Heroes of Westcrown

Game Master Moondragon Starshadow

William catches the cloth, and reaches over to hand him a robe. He shakes his head smirking. "Note to self: Next book to write: Bardic guide on how to win friends and influence people."

William sighs slightly and shrugs. "Trial by pleasure, and if I remember correctly that involves vials and flensing knives. This is certain to be a bit odd."

Phaedra smirks as Thesling goes down to Corey's punch.

Looking over to William. "Well, I can assure you that my idea of pleasure does not involve flensing knives. Also it makes me a bit worried about the sections involving any actual pain. It has to be rather bad to get past their idea of pleasure."

Millech comes from backstage and brings forth the aforementioned knives and 4 opaque jars with lids on them (about the size of a large mayonnaise jar). Jimmy says, "Jimmy wants to know what's inside." He starts to open one of the jars and Robahl leaps like a frog and stops him just in time from opening it. "But Jimmy wants to look!"

Robahl says, "Jimmy can't play Baliff if Jimmy looks! You cannot open those jars back here! Remember everyone, when you open the jar, you must act like you are enjoying it for a few moments for the audience, no matter what!" He then hands you some small daggers. "Once you've given your performance, you can, uh, use these, to uh, end the pleasure. They are only half-blessed, since the ritual wasn't completed. Still, it's better than nothing."

Thesling remains on the floor crying like a little kid. Robahl motions for one of you to deal with him, as Delour is getting close to finishing her song and the stagehands have already pulled the rack device off-stage.

Just a reminder to get whatever you want done off-stage between acts needs to be completed before we begin. Someone will need to deal with Thesling via a diplomacy check DC15 to convince him to get back on stage after being savagely beaten (in his mind anyway). Thesling's never been punched before, so this is all new to him. We will begin in about 6 hours from this post.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Phaedra sighs with disgust as she looks at the famed actor crying on the floor. What the hell is he still crying about? He turned the rack on Corey and he endured that without whining about, as well as taking some lashes from the whip. One little punch and he balls up on the floor as if someone took a warhammer to his private parts.

Unable to even pretend to be nice to Thesling in an attempt to get him back on stage, Phaedra decided to remind him of what he could lose by not going on, figuring that public humiliation and the loss of his status would frighten him into going on with the play. "Thesling, you really need to your arse up and take your place on the stage. You know very well how important this play is to the Mayor and you need to remember all the very important people out there in the audience waiting for this play to continue. If you do not get up and get out there on the stage in time for your cue, then you will surely never work in this town again and you will undoubtedly suffer untold humiliation and your career as an actor will be over and you will be reduced to doing menial work. Like some kind of stagehand or janitor."

Thesling gets up off the floor, still sniffiling. "You're right. I'm sorry, I've just never been attacked off stage before." He straightens up and walks over to Corey. "Corey, you are right. Here, take my blade. This one has a full blessing on it and it should make the act better."

Corey, you get to make a sense motive check, DC18. I took 5 off his result because "The lie is unlikely" modifier applies. Should you fail, your character believes the knife will enhance the performance.

Keep it Thesling, you need all the help you can get. I'll use my OWN blade...I won't even touch those tainted by Asmodeous's get. I don't need or want that help...You may need a crutch like that but don't portray your own inadequecies on me.

Corey gives Thesling a look of disgust....Never been attacked before....I didn't even hurt you.

Perhaps we will be lucky enough to have a duel scene as the final trial...maybe your blood will satisfy the crowd and your 'crutch' better than an ignorant horse...

Corey walks to the curtain ready to begin, ignoring all the proferred blades.

Thesling says, "Okay Corey. Use your own blade."

Robahl is dismayed. "While I know you all are untrained monkeys, I still think you should at least use these half-blessed Asmodean blades, to uh, you know, uh, keep the play going, kind of, yeah." Calseinica takes one of the blades.

