[AP] Curse of the Crimson Throne by GMs Rutseg, Zek and Snowheart (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

Zamanda is singing to inspire everyone's courage. She casts Haste on the party.

Malen cursed as the situation unfolded outside the door, the artist's safety paramount to the priest. Darting forward as Zamanda continued to sing to bolster the group, the priest reached forward and whispered a quick prayer to Pharasma, grasping the paladin by the arm and barking out, "Go save Scream!"

Bashiel, seeing nothing but a wall of the Emperor's thugs in front of him, winces at his inability to come more quickly to Scream's aid. He focuses instead on what he CAN accomplish, and directs his attention to the fiendish gnome executioner. He spares no words, instead unleashing a flurry of magically and divinely empowered stabs - hoping to bring the gnome down quickly and give his allies a way to advance. His divinely-empowered rapier strikes the gnome over and over again, but the hardy gnome is somehow still alive after Bashiel finishes his assault. Still, Jabbyr looks badly bloodied.

Pilts starts speaking eloquently to inspire his troops. “Attack them! Smash them! Crack them! Mash them! Do whatever you have to to incapacitate them!” Well, maybe not eloquently, but his words still seem to bolster his men.

The Emperor casts a spell at Bashiel but it fizzles out, not having any effect. Pilts stamps his feet, throwing a hissy fit at his spell’s failure.

Glaring at Bashiel, he says, “This is your last warning. Throw down your weapons and surrender or Scream gets the Tall Knife.”

Jabbyr shouts in rage as he swings his greataxe at Bashiel. The gnome seems to be mostly operating on adrenaline at this point. He swings twice at Bashiel. Despite blows that would have felled normal men, neither manages to even injure the divinely-protected paladin.
Jabbyr Attack 1: 1d20 + 19 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 19 - 3 + 3 = 34Jabbyr Attack 2: 1d20 + 14 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 3 + 3 = 29

Red Thug swings at Bashiel twice. He misses both times. Red Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 3 = 24Red Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 3 = 16

Yellow Thug does likewise. He scores a lucky hit, injuring Bashiel a bit. Yellow Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 3 = 25Yellow Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 3 = 29 Yellow Attack 2, Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17 Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 3 = 10

Blue Thug swings twice and misses twice. Blue Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 3 = 30Blue Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11

Green Thug keeps his hand on the guillotine’s lever, waiting for a signal from the Emperor.

Everyone can act! Bottom of round 1 and top of round 2.

With the way barred, Kalem held his position and waited for an opportunity to engage.

Delay

Still singing Remember the bonuses, Zamanda wonders if the Emperor will really kill the painter. It would be a stupid move, since as soon as he did, she would be free to fireball his enemies without worrying about protecting someone in the middle, but hey, he was crazy, so you never knew.

Now that she is super fast, she tries to leap and tumble past all of the people in her way and get to Scream.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Double move. If it fails somewhere, just tell me where I ended up.

Jeez, this gnome is a gigantic bag of HP! Took 120 damage after already being injured and then kept standing. BTW Zamanda, I bet you can get to Scream in a single hasted move.

(Attacking Jabbyr. If he falls early, transfer the remaining attacks to yellow. In that event, feel free to decrease the damage by 8 and roll a 2d6+2 for the human-bane. Bashiel will also 5ft step into Jabbyr's square to give Kalem access to some enemies.)
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, +smite + buffs: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 = 25
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 = 31

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, + smite + buffs, bonus hasted attack: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 = 33
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 = 29

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, +smite + buffs, iterative: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 17 - 3 + 3 + 5 - 5 = 18
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 6 + 8 + 3 = 28

Oops, one other thing:
Bashiel shifts his shield arm and briefly touches his hand to his brow. His wounds rapidly close back up.

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 2) = 9

Ilsa's untamed powers had made their situation much worse, but she would rot in The Hells of Magnamar before she would let this blowhard ruler win.

Eyeing the thug holding the lever to kill Scream, Ilsa pushes deep into his mind.

"Fall down and worship your true master!" she exclaims, laughter echoing in her mind despite the poor circumstances.

Make him the target of my Painful Stare, -3 Will and -3 Attacks. I'll then cast Castigate (DC 20 Will) on him (with Nightmare he has to roll twice and take the worst result).

Malen watched in satisfaction as Bashiel continued to wallop the fierce gnome, his eyes widening slightly as Zamanda took off for the Tall Knife and its current occupant. With no hope of matching the aasimar's acrobatic exploits, all the priest can do is wait for the paladin to open up the enemy ranks so that the rest of the group could spill into the room.

Unless Bashiel managed to drop another thug along with Jabbyr, Total Defense

Bashiel will kill Jabbyr, if you want to come off delay after him, Kalem.

Keeping attack roll the same, but let’s try Acrobatics

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

Will attack red

Ilsa's untamed powers had made their situation much worse, but she would rot in The Hells of Magnamar before she would let this blowhard ruler win.

