DM CH-P's CoT: The Bastards of Erebus (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

"Certainly. Use them well!" Fetching a coil of rope and a grappling hook, she continues. "What are you planning? Do you need any help?"

"Have you heard of a group known as the Bastards of Erebus, Janiven?"

"What are you planning? Do you need any help?"

"We visit an old Temple to Erastil o'er the wall. Rumor has it that a band of tieflings is responsible for much of the nighttime chaos around here. We might be pruning this very night. As Eklektos mentioned, we think that they are a group that might go by the Bastards of Erebus."

Appario thankfully takes the rope and hook, hopeful that he can use them effectively.

While awaiting an answer, Appario begins to knot the rope.

I won't be posting for about a week, sorry. Feel free to NPC Arodio in case you want melee support or any other part in which you think he could be useful,hope to be back soon

"I should mention that they appear to be bastards in the figurative sense rather than the literal, although since they appear to be mostly tieflings one cannot be sure about the literal part either."

"Yes, I have heard of a group of scoundrels that calls themselves by that name. They're certainly not afraid to let people know they exist, since they leave their token behind at every scene. Some times they've even cut their name into the front door before leaving."

"You say they live on the other side of the wall? I know of a building that stands close enough to the wall that you could probably walk straight from the balcony onto the top of it. I'm not sure if anyone lives there, though."

She gives you directions to the building.

Arael speaks up, too. "Be careful in your ventures! There are many creatures living in that sector that you would be well advised to stay away from. The tieflings, shifty as only they can be, are likely many. All tieflings tend to gather in large groups for protection."

He withdraws a small chest from a secret compartment and brings it over. "If you are going into such dangerous territory, you need all the help you can get. Take these."

The chest contains two potions of cure moderate wounds, one potion of lesser restoration and two potions of shield of faith. If you want the scrolls of obscuring mist and entangle that Eklektos had crafted, he'll give you those too.

Appario is pleased at the unexpected aid.

"Ah! This will come in handy! If no one minds..." Appario will grab one of the Potions of CMW.

"That balcony will come in handy, Janiven, thanks for the tip. I'm still going to carry this rope and hook. We don't know what else we will need."

Turning to the rest of the group, Appario asks, "Are we ready to go? What other plans must be made?"

"Well, let us take stock, we have our costumes, we have our roles (As heroes of course), we have a group of dastardly villains to oppose, and we are a bunch of rag-tag adventurers from different pasts drawn together to oppose the rule of a vicious demon inspired ruling class. What else do we need for our epic? Except a dragon of course... no, to common...a dragon with a demon living in its mouth, so that it can spit fire AND acid at the same time! Perfect, I'll go make up a story right now."

Derek looks at the (probably) incredulous looks some of the people in the room give him. "What? Oh! I get it; you think we should actually PLAY our roles first and THEN write the story about it? Well, we can do it that way too I guess, go the traditional way."

Semenya will make sure that Arodio has the second CMW potion, and will hold on to the potion of Lesser Restoration.

"Remember, the first time through, we're scouting."

Appario stares at Semenya when she mentions scouting.

"I have no problem with scouting so long as you actively lead the way. I'll sneak as much as I can, but don't want to spend days circling a dangerous area, waiting to get in."

The building Janiven directed you to stands empty, and you make your way inside and up to the second-floor balcony without anyone noticing. Using Appario's knotted rope, you easily lower yourselves to the ground on the other side of the wall. It's instantly clear that this is a very different side of Westcrown than the one you're used to, as at least half of the visible buildings have some sort of scorch-marks or are even burnt to the ground. The roads are in severe disrepair, and you get the distinct feeling that running here and suffering a twisted ankle or broken leg would be a very bad idea.

As you make your way north towards the old temple of Erastil, you come across signs of fighting and of temporary (or perhaps current) dens with blood spattered nearby. A pack of large rats scurries away from you as your path disturbs their lair. You eventually reach the vicinity of the temple, and find a decent enough abandoned building to rest within as Semenya scouts the area.

