GM Ancalima's Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master ElenionAncalima

Reflex Fail, HP @ 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
"Iejir vur xsio! Luk Luk crys out in surprise to being burned.

Despite this surprise, Luk Luk does not fall, though her spell preparations are abandoned much to her annoyance. The elf instead attempts to drag the unconscious Vard out of harm's way.

"Wretch! I am going to burn you back for that! Even if it is your corpse!"

Untrained Heal on Fain: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Dragging is a move action right? I'm pretty sure a Heal check is a standard. Latter failed though

Jenni roared in fury as her tiny friend dropped, scorched. Practically leaping over Luk luk as she dragged the damaged Fain away, the half-orc charged into the room, greatsword swinging. "Don't hurt my halflings!" she roared.

greatswrod: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Nope.

Getting a bit crowded in the battle, with Jenni, Vard and Alenka all there. Let’s try playing medic for a bit.

Thrym arrived to the scene just in time to feel the hot bloom of air from the explosion on his face, to see Fain thrown around by the violent fireball. The halfling settled on the door, still and apparently lifeless. Seeing most of the others already charging at the woman who had thrown the explosive spell, Thrym instead joined the elven witch who was trying to stop Vard bleeding to death from his numerous wounds.

”Flytta dig!” Thrym growled as he knelt next to the elf, quickly tearing strips from the halfling’s own smoldering cloak to act as makeshift bandages. ”Låt mig göra det!”

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 No better than Luk Luk's... best we drag Vard a room away together and try again next round, since we are all out of magic. Luk Luk, you could try to aid another next round.

His efforts were not up to the task, however, and the shaman shook his head with an annoyed growl. ” Vi måste flytta honom,” he said, motioning the elf to take Vard’s other arm so they could drag him to safety. ” Jag behöver lite tyst för att jobba på honom.”

Robella dodged or batted away most of the attacks, but Vard's hammer connected with her shoulder making a distinct cracking noise. "You self-righteous types are the worst." She growled as she unleashed an assault of claws and teeth against Vard. "Soon you will join your little friend!" @ Vard: 4 damage @Fain: -1 Damage :(

Nooo, don't go into the light yet, Fain! We've still three more rounds to save you! We can do the Lord of the Rings ending!

"If I do, at least I'll know your villainy is at its end." Vard replied, eyeing Robella as he shifted around into a flanking position with Alenka.

Warhammer flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25
Warhammer damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

A wry smile as his hammer struck again. "But I think I'll get to see you join your husband."

5ft step, attack, then Detect Evil (not that she's likely powerful enough to trigger it, nor that I can do anything useful with the info)

"I have nary learned your tongue but we best move him out of harms way," Luk Luk will do her best to get Fain clear and help stop him from bleeding out.

Heal to Assist Thrrym: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
And best was not good enough to even help, at least she helped carry Fain.

Alenka grinned like a predator as Robella moved to engage Vard and exposed her back to the vivisectionist. She took advantage to open up a few key arteries.

cleaver: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
damage,sneak attack: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (3) = 6

Or not...these rolls!

dont forget +2 attack from flanking!! 16 might be enough?!

Time for the second attempt... dice, don't fail me now...

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Oh crap

Do we get one last chance before Fain bleeds to death (I assume since he stopped with two stabilization rolls that that's the time we had before Fain's HP hit rock bottom), if Thrym and Luk Luk can act before Fain on the third round?

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 ... because this would be just enough to give first aid

I'll give Jenni some more time before botting. Don't think we want to be skipping people for this one! At least it looks like Fain will live to taxidermy another critter!

Three failed stabilization rolls and five first aid rolls with just enough to get by on the last round of life - awesome!

Luk-Luk blinks in surprise at Fain's sudden outburst and collapse but is glad Thrrym stopped his bleeding. Rising up, the elf gently moves Fain away from the door. Giving Thrrym a plentiful amount of running room towards the horrid woman that hurt her halfing friend.

Luk-Luk looks into the room, "Break her legs!"

Third round action if Thrrym stabilizes Fain Luk Luk will move him out of the way of the, I am assuming the white squares are, double doors. If a standard action is available she will cast Mage Armor.

sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Jenni swung again, but her aim was fouled by Goggle's cleaver, and she had to pull back to avoid hitting her friend.

