Luke's Crimson Throne Campaign

Game Master GM Crimson

Tiora sidles up to Tassira. "I'm you're mate, aye. Let me shift my clothes again and we can be gone."

Five minutes later she's returned wearing the sailor's garb again. This time she's strapped one of the short swords you purchased for her to her waist, and hasn't swaddled her face or hair.

"I suggest we go separate the entire way. Let me leave first and get to an observation spot on the square. You come after ten minutes, be as sneaky as you can and head straight for the Sticky Mermaid. If you pickup a tail, I'll amuse him. If not, I'll shadow you."

Tassira nods in agreement. ”Sounds like a plan.”

When the time comes, she sticks to Tiora’s plan, letting her go first before trying to make her way to the Mermaid without being noticed.

Stealth *Familiar*: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Nebbin relaxes when the two of them return to the cathedral, expressing surprise when Emileva reveals that she was able to get the supplies.

He greets Kayleigh happily, and -- trying to make sure no one's watching -- gives her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"I hope you were OK here, and it wasn't too boring," he says. "It's really sad out there. There was a crowd of people who wanted medicine and I couldn't do anything to help them."

Kayleigh's eyes go wide at Nebbin's unexpected display of affection and she actually pulls back a little, a troubled look in her eyes. A moment later, though, the doubt is gone, replaced by the dreamy smile she reserves for the big fighter. She stands on her tiptoes and gives him a return kiss.

"Sorry about that," she says softly. "You surprised me and...well, I was out while you were gone, checking on a couple of local families to see how they're faring and to see if I'd pick up a tail as well. Many of them are sick with the same thing we had. As much as I'd love to believe we're now immune to whatever contagion's plaguing the city, that's probably a false hope. And from what you saw at the market, it seems this illness is spreading like wildfire."

Lowering her voice even more, Kayleigh whispers, "Kissing's probably not the smartest or safest thing to do these days."

Her eyes resolute and confident, the priestess adds, "But we have only two choices: To stop living and try to hide inside from this plaque and hope to have lives to return to later, or to go about our lives as normal and maybe do something to stop its spread or at least alleviate its effects...not to mention dealing with some of Korvosa's other evils, like Barvasi and the poison he peddles. If we have to fight through the disease again, so be it--we'll do so together."

Tassira doesn't think anyone's following as she makes her way down to the Mermaid. The northern piers are destitute - not a ship in sight, and the tavern is mostly empty when she gets there. It's a sailor's dive for sure. To say it's a pirate dive is stretching the truth. Piracy is illegal in Korvosa, of course, and a self-declared pirate vessel wouldn't make it to the river mouth.

Tassira scans the place and her eyes settle on a shady alcove where a hooded female sits. She waves Tassira over.

"Hi," she says. "Your messenger said this was urgent. What's happened?"

As Tassira sits, Tiora enters the bar and goes over to find a stool.

[/b]"[/i]Kissing[/i]!"[/b] Nebbin replies in a furious whisper. "It's not safe to go out by yourself! Someone's -- maybe a lot of someones -- is ... are ... is trying to kill us! We can't just go out by ourselves! That's REALLY not safe!"

A determined look of concern settles on the big man's face as he makes his plea.

The walk to the Sticky Mermaid caused Tassira's stomach to twist about with every step. She eventually stopped looking over her shoulder every twenty steps to see if she was being followed, and made it to the nearly empty dive bar.

When she sees the hooded figure, Tassira makes her way over to her.

"Well, negotiations with Barvasi went oddly well." She starts, the anxiety in her gut abating somewhat. "Turns out the reason for that is that Pilts Swastel is very put out over his..." Tassira pauses. "...playhouse... if you could even CALL it that, burning down."

"Enough so that he's issued a bounty for our heads. And Barvasi is probably looking to collect, even though he's provoking a street war with the Arkonas already."

