Megan's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Megan Robertson

It's full dark and beginning to drizzle.

Greyeagle calls for a halt half a block away from Arkona palace. Stepping under a convenient nearby building eave to get out of the drizzle he addresses the Justicars...

"I've been thinking about the Arkona ...and what could possibly make them detain Neolandus Kalepopolis or Vencarlo Orisini that does not include something underhanded or illegal. They will likely deny any knowledge of either man's whereabouts and waste time we do not have. I'd rather not be forced to lay waste to all their servants who undoubtedly the Arkona will use to forestall any direct assault. Guardsmen only do what their employers demand.. it does not make them necessarily party to the master's plans."

"So.. in light of the urgency of our need and the desire I have to keep bloodshed to a minimum.. I'd like to quietly and stealthily infiltrate the Arkona palace to search for our quarry for as long as is possible before we are discovered and force to take overt direct action."

"Vengeance... I assume you have magic to be stealthy/invisible? Ebon Wing.. do you have the means to be stealthy or invisible? If not I'm going to use the wand of invisibility to make myself and Graxer invisible. If Ebon needs so either Vengeance of I will make him invisible if he does not have the meas for something stealthy. Majenko is very stealthy and has no need of magical assistance."

"We will enter Arkona palace by the whatever is most expedient and quiet to search it for as long as we can before resorting to force."

"Does anyone have a better plan or some significant addenda to the course of action I have sketched out?"

"Invisibility is more Nosoi's thing than mine. I do suggest we call upon a deal I made with Spider, however. The doors are likely to be difficult to bypass even id invisible. Better to climb the walls like a spider and look through windows. If we see or hear him, we go in. Else we go in near the top and work our way down."

"Further, I suggest we call upon the spirits of the Falcon and the Owl. We grant to our most keen eared member or members even greater perception. Hopefully we will hear something useful while outside."

"Could someone else carry this accursed blade, though?" Ebon Wings holds up the as-yet-undiscarded guillotine blade.

Greyeagle turns, "Ah... so sorry Ebon forgive my oversight... I'll take care of the blade."

He walks over and take the guillotine blade from him.

Then Greyeagle walks however far it takes to get to the nearest shore on the island of Old Korvosa and throws it out into the river with a curse, 'BESMARA take you.. and horde you away in the depths NEVER to see the light of day again!'

He does not even wait to see where it lands... as he begins to make his way back to the blocks surrounding Arkona Palace to rejoin the party.

You are not far from the water, and it is a trivial matter to dispose of the blade as a rat watches incuriously.

Ebon Wings walks much easier once the philosophical - and physical - weight of the blade is removed.
Thanks - Ebon Wings has a terrible Strength score!

Greyeagle nods to his fellow Justicars, "Right let's do this...!"

Pulling out his wand of invisibility he uses a charge on Graxer, Ebon and himself.

"Ebon have your spider-climbing spell ready... we have 3 minute folks.. let's make them count, I'm going to try the front door.. lilky its guarded so if I can slip by the guards should be free to enter unopposed! Can't hurt to try! Majenko... keep us all in contact!

Ashe sprints forward heading for the gates of the Arkona palace under cover of invisibility.

Graxer will stop Ashe from casting it on him.. "I can do my own Invis for now and it lasts much longer.. Save the charge.." Graxers cast Invis on himself..

Ashe nods, "Great! Thanks!"

My ears are the keenest here, Ebon wings. I will cast BLEND on myself and sneak about, it lasts far longer than invisibility and I am pretty quiet when I want to be. I will slumber any lone guards.

Graxer looks at Varrel like he's crazy and then mumbles something.. Keenest ears my ass..

"You are the stealthiest one.. That's for sure.." He gives Varrel a hearty slap on the back..

Perhaps I should have said LONGEST ears then.
The elf smiles.

Ebon Wings nods at Varrel, realises how pointless that is with invisibility and says "Understood", then follows Ashe, ready to cast.

If Ashe calls it, EW will cast spider climb (communal) on everyone, then keen senses on Varrel. Aspect of the Falcon can only be used on himself, so he'll do that. Combined with his Hawkeye power should be able to get his perception to +24 for short periods and act as Varrel's backup.

OK, I take it that you wait until you're just outside the Arkona place to start chucking spells around...

