Gameday VII! 9-20 Fury of the Final Blade (Inactive)

Game Master Incendiaeternus

"Well quite frankly we are always looking for work," Pooka says in response to the cleric's question about their business. "So yes, we would most certainly be interested in helping you out. If you say you don't have access to the site though, well that might pose a bit of a problem." Pooka furrows his eyebrows as he considers the issue.

"If you don't have any authority to enter to clear out the problem, then I'm not sure that we will either. Are you sure you don't have a way to grant us entry? No one we can speak with and let them know that we are there to assist your church? How else might we get in so that we can put these souls to rest?" Pooka makes sure to frame his question as one of curiosity, not accusation.

I guess I was hoping that doing these guys a favor would be what gets us in. If that isn't the case, then we might have just added something extra to do, and are still no closer to gaining access without raising suspicion.

Has Favian seen signs of people arguing at the prison?

Seeing nothing too unusual thus far, Favian will draw back to a secluded spot where he can cast detect magic and will then concentrate as he sneaks back into position.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

"So wocher up to here in the early morn?"

Nugats in human form looks to the young lass, "A bit 'o this and that. So your dad got shipped out? Tragic really. That must put your family in such a hardship. Here." he flips her a gold coin. "And another if you can tell me a bit more than guards open the great door every thirty or so minutes. And ten on top of that if we never spoke." Nugats winks at the lass in blankets.

Roland stays silent while the keys are inspected.

He then shrugs to Daru and points towards the prison, indicating the next destination.

Roland will motion for Daru.

Let's find zhe others. With zhese keys and whatever zhey found, we may be ready to enact our breakout plans.

He will head towards the prison.

Hania waits to see how Pooka is answered.

Daru will join Roland on their way to the predetermined rendezvous near the prison.

Talking with the Phrasmans

"If you don't have any authority to enter to clear out the problem, then I'm not sure that we will either. Are you sure you don't have a way to grant us entry? No one we can speak with and let them know that we are there to assist your church? How else might we get in so that we can put these souls to rest?" Pooka makes sure to frame his question as one of curiosity, not accusation.

He sits and thinks for a moment, "I really don't have much of contacts inside the place, I've heard that not everyone is complacent in their service to Galt in this manner so it may not be impossible to find a sympathetic ear or two in such matters."

He then motions towards the young apprentice that is yawning in the corner. "That is not to say that I don't have some means of assisting you if you are willing to help out. The name Estienne Jacquert may come in handy if you are headed that direction, but I do not have a way for you to contact them directly." The apprentice comes and hands over a small leather traveling bag. "Ah, yes this should do with what might be there. If you do manage to make your way inside these should be useful."

Hania takes the bag, and respectfully looks at the contents. "Thank you for your assistance; these items will indeed be helpful. We will take care of any undead we may encounter in that area."

Scoping out the Prison

Favian staying in the shadows and staring at the building for a while puts his expert arcane mind to work and realizes there is something going on with this building.

At first two discrete auras of abjuration show up, which is curious in and of itself as to why that would be on a prison of all things. Taking more time looking at it they start to become more pronounced and more...disturbing perhaps?

The first is a dimensional anchor spell that encircles the building, which seems to be connected to the second spell rather closely. The second acts as if it would be a magic circle against good.

Somewhere in the years of studying and reading in books because seeing this in person is rather rare at least under normal situations you realize these two effects come from a single source. At one point in time this was an unhallow spell that was placed upon the building.

Looking at the building Favian realizes there may be a bit more to this but it wouldn't be able to parse it out from here with something like detect magic.

~~

The young girl brightens up a bit at the mention of more gold. "Well I ain't been inside nor nothing. Most I can tell you is they only guard the single southern door. There's another door on the northwestern corner but no one really comes in and out of that unless they going to the blade. It's a really heavy door that one is, takes a few people to move it and all. They circle the building every thi'ty but then keep standing by that door once they circle a bit."

She looks around a bit and holds out her hand. "Well I guess ye here gold just falls from the sky every once in a while, no one here but the birds and dogs running by."

All as you finish up, you realize dawn is about to break.

When the team gathers, Hania shows them the gifts from the Pharasmins. "Who can best use this stuff, guys?"

