GM Valen's PFS Quests - The Silverhex Chronicles (Standard) PbP (TABLE 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

"I know I am not the brightest of the bunch here but I do know one thing and that is that you are not going to threaten us again. Now just do as I have requested or perhaps you prefer being treated as a child throwing a tantrum."

I am considering asking a person to give up her personal weapon to be request to "Give dangerous aid", so the Intimidate check fails, I will rule that it is sufficient to...

Though unwilling to relinquish a means of self-defense among a group of well-armed strangers and apparent thieves, the noble woman slowly stows her crossbow.

If it is close to sunset Delance reflects the light of the sun at the door using his weapon.

I applaud your creativity!

The reflected light seems to have no effect on the door. Yet, as setting sun further descends, you notice that the area around the mausoleum is growing darker as the result of the lengthening shadows of the structures and trees to west. While the rays of the setting sun strike nearby portions of the cemetery and now, thanks to Delance's creative use of a blade, the iron door that bars entrance to the Tullivor mausoleum, the long shadow of the spire that sits atop the other mausoleum, the tomb of the Sarvio family, now completely covers the bust.

Can Delance pull at the tree branches to clear a path to have the 'last sun' hit the door.

Can Delance pull at the tree branches to clear a path to have the 'last sun' hit the door.

I apologize if my prior post wasn't clear, but Delance did reflect the rays of the "last sun" so that they hit the door.

Not all of the area where the party is standing is cast in shadow, but the setting sun is lengthening previously existing shadows. The spire of the Sarvio mausoleum is casting a long, dark shadow eastward that is creating the darkest area, that where the pedestal that holds the speaking bust still stands.

Delancce remember the words 'this spot' and redirects the sun to the pedestal.

As twilight arrives, Delance uses his blade to reflect the last rays of sunlight and direct them to the pedestal. The high-pitched sound of a metal gate opening can be heard as the iron door before Bressa opens.

Well done, Delance!

Rhiannon rushes toward the door, trying to get past the brawler.

Within the mausoleum, you see five sarcophagi, each bearing the names of the Tullivors interred within. Above Laban’s casket, a gleaming tapestry depicts the Tullivor crest and the family motto: “Never in Shadow.”

Peering into the mausoleum, Rhiannon Sarvio cries out, "Where is it? Where is the chalice?"

"Well I'll be! A human figured it out before me. Well done well done!" Waddy jumps up and pats Delance on the back but only reaches his lower back. "Looks like you murdered a man for no reason Rhiannon. I believe we have to report this to the authorities after we are finished here. But we will cross that bridge in due time. Now let us see what secrets are within." He follows the group into the mausoleum casting dancing lights as he goes.

Once inside he casts detect magic and looks for anything interesting.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Delance smiles at Waddy. Happy to be called a human as his new skin is still foreign to him. Delance notices 'never in shadow' with interest.

"Ma'am the mausoleum only has one exit. I fear you're furthering a series of stupid decisions. Whatever, you are about to do, DON'T."

"All that is here is that cursed tapestry, glorifying those cursed Tullivors?!" Rhiannon cries out as she becomes overcome with rage. Ignoring Delance's words of caution, she enters into the mausoleum and reaches out to grab the tapestry.

Initiative Order Round One Begins
PCs in bold may act...

Bressa
Skyllik
Rhiannon
Nyshka
Delance
Waddy
Omero

Skyllik rushes forward to try to stop her from grabbing it. "Sss, don't touch, could be bad magic!"

CMB to grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Just as Bressa is about to grab for the girl, she sees catches movement out of the corner of her eye and hesitates for a brief moment. It is enough for Skyllik to slip in and grab our headstrong friend. She admires his speed and movements. Recognizing that the girl's headlong rush into doom is most certainly thwarted, she hesitates a bit longer to see what will happen. Ready an action. If the girl breaks the scaly grapple, she will initiate her own grapple.

"Unhand me, you snake!" Rhiannon cries as she struggles to break free of Skyllik's serpentine grip.

Rhiannon, CMB: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

As the noblewoman slips through Skyllik's scaly grasp, the brawler tries to grab her.

@ Bressa - Your readied action is triggered.

Initiative Order Round One Cont'd
PCs in bold may act...

Skyllik
Bressa (may take readied action to grapple)
Rhiannon (has move action to take)
Nyshka
Delance
Waddy
Omero

Amazed at how elusive the girl is, Bressa dives in, hoping to get a piece.

Grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Glad it wasn't a 20.. was worried the randomizer was broke

"No you don't!" she mocks as she grabs the woman who thought she was free. "Just take a second and chill. No sense getting yourself killed over nothing. I'll happily help you ransack this place once we are sure there are no more dangerous traps."

"No you don't!" she mocks as she grabs the woman who thought she was free. "Just take a second and chill. No sense getting yourself killed over nothing. I'll happily help you ransack this place once we are sure there are no more dangerous traps."

