Maelorn cast Shield of Faith on Bron.
Zane, seeing reinforcements coming, casts Spontaneous Immolation on Red-14 (fails save) who lights up like a torch. Screaming he runs back into the kitchen flailing his arms.
You hear screaming and shouting in the kitchen beyond, sounds like at least two people are trying to put Red-14 out, while others are shouting to attack; seems like a little confusion.
Bron swings around, and again pulverizes Red-16 to the ground.
[npc] Nakoda shoots at Red-15…
...but misses.
Everything is happening too fast! Red-15 panics and slams the door shut. You can hear something heavy being thrown across it from the inside.
Zane's mind races, keeping pace with events and reactions, some part of his awareness calmly calatoguing details.
Perception
"We should go for the upper windows, they'll be calling reinforcements to this door and if they're smart, expect us to try the front one."
Pulling a scroll he rapidly casts a spell, his whole body seeming to ripple for a second, a pulse in the air centered around his legs.
As Bron was about to move into the kitchen, he stops in his tracks as the door closes and the sound of something heavy moving moving across the doorway is heard through the wood of the door. Immediately changing tactics, Bron, slinging his flail, looks up to the second floor window as he looks to find purchase on the building wall. However, and audible curse escapes the man's lips as he slips off the wall before he even get more that a foot off of the ground.
Climb:
Bron easily mounts the outside of the casino; the rain gutters and decorative projections making handholds relatively easy to find.
Taking a deep breath Zane walks directly under a window and jumps straight up to it, the effect of the double making for an eerie visual.
Acrobatics
Feeling a lot better, Bron climbs up to the open windows above and peers inside. There are only a couple of chairs and a small table with a dice game set up and a bunch of silver coins stacked. Probably for bets. There is no one else there.
Until Zane startles you by superleaping onto the windosill next to you.
Nakoda looks up...
You see a lot of nightflying birds in the open sky tonight; you see them flying in a spiral pattern converging on the blot... Great, another wierd event. But this one is different. You can just see the top of the Gold Goblin statue over the eaves, and the spinning weathervane.
And it matches your vision quest.
The old shaman was wrong! It wasn't the Blot that you came to the city for, whatever it is that so threatened your peope, its source is here! And if you're right, you will confront it tonight...
The feeling of certainty gives you a +1 Morale bonus to all rolls for the rest of the night.
...And rapidly climbs the side of the building.
As bumping comes from the back door, and running footsteps approach around the north side of the casino, Maelorn very carefully climbs up as well.
Nearly slipping from his hold in surprise at Zane's incredible leap, Bron recovers and pulls himself up to the second floor and into the room. Drawing his flail once more, Bron stands a few feet away from the window, keeping an eye on any entry ways leading to the room from inside the gambling hall.
Grinning Zane followed Bron into the room.
The lamplight reveals that you are in the bunkroom, where employees can stay if they don't have a place of their own. Twelve cots and associated footlockers line the room, with a couple of tables and chairs as well. You don't see anyone.
There is a single exit on the south side, which if memory serves leads to the main upper hallway. Going left leads to the stairway down. Across the hall is the wardrobe room, where the costumes are kept for employees to change in. Going right leads down to Saul's quarters and office, the secret ceiling walkway where guards can look down on the main room, and your private quarters (for the junior partners who elected to live here).
From the window you can hear shouts from down below.
"Where'd they go?"
"We got a couple!"
"Get that damn door open!"
Maelorn looks up at the second floor, muttering "yeah, right."
"...almost..."
"I'll go around. I'll do what I can to distract them."
Maelorn moves around to the front of the building, fully aware that he is likely to be the noisiest of the group.
Maelorn moves around to the front of the building, fully aware that he is likely to be the noisiest of the group.
Moving further into the room, the brawler whispers, "I think if we go right, we can get ta Saul's. If he ain't there, then we can wait fer him ta go ta his office an' get tha jump on him."
Perception
"I agree, we should go to his office first, on the way if there's anything anyone needs to grab we should do so. The walkway will show us what's going on since we "disappeared".
Nakoda, you see five figures coming to the back door down below you. Two kneel by their fellows lying on the ground, and the rest go to the kitchen door and start shoving, shouting to those within to help.
When you begin to softly croon your Lullaby, they seem to quiet and grow drowsy for a moment...
Will vs DC13:
Will vs DC13:
Will vs DC13:
Will vs DC13:
Will vs DC13:
...except for number 2, who looks around...
Perception:
...muttering "What's that sound?"
When you sing your Sleep spell...
Will vs DC14:
Will vs DC14:
Will vs DC14:
Will vs DC14:
With all but one of his friends dropping prone...
... number 2 shouts "There's a witch out here!" with increasing nervousness.
