Round 2
Ah, the good duke hath arrived.
I move to E10 and cast Shocking Grasp using the Spectral Hand.
Ranged Touch:
Damage:
Again the priest calls on his powers to command others. Catching the Duke's attention he bellows "FLEE!"
Round 3
Will Save
Spooked by Mutamba's command, the Duke makes every effort to flee away from the priest, but with Mutamba guarding the exit, he does not attempt to leave the room.
Round 2
• Tirion moved to E10 and cast shocking grasp on the guard at E13 through a spectral hand. A surge of electrical energy goes through the badly wounded guard.
Round 3
• Mutamba casts Command on the Duke. It appears successful.
• The badly wounded guard fights for his life with renewed vigor and strikes a blow against Thordak.
Mace attacking Thordak
Damage
The other guard attacks Mantooth, but is unable to further wound the powerful paladin.
Mace attacking Mantooth
Damage
• Duke Murandal attempts to flee.
• Thordak (unresolved)
• Mantooth (unresolved)
• Bofus (unresolved)
• Tirion (unresolved)
Thordak brings his axe down in a mighty blur of swings, hacking through whichever guards are foolish enough to stand before him.
Glimdraath:
Damage:
Glimdraath:
Damage:
Glimdraath:
Damage:
I actually cast the shocking grasp on the duke, sorry I appear to have not named my target, my bad.
Round 2
Mantooth:
Mantooth turns and smiles at the duke.
Your time has come, you evil shall no longer infest this land.
Swift Action: Smite Evil on Duke (+3 att, +6 dam).
Attack-Magnimara:
Damage:
Attack-Magnimara:
Damage:
Attack-Magnimara(haste):
Damage:
AoA when Duke moved away per command:
Attack-AoA:
Damage:
Round 3
5-foot move to G11.
Attack-Magnimara:
Damage:
Attack-Magnimara:
Damage:
Attack-Magnimara(haste):
Damage:
Crit Confirm:
Damage:
Tirion
Seeing Mantooth begin his holy assault on the Duke, I send a Shocking Grasp at F13.
Cast Shocking Grasp.
Attack-Touch:
Damage:
Round 2
• Mantooth smites evil upon Duke Murandal and with Magnimarana attacks him with holy vengeance. The Duke is left badly wounded after such an attack.
Round 3
• Thordak and his axe Glimdraath slash down some furniture and some guards, leaving them lifeless.
• Mantooth finishes off the Duke with three Holy hits that leave the noblemen dead.
• Bofus (unresolved)
• Tirion (unresolved)
Lady Nesten comes in at the end of the battle, clearly relieved. "Thank you, all of you! I knew I could trust you to do a job well done! How can I ever thank you enough. Now I can get on with my life again!"
Well, I hope that we did right, but considering the Duke just attempted to backstab a paladin while invisible, I am guessing that the Duke was as bad as you claimed.
Now, Bofus, was the Duke's messenger among those guards we just killed? And Lady Nesten, did the Duke have any other members of his retinue here in your chateau? If so, we should take them into custody so that they do not have the ability to warn any other supporters of the Duke.
Finally, and while I know that Mantooth will not condone this, I think that we should partake in some misinformation that the Duke was killed by drow. This would have the effect of creating a schism between the Duke and his evil family, and the evil drow. Remember, the enemy of your enemy is your friend - at least temporarily.
Now then M'lady. You need to get your counsel together and evacuate this town. Unless you believe you are capable of stoping an army of thousands of hobgoblins supported by giants and dragons, I think that retreating to Brindol as have the people of Drellin's Ferry and other villages to the east is a good idea.
Finally, I cast Detect Magic and see what the Duke has and what is in the room.
"Well, I hope that we did right, but considering the Duke just attempted to backstab a paladin while invisible, I am guessing that the Duke was as bad as you claimed."
"You most certainly did, right as I originally told you. Do you not trust the word of a Lady, dark gnome?"
"Finally, and while I know that Mantooth will not condone this, I think that we should partake in some misinformation that the Duke was killed by drow."
"You would lie about such information?! I do not think spreading false rumors about Drow returning to the surface is a wise idea, especially since the drow in the past have surfaced out of Nesten Keep. I implore you to not tarnish my family name more than it already has been, especially by filthy rumors!"
"Now then M'lady. You need to get your counsel together and evacuate this town. Unless you believe you are capable of stoping an army of thousands of hobgoblins supported by giants and dragons, I think that retreating to Brindol as have the people of Drellin's Ferry and other villages to the east is a good idea."
"Naturally, I evacuate the town and lead my people to safety. I thank you again, for now you have made that possible for me."
