Magnimar Special Investigations Unit One (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

I'd vote lets hook-up.

I disagree. Neither Phillip nor Khismia know about it, but MSI has a secret meeting with a member of the Magnimar council at 19 00. Heward needs either to get this vargouille thing taken care of beforehand (and I don't know what time it is, but this was at least our 4th tavern so it took some time to get this far) or to split the party further to send some of us after Mig and he and Laya get to go have the important-conversation encounter again (and what we do with Robal, I don't know). Either way, wandering around to look for Awgin and Calatin takes time we don't have.

My vote for hooking up was predominately borne out of the desire to engage with what comes next as a group and party rather than the three-way split that seems inevitable... though your words make IC sense more than mine.

Metagaming, vargouilles aren't a terribly tough encounter, unless everyone fails the save, in which case we might be glad to have the party split so some of us survive. ;) Assuming the warehouse has a higher ceiling than the meeting room, more than one of us might actually get to participate with ranged weapons instead of sitting around while one guy bashes it out of the air. Khismia's not going to get to participate in the interesting part, as she's only cohort-on-loan and not MSI and thus doesn't have the security clearance for the meeting. So I'll be sitting out some more whether we regroup or not.

"Just so," says Calatin, "But thank you for your concern. Until those who would target mages are caught, none of us is safe."

Lucked into both time and an internet connection.

Heward asks, "Did you close the door behind you? Is the head trapped in the room?

Heward doesn't want to try to find Awgin and Calatin. As Khismia points out it will take too long. We've got to move fast. For all we know half the building is vargouilles now and the other half is huddled in terror behind locked doors. He will want to alert the Watch in Rag's End so there's back up surrounding the building in case we fail.

As for the party split, it's only two way for now. And metagame, Calatin and Awgin are getting their own action. I haven't peeked at the spoilers, but Dax broadcast Awgin intimidating someone and it looks like Caltain is playing the good cop role.

The waitress shakes her head. "I just ran."

Phil stands back with a wary hand on his cutlass basket hilt. "If we want to try and nip this in the bud, we best get moving sharpish Sergeant."

Are we waiting on the word from Heward to move out? With the boss standing right there, it's not like one of us can say, 'Well, let's get going, guys'; he's got to give the order.

It would seem so - Phil's already posted IC intent to head off after Mig

Sorry, guys.

"Right, Hargreaves. Let's go."

The waitress, rather nervously, leads you out into the gathering dusk of Rag's End. The whole journey, she continues to ask about how close she'll have to get, when she can run off, etc. She's clearly frightened out of her mind, but you are able to keep her on the task of leading you to where she left Mig. She leads you into the warehouse district, stopping at an intersection. She points down a side street.

"Down Walker's Run, there at the end. The warehouse. Mig holes up in an office on the second floor. Nobody uses this place anymore. Can I go now?"

Are we taking Robal in with us?

Turning to Heward and Khismia, Phil ventures "Reckon we can cut the tagalongs loose now?" drawing his heavy bladed cutlass as he speaks, readying himself to move forth in wary haste.

Phil is happy to let Robal and the waitress loose.

She turns to Heward. "You know, Heward, aren't we supposed to be having that meeting with that councillor in a few minutes? What was his name again?" She scrunches her face in thought for a moment. "Don't remember. Oh well. Do you think we can be late, or would it be better to send someone along now?"

Her eyes brighten suddenly and she turns to the waitress. "You should definitely go now. However, could you do us a favour? Could you deliver a message to...oh, what is that name? We're supposed to meet someone. Could you run round and let him know we'll be a little late?" She starts rummaging through her bag, looking for the note she received from the councillor to remind her of his name and the location of the meeting. "I've got the details in here somewhere," she mutters. "Ah, here it is!"

Turning to Heward and Khismia, Phil ventures "Reckon we can cut the tagalongs loose now?" drawing his heavy bladed cutlass as he speaks, readying himself to move forth in wary haste.

