GM Henry Fortuna's First Steps (Sessions 1-2) [Completed] (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

Ha ha, this is not an Olympic track and field event. I'm generally assuming that you are all sticking together unless you specifically say something like "Yeah, I'm running into the dark cave that the dragon lives in before anyone else".

"I say not this day. I do not care to part with him. I'm terribly sorry friend."

Illias steps a little closer to his companion becoming weary that this may not be the end of this discussion.

The entertainer seems disappointed, but he does not argue. "If you change your mind, you may find me at The Ivy Playhouse. I'd be happy to pay for such an exquisite animal."

Free to go about your business, you find yourself in front of a magnificent three-story gothic structure. An impressive set of ebon lacquered double doors accented by gleaming silver fixtures serve as the entrance to this awe-inspiring residence. You spot a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain that serves as the door chime.

Illias looks at the assignment, "This appears to be the place. Let's see if she's in shall we?
Illias pulls the bell chain and awaits an answer.

"Yes, lets get this over with. The sooner we are done with these errands the better."

"Aye, lets get going. There is a tavern around the corner that has teh best roasted beets you can dip in their ale. Perhaps we when are done!"

@Kurth- that was funny... as smart as a bear!

"Ah, some good food and drink. I like that idea!"

Elianna had been following along humming to herself a bit, amused by the men trying to keep their distance from the bear. She trailed behind them a little bit, smiling through her veils at their banter and antics. Every now and then she'd hop lightly from one foot to the other over an oddly colored stone in the street as if it was something she didn't want to step on.

When the group stops and talk turns to taverns while awaiting a response from within, she shifts from one foot to the next, as if unable to hold completely still, still humming to herself a bit and smiling at the others.

"Say, what is this tune you are humming all the time? It sounds ... unusual, very different from the songs I am used to."

Vim looks at the door as if pondering something.
Knowledge (local) for this establishment 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Waiting for Elianna to respond to Kurth's question before moving on :)

Oh sorry didn't know I was holding it all up!! I thought that things would keep moving and the side-conversations would just happen along the way, sorry!!

Elianna smiles at Kurth, her little hum ceasing as Vim looks around.

"Just a little tune from my mother's home, it helps me keep my mind awake so I can χρήση μαγείας, well, in your tongue, so I can do things."

She too starts examining the place.

"Kind of a brooding demeanor, no?"

I prefer not to derail roleplaying by interjecting NPCs and their baggage into PC's conversations, so I'm more apt to wait. The story isn't going anywhere :)

Moments after ringing the door chime, an attractive young Chelish man in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the you as if expected. He leads you through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, until you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta's personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.

A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.

Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards you with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address you. Zarta is quite attractive, her Chelish features bestowing an almost inhuman beauty. She carries herself with a superior air and you suspect that she would do so even if she was unworthy of it.

"Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks." She then turns her attention to you.

"It's always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh-faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you," Zarta says, pointing at Luthor.

As she speaks, you hear a cacophony of booms and crashes coming from the door to the west. As a result, she often pauses during her speech.

"I assume this isn't a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can't get that man around these parts anymore," she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. "On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits.

"Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order."

Sense motive, to see if she really believes that devils serve people in Cheliax, and not the other way around: 1d20 ⇒ 7

"Madam, I mean disrespect but changing our minds about Chelish society will do little to change the minds of the people on the streets. If what you say is true, it still does little to settle the minds of most in Absolam." Luthor adds slyly, "I'm not very good with politics Madam, I'm just a precious recruit sent on an errand."

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"So I shall put you to the task then, Oh Dutiful One. The trinket you're looking for is a seven-lock iron box. I just couldn't get into it," she says with a little pout. "Anyhow, it's protected by abjuration magic intermingled with evocation magic, so I would advise not playing with it on your way home."

Luthor bows,
"Madam, where is this seven-lock iron box? Don't worry, we are all too new to have inquisitive minds!"

If we have to search for the box in the estate or city, I assume we can start casting detect magic to search for this box. Or is it more complicated than that?

Kurth is impressed by the Paracountess' demeanor. But beyond that he is unsure what to think of her. For the time being, he tries to look trustworthy and noble, and lets Luthor do the talking.

"Oh, it's right through there," she says, pointing toward the western door. She produces an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger from a drawer. "A servant is greatly misbehaving. You're going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket."

"You might need this to get it to submit," she suggests, offering the letter opener with a sly grin.

"A servant, or one of those devils you use as a source of power?" Luthor loses a bit of his playfulness now that the task has been placed before him. He then starts to study the letter opener (without touching it).

Cast Detect Magic ont he opener

The letter opener is not magical.

"Think what you like, cleric," Zarta says, darkly. "However, that does not change the task before you nor the amount of time you have to play with. So, I suggest, rather than trying to get under my skin, you go deal with this problem."

Vim glances furtively toward the western door.

These Chelish always give me the creeps

"No argument there, lady. Time's a wasting.

And I wouldn't mind taking a peek at those seven locks either.

Illias cautiously walks up to the door and opens it, weary of what's on the other side, hand clutching his quarterstaff with one hand. He peers in side and watches the servant trying to discern a weakpoint or opening to strike

perception? d20=16+12=28

Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax - ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.

You see an enraged imp throwing the box around the room. Though it is dented, the imps efforts seem in vain.

Kurth looks at the Chelish woman sternly, trying to figure out whether she is mocking them.

