Heroes of Westcrown

Game Master Moondragon Starshadow

William shakes my head. "Its not my point. It means that the people of the town are going to recognize us more, which makes moving silently and acting much more dangerous. Acting..., for our mutual friend."

William sighs as he thinks. "Its going to be very hard to act, though in some respects I suppose it might give us some credibility and credence with the people. I just worry that we were given this job all too easily."

William frowns and sighs, and slips into a familiar almost brooding thoughtfulness, like he is trying to puzzle out a game of chess in his mind.

Phaedra blushes slightly at the angel comment. Ha, take that Calisenica.

She then rolls her eyes at William's comment. "We will be ready for the last act, don't worry."

Phaedra remains silent during Corey and William's little exchange, keeping an eye out for any eavesdroppers and quietly hoping that something unpleasant will occur to Thesling in the last act. He should have to endure at least a little bit of what we did during that play.

Thesling, seeing Corey rise from near certain death says, "It cannot be!" He turns to Robahl and demands, "Why were there only two troll skeletons? There should be more! More I tell you!"

Robahl growls and replies, "Shut. Up. Thesling!" Thesling marches off. Robahl turns to the five of you and says, "Well, I've had it with his temper tantrums. You all have a voice in this and it must be unanimous. In this final act, it um, well, could be the doom of Thesling. If you, uh, choose that option, you'll get his share added to your total take from tonight's donations by the nobles sitting in the theater."

Calisenica is very confused. "What do you mean by the 'doom of Thesling'?"

Robahl laughs, "You really are an idiot Calisenica. If not for your natural looks, you'd never be on stage. I assume the rest of you know what I'm talking about, so let me know your vote. Do it quickly, because I must get my make-up ready for the final act."

With that, Robahl moves away to let you discuss it amongst yourselves. You can see him putting on a costume that looks like a big devil and Millech gives Robahl two vials containing some strange liquids to hold. The Asmodean priest comes over to talk with Robahl, and you see Robahl point to your group while talking to him. Because the audience is still very loud, you can't hear what they are saying.

So, what do you want to do with Thesling? His fate is in your hands. With Corey's acting roll, you gain another +1. Did I miss any other rolls or something I need to deal with?

William blanches at Robahl's comments for the moment, looking over to Corey and Phaedra, letting the others speak first, pondering the situation for himself.

I say we let this play end as it is written. We have performed without a safety net, now it should be Thesling's turn. It is, as they say, in the hands of Asmodeous.

I got a 22 on my perform acting roll.

Phaedra looks rather surprised that they are being given a choice. She looks to Corey, waiting for his answer before deciding upon her own.

The man is a complete and total a+#!@@#, but can I condemn him to death for that?

Phaedra sighs. "Corey has a point. We all took the risk, knowing what could happen. Thesling should have to take the same chance that all of us took."

I got a 22 on my perform acting roll.

Whoops, why I asked, I knew I went through the posts too quickly. Still only a +1, as I only take the highest and DC25 to get +2. Still, you guys are in solid gold territory, and see my post in discussion. Finally, the play as written, which none of you have in total, is a mystery. I can say that it is clearly obvious that Robahl is offering to kill Thesling. It isn't "part of the play"; you would be in effect, voting to kill him with a side bonus of extra cash. I'm just a friendly GM who gives you this option. You may, or may not, have an opportunity to kill him later (always in motion, the future is). All of you need to vote, including Jimmy or whatever inside voice occupies him at any given moment.

He has actively wished doom upon us. Even sparing his life now offers no reward as he'd never know. I have a compromise. Allow him to face his doom now, then we use what would have been his reward for the performance to cover his resurrection or reincarnation if we chose that route. Perhaps we could help persuade him towards the light....and away from being a Callistran "handy helper".

"Jimmy's not sure," Jimmy says as he ponders. He then remembers the things Thesling said to Amaya, who now hates Jimmy.

Voice: Say yes!

Jimmy also remembers how Thesling threatened Jacovo.

Voice: Let him die!

Jimmy grabs his head and shakes it as images of his own fist hitting Jacovo flash through his head. The voice in his head continues.

Voice: Thesling ruined Jacovo! Not you! We punched him, but it was Thesling who caused it!

"AHH!" Jimmy shouts as he wildly continues to shake his head. He suddenly stops, and when he looks up there's something different in his eyes.

When Jimmy speaks it is a slightly lower voice than usual, and a grin slowly appears on his face. "Jimmy wants Thesling to die."

