OMB's Masks of the Living God Module (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master James Martin

As MIkail puns and the party groans, you hear the sound of raspy laughter from down the closest tunnel, followed by a bawdy drinking song sung in an oddly high- and off-pitched voice.

Mikails head whips around at the sound of the laughter. He looks at his friends just once before blending into the darkness and scouting ahead.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"that was ... odd..." is the only thing that Hoshiko can stammer out after the raspy laughter down the tunnel is heard...

"Sure was," Fera agrees with Hoshiko. As he watches Mikail vanish into the shadows, he says, "I thought our boy had cracked after the ladder bit him. Good to see he's still the unsinkable Mika, setting off into the darkness. Hope he doesn't get too far away..."

Oh trust me.. Mikail is going to be poking EVERYTHING with his dagger from now on... lmao

Mikail moves down about 100' of tunnel before it opens into a large room, much like the ladder room. A dirty blanket stretches across the corridor ahead, creating a ragged partition. A flickering, fire-like glow emanates from the other side. On the other side you can hear low voices and the bawdy singing of someone clearly on the verge of laughing or crying.

Mikail quietly returns to his team, waving them forward with a finger over his mouth to indicate silence. He then leads the way back to the blanket divider, and once reaching it he draws his rapier and waits for the team to be ready.

Hoshiko follows Mikail trying her best to keep quiet...

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Though he knows it's hopeless, Fera moves down the hallway as quietly as he can. He whispers as they move, "Glad Mika didn't get attacked by that curtain, he'd never get over it." A bit more thoughtfully, he adds, "Let's see if we can talk instead of fighting, it served us well with the filth tripods."

Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (16) - 3 = 13

You sneak past the dirty sheet to find four people clustered around a campfire. Three of them are passing around a water pipe that emits a syrupy smell, while the fourth seems passed out under a pile of rags. All you can see of that one is a vague humanoid shape.

The three men around the fire cackle and jostle each other, taking turns smoking what smells like pesh. In fact, judging by their blackened fingers, they're habitual users of the drug. And they haven't noticed you yet.

Zolarus trails behind his companions hoping the noise from his heavy armor doesn't alert the smoking patrols. Stealth: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (18) - 5 = 13

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Hoshiko looks over at Ferabras and Zolarus and says..."Shhhhhhh!"

Fera gives Hoshiko a nod, then shrugs as if to say, I can't be too quiet if I'm going to talk to them.

Taking a step towards the fire, Ferabras clears his throat to catch their attention, then speaks, "Hello, friends. I'm sorry to interrupt your relaxing evening, but we'd like to pass by and would prefer to do so peaceably. And while we're here, perhaps you could tell me why you've chosen to have your little party in this inconvenient little spot?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

The three men shout in fear as Ferabras steps up and speaks, scrambling to grab their weapons, which prove to be daggers and improvised clubs made from chair legs. The fourth person doesn't move at all.

"Whosit? Whatsit? YOU CAN'T HAVE OUR PESH!" The one in front shrieks while brandishing his blade, which looks rusted and pitted.

Hoshiko steps forward so as to be seen by the druggies. she will stand to the paladins left...

"Believe me, none of us want your pesh," Ferabras says soothingly. "We mean you no harm, wish only to ask a question or two and be on our way. So, can you tell me what you guys are doing here, other than enjoying the view and a quiet smoke?"

The man stares at you open-mouthed, as if floored that someone would NOT want their pesh. He mutters "It's good pesh. Ain't crap." as if offended by your refusal, but he does lower his knife.

"We's just planning! Planning to stick it to them damn Pactmasters! They's made our pesh illegal and they's won't let us sell it no more. We's come down here cause they can't stop us here! We can move 'bout and they's can't stop us. You sure yer not here fer the pesh?" His eyes narrow and his dagger raises slowly.

Ferabras just barely manages to not roll his beady, yellow eyes, then says, "I"m sure it's fine pesh, we're just not in the market for any. Does anyone else come this way to avoid the Pactmasters? Maybe you could show us around, and we'll be sure not to mention we saw you to the Pactmasters' enforcers."

The pesh addict ponders whether or not this is a threat, then ponders whether the tiefling really wants his pesh or not, then gets distracted by the sudden desire to have more pesh.

The pile of rags suddenly shifts and you can see eyes staring at you from gaps in the rags.

The man finally seems to come back to where his train of thought derailed. "Um, they's sometimes slavers who come through here. Sometimes. But they's mostly leave us be and we don't bother them since they's always armed and growling."

