GM Samy's Belles' Vengeance

Game Master Samy

Aevelyn loots the following from Jabral Louslik: a potion, masterwork heavy crossbow, 9 bolts, a key ring. Aevelyn and Cimri toss Louslik into one of his own cesspools.

Breeze finds no trap in the box, and though the lock is complicated, she manages to pop it open with her thieves' tools. The box contains the tannery's recent profits. The contents are divided into numerous small leather purses (each branded prominently with the initials “L. T.”), containing silver pieces in 10, 20, and 50 sp increments. The funds are worth a total of 800 gp. The box weighs 20 pounds, but can easily be transported.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Aevelyn grabs all of his equipment and stows it away. I don't think you will need this anymore. Turning her attention to the potion, she sniffs it briefly before shaking her head. "I cannot determine the nature of this potion, Shiloh. Can you?"

"Now that's what I'm talking about! We've hit a good score here. Who's the strongest? This case and coins probably goes 20-25 pounds and I can't lug it by myself."

Cherry grabs the potion from Aevelyn (ignoring the fact that it was offered to Shiloh first) and examines it.

Spellcraft DC 16: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Oh, this is a healing potion," she says. (potion of cure light wounds) "We could use it on Nysene? So we don't have to carry her away unconscious, ha."

Aevelyn gives the ifrit woman a glare as the potion is yanked from her hand. Still she does give her a grudging nod of appreciation. "Yes, I agree with you. We do need to wake her." After a few more seconds she mutters softly, "Thank you."

Once she has retrieved the potion, she gently pours the contents down her bodyguards throat...

Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Nysene is awake and currently has 6 hp.

"OK, my dear...wake up now. Your nap time is over." She whispers into Nysene's ear.

Scowling at the noise and pressing herself against the wall. Keeping quiet and mentally hissing. some new is coming. You all better get going before they get caught up in your thievery. We will be talking later.

Pretty sure I am still deaf

Pointing to her ears and reaching for the potion only to have rudely taken. Twisting towards Cherry and opening her mouth to yell at her but nothing comes out. Turning and looking around while the potion is used to wake the guard. Speaking loudly and gesturing back to the fence where they came in, We should get out of here.

Nysene's eyes flutter open as the healing potion works its magic. For a moment, she's confused as to why she can see stars but then everything slides into place and she remembers where they are and what they were up to. With a start she bolts upright and looks around wildly, seemingly not hearing Aevelyn's whispered words. But when she spots her charges, the others, and the dead dogs, she gives them a questioning look.

"What happened?"

Then her eyes widen with alarm as she realizes that even though she spoke, there was no sound that came from her mouth. In fact, the entire world seemed eerily silent.

"I can't hear anything! What sorcery is this!?" she blurts out.

Yeah, Nysene failed that Fort save earlier too...

Reaching out to grab Nysene by the hand as she stands up. Tugging on her hand and pointing to the gap in the fence.

Shiloh reaches out and grasp Aeveyln by the elbow and tugs at her as well.

Aevelyn puts her finger to her lips as Nysene starts to yell at the top of her lungs, covering her ears to indicate she could not hear either. Motioning to the others to grab the treasures looted and also the box containing their reward for the night's work she heads towards the gap in the fence where they had entered before.

I hope the coin we liberated is worth the trouble...

Cherry lifts up the heavy lockbox and follows the others quickly towards the exit.

Although she can't hear anything, the hustling of the others is enough to get the point across - they needed to leave, now.

Nodding, she grabs up anything that the others direct her to carry and moves to follow them towards the gap in the fence.

You hustle out of the tannery, squeezing out the hole you came in through and make for the fields and forests outside. You take cover at a ridgeline and can make out the shape of a cart stopping at the gate, opening it, and then heading inside the palisade. It's the same cart that you had been watching go back and forth earlier, so it's likely it was the gong farmers returning. Through your observation of their schedule, you managed to avoid a fight with them, but you still gain XP as if you had defeated them.

