GMDrP's PbP Gameday V Serpent's Ire (8) (Inactive)

Game Master DrParty06

Rataji turns to Eramay, "Do you think these warehouse workers know anything more about the underground facility or how to get into it?"

"We could always ask for a meeting with this Temarra..." says Thestil, winking at the others.

"I doubt it, Rataji. One of their co-workers allegedy asked about it- -he was 'escorted to the manor' and never seen again. It's safer to have- -or feign- -ignorance of a place like this one."

@Zurnzal: When you say 'share what you've seen/heard' do you mean essentially 'read my spoilers' or not? Figured I'd check before I look at everything to get an idea what you're sharing.

Yeah, I was just trying to post quickly over the weekend. Please read the spoilers. My apologies.

The Taldan thief listens to the others' plans. "A meeting's fine, if you have a plan. What's your play once you start talking Thestil? 'Mansion Inspection'? Visiting buyer? Need a solid scheme and..."

Shohiraj trails off as she thinks about something Zurnzal said. "Hold on. This Halvair's in product testing? And keeps notes?" She holds up her purloined keys. "Then there's a chance we not need one of them after all. Think trying these might work?"

She turns back to the lady. "Thestil, did you get a good look at the mark I nicked these from? You think you're quick enough on your feet, might be a person in enough authority to have a nice chat with this Tema woman. At the least it would keep her distracted: 'immeadiate' discovery implies guards, alarms, or both and a distraction wouldn't be turned down if me and some others want to break in."

"As they say... No one expects the Kuthute inquisition" answers Thestil pointing at her disguise and giggling with evil glee.

"We need to get them to let us in. Posing as prospective buyer for the products they offer should get us an audience with someone. Merchants are a vain lot. Appeal to their greed and ego. Asking for a tour of the facility to check quality control and production capacity would be a reasonable requests."

As Rataji looks around the group he suggests "Lady Thestil could be the buyer and I will be her arcane advisor. The rest of you will need roles to play. Guards, Ladies-in-Waiting, Advisors, or even just play toys."

Yeah, I could play the strongarm type I suppose. Lets go with your plan and see how we do.

"Let's just get in and hope for the best," Eramay begrudingly adds. "Do we want some carnage to cover for us?" She glances at Falth. "We could likely cause a distraction somewhere else while we storm the manor. The warehouse has a stable- -we could let animals run amok?"

Ok, so it seems like we're about ready to move into phase 2. I'll again need locations and checks related to your plan at the start of the phase once everyone has figured out where they are going.

Thestil is already disguised as a Khutute buyer from the Ubral court. Should I roll her disguise again or can I keep her previous roll, considering she didn't change her appearance? Anyway

Thestil nods to the others:"Very well, then. Let's go to the manor and gain us that meeting with this Temarra... Just remember you are supposed to be part of a delegation from the Umbral court, coming here unannounced in order to check on the facility and amenable to bribing..." the doppelganger warns her companions before moving up to the manor again and knocking on the door with her vast strength.

"Open up! The Umbral court envoys are here to see the lady Temarra.... IMMEDIATELY!"

Bluff check: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

"It's a solid plan then. Course a five-man band's just as good as a sixer and so on. See if you can get the tour: I'll peel off but stay near. An ace in the hole.They spot me, I become a 'security check' or something for your goods. I don't know - you're the wordsmith."

Shohiraj will, unless anyone strongly objects, attempt to Stealthily follow Thestil and the gang.

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Before heading to the manor. Rataji will cast Disguise Self so that he looks more official. Besides he might be recognized by the someone from his last encounter with the Korholm Agenda.

"Looks like we're all in, at this point," Eramay agrees, heading manorward.

If/when foes decide our angry group is worth stopping, Eramay will act the part of Umbral Court muscle- -might as well play to the commonner's fears.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 and/or Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

OK, it's time to give this a kick along, since we are getting to when slot 2 actually starts.

Thestil, Rataji, and Eramay in disguise and Zurnzal as guard approach the gate to the manor courtyard posed as Kuthonites looking for some choice drugs. Shohiraj and Falth blend into the surrounding hedge providing cover.

The gate is locked. Through the gate you can see that flowering thorn bushes grow from elevated planters around a rectangular pond that is flanked by eyeless angels. The water of the pond stirs gently as a few fish swim through it, while a handful of crows amble about the perimeter hedge.

So no one answers to Thestil's knocking at the door?

So no one answers to Thestil's knocking at the door?

There's a gate that's locked before you can get to the door... I think someone mentioned that they poached some keys, or you can rattle the gate for attention. Either way, there's not yet a door to be knocked on.