Eyeing the thug holding the lever to kill Scream, Ilsa pushes deep into his mind.

"Fall down and worship your true master!" she exclaims, laughter echoing in her mind despite the poor circumstances. The thug grits his teeth and resists Ilsa’s magic, only becoming shaken for a bit.
Green Thug Will Save: 1d20 + 5 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 3 + 3 = 22Green Thug Will Save, Nightmare reroll: 1d20 + 5 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 3 + 3 = 23

Kalem, with the way barred, held his position and waited for an opportunity to engage. (Delay)

Zamanda, still singing, wonders if the Emperor will really kill the painter. It would be a stupid move, since as soon as he did, she would be free to fireball his enemies without worrying about protecting someone in the middle, but hey, he was crazy, so you never knew.

Now that she is super fast, she tries to leap and tumble past all of the people in her way and get to Scream. She manages to do so, avoiding their attacks in the process, before coming up right next to the prone painter.

Malen watched in satisfaction as Bashiel continued to wallop the fierce gnome, his eyes widening slightly as Zamanda took off for the Tall Knife and its current occupant. With no hope of matching the aasimar's acrobatic exploits, all the priest can do is wait for the paladin to open up the enemy ranks so that the rest of the group could spill into the room.

Bashiel, with Zamanda slipping by, continues his flurry of stabs against Jabbyr. No matter how hardy the gnome is, he can't hold on forever. He utters quietly as his second stab lands "May Osiris grant you a peaceful reincarnation."

Bashiel strikes Jabbyr once, nearly killing him, but the gnome’s rage sustains him. The paladin’s second blow finally brings down the barbarian, covered in blood. Jabbyr stretches his hand toward Pilts, saying, “Unca Pit…” as he fades away.

Bashiel shifts his shield arm and briefly touches his hand to his brow. His wounds rapidly close back up.

Kalem burst out of the hall, his Scythe trailing flames as he went. “TEAR DOWN THE GILDED THRONE! DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR!”

The bloodrager is unable to avoid the thugs’ attacks and takes a few as he goes. None of the thugs can get past his defenses. Red AoO: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 3 = 25Yellow AoO: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 3 = 24Blue AoO: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 3 = 19

He roared, even as his Scythe cut into the red thug. He was playing on his obviously infernal appearance to give the impression that their entire reason for being here was to kill the emperor. That Scream never mattered to them. Kalem tears into the red thug, slashing him with his scythe and also injuring himself some.

Pilts cries out as Jabbyr falls. “You are no longer my children. I disown you. There is no forgiveness for what you’ve done. Only the Tall Knife.”

Pointing at the green thug, the Emperor yells, “Kill Scream.”

The green thug nods, turning the lever to release the guillotine’s blade. It descends at lightning speed. In a blink, Scream no longer has his head, his skull now in the bowl to one side of the Tall Knife.

Pilts smiles sadistically and shouts at you, “You’re next! You hear me? YOU’RE NEXT!”

Pilts casts another spell, this time at Kalem. The bloodrager freezes up, unable to move. Kalem Will Save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12 DC 16 Will to get out on your turn as a full-round action.

Jabbyr is dead.

Red Thug slashes at Kalem. He somehow manages to strike the tiefling twice. Red Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 3 = 34 Red Attack 1, Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 3 = 26Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 3 = 12 Red Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 3 = 29 Red Attack 2, Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 3 = 13 Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 3 = 14

Yellow Thug strikes at Bashiel. His blows bounce harmlessly off the paladin’s armor. Yellow Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 3 = 24Yellow Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 3 = 21

Blue Thug swings at Bashiel again and misses both times. Blue Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 3 = 30Blue Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 3 = 25

Green Thug looks down at Scream’s decapitated head, then up at Zamanda. He appears to be readying to attack the bard.

Everyone can act! Bottom of round 2 and top of round 3.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Kalem froze, unable to move. Blow after blow rained down on him. Unfortunate for the thug, Kalem was ready for this. He became insubstantial, and the blows barely registered. The Bloodrager slowly turned towards the attacker, a look of pure murder written on his face. Now free he growled ”Yours will be a painful death.”

Windy Escape

You gain DR 10/magic against this attack and are immune to any poison, sneak attacks, or critical hit effect from that attack.

12 And 14 damage reduced to 2 and 4. Total of 6 wounds taken. Sadly that burns both of my remaining lvl1 spells. I’m tapped out of magic for the day!

All that said, Bashiel has Protection from Evil up. That allows a reroll for failed will Saves, right? If so the above was the will save and Kalem will get to attack this round

Hit: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 3) + (4, 1) + (6) + 19 = 35
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Haste Hit: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 1) + (2, 3) + (3) + 19 = 29
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Iterative Hit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 1) + (3, 3) + (5) + 19 = 35
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Kalem, the reroll only applies when Protection from Evil is initially cast. It doesn't apply to all subsequent will saves.

