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

Game Master Barvo Delancy

I think you might mean Saphren, who is both stealthy and invisible. Besh will happily leap ahead invisibly using Dimensional Slide, but it is line of sight only. On the other hand, ze could pop out at the bottom of the stairs and then fill then room with black tentacles :P

Besh indicates zir position telepathically, and nervously glances from zir friends to the several potentially dangerous individuals scattered through the room they are about to leave.

Oh you're invisible too? K, damn Lyra we must look pretty badass stomping in here this confident! I did mean Saph, thanks.

Still waiting to see what the two drow are gonna do.

Oh you're invisible too?

Er... maybe not? I see that ze's no longer listed as invisible under the Buff Tracker. Maybe let's just go with visible and I can save that spell slot. (and we'll just assume nobody noticed when ze popped into the middle of the bar. Most importantly, Saphren is invisible - I think that's usually the best combo. At any rate, Besh can pop around with Dimensional Slide as needs be

Before we came in I said I could make one person invisible if need be. I assumed it would be Brenna as it sounded like you were doing yourself and Saph, but then I saw the buff tracker exclude it from you as well and wasn't sure.

There's an illusion of everyone that's currently invisible. Brenna, Besh and Saphren look like they are right next to us.

Lyra notched another arrow. This one looked a lot less friendly than the one currently quivering in the door.

It got confused. Brenna is invisible.

The arrow flies expertly into the door and through the jamb to fix it in place. They yank at the door before they slowly turn to face you.

"What do you want?!" cries one in exasperation as Lyr, Zoso, and the illusions approach. Although Lyr has very neatly forced the door shut, it won't be too much to get through it.

once more if you're invisible, position yourselves on the map so it's clear where you are.

Once more WITH FEELING!

Which door is the one they're trying to flee out of - north or south?

"Not to be questioned by useless underlings." Lyra answered flatly. "The next person to speak without being spoken to gets used as an example."

Which door is the one they're trying to flee out of - north or south?

I'm pretty sure they are trying to get through the door to the southeast, where Saphren is standing

Southeast door. Giant arrow pointing to it.

Thank you. Token placed appropriately. Should be tiny drow bouncing off my plate armor. :)

Saphren is gonna hold he door and mess with the drow without attacking and ending his invisibility for now. He can ready to close the door if its opened too. :)

As the drow make for the door, there's a 'clank' and they bounce off of something. They step back again, look at all of you, and at the jammed door, and sigh miserably. The three duergar sitting at the table near the door burst into laughter.

Understanding they've been ordered to shut up, the drow simply drop their weapons, and look at Lyr expectantly.

Lyra carefully set a small pile of coins down on the bar, making sure all eyes were on her.

While she did so, the drow weapons neatly collected themselves in a pile in the center of the room. Via Vex with Mage Hand.

Then she knelt and touched the floor next to the pile of weapons. A purple circle burst to life around them. Then she cast a second spell that tinged the circle with sickly yellow symbols. Then they all faded from sight.

"That," she said, pointing to the fading remnants of the glowing circle around the weapons. "Is a Glyph of Warding. The first person to reach for these weapons will trigger a spell that will drive everyone in this room insane. You will slaughter each other. I would not recommend it."

Anyone with Spellcraft shold be able to tell that she's not lying at all. I cast Glyph of Warding with Confusion attached to it.

"Anyone who leaves this building before I do will be hunted down. I have eyes on all exits. Do not think that you can get away unnoticed. Instead, just sit, relax, and enjoy a few drinks on me. The safest thing any of you can do, is nothing."

Lyra gestured to the door, like she was opening it magically.

and then Brenna opens it (hopefully).

A few seconds after Lyra gestures, the door "magically" opens itself with a rustle of heavy armor.

Being a giant meat-lady with a drow's carcass taped to her, Brenna gives the door a hearty yank she rips the arrow clean out of the doorjamb.

