Heroes of Korvosa - Edge of Anarchy

Game Master Balabar

The urchins look puzzled as Cardon enters the room. They have a hard time believing his story—why would anyone want to help them?

Mal shrinks back in horror when Fane’s scarred visage appears. She remembers Fane, but doesn’t recognize him. She was told Fane was killed in a back alley by city guards.

They see Allyph moving past the door, obviously more concerned with pursuing Yargin than harming them. And the big barbarian with the great axe isn’t paying any attention to them either, even though they stabbed him with their daggers.

When Eran appears behind Cardon and tells them he was once like them, they look at each other and slowly, tentatively, lower their daggers.

What should we do? Mal asks, How will you protect us from Lamm?

The street urchins look nervously from one to the other, unsure what to do next.

Allyph opens the door with her dagger drawn. Down below, eight sets of eyes stare back at her. Yargin glares at her, a flask of acid in one hand and a wand in the other. Seven more orphans look up at her—some look uncertain but others look ready to fight.

Map

Tolen and Hadric are next.

"Easy!" Cardon replies. "We're just going to kill him and chop him into fish bait! Wanna help? Tell the rest of your friends to stand down."

Way to break it to 'em easy... "Cardon is right, we are going to kill him. Can you tell us where he is?"

"Step away from that man, kids."

Allyph returns Yargin's glare. "Where is Gaedren Lamm?"

Mal looks back at Eran and nervously replies, He - he's down below. You don't want to go there. She looks like she's going to start crying. They took Gil down tonight! He lost a ring--it wasn't his fault! You've got to save him.

Another of the kids gulps, There's monsters down there. No one ever returns.

---

Yargin glares back at Allyph. You'll have to go through us if you want Gaedren. Kill her! He orders the orphans to attack.

Map

Tolen and Hadric are next.

Tolen sees everyone going through different doors but hears Allyph pose a challenge to an evil doer so he hustles that way. As Tolen steps out onto the walkway, he looks around and seeing Yargin cowering behind the kids. C'mon, come out here and challenge me like the man you think you are, you scum sucking troll!

Double move to I12

Hardic rushes down the stairs after Yargin. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he sees an urchin blocking his way. Enraged, but unable to attack Yargin yet, he foams at the mouth as he shouts dire threats at the craven thief.

Give up now! If you so much as think of hurting any of the children I will rip your heart out!

Hadric continues his rage and moves to E8.
Intimidate check to demoralize Yargin (DC 12): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Yargin is shaken for one round (-2 to attacks, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks).

Mal looks around the room. With Hadric gone, and Cardon and Eran not threatening them, nothing is stopping them from leaving the fishery. The urchin by the door slips the lock and props the door open. The rest of the orphans grab the opportunity and slip away into the night. As she’s leaving, Mal turns, Thanks and all that but we prefer not to be here if you’re goin’ up against Gaedren. Good Luck!

A visibly shaking Yargin steps over the open hole in the floor, throwing a flask of acid at Tolen. The flask bounces off the railing and smashes on the edge of the vat below, splashing two of the orphans with acid.

One of the kids points at Tolen, Look at the blood on his blade! They've already killed the others! He growls menacingly at the other urchins, Take them out quickly! If you don’t you’ll all end up dead… ...one way or the other.

The other kids look nervous, but follow his instructions, grasping their blades and moving into defensive positions.

Map

Anyone can go next.
Anyone who steps into a space the Lambs threaten will be attacked. They will also take attacks of opportunity given the chance. You can use the attack bonuses they used against Hadric earlier.

Cardon moves in to J12, and tosses his scarf at Yargin. It flies across the room and tries to wrap itself around the man's throat before returning.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The scarf misses high as the man ducks beneath the metal-reinforced silk.

Eran moves to M13 and, if he can, will fire a magic missile at Yargin. If he can't he will move to M12 instead as a double move.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5

Tolen attempts to counter the boy's accusations, No! It is the blood of your captors, children! Run. Run away from this place! After saying this, Tolen vaults over the railing. He catches his foot and falls to the ground between the urchins. Laughing at himself, and hearing the laughter from the kids, Tolen is expecting a couple hits while he stands up but the kids miss.

Free action: Speaking.
Move action to J12, falling prone (take damage?)
Acrobatics: 1d20 - 6 ⇒ (2) - 6 = -4
Move action to stand up, provoking two AoO.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8,1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Allyph moves past her allies so she can get a clear shot at Yargin. "You shouldn't have hurt those kids", she says with clenched teeth.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Another ray of electricity shoots from Allyph's finger and hits Yargin in the chest. "Run, kids. We mean you no harm."

