!GM PDK'S HELL'S REBELS (CLASSIC PFS Book 1 and 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Kardess has good UMD :)

Kardess melts into the shadows, far away from the party. The dottari must have heard that!

After a couple minutes of silence, he comes out of hiding. "Are we sure our search is complete?" Kardess covers his eyes with his right hand. "The Shadow often hides things by letting us find something less valuable."

When Roldala holds out her wand, Kardess accepts the stick and touches her with it twice.

Andor suggests to make some detours to make sure they are not followed back.

"Good idea Andor let's duck down this alley and go to that other alley"

Roldala holds her tongue about Kardess's shadow nonsense and Andor's detour foolishness. Arguments will just take longer and be louder.

Red happily follows along with the plan, although looks a little disappointed they've managed to avoid trouble thus far.

"What do next? Maybe ask dragon questions?", he suggests.

"I agree with Red. Let us talk with the dragon. Would you Roldala carry what we found? I am quite weak to be honest. Maybe we also quickly say hello to Clenchjaw to see if the dragon really was the reason for his problem and tell him when we will return for the next shift and when Kardess will build his lab."

"Yes. I could use my laboratory right away."

It is mid-morning by the time you return to Clenchjaw's. The establishment is closed.

"Okay guys, how about Kardess and I wait here until Clenchjaw opens to start assembling the laboratory and you guys can go and talk to the fairy dragon already?! Makes sense?" Andor asks.

"Sure, we'll see what Vend has to say."

Red nods, then turns to lead the group back to Laria's coffeehouse careful to avoid trouble, brushing through the crowds.

Back the he coffeehouse, he attempts to start conversations with the dragon. "What dragon know of rebels at Clenchjaw?"

Kardess looks at the neighboring businesses. "Where shall we wait?"

Split the party to save a 30 min walk? also, what do you two look like right now. Disguise checks please, if applicable.

"Let's talk with the dragon good idea"

Disguise for Kardess to look like a gnome: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Andor is in his human form all the time.

As Andor and Kardess linger around Clenchjaw's, you notice two dottari guards coming your way. About 80 feet away from you, they call out.

"YOU TWO! HALT!"

They proceed to approach you. One with a mace out, the other with a longbow. What do you do?

I'm assuming Andor has gotten permission for Kardess for making rolls in his stead, if not the above will be retconned to a party-wide event. Map updated.

Kardess turns his head toward Andor and raises an eyebrow.

Disguise (aid): 1d20 ⇒ 17

Would the rest of us be out of sight of the whole thing?

AFAIK only Kardess and Andor remained back at Clenchjaw's - the rest of you proceeded to HQ to talk to the dragon.

;-) Interesting situation! @GM: I will assume that they are still farther away from us and that it is possible to run, run, run into an alley and just hide. If that is not the case then Andor would rather tell Kardess to flee and try to bluff his way out of this. But for now I assume running and hiding is possible.

"Fly away!" Andor says and starts to run into the next alley to find a hiding spot.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

After he has found a good spot he will stay silent and listen if somebody comes his way.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Seeing that Andor is about to bolt, one of the dottari guards releases an arrow at him, while the other one runs in front of the two perpetrators to block their exit!

longbow vs. FF AC 13: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 for 1d8 ⇒ 4 piercing damage.

The bowman then draws another arrow and starts walking towards Andor's location.

Round 1 [bold may go]
Dottari Guards [blue 0 (no dex bonus to AC due to running); red 0]
Andor -4
Kardess 0

Andor does the action detailed above.

Sorry - based on the map placement and their good initiative this action is no longer possible (no suitable cover in the next street within your movement range). Please reformulate your round accordingly.

The guard next to you raise his heavy mace menacingly and says, "You boys better not run and tell us what you're doing here. Unless you boys wanna give my boys a fun hunt through the docks all afternoon."

The other guard down the alley, with the bow, "What's up with your little brother anyways... he looks funny. Is he... trying to dress up like a gnome?"

OK, understood. Can you please tell us if there is an alley where the fight would be less visible? I assume that would be in the north and head that way but if that is not the case please move Andor.

Andor looks at the two guards and says "Oh please, oh please ... we didn't do anything! Please do not hurt us!" and he withdraws away from Clenchjaws in the direction of an alley that is less visible from the street.

"We told you to stay put boys... but you're forcing our hand now... the law is the law, you see, and you're all under arrest!"

You see the longbow guard reach for her whistle, smiling. The one with the mace says to Kardess, "Now, little boy, it's ok to play dress-up, but loitering is not ok... too bad your older brother abandoned you... or is it your dad? no matter... the House of Thrune knows that this city is full of trash who abandon their kids, and we have a nice safe orphanage for you, run by the brothers and sisters of the Temple of Asmodeus... we'll take care of you little man, you're safe now..."