Khismia shakes her head. "We should send him ahead of us as bait," she countersuggests, nodding at Robal as she checks over her crossbow. "Let him draw out his fellow criminal, and we can be ready to attack."

Robal suddenly looks quite nervous, his eyes almost pleading towards Heward at Khismia's suggestion.

He also eyes the surroundings, as if calculating his chances of escaping if he were to suddenly break and run, despite the shackles.

Heward looks annoyed at the mention of the meeting. The vargouille business had driven it from his mind and surely the vargouilles were more important. He relaxes when Laya makes a messenger of the waitress.

"Miss insert waitress' name, you're free to go, but you must deliver Laya's message and notify the local Watchman that MSI is going into that warehouse in pursuit of a vargouille. If we fail in there, then you're going to want the rest of the Watch here to stop the monster inside."

Heward looks even more annoyed at Khismia's suggestion. "As our prisoner, he's entitled to our protection. We're not using him as bait."

He swivels toward Phillip. "And we can't cut him loose either. He's a self-confessed thief at best. Search him and we'll find a place to lock him down here."

He looks around for something suitably immobile to chain Robal to. Something without means to disable the manacles. As soon as he's secured, Heward gives the word to march on the warehouse.

There's a lamp post nearby that would work.

The waitress eagerly agrees to take the message, and disappears into the night.

Actually, we should probably discuss tactics.

Reaching the warehouse, Heward looks over the front of the building and asks, "Advice on how to tackle this?"

I'll post a description of the building as soon as I can get to a computer. Suffice it to say, it's two storeys, and very dilapidated.

"Send in a low-value target to draw the creature from hiding and let everyone be prepared to attack it and eliminate the threat quickly," Khismia repeats pointedly. "Or, alternatively, let us all enter in a great clump so that we may all fall prey to its paralyzing shriek together and possibly lose valuable team members in a confusing scrum."

Interpreting Khismia's words in his own way, Phillip's eyes harden somewhat and his back straightens. "Fair enough... just come quick on the heel of the shriek" and Phil readies himself, cutlass still wielded - but his arm now hanging somewhat limp at his side in resignation.

Despite taking offense at Khismia's bluntness - Phil is probably best as a 'trigger' character.
With Well Versed I'm pulling a +8 on the save vs the shriek.

Remembering his paralysis and the helpless terror following it, Heward shakes his head. "Hang on, Hargeaves. Khismia's plan may be best to draw it out, but I won't condemn a man to face these things alone. We may come down to a volunteer leading the way in, but we'll all stay pretty close. Laya, have you got any magic that might help? Or maybe just some earplugs? "

+8 Holy Heavens that's good.

Relatively emotionless face, though eyes showing some hostility as he looks to Khismia "It's fine Sarge... it's for the better we risk one rather than the lot of us."

Tactically I think having one on point and the others following close, but from a safe distance is the best option at present.
Also - with Phil's good save vs sonic effects, and Heward and Laya being more important to keep active to follow-up by putting down the vargy - it makes sense for him be the forward scout.

Khismia shrugs back at Phillip. "I suggested using the criminal, but apparently his well-being is of more value than that of the Watch's own men."

Phil laughs mirthlessly "Interesting... no problems with using a man as bait then" finding the contrast in Khismia's overwhelming concern for the virtue of the waitress earlier with the callous disregard for Robal's life amusing.

"No point bringing dead weight, he'll get in the way and if we need to run then there'll be two of them waiting for us when we come back again. We leave tentacle boy outside."

"No problem with using a confessed criminal," she corrects him. "He unleashed this danger upon the city; part of his recompense could be helping to end it."

"He is but a thief and yet you would force him to pay for it with his life?!" incredulous once more at Khismia's callous stance, before getting some control of his emotions and running one hand through his unruly hair breathing deep and spitting away the bile to one side. Staring straight at Khismia he states as flatly as her last words "I was a pirate and a thief, so in your eyes my life is as worthless as his." turning to Laya and Heward "Coming?" before stalking into the dark and towards the building.

