DM Darkblade Giantslayer Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Darkblade

Looks like my previous post was eaten. Sorry.

The Plague House was formerly a sanctuary and temple dedicated to Iomedae which was lost during an orcish raid but never rebuilt by the town. The ruins were restored to serve as a makeshift hospital and retreat fifty years ago during a foul plague which brought many sick and dying souls to it's walls. A mysterious and tragic fire soon struck the place, killing off most of it's victims and halting further the spread of the plague.

Most Trunauans were never truly worshipful of the warrior goddess and as such did not pay proper respects to the church or the goddess after either fire, including the one in which so many tortured souls of Trunau died. It is likely for those reasons the place remains haunted and stained by horrified souls trapped between worlds. If Trunau would give the site a proper Consecrat(e)ion and dedication to Iomedae, followed by a Hallowing of the former altar, theoretically these acts would erase the mark of disrespect and finally allow the souls of those Trunauans trapped there to pass over to their final rests.

Alas such magicks are currently beyond the abilities of the townsfolk, and would likely require the Council requesting such services from a worthy priest or priestess of Lastwall to aid in achieving this goal.

Maslyn relates his deductions.

"Perhaps they could request that the church of Iomedae in Vigil perform the required services?"

"I am ready to travel whenever you are, should your preparations be complete. Should you have a request for a particular spell, please let me know and I shall do my best to accommodate you."

Maslyn produces his spellbook and gives a top level explanation of all of his available spells, and a more in dept explanation on request, as well as which spells he typically prepares.

My spellbook and typical spell loadout are in my profile, feel free to investigate as you will since Maslyn explains all of his spells to you.

"Thank you, Maslyn. I feel we should approach them to make the request while we are gone on our mission. Also, we must not forget about those mercenaries from Freedom Town, we should pay them our respects for their part in the attack on Trunau. Perhaps Skreed's locket may aide us in that endeavor."

Your group finishes up with their individual chores and arrands ahead of the planned dinner and find yourselves dressed as well as can be expected, approaching the Ivory Hall for one last formal banquet before leaving to take the fight to Chieftain Grenseldek. Nervous, you and your companions are lead into an outer chamber and asked to be seated, the chamberlain eyeing your attire with mild consternation. Two militiamen flank the doorway to what is one of the hall's formal dining chambers. A small parade of servers, cooks, and town elders make their way in and out of the room, stealing glances and offering small nods your way as they pass you by.

Waiting for several long minutes you sit pondering the turn of events that lead you from your normal lives to this surreal moment. Is this what being a hero is really all about? Was it better to be in the thick of the fight, instead of here sitting and waiting, stuffy, overdressed, assaulted by butterflies of doubt? The doors to the audience chamber swing open ponderously and Sergeant Omast Frum steps forward to greet you. He announces it is at last now your group’s turn to join the festivities. The man turns back into the room and announces each of you as you enter, a young serving girl taking your hand to lead you into the larger chamber used for public dinners and audiences. She directs each of you towards your respective seats, interspersed amongst the already seated other guests.

As you enter, you see Chief Defender Halgra of the Blackened Blades perched comfortably atop a high backed seat at the end of a long U shaped table, each branch sided by posh chairs and padded stools. Halgra is unarmored, dressed in a set of white leathers trimmed in sable, adroned with a deep blue-black cloak. Around her neck she wears her ceremonial, yet quite functional, hopeknife of office. She nods and smiles to each of you, waving you to your seats.

Seated to her left, resplendent in her robes of white silk trimmed with golden thread, a necklace of gold holding a single golden key, her shoulders adorned in a half-cloak of golden yellow, is Councilor and Banker Lessie Crumkin, the High Priestess of Abadar, a woman who commands a large following among the people of Trunau. In her right hand Lessie holds a slim, tapered wand of ivory tipped with a bright beryl.

To Halgra's right, armored in silver mail covered with a tabard of Trunau's crest, a deep blue sash of office draped over his shoulders sits Jagrin Grath. He sits with his hands flat upon the table before him, stone quiet and staring straight ahead, neither glancing at your group nor the other guests arrayed around the chambers.