I'm going to show you images from inside the adventure when relevant, because they set mood and it's a shame for only the DM to see all the pretty art inside the adventure. So here's an image of one of the iconic villains fighting the gong farmers.

Total XP for the tannery heist, including Louslik, the two dogs and (avoiding) the gong farmers is 1400 XP. The party requires six times 2000 = 12 000 XP to level, so you're 12% of the way to level 2.

Once you're safely out, Cimri says, "Right, that's it. You did your jobs, now it's time for your rewards. It's time to go see my boss at the Ash House."

Breeze was pleased the job went as close to uneventful as possible. She wished the man wasn't there, but tussling with one was better than dealing with the two coming later on he cart. She was ready to head out with Cimri and get her share of the take.

After finishing off Loose-Lick and grabbing whatever goodies she could find, Tavitha retreated with the others.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 To help with looting.

Once safely out of the tannery and atop the ridgeline, Tavitha carefully unshouldered her papoose to check on Gloom. Others had been harmed by the loud stone Loose-Lick had thrown, and she wanted to make sure her child remained unharmed.

Gloom is one hundred percent unharmed.

I am going to assume that everyones hearing is working when Cimri announces that they are to get paid?

Keeping close to Nysene and smiling as she listens to a rant in her head ranging from condemning her unnecessary criminal activity, the horrible selection of companions that she is keeping, the cold weather outside, and the wretchedness of everything.

Glancing over at Cimri when the silence is broken =, Lead on then.

Smirking at the mental demand of when horrid thing she is going to do when they get to the House of Ash. I do not plan on doing anything but get paid.

Aevelyn nods shortly to Cimri. "Lead the way then. I certainly hope your...boss is well satisfied with our performance."

"Well...I suppose that went about as well as could be expected," Nysene sighs, giving her head another shake as her hearing finally returned to her. "Sorry I missed most of it...stupid dog..." she mutters. "At least that's all the trouble you ran into while I was out."

She looks at Cimri, a frown on her face. "Alright then, let's go see this boss of yours and get it over with."

If I understand right, Nysene didn't get the potion until after you guys killed and dumped Louslik so unless/until someone says otherwise she's assuming all the party ran into were the two dogs :D

I think it's reasonable to say that your hearing starts to clear up. Unless someone particularly *wants* to do a slapstick vaudeville scene -- "I can't hear you!" "I can't hear you either!" "What?" "What did you say?" "A parrot can do that?" -- then we can just gloss over to your hearing clearing up.

With no particular objections, the group follows Cimri's lead to the place called "Ash House". Further information about the place is available with Knowledge (local) or Knowledge (history) rolls as listed below:

I have uploaded a map of Longacre to the Google Drive folder. The Ash House is number 2 on the map, in the lower left corner (which is actually northwest because north isn't up on that map).

B. The Ash House

What remains of this manor looks like it could collapse at any moment. Bearing the scars of a decades-old fire, the house is blackened and sags under the weight of its collapsed third floor. Shattered windows pose no barrier to the riot of ivy scaling each gable and invading every cavity. Bent pillars and a cracked granite porch lead to a warped door bearing a rusty doorknocker shaped like a boar’s head.

I have uploaded a map of the Ash House to Google Drive. Those rooms not described are largely empty except for rubble, a few scraps of burnt timber, and dead ivy.

Cimri enters the house by proceeding first to the porch area and then, instead of using the door, goes through the broken window leading to area B1. You may follow her through or attempt the door, as desired.

Know Local 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

As the group approached the Ahs House, Breeze advised what she recalled about the old place. "The Ash House is a half-ruined manor just outside of town to the northwest. It's the setting of dozens of local ghost stories. We won't find locals here...most people avoid it like the plaque."

"Before the Chelish Civil War, the Ash House was Moragatalli Manor, home to one of old Cheliax’s lesser noble families. Most of the Moragatallis’ wealth burned along with their manor, while looters carried off what little survived soon after the fire, so I doubt we will find anything worth our time there to pilfer, that is."