Kayleigh actually flinches at Nebbin's angry tone. It's the first time he's been mad at her and she can't help but momentarily imagine the terror the giant would be if he were an abusive boyfriend.

But that's not Nebbin...he's just being his usual overprotective self.

"Regeris was watching me and would've followed if I'd picked up a tail," Kayleigh replies somewhat meekly. "But it's a risk I had to take. I'm worried about the priests and the Lambs. If Barvasi's in league with Swastel, he could have told him that we'd all be at Eel's End and that the temple would be unprotected."

Helvara's eyes go wide.

"That was YOU that burned down Execrables!?" she laughs. "Oh, honey! All your drinks are on me from now on!"

After a moment taken to regain her composure, Helvara returns her attention to the matters at hand.

"I don't know what you mean by starting a street war. With the Arkona's? That cannot be right. It would be suicide, wouldn't it? They're supposed to be the richest family in Old Korvosa. Devargo and his dark cultist friend may be dangerous, but I think they're out of their league with the Arkonas."

She takes a pull from the wine at hand and starts talking again.

"And he may not end up the only casualty of that war. Gods! He's going to ruin all of us. I may need that new place sooner than I thought."

"So if your business is done with Barvasi, why did you ask to meet me? You know, this doesn't count as a date."

"That was YOU that burned down Execrables!?" She laughs. "Oh, honey! All your drinks are on me from now on!"

Tassira winces. "Well, technically we didn't go there with the intention of burning down. We just mounted a rescue mission to save one of Kayleigh's mentors from being the centrepiece of a snuff play... and, long story short, the building ended up burning down."

"We got him out alive, and no one was too badly hurt, at least."

"...so if your business is done with Barvasi, why did you ask to meet me? You know, this doesn't count as a date."

"Because my friends and I are going to meet Barvasi tonight for an exchange. And we're certain he's going to double-cross us. We're likely to come to blows."

"I need whatever information you can give me on Barvasi's cronies and tactics. Especially his cultist friend, and whatever dirty tricks the man himself likes to employ in combat." Tassira folds her hands on the table. "If Barvasi is as greedy as you claim, he'd stand to gain more from trying to collect whatever bounty Swastel put on us than upholding his end of the deal."

Diplomacy?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

"Who knows... if things go the way I think they will, we might have a repeat performance of the Execrables in the near future."

"Oh! Are you dealing with him for the Amprei letters? He came to me today about them and I handed them over to him. He said my monthly dock fee would be covered for the next three months. But if you're coming to blows with him and Eel's End is destroyed in the process..."

She sits back with a sigh and look of concentration.

"You should have brought your inquiry to me first. I would have given you the letters for a kiss. Now you have to deal with Devargo to get them."

"So, you're right not to trust him at all. He's disappeared so many of his enemies - they go into the Eel, but they do not come out. And he produces real shiver. He doesn't import it - that implies he's got a clutch of dream spiders somewhere, right? The way he controls spiders, I guess that makes sense. But I've never been below decks on the Eel and I never intend to be. I expect he'll have allies aboard, especially if he means to double-cross you."

"I've heard he likes to fight with his hands. He's not known as a wielder of the arcane - beyond the uncanny control of bugs. He's strong, but not like your big friend. He's tricky, and confronting him on his own grounds is going to give him alot of advantages."

"His dark friend is never far from his side these days, though it wasn't always true. His name is Jax, and I think he may run a gang of his own somewhere in Bridgefront. That medallion he wears around his neck has a carving on it of a dead spider, curled up on its back. I couldn't work that one out, and he called me out for staring at it and hid it away at the time."

"If they worship spiders, why is the spider dead?"

She pauses again, scouring her mind for other things that might help.

"Oh, and there's one more guy - Jeffron's his name. He stays below decks and really only seems to come out when he wants to see Alessa, one of my girls. He doesn't seem overly cruel or evil - if he did he wouldn't be seeing Alessa - but she says he always smells strange. I think maybe he cooks the drug."

