GM Sloth's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master ThreeEyedSloth

Wren stays still, waiting for the blindness to pass, so she can 'entertain' her 'friends' with what she knows of the alchemical gear when she finally has a chance to examine it in detail.

"Oh dear. I hope this doesn't last too long."

Wren tilts her head to keep an ear on people as they speak, making sure her friends haven't forgotten her.

"It's done and over, and I don't intend to make a fuss, but I do believe using your knuckles rather than your claws would have gone a long way toward subduing him."

Nym will look about for a pair of tongs and if finding a pair assist Andrea in retriving the key. "Happen to spy any locks on the way in that this little fellow might belong to?"
Perception for tongs 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Wren grasps the coin in her pocket as if it might provide enough light for her to see again.

Instead, Wren waits and ponders preening Plumie.

"The problem, Nym, is that we can try to knock them out, but that I doubt they will try to return the favor..."

'Aldous' sighs.

"Now, we *really* need to try and find the other one, before he escapes; I doubt that he could have missed the sounds of his partner exploding..."

So saying, he opens the door.

"Subdue. And incapacitate."

Galadan says quietly to those around him, as though those words were enough to explain the principles of nondestructive combat.

"Use your special powers, if you need to, instead of your weapons."

"Hmm wonder what is in here" Andrea says as she reaches under the bed and drags a chest out.."Nym dear..have a look at this and see if it it's trapped..given what we have come across so far I'm wary of anything I find in this place"

Kevin stands in the middle of the room waving his hand infront of his face.

Situation:

Hastur - opening the next door
Kevin will start to regain sight this turn
Wren is still blind for another 4 rounds

Everyone apart of Hastur is in Grine's room. You have currently no clue what is next door

Initiative:
Hastur (free action first)

Hastur 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
? (Hastur knows) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Kevin 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Galadan 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Wren 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Andrea 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Nym 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Wren appears agitated at the door opening discussion.

"Did you want to wait until I can see again before opening the door?" Wren titters anxiously.

"Impetuous creature..isn't he..I'll have to speak to him about that" Andrea mutters as Hastur throws open the next door before anyone else is ready to follow.

"Vorkstag is in here, and he is drinking potions. He looks like a being with dark pink flesh drawn tighly across his emaciated body, resembling nothing so much as a gaunt human stripped of its skin, its pulsing muscles completely exposed."

"Not sure that I'm the best canidate for the job, but I'll give it my best." Nym says walking to Andrea and her new found chest...

Cocking an eyebrow upon seeing the door being opened he lets out a sigh..."This is what happens when we let Kevin make the morning coffee..." He seems to have more to say on the subject, but with Haster's description of Vorkstag he continues with only a grimace of disgust.

On his action Nym will move into the room with more concern given to getting into a flanking position with one of the big and beefies of our party than making an attack this turn.
Accrobatics if needed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Kevin laughs at Nym's remark. " I do have just the think to make that vile stuff you call coffe better suited to one such as I. It is called Irish Cr..What? At hastures description the swordsman rushes forward towards the open door and the threat beyond.

Move into room and provide flank if posible.

Wren featherfacepalms during the surprise round.

I think my vision will come back eventually. That seems like a long time.

Vorgstag seems to be paralyzed for a moment. His eyes dart to the door that is blocked by the hulking Hastur. Nym - in position next to him - seems unhurt despite all precautions.
The hand lingers for a moment on a vial - but then he seems to have made up his mind.

Taking a five foot step back further into he room - a direction he seemingly takes only reluctantly - his hand reaches to another vial that he drinks hastily.

And the last drop hasn't gone down his throat when he starts to become insubstantial and vanishes.

Everyone in the room feel free to read the earlier spoiler to Hastur. Vorgstag is now invisible.

"Block the door. Don't let him escape. We can wait if we have to."

He will advance into the room if someone moves to block the door.