The duergar stop laughing at Lyr casts the glyph of warding on the floor. With the door now yanked open, one by one your companions illusory or invisible all make their way into the stairwell to descend downwards. The drow you've now completely emasculated look at each other, shrug, and turn to the bar.

"Two spider blood."

---

You step into the bar's kitchen. It appears to be unattended, an enormous pot of whatever today's stew is stays warm over some coals but otherwise there isn't much to the place. A door is ajar on the opposite side of the room, leading to stairs going down.

Cook's gone. Bet Xomos knows we are here. Vex said in everyone's minds.

Saphren, eyes looking for traps and surprises heads down the stairs. Actively looking for traps and he has the Trap Spotter rogue trick.

Smart rogue. I'll say you take 10 then which gives you 32.

Saphren moves over to the stairs, completely expecting a trap and his efforts are rewarded. He gets that telltale 'tingle' of a waiting trap set at the top of the stairs, and spots some runes etched into the door. It looks like a very, very nasty magical spell is set to go off if someone crosses the threshold. A careful rogue could scrape the runes off though.

If this information is passed along telepathically, Besh will take a look at the runes

Know Arcana: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

"Oh! Um... actually, I'm not sure. But it looks dangerous..."

Stand way back folks. Way back Saphren warns as he gets out a set of tools used to disarm magical traps.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26

Disable Device: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39

So if that fails to set off the trap he tries again. IF it does set off the trap then the 17 he rolled is his reflex save with evasion for a total of 29+ his Danges sense of 2 for a 31. Either way I think the trap should be gone. :)

If Saphren triggers the trap, I'll try to Dispel whatever goes off with Counter Curse.

DC is 31 so you're JUST within 5.

Saphren slips and stops just short of feeling a very, very angry spark across his knuckles. After collecting himself, he manages to scratch out the runes that activate the trap, and the stairs are now safe.

Good to go. Saphren got that resolved in a couple rounds. Let me know what your next steps are.

Sweat beading on his brow Saphren silently pads down the stairs, looking for more traps. I believe he is still invisible.

Stealth: 1d20 + 22 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 22 + 20 = 56 -20 if not still invisible

Anybody else think I should just drop a fireball down there

Besh looks from face to face for confirmation, belatedly realizing that ze (and half of the others) are invisible.

Besh will not need a lot of encouragement.
In the absence of direct approval, Besh will dramatically roll zir eyes at how boring you all are, and summon a medium Earth Elemental instead.

Its just a basement in an inn...

"Maybe, but not yet. Let's see what's down here. Saph, you're our eyes, ok? I'll walk down slowly but need to keep this personae up. If Fain is inside, I'll try to talk to them first." Zoso thinks as he slowly meanders around the tables and to the descending stairs.

Yes, but not quite yet, Besh. Lyr replied.

Vex flapped forward and landed on Saphren's shoulder. "I'll help you scout."

Maintaining Detect Magic and taking 10 to provide a +2 Aid Another bonus to Saphren's Perception and Disable Device checks.

Vex and Saphren make their way into the basement, which is not blocked by a door. Two oblivious drow stand guard at the entrance into the basement.

Here are the workings of Xomos Fain's criminal underworld, such as it is. There are papers and maps strewn about the place and tacked to walls. None of the soft crystalline light favoured by the drow is here. This basement is pitch black and oppressive, rendered entirely in greyscale thanks to your darkvision.

A dark stalker stands at the edge of the room, talking with the remainder of the drow you saw trying to extract a toll from you. A female drow stands beside him in a rich purple robe, clenching and unclenching her fists.

"So you let some lackeys from Vonnarc emasculate you?" the dark stalker's voice is a strange hiss that seems to come from all directions at once. "Where are they now, do you know? Did you place a tail on them?"

The drow looks at the floor, muttering something about someone stealing his wand. The dark stalker, presumably Xomos Fain turns to the drow woman beside him. "He has failed us. Destroy him."