She holds her hands upturned, a look of worry on her face. "I don't know what else to tell you, but I'm worried about tonight. Ships burn way easier than playhouses, and all of our ships are lashed to the same pier. I don't love the House of Clouds - I just bought it to lash to Eel's End and replace the last floating brothel that Devargo saw fit to cut loose. But I don't want to see it go up in flames, and I don't want my people hurt. Or my clients for that matter."

"You should have brought your inquiry to me first. I would have given you the letters for a kiss. Now you have to deal with Devargo to get them."

"I suspected as such." Tassira purses her lips.

So, we take the letters, kill Devargo and kill his men.

"...his dark friend is never far from his side these days, though it wasn't always true. His name is Jax, and I think he may run a gang of his own somewhere in Bridgefront. That medallion he wears around his neck has a carving on it of a dead spider, curled up on its back. I couldn't work that one out, and he called me out for staring at it and hid it away at the time."

"If they worship spiders, why is the spider dead?"

Tassira attentively listens to Helvara's exposition on Devargo's allies and weapons. The mention of the cultist's object of worship causes the young mage to have a thought.

"....maybe they don't worship spiders..." She muses.

"I don't know what else to tell you, but I'm worried about tonight. Ships burn way easier than playhouses, and all of our ships are lashed to the same pier. I don't love the House of Clouds - I just bought it to lash to Eel's End and replace the last floating brothel that Devargo saw fit to cut loose. But I don't want to see it go up in flames, and I don't want my people hurt. Or my clients for that matter."

"I understand, Helvara." Tassira nods, getting up from her seat and moving closer to the hooded woman. "We'll do everything we can to keep this from getting out of control."

"I know doing this was quite a risk." Her hand gently takes Helvara's, her skin feeling warm against the bandages wrapping up her hands & arms. "Thank you for doing this."

With Tiora handling Tassira, Regeris found himself once again at the temple. Deciding the teens weren't much of a threat, he waited until Tiora and Tassira were well gone before making his way to the market in the hopes of encountering the rest of the group and dealing with the tail placed on them.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Perception for one last glance out the bell tower, stealth to get out of the Temple unseen before heading to the market to look for the older guy who went in that direction.

He looks unhappy, but Nebbin accepts Kayleigh's explanation. Obviously she is fine, but ... someone is out there trying to kill them and people close to them.

"Wait, where are you going?" Nebbin asks. "Should we go with you?"

Not sure the timing here, if we're back before Regeris leaves. If not, I guess Nebbin is just hanging out at the temple with Emileva and Kayleigh.

He also doesn't say anything about being right about the fact they should have gone to Helvara, mostly because he doesn't yet know, but also because he's too nice to do something like that. :)

Kayleigh's eyes dart between Nebbin and Emileva. She clearly seems to want to say something (likely to Nebbin) but keeps hesitating. Finally, she sets free a sigh and says what's on her mind.

"I was going to ask one of you to maybe give me some combat pointers or a sparring lesson while we wait for Tassira and Tiora to return," she says, "but maybe you can both offer me some suggestions. Also, we should discuss strategy. I'm thinking that while Barvasi's our main target, his cloaked sidekick might be a priest. Should we maybe decide beforehand who goes for Barvasi and who goes for his advisor?"

Turning her gaze to Nebbin, she adds, "Maybe this time we can fight together rather than me hanging back...and usually getting myself in trouble."

I guess I can always try to find some alone time with Nebbin later; right now we need to focus on staying alive to ensure we have a future beyond this evening.

Regeris is going a direct obvious route so if you're returning he'll probably encounter you.

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The Sticky Mermaid
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Helvara smiles back at the younger woman.

"Of course. A little danger keeps life spicy I suppose. But too much of it will get you killed. You be careful when you go see Devargo tonight. Don't take anything for granted, and don't trust him for anything. The House of Clouds will be on full alert so at least we're not caught flat-footed if things really do turn to violence and it spills over to the rest of the pier and the other businesses there."