In the wake of Phillip's confession, Khismia cocks an eyebrow at Heward. "Pirate and thief. What ... interesting people the Watch sees fit to employ." Holding her crossbow at the ready, she follows behind Phillip more slowly, moving as quietly as possible. Stealth 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

If Phillip's going to be our bait, Laya ought to put a light spell on something of his. It'll light up our target for us if he can successfully draw it out and eliminate everyone's 20% miss chance for fighting in an enclosed warehouse at sunset.

"If we are done here, Calatin, we have an appointment to keep."

Run-down and dilapidated doesn’t even begin to describe the state of this antique, two-storey warehouse. The upper floor and gently-sloped roof lean precariously to the rear, and the structure seems to shift with every passing breeze. All its windows are on the second level, and all save one are boarded over with rotting timbers. A large sliding door granted its primary access back in its hay-day, and a conventional side door offered admittance for workers. Narrow alleyways on either side offer access to the rear of the building.

The lingering sun lights up the front of the warehouse. You detect no movement inside the structure (other than the structure itself), and the few local pedestrians have already made themselves scarce in the presence of such a well-armed party.

If that description suggests any changes to your plan, feel free to make them, or we can proceed as you've laid out. I should have a map up in the next few hours (can't do that from work).

"Appointment? With whom?" said Calatin, mind already working on his concoctions. "Oh, yes..." he remembers.

"Thank you for your watchfulness," he says to their 'escort' "But we are leaving the Bazaar now, so you may go about your other duties."

"Best be on with it then, Awgin. As I doubt you'd let me wander off back home on my own to start work in the laboratory."

Remembering his paralysis and the helpless terror following it, Heward shakes his head. "Hang on, Hargeaves. Khismia's plan may be best to draw it out, but I won't condemn a man to face these things alone. We may come down to a volunteer leading the way in, but we'll all stay pretty close. Laya, have you got any magic that might help? Or maybe just some earplugs? "

Laya shakes her head. "Unfortunately, this has all happened too suddenly to be able to prepare properly. I can, however, provide some light, which might help a little."

She approaches Philip and touches his sword. "May Pharasma guide you through the dark places." The sword begins to glow. Cast light on the sword.

Okay, made a small goof trying to describe things from memory. The warehouse is not at the end of the street, and is in fact smack dab in the middle of it. I have uploaded a map, but MapTools doesn't do the best job with exterior maps when line of sight is activated (everything you can't see through just looks like a black area). Suffice it to say, Phillip is at the southwest corner of the warehouse, and you can easily see the alleyway running between the warehouse and the next building. The big double doors open up onto the main street (Walker's Run), while the side entrance opens into the alley (you can barely see the little depression in the black where the door is. The unboarded window is thirty feet from Phillip (and up one storey). The large doors are quite close to Phillip's current position.

Good luck, Phillip. What's your plan?

MAP UPDATED

Before Phillip goes, Heward pulls on his Watch tabard. He considers weapons and settles for holding Brienne in his left hand and a javelin ready for throwing in his right. Good luck, Hargreaves.

Map is blocked at work, so going off description alone...

Phil nods grimly as Laya sets his cutlass to be as a beacon against the dark before moving forwards with certainty. Making his way down the alley, he moves to the side entrance. Pausing a moment to listen...
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
...before pulling open the door and peering within.

Watching Phillip walk down the street, Heward mutters to Khismia, "That's a good man, not a piece of meat to bait a trap."

When Phillip turns the corner into the alley, Heward urges everyone forward to keep the ex-pirate in sight.

Watching Phillip walk down the street, Heward mutters to Khismia, "That's a good man, not a piece of meat to bait a trap."

When Phillip turns the corner into the alley, Heward urges everyone forward to keep the ex-pirate in sight.

Khismia looks at Heward as if he, and not Robal, has suffered the mental debilitation caused by the vargouille. "He volunteered; I didn't suggest him. I wanted to use the criminal."

Already stated she was readying her crossbow and following.

Listening at the door, Phillip hears a voice, deep like a man's but horrific. He can make out none of the words, and the voice sounds distant, like it's coming from a spot far from the door.

