Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Euan

"The King is not taking visitors tonight." he says quite haughtily, obviously stifling a laugh at your high and mighty speech.

There is a suggestive flutter to his fat fingers though.

"Perhaps he'd take six visitors if you had one smaller one." Fondo's palms a crown into hi hand and attempts to make it dance over his knuckles.

Sleight of hand 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The large hand swallows the coin and it disappears into his tunic.

"His majesty will see you now."

You're not sure if he's making fun of you, the King of Spiders, or both. Of importance though, he steps away from the door leaving you free passage to the inner chamber.

This large room, once a captain's cabin, has been converted into a throne room of sorts. The walls are thick with spiderwebs in which scuttle dozens of spiders - some as large as a fist, but most considerably smaller. These spiders seem content to stay in their webs and do not venture into the room itself, which is furnished with two sturdy oaken tables surrounded by chairs.

Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair, itself covered with cobwebs and scampering spiders. A narrow door stands to port, hanging ajar and revealing a flight of stairs leading below. An iron birdcage hangs from the ceiling like a chandelier, inside of which lingers a tiny, tired-looking purple Pseudodragon.

Sitting in the throne is the self styled King of Spiders, Devargo Barvasi. He is a tall man with close-cropped black hair, a warm smile, and blue eyes. (picture) He accents his black leather armor with a steel spider shaped shoulder baldric and a thick chain criss-crossing his chest, linked together in the shape of a spider's web. His signature weapons - gauntlets fixed with blades over the knuckles - glisten with obvious poison. Now and then spiders clamber over his skin, but he takes no notice...

When you arrive, there are nearly a half dozen cutpurses lounging uncomfortably at the tables. Clearly they are trying to impress the King, and clearly they are uneasy in his presence. He bellows on seeing you, "WHAT SIMPERING FOOL LET YOU IN HERE!" He holds his pose for several seconds, then he then leans back and laughs, and carefully watches to see who laughs with him. ALL the cutpurses immediately and uneasily peal with laughter and hoist their drinks to him.

Map for no particular reason

Fondo laughs lightly and gives a bow that has an equal measure of irony and true supplication, as if to say, I'm not any different from the rest of your cut purses, but I know who's in charge here. He's playing to his audience, but perhaps with a touch too much cheek and self-assurance.

"Milord of the Spiders, they call me Boldo. My associates and I come with an offer of patronage. Our client has grown to appreciate a mutual acquaintance. She would pay good gold for some solid information about this man, so she might decide whether to consumate her relations with him, or bring their affairs to an end."

Fondo gives a gentle wink to Barael and Charlie, acknowledging what aid they have already offered, or what aid will come. (I'm hoping they'll jump in and add some numbers to this rather mediocre roll) 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 19 Includes aid from Charlie.

Briar looks about the room before settling his eyes on the dragonbird.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Perception
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Know Arcana on the pdragon

If it seems safe enough, Briar will enter the room to examine the dragon more.

Find the magic.

Devargo guffaws, "I know a lot of information about a lot of people. Wet my appetite, who is it we are speaking of? Or should I just blurt out who's sleeping with who belowdecks!"

He laughs, but there's an edge to it as if he's already bored by the proceedings.

"Well?! Speak up little man and tell me what you want to know and pray tell me what's in it for me if I do part with my information!"

Briar - it's definitely a pseudodragon, caged and held like a common unintelligent songbird. It's to Devargo's left, so you'd need to get fairly close to the man (within reach) to more closely examine it. Do you do so?

Standing in the back with her usual quiet demeanor, Dandi watches her 'brother' work. hmmm... not his best work. Could he be intimidated by the Spider King? Disgusted? I'd be disgusted, but what do I know?

"Tis a delicate matter, sir, worth fifteen hundred sail if handled with discretion." Fondo looks at the other rogues with a pointed but friendly look. "Could be you'd rather discuss this particular fellow in private. I don't want to presume to say in front of your staff here."

Devargo's demeanor changes when that sum of money is bandied about.

"Out." he says quietly, barely audibly. The cutpurses scatter out the door like the wind, one of them even taking his flagon with him in his haste. Devargo seems not to care.

