Legacy of Fire

Game Master Megan Robertson

Silena boldly walks up to the building and in a graceful pirouette unwraps her cold iron spiked chain wrapped around her shapely waist and suddenly the weapon is in her hands spinning one ready loose length of the metal weapon as she, without pause, walks up and enters the building looking for any hostiles...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Oh wow, she is BRAVE... " Hijiro notes about the headstrong elf who entered the building without waiting for the others... He hurries to at least get to the doorway to assure himself she isn't immediately attacked by something or someone. He draws his rapier on the way to the door.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Samuel finds a protected place along the wall close to the door and keeps on eye on the surrounding area while others check out the building.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

There is a scurrying of small paws as some little mouse-like creatures which have long tails with a distinct tuft on the end scatter at the disturbance, but that's the only sign of life in here.

Silena shakes her head in disbelief...

Muttering to herself with a grim chuckle, "Lady Almah needs to procure better intel personnel! Their estimates of gnoll numbers were wildly off!'

Silena cast's detect magic just to be sure... panning her vision around...

"That or they are all gathered together. That battle market is a pretty big building, and could easily hold a good sized group."

Silena nods warily looking about, "Perhaps. If the battle market is the last place to assault.. then we should cast our protective or offensive preparatory magics ... before we attack."

The petite young half-dark elf woman-child pirouettes gracefully draping her spiked chain around her slender blackened spiked steel armored form as she turns to stride out of the clearly abandoned building.

She walks back over to Sonya, "We should plan how we will assault the Battle Market...we may not have to fight everyone there.. only those who are hostile. Many of the merchants are just merchants."

"They chose their fate when they set up shop here". "Hopefully they will have the sense to get out of the way". "I suggest that we split up, and time the attack from two different directions, and if possible set up a distraction as a third". "They are not seasoned veteran troops, and confusion could be our ally".

"Splitting up might be a bad idea... maybe we should scout first and have an idea of what we're facing before we make such a decision."

"Oh, don't get me wrong". "I think we attack together, just from different directions". Catch them in a flanking maneuver. "

"My protection spell is limited to a hundred feet or so. I have to agree, I am hesitant to split ourselves."

"I would suggest not assaulting at all. It's a market as much as a fortress. We go in as mercs looking for work and gear and recon the place before committing ourselves to battle. Let's us save our spells and reduces the risk to any innocents that may be in here against their will."

"I like THAT idea: infiltrate and observe... assaulting a fortress is not my style."

"I would help with the scouting whether we do it as a group or send a small number of us. For a short time, I can even do it without being seen at all. I came to Kelmarane to begin anew. It is only Sarenrae's will that I do so with you instead of ending up with those who hold the town today."

"We've already been there and know how it's laid out". "I am now ready to kill some gnolls... who is with me"?

Erizi starts forward tired of being in the same spot. This will end today one way or another.

Where are you going, Erizi?

"I am with you Erizi. Tell us of the layout and we can plan the attack. Perhaps instead of scouting I can steal in and start killing as everyone attacks."

Silena merely shrugs and begins to unbuckle her blackened Spiked Banded Mail armor... reducing it to the 'Hastily Donned' status so she is at 1 less AC currently... in preparation for shape-changing when she needs it - so she doesn't chaff when she burst out of her armor, and she follows Erizi toward the Battle market.

Her cold iron spiked chain is in hand... and her buckler on her right wrist, Alchemical silver spiked gauntlet on her left fist.

Muttering to the large fighter, "I agree Erizi.. let us be done with this!"

Then whispers to Barezata, "... I will center a darkness spell upon myself with a 20'ft radius once we enter the Battle market.. stay within that area and we shall begin out assault. It is not a deeper darkness...merely a magically created lack of natural light. It should make for good cover within the shaded interior of the Battle Market. I can become invisible in shadows to those without darkvision... like me so don't be alarmed if I seemingly vanish."

Then she adds as a second thought, "..oh... and I can change into a Large Katepeshi Leopard... black furred with a silver white mane and stripes.. don't be alarmed if you see me change.. I'm in control.. for now..."

Whatever reaction dropping that info upon her new companions brings she does not wait to see... but focuses on her bloody task at hand...

Silena leads the way and enters the battle market from the merchant's entrance that Umdrella mentioned to her and Sonya. She takes to the shadows seeking 'legitimate' targets... that being the gnoll and mercenary soldiers of Kardswan.