Prot Evil doesn't give you a new save (it only grants the new save at the moment you get the Prot Evil effect, not in subsequent rounds) though it's up to Zek if he thinks that Hold Person counts as 'direct control'. If it does, then this part of Prot Evil will help:

While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target.

Ilsa's spell plan was great. Too bad all the castigate luck was used up on Ramoska, lol :D

Yeah, Hold Person isn’t covered in Protection from Evil’s immunity (not even Charm Person, actually). See this thread where James Jacobs clarifies.

Ouch on the crit confirm. I’ll have to add the extra damage in my next main update.

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, + buffs: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 32
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 6 + (3, 6) + 3 = 31

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, + buffs; haste attack: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 31
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 6 + (1, 6) + 3 = 29

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, + buffs; iterative: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 = 21
Rapier PA damage (P) + buffs: 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 6 + (4, 5) + 3 = 32

Malen, I'll let you decide if you want Bashiel to 5ft step up into red's square, or if he should stay blocking enemies from getting to you.

@Zek: They got a proper FAQ after JJ made that forum post, where they confirm that Charm person IS blocked, and that Sleep is a corner case. There's nothing about Hold person specifically.

No, Bash... I wish I could have gotten there sooner, but Acrobatics means you have to move at half speed and to get there I had to go 35 feet, so I didn't have an action left. Sorry. Guess we'll have to find our friends without the painter. I did try.

Zamanda continues to sing Don't forget bonuses, and then, since she can't save the painter, she takes a step back while pulling up her bow and shoots Green multiple times at point-blank range.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 16 (Inspire, point-blank, rapid shot)
Attack 2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 32
Attack 3: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 25

Damage 1: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 13 (Inspire, point-blank)
Damage 2: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 17
Damage 3: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 14

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 30
Additional Crit Damage (x3): 4d6 + 6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 3) + 6 + 4 + 2 = 30

EDIT: Darn... forgot my haste attack. Here goes:

Attack 4: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 13
Damage 4: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 13

Yikes. Guess I should have just let it be. :)

Ah, thank you, Bashiel. Yeah, I would still say it doesn't apply to Hold Person. It seems to be more or less in the same category as Sleep.

I have no wish to get bashed and stabbed, thank you very much. Stay put, soldier!

Malen frowned as the artist's head is sliced clean off his body, the Tall Knife performing one last execution for its sadistic audience of One. Narrowing his eyes, the priest started to move forward to cure Kalem of his spell-binding paralysis but found that the strong-willed tiefling was able to overcome the Emperor's magic through force of will, though it did slow down his killing scythe for a moment.

Wincing at the multiple hits the man had taken, the cleric decided that healing him up before he inevitably engaged with the Emperor was the thing to do. Lifting up his silver symbol of the spiraling comet, the phylactery upon his brow glowed faintly as the scent of freshly sewn earth filled the area.

Channel to Heal, excluding the three living thugs: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 1, 6, 4) = 16

6/8 Channels remaining

Seriously? The guillotine guy rolls a 17 and 18 with his -3 penalty to avoid the spell and still kills Scream? My spells are NOT working as intended this battle! /sigh

Ilsa watches Scream die--she couldn't stop it. She could feel the fear pressing back at her instead of outward.

I--I can't do it.

She looks about to melt into the ground for a moment.

NO. I MUST do it! This is my home, and this is personal now! I'm taking him down MYSELF!

With determination back in her eyes, Ilsa disappears from view and rushes toward the 'emperor.'

I'll cast Vanish, then move through the melee. I had meant to cast mirror image before the battle started, but I didn't get a chance to make that post. Looks like I'm going in naked!

Last round:

Cletus aka Red Thug does more damage than Kalem thought possible, injuring the bloodrager further. Crit Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 3 = 9

Current Round:

Ilsa watches Scream die--she couldn't stop it. She could feel the fear pressing back at her instead of outward.

I--I can't do it.

She looks about to melt into the ground for a moment.

NO. I MUST do it! This is my home, and this is personal now! I'm taking him down MYSELF!

With determination back in her eyes, Ilsa disappears from view and rushes toward the 'emperor.'

Kalem froze, unable to move. The Bloodrager slowly turned towards the attacker, a look of pure murder written on his face. Now free he growled “Yours will be a painful death.”

Zamanda continues to sing and then, since she can't save the painter, she takes a step back while pulling up her bow and shoots Green multiple times at point-blank range. Her first arrow bounces off the thug’s shield. Her second and third, however, are devastating. The two arrows bury themselves into the thug, the third particularly deep. Zamanda’s fourth shot goes wide.

Malen frowned as the artist's head is sliced clean off his body, the Tall Knife performing one last execution for its sadistic audience of One. Narrowing his eyes, the priest started to move forward to cure Kalem of his spell-binding paralysis but found that the strong-willed tiefling was able to overcome the Emperor's magic through force of will, though it did slow down his killing scythe for a moment.