Perception:
After giving Maelorn a helping hand up, Bron turns to the door, placing his ear against it to see if her hears anything outside.
Perception:
Not hearing anything, he opens the door with the intent of heading out into the hallway
Nakoda can see the back door being booted open, with more men spilling out and Saul bellowing orders.
"Spread out and find them! They can't have gotten..."
His eyes light on one of the men Bron flattened and realization suddenly dawns. His eyes snap upwards to meet Nakodas.
"The window! They're on the second floor! Get up after 'em boys! The man that get's 'em, STAYS ALIVE!"
With that he points the oversized key on his amputated arm at Nakoda.
Not quite sure what the gesture was all about, she ducks backward as a Scorching Ray sets the windowsill where she was at on fire.
Footsteps begin to thunder up the stairs...
We need a choke point, they'll have to come up the stairs, or we could take Saul's office, if he has anything devastating that's where he would keep it."
Hearing proof of Saul's intentions, Bron's jaw tightens along with his grip on his flail. The short man was gonna pay for the betrayal. "Ta tha scumrat's office. Once we are in, I'll make sure no one gets through," Bron says as he makes for Saul's office.
Running down the corridor past the executive waiting area/dining room, you come to the door to Sauls Office. It is locked of course, no one but his most trusted confederates or honored guests are allowed in here.
Further down the hallway are your personal quarters and private rooms for games and... other activities. If you know what I mean.
"Bron, can you smash open Saul's door?
Staring at the door, Bron says, "I can give it a go." With that, Bron takes a few steps back from Saul's office door before charging and slamming his shoulder into the side of the door that has the locking mechanism.
Strength Check:
With a mighty crash, Bron smashes the door open, shattering the lintel and expensive dwarf-lock in the process. You won’t be able to relock it.
You find yourselves in Saul’s office. This large chamber holds a massive desk with a chair covered in the hide of a wyvern.
Numerous expensive
A humidor on the desk holds a number of fine cigars
Several rich devil-hide cushioned chairs
A number of personnel files with your names on them are on his desk itself. Several drawers in the desk are locked
The door to the file room is shut, but not locked.
This chamber is Saul Vancaskerkin’s office and the nerve center of the Gold Goblin.
You calculate that Saul’s crew will hesitate before taking the door to the barracks, which is where they saw you last, but then they’ll find the splintered door soon after.
And the windows. Thats real glass!
Coming closer, you tap it with your finger. Thats real, colorless glassteel! If you need to get out, you won't be able to open these windows...
Maelorn glances at the furnishings (with a grimace of distaste at the chairs) before focusing on the files. He begins looking at his own file.
Standing in the doorway Zane casts a grease spell into the hallway before it, ccoating the floor in a thick layer of viscous slime before closing the door and striding over to the desk.
Zane quickly glances at the files on the desk, trying to determine what the information may have been uused for.
"For a place that was supposedly hemmhoraging money before we came along, these furnishings are rather expensive."
"Probably because Saul knew how ta run a business, but not treat his own partners," it was obvious that Bron wasn't interested in figuring out the situation and seem set on facing Saul and getting answers or getting blood. Bron simple stands facing the door, opposite the grease field, heavy flail gripped in a powerful arm as he waited.
These files give a basic outline of how you perform in a fight, but more than that, he somehow got a fairly complete rundown on your movements in the city over the last month, and everyone you talked to has a notation of time and place. It's strange, because you never caught anyone following you.
Reading through the files, you realize Saul was very afraid you would turn on him for some reason you cannot fathom. Worried about a better offer from competitors? As it turns out, no.
There are very oblique references to a secret partner or patron; whoever he or she is, he's afraid "They'll" find out about "her."
Nothing that could be considered legal proof of course.
There is something about the construction of desk too; it too is of Chelaxian make, with some exotic Tien touches. The polished exotic hardwood panels on it seem like they could be pressed and shifted like a Tien puzzle box... ah! Yes, there are three such latches conveniently reachable by someone sitting in the chair.
"The bastard's got a pretty good handle of how we operate in combat. He''s been watching our every move for the last month. That and he's got a silet partner he's afraid we'll find out about."
While he does not sit in the chair, Maelorn will press all three catches, time permitting.
You can hear the crashing of doors and pounding footsteps muffled through the door.
The front of one of the left hand drawers silently swings out to reveal six potion tubes. Three amber, one white, one dark blue, one orange.
The side of the desk opens out to reveal a rack of exotic weapons; throwing darts, throwing stars, a pair of butterfly knives, even a siangham.
The glass top of the desk levers up with a *klonk*, spilling all the stuff on top onto the floor and turning into a glassteel shield. Also levering up are two double crossbows cocked and ready to spray crossbow bolts downrange into where Bron and Nakoda are standing.