The temple is bordered to the south by a large open plaza of sorts. The entrance to the temple is to the east, and opens onto what may have passed for a main street before the fire. There is a large amount of rubble and refuse along this street. The west side of the temple is bordered by several burnt-out ruins. The north side is bordered by several buildings on what seems to have been a merchant's street. Most of the buildings are burnt-out also on this street, but four buildings appear relatively intact. You can make out old signs indicating the buildings housed a shoemaker (ca 60 ft from the temple), a carpenter (ca 80 ft), a tailor (ca 90 ft), and a woodcarver (ca 50 ft). Each of the buildings have two stories, and the ground-floor windows are boarded up on all four buildings. On the shoemaker's building, the door is also boarded up.

There are several windows on the ground floor of the temple, but they appear quite grimy from where you stand. The belltower on the south-east corner of the temple rises 40 feet up, culminating in an open-air belfry. You estimate that whoever mans it will have a good view of the nearby streets and buildings within 50 feet, and also the roofs of all buildings within 150 feet. You can just spot a large bell that seems intact.

After a full night and morning of scouting, you don't spot any patrols coming from the temple, but the belltower lookout is replaced about every 3-4 hours. The amount of time each lookout spends in the tower before being replaced varies.

Appario turns to Semenya and whispers, "Now what?"

Derek considers for a moment before whispering. "Why don't we start by checking out the tailors? It's furthest away from the church, and maybe there is a reason it is not burnt out, a secret passage or something. On the other hand, if there is a secret passage, it might be guarded or trapped..."

"Why don't we start by checking out the tailors?..."

Appario almost cuts of Derek, thinking that Derek is thinking about getting clothes at this time...but then realizes he *is* talking about the plan.

Appario thinks this is a fine plan and prepares to sneak to the tailors.

"I'll go first in case there is traps or trouble."

Unsheathing his bastard sword, Appario begins to inch his way to the tailor's shop.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Seeing Apparios look Derek grins, it is not too hard to guess what he was thinking, and he assumes a bemused mien.
"Of course, if it comes to a fight, what better place than a tailor? If my best silk doublet gets ruined I can get it replaced post haste."

"Assuming that the shopkeeper is in, of course."

When you come closer to the building, you see the sign above the door proclaiming "Tarvel the Tailor" along with a symbolic rendition of a shirt and a spool of thread. There are thick curtains or drapes hanging in the upstairs windows, while the ground-floor windows are boarded over. The door is locked.

Semenya says "I'll stand watch", via the Message cantrip, and then slips into the shadows while someone else opens the lock.

Approaching the lock, Appario gently sets rests his sword nearby. Reaching into his belt, he pulls out his old kit.

I'll have this open in a moment.

Disable Device 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Stealth 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

If successful, Appario will pick up his sword and listen/look before opening the door.

Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Your skill with the lockpicking kit easily outmatches the lock, and it clicks open within moments. You can't hear anything from outside, but as soon as you open the door you can hear the sounds of laughter and friendly conversation from upstairs. After listening for a moment, it appears that there are three people involved in some type of dice game, and it doesn't seem as if anyone has noticed you yet.

Inside, there are still scraps of cloth pinned to a slab of cork on the wall and various tailor's tools and thread lying on a counter, although all of these are layered with dust. A chair stands behind the counter; there is no dust on the chair. Just to the right of the door, a tower shield bearing the mark of Cheliax is resting at an angle up against a short wall. There is an opening in the wall past the counter, and once you've moved forward you see a staircase going up on the other side of this wall.

>>>MAP<<<

Sensing the lock give satisfactorily, Appario smiles.

And to think, this sort of thing got me in trouble back home.

Appario will signal to his friends that the door is open.

Appario will sneak forward hoping to find a spot where he can see (through the floor boards, mayhaps) who or what is making the noise upstairs. He will then wait, sword in hand for his fellow gardeners to catch up.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Stealth

If given the chance, Detect Evil on the three.

Semenya will take another look around the outside of the tailor's shop, in particular, looking at the bell tower at the temple to see if there's anyone watching, and will relay it through the Message cantrip to Appario and Derek.

If all seems clear, she'll move in stealthily to back up Appario.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Perception
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 Stealth

Moving into the gap filled by Semenya as she goes inside, Eklektos will keep watch in his turn, spear at the ready. He'll send Theron in quietly after the others to help inside, not entering himself until the others indicate to come.

Appario:

You can't quite make out the figures above, but what little you can see through the tiny gaps in the floor confirms there are three of them. They appear humanoid, although one seems to have cloven feet, while another appears to have a spiked tail.

Your detect evil reveals the presence of evil.

Semenya:

There is a lookout in the tower, but the distance is too great for you to make out if he's looking in your direction.