Bressa's appeal to reason reaches through the haze of the woman's anger and she relents a bit from her rush forward. The thought of further traps had obviously not occurred to her.

Yet, clearly not used to being handled, the woman remarks, "Very well. I am being to suspect that you have done this sort of tomb raiding before. I will allow you to enter first. Now, will you unhand me?"

Initiative Order Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins
PCs in bold may act...

Skyllik
Bressa (grappled)
Rhiannon (grappled)
Nyshka
Delance
Waddy
Omero
(Round Two)
Skyllik
Bressa (grappled)
Rhiannon Skyllik

Unless someone else acts in round one to prevent it, Bressa will give Rhiannon a warm smile and relax her grip.

Omero gives a loud sigh as he hears the shouts and sounds of an active tussle within the tomb. He looks in through the doorway to see Bressa holding onto the noble women. "Is everything alright in here?"

"Everything's under control, boss! We just needed to get on the same page."

"I'm glad you made a more persuasive argument than I managed."

"Nice job, everyone should be careful." Nyshka lightly pats Bressa on the back as she tries to squeeze in for a good look. With her detect magic still active, she takes a look inside.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"Very well then. Carry on."

Waddy of the Waddykins keeps walking forward looking around. He looks carefully at the tapestry, looking for traps. If it seems safe he careful lifts it back and looks behind it. Talking quietly to himself he says "Never in Shadow... Never in Shadow... My dancing lights should be eliminating everything. I don't see any shadows. Maybe behind the tapestry... Maybe if I put some light behind it... Maybe there is a message behind it." As he pulls it back he brings one of the dancing lights behind the tapestry looking at the wall and the tapestry. He then uses his hand to cast a shadow on the wall the tapestry to see if anything happens.

Percep, leading: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"I think we may be here for that tapestry."

"Right let me see if it has any value. Anybody good at appraising the value of tapestries. My expertise lies more in songs and poems."

Appraise, aid unless no one leads: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Appraise: 1d20 ⇒ 19

"This weave here and that detailing there. I can't quite nail down the value but I bet with another keen eye we could get an estimate."

Skyllik releases the woman when she calms and stands at the entrance to the building, club in hand and watching for trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Delance searches the room finding nothing that seems of value he carefully take the tapestry and says.

"It maybe a good idea the leave if no one finds anything else." Then he makes room for other to search.

Did we look in the caskets with the bodies? Should we? Is the tapestry what we were after? I forgot already.

Upon being released by the brawler, Rhiannon Sarvio steps away from the now opened mausoleum and climbs atop her steed. Move action

She then draws her crossbow and directs it at the party members within the mausoleum. Move action

"The Tullivors have taken much from my family, now I am taking it all from them." Rhiannon hisses. "The Tullivor tapestry is mine by right. Hand it over along with anything else of value you find within the tomb... or pay the price!"

Initiative Order Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Begins
PCs in bold may act...

Skyllik
Bressa
Rhiannon (mounted)
Nyshka
Delance
Waddy
Omero
(Round Three)
Skyllik
Bressa
Rhiannon Skyllik

Did we look in the caskets with the bodies? Should we? Is the tapestry what we were after? I forgot already.

The caskets were not opened, but... I have it from a pretty good source that they hold nothing of value.

If she lives long enough for round three to happen, Bressa runs up and attempts to grapple her again, even though she is on horseback. "Hardheaded! Put that thing down or you're gonna get hurt."

grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Give is a rest lady! We are not going to let you go like this, especially not now." Omero steps up and swings his halberd to knock out her horse.

Attack: Halberd, Power Attack, Furious Focus, Non-lethal: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 17
Damage: Piercing/Slashing, Power Attack, Non-Lethal: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"Oooo a fight. Go team knock her out. If you go too far I'll make sure she doesn't die. But how about some music."

He begins to sing, "This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"

Everyone feels inspired and ready for action.

Waddy is before Bressa and Omero so they would get +1 on their rolls.

"Why you entitled brat..." Nyska casts daze hoping to stun the noble.

DC 13 will or be dazed. (she has -2 will saves from Nyshka's stare)

She also uses painful stare if Omero hits to add on 1 more damage.

Delance added a low chanted rhythm to Waddy's melody.

Benefits
+2 to str (morale) +1attack +1/2 damage.
+2 to con (morale) +1hp/level +1 fort
+1 will save

Drawback
-1AC

Rhiannon, Will save (DC 13), stare: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 2 = 16

As Rhiannon shakes off the mersmerist's spell, the bard and skald begin their performances, invigorating the paladin as he swings and nearly brings the woman down off of her horse.

If she lives long enough for round three to happen, Bressa runs up and attempts to grapple her again, even though she is on horseback. "Hardheaded! Put that thing down or you're gonna get hurt."

I am not aware of specific rules for grappling mounted opponents, but it seems to me it should be more difficult than if they are on the ground. I am allowing Rhiannon to use the mount's CMD and granting her a +2 unfavorable circumstance modifier (total CMD 19). Nevertheless, with the party's assistance, the grapple check was successful!

