DM Maslen's Second Darkness PF Conversion (Inactive)

Game Master Pathfinder Maslen

Current Initiative Ethaniel

Followed by Ascaria (holding Guidance spell), then Tippy to complete the initiative round.

Ethaniel moves to N9 and casts Bless, granting all of his allies within 50 feet (should be everybody) a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and to saves against fear.

Tippy moves to flank if needed and double strikes.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d3 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + (1) + 2 = 6
Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d3 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + (7) + 1 = 10

Tippy steps into the space occupied by the dead body of the cook to gain a flank advantage which pays off for his main-hand attack.

Seeing Tippy move to flank and damage the snake Marcus attempts to finish it off with ascimitar stab and commands Samson to attack.

Two Handed Scimitar PA+ Bless, Flank1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 1 + 2 + 1 = 16
Damage1d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 3 = 15
Sic em boy

Handle Animal- Move action1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Samson, obeys his Master, closing and biting at the snake
Samson Blessed Bite1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Samson Damage1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

@Marcus / Ascaria

I am assuming Ascaria would have used her held Guidancespell on you. Which may be good cause you missed the snake by one so lets say that she buffed you, you use the buff which means you just manage to hit.

Marcus, buffed by Ascaria's guiding hand, thrusts his scimitar in an unorthodox method (slashing weapon) but makes the most of the attack into the tight space, his razor edged blade severing the head off the serpent.

@ All

Perception check

Bouncer Venn, looking pained himself looks up from his assessment of the cook before him. Heal Check 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7.

"I think he's beyond saving guys."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Perception - 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Tippy, with a slight height advantage spots a piece of paper under the table. The note shows a crude drawing of Saul Vancaskerkin, now with both hands missing and a brief threat scribbled below, “Looking to go two for two, Saul? Pack up, get out of town, and you’ll be fine!”

"The snakes were left here with murderous intent." Ethaniel barks. "Their bringer came through that door, back there, and may yet remain."

"Yeah. It's a threat against Saul. Too much of a coincidence that jerkface made an appearance tonight along with these other snakes."

Tippy hands Ethaniel the note he found.

Perception1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Marcus fails to notice the fibres or note but when Ethaniel Actually points out the firbes, Marcus acts.
Pass those here.
He brings the Firbes to Samsons nose to get a scent.
This is a long shot, he's an attack dog, I haven't trained him to track

Handle Animal: Push animal to track by scent1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Unfortunately Samson seems excited by the smell but doesn't know what Marcus wants.

Iscarel slinks over to the body of the chef, closing the unfortunate man's eyes and muttering a small prayer. "Aa' menealle nauva calen ar' malta." he says solemnly. "Better him than me." he adds, as an afterthought.

He nods toward Ethaniel, making for the door. "I'll take point. If we're to give chase we best do it quickly... and here I am not wearing my sword." He turns towards Venn. "Leave the snake. I promised myself a new pair of boots."

Iscarel will make out the back door, searching for any immediate signs of Saul's man. Failing that, he'll try a Gather Information check, with a bribe of five silver shields.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

There is no sign of forced entry through the back door. Furthermore, to your eyes Iscarel, there are nothing resembling fresh tracks at the rear of the building.

@Iscarel

Gather Information as a Diplomacy check takes 1d4 hrs canvassing and it's regarding a specific question/answer. If you're happy to spend the time then please specify a question.

Marcus heads out the door as well and tries to indentify any sign he might follow.
Survival to track1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19

"Hmph. Nothing." the elf says, dismissively. "I could ask some old contacts, but Zincher would no doubt hear about it before sundown." he says. "I'd rather not give him the satisfaction." he adds, almost defeatedly, standing by the door.

"Send for Saul, would you?" he asks, to noone in particular, drumming his fingers absentmidedly on the doorframe, eyes glazed over in thought.

Saul, already on the floor having been summoned by the commotion soon walks through the kitchen to find you all congregated near the back door.

Saul, "I knew something was up. Nothing good can come from a visit by the devil. Why in the nine hells would you hurt cooks? Blooming coward! Ethaniel, Ascaria can you please see to Venn and the other cook? They both seem to be in pain and look ill from their injuries.

Ascaria kneels beside Venn and the cook and examines the bites. While doing so she mutters, "Had I known that we would run into snakes today, I would have prepared different spells... Had I only stayed in bed today..."

Heal check for Venn: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Heal check for the other cook: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

@Ascaria

Venn looks to be in a real bad way, you're not sure if its poison still plaguing him or something else. His bite wounds are leaking blood and he has become weak and pale, lying on the floor of the kitchen. The other cook has stabilized. He has resisted the persistent effect of the snakes lethal poison and should recover with rest.