"Here they come!" Bron says in a hissed whisper, loud enough to carry to the others but now so loud as to escape the room. Readying himself, Bron grips his weapon in both hands, ready to clobber the first person that made it across the grease field.
As the sound of enemies approach, Zane dashes behind the desk to inspect the potions, "Buy me time, and when I yell, fall back."
Spellcraft
Knowledge Arcana
The three amber ones are obviously Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds.
The white is an alchemists extract; a Fog Cloud if you don't miss your guess.
The orange... you're not sure. An alchemist's bomb maybe? If so, extreme care is warrented. You know they burn much hotter than the usual Alchemist's Fire.
The deep blue... now that one is a puzzler. It's an alchemist's extract of some kind, but what? Certainly not a common one anyway. You just need more time...
You hear a couple of yelps and thuds as the Grease claims some victims. But only a round later, you hear an "In here!" from outside, and the doorknob slowly turns.
"Hit them as they enter, try to get them to swarm the door then fall back to the desk, Zane says just loud enough for his friends to hear."
He quickly utters a magical phrase his eyes glowing blue as he continues to study the deep blue potion.
Standing opposite the side of the door that has the hinges, Bron tightens his grip, ready to swing at the first person that emerges through the door.
Power Attack:
Damage:[/dice]1d10+7[/dice]
A proper roll
Damage:
After casting Bless, Maelorn will move behind the desk, and prepare to cast Spiritual Weapon when the door breaks.
Round 1 (No surprise round)
The door bursts in, and mercenaries pour in swinging wildly, Bron swings and is parried, Nakoda Shoots and misses, Maelorn casts Spiritual Weapon and the force construct attacks [select a target].
You realize the potion is a rare one; Defensive Shock {UM}. This one will cause the next person to hit the imbiber to take 2d6 electrical damage. The next person to hit will then take 1d6 electrical, then the effect ends.
Red 1 attacks Bron: for a possible cutting damage.
Crit confirm?
Red 2 attacks Bron: for a possible cutting damage.
Red 4 shoots Bron: for a possible piercing damage.
Red 6 shoots Nakoda: for a possible piercing damage.
Zane shouts to Bron and Nakoda, "Fall back!" as he hurls the alchemist bomb across thee room at the second attacker through the door. before moving behind the desk.
The glowing hammer strikes at the man just outside the door
Not in the mood to give up an attack, Bron swings his two-handed flail and one of the attackers in front of him before taking a step back, covering Nakoda's retreat.
Power Attack:
Damage:
Low=Miss. The swing makes the illusory duplicate *pop* disappear and Red-1's hit against Bron is negated.
ROUND 2
ZANE______________________
Zane shouts to Bron and Nakoda, "Fall back!" as he hurls the alchemist bomb across the room at the second attacker through the door. Aim at #2 before moving behind the desk.
The fizzing flask sails through the air before impacting at the feat of Red-2 and bursting in a fountain of fire! Red-2 takes fire damage, while the fire reaches out and damages Red-1, Red-3, Red-5 and Bron for 4 points fire damage.
MAELORN_________________________
The glowing hammer strikes at the man just outside the door (#5), but he managed to dodge it.
NAKODA__________________________
Nakoda took a step back as she fired, hoping that she was able to get out of the range of whatever it was that Zane was doing, since she had heard some stories of the chaos that competent wizards were able to unleash. Zane had proven himself competent a long time hence. Still chanting, she drew and aimed another arrow, intent on making them pay dear for entry.
Her shot drives up into Red-2’s nasal cavity and he falls like a stone.
BRON______________________
Not in the mood to give up an attack, Bron swings his two-handed flail at Red-1, but misses before taking a step back, covering Nakoda's retreat.
The weasally looking ones (Red 1, 3, 5) tumble out of the flames as quickly as possible to engages Nakoda, Zane and Maelorn with rapier and dagger, while the thuggish Red 4 and 6 hustles up to attack Bron.
Red-1 attacks Nakoda: Hit! but he hit her mirror image instead, which *pops* out of existance.
Red-3 attacks Maelorn: Miss, glancing off his breastplate.
Red-4 attacks Bron: Miss, parried.
Red-5 attacks Zane: Hit! luckily hitting the real one for damage.
Red-6 attacks Bron: Miss, bounces off armor.
Then of course, Sauls big enforcers show up. Hans runs up to the open door panting, and surprisingly, Beyar throws the door to the sealed inner records room! How did he do that? There’s no exterior way in there, right?
"Now we've got you, you traitors!" They scream and charge in...
Red 1: 6
Red 3: 6
Red 4: 12
Red 5: 6
Red 6: 12
Hans: 22
Beyar: 22