DM Aron Marczylo's Curse of the Crimson Throne Part 3 (Inactive)

Game Master overfiend_87

Hmmm, guys, let me change my appearance to someone from this area and talk to these kids. Seems kind strange for all these kids to be playing with guillotines and talking about killing the queen.

Feel free, though I doubt a disguise is necessary. There is no love for the Queen here.

Responding to Curnach: I see that the queen is not the most loved member of society, at the same time, it is frequently better to not be remembered if someone comes asking about you.

I use the Hat of Disguise to change my appearance to someone from the area. Worn out clothing, dark brown hair.

Disguise: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

Seeing a group of the children I approach them:
Good morning children. I see that you are enjoying a game of decapitate the queen. Other than cutting off Old Korvosa from the rest of the city, do you all know anything about the queen, or have you heard any rumors about the queen?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Responding to Curnach: I see that the queen is not the most loved member of society, at the same time, it is frequently better to not be remembered if someone comes asking about you.

I use the Hat of Disguise to change my appearance to someone from the area. Worn out clothing, dark brown hair.

Disguise: 1d20+19

Seeing a group of the children I approach them:
Good morning children. I see that you are enjoying a game of decapitate the queen. Other than cutting off Old Korvosa from the rest of the city, do you all know anything about the queen, or have you heard any rumors about the queen?

Diplomacy: 1d20+10

"We don't know of any rumors, but the new emporor of Korvosa wishes to take over." one says whilst another interupts.

Returning to the group and resuming my normal appearance.

Interesting, apparently the story is that there is a new Emperor in Korvosa and he has a guillotine and that he is going to use it on the queen. Supposedly the guillotine comes from Galt. Not sure how much stock I would put in rumors, but kids are usually good at modifying stories like this, not creating them all on their own.

So, lets go knock on Vencarlo's door and see what we can do to help each other.

As you knock on the door you find that there is no answer, however the door appears to be unlocked when you try the door knob and the fires inside are still roaring.

The area appears errily silent and you see before you a elegant Vudran throw rug which covers much of the floor of this otherwise empty area of the house.

MAP

I assumed you stepped in rarther than waiting for you to post to see if you did step in.

Appreciated.

Follow Krenn's lead and stay close Llyra Curnach commands gently, not wanting to offend the imperious woman but also aware that he, Jerin and Krenn had developed something of a pattern in how they went about things that she might not be aware of. He keeps his eyes peeled for anything awry, using the power of nature and community to enhance them.

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35 Perception (Guidance assisted)

I do not know all your tactics, however, if you wish, I can scout the area. I am quite proficient and being unnoticed and moving silently.

[bigger]Perhaps once we have reason to think there may be danger here, for now lets stay behind the Dwarf with the big axe.[/smaller]

AS they discuss their tactics outside of Vencarlo's house, We should find out more about this new emperor of Korvosa and see if he can be a useful tool in overthrowing the Queen.
If not we should probably feed him to his own knives.

As they get ready to enter...
Seems odd that Vencarlo would just leave his door wide open in Old Korvosa, this isn't exactly the best pat of town, as evidenced by the fact that half of his house is burned down.
Why don't we just call out and find out if he is home?

As I noted, I shall defer to your judgment as a group. According to the Field Marshall, you all have been quite successful as a group, so I will not question you decisions. However, as I noted, I can move quite stealthily and can scout areas if necessary to find hidden traps and disarm the unexpected.

One does have to wonder about the timing of this house and school being burned.

The door was closed, but unlocked. Plus the light from candles and other lght sources are on so most people would assume someone was in.

You still hear no noise despite having entered the home and talking amungst yourselves. Doors to the other rooms appear to be closed and moving down the hallway you see sofas around a brick fireplace with a bright and living fire, despite the fact the home seems abandoned.

MAP

4 doors down here to choose from, from what you can see and stairs leading upstairs.

Hold for a moment...Vencarlo are you here???
Jerin speaks out rather load but not quite a yell.

He will ask again if no one answers. If nothing he will cast mage armor.

Hold for a moment...Vencarlo are you here???

Jerin speaks out rather load but not quite a yell.

He will ask again if no one answers. If nothing he will cast mage armor.

You call out as you do, but you hear no response.