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I take a quick look around, lifting visors/masks or whatever.
Nope, the servant isn't here. We should find him--that's one loose end I don't like leaving aroudn, as he apparently has direct contact with the drow. M'Lady, where are the earstwhile Duke's servants' quarters? Let's move, handsomely now!! we can liberate these . . . I give a corpse a nudge . . . of their valuables later!
Hrmph! Thordak says, wiping his axe clean on the Duke's sheets and dabbing at his wound. Alright, let's get back to tha dinin' hall, Oi've worked up a thirst!
"Perhaps they will find their way in the next life.", the priest says as he mouths a quick prayer to Irori.
You are able to find the servant down in his room. Apparently, he is still packing his belongings and has not left yet.
"Well met, gentlemen," He greets you, suspiciously. "You appear to be lost. May I help you?"
Yes, my friend here spotted you dropping this letter and we wanted to make sure that it got delivered to the correct person. We all know that the Duke would be greatly displeased if it were to fall into the wrong hands.
Bluff:
"Yes, my friend here spotted you dropping this letter and we wanted to make sure that it got delivered to the correct person. We all know that the Duke would be greatly displeased if it were to fall into the wrong hands."
The servant immediately checks his inside vest pocket and upon discovering the letter's absence he quickly grabs the letter and checks the seal. He quickly replies in common.
"Uhh, thank you, Sir? So, uhh, where did you say you found this again?"
I look at Bofus.
As a question, why were you carrying a missive written in the tongue of the drow addressed to a drow? And where did you learn the tongue of the drow. You better be real quick at answering, or very good at lying, as your life hangs in the balance. Your master has already made the fatal choice of annoying the paladin, it was the last choice he made in his short, now terminated, life. I imagine that you will not do the same.
Intimidate:
The servant looks visibly shaken, but manages to stammer a reply. "I . . . I . . . did not read the message. It was s. . . sealed up and I d...did not know what it said. With all due respect, how do I know, . . . . sir . . . that you did not replace the letter I carried with one that you are g . . . giving me now?"
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I don't think he read it.
You may not know what it said, but you *do* know where House Kzlashtarr in the Darklands is, don't you?
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As for the veracity of the letter . . .the Lady Nesten here, along with the paladin, witnessed the seal being opened with their own eyes. Feel free to call both of them liars, if you wish--but I wouldn't recommend it. Might prove bad for your health.
"You may not know what it said, but you *do* know where House Kzlashtarr in the Darklands is, don't you? "
The servant looks at you, trying to sense your motive, but refrains from answering your question in the fear that he will get himself in trouble.
Sense Motive
"Come to think of it, that letter does not look at all familiar to me at all. I think I need to be going. I wish you all a good day!"
The servant grabs his pack of belongings and prepares to leave.
""Come to think of it, that letter does not look at all familiar to me at all. I think I need to be going. I wish you all a good day!"
"Not so fast, Mr. Ledmar! You are not to be dismissed until I have given you permission! Your master is dead, and you may be dead quite soon unless we get your full cooperation. Now, tell me, gentlemen, do you have any further questions for this humble servant of Duke Murandal?"
It was to Intimidate.
Unless my companions have any questions, I think that we are done here. You are the law of this town, and this man was found carrying a missive to those being directed to lead an assault on the town through the use of drow forces. I do believe that you would be best situated to pronounce whatever punishment is due.
Now them M'lady, if you we have finished helping you, I do believe we should turn in. This has been a rather active day and I do not believe that the next few will be any more peaceful. We are going to be facing dragonsworn and undead. And I expect those to be the easy foes we will encounter.
With that, I would like to head back to the Duke's room to see whether he has any magic or other important items. Then I will head back to my room unless there is more business to attend to.
" You are the law of this town, and this man was found carrying a missive to those being directed to lead an assault on the town through the use of drow forces. I do believe that you would be best situated to pronounce whatever punishment is due."
"Indeed I am the law in this town, and I thank you for removing the heavy burden of villainy that until recently has plagued my life. I will certainly deal out justice as befits this man. You most certainly have my favor and I will sing your praises whenever possible. Now, let us retire for the evening and in the morning I will see you off on your journey. Good night, gentlemen!"
When you return to the Duke's chamber, a few of Lady Nesten's Guards are already cleaning up the room and removing the bodies of the fallen guards.
Wealday, Lamashan 3, 4710, One hour after sunrise.
The day appears overcast, but it does not appear to be raining yet. You arrive in the great hall of the keep where a grand breakfast of eggs, sausages, and rolls await you.
"Good morning, my dear company. So tell me, where will you go today?"
