GM Sappy's Harrowing - Heart of the Cards (Inactive)

Game Master Sapiens

Edda will work her way towards their pack animals and will wait for Niklos to reappear or call for her. If the Thunderstone goes off suddenly, then she will activate her Flying Hex and move up and over the camp, hoping for the best outcome.

Niklos gives the Nightpeddler a gracious bow before walking away. "Just two. Thank you for your hospitality..."

Finding Edda at their camels, he shakes his head and shrugs in frustration.

"How'd it go with the slaves?" he asks. "There's not going to be deal, at any rate. The Peddler knows he's got us by the balls, so the chances of 'im budging are slight to none..."

Edda nods and crosses her arms across her chest defensively.

"I armed them with my daggers, a couple of wands, and gave them my last thunderstone. They are now a force to be dealt with, rather than just cannon fodder. When the stone goes off, that's our signal to help. You ready?"

Niklos' face darkens for the briefest of moments, but he quickly regains his usual grin. "Well, ain't that grand! Adaptability, dear cousin, is the first rule of the road. Seems like you might make for a halfway decent Varisian, after all. Sure, let them fight for their freedom. Meanwhile, we'll rob this bastard blind..."

The scoundrel takes a look at the camp, placing a hand on the hilt of his rapier. "I'm always ready for a bit of mayhem..."

I suppose well play our cards when all hell breaks loose, as well.

Hrain's camel is a placid beast, happy to be thoroughly brushed by the half-orc. Meanwhile, Marinda manages to blot out their names from the ledger, smudging the ink with her hand.

You are behind his tent, and he is in the front. As for restraints, you two are shackled, halving your movement speed, giving you a -4 to attacks and Dex checks and counting as if you are entangled for spellcasting.

As for Niklos and Edda, they are approached by Reasha, carrying bowls of steamed millet with dried apricots and mutton. She speaks in hushed whispers. "Thank you for those items. I don't suppose you could do something for these chains, could you?"
Every DC 24 Bluff check will allow to sneakily unlock five sets of shackles. You auto-make the Disable Device by taking 10.

Niklos flashes Reasha one of his most charming smiles, casually folding one of his cards into a lockpick—an act that would, from a distance, merely appear like he was rolling up yet another cigarette. "Sure thing, luv. Come a lil' closer and lemme have a look..."

After finishing his meal, Niklos takes a walk round the camp and continues his work elsewhere, masking his actions as him "inspecting the merchandise." He winks reassuringly at both Hrain and Marinda to signal he is on their side, but avoids unnecessary conversation as he frees them from their bindings.

Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

I can't recall how many slaves there were in total, but here's some rolls. Niklos will prioritise the "real" slaves before moving on to the storykin.

I have one casting of Knock I can do, but it looks like I can save it for now for something difficult.

Edda walks back and forth around Niklos's activity as if nervous. She's basically trying to shield his activities from view from time to time in order to help as much as she can.

After the shackles are released, Marinda whispers to Vrain
"Ok, lets start this"

She tries to signal to the others that they're ready and then throws a thunderstone at the night peddlar

Not so fast!

After easily opening the locks of more than a dozen manacles, Niklos unexpectedly finds one that is already unlocked. As he looks at the prisoner, its appearance changed into a pale, scarred creature bound in barbed chains.

The creature yells a the Nightpeddler "માસ્ટર! ગુલામો છટકી!" and as two more prisoners morph into that pale, gaunt form, that's when Marinda throws the stone at the Nightpeddler. The merchant flinches while the slaves take to the dunes.
"ગુલામો પાછા મેળવો, ઇડિઅટ્સ! હું આ ચાંચડ સાથે વ્યવહાર કરીશ!" he shouts, turning to you with a murderous glare.

Fight! You win Initiative. Marinda, if you could make a state bar like the others, it would be appreciated.

Hrain throws off his manacles with a yell, pulling out the daggers he was given as he rushes towards the Nightpeddler, calling on the power how his god and his Tumaan deck.

Smite Evil - Nightpeddler

Dagger 1 Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25 (Assuming The Nightpeddler is Evil)
Dagger 1 Damage?: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 +8 if The Nightpeddler is an Evil Outsider
Dagger 2 Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24 (Assuming The Nightpeddler is Evil)
Dagger 2 Damage?: 1d4 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 +8 if The Nightpeddler is an Evil Outsider

"Face a free man, foul keeper of souls!"

