GM Silbeg's #6-10 The Wounded Wisp (RPG) (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

Ping nods in agreement, glass that the others have been able to figure it out

I can't believe in this anxious to just shoot something...

-Posted with Wayfinder

Mor'Targh follows, his mind full of dreams.

I'll take the test one day, and become a god using nothing but fire. Then I'll be a god of fire, and rise like a second bigger brighter better sun...

so... fimbrik's house?

will update I. A bit... Busy day at work

A brick step leads to Fimbrik’s front entrance, which is locked with a rusty lock. Numerous stacks of newspapers are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. Each rounded corner of the building has a large window, allowing creatures to look into the structure without difficulty.

"Looks like he forgot to cancel his subscription - or forgot he had one," notes Methodios dryly. Don't suppose he's going to be home, then, "What kind of delivery service just crams newspapers in like this? Heh, maybe the persistent kind. Can anyone pick that rusty lock?"

The Chelaxian wanders around the building and peers into the windows. He also looks for a likely place of ingress that will not tip off passers-by. If nothing appears, and no-one can pick the lock, Methodios will ready his hammer and shoulder.

"Oh," he adds, just as he was about to smash off the lock, "Perhaps we'd better knock first?" With hammer still in hand, Methodios raps on the doorframe.

"I got your lock pick right here." Lady BroKahn pulls her heavy pick, holds it in one hand and looks around a bit.

If no answer comes from the door, she'll give Theron a push towards the window "You seem to be the sneaky one - take a peak"

Mor'Targh is standing at the back of the group, apparently appraising the situation. I bet I could get us in, but do I dare? This day has been so unlucky. He watches as Methodios circles the building and stands with mouth agape when the Chelaxian almost rams the door down.

And all I did was lie to a priest!

Then as Lady BroKhan pushes Theron forward, Mor'Targh steps forward to investigate the newspapers. Looking for how old they might be, and how cold this case might be.

I claim to stand in the square "South" of Methodios, but the map will not permit that placement. This is to leave room for Theron to be pushed in front of the door to do his (maybe) sneaky things. It was called to my attention that the Window is where Theron was being pushed, so I'll take my place at the front door.

"Perhaps someone has already chased these clues down long ago, without the aid of the coin, and Fimbrik is long gone." Ping scoffs, his pessimism coming through again.

That really isn't appropriate. Don't forget, there are still people watching. You still have a chance to impress.

"How long ago did you knock? What is the proper time to wait between knocks? Perhaps we should knock again. How many times should we knock before we just enter? I think it may be 3 or 4 times, depending on the size of the house, reduced by at least 1 knock taking into account the clear evidence this house is abandoned..." Ping begins to ramble and rattle nonsense as he waits with everyone else to see if someone will answer the door.

I sort of have to laugh, because the map is set up so that there really isn't a door! So I am assuming the area that you are gathered in front of is the door, and the only windows are the blue walls in the corners.

Theron is pushed to one of the corner windows. Looking in, he sees an elderly gnome garbed in noble attire with a dapper rounded hat on his head and a can tipped with a brilliant glowing gem in his hand. He appears to be perusing his book collection. He does not react when Jin Shu Ping knocks on the door again.

Mor'Targh determines that the newspapers piled up go back at least two years.

"What? He's there and he's not answering?" Methodios asks Theron, "Now that's just plain rude! Well, between the rust and the newspapers, he's clearly not using this door, so let's show him how to open it! Ready, Lady BroKhan? If I can't get this down, use your pick on the lock."

Methodios dips his shoulder and rams the door.

Strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Methodios's patience wears thin, as he throws his shoulder into the door.

CRRRRACCKKKKKK!

The door gives way to the living room of the wizard. A large sofa sits awkwardly near the entrance, facing toward the center of the room. Sets of chairs and tables are arranged throughout, and statues of grandiose gnomes occupy the corners of the room. A set of stairs at the northern edge of the chamber leads down. A second set of stairs leads up.

