DougFungus' Masks of the Living God

Game Master DougFungus

Kerret nods regretfully at Lector. It seemed like the best choice at the time.

Kerret looks up, checking to see if the scarred watcher in the gallery is still present. I think that bell means more will be coming. Quick, put on those robes and masks, maybe we can disguise ourselves as higher ranked priests. It may not work for long, but it might be enough to give us a chance...

Kerret begins stripping one of the priests, taking his robe and mask. Vastar, when did you get a bird? he asks, genuinely puzzled.

"Right in the nick of time is when he got it. That bird came in handy. We can talk about it later."

He hands the heavy mace to Lector. "Here, take this until we find our things. I'll take Krant's club." He pulls on one of the priests' robes and masks like Kerret is doing and then hefts the greatclub.

I grin at the bird and strokes it's plumage, "Old Deadeye provides for his flock."

Then I take the mace as it heads for Lector, "He knows his way around that rapier; let me swing this lump.

Once we are away from the dying I call on His aid again.

channel energy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

"Indeed," Lector says, passing the mace along to Vastar, and taking the rapier.

"These robes and masks should work to our advantage, if we can hide our weapons beneath them. Be careful about taking their robes though; it would be more difficult to impersonate someone that has authority around here."

Kaylee looks around as everyone is talking, her head still pounding and ribs still feeling bruised. After thanking Vastar, she notices that Lorant looks a bit worse off than she feels. Stepping towards him, she places her hand on his arm and channels potent healing energy into him.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 8) + 3 = 18

"A few minutes of confusion may be all we need. We must hurry though." She notices Kerret looking up and follows his gaze. "Is the black robe still watching us?" she asks.

Lorant's wounds almost all disappear with the combines healing of both Kaylee and Vastar. "Thanks. Ok, everyone ready? Just keep quiet and we'll try to pass through the place. We head to the armory to try and get any weapons or armor."

He searches Krant's body for any other items of note.

"Keep both eyes open," Lector enunciates, adjusting his mask and hood. "We'll have to act quickly..." The words behind the seemingly simple (and painstakingly obvious) advice carry a subtle, odd bit of power.

Expend 3 rounds of performance for Careful Teamwork.

Current HP Tally:
Kerret (0 Damage)
Lorant (3 Damage)
Kaylee (10 Damage)
Lector (0 Damage)
Vastar (0 Damage)
Swoop (0 Damage)

Krant possess a Greatclub, that when identified has a +1 enhancement bonus. He also has hide armor, filthy Grey Robes and a specialized mask of the faith which when worn grants a +5 skill bonus to intimidate checks.
Each of the Priests has a Masterwork Rapier, 2 potions of cure light wounds, a light crossbow with 20 bolts, a masterwork light steel shield, Grey Robes, and a mask. One of the priests has a pristine set of Masterwork Thieves Tools and the other has a pouch containing 46 GP.

For the moment the Courtyard is still empty. The figure in the window on the second story has vanished. The alarm still rings throughout the temple grounds.

"Everyone grab a weapon and let's go. We'll try to get into the armory. I don't know where else to go. We can regroup there." Lorant takes the Greatclub and the armor, but doesn't put it on. He pockets Krant's mask.

When everyone is ready, he leads them out of the courtyard.

Kerret hands the crossbows off to Kaylee and Lorant as the best shots of the group, and dons one of the grey robes and mask of one of Krant's underpriests.

Let's get moving. The armory is as good a choice as any right now.

I scoop up the potions and pass one to Kaylee.

"Let's get going."

Swoop follows, eager for some space to soar.

Kaylee drinks the potion as it's handed to her, stows the loaded crossbow, and grabs the remaining rapier.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"There isn't enough grey robes for all of us. Lorant, think you could carry me as I pretend to be unconcious? Or maybe Lector and Vastar should drag me between the two of them?" she asks, weighing the two options.

With a small smirk, Lector inspects the thieves' tools before pocketing them. He takes one of the gray robes, hesitant about putting it on, but seeing little alternative.

"Theoretically speaking, there should not be anything suspicious about blue-robed acolytes following their gray-robed superiors," Lector answers thoughtfully, desperately trying to salvage some kind of covert aspect. "Assuming that they do not make the connection, at any rate. On the other hand..."

"Does the bird have to come with us?" he asks with an even tone, eyeing Swoop. In the heat of the battle, he had not realized that it was subservient to Vastar.

How are you guys wanting to get back into the temple, assuming you do?

Kerret looks around. Uh, I think we need to go upwards. We've already kicked the hornet's nest, and I think we're probably going to meet more Razmiran's if we head for the armory. Maybe we should try the tower instead. Kerret nods over his shoulder to the locked door at the far corner of the courtyard. Maybe there's a way to get to the upper levels from there. Otherwise we have to go through the main temple to get to the private quarters of the upper clergy. And that won't be easy...

Just looking at the maps Doug's given us and making a guess.

"I can float up to the upper levels from here. If we tie all of the robes together to make a rope, it'd make it a lot easier for everyone to climb up. We'll need to bar the doors for a few minutes while you men climb." Kaylee offers in support of Kerret's idea. "They won't expect us to come down from above at the very least."

I look taken aback at Lector's question, "The god who I have sworn my life and soul to has directly intervened and sent this gift to me. Don't imagine I will turn him away or abandon His gift to these cut-throats and charlatans."

Kaylee's plan puts more cheer in my face, "Swoop could accompany you and serve as a guard while we climb. How do we get up there?"

