GM SpiderBeard's Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

Nilus looks around for any Clerics of Shelyn remaining, he will donate 200GP to assist them in rebuilding Kenebres.

Is Bellis still around? Also GM, how do you feel about retraining feats, Nilus took the Greater Mercy feat back before Dejik joined, but she is doing a bangup job of keeping everyone upright, so perhaps he can swap that one for something else later on?

I also have this armor cut for a woman, and this necklace that I could trade in. I wonder if someone here might have a Pearl of Power. A low-level one, mind.

Studded leather armor and the amethyst necklace Gwerm gave her

Dejik suddenly slaps herself in the forehead. Of course! The note you found--signed S.V.? That must be from Staunton Vhane! Irabeth, you might know more about this...

Dejik asks whoever has the note to give it to Irabeth.

"Of course! Ayesha pulled out her journal and leafed through it to find the well-worn note.

You can sell any mundane equipment you have for half value.

The group set to investigating the various merchants at Defender's Heart and trying to determine who has what to sell.

Sarkast is able to successfully find a handy haversack and muleback cords for sale. Ayesha finds a jeweler who is delighted by the necklace, he offers 750 gold for it.

Irabeth takes the note, frowning over it.

"That sword you recovered was once held by Yaniel? That is good news, his weapon was legendary. Hold it close, I will tell Yaniel's tale some day. The other news... troubling - but your possession of this note is encouraging. We can confirm the wardstone protecting Kenabres was destroyed, which weakens the entire wall keeping out the Worldwound."

Ira grins. "Honestly, the only thing keeping us alive is the chaos of the demons. They're disorganized and randomly rampaging rather than collecting and attacking important points such as this one. To restate my point, it is vital that once your matters are settled here that you investigate the safe houses. If there are traitors in our midst, clues to their identity will be at these houses."

Sarkast smiles as he locates the enchanted cords. He pays the merchant, then straps the cords across his shoulders and back. When he hefts his pack, this time he hardly notices the weight. He takes a moment to repack his gear into the sturdy pack found earlier, and feels as if a great weight has been lifted.

To Irabeth, he nods. "Yes, clearly the gods have brought us together to fight this evil. I, for one, am ready to see what has become of the safe houses."

Spend 1000 gold on muleback cords, then pack gear into the MW backpack. Sarkast's light load is now 200lbs. Whee!

Nilus sells his MW Glaive for 160GP. He then donates 200GP to local priests of any Goodly aligned gods.

Can a paladin use a divine scroll if he doesn't have a Caster Level yet?

Sure can. You need to make a caster level check which is the scroll's caster level +1. The spell must be on your class list.

Any word on the pearl of power? Or a haversack for me?

Pearl of power and haversack are available! Sorry, missed that.

There are a couple of spells from Demon Hunter's Handbook and Inner Sea Gods that Dejik would like to get. Let me know if these are a) OK and b) available as scrolls:
Blessing of the Watch (Oracle 1), Weapons Against Evil (Oracle 1), Righteous Blood (Paladin 2), Protection from Outsiders (Oracle 2)

That Righteous Blood spell seems pretty useful.

Sure can. You need to make a caster level check which is the scroll's caster level +1. The spell must be on your class list.

Actually without a caster level, you can't make a caster level check. He would have to use Use Magic Device in order to cast from a scroll. He can use wands all day long, however.

Everything from Inner sea Gods is approved. The Demon Hunter's Handbook I'll get back to you on.

GM SpiderBeard wrote:

Sure can. You need to make a caster level check which is the scroll's caster level +1. The spell must be on your class list.

Actually without a caster level, you can't make a caster level check. He would have to use Use Magic Device in order to cast from a scroll. He can use wands all day long, however.

Ah, Dejik won't be able to cast Paladin-only scrolls, then. Her UMD is not high enough.

Moot point then!

With the group finishing up their shopping, Anevia limps over to them, a huge smile on her face.

"Thank you so much for bringing me back to Ira. I would have died down there if I hadn't have met you. I need to stay here, and I'm sure you'll all be thrilled to not be slowed up. Please let me know if there is anything I can do."

"Anevia has also mentioned that Aravashnial is holed up in what's left of Blackwing. Praise Iomedae - the man is a pain, but knows more on demonology than the rest of us combined. The head librarian, and now apparently a Riftwarden, Quednys Orlun is here with us as well, he's indisposed as the moment but I will let him know Aravashnial lives as soon as he returns."