Wincing at the multiple hits the man had taken, the cleric decided that healing him up before he inevitably engaged with the Emperor was the thing to do. Lifting up his silver symbol of the spiraling comet, the phylactery upon his brow glowed faintly as the scent of freshly sewn earth filled the area. The remaining sliver of Bashiel’s wounds heal and some of Kalem’s wounds heal.

Bashiel drives a quick thrust at Cletus, then two more at Cletus or yellow, depending on who's still standing. His rapier flashes with supernatural speed as his mind races, blaming himself for not being able to rescue Scream quickly enough. Cletus is badly injured after Bashiel’s first blow, but is still standing. The paladin brings Cletus down with his second attack, slaying the lucky thug. Bashiel strikes a solid blow on the yellow thug with his third attack.

Pilts switches his performance. Instead of inspiring courage in his thugs, he causes dread to fall on all of you but Malen. Dirge of Doom. You’re all shaken (minus Malen), so -2 to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

Still smiling sadistically, Pilts screams, “You’re all dead. Deader than dead. Doubly dead. So dead you wish you were just dead. You’ll wish for death before the end. You will!”

He then casts another spell, again directed at Kalem. The tiefling manages to resist this spell. Kalem Will Save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 21

Cletus is dead. R.I.P. Cletus

Yellow Thug swings at Kalem, trying avenge Cletus. He misses both attacks. Yellow Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25Yellow Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Blue Thug swings at Bashiel again. But it's all he can do to even hold onto his sword. Blue Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12Blue Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Green Thug draws his longsword before stepping over to Zamanda and taking a swing. He barely misses. Green Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Everyone can act! Bottom of round 3 and top of round 4.

Acrobatics avoid AOO: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 3) + (6, 5) + (4) + 19 = 41
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Confirm: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32
Crit: 3d4 + 6d6 + 57 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) + (2, 5, 1, 1, 6, 2) + 57 = 79

Total: 41 + 79 = 120

Injured, angry, and tired of the emperor’s antics, Kalem ran at the man with hasted speed. His flaming Scythe whirled cut through the air...and into the spell caster.

Ilsa, still invisible, imagines a number of mirror images around her.

Silently, she takes up position opposite Kalem.

mirror image: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Bashiel is immune to fear - Dirge of Doom's shaken slides off him.

He continues his flurry, striking quickly against yellow, then stepping forwards (into yellow's square) as he falls to pin blue against the wall.
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 24
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 6 + (6, 5) + 3 = 33
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans, haste bonus: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 35
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 6 + (2, 4) + 3 = 29
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans, iterative: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 = 21
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 6 + (3, 5) + 3 = 34

As the field thinned in front of him, the priest stepped out from beside Bashiel and into the thick of it. Seeing that the Emperor had surrounded himself with magical copies, and Kalem dutifully beginning the process of hacking them apart, the cleric decided to join him instead of helping the paladin with the remaining riff-raff. Eyes following the multiple movements, he lunged forward to try and pop a copy, or better yet stab the original.

Dagger, Haste, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Moved Green to where he would have had to be to swing at me.

Zamanda continues to sing Remember bonuses as she tumbles across the rope bridge.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 2 = 19

I put up the circle to show the range of Dirge of Doom. That's a 30 foot radius centered on Pilts. (Inspire Courage is not similarly limited by distance, but only by the ability to hear or see the song, depending on the bard's choice.) I just wanted to see where it is for the things I might do while outside of it. Also, can I walk to the Arena from this roof or only where the steps are? Do I have line of sight to the whole area under the canopy, or are some things blocked off?

Your fear immunity strikes again, Bashiel.
Thank you for updating green’s position, Zamanda!
The platform with the Tall Knife is 5 ft higher than the rest of the canopied area. The arena is five feet lower than the canopied area (and 10 ft lower than the Tall Knife’s platform). Malen and Kalem would probably be slightly obscured from your current position, but you would be able to fully see pretty much everyone else.

Ilsa, still invisible, imagines a number of mirror images around her.

Silently, she takes up position to flank with Kalem.

Kalem, injured, angry, and tired of the emperor’s antics, ran at the man with hasted speed. His flaming Scythe whirled cut through the air...and into the spell caster. Or he would have, but instead he destroys one of Pilts’s images.
Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d5 ⇒ 5

Zamanda continues to sing as she tumbles across the rope bridge. She manages to avoid getting a swipe from the green thug.

Malen, as the field thinned in front of him, stepped out from beside Bashiel and into the thick of it. Seeing that the Emperor had surrounded himself with magical copies, and Kalem dutifully beginning the process of hacking them apart, the cleric decided to join him instead of helping the paladin with the remaining riff-raff. Eyes following the multiple movements, he lunged forward to try and pop a copy, or better yet stab the original. Malen’s blade can’t connect with the real Pilts, but he manages to destroy another image with his attack. Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d4 ⇒ 3

Bashiel keeps his position as Kalem and the invisible Ilsa rush off to engage Pilts. He doesn't look in Kalem's direction as the bloodrager delivers his fierce attack, but he feels a surge of confidence - Pilts' stranglehold over Old Korvosa would soon be over, even if they hadn't been able to save Scream. He continues his flurry, striking quickly against yellow, then stepping forward as he falls to pin blue against the wall.