True to her word she casts her racial possess magical darkness spell... centered upon herself to deepen the shadows around her in a 20'ft radius... blinking in and out of invisibility to approach unseen the 'hopefully' unsuspecting guard/soldier to begin the butcher's bill of removing them as a threat!

Perception:Take 10! 10 + 6 = 16
Stealth:Take 10![ 10 + 1 - 7 + 20 = 24 w/Invisibility from Nighthunter Domain Power

OOC: Hope I'm not pushing this too hard Megan but it seems clear that the party is assaulting the Battle Market... and Silena's youthful impatience has gotten the better of her - she is tired of talking and is NOW acting! She is going all out to be done with this final push to break the control of Kardswan over the city of Kalmerane!

To faciliate planning, here's the Battle Market. Most of you have had at least a cursory glance at the place.

Sonya arranges her robes for battle. Setting in her mind the coming battle. Those who see her will see the vestments of a high priestess of Sarenrae has come to wage war. Those who repent shall be offered mercy, those who draw arms against them shall meet a quick death. Knowing or not they have associated with a demon, and it ends here. Sonya focuses on the teathers of her life link, feeling each of her comrades, old and new.
"Stay close and the blessing of the Everlight shall mend your wounds. Stray from her righteous path and fall. We go to offer redemption and mercy first to those who would have it, and the blade to those who sew evil in this city. If any cries mercy it shall be granted to them without question until the battle is done. No harm shall befall you from mercy that the Dawnflower's grace cannot overcome. There is only one who shall be spared the coming slaughter, Kardswann the genie. I have my suspicions and I wish him to live. I believe he is under the control of another. So ready the tools to disable him, but do not let him fall."

Sonya moves close enough to the front to be seen by all they approach, but still remain under Selina's watchful guard.

did we have a chance to get healed up before we came here? If not, I could use some healing before we go in.

Hijiro prepares to use his disguise self ability to appear to be a gnoll in battle market armor when he sees what they look like and how they are dressed/armored/etc. should be allowed under the parameters of the spell since gnolls are medium humanoids too

healed from what? I'll gladly do it but you guys are coming in fresh are you not?

I don't know.. I show I'm at 12/27... maybe that's old and I should have fixed it... lol, you're right, we were coming in fresh... I'll correct it now.

I'll be AFK the next two days. Please DMPC as needed.

"I still think charging in with weapons drawn is a very bad idea. Inviting battle before it is required will make it much more difficult." Samuel follows quietly, resigned to a running battle that will quickly tax his limited resources.

Erizi enters as well, his blood lust high, and eager to hit first and ask questions later.

I've got a big week long trip to the UK coming up next week / weekend, and probably won't be able to post much.

OK so how do you wish to approach the place?

South Map Entrance working her way east sweeping the circle of the first floor first.

Silena leads the way and enters the battle market from the merchant's entrance that Umdrella mentioned to her and Sonya. She takes to the shadows seeking 'legitimate' targets... that being the gnoll and mercenary soldiers of Kardswan.

True to her word she casts her racial possess magical darkness spell... centered upon herself to deepen the shadows around her in a 20'ft radius... blinking in and out of invisibility to approach unseen the 'hopefully' unsuspecting... guard/soldier to begin the butcher's bill of removing them as a threat!

Perception:Take 10! 10 + 6 = 16
Stealth:Take 10![ 10 + 1 - 7 + 20 = 24 w/Invisibility from Nighthunter Domain Power

To remind those of you who have visited the place (and introduce anyone who has not been here before)...

The battle market is a three-story circular stone fortress with massive doors at each of the four cardinal direction points. The east, north, and west doors remain closed and locked, while the southern doors stand wide open, awaiting new customers to Kardswann's revived market. A large skylight about 30 feet wide allows the sun to light the building's interior, while torches in sconces along the walls illuminate the battle market in the evenings. Aside from the roof portal, the battle market contains no windows leading to the outside. There are no toilets in the battle market, so visitors often relieve themselves in the ruins outside or in an abandoned corner of one of the many unused interior chambers. Indeed as you approach, a gnoll hurries out on a matter of some urgency, he's hardly behind a wall before his britches come down.

At the south entrance, an enormous set of double doors stands wide open, revealing a torchlit passage beyond. About fifteen feet within the hall, on the left, stands a sturdy wooden door. Across the hall is another open passage leading east, curving with the contours of the battle market. The central hall proceeds perhaps fifty feet before opening into a large well-lit cavernous chamber that seems to be centered around a huge circular stage. A goblin clad in a colourful jester's outfit is posted by this door, but just ignores Silena as she slinks by.