Fera gestures towards the eyes peering out from the pile of rags and asks, "What's with him? Is he sick, stoned, or just shy?"

Mikail hesitates at the curtain. The rest of the team has already gone through, but he can't help himself. He draws his dagger and pokes a few holes in it to be sure it really was a blanket. Finally, he pops around the curtain, but stays in the back of the group while Ferabras has the druggies attention. He looks about the room paying most of his attention to the four men, but making sure nothing and no one else is hiding anywhere.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Sense Motive on the addicts answers to Fera: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

The pesh addict shrugs. "Who's what now?" He looks confused. The other two addicts glance at each other, but both look puzzled.

Mikail gently nudges Ferabras and Zolarus and tilts his head towards the pile of rags, making sure he draws their attentions to it.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 20

The person under the pile of rags doesn't stand or respond, but the pile shifts slightly.

Ferabras extends his senses, feeling for the presence of evil under the pile of rags. At the same time, he says to the chatty pesh-head, "You don't see anything under this pile of rags? Something looking out at us?"

Detect Evil on thing under rags.

The thing under the rags is radiating faint evil.

"Wellsit just me 'n Ed and Ahmed here, right, so's I dunno who that is..." the addict stammers out while glancing hard at you, then the pile of rags. The rags suddenly bark out a harsh laugh as the person springs to their feet, revealing a woman with harsh features wielding a falchion! She wears an off stylized three eyed jackal's head pendant prominently around her neck! "Looking for slavers, eh? I'll make sure you never find them!"

Round 1:
Mikail
Falchion Woman
Ferabras, Hoshiko, Soran and ZOlarus

Mikail is up first!

We found her! By accident! Does Mika get sneak attack damage because he's before her in initiative, and thus she's flat-footed? Or was her leaping to her feet and acting all menacing a surprise round action, that would make her not flat-footed?

No, she's still flatfooted. If she had managed to stay undetected, then surprise round, but since Mikail noticed something was amiss, normal combat!

Cool. Just wanted to be sure Mikail gets to shine!

Why, thank you, good sirs! Lol!

Mikail whips out his rapier as he darts in quick as a snake. "I knew something was off!!" he cries out, stabbing forward with his rapier at the woman.

pokey poke: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (2, 5, 1) = 16

She is also Bewildered for one round: -2 penalty to AC. The target takes an additional -2 penalty to AC against all attacks made by the rogue

Mikail's rapier stabs the woman, who snarls in anger. She swings at he Kitsune! Falchion feint!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 for 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 2) + 5 = 8 damage!

"Stupid fool! I will gut you for my Lady and read the future in your entrails!"

The rest of you are up!

For lack of a better place to stand, Ferabras moves forward, stepping directly into the pesh addicts' campfire! Trusting in his infernal blood to protect him from the worst of the flames, he stands in the fire and slashes at the woman! As he strikes, flames from the disturbed fire wreathing his legs, he shouts at the addicts, "Get out of the way or it'll be your entrails in the flames!"

Move forward, attack the jackal-woman! Not sure where the pesh-heads fit in the initiative order, but it sure would be nice to have them out of the way.

+1 Greatsword, PA: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 - 2 = 22
Greatsword damage, PA: 2d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 8 + 6 = 20

Campfire damage should be 1d6, let's see if it overcomes his fire resistance 5: Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Zolarus surprised by his companions actions suddenly casts Ill Omen (next two rolls) on the falchion wielding woman. He also readies a Misfortune on the peshheads (Base roll 11+).

The addicts stumble to the side, confused as to what's going on, but not yet belligerent enough to act. Ferabras's sword slices deep, but the woman fights on!

Soran and Hoshiko!

Hoshiko charges her sword, moves to the lady foe and swings at her unleashing electrical energy in the attack as well...

BB ADS+SG: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
DMG: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13+SG DMG: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 4, 2) = 14
possible crit
BB ADS+SG: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
DMG: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14+SG DMG: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Ferabras and Mikail may have injured the Lamashtan woman, but Hoshiko is clearly out for blood! Darting forward, leaping over a cowering Pesh addict, Hoshiko's blade crackles with electricity and nearly cuts the woman in half! She tumbles backwards, blood fountaining over the Pesh addicts, who being high and covered in blood, prudently scream in high pitched voices and race from the camp!

Soran lowers his bow. "Wow."

End of combat! She's dying, but due to a prudent dose of bear's endurance, isn't quite dead yet. Though she will be in 3 rounds if no one staunches her bleeding.