His eyes then focus on Corey. "And let's not waste our money on him. There are better things to spend it on."

Tristain shakes his head, thinking and casting out ideas as fast as he can sort through them.

"I don't like Thesing, he's a jack hole and a tool, but I'll not want his blood on my hands." Tristain says. "Besides, letting him live might be the better revenge. Everyday we'll get remind him of his failure."

William looks them over, each of them having spoken their piece. He sits for a moment before speaking.

"Look, I know that I am the newcomer among you all. So let me ask you a question. Which one of you has anything other than what you feel right now in mind, regarding what to do with Thesling? Which of you has the future in mind?"

He stops a moment to let his words sink in before going on. "I say this not to judge anyone, but if this fool's errand that we have begun is going to work, going to take root and grow, we as a group have to be committed to being better than our foe. Doing as is..., expected..., letting Thesling come to his demise. That might be the Asmodean thing to do, but who among us are Asmodeans? Every one of you I have heard rail against the priests, the rituals, the established practices. The fact that this form of acting is barbaric. We condemn him to die in this way, and we have done the unconscionable. We gain one small bit of power, and we use it not to make our world better, to move towards our goal, but to exact petty revenge on a nothing. A nobody. Is that really what we all want?

William sighs before he goes on. "Besides, Thesling is an actor, he does have some connections, and I feel that the share that we could gain from his demise, seems to be much less valuable than having the man alive to grease wheels for us later on. He will always remember we had the power of his life in our hands, and we spared him."

William sighs again, like he wants to keep going, his voice having grown from a whisper to almost an angry growl by the end.

Jimmy bites his lips as the one who controls his body grows angry. "We should. Make. Him. Suffer. It's what he deserves. And by suffer I mean real pain. Death."

Jimmy: Jimmy isn't sure...

Voice: Yes, you are. You want him dead.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Voice: Just die old man, you should join Thesling.

Jimmy: Jimmy likes William!

Not everyone who lives deserves life, not everyone who dies deserves life. That's why i say we let him die now and bring him back...he is in our debt and we can always kill him again later if we must.

William looks from Corey to Jimmy, and back to Corey, his steam mostly gone, and more just a haunted look in his eyes is left.

"Do any of you want any of this to actually change? Or is this just some means to an end? Is this just a fool's game that we are playing, casting the dice until our lot is drawn?"

William shivers a moment. "I have as much reason as any of you to be here. The Silverheart family is recognized by House Thrune as devil binders, conjurers and contract facilitators. All of this, from the simplest of plays, to the most grand of contracts with hellspawn, all of this is a cycle of perpetual blood and death. And I will not be privy to such acts. Not when we can break this cycle here, and make ourselves a new home, and a new way of life."

Ugh. Oh why does he need to remind us of why we are even here to start with and try to be all logical about it? It is so much easier to make choices off of pure emotions rather than to actually think things through.

Phaedra gives an exasperated sigh. "Yes, I do want how theater is performed in this city to change. I love my craft and would vastly prefer to not be worried about injury or death in order to practice it."

Phaedra looks over to Thesling. "If he can acknowledge now that he is in our debt and actually give an apology for wrongs done to us, then I will say to spare him."

"If not..." Phaedra shrugs and looks up at Corey. "Then I will defer to Corey's plans."

Tristain begins to pace, weighing the arguments and thoughts.

"No, no, no. If you want to kill him, I won't pay to bring him back. I'm not even sure that's an option...is it? Why didn't we bring the horses back if that was an option?!"

They both have a horse's ass. Some have them in the rear, one has them on his head.

Tristain glances at William.

1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 2 = 24 Perception
1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11 Sense Motive

"I dunno about these things. I'm not an actor."

"Horses?"

Long story....you should ask Jimmy about it!

"He killed my horse!" Jimmy shouts, "And no way am I paying for Thesling's revival if he dies!"

Mother: Son, get a grip... Please, Jimmy...

Jimmy: Jimmy liked the horse...

@Phaedra: After a battle with Hellknights Jimmy had taken a horse from them, hoping to sell it at the stables. Instead Thesling demanded it to be sacrificed, which was then done by one of the former players. This caused Jimmy to snap for the first time, allowing one of the peopel who haunt Jimmy to take control over his body. The same person, by the way, who's now in control of his body.

William looks at Jimmy. Strange..., he's changed his speech. No longer is it Jimmy and Thesling and such, but he is using normal words. Something about him...

Corey can only see blood, and I believe he has a sway over Phaedra. Actors I suppose. And heavens knows what goes on inside Tristan's head. What do you do against such anger and bloodthirsty hate? What would..., that's it...

