Lunar Sloth's Second Darkness

Game Master Slothsy

Is Vark still in the party and invisible? If so, then could he scout the rooms and let us know if there are enemies in a room before moving down the hall. I would not want an enemy behind me.

From down the hallway, Saul's voice echoes again. "Bojask, put that damn pig back in its cage or I will come out there and put it down."

Moving this along, since there seems to be a stall. Right now, you guys are in the cellar room in the basement - it's on the far right of the map.

Saul's voice calls out again, now slightly panicked - "Bojask? What is taking you so long?"

Vark whispers "Give me a second. By the way, this place stinks of troglodytes."

His feet shuffle on the ground out of the wine cellar, leaving a thin set of footprints in the dust behind him. For a long minute, there's no sign of his return, not even a whispered breath from the message spell. The tension builds as Kwava looks nervously at the party, mumbling something about going after him.

Just as Kwava begins to move to the door, Vark whispers back, "He's in the Octohedron. Just, uh, know that's he's got company down here."

Feeling the familiar twitch in her eyebrow as Vark mentions Saul's location, Nel lets out a heavy sigh. "What do you mean company?" she hisses out menacingly, more annoyed at the fact that Saul had an unknown ally than at Vark. "Let's move out. We wouldn't want to keep Saul waiting." Hefting the large pig onto one of her shoulders, Nel makes her way towards the arena, intent to return the boar to Saul, just as the vindictive man had requested.

Mazra will wait for the fighters to take the lead and will follow close behind waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Seeing everyone is ready to go find him, Pluck reconsiders any trickery and tucks himself in safely behind the others to go see their employer.

Vark laughs nervously and adds, "Well, it's Saul, two thugs I haven't seen before and some guy tied up in the corner. Saul's in a right foul mood."

He slinks invisibly behind as everyone descends the stone steps to the Octohedron.

This sand-floored room is dark low light conditions; those without low-light vision have a 20% miss chance and quieter than ever before, with no drunken guests placing bets on fights between animals. Saul leans against a wall, a little too casually cleaning his fingernails with his key-hand as two thugs circle the room. One of them takes a moment to kick an older man who's been tied, gagged and left in the northeastern corner.

"Well, I can't say I wasn't expecting you," Saul says with a confident laugh. "But I can't fathom what you want."

The man tests his bonds, but they hold him fast.

Escape Artist check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Before going down the hallway, Pluck asks "Want to lead with everyone that is still invisible or do you want me to try to drop Saul and one of his thugs into a pit?"

"Let's me think about this? Go ahead of the fighters or drop Saul into a pit? I pick drop Saul into a pit," Mazra has a big invisible grin that nobody notices.

Pluck times his approach and then saunters boldly into the room. "What we want? We want to know who you're working with." Pluck begins casting create pit hoping to catch Saul and at least one of the guards.
Reflex save DC 16

Saul jumps away from the pit beneath his feat before taking a moment to glower at Pluck.

"You were always the nasty one, he says as draws his rapier and takes a fighting stance. "Now it's time for you all to die. Boys, stop messing around and come help me with our visitors."

Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Initatives

Tamiro
Ianez
Thugs
Pluck
Mazra
Saul
Nel

Pluck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Nel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Mazra: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Tamiro: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Ianez: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Saul: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Thugs: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

I've moved Pluck to where he would have had to be to cast the create pit.
Pluck whispers back, "Try to pin them against the pit. They might fall in. Stay away from those edges yourselves."

Mazra will touch Nel, "Cayden, give this great warrior the strength of a bull." He will then move to stand next to Pluck on his right and remain Invisible.

Bull's Strength on Nel for 30 rounds. The spell grants a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength, adding the usual benefts to melee attack rolls, melee damage rolls, and other uses of the Strength modifer.

Before moving, Tamiro growls and yells, "Wizard! We have to fight there too! What use is killing him if hes in a pit and we cant get him?"

Looking for new options, he scans the room.
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Cant do anything with a pit there, and I would rather not waste the bonus invis to hit on a mook...HOLD TURN until I know where Saul is going. I will go after Sauls turn.

Escape Artist check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

The bound man seems to be slipping free, though it's taking him a little time.