Lady BroKhan stands smirking. okay.. that was a little impressive... she will start to follow towards the door.

Ping cringes a little as the door shatters under the force of the chelaxian's charge.

He follow inside as well, "Helloooo, pathfinder recruits here. Is that you Fimbrik? We have a few questions here. Sorry about your door, we were worried about you."

Ping makes a beeline to the room where Theron saw the gnome working, wondering in the back of his mind if it was just an illusion.

An illusion of the gnome working through the window would make sense, both as to why his stoop is so messy, and why no one has realized that he is actually gone. If in fact, he is gone.

As the group enters the house, they see a flash of light from under the couch, and 3 hyenas appear in the room, and attack!

One attacks Lady BroKhan
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Misses!

And two attack Methodios.
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 both miss!

Round 1: Mor'Targh and Theron are up

I hope they leave some for me.

I got a roll!

Burn! Mor'Targh yells at the hyenas as he hooks his thumbs together and flames erupt from his hands.

Burning Hands Damage (reflex DC16 for half): 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

AoO from the turquoise hyena

aoo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 (my rolling continues to be low. You should be worried )
SR turq: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 spell fails to penetrate
SR red: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Ref red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

see what I mean?

The spell of fire dances over the two hyenas, but fails to actually hit the turquoise one who just missed the caster. The red one dodges out of the way of some of the fire, but even then seems completely unscorched, leaving Mor'Targhnto believe these are not normal hyenas... In fact, as he now notices, they have unusual coloration and spines on them.

Theron is still up.

FYI the hyenas did just appear, as in 'poof'! Probably caused by the flash of light, which might have been a magical trap.

"Call off your dogs!" Methodios calls to the gnome Theron saw earlier, "We just want to chat, but you didn't open your door."

Where did he get to? Methodios wonders while looking around.

insert Theron song and move to door.. he's afk

Logg starts to prep a song.

"Who let the dogs out, roof... roof roof roof roof"

Theron starts his song, singing about a time long lost, when heroes didn't bark at the moon.

The hyenas then attack.
Two on Methodios
red bite - smite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
blue bite - smite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

One on Lady BroKhan
purple bite - smite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

HOLY CRAP!!!! THAT'S ALMOST AS BAD AS RAY ROLLS!

The hyenas just don't seem to have their hearts in on the attack.
Methodios, Lady BroKhan, Jin, and Logg are up. Then Mor'Targh and Theron.

"silly little dogs..."

heavy pick: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

If dead, Lady BroKhan will walk around the furniture to provide a flank for Logg

The (fiendish) hyena that Lady BroKhan hits explodes into a puff of foul smelling smoke, leaving no trace behind. She then moves around behind the other hyenas.

I moved Lady BroKhan as best I could without provoking.

"Sir, I said call of your hounds!" he cries once more. Methodios waits for Logg to start singing (or otherwise take action) before engaging the hyenas (delay until after Logg).

Methodios skips back a step (5ft step), drops his hammer (free action) draws his greataxe (move aciton) and brings it around in a deadly arc for what he hopes will be a mighty blow.

No answer from the gnome? Also, fiendish? I feel a lot less bad about smashing his door in, then. By the way, Methodios is neutral for smiting effects.

Methodios, greataxe, inspire courage, inspired rage, power attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 13 -- Urgh. Anyway. Obviously assuming the inspired rage here (based on Logg's last post). I'll roll damage just in case.
Greataxe damage, inspire courage, inspired rage, power attack: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 21

Ping allows himself to sink into the rage of the song, inspired to unfelt heights before by the duet of the skald and the bard. He steps back, and fires off a shot from his bow towards one of the remaining hounds.

