GM Ladile's League of Kick-Ass Dudes: A Pathfinder Society Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Lady Ladile

Lazarus lifts the busts from the cabinet, stuffing them into his handy haversack.

They seem to be important enough to the Spider to display in a cabinet. And she doesn't seem like she'd collect something worthless. I'll learn their providence and significance later.

"I'm ready to go."

Jan is again waxing mercurial and snorts, "Yes, let's go before me make Grand Master Scorched angry. This 'Spider' has been far more truthful and open with information that Scorched has EVER been in my previous dealing with him."

Jan agrees to 'handle' the Spider and in addition to the manacles.

The Spider doesn't get much chance to answer the rest of Frankie's questions as you finish binding, disguising, and (for good measure) gagging her. A wink or two here and a show of coins there, you find yourselves back outside the Weaver's Parlor and on your way back to the safehouse. You make your way down the streets gathering surprisingly little interest from passersby and soon enough you're back at the Cypher Lodge.

Grandmaster Torch’s elegant suite in the Cypher Lodge appears just as it did yeesterday, except that the Sczarni entrepreneur Guaril Karela is absent. Grandmaster Torch lounges in a chair, reading, while his half-orc bodyguards stand casually behind him.

He smiles when the party enters and puts his book down. One of torch's guards brings a chair in adjacent to the Grandmaster and Torch follows by patting it's seat indicating that the Spider should be seated next to him.

"Well done! Those bonds are tight I trust?"

Frankie continues to prattle on with questions the entire walk back, even though she's unable to answer any of them. On the way out of the casino he even manages to snag a few more sweets for the walk back to the lodge. People just aren't very observant with their stuff as they gamble.

------

"Bonds? She's wearing those nice bracelets of yours. Does that count?" Frankie asks as he takes his own seat on the floor, cross legged.

”Sorry boss, I quit. Like I said, plenty of people got lucky tonight!” She laughs as the party leaves with their own jackpot.
---
Meredith gladly sits the spider onto the seat. ”As tight as we could make 'em. She knows how to find good clockwork, I'll give her that.”

"Good taste in costumes, though. I kept one set for special occasions."

"Of course these bonds are tight! That's what friends do for one another, make sure they don't get into any trouble!"

"So, our mission was successful," Lazarus says to Torch, when the team enters the Cypher Lodge with their prisoner.

"But where is Gauril Karela?" the samsaran asks, as he removes the busts from his handy haversack. "I'd hoped he could take a look at these busts we found in the Spider's lair."

"As promised, Grandmaster Torch, we have delivered Ouidda intact," Serge eyes the man and his bodyguards. "And with little incident, too, though I have a newfound appreciation for clockwork constructs..." He adds.

Jan grunts his answer, "Done."

"Ah, I'm afraid that Guaril had other business to attend to today, but perhaps I can be of some help with those," Torch replies, beckoning for Lazarus to hand him one of the busts. He turns it over in his hands for a moment, carefully studying the details and then slowly rubbing a thumb over the name chiseled onto the plate at the bottom. A slow smile spreads over his face.

"Clever! Very clever, but I'd expect no less from the infamous Spider," he remarks, giving the bound woman a respectful nod. "Are the rest like this as well? Hmm, yes, they appear to be."

He turns his attention back to the curious Lazarus. "You see, these busts represent popular figures from Andoren history such as Alysande Benedict, King Culliam II and the poet Darl Jubannich," he explains. "But the names engraved do not match. I suspect the names engraved here are contacts, hidden in plain sight from those who do not know their history! As I said, very clever indeed."

"I must ask, were you able to find any information on the matter we discussed earlier?" Torch continues, idly scratching at his scarred face with the tip of a dagger. "Regarding the Decemvirate?"

Yorad gives Lazarus a nudge here. "Didn't you find a bunch of documents in her desk?" Once the Samsaran has handed the documents over to the Torch, Yorad smiles at the Spider here. "Not as tasty as baked sweets but more satisfying in the end."

Meredith nods. ”Looks like that's the list you needed.” She shrugs.

Frankie looks at the statues, then back at Torch, then at Spider, then at Lazarus, then at the floor. "Sure thing, makes perfect sense!" What is that guy talking about? And why does he keep poking that scab like that, its kinda gross.

His ears do perk up when Yorad mentions sweets, but quickly realizes it was just a mean trick. "Ya, kinda."

"Yes, we acquired a bundle of potentially useful intelligence, some of it quite sensitive." Lazarus acknowledges. "What do you intend to do with it?"

Jan has never liked Scorched or is dubious ways...

"Are we done?"

"Yes, very nearly," Torch nods to Jan as he leans down and begins to undo Ouidda's gag. "But first I would like to hear what our little Spider has to say for herself."

