DM Dr Evil's Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

"That is why I wear the bandages and heavy cloak, madam." He was not concerned with Kalvin's comment and he also seems to not be bothered by the landlady's words either.

The grouchy old woman blinks as Lazlo answers smoothly. She looks at him, troubled for a moment, then gives in to her gut feelings and smiles at the man. "You look like such a nice boy, I'm sure you'll not give Ms Trinia any trouble. And of course your friend can go up with you, luv. Give that sweet girl our best when you see her! Are you sure you're not hungry? We just made lunch and you're welcome to join us!"

The lady and her hulking sons go back into their ground floor flat, and leave you to the stairs. The steps up are rickety and covered with filth and graffiti. It's not a very nice building, to say the least.

Soon you are on the third (and top) floor of the main structure. There are 4 apartments doors at the top of the landing, but due to the nobleman's directions, you know that Trinia's door is on the northeast corner building.

All is quiet up here, and listening at any door reveals no sounds.

The silence felt almost as stifling as the smells they had encountered on their way here, Lazlo had thought that he had seen his share of terribly kept buildings but this was by far one of the worst. His green eyes looked about the hallway and he tried to listen to any noise that may occur behind the closed doors that flanked them from both sides. Then he signaled his companion to wait and began moving towards the door they were informed about as silently as he could manage, all the while trying to remember what he knew about this area, if it had any rumored secret escape routes or the like.

Finally he was at the door, he stood there for a few moments, closed his eyes, brought his hand up to knock but stopped "Miss, I know things have been hard for you, I won't claim or presume to know half of what you are going through, no innocent should suffer the same as you are suffering now and while as I have said I lay no claim to comprehending your feelings right now...I have an idea of what it is to feel like there is no one standing beside you" He paused, his left palm forming into a fist "It feels like no one wants to listen, like its you against the world, that if you dare to remotely trust anyone you are simply asking for a dagger to find its way to your back, and I lived with that feeling for a good part of my life...it is only now after I left everything behind, lashed out against everything, and started my own self proclaimed mission and war that I understood, that I was not really as alone as I thought I was, that there was someone willing to help me and stand beside me" Lazlo's teeth clenched as he sighed in melancholy.

"I think you are a far better person than I am, if I had been in your place? I would have wanted to make everyone who made me feel such pain to suffer it twice over, I would make it my goal to obliterate everything they held dear and end their life with the understanding that they made a mistake for crossing me" Lazlo felt his anger rising, and quickly stifled it, causing an expressionless mask to come over his face instead of a frowning one "But here you are, doing nothing but trying to survive, hurting no one, I am impressed, I truly am...which is why I am asking you to let me help you, I know it cannot be easy to stand alone against anything, so let me help you, I am not naive enough to believe that you'll trust me, but all I am asking for is a chance to prove myself to be something other than an enemy or someone unconcerned by your plight"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Alright! That's what I am talking about...you know I hope she's there otherwise Lazlo would have been trying to convince a door that he's here to help.

Does Majenko see anything unusual from his perspective?

Crux tries to look friendly and trustworthy.

So far Majenko sees only the clutter and mess of the Shingles. He does see two youngsters sitting on a rope overhanging between two buildings. The lads are dropping pebbles down on the passers-by in the street.

Despite Lazlo's passionate entreaty the dorr remains locked, and there are no sounds from any of the other apartments.

"We may need to pursue an alternate means of ingress."

A moment passed, and two pick locking tools appeared in Lazlo's previously free hands "Indeed" A grim expression inhabited his handsome face, as he studied the lock and door.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Add a +1 for traps.

Should he find or hear nothing.

Lazlo begins working on the lock, his hands moving at a quick pace, exchanging one tool for another, twisting the lock, inhibiting its inner working, pushing and prodding in an attempt break this mechanical guard.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12 Gah!

Please ignore the +1 near disable device, its for traps, also Lazlo will try once more if he fails, feel free to roll for him if I am not around to do so, but he won't take a 10 or a 20, time is an important factor here.

