GM Evil's Silverhex Chronicles (Inactive)

Game Master Steven_Evil

@Erasmus: Each quest counts as being a new day, so feel free to 'respec' anything that you need to.

The hill ahead is not much to look at. It gently slopes away from the river. A shallow cave is near its top, smoke from a campfire curling upward in the gentle breeze. The grass wafts slowly along a gently curving path up the southern face of the hill, ending in a few switchbacks as the hill grows steep near the top.

When the party reaches the top, they find a half-orc female sitting in front of a small campfire at the cave mouth, who quickly staggers to her feet, fear in her eyes, as she draws an ancient-looking silver sickle to defend herself.

"What do you want?!"

"I suspect in this case haste may be more important than preparedness."

"Absolutely. We must move quickly."

Just changing which spirit I attune to this morning. The marshall has a bit too much influence... Also, if I recall correctly, we haven't actually met Ulisha in person right?

"Ulisha I presume? I'd say to sheathe your blade but I'll admit it is possible you might be needing it, albeit not for us. We attended to the business that you requested of us, but it sounds like you may be needing a bit more help after all."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"We may want to get out of here. If we could find you, the assassins can too."

Aid diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Ulisha relaxes slightly when the introductions are given.

"Ah, good; so you did get my notes! Yes, I know about the assassins - why else do you think I am out here in the middle of nowhere? It seems that the Tullivor family really know how to hold a grudge..."

Her voice trails off as two sinister figures slide into view - a hafling wielding a bow, who scrabbles up onto some of the rocks nearby, and a heavily muscled human, wielding a wicked-looking nunchanku, who strides forward up the main path, murder in his eyes.

Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10.
Erasmus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15.
Quinn: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2.
Yoon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17.
Ulisha: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12.
TW: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4.
BB: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9.

Round 1: Yoon, Erasmus, Kyra, Ulisha, BB, TW, Quinn

Yoon, Erasmus, and Kyra are up.

The map hyperlinked at the top of the page has been updated.

"Real fire doesn't come from a bottle, silly - it comes from your soul!" She waves her vial of alchemist's fire around. "Anyone want this?"

Seriously. I am offering up my share of the alchemist's fire to anyone else.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Fast-forward to the here-and-now:

"Come to play with Fire, have you?"

fire blast vs nunchuku guy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Erasmus's voice takes on a gruffer more booming tone. "Defensible ground, good call."

Move action, draw Bolas

"Lets show these fools a fight."

Ready action, as soon as the human gets within 10 ft, ranged trip with bolas. They gave Erasmus bolas and proficiency with them... might as well use them at least once right?

Readied CMB to trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Actually, I'm rather hoping they will show each other a fight."

Kyra casts Murderous Command on the human.

Yoon throws a blast of flame, which lightly singes the nunchaku-wielder.

Erasmus prepares to throw his bolas.

Kyra casts a spell, targeting the melee thug...

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22.

..who shakes his head, snarls, and looks at Kyra with murder in his eyes.

Ulisha starts orating, boosting the party's spirits.

+1 to hit and damage.

The thug hustles forward...

...only to be tripped by Erasmus' well-placed bola throw!

Grunting, the man pulls himself to his feet.

Meanwhile, the halfing takes a pot-shot at the 'obvious' spellcaster...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 22, for 1d4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) - 1 + 2 = 5 damage.

...his arrow slamming into Kyra's flank.

Round 1: Yoon, Erasmus, Kyra(-5), Ulisha, BB(-3), TW, Quinn
Round 2: Yoon, Erasmus, Kyra(-5), Ulisha, BB(-3), TW, Quinn

Party is up!

"What do you think, Gom-Gom? Shall it be crispy beef for dinner tonight?"

fire blast vs nunchuku guy, courage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 +1 if Inspire Courage applies to Fire Blast damage

Erasmus steps forward, draws his starknife, and slashes at the assassin he just tripped.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
If that attack would miss add Spirit Surge: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Stay down!"

Kyra pouts, but know her companions are up to the task of putting these assassins to rest. Feeling the burn, she casts a CLW on herself.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Much better

"Well, then, I think you should try harder or use poison."

I forgot to include Inspire Courage on my attack and damage in that last post.

Quinn steps forward and stabs with his sword cane...

Sword Cane: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 = 15, for 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4 damage.

...but only manages to slightly gash the man's left calf.

Meanwhile, Yoon once again slightly scorches the man, burning away part of his beard.

Erasmus steps up, and bludgeons the man with a club, leaving him greivously wounded, but still standing...

...whilst Kyra heals her wounds.

Ulisha steps up, and slashes with the antique sickle...

Silver Hex: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10, for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage.

...but her weak blow is easily dodged.

The nunchaku-wielding thug then does his best to drop Erasmus...

Nunchaku: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5, for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage.
Nunchaku: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 damage.

...but, heavily injured, his attacks are slow, and easily avoided.

The halfling then continues to shoot at Kyra...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.

...but this time, Kyra is ready for it, and easily dodges the arrow.