"Got your back, boss" one of the men says as he squeezes around the edge of the pit to take a slice at Pluck with his shortsword. Making contact, the man smiles at Saul, seeking approval.

The other appears to watch and wait.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Sorry about that Tamiro. I see now that the pit was a bad idea.

Pluck sighs, "You big lug. Pay attention. First of all, we don't want him dead yet. Second, if you'd acted a little quicker and done what I said you could have stopped this one from stabbing me and had your chance at Saul." Pluck takes a step back from the thug who stabbed him and twists his ring, casting another spell.
Five foot step back. Use divine bond to cast grease on Saul's square, plus the 4 to the south and east. DC 15 Reflex.
HP 10/17
My intent was to catch Saul and one of the thugs in the area and to get at least one of them. If the thugs had both been in the same 10 ft. area, I would have picked them instead of Saul, but since it sounded like they were circling, I figured I could only get one of them and Saul. Turns out only Saul was possible. That might have changed the plan, but no sense crying over spilled milk. At this point, we need to get the thugs down and get Saul for questioning.

Saul grumbles as he moves along the sloped edge by the pit, passing one of his hired men.

As he levels his rapier at Pluck, he yells to the thug in the corner "I'm paying to help me out. Stop standing around and earn your keep."

I will wait to have the final thug move until after Nel and Tamiro take their actions.

Tamiro will take his opportunity to move up to Saul, roaring "I will see you in hell betrayer! I have no interest in prisoners!"

Tamiro will challenge Saul.
Attack from Invis vs. Flat footed?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Tamiro, are you charging? Did you add in the +2 from invisibility?

Um, what about the grease?

Oops, missed that. Saul falls down before his turn, uses a move action to stand up and ends in the original square, this time not readying an action.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Acrobatics to move: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Could not charge, yup added the +2

Watching as Saul attempts to route Pluck, Nel steps forward, allowing Pigsaw's body to fall to the ground. "Aw, are we grumpy, Vancaskerkin? I brought you a present, but now I see you aren't a pig kind of guy. Too bad." Offering the crime lord a toothy smirk, Nel brings down her longsword, as she cuts deep into Saul's shoulder. "You should've dropped the murder attempts after failing to get us to kill Smeed. Then again, you've never been that smart." Taunting her former employer, Nel tries to distract the rogue from attacking the diviner.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Saul doubles over as Nel's sword slices through his leather armor, blood beginning to spill out of his body.

"I never liked you much, half-breed," he says and he stands straight, resting his weight on the ball of his foot and holding his key-hand back slightly.

The man that had been waiting for orders slides around near Tamiro, slicing wildly down with his short sword. He manages to slash Tamiro's knee with his sword, but lacks the force to critically injure Tamiro only dealing 3 points of damage.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

End of Round 2

New Initatives
Ianez
Thug 1
Pluck
Mazra
Saul
Tamiro
Nel
Thug 2

Gritting his teeth as the blade bites into him, he glares at the man behind him, "Wait your turn!"

He then turns back to Saul, and roars as he swings into him with both blades, slicing deep gauges through his flesh, "Ki'ken'na inu wa anata o shinimasu!"

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Katana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Wakizashi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Katana +2 for Confirmations: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

The map isn't working for me, so I'm not sure where everyone is atm.

Try the map link in Slothsy's posts. Right below her name and above her picture (Second Darkness Map). (Not the Map of Current Encounter Link at the top of the page)

Yes, sorry, I can't currently edit my campaign page, so we've had to use the one by name. It's a PITA.

Ianez shakes off the last few ropes and comes to his feet, drawing a longsword and buckler.

Mazra will move Invisibly up to Saul and attack the Casino Owner, "Remenber me?"

Mazra's Stealth: 1d20 - 2 + 20 ⇒ (19) - 2 + 20 = 37

Rapier: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 251d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Rapier Comfirm Crit.: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 141d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

@Slothsy - Saul would get an AoO on Mazra with a DC 37 Perception check. Mazra crits with an 18. Saul loses his Dex bonus, so without knowing his AC less Dex, would a 14 confirm the crit?

