The guard nods and signals to someone else in the guardhouse as one of the doors on the gate slowly swings open.
Within the village, empty cottages and sagging, roofless structures testify to the town’s decline. Its muddy streets are nearly deserted. Occupied cottages keep their doors barred. The Bourtze manor stands at the far end of the village, its tall towers vague shapes in the rising fog.
The guard stands above on the platform, pointing to a near building, clearly lit in the night.
"There's your resting place."
Flickering candlelight dimly illuminates the common room of the Devil’s Fork. Stained and mended tablecloths cover rickety tables, but the walls hold an impressive display of antique Chelish fighting gear. Battered shields carry the heraldry of the Order of the Lash, an iron barbazu beard rusts in one corner, and a military fork bears dozens of infernal symbols.
Men and women sit and drink at various tables. Behind the bar, a dispirited-looking woman listlessly wipes leather tankards.
Gunari moves in, taking an aside to stop at the bar to order a few pitchers, just to warm up. "Does it come in towers? If so, we'll take three..." he says, bright smile on his face. The prospects of trying a new beer or three always makes the warpriest happy. "Oh, and if you have any nice wine, Taldan of course, Marzenek would appreciate it. He won't say he appreciates it, but he will, indeed." He slaps a few gold coins on the counter, and heads over to take his seat near Draa.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Wet and cold Marženek takes a seat at a table by himself. He takes in a deep breath in the lifeless and dim room, knowing deep down it's just yet another reflection on his life so far. I looks like he's waiting for a server to come to him.
"Well at least it has a roof," he mutters to himself.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Marženek casually takes the wine from Gunari as hes passes, "That's okay Gunari I've already sat down. No need to worry about including me at the cool kid's table."
The bartender seems a bit more dispirited when she sees people sitting down, afraid she would have to leave the bar to serve, but seems a bit more comforted when Gunari approaches - even moreso when he puts gold on the bar. She provides a range of beers from casks behind the bar and opens a dusty bottle of wine.
The locals seem to pay attention to you for only a few seconds before returning to their conversations.
Satine wanders over to look at the various decorations. She inspects the fork and reads the symbols. Can speak Infernal
Satine looks around to see if anyone is watching her. Satisfied they are not, she reaches out and touches the fork. One minute later, she does the same to the Order of the Lash shield.
Satine will use her Object Reading ability to determine what she can learn about the fork and shield.
PRD wrote:
Object Reading (Su): At 2nd level, an occultist learns how to read information from items he examines. Examining an item in this way requires him to spend 1 minute handling the item. If the item is a magic item, the occultist learns its properties and command word as if he had successfully examined the item using detect magic and succeeded at a Spellcraft check. This ability does not reveal whether the item is cursed unless the occultist's class level is equal to or greater than the caster level of the item. If the item has any historical significance, the occultist learns one piece of information about its past (as determined by the GM). Finally, if the item was last used no longer than 1 day ago per the occultist's class level, the occultist learns one piece of information about the last creature to use the item. This information might be a glimpse of the creature's appearance, a brief vision of what it saw while using the item, or perhaps its emotional state when it last used the item. The GM determines what information is gained in this way. This functions like the psychometry occult skill unlock, but doesn't require a skill check and can be used at will.
Upon touching the shield, you catch a glimpse of the bartender, younger, being tortured by Hellknights for information. Reluctantly, she gives up the names of a few Andoran arms smugglers before being tossed out and into the mud, the shield tossed next to her with the rest of her gear.
From the fork, you catch the same bartender tucking it away into a secret compartment in a wagon, one contained within yet another secret compartment. The primary compartment is then quickly loaded with weapons and closed.
The Infernal symbols seem to represent oaths to Asmodeus.
Mor'Targh looks around at the bar and waits st the table for Gunari to bring his drink, assuming the bar makes Flaming Homers, of course. Drink in hand he too approaches the infernal symbol covered fork. His curiosity burning in him.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Marženek, sips the wine slowly, a feeling in the pit of his stomach growing. Knowing his duty as a bard all-too-well, he reluctantly stands and makes his way to the small stage in the corner.
He takes another sip of wine before clearing his throat and holding his hands in the air to quiet the already silent and sullen crowd. He looks at the floor, eyes closed, as he recites the words.
"Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live."
Marženek sits down quietly knowing no coins will come.
Mortargh reads the oaths to Asmodeus as Marz depresses the bar further. The entire place is silent, except for the heroes table, enjoying the local drink. Suddenly, a blood-spattered man throws the inn’s front door open and storms into the common room.
