GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

Barkot nods. "Ok. I was prob'ly communin' wit' da rat."

Squint, can you please fill in your stat lines when you get a chance?

Squint Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Standing ready, Barkot waits as Paeral grips the door. The door swings open and Barkot takes a step inside.

His eyes quickly scan to the corner where he saw the man crouching, and sees..... nothing.

Eyes darting around, he sees everything as it was when viewed through the rat's eyes. There is a lantern hanging from the rafters near the end of the bar, broken pieces of furniture and crates, but no sign of the man.

Everyone may act.

Reillana
Isan
Paeral
Barkot
Squint/Ulyi

BTW: I realize that the map is pretty poorly drawn. I wanted to do this theater-of-the-mind, but it felt better to do it this way. I also tried finding a good tavern map online. I should have done that before I gave out my off-the-cuff description of the interior. Anyways, the brown lines are doors/doorways (including the one behind the bar)

Paëral scans the room from just within the door...trying to see signs of a hidden or perhaps invisible foe...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Survival (Tracks): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

He'll be ready to fire if anyone, or anything, attacks...

"Your friend may have been messing with you, Barkot," Reillana carefully steps into the room, checking the floor for footprints in the dust--or some other clue if someone was here recently.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Survival?: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Squint casts an incantation as Ulyi impatiently stamps at the wooden deck.

"Zsarcni!" Squint utters a magicked word then leans off of Ulyi's right shoulder to peer into the interior of the building, his eyes glowing with magical sight.

Casting detect magic.

"Would someone please either move into the building or step aside?" the eidolon growls.

No one has moved on the map.

Squint does detect the presence of magical auras inside of the tavern.

You'll have to maintain concentration for two more rounds before you can pinpoint locations. Don't forget to make concentration checks if Ulyi moves.

The tracks that Paeral detected outside can be seen in the dust on the floor, but they go all over the tavern. There is no way to follow them.

While Isan isn't a coward, he also isn't keen on rushing into attack someone without due cause. He watches as the others huddle around the back door, looking it over for traps and then finally seeing someone move inside.

Reillana said she carefully stepped inside, but hasn't moved on the map. I would move her, but not sure where carefully stepping in would leave her.

He stays just off the porch, covering the group should someone come up from behind. I suppose I could always just explain that we are sneaking around the back here for a surprise party... things are so much simpler in the forest.

Nobody is able to detect any noises or obvious signs of a person in the tavern.

Initiative Order
Reillana Please move your icon, if you are entering the tavern
Isan
Paeral
Barkot
Squint/Ulyi I am assuming Ulyi is not moving this round, from your post

Token moved

Just going to throw out that the website seems stable again. I think Barkot said he was at GenCon this week, so we will wait patiently until he has a chance to post

As patiently as I can wait for anything, that is.... :D

Initiative Order
Reillana
Isan
Paeral
Barkot
Squint/Ulyi I am assuming Ulyi is not moving this round, from your post

Barkot steps inside cautiously and looks around in confusion.

"Somebody hadda be here, Reillana! Udderwise, who lit da lantern?"

Perception, take 10: 10 + 5 = 15

Which corner was the man in? Upper left or lower left?

Reillana and Paeral: Finding tracks with survival is "at least" a full round action. You guys both moved and took full round actions, so the Readied attack of Paeral will be ignored. I am taking your Perception checks as passive perception and thus not charging an action for that. Your perception checks are enough to passively notice footprints in the dust lining the floor in an abandonded tavern (though Survival is required to learn anything about them)

You may both obviously choose not to continue searching for tracks (and thus not spend the second standard action) in the next round.

Barkot, he was in the "corner" in front of the bar by the other door. As you are taking 10, I am judging your Perception to be active Perception (and thus a standard action)

While carefully watching the interior, Barkot begins to notice small puffs of dust rising from the floor. He is beginning to get an idea of the direction the puffs are moving, when suddenly he hears a voice directly in front of him speaking in some unknown language.

Suddenly, the man he saw through the rat's eyes appears. He completes a gesture and makes a vile smirk as a wave of multi-colored lights bursts from the man's hands.

Barkot, Paeral, and Reillana are caught in the effect and must make a DC 15 Will save or become blinded, stunned, and rendered unconscious

Round 2
Everyone may act

Reillana DC 15 Will save
Isan
Paeral DC 15 Will save
Barkot DC 15 Will save
Squint/Ulyi
-----------
Spellcaster

Will save vs Death Rainbow, DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Barkot blinks away the after-image from the spell and snarls at the caster. "Knock dat off, dammit!"

