Lucendar's Legacy of Fire PbP

Game Master Lucendar

I agree, I would like to be able to be close to Eli when it hits the fan there, but I'm assuming wherever we wind up, we'll be spotted by the Jackal and his men before the meeting.

Quzman sighs as Abd finishes his blessing on Tyronel, "If I can not persuade you otherwise, then I shall come with you this evening. I fear we may precipitate something untoward with this, but I can not let you go into harms way alone, when we can go together."

Halim looks pleased by Quzman's concession. He beams at the man with pride. "Master Quzman, you are a loyal friend. Though you are wounded, you would still risk much to see after your friends. The Goddess will light our path this night. If we are to go into the Jackal's den, I am pleased to go with men such as yourselves."

As Ty could not come up with a decent spot to hide, he thought long and hard about another plan. "Clearly, we don't want to get Eli in more trouble by showing up in the open. If we cannot hide, what other options are available to us? I don't want him there alone, but it would be even worse on him, if we made things look like a double cross."

Ty is stymied. If there is no place to blend in to the surroundings, he is probably leaning toward staying behind, although he HATES that idea.

"I cannot reliably follow Eli's actions with the crystal ball. For every few minutes that I observe, it takes a long time to re-engage the device. In that time, he could be wisked away."

"With the abduction of Jameena, I think we have to choice but to be close by, or even at the side of Eli for the meeting. Our adversary has made it clear that he, or she, is willing to continue to pick us off one at time. This meeting with only serve to isolate one more of us for their convenience. It may not feel like it, but we do hold the power in this negotiation. We have the scroll, and they are desperate for it. So desperate that they will go to great lengths for it. If we can unlock its secrets, it would make our position even stronger."

"If we are close by and Eli is also taken, do any of you think you can successful follow them back to their lair?"

Does Mahath think he has a chance to successful decode the scroll without Rayhan?

Mahath does not think so, given that Rayhan is specifically a lore specialist and it has taken him days and he still had not cracked the Scroll's "code" so to speak. He can try but it will take definitely longer than a day, at least three before Mahath made any progress, assuming he made the Knowledge rolls.

I know where Eli will be but the rest of you? There's plenty of building/places around though none of them give you a view of the roof of the Municipal building.

Ty decides he will takair position in the closest building, even if he doesn't have a line of sight to the meeting. If the bad guys walk, he'd like a position with a possibility to see them as they approach and leave the meetings.

Mahath will accompany Ty. "I agree we can keep an eye on the building from across the plaza. My only concern is if they have access from below street level."

"My brothers, is it possible that our adversaries do not yet know me? Perhaps we may use this to our advantage?"

"Very good point, Abd. That might be something we could use. If you could find something to do, you could blend in right outside the main building, with no one being the wiser."

Okay, if you're in the vicinity of the meeting at or near midnight, please look at the map provided and tell me where you are.

DM, what are the four building to the immediate left of the Municipal Hall block on your map? Any hiding spots there? That looks like an interesting spot for Ty to saunter, if possible.

The two buildings flanking the Hal are open-air temples; to the North and South pavilions, which are closed at night. The rest of the areas on the map are merchant stalls (rugs, spices, weapons, etc.), also boarded up for the night.

I suppose Ty will try to look inconspicuous at one of the open air temples. Let's say the one to the right.

Quzman will be in between the stalls to the left, trying to act like homeless individual laying down for the night.

I guess I'll go to a temple and try to appear as an innocent priest praying through the night.

Mahath won't stay stationary. He'll wander in a wide circle around the meeting place. Not within the courtyard area, but a block or so away. He'll pick different routes with each loop.

You all reach the market square, abandoned at night, and you see the beautiful Municipal Hall, its doors clearly locked and closed. A few homeless can be seen sleeping around and Quzman fits right in. The Temples are open-air and 2-3 worshipers can be seen at each of the temples, mostly mothers praying for the fates of their sons and daughters. A pair of guard patrols strolls around the square on foot looking for any trouble, especially signs of thievery or vandalism, but mostly keeping to themselves. Seeing no entrance to the Hall, Eli discretely activates the magic of his boots and scampers up the wall to the roof, none the wiser. Depending on how early he arrived before midnight, he finds the roof void of anyone. He takes time to focus his thoughts as he awaits the meeting time.