Irabeth looks over the group grimly.

"Praise the Inheritor that the demons have not sent anything further. They seemed content to level the city and move on to the next target. That said, I have an uneasy feeling and encourage you to wrap up any affairs you have. We're going to need your skills in the crusade."

My blade is yours Lady Irabeth! Nilus responds enthusiastically

Dejik arranges to get 2 scrolls of Blessing of the Watch. (If someone needs to make them, she'll also get 2 scrolls of Bless to hold them over until when the group gets back from the first safe house. She won't hold up the group waiting for them.)

During the conversation/shopping, Dejik pulls out her dragon scale. Irabeth, it seems we each found one of Terendelev's scales, and each scale has a different power. This one can align a weapon against evil. Have you heard of anything like this before?

Irabeth looks over the scale closely, her black eyebrows arched.

"Fascinating... no, I've never seen anything like that. All of you have them? Even though you weren't all together at first? Terendelev must have chosen you. What did she know?"

She hands the scale back. "This is valuable gift, use it with honour."

Let me know where your next destination is, and if you intend to rest the night.

Dejik looks at Anevia's map. It looks like the Topaz Solutions and the Tower of Estrod are about the same distance from here. Irabeth, Anevia, can you give us any tactical information about those buildings--how big they are, how many people they could hold, and so on?

What time is it? If we think there's enough time to deal with to "the smaller one" before nightfall, that would be Dejik's preference.

It's early afternoon.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Anevia leans over Dejik's shoulder. "The Tower of Estrod is a ... well, a tower. It's a library and a research laboratory that the city owned but hasn't really been used much for the past couple of years. Topaz Solutions is just some herbalist's shop. Some fellow named Aigon ran the place."

Anevia winces, shifting her weight a bit. She leans on Dejik as she speaks.

"I can't guarantee what's in either of them; they could be rubble like Nyserian Manor was or contain a grumpy balor. But one of them is just a store, the other is a fairly big stone tower. So if you want to go to the smaller one first, it'd be Topaz Solutions."

Ayesha will get 2 pearls of power, lvl 1

"I think going after the herbalist shop today would be good, and the tower if we have time."

Sarkast nods. "I agree with Ayesha. I am ready to continue."

Nilus nods at Sarkast Lets get going "

-Posted with Wayfinder

As the group get ready to depart Nilus does manage to find a cleric of Shelyn who gratefully appreciates the 200 gp donation. Bellis volunteers to stay behind to cheer the spirits of the crusaders.

The journey to Topaz Solutions is a difficult, frustrating one as the group has to circumvent a pattern of rifts in this part of the city. However, the journey is uninterrupted for once, and roughly an hour later they find themselves overlooking Topaz Solutions.

A wooden sign above the door bears a carving of a bundle of orange herbs and flowers hovering over a beaker filled with smoking orange liquid. This buildings windows are tightly shuttered, but the front door hangs halfway off of its hinges.

Map will be up in a bit.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Ronan indicates he is ready to move out, with Jinxx at his side.

Map has been updated.

The group stands on a relatively intact street with a wall of houses and storefronts to the north and a small park to the south.

Blacked out areas are the 'other' houses and stores. The greyed out area is Topaz Solutions itself.

Take 10 for 20 Perception.

Sarkast's ears perk up, and he holds up his hand to signal a halt. He very quietly tells the others, "There are looters inside, speaking as if there are no demons about."

The scout looks around for any windows he can peek in.

Take 10 for Stealth and Perception to approach. Also note that I won't be dropping my pack anymore now that I have the muleback cords to take care of the encumbrance penalty.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

In a quiet voice, Dejik asks, Should we try to talk to them?

Nilus nods at Dejik "I'll be right behind you"

-Posted with Wayfinder

The small shop itself has shuttered windows which seem firmly locked. No easy ways to peer in. Dejik's voice rings out and the conversation abruptly stops within the shop. After a moment, a gruff female voice speaks up from inside the house. Nobody emerges.

"Wuzzat? You crusaders? Lookit, we don't want no trouble, but finders keepers! If'n ya let us go we'll let ya have the run of the place - but we're keepin' the haul! Yer type ain't go no need for paintings and the like anyhow."