The room itself is richly but tastefully appointed with curtains, tapestries, and other objects of value. The chamber is filled with councilors, merchants and town elders. Their chattering became hushed by your entrance. Many smile and tip their heads, hoping to draw your attention, eager to tell others of their dinner with the heroes of the Battle of Bloodmarch Hill.

Scattered about the room are a pair of men clad in leather and parade armors, obviously Trunaun militia guardsmen. The two large doors, one at the right side and the other to the rear of the chamber are manned by pairs of guards in Halgra’s familial Blackened Blades livery. In each corner behind Halgra you notice a young acolyte in yellow and gold robes. Both are standing quietly with their heads lowered, occasionally muttering a soft word of devotion to themselves or to Abadar.

Nearly a score of townsfolk are arrayed along the twin tables before Halgra. Amongst them you see the aged druid and Hopespring Warden Silvermane beside a rather uncomfortable but mostly kempt Rabus Clarenston, the dwarven Councilor Agrit Staginsdar and her wife Councilor Sara Morninghawk, High Priestess Tyari Varvatos and her escort Paladin Errant Sir Brantos Calderon, the Master of Stores Councilor Kessen Plumb alongside the halfling Cham Larringfass, the wedded merchents Jess and Gorkis Meeson, a half dozen others you only barely recognize from around town and lastly Patrol Captain Kurst Grath with his near sister in law Brinya Kelver. The last may well explain Jagrin Grath's foul mood, but as his scowl has become almost a permanent feature of late it is difficult to be sure.

Welcome, courageous volunteers and heroes! Halgra says to you. It seems once again you are tasked with stepping to the fore and serving your homes and your fellows in our time of need. I assume you all understand the nature of the task at hand?

Halgra and the other councillors question your group and Maslyn about your experiences during the assault, your previous adventures away from Truanau, and what your plans are for the trip before you. They then simply chat for awhile, apparently trying to get some better idea of the nature of your band. Of course you occassionally hear one of the acolytes in the background saying May the powers of good protect this place and all herein’ and other things of this sort as the dinner continues. Jagrin continues to sit quietly, seeming to be almost asleep wide eyed, taking no notice of the conversation, only occassionally responding to direct cues from Halgra. Lessie meanwhile chats informally all around the table, the wand in her hands idly tipping and swaying as she dances from topic to topic, person to person.

As the third course is being served the militiamen and liveried guards rotate shifts with newer guards taking up duty in the chambers, the others filing out one by one. One of the priests likewise switches out, this one a lad of militia age being replaced by a cute but older lass with golden blonde hair, put up severely in a tight weave, six long ivory needle pins holding it in place. She smiles at the heroes before taking her position and mirroring the stance and movements of her fellow priest.

The room becomes a babble of chittering, pandering and grand stories as the meal continues between and around the various conversations. In fact, the din becomes so unmanageable that Halgra gives up her pretence of caring midway through the meal, instead becoming engrossed in a close conversation with the recalcitrant Jagrin and animated Lessie, leaving everyone else to talk freely amongst themselves and the heroes.

Any questions, concerns or topics you wish to raise amongst the guests?

To say that Delia looked uncomfortable in her dress would be considered a gross understatement. It was a pretty, if simple, hooded dress of periwinkle with dagged sleeves and copper colored satin embroidery along the edges. Around her neck she openly wore the hopeknife Brinya's Love that had been gifted to them by Brinya. The one accessory that did not match her ensemble, however, would be the wrist sheath clearly visible beneath the sleeves of her dress, where she kept her own hopeknife, ready to be used... always. She constantly fidgeted with her dresses and shuffled about, not used to wearing such clothing and clearly not comfortable with all the attention being drawn to them.

And then suddenly they were being led in one at a time and nearly every eye was upon her as she was escorted to her seat. Delia's face flushed a bright red as she fought against the nerves that threatened to send her scurrying beneath the table; however, before too long everyone's attention was directed to one of her comrades and she was able to let out the breath she'd been holding. She nods to Kurst and makes an effort to catch Brinya's eye and offer up a smile of encouragement and a subtle nod towards the hopeknife around her neck.

