DM Elanmorin's Hell' Rebels

Game Master Nathan Hartshorn

Anger clouding her face, Lirotha spits more blood and will follow Veccio and especially the Red fairy as fast as she can.

"Gimme back ma' tooth!"

If she gets in range for another fairy, she will draw another card and lob it at them!

Feel free to add range penalties or whatever to this attack IF she gets to use it! 20 feet range increment for deadly dealer.

Deadly Dealer Card: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage(Magic/Piercing): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Lirotha tries to follow the fairies but they have already disappeared into the mazelike alleys of the devil's nursery...

Everyone, please give me a perception check

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Rocco hustles after the witch, but is still too distracted by the throbbing in his gums where his tooth had been removed to spot anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Valrani looks around, trying to spot the faeries.
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

As an aside, I'm fine with you rolling saves, perception checks, etc for me in these scenarios.

I will do that then, please put stealth in your statline as well then

The fairies' furious attack had clearly shaken the young adventurers and they had problems finding the vicious creatures trail again. Fortunately for them Lirotha kept her wits abot her and she concentrated her hearing sensing a feeble but persistent buzz near the ruins of an old tavern...
The witch motioned for the others to follow her... the party had found the fairies lair at least!

Is Kurglunn out yet?

Suddenly the buzz grows angrier and the surviving fairies come out of hiding screaming for the adventurers's blood in their screethcing little voices!

Round 01 - Bold may act

Lirotha
Meliandri
Rocco
Kurglunn ???
Valrani

5 Fairies red -4hp, violet -4 hp

Veccio

We are using the old map

I realize I'm bleeding still, unless the run was a long one, but these things are getting on my nerves! Let me know if I need to heal myself first while running along.

Spitting blood again, Lirotha readies her next harrow throw against the closest/random fairy if she can't specifically spot the red fairy again!

"Gimme' back muy Tooth!"

Deadly Dealer Card: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage(Magic/Piercing): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Before she can do anything the red fairy gets obliterated by Lirotha's skill as a card thrower!

Fort check (violet): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Fort check (green): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

As the fairy disappears in a puff of magic dust it engulfs her companions causing them to cough profusely!

Lirotha and everyone else still bleeding: let's say you were able to find the lair in less than a minute, unless you were cured you have lost 6 hps and will keep losing them unless you can stop the bleeding

Round 01 - Bold may act

Lirotha
Meliandri
Rocco
Kurglunn ???
Valrani

5 Fairies red -4hp, violet -4 hp

Veccio

I did cures on three people, which was everyone bleeding I think.

Valrani stands ready to strike any Fairy that comes close
readied attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
damage, CI: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

No Kurglunn won't be back for this battle unfortunately. It takes a minute long ritual to manifest him out of Rocco's consciousness, and it took us less than a minute to relocate the fairies, so there's no time to get him back.

Rocco hustles ahead of Lirotha after she casts her card and destroys another of the fairies. Following her example, he pulls another cold iron sling bullet from his pouch and launches it at the green fairy with his spiritual powers.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Valrani stands ready to deliver a deadly blow to any fairy folish enough to come near her while Rocco uses his magic to slightly wound another one.

Round 01 - Bold may act

Lirotha
Meliandri
Rocco
Valrani

4 Fairies violet -4 hp and sickened, green -1

Veccio

Mel follows Lirotha and Rocco's example and shoots at the violet fairy!

Attack roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 -> Damage roll: 1d8 ⇒ 2

The young noblewoman's aim proves true and the vicious creature explodes in a shower of fairy dust engulfing the green fairy near her!

Fort save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

But the creature seems unaffected by her companion's death and leads the remaining fey to the charge!

Green bite vs Rocco: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 = 22 -> Damage roll: 1d4 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

Fuchsia bite vs Veccio: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11 -> Damage roll: 1d4 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1

Orange bite vs Meliandri: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21 -> Damage roll: 1d4 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0

In their maddened frenzy the feys manage to bite Rocco and Mel both. Fortunately for them their teeth prove unable to draw blood.

Round 01 - Bold may act

Lirotha
Meliandri
Rocco
Valrani

3 Fairies green -1

Veccio

AND

Round 02 - Bold may act

Lirotha
Meliandri
Rocco
Valrani

3 Fairies green -1

Veccio

Valrani advances to the nearest fairy and tries to swat it with her blade.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
cold iron damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

She cuts it in two!