Looking and the eerily quiet home with a still lit fire which appears to have been resided in but moments before our arrival.

I really think that scouting ahead before we march into a trap is advisable. You all may recall the queen removing a crossbow bolt from her head and healing as though it were a sliver. And Vencarlo was a renown fighter, so whoever was brave, or foolish, enough to burn his academy is likely not weak.

Also, we could ask the children out front and see if anyone knows who started the fire, whether anyone unusual was around before the fire.

I have my eyes peeled for them as we go, splitting up is not wise when we don't know what we're up against.

If there are traps, Curnach has the best chance of spotting them. If you mean an ambush, hopefully i'd get a perception check to hear movement etc.

Heh - thought I had trap spotting, didn't realize that it is a special rogue feat, not the same as trap finding and trap sense. Oh well, guess your higher perception wins.

Any direction you guys want to check? The rooms or head upstairs first?

Heh - thought I had trap spotting, didn't realize that it is a special rogue feat, not the same as trap finding and trap sense. Oh well, guess your higher perception wins.

Its a subtle change from 3.5, where only the Rogue could generally spot magic traps. Now anyone can spot them, but only the rogue can disarm.

We're waiting on Uncle Krenn to direct.

Krenn will start with doors, shield in hand. The first door will be the one between L18 and K18.

Sorry, family obligations yesterday.

You find in this room a single leather chair sitting at a desk while two tall cabinets filled with books about sword fighting and philosophy stand to the east. The papers on the desk are mostly accounting documents and ledgers for Vencarlo's Achademy. The papers tell their own story, revealing that Vencarlo's Achademy was doing rarther well until the death of King Eodred II as students began to stop showing up and Vencarlo himselt took an increasing number of breaks from teaching.

After giving the others any time they feel they need to check out the room, Krenn will next go to the door opposite this room, between K18 and J18.

Curnach pauses the search, noting the findings and calling a halt.

I feel that now is a good time to share my suspicion with you- a suspicion I have had for several months now. I believe Vencarlo is Blackjack, the masked man I saved from the Queen's executioner and our accomplice in Trinia's rescue. These breaks from teaching lead me to surmise that he has been spending more time as the local hero lately and less as Vencarlo himself.

Clearing his throat, Curnach motions with his hand. His form shrinks and changes into a young halfling's body.

Lead on, Krenn.

Note for DM- Curnach's dexterity has gone up by 2, his AC by 2, his reflex save by 1 and his initiative by 1.

Wow, the infamous Blackjack. I recall him being credited for all that was good, and being blamed for all that was bad and unexplained in the city when I was young. If he truly is good, that will benefit the city. If this is his home, we should be very wary, I doubt his home will be unprotected.

Krenn appears to have found a bathroom with a freestanding bathroom and toilet. All very clean and organised, but nothing else in the area.

Now what makes you think that a man of such respect and wealth could ever find the time to fight crime? :p

Next up, Krenn will try the door at K22/J22.

You find a well-stocked workshop for decorating and repairing bladed weapons. There are several partially repaired daggers and rapiers lie on the table, however none of them look particularly valuable.

We should make sure that we continue to identify ourselves. Vencarlo, or someone, obviously left just before we arrived. We should proceed with care to not spook whoever was here into attacking us. Also, either there is a second exit from the home, or I think that someone is still here.

Krenn nods at Llyra's comment. He approaches the door at L23/L24, raps on it twice with the edge of his shield and says loudly Vencarlo? It's Krenn. We met recently? Hello? Then he'll push the door open and check the room behind it.

He might be off sneaking around as Blackjack if he is what you say. Leaving the lights on is an obvious way to disguise you are gone. He might even have a secret exit that we may need to find...

Downstairs MAP

You hear no response but as you're knocking on the door and open to find a pantry stocked with food and water, however the majority of the perishable food has gone bad (where as the cheese could either have gone very bad, or it's very expensive like blue cheese :) ) and though he seems to lack a kitchen there's a good chance he probably just bought meals outside and broung them back home with him.

Upstairs is all that's left, I assume you head up there in which order?

Upstairs

As you walk up the stairs you enter a large, open room that appears to be a room for practive sword fighting with practice dummies stand in the western corners to either side of the brick fireplace with the fire still burning. The ceiling is 14 feet high with exposed rafters giving the room a open feel. There is a single door to a room.