Tippy grimly retrieves his daggers, especially grim when he pulls a blade from the other cook's body. He wipes them clean and returns them to their homes.

"Thanks for the assist, guys."
He crouches down next to Venn and grips his hand. "Hang in there, friend."

Marcus waits for Ascaria and Ethaniel to leave, then grabs Saul, Tippy and Iscarel in a quiet corner away from the other staff.
I think it's possible one of the staff did this, no doubt paid off by Clegg. I've checked out back. There is no sign in or out beyond what I would expect the cooks to leave when they take out the trash.
The recent rain cleared out all old sign so I'm very confident I'm right. Who ever bought the snakes in used the inside entrance. They then dropped 2 sankes into a kitchen thatbwas well lit AND occupied. That means either the rogue was invisible, which is possible but walking through that crowded gambling den without bumping into someone would be damn hard.
More likely someone the cooks knew and were ok with being here.

Ethaniel examines the wounded cook and Venn.
Venn: Heal (untrained) - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Cook: Heal (untrained) - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

I'll be cursed if I know a thing about healing, beyond the power that Calistria graces me with...

Murmuring a blessing to the Savored Sting, Ethaniel clutches his holy symbol tightly and lets energy flow out from him.

Channel Energy - 1d6 ⇒ 2
Channel Energy - 1d6 ⇒ 4

"And how is that, friends?" Ethaniel asks, weakly.

Yay. Full hp!

As the waves of divine energy wash over the injured, the warm easing of pain and aches follows. Both cook and Venn still require rest, as the effect of the poison lingers, even only if temporarily. Venn will be out for a good four days. The cook probably only needs a couple nights recovery. Alas, none of the healing could save the first victim of the snakes venom.

Saul in response to Marcus, "Did anyone end up talking with Clegg? Did he give any indications of something being up? Speak with the cook and see what he has to say. Speak with Venn also as he usually perches near the kitchen doors when on duty. If anyone knows who came in and out of there it would be him. As for an 'invisible rogue', Clegg would spare no cost to have his fun with me and I know he has ties to some extremely crafty charges."

I'll speak to Ascaria. Looking to Tippy and Iscarel. Would you to mind talking to the others

Ascaria gives Ethaniel an acknowledging smile when he channels his healing energy. Visibly relieved that the two men are not in immediate danger anymore, she tells the cook to get a good night's rest and that he should be ok soon. Then she turns to Venn.

"I'm afraid that you were not so lucky as your friend here. The snake's posion is inside your veins. Now, you are a strong guy and with the healing you just received I'm pretty confident that you will make it through unharmed. Get a couple of days rest, drink a lot, and you should be fine. If your symptoms grow worse, however, should you feel weak or in pain, catch a fever or anything, then come see me. I have some antitoxin that I can give you if this poison comes back."

When the two of them have left, she turns to Ethaniel. Thank you, my friend. Tell me, have you learned about diseases and healing somewhere? How you examined those wounds, that looked... pretty knowlegeable. I would say you have a real talent for the healing arts.

Meanwhile in the bar area, the new bartender Samaritha Beldusk has gained much favour with the customers. Using her arcane arts she is ensuring each drink leaving the bar is super chilled. Her well behaved owl companion has made a friend of Larur who is currently sitting at the bar and watching as Samaritha captivates the customers. Having asked one of the other bartenders, Larur confirms that all three haven't had the need to leave the bar area at all so far so casts no suspicions in their direction.

Tippy nods, and heads after the cook and Venn to ask them those questions. He asks the cook if he saw anybody at all in the kitchens carrying a sack, whether they were strangers or not, and asks if there was anybody in the kitchens just before the snake attack. He asks Venn if he noticed anything odd, like the kitchen door opening but nobody coming out, or any of the staff carrying a cloth sack around.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Bracking away from Saul and the others, Marcus waits for Ascaria to finish with the wounded.and takes her aside gently out the rear door.
Dove, I know you may be getting sick of the private meetings but I can't risk being overheard by the staff....I examined this way and found nothing to indicate it was used as an entry or exit by whoever planted the snakes. Unless they flew the person who put them there used the inside entrance to the kitchen. Either it was a staff member or magic is involved. Tippy and Iscarel are quizzing the staff to see if anyone saw something. Saul wants to be sureit was Clegg. What did he say, exactly to unnerve you and did he include threat against us that would implicate him in this?

His tone was soft, unaccusing. So much in contrast to the hard exterior he usually wore for everyone else. And she knew it. Marcus was only ever kind to her.

