How to paint a Raven Silver (Hell's Rebels)

Game Master Jesper Roland Sørensen

"It seems like we should keep clearing out as many dangers as we can on this trip."

"I agree, Bicks. We should get as much use of our spells as possible. On the other hand, the ooze is probably beyond our ability to deal with without preparation and the large open section that Logan and Canacha found sounds like it could contain something big and dangerous too.

I suggest that we explore the torture chamber and adjoining hallways, then retreat to the surface and get what we need to repair the pumps. If we can lower the water, perhaps the dangerous monsters will withdraw to the open sea or at least be easier to deal with"

She nodded her manta head up and down vehemently. She also made a kaspew noise with her mouth to mimic her missing gun in agreance with Mirabella.

This made sense, so Logan nodded and said, "Well then lets take a look see at this chamber of horrors..."

Not quite sure where the torture chamber is on the map but that's where Logan (and hopefully everyone else) will head. Once there he has a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

It's the room just above the one you are in / pump engine room

Logan doesn't detect anything, the torture instruments are to broken to be used. It has spendt to much time underwater and is not savlage able.

Following Logan's lead, Bicks will cast detect magic to see if anything pings.

Bicks doesn't find anything magical in the room.

If nothing interesting is found in the torture chamber, Mirabella urges the group to proceed to explore the section to the north of the chamber.

"Let's go. Everyone relatively healthy?"

This long, flooded corridor is flanked by staggered cells, each barred by a heavy iron gate—a dreary, depressing prison block. You see am elven looking female in the cage right inside. She is nude and cruelly bound by her wrist and ankels stiched together with thick stands of strong fiber.

Logan was shocked and cried out "By the gods! Who could do something so cruel?!"

In elvish he tried speaking to the woman as he looked for a way to releaser her.

If the cage is open he'll use a knife to try and cut her bonds, at which point he probably gets energy drained. I probably shouldn't assume she's something horrible (vampire etc) but that does tend to happen in modules...

Jack's appalled as well. He fishes out his lockpicks to work on the cell door. First, however, he does a quick scan for traps.

"Keep an eye out for trouble," he tells Logan and the others, "just in case her jailer is nearby."

Jack Duncloak Perception Check (find traps): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Jack Duncloak Disable Device Check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

And again....

Jack Duncloak Disable Device Check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

And again....

Jack Duncloak Disable Device Check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Just to make sure we are out of the water now yes?

Just to make sure we are out of the water now yes?

Looking at the map, it appears we're still underwater.

You are still underwater.

The woman is scared by Logan's boggard appearence even if he speaks in elven. She calms alittle when se sees a human in Jack appear. Jack's search for threats doesn't find any more skums but in another cell je sees another elven figure. There isn't any lock on the door, just a simple metal beam barring the door from being opened, the prisoners are bound so that locks ain't needed to keep them inside. "Thanks to you human and your servant." she says looking at Boggard Logan thinking he is some kind of slave, with being in Cheliax and all. "The rest of my scouts should be in here two other women and two men.

She flit by excited. They had to be a sea elf! This was so cool! She manta scowled for a moment as Jack closed with the nude elf. But Jack Jack was right, there may be a jailer about. She swam back to the corridor on guarde.

"We were not expecting to see you down here. How did you come to be in here?"

"I'm Aava and we came here seeking the aid of an ally who lives here, a half elf by the name of Shensen. But we were surpised to see that Kintargo was under strict Thrune control, and to make matters worse we were jumped by the skum. We hail from a small village called Acisazi west of here, we came seeking aid against an insidious assault by what we believe to be an aboleth wizard and these skum confirmed our fears as the seem to serve that very creature attacking our home." she explains their situation to Bicks.

Mirabella searches the rest of the cells for other survivors, freeing them all and helping the to the group.

"We have dealt with the skum we encountered in these tunnels, but there may be more about. We have a base back at the surface where we can take you, if you can survive out of the water." she says to Aava before addressing her allies.

"I think we should retreat back to the Lucky Bones so we can offer these pour souls some safety and care. Once we have them situated, we can return here to clear out the rest of the underwater area and perhaps repair the pump."