Roland greets the others, glad to re-assemble the team as the pink of the sun prepares to emerge.

Zhe time is running short. What stuff is zhat? Do you know what zhey do? My father told me never to overlook zhe benefit of a gift offered.

Assuming the contents of the bag are identified...

We should each take a shot from zhe wand right before entering.
I am not a fan of zhe ghosts or spectres or zhe like. All my experiences with zhem have ended poorly.

"The ghost salt should go on arrows, or bullets possibly. Better to spread it out if we can. I haven't paid enough attention, does anyone here rely on archery?" Pooka asks as they review the contents of the bag.

"The pharasmins were pretty nice actually. I made sure I told the cleric so before we left. I think with all of the information we've gathered, we can come up with a pretty solid plan for infiltrating the dungeons. Not to mention we know at least that there is some potentially serious undead threats down there."

"Well, it is almost morning, which means we are almost out of time. Our targets will be executed in just a few hours if we don't get moving. Since Daru has gotten us a key, and Nugats has found us an unguarded entrance, which doubles as an unguarded exit, we should head out quickly. What do you say?"

With the familiar words and tone of Pooka getting ready to leave, Luna's tail begins to wag. Her chain barding jingles and jangles as the tail wag quickly begins to take over her whole body. Her tongue dangles from an open jaw, and the joy is clearly in her eyes. She circles around the diminutive warrior, bumping into him as she sidles up next to him, facing the same direction.

Get on! Let's go!

Just the opposite. There is nothing like the thrill of a duel up close. But my weapon is enchanted to be very real against ghost-like creatures. I've encountered far too many of them to leave that up to chance.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Using wands of Mage Armor and Heightened Awareness before we head in.

Daru puts her hobby in Craft-Alchemy to good use, expounding on the properties of Ghost Salt blanch. "Since it can effect 10 pieces of ammunition or just one blow from a melee weapon, it'd be best to use it for our range strikers first. Anyone besides Roland use a bow or sling? Also, does anyone else have a way of handling incorporeal undead, since our dear Pharasmins certainly seem to be implying we'll find such inside? Obviously we need to decide now and get it applied. I'm certainly willing to forgo a use for the sake of others putting it to better use."

"Aye, zhe bow is my chosen Weapon ." as he takes the salt if offered.

"Knowing zhe right time to apply zhe charges or wands is zhe key. Seven minutes is not very long if we do not know exactly where we are going once inside."

Have we been able to get a rough idea of the floor plan and/or the location of all the prisoners?

Hania carefully removes her usual headband and puts on the new one from the Pharasmins.

I think that the huge increase in the damage I can do to undead by channeling is probably worth the loss to other things. I don't think I'm going to be able to update my stat block tonight for the change, but we can keep an eye on it if anything it would impact comes up before I get the chance. Since I have a way I can do a lot of damage to undead, the ghost salts would be better going to others, if there are enough who can really use them. My smite even at half damage is not inconsequential.

"Yes, they have fallen from the sky. Good day to you. And if you ever decide that your fate lies far from here, well, the open road might do you well."

Nugats retreats to the outskirts with Favian where he shares what he has learned.

There's a map, you all should be able to edit it and you all should have an icon (or two) up for who you all are.

For the sake of expediency I'm going to guess that you all are going to try and walk up to the door when there are no guards and use the key to get in?

Seems like an expedient plan. Can either Nugats or Pooka open the door? I am assuming Hania and Favian are front-liners. Roland can shoot thru from anywhere as long as he can see.

perception,cues: 1d20 + 19 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 19 + 5 = 42

He checks the door for any traps or alarms then Roland will tap his bow with Gravity Bow wand right before the door is being opened.

He makes a sign he is ready. (Did Hania apply the other 7 min wand charges yet?)

Happy to oblige

Approaching the door, Nugats pulls the keys and inserts them into the cylinder.

'I hope this works' he offers a worthless prayer up to the uncaring god of magic Nethys, and turns the key .....

Pooka, remembering the words that were relayed about how hard this door might be to open, spits on the palms of his hands. Bending his knees slightly and squaring his shoulders, he rubs his hands together vigorously, then claps them together twice.

