GM Silbeg's #6-10 The Wounded Wisp (RPG) (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

"Well... on the bright side we don't have to worry about Lady breaking it." Mor'targh chuckles with a bit of relief. And walks forward into The Darkness, looking intently down the corridors.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Dark Vision 60'

"Logg - you're itching to be a story teller - come see what the story is with this desk."

If she sees nothing down the cracks/crevases, she will step up and kick one of the two chests.

Suddenly, a stench fills the room, sickening Jin, Methodios, and Theron. A trio of reptilian humanoids come into the room (Knowledge Local to determine what they are), weapons out, and ready to attack! (That was the surprise round... no one rolled high enough to perceive them)

Party is up!

Note: in the spoiler above, I will have the initiative order, status of people.

Developing a special kind of hate for stinking cloud, or similar.

Methodios draws his cold iron greataxe and moves nimbly past the lizard thing to better allow his companions to attack.

Acro to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 -- Oof! Cannot wait for my agile mithral breastplate.

Methodios waits for either of the bards to act first, hoping for a song.

Delay until after the skald and bard, will accept raging song if available. Either way, Methodios acts when they have.

The slayer comes down hard with his large axe, attempting maximum damage for this blow.

Cold iron greataxe, power attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 1 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17

18 damage (20 to hit) with either inspire courage or raging song, 19 damage (21 to hit) with both.

Holy crap, my martial character has skill ranks! Including a knowledge one and profession (sailor). I must have been feeling particularly roleplay-esque when I made him. Awesome sauce.

Having struck out at it, Methodios takes a good hard look at the creature he is facing.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Mor'targh steps out of the door way, and away from the lizards. (5 foot step)"Excuse me, Logg, allow me to step out of your way so you may greet these fellas"

Then Mor'targh casts a burning ray at the red-lined lizard man:
Ranged Touch: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0 (+2 Dex, -4 shooting into melee)
Elemental Ray(FIRE!): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Move up in the back and inspire rage

FYI - you cannot both move and delay... I assume you are readying to attack once a bard or skald start singing?

Methodios draws his cold iron greataxe and moves nimbly past the lizard thing to better allow his companions to attack.

I assume you'd only need to go by the one... due to Methodios's sickened condition, he fails to get by the creature.

Mor'targh's ray of fire is about as effective as the creature's club... and in fact strikes the exact same point!

Logg, Theron, Lady BroKhan, and Jin are up!

Logg ninja'do you.

Accepts inspire rage
A joyfully pissed off Lady BroKhan moves out from behind the desk, ignores the prey Methodios clearly has chosen and moves onto the next Trog.. "This is why they send me!"

Heavy pick swings: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

The map seems to have disappeared, so I have no idea if where I 5' stepped to is even legal...

Ping curses his luck for getting stuck in melee. He might be a fighter, but hand to hand combat was not his specialty. Grumbling at both his misfortune for being in melee, and for the fact that the pathfinder society he was so excited to join apparently keeps smelly lizards as traps for new recruits, he pulls his battleaxe out and hacks at the nearest one, hoping to create some distance to draw his bow.

Edit: Sorry, stupid - meant to accept the raging song, not that it will help.

Attack, sickened, raging song: 1d20 + 3 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 - 2 + 1 = 13 for Damage, Sickened, raging song: 1d8 + 3 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 2 + 1 = 5

Frick. Forgot the sickened. I was all ready for it and all. Sorry about that. Yes, Methodios just went past the one.

"These foul creatures... *urp*... I recognize them!" Methodios says proudly, seeming somewhat surprised, "They are troglodytes. This... *urp*... stench is nothing overly supernatural... *urp*... just their normal body odor."

Ok, I've restored the map as best I can. Please be careful and not delete anything on the map. If you do, please try to undo as soon as possible. It is easy to mess up and grab the wrong layer!

"Lady" BroKhan waits for Theron to start singing, and then turns the poor troglodyte in to a pile of paste, bones, and blood with her pick.

Inspired, Jin Shu Ping decides that it is time to try melee for once, but even though he is inspired, he is not used to this "melee combat" thing, and swings weakly, missing.

Waiting on Theron, whose actions will not matter to the poor trog that Lady BroKhan destroyed.

After a brief coughing and sputtering fit, Theron swallows down the churning knot in his stomach and begins an inspirational ballad for his companions.

I cannot tell where I am at on the tac map but I would move up behind the melee line and begin bardic performance - inspire courage

Once Theron starts inspiring his team, the trogs start attacking. "Red" tried to pound Methodios into submission.
club: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
claw: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 3 = 9
bite: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (5) - 3 = 2

While he flails ineffectively, "blue" steps up and attacks who seems to be the most dangerous opponent, Lady BroKhan.
club: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
claw: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (5) - 3 = 2
bite: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (10) - 3 = 7

Evidently, he is scared of the "Lady", and also flails ineffectively!