@Nel - Don't forget Mazra gave you Bull's Strength prior to your attack.

@Slothsy - Saul would get an AoO on Mazra with a DC 37 Perception check. Mazra crits with an 18. Saul loses his Dex bonus, so without knowing his AC less Dex, would a 14 confirm the crit?

I think we already know the answer. Tamiro missed on a 14 against flat-footed already.

@Nel - Don't forget Mazra gave you Bull's Strength prior to your attack.

I think she is off a little. The attack roll looks correct: +3 BAB + 6 STR + 1 Enh -1 Power Attack = +9. The damage roll looks off: +6 STR +2 Power Attack = +8.

BTW, I'm waiting on Thug 1.

Saul's hired man grumble and slashes at Nel, saying "Thanks for getting us dinner! Kai, get into flank, you lout."

He manages to slam his sword heavily across Nel's stomach, brusing her underneath her armor.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Saul buckles under the barrage of attacks, Mazra's rapier dealing the final blow.

Saul does not lose his dex bonus against invisible opponents, fyi. Or didn't, haha.

"Your boss is down! Best give it up before you wind up down and bleeding out too!" Pluck does his best to sound threatening, but compared to his companions, the threat rings hollow.
Intimidate to demoralize (thug to the north): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The thug eyes Pluck a bit before spitting, "I'll leave you alone if you hand over your gear."

Rolling her eyes at the thugs brazen attempt at a shake down in front of her, Nel flicks the blood off her blade. "Enough. You two seem like you can handle yourself in a fight. How much did Saul promise to pay you?" Not yet putting her sword away, she takes in both men with a cold expression. "Our quarrel was not with you, it was with Vancaskerkin. Now that he's dead, I fail to see how killing you would be beneficial."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"I'd take her offer boys. You're more likely to end up dead than any richer if you want to try our patience."

Watching Saul fall, and ignoring the men next to him, Tamiro drops his wakizashi, and with a flourish, deftly beheads Saul, his blade scraping the stone floor as it passes through his neck.

"Anata no hangyaku no tamashī wa eien ni hakaba o samayō koto ga dekimasu." the man says loudly towards the body as he grabs the head by the hair and lifts it up.

Turning to the two men left, he growls at them, "Are you next?"

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This is a coup de grace, as such provokes AOO I would assume, Tamiro does not care though.
Coup de Grace? +4 for prone, +2 for Deadly, +2 for Weapon Expertise: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27Damage: 2d8 + 14 ⇒ (1, 8) + 14 = 23
Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Too late, Pluck sees Tamiro lining up for a final blow to Saul, "Tamiro stop! Saul isn't the end of this. He's working for someone and if you kill him, we may lose the lead!"

"It may cost us some coin, but we could carry Saul's sorry corpse to Cayden's Tavern. There may be someone there that can speak with the dead. As I see it, this Casino is now ours," Mazra says this plenty loud enough for the Thugs to hear it.

The former captive, seeing that the fight has temporarily stalled, lowers his sword slightly. "Excuse me...casino, you said? Where is this place?"

"Hey, bigshot, give us some gold and we'll get out of here right quick," the other thug says, catching on.

Mazra will stare at the Thug, Rapier in hand, "We are not a charity. Either you earn your gold or we spill your blood. You decide. And make it quick. I need a drink."

Mazra will then look at the captive puzzled, " You are in the Gold Goblin in Riddleport. Why was Saul holding you? I am Mazra of Sandpoint by the way and you?"

Raising his blade up in both hands, Tamiro growls, "It does not sound like they are willing to cooperate."

"Saul is--was the fellow there with the missing hand? I've never seen him before I woke up here. I'm in your debt, lady and gentlemen; they were going to do something to me once they'd dealt with you, or so they said."

As he speaks, the man advances on the purple thug, but is unable to hit him.

Longsword to foe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The thug backs off and puts his hands up, "Ok, ok, I see you, uh, mean business. Saul promised us a day's worth of good pay for what we've done. How about we get our pay and just get out of here? No need for violence."

The other man moves closer and nods in agreement. "Yeah, daily rate's five silver."

"I'll cover it...if I get an apology for that kick."