This is what you (Ashe certainly) know so far: Palace Arkona is perched at the highest point atop Endrin Isle in Old Korvosa. The palace is home to the family alone; servants and guards dwell nearby in one of two outbuildings. The grounds are generally open, decorated here and there with tiny copses of trees, exotic topiary animals (elephants, cobras, and tigers being the most common), beautiful flower gardens, and exquisite fountains. The palace is a breathtaking structure built in the Vudran style, with golden pillars, high windows that rise to tapered points, minarets, and domes decorated with slender spires.

Inside, walls are made of ebony and carved with depictions of elephants, tigers, monkeys, and peacock, all with shimmering mother-of-pearl eyes. Doors are made of mahogany and carved with images of the Vudran deity Chamidu, the God of Wild Beasts. Chamidu appears as a six-armed, four-faced giant who rides a tiger with human hands for paws. All rooms are lit at night by everburning torches. Exotic plants in clay pots are in abundance, and each room is rich with their scent, mingled with that of sandalwood incense burning in brass censers that hang from the ceiling here and there. The rooms inside the palace are spacious and grand — ceilings, unless otherwise mentioned, are 20 feet high.

Indeed, as I'm feeling kind and Ashe at least may have been here before on social occasions, here's the map for you. You'll still have to sneak and evade - and maybe fight - of course, but at least you don't have to grope around an unknown place :)

So, how do you wish to mount your assault?

Ashe approaches the front door of the Arkona palace... remembering the only two occasions he'd visited the Palace.. one for business and one for a gala.. a rather disturbing gala at that! All attendees wore masks - both grotesque and beautiful, and a fog of mind-altering drugs that everyone seemed to casually sashay through. Of course, there were a lot of young men and women... doing all sorts of perverse and/or intimate things in the Palaces' many shadowed niches. But Ashe had felt more like he was on parade like a selection of meat for hidden eyes.. it had not been a comfortable feeling! Nor where the rumors that sometimes.. particularly, low-born and attractive, party-goers vanished never to be seen again.. into the alleged flesh pits and trafficked as drug-addicted whores enslaved to the carnal desires of House Arkona or its valued prestigious 'guests'! Or worse, sold into slavery to unknown hands across seas back in Vudra! Ashe only attended one such party... the debauchery that House Arkona reveled in - turned his stomach. He still was not completely clear of what went on in the party as even his thoughts were clouded by the miasma of drug-clouded rooms the Arkona parties involved. Lots of debauchery, drugs and demeaning sexual acts - perhaps worse; is what he was led to believe afterwards from the circles he socialized with! Ashe NEVER went to another of the Arkona parties again, always finding diplomatic ways to decline politely.

It was a telling thing that only very High profile Courtesans EVER scheduled to attend a Arkona gala.. as many little known courtesans vanished into Arkona palace never to be heard from again.

Slavery was not illegal in Korvosa, after all.. and as the DeFacto overlord of all vice in Korvosa... sex-slaves were not off House Arkona's list of vices it pedaled in!

Ashe frowned, {It was high time this despicable House was put down!}

Moving up to the front door Ashe looked for any guards... casting a gaze at the outlying buildings where the Arkona Guards usually dwelled with the House Servants/Slaves. If there were no guards visible .. Ashe tried the front door of the palace to see if he could just walk in, unlikely.

He looked around at the windows, across Majenko's telepathic link, {"Trying the front door. Can anyone see anyone in any of the floor level windows? We might try entry there if the front door is locked... unless one of you can open the locked door or cast 'knock'?"}

Ashe, invisible of course, sneaks up to the front door. There is nobody outside and he reaches out to try the door... which is indeed unlocked!

Inside, a black marble arch depicting dozens of elephants standing one atop the other frames a great ebony door in the south wall of this wide and airy entrance hall. Above the door, a single one-eyed elephant looks out over the hall, its eye a glittering bloodstone the size of an apple. Tall windows grant a commanding view of the palace grounds, and a rich red carpet, ten feet wide and luxuriously thick, provides a pathway between doors to the west and north, and around a corner to the east. Each of these doors, including a few smaller ones just west of the northern pair, are decorated with images of a six-armed, four-faced woman who rides a tiger with human hands for feet. (This is area D1 on the map, by the way.)

Who's following? And are they all invisible, or in some other way being stealthy?

Ashe is.. shocked to find the door unlocked!

