GM-Grenfax Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Grenfax

You're outnumbered and surrounded Gaedren. Drop your weapon and we will see you are treated fairly.

Nik drops his crossbow to the floor and draws his staff. He then approaches Lamm cautiously.

Maybe with this distraction, Trisane can secure him easier.

Trisane grows more impatient by the second.

You really should've listened. You're weak and we won't be taken as easily as children.

Full Round action: Charge 15' towards Lamm. Disarm combat maneuver with longsword. (This will provoke AoO. AC 17 (-2 Charge). Maybe Trisane has concealment?)

Disarm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Give up already, old man and tell me what I want to know... I won't let you die before I find my nephew.

Where's Pellius?!

Gaedren still seems to be little more than a dark shadowy form behind the lantern he holds. He responds to Nik's as the Varisian moves closer.

Fairly treated - nothing in 'is life is fair. I will see ya in the Abyss first!

Ophelia casts spell at Lamm, who continues to glower at her intently.
Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Pellius, 'at lil gutter snipe, if 'e is all you want - please take that worthless little cur and go! 'e is upstairs, with the rest!

Lamm barely raises his sword against
AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 86
Damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

Lamm attacks Trisane, but his blow just misses.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Party - Go

That's all I needed to know. Pellius better be unharmed and for your sake, you better not be lying!

Trisane's anger flashes as he spins his longsword to the flat and strikes at Gaedren with all his might.

No Move action. Standard Attack for non-lethal damage (-4 to hit).
Non-Lethal Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Crit confirmation roll
Non-Lethal Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

If confirmed
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Lead the way fiend!

Nik swings low with his staff, aiming at Gaedren's legs. He keeps he staff close though, hoping to use it to block an incoming blow.

Hope this catches his attention.

Alistair see Trisane's sword knock Lamm's Head around. Hoping that it knocked enough sense into him that he is fighting a lost cause.
Alistair gentle places his sword tip towards Lamm's throat.
With a smile on his face
Check mate Mon'Ami. It is over, would you be so kind as to surrender...now.
He nods at the sword in Lamm's hand..
or....Oh please do continue this dance. I beg you. I will enjoy buying your.....home here and turning it into an orphanage...
Alistair waits for Lamm to make a move if he does he will attack.
Holding my action to attack if lamm does attempts to attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
if that hits, this is including a +2 from flank and not the +2 from niks aid another.
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Sorry - Trisane disarms Gaedren... this is what happens when you rush.

He attacked Trisane, So I was under impression that he still has his weapon...

Lamm barely raises his sword against

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 86
Damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

This was after the disarm attempt by trisane...I am confused, did I miss something?

Ophelia growls, stop asking for his surrender, he needs to know his life is at its end. She then begins casting a spell, pointing to Lamm and sending another arc of electricity towards him.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

casting jolt

This is on me - sooo to get us caught up/moving again....

Trisane knocks the sword from Gaedren's hand, leaving Gaedren unarmed.

Trisane then slaps him hard with the flat of his blade knocking him out as Nik sweeps his legs out from under him. Alistair has a sword at Gaedren's throat and after insulting the man, realizes he is unconscious.

Ophelia can either cast, or choose a new action. Otherwise, it would seem, Gaedren Lamm is at your mercy - or lack thereof depending...

She'll keep her action, casting jolt on Lamm

Ophelia, wait!

Nik attempts to block her line of fire.

If Gaedren is killed now I may never find Tobar.

I need him alive, remember?

I really hope Nik won't be a problem here.
Just a little jolt to make sure he isn't faking, nothing to worry about.

Assuming we're out of combat, Ophelia will do the following:

Ophelia unsheathes a dagger and casts light upon it, using it like a torch to get a better view of the room.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Assuming we're out of rounds/combat.

Trisane shoots Opelia a glaring look momentarily.

She's more dangerous than she looks.

He's out alright... Nik's right though, we still need answers. Look around for a way upstairs.

At least I think he's still alive...

Trisane sheathes his sword, grabs Lamm's lantern and begins to inspect the unconscious man.

Check if he's still alive/first aid.
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Loot the body.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Ophelia zaps Lamm whose unconscious form twitches with the arc that shoots from her hand. Nik then positions himself over Lamm, to try to prevent Ophelia from targeting him again.