"Of course, we live both in settlements under the water and on beachfronts. We would be happy about some clothes, we can also fight but we are a realatively fresh team of rangers and don't have to much combat experience.She responds to Mirabella.

Logan blushes and remarks, "Well I have a spare jumper in my pack, which you're welcome to..."

He'll go an retrieve it and hand it over before asking, "Anyway tell us more about this aboleth, what do you suspect it of doing?" At the back of Logans mind was the thought they might be able to win some allies which would no doubt come in handy.

"We have some extra beds in our quarters above where you can rest while we get you clothes and gear. Some food, water and medical attention as well, I can imagine. Sounds like we can help each other achieve our goals. "

The aboleth appears to have done something to the Drowned Eye, a place long haunted and full of undeads, and the influence of the malevolence contained in that place has spread and made our people sick and listless. The creature has also attacked our village with a quick assault abducting about a dozen elves. We sent a team of scouts to get aid both from Kintargo and a larger settlement some hundred miles away from our own. She responds to Logan.

Turning to Mirabella she thanks her. "It would be nice to have something softer than these old rocks to sleep on for a time, before we return to Acisazi to report on the situation of Kintargo and that we have not found Shensen to recruit her aid." she says dismayed.

"Let us return to our base, then. While you rest, we will check with our contacts in the city for news of Shensen. If we do not find her, we may be able to help you in return for aid in clearing out these docks and further assistance in our struggle to free Kintargo from the grip of Thrune."

"It would be nice to be dry. I could use a little investigation and it would be nice to help you find Shensen. Does she have any contacts or old haunts we check out?"

"I would thank you, but I'm afraid there is nothing to do for Shensen. When we got here, her place was just a burnt down ruin and people talking about her most likely would have been inside. At least a fair assumption since there has been no sight of her since than." the elf says dismayed.

"Do you know the location of the Drowned Eye? Team, do you think we could help this village? They could become our allies right?"

"Ofcourse it's very close to our settlement, it's about 4 miles out from the coast very we have the half elven part of our settlement. It would most likely take a week on foot from Kintargo to go there. But how will you get outside town undetected?

Somewhat flippantly Logan answers, "Perhaps we could swim out?" With a grin he continues in a more serious tone, "These are old smuggling tunnels, perhaps if the water was lowered we could take a boat down to the sea..."

Jack remains silent as he ponders the possibilities. Any allies the Silver Ravens can make is important, though he's not sure how much a tribe of aquatic elves can help against Thrune in the city. He picks through his brain, fairly certain he's heard the name 'Shensen' before....

Jack Duncloak Knowledge (local) Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Jack remembers the name as a singer at the Kintargo Opera House, she
was quite popular among the nobility and she was supposed to have played the role of Aolar in the opera Huntress of Heroes, which were cancelled after thrune moved in. Most suspect that the opera was cancelled because she openly critized the Thrune Goverment. Her musical shop, the Silver Star, was burnt down during the Night of Ashes. Everything after that is hearsay on the streets which no one can confirm or deny.

"These tunnels might actually be the best way, but we need the resources to fix the pump."

"I suggest we get everyone back to dry land, and continue the discussion after these unfortunate folk have had a chance to rest and recover. I'm also eager to get my true form back and breathe air instead of dirty water." the boggard-shaped bard quibs.

I assume we are going ahead to take a rest, anyhting you want to do before continuing the underwater adventures?

"Back up top it is."

You excort the aquatic elves back up to the upper floor of the lucky bones and give them some of the slain cultists spare clothes, leather armors and spears or crossbows. You use your silver raven figurine to send a message to Sabinus to bring something to eat and drink for the group and the extra guests.

Anything you want to prepare, remember the documents you found in the upper basement of the Lucky Bones, that the old guild masters bound some kind of devil to guard the caverns benearth, it might still be there for all you know.

Thanks for the reminder GM.

Glad to be dry and no longer in the form a slimy boglin, Logan focused on drying out his kit as best he could. This mundane activity allowed his mind to wander and something came to him, "Folks the old guild masters bound a devil here, we may yet have to fight it... I wonder are there any special preparations we should take?"

Kn:Planes: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 Logan tries to think of any based on his own knowledge.