As she sees the bulk of the party stand in front of the shut gate to no response, Shohiraj sighs silently to herself, looks around to make sure no one is watching, then slips up and tries the researcher's pilfered keys on the lock. "Oh no: some clumsy sod forgot to lock up! Bad for him, good for us."

If that doesn't work, she'll try to pick the lock. Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (16) + 24 = 40

Assuming one of those might get through the gate, She then darts through to hide inside the outer compound, eyeing the crows suspiciously.

As Rataji looks over the courtyard he says, "The crows should have eaten those scraps by the door but they seem to be avoiding them."

He quickly cast detect magic on the gate and extends his senses into the courtyard towards the door.

Map updated. You can position yourselves as you'd like relatively close to the gate. All manor doors are closed.

Shohiraj slips to the front of the group, quickly opens the gate and slips into the courtyard.

Rataji detects magic into the courtyard and observes a faint abjuration aura emanating from the door of the manor.

Eramay knows when someone else posesses training that she does not, so quietly let's Shohiraj and Rataji do their respective things.

Just a 'still here/paying attention' post, even though there's not much she can do right now besides 'not be in the way.'

You want me to try the door or do you wanna check everything out first? Zurnzal will take a closer look as the party continues with their plan.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

"HOLD!" Shorhiraj hisses out. Strange -acting animals equal one of two things: trap or spies. Or both."

The rogue slips slightly ahead of the party, scanning the area around the pond and the manor doors while keeping a careful eye on the crows.

Taking 10 for a 29 Perception against a trap as I move. Also, I'm still seeing the compound-level map, is there supposed to be a new one or was the map update above just moving us to '1'?

Oops, sorry about that. I copied the tokens and forgot to move player visibility. Fixed now.

Shohiraj notices a trap set on the door. It seems to be triggered by getting within 20 ft. of the door.

Zurnzal hears a very faint sound of movement within the manor itself.

Noticing the trap, the Taldan woman allows herself a moment of self-congratulations See A, just another job. No different than the others. before attempting to disrupt the miniscule runes and arcane lattices warding the door.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (16) + 24 = 40

I also assume the trap seems to be by the double-door near the pool, not the one close to the gate? If the latter, I'd be trying to disable the trap at the edge of that one.

The trap is over the main double doors.

Shohiraj finds a flaw in the arcane trappings around the manor door and disables their function.

Seconds after she does so, a halfling woman with shoulder-length black hair opens the door closest to the gate to exit the manor. Rataji and Zurnzal recognize this woman as his halfling compatriot from the assault on the Grand Lodge Joliryn.

"Keep quiet!" whispers Thestil "Let me do my thing now..."

Then in a much louder voice Thestil shouts at Joliryn:"You! The Umbral court requests an audience with the lady of the manor! Open these doors... immediately!"

Can I keep my previous bluff check or do I need to roll again?

Joliryn steps forward from the door closing it tightly behind her.

"I think there is some confusion here. I am not the lady of the manor."

She looks to Zurnzal.

"Zurnzal is that you? When did you begin working for the Umbral Court?"

The moment that it became beneficial for me to do so. Zurnzal gives his best smirk.

"What's this about?!?!? No matter... for now we are here on another matter entirely. No one mistook you for what you clearly are not, halfling! We just requested for you to open these gates and bring us to whoever is in charge of this facility... so incompetently managed I must add!"

Bluff check: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

It takes all of Rataji's efforts not to blast the Halfling on sight.

So she was in on it. Now I know who was working against us in the raid. She will pay for that.

Remember that he is disguised and that Joliryn probably does not recognize him he stand quietly behind Thestil and lets her handle the situation.

Shohiraj hears voices coming from around the corner, including Zurnzal's name spoken aloud. Spectacular. What ex-partner has that muscle bumped into now?

Still, with the rest of the party currently occupied, the thief turns her attention to the main door. She carefully tries the pharmacist's key to see if that can slowly open the estate's main entrance. If that doesn't work, maybe the 'backup key' might.

'backup key aka Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29

Shohiraj finds that the pharmacist's key is able to unlock the manor door.

Joliryn smiles at Zurnzal and replies to Thestil, "It seems you've been successful enough on your own with the gates."

She nods to the open main gate. "That's no business of mine though. You'll find the lady of the manor in through the main doors, just around the corner. Now, if you will excuse me, I must get back to my own affairs."

"Yes... go. You are dismissed!" says Thestil in an imperious tone before following Joliryn's directions.

