"Oh, wow, you little guys were quiet. I didn't see you there."
He looks at the leprechauns, and has no idea what to do with them. They don't look evil, and aren't immediately attacking as the others did. He likes what Bazsil has to say, and says so.
"Yeah, what the smart one said. I don't suppose you'd mind helping us against the hobgoblins would you?"
(heroism) vs DC 10 to aid Bazsil
”Those that join a Red Revel celebrate victory over an enemy. I assume this was the hobgoblins, but we would like to know who else you consider enemies. Or perhaps allies.. for the right price.”
”And who is Halk?”
Faolan nods along with the others, "Sure, that's fine with me. We can give them the booze."
While the party chats, he'll swap belts, removing his old one and putting on the strength belt. He holds up his old one, "Someone should wear this. It's good against the common cold."
It's a belt made of interlocking jade plates (a belt of mighty constitution +2).
Bazsil smiles as the others ask questions, trying to keep them talking and ensuring good relations.
Diplomacy (heroism)
”What is the name of the dragon? Is it a nice dragon?” Bazsil asks in his deep rich voice.
|
The leprechauns are also concerned by the news of a dragon.
"Dragon? We don't know nothing about that. Halk is a korred. Him and some of his brothers took this place from the hobgoblins then called a Revel. We didn't see no dragon. You'll find Halk in the keep. He's a vicious bugger and we don't want no part of his fun no more. But if we just leave then he'll kill us, see the problem?"
Bazsil smiles an easy smile, understanding the problem.
”Yeah, that’s quite a quandary,” He agrees. ”And you dont’ want to help us fight Halk unless we bring you some booze? Basement booze? I just want to be sure we get this right. If we bring you that booze, you’ll help us against Halk?”
"And in the meantime, you lot will stay out of our way - right? And stay quiet. You cause a ruckus, and Halk won't be the only one we kill."
Faolan tries to make his point plain so there's no misunderstanding.
|
|
"Oh yeah, you bring us Halk's special store from the basement of the keep and we'll help you out as best we can. We aren't leaving here, we don't want any trouble."
You quickly check the top floor of this tower. Narrow arrow slits in the walls overlook the fort and the surrounding forest. A staircase descends along the northern wall and a large trap door in the ceiling is barred with a wooden beam. The room is empty aside from disheveled bunks, but scratches marring the floor and the walls hint at a battle waged here long ago.
Bazsil nods agreement with the fey, but isn’t sure they will do anything and wonders if it’s worth it at all. But still, the leprechauns didn’t attack and offered some information, so that is better than trouble.
”Krowe, did you say there was a collapsed tower? We should go there. Lead on Faolan.”
"Do we really want to mess with the ghost if we don't have to? I say we check the last unexplored tower, then the keep." suggests Faolan, walking in that direction if the group agrees.
"Ghosts give me the willies." he adds to no one in particular.
”Avoid the ghost? Are you sure? I’ve never seen a ghost before. Might be neat. Aren’t there stories of friendly ghosts? You think this might be one? Anyone?” Bazsil asks around, realizing he is outvoted. ”Well, let’s go.”
He follows Faolan.
Krowe considers a moment, then shrugs. ”I think we should try to talk to it.”
”Ghosts can be harmless or dangerous, but until we truly interact with it I can’t be sure which kind this will be. If we can communicate with it we may learn valuable information about these ruins. If it is hostile, it will be tough to fight, much like that last korred was, though I believe my magic might be more effective against it, and I preserved spells in case we needed to deal with it. Also, if it proves to be too tough, we can always retreat. Ghosts tend to be bound to the area they manifest within.”
"Fine." Faolan relents and trudges on to the ghost, "But I think this is a bad idea."
He holds his shield high as usual, but he seems to hide behind it more than usual as he advances on the ghosts lair.
|
|
You exit the tower and move across the front door of the stronghold, staying out of the murky exterior in favor of speed. You find the door of the northwest tower unbarred. Two weapon racks stand in this room, although they contain no weapons; instead, short strips of grayish leather stretch across them. A staircase ascends to the south, and
a wooden door leads to the east. The stench of carrion fills this room.
An elderly looking woman with a red cap and red leather apron looks up at you, smiling. Her teeth are pointed and her mouth ringed in old dried blood.
"Well, you're no hobgoblins but your skin will suffice."
She readies her scythe and attacks.
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+2 armor, +4 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 60 (8d6+32); fast healing 3
Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +7
DR 10/cold iron
Weaknesses irreligious
OFFENSE
Speed 60 ft.
Melee Medium scythe +10 (2d4+10/×4), kick +4 (1d4+6)
60/60
Round 1
Move to charge spot.
Start song.
Know (nature)
”Hey, what’s with your red cap, lady?” Bazsil asks, readying his greatsword weapon. ”Is that the style at the time? Like wearing an onion on your belt?”
Bazsil begins a song of wrath.
”Such loud words,
From the lil’ fey in da hood,
No kind word I have heard,
Dip my blade in your blood.“
1) +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution
2) +2 morale bonus on Will saving throws
3) +1 to dogde AC
4) You cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or use any ability that requires concentration.