The Spider, having been silently watching and listening to the proceedings, gazes up at Torch as he leans in close to undo her gag. As it falls away you see her lips move as she whispers something to Torch that none of you can hear.

Torch nods agreeably to Ouidda and then turns back to face the group. "My endless thanks to each of you, Pathfinders, for your loyal service. But now I've finally got something to hold over the Decemvirate, so I'm striking out on my own."

And then, without missing a beat, the dagger in his hand flashes as he drives it into Ouidda's throat in a spray of crimson! She registers only the briefest expression of shock before slumping over in her seat as blood rapidly drips down, forming a pool on the floor.

"Get out, boss!" one of the two bodyguards snarls and both draw their weapons. "We'll hold them off!"

Round 1

Frankie
Yorad
Jan
==============
Torch
==============
Meredith + Denair
Lazarus (Mage Armor)
==============
Bodyguard Red
Bodyguard Blue
==============
Serge

Active Conditions: None

Frankie, Yorad and Jan are UP!

Current Map

As Yorad watches his boss slice the Spider's throat in half he thinks, Well even if I never liked her somehow I don't think this is how interrogations is supposed to go...sounds like we ALL got played here!

"Man I HATE being played for a sucker!" Yorad exclaims as he steps forward and slashes his blade at the blue bodyguard, taking advantage of his quickness here!

5' step. dagger vs. Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8; damage: 1d4 + 3 + 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (8, 3) + 1 = 19
Befuddling Strike (Ex): Benefit: When the rogue deals sneak attack damage against an opponent, that opponent takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls against the rogue for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds. AC 19 vs opponents wielding light blades.

Meredith has no idea what just happened. "Wha- dammit? He just wanted the list!" She's thrown off guard by Grandmaster Torch's sudden yet inevitable betrayal.

Serge near boils over with anger. The paladin grips his greatsword tightly between his hands. "Traitorous scum! You are the worst kind of person. I will see to it that vengeance is swift upon that already-mangled visage of yours."

Frankie's jaw drops to the floor as Torch kills the poor woman. Frankie has a soft spot for old women, especially one that seemed as nice as she was. His memory of the fight with her was quite foggy to say the least.

"But? Why?" He questions the room at what just happens, the look of fun loving naivety fading into anger. Quick as a Flash, Frankie the Flash runs over and jumps up on the fine couch, drawing out his favorite wrist rocket as he goes. He drops a yellow and silver marble into it and sends it flying at Torch's face! Applying Hampered if it hits and is a sneak attack. -50% movement for 1 round.

Sling + Marble: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d3 - 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) - 1 + (4, 2) = 8

Jan draws his axe and shield as he moves to block Scorches escape and invokes the chilling frost of Gozreh onto Feykiller.

Looking at the bodyguards, "You both are fools to throw your lives away protecting this piece of filth... before you die I will cut out your tongue and pull out your eyes so that you will stubble through the lands of the dead as blind mutes!"

Jan draws his axe and shield as he moves to block Scorches escape and invokes the chilling frost of Gozreh onto Feykiller.

Looking at the bodyguards, "You both are fools to throw your lives away protecting this piece of filth... before you die I will cut out your tongue and pull out your eyes so that you will stubble through the lands of the dead as blind mutes!"

Frankie applies 'ear muffs' at Jan's foul mouth.

"Umm... I'll just defend us." Denair raises a pensive hand.

Chaos erupts once more as all of you are utterly gobsmacked by this sudden turn of events. Pissed and feeling played for a fool, Yorad lashes out at the closest of the two half-orcs with his dagger but the blade catches only air.

Frankie, on the other hand, chooses to take his anger out on the man himself as he vaults onto a nearby sofa and beans Torch right in the forehead with a marble! Torch utters a startled curse and clutches at his head as blood drips down from a split in the skin just above one eye.

Determined to prevent Torch from escaping, Jan hefts axe and shield as he hustles towards the northern door in an attempt to cut him off but it seems that Torch has many contingencies in place.

"I apologize for misleading you but these are matters that are far greater than you alone. Perhaps one day you will see for yourselves and understand!"

Torch then swirls his cape of red and gold around himself...and simply vanishes!

Round 1

Frankie
Yorad
Jan
Meredith + Denair
Lazarus (Mage Armor)
==============
Bodyguard Red
Bodyguard Blue
==============
Serge

Active Conditions: None

Meredith + Denair and Lazarus are UP!

Current Map

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
”All I know is you played me for a fool.” Meredith draws her longspear. ”Denair, let's backup Yorad.”

Meredith and Denair move into flanking positions.
Meredith draws a weapon, moves and strikes once Denair double moves.