Not going to bother confirming that crit. Woo, maybe I should have gone ranger rather than druid.

Moving to outmaneuver the fairy on Rocco, Lirotha swings with her cold iron dagger, hoping for a quick kill.

Dagger (+Flanking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5
Damage(Magic/Cold Iron): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

"Bwy the Books and the Keys! Hold stwill!"

Once again, Rocco steps away from the fairy and telekinetically flings a cold iron sling bullet at his opponent.

TK Projectile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Veccio lunges for the nearest Fairy...

Attack roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 -> Damage roll: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Killing it on the spot.

Valrani follows suit erasing another one but Rocco and Lirotha fail to defeat the last one. As Veccio kills the fey creature threatening her Mel takes a deep breath nods at the young swashbuckler and moves near the others starting ot chant a song about curage to strike down evil.

Inspire courage

Fort save (Veccio): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Fort save (Valrani): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Fort save (Valrani): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Unfortunately both Veccio and Valrani fall prey to the fairy dust explosion caused by the dead fairies while Mel manages to shrug it off.

The last remaining fairy doesn't seem scared and keeps attacking trying to pinch Lirotha with her magical pliers and bite!

Attack roll (Pliers vs Lirotha): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 -> Damage roll: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

Attack roll (Bite vs Lirotha): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 -> Damage roll: 1d4 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1

Lirotha: do you have mage armor active on? Anyway...

Meanwhile Veccio moves into the fray and slashes at the fairy

Attack roll: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 17 -> Damage roll: 1d6 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 4

Wounding but not killing it due to his sickened condition!

Everyone but Veccio and Lirotha if she fails a DC11 fort check: GO!

Valrani continues to swot at the remaining fairy, who obviously has no sense of self preservation!

attack, sickened: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 2 = 15
damage(cold iron), sickened: 1d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 2 = 7

Rocco steps back once more and casts a spell to stop the fairy from causing his friends any more harm. "That's quite enough now, thanks. Feel free to die!"

Cast Daze. DC 14 Will save

Feeling a familiar lethargy that her elven blood instantly recognizes, Lirotha curses under her breath and tries to get off her Mage Armor spell quickly! She then turns and tries to make sure her friends stay awake...

Mage Armor: Yeah I threw it up in response to the sleep spell, just forgot to update the 'status effects' on my character info.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Lirotha swings for the fairy. Determination and hatred obvious on her face.

Cold Iron Dagger w/Arcane Strike/Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 = 12
Damage(Cold Iron/Magic/Inspire Courage): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

The fairy buzzes furiously as Rocco's magic takes hold preventing her from once again taking the offensive. Lirotha and Valrani on the other hand fail to finish it off. Mel keeps her distance while Veccio tries to striker the fey monster down for good...

Attack save: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 23 -> Damage roll: 1d6 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 4

And suceeding to do so.

The last fairy's death triggers another explosion of fairy dust but after a few moments the party is able to shrugg its effects of and starts looking for the fairy's lair...

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"They came from over there..." she says gesturing towards the old shop.

It takes a bit of effort for Valrani to squeeze in (Can take 20 outside of combat), and that is reworded with the sound of her quickly losing her breakfast.

"Disguisting!" she stammers.

Uses detect magic

heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"I wonder who the child was?" she asks nobody in particular.

Lirotha shakes her head. With a simple action Lirotha applies her Hex to her wounds, trying to feel better about the situation.

Healing Hex: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Not going in there me lovelies. I'd hate to get trapped in such a small space if there is more of 'em. Rocco?
Can you do the honors and make sure Valrani is OK in there?"

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Escape Artist: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Ugh...you and your fat head. Fine. I'll check things out." Rocco continues to grumble as he easily enters the chamber, but his grumbling quickly turns to saddened silence as he takes in the gruesome scene. "Poor kid. What did they do to you?" Never one to pass up a shiny trinket, Rocco pauses to examine the gold tooth before continuing over to the makeshift shrine and freeing the girl from her bonds. Before examining the bonds, he performs a series of occult gestures in front of his forehead and utters an incantation to strengthen his mental capacity to understand the situation.

Appraise tooth: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Cast Burst of Insight
Heal, Burst of Insight: 1d20 + 3 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 8 = 16

"Lets untie it Rocco, and take it back to it's people. It'll have a parent somewhere. Somewhere."

