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Andjela, the only gear not available in the Mithral chain chirt. MW studded for now.


Lets see... on Wednesday, Corneleous said he'd be out tomorrow. Which was yesterday, so he should be able to update today. I think.


Round 1
Enko flips over the lemure in front of him to land on the couch next to it, but draws an attack of opportunity in his sickened state. "Drovalid! This egg is ripe for cracking!" He puzzles at the mass of flesh, then trips it with a leg sweep. I just moved you next to Lucon, as I couldn't find a way to flip over the closest one without giving multiple AoO's for them.

Ava staggers, the stench of sickness too much for her to bear. She pulls her hammer free from its holster and makes to move forward, but is paralyzed by the nausea gripping her as she raises a hand to her mouth.

The Viscount gives his lines, eats and regurgitates his egg, and wipes the vomit from his goatee with a smile.
He will attack one of the lemures in the back- and tells his friends: "These devils resist fire and shrug off my acid, even mundane weapons don't faze them- hit them with magic weapons. I will burn through the back one's defenses!" and tries to do so, apparently to no avail as the acid dart seems to slide right off it's gurgling skin.

Flush with confidence from his central part in the group surviving Act IV pretty unscathed, Sabinus consumes the egg with a defiant flourish and then, surprising even himself, manages not to get nauseous when the ooze comes back out. Sabinus uses the misfortune hex against the lemure engaged with Lucon. He then moves back against the wall and draws his sickle as part of the move.

Clearly frustrated by the further tricks and dangers appearing on stage, Caladius abandons any pretense of acting and focuses on dispatching these blobby devils as violently as possible. He wades in and swings his sword in a terrible arc, hoping to slice one in half. He nearly accomplishes his task, instead just taking a great chunk of churning flesh out of the surprisingly resilient lemure1. Despite the great damage, it continues to come at the group.

"Larazod!" Lucon bellows, only slightly queasily. "St.. Stay behind me!" he says, barreling into the fray. He hammers down at the near lemure, his weapon smaching through shifting bones and flesh, the lemure howling a curse and shriek through it's horribly twisting mouth before it expires. You didn't specify which you wanted to kill, so I killed the weakened Lemure1.

Lemure1 perishes under the onslaught of blows.

Lemure2 attacks straight ahead at Lucon, the misfortune hex and Lucons defensive abilities shaking off the attack.

Lemure3 moves forward and also tries to penetrate Lucons defenses, to no avail.

Lemure4 heads directly at Caladius, but likewise finds no success in his attack and howls his fury.

Lemure5 - After the other lemures have exhausted their attacks, yet another lemure forms from someone's vomit, looking ready to join it's fellows in the attack.

**MAP - Nightshade Theater Stage**

1 more round of nauseated/sickened condition. Please post for Round 2!

    Init Round 2
  • Enko
  • Ava
  • Corneleous
  • Sabinus
  • Caladius
  • Lucon

  • Lemure1
  • Lemure2
  • Lemure3
  • Lemure4


Andjela I'm waiting on your level 4 deets, and for you to add your 2cp about what's been claimed from the loot. Also I think y'all should discuss said loot and sell off what you're not wanting.

EDIT: Oh yes, and shopping too.


Just need our happy monk...

I'll post Round 1 in about 3-4 hours and bot Enko if he hasn't posted yet. But I know you're around Enko, you keep posting in ooc. :)


Flextime Between Acts IV and V:
First of all, I don't know why I insist on using roman numerals to number each Act. Second, between the three of you, you gathered the remaining jewelry (approx 250gp worth).


It doesn't appear he's mentioned silver yet, just that mundane weapons are no good and magic weapons are better. :/


Botted flextime Spellcraft check for Sabinus between acts IV and V:
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Enko - go ahead and use the restoration potion in flextime, as well as anyone else who'd like to. There were three on the stage.


@Surplus&Viscount - Surplus that's my understanding as well, that it acts as DR for spells/energy attacks and does not 'run out' like Protection from Energy does.


Corneleous:
I think that's very reasonable, yes.


Yep! as I stated, you have 5ish minutes in between each act. Time for healing, restoration and so on and so forth!

EDIT: Of course, said potions would need to be identified first, because I know none of you would use ooc knowledge for IC purposes! Perish the thought!


**Nightshade Theater - Stage**

If anyone collected/identifies the 3 bottles thrown onstage after Act IV. Detect Magic & Spellcraft DC17:

The bottles are actually potions of lesser restoration. Now who could be tossing bottles like this onto the stage? Hmmmm.
This check can be done in flextime during the break before Act V.


Act 5: The Birthing Trial

HAANDERTHAN
You have crawled from the maw of the Beast. Let us see
what blasphemous lies slither from your treacherous
insides. Show them.

The Bailiff brings out five crimson eggs.

DROVALID
Dear Asmodeus! Spare us!

LARAZOD
What means these strange crimson eggs?

DROVALID
Oh horror beyond nightmare! The eggs, they burrow deep
within us. They hatch deep in our insides, churning our
guts to paste and slurping them through gritted devil teeth.
They feed on our souls. When these foul devils have eaten
their fill, they tear their way free—terrible things! Hideous
devil-children bearing our own faces, but filled with hate
for all we are. We are mothers to twisted things and look
upon our own visage as we die by their taloned hands.

HAANDERTHAN
Shall you recant now, or will you give birth to abominations
of your very flesh?

ILSANDRA
Do your worst, fool of a mortal. I am a princess to hell, and no
child born of my black soul shall bear malice against me.

Larazod lifts the Bailiff off the ground by the throat with one
mighty hand.

LARAZOD
Ha! Give me your egg, you lickspittle. If Asmodeus wishes
it, I shall choke the life of my own devilish child with glee.
I gulp this egg down before this court and our dark lord’s
very eyes.

DENTRIS
Well, give me mine. Not much good it shall avail you.
The real Dentris Maltrada was killed ages ago at my own
devilish hands when I was born from his old soul. I am a
child of this egg.

TYBAIN
Truly?! I had no idea!

DENTRIS
If only everyone was as naive as ye, paladin.

TYBAIN
I like eggs! Red, white, or otherwise. Hand me mine! I’ll
eat it raw!

The companions eat their eggs and hideous devil children are
born from them. They battle the devil children valiantly. Ilsandra,
amazed that her daughter attacks her, lashes out with ferocity.

ILSANDRA
No! My child! Forgive me! You’ll pay for this, Haanderthan—
with your heart’s blood, and with every shred of your soul.

Calseinica, horrified she's thrown up, and terrified as 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 lemures appear, runs off stage. Thesing remains in character, but does a stately quick-march off-stage as well. Each of you throws up as well, the stage a mess of smelly vomit. The crowd is appropriately disgusted by the scene, evident by the groans and dry-retching you can hear from amongst them. Suddenly, several lemurs rise up out of some of the piles of vomit, and turn malevolent gazes your way. The crowd reacts in a myriad of different ways as the Lemures appear, from cheering to more than one horrified scream!

Auditory Perception DC21, (DC17 Lucon):
You're able to pick out one of the loudest screams from the crowd as from Rebecca, Lucon's spouse. She is clearly aware of the realistic and violent nature of the production, and is vocally worried for her husband.