The fight continued on, as Robella ducked out of the way of Alenka and Jenni's blows. However, Vard's hammer slammed her chest. While the wound didn't slow her assault, all her following strikes fell short, suggesting the blow might have winded her.

-1 to Fain, but he is stabilized next round. Sounds like Thrym is using heal and Luk Luk is moving Fain and casting Mage Armor. So, let's get third round actions from Jenni, Alenka and Vard.

Warhammer flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8
Warhammer damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Vard kept up his assault, but this time Robella stepped back to avoid his wild swing.

cleaver,flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6
damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (2) = 5

I give up!

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.....
sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
I can't do it.

The strange creature was clearly wielding some weird magic that was making their blows turn aside, and Jenni howled in frustration. Throwing her sword to the ground, she howled again, her teeth sharpening, her nails lengthening into claws, and a red mist filling her vision.

Engage bloodrage

Yeesh, the dice roller is in a bad mood. I guess at least its not exactly helping Robella out either.

Everyone continued to swing at each other. Robella landed her teeth in Vard's shoulders 2 damage, but otherwise the fight was a stalemate.

Fortunately, while everyone held Robella back, Thrym was given enough time to treat Fain. The halfling was still close to death, but finally his condition wasn't worsening.

Everyone's up. Fain is stable.

claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Jenni snarled and tore at Robella like a wild beast, and getting up close helped her connect where she couldn't with her sword.

Warhammer attack w/ flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20
Warhammer damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Vard winced as Robella's bestial teeth raked him, and took advantage of the close attack for another furious swing of his hammer.

With neither a viable stronger spell nor the power to cast one, Luk Luk was reduced to throwing cantrips at Robella. It was the best she could do but maybe she could get lucky.

Acid Splash: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11
Damage if hit: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

cleaver,flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6
damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (4) = 7

How can I have the same rolls as last time?!? Grrrrrrr

As the halfling's many wounds were finally all bandaged and the small warrior's condition stabilizing, Thrym drew his axe and readied his shield, preparing to join the others in battle.

Getting both a weapon and shield out takes Thrym's entire action... if the enemy is still up next round, he can join in on the fun.

Paizo crashed last night, just as I hit post... :\

Jenni and Vard both struck crippling blows to Robella. Her eyes began glancing towards the doorway, but she could see that Luk Luk was hurling acid from the doorway and that Thrym was soon in bound. Instead she launched one more desperate set of attacks at Vard, but it was quite clear that her severe wounds were weakening her blows.

We're in the home stretch now! First person who can beat an AC 17 gets to describe us a good ole dramatic defeat of the final boss!

Warhammer flank attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9
Warhammer damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Ducking beneath a bite, and parrying claw swipes with his buckler, Vard swung his hammer only to have Robella deflect it into the floor with a thud.

Battleaxe, Sacred Council: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 = 18
Battleaxe, damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

With his axe readied, the Ulfen shaman focused his gaze on the enemy. The others, in their effort to surround the foe, had left clear the way fr him to join the battle and Thrym gladly made use of the opportunity.

"Förfäder! Andarna! Delta i! Hjälpa sonen av Norr med sin jakt!" the shaman intoned, slamming the flat of his axe to his shield to attract the attention of the spirits who ever hovered near their living kin.

From their ranks, a youth clad in rough skins with twin bone knives on his belt walked forth, swinging a length of rope weighted with a stone at one end. With a wild whoop of challenge that went unheard by ever ear but the spiritually attuned shaman's, the youth cast the weighted rope like a lasso, hooking the rope around Robella's neck. Were the spirit still flesh and bone, a quick yank of the rope would no doubt have had the stone weight slamming into the woman's head with deadly consequences, but Thrym's power was no up to that kind of summons - with the spirit's fleeting touch to the mortal plane, the best he could do was to pull the woman off her stance, send her suddenly stumbling forwards as if for no reason at all.

But Thrym had seen and had been waiting for that, and closed the distance between them in a few hurried steps, swinging his axe, aiming to where he knew the spirit's pull would send the woman reeling to. And thus the blade bit deep into the woman's shoulder and neck, cutting through flesh and bone.