Attack, Precise, Point Blank, Deadly Aim, Inspire Courage, Inspire Rage: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 22 for Damage, deadly aim, inspire courage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

That's devilishly clever for mere dogs. My fires normally send such beasts running in fear. That reminds me of something... He ponders.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"They laughed at my fire! Hit 'em harder, guys!" Mor'Targh says to encourage the blood rage fueled friends.

Then as he raises a finger to his temple, a shrill series of clicks begins to emanate from him as he casts Detect Magic.

would be knowledge nature... even with the template... I will use the roll for the following.

Mor'Targh believes that these hyenas are actually summoned.... He isn't sure exactly which spell, but it hey were summoned.

Also, of note, Lady BroKhan could see the gnome through the doorway when she ran by.... Not reacting to what is going on.

Lort starts his 'singing', which drives his companions into a furious rage. (both inspire courage and inspire rage are now on)

Ping -- inspire rage does not add to DEX, nor will it add damage for you.

Methodios swings his greataxe at a hyena, but even with his rage, is not able to connect.

Ping fires his arrow at the red hyena, hitting it, but it is still around, though obviously wounded.

Theron continues to inspire courage (three rounds left) and wishes that he had a bow! He draws his sword and starts moving in.

Mor'Targh detects magic in the room.

The hyenas start moviung, aparently trying to flank Lady BroKhan (5' steps, each)
red hyena on Lady: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 free trip on Lady: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
blue hyena on Lady: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15 damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Party is up!

My bad! I could have sworn I had seen it was str and dex, but now that I read it is str and con, it makes much more sense. In that case, Ping would not/won't accept the raging song. I did not add in the damage to my roll above because I don't have an adaptive bow... yet. The extra damage I added in was from inspire courage from Theron.

Satisfied with his accuracy, Ping grabs another arrow from his quiver and quickly draws back to fire another shot.

Attack, PB, PS, DA, IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9 for Damage, PB, PS, DA, IC: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11

"Leave her alone!" Methodios cries to the hyenas, before continuing his assault on the one with the blue magical aura.

Methodios, greataxe, inspire courage, inspired rage, power attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 20
Greataxe damage, inspire courage, inspired rage, power attack: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 19

Lort starts his 'singing'

"Heh. Sorry, not much of a signing voice over here..." Lort says from somewhere off in the distance, "I wonder why the GM is thinking of me."

Mor'targh thinks he might have some idea.

accept inspire rage

Having one hyena take a bite of her waist, and the other bite and drag her right foot, Lady BroKhan grunts as she drops to her knees.

She grins at Methodios as his hyena poofs.. swings her bitten foot wide right to expose the last hyena's belly, swinging sideways from her knee.

heavy pick, prone: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 4 = 23
damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Lady BroKhan roars in delight as the last hyena poofs as well, reaching an arm towards Methodios to help her up. "Good shot Methodios. A good fight truly gets the blood pumping."

Assuming the meta is correct...

Methodios grasps Lady BroKahn's forearm and helps her to her feet. "Truer words, Lady BroKahn, truer words. Now, let's go give that evil little fūck the thrashing of his life." Methodios nods in the direction of the doorway where the gnome was sitting uncaringly as his summoned hyenas tore into the Pathfinders.

Lort... Logg... same basic idea. :P

Lady Brokhan and Methodios finish off the two hyenas, leaving nothing much but stinky smoke. It appears that the elderly gnome is still perusing the stacks.

I assume you are moving in? We are out of initiative.

Lady BroKahn stands with a bit of a tired sigh. "It seems in our haste we forgot to retrieve my wand from the cleric. Does anyone have a spare charge for me?" She stretches upon standing, trying to get the aches from her joints following her burst of Rage.

We are out of initiative.

I can grab some more when I go to the shops.

"... go get that wand back on the way to Fimbrik's place..."

Methodios passes the wand to Lady BroKahn. "Forgot to tell you I picked it up on the way," he says somewhat sheepishly, "That cleric looked like he wanted another donation, but I refused to give the coin back until he handed over the wand."