The crimson eggs given to each of you are magical devices—eating one of them causes it to "hatch" inside the PC’s belly, becoming a roiling mass of infernal ooze that the you each vomits up. The ooze pools on stage, at which point lemures rise up from the pools of vomited goo, creating the illusion among the audience that the PCs have "given birth" to malformed, melting children. I need a Fortitude save, DC15, from each of you. Failure means nauseated for 2 rounds, success means you're merely sicked for 2 rounds.

Possible conditions:
If you make the Fort save DC15:
Sickened: The character takes a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks *for two rounds*.

If you fail the Fort save DC15:
Nauseated: Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move actions per turn. *This lasts for 2 rounds*.

    Init Round 1
  • Enko
  • Ava
  • Corneleous
  • Sabinus
  • Caladius
  • Lucon

  • Lemure1
  • Lemure2
  • Lemure3
  • Lemure4

Go ahead and post for Round 1!


Just one of those weekends/weeks at work. Plus we started gardening! Yay! Caladius you escaped in round 2 by climbing out the throat. Next act coming tomorrow... maybe later tonight. Thanks for your patience!


Ok, once everyone chimes in we can revise the list to account for what's been taken.


I was just doing that actually. Some of this stuff has been used, and some possibly spent. If people could let me know what, if anything, has been claimed or used?

Sheriffs badge - The badge continues to glow softly

Treasurey First floor
set of mwk thieves’ tools - Anna?
bronze war medallion from the Shining Crusade - Andjela?
unframed Taldan painting of Stavian I
set of a noblewoman’s silver hair clips
mwk punching dagger - Anna?
pouch containing a dozen mwk shurikens - Danica?
mwk silver war razor
wand of lesser restoration (12 charges) - Kimberly (used charges?)

Poltergiest Battle (Already distributed?)
2 fully stocked healer’s kits
3 vials of watery clear liquid, labeled antitoxin
2 vials of foul-smelling, milky tonic, labeled antiplague
3 doses of gooey, pinkish substance, labeled bloodblock
3 doses of smelling salts
2 vials of blue liquid, labeled soothe syrup
4 potions labeled cure light wounds

Spider Battle
five vials labeled holy water - 1 each?
a scroll lesser restoration
a wand of CLW (15 charges) - Kimberly?

Wardens Safe
1000 gp
four potions of cure moderate wounds
three potions of lesser restoration
two potions of remove disease

The Lopper
420gp
+1 heavy crossbow - Anna?
+1 longsword
+1 heavy mace
+1 dagger
Stone of Alarm
and a ring of keys.

Maurader
six suits of masterwork chainmail - Andjela took 1?
six suits of masterwork studded leather armor
four masterwork longswords
four masterwork heavy maces
two masterwork heavy crossbows
120 crossbow bolts
a case of 10 +1 crossbow bolts
a wand of hold person (11 charges) - Tolvan?
4 potions of cure moderate wounds,
60' rope of climbing - Anna?
heavy steel shield - Andjela

Stash north of the Maurader
790gp worth of jewelry
1450gp
325sp

Pyotr
Greatsword (magic aura)
Banded Mail
Heavy Crossbow
Trap poisons
100gp

Torture Chamber
Bag of jewels and jewelry - 350gp

Splatter Man
A +1 keen longsword - Tolvan?
+1 mithral dagger - Anna?
+1 ring of protection
five piece of platinum

Total currency found w/jewelry:
5pp
4110gp (loot)
2750gp (reward)
6860gp (total)
325sp


I'm dealing with business at work guys. Just to keep you posted on what's taking me so long! :)


Yup, most of it is still there, and the three bottles of who-knows-what are still there too.


With some pain, but surprisingly minimal effort the group escapes the great beast. There are some hisses of disapproval, as some in the crowd expected more blood, but those are easily drowned out by the wild cheering for our tough heroes.

The curtains close while the applause is loud, and a the strong voice of Aulamaxa rings out with the next aria. To the trained ear, you catch the faintest hint of... disappointment in the large actors sweeping tones.

Intermission time. Act V coming soon.


Yes, works a bit slammed at the moment, so the loot search will need to wait till that passes. Anyone with the time feel free to do a search of your own to get the total loot acquired. Andjela I'm fine with you leading someone back to retrieve all the MW armor you found. As for access... that will be limited as this is not a bustling metropolis. So rather than try to make a comprehensive list, everyone please state what you want and I'll check if it's 'in stock'. Thanks.


Sounds like you need to have a conversation with Lucon then, as he already stated 'once the others are making for the top'. *sigh* Men! ;)


@Ava - Yes, I meant acrobatics and it is only a 10' drop. I agree that you can also hold the rope from the ground outside.

Just need Enko's 'Round 1'.


@Lucon - I'd roll like Caladius did for that particular exit strategy.

@Corneleous - Not yet. After this act you'll heal 3 non lethal.

In the first few seconds, Ilsandra, Farus, and Moonris are up and out of the acid. Moonris pulling and dropping a rope as 'he' slides past Farus out of the snake. Farus remains, using some impressive gypsy powers to practically levitate himself as he assists the others out of the snake. Larazod, Dentris, and Drovalid attack the wall of the snake powerfully, their initial blows creating small cracks in the thick glass.

Only room for 1 in the maw, and Sabinus's extra bonus would require him to stay in the maw, so I moved you out of it and to the ground Ava. Can you roll me a reflex to avoid fall damage please? Enko, what's your action going to be? After Enko goes, it'll basically be round 2, and those who're smashing their way out can continue to do so, or utilize other opportunities. If you want to keep smashing and not deviate, let me know and afer Enko posts I'll move things along that path. Gooooo Team!


Sabinus:
Your levitate assist wouldn't add any more bonuses to the human ladder, based purely on the lack of space to maneuver. You could pull folks up the throat from your perch in the mouth, shoving people past you out of the maw, basically giving them a +5 to their climb checks as you barely need to stabilize yourself. Or you could assist with one persons reflex save (per round) to avoid acid damage, giving them a +10 to their reflex save. I'll let you decide which you'll do. Before you do though, lets see what everyone else does for Round 1. At the end of Round 1 you're in the maw of the snake, and so make not be able to get back down the throat to assist, depending on if someone else tries to climb out after you, blocking the way back down.

Calseinica clings desperately to Sabinus as he takes her up and out of the snake. Once he releases her, she falls the 10' painfully to the ground, landing in a heap with a cry of pain. After several seconds (Round 3) she wobbles slowly to her feet, limps over to the transparent belly, and starts pounding uselessly on the glass, cutting and bloodying her hands in a feeble effort to extricate the others.


@Sabinus - It does make sense, but the only place to levitate up to, is up the throat of the snake... which is an excellent use of the levitate ability. You'll have to pull her up or push her out ahead of you, but I'll accept either scenario. I'm also using treating init as first come first serve, so currently you have first dibs on the exit. Also, I think Caladius's abandonment of acting has more to do with his low roll, than a conscious decision not to perform. Would you mind giving me a perform check anyways? Thanks!

@Caladius - No crits on the glass, sorry. Also I want to hear from everyone before I resolve your escape method, as what they do could affect you as well.