"So.", he says arms wide and inviting, "What is this information that's worth so much to you. fifteen hundred sails is a Kings ransom, and I am just the King to ransom it!"

He, for the first time, looks interested... and quietly patient. *tug*

Briar would approach to the D line, at best.

Briar will attempt to address the dragon while negotiations continue apace.

"Our client has an interest in Ambassador Amprei. Distinguished man, he is. She'd like any damning evidence of proclivities that might make him... Well, an unsuitable companion to one of high station. There're ample crowns in it now, and who knows what future business might follow?"

Bluff to insinuate this is just a matter of romance, though he's choosing words that're technically true. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"And I presume I'm not to know your, ah, client? I wonder..."

"I think we may be able to come to an agreement. GUARDS!!" He bellows the last quite loudly and comes quite suddenly after the quite discussion you'd been having. He reaches for no weapon - in fact he moves barely at all still seated in his throne.

Fondo tries ont to betray any fear or shock (Bluff 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10), but clearly loses his composure for a moment. Then he works to regain it.

"Our, um, uh, employer would be most displeased if we did not return from our chat with you. She'd make a much better friend than enemy." Feeling the reassuring pressure of his wrist sheath around his wrist, he continues, giving Barael a look as if to say, Stay calm..

"And I hope you don't think us foolish enough to bring the entire sum. A taste, perhaps, but no more."

Briar turns and speaks directly to Charlie as he moves out of the way of the trap mentioned by the pseudodragon.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Perception + aid from pdragon

Briar addresses the Spider.

"How about throwing in the dragon as well? Surely, it looks unhappy here. We can take it off your hands."

Nikolay stands towards the back and lets Fondo try his rapier wit on the spider. Stab him between the eyes.

He offered the whole amount at once?!?

Nikolay shifts slightly from foot to foot as the gold seems to weigh heavier than before.

Guards?!?

Nikolay resists the urge to draw steel, part of him hoping for negotiations to work. A part of him hoping they fail.

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7 sense motive

Barael keeps his thumbs locked under his belt. Barael smiles as Barvasi mentions "king", trying to match the Spider's enthusiasm with the advancement of the dialogue. He tries to look curious as he gazes around the room, and quietly counts the number of spiders he can see.
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

I would have started with 1000 sails. Left room for negotiations with our "benefactor". Oh, well, let's see where this takes us. Just remember, he said 'sickness', that's the word. And what's with all the spiders?! That's so... literal. Wouldn't have bent it all over my armor, too. That's tacky. Armor fit for a stage actor acting the villian.

Barael moves around the table to the chair recently vacated by the cutpurse (D-07), when Barvasi calls for his guards. Why does Briar fixate on the pet? That's rather odd at this stage, ask a man for something personal.

Charlie presses himself to the room. to D8 He then puts his arms out when he speaks similar to a crossing guard telling little children not to cross. At once magnanimous toward "The King" and steadfast. His arms are up as long as his 13 Con holds them there.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen please! This is no time for costly bloodshed! We have an opportunity to begin a nice and mutually beneficial relationship. We only need to come to reasonable terms. If this deal is not good enough for His Majesty then we can alter it, or be on our way. Finding new guards to put under your thumb has got to be a hassle and you have more important and fun things to do with your time. Let's all take a moment (and maybe a drink) and speak as friends."

[ooc]Diplomacy with Sociable Trait 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25 Sense Motive (is Devargo trying to scare us to get a better deal or should I be tensing up 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Devargo looks at the party with sad eyes, "My you are an uneasy bunch. The guards are to watch you while I get the documents in question - but without the sails, there is no need for that. In fact," he rises to a standing position, his hand still on the throne acts as a bridge for a spider to climb atop him for the ride, "I see no reason why they shouldn't throw you in the drink!"

Three of his enforcers manage to fit into the back of the room.

"You come here, into my home, interrupting my meeting - to offer me gold, gold which you do not have. Gold which you might not even possess! And you ask to buy my pet, again, with what gold? Bah! This is a waste of my time by halfwits!"