Soon everyone was seated, the meal began, and talk soon turned to the battle. The more they spoke about the battle and the more Delia was forced to relive the screams of the innocent and the brutality of the orcs... she saw again the little girl with her tiny throat slashed... and she became angrier and angrier... How dare these people sit in here and feast while other entire other families were murdered. How many orphans went hungry tonight while these sycophants stuffed their faces with course after course after course... Delia's heart was pounding so strong from her anger that she could feel the throbbing veins in her temple and she realized that she was clutching the hopeknife around her neck so tight that her knuckles were white...

'Understand the task at hand?' She seethes. 'I know what I'm to do, you old b~+~@, but do you? Your job is to keep the people of Trunau safe! Had you heeded our warnings sooner instead of dismissing them, then there would be no need for this ridiculously excessive feast.'

Delia suddenly found herself wanting to scream at the top of her lungs and to slam her blade into the tabletop. Suddenly she could not take anymore of it and she looks into the face of a man she did not recognize who was asking for a blow for blow of the battle. "You would like to know more about the battle? Should I tell you about the little children whose throats were slit as they screamed for their mothers who were impaled upon spears? Shall I tell you how they choked on their blood as it spilled from their tiny little throats? Or perhaps you would prefer to hear of the soldiers who bones were turned into paste after being crushed by a rampaging giant? Or the feral dogs that were let loose to feast upon the wounded?" She found she could not stop once started and rather than unleash more of her frustrations upon this poor fool she stopped short, quickly excused herself, and made a straight line for Brinya and Kurst, pointedly ignoring anyone that made to catch her attention.

As she moves towards them the blonde lass with the ivory needles' smile does catch her attention and she turns to see the young woman. 'Why do they admire us so? I am no hero... Just another citizen of Trunau that fought to save her home and friends. Any of us would do the same. Wouldn't they? I am no leader and they look to me for guidance and support. I want no such mantle heaped upon my shoulders...'

Delia's seeming stare of acknowledgement startles the blonde acolyte into action. The priestess takes two steps forward, reaching to her belt, fiddling with one of the many pouches hidden by the flowing robes. In a voice barely above a whisper the girl has a moment's dialogue with herself, I cuunto Giles chistu era un gattivu pianu. She then flips back her robes, a small rolled parchment clenched in her fist as her free hand tosses a small globule that begins to glow and pulse like the sun, growing as it flies towards the dining guests. Mhà an lasraichean de dìoghaltas a ghabhail thu gaisgich.

Post the word "Here" if you read this message in the next five hours, only the word "Here".

Here.

Here.

The blonde acolyte's eyes meet Delia's with a look akin to sourful regret even as her spell exploded suddenly aside the heroine, centered over the dining table, and catching much of the room's center in it's hellish effects. Fireball Damage: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 3, 4, 5, 3) = 31. The conflagration blasted over the area with scorching heat and blistering pressure as the air in the chamber was rapidly consumed, sucked away in the flash of an instance.

Many of the townsfolk were immediately overcome in the blast, either fallen over or dove down under the tables and chairs. Some however collapsed still and smoldering, a sickly sweet stench of burnt fat, singed hair, and charred fabrics quickly wafting over everyone's senses, the sudden bile and effluence held back in gagging chokes. Reeling from the suddenness of the attack most of the councilors and townsfolk stumble about in shock and confusion. The militiamen move to help the injured and downed townsfolk, the other priest rushing forward to offer divine aid as well.

The blonde acolyte tosses the bundled parchment towards Delia, moving towards the side door of the chamber. She is roughly 20 feet from the closest table, another 10 from the opposite table, approaching the exit closest the head of the table. Adir, Brampton, and Delia are seated closer to that same door, while Dundin, Maslyn, and Songan are seated on the farther side of the chambers.

Surprise Round participants may act now. Everyone else will need to wait for full rounds to begin.