Cold Iron Longspear vs Blue, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16
Arcane Strike, Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
Precise Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Knowledge (arcana) DC24: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
"The duplicitous scamp used some manner of teleportation effect imbued into his cape; likely dimension door," Lazarus informs the team.

The wizard-priest draws his wand of bless and activates it. (34 charges remaining)

"The duplicitous scamp used some manner of teleportation effect imbued into his cape; likely dimension door," Lazarus informs the team.

"Is that like Dr. Who?" asks Frankie as he looks around at the clever hide from Torch.

As Torch - perhaps unsurprisingly - flees the scene, Meredith and Denair move to help Yorad against Blue. The pair fall into flanking formation and Meredith jabs her longspear into the half-orc's thigh. Meanwhile, Lazarus pulls out one of his wands out and uses it to bless the party.

"Protect the boss! RAWRGH!" Blue cries in a frenzied rage as he moves past Yorad, ignoring him completely, and swings his falchion at Meredith.

Blue vs. Meredith (MWK Falchion; Rage): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3) + 9 = 16

"For the boss!" Red replies as he too seems to enter some sort of a frenzy. He also steps next to Meredith and takes a swing.

Red vs. Meredith (MWK Falchion; Flank, Rage): 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 + (3, 5) = 23
______________

Round 1/Round 2

Frankie
Yorad
Jan
Meredith (-39) + Denair
Lazarus (Mage Armor)
==============
Bodyguard Red
Bodyguard Blue (-12)
==============
Serge

Active Conditions: Bless

Everyone is UP!

Current Map

Jan shifts his position to flank one of the orcs (Red) who has just enough human blood to count as a preferred enemy!

"Sokn!"

Jan unleashes hell upon his opponent.

Attack (Axe): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 21
Damage (cold iron/cold): 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + (1) = 9
Attack (Shield): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8

"When you see the spirits of your cowardly ancestors and they greet you for the unworthy warriors that you are... say it was Jan Eriksson of Ullerskad who sent you there!"

Seeing as Meredith will no longer stick around, judging by the large pile of blood at her feet, Yorad steps closer to her and jabs at the orcish guard hard!

"What did Torch offer you to throw your lives away like this? An eternity of licking his body from head to toe?"

5' step, attack Blue.
dagger, bless, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 13; damage: 1d4 + 3 + 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (5, 4) + 1 = 16
Befuddling Strike (Ex): Benefit: When the rogue deals sneak attack damage against an opponent, that opponent takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls against the rogue for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds.
AC 19 vs opponents wielding light blades.

Lazarus calls out, "Step back towards me, Meredith, and let me treat those wounds."
Readied Cure Moderate Wounds (spontaneously converting Summon Monster II to a healing spell): 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 = 15
(Level-3 cleric + Varisian Tattoo (conjuration) + Magical Knack (conjuration) = CL6)

Frankie drop his wrist rocket and hops down off the couch, rushing to Meredith's aid as best he can. His mithril dagger springs into his hand and quickly into the red orc's thigh. "You can just leave, and we'll leave too!"

Melee Mithril Dagger, Defensively (+5AC): 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 4 = 151d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

AC26 for the round. If I can get a flanking partner I can push up another 2d6 damage and debilitate.

Well, glad I healed myself earlier.
Meredith cries out as two falchions sink into her. Realizing she's flanked, she takes a step back, drops her longspear and draws her mace. Lazarus takes the chance to heal her. ”Torch can't pay you from the grave.” She waits for Denair to flank before continuing her assault against the bodyguard with the Blue armor.

Silver Heavy Mace, Flanking, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 18
Arcane Strike, Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
Precise Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Denair flies and lands upon a table to flank with Meredith. ”Boss!”

Power Attack Slam, Flank, Bless: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 29
Power Attack Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 6 = 19
Precise Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Crit?: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 25
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 = 15

Her arms extend to wallop the Blue-suited bodyguard. ”You leave her alone!”

Serge says nothing. He's much too annoyed with Torch having escaped so easily, and now these two minions decided to fight in his "honor" while Ouidda laid there dead. The paladin leaned in and struck with due force, trying to knock out the guard nearest him.

Greatsword, Non-lethal, Bless, Flank: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 4 + 1 + 2 = 102d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8
Sounds about right

Though Meredith is terribly injured as Red and Blue gang up on her the rest of the group rallies to her aid. Jan steps up to slash-and-bash Red while Frankie buries his dagger into the half-orc's thigh. Yorad and Serge both attempt to strike Blue but this particular half-orc proves slightly more adept at dodging than his brother and both of their attacks miss.

But now it's Meredith and Denair's turn to shine. The summoner obligingly steps back to allow Lazarus to heal some of her wounds while she draws her mace and clobbers Blue with it. And then Denair swoops in from behind with a massive slam attack, the sound of breaking bones filling the air as the half-orc collapses!

