GM TOP #6-15: The Overflow Archives (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Kuti continues her assault, trying to find and make more openings in the crocodile's tough hide.

Satisfied that Grix looks to be stable, Nahko turns his attention to the imposter on the ceiling. He swings his arm in a mighty arc, launching the ball of fire up at the man. He then retrieves the only other weapon he has that can hit someone on the ceiling: his simple sling.

Vraxam's bolt of lighting crackles and pops, slamming into the impostor. He yelps in pain, "OUCH! WHY YOU LITTLE!!!"

1-20 misses: 1d100 ⇒ 59

Nahko's blast of fire also hits. Kreighton is starting to look a bit worse for wear! His mind seems to be racing and considering all his options as the group continues to act.

Kuti's claw rends into the belly of the beast. As it rears back in pain she goes for the throat, ripping out a bleeding chunk. The blood sprays all over and with a massive *WHOOSH* the crocodile is sucked back to its home plane.

Kreighton Shane quickly yells, "WOAH! I SURRENDER! I just wanted a bit of fun there. I'm sorry about your guy!"

Out of Combat. If you wish to continue attacking let me know. If not...

The impostor skitters down to the ground floor dropping his weapons and gear, hands going back into the air. His inquisitive nature quickly overwhelms him though, "hey so... can you guys help me figure out this riddle? I really gotta know the answer before you put me away again."

Rayan looks at Kreighton with a cold level gaze, holding a force missile ready "On the floor, disarm yourself and kneel for binding. Who are you and what have you done here? Someone needs to help Grix before it's too late!"

Quickly drawing in the static again, Vraxam prepares to send another bolt at the man, stopping just before releasing. "Ah, smart move. So...who are you?"

"As for the riddle, we may be able to help, but we seem to be missing a few key pieces. Do you have them? We've found several....but can't make heads or tails of it yet."

"Awwwwwwwwww, I was having fun." drawls the stinky rogue as he lowers his bow and moves up to help bind the baddie. "You don't happen to belong to a big fish, do ya? Not that it matters anyway."

Quickly growing bored with the end of the fight, Vraxam glances over to the big guy....drooling on the floor.

"Oh! Yeah...I got you little guy." he mumbles. Walking over, he draws his fancy stick and whispers. "Time to wake up."

After several tries, the item glows briefly. Poking the man with his foot, he looks around. "Is he awake yet?"

Nahko moves over near his backpack, but doesn't pick it up yet. Standing 5' away still

"Indeed, if you have more pieces of this puzzle, you should share them now. If you are helpful, it might go better for you when we explain to the real Kreighton Shane what happened in here."

Diplo/Intimidate, aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (15) - 3 = 12

Grix wakes up but is visibly staggered. "Thank you Vraxam. I use more healing is there be more challenge ahead. If we solved problem, I go home a sleep."

The individual continues dropping his items slowly, then kneels as commanded. He puts a hand up slowly, "if I may?"

With intense concentration, he dismisses a spell and his body slowly reforms itself into a completely different creature. Head fox-like and body covered in fur, his whiskers are twitching in concern. (slide 2 of maps)

Twisting his wrist while still holding up his arms in surrender he points towards the desk, "the only pieces I have of the riddle are over there, but I gave you all another one of them and I know there are more out there somewhere."

A cursory search reveals two more scraps of the riddle. It appears that these are the final two. (slide 6 of maps)

He replies to the initial command with a wry grin, "I am but a humble kitsune that was imprisoned for a crime of pride. I am willing to do my remaining time, but I must know the answer to the riddle, it is driving me crazy!"

Grix is conscious. I'll be nice and let you know that there should not be more combat in this scenario. What do you all do next?

Dispersing the force Missile as the Kitsune surrenders Rayan quickly moves to examine the riddle as a whole, trying to make sense of the pacing and phrasing to see if the solution becomes apparent to him.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Such good rolls on my skills this adventure

It is definitely readable in common.