Robella gave the party one last glower, before her eyes closed shut and she crumpled to the ground. The bag that was over her shoulder also landed with a thump and rolled towards a wide open, and half emptied chest.

Luk Luk nods in approval to Thrrym's work on Robella as she kneels to check her. She places the things of value an arm's length from Robella save for the lab and the potions. At the same time the elf checks over the horrid woman in the process of looting her.

Heal alive or no?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Not sure about her condition nor really caring but these," she stands and holds the two potions in her left hand, giving them a shake, "I believe Fain needs the most. I believe there are no more threats yet he is the most foul wounded. Objections?" Luk Luk expects none but she looks to the others to see if she would be proven wrong. The Andoran elf also does nothing to hide the fact that she has the portable alchemist lab secured with her right arm, "Alenka? We should inspect this lab later whence we have the opportunity."

If no one tries to stop her Luk Luk is going to give the potions to Fain. Better to have him not be helpless

Alenka's eyes glitter as she espies the portable alchemist lab. This was something she'd always wanted but hadn't been able to afford on a student's wage. "I'll make sure the lab is transported safely."

Once the lab is secured, Alenka focuses on the key.

Is there anything that this key will go to? Something we've either come across or is it just the key to the chest that she just emptied?

Recognizing a few of the items from the vault ledger, Alenka states, "Looks like we've found further evidence that Robella was behind the robbery of the vault along with her husband."

Absolutely no objections to Fain getting both the potions. He needs to get back on his feet!

Jenni nearly tore into the dying or dead woman, but a gentle hand and quiet word from Goggles calmed her down. She allowed her claws to morph back into normal nails, and shook her head to clear it.

When Luk Luk found the potions, she moved to help her get them down Fain's throat. It was with great relief that she saw him swallow, and colour return to his tiny face.

Suddenly tired, she collected her sword and sat down, back to the wall, while the others finished collecting the loot.

I think there was a vault key stolen from the first murder victim. Maybe also the wedding ring? Could also just be hers of course - she did seem concerned about him.

Heal to check status: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Heal to stabilize if possible: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6
Heal to stabilize if possible: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
Heal to stabilize if possible: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Heal to stabilize if possible: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

Vard watched as Robella fell to the ground. With a satisfied nod, he stowed away his warhammer and looked over to where Fain lay on the ground.

"Fain is still with us?" he asked Thrym and Luk Luk. "Thank goodness." Kneeling down beside Luk Luk, he also checked the ringleader's health, and attempted to save her from dying in the basement. "Can anyone lend a hand? Better that she live and go to trial. Rest of the town'll be better off seeing the truth, and knowing that the circus wasn't involved. Looks like there's more than enough evidence so no worries there."

Vard will stabilize her after 4 rounds if no-one helps.

Thanks all
potion 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
potion 2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
HP -3; perhaps after two potions he can attempt a roll to become conscious/disabled?
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
just enough
Fain's right eye creaked open and he smacked his lips, the taste of charcoal in his mouth. He used his one eye to look at his friends and he thought they all looked solum and worn. Words like smoke wisp'ed out of the crack in his face, "Is anybody else really hungry?"

@Alenka: The key opens the chest, but also has the look of a master key that probably opens many doors down here. @Vard: You are able to stabilize Robella.

Wrenching his axe free from the woman's body so that Vard could try to bandage her wounds, Thrym eyed Jenni's retracting claws with quiet interest.

"That's a neat trick and a half," he commented, nodding at her bloody fingers. "My brothers up North would be impressed, and give much to get you to teach them to do that. A sign of great favor from the beast spirits, it'd be, to grow claws of your own to rend your foes. You wouldn't trade me your secret?"

"Glad to hear Alenka," she does not try to stop the alchemist from taking the mini lab, instead heading over to Fain to force feed him the potions. "Yes he is paladin!" was her reply to Vard's question.

Luk Luk snorts in amusement, whether at Fain or Thrym is unclear. As she helps Fain sit up she raises her left hand. There is a loud clicking sound as draconic claws are suddenly in place of her fingers, "Claws seem fairly common around here," the claws retract before she uses the hand to steady Fain, "I know not of Queen Jenni yet mine come from blood. I hope to get teeth to match, but for now," she smiles down at Fain with her flat teeth, "Glad to see you awake Fain."