The Duke's guards were dressed in chain mail shirts and carried maces, but none of the items radiate any magic. The Duke wore some very nice jewelry including a necklace with a golden yellow topaz on it that you estimate to be worth about 500 g.p./ The duke has no other treasure other than his courtier's outfit and none of his items radiate any magic.
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I'll liberate the Puke's necklace, but will leave the rest.
M'Lady, perhaps we can take a few moments to check out the entrace to the Underdark. We could juryrig something that, while it won't keep them out forever, might at least give you teh advantage of foreknowledge of their presence?
assuming she shows the way, I'll work with the rest of the group to come up with some suitable trap that might damage invaders through dropping large blocks of rock on their heads, mabe even with some alchemical device with a suitable "boom" factor.
I'll do the main work, and maybe anyone with suitable training (engineering, alchemy, um . . .something else?) can assist?
Disable Device:
"M'Lady, perhaps we can take a few moments to check out the entrace to the Underdark. We could juryrig something that, while it won't keep them out forever, might at least give you the advantage of foreknowledge of their presence?"
"Of course you are welcome to see the door. However, I assure you that it is sealed shut, and certainly cannot be opened from within the darklands."
Lady Nesten leads you down several corridors, through a secret passage and down a spiral staircase into a chamber with a huge sealed and elaborately crafted iron door with no door handles, but a single key hole in the center.
"The only way it can be opened is from this side of the door and even then only with the key that I have temporarily misplaced. However, until recently I had it secretly hidden in my jewelry box. I am sure the Duke has stolen it, and has it hidden somewhere nearby."
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I'm beginning to think the Lady here is *still* hiding something .. .
Sense Motive:
Well, I don't mind taking a little time to search his quarters for that key . . . if you're confident that this passage isn't passable (except, of course, for things like Teleporting or disintegration), then I'll respect your opinion and not suggest trapping it further. Let's check out that room!
On the way to the room, I'll hang back, and while in the rear, serruptitionsly . .. do something.
Perception:
M'lady, a door like this will merely slow down the Drow and from the letter, they are planning an attack. I think that collapsing this whole passage might be the best idea.
Knowledge(engineering):
"Well, I don't mind taking a little time to search his quarters for that key . . . if you're confident that this passage isn't passable (except, of course, for things like Teleporting or disintegration), then I'll respect your opinion and not suggest trapping it further. Let's check out that room!"
"I would very much appreciate you searching his quarters. That is the most likely place for him to have hidden the key. Once the key is found I will be able to rest assured that we will not have any drow surfacing in Talar."
"M'lady, a door like this will merely slow down the Drow and from the letter, they are planning an attack. I think that collapsing this whole passage might be the best idea."
"Dear Master Tirion, I appreciate your concern for our safety, but I assure you the Drow have not come out of this entrance for many years. Perhaps the Duke had villainous allies within the darklands, but I am certain that with the Duke's recent demise, that will no longer be a problem. However, I thank you kindly for all of your concern. You are a most thoughtful gnome!"
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OK, then, let's make haste to the Duke's room!
While in there, I make a thorough search as only a halfling thief (using an Eye of the Dragon) can make. I only use the Eye, though, if I can do so wihtout anyone outside our group seeing it.
Also, while searching--assuming our group, adn only our group can hear--I'll make whispered conversation. I don't trust her completely. There's something she's not being straight about, and I can't put my finger on it yet.
Perception: <--w00t!! Just TRY to hide something from me!! JUST TRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
search includes *everything*: bed, bed posts, mattress, pillow(s), desks, drawers, desk legs, chair legs . . . walls, floor, ceiling, etc. You name it.
As Bofus searches the Duke's chamber he easily finds a key hidden in a small compartment in one of the posts of the bed. It appears to be made out of silver with a collection of small gems encrusted to it. There is an elaborate letter N crafted into the handle of the key.
"Thank you, my dear, Mr. Beerswizzler! I don't know how I can thank you enough!"
Aye, Tirion, Oi wouldna' have a problem with that. Oi think it might be best...
Wealday, Lamashan 3, 4710, One hour after sunrise.
The day appears overcast, but it does not appear to be raining yet. You arrive in the great hall of the keep where a grand breakfast of eggs, sausages, and rolls await you.
Personally, I would like to collapse that entrance. Or at least investigate it to make sure that it cannot be opened.
When the time is available, I will sneak down with Bofus and check out the door.
Cast Detect Magic.
Spellcraft:
If necessary: Stealth:
Mantooth Longbrow:
Mantooth peers out the window into the dark daylight, frowning a long frown. Dark times, these. Iomedae protect and guide us. Give us the strength in steel and light to defeat the horde of the enemy! With that he returns to the table and chews on a sausage.