Clad in a blood-spattered heraldic surcoat bearing blue stars on a golden field, this man is the Tribune of Evondemor, Makarius Bourtze. The frantic nobleman gasps out, “Bar the doors! They’re right behind me!” and the inn’s patrons scatter in panic.
Moments later, there's a slam against the door and panicked shouts from outside.
"Tribune! They're coming for us! The hags are coming for us!" shouts a man from outside.
Draa is aware that multiple hags may form a coven, allowing them to cast spells they could not cast individually, including powerful Divination, Necromancy, and Illusion spells.
"Oh good, competent adventurers!" the Tribune's face lights up slightly. "Thank you! Please, save my men!"
He seems well battered already, though still holding his longsword confidently.
Strength:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
There's a slam against the south wall and the entire building creaks.
Interrupting Drinking Night? - Round 1
Party effects: Haste
Red
Marzenek
Blue
Satine
Draa
Makarius Bourtze (-33)
Green
Mor'targh Gunari
"Tribune! Please move out of the way! I need to get out to take care of these hags! Can you tell us anything you know about them?"
'I hope that the beer isn't spilled with all of this shaking... I haven't had nearly enough of it!'
Gunari stands up, and readies his shield. Calling upon the power of the Accidental God, he uses his fervor ability to cast shield of faith upon himself. (AC to 30). He then steps closer to the window where blue is, trying to ascertain what is going on there.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Marženek begins slowly singing an old Lastwall battle song of the dead, "The walking dead swarmed the tower tall, with the reek of death hanging from them..."
Move action: Inspire courage.
The voice continues as Marženek disappears from view.
"Well, that is an interesting turn of events. Tribune, didn't I ask you to back away?" Gunari shouts. 'Why did he attack his own man?'
Moving rapidly thanks to the magics enhancing them, Gunari moves up to the green guard. He calls upon the power of the Drunken Hero to enchance his armor and blade Swift for sacred armor adding +1 to his armor enhancement (AC to 31), fervor for sacred weapon (adding holy to the weapon (he figures it will be an interesting way to show if these are evil)
Based on the Tribune's comments, he attacks green with his enchanced gear.
Cayden's Churchkey, Vital Strike, Haste, Power Attack, Inspire:1d20 + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 32Damage w/ holy:2d8 + 7 + 4 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 7 + 4 + 2 + (2, 2) = 23GM take off 4 if not evil Crit confirm:1d20 + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 26crit damage:1d8 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Will Save, if needed:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17+2 if mind affecting, +4 if an illusion? "Ha! Take that, villain!"
Gunari sees the creature for what it is as he strikes it - the towering, hunched, bruise colored humanoid staring at him hungrily, even as his blade pierces its flesh.
Kn(Nature) for Gunari, DC19 Will on an interaction to reveal.
unable to update the tactical slide from my phone
Mor'Targh moves to line up his shot on wall crasher, who is clearly burning with desire to be snuffed out.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Marženek carefully makes his way behind the bar. Weaving his bardic performance and spellcasting into one, he casts Unwitting ally (Will DC 17) at the green guard.
SR Check:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Will Save:1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 4 = 20
"Whatever they are, they appear to have some kind of spell resistance up. Just our luck."
Inspire courage +2 still up, Satine continues to have an allied weapon +2 enhancement bonus.
Knowledge: These are Annis Hags, which seems to have formed a coven. Their biggest vulnerability is the limited amount of hitpoints they have, as their DR/Bludgeoning is embarrassingly low.
Blue takes two flaming shots while Green explodes into gore.
The Tribune steps to the side to avoid the beast in the door, pulls out a potion, and drinks it.
Male Dhampir | HP: 82/65 | AC: 21 (12 Tch, 19 Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 18 | F: +8*, R: +9*, W: +7* (*+4 vs. fear, energy drain, death eff, and necro eff, +2 vs. disease, mind-effect) | Init: +3 | Perc: +11 , SM: +9 | Speed 30ft | Shirt Reroll: 1/1, Bardic Performance 14/24, Runestone 1/1, Belt 3/3, Shoes 2/2, 1/1 | Spells: (Bard - 4/6, 2/4, 2/2) (Sorcerer - 5/5) | Active conditions: Invisibile, Yes - See Profile
Marženek climbs to the top of the bar for a full view of the room. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, his voice grows deep and gravel-filled, starting with a low growl, the rasping words sound like sandpaper on rough wood. "One thousand deaths. Ripping, Laugh And Laugh."
The visual manifestation of his words hurl towards the blue hag.
Move action: Climb up onto the bar. Standard Action Weird Words: Ranged Touch:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17Damage:4d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 5) + 5 + 2 = 29
Inspire courage +2 still up (3 rounds remaining). Satine continues to have an allied weapon +2 enhancement bonus.
