DM Talomyr's Council of Thieves (Inactive)

Game Master Talomyr

Kev is also content to wait the day. He spends the afternoon while it is still light, aimlessly wandering the streets, looking for likely places to ambush (or be ambushed) by shadow beasts where their light won't likely draw the attention of the law enforcers.

Knowledge Local (if it helps): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"It's up to you Addie", Valeron responds, after hearing Addie inquire about attending the actor's performance. "I'm willing to reprise my roll as Master Valeron, Mistress Addie's brave and... humble servant, as needed." The Iomedan does a mock bow, waving his hand in a flourish.

Addie looks ruefully at her common garb, amazed that the actor, Umburto, took no notice. "It must have been the veil," she thinks to herself. "It always throws people off..."

"No," she says, perhaps a bit wistfully, "I don't think I have anything that would let me pass as a high lady out for a night at the theater. Let's get our supplies, and see what the others have planned for this evening."

Addie will spend 50 gp on scroll supplies - that should be enough for her to scribe 4 1st-level spell scrolls. I'll have to look in my books for the scroll bandolier - I think it's a Forgotten Realms item, but it seems like a simple enough item to be anywhere. I'll post the rules and cost for it when I get home. Shall we assume that we also picked up the CLW wand?

Kev is also content to wait the day. He spends the afternoon while it is still light, aimlessly wandering the streets, looking for likely places to ambush (or be ambushed) by shadow beasts where their light won't likely draw the attention of the law enforcers.

Knowledge Local (if it helps): 1d20+5

Kevorin manages to find at least three different locations that might be suitable for finding a shadowbeast without drawing undue attention from the Dottari.

While Kevorin was searching for these locations, he also found a "wanted poster" on an alley wall.

The poster offers a reward for any bodies of shadowbeasts left on a garbage stoop outside the tavern across from the old Leroung estate. Interested parties should see "Bluehood" at the Brightblade Inn.

Kev heads back to the hide-out to inform the others about this Bluehood and the reward.

Whenever you all are done crafting items and whatnot, here is a map of the first location for shadowbeast hunting. It's not too far away from the shrine as you can see in the MAP.

My posting over the next few days is likely to more infrequent, and limited to the evenings (San Diego, CA time) due to a bit of business travel. Let me know when you are ready and where you would like to be.

Whenever you all are done crafting items and whatnot, here is a map of the first location for shadowbeast hunting. It's not too far away from the shrine as you can see in the MAP.

My posting over the next few days is likely to more infrequent, and limited to the evenings (San Diego, CA time) due to a bit of business travel. Let me know when you are ready and where you would like to be.

I dont have permissions to the map. E-Mail is alexkilcoyne@hotmail.com

Ditto on permissions

Helps if I acknowledge the friggin prompt....try again, let me know if you can access the map now.

Helps if I acknowledge the friggin prompt....try again, let me know if you can access the map now.

Working now. Ty.

After Wart returns from his shopping excursion, taking his customary precautions to avoid tails and detection, he stowes his new purchases, and examines his gear. He looks over all his gear methodically, looking for spots that need repair, and cleaning what he can. After he is done, he puts everything back in its proper place, and clasps all the pockets on his sash tightly. He takes out his dagger, and his whetstone and finds a comfortable place to sit in the main room.

“You know...I’ve been thinking. This Bluehood could be the start of something great. Hmm…Bluehood, where have I heard that name before…”

Wart spits on the whetstone, making sure that the blade get honed to a razor edge.

“What if we put out some feelers…looking for other things that need attention. These shadowbeasts can’t be the only thing that the Dottari and the Hellknights are ignoring. Perhaps we could take care of those while we learn more about these Bastards of Erebus.”

Wart slows his sharpening pace to something more meditative and rhythmic.

“While we are at it…the Children of Westcrown is…how to say…quaint. Perhaps something with a little more *umph*? Eyes of Aroden? No…nope. Too obvious. They would come straight to this temple to investigate first. Lightbringers? Demons and such hate the purity of light…so somewhat symbolic that one is eh? Torchbearers? We carry the light of hope into the darkness, leading the way for other? Oh! How about the Volunteer Fire Department?!? A metaphor for the fires we are going to put out…or start…to protect the people of Westcrown.”

Wart continues to sharpen his blade, stopping every now and then to test its sharpeness.