Party is up!

did methodios's readied action take effect?

Forgot that... but yes.
When Logg begins his battle rap (come on, Ray, you can do better than that! This is the ideal time to actually write out the rap that is going to piss off your team mates! ;-) ), Methodios swings. He hits soundly, though not as soundly as Lady BroKhan did. The troglodyte falls, though unlike the one the barbarian broke, he still breathes.

As a sorcerer who studied the many Pathfinder Chronicles of the "Blue Gnome," Mor'Targh sees a safe passage to the desk of papers and makes his way there. Then begins to rummage through looking for anything interesting.

Is this a cookie recipe? And a beef stew? Troglodytes defending a beef stew, it's probably really good! What else is here? "What else?" indeed.

Thanks for the ready - I just assumed the trog didn't drop... tough bastards! Urgh. Can't use studied target again. Can't wait for 7th level when it becomes a swift action.

Methodios approaches the remaining troglodyte and slashes at him with his already blood drenched axe.

Cold iron greataxe, power attack, inspire courage, inspired rage, sickened: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 14
Damage, power attack, inspire courage, inspired rage, sickened: 1d12 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 3 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 21

"Ha!" Ping celebrates the quick deaths of both of the troglodytes as he takes his opportunity to step back. He drops his battleaxe and unslings his bow from his shoulder. With practiced efficiency, he knocks an arrow and releases it towards the last remaining lizard.

Attack, Point Blank, Precise Shot, Deadly Aim, Inspire Courage, Sickened: 1d20 + 5 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 2 + 1 = 6 for damage, Point Blank, Deadly Aim, Inspire Courage, Sickened: 1d8 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 10

"Oh for $&%# sake." he laments as his elbow bumps the back wall, forcing the arrow to go wide from the measly distance away.

That was actually my live reaction when I saw the roll. Instead of making it OOC I decided it was appropriate in character. Yeesh.

As Mor'Targh decides to ignore the combat, Methodios steps up with vile intent, but misses the trog. Jin Shu Ping drops his axe, going back to his preferred weapon, but does not better than he had before.

Logg, Theron, and Lady BroKhan are up

Battle song- http://tinyurl.com/Inspirerage

Draws kukri and attacks

kukri: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 141d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

+2 to hit is with both bard songs included?

Nope, good catch, am I modifing for attacking around the corner or is Jack ?

kukri: 1d20 + 2 +1 +1 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Contines song.

OMG -- TOTAL RAGE -- GM JUST GOT RICK-ROLLED!!!

Cover adds to AC -- so I handle that

Now just Theron and Lady BroKhan.

BTW
Logg misses, as fate intervenes and penalizes him for his poor choice of URLs to post.

Lady BroKahn removes her Pick from the bloody floor that slowed her swing more than the Lizard's bones.

Accept rage song again, 5 ft step and swing again

Heavy Pick swing: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Lady BroKahn roars in delight! "Gosh - I do hope there's more o' them...."

"Foul creatures attack from out of sight
Comrades took up arms in the fight
With song to be their guiding light
Enemies soon felt weapons bite
They underestimate my words of might
And so this song is very slight"

The stench of the troglodytes distracts Theron for a moment...

How does that second verse go again? Oh,yeah that's right...

Theron continues his song through a cloud of blood from the unfortunate troglodyte that just exploded on Lady BroKahn's pick.

Lady BroKhan smashes her pick into the final trot, piercing its skull with her weapon it collapses, but the stench does not immediately subside. Mor'targh ignores all of this, though, as he digs through the stacks of papers.

The frogs have no gear worth noting, except for a club and a javelin or two each.

Mor'targh finds a couple of letters. The papers chronicle the personal exploits of Selmius Foster, a famous Pathfinder whose name the PCs recognize from their training as Pathfinder agents. Most of Foster’s more infamous adventures appear here in varying amounts of detail, but it is evident there is another investigation he had been pursuing before he died: the lost records of a Society agent named Eylysia.

Maybe they are clues?

I write this letter in the event that my upcoming expedition to Bhopan goes poorly. In this trove I have left my considerable findings, which I hope will be of use to our growing Society. While most of this information will no doubt already be in the hands of fellow Society members, there is a personal matter which I have left contained within.