Does anyone want to NOT use the blades offered besides Corey? If not, you will need a dagger of some sort. I believe some of the characters might have extra daggers on their bodies, so you can ask them. Or, you can go with the half-blessed daggers of Asmodeus. Let me know.

Seeing Corey choose to use his own blade, Pheadra decides to follow his lead.

"No thank you, I will use my own dagger as well."

Tristvalid spins his bandolier around to reveal his array of flasks and daggers.

"I got mine," Trist says, but still takes a 'blessed' dagger and replaces it for one in his bandolier. "It might come in handy."

Or I can sell it later if I don't find a back to bury it into.

I will do the obvious thing back stage and cast Detect Magic on the vials and daggers...

Spellcraft vials 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Spellcraft daggers 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

****
Going back on stage Corey will be dressed back in mostof his "Domino" gear....including rapier, whip and a dagger in his belt. The bandoliers and pack will remain together off stage. His mask and gloves will be in his pack.

The daggers are indeed magical. The jars are not (more of a jar than a vial, think big jar of mayo or something).

Robahl is very obviously worried. "You're kidding, right? I know you all are pretty stupid people, but..."

Thesling says, "Have faith Robahl, they can do it!"

"Okay Thesling, you better be right about this."

"Of course I'm right. Let's get on with the play."

He moves into position on the stage, and Delour finishes her song and starts to walk off stage.

Last chance......I'll give it at least 1 more hour to be sure.

Phaedra rolls her eyes at the director and sighs as she takes a dagger to shut him up. I'm still using my own dagger though....

William will look at his vial and dagger a moment puzzling.

"Oculos caelo veritatem detegat."

William intones a soft and simple spell, his eyes going a brilliant azure blue as he examines the items.

Spellcraft for Dagger if needed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Spellcraft for Vial if needed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

To prove a final point, just before walking on stage, Corey will set one of Dominos vials of holy water on a stool, unstopper it and stick the Asmodean dagger into the fluid.

Tristvalid limbers up, happy to have survived so far. He sidles up next to Phaedra.

"You think Thesing is going to keep it together?"

Tristvalid does some deep breathing exercises while awaiting her answer, trying to stay calm.

Phaedra shrugs. "At this point, I'm just not sure. All I know is that it has been incredibly disappointing to find out what a spineless little jerk he really is after I have followed his career for so long."

With a 28 spellcraft total you know the dagger provides a +5 (unholy) bonus to your Heal skill. Don't worry, if anyone stills wants to use it, you can as it will be provided to you on stage.

Robahl pushes you all on stage, as he says, "The time for screwing around is over, get on stage you bumbling idiots." Thesling and Calisenica rush onto the stage. Jimmy almost goes onto the stage, but he holds him back by his collar.

As you all get on stage, Thesling sneers at Corey and Tristain. The curtain rises slowly and the bright lights again blind you momentarily.

ACT 3: TRIAL BY PLEASURE

Robahl let's go of Jimmy's collar and pushes him abruptly onto the stage, as he stumbles forward carrying a tray of large jars and multiple curved flensing blades (that you know have a +5 [unholy] Heal skill bonus). Jimmy hands each of you a large jar. When you take it, you can feel something inside the jar is moving. He allows you to take the blade if you choose to do so. He then walks off the stage.

HAANDERTHAN
Thesling booms out, "It is said that a liar’s pain is easy to bear, but pleasure steals truth from even the most well-tended fortress. So let it be with ye, Larazod. Here before you now are the Flukes of Asmodeus." He's clearly pointing to your jar. "Their bite more pleasurable than the caresses of a thousand succubi (which you no doubt have enjoyed, you treacherous Abyssal-loving fool). Taste of their deep burrowing bliss. Their rapturous journey through your body shall explore the deepest, darkest pleasures any mortal has ever known. Their soul-shuddering wanderings end in your skull, where they plant their young who consume you in an orgiastic frenzy—leaving you an empty husk of a thing—a spent lover, drooling in blissful oblivion forever."