Kardess is up

Kardess sticks his fingers in his ears and spits his tongue out at the guard, "Sammy was right, you are too serious!" And then he simply vanishes.

Very cool!

The main street resounds with a shrill whistle, and the entire Bleakbridge guard station empties out in the streets. The longbow guard points to Andor in the alley, "EVERYONE! AFTER HIM! YELLOW SHIRT, ABOUT THIS HIGH! THEY CAN DO MAGIC, SO DON'T BE TRICKED! I WANT HIM ALIVE FOR QUESTIONING! WE'VE ALREADY LOST ONE OF THEM!"

She advances and tries to shoot Andor in the legs:
longbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 for 1d8 ⇒ 2 piercing damage. [MISS!]

The blue guard takes a double move right up to Andor. Three more guards arrive, with some Asmodeus worshippers in tow...

Round 2 [bold may go]
Dottari Guards [blue0 red0 purple0 black0 silver0]
Asmodean Detachment [orange0 green0]
Andor -4
Kardess 0

Andor runs with full speed into the alleys in the north-east hoping to loose them!

Andor runs away in a panic, but can't go too far due to the zig-zagging alleyways! the guard takes advantage of his panic and lands a solid hit on his left hip with his mace!
AoO blue vs. Andor's FF AC 13: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 bludgeoning dmg.

Round 2 [bold may go]
Dottari Guards [blue0 red0 purple0 black0 silver0]
Asmodean Detachment [orange0 green0]
Andor -7
Kardess 0

City View of where the alarms are being sounded now

Close up battle

Kardess from your point of view on the main street you notice the Bleakbridge Dottari Guard Station #2 is not sounding the alarm but they are closing the south end of the bridge. Traffic is also already starting to back up on this end due to the bridge closure.

From an approximation of traveling distance, would the rest of us hear the alarms through a perception check?

Sorry guys you don't even hear any alarms from the Coffeehouse. This city is huge and only three locations are blowing their whistles now and dispatching troops. This is a split the party situation, alas.

Kardess continues working his way toward the coffeehouse as quickly as possible. May the lights shine on our enemies and cast a long shadow on Andor.

Hi GM, as indicated Andor try to outrun them and then hide. In the time he is hiding he would create an extract of 'disguise self' (1 minute time required) and 'expeditious retreat' (1 minute time required). If he hears anything or is about to be discovered he would use the 'disguise self' extract to appear like a commoner and then try to get past the searching guards. If he is then discovered he would take the 'expeditious retreat' extract to get away as fast as possible. I know that this can all mean capture and Andor's death if there are any f***ups as he cannot fly away or make himself invisible. ;-)

Kardess is out of combat; let us resolve Andor before moving on: battle map has been expanded east in the direction of Andor. @Andor: your suggested course of action would work if you would have a safe place or hiding spot, but you are very much into initiative right now. I'm open to ideas and clever actions but they'll have to be within the framework of this combat's initiative.

Blue dottari advances on Andor to strike, and says, "Stand down, swine, and we'll go easy on your little brother back there!"
heavy mace: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 bludgeoning dmg. [MISS!]

The rest of the guards all double move to their current location. Not far behind him as the dottari and Asmodeans pursue him, Andor can hear the sounds of shrill alarm whistles and shouts. Far ahead of him (to northeast and southeast through the alleys and streets, Andor can hear alarm whistles and shout as well, but also the baying and barking of hounds.

Round 3 [bold may go]
Dottari Guards [blue0 red0 purple0 black0 silver0]
Asmodean Detachment [orange0 green0]
Andor -7

Andor sees that he cannot outrun them and he stops and raises his hands.

"Please stop hitting me! I ... I am sorry that I ran away!"

As discussed on Hangout: Sleight of hand to hide the figurine of power incl. inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 8 + (6) = 24

@Andor: do you look like a young adult or more mature/middle aged adult in your human form?

Young adult!

The guards surround Andor and bring him to his knees. The priest of Asmodeus, a middle-aged man in a masterwork breastplate emblazoned with the symbol of the Dark Prince, stands in front of Andor. He quickly casts a minor spell of guidance, then, arms crossed in front of him, he asks, "Now, why, young man, did you run when the dottari asked you to stop?"

Sense Motive, Guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10

Sense Motive from the priest above is just to get a sense if you're telling the truth or not, in case you decide to lie; I'll also need a Bluff or Diplomacy check when you answer his question to see how convincing your story is.