"Vorgstag, show yourself! You have many things to account for, both to us and to the authorities. An innocent creature is being accused of your crimes, and before this day is out you will have laid bare your soul before you reach Pharasma's throne. I command you to yield to us immediately, or else all the hells shall break loose in this room and you will not survive to tell your tale."

Intimidate
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

There seems to be no direct response from Vorkstag - as if he is considering his options first.

Hastur - I'm waiting for your action next.
Wren - you are in Grine's room
Andrea - I have you with Wren right now - please advice if that is wrong.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Perception

Wren momentarily stops her facepalming to adjust her head to the noises above her and then goes back to waiting for her vision to clear.

Andrea remains with Wren but her face shows her disenchantment with the males of the party

Rule number one of living in Ustalav..things go so much easier if the Witch ISN'T annoyed with you

Kevin enters the room smiling a bright and friendly smile as he holds his highly polished Dueling Sword in an easy ready stance. "Please let us talk as friends! I would hate to kill you also. After so many deaths it does get so bothersome cleaning the blood from this fine blade."

I will likely have to make a map - in case 'diplomacy' fails. The room isn't that large - 15*20. Vorgstag will have moved away from you towards the outer wall.

"Yes - let's rather talk as friends instead of making threads. The Beast of Lepidstadt will burn anyhow - nothing can save him. With him burning all the crimes will be forgotten - nobody will ever ask. And who cares if he burns for some extra crimes. But if you let me go ... I do have considerable wealth that I can offer you.
And I can get even more - if you give me time."

"I have important friends and allies here in Lepidstadt.

Galadan follows Vorgstag's voice. At the offer, he remains silent, wondering what his companions will think of it, but he listens carefully in case he has to pinpoint his location.

Perception
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Ready a Gentle Rest if Vorgstag should appear.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Kevin grins and laughs, "I am sure you do, my sickly looking friend, but unfortunately for you The Beast has important friends and allies also. Six to be exact." Kevin holds his left hand up to the side of his face to aid in his stage whisper. "Incase you can't figure it out, that would be us."
Once again the swordsman flurishes his weapon as he takes a step towards the voice. "Last time, please, pretty please, with a big shinny red cherry on top, come along quietly so I don’t have to kill anyone else today. I do so hate trying to get someonelse's blood out of velvet."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

'Aldous' remains impassive, deliberately occupying the doorway to prevent the invisible 'thing' from fleeing the room.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Andrea's face takes on a look oof concentration and her eyes lift to the ceiling. "Theres something in the room above us too" she states trying to keep her voice level.

Wren nods, still waiting for her vision to clear.

"I can only imagine what those *men* are doing now, dearie. They don't have the common sense of us womenfolk, do they?" Wren chirps.

"I believe your idea of wealth and mine are likely...different." Nym says, giving the room a disdanefull eye. "By all means though, tempt me with your offer."

All - sorry for the delay. But generating a map always takes a little bit extra time. But it was a valuable thing to to as it crystallised option that Vorkstad has or hasn't to me.

Map of the upper level with rooms and positions

The map is the best I was able to place you characters. The red star is the last place where you spotted Vorgstag before he drank his potion. As you can see - there isn't that much choice for him ...

He did have time to move since !!

Round 3:
Wren - 3 more rounds blind
I have place Hastur in the door frame to indicate he is blocking the door.

The group is trying to intimidate, convince Vorgstag to give himself up. Vorgstag offers in exchange some treasure if you let him go free.

Towards Nym
Grine does own a few valuable diamonds. I'm sure he doesn't need them anymore now that you dealt with him. He also has some gold hidden away and I know where to find it.
He also is a collector of strange items.
I can offer you 500 gp worth in coins now and double the amount later.

Round 4:

Please let me know what you want to do. Please let me know if you move somewhere else in the map - and indictae where to. I know I don't have a grit but it should be simple enough to say 5 foot north, west of the door, etc.

You have the feeling Vorgstag is trying to buy time. He surely seems intimidated but he clearly is buying time in hope you either let him go or there might come an alternative for him to surrendering.