There's a brief pause, letting that part sink in. He then continues, "Unless, of course, you can resist these god-bending pleasures. This time, the trial is not yours alone to bear. Let us see if your trusted companions’ faith remains as unshakeable as yours. Who shall be the first to die in spasms of ecstasy?"

Long pause, then Thesling gives Calseinica a dirty look.

ILSANDRA
Stuttering a second as she seems a bit stunned, Calseinica says, "Oh, how I long to face this judgment!"

Please see an updated post in the discussion thread about the blades.

Tristvalid's sneer resumes.

"Master Larazod, most unholy saint of our dark Asmodeus, please allow me to prove my devotion to your cause. To think my biting lash flayed your chaste red skin, and cracked such a noble hide as yours. I shall be first to face this trial, if you so wish it."

Tristvalid's face goes to a look of confidence...uh huh, total confidence. Definitely.

Corey nods to Tristvalid Your courage is beyond question. Show this lickspittle Magistrate the meaning of devotion, my friend.

T, I hope you truly are up for this my friend. I expect this to be a real trial for most of us.

Flukes of Asmodeus

I'm supposed to do what? WHY? WHY!!!

Tristvalid stumbles toward the vials, not completely sure what he is supposed to do or that he even wants to do it.

"Asmodeus bear witness to my devotion. This half-breed speaks only truth!"

Tristvalid gulps and places the fluke on his arm, enduring the pain as long as he can. Tristvalid grits his teeth. As the pain continues, Tristvalid reaches for a dagger to remove the fluke from his own flesh...grabbing the unholy dagger to deal with the unholy pain.

No art is worth this! GET IT OUT!!

Tristvalid rips out the fluke, skewering it on his dagger with ease.

He holds it up, along with his bloody arm to show the carnage, smiling.

1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9 Bluff - "I want more!"

Tristain just barely avoids crying and vomiting as he tries to convince others of the pleasure.

Steeling himself for what is about to happen, Corey opens his jar and pulls out his fluke and places it on his arm as well.

ILSANDRA
Calseinica moans, "Oh, to be that fluke! To burrow into such sweet flesh!"

1 round of Inspire Competence +2 to heal checks for all PCs except for me for 3 rounds (lingering performance)

I sing only of the joy of supplication to our dark lord. This pleasure is only a gift of Asmodeus’s truth. I would gladly die at this fluke’s bite, but alas, my duty here is yet undone, and so I scorn this pleasure
with a bleeding blade. I shall not relent until your lies are revealed, foul Magistrate.

Corey digs in deep with the blade and draws out the grub and then flicks it towards the "Magistrate"

Ranged Touch 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Corey sways slightly and then raises his blade in triumph.

His stomach twisting and turning, Jimmy watches his comrades suffer through the second trial. Unable to help them at this point of time, he's forced to wait until the curtains are lowered again.

Jimmy wants to help you... Jimmy's sorry guys...

William shivers then focuses his mind for a moment. I sure hope this works. Grubs can get nasty. He focuses for a moment then opens his eyes, which are now glowing a blood red.

"Приди, плоть едок."

William jumps back slightly as a rot grub slithers its way out of the jar, crawling up his arms, and it finally starts to dig into his neck. As it does, his eyes open wide as he cries out in feigned ecstasy.

"Oh! It has been so long! Such sweet, aching ecstasy."

William watches the creature burrow into his neck, and starts his own rendition of Tallis and his three wives, though William has a very terrible singing voice. He keeps letting the creature burrow until it almost is lost to sight before he digs his dagger in to carve the creature out.

William then shivers again for a few more moments, before looking up to Corey. "Between you, my hideous half-breed young master, and a dream of three succubi’s frolics on my flesh—a hard choice, Larazod, but somehow your sweet countenance won out."

