DM Talomyr's Council of Thieves (Inactive)

Game Master Talomyr

"Look, my little slip friend, I think your 'friends' are going to kill me whether I talk or not, so why give the bastards the satisfaction...just kill me and get it over with."

Diplomacy (Good Cop) roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Not necessarily...we have spared even goblins before, Wart moves closer to the Tiefling so that at his full height, and the Tiefling sitting up, they are eye-to-eye, We certainly would have to do something with you, but that does not necessitate your death. We are not evil, nor followers of unmerciful deities or ethical codes. We want what is best for Westcrown and its citizens. Demon worship and banditry are not on that list.

Wart nods at him as he continues, We all make choices here. You made a choice to work with your previous compatriots for whatever reasons, and now you sit with a choice not about them, but about yourself. You help us, and give us the information we need, and you will certainly have the best chance for survival. I am just a really small 'slip', and cannot restrain these other folks from what they do, but I certainly have a voice and can urge and plead. It's your choice, friend, and I certainly hope you see this my way and choose life.

The petulant tiefling spits in the reasonable halflings face, "You heard me, just get it #@$%^# over with."

Morghrim's face darkens, and he scowls and raises Shelyn's Kiss and obliges the scum with a swift beheading.

Unless the bugger starts crying too...

I'll not have ye talk to my friend that way... he mutters sullenly down at the decapitated corpse...

Unless the bugger starts crying too...

You'll get no such satisfaction from that one.

The tiefling's head rolls down the hallway, and you'd almost swear that the disembodied head had a smile on its face.

You stand before a barred door, from which you've heard a growl, and smelled a horrific stench.

Looking away at the brutal necessity of the situation, Bron turns back to the door with the growling behind it as he says, "Shall we?" Flail and shield out and ready to face what may be coming through the door, Bron takes point as he prepares to open the door.

By all means... Morghrim says, taking up a position behind Bron so he can bring his trusty Glaive to bear as a second rank warrior.

Addie casts Guidance on herself as Bron prepares to open the door.

Bron lifts the bar on the door and swings the door open, a near unimaginable stench of rot and decay wafts out of the room.

Bron, Morghrim, and Wart see a large tentacle reach out towards the open door as you hear shuffling footsteps coming ever closer.

Stunned for just a moment, Wart turns and nods at Morghrim in thanks. He plants himself near the door, and readies a bomb for throwing.

That was...unexpected. Let us finish this then.

Morghrim springs into action, moving to Y9 and slashing his Glaive at the thing, leaving room for Bron, Kev or Valeron to engage it.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Expending Guidance.
1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Morghrim moves to attack the creature and as he moves he sees a large creature with three legs, three tentacles, and a huge gaping maw of a mouth.

The surly dwarf slashes with his trusty glaive, cutting a large gash in the spherical body of the beast.

Bron is up.

Round 1
Giving the creature and intense stare as the horrific smell washes over him, Bron moves in and swings his flail in an attempt to connect with the horrific looking creature.

Attack:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage:1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Map

I need actions from Wart, Valeron, and Addie. After I have actions from Wart and Valeron I will resolve any AoO issues we may have (unless Wart or Val do something to provoke, one will be heading Kev's way.)

I need actions from Wart, Valeron, and Addie. After I have actions from Wart and Valeron I will resolve any AoO issues we may have (unless Wart or Val do something to provoke, one will be heading Kev's way.)

Even though we're all acting before it? Darn combat reflexes...

Also Bron you have a crit threat to resolve.

Even though we're all acting before it? Darn combat reflexes...

You've all shown yourselves to be far to competent to rely on straight out of the book critters...:)

Wart slides by both Morghrim and Bron, and sails into the corner, trying to slide under the waving tentacles.

Where are the light sources btw?

Finishing out dice expression on Wart's Acrobatics check.
Acrobatics check to hopefully avoid AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Map edited to reflect light that Valeron normally has on his shield. If there are other light sources, please let me know. I know Morghrim had light on the glaive earlier, but do not know if he would have renewed the spell.

Hearing the sounds of combat beginning in the room beyond, Valeron bows his head for a moment, and requests the Inheritor's blessing.

Addie steps up behind Valeron and glares at the tentacular creature, attempting to instill a sense of doubt and dread into its alien mind.