Trisane bends down and checks for a pulse...

I will ususally give you a hint that something is "good quality" when it is valuable - such as a masterwork weapon, or a high quality piece of art. Appraise DC is 20 for common items, 25 base for magic items. Some things may simply require an expert to determine. As a house rule - unless there are objections/alternative- for mwk items (weapons and armor, equipment) I will allow an appraise check of at least 15 to determine mwk quality, even if it doesn't succeed otherwise.

Ophelia casts another light spell on her dagger, the coin (with Ophelia's first light spell), and Trisane rights Lamm's lantern before it goes out, so the room brightens somewhat. This large room is somewhat chilly and stinks of the river because of the opening in the floor. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole’s edge to the other side of the chamber, and just inside the door, the trapped floor has swung down, waiting to be reset.

Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water. To your horror, a small foot and shin still dangle from one of the manacles.

Where you are is filled with a collection of old cabinets, lock boxes, and piles of clutter that are strewn about. Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other treasures” litter the floor of this entire chamber. Three tables, their tops heaped with additional clutter, stand amid this mess.

Just west of that a wooden door leads inside another walled-off section.
There does not seem to be any way to the floor above from here.

I don't see any way up from inside here. Ophelia casts a spell and takes another look around.

casting detect magic, she'll point out anything magical.

Nik secures his staff across his back again and returns to grab his crossbow. He checks the load to make sure it didn't fall out and turns back to the group.

Trisane, I think we should secure Gaedren and then bring him around. We can question him after we make sure the children are secure and no more threats are around.

Handing him over to the law is appropriate but Ophelia and Alistair may not be so happy about that. Also, will the law be happy we helped them or upset that we did what they could not? Maybe 'trail justice' would be the best here? Erastil, guide me in this please.

Trisane collects Gaedren’s weapons and key ring. He stands, nods to Nik and then looks over to the hanging manacles containing small remains.

What a wretched worm of a man. He’s only just begun to answer for his crimes...

He points at the manacles in disgust.

Those should work… Lamm’s alive but he’ll be out for a while. I agree. We need to find my nephew and free the other children now. Alistair’s right, there’s probably other “goons” to take care of and I’m not leaving these kids in their hands. After they’re safe, then we’ll deal with what’s left of Gaedren and you’ll get your answers Nik.

After Gaedren Lamm is cuffed (hands & feet), Trisane turns and approaches the door.

Maybe there’s a way through here.

Checking to see if door is locked or trapped. If locked, I’ll try the keys first.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

It takes a little effort to get the manacles pulled down and free of their current tethers, but you do. You can then place Lamm in the shackles.

Trisane - the door is locked but not trapped. One of the keys opens the door.

Lovely. This place is vile.

There's gotta be a way up around here somewhere...

Trisane steps inside to look around for any secret doors, ladders or hatches that might lead upstairs.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Not that yo see, Trisane.

What is that awful smell? Ophelia pokes her head into the room, this is disgusting. She'll look around to see what is glowing and point those out to Trisane.

Alistair looks on as Nik and Trisane do there best to protect Lamm.
Those two are morons, the hell with what anyone else feels...to hell with what damage Lamm did to anyone else as long as they get what they want. IDIOTS the pair of them.
shaking his head at the sight of Nik and Trisane tending to lamm.
A look of disgust comes across his face
are you two going to buy him a mint julep next
Looking around the room, he notices that there seems to be no way up.
Double move to the other side of the room
as he passes Ophelia
I am sorry me Lady but it seems our needs are being ignored. tsk tsk. Shame on us for wanting to have our own justice, but alas when he goes to jail...well now that is a different story all together.
as he finishes his move to the other side of the room he will look down to see if the alligator is still there or not
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
he then looks back up at ophelia
It seems even prisoners do not take to kindly to people that hurt children and rumors have a way of getting bigger the more they are told....
A smile appears on his face.
Prison life can be a b*++$ at times
he looks over at the other two.
If you two are done playing nurse maid to your new best friend, maybe we can head to the front of the building and find the children...

Nik looks to Alistair and smiles. He points his loaded crossbow at his chest.

Go ahead and kill him then. But know if you do, I will see you rotting with him in the river.