Events over the past decade have led me to suspect a fellow agent of hoarding her knowledge and not submitting it for review. This woman_a surprisingly sensible gnome by the name of Eylysia_has partaken of almost as many missions as I, yet she reports only a third of what I have brought to light. In order to ensure knowledge is not concealed, I have begun an investigation into Eylysia and her activities here in Absalom, hoping to find her hidden repository of stored knowledge. Thus far, I have come across two promising leads.
The first is Eylysia’s contact with a well-known stonemason by the name of Arkath. I had the displeasure of meeting this fellow in his dying days, when he promised to take any secrets he held to his grave. He was interred in a mausoleum in the Ivy District weeks after our encounter, though I still believe there is more to his connection with Eylysia.
Another lead is Eylysia’s friendship with a member of the Arcanamirium, a local wizard’s guild. The fellow is a gnome by the name of Fimbrik. All of my attempts to speak with him have failed, though I have noted his home address in my files for follow-up.
It is my sincere hope that I am able to return to discover what Eylysia has hidden, but should I not, I entrust this to my assistant Adolphus or any brave Society agents who come across my unfinished work.
_Selmius Foster

My mentor, Selmius Foster, is dead-slain during our journey to the island of Bhopan. I have taken up his investigation into Eylysia's activities, though recent developments mean my time in Absalom is short.

My initial follow-up of Foster's investigation into Arkath involved hiring several diviners to discern the veracity of Selmius's leads. It appears the stonemason was quite honest with my mentor; there is some key clue buried with him in his mausoleum.
I have watched Eylysia for many months since my return, and I have caught her making additions to the Wall of Names-the memorial built in honor of my departed mentor. She has added three names, none of which are true Pathfinders and are likely worth investigating. Their names are:
~ Doulgonlir Caskmail
~ Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne
~ Karina Clamp
Events are in motion that will soon take me to Quantium, after which I will be unable to conclude this investigation. I leave this hidden under the Wounded Wisp, in hopes that one day I might return, or that the Society endures its current woes and a future generation of agents can take up this cause.
-Adolphus

*heavy sigh* guess that was all the fun for now. give me a moment and i'll drag the carcasses into the tunnel. god they smell bad..

see above...ninja'd BroKhan

Ping walks over and inspects the arrow that he plinked off the wall, disgusted at himself for such a poor shot at such a close distance.

recover on 2: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Inspecting the arrow, he notices a fine split down the length of the shaft, rendering the arrow useless.

Figures. You let the stench get the better of you. Control your mind, control your body. Must practice more.

Strapping his bow back across his chest, and re-sheathing the battleaxe he is so loath to use, he approaches the sorcerer, looking over his shoulder to see what is in the book.

Edit:

"Well, this appears far more interesting than a simple booze run for the fun loving venture captain, right my new friends?" Ping looks around to the others. "Perhaps we can deliver the bottle, and then chase this lead down, provided he does not ask another task of us?"

Ping's agent training kicks in, as it was before they entered the cavern, and he begins to take notes, copying the journal entries word for word so he has them for reference.

A tired Lady BroKahn gives a slight chuckle to Ping as she stretches - attempting to shake of the lethargic effects of calming down... "I could use an ale.. even that pond scum served upstairs."

"One bottle sent to retrieve
No mention of...
How many we should leave"

"Well, looks like we have an investigation on our hands," Methodios points out the obvious, interested despite himself, "How about we follow up on the first clue first, eh? Anyone else want to go to Arkath's mausoleum in the Ivy District? Could be some intriguiing follow-up clues there. Otherwise, maybe this Fimbrick is still alive and we could see if he's got any ideas as to what this Eylysia was doing vandalizing the Wall of Names and where here missing reports are!"

Methodios, did you just get excited about looking for lost paperwork? Maybe you'll make a Dark Archivist yet.

"But yes, I agree with Ping, first let's get Drandle Dreng his booze," Methodios agrees, "He'll probably have something else to say. Maybe he can explain why he had a group of ineffectual troglodytes attack us."

"I like the idea of checking this tomb, it says here '[Arkath] promised to take any secrets he held to his grave.' I bet he has toys in his tomb! Maybe something that can be... tested and cataloged."

Mor'Targh caught himself before getting too excited, but then remembered his training.

Explore, report, cooperate.

Explore: There are still passageways away from this room, from which the Trogs came in...

He looks to see if the room was made and then holes dug into or out of, or if the room was made because of the tunnels that cross through it.
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Report:
Guys, maybe Dreng didn't put those Trogs here. Maybe they found their way in on their own..." Cooperate: "Any thoughts?"

Methodois quickly realizes that the bottle they were supposed to bring was just the key to the secret door. It is still attached to the mechanism that opened it.

Mor'Targh quickly realizes that the passages are natural, probably having been created the same time as the chasm in the room outside.

What's the plan? Follow up a lead, or report to Drang?

"I believe we are to explore, report and cooperate... In that order."

"Well it seems obvious Dreng knew what was in here before he sent us here. He wouldn't have sent us here if he didn't expect us to continue this investigation, which still feels like a contrived set-up. After all, if he sent us here on purpose, then he knows about this journal. And if he knows about this journal, then most assuredly someone from the society has already followed up on this.