Thinking, {What arrogance these Arkona have!}

Ashe casts Detect Magic... to scan for any magical alarms first... before entering...
Arcane Failure: 1d100 ⇒ 94 {SUCCESS!}

Followered by a Detect Evil... panning his detections around in their overlapping 60'ft cones.

If Ashe detects no magical alarms... he enters the Palace and moves to the statue around the corner [D3] moving with all stealth.

Stealth: 1d20 - 5 + 20 ⇒ (10) - 5 + 20 = 25

Across Majenko's link, {"The Palaces door is unlocked I'm moving in.. rally at the big statue [D3] around the corner on the red carpet."}

Ashe finds all the multi-limbed, multi-faced statues... somewhat disturbing. He tries to find out if there is any religious or extra-planar significance to them?

Kno: Religion 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Kno: Planes 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Graxer follows, Invisible..

Stealth: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (20) + 27 = 47

He looks a good look around as well..

Perc: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (12) + 23 = 35 See Invis Active

{I still have my See Invis active so ill keep everyone close..}

How longs it been since Pilts place Megan? I need to update my spell timers..

Majenko enters the front door and immediately flies to the ceiling seeking to hide among the statuary and artistic displays.. his amethyst colored scales shifting hue to blend in.

Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

The AP notes that the Arkonas leave their door open at night due to their arrogance - spot on, Ashe! Oh, and it took you half-an-hour to get here from Pilt's place, assuming you didn't hang around.

Ashe, you do detect magic as you enter, something on the door, but whatever it is nothing happens as first you then Graxer sneak in.

Then Majenko flits in. That's when the permanent magic mouth spell goes off, triggering an audible alarm that sounds like a bull elephant trumpeting. Above the door, the elephant head animates, the truck thrashing around and scaring the poor pseudodragon into a wild loop...

need to have spent time in spell prep. Ashe rendered Ebon Wings invisible.
stealth+invis: 1d20 + 4 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 20 = 26
Ebon Wings tries to follow Majenko in, jumping backwards when the door animates.

So 45 off then..

Graxer whispers.. "Well now that's gone and done it.. I thought your bird was stealthy.." He casts Shield of Faith..

Ashe looks at the animated Elephant head muttering, 'Awe crap, of course, a visual trigger magical alarm! Rats! I should have examined the magic on the door more carefully...'

Ashe will quickly examine the magic, is the magic a spell or is something about the door enchanted?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Across telepathy, {"Majenko come here... hide real quick! Ebon, Varrel come inside and stand out of the way... I'm sure a guard is coming.. I'll handle it.. leave the door open!"}

Ashe pulls out a scroll from his Bard Spells and casts - Silent Image - of 'Majenko' perching on a nearby fixtures watching the animated Elephant head, near the open front palace doors. Ashe maintains concentration on the spell so he can shape it to react to the guard when he arrives...

Arcane Failure: 1d100 ⇒ 64 {SUCCESS!}

Majenko moves away from the animated elephant head hissing in annoyance and 'stands' on his 37 stealth roll.

Ashe tells him telepathically, {"Majenko I want to you hiss loudly when I tell you... come here so I can hit you with the invisibility wand first..."}

Majenko retorts with petulance telepathic at to Graxer, {"I AM stealthy... magic cheats!!"}

Ashe chimes in, {"Its ok Majenko.. you are.. but there is no way to bypass a magical alarm with a visual trigger if you are visible."}

Varrel had been stealthily moving from shadow to shadow, his own armor adding to his considerable skill.

It was against his better judgement to allow Ashe to simply walk in, a moment to study the aura that the elf had also detected WOULD have been prudent, but he saw no reason to stop the young paladin from enjoying his new talent for magic. Asje had been working very hard on his bardic talents and they were bearing fruit.

Ashe would never make a good assassin. But as a ssymbol for good he was very apt.
A skilled combatant, durable and inspiring to those without a century of experience he cut quite a figure.

The paladin may not know it yet, but the elf had begun to look at the human as a very useful tool for the coming rebellion.

He dived inside after him

Ebon Wings pauses, then darts inside past the swinging trunk.

Analysing the magic on the door, it is a permanent magic mouth triggered visually by anyone entering who is not wearing an Arkona symbol. Oh, and the thrashing trunk is illusionary...

Somewhere in the depths of the building a door slams. Then there's a pattering of feet and a tousled page-boy, barefoot and with his tabard on backwards, comes pelting down the hall and bolts out through the doors by which you entered. He doesn't pay attention to those of you who are visible, just looks scared.