Yeah I can go back and look it up. I didn't strictly follow the module as far as loots concerned. I did somewhat, but had deviations. If you're unconcerned with what spells remain then I'll say the value of the remaining spellbook is 825gp. Also the silver flute is worth 300gp, the hammer and axe are now completely plain; a light hammer and handaxe.

Kendra sheds several tears for the memory of Pyotr, "That poor man, and all for my father. I don't even know if he had any family..." and trails off in mourning. Kimgald seems similarly affected, but his dark glasses hide much of his grief.


Act IV—Trial in the Belly of the Beast

DENTRIS
Such horrors. What next?

LARAZOD
Hold true, old man.

DENTRIS
Easy for you to say! Youth laughs at death as a stranger. As
you grow older you come to know it well—and fear it.

DROVALID
I have seen young and old break before this court. They all
share one thing: a weak and watery eye speaking to a frailty of
spirit. Your eyes are like grit and sand, obstinate even in the
face of the storm-fraught sea. You cannot break, old wizard.

DENTRIS
Perhaps not, but tell me, Tormentor—what fresh horrors await?

DROVALID
Here follows the Trial in the Belly of the Beast. A great
terror, gifted to this court by a Duke of Hell, the Beast is
a hideous thing, whose stomach is a nest of acid-spewing
serpents. It shall swallow us whole, and wash us clean in
its acid well.

DENTRIS
Where is the “trial” in this!?

DROVALID
If we are innocent, and speak no lies, then the Beast’s Belly
will leave us unscathed.

TYBAIN
Madness!

LARAZOD
Hold fast, my dear friend. Have faith in Asmodeus.

TYBAIN
But I do not!

LARAZOD
Well then you better learn to swim.

HAANDERTHAN
The next trial demands a great sacrifice. Ye, who speaks
for the half-breed, the lone traitor on the council who
speaks against my august personage. You must brave
this trial, and all that follow, alongside the accused.

ILSANDRA
(Laughing) Gladly! I stand at this tiefling’s side, or at his back,
or him at mine, or perhaps I should bolster him up from
below or allow him to do the same to me. You shall see how
devotedly I attend his pleasure, for he speaks the truth.

HAANDERTHAN
Then burn with him.

Ilsandra joins the companions, and embraces Larazod with a
fiery kiss. He surrenders to her pleasures.

ILSANDRA
Know the gifts of Asmodeus, dear child. You have earned
great boons by your devoted service, and I shall pay them
all with interest. But soft, what terror approaches? Our
pleasures must wait.

Enter the Beast.

LARAZOD
Come, horror, I shall tear my way from your gizzard with
the white-hot blade of my truth.

DROVALID
Die though I might, melted to a puddle of liquid flesh in
the bowels of the Beast, I cannot think of any greater man
to join in death. I am honoured to die at the side of a man
so filled with truth.

DENTRIS
Come and have a bite, Old Beastie. These old bones shall
stick in your craw and choke the life from you.

TYBAIN
My holy flesh shall burn all the way down. Aroden’s
blessings upon my soul ensure a most unpleasant meal for
this Beast.

The Beast devours them. They struggle to fight their way free from his gizzard.

A huge and curious sculpture of iron, polished wood, and green glass is wheeled onto the stage from behind the back curtain. The sculpture is that of a vast serpent, it’s mouth large enough for a human size-creature to slip inside, its belly made of transparent but very thick glass. The “Beast’s” tail is raised high and its head kept low so that a person on the stage can climb in easily. The glass tail is filled with acid in a thin (and quickly eroding) container—the actors all clamber into the Beast’s maw and slide down into its transparent belly, one per round. Once all seven actors are in the belly, stagehands dressed as lemures lumber out and tug on the sculpture’s head and tail, which wheel about on a set of rollers around the transparent belly so that the tail hangs low and the head rears high. By the time this is done, the acid eats its way through it's container and half-fills the belly where the group stands. Now, the group within must climb up the beast’s throat and out of its upraised maw before the acid kills them.

You can speak and coordinate without being overly concerned about Rounds, but keep it minimal/hurried. No speechifying while being scalded by acid. Lots of rolls here, so please label things appropriately. I will use movement/action to monitor the Round. Read both spoilers below as they contain important survival information and Act mechanics. Lastly don't forget the obligatory performance checks for Act IV.

Calseinica's eyes grow round as the acid beings to eat through it's container and scald your feet, screaming shrilly and pawing at Cornelous's shoulder, "What are they doing!! They... They're using real acid! HELP ME!!" and proceeds to go into full screaming hysterics as the rising acid burns her beautiful skin. Thesing's acting is superb as he chuckles and cackles hatefully as you all scramble desperately for your lives in the now knee-deep fluid. The crowd is whipped into a frenzy by Calseinica's screams and cheers and applauds with blood-thirsty abandon. Some, in their excitement, even throw coins and jewelry, a impulsive action by a frenzied mind.

Acid Damage:
Round 1 starts as soon as the first escape post is made.

Notes:
Each round, the acid in the creature’s belly inflicts 1d6 points of acid damage—a DC 15 Reflex save is enough to scramble and avoid acid damage for 1 round. The fumes in the belly are acrid as well, and each round a creature spends inside the belly it must also make a DC 12 Fortitude save or be sickened for the remainder of this act.

Round 1: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Round 2: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Round 3: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Round 4: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Round 5: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Round 6: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Round 7: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Round 8: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Round 9: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Round 10: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Round 11: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Round 12: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Round 13: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Round 14: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Round 15: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Exit Options:
One PC at a time fits in the throat, and one PC fits into the maw of the snake sculpture. The drop from the maw to the ground 10 feet below delivers 1d6 points of falling damage, but DC 15 Acrobatics check negates.

#1 Climber - The throat is smooth and impossible to climb, save for a series of tiny hooks that hang from the sides—these allow a Climb check (DC 20) to escape). Failure by less than 5 indicates that the climber makes noprogress—failure by 5 or more indicates the climber takes 1d6 points of slashing damage from the razor-sharp spike handholds. A character at either end (perched in the Beast’s mouth or still within its belly) can aid another character climbing in the throat by making DC 10 Climb checks. There’s only room for one person in the Beast’s mouth at a time, though, and as a character clambers up into the mouth, anyone already there must either slide down into the throat.

#2 Human Tower - A PC may also balance on another PC’s shoulders to reach the maw. To form such a tower, both members of the tower must make an Acrobatics check (DC 15); the failure of any check results in that character falling, taking anyone above him down as well, but not the one below. PCs can lift up to twice their maximum load (a character with 10 Str can therefore lift 200 pounds); however, a Strength check (DC 10) is required to keep hold in the sweaty and damp acidic conditions.

#3 Bust Out - The cramped space, slippery and acidic footing, and apparent hardness of the very thick glass make this an extremely difficult option. This requires attack rolls, but you don't know how effective the damage will be, much less how long it'll take to break the glass.

Perception DC 16:
At a glance you see there's several hundred gold pieces worth of jewelry tossed to the state, and sitting out of place, three small flasks, the contents of which are unknown. Several lemure-costumed stagehands have already sidled over and past some jewelry as you struggle to get out of the snake, the jewelry disappearing at their passing.


You're done from my standpoint, unless you want to do something else and if so you can do it in Flex Time. Does someone have a list of the loot?