Lazlo doesn't see any traps, but he does notice the lock is a shambles, rundown and ruined like the rest of the tenement. It doesn't take much at all to snap the hasp and the door basically opens itself (thank god).

The one room flat combines all the amenities of a bedroom, a kitchen, and a painter's studio into one fifteen-foot square space, leaving little room for much else. A stack of cheese and bread sits on the counter next to several full waterskins, while the easel in the opposite corner holds a half-completed painting of an imp and a psuedodragon fighting atop a church steeple. A single window looks out over the tangled rooftops of the Shingles, while just under it, a woman sleeps in a curled-up position on a low bed.

"She's running. She's leaving out the window onto the roof!" He waves at the others (or whatever the signal they had set up is).

Lazlo surged through the open door, ignoring everything in the room and heading for the window, she used as her exit. His face was an expressionless mask, and his eyes were locked in stern but melancholy stare.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

If Lazlo sees Tirina and she's within earshot.

"We are not trying to bring you harm, we are trying to prevent it" He said to her in a controlled tone, as he gave chase "I realize that you have little reason to trust me or anyone else for that matter, but ask yourself why would I bother giving chase when I could have simply took aim with a bow instead?" He ran across the roof, trying to control his breath and ration his stamina for the chase.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Well it will be good if Lazlo doesn't fall before he sees her...freaking virtual dice :(

Kalvin looks up and sees Crux waving his arms.

Perception to See the Girl Running: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"Grax she's on the move, let's go."

Shame I hadn't thought of climbing up; I thought she'd run across the roofs.

Focussing on the rooftops, Marnos tries to spot her

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Then he will attaempt to climb up to her position

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Graxton looks to Kalvin and Marnos ready to follow as needed.

To reset the scene, Graxton, Marnos and Kalvin are all out on the streets keeping an eye out for the Hellknights or the mob which is headed for Trinia Sabor's flat in the Shingles. Majenko the pseudodragon is giving aerial support.

Lazlo and Crux have gone up to the flat and "broken in". There they see a neat but tiny apartment with a girl sleeping soundly in the bed.

At the same time, Majenko reports to Crux that someone is leaving the apartment by the window.

Crux and Lazlo need Will saves to disbelieve the image in the bed at DC 15. They can take a +4 to the die roll since Majenko is telling them he sees something different. If they fail, they must first interact with the illusion for a round to then disbelieve it.

Neither Kalvin or Marnos can see the form Majenko is calling for from the street.

Climbing up the side of a building is 30' to the roof and then the Shingles jungle to deal with. The DC for the Climb will be 15. You can also run up the stairs in the flat (as difficult terrain).

Checking the climbing rules, it looks to me as though it would be faster and safer to run up the stairs. Shame that was a nice roll

Will 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 4 = 19

Crux goes into the room. He arcane training and Majenko's warning allows him to see through the illusion. "Be warned! She is a caster."

Seeing through the illusion of the sleeping girl, Crux rushes to window, but can see no sign of the girl, though the psuedo-dragon insists she fled this way into the Shingles.

In order to catch her, the heroes must give chase across the cluttered, tangled, and dangerous rooftop slums. The Shingles are a tangled confusing maze consisting of multiple levels, interconnected bridges, and cluttered swarths of rooftops. Vagrants, thugs, imp nests, stirges, weak rooftops, and even the odd choker make the place even more interesting.

To simulate the rooftop chase, we will use the "card" system. There are 15 cards each with 2 obstacles on them. The PC's and Trinia begin the chase by making an initiative check to determine move order. On their turn, the PC decides if he wants to move forward 1 card, 2 cards, or 3 cards. Moving 1 card is a move equivalent action automatically succeeding in most cases. Moving 2 cards requires the PC's to perform one of the two skill checks on the card they begin on (their choice). Moving 3 cards requires the PC's to make both the skill checks on their beginning card. If a character fails any check by 5 or less, you only move one card forward.. Failing by more than 5 means you cannot move at all that turn. If you fail two checks by more than 5, you fall to the ground taking damage or continuing on foot (we'll discuss if that happens). A character can choose to make a ranged attack or cast a spell as a Standard Action and still move one card. Each card is considered 30' for range increments. If a PC ends his turn on the same card as Trinia, he can try a single grapple check to grab and restrain her. Once she is pinned, unconscious, or killed the chase ends. Also if she reaches card 15 the chase ends and she gets away.