Though he blusters and shouts, he does pause, briefly, before having you thrown into the cold and filthy water of the narrows.

Updated Map I tried to squeeze everyone in where they wanted to. Briar, you're right next to a slightly open door leading to steep stairs going down.

Watching the spiders climb about, Dandi smiles at Devargo as she moves. "Oh, we have gold, Just not All of the gold in one place. We wanted to make sure it all came to the right person, right? Not frittered away on middle men." Though she addresses Devargo, her eyes stray to the closest webbing, watching the spiders at their work. look at them, poor things, all stuck in here with all these clumsy wastrels!

Dandi will move 5ft towards the closest spider, holding her fingers out in offering, should one want to move closer.

"You're a keen judge, Your Eminence. We carry an unease, tis true. It may not be my place, but I am no swimmer, and you are certainly a man of many confidences. Please share ours. Our employer, she is stricken with doubt. And once we conclude our business with you, to your satisfaction of course, we are simply worried that the news we bear back to our employer may not be to hers. It is on this alone that we are uneasy."

Barael looks to Fondo and Charlie with a patient nod. "We do in fact bear gold for you. We were not aware of how quickly you would be able to produce the information our employer seeks. For this, we are grateful and in awe of your command of such worldly knowledge, and would, by your leave, ask to return with the full sum." Barael looks to the group's bearer of Citadel gold.

Fondo's uneasiness dissipates as his companions prove their quality as negotiators. "Well said, my friends. I have here, if you'll allow, an ingot worth five hundred sail." He draws the bar out of the folds of his scarves. "With this we mean to seal the contract and establish terms."

"We are happy to negotiate terms for paying the rest, but you'll understand if our patron would prefer some evidence that you can deliver, before we pass the rest into your hands."

Fondo does not approach with the ingot. If asked to, he pointedly skirts the middle of the room.

Nikolay shifts from foot to foot, his right hand on the pommel of his sword and the fingers of his left hand flexing for an arcane spell.

I thought Nikolay had the 750 gp. Nikolay is assuming Fondo just acted quickly and took 500 gp out of his personal stores. Or, I'm also happy with a hand waive and Fondo has the gold.

Why is she pointing to a spider? Wait, is her palm turned up? Is she... holding her hand out to the spider? Maybe try to show Barvasi that she will not be intimidated by the crawling things. Well done, Miss Dandi. Well done.

Barael looks relieved to see gold finally surface in Barvasi's presence Either in the exchange between Nik and Fondo, or Fondo on his own recognizance. Rather, he hopes his face reflects anticipation of Barvasi's approval.
Bluff 1d20 ⇒ 12

Oops. Let's say that Fondo goes to Nikolay and asks for it. He's trying to pre-empt anyone from approaching the Spider.

Fondo's uneasiness dissipates as his companions prove their quality as negotiators. "Well said, my friends. I have here, if you'll allow, an ingot worth five hundred sail." He draws the bar out of the folds of his scarves. "With this we mean to seal the contract and establish terms."

"We are happy to negotiate terms for paying the rest, but you'll understand if our patron would prefer some evidence that you can deliver, before we pass the rest into your hands."

"My terms are simple, return here with the 1,500 sails and the evidence you seek is yours. Do not, and it is not. No half measures," he sneers, "No '500 now for a taste'. My business is simple and I do not like complications, now go and get your monies and return with them, or do not return at all!"

While his prior outbursts may have been, to a degree, acting. His anger at your offer seems real.

Also, for reference, an ingot is worth 100 gold sails, not 500. You could get a gold bar worth 500 sails, but you do not, at the moment, have such an item unless I missed it. I presume you show him 5 ingots.

"And about the dragon? Would you sell or trade it?" Briar asks, still examining it.

"Sure." He smiles thinly, "I'll sell it. 500 crowns and it's yours. My most beloved pet." he smirks, "I'll even throw in the cage free!"

I should be happy to beat this blowhard bloody once our business is concluded. Fondo gives a glance to Nikolay and Barael, indicating the doors. "Very well. We shall return with gold aplenty, secure in your assurance that quality product shall be peaceably provided."

