GM SpiderBeard's Second Darkness (DrEvil Group) (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

Sorry, forgot I was up. And ignore my earlier post, my map didn't show the correct positions of my teammates until I reloaded it.

Trig uses her Tremor ability on the half-orc. Trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Sorry for my inaction, crazy few days and Reva was also waiting to see if it got resolved without fighting. Coulda typed that but, y'know, I fail.

Sensing potential violence Reva keeps her sword at ready, watching the surprised men warily.

The Scorpion Duel - Round 1

20 Trig
13 Small Bad Guy
10 Blossom
9 Saphren
7 Reva
6 Half-Orc Bad Guy
1 Magnus

Trig waves her hand and the floor below the half-orc starts to twist and buckle. The rather unwieldy subject lands on the floor with a resounding crash falling prone.

The smaller man-sized bad guy reaches for his throwing dagger and whips out at nearby Reva, who steps out of the way quite easily...

Human Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ok, Blossom or Saphren have the next moves. then on with the round!

Reva leaps to the side to avoid the dagger, prepared but a little taken aback.

Calm. Focus. The Inheritor is with you. These men are evil.

So, that's how its gonna be huh. Saphren states rather than asks. Moving to the prone and still flat footed half orc he says Sorry bub. as he tumps the man with his sap.

Sap: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 241d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + (4) = 14

Sap confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 111d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Flat footed and prone, so an 11 might hit.

Taking advantage of the other thug's poor positioning. Blossom lashes at him with her hair, entangling him in the process.
Hair attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 = 22, Hair damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Grapple attempt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Going to have to wait on my action since the prone guy is probably toast. Where is the gnome on the map?

Trig would have 5-ft stepped back to give the others room. Saphren and Blossom should be in the room or at the door, though.

The Scorpion Duel - Round 1 - continued

Blossom uses her hair to grab at the smaller man, raking him with it at the same time. The man is effectively held by the witch's animated hair, struggling to free himself.

Meanwhile, Saphren steps forward and rings his sap across the head of the prone half-orc, cracking his head, and sending blood trickling down his ear, but not knocking him unconscious.

Yes it's a confirmed crit, but looks like an error in your first damage formula, Saphren. I just took the first 1d6 plus the crit, total of 20 non-lethal. Reva is up, and the prone half-orc if he's still moving.

No error. He was flat footed so the second d6 is sneak attack. That's how I roll. :) 24 non-lethal.

As Saphren pounds the half-orc's face in with his sap, Reva falls to he knees, trying to drive the hilt of her sword into his head.

Attack-Nonlethal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14
Nonlethal Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Sneak Attack of course! Ok, got it! So Saphren's flat-footed strike does stun and drop the half-orc bruiser. Reva if you want to go for the hair-grappled man, rather than face punching an unconscious target, I'll allow the switch (and you can use the rolls...). Magnus is up also, if he has any actions.

Reva manages to stay her blow and moves over to gnome wrapped up in Bu's hair, hammering the hilt of her sword towards his face!

I still don't see the gnome on the map so I'll trust you to move me.

The Scorpion Duel - Round 1 - concluded

There is no gnome, the other bad guy is in the corner, token is like a pirate.

The sword hilt of the inquisitor clips the little man in the temple while he is held fast by the hair of Blossom. His body goes slack as his eyes roll up in their sockets and he slumps against the grabbing hair.

End of Combat

That was quick. The bad guys didn't even get an action. Guess I'll have to beef these encounters up a bit. You each earned 67xp for this encounter, which leaves you with 1104/1300 or about 85% of the way to Level 2. PS: I did read that we should be on the FAST advancement track for this or any other 3.5 geared Paizo AP. So that's why the change.

Saphren sets to frisking the two down thugs. Lets see what they are holding.

Hah, sorry. Someone uses that picutre/token in another game and I convinced myself it was a PC.

"Nice work," says Reva as she looks down at the two unconscious bodies. Carefully, she steps around the scorpions and moves out into the hall. There, she pads past the doors, listening quietly.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

A quick check of the unconscious forms of the bad guys reveals the following:

1) Masterwork Morning Star
2) Studded Leather armor
3) Rapier
4) 2 daggers
5) Leather armor
6) 7gp and 8 sp

After disarming the two, Segang sets to tying them up and gagging them. Any long term plans for these two? Not real sure they are redeemable… He lets that thought hang in the air for a moment accenting it.

Reva pads back, poking her head in the door.