Trinia will start on card 4, while Crux and Lazlo will start on Card 1. Marnos, Kalvin, and Graxton will be out the first round, trying to get to the flat by running or climbing, and they will begin the second round on Card 1. Good Luck, and LMK if there are questions. My other CotCT group just finished this chase to good effect, hopefully yours goes similarly.

The Shingles Chase - Round 1

15 Crux
15 Marnos*
14 Graxton*
12 Kalvin*
11 Lazlo
8 Trinia

Crux and Lazlo are up, the others spend the first round trying to get to Card 1 to start the chase.

Card 1

Cluttered Rooftop - Acrobatics DC 10
Narrow Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 15

As part of his 'training' under Lamm, Crux had to learn how to navigate the Shackles. He hoped that he still retained some of that hard learned technique.

Move two cards: Cluttered Rooftop
Dex 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Does Crux's Shift ability help him during this chase?

I will roll for Lazlo who seems to be under the weather. He will attempt cards since Acrobatics is his strong suit.

Shingles Chase - Round 1

While Crux picks his way across the cluttered roof, Lazlo leaps across a gap to the nearby roof. He grabs at the lithe girl as he lands, but she is just leaping herself, and avoids his grasp.

DC 10 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
DC 15 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
GRapple Check vs Trinia CMD 17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Trinia, just avoiding capture, moves slowly but carefully leaping another rooftop to advance to Card 6. She draws a wand from her belt as she runs.

Card 4

Gap in the Wall Escape Artist DC 15
Narrow Rooftop Leap Acrobatics DC 15

Trinia Acrobatics DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

End of Round 1

Hope you are getting the hang of this. Now the rest of the PC's will be able to start on Card 1, while Crux is on Card 3 and Lazlo on Card 4. Trinia is on card 6.

Shingles Chase - Round 2

15 Crux (3)
15 Marnos (1)
14 Graxton (1)
12 Kalvin (1)
11 Lazlo (4)
8 Trinia (6)

Card 1
Cluttered Rooftop - Acrobatics DC 10
Narrow Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 15

Card 3
Hidden Shortcut- Perception DC 15
Vagrant Begging - Intimidate DC 15

Card 4
Gap in the Wall - Escape Artist DC 15
Narrow Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 15

Crux, I hadn't considered the special ability, but let's say you can add 2 to any die roll per times you have the ability, fair?

And what of Majenko? Should I roll for him as well or will you control him here?

May I use my Harrow Card again, or is that gone?

Kalvin will move 1 card.

And attempt to shout.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
"Please stop, Sir Falmouth asked us to help!"

Marnos rushes forward, making his way across the cluttered rooftop
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

But stumbles, killing his momentum for a brief moment before he regains his balance. Failed by less than 5, so only 1 card moved

Once she was free from his grasp, Lazlo did his best to not let allow his signature scowl to dominate his face, and instead focused on giving chase once more No good will come of this He commented mentally as he surveyed the next obstacles before him swiftly.

Attempting to move 3 cards

Dex for Escape Artist: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 So Close!!!!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Feeling a bit better, but if I stop posting for 24 hours in the next few days, please do not panic and DM PC me as needed.

Crux desperately scrambles to keep up with the artist.
Try for three cards.
Dex 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Dex 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Can I also use a wand after moving? If not, add the +2 for Shift.
Web Bolt (DC 11)

Graxton knew that the shingles should have likely been watched but that is in hindsight now.

He tries to move down two cards, knowing his armor will be a determent to this run he drops his shield in the room. He only makes it down one card though.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (11) - 4 = 7 To card 2?

Majenko is not hampered by the Shingles terrain since he can fly. He can keep an eye on the fleeing girl, but he won't intervene here directly.