1=Jan, 2=Meredith, 3=Frankie
1d3 ⇒ 1

Even injured and now sorely outnumbered, Red turns to face Jan. He actually raises his falchion in something that almost seems to be a salute or gesture of respect before he swings...

Red vs. Jan (MWK Falchion): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

...but Jan deflects the blow with his shield. Red laughs and offers a grim smile.

"You and your friends fight well, Jan Eriksson of Ullerskad! If I die this day then so be it! I owe Torch my life and my life I gladly give! It will be a fine death."
______________

Round 2/Round 3

Frankie
Yorad
Jan
Meredith (-24) + Denair
Lazarus (Mage Armor)
==============
Bodyguard Red (-23)
==============
Serge

Active Conditions: Bless

Everyone is UP!

Current Map

Jan smiles at his opponent with the grim smile that is a mixture of respect and delight at having found a worthy foe.

Jan shouts to his companions... "He's mine!"

"At least your spirit won't be cold in the infernal realms."

Attack with Axe: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 14
Damage with Axe (cold): 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + (1) = 9
Attack with Shield: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 25
Damage with Shield: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9

"Victory or Valhalla!"

Dropping his wand of cure light wounds, Lazarus activates his wand of magic missile, training it on the blue half-orc.
Force Energy: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 (19 charges remaining)

"Hey Frankie! I'll distract him!" Denair flies over, looks at Ouidda's body and frowns as she swings to stop the other orc.

Power Attack Slam, Flanking: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 25
Power Attack Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 6 = 17

"Sorry, it's just... this whole thing is a mess."

"Sorry for violating your rules of dueling or whatever, Jan." Meredith takes a step back and grabs the potion of Cure Moderate Wounds they found in Ouidda's room. "But their falchions almost violated me."

CMW: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 6) + 5 = 14

Yorad is more than content to allow Jan to finish off the bodyguard but seeing the others violate Jan's wishes gives him enough cover to pitch in, as it were.

Stepping into position his knife flashes once again...

5' step, attack Red.
dagger, bless, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 13; damage: 1d4 + 3 + 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (2, 3) + 1 = 10
Befuddling Strike (Ex): Benefit: When the rogue deals sneak attack damage against an opponent, that opponent takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls against the rogue for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.
AC 19 vs opponents wielding light blades.

Serge again swings with his greatsword, hoping to knock the guard out so that he may question him later...
Greatsword, Non-lethal, bless: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 4 + 1 = 182d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

"Don't move Mr, give up or else!" Frankie readies his blade if the man does anything but surrender.

Though Jan declares his intention to finish the battle on his own the rest of the group is largely not inclined to mess around after seeing what the half-orc and his dead comrade can do with those falchions. Jan's axe attack misses the mark but his shield bash hits home, slamming into Red's face. This is followed up by a shot from Lazarus' wand and a powerful blow from Denair; though Yorad's attempt to get in on the action misses (albeit not by much) Serge finally puts an end to things as he roundly clubs Red over the head with his greatsword and the half-orc collapses to the ground, unconscious but alive.

Combat Over!

Frankie turns and kneels down beside the downed blue orc and asks Desna if it would be ok if he didn't die today.

UMD: Wand of CLW: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

"Please?"
UMD: Wand of CLW: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

"Ok, I know when to take a hint. Sorry blue orc guy." Frankie pats the downed man on the shoulder and lets it go.

Lazarus holds out his hand for Frankie's wand. "Allow me, Francis."
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Meredith retrieves her longspear. "Damn, they were tough. Torch left them to die and they still fought to the death. You think he's gonna say anything?" Meredith shrugs. "Do you think he knows anything about Torch's plans?"

She pauses. "The mission was a success, but now the identity of the Ten are known." She looks at Ouidda's bleeding body. "From one traitor to another."

Yorad sheaths his knife here, glaring at the spot where Torch vanished from. "We may have stopped the Spider but now the Torch is on the loose. If I was one of the Ten, I would watch my back from now on. I doubt Torch confided what his plans were with anyone, but we'll find out...eventually."

"I didn't want to save him so he could tell us something. I wanted to save him to save him. He was just doing his job, just like us." Frankie smiles at Laz as he gets the magic in the wand to work correctly. If only now it isn't too late.

"We would be remiss in our duties, if we didn't take this opportunity to search Torch's lair. Perhaps in his haste, he left something interesting behind."

Assuming the worst, Lazarus also stoops to check the Ouidda's pulse. Does she yet live?

"Regarding the list of Decemvirate names, I made a copy before we left the Spider's lair. Now the question is, to whom should we give it?"

(Detect magic, Take 20 Perception for 27)