"In the decades following the rise of House Thrune, numerous supporters of the old order lost their lands, their titles, and—in many cases—their lives. The Moragatallis tried to remain neutral during the revolution and, upon surviving it, congratulated themselves on their quiet canniness. But House Thrune proved equally quiet and patient with their accountings of their allies, enemies, and milksop bystanders, and decades later Thrune gave the Moragatalli lands to House Fex, which had risen in Thrune’s esteem. The Moragatallis would have complained, of course, had most members of the family not died in their manor’s violent, midnight conflagration. No one doubted what had happened, but the town children’s explanations—blaming witches and ghosts—proved far less frightening than the truth. In the 60 years since, Moragatalli Manor has been known as the Ash House."

Breeze took a deep breath after her monologue. She followed Cimri in the broken window, assuming he entered that way for a reason.

Aevelyn sniffs at the obviously dilapidated condition of the manor. I wonder whether it could be rebuilt...I could use a place of my own... On hearing Breeze recount the manor's history she shuddered briefly. I will need to be careful here should I wish to establish myself here.

Seeing Cimri climb through the window she follows suit, wriggling herself deftly through the wooden panes. Is this a test of some kind?

Keeping the hood of her cloak pulled so that her face and that stupid brand is not visible which is rather inconvenient. Her grin is barely visible in the darkness but there the whole walk until the group reaches the Ash House. Pulling her eyes away from the aptly named burnt-out building to listen to a history lesson from a cat before realizing that the entrance is in the window not the door like it should be.

Her smile fades though laughter echoes in her head as Shiloh tries to carefully climb though the broken window. Please shut up Val.. I hope a bird s@~#s on you while you wait outside like a dog.

"Wow," says Cherry when Breeze is done recounting the story of the house. She runs one finger down the dilapidated walls and looks at the ash left on her finger with a contemplative expression. "Interesting history. There's just something so beautiful about a burned-down house, don't you think--"

She breaks off as she sees the others start climbing in through the windows and looks confused. "Um. Is there a reason we're not using the door?"

Grinning back out at Cherry through the window, Because this way is more fun. Leaning out and in a stage whisper, And I think the door is part of the support structure of the house. Open that door and the whole place could come down.

"What, really? Don't tempt me like that, or I might have to try it!" Cherry laughs. She shrugs and hoists herself up through the window after Shiloh.

Pulling back so she is out of the way and ignoring the complaining in her head, Not while I am in the building!

Breeze shrugged at Cherry's question. "I suppose if there was a legit reason to use the door, Cimri would have done so. I'd expect traps."

Voice laced with amusement, Yes, the trap is that the building collapses.

Nysene sighs and begins to carefully heft herself through the window, clanking armor and all. "At least we don't have to worry about adding trespassing to the list tonight," she mutters. "Night's still young though. What are we going to do after this? Burn down the rest of the town to match?"

Grinning over at Nysene, Is that what you want to do with the evening? Waving her arms out, Have you not had enough excitement for the evening?

"The door? It's just jammed. And I don't wanna start busting things up in this building", Cimri answers Cherry's question, confirming what many of you suspected.

The first room that you enter through the window (B1) is as follows:

Pieces of battered furniture lie here amid the choking scent of dust and ashes. Beneath a mantle crowded with empty whiskey bottles, the fireplace shows evidence of recent use. The scorched, broken visages of curious cherubs leer from atop archways leading deeper into the house. Generations of squatters have collected the most intact of the house’s furniture here, marking their stays with shattered brown bottles of a cheap southern whiskey called Old Erebus.

Cimri doesn't stay there, however, but marches you straight upstairs to B2, making sure nobody dawdles behind. Once you enter B2:

Toppled bookshelves, a table, and some chairs half-covered in ivy suggest this room was once a library. The ashes and pulp of burned, waterlogged books lay heaped amid fallen furniture, creating a large nest of sorts against one wall. A set of folding paper screens divides the room. A lantern flickers on the opposite side, projecting the silhouette of a desk and high-backed chair upon the thin paper.

