Krystallos: Blue Quartz

Game Master JGray

"Might I remind you Mr, Tashykk was it, that the current protocols have done little to prevent any prior kidnapping." He gave Tashykk as stern a glare as he could manage, though his boyish looks didnt exactly accomplish much in that regard. "Am I to understand then, that you would rather sit idle and do nothing while the childrens safety continues to be brought into question?" He looked genuinely angry. "You might as well be a collaborator with the Masks if that is the case."

He folded his hands behind his back, his face relaxing into a more neutral businesslike expression. "Now then, do I have your permission or not?"

Admirable of you to roleplay your bad diplomacy roll. :P

Very admirable!

Mr. Tashykk's grip on his paintbrush tightens to the point where it creaks.

"Hey, man. I consider myself peaceful but you're tempting me, to, like, engage my fists instead of my words."

"I'm, like, here every day taking care of these kids. How dare you say I'd ever do anything to hurt them! Get out of my office! If you weren't with Dawna, I'd call for the damn watch!"

"My friend might not be very eloquent but he speaks the truth. If it makes you feel safer I can stay here to protect the children while he gets the lock examined. Several of these masks have learned the folly of challenging my axe."

diplomacy 1d20 ⇒ 14

Dawna followed the voices of the scene and she was a bit shocked when she stepped into the room and saw a parody of herself looking back at her.

It took her a moment to realize that it was not probably meant as a parody, he just had a thing for big eyes. She was seriously not in the mood for something like this right now, but it was about time to smooth things over a bit.

"I am sorry for the interruption; I suppose I was not meant to see this before it was finished. I... did not realize I was that beautiful" she had to swallow hard on this. "The eyes are important to you, aren't they?"

"Leiko, my companion has indeed found hints that the locks have been tempered with and I am afraid that there might be some evil at work here. This locks were meant to create the illusion of safety. I consider it our duty for the safety of your charges to ensure there is no vile form of abuse at work here. We will of course make sure everything is in order before the night falls." She tried to fake a smile as she cast another glance at the painting.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Ouch! Suppose Dawna is seriously tired and more antagonized by the image than she admits herself.

"Oh, man. I guess you've got a point." Tashykk says to Telthes measured words, especially when he catches sight of Dawna peeking in. "Do you like it?" the artist/caretaker asks eagerly. "Windows, are, like, a window into the soul and you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. Like I can see your soul going on forever, man."

Mr. Tashykk blushes. "I guess you can take the lock out and down to Sahib Azraq. He's the locksmith. You can find him up on the chest, close to the left nipple."

Admirable of you to roleplay your bad diplomacy roll. :P

That terrible huh? Not on purpose though lol.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"Hmm, I suppose Telthes has a winning personality...That or this man just doesnt much like me." Milo thought, more than a little annoyed that his words had needed the dwarfs agreement before the man saw reason.

"Kobolds then I expect?" He asked, already knowing that the answer would most certainly be yes. "So, do we bring the lock there, or fetch him here? I suppose either works, though I would prefer the latter."

"I... umm... I guess if you can bring him here? I mean, if you can, like, convince him to come here. I don't mind that." Mr. Tashykk says, though his eyes never leave Dawna.

Noticing Tashykk's gaze, Leiko puts a hand on Dawna's shoulder. "Say, I never did tell you a story like I promised. How about we find someplace nice?"

For a moment she looked out the window until she figured out that he meant that eyes were the window to the soul. Not windows. Windows were the windows to the outside, she did not have to be an artist to realize that.

"Indeed.", Dawna replied to Leiko. She had only vaguely realized that he stared at her - that was nothing unusual to her - and she was still trying to figure out whether she liked the compliment about her eyes. She often received compliments about her eyes from people looking at her locksmith-location. She did not really like the guy, but he was taking care of homeless children, which was a good thing. But he was also a bit obsessed with her, had a doubtful taste for art. "It's lovely. Amazing, I mean."

"A bed would be a really nice place right now to be honest." She blinked twice as she realized that this might be interpreted beyond her tiredness. "Yeah, let's go. Muse or no, we wouldn't disturb an artist at work, would we."