Activating her flight Hex, Edda immediately takes off to get the best view for spellcasting over the fight.

While flying Edda will activate the Big Sky (Hammers) and the Foreign Trader card (Books: If she has access to it).

"Fight! Kill your oppressors!"

Round 1:

Niklos tugs on his collar, closing the distance between himself and the Nightpeddler in flash. Using Hrain's more obvious attack as a distraction, he strikes from behind, his rapier stabbing into places where arteries and vulnerable joints would be on a normal person.

"Worth a try," he thinks to himself.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 = 30
Damage 1: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

Crit Confirm 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17
Crit Damage 1: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

Sneak Attack Damage 1: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 4, 3) = 17 (+4 bleed damage)

Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30
Damage 2: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10

Crit Confirm 2: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 = 27
Crit Damage 2: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

Sneak Attack Damage 2: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 5) = 12 (+4 bleed damage)

Using quick runner's shirt to get into position as a swift action. Full attack, preferrably while flanking with Hrain.
Debilitating Injury for a -2 penalty on the Nightpeddler's attack rolls, and an additional -2 penalty on attack rolls against Niklos himself.

Marinda looks at the vile disgusting slaver, meeting his eye for just a second.

The slaver suddenly finds himself a little dizzy, staggering into his enemies blows. She then starts to cackle to herself

Evil Eye, -4 to AC. Will save DC 19 to reduce duration to 1 round

Niklos' attacks strike home, although one of the thrusts doesn't find the ink vessel it was aimed at. With a serpentine twist, the creature slithers away from Niklos and behind Hrain, his collar revealing a large, inhuman maw. Hrain feels a supernatural cold as the Nightpeddler bites him (for 8 damage and 3 Dexterity drain, Fort DC 19 to reduce the Dex damage to 1), his muscles tensing in a spasm.
"She sent you, right? That wicked monster Marzalee! Do you have any idea how much gold you just cost me?"

Out of your own fight, the slaves have decided to run for the dunes, except Reasha, who has run inside the Nightpeddler's tent. The chain monsters have started chasing after them.

He doesn't provoke AoO with that movement.

Did Hrain's attacks hit as well?

Hrain stumbles as the Nightpeddler bites down on him, grunting as numbness floods his veins.

Fort: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

He manages to shake the feeling as he spins around, his daggers flashing at the wretched slaver once again shouting "You have done this yourself! Good will always triumph over wickedness!"

Attack 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Damage 1: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 +8 if the Nightpeddler is an Evil Outsider

Attack 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Damage 2: 1d4 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 +8 if the Nightpeddler is an Evil Outsider

Yes, Hrain hit too, I forgot to mention.

Round 2:

Niklos circles around the Nightpeddler and looks for a weakness to exploit, hoping the slaver will keep his attention on the righteous warrior before him.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 11

Sneak Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 5) = 14 (+4 bleed damage)

Getting back into a flanking position with Hrain, and attacking once with Arcane Strike.
Assuming that hits, I'll continue using Debilitating Injury to penalise the Nightpeddler's attacks.

Marinda cackles out loud while continuing to stare at the peddlar.

The slaver, still dizzy, now finds his hands itching madly.

Evil Eye, -4 to hit. Will save DC 19 to reduce duration to 1 round (or while cackling)

Circling above the ruckus, Edda whips out her cards and casts quickly, targeting the Nightpeddlar with her ensorceled card!

Harrow Casting Draw#1: 1d54 ⇒ 19 - The Trumpet (Shields)Heals 1d6 points of damageHealing!: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Harrow Casting Draw#2: 1d54 ⇒ 18 - The Demons Lantern (Keys)+1 bonus on Reflex saves and to AC until the beginning of her next turn.
Harrow Casting Draw#3: 1d54 ⇒ 54 - The Liar (Crowns)The Save DC of the spell increases by +1

Deadly Dealer/Harrow Card (Trial of Fire and Acid) w/PBS Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Trial of Fire and Acid! Damage(Fire/Acid, for 8 rounds!): 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4
Fort DC17 (DC18 for this casting!) to reduce the damage by half!

"Time to burn slaver!"