After seeing what the others just went through, Phaedra finds it hard to continue on with her part, but the alternative was just to quit the play and there was no way that she would ever quit any play. That was something no serious actor would ever do if they ever wanted to find work again.

"My turn, I suppose."

Phaedra/Tybain opens up her jar containing the fluke and presses the opening of it up against her arm, allowing the foul little creature to slither onto her arm and begin burrowing into her soft flesh.

Phaedra/Tybain begins giggling uncontrollably in an effort to not just cry out in pain and disgust as she feels the fluke burrowing into her.

"Oooh, ahhh, I do not know this feeling."

Please hold posts...I'm going to allow William to reconsider his post. See discussion thread. Arg, Pheadra beat me.

I am quick like a bunny and stealthy like a ninja.

post in discussion.

The crowd audibly grumbles and sounds of "boo" can be heard as it is rather clear to the crowd that Dentris is casting a spell rather than opening the jar with the rot grub. It is somewhat quieted when William plunges the knife deep in his neck, but avoiding the danger has caused the crowd to have quite a negative reaction.

I've updated the running score, please continue with the play

William scoffs, laughing at Phaedra at he watches the grub closely.

"Ha! Watch the virginal knight squirm!"

This is just sadistic. How anyone could derive pleasure or enjoyment from this farce is beyond me. Nethys preserve us.

Phaedra does her best to get her lines out between gritted teeth.

"It is as if a thousand feathers assault my flesh - especially my most ... tender ...parts. What strange pleasure is this?!"

Walking to the stage edge and gesturing back towards Phaedra Ah, Aroden’s servants, so like sweet children they be. Half turning back to gaze at Phaedra as he again begins to Inspire Competence +2 for her heal check. Hold true, my dear friend!

Unable to stand it anymore, Phaedra begins digging the knife into her arm to remove the disgusting little fluke.

Fort save for the round it stays in 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
con dmg 1d2 ⇒ 1
Heal check the second round to remove 1d20 + 5 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 3 + 2 = 30
dmg to grub 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7
Fort save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
con dmg 1d2 ⇒ 2
Total of 3 con damge

"I am well, though I may never be the same."

Haanderthan/Thesling:

His jaws clenched in frustration over the others' survival, Thesling hisses his lines like an angered viper: "Curse your persistence. All lies eventually reveal their ugly fangs. I shall draw them as venom from a wound."

Curse you! Just wait till the next trial!

Th curtain drops quickly.

please roll for acting skills. You may interact and do things backstage. Millich will collect the knives.

Edited because I forgot to heal Tristain too.

Phaedra hurries to dink Corey with the CLW wand as soon as the curtain goes down.

CLW for Corey: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Then she takes out a couple scrolls from her bag and casts the spells from them upon Corey and herself. Then she casts a spell upon Tristain.

lesser restoration on Corey: 1d4 ⇒ 4
lesser restoration on Phaedra: 1d4 ⇒ 4
lesser restoration on Tristain: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Then dinks herself, Tristain and Corey with the CLW wand again.

CLW for Corey: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW for Phaedra: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW for Phaedra: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW for Tristain: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW for Tristain: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Then, when done, she takes the time go throw up in a corner in disgust at the thought of that horrid little creature burrowing into her skin.

Perform Skill for Act 3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Jimmy runs around backstage to provide his comrades with a touch of magical guidance that will hopefully help them improve their acting.

Guidance: +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check.
Use it on your Perform roles, before it expires!

If anyone's in need of some more guidance, Jimmy will provide it. Jimmy will also cast resistance on everyone just before the play's resumed. "Jimmy wishes you good luck! Jimmy hopes you won't die!"

Resistance: +1 resistance bonus on saves for a minute.

Perform (Act): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13
Nothing to do for the Bailiff in Act 4, but figured I'd roll. Perhaps Jimmy's roll could serve to aid someone else, as if he's giving constructive criticism to help someone perform better?

