DM Kludde |
I am to provide hospitality services to the inhabitants of this complex, and well as teach the slaves proper conduct. I am to prevent any slaves from moving upstairs, to my full capabilities, should they fail to produce the correct password. These are the instructions that bind me.
Jhalan |
"So... you don't actually have to prevent non-slaves from going upstairs, do you? Some of us weren't slaves to begin with, and even those of us who were, were only pretending to be in order to infiltrate this complex. Even then, we freed ourselves and aren't slaves anymore. Thus your obligations don't force you to attack us if we don't find the password, right?"
DM Kludde |
Are you, or are you not, a slave?
I'll need a diplomacy or bluff check to convince him. I'm taking the first that doesn't say 'aid'.
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
Marra ask the Djinni "What are your orders regarding non slaves?" as she starts to search the room for clues.
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
(I assume the two passwords we guessed were incorrect?)
DM Kludde |
You only discussed the passwords amongst yourselves (at least, that's how I interpreted it). If you're suggesting the password to the djinni, please do state that explicitly.
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
Marra while waiting for the Djinni to answer her previous quest ask another "Djinni is the password 'Shadow War'?"
(note, the halfling has not yet stated where she is a slave or not.)
She does watch the Djinni closely.
sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
'Blackjack' Jaques |
Blackjack looks at the Djinn, "No, I am not a slave - further, I am sworn to oppose slavery everywhere, I am a Steel Falcon of Andoran, not a slave - no shackle adorns my wrists or ankles - indeed should I find your mistress I would feel honour bound to relieve her of her ring and return it to you - for I understand it must chafe and rankle that a free spirit such as yourself if forced to servitude..."
Claiming two aids and cracking the roll
Diplomacy 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 = 27
Ariward Falconsflight |
"Honest creature of other world nature," said Ariward, "you mentioned we need a password to go upstairs, but as we are here not to convey some evil act, could you please hint us with word or phrase that blocks our entry?"
Ask for favour
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Such a nice moment to ask for favour
DM Kludde |
Close, but you should think of something more personal the Djinni hints to Marra, and then responds to Ariward's favour request by saying Like many mortals, she is consumed by a mad quest, her every spare thought given to plotting the downfall of a group called the Pathfinder Society. I honestly find her a bit of a bore, but I do wonder how the that group wronged her to provoke such wrath.
It is only then that Blackjack's fiery rhetoric comes in, to which the Djinni responds calmly It is in servitude that I grant you passage, for I am only to block slave from moving along. The password, I can still not give you.
He would probably still tell if you were right or not if you guessed a second time.
The stairs leads to an elevated platform, from which a corridor leads deeper into the cave. At the end of the corridor is another room.
A shallow reflecting pool is set into the tile floor, flanked by plush divans. Beyond two marble supporting columns, a heavy curtain separates the sitting room from the bedroom. A large map of Absalom hangs on the south wall, riddled with pins and crossed with colorful thread.
The map of Absalom bears over a hundred pins tipped with beads of wax in half a dozen colors; many red, blue, and green strings connect various pins together. About
thirty pins and several pieces of string lie on the ground under the map.
'Blackjack' Jaques |
Blackjacks reply -
DM Kludde |
And also:
Muhlia's younger sister got killed in Taldor through the actions of Jacquo Dalsine's nephew Chalfon (who was a secret Shadow Lodge agent). The Pasha killed Jacquo - then the leader of the Taldor faction - in revenge and disappeared from the Society since.
Grimaldus |
Grimaldus advances in the room, walking along the left side of the reflecting pool and stopping at the corner close to the heavy curtain. His greatsword is at the ready, as he looks and listens for movement and/or threats...
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
But he is too busy looking at the rich settings and lavish use of water in the desert to really notice anything important...
Cacumattus Diuberr |
Haven't played any of rhose, no spoilers for me...
Cacumattus stops short in front of the map of Absalom. "That is a lot of pins. Surely she can't have so many infiltrators!"
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
What ever the result the halfling declares herself not a slave and moves up to investigate the upper rooms. "Wonder where the pins on the ground when? let's search the place see if there were any notes or journals, but first we need to check the rest of the room."
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Marra go to look past the heavy curtain.
DM Kludde |
As the party moves into the room to investigate, two creatures suddenly emerge from behind the curtain: A strangely dressed female gnoll, and a rather muscular, large male gnoll.
That's actually a flind, a powerful breed of gnoll.
Init, Jhalan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Init, Grimaldus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Init, Cacumattus: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Init, Marra: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Init, Jacques: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Init, Ariward: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Init, Chau: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Init, Rothar: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
---
Marra
Grimaldus
---
Chau
---
Cacumattus
Jacques
Ariward
Jhalan
---
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
k(nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Marra recognizes the type of gnoll, "I'm not sure Muhlia would appreciate a Flind gnoll in her private room, Where is she?"
The halfling cast mirror image {link} and draws her backup scimitar.
mirror images duplicates: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Grimaldus |
Grim stands against the large gnoll, matching it for size and strength. Not waiting for the nicety of talking, he opts for the direct approach, and swings his greatsword!
PA+Overhand chop: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 6) + 13 = 22
DM Kludde |
The female gnoll, unlike the ones you seen so far, is not clad in any kind of battle armour, but rather wears an elaborate headdress, which is a chaotic weaving of beads and strands. She looks to be the occult type of some sort.