Move action to step forward to square W-9. Standard action to use Evil Eye Hex: creature takes a -2 penalty to AC for duration of 7 rounds; Will DC 15 reduces duration to 1 round.

Bron's critical confirmation:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10; Additional damage:1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Bron's flail smacks into the side of the creature with a sickening squish, but yet the beast still stands.

Wart quickly moves in, trying to avoid the creature's tentacles, as he narrowly dodges one of the flailing appendages. AoO #1

Valeron casts his blessing and moves closer to the combat.

As Kevorin move's by, the beast lunges at him, attempting to bite him, but misses. AoO #2

Addie, glares at the beast, but is unsure of how successful her gaze was against the beast.

Creature's Round 1:

The beast flails at Bron and Morghrim with tentacles, missing Bron. The inquisitor is not as lucky, as a tentacle bashes the dwarf, but fails to grapple Morghrim. Morghrim takes 8 damage. For its final attack, the beast bites at Kevorin, sinking it filth covered teeth into the half-orc's arm. Kevorin takes 7 damage and needs to make a DC14 Fortitude Save vs. disease.

That brings us to the top of Round 2, with Morghrim, Bron, Valeron, Wart, Kevorin, and Addie.

Going to go ahead and post Addie's Round Two action, in the event that the creature is not killed before it is time for her action.

Round Two:
Addie begins to laugh maniacally, further disconcerting the strange creature, as well as her friends who have never heard the young witch sound so disturbing. As she does so, she draws her crossbow and a bolt, keeping one eye on the passages behind her.

Move action to use Cackle Hex: extends the duration of her previously used Evil Eye Hex by 1 round if the creature successfully saved last round; therefore, the creature will have a penalty of -2 to AC during Round Three. Standard action to draw light crossbow and bolt.

With Iomedae's blessing, Valeron leans forward and advances through his companions to stand toe-to-toe with the garbage-beast, working to avoid it's flailing tentacles by ducking behind his steel shield.

Wishing to end this fight quickly, Bron shouts, "All who are willing, surround the creature, make sure it has no means to move." As the cavalier moves to flank the creature, the others find that moving to flanking positions makes their attacks hit harder as they are able to find the weak points in the creatures rubbery hide.

Standard action to grant Precise Strike to all within 30 feet which grants 1d6 Precision damage to all successful flank attacks for five rounds.

Seeing no easy way to initiate a flank, the wounded Inquisitor strikes again with his Glaive, hoping to bring down the beast. Morghrim attempts to take a step back out of reach of the creature, but bumps into Valeron and remains in his current position.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Adding the 1d6 precision damage to Valeron's damage roll:1d6 ⇒ 4

Let's see that attack Kev, if you hit, this fight should be over. Don't forget about the extra damage from Bron's Tactician ability.

Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Kevorin takes a mighty swing with his greataxe, sinking the blade into the open maw of the creature, nearly cutting it in two. The otyugh's tentacles fall limp as the creature slumps to the ground.

250 XP each for defeating the otyugh. Please assume that you were at the base of 3rd level prior to this encounter.

"Well I'm glad you joined the Defenders!" Valeron admits, with a large grin, as he pats Bron on the shoulder. "However you knew the weak points for us all to strike on... that" the cleric gestures at the lifeless form of the garbage-beast, "... I'll never know."

The Iomedan scans the group and notes Kevorin and Morghrim's wounds. After plunging his longsword deep into what he assumes is the skull of the creature, he kneels next to it, head bowed, and quietly recants another blessing of The Inheritor.

+10HP to everyone

Morghrim grunts his thanks to the cleric, and then says-

So, anywhere else ye be wanting to look a'fore we head home?

"I'm willing to continue on to the Bastards if you all are," Addie says to her companions. "Or we can go back to the safehouse and tackle the Bastards tomorrow."

I'm fairly spent. I had to tackle a lot of that nastiness on my own for a time. Morghrim says with a shrug.[b] I'd like to return home.[/b[

Valeron looks a bit surprised. "Why, Morghrim, you're the last person I'd expect to want to head back versus finish the job and lob off another tiefling's head!"

Valeron is prepared to check out the last room, or even rest in the barracks or chow hall to prevent any of the Bastards from fleeing and setting up a new lair elsewhere.

AG-7 finishes off the upper level? The rest of the passages go back to sewers? Everyone should be at full health, let me know if not. Bless should be good for another 17-18 rounds if we hustle over there...