Approaching the door after Nugats has turned the key, the diminutive halfling grasps the handle. One more deep breath in, then halfway out before clenching his core muscles and straining on the supposedly heavy door.

"GRnnnn... Luna... A little.... help..."

Pre-emptive strength check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Luna wags her tail again and trots around behind Pooka. She barks once as the halflings feet slip and slide, giving him no traction. She then latches her teeth onto the backside of his tunic and gives it a mighty pull.

Luna strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

And easily lifts the Halfling off the ground, comically pulling on the door herself with Pooka as the connecting link between the door handle and her powerful jaws.

"Yee gads! Ow! Not... Wait.. wait don't wait! Keep going! GRrrrnn..." The halfling strains and struggles as he is lifted clean off of his feet, suddenly finding himself nearly parallel to the ground, his aching fingers desperately gripping the door handle while Luna does all the work behind him, and quite literally, through him.

"Gooood.... girrrrrrllllll" Pooka praises through gritted teeth, trying his best to hold onto the handle in hopes that it opens.

So what's the plan? Bust in an take down anything that moves?

If I plan is to go in ready to strike, then Favian will also cast a shield spell before they enter.

The door eventually opens and you find your way into the entryway that extends to both sides with various amount of doors and openings to either side. There is no real furniture in this area other than the counter that is directly across from the door.

"Yes, let's move quickly. Hania, why not use the Death Ward wand on each of us now, and we'll still have enough for at least another set of charges for the entire party later."
starts with 17 charges

Pooka nods along with Daru, agreeing that they should get under the protection of the death ward magic quickly. The magic users always seemed to know better, but it seemed like they will have only a few minutes under the spell's protection. All the better to get in and out as quickly as possible.

After dusting the dirt and debris off of his tunic, Pooka deftly climbs into the saddle on Luna's back. "Come on girl. Lead with your nose, let me know what you smell."

FYI - Luna has Scent - so she detects enemies/people/monsters within 30'. Might actually work better than detect evil since it doesn't discriminate against moral leanings... ha! I kid.

After receiving the magical death ward protections for him and for Luna, Pooka guides his mount inside, keeping his eyes peeled while Luna searches with her nose.

Prior to entering, in a hushed voice.

Are we expecting any neutral or friendly guards? Or are we taking zhem out?
Invisibility may have been wise if we are going to sneak.
I zhink zhis is more of zhe raid in and out fast.

Roland moves into the hall, looking and listening all directions from the corner.

perception,cues: 1d20 + 19 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 19 + 5 = 35

Favian will create a shield and move in with the group. I preferred the precise, swift cut, just like his blade.

When the party is ready to enter Daru casts Mirror Image, activates her flight hex and prehensile hair, then pops off a charge of long arm and shield from her wands. Rapier in hand and elixir of spirit sense in her hair, she floats in after the party, using a swift action to make her weapon +1 keen.
# of images: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
What, me paranoid?
active conditions:
Mirror Image (4 images & 75 rounds remaining)
Prehensile Hair (56 rds remaining)
Flight (57 rounds remaining)
Shield (8/10 rounds)
Long Arm (9/10 rounds)
+1 keen to rapier (9/10 rounds0

If we're waiting on Hania, over on the discussion thread, she asked us to bot her. Suggested actions:
After using the wand of Death Ward on all members of the party, Hania casts Detect Evil and Scans the NE quandrant of the prison from inside the doorway.

If we're waiting on Hania, over on the discussion thread, she asked us to bot her.

No Hania is not the only person who hasn't acted yet and I don't push things too far on the weekends, because I know people sometimes get caught up in things.

After dusting the dirt and debris off of his tunic, Pooka deftly climbs into the saddle on Luna's back. "Come on girl. Lead with your nose, let me know what you smell."

Luna doesn't smell anything directly here, but will get the scents back and forth along this passageway. She will get more scents to the left side of the map than to the right, but nothing immediate ontop of you.

You get this is the extent of scent it doesn't get through solid wall your standing next to, so there may be something close, but you have a very solid object between you and it.

Pooka pays attention to the cues his trusty dog has developed, allowing her to guide the way. He motions to his companions to move down the left corridor, and stops to peek around what appears to be an opening in the wall.