Numbers prove to be a great asset as the Nightpeddler falls to the ground, twitching. In a handful of seconds, his body vanishes into nothingness, leaving behind his clothes. Among the garments there is a massive emerald, most likely a token.
Reasha emerges from the tent soon after, brandishing a silver scimitar.
"Aw, you killed him already? And here I was hoping for a good fight... Well, let's see which ill-gotten gains he appropriated, shall we?"
The woman returns the wands to Edda (the wand of Web now has 3 charges, the one for Cure Moderate Wounds has 13) and stretches, enjoying her newfound freedom.
Possibly the greatest treasure of the Nightpeddler is his tent, which is far larger and more luxurious on the inside, sporting a large common area and several bedchambers, only lacking food and drinks. Stored in a chest you find 428 platinum coins, as well as a wand.

Hrain rushes into the tent, trying to find his revered terbutje, armour and shield, hoping that against all odds the cosmic storyteller found a way for them to follow him to this strange place.

What happened to the Kytons? I'm assuming Niklos will grab the Emerald.

After landing, Edda uses her Healing Hex on any escaped prisoners who need it. She will then focus on the newly rescued items!

Healing Hex: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 = 13
Healing Hex: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 = 13
Healing Hex: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 8) + 8 = 20
Healing Hex: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 = 16

She will then focus on the newly rescued items!

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

She then turns to Niklos.

"Well he's dead as far as I can tell. We need to go back to the Queen and get our rewards...and the Token she owes us. Wasn't there something that smith wanted from the Nightpeddlar...some metal piping or tubing...?"

Appraise on the emerald: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 Success.

Appraise on the wand (with the Skill Unlock): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Failure.

Niklos snatches up the emerald, greedily eyeing the large gemstone as he confirms its authenticity. "Score!"

He shrugs at Edda, casually pocketing the jewel. "Eh. I s'pose we could head back to Queenie or Tockers, and try to squeeze more out of 'em, but that's risky. That big bug wanted us to kill both Tockers and the Peddler, and it looks like we've maybe done in one of 'em. Besides, we've already got all their tokens. That leaves us with two more conspirators... right? The Mourning Choir, and... uh, no wait... she gave her status to... the Barrow Man? And of course, Zassrion 'imself... I'd rather go after 'em, honestly. Get the hell outta here before things start fallin' apart—then it doesn't matter if Tockers gets his pipes or not."

Turning to the others, he calls out, "Oi, any of you up to slay a dragon? We've got a way outta here, if you're interested..."

"First, thanks from the bottom of my heart for you freeing us. I owe you a great debt. A debt that I intend to repay, I assure you

I especially NEED to find my Harrow Deck. It is a family heirloom of great value to me. It is also the method that I use to commune with the spirits and gain my powers"

Edda nods at the young woman's needs.

"You are welcome to look for your stuff. I understand completely what you need."

At that she shuffles her cards then quickly puts them away. She then puts away the wands she had loaned out, clucking at the used, and now lost magic.

The kytons took off chasing the fleeing storykin. Had you attacked the Nightpeddler without freeing the slaves, they would have fought at his side.

"The equipment the Peddler took from us is here, by the by" says Reasha, pulling a sack out of a curtain. Inside is your equipment, as well as a good number of mundane weapons and armor.
"As grateful as I am for you freeing me, I believe that this is where I take my leave. I had a vision of this place a long, long time ago, a vision from my goddess, and I feel that my destiny lies somewhere here. I hope that we shall meet again."

Hrain emerges from the tent, sees the sack and comes over to retrieve his gear, reverentially putting it on.

"Ahhhh. Much better. I am sorry for my haste, but this is all that I have of my home, and it has great meaning to me. I am Hrain, and I would like to thank you for freeing us. I would happily go into combat by your side, and slaying dragons is in my blood."

Marinda gathers up her gear as well.

"Again, my thanks. But can somebody please tell me what the heck is going on here?"

Feel free to summarize briefly as opposed to writing long tracts :-). But at least a summary would be useful :-)

Edda continues to work while she speaks.

"As best we can tell, this is the 'Harrow Dimension.' Created by the woman who invented the Harrow cards long ago. She's here somewhere...dead but alive too somehow. If you've seen a deck of Harrow cards, then you get the gist of what can be found here. That about sums it up? I'll let Niklos explain the details. I'm not one for exposition really...Oh yeah: I'm Edda Winterclaw. Witch and Harrow Caster, daughter of the fierce Dread Pirate Winterclaw. Welcome to about as crazy as it gets."

She then purposefully wanders away to search the tents one more time for anything useful...

Can we take the magic tent?