"I ... I am working at Clenchjaw's. I was standing there. And I would like to understand why you shot me with an arrow? And when I ran away I told you that I did not do anything. And then you came after me and hit me again so I panicked and ran away more. But then I realized that it is better to just surrender and speak with you. I would really appreciate it if you would stop shooting at me and hitting me please." Andor says apologetically.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

sorry I haven't posted been swamped with work

The priest of Asmodeus kneels next to Andor, yanks the arrow out swiftly, and applies healing magic to the wound:
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 points of healing.

He rises, and motions for the dottari to back off. "Now, young man, we will detain you at the Bleakbridge guard post until this Mister Clenchjaw shows up and opens his tavern. If your story checks out, and he confirms that you work there, I'm going to let you go with a warning this time. For the future, please know that refusing to answer questions, fleeing when required to halt, or resisting arrest all come with a minimum sentence of one night in jail plus a 50 gold piece fine. That's the minimum, and it can go astronomically higher if any harm to property or person was committed. I have other duties to attend. The dottari will take it from here. I advise you keep your mouth shut and do what they say, as they are fully deputized to adapt to escalating situations."

When you get to the bridge, on of the guards asks you to sign your name to confirm you fully understand the warning and that you accept the fine of 0 gp.

Andor just nods. And sighs. And pays the 50 gp.

No you don't need to pay the 50 gp now - you got away with a warning this time - just sign the guard's warning form and wait for Clenchjaw with them at the Bridge. I'm gonna assume you do that and move the action forward.

Clenchjaw didn't seem too pleased to hear that Andor was waiting around his closed shop, but he confirmed that he had hired him a few nights ago. When the guards are gone, Clenchjaw says to Andor, "I don't know what you were doing, and I don't care, but I don't want to attract the dottari's attention to my tavern. Understood? if you're going north can you please deliver these three bottles of wine to Laria's place, if you... can lift them... hmmm... ... ... maybe you should eat something boy... anyways, see you tonight. It's going to be a busy night!"

He makes sure you're able to lift the bottles before you leave.

Assuming you can carry 9 extra pounds, you arrive at the Coffeehouse a little bit later, to the relief of everyone.

Andor fully complies with all requests of the guards.

"Thanks so much! I am really sorry for the attention! I will make it up to you. I promise Clenchjaw." Andor says with a stern look.

When Clenchjaw asks him to take the bottles of wine he is a little shocked as no one ever mentioned to Clenchjaw that they lived at Laria's "Laria! Do you mean the Coffehouse? Where do you know her from? Of course I can carry that. I have a bag of holding."

* * * *

He awaits Clenchjaw's answer and then returns to the group and Laria and Rexus. Andor provides all the details of what happened after they searched the burned music store.

"I am really sorry guys. I made a wrong decision when I ran away." Andor sighs.

He hands over the wine bottles to Laria. "These are from Clenchjaw's. Do you know him? Is he involved with the followers of Milani?"

Feel free to RP/discuss Andor's close call. I'm gonna move this forward but don't let that stop you from roleplaying.

Clenchjaw tells you that it's common for fellow business owners to... exchange sample services... or sometimes, sample goods of zero value for promotional purposes...

*---*---*---*---*

Laria says, "Of course I know him: I told you boys to go check his place out a few days ago. I'm a regular there. He's got a good wine supplier and he likes to impress his girlfriends with my pastries. It's a mutual arrangement."

Hearing Laria talk like this about Clenchjaw relaxes Andor "Oh ... ok, I cannot remember you telling us about Clenchjaw's. We stumbled upon his bar a couple of days ago as you know ..." and he looks at the fairy dragon and at Red with question marks in his face.

"Oh guys by the way, Clenchjaw asked us to be at his bar tonight ... he said he would be busy."

Motioning for all of you to step into her office, Laria continues, "You were lucky Andor! that Asmo-d*$% priest must have been in a good mood! unfortunately, not everyone has been as lucky as you've been since Thrune took power. There's this group of mercenaries who are being held in Sallix Salt Works in Old Kintargo, for instance. These mercenaries are led by a man named Forvian Crowe—a rogue I worked with before... I believe him and his mercs would be a valuable addition to the Silver Ravens. Perhaps more importantly, the guards stationed at Sallix Salt Works are not official members of the Church of Asmodeus or the government; they are contracted mercenaries, and as such, any deaths or accidents they incur, say, wouldn’t draw the degree of retribution that similar acts against government officials would. Mercenaries watchin' mercenaries, now that I think of it! A raid on Sallix Salt Works, in other words, is the perfect opening gambit for the Silver Ravens to begin building their reputation in Kintargo as defenders of the people without incurring the full wrath of House Thrune, in my humble opinion."