When you enter, you immediately notice a large catlike creature, vaguely reminiscent of a leopard or something like that, dozing in a nest of book pulp. It lifts its head in suspicion as you enter.

At the same time the light behind the paper screen slowly intensifies, casting the stark silhouette of a bald figure seated at a desk upon the divider. After a moment of slow shuffling, a high-pitched voice, sounding as though it could belong to someone either very young or very old, wheezes from behind the screen: “Cimri. Is it done?”

Image of Cimri's employer Razelago.

Cimri answers in the affirmative, then produces the lockbox from the tannery (or collects it from a PC) and sets it on the table on her side of the screen. She gives Razelago an account—only slightly exaggerated—of the break-in. When it comes up that Louslik was killed in the break-in, Razelago isn’t fazed. The mysterious man occasionally nods during the retelling, but doesn’t speak again until the story is complete.

“Excellent. You’ve done well, Cimri, and your associates sound like individuals of rare potential. You’ll all find your payment waiting in the parlor below, along with a gift for each of you. Go, enjoy, celebrate. You deserve a reward for your impressive work. We’ll talk more in the near future.”

Although Cimri thanks Razelago and moves to leave, you may have questions at this time. Now would be the time to present them, if any.

"Mind if I ask what was so special about that tannery? It stunk to high heaven, so maybe you just wanted it shut down for good, but I didn't notice anything there that would put it on anyone's map. Just another place, seemed like."

Razelago says, “Jabral Louslik hadn’t been paying his fair share of taxes. Beyond that, he was also very opinionated. He’d have opposed the cooperation I’d like to see among Longacre’s people. I’d have preferred that his influence be weakened—and no one trusts a poor man. But for all I know, things might turn out even better with him a dead man instead.”

Breeze nodded. "Cooperation is important," she agreed as she slunk away. That is not a man, or woman to be crossed, she thought as she did so.

She followed downstairs to make sure her cut was fair and to see what the strange gift might consist of.

Aevelyn speaks up in a soft voice, only slightly shaking. Being used to the one in charge, such a situation was quite foreign to her. "I can assure you, he was not very cooperative thus his death was a necessity. I do trust his demise will not cause you or your associates any further...difficulties? Such was not our intent."

"No, no, don't worry about Louslik", Razelago assures. "I have...*connections* that I can use to downplay the significance of the incident. Put him in your past, and for now, just enjoy your rewards."

Know (Arcana): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
I claim the crown of first natural 20 of the game! haha
Cherry recognizes the cat-like beast as a krenshar, but won't bring it up to the others until after their negotiation with Razelago is finished.

Finally... I didn't take this job to mess around with a tanner. I had a feeling it could really get me involved in something bigger.

She gives a respectful bow towards the screen and then awkwardly realizes that Razelago can't see her. "Thank you for accepting our service. I'll certainly look forward to working with you in the future." She finishes with a courtesy, "May Asmodeus damn your enemies."

"Wait...you killed him? Why didn't one of you say so earlier?" Nysene exclaims, glaring at both Aevelyn and Shiloh. "We're damned lucky to have this one here willing to hush it up then!"

As if something occurred to her, the oread turns to address the group's mysterious benefactor. "You said he was opinionated...how?"

"Opinionated...as in sowing discontentment among the townsfolk against the lawful government of Longacre", Razelago answers the cavalier's question. "Honestly, it was only going to be a matter of time before something would have happened anyway."

Aevelyn returns Nysene's glare with an impassive expression. "Yes, as I have said before, it was a necessity! When that vicious guard dog mauled you nearly to death, we had to take the appropriate steps to save your life! I would hope you would show some...appreciation here."

She then nods in reply to Razelago. "Yes, I can understand his actions would bring consequences down upon his head." She softly answers, almost to herself.

So...now the motivations for our benefactor begin to make themselves clearer...

Cherry flinches a little at hearing Nysene's outburst while still in front of her mysterious benefactor. You don't speak that way to people who are in power over you!