She takes Tassira's bandaged hand up and lightly kisses the exposed knuckles, then moves to leave.

"I need to get back. Lefty's got a great eye for security but is terrible with numbers, and Spike is completely illiterate. They'll give away the house if I leave them too long in charge of things."

As Helvara exits the bar, Tiora pays her tab, glances over at Tassira meaningfully, and prepares to leave.

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Streets of Old Dock
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High stealth and low perception rolls across the board (including your adversaries).

Regeris finds Nebbin and Emi walking back together from the market, with no sign that they're still being followed. The three make it back to the temple, where the corner-dwellers still watch over the place.

And once returned, the Kayleigh-Nebbin convo above takes place. I think we can move on to your return to Eel's End unless you guys want to discuss strategery first.

Tassira turns a bit pink when Helvara kisses her on the knuckles, and watches her as she leaves.

She goes with Tiora when the lady looks at her. She tries to be as unnoticeable as she was last time...

Stealth *Familiar*?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"There's not a lot of time left before this evening. It's probably better to practice with one of us rather than both, less confusing for a quick lesson."

Emi clears out to give them space to practice. She might have given Kayleigh a quick wink as she leaves.

I'm going to be fairly busy over the next couple of days so I'll add this as a quick sets of ideas for handling the meeting. While I doubt it, it is possible Barvasi is planning to sell the letters since he did collect them. I suppose we shouldn't be overly hair-triggered. On the other hand I don't care very much about avoiding a fight, he'd be one less thing to worry about long-term. If we're fighting, I'd guess my broad strokes suggestion would be something along these lines: Nebbin and Kayleigh go after the spell caster hooded guy. Spellcraft could be useful against him. Emi will keep Barvasi busy until hooded guy is down. Regeris can also go against Barvasi if there aren't too many mooks to deal with. Tassira provides some area control and AoE spells that take out henchmen and/or keep them off our backs until hooded guy and Barvasi are down. So priorities are hooded guy down first since spells are very dangerous and unpredictable, Barvasi down second since his mercenaries may not fight after they no longer have a boss. Standard decapitation strategy, take out the leader and hope it takes the fight out of the group.

Kayleigh finds herself nodding in agreement with Emi on nearly all the tactics the young swordswoman suggests. She also gives a final nod and thankful smile when Emi suggests that Nebbin be her sole instructor.

"I generally like to keep my buckler raised high while I swing low, usually at my opponent's knees or ribcage. I try to hit them somewhere it hurts but not somewhere that one blow would be fatal: Belt them someplace painful and make them consider if they really want to keep fighting. Gee, I never thought of it before, but I guess that makes me something of a sadistic meanie!"

Kayleigh sets herself in an awkward 'Look--I'll have your other knee. Right!' sort of battle stance, waiting for Nebbin to better position her body.

Once Tassira makes it back to the temple, she looks for the others.

"Everyone. I've got some information on Barvasi you'll need to hear..."

With that, she explains what she's learned of Devargo and his flunkies--his preference for fighting in melee, his lack of magical aptitude (which doesn't explain his spider affinity), and especially his cultist friend.

"Helvara told me that he has a medallion of a dead spider around his neck--thinks he's from a cult that worships spiders. But wouldn't the spider be depicted as being alive if that were the case?"

"Wait, me?" Nebbin says as Emi leaves. "I thought you meant she was going to practice with you! I don't know anything about fighting!"

The big man looks panicked, as Kayleigh turns to him like he's some sort of expert.

"No!" he exclaims at Kayleigh's comments. "You could never be sadistic or mean! You don't want to kill them! That's a good thing! I ... it's horrible killing people. Everything in the city is getting so bad, and I don't want to hurt anyone, but ... I can't let them hurt you. I think if you just let your body do what it wants and hit them before they can hit you, that's the best plan. Try not to get too angry. I know I do sometimes. It's like everything goes red, and it's ... kind of scary..."