To remove Rhiannon from the mount will require a second grapple check (CMD 19).

Initiative Order Round Three Cont'd

Party buffs:
+2 to str (morale) +1attack +1/2 damage.
+2 to con (morale) +1hp/level +1 fort
+1 will save

PCs in bold may act...

Bressa (grappled)
Skyllik
Rhiannon - 15 HP (NL)(mounted & grappled)
Nyshka
Delance (-1 AC)
Waddy
Omero

Skyllik runs up to help grapple the foolish noble.

grapple, aid another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

The grappled Rhiannon, seeing that the party has strength in numbers, likely sufficient to keep her gripped, points to Bressa and cries out, "Triumph, sword!" Move action (though not technically movement, as one need only "Attack" order with Handle Animal.

Suddenly, from among the statuary on the Sarvio family museum, a hawk flies to Rhiannan's side and attacks the brawler.
Melee (talons): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Damage: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

But fails to connect.

"Zephyr, shield!" Rhiannon cries out. Move action (no pointing necessary)

In response, the noblewoman's steed rears up and kicks it hooves out towards one of the grapplers to defend its mistress.
Melee (hoof), trained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Melee (hoof), trained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
1 Bressa, 2 Skyllik: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Confirm crit? Melee (hoof), trained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The hooves thunder down on Bressa.

Initiative Order Round Three Cont'd/Round Four Begins

Party buffs:
+2 to str (morale) +1attack +1/2 damage.
+2 to con (morale) +1hp/level +1 fort
+1 will save

All PCs may act...

Bressa
Skyllik
Rhiannon - 15 HP (NL)(mounted & grappled)
Triumph
Zephyr
Nyshka
Delance (-1 AC)
Waddy
Omero
(Round 4)
Bressa -11 HP(grappled)
Skyllik

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Why did you make us resort to this."

Omero sighs. "You know this would have been so much simpler had you just done as requested." Omero raises his halberd and strikes at the horse again with just enough force to knock it out hopefully.

Attack: Halberd, Power Attack, Furious Focus, Non-lethal, Inspired Rage, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 4 = 10
Damage: Piercing/Slashing, Power Attack, Non-lethal, Inspired Rage, Inspire Courage: 1d10 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"Why did you make us resort to this."

No response is forthcoming as the woman falls unconscious from the blow. Stay in saddle if <51%: 1d100 ⇒ 48

Her body slumps in the saddle.

Without his mistress to guide him, the horse backs away a few steps to avoid the other creatures with sharp objects.

COMBAT OVER

"I ask and ask. Why couldn't she just listen and obey? Get done with what needs accomplished here and then we will make sure she is found quickly so that she will be okay." Omero makes a shooing motion towards the rest of the group as he finishes speaking.

"Leave her here she will be found and brought to justice. Let's go find a pile of rocks Cannibal's Grove. There is a Lantern that needs recovering.

[spoiler=If you pilfer from the person of the Lady Sarvio while she is unconscious]You find she was wearing a mithral chain shirt and had in her possession a potion of cure light wounds, a tanglefoot bag, a masterwork light crossbow with 20 bolts, a masterwork short sword, signal whistle, and a silver holy symbol of Calistria. You can also easily locate her bit and bridle, her light horse (combat trained), riding saddle, and her saddlebags, which contain 360 gp. Among the statuary of her family mausoleum you can see her trained hawk.[/ooc]

Thus endeth Quest the First.

(I am camping this weekend, so I am unlikely to commence Quest the Second prior to sometime Monday (US East Coast time). Well done. Have a great weekend everyone!

Was there nothing else in the mausoleum?

Waddy goes to stabilize the women then goes back to check out that tapestry. He then takes it off and puts it in his bag.

Heal, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"And to think I let that miserable woman go! Next time, I'm gonna choke her till she passes out!" she complains after sitting down hard on a nearby grave to keep the world from tilting. A very slight grin touches her eyes, "And remind me not to wrestle horses anymore"

Eventually, she digs out her wand of cure light wounds and asks Omero to heal her.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Do we get to keep the loot between these adventures? If so, Bressa has here eye on the shirt, bag, potion, and crossbow. The shirt, mainly. She'll offer to wrestle anyone for the shirt. :)

You keep the loot as long as you keep playing through them. Once you get a chronicle, then the loot is monetized.

Skyllik takes a share of the coin but turns down the rest.

Ready to continue.

Waddy looks over all of the gear from the woman and picks up the tanglefoot bag. "Anybody want this?" He looks over the rest of the group if nobody object he pockets it. You tallies can keep the rest. I can't use any of it anyway."

Omero shakes his head in disbelief as the other loot the unconscious women. "How dare you all! Just because she had her own idea of justice does not give you the right to pillage her belongings like some forgotten treasure horde. Your action is putting you all in a bad light."

"You're grave robbing, literally grave robbing, that means that horse we fought must have been your high horse."