Uhhh, you can't give guidance on a perform roll after the fact. It's to represent their acting in the play while they were doing it. The curtain is down...If you gave it prior to the start, it would only last 1 minute anyway....so, not really useful but nice idea. I'll see if Corey can beat a DC20 to improve the performance, or a DC25 if he's really good to offset the issues, then I'll say how the crowd reacts. As of right now you are at -4 for the act and -3 total. It's not terrible but certainly not where you want to be so early in the play.

Backstage, you see a huge and curious sculpture of iron, polished wood, and green glass. The sculpture is that of a vast serpent, it’s mouth large enough for a Medium creature to slip inside, its belly made of transparent but
very thick glass. (Okay, it's not exactly a picture of a serpent, but you get the idea, best thing I could find.) As you can tell, the serpent is indeed filled with some kind of fluid in the bottom. There's a distinct menthol odor coming from the mouth of the snake, and if you put your nose close enough to it, the inside of your nose starts to dry up like you just ate something spicy.

William comes back holding his neck tenderly. "Phaedra..., could I trouble you for a little bit of mending myself?"

He sighs slumping down for a bit. "I am sorry, I was worried that I would not be able to stand up to the nasty nature of those foul creatures. I do not suppose I did you all any favors."

Tristain thanks Phaedra for the healing.

"Nice that you all made it. I had never felt pain like that before...and then to cut it out with my own hand...it seemed like a good idea, but could never imagine another time it would make sense" Tristain says, shaking his head.

"At least Thesing make it though that last act. You did well to pull him through, Phaedra. He even showed some signs of life near the end...he was flat during the first part of that act."

Tristain is at full hp, full con. :)

Perform 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Corey is up to full normal again, thank you Phaedra!

Any extra props for hitting Thesling with a grub?

Great job everybody! Phaedra you were magnificent...William may I see that jar a moment? Corey will take the jar from William and walk over to Thesling with his hand on top ready to open it...So my friend...how is your faith in Asmodeus and the theater now? Corey points at the unholy dagger in holy water by the curtain Go ahead you should have a try...it doesn't hurt that much...I mean REAL Chelish actors suffer for their art don't we Phaedra?

Walking away from the worthless 'actor' to the group of active performers..
So any thoughts before we go on again?

Phaedra also dinks William with the wand 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Any extra props for hitting Thesling with a grub?

Besides making me laugh and telling a good story....

The crowd moans at the finish of the play. Despite the very solid acting, they are displeased with the lack of daring displayed.

Once the stagehands put the large glass snake on the stage, you see them change costumes so that they look like this. There are about 6 stagehands required to push this thing around.

Thesling doesn't reply to your taunts. He's content knowing the trials get harder.

Robahl says to William, "If you try to ruin my play again, I'll have you sacrificed and Millech will run you as an illusion. Do I make myself clear?" The Asmodean priest comes backstage huffing and puffing with his daughter in tow. "What are you doing! This is not how the play is described. It is blasphemy to Asmodeus the all powerful. Robahl, anymore folly with the play and I will call in security and have you all arrested." The girl claps at the idea of you all being arrested. Of course, I'm sure you'd get a fair trial.

Robahl says to everyone, "Before you ask, yes that is acid inside. Once you give your last line, slide down the snake's mouth. Stay there until all five of you are inside. The stagehands will then come and flip the snake so you can escape. This should really be exciting!"

Is the glass clear, opaque or frosted? What color glass is it?

Whispering to William Any thoughts to get us of of there when they are slow to release us?

Whispering to Phaedra I think it will be up to you to keep us all alive together in there...

Clear green thick glass. Description above is all I have on it. Additional details in discussion thread.

William blinks and thinks for a moment. "Be honest with you Corey, I have not the slightest idea. I am going to have to think about this one for a little bit."

William takes to studying the glass snake to get an idea of its sturdiness, and how opaque it is, as he starts to formulate his plans.