She did not hesitate to let Leiko guide her away. "We better get you out of his sight quickly", she whispered as she left. "Or you'll be his next victim. He may be obsessed with me for now, but I doubt he has a long attention span. Thanks for saving me."

She sighs. "Well, splitting up did not turn out to be such a good idea last night, so we better join them going to find a lock smith. Otherwise we may have a lock smith in slices when they come back."

"Let us hurry then." Milo said, heading for the door. "We will want to see about those Maskers as soon as possible."

Off to the smithy!

The trip to Sahib Azraq's shop takes close to an hour's worth of walking. First, the party travels back to the palm of the hand and then follows the arm all the way to the shoulder. Several times, the perspective of "up and down" changes, with the sky and the earth never quite above or below as they should be. It can be disorienting to those not used to being in a quartz city. At one point you must take a detour around a large pothole, a deep hole in the street filled with red as the giant bleeds into it.

Once at the shoulder you travel down the chest until you reach Blood Street. There you find two story building made of stone with a minarete placed on top. Iron bars are embedded in the thick window frames. Inside the windows are tables displaying a number of locks, from large to small and from simple to complex. Above the heavy open door swings a simple sign: AZRAQ'S LOCKS, written in multiple languages. The shop seems to be open. Looking through the window you can see a kobold with dull grey coloring behind a counter.

Milo entered the shop quickly, walking to the counter and addressing the kobold. "Good day to you." He said in a business-like tone, inclining his head in a slight bow. "Might you be Sahib Azraq, the proprietor of this fine establishment?" "I sure hope this isnt someone else of the opposite gender. Never could tell them apart."

Dawna enters behind him, happy to get to some place inside. Paired with the changing perspective her tiredness makes her almost feel like having a hang. Three times she lost orientation and almost stumbled when she looked up on the ground; the actual ground that is.

She nods friendly as she enters and wonders whether is a thief in the city that can pick all those locks. And if they had a way if being picked if someone did not have a key. She forces herself to keep her composure, but leaves the conversation to Milo.

As the party enters, the kobold behind the counter smiles brightly.

"Welcome, my friends!" The kobold says. "You are a very interesting troop! Performance group? Do you need locks to protect your art show? Or perhaps to chain yourself to something in protest?"

That was the kind of greeting that she didn't need right now. And while she had the same problem as Milo - she could not tell whether it was a male or female kobold - she was very adapt in that kind of battle as well.

She replied: "Not quite" and forced herself to smile. "I am Dawna of the Fifth Winged Hussars Legion of Amethyst and these are Milo, Leiko, Telthes and Kintal. You might say fate bound us together and we are currently trying to assist the Cult of the Quiet Hand to find out what is behind several disturbing events. We may need your assistance with disassembling and possibly replacing certain locks in the orphanage funded by the Emerald church in the palm of the left hand. The locks apparently have been tempered with, but not just to pick them. There is something more going on."

Milo would have said more, but as the paladin began to speak, he simply stepped back, walking around the shop and looking at the merchandise. "Not exactly my passion, but some of these look interesting atleast."

Leiko begins heading upstairs, tapping Kintal on the shoulder to lead the way, with her other finger to her lips. As she passes Azraq, she nods.

Kintal cocks an eye at Leiko as she nods to him and then begins to ascend the clearly private stairs. Unsure what she wants, but realizing that the kobold appears more than a little nervous, and not because of the group, the tiny chef draws his rapier and then follows the tall human up the stairs.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Despite not having trained in the sneakier arts, the small man is still able to move almost as silently as a mouse.

Telthes will stay inside but by the front door, to deal with anyone who attempts to come in the main way. His axe hanging loosely from his right hand to the floor.

Leiko's stealth check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

As Kintal and Leiko walk past the counter and head for the stairs, Sahib Azraq raises his voice. His talking becomes more rapid and his breath shorter.

"I don't know what to tell you, friends. I'm the only locksmith in the city so almost everyone who has a lock owns one of mine." As he speaks, Sahib Azraq shakes his head, eyes wide and presses a finger to his snout.