After she's too far away to hear tehm speak she adds:"Can anyone here turn invisible? Following that halfling could help us solve things quicker"

Joliryn walks through the gate and rounds the corner nearest it.

Thestil - How long do you wait to say someone should follow her?

"I can cast the spell if anyone wants to go after her."

Out of earshot of whatever is going on regarding the 'Joliryn situation', Shohiraj listens carefully at the now unlocked double-door. If she doesn't hear anyone on the other side, she quickly opens the door, slips in, then shuts it quietly behind her (or behind Eramay too if he follows)

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

Joliryn walks through the gate and rounds the corner nearest it.

Thestil - How long do you wait to say someone should follow her?

I speak as soon as she's out of hearshot

The point was "out of earshot" is different for every character based on Perception modifier. DC15 + 1 per 10ft. for a whisper.

If anyone follows either Joliryn or Shohiraj, now is the time for that decision.

Shohiraj slips inside the door, perhaps with Eramay in tow. You find yourself in a grand hall with several plush sofas forming a lazy circle around a large central brass brazier. Tall mirrors on the north and south walls are flanked by thin tapestries in bold dark colors. A curious chandelier of coarse crystal and twisted, inhuman metal arms radiates light from glowing stones.

Eramay ducks into the manor behind Shohiraj.

"Nice looking domicile," Eramay says, giving the room a once-over. "Is it clean?" she asks the troubleshooter before touching anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Shohiraj motions down with her hand to Eramy, indicating to stay quiet. She carefully looks around the immeadiate room, using the mirrors to try and see down each hallway.

"Unsure, but good question." she whispers back. "Keep your ears and eyes peeled. We're not alone, may need to knock out a guard quick.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19 +4 vs traps, trap spotter

[ooc]Let's say Thestil speaks when Joliryn is no longer visible[/b]

Thestil moves forward, enters the main doors and turns on the corner, determined to have a little conversation with the supposed "lady of the manor"...

Neither Shohiraj nor Eramay spot any traps.

As Shohiraj looks into the mirrors to spy down the hallways, she sees a man wearing a compass around his neck that appears to be standing immediately behind her. Turning, she sees there is no one behind her. Reaching out, she feels no one even where it would seem this person must be based on the appearance in the mirror.

Zurnzal decides to go with the others, not wanting to be left out of all of the fun. He'll keep quiet and let The Pro lead the way.

The Taldan woman whirls around as she spies someone behind her. Startled even more by his absence as she looks at where he should be, she turns back to the mirror, gropes backwards for a bit, then snarls.

"Magic mirrors. %$^$% magic mirrors. If it's a scrier, we may be made."

If I am understanding correctly: every time I look at the mirror do I see the same figure behind me? Is he doing anything or simply standing there?

Shohiraj backs slowly up to the edge of the wall then wrests her gaze away from the mirror just long enough to peek down the hallway and make sure no one is down the Eastern hall before she darts across and gives in a more cautious look from the other side, where she can keep one eye on the mirror.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

As she does so, the Taldan sees Thestil and Zurnzal enter. "Who was that you were gabbing to? That Temarra lady? Did you trick her away from the house for a bit?"

If I am understanding correctly: every time I look at the mirror do I see the same figure behind me? Is he doing anything or simply standing there?

If you continue to look into the mirror, the man disappears and the image in the mirror is replaced by an image that appears to be of the manor compound from the sky. Oddly, it looks like a giant set of chained manacles is closing around the compound like a noose. Suddenly, the version of you in the mirror breaks the chains and the plantation falls into a chaos of fire with creatures surging from the manor into the wilderness. As quickly as this image appeared, it disappears, and it is replaced by a series of sundials and hourglasses breaking. Then those images too disappear, and you appear to be looking into a normal mirror.

Shohiraj stares at the mirror, her eyes first confused, then widening as she realizes the figure seems meant to be keyed to her.

"Does, does anyone see anything strange in the mirrors."

Seeing Shohiraj rattled for the first time since he has known her surprises Rataji.

So ice water does not flow through her veins as rumored

"Let me have a look."

Rataji goes up and looks into the mirror. If he sees anything strange he will attempt to see what magic it holds.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

Rataji looks into the mirror and sees a tarnished silver coin with the face of a Mwangi man, before a vision of the compound on fire appears with creatures fleeing into the wilderness. For Rataji too, the mirror returns to a normal mirror.

Rataji studies the mirror for a few moments and the says, "I think that what we are seeing in the mirror is a telepathic projections of images. I recall that this is a form of communication often used by aeons. In fact chandelier looks rather looks very similar to a theletos aeon."