Krenn will lead the way up, shield out but no weapon. As he turns on the platform going he'll call out Vencarlo! It is Krenn. As he goes up the last small flight of stairs, he'll turn to the others and say quietly Be ready in case the queen's agents have beat us here!. At the top of the stairs, he'll call out Vencarlo!

Krenn scans the room, not really seeing anywhere someone could be concealed. He crosses over to the door, and glances back at his teammates, making sure they're ready for trouble.

Then he'll rap on the door three times with the edge of his shield. He'll call out Vencarlo, it's Krenn. Our mutual friend sent me to check on you. Then push the door open.

There is again no answer and you enter his bedroom. Here it appears well lived in, but the bed is made and unslept in. There is a desk and chair that sit near the bed with a small cloths closet to the north of the bedroom.

I look at the desk to see if there is anything of note:
Perception:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Are we taking 10 or 20 on searching these rooms? Or just doing a quick once over and moving on?

A quick take 10 and moving on- but we'll search it thoroughly before we leave. If there are no more rooms, we'll begin to take 20 through the rooms until we find some clue as to his whereabouts.

What are your positions in the room with the fire?

Curnach returns from the closet with a small metal box.

Llyra- see what you can do with this?

Curnach will cast Guidance on each one of Llyra's attempts to find traps on it and unlock it. Heres my own Perception roll-

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20

Curnach returns from the closet with a small metal box.

Llyra- see what you can do with this?

Curnach will cast Guidance on each one of Llyra's attempts to find traps on it and unlock it. Heres my own Perception roll-

1d20+19

You can't find any traps, but the lock seems like it's a high quality lock.

Hmmm, interesting little box, lets see what we have here.

Perception:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
Disable Device:1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 24 extra+1 from guidance, +2 masterwork thieves tools

Hmmm, interesting little box, lets see what we have here.

Perception:1d20+15
Disable Device:1d20+11+1+2 extra+1 from guidance, +2 masterwork thieves tools

It doesn't appear to budge, this lock seems to be very complex and worth the money Vencarlo put into it as it clearly won't budge.

Sorry guys, this is a little beyond my skills.

Turning to Jerin - Any chance you have a spell up your sleeve which will unlock this?

If this is Vencarlo's what are we doing try to break into his personal belongings?

It might offer a clue as to where he is. But I certainly don't think we should break it trying to get into it. Let's make a more thorough sweep of the house; there may be something here we missed that will point us to him. If not, I suppose we can ask around, or wait here for his return.

Since we seem to be at the end of the house - I will start to take 20 on searching the rooms, starting with the bedroom and then moving back down the home.

@Party - also, DM Aron asked about our positioning within the room with the fire about 10 posts ago - not sure what your alignment is, so someone else should post this.

If this is Vencarlo's what are we doing try to break into his personal belongings?

He summoned us to meet him here, hes an outspoken gentleman who has no love for the Queen, and I suspect he may be Blackjack, and thus a major target for her. I think hes missing and i'm looking for evidence or clues to support it. I'm not trying to steal his possessions. Curnach replies, frowning at Jerin as he once again questions his actions.

Very well, if we can't open it no sense taking it with us for now. Lets continue looking around.

Position wise, in the centre of the room I guess?

He might be out for a loaf of bread...just saying seems odd to start opening his private things until we know for sure.

Jerin will be near the door...

To speed things up I can use a scroll to detect secret doors if we want to really try and track him down, he might have a secret exit.

MAP

Or should Curnach be at A7? anyone else in a position? A8 was Vencarlo's bedroom and the small area connected to Vencarlo's is a closet. Spoilers to be read afer everyone's in position.

Curnach snorts in derision at Jerin's suggestion- just before he spots the figures in the rafters.

Wrong again, Jerin! Look out, its an ambush!

Where Curnach is now is fine, we're investigating not expecting a fight so I feel its kind of meta to place him optimally.

1st Round - not sure if round 1 or surprise
Upon hearing Curnach, I draw my whip and use my copycat ability.

Copycat (Sp): You can create an illusory double of yourself as a move action. This double functions as a single mirror image and lasts for a number of rounds equal to your cleric level, or until the illusory duplicate is dispelled or destroyed.