“And, we should adopt disguises. I know, I know Morghrim, you want them to fear your visage. I get it, and it does make a certain sense. But just follow me here, and hear me out. If we adopt a standard disguise, and a symbol …then no matter how many of us they kill, they will never be sure if they got us all. If they know who we are, then they can publically off us, and end the movement. If the Volunteer Fire Department (V.F.D. for short of course) is not an actual group but a symbol…we achieve immortality and it will be unstoppable. As long as there is someone to stand up and say enough is enough, it will never end! We can start a movement that can die with us, or something that they can never stop until we achieve freedom! Also, on a more selfish note, if we go about with our faces everywhere, then it will be easy to identify us if they can pick out one of us. Even the others here will be identified in time. Then they can snatch us all quietly and end this before it starts.”

Wart stops sharpening for a moment and just sits there thinking out loud.

“Also, Black Addie, you mentioned you could change the color of our masks? Why not get masks and hooded cloaks in all different colors. Then, when we go to do something, she changes them all to the symbols color like blue or white or something, and after it wears off, no one is the wiser. That way we can’t be picked out for our clothing, and can keep it on us to be able to do missions at the drop of a hat. Also…we need a symbol. Something of a calling card we can leave so othe people know we are working for them. A candle…a torch…a rosebud…that one is my personal favorite, something pointing to Milani, though I understand if that is not what is decided upon for that reason…something that is really prevalent in this town, and doesn’t come from one source. A broken copper piece, severed in half between the crown symbol on the back…we got to pick something good. What do you guys think?”

I'll have to look in my books for the scroll bandolier - I think it's a Forgotten Realms item, but it seems like a simple enough item to be anywhere. I'll post the rules and cost for it when I get home.

Okay, so what I was thinking about was the Scroll Organizer from the FR campaign setting: it's a long srip of leather that has an overlapping series of fifteen pockets sewn along one side, each large enough to hold a scroll of a single spell. When slipped into a pocket, only the top of the scroll shows, allowing you to scan the scrolls' titles. It costs 5 gp and weights 1/2 lb. For some reason I was thinking that it allowed you to retrieve a scroll as either a free action or a move action that did not provoke AoO, but it doesn't say anything about that - I must have been confusing it with the item retrieval properties of a Handy Haversack. Regardless, Addie will purchase one if available.

I dont have permissions to the map.

+1

Morghrim listens to Wart carefully and wordlessly, and then raises a hand in response and interrupts the halfling as he mentions Morghrim by name.

Hiding behind a mask seems cowardly to me. I'm all for a symbol, and I understand the power behind them. But i'd rather wear a helm than adopt a disguise... If that is not suitable, then I acceed to this disguise in the interest of protecting others- I care not if Hellknights and their allies come calling for their heads to be chopped off by Shelyn's Kiss... Morghrim says, stroking his newly-named Glaive and sharpening its edge lovingly with a whetstone.

But I do not want my actions to lead harm to the door's of other resistance members. So, my small friend- Will a helm suffice to conceal my face, or must I wear some kind of... mask...? Morghrim asks, clear distaste in his mouth as he chews around with the final word in the sentence before forcing it out.

In response to the later conversation coming from the halfling, the Dwarf grunts his approval to the idea of a rose being left as a calling card.

A rose is a thing of beauty... Shelyn would approve. I also feel a rosebud would be appropiate.

Morghrim is suddenly struck by a fit of snorting, guffawing laughter.

Of course, i'm just as happy leaving decapitated Hellknight's heads as our calling card too... Bwahahaha!

The Dwarf continues to chuckle with mirth at his own rather poor joke.

“While we are at it…the Children of Westcrown is…how to say…quaint. Perhaps something with a little more *umph*? Eyes of Aroden? No…nope. Too obvious. They would come straight to this temple to investigate first. Lightbringers? Demons and such hate the purity of light…so somewhat symbolic that one is eh? Torchbearers? We carry the light of hope into the darkness, leading the way for other? Oh! How about the Volunteer Fire Department?!? A metaphor for the fires we are going to put out…or start…to protect the people of Westcrown.”

"How about the Westcrown Municipal Defenders? Or W.M.D.'s for short?" Addie suggests as a name for the resistance movement.

“Also, Black Addie, you mentioned you could change the color of our masks? Why not get masks and hooded cloaks in all different colors. Then, when we go to do something, she changes them all to the symbols color like blue or white or something, and after it wears off, no one is the wiser. That way we can’t be picked out for our clothing, and can keep it on us to be able to do missions at the drop of a hat.