Delia recognizes the blonde woman's look just as the orb brightens toward explosion and ducks behind a large chair just as th fireball consumes the room! Delia stumbles to her feet, shell-shocked for a moment and coughs as her lungs fill with the terrible mixture of smoke, charred human flesh, and burnt fabric. For a brief second she thought perhaps this was her fault for holding such ill will towards these people, but then she sees the blonde woman again, this time running towards the exit. She rushes towards the exit, seeking to intercept the assassin, drawing Brinya's Love in the process. "Guards! Capture her alive for questioning!!" she shouts over the screams of the wounded and points at the blonde with her glowing blade while she runs, not realizing that a good portion of her dress was left in tattered ruins by the explosion.

[ooc]Would Delia be able to intercept th girl in time? Of all the times to not have my bow... At least I brought her hopeknives[./ooc]

Dundin emerges from the fire blast with a scowl. His beard and some of his back hair horribly singed.

He snatches up the enchanted hammer determined to make the magician pay.

Missed here by a few hours

Yeah, my connection picked a really fine time to start blinking in and out on me...c'est la vie!

Despite being caught completely off-guard by the sudden conflagration appearing in the midst of the group, Songan still manages to avoid the brunt of the fire's bite...a thankful thing, since even the edges of it pain him badly!

He zeroes quickly in on the source of the trouble, though not as quickly as apparently some members of the party do, and turns his eyes to the acolyte. A spell jumped to mind that would prevent them from fleeing, at least as easily...one that he had hesitated to learn, but he was now glad of the time the took learning it.

Weaving the magics in his speech, he settled his target on the blonde acolyte, hoping that her constitution was no stronger than the average spellcaster as his Blindness spell struck her.

Cast Blindness against the acolyte on my action first full-round. DC 15 Fort save or she is rendered blind, then move to close as much with the blonde as Songan can.

Before the blast.

Brampton enjoys the spotlight. Nervous at first but quickly realizes that this is just a dressed up version of a tavern tap room. He tells stories of the battle and answers questions from those around him. The explains what he saw and how he became attached to the heroes. He quickly dismisses anyone who calls him a hero and reminds them that he was just doing his job as a member of the militia.

He watches the changing of the guard and nods to the soldiers as they come and go. He knows that once back at the barracks his behavior will be discussed and there will be no lack of jests thrown in his direction when he returns.

For now he will just have to enjoy the food, the wine, and the company of those here.

At the beginning of the attack.

Brampton sees the spell begin and uses his body to shield those next to him. He takes the full force of the blast when the fireball erupts. With his uniform smoldering he starts to move towards the blonde.

Don't take a weapon to the party they said. You will just do something foolish with it.

Looking for a weapon to grab: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Would Delia be able to intercept th girl in time? Of all the times to not have my bow... At least I brought her hopeknives

Standing up from the table would be considered Delia's action for the Surprise round. She would only get 5' away from the chair, not close enough to reach the wizard nor enough time to do more than Ready to draw the hopeknife, or perhaps catch the small scroll the girl tossed in her direction.

Even at his best, Adir isn't quite suited for civilized company. And, he isn't thrilled about Tuzak not being allowed in for the feast. The giant sloth had risked just as much as everyone else during the battle. But his mood improves some when the cute lass comes in. He is just starting to lean back with a self-congratulatory smirk when Delia starts yelling. He is so startled that he leans too far back and crashes into the ground with the chair on top of him. Before he can extricate himself, an explosion overhead destroys the chair that luckily shielded him. Standing up, he looks around, only to see Delia pointing at the girl he was just smiling at.

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Move: Stand up

HP:17/32

Maslyn had been enjoying the feast and the polite conversation of the locals, though the shadows at the edges of the light occasionally caused him to start. It was just one of those starts which happened to bring his vision to bear on exactly the right place at exactly the right time to witness the fireball.

"It takes an arcane caster of considerable skill to produce such such a conflagration!"

Maslyn takes his surprise round action to ready an action to magic missile the woman should she cast another spell.

Corrected my earlier post, Maslyn posted while I was forming my message.

I did not realize so few of you carried tertiary "mundane" weapons for emergency or everyday utility purposes.

The blonde acolyte throws open the doorway out of the chambers and then dashes down the hallway, dropping a small bag a little larger than a book in the doorway behind her. It seems to leave a long cord trailing after her.