Planes: 1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 11 + (3) = 29

It doesn't tell anything other than Guild Master Baccus should call upon his “pet devil” Shurshogot for help if anyone ever made it into the caverns. Shurshogot is clearly a name as neither Logan nor Bicks can come up with any devilspecies going by that name.

Are you gonna do anything while resting or move back underwater to explore the last caverns to check for any threats?

It was good to be dry, Logan hadn't enjoyed his sojourn as a smelly Boglin and neither was he looking forward to a second serving but it was going. Thinking of servings his stomach rumbled and before long food arrived.

As they ate, Logan suggested "Before we return, perhaps a visit to Hetamon is in order? I imaging it will take some time for the device to be repaired but the sooner we start the sooner it'll be done."

She was so glad to be a not manta for the moment. She rushed from sea elf to sea elf introducing herself quickly adding to the pretty females that she was "jack's" girlfriend quietly. Followed by a sickly sweet smile. Once that was done she moved to clean her pistol, taking apart the peices that could be removed wiping it down with a rag, then oiling the metal peices back up. Once that was done she hurried to Jacks side pratically attaching herself there.

"If there is a devil down there we should get some holy oils or something you know to make it feel really icky. No sense in going after it with half measures."

GM would you like us to RP a visit with Hetamon to set in motion plans for the repairs of the devide?

It would be nice as you need to ask for a price and tell him of the conditions he would work under. Doesn't have to be a long conversation just a few diplomacy rolls and arcane or engineering to explain the magical pump to him. I can set the stage.

After getting back on dry lands and having a change of clothes and a good nights rest you are all ready to go back and finish what obstacles that remains. You arrive early at Hetamon's tailorshop, just before opening hours, where you find him working on a rather fine rope for a shop in the nursery. He looks up and smiles at you as he come to the door to let you in. "My friends, it's good to see you again. Come on in and let me hear what your needs may be. A fine dress or perhaps some healing?" he says the last part after you have all come in and closed the door.

"Hi. I will start with anything you are willing to part with for a smile." the gnome flashes his smile jokingly. "It is good to see you. Do you know anything about that waterworks under the city? We found some odd things below."

Bicks will try to lighten his mood with some small talk. Mechanically I guess it is a roll to change attitude, but if that is not necessary feel free to use it however is best.

Diplomacy: 10 + 18 = 28

knowledge engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
craft alchemy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Canacha's words flowed out 100 miles a minute describing the epic coolness of what they had discovered in the murk. She giggled suddenly it was clear her mind wandered elsewhere in this case to the idea of a dress.

"Yes! A Dress! Maybe one with some slink? You would like a dress with slink right Jack?"

"I'm not sure what size I wear," Jack deadpans. "What I could really use right now is some sort of magic that'll enable me to move quickly underwater. The whole 'walk-along-the-bottom-in-heavy-armor' bit really didn't work out well."

Trying to act surprised but failing as a grin starts to break across his face, Jack addresses Canacha. "Oh--the dress was for you! Yeah--I think you and slink would work wonders together."

Logan smiled at Bicks who put things so nicely. Once he's finished speaking, Logan dug out his reference book, flipped through the pages and showed it to Hetamon, saying "I examined the machine and I think I follow its operating principles, its got several layered enchantments possibly this one and maybe that one. The ethereal alignment and phase adjustments required seem a bit tricky and require exotic and no doubt expensive components."

Kn: Arcarna: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

"My so full of spirit already, I can certainly find you a dress worthy of most, though I don't expect it to attract the eyes of the nobles. Well Bicks most of the servers are made of the streets of old Kintargo after the end of the civil war when the ruined parts of the city were burried and what we have now was build on the top of it." Hetamon explaines the story of the city in short turns before looking over the sketches from Logan's book. "Hmm I haven't seen anything like it before, I would have to look at the apparatus myself to figure out how to fix it. I guess if it has been underwater so many years, it would probably need some new pipes, but it depends if any magic to perserve it where placed on it in case of a flooding. I think it would require some restoration magic and the materiales of most of them would come cheap, especially in Kintargo. Untill I see the device you might expect to require materials worth some thousands of gold pieces."