By the blessed Shelyn, your looting must cease. I will give you one hundred gold if you leave your looted items here and report immediately to the Defender's Heart. This city needs your blade more than you need petty loot. Buy cold iron and help us destroy these demons man! Nilus beseeches the looters. Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Dejik nods. And I will match his offer.
Even if you choose not to help, you need to know that this house and everything in it may be tainted with demonic influence--disease, corruption, soul-enslaving fear. Is any valuable worth that kind of risk? Come out, and let us make sure it's safe.

Aid Nilus in Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22.

Nilus and Dejik's combined efforts seem to make the looters a little more likely to negotiate. They still have not left the building, though.

"Oh, we got ourselves a buyer? Well then I suppose for the convience of it we'll cut you a deal. We got magic potions, some fancy arrows, some bombs, and a bunch of objects of art. One time only discount fer crusaders - five hundred for the lot and you'll never see our backsides again!"

There's a brief moment of arguing over the price, but the woman speaking for the looters stands firm.

"Shut yer yaps! So Lord and Lady Fottenbottom, what'll it be? Five hunnerd and we leave peacefully?"

Nilus whispers "I only have a few hundred golden crowns. Not enough to meet their demands " then he calls out "Surely you want to garner some glory and fight the demonic hordes. Come out and you have my word as a knight of Shelyn that you will be treated fairly " he calls out Diplomacy : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sarkast shakes his head. Whispering back to Nilus, he replies, "I can't bring myself to pay thieves to give back what they have stolen. If the owners have perished, the goods should go to the crusaders to fight the demons."

He draws his spear and dagger, and quietly moves to one side of the door, waiting to hear the looters' response to Nilus's words.

My offer is for your sword arm, not for stolen goods.
Dejik sighs and tries another approach. The former owners of this house conspired with the demons to destroy your city. Come out before we suspect you are working with them.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Dejik turns to the others. I have nearly enough money, but like Sarkast, I cannot in good conscience pay a thief for what he's stolen. However, I fear they may destroy vital evidence against the cultists--if they haven't already done so.

If we can end this without bloodshed, ours or theirs, then we should. If we fight them, the demons win, this is what they want chaos, destruction, evil. Where our blades pass, a life is cut short, and the world’s potential for beauty is lessened. Nilus whispers back

There's a moment's silence after the group responds and the looter's leader barks back.

"They've got no intentions of paying us boys! All them holier-than-thou crusaders, it's with us or against us language. Here's how this is gonna work. We're gonna leave peaceful-like with our goods we rightfully looted. You attack us, we leave corpses and take no prisoners, ya hear me?"

Sarkast creeps to the side of the house and manages to peer in. There are six looters in total. The woman slowly advances towards the door, longsword drawn.

Sarkast holds his spear to one side, preparing for the first looter to step out.

Take 10 for 18 Stealth. Ready to trip the first person to exit.

As you wish, Nilus. I have 400 gold left from Defender's Heart. It's at your disposal.

Dejik calls out to the house. We have no wish for violence, but we need to search the house and the items in it for evidence. There must be some arrangement we can come to.

Ayesha spoke up for the first time. "200 gold, and you can walk away with nothing but the coin we give you and the clothes on your backs. If you try and leave with anything else, we will stop you one way or another. As my companion mentioned, we are to find evidence against those that conspired to destroy this city. If you are not in league with the cultists, then a small payment to ensure all evidence is left behind should be sufficient."

Ronan sends Jinxx to aid Sarkask, 'Jinxx, be ready if those fools in the house decide to attack' Ronan loads a bolt into his crossbow but does not bring it up yet.

Jinxx takes 10 for stealth for a total of 18

There's a long pause, and the woman from within the store begins walking out.

"We risked our necks for this, two hundred is an insult. How 'bout we see what the wares are, and if we've got yer 'evidence' then we talk? Any funny business, and we leave yer corpses on the ground."

Take 10 for 20 Sense Motive.

Sarkast's voice is calm but firm. "We truly wish you no harm, but will not brook looting from this city. You have heard our offer of coin. It costs you nothing to walk away."

Not really trying for a Diplomacy check, just stating a fact and pointing out how many of us there are. Maintaining readied action to trip if someone comes out in an aggressive manner.

Raising his hands in a gesture of placation to both Sarkast and Ayesha Nilus walks in front of the door his hands empty, Radiance is propped on the wall.

We can do that. Tell us what you have. We do not wish to fight with you.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Dejik backs off five feet, her bow held at her side, with no arrow nocked. She casts Detect Evil on the house in general, trying to see if there is anything tainted in the loot the thieves have claimed.