But no matter. We will follow the bread crumbs where they lead. I'm not about to let them think I am unwilling to go above and beyond. To the Mausolem?"

I will be hard pressed to believe those troglodytes weren't at least lured here. None of this is an accident, or a new discovery by any stretch of the imagination.

"bread with the beer.... that's a good idea"

Lady BroKahn slaps Ping on the back and starts out of the room.

"To the mausoleum, unless anyone wants to find more of those stinky troglodytes," Methodios wrinkles up his nose, making it clear what he thinks of that idea, "Let's be circumspect about it, though. I don't know if just being a Pathfinder entitles you to simply go through someone's tomb just like that. I wonder how long this Arkath has been dead for anyway... or Eylysia for that matter."

Methodios checks that all is in order, wipes the troglodyte blood from his greataxe, smiles viciously and adds, "I sure hope we encounter some walking dead while we're there. While this combat was a pleasant surprise, I'd definitely appreciate if there was some more."

Yeah, voting for the mausoleum first. Methodios will acquiesce if anyone wishes to speak to Dreng first.

The group approaches the mausoleum (see tactical)

Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site: a plot of land in Eastgate operated by one of the more popular faiths. Buried in a mausoleum on the church’s property, Arkath paid a substantial sum to have his remains guarded. A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds, and although members of the faith and city guards routinely patrol the property, it is still legal to enter the grounds to respect the departed.
Arkath’s crypt is the northernmost structure on the map.
While the gates into the necropolis are left open to those paying their respects, the doors of the mausoleums are sealed with sturdy stone slabs.

please indicate your plan, and go ahead and move in - but no more than on partial action, for now, please.

"I glad we remembered to alert the folks at the Wisp about the possible trog invasion in the basement"

"Yes," agrees Methodios, "That was terribly nice of us to tell them about the troglodytes. It feels good to be concerned about other people and not just walk out on our own business. I certainly wouldn't want that incautious bîtch Gale to get her comeuppance for not maintaining that plank properly."

Methodios walks up towards the statue (20ft move action northwards) and tries to figure out which of the gods or patrons of the city the statue is supposed to represent.

Only got a chance if it's a local dignitary. Methodios has no clues about religious matters.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"I think we should scout out a little, and make sure no-one is watching," Methodios suggests as he ponders, "And then break in to the tomb!"

Ping's hands itch, wanting to unsling his bow. They were likely set up last time, and he didn't want to be caught unawares twice in a row, but he was also concerned someone may ask him why he might have an arrow knocked when "paying respects" to the dearly departed.

He holds for now, carefully moving towards the center, a few paces behind Methodios.

"Solid plan Methodios. Let's see if there is an easier way than through those giant stone slabs. That just seems a little too obvious."

Perception, take 20: 20 + 7 = 27 not pressed for time, and need to make sure there are no patrolling guards anyways, so no reason not to take our time looking for another way into the tomb. Also, which way is north on the map? I would think up, but the statement about the northernmost building being the correct one doesn't make sense. Edit: Nevermind, looks like part of the map was somehow cut off when I looked at it the first time.

Lady BroKahn follows Methodios's lead. "Breaking easy. If you want discreet... You would need to be more efficient than your attempts on the second lizard."

"Let's get a closer look first. Who knows, maybe some grave robber left a secret door for us to find." Mor'Targh says keeping up with Methodios and Lady BroKhan

I just hope we don't run into zombies; smell worse than those Troglodytes.

Perception(Looking for Guards or Zombies): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Seriously?! My dice!

Oops. Just realized the map got turned from the way it was in the PDF. North is up. Your target is at the top. I took the liberty of re-orienting the map and your minis. Fix as needed.

You notice a gentleman coming around, wearing the garb of a cleric of Abadar. "Good evening, folks. I am Kefilwe, Priest of the Lord of the First Vault, tasked to guard this mausoleum this evening. Who are you, and how may I help you?"

Methodios, the status is more likely one of a diety. It is a male, holding a rather large key.

Lady BroKahn will look sharply at Mor'targh and Methodios, and silently walk towards the nearest couple headstones and crouch - studying the inscriptions.

Is that a zombie token?

Mor'Targh ventures further up towards the claimed cleric of Abadar, very suspicously as the token looks like a f#$%@n zombie
and sniffs the air.

Perception (Smelling for Zombies): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

I give up rolling...

"Good evening sir. My companions and I are working on some genealogical survey, just filling out some family trees." He says with a wave of his hands, "For example I can trace my ancestry all the way back to one of the earliest Taldan houses." Proud of his heritage he stands straighter and clasps his hands behind his back. "However, tonight we are looking the lineage of ARk... Arki... no... Ping?! What was the name of this branch of the family we're investigating?" He calls over his shoulder.