GMG's PbP: Master of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Yes, please, Gitano. That'd be great!

Linria sighs as most of the group misses attack after attack. "Either our aim is terrible today, or these beasts are skilled at evasion. It reminds me of this one time Sayra decided she'd attack a swarm of spiders with nothing but her teeth. Sometimes her hunger gets the better of her."

Really, what kind of fox eats spiders?

Lin then spreads her palms in front of her chest and gives the red trogolodyte the old spirit fingers plus an icy cold stare.

Daze, DC 15 Will save

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 2 = 20
Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 2 = 1 lol
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

With it's last strength the big black ugly takes out his club and swings it at Gitano. The club seems to hit the exact spot that could kill Gitano, but the creature lacks the strength to make it happen. He collapses at Gitano's feet! You make short work of the dazed youngling and take stock of the situation...

Calling combat. Status: Gitano: 7 damage, Mort: 1 nonlethal damage

You enter the other room. A brazier of glowing coals sits in the center of this room, its acrid smoke mixing with the ever-present stench. A few knives, pokers, and other metal implements lie atop a rusty iron box nearby. It is locked, but you find the key on the bigger creature.

The rusty iron chest holds some equipment: a suit of masterwork studded leather armor, a masterwork buckler, a masterwork rapier, a shortbow with 15 arrows, two scrolls and a wayfinder!

There is a single door in the eastern wall

Mort rests the point of Mindy on the floor and leans against her, bowing her slightly but letting him catch his breath. "Man, I'm spent. I need a few minutes to catch my breath! I can't remember being in such a long battle before. Usually its just run in and heads roll and that's it. These guys and their stink really wore me out!"

After a few minutes and a drink of water Mort sheathes his sword and has a look around the room with the others. "By the looks of this chest you'd think some noble Sally got snatched up." He picks up the rapier and slashes at the air a bit with a discouraged look on his face. "Who uses this kind of riff raff!"

After the proper loot hunting and healing is completed, Mort looks and listens at the door. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"The first scroll is to Cure Moderate Wounds. I'm unsure of the second."

The rush of combat fading, Gitano winds his sweaty Sczarni scarf around the gaping wound in his shoulder.

He looks over at Mort, the big man wielding a shining rapier like a child's toy.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7

His interest piqued, Gitano joins the others crowed around the rusty iron chest. Viewing the finely crafted blade and armor, he falls to his knees, tracing the butterfly wings of Desna.

"Fortune favors us, my friends. Take what you need. I would ask your leave to use whatever's left."

He spares a glance at the scrolls and shakes his head. "I have a healthy respect for magic, but I've not yet mastered the art of deciphering their meaning."

"Any chance one of you could use that healing scroll on a friend in need?"

Mort hears some shuffling behind the door, as if a chair is moved without picking it up.

Mort turns to whisper to the group "There's something moving around inside. I'll open the door once we're ready. Corona, heal that guy. May as well use the scroll, we all know the Society will claim it once we return from our mission anyhow."

Mort draws Mindy once more and checks the door to see if its trapped or locked and readies himself.

If there are no objections...

Gitano dons the studded leather armor and buckler from the chest and accepts the rapier from Mort, leaving his own gear in the chest for retrieval later.

With a grateful nod to the healer, he stalks up to a place near the slayer, looking over the door as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

After the fight is over, and the chest is found, Blaze takes a look at the content.

"Well would you look at that. That's almost a complete outfit for an adventurer. It's even got a compass."

Blaze holds the wayfinder in his hand.

"Maybe they slew a lost traveler?"

Lyn nods at Blaze's words. "It's too much of a coincidence for a wayfinder to be in here with the rest of this equipment. It definitely belonged to a Pathfinder who clearly is no longer with us. Drendle Dreg will definitely want to know about this."

Sayra sniffs at what's left in the chest. .... Nope, no snacks.

"Ugh...I'm getting tired of the stink lizards, New Friends," Corona groans once the last one is dispatched. She quickly draws her healing wand and moves to patch up Gitano's wounds but then stops when Mort suggests she use the scroll they'd found instead. "Oh, okay Friend Mort - if you think that's best!"

