DM Doctor Evil's ROTRL - Group C

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

As you withdraw from the house, heads hung low, the widow sees you, and your dour looks, and begins wailing inconsolably. Lucky for you, the Mayor , Kendra Deverin, has arrived. She steps forward, her air of self-control apparent.

"Thank you for taking care of the problem. I will deal with the wife and family. Father Zantus will take them in for a few days while we inter the body and clean up the house. I'll handle it from here, you all look beat, so go back the Dragon and get some rest. Who knows what dire situation will crop up tomorrow."

She nods to you and heads over to the wailing woman, wrapping her arms around her in a motherly way. As you slowly walk back to Ameiko's, you consider the trouble this sleepy town has had over the past few days. What could be worse?

The Inn is unusually quiet, no one one performing on the stage, and only about half the usual occupants in, as if the whole town were in the dumps also. You finish a meal in silence, and worn from the battle and aftermath, head to bed, falling asleep almost at the moment your heads hit the pillow.

If you have night-time plans, or need something before morning, now is the time to tell, otherwise, I'll post the morning thread tomorrow.

Beagan goes to take his bath, but there's no excitement in his eyes. He's unusually quiet as he sits and ponders on the evening's tragedy, before eventually walking off to bed.

Gudada spends the evening trying to find excuses to smile and joke, but his heart isn't in the effort. He, too, scrubs at himself before crashing for the night.

Dawn, 4 Rova 4707, Absalom Reckoning

Once again the familiar knock on your doors awakens you. Not expecting anything early this morning, the interruption of your restful sleep is a bit off-putting. However, as you answer the door, you find Morris, not the familiar Bethany.

"If't please ya, ta cum down. Miss Bethany needs a word." The dim-witted halfling is uncomfortable disturbing you and stands with bowed head mumbling the words. "It's m'portant, she sez. Thank'ee."

Curious about this unusual summons, you dress quickly and come downstairs, hoping to find a delicious hot breakfast awaiting you. Instead you see Bethany and a sleepy Lars, looking pensive, sitting at a table with a crock of hot coffee and a few biscuits.

"I am sorry to disturb your rest, but I didn't know where else to turn, what with the Sheriff out of town and all...You are the best alternative, and you're right under our roof." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes which remain troubled and red-rimmed.

Lars speaks:"It ees Lady Ameiko. She haz not come home, ja? She normally up early fixing de breakfast, but today she ees kaput! No one has seen her seence early yesterday."

Bethany picks up the story. "Lars is right. I can't remember the last time she wasn't up early fixing breakfast of a morning. I went to her room to see if she was feeling ill, but there was no answer. I knew she wouldn't like it, but I let myself into her private chambers. Her bed hadn't been slept in! Near the bed I found this...." She pulls from her apron pocket a crumpled piece of parchment with unfamiliar characters and writing upon it.

"It's written in Minkaian, (probably to keep strangers from reading it). I know enough of that language to have made a rough translation. Here is what it says." She pulls another parchment out of her pocket and hands it over, looking at you sheepishly.

Tsuto's Note

This has also been placed on the Campaign info tab. A text version is below in case you can't link easily.

Dolgrin growls after reading the translation. "Her father was involved? Still, perhaps something happened to her and her brother when they met. Where are these 'Glassworks'? We might want to investigate."

Viviana misses the dinner and goes straight to her room, but has trouble falling asleep and spends most of the night in meditation.
Annoyed by the early awakening she dresses and follows the halfling to see what is the problem.

spells:sheeld of faith:1 command:1 domain:charm person

"I knew this old bat is hiding something!"

Viviana bites her lips.
"If the translation is right it's about some kind of private matter. I am not eager to poke my nose , but you are right Dolgrin, we should check . They my have run into more goblin stragglers like the poor man yesterday.I know the way to the glassworks , just give me a minute to get my armor. "

She turns to Lars.
"You better keep quiet about this for now, apparently Ameiko wanted to keep this secret and we own her that much ,at least until we know more."