Coming down the winding hill from Harrowstone, Ravengro spreads out below you, a few stray drops of rain glittering in the strong sunlight hitting the town. The rain-damped earth brings the fresh smell of renewal and life to your dusty nostrils. There is no sense of oppression or malice at your back as you leave Harrowstone behind you.

Making your way back to town and passing a few people coming out into open after the rain that fell heavily most of the morning. Most of them acknowledge you with a wave or a smile, and a small few not at all. They all give you a wide berth, probably due to the dirty and disheveled state some among you are in. Armor and weapons looted from the prison jut off your packs and persons, further drawing interest to your appearance.

Through her front window, you can see Kendra conversing with someone in the sitting room. She spots you through the glass and opens the door just as you arrive, enthusiastically hugging each of you as you enter her home. Stepping out of the sitting room is a much healthier looking Kimgald, his pick/can prodding the way before him. After a tearful (for Kendra) few minutes of checking you over and reassuring herself you're all in one piece, she goes to draw baths and prepare a meal.

Kimgald returns Teddy to Kimberly's care and explains that a short time ago he awoke as if from a coma, shaking off a horrific nightmare in which the entire group was killed over and over again it gruesome deaths, some of those deaths at his own hand. But when he finally awoke, he felt much relieved and has been improving in health ever since. The voices have ceased speaking to him, he admits, and he has no clue if they will return or not. He seems to take this development in stride, and says Kendra has agreed to let him stay here for a little while to recover. "I'm sorry, but I do not think I will be joining you on the journey to Lepidstadt. Is it still your intention to deliver the professors books?"

About that time Kendra comes in and announces that food is ready and baths should be ready not long after eating - for those who want them. She joins you at the table, not eating, but instead probing for information and asking questions about the experience in Ravengro. After a time she interjects, stating she needs to ready the baths, and also wants to go speak with the councilman about your return. Assuming no one objects, she leaves to finish the baths and find one of the councilman.

After a while (long enough to eat, bath and get dressed) Kendra returns with Coucilman Hearthmount and the Sheriff in tow. Both men shake hands all around, and thank you on behalf of the citizens of Ravengro for what you've done for Ravengro. There is a slight hesitation in the councilmans voice, as if he cannot believe the terror has truly come to an end, but he does not refute your claims in any degree. "Things got worse after you left, and we feared the worst. By your leave I'd like to present your award tomorrow. This will serve us doubly, one to allow you to rest, and two it will allow the night to come and go, confirming the truth of Harrowstone's cleansing. Agreed?" He clearly means no ill-will, but is a man with frayed nerves and little hope after the horrors his town has faced for the last weeks and longer.

To save time...
The restful night passes without incident and a joyful Councilman Heathmount is pounding eagerly on the door with the coming of the morning. He carries a full pouch and wears a large smile as a bedrobe-wearing Kendra invites him inside. Without ado he hands over the bag and shakes hands once again, practically skipping out the door with glee. Clearly he had a long-overdue nights sleep. The pouch contains a little more than promised, 550gp apiece, instead of the previously promised 500gp.

In flex time, go ahead and run errands, sell things, heal, etc... anything that requires a roll and/or leaving the Lorrimor home. @Kimberly - I had you guys at 8300 before returning to Ravengro, and with the completion of the quest with the Councilman (and traps, and other misc bonuses), it's boosted another 700 bringing you to 9000 and Level 4! Please level up as well.


Ok, two things to straighten out in my brain before we continue. Sabinus offered healing between Acts II and III. So far I only see him having used that healing - during that II/III break. I'm fine with you rolling your own 'intermission' CLW healing, as Sabinus requested, as long as you state which break you're using it, and keep your stats updated where I can see them. So far everyone but Caladius has taken the 2 Con damage and everyone took the 3hp damage (with Ava's rolls still coming). Correct me if I'm wrong and roll your heals when you want them.


Who be dat!? ;)


Taking 10 or 20 is fine.


Waiting on the Act II intermission healing from Sabinus, just roll those in a Flex Time post if you're going to. Be sure to specify which roll goes to which teammate.

Act III: Trial by Pleasure

Perception DC18:
You see Millech wave the stagehand with the knives over to his side, bending over them and applying some sort of paste to the blade of each one. He notices your attention and gives a wink and a small gesture of encouragement as he goes back to his position on the catwalk above the stage.

Enter the bailiff bearing six vials and six curved flensing knives. He hands one of each to Dentris, Tybain, Larazod, Moonris, Farus, and Drovalid.

HAANDERTHAN
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. 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. 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?

ILSANDRA
Oh, how I long to face this judgment!

DROVALID
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.

LARAZOD
Your courage is beyond question. Show this lickspittle
Magistrate the meaning of devotion, my friend.


Drovalid administers the fluke, convulses in sheer orgasmic
ecstasy, but as it crawls up his arm he suddenly plunges
a flensing blade beneath the skin, skewering the fluke and
removing it.

DROVALID
Asmodeus bear witness to my devotion. This half-breed
speaks only truth! Come Moonris and Farus, let us three
weather this tempest of pleasure together.[b]

Likewise, Larazod applies the fluke to his flesh, where it hungrily
burrows beneath the surface. Larazod shudders in pleasure.
Moonris and Farus do likewise.

ILSANDRA[b]
Oh, to be that fluke! To burrow into such sweet flesh!

LARAZOD
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.


Larazod cuts out his fluke, Moonris and Farus as well.
Dentris applies his fluke.

DENTRIS
Oh! It has been so long! Sweet, aching ecstasy!


Improvises a rendition of the Tallis and his Three Wives, and then
cuts away the fluke when it is nigh in his neck.

DENTRIS
(Sourly) 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.

TYBAIN
My turn, I suppose.


Tybain applies his fluke and begins giggling uncontrollably.

TYBAIN
Ooooh! Aaaaah! I know not this feeling!

DENTRIS
Ha! Watch the virginal knight squirm!

TYBAIN
It is as if a thousand feathers assault my flesh—
especially my most… tender… parts. What strange
pleasure is this!

LARAZOD
Ah, Aroden’s servants, so like sweet children they be. Hold
true, my dear friend!


Tybain suddenly tears loose his fluke.

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

HAANDERTHAN
Curse your persistence. All lies eventually reveal their
ugly fangs. I shall draw them as venom from a wound.

In this act, each of the Torchbearer actors are subjected to the trial of pleasure—the “Flukes of Asmodeus” are fictitious creations of the playwright, but the rot grubs who play their roles are very real. When each grub is applied, it is the actor’s duty to act as if in the throes of unbridled passion while the rot grub burrows through his flesh before cutting the rot grub out with the offered knife. The knives bear minor magical enhancements that make them particularly efficient at cutting out rot grubs—this magic only persists for the length of this act, but while it does, any Heal check made to cut out a rot grub with one of these knives gains a +8 circumstance bonus. To complete the scene I need a performance check, to see how well you can sell being in "ecstacy", followed by a heal check (DC20 and takes 1 round) to cut the grub out. For damage you take 2 points of Con damage each rouch the grub is embedded in your flesh, which you can overcome with a DC17 Fort save. Also,

This time, there are groans and winces as the grubs burrow into your flesh. Some other are sitting in rapt, disturbing attention, taking in the grisly details as each of you squirm.

