Darkest Corners volume 2

Game Master Harakani

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 manservants
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 ring of Arcane Signets
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Castor calls Squeeky in to hide inside his cloak.

Upon receiving the ring, Castor studies it for a moment and makes it appear as a book partly hidden in mist.

He watches the Sergeant approach the door and Daria negotiating with the construct.

As he sees Diene attack one of the manservants, he shouts "Careful, these are highly advanced and capable models, they are probably trained guards and fighters."

Create Water not working well sir. If we can bring them under control I'll use the wand.

Just the AoOs for now. We can do combat rounds in a second... Everyone can take a hit if they want. I'll give 24 hours (so 12 fgrom now) then move on.

Diene trips the manservant, which goes down in a spray of cinders. Clumsily it still grasps for Mia.
Is tripped. Grapple is now from prone.
fire damage for diene: 1d6 ⇒ 2

well, I reckon Mia was busy talking and caught totally off-guard on that one(didn't expect it to happen), so she'll not be taking an action-

"Hmm... Annoying."

It didn't look like there would be much opportunity to actually delay the constructs with illusions, given the hands-on approach they had chosen. But maybe ...

Ophelia has nothing to take an AoO with at the moment, given that she is holding a flimsy wand : )

The manservant's grasping hand reaches a few feet off the ground and latches on to Mia's arm, and slowly it starts to ready itself to lever its burning body off the ground.
Mia damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Okay. Manservants will let you guys go first, because you have rings.
Round 1

do we use init or is it us in any order, then them?
Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 just in case.

Mia's actions will depend on wether Isama Quenches them or not.

Seeing Mia grabbed by a burning construct Isama will use a charge of Quench to keep her from being further damaged.

I don't suppose you'd find it within yourself to use that charge of quench to also put out all the fire visible nearby.

De Morgan took one of the rings and lamely thanked the giver of it. As she put it on her clan's crest formed on the flat bezel of the ring. A Gold Lion on a Green shield. "I hope this works..." she grumbled.

When Mia was attacked by one of the automatons, she said angrily, "Of course it didn't work."

De Morgan Shouts at the Automatons and levels her weapon at them, "Unhand the girl and I won't blow you to pieces." To Ophelia she murmurs aside, "No offense, but they're just constructs right? Brass can't be too angry if we damage some property for the greater good.

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Quench is an area effect spell. It'll get the inside as well. 5 20ft cubes = 20 5ft squares = about a 45 deep by 90 wide area.

Isama's wand discharges, and with a faint sizzle of steam the constructs, Mia, and everything within about 45 feet suddenly extinguishes.
There is a momentary pause, and then smoke billows back in from the sides of the cleared areas.

Isama would of course aim to have as much of the spell affect the burning areas as possible. I think DC GM has accounted for that

"They might be more reasonable now, with the fire in this part of the building extinguished. Then again, they might not." Castor comments as he watches the situation at the entrance. Squeeky is safely hidden under his cloak.

"The property is hindering our work, which is illegal in accordance with §121:12 - Unlawful Obstruction of Justice. In addition it seems to be assaulting an officer, also highly illegal."

Ophelia replies to Constance, her tone growing more agitated as she listed the offences the other constructs were guilty of. She tilts her head to the side, and starts to circle the construct grabbing Mia.

"Worst of all, they seem to prefer to annoy us whom are perfectly safe over saving those others, that are dying by their neglect. Should you not be elsewhere, servant?"

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Bluff (Lie): 1d20 + 10 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 10 = 37

"In fact, I'm going to go save them right now." *WINK WINK*

Diene attempts to slink past the constructs, to get closer to their goal, moving by the one currently preoccupied grappling Daria, if said thing was accomplished..

"Shouldn't you be escorting people out who are closest to the fire? Whee, over here, pay attention to meeee.. People with shiny rings are ordering you to help the people who are totally down there!" Diene jazz hands and then points in her attempt to draw the attention of the constructs away from Daria.