When he has made up his mind, he draws his greatsword ... and moves to the door to help Illias deal with the "misbehaving servant".

Illias tries to catch the imp off guard and lunges at him to strike with his quarter stfaff

1d6= 6+1

During the meeting with the Paracountess, Elianna did her absolute best to make herself very small at the back of the group, the woman's less than subtle attempts at innuendo clearly making the she-elf uncomfortable even to the point of stopping her from humming or shifting her weight on her feet at all, the first time any in the group would have seen her so silent or still.

I hope all women from Cheliax are not like this. I do not like the songs her body is trying to sing to these men...

When the commotion starts beyond the door, her train of thought is broken. She tries to follow the others, staying as far from the Paracountess as possible, even tugging her veils up a little closer to try and avoid eye-contact.

With the door flung open and the others start to draw weapons, she slides her scimitar from her belt, turning it backwards so the blade is behind her back as she starts to whisper:

"Before we attack, maybe we should try to negoti..."

As Illias lunges, Elianna's eyes flutter closed for a mere moment before she shifts her weight to her toes, ready to support her companions if they too enter to engage the creature, but she is no longer silent.

"Άνδρες! Ακροποδητί γύρω από τις γυναίκες, αλλά απρόκλητη επίθεση σε έναν διάβολο πριν σταματήσετε να σκέφτεστε! Πώς αυτός ο κόσμος εξακολουθεί να υπάρχει με τους άνδρες στο τέλος! Ααα!"

Even as she (apparently) curses in her native tongue and readies her body for action, she examines the box with narrowed violet eyes.

Spellcraft to identify
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

As Illias reaches for the door, Vim steps to the side and waits for an opportunity to slip into the room unnoticed by any possible occupants.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Luthor moves into the room cautiously, his hand on his scimitar, and stoops down become eye level with the imp.
"Fine fellow, can we talk? You seem very irritated, perhaps we can help."

Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Edit formatting

Illias tries to catch the imp off guard and lunges at him to strike with his quarter stfaff

1d6= 6+1

Stealth check first, Illias.

Imp's Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Initiative:
Imp:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Illias:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Luthor:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Vim:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Elianna:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Kurth:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Unless Illias' Stealth Check is over 26, Luthor's diplomacy attempt occurs first. Actions may be changed accordingly.

pfffft my stealth modifier is -1 go for diplomacy lol

The imp stops banging the box and looks at Luthor. "You're not going to kill me immediately? How surprising. You don't look Chelish."

You're up next, Illias.

Illias stops on his heels, What are the chances that we can get what we came for without having to go through you?

As he speaks with the imp Illias keeps shifting his attention to what appears to be a door across the room, for no particular reason it calls to him.

You have to declare an action since this is "combat", Illias. So either a make skill check or an attack. You can also choose to delay your turn or hold an action until someone else has acted (but you will need to tell me who you're waiting for).

Diplomacy d20=9+2 see above post for dialogue

Illias, the spoiler of "How to format your text" shows you how to create a dice expression that will roll for you. Something like 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16. Try it for your next roll.

will do :D thank you

Waiting for the imp to react to Illias' diplomacy before declaring my move.

The imp eyes Illias warily. "You stink of bear droppings! Your tongue is as wooden as the forests you so love! The Mistress has sure picked some winners here."

The imp's disposition has dropped from neutral to unfriendly.

Go ahead, Kurth.

A misbehaving servant indeed.
Kurth shrugs, then he pushes past Luthor and attacks the Imp.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 3) + 7 = 13

For future reference, please inform me when you're raging :P

Your sword strikes true and the severe wound it inflicts surprises the imp. Its face contorts with anger and hate.

Elianna, your turn.

Posting out of initiative order

Vim scrambles into the room and attempts to use Kurth's massive blow as cover to move into a position flanking the imp.

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4 ; sneak dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Speed 30. Normal attack if he can't line up the flank or if doing so provokes AoO.

For future reference, please inform me when you're raging :P

I will. If I don't say anything, assume that I'm not raging. I'm not raging right now.

Once fighting has begun, Elianna's girlish cursing ends and her humming returns, eyes fluttering as the words to a spell escape her lips.

"Να είστε ζαλισμένοι και είναι ακόμα!"

Elianna casts the spell "Daze" on the Imp, who needs to make a DC 13 Will Save or be Dazed for 1 round.

Her spell complete, she makes a 5-foot step forward in almost a dance-like step as she engages in Spell Combat. Once there she brings her scimitar in an upwards arc in a semi-defensive posture.

Using Spell Combat to attack at a -2, using Combat Expertise and Threatening Defender for a +1 to AC for one round.

Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

Damage if hit succeeds: 1d6 ⇒ 6

GM Henry Fortuna wrote:

For future reference, please inform me when you're raging :P

I will. If I don't say anything, assume that I'm not raging. I'm not raging right now.

Ok, because you're using non-rage attack rolls with rage damage rolls ^_^

Imp's Will Save:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The imp is dazed by Elianna's spell, but her scimitar swing is a little wide as the imp lolls back and forth.

Vim attacks the imp and strikes true, but shortly thereafter the wounds inflicted by his blade fade away.

Round 2. Luthor, you're up.

Ok, because you're using non-rage attack rolls with rage damage rolls ^_^

I'm adding my (non-raging) strength bonus one and a half times to my damage rolls, because I'm using a two handed weapon.

And my failings as a GM become more and more apparent :P