Gudada reads the note, listens to Dolgrin's thoughts and chuckles. "I didn't see much about her father to like, I agree, but he didn't seem the sort to start something which could kill dozens of his neighbors if there were a more direct way of doing what he wanted. Maybe her dad wasn't involved. Maybe her brother is the lead conspirator. Maybe she was, and this is just a ruse to get us out of the way. The options and twists that could be involved are amazingly varied. Usually the truth is simpler than people want it to be."

Bethany listens to you and says:It's no secret that my mistress has family troubles and I am sure you have a million questions. Let me see if I can answer some of them quickly while you eat." the matronly halfling says, after you read the note.

"As you probably gathered, Tsuto is Lady Ameiko's older half-brother. He was born a year before her and was something of a scandal, as he is half-elven and Ameiko's mother is not Elvish...." Her eyes widen sagely making sure you understand the delicate point.

"Her father, Lonjiku, whom you've met, flew into a rage when the boy's heritage was discovered, causing a rift in the marriage. Their mother. Atsuii, refused to reveal Tsuto's paternity, and Lonjiku barred her from seeing him ever again. He enrolled the boy at the Turandurok Acadamy here in Sandpoint, but raised him outside the family. He was a secret even to Miss Ameiko until she was ten years old."

"Since discovering Tsuto, my mistress had been secret friends with him, sneaking the boy food or money, clearly against her father's wishes. (Perhaps you know my Lady is a bit of a rebellious spirit...) Anyway, about seven years ago, Tsuto and Ameiko had a serious falling out. She left town then and became an adventurer."

"She only returned for Lady Atsuii's funeral at which Tsuto made a big scene. He openly accused Lonjiku of pushing his mother from the cliff at the family home, something Ameiko believes as well. There was an altercation, and Lonjiku broke Tsuto's jaw with his cane. The half-elf youth fled Sandpoint, and Ameiko has been trying to track him down since."

"You see, he, Tsuto I mean, re-appeared here, in town, the same night you did, before the Festival, and now this...Please you must go to the Glassworks and see if you can find any sign of her. Please!"

She is quite plaintive in her distress and a tear rolls down her ruddy cheek.

Lars picks up the thread, and gives you easy directions to the Glassworks. {area 20 on the Sandpoint map, overlooking the Gulf of Varisia.) "Eet is not like Ameiko to need help, but sometinG is amiss, ja? Hurry on now an' see vhat de trouble ees, okay?"

"Man. What a terrible brother. Let's go knock some sense into him, Sheriff style!"

So as to move the action along, I'll assume you gather your combat gear and make for the Glassworks. If you have more questions of Bethany or Lars, we can run them simultaneously.

As you arrive outside the famous Sandpoint Glassworks, you find the building curiously silent. The furnace chimney plumes with smoke, but there is no sign of activity about the place, no workmen bustling, no customers waiting, no wagons being loaded. The building has many windows, including some large display type windows on the circular protrusion to the south, but all the shades are drawn making it impossible to see inside.

There are four outside entry doors (marked with arrows on the map) but they all are locked fast upon inspection.

See Glassworks map link here or at top margin. I placed you where you would've come in from the Rusty Dragon. Please note that North is to the right on this map's orientation, so you are south of the building if you look at the Sandpoint Map.

Beagan looks over to the rest of his team.

"Do we want to knock using the password in the note? Or just barge right in?"

"Anyone up for a climb? Might be able to pre-empt anything or get a better grasp of the situation from above."

Viviana looks at the locked gate with annoyed expression.

"Anyone up for a climb? Might be able to pre-empt anything or get a better grasp of the situation from above."

"Count me out."

"Do we want to knock using the password in the note? Or just barge right in?"

"The password was for the midnight, i doubt anyone will open now. We have to find someone with a key.There is no harm if we try though."

The priestess knocks at the door.

"There's always another way past a lock, Viviana. But now we wait to see if anyone will answer." The young man shrugs.

"I prefer doors to ceilings myself!"

As Viv knocks on the door, Beagan readies himself for trouble.

You knock on the door, and aren't really surprised when no one answers. The place does seem strangely quiet.

One of the neighbors wanders up as he sees you standing outside. :"You'd be the heroes of Sandpoint, eh? What brings you to the Glassworks? Payin' a visit to old Lonjiku? They've had the shop shut up tight today, wonder what they're workin; on in there? Bet it's extra special!"