Aid Another Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Hopefully, if we give them multiple valid ways to fulfill one of their programmed orders, they'll follow the version that fulfills two programmed orders (obeying us! Whee!)

The Manservant rises, pushes Mia outside - and lets her go. There's a grating, clicking noise from close up that might be it trying to talk.

At the sound of shouting from below, and at the prompting of the Guardsmen, the second Manservant leaves, rushing back into the smoke towards the staircase. Faintly through the smoke another figure (on fire) can be seen joining him. The smoke billows again, and they are gone.

In the confusion, Diene slips past the Manservant.

The first guardsmen (who had ejected Mia) turns to pursue Diene, waving frantically.

Neither seems concerned by De Morgan's weapon.
Round 2

"Looks like this is our cue. Let's move in while the servant force is occupied..." Castor nods at Ophelia (more out of habit than for any other reason).

"Alright, everybody, let's keep things clear for Zenji. If she can move at will and set things off fire, the constructs should start working with us!"

"Agree." Ophelia replies and nods back. She looks back to make sure Mia is okay, then follows Diene.

Daria shows a thumbs-up sign to Ophelia, then follows in. If they come across any more constructs, she will "play tag" with them.
Move towards them to be closest, then ready action to move away if they move next to her. Even if they end up chasing her down they should not have time to grab her before Isama can Quench

Holding the wand of Quench with one hand and making sure her wet cloth is tied firmly across her mouth with the other Isama follows Ophelia and Daria in.

De Morgan follows suit with the wet cloth and skirting around the guards of the tower.

Just doing whatever you guys are doing.

Over the next eighteen seconds Mia is ejected - harmlessly - twice. Isama reaches the back of the large room, only to discover a beautiful spiral marble stair case ascending impossibly into the sky, and down into the ground. Their beauty is marred by the way it seems to be working as a chimney for toxic looking black smoke.
Nearby is a set of gilded double doors, carved with an intricate mural of multi-limbed amphibians doing... something. This must be the zoo.
Up, Down, or Zoo? 3 rounds in.

"A hard decision awaits us, if we want to get rid of the smoke, we have to go down, if we want to rescue the local boss" he grins "we have to go up, and if we want to make sure nothing was set loose and attacks us from behing we have to enter the zoo. Quite a conundrum we have here." he looks questioningly at the Sergeant.

If he seems undecided, Castor moves his gaze to Ophelia and to the other Guards raising his right eyebrow.

He keeps his wet cloak on the lower half of his face, so his voice is a bit distorted.

While waiting for a decision, he looks at Isama. "You might try to use the wand to quench the fire bellow us. It might reduce the smoke. I would say it is worth a try even if it is not the best use of the device"

While being "escorted" out be a construct again, overhearing Castors conundrum, Daria chimes in:"I'd say we go down. Fire burns upwards faster than the other way round, so it seems a better place to start."

In a short pause, she attempts to escape the escorting mechanical servant Escape Artist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"Plus, if my guess is right, I'd expect the maintainance area for these guys to be there, and I might find a solution to permanently solve their interference."

Isama aims the wand of quench as far below the staircase as she can and casts the spell

Down seems the way to go fer now sir she says in a muffled tone around the wet rag.

"You guys go down, I'll head up to look for the boss. If I spy any trouble, I'll head right back. On the one in a hundred this is a normal fire, I'll just get him out."

With an audible sizzle the heat emanating up the staircase abates. The smoke, however, does not.

"Click, click click" reports the manservant , depositing Mia outside.

The Sergeant seems on the verge of countermanding, then pauses
"I don't like splitting up in here. Diene - you even suspect something's happening, get back down here straight away"

"Roger, I'll probably be spotting an on-fire servant and heading back to meet with you inside half a minute, but if the way is unguarded, it'd be a damn shame if someone didn't at least try." She gives a quick two finger salute.

Diene starts sneaking her way upstairs.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

"Bold. Not smart, but certainly bold." Castor mutters.

"Shall we head downstairs?"