Logan nodded, saying "Restoration magic mmm, I believe there's a spell called Make Whole. Not really my school of magic but perhaps we could obtain a scroll?"

GM are such scrolls available? Normally this would cost 150g which I think the party has...

Welcome to the discussion thread. I'll open the gameplay thread when I have prepared the starting post.

Thanks for having me, everybody! Looking forward to playing with you.

As for my character, Meliora is a wizard for whom her backstory is 'she has never been any good at making friends and this snowballed out of control,' so while I'm down for her knowing and/or recognizing people, they'd probably be business acquaintances. If anyone's backstory involves Lady Docur's finishing school then they might also have heard about her--she punched a girl in the face and put her through a bush headfirst before getting expelled for it in her first year there.

Also, she's avoiding using her last name since she ran out on her family and was disowned as a result, so if they do know her it'd probably just be as 'Meliora.'

Twistlok, if you don't already have any other plans then it's possible that Meliora could have hired Mic as a bodyguard at the protest. She's angry as hell, but she's also not dumb. Wizards are squishy and having a backup plan is always a good idea.

Hi hi hi Meliora! It is very nice to have you aboard. I dont think Canacha would have ran across any of you lovely posh ladies from academies, but you are cool still :P

Canacha, as I have envisioned her is an eclectic mix of Karl from Van Helsing, Tank girl, and toss in some mad genius or River tam from the firefly series and you have Canacha.

She works for her uncle at the smithy, drinks tea in local parlors and studies science.. and the towers of the bell. I have her set to tag along but she could just as easily be going to see the big event.

She's the friendly sort so im sure any of you could be labeled as a friend if you want.

* for the record Meliora is not cool and any evidence to the contrary is mere coincidence and cannot be corroborated by any independent study. do not hang out with Meliora if you are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. consult your GM before starting Meliora. viewer discretion is advised, void where prohibited.

Aw man she has a surgeon generals warning label? She is the coolest now!

Lena hasn't been in Kintargo long. She was sent to meet up with the followers of Milani in the city, but they have all disappeared. She is trying to be undercover. We'll see how good she does at keeping a low profile.

I think I saw somewhere that one of the pre approved characters from the other group is part of Jhaltro house. I could have had prior talks with them. I am a Private investigator so I could have been a informant.

When all have had a chance to check in I'll move ahead with the protests and list what you can do. For now you can RP a little around maybe meet each other if you decided to go to the protets together or find a good spot to stand and watch if you went alone.

Welcome to the group Meliora and Paullo.

Meliora that would work out very well. I will send you a PM with a detail or two that I have been thinking about.

Canacha it is possible we at least have a passing acquaintance as well as Mic has been working as an armor-smith to keep busy and bring in a little money since the family business failed and her partner passed.

Gotten and replied.

Welcome, Meliora and Paullo.

@Paullo: Although my PC is technically a member of the Jhaltero family, he's undercover, presumed dead, and has only been back in Kintargo for a few months. Maybe a Jhaltero pointed you toward 'a fellow named Duncloak,' but he wouldn't have mentioned any connection Jack has to the family.

I just tried to look at the map and it's saying we need access to see it. I went ahead and sent a request accordingly.

Yeah I noticed, I might have shared the wrong link.

I updated the link so you all should be able to move around without asking for premission first.

yay for gameplay being up!

I'll be traveling through Monday. I should be able to post, but feel free to bot me if needed.

I'll be traveling through Monday. I should be able to post, but feel free to bot me if needed.

Which action at the protest would you perfer I take for you? There should be about to more checks before the next thing.

Another sense motive, and a perception.

I'll look upon it, I'm giving our last player a little time to join in. Hope he is ready soon.

Just a heads up. I will be attending a wedding out of town on Saturday so probably no posts from when i go to bed tonight until Sunday.

Have a good wedding!

I'm back. The trip was awesome. I spoiled the nieces and nephews and snuggled the newest one. He's only 6 weeks old. They had me running from morning until I fell into bed so not much energy for posting.

Have a good night, then! Glad you had fun.

Should probably mention that if you reach the edges of the map you are considered to have escaped the fight and runs off to hide somewhere untill the rest are finished fighting/escaping.