Barkot takes a short step away, then lashes out with his whip then yanks, attempting take the man down to the floor.

Whip (nonlethal): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 211d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Confirm?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 141d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Trip: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You can't attack AND trip. Choose which one you were using your nat 20 on

You can attempt to trip your opponent in place of a melee attack.

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Paëral shakes off the light show, quickly maneuvering 10' south and firing at the casting dude...

To hit: Dexterity + PBS

Damage: PBS

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 Reillana flinches as the magic slams into her, knocking her insensate to the ground.

Seeing Reillana fall unconscious to the ground stirs something within the halfling.

"Hiiii-yaaaaah!" Squint roars, spurring Ulyi into the fray.

Unable to charge.

Ulyi moves into the rickety tavern, picking a way between Barkot and Paëral as Squint readies the silver lance. Once placed along the side of the disheveled spellcaster, Squint thrusts his lance at the spellcaster from a safe distance.

Melee, silver weapon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

We'll go with the attack, since that is what he posted first (it works out better for you guys anyways)

Barkot's whip strikes true, but the whip doesn't seem to make contact with the spellcaster, whose nasty sneer turns into a condescending smile.

Seeing Reillana go down, the spellcaster gains some confidence, until an arrow comes in from the side. The arrow begins to deflect off of the same invisible barrier, but has just enough strength to punch through and embed deeply in the man's arm.

Squint's lance comes in from the opposite side, and the look of confidence disappears from the man's eyes.

He throws up his hands and cries out. "No! Stop! I surrender!"

Paëral keeps his bow trained on the man. "All right then...who are you? And what are you doing here? Speak quickly..."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Sweat drips from his brows, and blood drips from his wounds, mixing with the smell of his filthy clothes in a wholly unpleasant manner.

He stammers, out a response. "I'm just a poor down-on-his-luck man, trying to make his way in the world.

I want to join with the Aspis Consortium and thought if I captured some Pathfinders, it would prove my worth."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Paëral gives a wry smile that does not reach his eyes...

"I believe you...but there's more you're not telling me. How did you know we're Pathfinders? How did you know we were coming here? What are you really doing here? What do you know of the disappearances occurring in Dockway?

"You're also a wanted man...I've seen the wanted poster...answer my questions while we decide whether or not to turn you in..."

At mention of the poster, his eyes start darting to the side, looking for an escape, but the only way out of the tavern lies directly through the party.

Sighing in defeat, his head drops. "Know? Who else would you be? I went to a great deal of trouble spreading those rumors. There are only three types who would investigate, and you aren't the watch or Sczarni.

If one of them had investigated, I would have run and hid. I've done it many times while waiting for a group of Pathfinders to take the bait."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Squint pulls up his lance as the elven archer unleashes a barrage of questions.

”Wait, is he telling the truth? Does that mean he’s not from Nidal?” Squint looks confused.

"You hid from others many times while waiting for us? How many times and what did the people you hid from look like? That could very well be useful to us, and something useful to us just might keep us from turning you in. Think on that before you answer." Isan interjects from the doorway, having stepped up while the others brought the man to his knees.

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

His face scrunches up in confusion and cries out in fear "I don't know what you're asking. I've been running this trap for weeks in different places.

Please, don't turn me in. The reward isn't that big. Certainly not worth the trouble."

Barkot looks at his whip in disgust. He begins coiling it up, and turns to their prisoner with the same expression of anger and disappointment.

"Dis guy is fulla crap. I say we search 'im - lessee what else he's got up his sleeves. He knows somet'in' about dat Natalya dame, I betcha."

"Natalya? Yes, I know where Natalya is. Let me go and I can show you where."

Paëral arches an eyebrow. "What do you know about Natalya?"

He stands up and starts to make his way toward the entrance. "Come! Come! I will take you to her. She isn't far."

The eidolon, silent so far, lets out a shrill shriek as the disheveled would-be kidnapper attempts to move away from the group. Ulyi sends a brief mental message to Squint.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"how. was. that?"

The shriek sounds a little bit like a hiccup.

Squint smirks from atop Ulyi.

"Quite animal-like; perhaps we will work on it."

"Not too fast," cautions the halfling. "My mount hasn't had dinner and often mistakes things moving quickly as prey."

Intimidate Aid Another: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The man looks curiously at Ulyi. "Oh, of course, certainly. What type of... creature... is that? Some type of giant seagull by the sound. Never seen a seagull with legs before."