Caster Level Check (Cure Moderate Wounds): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Cure Moderate Wounds (Gitano): 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 3 = 10

With the healing taken care of, she stows her unused wand and reaches for the second scroll that remains unidentified. "Hum...let's see..."

Spellcraft (DC 18): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"...Oh! This scroll makes you invisible! How wonderful!" she gasps with delight after studying it for a few moments. "But I don't think I can use this one...New Friends Ashwell and Linria, could one of you use it?" she asks.

Sense Motive (DC 22): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Once all the healing and item-identifying is done, Corona readies her spear. "Let's just hope it was just maybe the one Pathfinder and not more," she says, looking uncharacteristically serious. "I'm ready for the next room, Friend Mort!"

"Corona, thank you for your healing. I swear I'll return these items to their rightful owner as soon as we find him."

Gitano rubs his hands appreciatively over his new--er, borrowed--leathers. He raises an eyebrow, "In the meantime, you have to agree, these babies fit me like a glove."

He nods to Mort and readies his rapier to meet any threat emerging from behind the door.

Gitano has moved up near the door in the northeastern wall of Room #10 on the map.

"You're welcome," Corona smiles. "And that's good...if he's still alive when we find him, or her, they're probably want their stuff back," she agrees. "If not...well, I'm sure they'd want a fellow Pathfinder to make use of it!"

Spear in hand, she too moves over towards the remaining door and stands just behind Gitano. "Please no more stink lizards...please no more stink lizards..." she whispers.

Although the leather armor is a bit gaudy it is of better quality than Gitano's current outfit, so he dons it.

You open the door and find an almost naked human man who is chained to the wall. He was twisting and turning on the floor, hoping to get the manacles of. From the bruises covering his body it looks like he has been beaten a couple of times.

"Please release me!"

Beside the key to the chest there was another key on the bigger creature

"And this must be our Pathfinder," Lyn says as she steps forward and carefully unlocks the manacles, holding the captive up on her shoulder if needed. "My friend here's already helped himself to your armor," she says with a smug grin at Gitano, "But I'm sure he'll have no problem giving it back to you. Corona, do you have any more of that bread? Some healing magic might also help."

Mort sheaths Mindy once more and helps get the man to the room with the beds where he can have a seat. "What happened here? Are there any others of your group captured or killed here?"

Study target and take 10 on Sense Motive for a 15

Gitano retrieves his gear from the chest in the previous room and stands before the freed captive. He holds up his gear and gestures at what he's wearing, "I don't suppose you'd care to swap?"

Sense Motive to judge his reaction to the party: 1d20 ⇒ 17

If we were back in Magnimar, Jaster Frallino would have had one of his Gallowed thugs make this guy an offer he couldn't refuse.

"Well met, friend. I am Gitano Frallino. Some have called me 'The Luckiest Man Alive.' Today, Desna smiles on you, as well. Whom do we have the honor of addressing?"

Gitano pauses for answers to his question and to those of his companions before adding, "I would like to propose a deal. If you're not willing or able to help us clear this gods-forsaken tower of its foul inhabitants, I would like to borrow your armor, buckler, and blade until we have done so ourselves. I will happily return them after our work here is finished."

"We just found a beaten, bruised, malnourished prisoner and your idea of helping him is asking to borrow his only means of defense until we're done here?" Lyn scoffs at Gitano. It seems he may have hit a nerve. "That doesn't seem fair. Either he's coming with us, or we're setting him free with all of his gear."

Gitano throws Lyn his most innocent Sczarni grin, "Can't blame a guy for tryin'."

He glances slyly at the fox. "Bet Sayra agrees with me, don't ya, Foxy Lady?"

I'd offer to pet the poor thing, but one or both of them might bite me. I've fed enough man-eaters this day, thank you very much.

'In social and tactical situations alike, crossing certain lines can provoke an unarmed strike; in the former case, the blow may be delivered as a slap to the face.'
--Rule #18, Gitano Frallino's Elements of Luck and Style

"Maybe you two could stop b*~%@in' at one another for a few minutes so the guy can have a word or two?" Mort does his best to smile.

Just get it done already so we can move on!

