GM Dak - Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master karlprosek

Knowlocal: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 10 + (3) = 24
"We are here to search for a friend."
Whispering under his breath he adds.
"That ogrekin will use his fists to pummel you!"

Devan peered ahead as he heard the voice inquire as to the party's identity, seeing the huge man and the general state of the room. The musician's expression was disgusted by the sight of the pits and their contents, but a search for the young Shoanti's remaining parts would have to wait while they dealt with this thing. Devan listened to Atticus' response to the humanoid, then nodded his understanding of the nature of the creature. At least it seemed his slender blade would be of use, if needed.

And it seemed like it would be, as he looked forward at Mirela and then at his other companions. With those two living prisoners, there was no way they were walking out of this room without having freed them. Stepping up next to Nargun, he faked a wide smile, gesturing at himself and the others. "That's right, and we found him! Rolth sent us here to watch over everything so you could have a talk with him. He's pleased with your work here, so I think there's a reward coming, for sure! Hurry along, before he changes his mind!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Oh... that would get him to lead us.... Calistria knows that quick mind is just as sexy as his butt...

Mirela just smiles and stays quiet as the others do the talking.

The ogrekin looks at you quizzically, the lumps on his face making his expression that much more inscrutable.

"Papa is back? He has a prize for Cabbagehead? Cabbagehead is good boy! Didn't pull arms of any pets yet today. Good Cabbagehead! Cabbagehead goes to Papa and gets prize then comes back. Stand guard Cabbagehead! Good boy!"

The ogrekin is obviously a little simple and Devan's fast-talking has fished him in. Once its clear you will guard his "pets" the lummox strides off to the north mumbling "Good Boy!" and "Papa has prize!" over and over as he goes.

Once out of sight, you are free to interact with the prisoners how you like or follow behind him.

To be clear, each of the three pits holds 2 prisoners for a total of 6. Some look quite worse for wear, others must be new additions and seem in reasonably good shape.

Twilight you might want to change your action, looks like you got ninja-ed by DoctorEvil.

forum ate my edits. I'll try again a little later

Looking at the poor prisoners Atticus whispers to the others.
"Free them or follow him?"

Follow. 'E would lead us to the necromancer. These won't go anywhere. Mirela whispers back

If you are going to follow Cabbagehead, will need Stealth rolls to keep from being seen/heard by the ogrekin. Also need to know about how far you are staying behind him.

Devan nodded at Mirela's statement, frowning at his torch and putting it out. The musician eyed Atticus and Nargun dubiously, but then just shrugged, winked at the redheaded priestess, then proceeded to cautiously exit after the ogrekin, keeping the light far enough ahead to be in the shadows behind Cabbagehead.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

I'm trying about 40' back. I'm assuming Cabbagehead has a light source? If not, Devan does NOT go.

Atticus is not stealthy... at all.

At Mirela's suggestion Twilight raised her eyebrows in surprise.

She whispers "What? We can't just leave these people here. If something happens and we can't get back they are no better off than when we arrived. At the very least does anyone have a rope and grapple? They deserve an opportunity to get out of the pits and flee this place on their own."

If nobody has rope, Twilight will use her whip instead

Twilight lowers one end of the rope down and then quickly sketches a rough map of the place in the dirt. When the first prisoner is up she says "Here is a sunrod, get the rest out of the pits and follow this map to the surface."

She gives the prisoners her lit sunrod and takes out a new one, but does not light it, instead holding it ready in case the group needed a quick light source. She then followed the rest of the party as stealthily as she could.

Nodding at Twilights words Atticus will aid her, but not before whispering to Mirela and Devan.
"Maybe you two follow him quietly!"

Oh... Light Right. He'll see us. I guess we can't follow....

Then we had better get ready as the Necromancer is going to know something is up when that brute talks to 'im.

Cabbagehead does not need a light source. His low-light vision and familiarity with the tunnels allows him to move without one. Since you will need light, and that will likely give away any chance at stealth, the team instead agrees to focus on rescuing the prisoners.

Most are able to climb out on their own, but one or two are too weak, and it takes a team effort to get them to the surface. The spokesperson, a lithe woman named Tiora, thanks the group for their rescue. "I have little to compensate you with now, but if you tell me where you stay, I will make sure an ample reward comes to you. I will make sure the others get out of this hellhole safely."

If you share with her your address (the yellow juggler will suffice), Tiora makes a mental note. She then gathers up the others and they limp out of the cave following the instructions Twilight has given you.