Her eyes light up and she reaches out to the drow, who whips out a blade. Xomos Fain moves just as fast, sending the drow's rapier flying across the room. "Die on your knees!" He forces the drow to his knees as the female caster chants a spell.

Shadow magic swirls around her before she points a finger at the failed drow. He begins screaming uncontrollably, his eyes bulging out as he stares at something nobody else sees. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" His voice becomes disturbingly high-pitched as his screams intensify. They suddenly stop as his shrieks catch in his throat, and he collapses, having been apparently killed of fright.

Xomos turns to the other drow. "Find out what in the abyss they want with me. Go."

One drow spellcaster. Arcane, I think. And Xomos, Darkfolk, uses blades. Vex relayed to the party.

Using Improved Invis. SLA

Can Lyra see the doorway/entrance to the room? If so, she's going to cast Daylight inside the room right before we enter.

Saphren pads over to stand withing striking distance of the female caster, hoping to disrupt a spell when things heat up.

Stealth: 1d20 + 22 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 22 + 20 = 50

DO I COME DOWN STAIRS NOW OR WHAT

Sorry guys, things are crazy, will update tomorrow.

On hearing that there's an arcane caster in the room, Besh heads down the stairs (presumably with the others?) to see what's what.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 20 = 28

I'm here, but since you can communicate telepathically (after a fashion) figure out your plan while Saphren skulks into place.

Saphren's plan should be self evident. :)

After giving Saphren a few moments of head start, Lyra cast Daylight and walked into the room.

Now she relayed to Brenna.

*stomp stomp stomp clang clang clang*

Saphren double grips his weapon and prepares for the swing should target try to cast or step away.

Zoso walks in with Lyra, he has taken his bow off his back now and holds the sturdy wood as a riding crop, slapping it into his hand for added emphasis.
"Such a warm hole you choose to hide in, Xomos, it suits a rat like yourself. I'll assume you're done torturing your little pets, so have a seat. You're going to give us some information."
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Whelp, this show seems to be coming to an end..

While Saphren readied his strike, the little dragon snaked out her long tail and reached for the caster's component bag.

Stealing the spell component pouch, if there is one
Slight of Hand: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Bear with, post tomorrow! Gotta get some information together.

Okay, I wasn't clear if you were going to just stab everyone but it looks like you are not.

A loud clanking noise sounds as something huge tromps down the stairs. However, the door opens to reveal Zoso. Everyone in the room turns to look at him, completely confused.

Xomos is a larger dark stalker with a scimitar by his side. His face is wrapped in bandages as with all of his kind and red eyes glare out at you. He shifts to stare at Zoso. "This? THIS is what you ran from?!" He snarls as Zoso utterly fails to be impressive.

"You have insulted me on my territory. We'll be sure to send your little signets back to your house. Kill him, and whatever invisible grotesque is behind him."

As he speaks, Vex makes a swipe at the spell component pouch and to his delight, he gets it.

Saphren can take his planned sneak attack. Beshtori can take his first round action! The fight is on!

Other than invisibility I have forgotten if we have buffs. Also don't forget the continual light that I think is now in the room.

Saphren swings, power attacking and thinking through the caster.

+1 Cold Iron Falchion, vs flat footed caster: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 = 302d4 + 8 + 6 + 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 8 + 6 + (4, 2, 4, 6) = 33

If that hits: Debilitating Injury: Hampered (Ex) Foe who takes sneak attack damage has speed halved (and can't 5 ft step) for 1 rd.

Lyr hears quiet chanting near him, which is quickly overlooked by the sound of trembling, cracking stone from the room as dozens of void-black, rubbery arms rise to grapple with the drow.

Black Tentacles: 8 round duration. CMB = 13
With a 20' radius, centred on the red dot on the map, Besh should be able to occupy most in the room, while avoiding Saphren.

Did I get the Daylight spell off just before we entered?