Briar breathes deep, considering the cost.

Find the magic. Find the bloody magic.

Briar squints at the dragon again.

Are you worth it? Will you be true to your word? Or has my brother tricked me again? My buttocks finds magic.

"So much for a creature that you barely even understand?" Briar snorts. "So much that you can't fathom how to use it correctly."

Briar looks again at the dragon then looks at the Spider.

"I shall be back for it then," Briar says.

...one way or another.

Barael answers Fondo's glance in kind. 500 crowns?! That's quite a sum for a tired looking dragonette. Barael thinks quickly, regarding distances and far-off lady's manors in the Heights and return trips.
Knowledge, Local maybe? 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Barael takes in the words of Briar. He's set his mind on it, on purchasing the pseudodragon. There's determination. The elf shows backbone talking at the Spider like that. Wonder where he keeps that kind of gold...

As the delegation retreats, well aways from the Spider and his boat, Barael murmurs to both Nik and Fondo. "We need this to look clean. It should take a little longer than a return for the gold, make it appear we travelled back and forth from the Heights or somesuch. We'll need to know if we're being followed. I'm sure we've gained his attention, and I'm worried that you can never shake a spider's thread once you've walked through its web." How do you shake a tail? I've always outrun mine, but our group, it's got to look like it's got airs, and that means walking with pomp and circumstance, don't it? Maybe we are just runners, and need to get back and forth quickly...

"So much for a creature that you barely even understand?" Briar snorts. "So much that you can't fathom how to use it correctly."

Briar looks again at the dragon then looks at the Spider.

"I shall be back for it then," Briar says.

"Oh, I understand him." He smacks the cage and it spins first one way, then the other, then one way, then the other, before finally slowing down again to a rest. Clearly the Pseudodragon is dizzy and falls from it's tiny perch vomiting slightly on its colorful scales.

"See! I made it 'talk'!"

"Now go, and return with my cash and we will speak further."

The enforcers (now four in number) escort you from the chamber.

Once the group is away, Fondo spits on the ground and fumes. "Kuraf'te mulo kokalo*, you smug little weasel. If we didn't need this information, I'd've shoved the man's tongue down his throat. Alas, we need real evidence, not just his word. So we go along with his instructions for now. If—no, when—he tries to double cross us though..." Fondo puts his hand on the pommel of his rapier.

*F--- your dead bones in Varisian

I thought we had brought only 500 sails worth of gold with us.

Briar stops being 'escorted' as the cage spins, turning back to address Spider, a rising anger coming forth.

"Oh yeah, you understand him like a fish understands air. You are a 'king' with poor knowledge of your subjects."

Briar looks at the assorted thuggery and snorts derisively.

"Are the rest of you caged as well? Does he understand you the same way?"

The enforcers pause for a moment as Briar shouts back at the King, and then forcefully push him out the door.

If you resist further, we go to initiative I think...

Looking back, the King sits back down on his throne, smiling broadly and absentmindedly stroking a spider.

Knowledge (Local) for some perspective on what the consequences might be if we start a feud with the Flycatcher's gang...? 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Briar the Lesser wrote:

"So much for a creature that you barely even understand?" Briar snorts. "So much that you can't fathom how to use it correctly."

Briar looks again at the dragon then looks at the Spider.

"I shall be back for it then," Briar says.

"Oh, I understand him." He smacks the cage and it spins first one way, then the other, then one way, then the other, before finally slowing down again to a rest. Clearly the Pseudodragon is dizzy and falls from it's tiny perch vomiting slightly on its colorful scales.

"See! I made it 'talk'!"

"Now go, and return with my cash and we will speak further."

The enforcers (now four in number) escort you from the chamber.

Dandi goes from cold to nearly dead inside, watching him tormenting the dragon. if he would do that to the dragon, what might he do to the poor spiders?

With no spider to tickle her fingers, Dandi instead focuses on her companions and will follow their lead, though she readies for whatever might come.

Sorry for steamrolling with my post about after leaving. Fondo is thinking that curse in his head. He's not resisting as the group's being escorted out, but that doesn't mean he won't join in if something's sparked.