"Works for me."

Aleks turns to the neighbor.

"Not feeling particularly heroic today. You say they've been working on a big project? Just today or has it been some time?"

The neighbor scratches his stubbly beard and squints his eye trying to remember. Well, reckon I din't notice anythin' unusual yesterdee, so I'd suppose things was working as usual then. Can't rightly say, one way'r t'other. Sompen's wrong inside, do ye ken?"

He eyes you curious, scratching and squinting.

VIviana nods.
"True, the place worked normally when i visited it. I have bad feeling about this."

She looks at the man.
"Could you find someone that have a key to the building? It would be very helpful."

Without giving the man chance to respond Viviana turns to the group.

"While we wait Alex could try the climbing ,and Gudada,what were you suggesting?"

"Me? I was suggesting that we try the door." He steps forward and demonstrates a technique I've come to call "detect locked doors one-half" over the years, as he grabs the handle and checks to see if the door will open or not. Sometimes it IS the obvious things.

Assuming it behaves as though locked . . ..

"Well, I think I have something on me that might help here. Let's see . . .. Ah! Here they are." He pulls a brown cloth bundle, apparently from thin air, and unrolls it into his left hand. He takes another look at the lock, and then pulls two pieces of metal from the bundle before rolling it up and putting it back away from whence it came, wherever that was. He grins mischievously before asking for a little help. "Somebody keep an eye out for the sheriff or watch."

THEN he sees what he can find out about this particular lock . . ..

Perception for trapfinding: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Assuming not trapped.

Then he tries to unlock the door . . ..

Disable Device w/ trapfinding: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

"You never know when you're going to need a key you don't have with you . . .."

She looks at the man.

"Could you find someone that have a key to the building? It would be very helpful."

Without giving the man chance to respond Viviana turns to the group.

"While we wait Alex could try the climbing ,and Gudada,what were you suggesting?"

Not in public while we have a crowd. Let's try to avoid having to play the "We're The Watch So We Can Do Whatever We Want" car except as a last resort.

"Somebody keep an eye out for the sheriff or watch."

I'm going to hold a casual conversation with the neighbor while slowly using social cues and 'bureaucratese' to "pull" him along with me as I casually walk along the blue line around out of sight of the door.

And for the record. Maybe we should have started with the back door instead.

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Aleks narrows his eyes as he realizes what's about to happen.

"Aiding and Abetting," the 'Other' snorts dismissively.

"Right, Mister...?" He pauses, looking the commoner in the eye, then begins to amble casually along the side wall. "Working with Sheriff Hemlock on the case. Was hoping you'd be able to provide a statement."

"FOCUS ON ME."

Keeping his voice low as if avoiding a scene, but similarly forcing him to remain close to listen clearly, Aleks runs the man through basic protocol, keeping him focused with a battery of mundane but important sounding questions.

Slowly, he attempts to reel the nosy neighbor away from the rest of the party, to buy them time to do their thing.

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Inter-spaced amongst the basic protocol related question like name, age, family size, etc, I'm going to slip the unfortunate nosy neighbor several real questions regarding when the factory went into lockdown and other questions about the number of workers, strange behavior and odd visitors.

The door is locked, and as Aleksander leads the man away, giving him the Dragnet "just the facts" questions, Gudada gets to work doing what Varisians do best. His nimble fingers move quickly and before the neighbor is even around the corner, he is rewarded with the soft "pop" of the lock disengaging.

Aleksander finds the man, Jersey Wolcott, a retired sailor, has lived near the Glassworks for quite a while. According to him, the staff, mostly Tien immigrants ("nice fellas for 'feriners'") live inside the factory. Maybe 8-10 of them in all. The place has shut down before, when working on big project like the stained glass for the new Cathedral, but even then there is a little coming and going. He is respectful of authority, helpful and just a little too curious about what's going on there. When you give him the official brush off, he returns to his home, but peeks his nose out from time to time.