Appario smiles a bit as the taint touches his lips.

Finally time to do some gardening.

Appario decides to take a moment to quietly retrieve and don his shield while he awaits his companions.

No sapping this time. Blood will flow.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 to hide while quietly donning his shield.

Appario will stay hidden unless the 3 start to come downstairs (in which case Appario will move to engage), otherwise is awaits Derek's actions. Not sure if Arodio is with us.

Derek will carefully make his way towards the tailors to join the others in there. His rapier and buckler are ready.

Tonight he might get a chance to practice some of those defensive tricks he picked up in a bar brawl involving a bottle of elven wine, an orc, two frozen turkeys and a drunk horse with a bad bladder...

It wasn't that good wine anyway. He reflects wryly.

Stealth 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Appario smiled as the team is surprisingly quiet to join him. Appario whispers, "Let's go. These bastards aren't going to smite themselves."

Moving up the stairs as quietly as normal movement will take him, Appario tries to get the jump on the tieflings.

Stealth 1d20 + 4 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 5 = 2

Derek winces when Appario manages to find the one piece of creaking floorboard in the house, and does an improvised tap-dance on it.

Oh well, a frontal assault is more dramatic anyway.

Perception to notice non-stealthiness: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

At the sound of creaking floorboards, Eklektos winces, then mutters, "So much for the quiet approach." He turns, and heads inside.

Appario's attempt at a stealthy approach falls flat, as one of the steps creaks loudly. There is a sudden flurry of activity from the upper floor, as the dice game is abandoned amid cries of "Someone's here!" and the sound of dice flying into walls. Appario is able to get to the upper landing before facing opposition.

Once there, Appario is faced with three Tieflings. The two standing adjacent to the landing wield light maces, while the third holds a light crossbow.

Initiative Order:
22 - Appario
15 - Derek
7 - Eklektos and Theron
4 - Semenya
4 - Tieflings

>>>MAP<<< (with tokens and grid)

>>>MAP<<< (untagged)

Appario gets the jump on the tieflings, who are still unsure what exactly is going on, and gets to act first.

Appario grips his shield and sword, eager for the taste of battle.

Swinging his bastard sword at the tiefling in E3:
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 to hit;
1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 damage.

"Taste my mighty Battle-Hoe."

Appario's sword slices through the tiefling's armor like a knife through warm butter, staggering the horned man as he cries out in pain.

Derek is next.

Derek ascends the stairs in haste, ready to enter the fray with impunity. He draws a dagger in his free hand, feeling the extra weight of the buckler, but knowing it will not stop him.

"The stage is set, now for the crescendo, and once our inevitable victory is secured we will have a toast."

Assuming he makes it up in one move he will hurl the dagger at the Tiefling already injured by Appario.

Ranged attack into melee at E3: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18
Confirm crit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Okay, that puts Derek in D4, where I had originally placed Semenya. As she didn't actually say she would move up the stairs, that's fine :)

The tiefling drops to the ground after Derek's dagger hits him through the newly-created slice in his armor.

Eklektos and Theron are next, then Semenya. However, the stairs are now so crowded that noone else can move up them until Appario and Derek have moved further.

Derek quickly calls down the stairs over his shoulder.
"No need to enter the stage, this will be over before the second act."

Continuing to the tiefling's initiative, on the assumption that the others heed Derek's call. Eklektos and Semenya could still cast spells or do something else downstairs if they wish to do so.

The tiefling with the crossbow fires a bolt at Appario, then reloads it. The mace-wielding tiefling steps into the space where his companion lies prone and swings at Appario.

Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Mace attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Mace damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Appario is barely able to deflect both attacks off his shield.

Up next: Appario

Appario takes two hits to his shield, feeling the heat of battle now.

Swinging his bastard sword at the next bastard:
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 to hit;
1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 damage.

"Taste the hoe of freedom!"

If miss then: With no place to move, Appario will stand his ground.
If target is down: Appario will move to D2, which may provoke, but will make room for others.

Appario nearly cuts the tiefling in half with a vicious swing of his sword that doesn't even give him time to scream before dropping to the ground, and then moves past the two bodies into the room.

The movement provokes, but a crossbow doesn't threaten, so there's no AoO.

>>>Updated Map<<<

Up next: Derek, then Eklektos, Theron, and Semenya. Since there is now room to end the movement in an unoccupied square, it's possible to move past people on the staircase to get up.