While Kintal makes not a sound, Leiko isn't quite as stealthy. On the third step up, she hits a stair that creaks.

As Leiko reaches the top step she sees it, something that seems almost human at first but with taut, blue skin that seems almost mummified in leather bands. A foot and a half long tongue, dripping with black saliva, rolls out of the thing's mouth as it hisses. In one hand it wields a strange sword - a giant thing with two tines instead of a single blade. It is not surprised by Leiko and Kintal... but neither are they surprised by it.

Initiative
Dawna: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Kintal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Leiko: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Milo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Telthes: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Monster: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Since only those upstairs are aware of it, we'll do a surprise round in which Kintal, Leiko and the monster can act. Then we'll move to full combat.

SURPRISE ROUND
Only a move or attack action allowed.

Init order: Kintal, Leiko, Monster.

Map has been updated. Ground floor is on the left. Second floor is on the right. Initiative has been posted at the top of the thread in campaign info.

Realizing that the tight confines are not optimal, Kintal calls to Leiko.

Retreat, make it come to us, or let one of the better armored move up.

With that, he withdraws down the steps.

Leiko takes Kintal's advice and retreats behind him. Begins singing.

Surprised to hear the voices of the others upstairs, having failed to notice them depart up the stairs, Milo moved to look up. "What going on up there?" He called as the came running down the stairs. "Terribly sorry about that, I do not know why my companions would be up there." He said, turning to the kobold with an apologetic look.

Milo takes a 5 foot step but otherwise does nothing.

The strange, blue-skinned being leaps over the railing and floats down to the first floor, touching down with an alien grace.

I made assumptions as to where Kintal and Leiko would end up after performing a move action to leap down the stairs. Map has been updated.

END SURPRISE ROUND

BEGIN ROUND ONE

Everyone can act. Those who wish can now take advantage of the K: Arcana, K: History and K: Dungeoneering rolls from my previous post.

INIT ORDER: Milo, Kintal, Telthes, Leiko, Dawna, Monster.

Suddenly horrified to find the strange and vile creature next to him, Kintal pokes at it with his rapier.
What is this thing?

Attack-rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Confirm crit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The blade easily slips between a crack in the creatures defenses, but fails to hit anything critical (or perhaps the strange alien creature has its vital spots in unusual locations).

Do not forget my +1 to hit and damage. :)

Ah, then it is 6 damage, and the Confirm is a 14 - maybe enough to hit. If the confirm hits, then it is an additional +3 damage.

Milo may even be providing a flank, not sure.

Milo is not presently flanking but he DOES have an action he can take. We're in Round 1.

Hmm, not really sure Milo would be inclined to actually step in and flank on purpose. He would however do something like...

Partially feeling, partially seeing the creature land right around the corner he was standing by, the hairs on Milos neck stood up at the strange unnatural sight. Stepping away, he waved his arms around in circles,this fingers coming together in front of him. The circular motion did not stop however, his torso swaying from side to side as his arms moved as if stirring a pot. Beneath the creature, a large shadow appeared, and as Milo suddenly stopped and pulled both arms towards the ceiling, the shadow started to bubble before suddenly coalescing into a slick sheen of grease.

Five foot step away, then cast Grease under the creature, placing it so it hits Azraq as well (only way to miss Kintal). DC 15 Reflex or fall prone, which would likely let Kintal crit.

Dawna was still puzzling over the strange answer from the kobold as she heard the yells and the sounds of battle. "What, by all shades of the crystals, is that?" A quick glance around tells her that it is too narrow to fight anywhere but here. The others were already on their way down, so if whatever they came across follows them, they could expect it here. If it follows them. "Hurry!" She calls out with a great deal of concern for her new friends in her voice as she readies her weapons.

Dawna maintains her position and readies both shield and sword. 2 x move action.

If possible, Leiko will attempt to grab Azraq and get him out of harms way.

Beautiful flavor text on the grease spell.

ROUND ONE CONTINUED

* Milo casts Grease
* Kintal does some fancy sword work.