Map updated!

Favian will cast detect magic again and then move towards the scents as he concentrates on the spell.

The first room you come to looks like a lounge with no one currently in it at the moment, but you do have an iron barred window that offers line of sight into a large open room that looks like it has seen wear and tear over the years. You can see there are five people in the garb of Gray Gardners who are in the larger room beyond the window.

The next room if no one does anything through the window is a simple kitchen with the same type of iron window into the same large room with the guards. There is a door and then further hallway in this area.

The prison is warded against teleportation, so either we try to sneak around and find our way into that room beyond the windows, or we launch an attack at range and see if we can't flush them out.

Daru motions the party to retreat toward the entrance. "I have this wand of Vanish. It lasts only 1 round, but that should be enough time for each of us to sneak past one at a time. Or we could try this door to the East...Unless someone has a way to quickly take out those bars and we could go through the windows?"

"If we can't sneak through, let's not forget that we are also here on a task for the Pharasmins. We might be able to convince them of that should they find us, and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Daru, that idea is best for now. Let's try the door to the east here first, and try to avoid confronting them as long as possible." Pooka nods agreeably, and leads the way with Hania towards the eastern-most door.

Between Luna's barding and my full plate armor, I doubt we are sneaking around anywhere. Might as well explore as much as we can before being found, that seems almost inevitable.

"The east door you say? But killing the Gray Gardners would be so much more fun. You don't really think we'll be able to sneak in and out of this place unscathed do you? But whatever you all think is best. I am just happy to be here."

Nugats cannot help running his hand along the walls, looking in every corner, and wondering about all the exciting events that have happened here in the past.

Bow at the ready, Roland advances and nods, but stays quiet. He will try to be as quiet as possible until a plan is decided.

stealth-t10: 10 + 11 = 21

He makes a hand motion to ask if party is moving past or engaging thru the bars then shrugs.

perception-t10: 10 + 19 + 5 = 34

Can we tell if the figures are humans or something else (undead/monsters/etc)?

You came in through the only main door that you know of. There is supposedly one other door that is much heavier and would definitely be noticed if you even tried to open it from your reconnaissance.

The figures that you have found are humans, and accurate. Those are the pictures of Gray Gardners from Inner Sea NPC Codex.

"If we can't sneak through, let's not forget that we are also here on a task for the Pharasmins. We might be able to convince them of that should they find us, and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Daru, that idea is best for now. Let's try the door to the east here first, and try to avoid confronting them as long as possible." Pooka nods agreeably, and leads the way with Hania towards the eastern-most door.

Between Luna's barding and my full plate armor, I doubt we are sneaking around anywhere. Might as well explore as much as we can before being found, that seems almost inevitable.

This door is locked, the keys you have do not seem to fit in this lock at all.

Assuming we are going with the vanish plan, Favian will volunteer to go first.

Invisibility +20, moving at full speed -5
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 + 20 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 20 - 5 = 38

Daru moves up to within 10' of the opening to the lounge and begins casting Vanish on each party member as they are ready to work their way across.
Stealth while casting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Suggested order: Favian, Roland, Pooka&Luna, Nugats, Hania, then Daru.
Daru can cast on Pooka, delayed Nugats grabs wand and casts on Luna, delayed mounted Pooka can move at half speed and still get past openings. Hania gets first Vanish spell and moves past first opening. Daru hits herself goes past first opening and casts on Hania again, and Hania goes past second opening, all at double-move half speed. +20 stealth plus 1 DC for every 10' from perceiver will hopefully be enough... or we'll go into initiative. Daru burns 9 charges off her wand.

thanks for the bot, and the current plan is fine, if you're willing to have a clanking warrior in heavy armor try to stealth... :)

Roland follows Favian past the window and door and scouts down the hall while others progressed

use rolls from above.

Pooka contains his excitement at trying to be sneaky. As a halfling, he isn't really half bad at it, but his proclivity to heavy armor and barking mounts meant he never paid it much mind.

"Shhh Luna. Quiet as a mouse."

Pooka waits to be made invisible, and then carefully steps past the open window to meet up with his companions on the other side.

Stealth, Invisible, Half Speed: 1d20 + 1 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 20 = 32