Ascaria has hoped to avoid recalling her meeting with Zincher in all its details. But Marcus was of course right. Besides, his kind handling of her really flatters her a bit.

She takes a deep breath. "Alright, I sat down at Zincher's table, trying to look like a normal gambler, tossing the croupier a silver. He immediately passed me a chip stack about a hundred times that value saying how he could not afford to play the low stakes or something... It's obvious that he really wanted to show off his money publicly." She scratches her head. "I tried to play it innocent, asking what the great Zincher was doing in the establishment of his competitor. Then he gave me the first push, openly telling me that he was checking out the place and that I had to be that witch he had heard about. I knew there had to be more to that and wanted to pry it from him. I decided that his openness was a good sign and resolved to be equally straightforward. Really should have known better."

Ascaria's eyes get a little watery and her chin starts to quiver slightly. She is clearly uncomformtable but forces herself to go on. "I wanted to be strong, Marcus. I thought I could bring him to show his hand. He didn't seem too bad to me. I openly doubted that he was just there to have a look around when he could have his lackeys do the same. Well, he obviously decided that he had had enough then. He literally told me off that I better be careful. It was not so much the threat itself but the tone, the sudden harshness. He really frightened me. And then he said that it was time for him to leave... Strange now that I think about it. In hindsight it appears that somebody gave him a sign or something... And that was exactly when the snakes appeared in the kitchen..."

Marcus hears the explanation and is hard pressed to keep himself from wrapping her up in an embrace. She will find herstrength.
Seeing the struggle, he changes tack.
Thankyou Ascaria....Now I need to ask a favor of you. Samson you see, is a bit too old to use as a fighting companion anymore. I don't simply discard working dogs when they are no longer useful and if I simply release him in this city, Saul would either put him in the pit or he'd have to scavenge. He does not deserve that. I need a bigger stronger dog and could not keep two combat bred dogs in my room because eventually they'd fight.
Samson likes you and if you would take over his ownership, you'll fimd no more loyal a friend.
You don't need to bring him on jobs with us, but owning him.garuntees his safety from the pit and you get a loving companion to guard your sleep.

He moves to hand her the leash.
I will teach you his commands if you want him. He'll be as loyal to you as I am.
Marcus breaks off talking then, having dropped the none to suttle hint at his feelings for her.
Never could just speak plainly you fool

Ethaniel's face shows some surprise at Ascaria's comments about his healing ability. "Well...I haven't studied healing, really. That which I manage is through the grace of Calistria, so it is the Lady you should admire, and not her follower." The half-elf pauses for a moment, considering. "I will say that I have seen my fair share of welts, cuts, bruises...those kinds of things. I've worn them myself, most times. Sometimes they're bad, and sometimes not as much. But...to call me a healer...no."

Ethaniel looks away. "I'll not forget how readily you lent me aid when I was ill, mere days ago. It is not just your expertise, it is how you treat the afflicted. And that is why you are a skilled healer and I never shall be. But if I can ever assist...you have but to ask." He bows awkwardly before excusing himself. I imagine this happens before Marcus and Ascaria go out the rear door.

Looking to help with the questioning of the staff, Ethaniel goes to track down Iscarel and Tippy.

Ascaria is surprised about Marcus's request. She had come to know him and Samson as two things that always came together. Seeing them play in the rare slow times allowed the ranger's soft side to show, something he probably was not even aware of.

Discarding the dog like that seemed cruel to her at first thought. But Marcus was right of course. The usual fate of a trained dog who got too old would have been the pit or a kick out off the door. Looking at it from that angle, the ranger's request was really touching even if he failed to see the obvious flaws of his plan.

"I ... I thank you for your trust. Your words are very kind and I am honored that you would entrust Samson to my care." She hesitates. "It may not be very wise, however. One the one hand there is Blacky. I do not know how the two of them would get along, especially when I am on duty and cannot take care of them. On the other hand, it would be cruel for Samson to be seperated from you while you are still so close. Plus, we will often be occupied at the same time. I cannot take him with me like Blacky but leaving him alone would not do him justice either."

She shakes her head sadly but then her face lights up with an idea. "You know, I may just have found the solution for our little problem here. The other day, I visited some old acquiantances in the Leeward district. People my granny had known. One of them is a former stablemaster. He came to Granny once when a horse had bitten him and the wound had festered. Anyway, he is a very pleasant old man. He has a knack for handling animals and he is a bit lonely. If Samson were to stay with him, you would know him to be in good, caring hands. You could even pay him a visit once in a while. I am sure he would be willing to give it a try provided the two get along. What say you?"