Does anyone know Aklo? If not you can't decypher the writings even if you have linguistics. BUT you can ask around for someone to read the inscriptions for you... but given the grisly recipient of the writing it will cost you

The party recovers the child's corpse and shows it to the helpful tieflings, Zea included. Unfortunately no one seems to know him, but as Zea explains this is only to be expected as there always are lots of orphaned urchins prowling the Nursery and this one can very well be one of them.

Once the party explains what was causing the gruesome death they are very grateful indeed and and more than a few swear to join the fight against Thrune!

Let me know if you want to pay for an expert in Aklo to decypher the writings on the child's body. Also note the next three Upkeep phases of the rebellion you'll get 1d6 additional supporters joining from Devil’s Nursery thaks to your actions here

"If we have the money, paying someone to identify that writing could be very helpful..." suggest Valrani.

"Surely these things happen for a reason."

"We should probably leave it alone," Veccio sighs, trying to scrub the memory of the child's body from his mind. "Let the kid rest."

Lirotha is already shaking her head.

"No. This was done ON PURPOSE. We need to find out who or what did this to the child and therefore summoned the fairies.
They could just do it again, and I would not like another child's death on my conscious! I don't recognize the language...find
me a scroll of Language Comprehension and I should be able to decipher this easily enough me lovelies!"

She gestures at the body.

"Let's bring the corpse back to our base for now, and talk to Zea about who she might be. That in itself could offer us
a clue as to who did this to the child."

Before making a decision about what to do with the writings, Rocco looks at the child. I think I'm going to regret this. Stand back." He kneels down next to the corpse and lays a hand on the child's forehead, wincing slightly at the clammy dead flesh. With a few occult incantations, he casts a spell to give the child a voice in death, even if he never had one in life.

Cast Grave Words on the child.

Lirotha will whisper a plea to her patron and touch Rocco gently with a Guidance spell to give him more focus hopefully.

The deceased child starts shaking and making gurgling sounds as if something coming deep from within his corpse was suddenly awakened. Then the body's torso suddenly turns upright and the boy's mouth starts shrieking:"Nooooooooo SOOOOO MuCH PAiNNnnN!!!! Make it stOOOOPPP!!! It BURNS! IT'S BRIGHT! BRIGHT AS THE SUN BUT IT'S ALL DARK HERE! Dark... and COLD!"

The tirade goes on for a few more seconds before ceasing suddenly as it started.

Unfortunately Rocco's roll wasn't enough to gain the party any insight on what happened. So I ask again, do you want to spend the money needed to decypher the inscriptions carved on the bdndages?

You get ready to move the unfortunate child's body out of the Devil's Nursery for further study back at the Wasp's Nest. You know that moving the deceased body without being noticed and raising the wrong kind of attention won't be easy so you prepare accordingly...

One of you rolls stealth or disguise, the others can help with aid another rolls

Valrani does what she can to attract to help carry the "sick" child wrapped up in a blanket.

aid another: 1d20 ⇒ 1 <- same +0 bonus on both skills.

Rocco leads the group through the Nursery, making sure to find a path that won't attract any attention as they carry the small body back to their base for further examination. I knew I would regret that.

Stealth, shared consciousness: 1d20 + 16 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 16 + 3 = 29

Stealth (Aid Another): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

His ears still ringing and his face pale from the tormented screeching of the dead child, Veccio helps Rocco find the quietest paths to tread.

Stealth (aid another): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Despite Valrani almost alerting the dottari to the party's presence Rocco's supremely stealthy approach allows the heroes to get past even the most inquisitive of guards, well aided in that by Lirotha and Veccio's efforts.

In no time the party reaches the Wasp's Nest where Laria helps them hide their grisly prize.

Lirotha then asks the halfling for the scroll she needs and the party starts planning its next move...

Thanks to Laria Lirotha gains the comprehend languages scroll. After a day spent learning it the witch is able to decypher the script in Aklo... but its meaning eludes her still.

Give me a DC20 linguistic check. If she suceeds Lirotha learns what follows (and of course you can always PAY someone to do the decyphering for you)

The day after they return from the devil's nursery the would be heroes are awaken by a thunderous sound. They rush out of their beds only to find a wall of the Wasp's Nest storeroom has completely collapsed causing debris, rocks and dirt to invade the room. The damage seems extensive and thus probably costy to repair.