Isama nods Quench didn't quite work sir but ready to head down.

"I would say this is a great opportunity to use the wand again, Miss Zenj." Castor shouts as he sees the burning lab. His lower face is still hidden by his cloak.

Yes, sir Isama aims the wand so to maximise the amount of fire that would be doused.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28
While being "escorted" out repeatedly, Daria is taking a closer look at the making of the manservant. Specifically, it's there's something like a maintainance switch, an important cog, some wire thats essential for operation...I expect if there were any "covers" over things like manual shutdown, they'd be burned away during its time on fire, and I also expect that maintainance, repairs and programming are not done while they are active.
Knowledge Engineering: 10 + 11 = 21

"Hey, lady, this place is on fire, what's the hold up! Let's vamoose." Diene approaches, her only precaution to safety being applying a charge of shield to herself before doing so.

AC temporarily 21.

Downstairs
Isama lets loose with the wand, and a huge swathe of fire simply vanishes. The conjurestone below is cracked and burned. The wooden furnishings simply gone, and the metal and glass reduced to puddles.
At the far end of the building, past the smoke, the rush of fire can still be heard.
Will need to move if using another charge to completely extinguish the floor.

Upstairs
As Diene approaches the lady straightens and turns, revealing delicate half-elven features

"Great, seems to be working well so far. Lets move and secure this floor." Castor nods at his companions to move forward scanning the room for any sign of danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Isama nods and moves in front of her superior as, frankly, he looks pretty fragile to her.

Per: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

"Wait, you weren't prepared for this, so you don't need to worry? Um.... Do you have a plan for surviving asphyxiation, the fire, and then the building collapsing on you?"

"No." the woman adds smugly.

"Let's check this place quickly for any straglers or danger so that we may join Diene and Ophelia upstairs."

Castor moves in to check the place quickly.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"*pohmpohmpohm*" Ophelia idly hummed to herself. Since she was supposed to serve as backup for Diene, she had followed her slowly upwards. But since the half-elf was much more agile and faster, Diene had scouted ahead. The arrangement had seemed logical, but now Ophelia was stuck here halfway up the stairs in some sort of elevatory limbo. And it is highly unstimulating!

A bit frustrated, she continued to hum for a moment then stopped abruptly mid 'pohm' as she heard voices from above. Tilting her head to the side she listened, unconsciously fighting the compulsion to finish the second half of the 'pohm' - something that no doubt would be aesthetically pleasing (What sort of lunatic stops mid note?!) but also ruin her chances to eavesdrop. Hmm. Still unclear. I should get closer!

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Motivated by curiosity she began her not-so-sneaky ascent by tip-toeing up the stairs, which understandably creaked under her weight. Before long, she had reached the fourth floor and the curious scene. Hmm. It seems as if Guard Diene's instincts were right! There is someone in the fire! But, they are conversing instead of moving?

Know(History): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (3) = 13

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (4) = 19

"Guard Diene, why is this woman not heading out?"

My dice is on fire today! As in melted into a useless puddle ... :P

@Diene - feel free to have Ophelia arrive at any moment convinient (so if you want to try something more with that half-elf before Ophelias arrival, feel free to do so!)

My next action depends on whether there is an exterior window within 20 ft. I hope so. Cause I really wanna do it.

Defenestration is a beautiful word :P

@Diene: "fifteen feet from the stairtcase on the fourth floor." Dunno what you have planned, and I fully support it, but please try and cushion the fall for that civilian if the window plays the role I think it does...

Mia's still busy trying to find an off-button on the construct that repeatedly carries her out, and seemingly is impossible to escape-artist from. Once the group is far enough ahead, Daria will double-move past with acrobatics to prevent an AoO, then use withdraw actions to not provoke on further movement. Unless the construct is very speedy it should always just come close but never quite get a grasp unless Mia needs to stop.

That's what wands of healing are for. I also doubt they don't have any levels, given the whole, standing nonchalantly in a fire thing.