Kalvin, your Harrow card was good for a bonus for combat with Chittersnap. The PC with a bonus during the Shingle Chase is Crux. He can take a +2 bonus to DEX based attacks during the Shingle Chase (not skill checks).

You can try a spell cast as a Standard Action if you only move one card. Moving any more than one card is your second Move Action of a round, and other Standard actions, like casting, are not allowed.

Crux, you are on Card 3 to begin with, so I need a Perception and an Intimidate check, not two dex's. CAn you re-roll after looking at Card 3, above?

Ugh. I have a cha penalty. Still going for broke. Try to move 3 cards.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Intimidate 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Shingles Chase - Round 2 - concluded

Crux is able to spot a hidden shortcut, and then screams in the face of a rooftop vagrant. As the man stumbles out of the way, Crux continues the chase, near enough to the fleeing girl to make a grab for her.

Landing on Card 6 allows Crux to make a grapple attempt to catch Trinia. CMD is 17. Good luck!

Marnos trips over some of the clutter and stumbles right at the edge of the rooftop. He teeters precariously at the precipice, but regains his balance in time to avoid falling to the teeming streets below.

Fumbling right behind him, having dropped his shield for more balance, Graxton also just misses falling and has to advance more slowly than planned.

Kalvin, moving more slowly, avoids the rooftop clutter, but ends up in the same place as the rest. His shout about Lord Falmouth meets with no response from the fleeing girl.

Seeing a small gap in the wall that portends cutting off the alleged regicide, Lazlo races for it, but he mistimes the move, catching his foot momentarily in a rope clothesline, and slowing him down.

Per the chase rule, if you fail be 5 or less you only move one card, so you end up on Card 5, just short of grabbing Trinia. Her actions below are supposing she is NOT grappled by Crux.

Dodging more rooftop clutter, Trinia avoids the grasping fingers of Crux, and moves off to the next rooftop ledge. From there she turns back toward Crux, wand in hand, and fires off a magical charge at Crux.

She takes the free one card advance and discharges the wand as a standard action. The wizard needs a DC 13 Will Save or be Dazed per Daze Monster spell.

End of Round 2

Again unnecessary if Crux successfully grapples your target.

Shingles Chase - Round 3

15 Crux (6) Will Save pending or be dazed
15 Marnos (2)
14 Graxton (2)
12 Kalvin (2)
11 Lazlo (5)
8 Trinia (7)

Card 2
Very Steep Roof - Climb DC 10
Brick Wall - Climb DC 20

Card 5
Vagrant begging - Intimidate DC 15
Wide Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 25

Card 6
Cluttered Rooftop - Acrobatics DC 10
Tightrope Shortcut - Acrobatics DC 20

I hadn't planned on getting an attack, but I guess I'll take it.
Grab 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Will 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Of course.

Kelvin will move two.

climb 10: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Shingles Chase - Round 3 - continued

Crux grabs for Trinia, but she slips through his fingers easily. As she runs away, she zaps him with her stunning ray, and Crux is rooted to the spot for a few moments, dazed.

Kalvin scrambles up the steep roof advancing to Card 4.

Waiting on any other players to try to advance this round. Trinia is within fairly easy reach of Lazlo should the dice favor him, he can try a grapple if he makes it to card 7 this round.

Marnos scrambles up a very steep roof

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

and makes good progress succeeds, getting to card 4

Round 3

At card 2 going for 2 cards of movement...

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Ha! I couldn't make the second check if I wanted to!

He makes it up and over the steep roof cutting off some space but she is so far off he knows that the others have a better chance of getting to her than him.

Shingles Chase - Round 3 concluded

Marnos and Graxton both scramble up the steep roof gaining ground on the run-away, but still far in the distance.

Lazlo trying desperately to catch Trinia screams a tirade of threats and profanities at a vagrant who stands between him and the prize. The man falls out of the way, and Lazlo leaps by him reaching for the girl as he does so. His fingers brush the back of her tunic, but she is just able to twist out of the way, keeping him from locking her up.