The big man sits down, his shoulders slumping.

Yeah, Nebbin's not going to teach Kayleigh anything useful. :)

At first, Kayleigh seems disappointed that Nebbin can't show her any cool moves, but as he talks she remembers what drew her to him...and what Milani said about the big guy in her dream/vision. Instead of sparring with him, she sits with Nebbin and merely chats, eventually asking if he's ever considered becoming some sort of holy warrior.

"Not that I've ever heard of a paladin of Milani," she concludes with a knitted brow.

When Tassira returns and makes her report, something about a dead spider pings in the recesses of Kayleigh's mind, but she's not sure it's a true memory or something from her recent spider-themed nightmares.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Oh, I don't know," he says. "I don't know how religious I am..."

Still, he seems more soothed by the conversation and is smiling again by the time the "training" ends. He bravely puts an arm around the priestess and gives her another kiss -- blushing as he does so -- as they get up when they hear Tassira return.

Huh. Might be fun to multiclass into warpriest, but his Wisdom's not really built for that...

Regeris scowls. "Devargo and the cultist need to die first. Keep your eyes open carefully for any - literal - traps. Considering his control of spiders and this cultist, it's almost certain we're going to end up fighting some vermin. In a perfect world the fight will have us concentrating only on Devargo and the cultist while any spiders or guards are kept at bay through whatever means we have."

"I do have a spell that'll enrapture people as long as no one disturbs them..." Tassira offers.

Sometime well after sundown the group decides the time for doing the deal has come. Outside the temple the end-of-day traffic in the square has dwindled to a trickle and the small group of observers who've been loitering outside is down to just the two who have actively tailed members of the group. As the party emerges from the temple, these two melt away down side-streets, apparently uninterested in meeting you as a group.

Eel's End is as raucous as ever. People mingle in groups along the pier and on the decks of the various vessels. All but the Eel's End herself, which sports the same few vigilant guards, but none of what you might call "innocent bystanders". At the House of Clouds, Lefty stands guard at the door sporting a blade at his side and a exotic looking polearm at hand. He tracks your group with his eyes as you transit the deck of the barge on your way to the deck of the aged warship, nodding ever so slightly in recognition.

As the group crosses the gangway you're intercepted by Devargo's guards. His pageboy steps to the front to greet you.

"Good evening fair heroes! Master Barvasi awaits at your pleasure."

He bows low and sweeps an arm toward the now familiar door to the stern cabin.

I spent some holiday time dressing up the site around the Eel's End map (for one). The icons should let you transit between decks, though parts that you've not seen will still be dark.

Nice.

Nebbin gulps a little, and once the others are ready leads the way into the cabin.

Not sure if anyone wants to have cast any spells before we go in. Nebbin does not (no consumables to use either). GM, if it matters, don't forget he gets a +1 to Perception to avoid being surprised by foes.

Kayleigh nods fairly politely at the page and follows behind Nebbin. As the group stops outside the King of Spiders' cabin, the priestess offers a brief prayer to her goddess and bestows a blessing upon Nebbin with a touch: "Milani bless and guide you." Once inside, Kayleigh casts her eyes about the cabin looking for anything that's different from the previous visit. Unfortunately, she lets Nebbin's proximity and nervousness distract her.

"Remember: Scowly face!" she whispers when she hears his gulp.

Casting guidance on Nebbin. I won't push my luck (or Barvasi's patience) by casting anything further...yet.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

I can "DMPC" Emi if she's not back, but I just want to give a little more time to make sure none of the other spellcasters want to cast anything.

Having made sure to cast mage armour before the party left, Tassira's expression is stony and focused. Magical power is practically thrumming in her fingertips, waiting for the right moment to be unleashed...

She glares at the pageboy for a moment before stepping into the cabin, her back straight and her eyes hardened.