Ashe is a bit... perplexed at the arrival of no guards, but decides to let the boy go by.

He had prepared to fool any guard with his illusion to think that the illusory Majenko had opened the door and tripped the alarm.. which once the guard arrived he'd have the illusory Majenko react as if frightened by their arrival and flee again back out the door. To give a cause for the alarm and ally their searching for intruders.

But the page boy ran buy never even looking up... fear clear in his eyes.

Greyeagle dismissed the illusion and turned down that hall, "Let's go. If we are swift we can sweep several rooms before any guard are summoned. There is a room with double doors {D2} around the corner.. let's go there first."

Greyeagle... still invisible moves to the room D2. Scan with his running detect magic and detect evil. Opening the door he enters.

Telepathically, {"Varrel keep your magical sense open for more of those magic mouth visual triggered alarms, please? Anyone else not invisible do not enter any of the rooms until we have given the all clear... let's be swift.. blitz this place in a quick search - the clock is running!"}

The elf hangs to the side of the door and scans it with his DETECT MAGIC up.

perception+Detect: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 2 = 22

spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Apart from the magic mouth and the illusions working on the elephant head, there is no other magic, Varrel.

A fellow wearing an Arcona tabard over a chain shirt comes in, sword drawn. The illusionary Majenko flaps around, and you can all see his eyes tracking it...

Ashe controls his illusory Majenko to respond to the guard...

The illusory pseudo-dragon flutters up to the ceiling out of sword reach regarding the guard... tail thrashing in a frustrated fashion..

Across the telepathic link to Majenko, {"Now Majenko!"}

Majenko telepathically transmits to the guard, {"HSSSSssss!!! Opps! This Man-lair is guarded! Too bad. No shineys for me tonight here... bye bye!"}

Since telepathy is a non-directional form of communication it does not reveal Majenko's location.

In response... Ashe directs his illusory Majenko to dart back out the door into the night sky.. presumably the intruder leaving... then Ashe dismisses the spell - hoping the guard is fooled into thinking the illusory pseudo-dragon was the only intruder...

The guard watches the illusionary pseudodragon, and appears to be convinced - if the cursewords he's using at having been disturbed by one of those pesky flying rats are anything to go by. Sheathing his sword, he stomps over to the door and closes it firmly.

Ashe let's the guard alone satisfied the Justicar's had entered the Arkona palace.. mostly undetected.

Telepathically, {"ok.. let's rally in the room around the corner to the east {Room D2}."}

Stealth: 1d20 - 5 + 20 ⇒ (10) - 5 + 20 = 25

Greyeagle... still invisible, moves stealthily to the room {D2}. Scan with his running detect magic and detect evil. Opening the door he enters. {Repeat}

Graxer follows, watching the group and looking for hidden enemies..

Stealth: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (8) + 27 = 35
Perc: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39

stealth: 1d20 + 4 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 20 = 43
perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
I believe EW has not cast the perception enhancing or spider climb spells, as the 'maybe it will work' go in the front door plan has been successful.
Ebon Wings, still invisible, trusts Ashe's telepathic suggestions

D2 is the visitor's lounge. This comfortable room is warmed by a large fireplace (not lit at the moment), its marble sides and mantle carved into a parade of capering monkeys and tigers. A large sofa sits to the north, while a few comfortable looking chairs sit to the south. This is where the Arkonas meet with visitors to the palace - likely Ashe has been there if he ever visited outwith of galas.

There is no evil or magic in here (except that which you have brought with you!).

After everyone gathers in the room Ashe closes the door at least initially, "Majenko watch the hall out side while we plot our actions!"

Ashe opens the door briefly for the tiny dragon to slip out and hide...

{Majenko's} Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Turning to the party Ashe begins, "Ok... we 'seem' to have made our entry undetected.. thus far. Varrel and Ebon.. do you have any scouting magics .. like Arcane Eye, Clairvoyance or the like? If not we go room to room... Graxer... you have the most detection abilities and the sharpest eyes of us all so.. I'll keep you invisible and you will be the one to crack the doors open to peer inside as we move a quickly as possible. I have been in the palace.. at least the public locales of the palace to know my way around but a complete sweep will still be necessary - we have no idea where the Arkona are keeping Vencarlo or Neolandis. does anyone have anything else to off to this sketch of a plan?"