The door opens into a half-lit room (some sunlight streams in from a skylight window above) which is apparently the display room of the Glassworks. Colored bottles, fancy leaded windowpanes, and various glass art pieces fill the display shelves which would be obvious from the road if the window shades were up. Behind the sales counter, are two doors leading further inside. No threats are apparent, but low thrumming that you feel almost as much as you hear, comes from further inside the building.

"Alright citizens, return to your homes. Official sheriff business, nothing to see here."

Beagan will follow one of the taller folks into the building.

The Varisian hesitates outside, putting his tools away before joining the others in exploring the building . . ..

The hesitation isn't long, and is clearly justified, but it still fits a certain stereotype, doesn't it?

Dolgrin frowns, finding the place seemingly empty. He moves in and looks around before heading towards the noise deeper inside.

which door are you trying? Neither is locked and no traps on either one.

Ahh, forgot about the map. Whichever door is the one that he thinks will lead to the noise. But barring that, the closest one.

Viviana watch how Gudada handles the door with amusement.
"Neat trick,ok let's see what's inside."

She walks close behind Dolgrin looking at the glass artwork with admiration.
"Amazing!"

"I was taught a long time ago that 'Left is always right.' Not that you have to listen to that particular piece of advice, mind you."

"Ha! I like that. I say left it is, then, yes?"

The left hand door does open and the thrum from inside the Glassworks grows considerably louder as you open it. To your right, a long dark passage extends down the middle of the building. Nearly directly across from you stands a door. Bits of light stream in around the blackout curtains that hang in front of the windows.

The passage bends around past those windows to the NW, and two sets of double doors are at the northerly end of the map.

Is going left a standing order? Any others? STanding orders will be processes we carry out automatically, so we don't have to slow down to manage mundane tasks. give me a list of orders should you be able to develop one.

Tired by the silence Viviana tries to start conversation.
"Alex are you ok? You seem to take this whole affair quite personally. Are you trying to impress that elven girl Shalelu or something?"
The priestess asks jokingly

Since no one seem to have opinion i say Left is ok as standing order. Btw if the light is insufficient Viviana will cast light

As the group moves to left, they come across a set of double doors which are locked, but appear to access the outside. From in here, the lock has a thumblatch which can be opened to release the lock. Another set of double doors opens to an interior room, and the vibrating thrumming sound seems to be emanating from inside.

Standing dungeon crawl orders might also include opening any doors we find, or checking for sounds beyond etc. It will speed things up immensely if you give a set because dungeon crawls in PbP can take quite a while.

Where is everyone? :)
Ok just suggestion ,Dolgrin has the best perception and darckvision, he is the best choice to scout ahead, Gudada inspects any doors.

I hate requests for stock orders. Why? Because I go into a planning loop that WILL FAIL. Then I try to find a way to prevent failure. The thing is, preventing failure requires overcoming both the unexpected and the expected cold dice both. Maybe I'm whining.

I figured we would skip the doors that appear to go back outside and move to the set that takes us deeper into the building, but I didn't want to keep making decisions for everyone.

Sounds reasonable. Don't worry, if anyone has problem with the decisions he can say so.No point in overthinking , if the dices keep hating us we are dead in the first serious fight anyway. :)
Let's just keep going and have fun.

Sorry lost internet at work and was away for the weekend.
I think some generic stuff would work, but any area where we'd need a little more thought, we can do so. And this isn't combat SOPs, so just the stuff we would normally do. Dolgrin can scout, Gudada can check for traps. Skipping doors to the outside make sense.

Dolgrin listens's at the double doors to see if he can discern something over the din from the vibration inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Beagan stands ready at the double doors where the thrumming is coming from, seeming as if that's the best direction to go.

'Dada waits in anticipation, with his rapier drawn but hoping nothing more than his picks will be needed.

"Am I that transparent?" He tries, to deflect the question with humor, but fails. "Actually. No."

He shrugs.

"This is as much for the part of me that vainly clings to idealism as it is for the people of Sandpoint. It's to keep me from letting go completely and becoming the wreck smelling of cheap alcohol you encountered on the first day you met me."

She didn't ask for your life story.

"But you didn't ask for my life story." He nods politely to Viviana and turns to the rest of the group.