Ash rolls his eyes. He hoped the group could get the Pathfinder out safely and compete the mission so he could be rid of these louts. And take a nice cool bath...those trogs smelled worse than the warriors did.

Sayra dashes over and curls up around Gitano's ankle, rubbing her face into his boot. Lyn rolls her eyes hard enough that they appear completely white. "Oh, whatever! Of course you'd suck up. Ugh." She throws her hands in the air, dismissing the quarrel. "Mr. Mort's right. Let the prisoner speak."

"Hello New Friend," Corona smiles at the mostly-naked, bruised man. "Like New Friend Gitano said, I think we found your gear - and we found you, which is even better!"

Happy to be of help, she pulls out her healing wand yet again and gives the man a quick tap with it. "Here you go, this should help!"

Cure Light Wounds (Prisoner): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Charges remaining (41).

"Good as new, right New Friend?" she beams. "Oh! And Friend Mort's right, you're probably pretty hungry right?" she adds as she digs into her pack and pulls out another piece of cornbread and practically sticks it right underneath his nose. "I baked it myself!"

"Thank you lovely lady!" the man accepts the piece of bread graciously from Corona. "I am Balenar Forsend, explorer, performer and lover extraordinaire!" he bows to the ladies, not bothered by his almost-nakedness.

He nods to Galino "By all means friend, help yourself to my stuff! I just hope your conscience will not bother you later and send you bad dreams."

He snaps his fingers and a eerie whispering is heard, the words are unclear but seem to spell doom.

"I will be glad to wear your equipment, I do hope you do not mind that I will cast some minor magic to make the smell go away."

"I meant the troglodytes' stink of course! Do you mind if I accompany you? Where are we heading?"

3rd or 5th floor?

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 18

The cheerful ifrit watches the entire thing unfold.

Somehow Gilano doesn't strike me as a regretful type.....

Though, once Balenar is distracted by the women, undoubtedly, he leans in towards Galino.

"He's really not liking you acquiring his items for yourself.
It's probably best to give it back when this situation is over, who knows what friends he might have."

He pats him on the shoulder, with a smile that would spell.

[Your problem though]

"So, we've got more of the staircase to explore. Shall we head on?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Gitano is as oblivious to Balenar Forsend's displeasure as he is pleased with yet another successful negotiation.

Heeding Blaze's wise counsel, he turns to the liberated adventurer, "Your selfless generosity will be rewarded, you may be certain, Master Forsend. If not in this life, then surely in the next. On that, you have the word of a Varisian gentleman."

"The staircase leads up, but we also bypassed an entire floor on our way to your rescue." Gitano flips an imaginary coin, deftly snatches it in the air, and slaps it down on his wrist.

"The Tender of Dreams draws me upwards," Gitano announces. "Master Forsend, what can you tell us about what awaits us above and below? I am happy to go both ways." His eyebrows dance at his upbeat pun.

"The Tender of Dreams draws me upwards," Gitano announces. "Master Forsend, what can you tell us about what awaits us above and below? I am happy to go both ways." His eyebrows dance at his upbeat pun.

"Good to hear that" he licks his lips slowly, ever so slowly...

"The troglodytes caught me when I was inspecting the second floor of the tower. I did not see the third floor either. I defer to your call, you are clearly more experienced at this thing than I am."

Mort watches the interaction between the two with measurable distaste "I think its best we move along. We were tasked with exploring the entire tower and we wouldn't want anything on the third floor sneaking past us while upstairs."

He turns to the rest of the group, "Lets put this nasty business to rest already and get this done and get paid."

Preference for floor
3: Mort
5: Gitano

"Right he is. 3rd floor is fine."

Balenar dresses in Gitano's old leathers and takes the inferior weapon.

You move down a level and open the door with one of the keys you found with the bigger troglodyte. Two stone altars, one black and one white, sit at either end of this large chamber. The crumbling remains of wooden benches sag in front of each altar beneath rotting ceiling tapestries. Carved symbols and writings snake along the walls.

The burnt corpses of two troglodytes lie on the floor in the center of the room. Near these corpses you spot two humanoid skeletons, wreathed in auras of eternal flame; their jaws open in soundless screams as they raise their weapons and attack.