Well folks should we be fighting these guards or running? We did not start this and I could see us being arrested anyway.

Here's my thoughts: We've seen two waves of baddies, and there's still the matter of the scary lady who took a dagger through her throat and walked it off. She's probably going to come back out eventually, and at that point our overall CR for the battle has to be at least 4. Higher if she has help or character levels on top of her recovery.

This isn't a fight we're going to win short of a lot of 20's. We should bust through, run, and try to get away before we're arrested. Since there was a literal mob, they'll probably have other people to take into custody which'll keep them from following us in any organized groups too big to handle. If we do get a group pull after, we can do the time honored adventurer tradition of beating them up and taking their stuff.

Makes sense. I don't relish leaving the hapless fellow with the sword to fend for himself. Maybe we should try and exit that direction? I might try a Dirty Trick on the guard near me next turn and see if I can move that direction after that.

Thoughts?

*Sigh* Jack's already 'the hapless fellow with the sword.' Unlike Jack himself, I (the player) DO believe in curses...though I'm not sure if this curse is 'All my Hell's Rebels characters can't roll above a 10 in combat' or 'All my urban rangers with humans as their favored enemy can't roll above a 7 when battling said humans.'

Anyhow, if the loyalist doesn't drop Jack, he's heading for where Lena and Canacha currently are.

If Meliora goes in his direction she's going to open herself up to more attacks, and she's basically made of paper so she's just going to head off the left side to be safe.

I think it is awesome, I would just roll with it. Work it into your background. and ask if you can take a drawback like "doubt" and make it a part of your character.

Maybe your next Hell's Rebel's character should make the GM roll for you such as a save or suck wizard. Then you won't roll under 10. ;)

Alternatively, Barbarians.

Doesn't matter if you only roll 5's in combat if you succeed on a 2 or better.

I am assuming we don't want to try and fight that many of guards correct?

I don't think we do. We might end up in jail or worse.

this one time way back in the day, I had a level 1 rogue who bull rushed a hellhound off a pirate ship into the water it was epic.... and stupid. we run :)

Jack you are hitting on of the unconcious thugs is that intentional?

No, I'm being stupid. :)

Although attacking an unconscious foe would be a lot safer....

Plan B!

Tomorrow afternoon I am heading out of town for my sisters wedding and then a trip to Nashville for work. Wednesday afternoon till Sunday my internet will be spotty at best as I will be on the family farm.

I will post as I can.

have fun, be safe in Nashvegas and no worries

Back from all my trips and more able to focus on the games.

Did anyone else take any of the items off our foes? I have started the loot she but only entered the Manacles that Canacha and I took and the gold.

Anyone can edit the sheet which is linked in my stat block.

I actually put the full list of loot we've gotten in a swagswagswag tab on Meliora's spells list.

Ahh, well no one said they were taking anything form the thugs other then the maniacals so I didn't list that stuff. Honestly Mic would have balked at stripping some thugs naked.

Regardless we can use either sheet, I put a bunch of formulas in mine to make things easy.

I think healing in d&d 3rd ed (or maybe 3.5) was 1 plus con modifier. But its been a bit and im at work with the books neing at home

Just dropping this here

Just dropping this here

I'm gonna apply but I may need some help to write a decent background fitting the content you are using.

My ladyfriend was diagnosed with cancer in her lady parts friday...and they are still waiting the results for her stomach, intestines and other lower parts.

Goodnews is, if... its just confined to the ladypart region, outlook is good, if its in the other stuff.. well not so good. But she is strong and im a hopeful optimist so . . .I will still be about and continue on, but if you dont hear from me for a few days, please just message me and remind me. Sort of brain addled at the moment and distracted

Hope for the best.

Do you mind if I bot you in combat to move things along and get to the RP parts?

OH i plan on being about. Honestly this is a bastion of stress releif and all that, just I know from well having a mother and grandmother and a sister who have battled this there will be days where sitting down at the computer isnt possible.

Sure I just wanted to ask to not drag combats out to much I would always send a reminder before I move in to bot anyone.

Bu yeah sure if you dont hear from me and you are waiting feel free to bot me :)