William looks at them all, and very sternly asks them a simple question. "How do you think Ariel would feel, if he knew his champions were going to put to death another man in cold blood?"

Robahl comes back, listens to what you all are saying and says, "So be it. I thought you all were made of tougher stuff, but I should have known better after you didn't crucify the girl. Nearly cost you your lives that did, but it seems you got lucky."

With that, he turns and dons his Asmodean outfit. Combined with Millech's illusion spell, he darn near looks like some of the pictures of the dark lord you see in the city. He then pours one potion over himself (which makes him appear that he is on fire) and drinks the second one. He begins to float in the air and says, "Get on stage, we're going to finish this play."

Thesling comes back and is truly taken aback by Robahl's appearance. He looks at you and asserts, "When the play is over, don't get in my way of the audience's gratitude. I'm going to the party with the mayor later. And as one of his biggest supporters, I'm going to make sure you don't get an invitation." He then walks on stage.

Seeing the stage hands grab the ropes to pull the curtain back, you all rush on stage without time to respond.

ACT 7 - Trial by His Own Dark Hand

Did I say no more trials? Oops...

HAANDERTHAN
Thesling smiles as if he knows he is going to have the last laugh with what he said offstage. "The final trial is at hand. Your souls shall be quenched at long last." He rubs his hands together in excitement.

William sighs to himself.

I will pay for this later, I am sure. Father Nethys, preserve me. Show them that your infinite vision, and your wisdom will prevail. That your twin eyes can see the future and that there is a purpose for these things that are happening now.

William waits on the stage, watching carefully all that is happening.

Tristvalid trudges onto the stage, preparing for whatever is next.

This acting stuff is great. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Just before the curtain rises:
Jimmy stares at William and grins sadistically at the mention of Ariel. "Do I look like I care?"

Hereby naming that particulair voice "Sadist".

------

Play starts:
While backstage Jimmy grabs his head again and moves to a place where one else is. He sits down against the wall, heavily breathing in and out while his voices and those of others argue inside his head.

Mother: Leave Ji...!

Sadist: Like I care...!

Mother: ...shouldn't do...!

Tea drinker: ...bloody hell chaps! Calm down, all o...!

Sadist: ...all of them should...!

Jimmy cries softly, barely keeping the control over his body while he does. "Jimmy doesn't want this..."

Corey stands to the opposite end of the stage as Thesling and points in an accusatory manner This trial is yours, Magistrate Maleficarum. Asmodeus is the only true judge here. Bow before him.

Phaedra takes her place on stage, trying not to frown overmuch as she thinks on what a tremendous a#@*%%% Thesling is. I really wish I knew some kind of spell to make someone trip or forget their lines. That would at least humiliate him on the stage.

And since when has Jimmy ever talked in first person??

HAANDERTHAN
"Insolent dog! Asmodeus shall scour your soul as sauce from a pan. Ash for bones, and waxen souls melted by the dark lord’s flame to puddle at his taloned feet.

We shall see who is judged!

THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS descends from above the center stage surrounded by foul colored flames and shrieking, crimson skinned imps and offers Larazod a choice.

THE PRINCE
Choose. A true heart shall beat strong for all eternity at my side, a false one burns to cinder in an instant.

His devils hang silk scarves around all the companions’ necks—one of red, one of crimson. Each companion is handed a contract written in blood, which bursts into flames when they read it.

Larazod gathers his companions together and draws the crimson scarves from each of their necks, causing the red scarves to burn away in a painless flash.

The Prince turns towards Thesling...Treacherous magistrate who lords false justice over true souls. Your soul shall burn for all eternity—an everlasting torment awaits you....and grabs him by the throat and rises off the stage carrying him by the neck.

Dragging into the mouth of hell is rising off stage? That's an interesting point of view...

At first the Prince of Darkness, the great lord Asmodeus, rises in the air, but then drags Thesling into a pit of fire below the stage. You hear Thesling begin to scream as he sees the fire. But as Robahl, dressed in Asmodeus, brings him towards the flames, Thesling really begins to scream bloody murder.

You can feel the raging heat from the fire below the stage radiate onto the stage where you are standing. Thesling screams really, really loud, then stops.

The curtain drops. Delour runs down some stairs from offstage carrying a knife. The crowd is very loudly applauding.

The play is over. What do you do?

Jimmy removes his hands from his head when he hears to applause. As he stands up and wipes off his tears, after which he joins the others again. "Jimmy thinks you did a great job!"