At about five minutes to midnight, a cloaked figure steps from behind the closed red pavilion to the north. You assume it is male by its figure and its gait. He has a khopesh strapped to his back. He does not appear tall, perhaps about 5'9". He crosses the street and as he does so, you see him pull out a vial of purple liquid and drink it, before the party loses line of sight to him, as he reaches the building from the north.

There is a full moon out so light is not an issue.

Now, we can continue the rp and what comes next through PM or we can put it in the thread and just have the rest of the players rp and not react to stuff they can't hear on a roof 4 stories above them.

I think we have kept the secret of Aletoriss' history long enough

Aletoriss watches as the cloaked figure rises and joins him on the roof, his hand resting on the hilt of Tempest ready to draw should his secret admirer attack. The man gently touches down and speaks.

"Aletoris, Eli, or whatever you are calling yourself these days, glad to see you made it. Trust me, I have been waiting for this moment a long time. A long time to make things right between us, to pay you back for the hell you've put me through. As I can imagine, this may come as a shock to you!" The voice is oddly familiar and then the stranger removes his hood.

Aletoriss takes a deep breath, "Well well, Eli, you have finally caught up with me. I can not say I am too surprised, the Pathfinder Society has high standards for the members it takes in. Though I think 'Hell' might be a strong word, the lady whose company I left you in was more than pleasurable I am sure. Then again the past years have changed us both in ways I could not have foreseen when I made my escape from our homeland... and here we are. We have played the cards we have been dealt and it is all on the table now."

Aletoriss pulls the Wayfinder he stole from Eli out of his pocket, "Unless you just want this returned. No? I suppose you are right, the stakes at this table a bit higher than magical baubles. Well you have the upper hand, pocket aces it seems, and I have been buffing. So here we are, you have Haleen, Rayhan, and Jameena...I have nothing. What do we do now?"

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 Did I see anyone following Eli as he approached the building?

No, you did not see anyone following him.

Eli snickers at you as you pull out the Wayfinder. "Ah, you still have it, I see. After all this time. And don't mention the Pathfinders to me! Do you know they threw me out of their organization after they learned I had been swindled of that compass there. Guess, it's pretty valuable to those a$$holes! And the only way I could prove myself was to get it back. But how? You left me with no money, nothing. I had to go into debt, just so I could book passage to Katapesh to catch up to you. But by the time I got there, you were gone. Off to Solku, I later found out. And me? Well, let's just say the sailors came to collect on my debt and in order to be allowed to live, I had to pledge my services to the local crime lord, a man you may know as Father Jackal."

Eli pauses, looking up at the moon-lit sky. "I became his enforcer, training in the art of the Khopesh and its many uses. The things I did for that man, the people I hurt, killed...it all took a piece of my soul, bit by bit, till there was nothing left. And the only thing that kept me sane, that made my existence meaningful, was that one day I would seek vengeance on you, Aletoriss."

Eli pauses and smiles sarcastically, "I knew you'd eventually find yourself in Katapesh, especially after I learned of you and your little band of friends, the Sand Stalkers, I believe you call yourselves. Yeah, all about their exploits and especially those of their charismatic leader, Eli Wynnstock. You don't know how just hearing that name fueled my rage and thirst for vengeance. And I almost had you when you came to town to raise your dead tribesman friend but I missed you by hours. But I waited and waited and bided my time, knowing you'd be back."