Either way, Methodios has a wand he can spare. So long as someone else waves it...

CLW #1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW #2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 -- 2 charges for Lady BroKhan.

Once everyone is healed up, Methodios makes his way over to the gnome, axe drawn. "You! Fimbrik, I assume? You've got a lot to answer for. First, why didn't you answer the door or warn us about those hyenas? Hey! You listening to me?"

Yes, the wand was retrieved

Fimbrik does not appear to have noticed Methodios yet. He then moves up, annoyed, to get the gnome's attention. He doesn

Methodios Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Lady BroKhan Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
Logg Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Theron Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Mor'Targh Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Ping Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Ping notices something odd... that it doesn't really look right. He sees flaws in what he now realizes is an illusion!

"Ha! I knew it! Did I say it out loud? I know I thought it. The gnome is an illusion. Thus is not actually fimbrik. Let's search the rest of the house and see what other clues remain."

Ping informs his companions of the deception, then goes about searching the house with his eagle eyes.

no reason to rush, so take 20 for a 27 on perception everywhere, unless we trigger another combat

-Posted with Wayfinder

"He looks real enough..." Lady BroKahn walks over and backhands the illusion.

Methodios will, disbeliever in the room bonus: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 5 = 21

"Oh, now that you point it out, it seems quite obvious," agrees Methodios, walking through the gnome, "Interesting creature - to have gone to so much trouble to make it look like he was home, but he couldn't be bothered to cancel his newspaper subscription."

Methodios takes a quick scan of the lower levels...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

... before joining Ping on his more thorough search. (Also happy to take 20 on searching the house).

As Ping starts searching the rooms, he notices that despite the lack of dust on many surfaces, no one has been here for years. The carpet and sofa show virtually no wear. There is nothing of value in the library.

Ping then goes into the NE room. This appears to be a meeting room, As you enter, you see another image of the elderly gnome, reading at the desk. When you enter, he looks up, smiles, and tips his hat.

Ping finds a note (Handout #5 on the tactical). On the back of the note is one name... "Karina Clamp". He also finds two potions sitting on the window sill.

There is nothing else in the house of note. Now where to?

Mor'targh thinks he might have some idea.

Mor'Targh indeed has an idea, however every time he gets the itch to sing he recalls a story of one the greatest mages ever known. The magus known as EDIT: REDACTED DUE TO POTENTIAL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT Well... that's unfortunate.

Mor'Targh continues to concentrate on his spell while looking about the house. Hoping to avoid any more infernal interruptions. Finger still at his temple he looks left and right, high And low.

Seeing nothing further than the evidently illusory home owner, he offers a suggestion to he companions, "Let's find this Karina Clamp! Maybe her place won't be guarded by hell beasts that like fire."

"Karina was a fake name on the wall. On to the Grand Lodge!"

"Really?" Methodios goes back through the notes, "Hunh. So she is. Well, to the Wall of Names then!"

Methodios replaces the door in its frame as best he can. Must remember to ask Lort to fix that up for me when I see him next... he did a marvelous job of cleaning up the Lodge taproom after he pounded Cyrus into the ground with that bench...

Yep. Wall of Names next, which I believe is at the Grand Lodge (so in agreement with Lady BroKhan). Methodios will pick up his Wayfinder while there! 250gp, since I don't have a Confirmation Chronicle to let me do it with PP.

Methodios, go ahead and pick it up!

"He who breaks the door goes back to the wall of names"

Cuz it's been a while since my last House of Pain reference

"At least they didn't make it easy. Easy is boring." Ping says with a heavy sigh.

"To the wall of names then." Ping says, in agreement with his companions.

The team makes their way to the Grand Lodge, and the Wall of Names. (see tactical slide 7 for picture)

Taking some time, you are able to find the three false names, each of which has an epitaph attached to it (see tactical slide 8).

If you can't figure it all out, you can try a religion check... but try and puzzle out, first.