Move action: Move to M11

Fane picks up his crossbow and moves to the door.

Get crossbow - Standard action
move to M,13 - Move action

Eran moves to M13 and, if he can, will fire a magic missile at Yargin. If he can't he will move to M12 instead as a double move.

The door at M13 is the only door that was still closed. Eran can move to M13 and then spend another action to open the door.

Move action to J12, falling prone (take damage?)

I have Tolen in J11. J12 is under the walkway. It's hard to fall to there.

Move action to stand up, provoking two AoO.

Tolen also triggers the two readied attacks while prone.

move to M,13 - Move action

I have Eran in M13 because he had to stop to open the door. Is there another square Fane wants to be in?

Fane takes up position at L,13 waiting for Eran to open the door.

Fane takes up position at L,13 waiting for Eran to open the door.

The door is open now.

Did Allyph's attack hit Yargin?

Fane slips past Eran and tries to quietly make his way onto the catwalk, but steps on a loose board and makes an audible creaking noise.

stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

move to M,11

"Oof! Fane, don't push!"

Allyph also moved to M11 in the post where she attacked Yargin again. Though she'd be happy to take another position if it still makes her attack on Yargin possible :)

So as not to squeeze, Fane should still have 5 movement left, so he will finish out on M,10

The two rolls I have under my notation for standing up are the AoO for the kids. Still it's only 1 point of nonlethal...

Out of my way kiddies! Hadric bellows, I'm after Yargin, not you.

Hadric weaves through the orphans in a frenzy ignoring their stabs. Maybe he shouldn't have. As he steps in front of Yagrin, one of the children slashes him with a nasty looking blade, almost cutting into his femoral artery. The sudden pain causes him to pull his axe swing back, letting Yargin escape his wrath once more.

Blast it! I've just about had enough of you ungrateful wretches! he yells at the children.

The children watch as Tolen shouts and then stumbles from the walkway. Looking back at one of the older children, they grimly stab at him once when he's one the ground and once more as he's getting up, adding a slight scratch to the bruises he received from the fall.

Allyph’s ray of lightning strikes Yargin square in the chest. He grimaces in pain as he steps back. I'm not scared of you, you buffon! he goads Hadric. You couldn't hit a tree in a forest! Luckily my little dears are chipping away at you.

He hurls his last flask of acid at Hadric. It bounces off his wildly swinging axe and smashes on the ground behind him, splashing him and one of the orphans with acid.

Allyph and Fane both notice something odd about one of the children. He looks much older than the other children but is smaller than he should be.

Map

Eran and Cardon are next.

Cardon's scarf flies across the room again.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Again, it flies high and returns to Cardon unhindered.

Sorry for disappearing! Christmas was a bit crazy! I will be off and on till after New Year's with all the family stuff... but the most hectic is behind me!

Eran moves and opens the door already done, from what I understand, and then teps just through the door and casts [i]magic missile[/oc] at Yargin, sending twin bolts of violet magical energy at the enemy.

Magic Missile[/dice: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

Cardon’s scarf flies over Yargin's head. He smiles condescendingly at Cardon You’ll have to do better than that kiddie.

Eran’s missiles wipe the smile of his face. His eyes roll up in his his head and he falls forward, splashing into the water below.

The halfling growls at the two kids on either side of Tolen, Take ‘im out or you’ll be chum next.

The orphans nervously stab at Tolen, but their daggers glance off of his armor. They move cautiously around the warrior, glancing down the opening in the floor that Yargin fell through.

Map

Fane, Allyph and Tolen are next.

Which one is the halfling?

Allyph puts away her dagger and walks downstairs. "Kids, we're not going to hurt you. We're here only for Gaedren Lamm."

She moves to the halfling and puts a hand on his shoulder, giving him a warm smile. "You can leave now if you want. Or you can wait for us to return, and we can take you someplace safe after. It's all up to you."

Allyph tries to move towards the halfling but one of orphans at the bottom of the stairs blocks her way, threatening her with a sharp dagger.

Step back miss! I ain't afraid to use it! The young girl's hand shakes as she hold the blade.

Allyph can move to K7, but she can't move past Lamb 8.

"And do you want to use it against me?", Allyph asks the girl, lowering herself so she can look the kid in her eyes. "Even though I don't plan to bring any of you harm?"

Holding her hands up in the air, Allyph attempts to show she means no harm to any of them. "I will not attack you. Will you let me pass?"