Monster's Reflex save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Azraq's Reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

The creature's feet weren't placed properly for balancing on a slippery surface. They slip out from under it and it goes down, hard. So does Sahib Azraq. Both are now prone.

Which brings its AC down far enough that Kintal's crit confirms.

Kintal takes advantage of the enemy's prone condition and stabs. His blade bites deep into the creature's chest and proves that, as frightening as it is, the beast bleeds like any other.

INIT ORDER: Milo, Kintal, Telthes, Leiko, Dawna, Monster.

The blue square is the greased area. Anyone moving through it must make an DC 10 Acrobatics check to move through at half-speed. Leaping over the counter requires a DC 5 Acrobatics check and doesn't slow movement.

Acrobatics to leap counter 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Telthes will leap the counter, using the momentum to swing his axe as he clear it.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 dmg

ROUND ONE CONTINUED

While the creature is flat on its back, it isn't incapable of movement. Tethes' axe bites into the wooden floor, splattering magical grease everywhere as the humanoid rolls out of the way.

INIT ORDER: Milo, Kintal, Telthes, Leiko, Dawna, Monster.

Leiko moves around the edge of the grease and attempts to grab Azraq and help him up and out of the grease.

Leiko, are you continuing your song?

Yes.

Okay. In the future, please note that. Also, which performance effect you are using - you just stated you were singing so no one knew which effect was being used.

Telthes - what is your +6 from? It appears to be +3 Str, +1 BAB, +2 flanking. You should also have +1 from the song, and the creature should be at -4 to AC from being prone. Not sure whether its enough to hit, but that should hit a 15 AC.

I find it easiest to just post my bonuses each time. That way if I make a mistake, someone else might catch it. Also, it keeps the DM from having to ask where you got +6 or +12 or +30 from.

I actually figured all that in, following the same line of logic you did, Kintal. He does still miss even accounting for all of that. However, you're right, letting me know what bonuses you are counting in does help make things run smoother.

Telthes - what is your +6 from? It appears to be +3 Str, +1 BAB, +2 flanking. You should also have +1 from the song, and the creature should be at -4 to AC from being prone. Not sure whether its enough to hit, but that should hit a 15 AC.

I find it easiest to just post my bonuses each time. That way if I make a mistake, someone else might catch it. Also, it keeps the DM from having to ask where you got +6 or +12 or +30 from.

I will keep that in mind next time.

Taking Dawna's action for her.

Dawna draws her sword and sets her shield. She recognizes that with grease on the floor just leaping into the fray might cause more harm than good. Her eyes narrow as she whispers a prayer to Amethyst and then gasps.

"That creature is the purest of evil!"

The evil creature rises to its feet, moving unsteadily due to the grease. Both Telthes and Kintal lunge, taking advantage of the opening the monster creates. Telthes swings and misses. Kintal's thrust draws blood.

Telthes' AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Kintal's AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Kintal's damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Despite being injured by the warriors, it is the kobold shopkeeper who attracts the monster's attention.

Monster attack on Azraq: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Monster's damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Sahib Azraq collapses into Leiko's arms, blood spouting from his chest. He's already unconscious. He might be dead.

END ROUND ONE

BEGIN ROUND TWO

Init: Milo, Kintal, Telthes, Leiko, Dawna, Monster.

That AoO has +1 damage.

Someone heal the shop keeper. What in the name of Onyx in this thing?

Round 2
Kintal continues to poke at the creature with his diminutive rapier.

Attack-rapier: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 21 <-- +1 Inspire Courage, +2 flanking
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Once more drawing blood, the chef groans:
You know how long it is going to take to clean this rapier?

Kintal will use Opportune Parry and Riposte if attacked.

So it does. Noted and changed, Leiko.

Leiko will pull Azraq from the battle, possibly from the building entirely, still singing, before healing him.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Realizing that in the heat of the moment he had not taken a closer look at the creature, Milo took a moment to study it, hoping to recognize some weakness he could exploit.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 Im assuming Arcana is correct given the description of it seeming like the work of Tiamat.

Any further actions from Milo depend on what he learns.