Damage Breakdown by Round/Attempt:
Round 1: 1d6 ⇒ 3 and 2 Con damage.
Round 2: 1d6 ⇒ 6 and 2 Con damage.
Round 3: 1d6 ⇒ 6 and 2 Con damage.
Round 4: 1d6 ⇒ 2 and 2 Con damage.
Round 5: 1d6 ⇒ 4 and 2 Con damage.

Just rolled 5 rounds in case anyone fails their DC20 heal check that many times. Add each rounds damage up to get your total. This is lethal damage.

Caladius:
You recognize Arael near the front row, but no other familiar faces catch your eye when you peek out.


@Anna - yes you can. You can do anything else you'd like here in Flex Time.

As you leave the building, the damp weather has cleared up, and the sun shines through large gaps in the clouds. The feelings of oppression and darkness which smothered the area seems to have been washed away by the earlier rain, and there is a freshness in the air.

Survival DC 22 (assistable):
The heavy rain has done a good job of washing away any tracks, but you do manage to find a set of tracks leading away from Harrowstone, in the opposite direction of Ravengro. They are medium-sized booted feet, with faint pulling at the ground behind and to the sides of each track as if the owner of the tracks also wore a long cloak or cape. After about 100' the tracks hit some rocky ground and are too obscured to follow further.


All the traps are disabled successfully as Anna carefully and skillfully renders them useless.


@Corneleous - the extra 1hp damage you'd have taken from the rack when Lucon managed to hit you is negated. So you take 7 damage instead of 8, like everyone else.


All Acts run about 15 - 20 minutes each.


What a kind-hearted dicebot. :)


Act 2: Trial by Torture

At the start of the act, 'the device' is brought on stage to a chorus of impressed “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience. Once it’s been thoroughly and dramatically displayed, Larazod (Corneleous) is stripped down to a loincloth (making him unable to use equipment in this act as a result) and strapped into the device. Drovalid (Lucon) stands ready to strike at one of the five actors with a whip. Thesing, playing Haanderthan, seems to quite relish as every lash of the whip rains down. The crowd gasping and cheering in equal parts as each blow lands.

'The Device' is a torturous implement referred to in the play as “the device.” This is a combination rack and wheel, meant to stretch the victim’s limbs and twist his body into increasingly painful positions.

Enter DROVALID.

HAANDERTHAN
Good Keeper of Pain, Tormentor of Liars and Demonsuckling
Miscreants, we are honored by your presence. Show
these supplicants the favor of your stinging lash, and with
rack and fire, purge lies from their lips. Break their souls, and
let the mad and guilty appall our ears no more with ranting.

DROVALID
Magistrate Maleficarum, I come before you a simple hand
whose lash is guided by the greater glory of Asmodeus,
may my scourge do him and this devoted tribunal proud.
With your permission I shall begin our first trial.

HAANDERTHAN
Begin at your leisure, Tormentor. End this fool’s mockery
of our court with cleansing agony.

Enter the Device and other implements of torture. Drovalid begins
administering agonizing pain upon a stoic Larazod and his huddling companions.

DENTRIS
Fools, my good master may be a fool of a tiefling, but if you
think to wrack his spine, and wheedle mewled recantation
from his black lips, you are even greater fools than he.
Larazod is no coward, and he sneers in the face of pain
with true faith in Asmodeus—he cannot waver. He faced
Abyssal Tyrants and hordes of their slime-ridden minions
in battle. His coal-black soul did not quake then. He stands
resolute now. You cannot break his spirit.

DROVALID
Recant half-breed. Admit your twisted falsehoods, serpenttongued
traitor!

LARAZOD
Even an ocean of agony cannot turn truth to lie.

More bone-crunching, skin-flensing torment.

DROVALID
Recant and end this trial! Swift death shall embrace
you and Asmodeus smiles upon those who admit their
falsehoods—he may not rend your soul completely, may
leave some semblance of your spirit intact.

LARAZOD
I recant… nothing! Grind on, honeyed torment. Sing
sweetly as I may, no cries of “recant” shall you hear. I hate
lies, as I hate demon-loving traitors.

More torture.

LARAZOD
Had enough, Magistrate? Can you withstand it any longer?
Please give in and recant, for the only torment I cannot
bear is your continued duplicity. Recant, Magistrate!
Recant your own lies, and Asmodeus may have mercy on
your slimy soul.

TYBAIN
Ha! Even in the face of soul-crushing pain, he taunts
this ridiculous Magistrate of Hell. Hear me, Aroden,
if Asmodeus has such as Larazod in his employ, all our
efforts are doomed. Would your white fist command such
steadfast loyalty as this one here, who laughs at death and
grins at the grimmest pain.

ILSANDRA
(Aside) Such a sweet voice. I long to hear his screams
more—ah, but to elicit them myself, with a soulburning
kiss, and an aching embrace. This torture is
most stimulating, though I do hope the Tormentor
doesn’t mar the tiefling’s choicest parts. Leave off those!
They belong to me alone!

DROVALID
(Exhausted) Recant!

LARAZOD
Never! Lash every inch of flesh from me, leave only a bloody
ruin where I stand—that skinned wreck of a man will
gurgle only truth and never recant.

Drovalid ends torment and casts down his whip.

DROVALID
He is as unbreakable as a marble tide—dragon’s scale would
have shattered long ago—and yet he stands unbowed. No
lie can evade this unholy lash of mine, gifted to me by
Asmodeus himself. Larazod must speak the truth!

HAANDERTHAN
Fool! Continue the trial, you’ve yet to probe deep enough
into his soul’s painful lies!

DROVALID
My work is done. My findings true. You have never doubted
my hand before. Why do you so now? Could it be this
tiefling speaks true? Are you allied against our august
master of darkness?

HAANDERTHAN
Mind your place, Tormentor! You speak blasphemy in the
face of this land’s own Magistrate Maleficarum. Beware,
your words endanger your very soul. Take you this halfbreed’s
part? Then you would join him on his trials? Don’t
be a fool.

DROVALID
If Asmodeus wishes it so then my soul stands with his. If
my hand has failed you, then I shall burn for it. I shall face
the remaining five trials at Larazod’s side.

HAANDERTHAN
So be it, traitor. Your rending death, and his, shall be my
vindication. Bring on the second trial!

The curtain falls once more to wild applause, Millech (standing on a 15' high catwalk above the stage) directs the small army of stagehands. Corneleous is carefully removed from the device by wide-eyed stagehands, clearly the violence a first for many of them. On the other side of the curtain, Aulamaxa begins another lovely sounding aria, and the next scene begins to take shape.

Lucon will be making some attack rolls against your FF AC, and rolling the nonlethal damage. Basically, your all just taking the beating Lucon is dishing out, and Corneleous is getting extra twisted on the device. Feel free to add some flavor posts, in this and every act, just to make things fun. I don't mind some fun creativity in them as long as it doesn't affect the overall flow of the Act. We'll move ahead after the rolls from Lucon and Corneleous are in, and everyone has given me another performance roll for Act 2.