Nik's smile turns to a scowl.

ROM!

Tsk tsk, little nikki....you are not that brave to kill a person...it will leave scares on you that you can not live with. Now telling people how to live their lives and running them out of the clan...well now I think you are the master at that. So little nikki what is it going to be.Alistair walks right towards nik still holding his rapier in his hand. Are you going to shoot me or not...if you are willing to point a weapon at person you better be ready to use it
he keeps walking nice and slowly with a big smile on his face... come on little nikki shows us all how big of a man you are...you want what you want and the hell with anyone else.hmm come on NIK!! be a man for once and pull the damn trigger...what is the matter little nikki when you lost your brother did you lose your balls as well....all talk and no grit...you sir are pathetic...you dictate what is going to happen and the hell with the consequences...so you had better get going on pulling that trigger for if I get to you and you do not I will have to do something that might scare my soulHe keeps walking towards nik hands out wide giving him a larger target..
Come on little nikki I am right here...what are you waiting for....ohhh I see I am facing you and you can only tell people what to do....remember you have only one shot...here I am little nikki
Alistair moves right up to the spot over lamm and next to nik facing nik
Holding action to attack nik if he shoots
Remember little nikki you started this

Nik steps back leaving Gaedren open for Alistair.

I am simply waiting to see if you are willing to sacrifice my brother for your desires. I have no desire to commit murder, though you seem more than willing to. So, it is your move. Do you murder this man? This defenseless old man. In cold blood, while he is chained. Do you accept the consequences of such an action? The possible death of my brother? If that is your wish, do it. I won't stop you. I will however have my own justice if you do.

Nik never lowers his crossbow.

When this is over, we go our own ways. This dandy will lead to nothing but trouble.

Readying an action to shoot Alistair if he harms Gaedren.

umm No sir this has nothing to do with your brother or your desire
to keep lamm alive Alistair moves towards nik and closes the gap between them..
This is about you and I coming to terms on your threat on my life
and as he advances he will raise his weapon towards nik.
you and I were working towards a common goal albeit with different views on the outcome but working together non the less. You for some unknown reason took my comments about Lamm getting what he deserves in prison as an assault on an unarmed and a chained man. You threaten me with harm if I did something to him. You sir have thrown down a gauntlet that you will need to pick up yourself if you want to live to see your brother again. You sir are the reason we are at this point. You sir are the reason why your brother is missing...not Ophelia, nor me...but you. Stop blaming the loss of your brother on us for wanting our own justice for our own loved ones. The fact that you continues to hold the worth of your brother over the value of a nephew, the value of justice for a slain sister or the value of a victim wanting to have their own justice for the injustice they received from Lamm is dishonorable. You sir are the reason we are here right now with the two of us coming to blows.
Alistair never let his smile slip from his face and even seeing the scowl makes him smile even more.
Remember nik you have only one shoot and you are in a disadvantage right now. This is not a duel you want to engage in. You have one chance and only one chance to step away from this.
Think quickly as there are other children that need our assistance and if you decide to continue with the threats..I will make it a quick duel then. You have threaten me not once but twice there will be no third time...Sir
Holding action to attack nik if he attempts any attack action including spells.
Come on nik think about it...you can not win this duel...you have moved yourself into a corner...I do not want to kill you but I will and I can do it very easily...his stance is poor at best...I will hit his collar bone..that should do enough damage to limit his ability to cast spells..about there..This is a duel and trisane better stay out of it
Alistair raises his weapon a little higher

your call...

Nik simply stares at Alistair. He does not lower his crossbow.

Your life is worthless fiend. You are no better than he.

Tobar, forgive me for being so weak but this man needs to learn that others are not his playthings.

ahh but see there is the rub huh...it may or may not be worthless..BUT it is my life to live in my own way on my own terms. You still feel the need to push people away that you do not agree with...that is your own failings. You take offense to my words and claim me to want that man dead when I did not touch the man. Yet the ones that do harm to him you do and say nothing. So please be a man admit that you are using this situation to further your own agenda of my death
Alistair takes a positioning step forward and to his left..not a movement action just motion of sorts
it is your call "fiend"...you can tilt or you can withdrawl. It is your call...I am just waiting...

