 3 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 3 - 4 = 4 miss

Staff 13 throws her dagger at the bravura 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 3 = 0 miss

Staff 14 moves to attack bravura 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6miss

Staff 15 moves to attack Angus 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0 miss

Staff 16 moves to attack Falko 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 3 = 9 miss

Sarya

Sarya fires another blast of green fire again as she withdraws from the range of the gardener...

attack1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

damage2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

will save 14 or be shaken, 5 foot step back behind Falko.

Johnathan will move diagonally down and left until he can catch the most staff possible in a Color Spray (DC 15). (that grouping of four on/under the balcony)

3 casts so far