Lucon:
Drovalid makes a total of 12 whip attacks on the five prisoners, 4 on Larazod and two each for Tybain, Dentris, Farus and Moonris, laying about after each spoken line until the play indicates the torment ends. You must make an attack roll against the chosen target’s flat-footed AC (1d3 of nonlethal damage per hit); you can attempt to miss on purpose, but each time you misses a stroke, you must succeed on a DC20 Bluff check or face unknown consequences.
Corneleous:
Each time Drovalid strikes Larazod with his whip, the device twists and turns, inflicting 1 point of nonlethal damage on you. If you take nonlethal damage while staggered or unconscious you instead take lethal damage. Each time you take this point of damage (and are still concious), you can attempt a DC 15 Fortitude save to negate it. So give me 4 Fort Saves, just in case Lucon hits you all four times.


I know it. Around a table and out loud would be so cool! Sadly i couldnt think of a good way to pull it off in pbp. Imagination i guess! :)


Act 1: Condemnation

A high-backed obsidian bench stands upcenter. As the curtain rises, HAANDERTHAN himself perches there, an awesome figure of power looming above the shackled forms of LARAZOD, TYBAIN, DENTRIS, MOONRIS and FARUS. The other members of the COUNCIL, including the sultry ILSANDRA, flank out stage right and left of HAANDERTHAN’S tribunal bench. The hulking bearded devil BAILIFF stands over them, spiked truncheon in his scabrous red, leather-like hands.

BAILIFF
Order in the Tribunal. The Court of His Honor Paraduke
Montigny Haanderthan, Black Tongue of Asmodeus,
Magistrate Maleficarum, now holds session. All rise.

HAANDERTHAN
Be seated, members of the Court. Today this court seeks
truth, or at least shadows thereof, from one Larazod
Rilsane, honored veteran of the Shadestar War, member of
a once gloried house, of recent fallen in Asmodeus’s regard.
The accused stands on several counts of failed conspiracy,
evidenced thereof by the industrious interrogations of
the court’s own Seeker, Drovalid Vorclune, administered
with his usual diligence and severity. In these interviews
Vorclune gathered from notable sources, only a few of
whom survived their conversations with the lash, that
Larazod of the Rilsane held audience with undesirables—
the topic of their whispered covenant the activities of
none other than myself. A most serious affair. Service to
Asmodeus’s ever-darkening glory is never without risk
of menace, betrayal, and threat of doom. My family and
I have long suffered the bumbling attempts of assassins
who would tear at our dark lord’s visage as casually as
they befoul their mothers’ beds.
What they lack in cunning they bolster with sheer
desperation, evidenced by consorting with all manner of
Aroden-suckling knaves, and aged wiz-worms who trust
in mystic secrets over the Dark One’s love.

You hereby stand accused, Larazod, along with your illseeming
compatriots, of conspiracy to undertake grievous
harm to the institution of this tribunal, namely myself,
Paraduke Montigny Haanderthan. How answer thee these
charges, Larazod of House Rilsane? Be thou maligned by
a scandal-brewer’s wagging tongue, or dost thou cleave to
my comings and goings as a bloat fly to a fresh cadaver?
Speak! And know that lies are my closest friends. They’ll
betray you before I. Speak the truth or do worse than die!

DENTRIS
Hold your tongue, boy, and we’ll escape the firebrand yet.
Your father was the model of a devil’s squire. Summon
his wiles now, and keep shut that Abyss you call mouth,
before we all tumble down into its darkness. Had you been
born deaf and dumb, this loyal servant would yet live to see
another midnight.

TYBAIN
Hurl his arrogance and accusations back at him, Larazod.
He wants precious golden-yoked truth? Give him more
than he can choke down. For whether revealed by the
brilliance of Aroden’s eye, or the long red shadows cast
by your Dark Lord’s fiery gaze, a man false at heart and
shrouded in hollow faiths is nothing more than a traitor to
all. Let him that judges false be judged by wraiths—smote
by his own brand shall he fall.

LARAZOD
Larazod knows no lies, great magistrate, and no slanderer’s
tongue caresses my dignity. The accusations you speak are
as true as Asmodeus’s sword. They cleave clean through.
Let the witnesses suffer no more lash. To burn their
innards with pokers and steal their eyes is simply to waste
precious toil better spent in Asmodeus’s service. There is
but one point misaligned in this dark constellation—I
seek not your death, though the secrets you harbor in your
feeble heart deserve a gruesome demise.
I carry no assassin’s blade, nor breath-stealing spell
to rob your mortality. To end you I need only know you,
and to cast you in an honest shade. I pierce your “shadows
of truth” and show you for what I know—a false knave, a
demon-supping wag-tail, a balor’s bawd, a pus-leaking
cataract in the eye of Asmodeus’s justice, and subject to the
multi-handed ministrations of a marilith whore, dretchloving
plunderer, and traitor to our great Dark Lord.

There is much commotion among the council.

ILSANDRA
(Aside) And to think I almost spent this session in the orgybaths
of Kalrath. None of their fleshy delights could compare
to the ecstasy this half-breed’s words stroke within me! See
his fierce aspect burn in fury, even below the tribunal’s
culling justice. But how shall Haanderthan answer?

HAANDERTHAN
Heavy words for a forked tongue to manage, boy. You
juggle them well enough, but like a poor fool, offer jest and
jape. I assume this glib outrage, obviously a threadbare
attempt to throw off the keening blade of justice, is backed
by the testimony of a thousand law-loving fiends? Perhaps
the ancient augurer at your side, ever your father’s faithful
lap-lizard, probed the ancient secrets of the cosmos and
uncovered my blasphemous treachery? Or have you a soulbonded
scroll of bone-white parchment upon which my
scrawled hand appears next to some Abyssal conspirator?
You amuse me, half-breed, and it is the only reason your
sniveling soul is not yet blasted away in hellfire and borne
on a river of sorrow to some ignominious corner of the
Nine. Whereof comes this lunacy? What disease vexes your
broken mind? From what mystery of psychosis do you
draw your lies?

TYBAIN
You mewl lies like a sullied maid on her wedding night,
O Great One. Even a lord may be smote in darkness as
Asmodeus sees the truth of you—a base and lowly thing,
snivelling in crimson robes. These devil-bowing citizens
about us are affront enough to Aroden’s divine will, but
ye, whose left hand clasps devil’s claws, and right reaches
out for demonic boon—oh double-dealing fiend-lover,
who allies with the Abyss. Infernal oaths and Abyssal
blasphemy spew in one breath from your twisting lips.

HAANDERTHAN
Does your Aroden arse-kissing pall-a-dine put you up to
such resounding blasphemy? Have you no tongue of your
own, half-breed, to answer my charge?

LARAZOD
Truth is spoken freely in many tongues, false magistrate,
and by agents of light and dark. You know what you are.

HAANDERTHAN
You persist in this foolishness? It shall go hard for you and
yours. Recant and your deaths shall be swift, your souls
consigned to diligent service in Hell. Refuse, and enlist in
agony’s service, consign your soul to wallow in the most
ignominious corner of the Nine, and take eternal suffering
as your bedmate.

ILSANDRA
(Aside) [b]He’s to have a much more interesting bedmate, if
I’ve anything to say. The fire that one shows at tribunal,
will no doubt burn even stronger between my sheets.