Regeris spends a while carefully looking over his gear, stringing his bow, counting his arrows, and praying. He is quiet and solemn as he approaches Eel's End, looking over the group. "Remember, we are prepared to fight, but that is not the only possible outcome."

As Regeris gets ready to move in, he passes his commanding gaze over the guards, assessing their own readiness as he tries to meet their eyes.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Trying to see if we're of special interest to the guards and if they're ready for a fight - unusually so.

Did we all take the antitoxin before we went in or were we planning to hold onto it? Also, I assume each of us has one vial of the acid?

"Botting" Emi

"OK, we have the money we agreed to," Emileva says bluntly, getting right down to business as she enters. "You have the letters?"

Emi Perception (just looking to see if there are any surprises lurking): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Sure, just take my good rolls, Emi!

Regeris's words don't seem to mesh entirely with the grim expression on his face. Tassira, too, doesn't have the appearance of someone walking into a mere business deal. Nebbin looks antsy, and the priestess is fairly certain she looks nervous as well.

You should be nervous, walking into the Spider's lair when you know he's hungry....

The thought brought back the vestiges of another nearly-forgotten dream she'd had while sick at the Vantyev estate. In the dead of night, Kayleigh'd set off on some important (yet now forgotten) errand through a lifeless Korvosa festooned in giant spider webs. No--not lifeless, for she felt certain that dark arachnid beings scuttled through the shadows at the edge of her vision. She was traveling from the Vantyev Estate back to Old Korvosa, likely to the Temple of Aroden (or was Eel's End her destination?).

The only light came from a full moon, which, to Kayleigh's horror, was actually the glowing abdomen of a titanic spider hanging in a great web over the city. Occasionally, wafts of spider silk wafted down onto the streets, coating the streets with what appeared to be a light, almost pretty snowfall. This webbing only threatened to ensnare the cleric if she stopped moving.

The city was dark and silent as a necropolis at midnight as Kayleigh wound her way toward her unknown destination...with one exception. Kayleigh approached the one home--somewhere in Midland, she guessed--that had a light burning inside: the home and shop of the murdered fortuneteller, Zellara. The woman's ghost indeed sat at a table in the parlor, a Harrow deck at the ready.

"You've come for a reading." Kayleigh wasn't sure if Zellara was asking her that or telling her. She merely took a seat across from the seer as the cards were shuffled and laid out. As soon as the Harrower finished, a violent gust threw open the windows and front door of the shop with a startling crash and wisps of spider webbing began to waft into the room, quickly coating all in a gossamer veil. A large swath of webbing flew toward Kayleigh’s torso, but she ducked down and the silk instead impacted Zellara and wrapped around her, nearly pinning her arms to her sides. The priestess dodged the largest incoming strands and frantically tore and yanked at the bits of webbing accumulating over her body lest she be immobilized by the sticky stuff.

”There’s no time for that, child!” Zellara cried out. Kayleigh's attention returned to the ghostly fortuneteller. The Varisian woman was--somewhat inexplicably, since she was an immaterial spirit--bound to her chair, nearly cocooned with webbing. Most of the Harrow cards, too, were covered in soft white akin to a light evening snow. The card in the right-hand column closest to the seer was still web-free, and Zellara struggled to reach out to it before the sticky strands rendered her helpless.

”This card represents a potentially negative future event, Kayleigh,” the woman said ominously. She flipped the card and uttered a short, mirthless laugh. ”Poor child. It seems that if it weren’t for bad luck, you’d have no luck at all.” Again she coughed a short laugh and announced: ”The Cricket.”

Zellara sighed in defeat as more and more streamers of spider web spiraled through the air and bound her in place. ”Although the Cricket is normally a good card, here it is misaligned. Elsewhere on the board it might have signified swift and safe passage; here, however, it predicts that your journey will go badly. Indeed, here you stand, a cricket in a city of webs. One misstep and you may well be ensnared. Yet you must press forward, Kayleigh Fairwind, into the heart of the spider’s lair, where you will confront….”