Wart inspects the room as he talks,

Well, really we should probably go back.

He moves about the room, pausing to look in all sorts of nooks and crannies.

I think they will have to respond to this...either by reinforcing their guard,

Wart moves to another corner,

Or possibly moving their operations again...though hopefully we have hurt them enough to make them wary...remember we still have an invisible flying friend out there.

Stopping as if something he said struck a note in his own mind,

Taking that into consideration, it may be helpful for us to sneak out of here, and be extra careful about getting back undetected. We also could be being spied on...right...now

Morghrim shrugs.

I'm not convinced these are the Bastards of Erebus we're looking for anyway. I hadn't heard their ranks included powerful clergy, or that they were all devout Mammon worshippers who could channel energy.

I have no more prayers to Shelyn today, and few blessings remaining. We have dealt them a mighty blow, and a single day will not be enough for them to recover should we wish to venture here again. We should check out the final room here and then ready ourselves for an assault on the Bastards.

I'm not aware of any other room on the map.

"It's all about tactics my good man." says Bron as he helps the others sort out the area before adding, "I am game for anything, I can continue, but if others feel that we should return, then by all means lets, but first we should make sure that invisible creature isn't still about to follow us."

"This is true. We can't afford to return to base." He drops his voice to a whisper. "We'll have to get rooms at an inn someplace and send a messenger to let the others know what's up."

Kevorin's bluff check vs DC 15 or 20 (GM's choice based on difficulty of message): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Sense motive check 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3 Well...not bloody likely!

Perception (looking for invis-frenemy) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

I am still not convinced that we are alone, but I certainly agree. Let's not use names, and let's get going.

Wart positions himself in the room next to the door, ready to go.

Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"I'm willing to do whatever you think is best," Addie responds to Kevorin's suggestion.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

No such luck.

1d20+9

No such luck.

By my reading of the Bluff skill, Morghrim is automatic since he's the target of his message.

In that case-

Morghrim nods slowly, understanding what Kevorin is getting at.

I don't quite trust a messenger, our lads are completely defenseless if there was a retaliation. I'll go myself and ensure their safety...

Morghrim rushes off away from the group.

Eventually everyone makes it back to the Shrine of Aroden, some later than others, but everyone makes it. No one feels that they were followed, and this is confirmed by the lookouts around the Shrine.

You are back at the shrine. Arael, Janiven, Rizzardo, Amaya, Morosino, Sclavo, Vitti, and Fiosa are at the Shrine when you arrive. Please feel free to handle any business you need to at the Shrine, otherwise I will assume you get a good night's rest, and anxiously await your plan of attack for the next day.

Upon returning to the shrine, Valeron promptly heads to Arael, to whom he courteously bows.

"We struck a solid blow to the Bastards today, a dozen tieflings were slain for their crimes against Westcrown thanks to the efforts of our six valiant warriors." He uses the term warrior loosely here, intending it to also include Wart and Addie.

"Once rested, we shall return tomorrow to ensure the sewers are clear." After stating this, Valeron glances to the others, realizing that they had yet to form a plan, hoping this is indeed everyone else's wishes.

After ensuring the well-being of everyone, Valeron pulls Addie and Wart aside.

I will not be available to post until at least 1630, but I will update to 3rd level, and post actions, etc.

"The winged devil -- between us, can we devise a way to find an invisible creature?"

Addie considers Valeron's question for a few moments before responding. "There is a spell that can allow one to see invisible things," she replies. "It is not a spell that I know now, but if we purchased a scroll of it I could add it to my repertoire."

"The one drawback to this spell is it only works for the caster," she continues. "There is another spell that conjures a cloud of golden particles that covers everyone and everything in an area, which has the benefit of visibly outlining invisible creatures. It also causes creatures within the cloud to become blinded. Again, it is not a spell that I know now, but I could add it to my repertoire if we purchased a scroll and I had time to study it."

"My understanding is that scrolls for spells of this power typically cost approximately 150 gold each." (Addie currently has 220 gp, not counting any money we get for selling the gear and treasure found on the tieflings we just defeated in the sewers. Or maybe we could trade the scrolls of Contagion and Undetectable Alignment that we found on that tiefling priest.)

Addie accompanies Valeron on his trip to the ink merchant.

Aid Another Diplomacy check to assist Valeron in his bargaining with the ink merchant: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14