DENTRIS
(Aside) That one grows hot betwixt her infernal thighs.
Hope beyond hope. One voice of dissent on the council
and the slenderest chance of salvation is ours to clutch. Let
this waxen sliver of hope not melt until she does—let her
find her tongue.

HAANDERTHAN
Speak, boy. Do you still baffle with false charges, or have
your battered wits returned? Speak.

LARAZOD
I recant nothing. You, accuser, so stand accused. How do
you answer?

HAANDERTHAN
Innocent, of course. And so judgment is passed. My right
as magistrate puts you to the flames on my command. My
word is law.

DENTRIS
Respectfully, my lord, when I was a barrister of the tribunal,
it was common practice to ask Consular Consent in any
judgement of a matter involving the Magistrate personally
in the case. Has the ancient code of Asmodeus’s court,
scorched on the Tablets of Law by our Great Lord’s own
fiery talon, so fallen as to warrant its complete disregard
in this tribunal?

HAANDERTHAN
Of course, you are correct, old man. I’ve no intention
of affronting our Great Lord. Council, what say ye on
this matter? Do you concur with my judgment? These
heinous slanders cast upon my great name warrant utter
annihilation. So sayeth I, Magistrate of this Gloried
Tribunal. Do you agree?

Councillors mutter and call “Aye.”

ILSANDRA
Nay.

HAANDERTHAN
My ears deceive me. Do you, august erinyes, daughter of
Hell, speak against our cause?

ILSANDRA
I speak against your judgment. Our cause is yet
undetermined by my mark. According to our oldest
codes, truth can be drawn from an offender, as pus from a
wound. Asmodeus’s Trials show the true heart from the
false. Why, simply put the half-breed to the flames. Let
us try him properly in accordance with the old ways.

DENTRIS
Well done, lad. Your pretty infernal face is good for
something, even if your tongue offends all who hear. We
may live yet.

HAANDERTHAN
Tut, the business of the tribunal heaps higher day by
day. We’ve cases waiting in the wings by the thousands.
Penitent souls singing out for justice. Shall we delay their
flight to Asmodeus’s waiting embrace to engage in infantile
contests? Nay, expediency is our charge when matters so
lacking in evidence are brought before our bench.

ILSANDRA
Come, come, sweet magistrate. The spectacle of a few trials
would do my poor heart well. I wane at these tiresome
sessions. Let the trials commence. ’Twould arouse me.
’Twould tickle me. ’Twould drive me to distraction.

HAANDERTHAN
Trials you say? How now? If it is to be so, let us sweeten
the pot. A price I would exact for trials as you insist. If
this half-breed fails, not only is my name cleared of all
preposterous charges, but you shall compact to me for a
full moon’s service, to do my bidding and satisfy all my
unwholesome needs.

ILSANDRA
Let it be so agreed. I hunger so for trials, I happily wager
my body to your whim. We shall see if this half-breed’s
words strike true or false.

HAANDERTHAN
So be it. Larazod, you stand in trial. By my discretion you
shall face six of Asmodeus’s fell tests. You stand alone in
the face of terrors over which no mortal has prevailed.

TYBAIN
Not alone, my lord. I stand with him.

HAANDERTHAN
You are under no obligation to do so, Arodenite. Back down
and be discharged, to keep at your slobbering benedictions
for a few more years at least.

TYBAIN
I am true to Aroden, my lord, but I am also true in loyalty
and kinship. This man, though half-fiend his blood may
turn, is bound to me in brotherhood, as I stand bound to
him. Our blades both matched the enemies of Cheliax,
and what faith divides, common cause unites. You cannot
sunder me from his destiny. I stand trial at his side, as is
my right, if I so beclaim it. Is it not so, Dentris?

DENTRIS
'Tis true, my lord. If the half-brained, light-blinded knight
wishes to perish alongside my good master, he is within
his lawful right.

HAANDERTHAN
Very well. Burn with him, fool. Dentris Maltrada, you are
hereby discharged.

DENTRIS
Nay sir, though I wish nothing more. This boy, as wayward as
his fancies take him, is in my care. I never waivered from his
father’s service, and I shall not turn my back on the son.

HAANDERTHAN
Surely, you’ve no wish to die?

DENTRIS
There are worse fates, magistrate, than even can be
promised on the deepest level of your Hell. To walk alive in
a world, my duty undone, my sworn oath broken, is to walk
through fires more smolderous than any Asmodeus keeps
below. Though he be a fool, and possessed of a diseased
wit, Larazod is my master, and I shall stand by him. Do
your worst magistrate. I’ve rolled bones with demons, and
gazed in dragons’ hearts. Let us have these trials and be
done with my life, if the lords of darkness so command.

HAANDERTHAN
Doddering old sack of bones. No demon’s dice, nor dragon’s
musings await you—only torment beyond the stars’ most
infinite imaginings. When you mewl out for merciful
death, I shall look on in pleasure, as your soul’s wake burns
from a withered old corpse. Make ready, supplicants.
The trials begin anon. May Asmodeus take pity on your
blighted souls.

With that the curtains fall to a thunderous roar of applause. Millech and a small army of stagehands scramble ferociously to get the next act ready while the curtain is down. You can hear Aulamaxa start into a beautiful aria to entertain the crowd while the set is changed.

Everyone, except Lucon, make a Performance (act) Check for Act 1 please. In between each act will be a 5 minute break for you, so use that time wisely. Act 2 coming as soon as I have the Act 1 performance checks.

**Act 1 picture**


A few minutes before 4:00 P.M. Robahl comes into the office, white-faced and pale. He moves to the refreshment table, without acknowledging anyone, and takes a long pull straight from a wine bottle. Calseinica approaches him, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder, and he jumps with a shout, but relaxes slightly when he see's it's her. When questioned, all he says is, "You’ll do fine… you’ll do fine… hit your marks and remember your lines, and you’ll do fine…"

---------------

As 4:00 rolls around, the sound of bells in a nearby tower pealing out the hour, the growing rush and din in the auditorium calms. Robahl takes a deep breath, then steps onstage to greet the audience.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the premiere event at this wondrous new theater! Let me begin by extending my humblest thanks to the Church for providing the—how shall I say?—punch in tonight’s spectacle. And also my sincere gratitude and thanks to our illustrious and benevolent lordmayor, Aberian Arvanxi."

With that, Robahl bows and returns backstage as the crowd applauds him out. The lights go down, the seven-piece orchestra plays a short introduction, and then Visbaronetness Aulamaxa takes the stage and sings for a few minutes to introduce the play. She finishes to a round of tremendous applause, the orchestra falls silent, and with a strangely uncharacteristic whisper of encouragement, "I know you can do it. Break a leg!" and the play begins.


As the final lines are said and the curtain drawn, the audience cheers wildly with approval. Robahl has no words of encouragement —he merely tells all of you to "Go home and get some rest, for the big day is tomorrow! Meet here by eleven, for we march in procession at noon!" and then takes his own leave.