Semenya limbers up her crossbow, already loaded, and takes a shot.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 To hit
1d8 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2 Damage

Semenya's bolt clips the tiefling's armor before striking the wall behind it.

Up next: Derek, Eklektos, and Theron.

Eklektos and Theron would have heeded Derek's call last round, merely being ready in case anything happened. This round, Eklektos will move to be ready to attack any enemy coming through the door. Theron will move forward to striking range (E3), then attack the remaining Tiefling. Assuming the Tiefling drops, Theron will then move to coup-de-gras the Tieflings.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Derek will step up into melee with the remaining tiefling.

"Now now brother, don't try to steal the spotlight, share the scene with a friend you diva."

Combat expertise (Threatening defender) to attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Confirm critical: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Critical damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
With the enemy having a ranged weapon up, that might actually be a crit!

Theron's and Derek's combined efforts brings the last tiefling down, and Theron makes quick work of those that are still breathing.

Each tiefling wears studded leather armor, and they all have a light mace, a light crossbow, and a dagger. They also have 60 gp in total.

The upstairs room consists of a bed, a small table and a small chair (which is currently overturned). The door in the corner hides a closet containing a bolt of old linen.

Description of downstairs room.

Appario grunts happily as the last tiefling goes down.

Appario looks in the closet, almost expecting it to lead somewhere else.

After not finding another exit, Appario whispers "What do you guys think? This was just a guard post, eh? We should take a good look around here, then hit the next building?"

Appario moves downstairs to guard the door and check out that sweet tower shield.

Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Appario imagines trying to open a lock while wearing one of these and just laughs.

Maybe we should stick in Arodio's bed for when he returns. I wonder if he'd notice.

Appario admires the well-made tower shield and its intricate gilding, but doesn't notice anything untoward. However, Eklektos notices something behind the shield while he's passing by to check on the door. Further investigation reveals a hole in the floor, and a very roughly carved stone staircase that leads down into darkness.

The tower shield is masterwork.

"You eyes appears to have dual functions master Apofysi, not only do they make women swoon when you glance in their direction, they also appear to rival elves for the finding of hidden secrets. Care top swap with me?"

Derek looks down the staircase for a moment.
"Do I remember correctly in that tieflings are good at seeing in the dark? So if there are some guarding downstairs, they would see our light and know we were not of them? Perhaps Master Apofysi and mistress Carbachon should go first and see if it is safe?"

Appario wonders how he missed the big hole in the ground but does realize that this is a sweet shield.

"Let's grab whatever gold they have and move on. Maybe we'll circle back when this is all done and get the rest of the gear. Semenya, Eklektos, I follow you...I'm blind down there."

When everyone is down the stairs, Appario will replace the tower shield, hoping to come back and get it later.

Semenya casts Message again, between herself and Eklektos and Appario. With nary so much noise as goosedown falling, she slides down the rough-hewn stairs, going slowly.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Stealth
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Perception

"You are a strange one, Master Keegan. I wouldn't trade my eyes, though. They've taken me through many a tight scrape, and I plan that they'll take me through anything more I encounter."

Setting the tower shield to one side, Eklektos will look at the pile of weapons with a bit of disgust. "All of these are too ... unnatural for me."

Eklektos will take a quick look around the shop. If he can find some kind of cord, he'll rig up a quick necklace and hang his Wayfinder around his neck. Then, spear at the ready, he'll follow Semenya down the dark staircase. Theron will follow immediately behind, ready to move into action if things get nasty.

Curse cat animal companions not having Darkvision!

Eklektos Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Eklektos Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Theron Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Theron Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

The stairs go down a short while before becoming a slim tunnel. The tunnel continues for about 15 ft. before it makes a turn and opens into a crossing tunnel. This new tunnel widens to the east, while the western branch is as slim as the one you're coming out of.

About 25 ft. to the east the wide tunnel turns to the south. Just before that, another slim branch goes off to the north, ending in a staircase. The slim branch to the west continues for about 20 ft. before it also turns south.

As you're making your way through the tunnel, Eklektos notices that it seems to have been dug out by something with claws, rather than with any sort of manufactured tools.

>>>MAP<<<

Through the message spell, "We should be careful. These tunnels appear to have been clawed out, not dug with tools. There may be something very large here."