"Let's disarm and lave them for now. I think we may have more than just the two of them to deal with. Down this hall ths first door has someone in it. Second door has at least two who are talking. Third... uh, birds I think."

"The door with the talkers, let me blast them with colors. May save us some trouble."

Saphren nods, adding the mooring star to his belt for now. Nice heft. he observes.

Reva nods over to Trig. "Good idea. Let's move up and flank you. I'll watch the first door I heard the chair from in case somebody comes out if the others want to keep near in case somebody resists."

Trig is already in front of that door. Unfortunately there isn't much room to flank. Perhaps Magnus could squeeze into the same square, and then open the door for Trig, whereupon she will cast her spell and 5-ft-step back out of the way. That would mean Blossom would need to step back a bit too.

Trig winks at Magnus and whispers, "Cover me and open the door for me while I get ready to cast?" Trig readies an action to cast color spray in the direction of the people inside the room as soon as the door is opened, followed by a 5-ft step back.

The door that Reva is discussing, is the door on the right side of the hallway. That is where she heard at least two people talking, the first door on the left had the sound of a chair scraping on the floor. The last door on the left had what sounded like birds. Not sure we have Magnus with us at present.

The doughty dwarf agrees to help cover the little gnome's flank as they open the door on the right. His grumble of assent is barely audible.

From the loot above, anyone else take anything besides Saphren and the MW morningstar? The coins? Anything else?

Voices Behind the Door - Surprise Round

20 Reva
19 Trig
18 Saphren (delaying)
18 Blossom
17 White Thug
13 Green Thug
4 Magnus

Assuming the first two delay until after Trig's Color Spray sneak attack. Remember, move or Standard action only in surprise round.

When ready, Reva opens the door, then leaps back allowing the gnome an unobstructed view of the little room.

A copper lantern hangs from the ceiling of this windowless room. Aside from peeling paint, a worn pallet, and some threadbare wollen blankets, there is little of interest. Atop the pallet, and lying on the floor next to it, are two thugs, they both look at the door startled as it opens only to see the swirling colors and patterns of the Trig's spell. One of the men, slumps over, clearly taken in by the spell. The other freezes momentarily, then begins to rise.

Green Will DC 16: 1d20 ⇒ 2
White Will DC 16: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Saphren & Blossom have the surprise round actions now.

Saphren moves into the room holding the masterwork morning star. He stops next to the conscious man and standing over him he says Be smart. Stay down.

Nodding in support of Saphren's words, Blossom dances past him & the two prone thugs, coming to a stop beyond the one yet conscious.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Saphren's threatening look and demeanor combined wit the weirdness of the witch (I mean that in the best way possible...) frighten the man into a sniveling, stuttering ball.

"D-d-d on' h-h-hurt me. I'm-m-m n-n-n ew here an' I don-n-n wanna d-d-die."

Good call. The half orc says as he retrieves a rope to secure the sleeper. Now tell me what you know about this operation. You help us and you walk.

Reva pads into the room behind Saphren and shows a ghost of a smile.

"Smartest person we've met all day. Drop your weapons now while you explain how things work around here."

"I don't know much," he says more calmly but with a trace of unease, worried you won't like that answer. "As I said, I'm the new guy. Used to live on the Splithog, so I did. Got an offer to join up an' make some coin so I's took it." He looks guiltily at you.

"That there is my boss, Balston. He meets with the Pauper an' then we go an' roust folks fer cash. I ain't never seen the Pauper with my own eyes but folks say he's superhuman. He sees all and knows all and passes like a ghost. What else ken I tell ya?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Reva watches the man as he speaks, her thin, dark brows furrowed. She shoots a glance over to Trig.

"How long until Balston wakes up?" She looks back to the terrified man. "Provided you aren't lying there's no fault in being new. As for your other sins, perhaps we can consider them an opportunity for redemption. Around how many people do you know are in the operation?"

The man appears to be telling the truth as far as he knows it.

The captured bandit smiles a bit, as understanding dawns that he might get out of this in one piece. "Let's see there's Balston an' Rasper an' Badeye -- they call him that cuz of this big bump on his..."

From nowhere, a high-pitched whining noise starts in the air, rising in volume and pitch until it vibrates in your bones and teeth. Just when you think you can't stand anymore of it, a white flash bursts from the sky, and the whine stops. Immediatly, all metallic objects (including weapons and armor) become slightly polarized, attracting and repelling each other like magnets.