Round 2/3: Quinn, Yoon, Erasmus, Kyra, Ulisha, BB(-16), TW

Party is up.

The others ganging up on the man with the nunchaku, Yoon turns her attention to the sniper.

"Peek-a-BURN!"

fire blast vs archer, courage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 +1 if Inspire Courage applies to Fire Blast damage - does it?

Well...at least I'm consistently accurate. :P

TPOTO: Sadly, whilst you get the bonus on to hit rolls, 'Inspire Courage' specifies that the damage bonus is on *weapon* damage rolls :-/

Yoon's third blast of flame engulfs the man's head, and he falls to the ground, leaving only the halfling sniper as a viable threat.

Round 2/3: Quinn, Yoon, Erasmus, Kyra, Ulisha, TW

Quinn, Erasmus, and Kyra are up.

Worried that the injured Ulisha might perish, she sends out a channel to heal everyone but the thugs for 1d6.
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3

then moves up a bit to be in better position. to deal with the archer.

"I can heal as fast as you can harm. Sarenrae will protect us."

@Kyra: The only person currently injured is the downed thug... feel free to post an alternative action ;-)

As a note, I think Inspire courage adds to basically anything with an attack roll. FAQ & Supporting SKR post

Quinn rumages through his satchel, pulling out and drinking an enlarge person extract as he moves up, hoping to threaten the halfling sniper.

Erasmus moves towards the stone, then climbs up taking the opposing flank to help Quinn.

climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

Double move, probable fail to climb. If I passed place me flanking the last foe.

@Quinn: Huh. Thanks for pointing that out to me :-)

Quinn drinks an extract, causing his body to swell to gigantic proportions, and moves to threaten the sniper.

Erasmus hustles forward, and, despite skinning his knee, manages to scramble up into a flanking position.

'Twas DC 5.

Kyra realises that none of her allies are injured.

Ulisha maintains her oration, draws a crossbow, and loads it.

The halfling sniper steps back, drops his bow, and draws a short sword, thereafter attempting to stab Erasmus with it...

Short Sword: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 1 + 2 = 25, for 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 1 + 2 = 3 damage.
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 1 + 2 = 6, for 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 1 + 2 = 4 damage.

...jabbing him in the armor just over his aorta! Fortunately, his armor deflects the full force of the blow.

Round 3/4: Quinn, Yoon, Erasmus(-3), Kyra, Ulisha, TW

Party is up.

@Kyra: The only person currently injured is the downed thug... feel free to post an alternative action ;-)

I think the hobbit should have hit her with a to hit of 15 as her AC was only 14.

Shield of Faith on Quinn, +2 AC.

@Kyra: Umm... Kyra, *you* were the one being targeted by the halfling ;-)

@Kyra: Umm... Kyra, *you* were the one being targeted by the halfling ;-)

I know. I should have taken the 4 points of damage since his to hit exceeded my AC unless there was a range penalty not factored in. That being the case I figure I would just let the channel happen and have her heal herself. Is that OK? Then the next round I figured I could do a Shield of Faith on Quinn as he is enlarged and makes a good target.

Erasmas spits blood down on the halfling, then leers at him and sidesteps to flank with the enlarged Quinn.

"You have but a few scarce moments to offer your surrender, before my large friend uses this boulder as a butcher's block!"

Intimidate (to demoralize): 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 = 9

Haven't used my shirt reroll yet... why not? Drink Ghost Goblin Ale! It's not for goblins, because they cant read this shirt anyways!

Reroll + GM *: 1d20 + 2 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 4 + 2 = 21

He's all yours Quinn

Quinn slices down with his oversized sword cane, not waiting for a response to Erasmus's decleration.

Inspired Stabbity: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

@Kyra: I could have sworn your AC earlier was listed as higher than 15. Never mind!

Quinn stabs at the halfling, who nimbly dodges out of the way of his swing.

Yoon throws a blast of fire at the halfling...

Fire Blast: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22, for 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8 Fire damage.

...engulfing the pint-sized terror's torso in a gout of flame!

Erasmus threatens the halfling with being turned into mincemeat, which causes the halfling to gulp, but he shows no sign of surrendering.

Definitely Shaken, but sadly, these guys have 'fanatical' morale :-/

Kyra, concerned that Quinn may be more vulnerable in his enlarged state, boosts his defences with a Shield of Faith.

Ulisha then calmly finishes-off the downed assassin...

CdG: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 7) + 2 = 12 damage.

...putting a crossbow bolt through his left eye.

The halfling, deciding that Quinn is the larger threat (both metaphorically, and literally), adjusts, and stabs at him...

Short Sword: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 1 + 2 - 2 = 13, for 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 1 + 2 = 4 damage.

...however, he is shaking too much to deliver a solid strike.

Round 4/5: Quinn, Yoon, Erasmus(-3), Kyra, Ulisha, TW(-8)

Party is up.

I was waiting to see if the attempt to intimidate them into surrender would work.

fire blast vs halfling, courage, melee penalty: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
fire damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Critical threat!: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
bonus fire damage on confirmation: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 +7 = 15

Holy s$@%!