"Lead the way, Gentlemen."

He unslings his shortspear and twirls it, feeling the weighty reassurance in his hand.

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Going by the positioning, I'll run rearguard unless someone has a better idea.

The double doors are not locked or trapped.

Dolgrin listens past the incessant thrumming sound and he hears (or thinks he does)the sound of glass breaking and once, a high pitched girly shriek from inside.

Telling the others to be on their guard, the dwarf monk slowly and quietly opens the door, revealing a scene of utter chaos.

The room beyond is the working floor of the Glassworks. The thrumming sound comes from a large working furnace that runs most of the length of the southeast wall of this large room. Marble tables sit in the chamber used to work raw glass into usable shapes, with nearby wooden tables cluttered with metal tools.

Amidst the shattered glass on the floor, cavort ten goblins, some are throwing glass pieces, watching them smash and cheering, others are holding what look like human limbs covered in molten glass.

In the center of the room a man's body is propped up in a chair, covered by cooling sheets of molten glass.

All the goblins are engaged in nefarious activity, and the noise of the furnace has, so far, covered your entrance. You will have a surprise round on the goblins, if you choose to take them on right now. Remember, move or standard action only in surprise rounds.

Eh, squeezed on time. Will get the initiatives and battle scene prepped soon, I promise. Don't call out your actions just yet.

Battle for the Glassworks - Round 1

25 Aleksander
24 Red Goblin
24 Green2 Goblin
23 White2 Goblin
21 Green Goblin
20 Blue Goblin
16 Gudada
15 Yellow Goblin
13 Dolgrin
12 Yellow2 Goblin
10 Red2 Goblin
10 Beagan
8 White Goblin
7 Viviana
6 Grey Goblin

Aleks has the first action, since this is the surprise round no goblins have actions, so Gudada is next. Sorry about the delay. Have fun!

Mechanics:
Surprise Round
Move Action: Squeeze Past Gudada (10ft), Squeeze Past Dolgrin (10ft), Move to Square Indicated By Blue Arrow.

We have choke points. Lets use them.

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Aleksander advances.

Gudada simply moves into the room and adjacent to the closest goblin.

Sigh. Going to give the others until tonight before I post their surprise round moves.

Sorry, I misunderstood your post. I thought only Gudada and Alek got surprise round actions.

Beagan pulls his crossbow off his back, ready to fight!

While Viviana is wondering how to continue the conversation ,Dolgrin opens the door and the priestess gasp in surprise at the sight of the goblins. It takes her few moments to react then she moves forward.

Move to the position left of Alex unless Dolgrin wants to stand there

Battle for the Glassworks - Surprise Round

As Beagan readies his crossbow for action in the hallway, the rest of his teammates advance to take on the unwary goblins, including Dolgrin who rushes forward to meet his races' ancient enemies at first chance.

End of surprise Round

Ok, time for all hell to break loose. Goblins on a rampage!

Battle for the Glassworks - Round 1

25 Aleksander
24 Red Goblin
24 Green2 Goblin
23 White2 Goblin
21 Green Goblin
20 Blue Goblin
16 Gudada
15 Yellow Goblin
13 Dolgrin
12 Yellow2 Goblin
10 Red2 Goblin
10 Beagan
8 White Goblin
7 Viviana
6 Grey Goblin

Ok, Aleksander you're up first followed by a whole host of goblin reactions. everyone else, get your posts ready. Let's pick this up!

Mechanics:
Round 1:
Standard Action: Throw Shortspear At White Goblin (Pink Circle).
Move Action: Advance (Blue Arrow), Draw Longbow as part of move.

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 19 Dice + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot - Cover (Dolgrin)
Ranged Damage Roll: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 Dice + Strength + Point Blank Shot

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 28 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

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"Goblins. Why am I not surprised."

Aleks drops to a combat stance, completing the motion with an almost contemptuous flick that send his shortspear sailing towards the face of a nearby goblin.

Unslinging his Longbow, he nocks an arrow and scuttles into better cover.

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DM: Is that rectangular thing a shelf or a table? Way I look at it, plenty of improvisational fighting options with either.