As the non-combatants file out, you hear a roar of anger burst from the north. "LIARS!" shouts the unmistakable voice of Cabbagehead. "SNEAKS! Papa is not here! FALSE! TRICKS!" The pounding of heavy feet can be clearly heard even from where you stand as the ogrekin rushes back to his post.

Atticus quickly strings the rope as tripwire across the door and nods to the others to be ready for battle.
To Tiora he quickly speaks."Run, we keep him occupied!"

That gave us enough time. Now the time of words is no more.

Nargun readies his axe for another fight

Mirela quietly backs up and sets herself on the far end of the room with her bow up and arrows at the ready.

DoctorEvil I assume you will set the map as needed or should we move ourselves around?

Hoping that the ruse had bought the prisoners enough time and attention to escape (especially with the promise of a reward pending), Devan grimly drew his rapier and stood with Nargun as the group prepared to confront the enraged jailer.

He whispered to the others, "I guess that explains why our host hasn't made a grand entrance yet. Maybe we should hurry before he gets back. After we give Cabbagehead an introduction to Karma, of course."

I marked the Professor's tripwire with a dashed line across the floor. It's possible your trap is seen by the ogrekin, and its also possible he doesn't fall over it, but good idea! I have arranged the rest of you. Remember the darker areas are a 10' drop.

Nargun can see just a bit further than the others in the darkness of the tunnels, so he sees Cabbagehead round the corner and come stomping down the tunnel towards the heroes, shouting as he comes.

Cabbagehead - Round 1

23 Mirela
21 Nargun
20 Atticus
16 Twilight
7 Cabbagehead
4 Devan

The ogrekin is within sight coming down the hallway. He is not yet to the tripline. You may delay or ready, up to you, but the entire party, but Devan is up to start the round.

Mirela calmly pulls an arrow out of her quiver and fires it.

Longbow + Point Blank: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 9
Damage + Point Blank: 1d8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 2

Quickly followed by a second arrow

Longbow + Point Blank: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 14
Damage + Point Blank: 1d8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 5

Hurry get the prisoners out! She calls out to nobody in particular, hoping to draw the beast blindly into the tripwire.

Come on, if you dare fight me, you big, clumsy, filthy, smelly ...b*tch

Nargun readies his axe, enjoying the fight to come, trying to lure the ogrekin into a wild attack

Bluff?: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Atticus lays in wait and hopes for the best.
If it is a skillroll to hide how about Disable device?
Disable D: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Twilight watched with satisfaction as the last of the prisoners fled out of the cave. Upon hearing the angry shouting from the disfigured man, she readied herself for a fight along with the rest of the party.

She was about to provide divine guidance to Mirella to assist her archery, but hesitated for a moment reflecting on whether she wanted to further enhance the archer’s reputation. In the end the need to survive the current conflict won out over her ego.

”Callistria I beseech you to provide your divine blessing to this archer that she may bring a swift end to our foe.” she placed extra emphasis in her words to stress who was providing this next miracle.

Mirella: Bit of luck, reroll all d20’s and take the higher number for 1 round

Cabbagehead - Round 1 - continued

Mirela spies the ogrekin bellowing down the hall and works quickly to let two shafts fly in his direction. The first one glances off the cavern sidewall, but the second flies true but ricochets off the thick hide and leather armor of the deformed ogre.

Nargun shouts insults at Cabbagehead, but the ogre is too worked up already to notice or respond.

Atticus finishes laying his trap, making it as difficult as he can for the ogrekin to spot.

After seeing Mirela's shooting, Twilight gives her a bit of divine luck, hoping that her handiwork is better than those last two shots.

Stomping to the room and bellowing angrily, is able to spy the tripwire, and clever enough to step over it without falling. It does slow his advance as he takes a move action to clear the wire it also prevents him from charging into Nargun.

Devan is up to end Round 1. Rest of party can start with Round 2 actions, as they see fit.

Cabbage perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Devan winced as the large, brutish thug somehow managed to spy the Professor's trap as it charged forward and leapt over it before engaging with his dwarven companion. With the tight fit that would make his own attacks awkward again Cabbagehead, the bard thought that assisting Nargun would make things progress a little easier. Therefore, he stepped forward and began prodding and poking at the former jailer, hoping to distract him enough to make the dwarf's life easier.

Aid Another (Nargun 'to hit' on Cabbagehead): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Cabbagehead - Round 1 - concluded

Feinting in and out with his rapier, Devan does not make a concerted attack, but rather tries to draw the attention of the great beastly man for a few vital seconds while Nargun can get at him.