Pilts, clearly demented, laughs as you begin to surround him. He eyes each of you before trying to cast a spell on himself. He manages to do so and suddenly it almost looks like he’s in two places at once… in addition to the two images still surrounding him. Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

“You can’t kill me!” he shouts. “You can’t even touch me. I am the law here. The only law that matters. Old Dock is mine, you hear me? And soon all of Old Korvosa!”

Yellow Thug is dead.

Blue Thug swings at Bashiel again. He misses twice more. Blue Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30Blue Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Green Thug, unable to get to Zamanda quick enough to attack, moves over to Bashiel and slashes at him. His sword bounces off the paladin’s armor. Green Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Everyone can act! Bottom of round 4 and top of round 5.

From her vantage point on the roof to the east, Zamanda continues to sing (Don't forget bonuses), torn between shooting at Green who killed the painter, or at the Emperor himself. She can't tell where the emperor is exactly though when she glances that way, so she continues to shoot at Green.

If Green goes down, she switches her remaining shots to the Emperor, hoping to hit the right one.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 30 (Inspire, haste, bless, rapid shot)
Attack 2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 33 (rapid shot bonus attack)
Attack 3: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 25 (haste bonus attack)
Attack 4: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 20

Damage 1: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 3 + 2 = 13 (Inspire)
Damage 2: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 + 2 = 7
Damage 3: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1) + 3 + 2 = 11
Damage 4: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5) + 3 + 2 = 15

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 22
Extra Crit Damage: 4d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 4) + 6 + 4 = 27

Malen grimaced as the Emperor ranted insanely in front of them, his mental illness not granting him insight that soon his magical protections would be overcome and he would soon be judged by the Lady of Graves. Glancing over and confirming that Bashiel and Zamanda were in no imminent danger from the remaining thugs, the priest focused on trying to cull the number of copies so that the hard-hitting Kalem could focus on the real deal.

Dagger attack, Bless, Haste, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 23
Damage, IC: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Hasted Dagger attack, Bless, Haste, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 16
Damage, IC: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Iterative Dagger attack, Bless, Haste, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 5 = 16
Damage, IC: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Kalem grimaced with annoyance. That was a killing blow if there ever was one! Gods how he hated spellcasters. Rather than go for another certain kill, he decided to go for quantity instead.

Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 4) + (4, 1) + (2) + 19 = 34
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Haste Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 3) + (6, 4) + (2) + 19 = 35
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Iterative Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (3, 3) + (2, 6) + (6) + 19 = 39
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

He closes his eyes right before he strikes, trusting his hearing better than his eyes while the enemy is wreathed in defensive magics. (voluntary blindness has the same miss chance as displacement, so I'm going for style :P)

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 30
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 6 + (2, 4) + 3 = 30
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 61

Ilsa abruptly appear to view, a dark glow to her eyes. She is surrounded by her own mirror images. Some look like wholesome shop girls, while others look like truly corrupted versions of Ilsa. Her hands have already extended into ghoulish claws, and she rakes at the 'emperor' and his magical protections.

"Surprise!" she cackles with a harsh edge to her voice.

Ghoulish Claws (magic, merciful, nonlethal, flank): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 261d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (3) = 8 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
Ghoulish Claws (magic, merciful, nonlethal, flank): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 221d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d6 ⇒ 1 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
extra haste attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 241d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (5) = 13 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
painful stare dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13
intimidate to demoralize: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29
paralysis duration: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Painful Stare target: -3 attack rolls, -3 Will, (if demoralized, additional –2 attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks)

I’m afraid I’m going to have to say voluntary blindness and displacement stack, Bashiel. You automatically miss. /s

Ilsa abruptly appear to view, a dark glow to her eyes. She is surrounded by her own mirror images. Some look like wholesome shop girls, while others look like truly corrupted versions of Ilsa. Her hands have already extended into ghoulish claws, and she rakes at the 'emperor' and his magical protections.

"Surprise!" she cackles with a harsh edge to her voice.

She manages to target the true Pilts with her first attack, but still misses due to his displacement. She targets the correct Pilts a second time, but again misses thanks to his magic. Her third attack finally hits, injuring the Emperor. He manages to resist Ilsa’s paralysis. Still, he looks affected by Ilsa’s display, though he would never admit that.

Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d3 ⇒ 1Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 2 Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d3 ⇒ 1Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 16Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d3 ⇒ 1Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 77 Pilts Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Kalem grimaced with annoyance. That was a killing blow if there ever was one! Gods how he hated spellcasters. Rather than go for another certain kill, he decided to go for quantity instead.