Luk Luk does not leave Fain's side, "So we can prove her crimes with evidence. And we have witnesses to prove her a guilt as a vile slaver and blackmailer. I think we have done good today." Her smile is genuine and warm at what they had done. She turns back down to Fain, "Can you walk or should one of us give you a ride?"

Luk Luk does not leave Fain's side, "So we can prove her crimes with evidence. And we have witnesses to prove her a guilt as a vile slaver and blackmailer. I think we have done good today." Her smile is genuine and warm at what they had done. She turns back down to Fain, "Can you walk or should one of us give you a ride?"

Fain looked down at his body and took in the damage for the first time, "Oh, I'll be fine. Look at this", he struggled to get up but finally got to his feet and used the wall to walk with - though he could see, he walked like a blind man, "Ya' know, I think those potions did me some good. Which way do we go now? There's got'a be a place tha' does late breakfast." He made it to the next room.

Fain quickly found the cot of the skulk which only shortly before was so horrifying to him and huddled into it.

"Ok, I think she'll live to face punishment here. Can someone help get her up top? Once she's secure with the others, we can go through these rooms more thoroughly and make sure there's no more surprises."

Still some black north and aouth of D11, but I'm guessing there's nothing too exciting there.

"Let us away, then," Thrym said, ready to pick up their latest prisoner by the shoulders if Vard took care of her feet - since the halfling had gone to so much trouble to keep her alive, it would be a shame to bash in her head during transport. "The quicker we get her to join her men upstairs, the sooner we can finish exploring these crypts."

A quick glance down the remaining hallways revealed that both path were additional escape paths from the underground complex. One path led back led back up to the docks, while the other seemed to trail a long distance, possibly all the way outside of town.

However, not wanting to waste too much time exploring the tunnels, the party made their way back to the warehouse floor, which had now had a scattering of guards, with more actively flooding in. Off in one corner a guard seems to be writing notes as he spoke to the two dwarven brothers. Other guards were examining the unconscious workers and the fallen skulk and talking to the tied up man. Near the entrance, even the sheriff seemed to have recently arrived and was talking to the young messenger boy Fain had paid. As they approached closer, they caught the tail end of their conversation. "I dunno the gardener jus' went an' gave me a whole fist've coins to get you and..." He stopped talking as he saw the party. Pointing eagerly, he said "Oh. They they are! Hey mister! Look how many guards I got!" Then his face fell a little as he saw Fain, "Oh mister! Are you okay?"

..."I dunno the gardener jus' went an' gave me a whole fist've coins to get you and..." He stopped talking as he saw the party. Pointing eagerly, he said "Oh. They they are! Hey mister! Look how many guards I got!" Then his face fell a little as he saw Fain, "Oh mister! Are you okay?"

Fain looked at the crowd of guards and the sheriff. He walked over the messenger with a smoulder of smoke still emanating from him, "I believe I promised another silver if ya' got the sheriff here. Watchout the money's still hot.", Fain peals a silver piece out of his partially melted belt pouch, still warm to the touch, "Oh, um, the burns ... dontcha worry about Fain now. I just came down with a little case of dying. Nothing old Thrym couldn't handle. Did I thank you for that yet Thrym? ... I could use some time off my feet before gettin back to maintaining the topiary though. A good bit of steak and some mushrooms would also go a long way. Is there anybody up for some steak and mushrooms?" He handed the tube with all of maps and plans in it to the sheriff. He was clearly not functioning entirely properly and knew there were important matters to wrap up but couldn't quite remember what they all were.

Still feeling protective, Luk Luk sticks close to Fain, her eyes caste down to watch him in case he stumbles. "Yes it is fine Fain. We shall garner those victuals as soon as the work here is done."