Entering the Battle Market, Barezata vanishes from view. Now hidden, The Kelesh woman follows slightly behind the rest of the group and draws her bow once she is invisible.
Using her spell-like ability to become invisible. Will slow move to just below her full move speed, taking -5 on Stealth check. Stealth will be 10+14+20-5=41 for 4 minutes.

Hijiro enters and sticks to shadows a bit as he stays with the party, but trying not to look like he's trying to be stealthy, just wary.

Samuel enters quietly, also preferring to look wary rather than combative.

The jester-clad goblin capers around.

"Welcome, welcome!" the goblin rasps, jangling a short wand topped with a series of tiny bells and yawning widely. "You have been expected! The Mouth of the Carrion King seeks an audience with you immediately! This way, this way!" he says, beckoning toward the central chamber and the wooden stage.

Note Silena and Barezate have been ignored, it's everyone else the jester-goblin is capering around.

Barezata smiles an invisible smile. Lead us right into the den our comical friend.

Hijiro is skeptical but follows along with the others.

Appreciate your patience. I've got a full plate since returning from abroad, but promise I'll get the game going again before the end of the week.

Erizi realizes he has been holding his breath, and now releases it in a huff, as this unexpected development occurs. Oh well. Let's see how this plays out. I can always use my hammer another time.

Samuel shrugs as he cautiously enters the room, though he stops as soon as he enters the central chamber to look around before doing anything further.

The battle market's four entry halls lead into a huge arena-like room dominated by a massive circular wooden stage, its surface smeared and sticky with blood. Two rows of terraced benches surround the stage, which is bathed in natural light from a large open circular hatch in the citadel's roof far above. Torches illuminate a darkened gallery of compact market stalls in the eastern half of the first floor's inner wall. A raised platform along the northwest curve of the inner wall sports four round tables, several wooden chairs, and a long bar stocked with numerous bottles of distilled spirits.

About twenty feet above is an open balcony, beyond which lie a series of small rooms on an upper floor of the market. Several rows of empty bleachers peer down from the edge of the balcony. Twenty feet above the second floor a half-circle balcony marks the highest of the citadel's terraces. Three thrones look down from this vantage, each positioned to give a commanding view of not only the stage below but the entire market.

A big fellow gets up from the centre throne and glowers down at you.

"I am Kardswann, Mouth of the Carrion King, Chieftain of the Kulldis Tribe and master of this village. Tell me, what business brings you to Kelmarane?" he booms down.

While Erizi is tempted to give him an honest answer, he is able to control his impulse... for now...

Silena from the shadows gets line of sight upon Kardswan and casts blindness upon the pompous cruel evil-hearted molesting cretin...

Her spell has a range of 140'ft... Will Save DC15 she is staying in the shadows and no one has noticed her yet so she is basically sniping the evil warlord to afflict hm with permanent blindness before she makes herself obvious and confronts his lackeys with an ultimatum...!

So, there is the target. Pompous ass. Now, how to make sure he doesn't get away. From her hidden vantage, Barezata watches Kardswann, taking care to note how he carries himself and looking for signs of old battle wounds where he might be a little too slow to react to an arrow aimed for throat or heart.
Assuming this is a surprise round, Barezata will take a move action.
Move action: Studied Target

Samuel waits and watches quietly, prepared to cast a spell to boost the fighter's capability if necessary before things get too out of control.

readied action to cast enlarge person on Erizi.

megan, this is the guy who went through the sealed demon door yes? I want to confirm before I post.

Yes, Sonya, so you have been told by Undrella.

Kardswann's save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Megan, do I have clear line of sight to Kardswann or does he have cover from a wall of some form? I think there are still some people to act in the surprise round, plus now we'll need initiative, but I'm trying to picture that balcony before deciding what to do next.

Hijiro stays to the shadows and takes no action, but, hand on the hilt of his rapier, readies to defend himself if need be.

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Darn... ah well. I'll wait to see if Kardswan realizes he's had a spell cast at him and what Sonya's post is before I proceed further.

Sonya steps forward her high priestess robes standing out shimmering like the sun as she gathers her composure and addresses Kardswann. "The dawn is coming. The time of repentance is upon you Kardswann. Shake off the charms and compulsions of your demon master and repent from your transgression. The Everlight comes to reclaim her city. Send off your band of misfits and repent before the Dawn Flower's eternal mercy."

Diplomacy check 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 = 29