Zolarus moves adjacent and heals the woman with a minor curing wand.

CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

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She's stable, but still looks deathly pale and is wickedly wounded.

DM – is she conscious? If she is, we’ve got some questions for her. If not, Fera will give her another tap with his CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Once the woman is able to speak, Fera kneels beside her and says, ”I think we should try this again, perhaps a bit less roughly. Who are you? Why were you hiding and spying on us? And does the name Othine mean anything to you?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

She is not conscious. And not even after that tap!

Okay, another tap, same questions: CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
And a third tap if needed: CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Ferabras moves the woman's weapon away from her, grabs hold of her firmly, and heals her to the point she can be questioned.

The woman's eyes flutter open and she hisses when she sees where she is.

"Infidels! Kill me and be done with it."

Mikail stares in shock at Hoshiko for a moment. Finally, he just shakes his head and wipes his rapier clean before putting it away. "That was a hell of a hit!!" he says in awe to the woman as the others try to revive the gory mess that is laying on the floor at their feet. As she wakes up and hisses, he shakes his head sadly.

"We do not have to be enemies here.. Lets just sit here and talk for a moment! Remember, you attacked us after I invited you to the conversation!" he tries to entreat the woman.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Gm, The text of "Charm Person" could be taken a few ways here. Although I do not believe that we are actively threatening her, she may indeed feel threatened by the situation. Mikail, I believe, would know these limits placed on the spell and if this situation would not outright prevent the spell from working would try it again.

Hoshiko is surprised at how powerful her strike was ... and then smiles ever so slightly... good thing spells used with Spellstrike only improve crits by x2 not their original damage, in this case x5

She then takes her wand of infernal healing to see if that would be better used here on the prisoner.

"I have nothing to say to you, abolitionist. My goddess will drink the water from your eyes before I call you friend!" She spits at your feet, but the spit is still pretty bloody.

She's tied up and still pretty battered. I'd say she'd get the +5 to Will saves here.

Roger Dodger! thats why I left it up to you. I could see both sides of that ruling and wanted to be sure.

Mikail clucks his tongue at the woman before turning to the rest of the team. "I don't think that this is going to go anywhere. Any other suggestions?"

As the team talks, he begins going through the womans pockets and divesting her of her effects. As he does so, he looks her in the eye and loses the honeyed tone to his words. "Well, aren't we helpful today?? I have no love for your kind, but would prefer not to put a dagger into your eye. It's your choice what happens from here."

"Kill me, thief! My goddess waits for me with open arms. She waits for you beyond, with much, much worse." She smirks at you, even as blood drips from her nose.

She possesses the following: 1 potion of cure moderate wounds, foaming powder (3), smokesticks (2), tanglefoot bag, +1 living steel agile breastplate, +1 falchion, repeating light crossbow with 20 bolts, 101 gp.

Ferabras stares at the woman in distaste tinged with fury before calming himself slightly and saying, "It would give me great pleasure to turn you over to the authorities and have them impose justice on you. But I know what the outcome would be, and I won't risk your slaver allies freeing you before you can meet your just end."

He pauses and lets his meaning sink in, then asks, "Any final words? You have one last chance."

Assuming she asks once again for death:

Fera forces the womans head forward and sinks his teeth into the back of her neck, severing her spine and ending her life.

Hope everyone is okay with that outcome, I didn't feel like we were going to get anywhere with her, and it seemed like Mikail at least had the same read on the situation. If anyone really objects, we can say you stopped Fera while he was waiting for the Lamashtan to say her final words.

"Do it, hellspawn. You'll get no aid from me. And murdering a legitimate agent of a legitimate business in Katapesh is going to get you in a world of hurt. I'm an authorized slave-catcher registered with the Pact Masters. And if I go missing, the authorities will find out. And you'll be charged with my murder. After all, you fools are working against the legitimate government and its legal profession of slavery. I imagine they'll LOVE to talk to you."

I for one am good. I thought about taking the queazy route, but after everything Mikail has been through, I think slavers and those that mistreat those weaker than themselves are going to be his line, you know?

Mikail relieves the woman of her items, pocketing the coins and offering up the rest for any that should wish. He stands, looking the woman in the eye. "I know what will happen to my spirit once I fall, and am comfortable with the reward I will receive. You on the other hand, deserve what is coming to you and I hope that your eternity is full of all the pain that you have caused others." With a nod to Ferabras, Mikail steps out of the way. He never once turns his eyes away.