Luk Luk looks up to the sheriff. She tries to give a wave but winces as her new burns make her decide to lower her arm, "Ow. Greetings sheriff. Good Fain here is a little unfocused right now. Robella and her husband have committed significantly more crimes then expected," the elf pulls out the scrolls and lists from the map room, "We have found quite a lot of evidence of their part in the murders. Plans for the crimes, the stolen goods, yonder freed dwarves, possible blackmail, and I feel you would know better then I if keeping predatory slimes was illegal or not. Oh and the tunnels are not fully searched so their could be aught else to prove further crimes."

Luk Luk frowns, "Also the monster wom, um, Robella was planning to flee prior to our arrival. She may have covered some of her crimes or there could be aught else below to prove further vile deeds. We had some difficulties and searching further seemed," she winces,"ill advised."

With some maneivering, Thrym and Vard managed to get Robella up into the warehouse.

"And here's the ringleader and monster herself. You'll notice the fangs and claws, and I think you'll find the wounds on me match up to those on the pawnkeeper and the priestess."

"Though t'be fair, I'd like to gwt steak and mushrooms first."

Feldane looked unsettled by both the sight of the party and the information and evidence that was being thrust at her. "I...that's a lot...Let's start with the murder evidence. You can prove they were responsible?" She sighed, "Then how are the dwarves involved? You have found stolen good?....and what was that about predatory slimes?"

I'm assuming she's still all clawed and fanged.

"She's got the means for the murder, as you can see. We also ran into a couple of skulks too - one of them's tied up over there, there's another one dead down below. We figure they were the ones who were giving the orders and Shiver to the ones we caught in the pawnbroker vault, and the rest of their tribe."

"Motive was simple burglary - I'm guessing the carnival was a convenient way of trying to pull off a big job and throw suspicion on someone else. Papers Fain gave you showed some of the planning, we found them in the rooms underground - you may have to go down and see it for yourself. Regular thieves guild it looks like - Barracks, planning rooms, what looks like a torture room, plus some cells where we rescued the dwarves. They got kidnapped from a boat apparently - you'll have to talk to them to get their story."

"As for goods, we found a bunch of stuff stolen from the pawnbroker, plus the chalice from the temple. May be some more stuff from other burglaries."

"The slime we had to destroy - one of those oozes that tries to ooze all over you - the warehouse workers will probably confirm that - they seemed pretty surprised when they dropped it on us."

Fain was being brought back into the world by Vard's detailed recount, "On one of the papers they have our names written down with Thrym's circled. I think that's them deciding which of us was best to impersonate at Braeton's." talking had given Fain a light head and he leaned on the attentive Luk Luk. Whatever adrenaline he had was wearing off.

Luk Luk pointed to the secretary that was covered in acid burns, "As his wounds attest, the slime was a deadly foe to best." Luk Luk crouches down slightly and provides Fain with a steadying hand. "It was a barrel full of small slime creatures. Red in coloration, I know naught of them in detail. As Vard said the workers that dropped the barrel upon us seemed surprised by it. Or perhaps that it attacked their coworker instead of us."

The elf looks over to the healthier halfing, "You make a good point Vard. I suppose it could have been a criminal empire or the attempt to start one. The workers seemed fair reluctant to be villains." Luk Luk looks back to the sheriff, "One of the humans that surrendered mentioned he had hoped for honest work but could not leave for fear of arrest again. So possibly blackmail too among Robella's crimes?" Luk Luk shrugged her shoulders as she kept her promise to speak in that human's favor. She'd rather his freedom not be hindered more then necessary.

Her focus returns to Fain, "Please try to take it easy Fain. Lest we have to take you to a temple for more healing."

The sheriff looked a little disbelieving at first, but then the evidence began to pile up. Eventually she just shook her head in disappointment. "Well...it's hard to believe the Monchello's were operating at this level...under my very nose, but it seems that it's pretty undeniable. But, at least we know who is responsible for the murders and we can stop them from hurting anyone else." She sighed, "I guess I owe Almara Denisen an apology...and a release..."

There wasn't much that Alenka could add to the conversation. The evidence spoke for itself and the others had summed up everything nicely. "Sheriff, are we done here then? And can I be there when you tell Robella's husband that he's going to be locked up for a very long time?"

Alenka was pretty sure the alchemist lab combined with the oozes and the physical changes, that Robella had had alchemist training. But she wasn't sure it was pertinent to the Monchello's guilt and so she kept her thoughts to herself.