That evening, after the play, Arael and Janiven come to visit you, risking the darkness whether you're at the hideout or at your homes. They wish to bestow good luck and encouragement. Arael speaks up, "You've done a wonderful job thus far. I know there've been challenges but all of the trouble has been for tomorrow. I've full confidence the mayor will invite you all to the party and there we will find the means to liberate Westcrown from it's night-time tyrants." He became quite passionate and takes a moment to compose himself, continuing, "We have been working to get me into the Nightshade theater for the performance, and if I successfully infiltrate I will lend what assistance I can. But it could be some time before you're able to escape the Mayors home, so prepare accordingly. Good luck." He holds out his forearm for you to grasp and then he and the lovely Janiven take their leave, the latter giving you a wink and a smile on the way out.

Go ahead and put anything you'd like to do before the day of the show in flextime.

The Big Day

Inside the Limehouse, Robahl and the others are waiting at eleven, and once you arrive you're hurriedly dressed in partial costume and makeup, to put the final touches on at the Nightshade. Precisely at noon the Robahl leads the troupe outside and on a procession from the Limehouse to the Nightshade intended to show off the actors in their costumes as they wind their way through the streets to the west, board a large barge, sail across the river, debark on Rego Aerum, and then proceed to the imposing facade of the Nightshade itself. Once you arrive Robahl bundles you all through a side entrance, giving you only a brief glimpse of the rest of the theater.

From outside, the Nightshade looks like nothing less than an iron and stone cathedral to some nameless evil god—inside, the building is all soft lighting, thick red carpets, and devilish decor. Carvings and murals of leering faces and tormented souls decorate the walls, while the ceilings hang with iron chandeliers. The main theater can seat approximately 250 individuals, all facing a relatively spacious stage.

He sequesters you all in a large room (stage right) called the Green Room, pointing out the food and drink waiting for you. There's enough to keep you all happy until the play begins. Aulamaxa moves happily to the tables and begins to delicately stuff her face. Millech and the rest of the costume team enters and puts on the final touches, leaving you all seemingly looking at a bunch of strangers as you see all the full costumes together in one place and time. "Break a leg, and watch your durned backs!" and then shambles out of the room, taking the bulk of his crew with him. In the entire backstage, evidence of the Nightshade’s recent construction is apparent; crates of tools and equipment, unfinished walls, and bare wooden floors testify to the fact that only the parts of the building that the public sees are fully finished.

The experienced actors are mostly relaxed and poised, each in their own little world getting into character, saying complex sentences to loosen up their mouths, and working out their voices.

**Nightshade Theater**


In general I'm in favor of prestige classes and letting players run their characters. Honestly, until something happens to show me how a class or player or whatever can interfere with the flow of the game... I usually won't catch it. With that said I do want to at least look over the Magaambyan Arcanist, but the link takes me to a Collegiate Arcanist. Is that the same thing?


I apologize for my misuse of the term 'Aid Another'. Everyone except Corneleous has 7 performance checks, DC10. It's not an actual Aid Another as I originally stated. If you make the DC10, it functions similarly in that you boost Corneleous's performance by +2. So Ava's rolls are fine and Enko sorry to mislead. If this affects anyone elses scores let me know. Doing a tally now.

EDIT: And the numbers match up exactly with Lucon's. Thanks for doing that.

Act 2 - Fail: 1d20 ⇒ 18
A pair of terrified sheep are led up on stage and suggested as replacements for the actors—the sheep run amok and foul the stage in their panic and continue to be distracting for the duration. This creates some unique challenges for blocking and stage movement till it gets cleaned up between acts.

Act 3 - Fail: 1d20 ⇒ 17
A donkey is brought out of the audience and proposed as the player’s replacement, and the uproarious laughter takes some time to die down. Eventually a darkly dressed stagehand slinks out and leads the animal out of the building.

Act 6 - Fail: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Ripe tomatoes, cabbages, or small bags of weevil-infested flour and grain are hurled at the stage. Some miss, some hit, and all projectiles add an extra layer of difficulty to what is supposed to be a very important and dramatic scene.

Enko:
Aulamaxa smiles sweetly as you refill her glass, portions of her face plumping as squishing oddly at the motion. She tosses back the entire glass and her head wobbles a bit on it's neck. Looking over at you, and focusing with difficulty, she holds up her glass and shakes it slightly, indicating her desire for a refill. "Won'tchu drink too muffin facshe?" she slurs.


Each act is around 15-30 minutes each. Go ahead and purchase the spell and roll to learn it, if your learning attempt is successful then add the bonuses.

@Enko - That type of incident would take it's toll on anyone. :)


lol
The torchbearers all wish you luck on Dress Rehearsal day, and some even plan on trying to attend the performance. Arael commiserates with Sabinus, putting a friendly hand on his shoulder, "The week is nearly done, and I know you've each tried your best. I appreciate you putting the good of Westcrown ahead of your own desires. It cannot be easy." When you state your desire to put some people to sleep he raises his eyebrows high on his smooth forehead, "Well, don't get caught at least!" and smiles as he moves to speak with one of the others.

Some nice rolls so far!


Corneleous - go ahead and post your Day 6 in FlexTime.

----------------------

Day 7
The first part of this day is spent tightening up any last minute issues with scenes or other logistics— the public dress rehearsal is scheduled to begin at 4:00 in the afternoon.

Go ahead and do anything in the morning you'd like.

The Limehouse fills quickly as the time for the dress rehearsal draws near—by 4:00, the theater is packed with over a hundred excited, noisy theater patrons eager to see flubbed lines, missed cues, and not-quite-special effects. The din of the crowd is slightly intimidating—this is not an audience interested in remaining quiet and respectful during a performance. You think you even see animals in the aisles

Just before the dress rehearsal begins, Robahl offers some last advice: "Do your job. Ignore the rabble. If they throw something, take it and move on. Anything less than them actually starting a fire is not cause to stop the performance. There won't be any actual battles today, those portions are still going to be an exciting reveal on the day " He gives a nervous laugh at the end and gives you each a final nod, before taking his leave.

Corneleous (Larazod) - you must make seven Performance (act) checks DC21. Everyone else is basically making Performance (act) assist checks (DC10). To save time, everyone roll seven performance checks, and highlight the rolls you make the DC. Good luck!


Andjela detects no evil on the item or in the room. In fact, the lack of evil she senses is almost shocking, given how evil surrounded and infused everything around you all since approaching this place. Putting the badge on her has no visible or noticeable effect on the beautiful Paladin.

@Tolvan - That's what I was thinking, a library or other learned assistance of some kind or another could probably get you there.


The makeup of the badge has indeed changed, revealing a strong aura of an unspecified or unknown school of magic.

Spellcraft DC32 to identify. (Sheesh that seems high. The DC is 15+CL to identify right?)


The ghostly woman gasps in relief and happiness as the badge is revealed. She reaches out and takes it, a full smile replacing the emotionless despair which was previously ever-present. "With this I can clean Harrowstone entirely, and need not remain any longer. Thank you and may your steps ever find the light." She is smiling and laughing, the tears no longer a reflection of her sadness, instead a manifestation of a peaceful joy. Her entire form starts to fade from view, and your skin tingles as some change hums in the very air you breath and the stones beneath your feet. As she fades, the badge remains and floats slowly to the ground, glowing a faint blue color. Her voice gives one last and faint, "Thank you." and then is no more.

Another 1150xp awarded to each of you for killing all five evil spirits, bringing the badge to Vesorianna, and thus allowing her to cleanse Harrowstone of evil.

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