His first attack hits another image, destroying it. His second attack targets the real Pilts, but misses. His last attack targets Pilts’s final image, dispersing it. Only the real Emperor remains.
Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d3 ⇒ 3Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d2 ⇒ 1 Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 15 Mirror Image (1 hits real): 1d2 ⇒ 2

Zamanda, from her vantage point on the roof to the east, continues to sing, torn between shooting at Green who killed the painter, or at the Emperor himself. She can't tell where the emperor is exactly though when she glances that way, so she continues to shoot at Green. Zamanda’s first arrow takes the thug in the shoulder and her third goes through his left eye. He falls down in a heap. Zamanda’s last two arrows zip toward the Emperor. And both lodge themselves in his body. Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 58Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 74

Malen grimaced as the Emperor ranted insanely in front of them, his mental illness not granting him insight that soon his magical protections would be overcome and he would soon be judged by the Lady of Graves. Glancing over and confirming that Bashiel and Zamanda were in no imminent danger from the remaining thugs, the priest focused on trying to cull the number of copies so that the hard-hitting Kalem could focus on the real deal.

His first attack looks like it’s going to connect, but then still misses due to Pilts’s magic. His other two strikes miss the Emperor completely.
Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 28

Bashiel, with Zamanda's arrows pincushioning green, gives blue a firm shake of his head - as if to say "you're better off surrendering". He jogs up towards Pilts, eyes the melee for an opening, and thrusts his rapier in when it looks like the Emperor is distracted.

He closes his eyes right before he strikes, trusting his hearing better than his eyes while the enemy is wreathed in defensive magics. His rapier connects, digging deep into the Emperor’s flesh.

Pilts tries to cast another spell and manages to do so again. This time he targets Ilsa. The mesmerist easily resists it.

Jumping up and down on his throne, the Emperor continues to speak. "I will not be defeated. I am royalty. I am the rightful king of all Old Korvosa. You will rue the day you decided to attack me. You might as well stick your heads in the Tall Knife and be done with it. There's no hope for you."

Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 Ilsa Will Save: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 2 - 2 = 24

Blue Thug, after hesitating for a moment and not attacking Bashiel as he leaves, ultimately decides to ignore the paladin’s unspoken advice. He moves over to Malen and swings at the priest. The thug connects, injuring Malen some. Blue Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Green Thug is dead.

Everyone can act! Bottom of round 5 and top of round 6.

"You are no royalty," Ilsa sneers, her eyes radiating blackness and even her teeth taking on the appearance of rot as she speaks. "You are a gutter rat. Back to the sewers!" she exclaims as she renews her assault with putrid claws.

Ghoulish Claws (magic, merciful, nonlethal, flank): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 241d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
Ghoulish Claws (magic, merciful, nonlethal, flank): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 191d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d6 ⇒ 1 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
extra haste attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 161d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (1) = 8 If hits, DC 16 Fort save or paralysis 1d4+1 rounds.
painful stare dmg if any attack hits: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11
intimidate to demoralize: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27
paralysis duration: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Painful Stare target: -3 attack rolls, -3 Will, (if demoralized, additional –2 attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks)

Bashiel starts contemplating why everyone who becomes powerful quickly turns absolutely insane.

~A weighty question, young one. But you have pressing concerns.~

He nods to the voice in his head and focuses on skewering Pilts before the fellow can teleport away again.

Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 41
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 6 + (2, 6) + 3 = 35
Confirm?: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 36
Extra crit dmg: 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 6 + 3 = 24
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 2 ( :< )
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 41
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 6 + (2, 2) + 3 = 27
Confirm?: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 = 23
Extra crit dmg: 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 6 + 3 = 24
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 88
Human Bane Rapier, 1-handing PA, vs humans: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 3 + 2 + 5 - 5 = 30
Rapier PA damage (P): 1d6 + 12 + 6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 6 + (2, 4) + 3 = 31
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 93

Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 4) + (1, 6) + (3) + 19 = 37
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Haste Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 4) + (5, 6) + (4) + 19 = 39
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Iterative Attack Emperor: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 2d4 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 2) + (1, 5) + (2) + 19 = 30
Self Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

No battle cries, no taunting...just more swings of the Scythe. The magical defenses were failing, and soon there would be blood.

Zamanda continues to sing, and shoots many arrows in an attempt to end the Emperor's cruel reign before he can disappear again.

Miss Chance 1: 1d100 ⇒ 70
Miss Chance 2: 1d100 ⇒ 26
Miss Chance 3: 1d100 ⇒ 90
Miss Chance 4: 1d100 ⇒ 62

Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 22 (Inspire, haste, bless, rapid shot)
Attack 2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 16 (rapid shot)
Attack 3: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 31 (haste shot)
Attack 4: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 19

Damage 1: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 + 2 = 7 (Inspire)
Damage 2: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 3 + 2 = 14
Damage 3: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 + 2 = 12
Damage 4: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 + 2 = 13

Zamanda's view of Blue is obstructed, Malen, sorry, or I would help get him off your back.