Yoon's next fire blast engulfs the halfling's head, which ignites like a torch, leaving a charred, cracked skull in its wake.

Combat most definitely over!

Ulisha breathes a sigh of relief.

"Thank-you for dealing with those assassins, but I fear more will come, unless you can convince the Tullivor family to call them off."

She then gives the antique sickle a long, hard look.

"I know that the Society was interested in this weapon, but at present, I fear that I will need to sell it in order to pay the weregild that the family will undoubtedly demand... unless you could convince them to call off their hounds, or that I am already dead? I dare say that there will be a representative somewhere in Daggermark..."

Feel free to roll Diplomacy(Gather Information) checks, if you so desire...

aid someone else's Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Inspired Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 5 + (2) = 19

Quinn quips "I bet we could report your death without too much trouble."

Ulisha nods.

"Alright then. I'll wait here for word from you."

A thought then occurs to her.

"Hang on..."

Taking off her cloak, she slashes it with the sickle a couple of times, then dips it in the blood of the thug at her feet.

"Use this to lend credence to your story. Good Luck!"

Traveling back to Daggermark, Quinn (with Yoon's assistance) is easily able to track down the location of a man called Anwald (a retainer of the Tullivor family) to an inn called The Salted Boar, where he has been making a mournful boor of himself for at least the last week.

When the party approaches, he opens a bleary, blood-shot eye to regard them.

"What do you lot want? Can't a man bury his regret by drinking himself to death in peace? My kind, noble masters are gone, and their memory has been despoiled, both by my own actions, and those of others..."

"Sometimes it helps to talk about it. It can't be all THAT bad!"

Cast guidance before approaching.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8

*ack*

The man's expression sours when he sees Kyra's holy symbol.

"Oh, a Sarenrite, eh? I got no interest in converting - why don't you go find some other patsy?"

Someone else can make a check ;-)

"The regrettable actions of desperate men can often be reversed with help. If your intent was honorable then perhaps we can help?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

"Don't feel bad. Someone once told me that you can do everything right and still lose, and that that is not weakness, that is life."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

It must be the puppet. Death/life therapy with a puppet. (obscure reference from "What about Bob?")

Anwald nods to Yoon.

"Now you, I like! Have a tankard of ale on me."

"Why, thank you."

Remind me, please, what we're supposed to ask this guy for/say to him?

Somehow we are to get the Tullivar family to call off the vendetta. This guy is their representative. We can either convince them he is dead or find some other way to get them to call it off. Probably after getting more information on why there is a vendetta in the first place.

Quinn just barely peeks the sword out of his caine as he speaks.

"Look, I hate to do this to you, but your guys just aren't getting the job done. We saw Ulisha execute one of your associates and her friends deal with the other. We're taking over as the employer is through with you."

Inspired Bluff: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 1 + (5) = 25

Anwald looks at Quinn, with obvious confusion on his booze-addled face.

"My employer? All of my employer's are dead! When that damned fool of a half-orc stole that cup, it re-ignited the rivalries between the Tullivor and Sarvio families; the last Tullivor scion was murdered to gain entrance to his father's crypt (something about a tapestry)! Now there is only poor Anwald left, the last loyal servant of a soon-to-be-forgotten family... but they will have their revenge! That half-orc will die - I told the Red Revolution about her, and they never give up..."

"If the Tullivors posessed such a wealth, perhaps your coin would have been best spent on magics to return his vigor rather than seeking the death of this half-orc. Er... wait a second... didn't we find the body of a half-orc up the dagger river? The one with that sickle?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

@Erasmus: Yeah, I am not sure why they didn't do that, either...

Anwald turns and glares at Erasmus suspiciously.

"They had money, yes, but mostly tied-up in assets that could not be liquidated fast enough to make Raise Dead a viable option."

That's my story, and I am sticking with it ;-)

He then frowns.

"What proof do you have?"

Erasmus rolls his eyes backwards. "When I sit for a deep trance, I can commune with the spirits of the dead... I can hear them now...I can always hear them... DO NOT QUESTION ME about those who have passed on to Pharasma's domain!"

He shrugs. "Also, we've got the sickle. And the cloak. Was a nice cloak... figured with a good washing and a little mending... Yoon will grow into it right? Replace the last one she lit on fire."

Kyra is still miffed about that crack about Sarenrae and keeps quiet.

Relief, tinged with sadness, slowly washes across the man's face.

"Y-you mean it is finally over? My master has been avenged?"

He breathes a great, ragged sigh, then staggers to his feet.

"Well, what is done is done. Now I can focus on the Tullivor Memorial, and get on with my life. Thank-you for letting me know."

Swaying slightly, he then heads off upstairs.

Heading back to Ulisha...

Ulisha is overjoyed to hear that she does not have to worry about assassins any longer, and happily hands over Silverhex, along with her notes about the sickle, for analysis by the Pathfinder Society.

She also promises to bring her considerable knowledge of the surrounding area to bear to assist the party, if it is ever in the River Kingdoms again.

...That's a wrap! Chronicle sheets should go out shortly :-)