My confusion, edited.

I thought we were outside in a courtyard? Or did you mean inside, Vastar?

Correct, You are still in the Courtyard. As listed in the Locations section of the Campaign Info tab, there are 3 obvious directions to head from here. The first is the front door of the temple. This will take you right back inside to Area 3 (The Vestibule). The second is the Main Entrance that will lead you out of the Courtyard and out into the streets away from the temple. The third option is that which Kerret mentioned, Area 2 (The Tower Stairs). The Wooden door that blocks this area is reinforced with iron bars and is locked but looks to lead to the walkway that leads to the window that the man was looking out from.

Now, there are still several less obvious options available to you. Kaylee's suggestion of floating up to the window is one, and there are still others. Some are more obvious to me as the GM, and I'm not willing to say what they are but its nothing you haven't come across already in the adventure.

I'll proceed once I have a firm party decision.

Kaylee turns to Lector, "The priests said nothing about my fox coming with me and I am not about to leave Fenris behind. Keeping the bird… Swoop, you said? she quickly asks Vastar, not waiting for his answer before continuing. "Keeping Swoop with us may throw them off more as he wasn't here when we first arrived." Letting the matter drop, she then asks the group. "Shall we go up now? I can only do this once before having to wait a day."

Lector opens his mouth as though to argue, the mask thankfully hiding to feeble gesture. Instead he thinks it over once more before nodding firmly.

"Very well then. Your plan it is. Make it fast, though."

Go ahead Kaylee, Kerret encourages her.

I peer into Swoop's enigmatic eyes and feel his understanding.

Swoop flexes his wings and waits for Kaylee to take to the skies.

"Well don't just stand there waiting on me!" Kaylee scolds lightly, "Help me tie these robes together."

She sets to work herself, double tying the sleeves of each robe with the next. Once they finish, she takes to the air. Floating up to the window the black robed priest once watched them from, Kaylee cautiously peeks inside before knotting the end to the railing.

"There! That should hold. Climb only one at a time though. I don't know how much weight it will hold."

A large plush bed on the south wall, facing a carved oak desk on the north side, furnishes this large and opulently decorated chamber. In the center of the room, a large carpet, woven with the mask of the Razmir at its center, spreads across the floor.

Lorant quickly grabs the rope and begins climbing. Once up on top, he quickly scans for any sign of more priests.

Climb, take 10: 10 + 7 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Kerret follows Lorant up the rope, straining with his spindly arms to make the climb that the warrior completed with ease.

Good thing a rope with a wall to brace against is only DC 5.

climb, take 10: 10 - 2 = 8

Once at the top, he slips into the room, and scans it for magical auras.

Cast detect magic.

take 10 climb: 10 + 1 = 11

Swoops soars into the room while I struggle gamely up.

After glancing about the courtyard one last time, Lector proceeds to follow after the others.

Taking 10 as well.
Climb: 10 + 3 = 13

Remember that this is an elaborate stainglass window. You'll need to break it if you want to gain entry.

Ah. Any auras on the window then?

Not on the window itself. I don't have the book in front of me at the moment but there are a few coming from the room. I'll try to get a decent update done tonight, its been a busy week. Let me know what you guys are doing beyond climbing the rope.

There are magical auras within the room, but there do not seem to be any on the window itself. Let's break it and make our way in.

Lorant shrugs and nods. There wasn't much about this place he held in high regard, even such a beautiful piece as the window was. The warrior hangs onto the rope with one hand and hefts the greatclub with the others. It's a precarious hold, but he isn't trying to kill someone. A swift motion of his arm slams the club into the breakable glass.

MAP!

Kerret keeps his voice low and offers in a distracted tone, There are several auras coming from the bottom drawer of that desk as he concentrates, attempting to identify the magical schools at play.

kn(arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Do these look like spell effects or magic items?

Once inside, Lorant quickly moves to the door to try and lock it. He presses his ear to the door to see if anyone is coming. "If you're going to search, let's do it quickly."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Anyone else want to help me?" Kaylee asks as she moves around the room. After the initial sweep, she stops by the double doors and listens for any sounds from the other side.

I pull up the rope, "Let's get into that drawer: maybe we'll find something we can use?"

Lorant locks the door as he and Kaylee press an ear against it.

Lorant pulls away from the door. He whispers to Kerret. "Whatever you're doing, do quickly. I think we're about to have company soon." He raises the club in both hands, preparing for the worse.

Kaylee frowns and steps to the side of the door (F16) and prepares to flank anyone entering the room with Lorant. Rapier drawn, she watches the others move about the room urging them to move faster in her mind.

There are magic items in there! Kerret whispers back as he examines the desk drawer for any traps or unwelcome surprises.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Nodding at Lorant's statement, Lector hurries to Kerret's side, checking whether the drawer is locked, and whether it is trapped.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

I lay a hand on Swoop's wing and brandish my weapon as we await our foes.

Everybody readies themselves just in time as a large object smashes partially through the door. The object in question looks like some sort of arm, only made entirely of masks, the same that of which you are wearing. Whatever it is, it rips itself free of the debris and readies another attack on the door. 1 or 2 more hits like this and the door is going to come down.

Roll Initiative!

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
Everybody still gets a +1 to their initiative.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 1 = 14
Can we tell from the size of the arm whether the creature is medium size or large?

Whatever it is, it's Meduim

initiative: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Do I have line of sight outside the door now?