5) +1 insight AC vs Outsiders and Aberrations [ /spoiler]
[spoiler=Stats of the Grim Grimalkin]
[ dice]1d20+11+1+2[/dice] to hit; (song,+flank)
[ dice]1d10+7+1[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] piercing damage.
HP: 51/51
AC: 20 (7 armor, 3 dex) = 20/22 vs. gobs.
L1: 0/5 used (CLW*0, Ident*0, Vanish*0, LibCom*0)
L2: 2/4 used (Invis*2, Heroism*2, Blister*0, BDash*0)
Kenning: 0/1 used
Words: 4/15 used
Ironfangedness: 0/1 used
Extend Lesser: 2/3 used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
[spoiler=Bazsil's Deep Song of Wrath] Bazsil has activated his bard like song. You can opt in or opt out. Your choice...but you get all or none of the below. Bazsil will be opting in because that's what he does. You get:
1) +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution
2) +2 morale bonus on Will saving throws
3) +1 to dogde AC
4) You cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or use any ability that requires concentration.
5) +1 insight AC vs Outsiders and Aberrations [ /spoiler]
|
|
The red cap stares at Bazsil with a mixture of disgust and pity.
"I'll eat you first."
She moves up and swings her scythe at him.
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+2 armor, +4 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 60 (8d6+32); fast healing 3
Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +7
DR 10/cold iron
Weaknesses irreligious
OFFENSE
Speed 60 ft.
Melee Medium scythe +10 (2d4+10/×4), kick +4 (1d4+6)
60/60
Round: 1
Fort +8, Reflex +8, Will +7
Front Row
Opponent: Redcap
- - -
Conditions: Heroism (21/120m), Resist Acid (10, 10/60m), Message, Song (+2 Str/Con, +2 Will, +1 AC (dodge), skill limits)
Equipped: Cold Iron Shield
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts: 20/20
Shield Melee: Attack: BAB 6, Str +5, Focus +1, MW +1, (flurry -2) Damage: Str +5, Bash +1, Specialization +2 (crit: 20)
Shield Ranged: Attack: BAB 6, Dex +2, Focus +1, MW +1 (flurry -2) Damage: Str +5, Bash +1, Specialization +2 (crit: 20)
Martial Flexibility (swift): 5/6
Knockout (DC 18, 1d6r): 1/1
Shield Bearer (free, adjacent ally +2 AC (trait)): 1/1
Ironfang Survivor (free, roll twice vs goblinoid (intimidate, sense motive, stealth): 1/1
Jingasa (negate crit or sneak): 1/1
Faolan, seeing the nasty looking scythe slice through the air at Bazsil, does what he can to aid his fellow. He attacks with vigor!
(heroism, song) (song)
(heroism, song) (song)
(heroism, song) (song)
"Leave our tune-smith alone!"
Round 2
Move to flank.
Swing back.
Bazsil swings using the cold iron greatsword:
to hit; (song,+flank)
cold iron slashing damage.
Bazsil refrains his song of wrath.
”Such loud words,
From the lil’ fey in da hood,
No kind word I have heard,
Dip my blade in your blood.“
1) +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution
2) +2 morale bonus on Will saving throws
3) +1 to dogde AC
4) You cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or use any ability that requires concentration.
5) +1 insight AC vs Outsiders and Aberrations
[ dice]1d20+11+1+2[/dice] to hit; (song,+flank)
[ dice]1d10+7+1[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] piercing damage.
HP: 51/51
AC: 20 (7 armor, 3 dex) = 20/22 vs. gobs.
L1: 0/5 used (CLW*0, Ident*0, Vanish*0, LibCom*0)
L2: 2/4 used (Invis*2, Heroism*2, Blister*0, BDash*0)
Kenning: 0/1 used
Words: 5/15 used
Ironfangedness: 0/1 used
Extend Lesser: 2/3 used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
[spoiler=Bazsil's Deep Song of Wrath] Bazsil has activated his bard like song. You can opt in or opt out. Your choice...but you get all or none of the below. Bazsil will be opting in because that's what he does. You get:
1) +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution
2) +2 morale bonus on Will saving throws
3) +1 to dogde AC
4) You cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or use any ability that requires concentration.
5) +1 insight AC vs Outsiders and Aberrations [ /spoiler]
”She’s a redcap.” Krowe informs the mercs. ”They dip their hats in blood. Let’s not add to it.”
Drawing out one of his wands, he waves it and sends a magic missile into the fey.
|
Bor leaves the sharp scythe on his shield side as he reaches out to push the redcap away. "Nasty little bugger."
Effects: Resist Acid 10 (60 min); Magic Circle of PaE
HP 62/62
AC 29 (31 vs Goblinoids)
Spells Used:
(1st) Shield of Faith
(2nd) Mirror Image; Resist Energy x2
(3rd) Magic Circle of PaE
Vision of Madness 5/8
Sudden Shift 8/8
CPE 2/2
Ironfang Survivor (free, roll twice vs goblinoid (intimidate, sense motive, stealth): 1/1
|
|
Krowe's missile pricks the red cap, and she smiles as it does.
"Clever boy, such a little sting though."