(By the way, the riddle part also isn't a 'must solve to complete the adventure' thing)

With a nod to the man, Vraxam makes his way towards the parchment and scans the words. "Hmm...interesting...."

"What you brainy types think here? I'm of course here to make you all look prettier."

Hmmm... Bird eats fish and bird eats worm... Crocodile eats bird... Gormandelle eats crocodile... So Gormandelle eats last.
But Worm eats the dead. And what about the wyrm and the judge. What do you think?" He asks the rest of the group. It seems that Gormandelle is the last to dine but I'm not sure where the Wyrm fits into the story.

Although not a mechanical puzzle, Naneryn still dives in eagerly, now that are of the pieces are laid out before him. The placement of the words bothers him and his head rears back. "If you ignore all of the middle stuff, the answer is 'the loser'" (assuming that is not the answer.. continue) He shakes his head again in frustration. "too many hands. Why are they all written differently? It's like several people talking at the same time about different things." His own words cause him to pause, his head slowly turning to face Nahko. In a flash, he grabs all of the pieces of parchment and dashes over to the backpack of inner darkness. Picking it up, he attempts to read the poem aloud. (if that does not work-->) Crestfallen, the stinky rogue drags himself back to the table to lay out the parchment like he is burning the last few drops of his energy.

Reading through the pieces of each piece, Hootie is starting to see something perhaps her fellow companions may have missed.

"I see a pattern here and how long did you say you have being working on this?" she speaks slowly having hurt her sides slightly from laughing too much.

Take the First letter of each phrase.
Recite that and I think you'll have it.
Due to some other games I tend to pay attention to Bolded and Capital now.

Hootie looks intent and then speaks the word.

I guess I was trying to see if Rayan could use his linguistic skills to "solve" it not just decipher it hahaha.

"Caught?" Nahko asks, when Hootie points out the larger letters. "It sure does seem to spell that out, but that's no answer to this riddle."

He shakes his head, clearly confused. "Naneryn is right; this is just a jumble; it's only barely not nonsense. But I think he's got the real answer to the riddle. The loser is the last to eat; he eats crow. The words are at the beginning, but the eating is at the end. I think 'loser' solves the riddle."

As the documents are compiled, Kuti takes an interest in the fox. An interest being intently watching him with a low growl in her throat.

The kitsune takes the hint and adds, "okay okay, I'll get going. Just work on the riddle as we walk please."

Escorting him downstairs Naneryn makes the first break in the case. The Kitsune slams his hand into his face and sighs, "of course it is. I'm such a fool! I deserved my fate for missing such an obvious answer. Ugh, tricky fey are!"

Pushing him on up the stairs Hootie keeps investigating the scrolls for any further details. Noticing the oddity she speaks the word, "Caught." The kitsune immediately looks back to her and says, "yes?"

At the same time the scrolls start knitting themselves back together and the giant fish creature burbles her thanks as she starts slurping water back into her maw. *SCHLOOOOOOOOOP*

The intensifies into a massive whirlpool of magical power as the water, the gathlain's downstairs, the kitsune and the giant fish are all sucked into the whirlpool. As it is closing, you hear Caught yelling one last challenge, "I'LL ESCAPE AGAIN! YOU CAN'T KEEP ME IN PRISON FOREVEEEERRR!!!"

The commotion of the whirlpool causes enough noise that as you wander your way back downstairs Venture Captain Kreighton Shane walks into the library. His eyes are wide with amazement as he sees all the water gone. A lot of scrolls and items and other things are out of place or on the floor, but he picks one up and it is dry.

A very rare smile briefly crosses his lips, "well done! Really well done! I assume the source has been dealt with?"

After explaining (or not explaining themselves, your choice) the Master of Scrolls demands to look over what you have collected so as to not allow some sort of cursed item out on the streets. He promises to let you keep most of the items as they are 'probably mundane junk.'