Jimmy wonders what Delour's doing with the knife?

Tristain pauses, looking at the rest of the cast and crew to see what they are doing.

"Do we go take a bow now? Or run around? Is there an afterparty? Corey, Phaedra, what now?" Tristain looks to the experienced actors for what is next.

Reminds me of this

Delour and a knife? Oh crap...Where is that other ditzy actress?

"Guys, where is Calseinica?" Phaedra looks around, trying to see if Calseinica is still standing near any of them. "I get the feeling that Delour is less than happy that Calseinica survived the play."

Calisenica is there with you...confused as usual. She doesn't know what's going on. Millech is on the other side of the stage.

So do you want to wait? The crowd is applauding, but there is no sign of Robahl, Thesling, or Delour. They are all presumably below the stage.

William blinks for a moment, realizing what has happened, bowing to the crowd for a moment, then hurries downstairs to see what is going on.

William's nostrils flare, as he calls back upstairs. "Corey, Phaedra!"

William turns, staff in hand as he stares down the pair. "What in the nine hells is wrong with you people?"

In total defense, waiting to see if his appearance is going to change anything

Corey will bow and race after William.

Phaedra runs down after Corey to see what William is yelling about. Ok, not Cal....Thesling maybe? Wait a minute? Why is she trying to kill Robahl?

Still assuming as 3rd lvl Upon seeing the scene

Well bless you all to the 7 Heavens, knock it off! Intimidate 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Next round.

Corey will draw his whip (while moving into position if needed) and try to disarm the crazy lady.

CMB 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Yeah, still 3rd level, but shouldn't be an issue, it's only Delour with a knife, but not with that roll. I'm going to assume all of you are downstairs now. The crowd is applauding, but the applause is waning. They are expecting you to come on stage, but you're farting around down below with this situation. They might leave soon without seeing their actors after the show....

Delour manages to hold onto the knife, and lunges again at Robahl, who is trying to get away but is cornered and a bit hampered with his big costume. Delour says, "Get out of here! None of your business! We had a deal and he didn't deliver, by Asmodean proxy stated in contract, he deserves to die!"

Thesling seems to be making a soft moaning noise.

Tristain follows along, wondering why he hadn't known of this actor's tradition of going under the stage after play.

"Hey, shouldn't they be killing each other on stage? It's not much of an encore if the audience can't see it."

Just when I think I begin to understand acting...

William frowns, looking at the situation. This situation is so screwy. I am not going to be much good in this fight, but they want him dead as much as Delour does. But then again, the crowd upstairs..., Burn them all, I swear it this will change.

William's head bobs back and forth for a minute, before finally deciding to move back upstairs, to try and acknowledge the crowd.

"Oh we do not have time now for this nonsense, the crowd is awaiting all of us, you and Robhal included Delour, for the encore. We need to hurry before the crowd leaves and forgot what all actors entertained them so well tonight. Unless of course you do not care about all the attention, money and gifts that I am sure they are willing to shower upon us."

Phaedra is attempting to use Diplomacy to talk Delour into at least delaying her attempt on Robhal's life until after the encore.
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Although Corey has a whip, it just isn't worrying them. William leaves while Pheadra's words sink into Delour, who pauses in her attack on Robahl. Delour cries out, "He said that all of you would die! He promised me! But, you all survived, and now I'm not the big star in town."

Someone needs to either knock this b-tch out or succeed on one more diplomacy roll. Is anyone going to do something about Thesling? Clearly not William, as he's left. Whatever, you need to do it fast.

Wow. These people are idiots.

"Corey, what is she talking about? We're not stars..." Tristain thinks about the clapping and cheering above. "...are we?"

Tristain forgets about Delour and Thesing we're not responsible for his life or death and moves upstairs, following William to see what the audience wants from him now.

Tea drinker: This bloody woman is complicating matters! Smack her, chap!

Jimmy draws his bastard sword and buckler, then gives Delour a good nonlethal smack with the flat of his blade. "Jimmy thinks you should stop talking for now!"

Jimmy Smack!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Nonlethal Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

And another smack, if she's still conscious.

Jimmy Smack!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Nonlethal Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

B##%& please, you were never a star anyways, nor were you going to be...I think Thesling had more talent.

Corey will backhand her then walk away back upstairs for his audience.

Slap her silly
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Damage 1d3 ⇒ 1 nonlethal

Never hit a woman with a closed fist.

@Corey: Technically speaking swords aren't fists.