Try as she could, Kayleigh couldn't recall what had occured next in her dream, and her attention refocused on the present. She looked at her companions anew, remembering Zellara's original Harrow reading. She recalled the Peacock, a card that bespoke of the transformation of each of the friends. Looking around, Kayleigh could already see the changes apparent in her companions: Nebbin and Tassira had grown so much in confidence...in power. Emi seemed the same on the surface, but she, too, had grown, as witnessed by her ability to almost single-handedly take down the revenge golem...even though blinded. Kayleigh herself...well, for better or for worse, she'd now set herself on the path of confrontation with the city's tyrants where before she'd merely treated the wounds and misfortune those tyrants heaped upon the lesser folk. It suddenly occured to the cleric that Zellara had drawn the Inquisitor card but dismissed it; looking at grim Regeris quietly but confidently leading the party into Eel's End, Kayleigh couldn't help but think that the seer had somehow missed a very important element of the reading.

This post is just my typically long-winded way or reminding myself of Harrow Points and giving Kayleigh a reason to maybe use one or more at Eel's End. If things go south, I think I'll have Kayleigh invoke at least the +1 dodge bonus to AC. There's a link beneath my alias to the post where the uses of Harrow Points are spelled out. Perhaps Kayleigh can share her points with Regeris, as they share a powerful common link: devotion to their goddess, Milani.

I'm back but I'll let Nebbin's bot stand except to add a couple of things. I'd like to keep that perception roll. Thanks Nebbin!

As Emi waits for everyone to reconvene at the temple, she whets all of her blades to a razor's edge.

Before leaving she passes out the goods she bought, 1 dose of antitoxin and 1 vial of acid to each person. Once they've neared Eel's End, Emi goes ahead and drinks down her dose of antitoxin. "Anyone feel free to do the talking if you think it will help. It didn't seem to matter much what I said last time."

She ignores the page boy when boarding the ship, staying focused on the meeting ahead.

I'll add a Sense Motive check used on Barvasi once they meet, and Emi will use Studied Target on Barvasi. It will add +1 to the Perception check above.

Everyone keep in mind the antitoxin is good for an hour after consumed and gives a +5 to fortitude checks against poison.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 = 16

Diplomacy (If Needed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Dang, should've waited 40 more minutes! I'll also drink my vial of antitoxin.

Yeah, I meant to remind everyone to drink their antitoxin earlier...but then I forgot. :)

Kayleigh would've drank hers prior to reaching Eel's End.

And WB Emi. I feel better about this business knowing you're back with us for this encounter.

Speaking of forgetting about things....

Once inside Barvasi's cabin, Kayleigh makes a point of looking around for the big bluish spider she saw atop the covered birdcage on the party's previous visit.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Tassira will drink her antitoxin.

Regeris pauses, whispering a word to Nebbin and tapping him on the shoulder. "We may be occupied. The Everbloom will grant you the right to see into the souls of men and women. It will last a few minutes. Be watchful and cry out if the attack is coming."

Casting bestow insight on Nebbin. He gains sense motive with a +6 total (+3 insight, +3 training).

Sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

BAM!

The stern cabin of Eel's End is just as you remember, minus the two spectators at the table. One guard stands dutifully on the left flank of Devargo's desk, but otherwise the master of Eel's End is alone in the room - that is if you don't count the arachnids that scurry across the shelves and floorboards. One large coal-black specimen dangles from a single thread of gossamer about a foot behind Devargo's head, creating a disturbing distraction from the business at hand. As the group files into the cramped quarters, the covered cage in the corner rattles.

Devargo's broad smile doesn't quite reach his dark eyes as he looks over the group.

"Time for business! Yes?" he asks of Emi as she steps forward. "This parcel," gesturing at the pile of letters bound in twine on the desk in front of him, "contains all you could possibly need to control our Chelaxian friend. I presume you've brought the sum we've agreed to?"