Eli smiles, "And here you are. It was just plain luck that the goals of Father Jackal and my own were in synch. I wanted you dead, he wants some magical Scroll you carry. He took your friends, not me. He is holding them. And he had set up an ambush in Dogtown but you didn't fall for it. So he's been depleting your ranks, taking you one by one. He has your pretty little holy warrior. She looks nice. But don't worry, I didn't touch her. Not my style. But I got tired of waiting for Father Jackal's plan to reach fruition, so I took matters into my own hands. I had to, with you so close. So tonight's the time for our reckoning, Aletoriss. I thank you for coming, though I am sure your friends are near. But this is between you and me. To pay you back for ruining my life and making me sacrifice my soul. Now, you beat me in combat, I tell you where your friends are, before I die. I kill you, I'm gone and I leave this life behind me forever. Either way, Eli Wynnstock dies this night! Anything, you'd like to add, before we start?" His hand grasps the hilt of his khopesh.

Aletoriss' heart sinks as he hears the rage flowing from Eli's mouth, filled thick with hate. "I am truly sorry for what has happened to you Eli, I was a rash man back in those days and owed someone a great deal of money. I used you to get away never thinking about how it would leave you, I never could have foreseen it, but I sure wish I could reverse it. Too many have died or had their lives ruined because of me Eli, you are just another victim of my brazen disregard for life. So if you are going to kill me...so be it, it is what I deserve. I can tell you hate me, but it seems you hate Father Jackal even more. Sure I am the catalyst for you down fall, but he...He is the one who has made you do horrible things. He is the one who is never going to let you go, look how he treats his enemies....what do you think he is going to do once he finds out you have deserted him? You will always be in his shadow, under his thumb...as long as he is alive. I can not change your past Eli, but I can help you with your future. Join us, help us thwart the plans of this criminal and make right all the wrong things you have been forced to do. Help us bring him down and put and end to his terrifying grip on Katapesh. And when it is done the reputation of Eli Wynnstock is only going to grow. You can leave here and adventure or retire, but do it with your head held high...ELI WYNNSTOCK, hero. That will be you."

Oratory Performance for Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Eli listens carefully but in the end, he shakes his head vehemently."No, I am no longer a hero. I had those hopes once, Aletoriss, when I joined the Pathfinders. But you caused all my plans to fail, you were the catalyst to my downfall! Yes, Father Jackal played some part, but it all started with what you did to me! And now, you're trying to skirt the issue and make me join you. No, your friends can deal with Father Jackal. All I've ever wished for and desired, your death, suffering and punishment, is at hand. And nothing, short of the gods, will keep me from killing you, least of all your silver tongue!" Eli is now enraged with fury. He draws his khopesh and wields it 2-handed. He screams at you, "Draw your blade, insect and prepare to face your Maker!"

Aletoriss slips a vial from his belt and flicks of the cork while sliding Tempest from her sheath. "I have to had it to you Eli, you are deeply committed to your cause. A toast to you, the great and wonderful Eli Wynnstock of the Sand Stalkers." Aletoriss downs the potion in a quick gulp, "Ah, no wait that was me wasn't it? I am the one who stopped The Bandit, not you. I am the one who freed Kelmarane, not you. I am the one who took down the Carrion King, NOT YOU." Aletoriss recites the good things he has done, drawing inspiration for himself.

Drink Potion of bulls strength temp Str=12; start Inspire Courage
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Initiative for Eli: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Round 1:

"Good, Aletoriss, I thought you were going to take the coward's way out. From today forth, all anyone will ever remember is how you died on a moon-lit night on this roof!" You hear him whisper something but you can't make it out at this distance and suddenly, flames erupt from the hilt of the khopesh, covering the blade in fire. Eli again grips the blade 2-handed, the light from the flames illuminating his physique, which is much more muscled from what you remember. You catch a glint of armor, perhaps a breastplate, under his robes. He motions you with his hand, "Come forward, if you dare!"

Combat Map

AVZ, you are up!

"If you want to kill me, you are going to have to come to me..or is that fear in your eyes. I thought it was hate, but no...fear. Fear that you have wasted your life, that under this moon light it will be proven that you are just a stupid, doe-eyed, want-to-be explorer who was tricked into drinking a few too many pints, and wound up in a whore's bed instead of on a ship bound for adventure. That is what you are feeling son, not courage or revenge...FEAR."