Marcus offers her a smile.
Honestly I think he's earned an easy retirement. As long as the man treats the dog well. He's a good guard dog. I'll even give the man a gold coin once a month for Samson's food.
Thankyou Dove. I was lothe to keep working him and would have hated to lose him because I worked him when he was too old for it.
He opens the door for her and bows.
Would that this were a nice place to have a meal...there are far nicer ways to spend an eve. Shall we?

Saul rallies everyone back to the kitchen after a good ten minutes, having gone to .

Saul, "So what have we found out?"

edit

Saul rallies everyone back to the kitchen after a good ten minutes, having gone to check the floor with Larur.

Saul, "So what have we found out?"

Clegg didn't give much away. It was a veiled threat and nothing to point to him. I also don't believe for a second he wasn't behind it. This man doesn't take to competition. From what I'veseen he will attempt to quietly ruin us for so long, the man HAS demonstrated hubris from his words and response to Ascaria's probing. If we prove to resourceful to sutble methods he'll likely attack the place one night.

Iscarel loiters by the bar for some time, pocketing Clegg's coin and trying to negotiate a bar tab with the skeptical bartender. When summoned, he meanders into the room, staring at his nails in apparent disinterest.

Iscarel nods his head knowingly as Marcus speaks. "He wants to cause a panic before he makes his move. It's how he works. He'll be waiting for a sign of weakness."

"Mount the creature's head over the mantlepiece. If the tale must get out, we show the people that we mean business." the elf says, with a savage grin. "I'd deliver it to his doorstep, if our reach were that long, but alas..."

"Do we want to escalate this into an actual war? Are we well-equipped enough to fight an actual war against this guy? I mean, we can hit him back, track down a few of his guys and shank them in a dark alley somewhere, but that's just going to make him hit us back, and he can probably hit us harder. And if it turns out he wasn't behind the snake attack, then we've just gone and started a war. I think we need to be careful that if we're going to send a message to somebody, that it's the right message to the right person."

Marcus listens to the opinions of his companions, looking at Saul all the way.

Saul, is there anything more to this than competition? Do you have some history with Clegg?

Saul, "Yes, we do have history. His view however, is perverted and baseless. In short, he blames me for the death of his brother even though it was my son who was placed in the area of the crime. My son fled and Clegg took it as a sign of guilt and couldn't rest until someone had paid a price." He holds up his amputated stump where a hand use to be. "He cashed in favour with the Overlord and it was decided I would loose the hand and all my wealth and be forced to 'live' in poverty and shame. I was the witch on the pyre of Clegg's vendetta and my pain was his relief. Is his relief. He doesn't want to see me regain wealth and status."

Marcus does a half scoff, Well Tippy, it sounds like conflict with Clegg is unavoidable. Now I see why you were willing to enter into partnership. You said there would be difficulties, not a full blown blood debt to the leading mobster in Riddleport. When I signed on Saul, I told you to be straight with me.

Marcus is doing his best to contain alot of anger.
You son of a....
He is about to leap at Saul, but checks himself when he looks at Ascaria. As much as he wanted to floor the old man and walk out, he'd come to care for her in his time here and the rest of his companions were growing on him. Except for Iscarel.

He stands clenching and unclenching his fist.
I put it to the rest of you. I said if you weren't straight with me I'd walk. You haven't been.
My friends, I am more than happy to leave this old man to rot hear and now. Make no mistake,Saul, Clegg is watching the place even now. If all your partners are seen leaving tonight, he'd have you dead by morning. I'll stay if the others all agree to remain and fight yourbattle, but for them, not you. If you want my loyalty, don't bullsh!t me ever again. You tookus as fu¢k!ng partners, not lackeys. With us you have a chance to rise in this cesspit, withus gone, you're just a cripple.with a dagger aimed at his back. I have never lied to you, how many people can you honestly put on that list?

Saul shakes his head leaning with both 'hands' on his cane, "Whiteshae, you seem to only hear what you wish. I was completely straight with you. I told you of my old life, I told you had lost all including my hand. Much in the same breath I told you by the Overlords decree, that I had paid my debts. I have had no trouble from Zincher in the last few years whilst I regained my wits and only now he chooses to tell me my debt is still not paid. If anyone is in the wrong here, it is Zincher who, on top of being wrong about my involvement in his brothers murder years ago, lets his hatred burn still." He looks around at each of you gathered before him. "Does anyone else here feel that I have misled or wronged you?"

Iscarel shakes his head, not in disdain but in disbelief. He places a hand on Saul's shoulder. "No, my friend. I knew what side of this merry game I was joining, and you have been a most gracious host." the elf says with a smile, [b]"If a little too persistant in replacing the locks on the wine cellar..."[/b

Time for class. I'll finish up this post in an hour. :P