This phenomenon causes a -1 penalty on attack rolls with metal weapons and a -1 to AC for those wearing metal armor. The magnetic effect lasts for 5 minutes.

Duration: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

The man looks more startled than ever. "W-W-What in Nethys' name was thhhat? You're sorcerors, so ya are. I knew I shouldn'ta toll nothin', I knew it. So I did." His eyes are wide and frightened.

"Was nothing that we did. Um... the local thaumaturgical flux must have... reversed the polarity... of the neutron flow. Happens from time to time. Really nothing to be afraid of," says Trig, coming up with a (rather silly) lie on the spot.

Bluff, taking 10: 10 + 4 = 14

Saphren only pauses for a moment in his securing of the sleeper. Once he is sure the man is secure he will turn to the other who has helped him. [b]And what was your name son?

Does Saphren understand the phenomenon at least well enough to choose use non-metallic weapons?

The small pull of the ferrous metal objects lets the PC's know they are slightly more difficult to use during this strange magnetic phenomenon.

"My name is Madrik Mank, but the fellas here have taken to callin' me Madrat. I'm the new guy an' they kinda pick on my a bit." You can see the fear leaving his face; he is growing more comfortable talking to you.

Magnus answers the youth's relaxed smile with a renewed scowl, fixing his eyes on him and turning away with a dismissive grunt. With some difficulty he hefts his hammer and readies a strike against the crime boss. "Shall ve heff his head now, or see if he is leaky first?" he says, hefting his warhammer in two hands.

"This isn't who we're after, Magnus." The boss is Beltias, not Balston.

I gotta say Madrik, this new gig is not workin out for ya. Whatcha say you come and work for us at the goblin? You think fast an do not make stupid decisions. Might be you could get a fresh start there. I'll put in a good work for you. You can start right now and no one is gonna pick on ya… He looks at the youth questioningly.

Magnus lowers his hammer with an embarrassed grumble, narrowly missing his domed helmet as the strange magnetic pull nearly wrests control of his weapon from him. Stowing his hammer with a harrumph, he stomps back toward the hallway, ready to move on.

Reva glances over to Madrik. "If you want a way out of Splithog here's your chance." She heads out after Magnus.

"What is happening to our weapons?" she mutters to Magnus as she follows out into the hall. Carefully, she glances around, hoping to hear or see something.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

From the hallway, Reva catches a few of the Blot from out the window of the mission. Instead of the inky black color it had been, the blot seems to be pulsating, growing somehow, and the color has changed to a deep purple.

Madrik nods quickly, "If ye'd let me go, I'd be happy to get off the Splithog once and fer all. If there's a job ta have I'd take it and gladly, so I would. I can work real hard, too!" He doesn't exactly beg, but the pathos in his voice is quite piercing. He's just looking for a chance to get ahead.

With Balston secured, what do you do next?

Trig gives Madrik directions to the Goblin if he needs it, then advises, "Just wait here until we deal with the Pauper, and then head there."

In the hallway, she points to the nearest door. "Let's check this one," she whispers.

"Right, Magnus you want the honor of introducing us?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Trig you appear to be right in between two doors, which one are you wanting to open?

The strange magnetic effect ends as soon as it begins, but without the whining and flash of light. Looking back, the Blot has assumed it's "normal" appearance of a black inky cloud.

Let's say the northern-most one.

Then you work for us now Madrik. Welcome to the team. Keep out of trouble and report to the Goblin in the morning. He extends his hand to the young man shaking his hand firmly. Before we go, anything else you can think of that we should know?

Assuming Magnus tosses the door open...

This dank room smells of mildew and the only light creeps in through a greasy stained window at the rear. The room's simple furnishings include a worn mattress, some crate furniture, and 3 rusty birdcages. Atop a makeshift desk sit some calligraphy pens, a ream of fine parchement, and a stand holding an ornate magnifying glass lens. A sack of birdseed rests beneath the cages.

The sound of cooing birds and a man speaking is quite easily heard through the west door.

Reva stares curiously at the blot for a moment before Magnus boots open the door.

I think I have something far more interesting to start inquiring about than whatever petty stuff Vancaskerkin is up to.

"I'll approach, let's go very quietly. If it's just some old man with carrier pigeons this may be easy. We can look at the desk in a moment."

Reva moves up to the door, sheathing her sword and unslinging a sap from her belt. She slaps the heavy weight in her hand before she moves towards the door. She looks over her shoulder at the group, counts to three, and swings the door open to reveal her best death stare.