Ha, that fellow's goose is cooked. He can bring it...when the others finish making Pilts explode, I'm sure they'll turn this fellow to mush.

Malen winced as the unexpected attack from the thug connected, turning a bit to keep the fellow in view to hopefully avoid an encore. He shook his head at the man. "Wrong choice, my friend. May Pharasma judge you justly."

With that, the priest tightened his grip on his holy symbol, excluding the thug and the mad Emperor (if he was still drawing breath) from the healing energy flowing through him to soothe the hurts of those who had them.

Channel Energy to heal: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2) = 13

Pilts has certainly survived longer than I expected him to.

Ilsa sneers, "You are no royalty," her eyes radiating blackness and even her teeth taking on the appearance of rot as she speaks. "You are a gutter rat. Back to the sewers!" she exclaims as she renews her assault with putrid claws.

Ilsa’s first attack doesn’t connect, but her second and third do. Pilts freezes in place after Ilsa’s second strike.

Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 8Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 84Pilts Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 2 = 8Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 55

Kalem gave no battle cries, no taunting...just more swings of the Scythe. The magical defenses were failing, and soon there would be blood. The tiefling’s first blow misses, but his second connects and proves to be the mad Emperor’s undoing. Still frozen in place, Pilts’s smile turns into a frown as Kalem disembowels him. The Emperor of Old Korvosa, already dead, falls off his throne and to the ground. His reign is over. Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 24Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 51

Blue Thug throws down his sword and falls prone to the ground. He whimpers, “Please have mercy. Please. I had to follow his orders or he would have killed me. Mercy!”

Combat over! I updated totals to account for Malen’s channel, so that means only Kalem is still slightly injured.

With Pilts’s defeat, his palace falls silent save for the whimpering of the blue thug. The battle has been won. Old Dock is free of the Emperor’s grasp.

Kalem spat on the corpse. ”First time killing an emperor.” He joked. ”But what’re we going to do about this guy, and the dead painter?” He was already rummaging through Pilts’ belongings.

Zamanda comes back to the group when she sees that the Emperor has fallen.

When blue thug asks for mercy, she says

You can go if you tell us where they keep the prisoners around here. We're looking for someone. Think you can do that for us?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Doesn't have to be right this moment while she is talking to thug blue or whatever, but Zamanda would also like to completely disable the tall knife so it can never be used again.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

Let me know if I have to do more than that... I can acid splash and burn it a little as well... whatever is needed.

The blue thug shakes his head at Zamanda's question. "Pilts didn't keep prisoners, at least not long enough to hold them somewhere. He either had them participate in his macabre plays or his violent games. Either those or he just put them under the Tall Knife. Any who survived he molded into more of his thugs."

-----

Whenever the opportunity arrives (likely a bit later), Zamanda finds herself able to dismantle the Tall Knife at a breakneck pace. Soon the guillotine is in over a dozen parts. It would take an expert to reconstruct it.

You've thoroughly dismantled it, but if you're wanting to ensure it's never rebuilt, you'll need to deform it. It doesn't look like you have acid splash on your spell list, but burning hands or a fireball would do the trick.

Malen ignored the thug begging for mercy once the Emperor had fallen. He walked over to Scream's corpse, muttering a silent prayer to hopefully help guide the painter's tortured soul through the Boneyard to be judged by Pharasma. They had done their best, but their ultimate inability to save the man still stung. Hopefully it would not impair their mission too much.

Turning to the others, he said, "Shall we go find our wayward Zon-Kuthonite and tell her the bad news?" The priest looked around the building and the roof beyond, sickened by the deplorable condition. Old Korvosa would likely have to be torn down and built anew, if the small portion they had seen of it was any indication. The Queen was partly to blame, but also tyrants like Pilts who benefitted from such anarchy.

Bashiel holds onto the remaining thug for a moment after he's divulged what he knows of Pilts' lack of prisoners. He cleans and sheathes his rapier and puts a hand on the fellow's shoulder. "You were part of this. All this that Pilts did. I'd like to think of you as an unwilling participant, as someone who took no joy in tormenting the people of Old Korvosa. Just someone who had a choice between the Tall Knife and an evil life." His brow furrows. "Whatever you did here under Pilts, it's on you now to make up for it somehow. And if you don't, well, know that we'll meet again."

He calls upon Osiris' aid to heal the man, hoping that some good will at this moment might help the fellow turn over a new leaf... hopefully.

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 6) = 14

"Now, before you go, can you tell us more about Scream. We know that Pilts was keeping him, but what were the circumstances? Any unusual events around the time Scream was added to the retinue?" If that doesn't jog the guy's memory, he adds "We think there might've been someone else with Scream... no more than a few days ago. Someone we're looking for."