Aid successful. Nargun gets a +2 attack bonus next round.

Cabbagehead - Round 2

23 Mirela (bit of luck)
21 Nargun (+2 aid bonus)
20 Atticus
16 Twilight
7 Cabbagehead
4 Devan

All the party but Devan is up now. Not sure if Mirela is available but will run after everyone else has posted if not.

With a vicious smile, Nargun tempts the big humanoid into attacking him

Come on, big boy, I'm so small, I can't be a threat to you. I'm sure the others will be quite impressed when you tore my limb by limb, and your boss will be proud of ya.

Aided Power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 18
Dmg: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9

His axe quickly show thèses words were just a deception.

But who could talk about being torn limb by limb with such eerie calm?

Moving into flanking Atticus hammers his morningstar at cabbagehead.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 81d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Now that the hideous man was right in front of Nargun, Twilight worried about Atticus' warning about the ogerkin's propensity to pummel its victims. She moved next to Nargun and laid a hand on his shoulder."Callistria, protect this dwarf from harm". A yellow glow surrounds Nargun and then fades away.

Nargun: Shield of faith. +2 AC for 3 minutes

Mirela looks over the the dwarf's head as the see's the Beast step over the professor's line.
'E'll 'urt Devan if I don't take 'im down quickly...

As she feels the touch of Twilight, her focus suddenly narrows and she quickly launches off two more arrows.
Longbow + Point Blank - Rapid Shot - Soft Cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 7
Bit of Luck: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 21
Damage + Point Blank: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 13
Bit of Luck Crit: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 17
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Longbow + Point Blank - Rapid Shot - Soft Cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 3
Bit of Luck: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 19
Damage + Point Blank: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

YES! she can't help but exclaim as the first arrow flies true.

Devan couldn't help but grin as his dwarven companion taunted the menacing ogrekin threatening them with its ham-sized fists. He looked with approval at Twilight as she provided Nargun with even more protection against their foe, making sure the tough dwarf would hopefully not have to rely on his great fortitude to escape the encounter.

The musician's eyes widened as an arrow flew through the melee and sunk into Cabbagehead, instinctively looking towards the source to see Mirela nock another arrow and prepare to let fly. Seeing that the angle was up slightly as the redhead tried to avoid hitting their dwarven ally, he noticed she had a little more wiggle room and shouted "Down an inch!"

Cast Timely Inspiration on the 2nd arrow. Adds +1 to the attack as an immediate action.

Cabbagehead - Round 2 - continued

Mirela nocks two arrows in consecutive order again, and while she seems to think she has missed upon release, the luck of Calistria guides the first arrow to target.

Seeing the problem with her launch angle, Devan provides immediate and timely words that re-direct the second shot from a miss to a hit. "OW! That hurts!" cries Cabbagehead as the pair of arrows penetrate his armor and flesh.

Nargun chests up with the deformed jailer and swings his battleaxe in a deadly arc but Cabbagehead's armor proves enough to blunt the attack and turn it aside harmlessly.

Twilight lends more of Calistria's aid, casting a spell that helps ward the dwarf against the inevitable attacks from the ogrekin.

Atticus, I am unclear on how you get to a flank position (orC even a melee attack) with the current arrangement on the map, unless you move through the ogrekin's square and provoke in the process. Are you looking at the map? Care to try again?

Cabbagehead shrieks at Nargun. "Bad man! Cabbagehead put bad man in pits and see how he likes it! Maybe me feed you. Maybe me love you!" With that painful image in mind, the ogrekin strikes, pummeling Nargun despite the divine warding from Twilight. The blow, while painful, ends up being less damaging than might have been thought.

Nargun takes 7hp dmg. Atticus needs a new action. Devan has his turn to end the round (immediate action above does not change his order).

Cabbagehead unarmed, SoF: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Unarmed dmg: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Glad to have helped the Erastilan woman connect on her second shot (though maybe she'd have hit all along...hopefully she wouldn't have any choice words for him later), Devan's brow furrowed at their opponents rather garbled response to Nargun. The young man shrugged...maybe he'd be pretty unintelligible with two arrows sticking out of him, as well. Regardless, even with the hit the dwarf had just taken, the group's strategy seemed to be paying off, so it was all rinse and repeat for the musician.

Aid Another (Nargun melee attack vs Cabbagehead): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Or maybe not...

I thought we let him deeper in the room. I moved atticus.
In that case no flanking.