Upon seeing the skeletons Balenar immediately starts "“Let us remember the sacrifice of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favored of the Ten, who gave her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within the Society.”

Initiative
Inspire courage +1/+1
Gitano
Lynn
Ashwell
Mort
- - -
Red
White
- - -
Blaze
Corona
Balenar

The skeletons killed an ifrit here, in one of my games.
He exchanged fire resist for extra initiative...

I was in that game. Poor guy.

Linria moves into the room cautiously, keeping her back against the wall. "At least they don't stink, eh, Corona? Unfortunately, I don't think my magic will work very well against them. Skeletons don't have brains! I guess it's time to take out the Old Wasp's Sting." She draws a light crossbow from her back. The weapon has been painted black with metallic yellow stripes drawn across the stock and foregrip, and each bolt is tipped with amber dye. "Isn't it cute?"

Gitano notes, with some apprehension, the unholy flames cloaking the skeletons, and moves into the room. He glares at Red Skelton and takes a position to one side of Whitey Bulger, readying to attack as soon as one of his comrades provides a flanking partner.

Readied Attack vs Whitey with Inspire Courage/Flank: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 141d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Feeling the heat of the creature's flames licking his exposed skin, Gitano recalls an otherworldly ditty, ♪♫"It's getting hot in here, so hot, so take off all your... "♪♫
Nelly

That's hilarious. We have an aasimar in our roll20 game that traded away all her resistances for bonuses vs evil spells or something... we remind her of it on a weekly basis. I think the evil spell thing has shown up about twice and we're level 16 now...

Mort starts tapping his foot along with this new guy's song "You'd make a fine motivational speaker Balenar, keep that up!"

Heading around the corner he gets an glimpse at these skeletons everyone is raving about Knowledge: Religion (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 9 and they're nothing he's squared off against yet.

Time to show these sissy swordsmen how a real man uses steel! Drawing out Mindy as he moves, Mort unleashes his patented upper cut slice into the nearest flaming bone pile. "Incoming!" He booms.

Greatsword + Power Attack + Inspire: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 162d6 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 20

Yes, i felt sorry for the guy, as i rolled the burn dmg pretty average, which deals quite a number vs a lvl 1 character.

Ya I think we're about to see it first hand...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"You're welcome, New Friend Balenar," Corona beams. "And if you're sure you want to come along then the more the merrier, r-" she begins, then stops and looks around nervously as the soft whispering reaches her ears. "Um, Friend Mort is right, maybe we'd better hurry so we can leave," she shivers.
_________

Standing on tiptoe, Corona peers over the others' shoulders and her eyes widen at the sight of the flaming skeletons. "Oh, well that's different!" she gasps, trying to recall if she'd ever read any stories about angry fire-skeletons.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

I think Corona's not yet seen the skellies just yet.
GMG's placed you way in back, with new-friend Balenar. :P
Things must get heated up there, barbeque'ed Mort & Gilano.

Whoops, you're probably right! In that case that part will happen when it's her turn and she can move up :)

Ash exits into the room with the skeletons and uses his mind to pick up a rotting piece of wooden bench to toss at the closest enemy.

Ranged attack into melee with IC 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 10

Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Reflex Mort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Reflex Gitano: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Explosion: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Mort walks in and bones fly everywhere. The flaming aura lingers in the
area, contracts to a small pinpoint of flames and then explodes outward. Mort and Gitano only take minor damage. Ashwell enters the room and tosses a piece of wood at the other skeleton. The piece of wood flies through the skeleton, knocking out its backbone. When this one collapses the inner fire explodes, but it does not come far enough to hurt anyone.

That's more like it!

The altars still contain their silver altar services, worth 100 gp altogether, as well as two silver holy symbols of Nethys. In addition, a scroll case rests atop each altar: a white case on the black altar and a black case on the white altar.

Balenar quickly identifies these as a scroll of shatter on the black altar, and a scroll of shield.

You climb up to the fifth floor of the tower, Mort in the lead.