Initiatives
Up First: Blonde Acolyte
First Group: Dundin, Maslyn, Songan
Second Group: Adir, Brampton, Delia

First Group is up, 48 hour timer counting

Slightly disappointed that the woman did not attempt more spellcasting, Maslyn rises from his seat as he casts a spell to ward himself from further ham and steps toward the dropped object.

[dice=false life]1d10 + 4[/dice]

"I wonder what that is? Perhaps it is dangerous?"

Move action to stand up, standard to cast, and 5 foot step.

Intelligence or Craft Alchemy check to have a guess about the bag's possible purpose or nature.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Intel Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

no clue what it is

How far from the bag is Songan at the moment? Is he within twenty feet or so of it? Can he see it from where he is?

[dice=Craft (alchemy)]1d20 + 9

How far from the bag is Songan at the moment? Is he within twenty feet or so of it? Can he see it from where he is?

The bag dropped approximately 35 feet away from Songan just around the corner from his current line of sight.

"It could be an explosive of some kind, be careful!"

"Can't you hit it with those magic force bolts??"

"Could we reach it with a Mage Hand? I could at least push it out of the way if we could get in line of sight of it."

"I'm afraid that magic missile is ineffective against objects. I do not know if the object is magical or weighs more than five pounds, though if you are able to produce a mage hand then by all means attempt to do so."

Dundin and Songan are both active in the first group. Either may act before it falls to the second group. Songan would need to move about ten feet to bring himself into line of sight of the bag, or he could hop the table and move, bringing himself into line of sight and within 20'. Dundin is in a line to see the bag but is on the far side of the tables, about 30 feet from the bag.

Songan turns quickly to move in the direction that the acolyte ran in, trying to get within eyesight of the bag that was dropped; once there, he will cast Mage Hand and try to lift the bag from the ground.

Dundin uses the hammer and grows large.

He moves 20' to the bag.

Brampton sees the bag drop and then hears the word Explosive. He rushes forward and tries to slam the door shut to shield the room from the blast.

"Go around and head her off from the outside!"

Songan moved around the table and upon catching sight of the bag cast his spell, causing the device to rise up a few inches from the ground. The catfolk had a sudden desperate thought as he realized, Wait, if it's explosive, could moving it jar it, set it off, do for it what the mage intended all along? His paws became instantly moist, his breathing increasing rapidly, his tongue dangling from his now dry lips as his body tried to cope with the sudden cold sweats he was experiencing.

Dundin panicked, partly from the sudden adrenaline rush and partly from the fervent desire to handle the heavy stone hammer he and Adir had been jockeying to wield. The hammer had currently been closest to his own hands when the acolyte launched her spell. (We will call it initiative for the time being until the matter is resolved) The dwarf hastily grabbed up the device and shouted the giantish command phrase Songan had taught him, Na chwale Minderhal, as he moved towards the doorway and the strange bag. He was stopped short when his head jarred sharply against one of the exposed ceiling beams, the room's eleven foot ceiling too low for his new size and bulk. The singed dwarf just knew he'd have a knot the size of a dew melon rising up on his forehead any moment. I wonder what size that'll be when I'm right sized again...

As Adir and Delia moved to react to the last actions of the acolyte Brampton pragmatically thought of the wounded and survivors within the dining hall, rushing forwards and slamming the door closed, calling to his allies to try and flank the girl before she made good her escape.

In the hallway a muffled thump sounded, the bag dropping to the ground as Songan lost his line of sight upon it, his magicks suddenly cut off from holding it aloft. When no sudden blast shook the door the catfolk let loose a small sigh of relief.

Initiatives
Up First: Blonde Acolyte
First Group: Dundin, Maslyn, Songan
Second Group: Adir, Brampton, Delia

Second Group is up, 48 hour timer counting
Brampton has acted already

Is that the only door, or is there another exit?

There is another door that empties into a private hallway. Down that to the right leads to the living quarters while to the left over and back will end in the front hall by the main doors to Ivory Hall. The other passage, currently with the bag, leads from the little waiting area to the left past a pantry, storage room, and servants' quarters before reaching the kitchen or to the right past a hall and guard post before ending in the front hall by the same main doors to Ivory Hall.