The nimble girl then turns her dazing wand on Lazlo trying to freeze him in place as she scrambles ahead. The wand succeeds again, and the girl advances slowly ahead of the dazed rogue.

Intimidate DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Grapple attempt vs Trinia CMD 17 : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Lazlo DC 13 Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 FAIL

End of Round 3

Shingles Chase - round 4

15 Crux (6)
15 Marnos (4)
14 Graxton (4)
12 Kalvin (4)
11 Lazlo (7) Dazed
8 Trinia (8)

Card 4
Gap in the Wall - Escape Artist DC 15
Narrow Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 15

Card 6
Cluttered Rooftop - Acrobatics DC 10
Tightrope Shortcut - Acrobatics DC 20

Card 7
Hidden Shortcut - Perception DC 15
Very Steep Roof - Climb DC 10

All the heroes are up again and the gap is starting to close

2 Cards again

Attempting A Narrow Rooftop leap

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Marnos stumbles badly and starts to fall over the edge. He has to grab a support and haul himself back up, wasting precious time.

No movement this turn :(

This is Crux's Dazed round.

This is Crux's Dazed round.

Actually, it's not, Round 3 was. In round 2, you got on the same card as Trinia, and missed the grapple and then failed the Will Save. You didn't advance in Round 3, so in Round 4 you are good to go. If you can get two cards (one skill check) you can grapple at her again if you like.

OK, Crux Shifts around the clutter and, rather than closing to melee with Trinia, he uses his Wand of Web Bolt (DC 11).
Dex 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10 w/shift

I'm rather glad for Shift right now.

Kalvin has no choice but to go for it and attempts to squeeze his large frame through the small gap in the wall.

Escape Artist: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (12) - 4 = 8 and I'm stuck.

Round 4

Yeah with a -7, there is very little chance that I could follow Kalvin. :(

Graxton does not attempt to follow Kalvin knowing that he is not going to fit through the gap. He takes his time to go around and advances slowing compared to Lazlo or Crux.

Moving to Card 5.

Shingles Chase - Round 4 - concluded

Advancing one card and then firing his wand of Web Bolt at the runaway murderess, Crux is actually a bit astounded when it works. The web ball hits the girl mid-back and binds her in place, effectively grappling her for a round.

You can only advance one card if you try a standard action like casting a spell or using a wand.

Marnos tries a rooftop leap, but the edge crumbles beneath him and he has to leap back at the last moment losing his forward progress this turn.

Moving slowly, the encumbered battle priest slides forward just one card.

Kalvin tries to wedge himself through a small gap in the wall, looking to avoid a full leap, but his armor catches on the edges of the gap, holding him fast for a round.

Lazlo stands dazed and confused, unable to move in this round.

Although webbed and grappled, there is no one near enough to hold her fast, and Trinia tries to wriggle out of the grapple. She wriggles her lithe form out of the webbing, and slips forward one card.

Trinia DC 11 REflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Trinia Escape Artist DC 11, grappled condition: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 2 = 22

Shingles Chase - Round 5

15 Crux (7)
15 Marnos (4)
14 Graxton (5)
12 Kalvin (4)
11 Lazlo (7)
8 Trinia (9)

Card 4
Gap in the Wall - Escape Artist DC 15
Narrow Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 15

Card 5
Vagrant begging - Intimidate DC 15
Wide Rooftop Leap - Acrobatics DC 25

Card 7
Hidden Shortcut - Perception DC 15
Very Steep Roof - Climb DC 10

Slow moving heroes, but Crux and Lazlo still have a chance against her.

Round 5

@5 moving two cards... going for one check... suckage.

He moves steadily forward or at least plans to do so. He sees the Vagrant and yells at him to stand aside as he moves as fast as he can, bull rushing him if needed if he does not get off to the side. He will definitely not attempt the rooftop leap.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

CMB - bull rush: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Well in that case Crux moves one card and targets her again with his Wand of Web Bolt (DC 11).

DC 15 is gonna be to tough for me at +1. I'll try again next card with intimidate

Taking his time and moving carefully, Marnos makes some slow progress.

Move 1 card to card 5