The four wings of the tower are completely open on this level, forming one great, cross-shaped chamber with arched ceilings. The decayed remnants of a carpet run from the doorways at the end of each wing, meeting in the center, where a spiral staircase drops out of sight below. A large, throne-like chair stands in the middle of the eastern wing next to a big chest.

Next to the throne lies a completely white crocodile and behind the throne you spot another troglodyte. He is staring at Absalom in the distance and turns around when Mort comes up the stairs, quickly casting a spell and touching the crocodile.

Balenar starts inspiring you to greater deeds
"And it was Selmius Foster’s race against a marid and efreeti on the isle of Jalmeray, which taught us that nothing is truly impossible and every situation can end in victory. Now go and get that victory!”

Initiative
Inspire courage +1/+1
Blaze
Ashwell
Gitano: -1 hp
Corona
Lyn
- - -
Tasskar
Snapjaw
- - -
Mort: -1 hp
Balenar

"Eek!" Corona yelps as a small explosion from within the room seems to rattle the tower. When she peeks in, she spots the remains of the skeletons lying on the floor and gapes with astonishment.

"More exploding foes!? That might be even worse than the stink lizards," she groans. "Are you okay, New Friends?"
__________

Once assured that both Mort and Gitano are fine, Corona is content to fall back to her usual spot at the rear of the group as they continue to climb upwards. When they reach the top she has only a moment to take in the sight of the once-impressive room before they find themselves face-to-face with the new 'king' of the castle.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"Ohh...I hate it when I can't figure out what they're doing," she pouts as she flexes her wrist to drop her blessing wand into her hand. "At any rate, here you go, New Friends! Just be careful of the bad magics, because I don't know what they are," she cautions as she waves the wand in an arc over the group. She then goes to step forward but yelps when she realizes that her legs are being uncooperative.

"Oh no, not again! Why don't my legs want to work!?"
_________

Corona will use her spring-loaded wrist sheath to pull out her wand of Bless and use it; charges remaining (46). Also since Gitano was only down a point I figure he'll be okay but I'm also happy to say that Corona did heal him before we came upstairs if that's what he'd prefer :)

My post from hours ago got eaten... darn.

When the team gets to the top floor, Blaze sees the crocodile and the next trog.

"Alright, we've got a handbag on four legs, and another lizard guy over here."

Blaze moves north, and places his tower shield in front of himself, granting total cover on his square's east edge.

Gitano bows in the direction of Mort. "You, sir, are simply awesome."

He glances down at his singed and smoldering borrowed armor. "Nothing serious, Master Forsend. I'll give you the name of my personal laundress in Absalom. Met her on a blind date in the Grog Pit. A woman of amazing and sundry skills."

To the group, "The noise of the blast is likely to have alerted anyone remaining in the tower. Let's hasten upward now and come back later to carry out a more thorough search of this shrine."
__________

At the top of the staircase, with Corona's blessing and Balenar's encouraging words, Gitano steps out onto the roof. To split the attention of their cold-blooded foes, he moves to the side opposite Blaze.

He eases into a fighting stance, buckler up and blade begging an enemy to come close.

Readied Attack with Bless/Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 171d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Lyn lowers her crossbow as the skeletons explode. "Damn, and I didn't even get to give them a taste of the Sting. You guys are uh, as strong as you are attractive," the elf says to the men, but it sounds forced and awkward as all hells.

I'm such a loser.

____

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

As the team approaches the Lizard and Croc duo, Linria watches closely. "He's attempting to increase either his or his pet's power with a magic fang transmutation. Stop him!"

Linria gives the troglodyte a wicked stare, her eyes flickering black and white like a film feeding through a medieval movie projector. She opens her mouth as if to scream, but no one except for the big bad evil lizard hears anything.

Sayra cocks her head at Lyn and crawls down a few steps as she seeks a much safer vantage point.

Ear piercing scream, DC 15 Fortitude to half damage and negate daze effect. Sonic damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Ash moves ten feet closer to the trog, and uses his mind to throw a heavy piece of the destroyer carpet at the enemy.

Telekinetic projectile ranged attack with IC and Bless. 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 17

Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Gitano sings a cautionary tune.
♬"Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin."♪♫
Peter Pan