"I like that idea," Addie replies to Wart's suggestion. "Just let me know which color or colors you all think would be best."

BTW, Addie scribed 1 scroll of Grease.

A Question: Are small crossbows even for sale in Westcown? I know that gnomes are also small, but if Halflings are primarily slaves within the city, I could see them not selling them to reduce the chances of a successful armed revolt. If this is the case, then I would like to instead save the coin {36gp} for something else down the road, perhaps a riding dog…

Crossbows for small folk do exist in Westcrown, but for the reasons you mention, are not overly common. As a result any weapon (standard make) for a small character will have a 10% mark-up from the standard listed price. (round fractions up).

You do not believe you were followed back to the Shrine. Unfortunately, you do not know anymore about "Bluehood".

Regardless, Addie will purchase one if available.

If you have the cash, go for it.

Responding to Morghrim, Wart laughs too.

"A metal face covering or a cloth one, what's the differance? With a cloth one, you could roll it up and stuff it into a belt pouch."

Tapping his chin as he looks at Black Addie.

"What were the colors of the city before all this devil-business? Anyone know?"

Knowledge (history)(untrained) check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"And, what businesses in the area are open and or semi-open that we might run to give us a reason to be frequenting the area so much? The stables behind us...the Inn we started in? Anyone know that either?"

Knowledge (local)(untrained) check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"Symbolism is very important... people can be killed, but symbols can't.." Valeron fiddles with his holy symbol while nodding to Morhgrim's. Or my father's cloak... "Anything we can do to make it easier for the common folk of Westcrown to recognize us, simply, and support us... makes us stronger."

He paces, hands clasped behind him. "Colors are very powerful, by picking a single simple color, those who support our movement can communicate their support by hanging a simple cloth of that color from their windows."

Wart nods at Valeron's comments.

"Yes! That's it exactly!"

"What were the colors of the city before all this devil-business? Anyone know?"

Blue and Silver, as opposed to the Red and Black prevalent today.

"And, what businesses in the area are open and or semi-open that we might run to give us a reason to be frequenting the area so much? The stables behind us...the Inn we started in? Anyone know that either?"

There are a few shops and businesses in Rego Sacero, but by and large it is the temple sector. Rego Sacero does hold the Imperial Marina so there is a fair amount of trade that come into the sector from the docks.

Wart, do you have access to the map yet? Please let me know. Thanks.

Says view only.

"Hmm, Blue and Silver used to be the colors of the city before all this...both together might be a bit obvious, but perhaps just blue? Wiscrani Blue?"

Wart, having sharpened his dagger to a razor edge, takes a moment and puts it back into its concealed sheath.

"Well, okay. Let's go get a full face mask for everyone and a hooded cloak, or perhaps just a tabard if that would be easier than the full cloak? And perhaps Ermlos can cut a few copper coins in half for us...something to place over the eyes of the dead. Half each eye, symbolizing that they won't have enough to pay the ferryman? I only have two rosebuds left, who do we know who we can get more from?"

Wart clicks his tongue as he puts away his whetstone.

"If you guys think it would be smart, I can work on getting a cover in the area. Sometime tomorrow, I could go about looking for employment around here. As either a houseboy, or working at an inn or tavern. *Looking at NPC's* Got any ideas?"

Not for the first time, Wart laments not having a sufficient map of their area and the underground sewers as he comes back and sits near the group.

"What about these areas you have scoped out Valeron? Tell us more so that we might make out battle plans. Here, let us draw a map in the dust...we really need a better map, but this will have to do."

With his scribing duties completed, Valeron shakes his right hand in the air, trying to regain some feeling in his digits.

Walking back to the main room of the Shrine of Aroden, he quietly advances to the altar, and kneels before it, withdrawing his longsword and using it to support his clasped hands.

"Blessed Iomedae, tonight we fight
For this fair city we shall mend
In darkness grant us courage; Light
Our resolve unwavered shall not bend"

His head bowed, the Iomedan hears Wart's voice and quickly stands and sheathes the weapon. It felt good to have a cause, one that wasn't superficial and corrupt like the rest of Cheliax.

"Addie and I were doing more shopping and less reconnaissance. I surmise we'll learn much of the city during this evening. We can draw maps if you like, but I feel a calm peace about tonight, our fates are guided by a divine hand."