Her words are quickly snatched away as Faolan brutally assaults her, hitting three times with a shield she did not expect to be cold iron. Before she can retaliate Bor slaps her, visions of sugar plums dancing through her head as Bazsil cuts her down faster than her fey blood can repair itself.
She collapses on the floor spitting black fluid and growling. Some final curse or epitaph you will never know, her eyes filming over as her body goes limp.
Rummaging through her pockets, you find a few gold coins and not much else.
Small leather armor
Medium scythe
Small iron boots
Stocking cap soaked in the blood of the unfortunate
5 gold
Examination of the room reveals the grey strips of leather to be recent.
It would appear the leather is made from hobgoblins.
You find a shortspear behind one of the weapon racks, the head is black.
Know (Nature)
Perception
”Well, that’s hobgoblin leather, I can tell you that much. Maybe we shouldn’t have ever attacked these fey,” Bazsil says, pointing out the skin and shaking his head. ”They might have been good allies, or just additional puss on the ass boil of the hobgoblin army.”
Bazsil looks around, but finds little else.
”They might have been interesting allies, but also they seem really feral and quite vicious,” he looks down at the pooling blood of the red cap. ”Just vicious. And I don’t get the red caps. What is the deal with the red caps?”
Faolan collects the gold but leaves the rest as detritus. He nods along with Bazsil's summation as he looks around.
(heroism) vs DC 25
"Shall we finish searching this tower, then head to the ghost?" he says uneasily.
”Fey are often inscrutable. The red caps being but one example. They would have been unreliable allies.” Krowe looks over the hobgoblin leather. ”This could be useful though.”
To Faolan, ”A quick search, then moving on. Time is running out on my spells.”
|
|
The spear is magical.
You move up the stairs. The wooden floor of this large room is slick with blood. Three mostly flayed hobgoblin corpses are lashed to wooden tables and four dead redcaps lie on the floor. Stairs lead up and down on the south wall, and arrow slits pierce the north and west walls.
You see a redcap with a short beard hiding under one of the tables.
(heroism) vs DC 20
"Wonder why the redcaps died?" Faolan, eager to follow Krowe's advice, pushes on to the stairs once he checks the room quickly. He figures they can loot and examine the bodies for injuries later.
He can't believe they still have the element of surprise, and he aims to use it as much as he can.
Bazsil raises his new blade, a cold iron greatsword, as he looks for what Bor is speaking to.
Perception
"Wait, what?"
”Woah, woah, woah,” Bazsil tries again to show some decency, lowering his sword and calling on Faolan to put his shields up (so to speak).
”No, we don’t *have* to kill you, in fact, we’d prefer NOT to. We came here looking for allies against the hobgoblins, you know?” Bazsil smiles an easy smile with his deep resounding voice. ”We’re Just trying to make it home safe. What about you? What are you doing here?”
Diplomacy
Sense Motive (on the answers)
Faolan, two strides to the stairwell, stops in his tracks when Bor calls out. He raises his shield, ready to strike, when Bazsil calls out.
He lowers his shield.
"Yeah, well, that blood in the hat thing is pretty gross, but I suppose it's not a killing offense."
He nods to Bazsil and tries to help.
(heroism) vs DC 10 to aid Bazsil
Bazsil explains his ill feelings about what the creature his saying.
”I don’t think he’s being honest with us,” Bazsil notes to all. ”Prepare for *something*. Bor, watch the stairs while Faolan and I handle this.”
But before Bazsil acts, he looks to make sure he’s not walking into something.
Perception
Faolan backs up Bazsil, moving away from the stairwell. He doesn't share his thoughts, as the redcap is close, but he longs for the stairs.
He waits for Bazsil to indicate how to handle the redcap. He raises his shield slightly...
(heroism)
Bazsil advances on the red cap, not wanting to do him any harm, but also worried about what might be coming. He nods that Faolan should come over too, leaving the stairs for Bor.
"What's upstairs? Answer me!" Bazsil intones deeply, trying to get cooperation. "What are you expecting? It won't be worse than me if you get us mad. We're strong allies, fiercer foes. Now speak up."
Diplomacy
Sense Motive
”This is a waste of time.” Krowe mutters. ”We won’t get any good answers from this one. Most likely just lies and tricks.”
To the redcap, he gestures to the exit. ”Go, or we’ll drag you upstairs with us. If we see you again, we’ll color our boots with your blood.”
Not waiting for a reply, Krowe summons aid from beyond.
”Grussurg!”
Two devilish lemures arrive from a cloud of yellow smoke. Krowe then directs them to ascend the stairs.
”Dont’ mind him, he’s kind of an a~@*&*!,” Bazsil says, letting the creature by. ”Stay out of trouble.”
Bazsil waits for the creature to go and then will wait to see what happens with Krowe’s other little friends.
Faolan watches the redcap carefully and gets between him and the party. If the creature leaves peacefully, he lets him go uneasily.
But if he does not, Faolan will step up and attack - he's tired of the creature's banter.
(heroism)
- - -
Faolan charges up the stairs after the devils, shield at the ready, looking for redcaps.
"We're coming, we're coming, keep your hat on." he bellows up the stairs as he goes.