"I could ask some of the " polite pause "lesser Fae to scout for us. I could enhance hearing, as I said before, and perhaps we could hear there footsteps and snoring."
because we have some frankly ridiculous perception rolls in this party :)

Gotta love an Inquisitors perception

Yeppers!

To bad he hasn't seen anything lol.. He's got several minutes left on his invis btw..

Graxer will head back around and check out D7..

Stealth: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (5) + 27 = 32
Perc: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (12) + 23 = 35 Detect Magic/See Invis Active

As no one makes any comments Ashe proceeds...

Telepathically, {"I'm going to sweep from our location examining things as I go... to make sure we don't miss anything. Right now.. I've got about 2 minutes or so on my wand invisibility effects.. let's make good use of them!"}

[OOC: Ashe does not see invisible so.. he cannot tell that Graxer went off on his own...]

Ashe exits the Waiting room and moves to {D3}. I'm assuming its a Statue... what does it depict?

Kno {Religion}: Take 10! 10 + 10 = 20
Kno {History}: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Kno {Planes}: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Detect Magic on Statue.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
- Ashe is looking around for more of those One-Eyed made of bloodstone elephant heads, in case there are more of those annoying "single one-eyed elephant looks out over the hall, its eye a glittering bloodstone the size of an apple", magic mouths.. with his detect magic running. In hopes of avoiding triggering any more alarms!

Graxer sneaks off towards D7. He opens the door to find himself in a library. Two floor-to-ceiling bookshelves decorate the south and west walls of this chamber, facing a curved north wall on which hang a half-dozen grotesque paintings depicting torture, murder, cannibalism, and even necrophilia. Two glittering chandeliers hang from the ceiling, providing more than enough lighting for anyone sprawled on the dozens of cushions strewn about the room to read by... or at least they would when lit.

Meanwhile, Ashe goes to look at the statue at the end of the hall (D3). It's a fourteen-foot-tall marble statue of a six-armed woman with four faces on her head, one looking to each of the four cardinal directions, standing under a dome of colored glass. The statue wields numerous weapons in its six arms, and a small kneeler at its base gives a place to pay respects to whatever deity the statue represents. Each of the statue's eight eyes is a sparkling bright green orb. One of them is indeed magical, but there don't seem to be any spells associated with it.

What are the rest of you doing?

Varrel locks in on the Magical Gem and attempts to ascertain it's properties.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Graxer will relay.. {The Library is empty save some gruesome paintings.. I'll wait here for yall before proceeding..}

...It's a fourteen-foot-tall marble statue of a six-armed woman with four faces on her head, one looking to each of the four cardinal directions, standing under a dome of colored glass. The statue wields numerous weapons in its six arms, and a small kneeler at its base gives a place to pay respects to whatever deity the statue represents. Each of the statue's eight eyes is a sparkling bright green orb. One of them is indeed magical, but there don't seem to be any spells associated with it.

Can I get some name or portfolio on the deity the statue represents? I did get a 20 on my Kno: Religion...

Ebon Wings starts slowly and methodically walking clockwise around the building
D2, D3, D7...
As he does so he opens his sight to the spirits of this place - though he shudders to think what Fey might be resident in such a place.
"undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures" - also keeping an eye out for blocking materials. Scan 360, up and down (in case of cellars). Blocked as per detect undead.

Ashe, you think it may be a Vudran deity, perhaps one with an affinity to animals.

Varrel, the gem appears to be a third eye bloodstone.

Ebon Wings, there is an outsider presence... several, probably above on the upper floor.

cannot distinguish, Unfortunately. Thanks Megan. Any ideas of power level?

Using their telepathic relay Ebon Wings says {I can sense several spirits above us. I will try to narrow down their location, and sense their power... But be careful. Such Spirits are often hear to see with conventional senses. }

Megan: Does Ashe know if the Deity depicted by the statue is an evil god?

Across the telepathic link, {"Varrel.. the red gemstone glows with magic... is it significant, a threat perhaps? Or is it just some minor glamour?"}

Ashe turns an heads for the library {D7}

Across the telepathic link, {"Let's all regroup int he Library with Graxer."}

Without knowing who the deity is, how can you tell if it's evil or not? A statue is a thing, it doesn't have an alignment! Mind you, it doesn't look very nice...