Seeing the odd look from the halfling, he adds, "let's get the others, and get hunting."

Morghrim smiles from his seat, and holds up his freshly sharpened Glaive.

Shelyn's Kiss is ready, curtesy of Valeron. How much do I owe you human?

The Iomedan chuckles. "One dead shadowbeast."

The Iomedan chuckles. "One dead shadowbeast."

The Dwarf chuckles with mirth.

I'm sure I can manage that payment; in fact i'll deliver tonight aye?

Spoiler:

May I take 20 to my sleight of hand check to conceal my dagger? If so, my total result is 20+6[skill bonus]+2[Hiding a Dagger]+2[Wrist sheath bonus, AA pg.9] = 30

When I checked in to see the map, it says I can only view it.
Masks are listed as being anywhere between 1 sp to 50 gp, and weighing 1 lb.; How much for a cloth mask that just has eye holes in it...kinda like Spiderman's mask?
Also, how much for a hooded cloak or maybe just a tabard? Color is inconsequential as long as it is not blue.

Let me know what squares you want to set up in on the map, I assure you that regardless of where you set up, shadowbeasts will find you, so decide what you all think is best for you.

I don't mind, we should stay together with light sources, and set up in one of the alleyways where they can only come at us from two sides to protect the squishy party members.

gmnazard (at) gmail.com for the map permissions

Kev would suggest that green area around the early 30s as an ambush site. Lots of open space to maneuver in.

Kev would suggest that green area around the early 30s as an ambush site. Lots of open space to maneuver in.

And it's conveniently close to the Brightblade Inn, so we wouldn't have to drag the shadowbeast body(ies) too far.

Sounds fine. Place me on the edge of the group so that Morghrim can protect the rest of the group from that direction.

To try to summarize... looks like the green area, with 2 melee at the north side and 2 melee at the south side. Wart and Addie in the middle.

I say we use Kevorin and Morghrim as spotters with their vision, and they can call out "company" when the shadow creatures descend on us. Valeron will have sword and shield in hand, with Light cast on his longsword this time and stick on the side with Kevorin.

If we can manage preparation _a round_ before the beasts attack, Valeron will cast Bless.

"Let's keep the sunrods out of it for the first few seconds, lure them in with the idea of a party that has no light sources, then BAM! Ambush them with some light."

Wart thinks for but a moment.

"I think I passed a tailor's shop earlier that had some winter masks for sale, and some cloaks. I will spring for the items since it was my idea. Give me two shakes of a lamb's tail, and I will go grab them real quick."

If everyone is okay with that, Wart will go run and grab them and get back lickety-split and get "dressed" for action.

Wart grabs his coinpurse and runs out the door.

I will update the map accordingly with you all and the shadowbeasts later tonight. You have 2 rounds for preparation once you are in location before the beast(s) arrive. For now I have have to run back off to the conference I'm at. I'll check back in later.

Round 1-

Shield of Faith, draw Shelyn's Kiss

Round 2-

Cast Guidance on self

"Let's keep the sunrods out of it for the first few seconds, lure them in with the idea of a party that has no light sources, then BAM! Ambush them with some light."

"That sounds good. Also, I've prepared Dancing Lights, and can cast that anywhere within a range of 110 ft, creating up to 4 moveable lights that must stay within a 10-ft radius of each other," Addie says to Wart.

"I think I passed a tailor's shop earlier that had some winter masks for sale, and some cloaks. I will spring for the items since it was my idea. Give me two shakes of a lamb's tail, and I will go grab them real quick."

Once Wart returns with the cloaks and masks, Addie casts Prestidigitation to color the cloaks and masks Wiscrani blue as the companions head to the designated location. She also casts Mage Armor on herself (total AC 15).

During the 2 rounds before the shadowbeasts arrive, I'll cast Guidance on Cadwyn and Kevorin.

For clarity:

Earlier in day: Whetstone on longsword

Several Minutes Prior: Light on longsword, holding it as light source. Shield out.

2 Rounds Prior: Cast Bless on party.

1 Round Prior: Cast Magic Weapon on Kev's greataxe.

For clarity:

Earlier in day: Whetstone on longsword

Several Minutes Prior: Light on longsword, holding it as light source. Shield out.