Niklos listens to Edda's summary with only half an ear, lighting up another cigarette as he takes the measure of their new accomplices: another creature he had no name for, and one he knew all too well. They seemed competent, at the very least—useful replacements, for the time being.

"Sure thing, cousin!" he says as Edda finishes her story. "My name's Niklos, as stated. Niklos Voski. Good to meetcha..."

He nods at both of them, smiling widely. "...Hrain and, uh... grandmother."

"Edda's got the gist of it, basically: we're stuck in a pocket dimension. We found this deck of cards that used to belong to the broad who started the joint—Sonnorae or somesuch, alive and dead, that whole deal. Anyway, that's what got us into this mess. The blue dragon, Zassrion—or the 'Patchwork Lord'—seems to have been luring folks in here through the deck, including this one scholarly fellow I've been looking for. So, uh... don't off anyone of that description."

"But I digress: the dragon's in a place called the 'Striding Fortress,' which moves about. To find it, we have to find all the tokens—jewels like these, held by the Conspirators. You see, most of the 'people' in here aren't... um, real. They're like storybook characters, going through the same tale over and over. Some of 'em decided to kill and eat Sonnorae, and that's how they became real, like our friend the Peddler here. These tokens represent... uh, parts of Sonnorae that they got while divvying up her body for supper. Sonnorae's kapenia—the scarf where they came from—is our key back home, once we bring the tokens to it."

"We've got most of 'em, but there's one or two more... yeah, two places left to visit. Things here tend towards the dramatically convenient, y'see. Here's a map of the Realm, if you'd like to take a look. Hmm. Wait, does that mean Sonnorae's got one of the tokens? Bernie did mention something like that, didn't he..."

Niklos stops to think, furrowing his brow and tilting his head at the map.

Fortunately for those seeking exposition, Niklos loves the sound of his own voice. :P

"Stories and characters, dramatic coincidence, this is something I know! What a wonderous world to be driven by fate to such an extreme. Terrible, but wonderous. It seems that we shall work together to escape this place. I offer my strength of arms and my magics of the Tumaan, or Harrow as you call it."

Clad once again in his armour made from the skin of a Great Drake that his ancestor slew, with the wooden shield that allowed his great grandfather to block a blow meant for the Sacred Idol of Nahiri, and wielding the terbutje of his grandfather, Beam of the Waxing Moon, Hrain is a sight to behold, a warrior without compare who can stand against the tides of evil and never back down. With grey and red marbled skin and intense gaze he stands calmly in the ruins of the Nightpeddler's camp. His shield bears a strange resemblance to a Harrow card, and if you look closely you can recognize fleeting glimpses of various cards in it's wooden whorls.

I think it reasonable that with her profession fortune teller background Marinda would know the following. If you disagree, feel free to amend it

"We are in the fabled demiplane created by the fabled Sonnorae herself? That is truly wonderous. And disturbing. I have heard many stories and legends of this place but I had thought them just that, legends. A place where the Harrow comes alive? Where the Harrow IS the world. I'm Marinda, also a user of the Harrow deck. I use my old family deck for divinations and fortune telling, but I also use it to commune with the spirits.

While I want to eventually get home I am also very eager to explore this place. If you have to backtrack a little in order to go forward, I can live with that :-)"

I noticed that you did NOT tell me that you currently have the Harrow deck itself. Was that deliberate or an oversight?

Niklos looks Hrain up and down with some incredulousness. "Uh... yeah, sure. Good to have you along, mate..."

Full physical description of Niklos can be found in his profile. Feel free to take a look.

The scoundrel sketches a quick bow in Marinda's direction, though he does not look entirely as deferential as tradition might dictate.

"A tapéták tisztelt olvasója," he says with a wink. "Gyeszna áldása legyen rajtad!"

Digging around in his coat, Niklos produces the cards left behind by Basil and Gisele. He presents them to Marinda, deftly shuffling the dwindling deck into a measure of orderliness. "Here's the cards I mentioned. As much trouble as they've caused us, they've also been mighty useful. When played at just the right moment, they'll twist things in our favour. Maybe you can figure out somethin' about them we haven't, bein' as wise to the ways of the Harrow as you are..."

"Az édesanyja édeskés ízeket érez, és az apád méltó ember volt"

Edda shakes her head at the two talking in Varisian.

"Comedians! I'm traveling with comedians. Help me pack up this tent. Its an amazing structure!"

Hrain lends Edda a hand packing up the tent.