"Come place it on my desk, and take your letters."

Emi, Regeris and Nebbin all read the same dark intent in the eyes of Devargo and the guard. They're nervous and focused. The guard casts a surreptitious glance in the direction of the unoccupied table and the stairs behind it that lead down into the belly of the Eel. His hands rest on the pommels of the blades at his belt.

As Emileva goes to step forward, she notices an odd inconsistency in the floorboards in front of Devargo's desk - suggestive of a trap door in the floor.

Instead of stepping forward to the desk, EMi steps diagonally around to the side of it. She looks at Devargo with a cocked eyebrow.

"The floor looks weak there. You should have somebody look at that, a person could fall straight through."

Emi's wry tone of voice while making the comment is meant to communicate a couple of things. To Devargo her message is she's willing to let his unwise ploy slide if he plays things straight going forward. To her friends the message is the meeting is meant as an ambush as they anticipated.

Emi reaches into her pouch and withdraws two sacks, each containing 250 gold coins. "Half." she tells Davergo. "I take a look at the letters, then the other half."

As Emi picks of the bundle she surreptitiously watches Devargo's face to see if he lets anything slip.

Emi unties the bundle and quickly scans a couple of the letters. She then places the bundle back on the table.

When Emi mentions the trap door, she will use her Tactician ability to share her teamwork feat Lookout with the rest of the party. IF I understand it correctly, Lookout will let us all use the group's best initiative roll if there's a surprise round.

I'll hold right here because things could happen to alter events as given above.

Sense Motive (watching Devargo without seeming to when she picks up the letters): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15

Nebbin waits, watchful, wondering if he's going to have to use the big blade, and hoping he doesn't.

That's smart with that Lookout feat. Could be a huge boon.

Kayleigh does nothing to escalate the situation, but she tries to avoid the floor section Emi warns about.

Regeris does what he does best. Puts on his best "do not toy with me" face and stands bolt still near the back of the group, his eyes constantly searching the area for any sign of betrayal. With the guards nervous, he takes a moment to scan for evil auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Detect evil.

As Emileva's moneybags hit the desk, Devargo triggers his ambush.

"Now!" he commands, and the room descends into chaos. Wired as you are, the party springs into violence, largely beating the ambushers to the punch.

Initiative order:

Kayleigh 21
Emileva 18
Devargo 14
Regeris 11+
Eel's End guards 11
Nebbin 9
Tassira 3

The first round will be a surprise round for everyone, and all members of the party are eligible to act (no one on either side is actually surprised). My reading of the Tactician/teamwork (Lookout) combination is different, but as always I'm open to learning if I'm wrong. Lookout should let everyone in the group act in the surprise round like it was a full round. So while your enemies have to confine themselves to move or standard actions in round 1, the party gets to treat it like a full round. I'm missing the part that lets you all share the best roll...

Kayleigh and Emi may act. Some other stuff will happen prior to the rest of the group moving, though.

And to Regeris's eyes, this ship is filled with evil. Every stranger in his view radiates it.

Sorry for the multiple posts... but also, I think it's reasonable to say that Emi could snatch up the bundle in one hand while dropping the moneybags in the other, so while Emi has no time to look at the letters, she does have possession of the parcel as combat begins.

Struck by sudden inspiration (Milani be praised!), Kayleigh draws the wand found in the derro warrens and entrusted to her by her companions. "Mystelum!" she shouts, invoking the wand's inherent magic, and a semitransparent, glowing red morningstar appears in the air near Delvargo and swings hard at the ribs of the King of Spiders. Lastly, the cleric takes a quick step back toward the cabin door {H2, V2}, expecting guards to start flowing in from that direction momentarily.

spiritual weapon morningstar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 for force damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Also, I'd like to use a Harrow Point to give Kayleigh a +1 dodge bonus to AC for this encounter. Is that a free action?