Fane tries to place a name to a face of the Halfling
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Allyph has only used a move action to get to K7. She could still use a standard action to make a Diplomacy check on the children (DC 15).

The halfling (or 'slip' in the Korvosan slang) is known as Hookshanks Gruller. He leads the gangs of children out in the street as they steal and pick pockets. He enjoys bullying those smaller than himself.

It'll be untrained. Does that give a penalty?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Not like a penalty could make it much worse, haha.

Was the Knowledge (local) a standard action or a free action?

Untrained skill don't give a penalty, but rolling a 1 never helps.
The Knowledge check was a free action.

"The game is up Hookshanks! It's I, Fane! Back from the dead and I've brought friends! Surrender now before we do to you what we did to Yargin! Or better yet, DON'T!", Fane says as he nimbly jumps over the railing moving around the tank.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Move to K,8

"You know he speaks true, Hookshanks", Allyph says to the halfling, backing Fane up.

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Eran readies an action. If the halfling leaves the square he is in, he will cast magic missile.

Just in Case: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Tolen sees the halfling goading the kids to attack. Stepping next to the halfling, Tolen stares down at him as if to dare Hookshanks to do anything but surrender.

No action: 5-foot step to I10.
Standard Action: Ready: If Hookshanks moves or attacks, Tolen will attack him.

Longsword Attack with flanking: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17
Longsword Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Two of the urchins surround Hadric, stabbing at him with their daggers. One of them cuts him again. The wound isn't deep but it bleeds freely. Already suffering from numerous other wounds, Hadric finally succumbs and falls to the ground with a resounding thud.

The girl who laid the final blow turns to Allyph, waving her dagger menacingly, Back up missy or you'll be next!

Two more orphans stab at Tolen, but their blades bounce off his armor. Tolen ignores them, waiting for his moment. Hookshanks raises his kukri to strike at him, but Tolen is faster, stabbing the nasty slip in the shoulder and making his blade go wide.

Bleeding profusely, Hookshanks looks at the foes arrayed against him, Uh, is it too late to surrender?

Map

Eran and Cardon are next.

"No, it is not too late to surrender." Eran assures the halfling. "Tell us where Gaedran is."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Hookshanks looks up at Eran and the others. He's still holding his kukri, but in a less threatening manner. If I tell you where he is, will you let us go unharmed?

"That is what we've been trying to tell you all along", Allyph answers. She stands up looking at the girl that's waving a knife in front of her, then looks at Hookshanks. "Just tell us."

Carson grabs his scarf and lets healing energy flash out, excluding the halfling and Yardon.

1d6 ⇒ 1

Cardon's healing energy revives Hadric. He gets to his feet slowly. I-I don't feel so good. Those kids to a lot out o' me. He looks over at Cardon Any chance you got a little more of that?

The urchins who were splashed by Yargin's acid smile as their wounds are healed. The girl in front of Allyph lowers her dagger. If you're gonna get Gaedren, try to rescue Gil. He got taken down there tonight. She moves towards the exit, following the other children.

Gaedren's down below, Hookshanks points to the opening in the floor where Yargin fell. He's got a lair underneath the fishery. He get's in by rowboat, but there's a walkway to the entrance if you can get to it.

Fane glances down into the opening. The water is about five feet below. He can just see the edge of the walkway another five feet over from the opening. He also sees Yargin's body floating in the water. There's a sudden splash and then the body is dragged beneath the surface in a cloud of blood.

Hookshanks laughs as he edges out of the room. Heh, heh. You're gonna want to be careful--he's not alone down there and he's a cagey old bugger. Tougher than he looks.

Map

Comabat is over.
It's a DC 18 Acrobatics or Athletics check to get to the walkway from the opening. Failure means you make no progress. Failure by more than 5 means you fall in the water.
Roll initiative now for the next combat.

"Go find the boat, I'll see what's down here." Fane deftly swings his legs over the ledge of the tank and drops down to the walkway below moving out of the way to make room for others if they wish to join him.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Eran hops across, ready to fight.

"I've seen a rowboat outside, close to the ship. I'll go get it." Allyph starts walking, moving toward the exit closest to Eran.

I still want to know...

"Though", Allyph says as she halts for a second, "I first want to check the ship itself. Sorry guys, but there's something about it. I want to know what."

Sprinting off, Allyph goes outside the building. On her way out she notices the lifeless body of Knivesy. She steps over him carefully.

Must be the one I hit with my spell...

Once outside Allyph sees the rowboat, but she carefully goes past it to see if anyone's on the ship.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Lots of fives xD