Thordak son of Throtgar:
Thordak eats lots of eggs. About a dozen.
Alright, Tirion, let's blow this tunnel up, an' get on tha road. We've dallied here long enuff!
Knowledge, Engineering:
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While down at the tunnel with Tirion, I make sure we're alone (or with our group only) and pull out the key I found.
So, I'm pretty sure htis is it. But there's still something about the lady I don't quite trust, so I didn't give up the goods--at least not yet. What do you think--should I give her the key back?
I'll take a close look at the door, seeing what I think of its security. I'll take my time.
Perception: take 20, with EoD and Trapfinding bonus = 40
When the time is available, I will sneak down with Bofus and check out the door. Cast Detect Magic.
Tirion, Thordak and Bofus go down to the basement and investigate the door to the darklands. It is an solid iron portal and it does radiate magic as does the key. Besides the physical lock mechanism, there is some sort of arcane lock on the door that only the key allows to open. However, you think that it could be opened with a very clever thief (Disable Device DC 30) or with a powerful mage that knew how to dispel the arcane lock with his magic.
Thordak, from your knowledge of engineering, you believe that with time, a solid dwarven made pick axe, and lot of effort, the rock frame surrounding the door could be brought down. However, you believe that it is probably much more secure in the current form than if you did try to collapse the walls.
Well all, we seem to have two options. Open the door and see what is beyond. Or leave the door and hope that an army of drow do not decide to come through. Bofus, you seem pretty sure that the door could be opened by a fairly skilled thief. And I know that a skilled magician could dispel this lock. Thus, contrary to the Lady's imagination, this door is not completely secure.
Unless we want to start a war in the Darklands, I think that we should report this all to the Lady, return her key, and then make our way north to fight the Horde. We have spent enough time already, there is no reason to keep helping her if she does not want it. In addition, as long as the town is evacuated, even if the drow do invade, nobody will be here to be harmed and we can bring the Lions back to battle them if necessary once the Dragon Horde has been defeated.
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I can't see as I disagree with anything you've said, T. This passage is secure enough from everyday thugs and even fairly strong foes, but any thief worth his salt could get through this door. I'm OK with giving her back her key.
Assuming Thordak doesn't argue, we'll head back to the Lady. I'll address her with a worried brow.
M'Lady, we've been down to look at that door. Yes, it's strong--but you should know that it is NOT secure. I could get through it, even without this . . . and I hand her the key. Tirion assures us that a strong enough wizard could dispel the magical lock as well. And . . . I give a nice, pregnant pause I *know* there's more you're not telling us. But I'll assume you have you reasons. another pause, giving her a bit of a chance . . . We must be off to fight the coming scourge. We implore you, get your town clear of this place. Head to Brindol where a reasonable stand can be made, with all haste!
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That about covers it, doesn't it boys? With that, I bid you good day and good luck.
I'm *still* very wary of this situation, something doesn't smell right. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the reveal.
Perception:
Sense Motive:
I nod in agreement as Bofus talks with the Lady while keeping my eyes pealed for anything unusual.
Perception:
"M'Lady, we've been down to look at that door. Yes, it's strong--but you should know that it is NOT secure. I could get through it, even without this . . . and I hand her the key."[/b]
"Oh my goodness! You found it! You truly are a remarkable halfling! How can I thank you enough."
"Tirion assures us that a strong enough wizard could dispel the magical lock as well. And . . . I give a nice, pregnant pause "I *know* there's more you're not telling us. But I'll assume you have you reasons."
"I am not sure I know what you are saying, Master Beerswizzler. I have told you everything I could. If there is more that I have failed to mention, I assure you it is not because I do not trust you. You have shown your value in more ways than I could imagine! As for the security of this door, perhaps we can help its security by keeping it a secret. If it remains unknown, we won't attract any unwelcome guests to come in and try and open the door in my absence!"
"We must be off to fight the coming scourge. We implore you, get your town clear of this place. Head to Brindol where a reasonable stand can be made, with all haste!"
"You can rest assured that I will do that! I do not wish to put my people in any further harm, and you be assured that I will evacuate them to Brindol at our earliest convenience!"
"That about covers it, doesn't it boys? With that, I bid you good day and good luck."
"Good day, and fare well, my friends! I look forward to seeing you safely back in Brindol when this is all over!"
Aye. Thordak says, frowning. Let's be on our way then.
Mantooth nods and bows a little to Lady Nesten.
My Lady, do make sure you and your people escape safely and as soon as possible. Iomedae willing, we will stop the horde of evil and you will be able to return to your land and hold. Do not despair, and keep that key secret and safe. Farewell.