Nik sighs. He lowers his crossbow and accepts what he feels is inevitable.

Glorious Desna, I've dreamed of this day.

I have no desire for anyone to die. Even you Alistair. Still, be warned, I have a goal the same as you. If you interfere with that goal I will see you pay for it.

Nik's jaw hardens as he continues.

As for your useless wit, I am responsible for the decision to send my brother Tobar away, a just decision for his part in causing the deaths of many of our clan. You though let your own innocent sister die and to avenge her you are willing to let others die. So add my life to the list of those you have killed for your own ego.

Nik spits at Alistairs feet and stands ready to die.

No defense and no readied action

With a soft tone and still that ever present smile
Finally you show some wisdom.
such promise he has and yet he can not see past his own judgmental ways
Alistair looks long and hard at nik, smiling the whole time.
he leans in with the point of his rapier just under nik's chin. Tilts his head to the side of his ear and says in a very low voice so that nik should be the only one to hear
Do not ever let words defeat you. I killed you several times over with words alone. You are better than that. It is an honorable quest you have set yourself on and I wish you luck with it. Do not let words get the better of you again
Alistair turns back to nik face to face with his rapier still under his chin, still using that low voice and with no smile at all
oh and if you ever attempt to use my sister to get to me again, I will gut you with a demi spoon and hang you up by your entrails next to lamm and that my "fiend" is not a threat.....but a promise
using his left hand he lightly taps the side of niks cheek.
understand
taking a couple steps back, he lowers his hand and the rapier and speaks to nik in a clear and calm voice.
Lord Fralliniz, you are a good man trying to right the wrongs of your life just like the rest of us. We are all different and have different views of what is just and and what is noble. We are all flawed in our own ways. I suggest you take some time to understand that we all want different things from this little adventure path we are on.
Dueling court is over, maybe he learned a lesson or two, maybe not
Alistair smiles again and turns away
Double move to get back to the area he was before
Now can we go and save some kids...
Alistair once again is humming his tune

Nik shakes his head.

You are right, we have different goals.

Nik walks over to Gaedren.

You three should be able to handle the rest. I will get what I need from Gaedren and leave you to your own path. Ours together is at an end I am afraid.

Nik kneels by Gaedren's side and begins to pray.

Yelling at nik from across the room
OH HELL NO...I gave up my own agenda for your brother and lamm is not going anywhere. You will help save the children from this place. Then and only then will you get your information from lamm. Until then there is work to be done and you are to help the rest of us. You are not that selfish are you?....to demand that you get what you want and throw insults around to get your way and then just up and leave. B*&@~~!!!!!!!..get your ars moving.
Shaking his head at nik again and again
you need to earn what you just got...so either find a way to get us upstairs or we head to the front door and go in that way...you spied it out so you should be on point with me or Trisane when we go in...
Alistair is still smiling at nik but his smile is only a thin painted one as the anger is very much at the surface of his demeanor
unbelievable

Will you two knock it off? We're not done yet. Lamm is out and secure, you'll get your answers from him soon enough. Now, we need to head up above and rescue the kids. Stop fighting each other and focus on the real enemy.

These two are going to drive me crazy with their fighting.

Nik, since you were in the room above us, why don't you and Trisane head there. Alistair and I will follow and make sure no one tries to escape from one of the other doors.

Hopefully, separating them will help...if not...ugh

Now, how do we get up there?

After hearing the commotion, Trisane exits the room and looks at the others for a moment. Without a word, he marches over to Lamm, tears off a piece of Gaedren's rags and gags him with it. He then retrieves a sack from his pack and pulls it over the man's head securing it tight.

That ought a keep someone's mouth shut for a while.

Trisane proceeds to drag the unconscious man's body into the room by his chains and leaves him on the floor inside. Finally, he steps out, locks the door and pockets the keys.

He turns, looking at the others again and pauses before speaking calmly.

There's no way up in there. I'm going to go find my nephew now.

Trisane nods at Opelia then moves with purpose towards the trapped floor.

Careful, marine.