However, he quickly discovers the thick darkness spell and after pulling a very bright glowing ring out of his pocket to penetrate the darkness he advises the group, "oh no, I can't let this book out of here. The Darklands Precepts is much to dangerous if not handled properly."

If you wish, anyone may attempt a Diplomacy check to argue that the book is not a threat or that you all have the resources to manage it properly.

Ermmm does the book affect anybody?
Hootie looks surprise as the fox being answers and swiftly concludes that it is his name. The vortex was a surprise.
Turns out that the pieces were a trap, an intricate and beautiful trap in her opinion.

"The source has being dealt with along with all the complications that came along with it." Hootie beigns as she gives a rather detailed report on what occurred and how the party resolved it. The meeting with the fish puking water and fisherman fey and the end result of the Fox being's fate. And of course his name.

Nahko looks at Vraxam with an urgent look, then speaks up. "I was hoping that we could deliver that book to Ms. Dralneen, if you don't mind. It won't leave this building, and will be in good hands." He waves his hands at the very 'un-wet' condition of the library to illustrate the good work that this group has done.

"It should be no trouble, really."

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (5) - 3 = 2

Vraxam, I'm glad you're a sorcerer! Diplomacy is just not how Nahko is built. (Everyone else, this is a faction goal; I'm not sure if you're allowed to help, if you'd even want to!)

This one doesn't seem to indicate that you need to hide your interest in the book from your allies or that they can't help on the check. I could be wrong of course, but that's how I'll rule in this case at least.

Vraxam is much better at lieing than diplomacy...but we'll give it a go

"I understand your concern sir, but...shouldn't it be in a safer place? Imagine the knowledge lost if it'd been destroyed in the flood? I know my companions and I have a much safer place for it to be stored. After all, it seems just anyone is allowed to walk in this place and play with whatever they wish."

Pointedly eyeing Wyrml, he continues. "With recent issues in mind, I believe your point is mute. We came and cleaned up this mess for you. We ask quite simply for the chance to ensure the safety of this single book. Of all the magic contained within these walls, some items surely more dangerous than this, it seems quite a reasonable offer to me."

"I suppose if you truly have an issue with it, we would just need to walk back in a few hours from now and pick it up. Seriously...it's better off this way."

Turning towards his companions, he raises an eye. "Don't you lot agree? I personally would NOT call this a safe place..."

The Master of Scrolls (Kreighton Shane) does not appear to be swayed by the arguments from the two bedraggled pathfinders. He snobs his nose at the mention of Ms. Dralneen, "I sincerely doubt she has the abilities to handle a notebook, much less a complicated treatise on darkland creatures."

He looks over at the rest of the group to see if anyone has anything else to add to the discussion.

Chronicle sheets are 96% done, just waiting on the last few things to wrap everything up. Rayan are you joining The Disappeared?

Nahko looks at the rest of the party with an expectant look on his face. You get the sense that he can't--and probably won't--explain quite why, but the look clearly asks a little help here please?

"Surely you see the merit to my companions words despite their less than convincing nature? We are all shaken from tonights events but the text would surely be safer in more capable hands..." Rayan looks sideways at Nahko and Vraxam before finishing "despite outward appearances." Turning to his companions he makes a subtle wink hoping he's convinced the master.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

I did my best! Rayan had lined up something else, thanks for the offer though

Kreighton Shane sighs heavily, "fine whatever. Go take the book and set off your own curse somewhere else. JUST REMEMBER... YOU DIDN'T GET IT HERE."

He hands the book over to Rayanoushyant, thanks the group and escorts you all out, "excellent work though, you may keep the items you found. Sold or used they should certainly make it worth your while for helping out tonight. I'll also leave a good word with your lodges as to your quick response tonight. Now, I have a lot of work to do, thank you and good evening."

Congratulations! Scenario complete!

Hootie is quick to excuse herself as she makes her way to a well known cleric of the society who could help her regrow her teeth and at least give her back her pride.
She had a feeling that she might be seeing these companions in the future.