Knowledge (local)
"I know where the shrine is, it's small and has only a few clerics there. The man in charge is Alton, he's actually a regular at the Happy Harpy--maybe he drinks because the church put him practically in isolation out there. I've heard that he's not too happy about that."
So do you want to go see Alton tomorrow? He's not in the Harpy, ATM. Quill doesn't want to deal with the clerics, but the rest of you could make a little trip out there.
If you look at the map on the campaign info page, the smallish building to the lower right of the #6 is the shrine.
It's not anywhere as big as the temple on the grid map.
Grigori's Knowledge: Grigori is even worse at this than Andrezi XD
That's OK. I think Juno will tell you all that, anyway.
"I bet we could play off Alton's anger with the church to get our ways. It wouldn't even be that hard to just buy the garments off him, I bet, with the right story and disguise." Juno turns to Quill, "What would you suggest? You won't deal with the clerics directly, but you're the expert at this sort of thing."
"I can help set up any disguises if needed, but if I go into the shrine, it will likely be as bloody a scene as the alley...I really, really do have issues with self-sanctimonious priests."
Andrezi listens attentively to the conversation...
You don't need knowledge checks to know that the Quarter is haunted, and even during the day, only the brave or foolish would risk going there.
The church of Abadar must have compelling reasons to maintain a shrine no one in their right mind would go to.
Bump. Bored already?
That's okay. Every PbP finds its own pace, I guess. The spooky abandoned neighborhood awaits...
"You know...they say that area is haunted. Not that I put any stock in that. In fact, that is a good story to spread if you don't want to be disturbed. But it also means less witnesses if things do get...sticky. Quill has the hint of a cruel smile on her usually innocent looking face.
"I don't want to trek all the way out to this shrine unless we know that using the Abadar vestments as a disguise is going to be the plan for lifting the chest. Is this what we have decided on?" Juno looks around for support from the rest of the group.
"That idea works for me."
Who's going? It's pretty far in, as explained before. Quill can make a knowledge religion check, if she wants.
Juno stands up from the table, "Let's get over there, then. I'd appreciate your support, no way to know what we might run into out there."
Juno will begin leading anyone willing to the shrine, unless her companions would like to make any stops on the way.
Grigori looks to Sidoze then follows the others silently, rolling up his sleeves a little but not too much as to expose his gauntlets. Like many of the others, Grigori had a knack for disguises so he could fill in any position needed of him in a pinch while still remaining on the lookout for opposition.
Sidoze shrugs and follows Juno and the others but at the pace of his choosing not wanting to have all their group clusterd together he decides to walk a ways behind them but close enough for his elven eyes to see them.
Quill adjusts her street bag, ensuring that the blade is near the top. "Yeah. Let's go. We have as much right to those robes as they do. They worship the coin do they not? The almighty coin. They just might consider you lot, true believers." she finishes with a grin, again looking like the mischievous street urchin.
Perception so much for elven eyes yeah?
Perception:
Perception:
You say goodbye to civilization, and find yourselves in what was once one of the most prestigious and beautiful places in the Inner Sea, now weathered with a decade's worth of neglect. Some buildings are boarded up, others never were.
The death and dread here is almost palpable.
Put yourselves in your "marching order" near the top of this MAP, and I'll tell you what you see.
Perception
When they enter the deserted part of the city, Juno slows her pace and allows herself to drift toward the middle of the group. "So when we reach the shrine, Quill, I assume you'll hide somewhere nearby as we talk to the clerics?" She glances around, "You know... it might not be too unusual for a shrine's staff to simply disappear out in this wasteland. It could be passed off as some sort of supernatural attack, I'm sure. If we needed to, of course."
I guess it's just the ladies, then. The men seem to have run away in fear!
I put Andrezi on the map. There is a rickety fence on the corner to the lower right, and coming around the corner, you see some slow-moving zombies. They start to come towards you, arms raised, moaning for your flesh like a lusty lover.
Init:
Andrezi
Sidoze
Quill
Grigori
Juno
Zombies
Zombies in broad daylight! It's a city of wonders...
"Let them come to us. Flank them when possible."
Sidoze hisses in an an unearthly sound as he spies the leading creature. Lifting a hand and gesturing he sends a bolt black energy at it.
Ray of enfeeblement DC 17 for half dmg
vs touch
if hit
The ray misses, and fizzles in midair.
Quill reaches into her satchel and draws forth her blade . She waits ready behind Andrezi.
Grigori snarls and moves forward a long stride, draws from his back a light wooden crossbow, fits a bolt to the simple weapon, takes aim at the leading zombie and looses the quarrel to buzz towards the undead without a second thought.
Light Crossbow
Damage
Grigori got a solid hit, yet the zombie seems to be unaffected. It just says "Uuuuuughhhhh, braaaaaiiiiiinssss." and shuffles forward.
Knowledge religion DC 15:
Quill watches Grigori's bolt sink in deep...too deep. She calls out, "They're just bags of meat. Zombies. You need to cut them deep, like taking an arm or head off, to hurt them much."
Then adding more to herself in disgust, "Priests getting sloppy around here...or busy as the case may be."
Round 1
Juno draws one of the wands hanging at her waist and, with a flick of her wrist, she touches Grigori daintily on the shoulder. "Smash them hard, Grigori, if you would be so kind."
A humanoid creature whose size increases to Large has a space of 10 feet and a natural reach of 10 feet. This spell does not change the target's speed.
If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, the creature attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using its increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained without harm by the materials enclosing it--the spell cannot be used to crush a creature by increasing its size.
All equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly enlarged by the spell. Melee weapons affected by this spell deal more damage (see Table: Medium/Large Weapon Damage). Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Any enlarged item that leaves an enlarged creature's possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown and projectile weapons deal their normal damage. Magical properties of enlarged items are not increased by this spell.
Grigori doubles in size. I'll say Juno had the wand in hand (full round action).
The zombies, not being very bright, walk right up to you all. They don't get an attack this round, but Grigori gets an AoO on any one he likes, then we start ROUND 2.
Init:
Andrezi
Sidoze
Quill
Grigori
Juno
Zombies
Here's the >MAP< again.
Attack of Oppertunity on Zombie J4
AC: 17
Spiked Gauntlet
Grigori doubles in size, blinks in confusion for a moment then drops the crossbow in his hands and whips out a huge fist down at the zombie in front of him, snarling an oath as his spiked fist tears a swath of flesh from the undead creature.
Andrezi slashes across the body of the zombie nearest him with his curved blades...
Right Kukri:
Damage:
Left Kukri:
Damage:
They all appear to be human. The kukris put gruesome gashes in the creature, but it still stands.
Sidoze grimaces and slowly draws his thin sword but makes no move to join the now enlarged Grigori in combat.
Quill steps up and takes a swing at the closest corpse (z-4).
She easily pierces the creature, but her thrust seems to have no effect.