What would be required for Delia to try to snatch the paper the acolyte threw? Would it be a Dex or Rex check, or an attack roll?

Dex Check vs AC 5 would be fine to snatch the small scroll as it approaches. It is not resisting your grasp and was tossed in your direction.

Dex check AC 5: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Also forgot to ask... What sort of action would that be? I was thinking it would likely be a Swift Action, but I will go with your decision.

It would have been a swift action as part of the original surprise round, since really the acolyte's toss put it in Delia's space.

Knowing the layout of Ivory Hall, Adir heads out the side door towards the front hall. "This way!," he just thinks to yell as he starts down the hallway.

Full run.

Oh okay! That makes a little more sense then.

Delia grasps the paper in one hand, taking a moment to glance at it before she sprints off after Adir!

Whatever action that would require and taking as much move actions as possible after that to follow Adir.

Delia quickly unrolls and glances over the sheet of parchment, trying to discern what message the missive was intended to convey.

The huntress then rushes after Adir, attempting in vain to keep up with the larger naturalist. Adir's bulk does not serve well against the tight confines of the Ivory Halls corridors, preventing him from running as fully and as fast as he had wished, but still quick enough due to his knowledge of the place to out pace his companions.

The druid's stride takes him smashing past a decorative stand long a secondary corridor, sending one of Halgra's favorite votive sculptures shattering into tiny pieces all over the carpeted treadway. He then bounces around a last corner, his large booted feet twisting the long loose rug of the main hall into a tangled mass below him. The guards on duty before the outer doors before him immediately jump to guard positions and turn to him, weapons raised.

The druid glances up the other hallway, hoping to see the acolyte rushing towards him, only to be disappointed. Her willowy form is not to be seen, just a lowly stable boy carting a stack of blankets nearly as large as the lad.

Hold there, stand down the guards bark at Adir, not immediately recognizing him in his better robes, all cleaned and scrubbed for the night's festivities.

Round Two
Up First: Blonde Acolyte
First Group: Dundin, Maslyn, Songan
Second Group: Adir, Brampton, Delia

First Group is up, 48 hour timer counting

Just to be sure, did Adir make the Front Hall and he is looking up the hallway she would've come down?

If she headed for the Front Hall then yes. If she headed towards the kitchen or servants area to escape from one of those doors then Adir would not see her up this hallway, though that way does lead towards those destinations. Either way she went this direction was the only other way for Adir use and get to this side of the Hall while avoiding the mystery bag in the other hallway.

Maslyn rushes after Adir as quickly as he is able, frowning slightly as he notes the shattered statuette on the floor.

Songan rushes forward himself, moving as fast as he is able, dodging any obstacles that may get between him and getting outside, the bag on the ground apparently just a ploy or ruse.

Acrobatics (in case you want one): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Dundin follows, his stubby legs, newfound size, and injuries all putting him well behind.

The others quickly follow after the druid through his former home, Maslyn and Songan most suited to keeping up with the fleet footed but bulky druid. They surpass Delia and nearly reach the Front Hall, a few dozen feet away from Adir as he pulls up momentarily, to deal with the guards and a young stable boy well out of their sight.

Dundin squeezes himself out of the dining hall, leaving the carnage and chaos behind, stumbling after the group. He reaches Delia but slows up, his girth likely to press the girl more than he'd find comfortable. He nods to her, knowing she will quickly out distance him as he sees another close arch ahead to duck under and through.

Round Two
Up First: Blonde Acolyte
First Group: Dundin, Maslyn, Songan
Second Group: Adir, Brampton, Delia

Second Group is up, 48 hour timer counting

Round 2
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Adir just barely spares a moment to give the guards a withering glance for challenging him in his mother's home. "Did a woman come rushing through here?!" Certain of the answer he'll receive, he barely slows down and turns down the hall toward the kitchen exit, dodging the loaded stableboy.

If the group gets close enough, he'll point out the servants area with a quick shout of, "Another exit!"
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Still running as much as the actions allow. And just in case: Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17/Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3/Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15.

HP:17/32