Don't forget my DR1, so that's one less damage. And don't I get an AoO as the ogrekin attacks me bare-handed? One last question: is Cabbagehead tall enough to be a Giant? If so my defensive training as a dwarf should provid me with +4 AC. But let's say that Nargun is happy with being hit and act as a dwarf shield for his companions

Despite a bloody jaw, Nargun smiles a Dangerous smile, after the ogrekin blow

Nice blow. Let's see how you take your own medecine.

Power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 = 20
2H dmg: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 3 = 15

Power attack potential AoO?: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 1 = 22
2H dmg: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 3 = 8

Gm said he is a trained bareknuckle fighter. :-) No AoO

Didn't see that. THat will teach him to bring his fists in an axe fight

Mirela lines up another shot but seeing how hard the thing is to hit decides not to try for multiple shots.

Longbow + Point Blank - Soft Cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damage + Point Blank: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Didn't see that. THat will teach him to bring his fists in an axe fight

The ogrekin does (did) have Improved Unarmed Strike feat, so his bareknuckle attack does not provoke. Not that it was needed anyway...

Cabbagehead - Round 2 - concluded

Unable to get behind the roaring half-ogre, Atticus settles for an old-fashioned frontal assault, but his attack fails to connect as Cabbagehead turns out to be pretty shifty for a big guy.

Devan's feinting paid off before, so why not try again. This time however, Cabbagehead is too focused on pummeling Nargun to pay enough attention for the false strike to have any effect.

End of Round 2

Cabbagehead - Round 3 - concluded

23 Mirela
21 Nargun (SoF, +2 AC)
20 Atticus
16 Twilight
7 Cabbagehead (22dmg)
4 Devan

Mirela successfully drills the hideous foe with another arrow which elicits an unintelligble bellow of pain and anger from Cabbage.

Trading blows with the ogrekin, Nargun lines up a mighty shot, and takes it, swinging his greataxe with all the power he can muster. The blade sinks deep into the bulbous torso of the foe, splitting him nearly in two, and ending the fight.

End of Combat

Made quick work of that guy even without the tripwire trick being successful. Post-Combat Summary in Discussion soon.

As the loud and belligerent jailor falls to Nargun's axe, a strange silence settles over the Dead Warrens once again. From somewhere down below in one of the prisoner pits, the sound of a soft animal-like whimper is just audible.

Despite his deformed body and hideous appearance, Cabbagehead actually had a very nice set of leather armor on. Might be worth looking at more closely.

There seems to be no other exits from this jail, and the passage to east, is beyond the scope of this adventure, winding in an every narrowing path until it can no longer be navigated by any of the party members.

The tripwire may not have done damage, but it stopped a charge attack on Nargun. I"m thinking that we don't even need to connect the tripwire to anything in the future, just string up a rope and let them think there is some sort of shenanigans in play =)

Twilight is satisfied with the way the combat went, even smiling beneath her scarf despite her discomfort. "That went well." she cocks her head to the side and listens "Does anyone else hear that? Someone is still in one of the pits."

She strikes her second sunrod and peers down to see who got left behind.

Atticus undoes the armor and inspects it.
"Can someone check if there is a dweomer on it?"

As Twilight speaks up Mirela responds while lowering her box:
Yes it seems like it went pretty well.

She tries to look directly at Twilight,
Thank you for your blessing, and your guidance too Devan. Without both your ‘elp, I don’t know that I could ‘ave ‘it it so cleanly.

Then as the professor speaks up she motions for him to wait and moves over to Twilight to help her search for the source of the noise, adding her buckler’s light to Twilight’s sunrod shining down in the pit.

Careful, whoever it is sounds scared...

Devan felt a bit of pity for the misshapen Cabbagehead as he fell beneath Mirela's bow and Nargun's axe (and of course the supporting cast that made it all possible), though he tempered it with the knowledge that Korvosa needed this task done to prevent all-out war. Too often were the grotesque cast out, only to find companionship with those of evil intent who were all too willing to add to their list of allies. Still, that was some nice armor, and Cabbagehead couldn't take it to the next life, so Devan helped to remove it and stow it upon his dwarven companion's broad back until the group could properly get a grasp of its worth.

As the two ladies discussed how well things went during the fight, the bard could only nod in agreement, smiling widely at the redhead as she offered praise for the last-second correction shouted to adjust her shot. When Atticus asked about the possibility of the leather being magical, Devan shrugged. "Sorry, Professor...that's not a trick I've picked up."

As Twilight and Mirela move to inspect the pit with the sound coming from it, the musician stifled a sigh and went to help glance down and see what might be causing the noise. After all this, it would be a shame to leave someone down in this hellhole.