The blue thug’s eyes widen as some of his wounds close from Bashiel’s healing. He thanks Bashiel, then replies to the paladin’s questions, “Pilts loved Scream’s art. I guess it appealed to his morbid preferences. I wasn’t with the group that seized the painter, but from what I understand, he was alone when they abducted him. He certainly arrived here alone. Pilts seemed to grow more and more frustrated with Scream the longer he was here. Something about his work not being the same quality as it once was. Besides Pilts, only Jabbyr was allowed to see Scream. This is the first time I’ve seen him since he arrived. I’m… I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.”

A few minutes after the fight ends and you speak with the blue thug, a whistling Laori appears from the rope bridge you used to arrive in Pilts’s court in the first place. She carries a smile on her face, but her armor is now covered in blood as is her weapon.

She gets giddy when she sees the Emperor’s body and says, “Well done! Sorry I couldn’t be here to help. After that nasty bit of fright that overcame me, a few of the Emperor’s thugs chased after me. Had to deal with them before I could come back.”

Laori’s cheery disposition falters when she sees the decapitated body to one side of the Tall Knife. She rushes over to see Scream’s head in the bowl.

The Zon-Kuthonite picks up the head and moans. “Nooooo. He was the last one. He was our last chance. Nooooo. After all this. It can’t be. Nooooo.”

Laori gently sets the head back down, her appearance now somber. She slowly walks over to Pilts’s body before spitting on it. Then she starts kicking it over and over. She’s wincing from hurting her foot before she stops.

Once she’s finished, she says to you, “I had so hoped to get to Scream alive. We were so close. He was so close we could almost touch him.”

She sighs. “I must report to my superiors, but I would like to take Scream’s head with me. Do you mind? It’ll at least complete my set, I guess.”

Oops. I forgot I chose the cold ray instead. Yeah, I'll use burning hands, but I want to be careful to just affect the tall knife and not burn down the rest of the place before we loot it.

Zamanda is very frustrated that they don't have a prisoner area here, not sure how they are going to find the people they are going to find without the painter. She is fine with letting the blue thug go, but when Laori asks for Scream's head she has a thought.

I am okay with you taking it eventually, but ... is it possible to speak with dead on this guy first? We really, really need some information that he had. Any way we can make that happen? She looks around at everyone.

The priest watched Laori take out her frustration on Pilts' corpse impassively. He understood the woman's ire. Malen reluctantly nodded at Zamanda's question. "I can ask my Lady for a spell that will allow Scream's spirit to answer a few brief questions."

The cleric turned to the Zon-Kuthonite, eyebrow raised. "What do you need the artist's head for?" He is careful to keep his tone neutral, though he suspects she needed it for the same reason as the party.

About to hit the hay before I skedaddle tomorrow, so wanted to go ahead and get one more post in.

Laori nods at Zamanda’s request. “Sure. I’m going to be doing that eventually myself.”

When Malen mentions preparing a spell, Laori shakes her head. “No need. I’ve already got one I prepared this morning. I suspect mine is a bit more powerful anyway,” she says with a smile.

“His head will complete my collection, as I said, but more importantly it’ll give me a chance to ask him about the inspiration for his paintings. I’ve heard great things about some of them, so if I can get any insight into what prompted him to make them, this whole fiasco might just work out okay.”

Laori will cast speak with dead when you’re ready. You’ll have 6 questions. Since she’ll have access to Scream’s head after you part ways (assuming everyone is okay with that), she’ll let you ask all the questions.

-----

So you can go ahead and divvy up loot in case I’m unavailable, I’ll identify the magical items this time. There’s nothing cursed, so no need to hide things. Safety not guaranteed in the future. :)

Also, you just reached level 9! Feel free to take the weekend (or longer, if needed) to level up. New spells, abilities, etc. will be available after you rest.

Ilsa relaxes a bit as Laori comes back without being upset.

I thought she would blame me for that whole fiasco--I blame myself. My first spell scattered them all when I lost control, and then I had another chance to stop the one at the guillotine and my spell failed again. Regardless, I'm glad she's not trying to kill us.

Ilsa shifts uncomfortably as Loari mentions taking the skull, but given that she seemed to have a way to obtain the information they needed anyway, Ilsa decides not to make a point of it.

Woo! Level! We're getting up there, and thanks everyone for sticking with this and especially to our diligent DM!

So, we need to ask about the two missing people and find out if he knows where they are. What else do we need to know, if anything?

Honestly, I'd like to know where his inspiration came from, as well. Maybe if he knows why the Seneschal is over here in the first place?"

Malen wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of letting Laori take the dead artist's head, but the body was only a shell, anyway, and he doubted they'd have time to bury Scream. Besides, the woman was once again proving a capable ally, as the priest himself would have had to wait until the morrow to ask the artist the group's questions. She didn't seem to have any intentions of raising the artist with false life, so the cleric let it lie.

Level 9, that's when I get the good stuff!