Andrea loks over Wren to ensure the blindness is indeed temporary and to see if she can perhaps speed up the Mages recovery.

Heal 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Galadan keeps his eyes on the room ahead of him, where Vorgstag's voice last emerged from, watching and listening for any signs of movement whatsoever. If he can sense Vorgstag at all, he will attempt to gentle rest (still readied).

Then, grapple, and cuff with manacles of enhanced communication. That's my plan so far. That will probably take more than a round, but its what I've come up with.

Perception
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Galadan
You can easily check an adjoining square. I can look up the exact rules. But everyone doing this while trying not to let Vorgstad know will need a bluff check.

Wren continues to wait.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 to check the square directly east/right of Nym.
Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

If possible, can I apply that last Perception check into the square directly right of Galadan.

Bluff
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

About invisibility from the CRB and applied on the current situation:
Vorgstag has a +20 DC on stealth. He gets a -20 if he talks.
So what does this mean?
a) You need a perception check of DC20 to notice someone invisible is nearby. You have seen him before and with im talking this goes to DC0 - so you KNOW that he is still close by.
b) To pinpoint him he can try his stealth against your perception. This is a stealth check from him against your perception to pinpoint where he is when he speaks. If he moves in the turn and ends up somewhere else, then the DC goes to his Stealth + 20.
So locating him with perception might work while he talks - if he moves then it can become very difficult (to impossible) to located where he moved to by perception.
c) There is an alternative to perception - you can make a touch attack with your hands or a weapon into 2 !! adjacent spaces. If successful, the groping character deals no damage but has successfully pinpointed the invisible creatures current location.

Touch attack misschance Galadan

Touch attack misschance Nym

Nym/Galadan - you both can try a second square - I allow a 5foot step inbeween.

Kevin will do the same as the others with his sword.

Round 4:
Aldous/Hastur still to act

For a moment silence is in the room.

Galadan carefully checks the space next to him for Vorgstag.
Nym tries to swipe the corner with his rapier - it seems pretty obvious that his attempts are to spot Vorgstag.
Seeing the obvious attempts from Nym - Kevin sweeps two fields next to him.

No noise or anything can be heard or felt from Vorgstag.

Alas - it seems Vorgstag has disappeared.

Link to the map again

It seems the invisibility rules are not that common. To avoid reposting / and as Nyms approach to subtlety failed - I added a second square for Galadan and Nym and selected for Kevin the two remaining squares next to the east wall.
This means you tried to locate Vorgstag on all four squares next to the east wall as well as both squares next to Galadan. No positive results.
So either one of you missed Vorgstag, he is in one of the three remaining squares - between Hastur and Nym - strictly speaking only half a square but I wanted to have Hastur in the door frame - or the two squares next to the north wall.
Off course - maybe he did something completely different.
Apology if this is slow going at the moment - but I'm not idle. I'm doing something all the time.

Wren continues to wait, rubbing her eyes.

'Aldous' is staying in the doorframe. I don't want Vorgstag escaping :-P

Not entirely your fault. I've been caught at work more often than necessary over the past week, so my posting has slowed some as well.

Andrea watches the others groping around the room with rising impatience, she briefly considers filling the room woith spiders before settling on a more mundane solution.

"Oh for heavens sake..we're in an alchemists workshop..Hastur, Kevin block that door..Nym find some powdered chalk or better still some limestone powder..they use it to neutralise acid spills.."

Round 5 actions please

I will allow Andreas help to reduce the blindness by 1 round. So last round of blindness.

Andrea - did you move towards the other room? I still count you in the room with Wren. But your actions are either meta or seem to indicate otherwise.

All - please let me know if you moved from the last position on the map. Vorgstag might finally do something (active) and positions can be crucial. Sorry - I won't give away any more.

Wren stands wherever she was standing when things blew up.

Not meta gaming..I'm merely stating the obvious...and getting annoyed with things..oh and hoping in some way to make our opponent do something in haste.