I've updated the cards in the Deck of Harrowed Tales to the best of my memory.

The magic woven in the artifact deck rings out again as the tales tie themselves to a new narrative, and new protagonists. Half the cards fly out of the deck, recomposing themselves into piles just in front of Marinda and Hrain.
I'm going with a new split as we have a different split of abilities:
Edda gets all the Books cards that haven't been played yet (the Hidden Truth, the Inquisitor, the Idiot and the Snakebite), the Trumpet, the Survivor and the Teamster;
Hrain gets all the remaining Hammers cards (the Keep, the Forge, the Fiend and the Beating), the Empty Throe, the Unicorn and the Marriage;
Marinda gets all the remaining Stars cards (the Winged Serpent, the Midwife, the Publican, the Owl, the Carnival, the Mute Hag and the Lost), the Mountain Man and the Sickness;
And finally, Niklos gets all the Keys cards (the Locksmith, the Avalanche and the Demon's Lantern), the Courtesan, the Tyrant and the Betrayal.

The tent is soon packed up. The camp is deserted as the wind clears the trails of the last fleeing slaves. It's just you and three camels now.
Returning to the Tangled Briar will require two Survival checks.

Cards and wand charges Updated. Who can make the survival checks best? I think we got lucky so far... NOTE: I don't think anybody has passed a successful Spellcraft check on the Wand we found. We also need to divvy up the cash we got.

My survival is decent at +9

spellcraft: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Niklos is happy to let someone else take the reins on the way back, still uneasy with the sparse wilderness of the Dearth. He tries to make small talk with Marinda, asking about where she is from, and the places she has travelled to, and comparing family scarves to see if they are related somehow.

Marinda has the best Survival, so she might as well make the rolls. Hrain might be able to aid, since he seems to be second best at pathfinding.

survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Yay me :-)

Survival Aid Another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Survival Aid Another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"Let's move away from here while we have the chance. Once we get some distance back to the Briar, we can rest and replenish ourselves."

I think Miralee offered us a bonus/big monetary reward if we killed either the Tick Tock man or the Nightpeddlar. Am I remembering right here GM?

That she did.

Travel in the Harrowed Realm, Hrain and Marinda soon find out, is more driven by some sort of narrative thread. The walk home, accompanied by the placid camels, feels like a wistful return home guiding you to a familiar place, until sand gives way to thorny vines and underbrush, parting before you. To Niklos and Edda's dismay, you quickly reach a clearing where you are met by a tall man in gilded armor, sword and shield.
"Halt there, travelers. I have been watching you, as you moved through this Realm, and I gather that you seek to slay the evil tyrant, Zassrion. But your quest is futile, for I am Algon, the only one who is fated to defeat the monster! Hand over to me the way to reach the Striding Fortress, lest I be forced to do harm unto you, for my righteous cause. I shall not enjoy it, but I will do so if you force my hand." he addresses you.

You have plenty time to rest all you like on the road.

Niklos rolls his eyes at the rest of the group. "Ugh, not again. Lemme take care of this real quick..."

Raising his voice and switching to an entirely preposterous dramatic tenor, he strides forth to meet the knight. "Thou art a sight for mine sore eyes, O Glorious Hero! But alas, thou arriveth too late, brave Sir Algon! For we have been robbed of our precious tokens, our sole chance at defeating the dread dragon, Zassrion! The Nightpeddler's wiles proved too much for our feeble selves, as he used the darkest of sorceries to cloud our minds and numb our bodies. I beg of thee, make haste to the Nightpeddler's foul lair and seize thy destiny! All of the Realm depends on thee..."

Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

Once again, using Honeyed Words to pick the better of the two.

Edda sticks out her thumb at Niklos with a slight frown.

"What he said."

Bluff(Aid Another): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

"Oh great Paladin, it is an honour to meet you. My name is Marinda. Tales of your worthy deeds have spread beyond this realm. Indeed, you are considered emblematic of Paladins everywhere. Surely a man of such fabled wisdom can recognize the truth of my companions claims"

bluff aid: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Hrain inclines his head, quickly taking cue from the others.

"Oh mighty knight, please succeed against that villain where we could not."

Bluff Aid Another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Ah! The villainous foe! He must be in cahoots with the Patchwork Lord for sure! There leads my quest then, for justice to be delivered through righteous might!"

The paladin strides out of the clearing, clanking loudly.

Is it to Marzalee then?

Yep!