Marra draws her scimitar and turns into three identical copies of the halfling.
Grimaldus eagerly digs into the flind, and hit strike opens a nasty gash in the arm of the muscular gnoll.
Chau the find retaliates, bashing grimadlus and nearly knocking the air out of him. He tries to push him back with his shield as well, but to no avail.
Flindbar, Grimaldus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 211d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Shield, Grimaldus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
---
Cacumattus
Jacques
Ariward
Jhalan
---
Rothar
---
Marra (+2 imgs)
Grimaldus
---
Chau
---
DM Kludde |
Hmm. Because I just put those icons there in their initial position. You probably moved a bit before the fight started, so just take an extra move action into the room.
DM Kludde |
The party scrambles forward, and Ariward even manages a wild swing, but he is too hasty for it to connect.
Rather takes a step back and tries to hex Blackjack, giving him a supernatural glare (-2 to attacks, and make a will save, please)
For the record: yes, these are slaver types
---
Marra (+2 imgs)
Grimaldus
---
Chau
---
Cacumattus
Jacques
Ariward
Jhalan
---
Rothar
---
Grimaldus |
I know Grim started at the door with Marra, and once it was opened he moved in and started hacking =)
With blood drawn by both combatants, the fighter is fully committed to finishing this battle! With each blow, he works on discovering weaknesses and openings in his opponent's defenses to strike the final blow for freedom!
PA+Overhand chop: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 1) + 13 = 15
DM Kludde |
Grimaldus deals a heavy overhand chop to chau, whose fur colors red in a trickle of blood.
--
Marra (+2 imgs)
Grimaldus
---
Chau (15)
---
Cacumattus
Jacques
Ariward
Jhalan
---
Rothar
---
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
directing arcane energy into her small scimitar, Marra moves up to attack the Chau.
scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
damage if hit: 1d4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10
possible crit
crit confirm roll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Additional damage if crit confirmed: 1d4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11 +2 fire for trait {total dam=23}
DM Kludde |
Already severely wounded from Grimaldus' two strikes, Marra puts the full fury of the dawnflower behind her small scimitar, and slices open the find, who collapses to the floor.
--
Cacumattus
Jacques
Ariward
Jhalan
---
Rothar
---
Marra (+2 imgs)
Grimaldus
---
Ariward Falconsflight |
Ariward turned and ran to the last slaver standing. "It's time for the final act", he said and tiny toy grew to a normal size, becoming a beautiful glaive with lots of colored ribbons.
Attack (-PA): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 1 = 6 again?
Cannot update map, while mobile.
Cacumattus Diuberr |
Cacumattus moves to get a clear shot, and sends a ray of frost at the remaining gnoll.
Ray of Frost, vs touch: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 20 for: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
DM Kludde |
Blackjack shows his angers by mortally wounding the gnoll witch. Bleeding and almost staggering, a frosty bolts hits her in the chest, and she topples over.
Combat over!
Among the books on the bookshelf are several hundred pages of notes written in Kelish.
The major patterns in the placement of pins and string suggest that al’Jakri has found ways to spy on not only a dozen Absalom families but also a large number of the city’s more prestigious institutions, such as the Forae Logos and the Arcanamirium. Decoding the map entirely would take days and would still rely on considerable speculation without additional data— especially thanks to Chau’s removing a large number of pins.
The bookshelf contains a slim volume called "The slave master's mirror"
Grimaldus |
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Looking around Grim notices a slim volume in the bookshelf called "The slave master's mirror". He points it out to his companions, but doesn't grab it for fear of triggering a trap...
DM Kludde |
The book does seem to form part of a mechanical contraption, though there's no signs that it is connected to a trap.
Marra follower of Dawnflower |
K(Geo): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
K(Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
K(Nobility): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Marra shares her insight on what the placement and scope of the pins in the map mean. read the DMs knowledge check. Can't cut and paste via phone.
The halfling looks for signs of the lady the are after.
perception : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
-Posted with Wayfinder
DM Kludde |
Blackjack grabs the book. A click is heard, and the entire bookcase rotates out. Behind it is a small unlit room, containing a large mirror.
Is anybody investigating the Pasha's book, in kelish?
Is anybody taking the map? If so, I need a DC 15 Dex or Sleight of Hand check to avoid dislodging pins.
----
As the party readies to depart, a sending spell activates, and Lady Darchana can be heard asking: “What is your status? Have you accomplished your objectives? Please reply in no more than twenty-five words.”
'Blackjack' Jaques |
"Slavers destroyed, have scrying mirror, have information on enemy including allies, schemes, and journals - Desimre connection confirmed. Slaves returning with us. Returning with all evidence"
"Marra, you have a delicate touch..."
Blackjack Inspires Competence, singing her praises...
+2 to her check
Yeah we take everything, and if no one can speak Kelish, Blackjack will crack out a scroll of comprehend languages
DM Kludde |
The book contains al’Jakri’s scrying records, a cross-reference of the slaves whose blood samples are in a nearby chest (and which noble houses they serve), and a timeline of specific events she observed while watching them—all written in her own shorthand and describing only a fraction of the observations suggested by her marked map of Absalom.
That's all there is for this adventure, but something tells me we haven't seen the last of al'Jakri
With the slave master's mirror recovered, and a wealth of clues on the map and in the notes, the society is one step closer to unraveling the plans of al'Jakri.
The end. Thanks all for playing, and see you in the next couple of scenarios!