He moves toward the door, slower than before. Looking back behind him, while hunching his shoulders and putting his hands in his pockets. Looking around, he motions his head toward the door, in a "Come On" manner.

The man looks curiously at Ulyi. "Oh, of course, certainly. What type of... creature... is that? Some type of giant seagull by the sound. Never seen a seagull with legs before."

"Really? I have never seen a seagull that didn't have legs."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"What is so interesting about the ceiling?" Isan says with a quick glance up and then back to the man.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Squint stops Ulyi from moving forward instinctively.

”this trickster is up to something,” Squint clues in the eidolon mentally.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

”most. humans. are. beware. the. ceiling.”

Ulyi squawks loudly, replying to Squint’s mental message inaudibly.

"Really? I have never seen a seagull that didn't have legs."

At the response, the man smiles at Isan's engagement of his banter and moves a little closer. "Ah, yes, but never so many or of such a type."

"What is so interesting about the ceiling?" Isan says with a quick glance up and then back to the man.

He winces, then shrugs. "Oh, I was just wondering when the spell would..." In mid sentence, the lantern disappears, plunging the room into darkness.

Only Barkot, Reillana, and Paeral can make this roll

He chuckles nervously. "That spell only lasts for a minute. Well, it is a nice night for a walk. Shall we?"

He heads out the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Paëral keeps his bow trained on the man as he follows. "I doubt you can outrun my bow...you had best tread carefully...at the first sign of a double cross, I shoot you first..."

Barkot looks around frantically as the room is plunged into darkness, then turns back to their prisoner.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"Got my eyes on ya, ya mope. Don' try nuthin funny."

Barkot follows close behind.

Such a stupid human.

Ulyi, unhindered by the darkness, darts forward, intent on preventing the sneaky spellcaster's escape. Mentally, the eidolon sends the halfling a quick message.

"hang. on. prepare. your. lance."

Move 25 feet along the bar. Ulyi will bite. Squint will hang on for dear life.

Melee Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"What the----whoa!"

Squint reacts to the sudden darkness with suspicion, but then has to check his concerns as his mount races forward without his assent.

Ride: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Oh, whoops, I hadn't realized I was conscious again, my bad!

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Head still ringing from the spell that had laid her low, Reillana tenses at the sudden darkness, eyes darting left and right in expectation of attackers. She gives a surprised grunt as Ulyi bulls past her. "Hey!"

Oh, whoops, I hadn't realized I was conscious again, my bad!

No, my bad, I should have mentioned something. I was just considering all effects to be over at conclusion of the battle. If you want to respond to anything that was said, say... since Barkot brought up Natalya, you may

Isan moves to help Reillana to her feet. "Forgive my manners. I should have helped you up sooner. You must be disoriented after that. Take your time." he says with concern.

As the group begins to follow the man, Ulyi rushes past them to bite at him, and Isan curses himself inwardly, "Damn! What did I miss in the darkness that caused our friend to react so?"

I will assume that Paeral is not going to block Ulyi's attack. BTW: Squint, he had moved to the door, so you required more than 25 feet of movement, but you had enough.

Ulyi, not trusting the con man who already tried to subdue the party and had turned invisible once, is not willing to let the man get out in front (even if everyone else is feeling very trustworthy all of a sudden).

He rushes in and bites the man, who falls to the ground, unconscious, leaking blood on the ground.

As he falls, the item he grabbed out of his pocket rolls out of his hands, and a vial of fluid rolls against Isan's foot, just barely avoiding falling through the cracks of the deck's floor.

Realizing now that he might have other items to use against the party, Barkot follows through with his previous suggestion and searches him.

You find 4 vials in total (including the one dropped to the ground), a wicked-looking well made dagger, 6 darts, and a pouch containing 35gp and an Amethyst (that you will eventually appraise for 250gp)

The four vials radiate magic

What further actions will the party take now?

Paëral shrugs. "Well...this should work just as well...but perhaps we should stabilize him, tie him up, and then question him...perhaps he doesn't know where Natalya is and it was a ruse...but perhaps he does..."

Paëral kneels down and tries to stabilize the man...if successful, he'll try to find something to bind him with...

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Escape Artist: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"It's dark! It's all dark!!" yells out Squint. "Ulyi thinks he's up to something and I can't see!"

Squint swings his lance blindly at the space where he thinks the door (and the trickster) was a moment ago.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 71d100 ⇒ 30

*CLANG*! The lance glances off the door-frame, damaging nothing but the sad, distressed wood panelling of the interior of the derelict bar.

"Help! Help!" Squint yelps.