Standard action Intimidate to demoralize: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Ready move action to dart 10 feet to the left when he comes within 10 feet of me.
Str 12, Rnd 1 Inspire

Readying an action is also a standard action so not allowable this round.

Round 2:

You sense hesitation in Eli's demeanor as he absorbs your words. His look of bravado and rage replaced by confusion. "Stop it, silver tongued one! I will not believe your lies and I am not afraid to die this night." He charges you to F6, weapon in both hands, and as soon as he in striking distance, he aims low, skillfully sweeping Aletoriss' legs with the convex curve of the blade, despite the fear in his heart. As you fall, Eli adeptly spins and brings the blade down on you again and you feel the flames of the blade lick your face, but the blow bounces harmlessly off your glistening mithral armor. Eli smiles, "This is where you belong, on your back, you scum thief, sprawled at my feet waiting for death, like all my other enemies!"

Trip attempt vs. CMD 23: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 2 = 16...success!
AoO: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2...miss!

Your turn is up and you are prone! Getting up is a move action that provokes an AoO. Blue circle on map means prone.

Updated Map

Let's go, AVZ! We are probably too far away to hear any of this, correct, DM?

I had a ready move action to move when he came close, doesn't my move action interrupt his action and take me out of harms way before he attacks Also how does a 16 beat a 21CMD?I would think anyone on the ground would be able to see the light of his flaming sword but thats up to the DM.

If you read the first line of my post, you will notice readying an action is a standard action and you already did one this round with the demoralize. Second, I am not listing the bonuses to hit, just the natural rolls and the circumstance bonuses (like charging, flanking, etc) so you won't metagame and know how powerful your opponent is or not, but be assured that the 16 natural roll was enough to hit your CMD with his bonuses. No, right now, no one can see or hear what's happening on the roof. The combatants are in the middle and there is no line of sight from the sides on street level, which is where all the party is.

Okay, sorry my screen was scrolled so I only saw were it said Round 2, completely missed the top line.

"I have been in worse places before poor Eli, you will have to do better than that to best me." Aletoriss rolls quickly away from his attacker, right off the edge of the roof. Calling up he yells,"Catch me if you can!"

Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
I move at a roll/crawl to I6 and let my Ring of feather fall kick in to drop to the ground
STR 12; Round 2 of Inspire

Rules say:
You can use Acrobatics in this way while prone, but doing so requires a full-round action to move 5 feet, and the DC is increased by 5.
You are currently prone in G6, so as a full-round action you can move to H6 (the edge of the roof) and that's it you're done (we move to next round). You can't reach I6 this round. You can fall off the roof next round if you wish. Let me know if you keep your action the same.

Okay, didn't realize crawling was a full round action. Instead I will do the following.
Move action w/ Acrobatics moving in a threatened square to avoid the AoO to stand up from Prone. Standard action to make an attack then a 5'foot step to move into H6.

"I have been in worse places before poor Eli, you will have to do better than that to best me." Aletoriss flips his legs and leaps back up in front of his attacker, and jabs Tempest at him before taking a step back closer to the edge of the roof.

Acrobatics roll = 30
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 Damage+cold: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (3) = 9
Str: 12; Round 2 Inspire

If at any point in his patrol Mahath can see or hear what is happening, just let me know. Otherwise, I'll assume Aletoriss is on his own for now.

AVZ, what you are suggesting is not allowed by the Paizo rules, i.e. using Acrobatics to get up from prone without provoking AoO. In 3.5 srd, there was a free stand (DC 35 Tumble check - which your character cannot currently make, even rolling a natural 20), which allowed you to stand up from prone as a free action instead of a move action. So the gist, is you either stand up and take the AoO or stay prone and do something else. Let me know your decision.

Okay, your call. I'll stand, take the Ao0 and stab back, then take the 5' step back.

Reading the messageboards on this issue, most of the commenters suggested a houserule of Acrobatics check = CMD +5, since they reason getting up from prone next to an opponent should not be more difficult than tumbling through an opponent's square and I can see the logic in that. So that's what I will rule as well and your 30 Acrobatics check allows you to get up with no AoO.