2 Rounds Prior: Cast Bless on party.

1 Round Prior: Cast Magic Weapon on Kev's greataxe.

Ditto on Whetstone on Shelyn's Kiss and Light spell. Glaive out but no buckler. AC20 with SoF.

Kevorin spends the first round readying his great ax.

He spends the second round holding it.

Ok, the map has been updated, here's the initiative rolls:

Morghrim:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Kevorin:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Cadwyn:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Valeron:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Addie:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Wart:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Shadowbeasts:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Large Shadowbeast:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

So the Initiative Order is:

Wart = 22
Addie = 21
Morghrim = 17
Valeron = 16
Kevorin = 13
Shadowbeasts = 12
Large Shadowbeast = 10
Cadwyn = 8

Since you were all going out with the intent of dealing with these critters, you see them and we will move right into the initiative order. Wart, Addie, Morghrim, Valeron, and Kevorin...you guys are up

Earlier: whetstone on dagger

2 rounds prior: Wart unbuckles his extracts and bomb pouches.

1 round prior: Wart pulls out his expeditious retreat extract, and the materials needed for a bomb.

Wart's Action, Round 1
Wart quaffs the vial he was holding, by dumping it down his throat while holding the vial with his lips. As he is doing so, he preps his bomb materials and stands ready to attack as soon as one moves within range.

Actions: Move Action: Drink expeditious retreat extract, +30 ft movement. Standard Action: Readied to attack when a shadowbeast comes in range, with 5 ft. step

Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 to detect shadowbeasts within range.

Knowledge (untrained)check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6: anything known about these things, specifically weaknesses.

Whoa... Looks like I get the biggest one to play with, bwahaha!

Seeing that the large Shadowbeast is heading his way, Morghrim sets down Shelyn's Kiss and pulls out his crossbow, taking a quick shot before setting the crossbow down. He expends Guidance on the crossbow shot, and activates his Protection judgement, muttering a prayer for Shelyn to keep him conscious long enough to bring the beast down.

AC21 this round, 22 next round, 23 round after assuming I don't switch judgements.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
1d8 ⇒ 6

Dammit I need a composite longbow... Does the beasts concealment apply to me, having darkvision and all?

Kevorin will attempt to hide in the shadows near him, so that he may spring upon the incoming shadow beast unawares. He readies a 5' step and sneak attack.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20(bless and guidance, and magic weapon)
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 + (3) = 14 (magic weapon plus sneak attack if it works)

BTW, Addie left His Lordship back at the shrine, so she does not gain the benefit of the Alertness feat.

Round One:
Addie waits as patiently as she can, planning to cast Dancing Lights between Morghrim and Cadwyn once the shadowbeasts approach.

Readying Action to cast Dancing Lights to create four lights that resemble hooded lanterns (normal light in a 30-foot radius of each light), one light each in squares J33, J35, K33, and K35 once one or more of the shadowbeasts move within range but before the beasts attack.

Valeron asks Iomedae for a little extra protection for the upcoming fight, seeing he still has time.

Cast Virtue on self for +1HP

"I think I see one up my alley to the north" he calls in loud whisper to the others, eyes working hard to poinpoint the moving shadow in the light of his longsword's glow.

Then he lets out a little whistling sound to make sure the shadow creature knows he's there.

Not sure how Talomyr does charge attacks, but if he's allowed to charge me right now, I'll use my move action to step to J28 to avoid the charge and force it to only double-move. If he can't charge because he'd clip K28 I'd like to stay just where I am.

You're fine where you are at because of the hard corner.

Morghrim launches a bolt from his crossbow, striking the largest of the beasts, seeming to do little but anger the creature.

The remaining shadowbeasts move towards the group, as the creatures do so, Addie's spell goes off holding the beast closest to Cadwyn at bay.

Kev strikes from the shadows, landing a brutal strike, taking two of the creature's three tentacles in the process.

Wart, I need an attack roll and location for you readied action. Valeron, if you had a readied action, let me see it. Otherwise, Cadwyn's up.

Valeron used his standard action to cast Virtue, so no standard action was readied.

I made a pretty high check on these shadowbeasts the first time we encountered them, specifically about their abilities. Do weapons have to be magical to truly harm them with ease? If so Morghrim would have made his judgement Smiting instead.

Also, AC pre-judgement turns out to be 21, not 20. My bad. It's 22 this round unless Morghrim would have used the smiting judgement to get the ability to bypass damage reduction/magic in Round 2.