For a brief moment you feel glad the rebellion has not got enough of a following so the collapse didn't cause anything more than structural damage. Yet you can't shake off the feeling something is amiss here...

Give me a DC13 Disable Device or a Knowledge(engineering) check please

Not trained in either of those sorry

Valrani goes down to look at the collapse. "I can carry buckets... I may even be able to summon some help in the clear-up.." she offers.

Linguistics, Disable Device,and Knowledge (Engineering) skills are all TRAINED only skills. So I'm stumped either way. Might as well and bite the bullet...

"Well HORSE$#^~!! Its still gibberish. The poor child: Why was this done to you? Looks like we'll have to go ahead and hire someone to decipher this gobbledy-g+&@ me-lovelies. We also may need a mason to look at that wall..."

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Mels stares despondently at the wall of the Wasp's Nest. "Eef zis 'ad been Fifth Period Neo-Classic-Liberated Art-Deco Taldan Revival architecture, I would 'ave more ideas on 'ow to fix eet. One of my classes at zee Lady Docur's school was on zat period een Taldan art and architecture. Unfortunately, zis eez not something I 'ave experience with for now."

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Rocco senses something is amiss with the wall, but he is unable to determine what exactly seems off about it. "I've got more experience breaking and entering through windows and doors. Not breaking down whole walls!"

A few minutes after you examine the cave-in Laria comes rushing down the stairs, actually looking scared. Once she's made sure no one got hurt she seems to calm down a little and comments:"This' strange. These walls have withstood the passing of time for ages and suddenly they collapse... I guess this whole basement could use some work but still something like this never happened before"

As you inform the halfling woman of the dead end you encontered at decyphering the inscriptions on the child's body Laria nods:"I fear I can't help you with those grisly carvings... fortunately I kno someone who can help you though!" so saying Laria gives you a name. You are to go meet one Bokar Borhausen. A professor at the Alabaster Academy living in a small townhouse in the Villegre district. Laria makes certain to book you an appointment with him and a few days later you get an invitation to join him in his office.

The academy isn't far from Longroads coffehouse and you quickly reach it. It's sunset and the place smells of old tomes and dust. Bokar's office is on the academy's second floor and judging by the size the professor must be quite important as it's the largest one. You knock and a gruff voice belonging to a small bald dwarf with a beard as white as snow bekons you to get inside.

"So... you must be Laria's new friends. She says you've got something interesting for me? I hope the little strumpet wasn't exagerating... I hate when I'm forced to waste my time on some dreary little piece of gossip everyone knew everything about just a couple of centuries past. Anyway, since you are here already show me what you've got, there's little point in waiting any further. A word of advice though. I may have some fondness for Laria and her little band of ne'er do wells but I'm also a renowned expert on all manner of obscure information... and my services and knowledge don't come cheap"

Valrani looks at the loremaster with concern.

"We found a body with odd writing all over it. After using a spell, we still couldn't understand what the writing said... so figured it must be some type of code. Word is that you are the master of such things and are always looking for a bit of a challenge. Something more than "two bit ciphers" was I think the expression we heard."

"Heh. So you're supposed to be pretty hot stuff, eh Professor? Well, I'm the type that likes to see a bit before I buy into something. So if you don't mind, tell us a bit about the history of the Devil's Nursery. Then we'll give you the real puzzle to solve."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

The dwarf doesn't seem amused with Rocco's choice of words but he shrugs before clearing his throat and speaking:"Hrmmmh.What you ask for is basically common knowledge... it will cost you one gold piece just for the impudence of inquiring on such a trivial matter"

"Now... is this some sort of elaborate prank or do you REALLY have something for me?" adds the dwarf after his deal with Rocco is finished.

"You weel, of course, 'ave to be silent about what we 'ave to show you." Mels smiles over the top of Rocco and extends a hand gracefully to the dwarf. Once he agrees, she continues. "We were een zee Devil's Nursery as part of a ...job. Zere, we found a body of a devil-born child, which eez not zat unusual, to be fair. 'Owever, zee carvings on zee boy's body were not. What we need from you eez a description of zese carving's purpose. Can you do zat, or do we need to find someone more with a bit more expertise?" Meliandri places her hands on her hips and looks at the dwarf sternly, waiting for a reply.