Taking 10 on acrobatics this time w/ running start to jump the trapped floor :)

Alistair chuckles to himself as Trisane goes by him...
Well done...well done indeed
now that is poetic justice, time to earn your keep little man

Move Action
Alistair sheathes his rapier
Standard Action
Alistair will slip himself off the ledge and fall to the ground below That is assuming that the alligator is not back.
Take 10 on acrobatics(18) to fall down to the ground below, DC 15
Since it is less than 10 feet I will take no damage and since I take no damage I am not prone..I think at least...
My perception roll from before

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Nik stands and gathers himself. He grabs his crossbow again and follows Trisane.

Erastil guide me. I feel this rogue is a danger to us all but I do not have the position here to neutralize the threat. Is it wrong to wish that his end is meet on the blade of one of our enemies?

Ophelia moves over to retrieve her crossbow. She waits as everyone crosses the trapped floor before attempting herself.

Taking 10 would be a 12 for me.

As Alistair climbs his way to the front of the building he mumbles to himself
What a idiot
I am in my right to put him down so why did I not do so. I hope he takes the hint and leaves now before he forces my hand to kill him.
Alistair wonders what drove Nik to threaten him.
I mean yes I insulted him and yes I made him the but of jokes yes that is true but it was not just him...but did I do something to warrant such hostility.
Nope I did not, I made no attempt on lamm. hmm so why is he wanting to die
Well I will have to kill him then, Can not leave an enemy behind me...but when and will it be lawful. I guess I will have to do it when he attempts to kill me
So be it
Double move to the front of the building

Nik looks up with Trisane.

Think we could climbs this way? A street entrance is likely to draw attention. Plus I don't trust that his beast isn't back yet.

Trisane looks up and then around the corner.

No good. There's no way up but to head for shore. Follow me.

He jumps down to the water below and moves to shore as quickly as he can.

Now let's have a look at these doors.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Checking the front doors for locks & traps. If locked he'll try the keys first.

I wasn't planning on swimming today...great. She follows Trisane down into the water and to the shore.

Once on shore, she meets up with Alistair. Keep a good eye, there are at least three other doors. She points out the location of the doors, and begins looking for any sign of movement from the doors.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The group reassembles on the street in front of the fishery. Rom seems to appear on Nik's shoulder as if he formed out of the darkness. There is a heavy chain with a lock across the front doors.

Nik - Rom

Description of the fishery....

The reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish hangs thickly in the air around the fishery. The old double doors on the street side of this weathered building are tightly closed and currently locked with a thick chain and padlock. Above, a signpost sags outward from the building, the sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusted chain.

To the left of the doors, a fifteen-foot-wide loading dock abuts the side of the building. A few carts sit nearby, partially loaded with large tar-caked barrels marked with a fish-shaped splotch of red paint on the side. Double doors to the immediate south of the loading dock’s ramp provide access to the building’s interior, while a rickety flight of stairs descends nearly to the river’s surface to the east, where a second door provides a secondary entrance.

To the right side (facing the doors from the street) of the building a slippery boardwalk clings to the side of the fishery, held together by barnacle-thick pilings that have been worn halfway through their thickness at the waterline. You just emerged from under this location...

Nik follows Trisane and Ophelia.

Alistair is leaning next to the corner of the building looking at his nails as the rest of the party comes up the hill. As they walk by he lets out a little yawn. Standing and watching with a smile on his face.

As Trisane sees lights behind the door, he stops fiddling with the lock and whispers to the group.

I think our cover's blown now... Pellius must be with the other kids where Ophelia and Nik scouted yesterday. Time to move.

Someone's awake now. We have to hurry. The kids are probably near the loading dock. Stay low & quiet. C'mon.

He ducks below the windows along the building's edge toward the loading dock as he moves and motions for the others to follow him.

Move quietly.
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

He stops at the closed double doors to check for locks & traps. If locked, he'll try the keys first.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Alistair stares blankly at Trisane as he moves towards the loading dock.
OF COURSE someone is awake now. How can they not be awake with the alligator roaring and combat 10 feet below them not to mention the yelling and screaming. We should move in now before they can get organized..

Nik, tries to keep low and silent as he follows Trisane and Alistair to the loading dock.

Trisane moves to the loading dock, the entryway scouted by Nik earlier. Pulling Gaedren's keys from his pocket, he tries several keys before one twists and allows the lock to come loose. With a quick twist, only Trisane is holding the rusted length of chain around the door handles.