Find the magic.

Briar feels a quasi-familiar tingling in his right hand, a reminder of magic stored within.

FIND THE MAGIC, Briar's mind recalls and echoes.

Briar spins on the thug who is trying to bounce him.

"Now it is time to choose what I am here for, apparently. Whether to accept these gifts and my destiny, or be shoo'd away like a common pest."

Briar's right hand tingles again, a magic aching to be released. Briar's hand reaches for an arrow in his right hand even as his bow is strapped to his back.

"I have chosen."

Briar wills the magic in his hand unreleased, firing the arrow at the thug directly from his hand.

Hand of the Mage 1/7.

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14 to hit;
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage.

Briar will spend his *Harrow Point* to begin to fulfill his magical destiny. +2 to AC for combat.

"Motherf—" Fondo gets ready to fight alongside Briar.

Knowledge (Local) for some perspective on what the consequences might be if we start a feud with the Flycatcher's gang...?

Depends on whether or not you take out the King. There is no gang per se, he is a gang of one with many minions. How many of those minions are loyal? That you do not know.

Briar's attack hits and nearly knocks the enforcer to the floor, but he stands firm.

Initiative and map to follow shortly...

First up! Briar, Fondo, Barael, Nikolay and Dandilion! Briar, you can have five-foot-stepped during your surprise round if you like.

Initiative Round 1 (not a surprise round that was Briar only)
Briar - 25
Fondo - 23
Barael - 22+
Nikolay - 22-
Dandilion - 19+
Devargo - 19
G1 (-6hp) - 19-
G2 - 19-
G3 - 19-
G4 - 19-
Charlie - 15

Map Round 1

Pretty sad when the good guys get 19s on initiative and go second to last...

Round 1, Init 23 {>f09}

"Kuraf'te mulo kokalo, catcher of flies."

Fondo draws his rapier as he skirts around the center of the room, ending up to the Flycatcher's right. Destiny fills his step as well (+2 AC from a point of Harrow)

"For fellowship shall guide our hands. B-gger
this self-appointed king. Fair Briar's struck
And now may Desna's strength drive through my thrust."

Inspire courage: +1 to attacks, damage, fear saves

"And brov, do mind the trap—a door afloor before 'im."

Who shot who in the what now? No matter what happens Charlie gives Briar the stinky.

edit: The stinky eye. Sheesh what's wrong with me?

Round 1, Init 22+

Barael hears Briar, sees Briar, in a new light. The Observer is gone. The Claimer is here.

Barael bristles, and circles the alpha in the room. Move to E-06, then F-07 to avoid AoO, and mark the room at spot E-08 as trapdoor to be avoided.

"You had to piss on him, dint you? You favor the pain of your dad's unshaven face, more than your mom's smooth cheek, eh?"
MW Rapier 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 9

Barael seethes, lashes out impotently.

Round 1, Init 25

Magic! By Nethys! I feel it now.

Briar draws another arrow and sends it flying against the same target.

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18 to hit;
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage.

If #1falls, Briar will 5' step into the square and draw his shield. Otherwise, he will step to C7 while retrieving his shield.

Magic! It must be found and released!

"Do you want to feel more of my magic?"

HP=15/15.
AC=17.

Round 1, Init 19

"ohhh, this is gonna get ugly..."Dandilion takes aim at Devargo, tossing a bomb at him while trying to avoid most of the spiders.

"Come over here, babies. It's safer over here." what? Maybe spiders have linguistics, you don't know...

Bomb touch attack, +inspired, on king of the spiders, using precise bombs to avoid the 2 closest squares with the most spiders1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Round 1, Init 22-

"Yes. Magic is definitely called for here."

Nikolay draws his longsword and enchants it with his own aracana (swift) before striking out at one of the guards.

Map not loading for me. Nikolay will hit an already wounded guard or move onto another close by.

Longsword
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 (BAB, STR, Masterwork, Arcana)
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14 - doubt that confirms. Edit: added +2
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Euan, you're dice roller is out of only 15+ numbers right? Right...?

Dont forget inspired courage!