He pushes the door open a crack and peers inside. The main space in the warehouse is grimy and covered in dust. Dry-rotted barrels and cart wheels are scattered about the hard-packed dirt floor, and a broken wagon sits in the centre. Two rickety wooden staircases lead up to someplace Phillip can't see. Seven grimy men and women with tentacles coming from their scalps and chins huddle on the wagon in the small pool of sunlight admitted by the broken window, feebly pushing their way into the light as best they can against the press of the others. They seem to be watching and listening to somebody above them and to the east, but Phillip can't see who.

MAP UPDATED

...

Khismia looks at Heward as if he, and not Robal, has suffered the mental debilitation caused by the vargouille. "He volunteered; I didn't suggest him. I wanted to use the criminal."

"Funny, he and I both thought you did. Sorry, if we read it wrong." Heward nods down the alley. "What do you think is going on down there?"

Hard-boiled, worried and distracted.

Nazard, that's a brilliant scene!

Realising that he'll be made as soon as they see the beacon of light from his blade, Phil looks back those following and barks "Company inside... could get bloody..." before he steps into the warehouse with cutlass forward like a cross held to ward against a vampire. He mutters to himself "I'm a bloody fool" but his steps remain steady... for now.

Moving in to see who they're talking to.

Phillip steps forward. He has to head a bit to his left to see around the closer staircase. However, as soon as he enters the building, the infected notice him. Three of them get up off the wagon and move over towards him. They stop, however, several feet from him, and drop to their knees, moaning, "Light."

Up on a rickety-looking cat walk, a vargouille hovers, flapping its enormous bat-wing-like ears. "Fools! That light will not save you! Intruder! Capture him and he can take one of your places. The one who takes him, I will release!"

Several of the infected pick up pieces of old wagon wheel or large rocks, looking at Phillip with desperate eyes.

Laya Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Heward Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Khismia Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Phillip Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Infected Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Mig Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Initiative Order: Mig, Khismia, Heward, Infected, Laya, Phillip

The vargouille on the catwalk opens its hideous mouth, and shrieks a familiar terrifying shriek. Phillip needs to make a Will save versus the fear affect.

Up next: Khismia, Heward, Infected

MAP UPDATED

Just a reminder to all, please put each combat post under a spoiler labeled with the current combat round, and indicate movement using the co-ordinates. Usually just a destination co-ordinate is fine, unless you are moving in a very specific path for some reason. Good luck, all.

The instant the shriek echoes out the open door and down the alleyway, Khismia darts to the entrance. Although she can't see the catwalk, she can follow Phillip's horrified and hopefully not frozen gaze upward and dashes to the nearest set of stairs before the infected can block the way.

The stairs, though they look about to collapse, are actually sound and Khismia has no troubles with them. There's nothing at the top of the catwalk - a combination of railings and support pillars block line of sight. At the top of the catwalk, Khismia can see an office door at the south end.

Heward's up, then the infected.

Will save: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 4 = 19

The shriek washes over the buccaneer like a wave dumping him onto jagged rocks. However he feels his mind withstand the onslaught and remain in control... fist clenched ever tighter around his cutlass he stands firm, his face a strange mixture of defiance, disgust and terror.

Nazard, you Idler! Nice icons.

Heward follows Khismia through the door. He watches her climb the stairs. Sees Phil in the corner, the crowd, and the vargouille. Two long steps and he launches his javelin at Mig.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 ... 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Typical. H7.

"Stand down," he shouts at the crowd. "We can heal you, but we've got to kill that thing first."

"Appointment? With whom?" said Calatin, mind already working on his concoctions. "Oh, yes..." he remembers.

"Thank you for your watchfulness," he says to their 'escort' "But we are leaving the Bazaar now, so you may go about your other duties."

"Best be on with it then, Awgin. As I doubt you'd let me wander off back home on my own to start work in the laboratory."

"I don't really want to go, but, you know, official watch business. Wouldn't want the captain to get mad at us."