Round 3:
Eli grimaces as your blade punctures his ribs and he yelps in pain. With the fear gone in his eyes, he swings his khopesh low at you, again trying to trip you, and back down you fall to the roof. "Back down where you belong, scum!" As you fall, his blade comes down on you and you feel the metal cut and the fire burn at the same time! As you lay on the floor, he brings the blade down again but even with the advantage of you being prone, you twist to the side in time and the blade bounces off your armor. Eli groans in frustration that he missed.

Trip: 1d20 ⇒ 13...success!
AoO: 1d20 ⇒ 13...hit!
Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 3 ...miss!
Damage: 12

Your turn and you are prone again!

Were are we, I wanted to 5'step back if possible. I get he can move 5' to0 so I get I am now prone again, just wondering if I can roll of the roof this time?

You are in H6 now and with a full-round crawl (Acrobatics check) you can roll off the roof.

"Oh...your a trippy one Eli, but I have been in worse spots before. My perseverance trumps your rage." Aletoriss attempts to fling himself up again, stab Eli and step back off the roof.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 damage+cold: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (6) = 12
Str: 12; Round 3 Inspire; hp 55/43
Ring of feather falling

NPC's sheet is at home, but I believe a 28 does not beat his CMD+5, but I want to double check first before giving him an AoO +4, since you're still considered prone. Will post when I get home.

No attack of opportunity. AVZ stabs Eli and he descends to the ground. Eli looks at you in disdain and yells "Running like a broke whore from her pimp! Your friends will pay for your cowardice, Aletoriss! You have my word on that!" He moves back from the edge of the roof and out of line of sight.
Now what?

Mahath happens to be turning the corner when he sees Eli land gracefully on the ground, a fresh wound on the side of his shoulder.

What I would like to do is during the round I am falling, kick my feet out and grab the wall with my slippers and run back up to try and catch him unaware. Is this even possible? With an Acrobatics check or something to stop the decent early.

Nope, you fall too fast, 60 feet so you land on the ground. You are up, if you wish to continue.

When Mahath sees the fall, he'll start running toward the square.

Who is closer to Mahath, Quzman or Ty? He's making a direct line for whichever is closer.

The instant his feet touch the ground, Aletoriss leaps at the wall and scurries back up it. Leaping atop the roof with a shout, "Giving up that easy Eli? You are pathetic! I am twice the Eli you ever where, the Pathfinders were right in kicking you out!"

Round 4
Str: 12, Round 4 Inspire, hp 55/43
Double Move, climb 40 feet. spider climb

You see Eli 20' from the edge of the roof, where you are (along the H row), flaming sword in one hand, potion in the other. "Bah, you're a moron Aletoriss, if you think I'm chasing you down to the street, to be ambushed by your friends. You can't even engage in honorable combat. You are the worst scum around. So if we're not going to fight, the hell with you. You need my information more than I wish to chase you around Katapesh. When you see your whore's head on your doorstep, you'll only have yourself to blame. What's her name again? Jameena, is it? Goodbye." Eli moves to -B5.

Mahath, Quzman is closer to your location.

"Then you are a nothing but a failure, as long as I am alive I will be better than you! Aletroiss charges across the roof Tempest in the lead.

Str: 12; Inspire Round 5; hp 55/43
Charge AC: 24

Charge Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29 Damage + Cold: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (6) = 11

Round 6:

Eli screams in pain, as AVZ's rapier punctures his stomach, as he spits up blood and drops his potion, which falls harmlessly to the floor. "Guess you got some fight in you after all! To the victor, go the spoils!" Seeing you are off balance from the charge, Eli grips his weapon 2-handed and lunges out with his weapon, discarding the trip this round and just trying to inflict damage on you. His first hit sears your skin, as you feel powerful strength behind the blow, as the blade cuts across your chest, leaving a gashing open wound!

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 18...hit
Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 3...miss
Damage + fire: 1d8 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 11 + (5) = 24

AVZ is up (-36 hps)!
Eli (-32 hps)!
Pretty even fight!