"She was knocked unconscious while the man became involved in our struggle," Cherry clarifies quickly for Razelago's benefit, "but we revived her. Apparently there was some... miscommunication." She glares at Aevelyn and Nysene willing them to save any arguments for later.

In response to the explanation of Louslik being "opinionated", she says, "It's certainly good to know that our actions didn't upset justice, and rather aided it."

Then she thanks Razelago politely once more and heads out of the room to inspect those "gifts," hoping the others will follow her.

Still not bothering to pull her hood down, their benefactor is behind a screen so it should not matter. Due to that he cannot see her grin, Valrah is just getting angrier. Honestly it is messing with her ability to focus on the conversation I am very please we were able to help.

Not having any questions she is willing to voice Shiloh turns to leave the room. Tapping Nysene on the arm and pointing to the door before walking off. Bumping into the door frame and the continuing as if that did not just happen.

It’s nearing dawn by the time you collect your reward, which is waiting for you in the parlor on the ground floor, along with twelve bottles of a fine Wiscrani (from Westcrown) barbera wine, several loaves of fresh bread, garlic-flavored butter, and a variety of smoked fish and boar’s meat. It’s a veritable feast, and among the best food Cimri—and possibly some of you—have ever had in your lives.

A plain wooden chest sits on a table in this room. It contains the payment for the tannery heist. Inside the chest is 100 gp per PC, plus Cimri’s share of 200 gp, as well as seven masterwork weapons: dagger for Cimri, short sword (martial), longsword (martial), greatsword (martial), heavy mace (simple), light crossbow (simple), longspear (simple). Each of them has a subtle stamp of Asmodeus' symbol at some convenient location where it can be covered up easily if necessary.

"Oooh, so shiny!" Cimri squeals as she picks up her new dagger, and then almost as eagerly pockets her double share of the money.

Once you've received your payment, Cimri encourages you to stay, celebrate with her, and play a few rounds of drunken bull’s-eye with her new dagger. Anyone who doesn’t want to rest and entertain themselves should feel free to go conduct other business in Longacre.

Breeze grabs the shortsword, not knowing how to use any of those other weapons. She tests its weight before stowing it. She adds the gold to her pouch. Still beat up from the battle, she decides that resting and recuperating is her best option for the time being. She takes a pull from the whiskey bottle, and puts a handful of the smoked fish onto a plate. She consumes all of the fish and a low purr can be heard coming from her.

Breeze avoids any of the gaming, preferring to rest and heal after dinner.

Aevelyn looks over the weapons and decides to claim the finely made crossbow for her own. Glancing at Shiloh with a critical eye she then takes the longspear and hands it to her. "Here you go. This should be long enough to keep those unwanted suitors from troubling you!"

Since Shiloh is terrible at melee the longspear will help her the most, as it has Reach.

She does note the symbol of Asmodeus on the weapons and resolves to be more discreet with her actions in the future.

Turning her attention to the meal before her, she partakes in healthy portions of the garlic-soaked bread along with the wine. Not a bad vintage if I am one to judge... She does not ignore the meat and fish, snagging portions of each before Breeze claims the rest of the fish. This reminds me of home...and those wonderful parties I used to attend!

Deciding to learn more of their new companion Cimri, she does elect to play the games with her, her natural dexterity compensating for her lack of skill throwing the dagger. "Well, Cimri, I see you have a natural talent for blades. Were you schooled in the art of swordplay, or did you pick up the talent naturally?"

Oh right reach. Yeah I did not even think about that. Thank you! The eidolon has been sent off so no symbol on her face.

Valrah I am sending you away. I promise I will try to stay out of trouble. Pulling her hood down and shacking her black and white hair out before smiling at Aevelyn. Reaching out and taking the spear, Thank you dear. Looking it over and ignoring the symbol on it before setting it against the wall in favor of digging into food.

Taking small portions of bread and wonderful garlic butter with a small piece of fish. But a to the brim glass of wine. Sitting quietly and eating while listening to the others speak. I wonder if I asked to touch the cats ears if I could before Aveleyn yells at me?