“There are a few poor souls left in Ardis I’m sure Vonran bears a grudge toward, though the worst offenders moved on decades ago to Caliphas. Of all his remaining accusers, Judge Cevianna Pradowca is the worst. She bore a grudge against Vonran for refusing to wed her and so turned her courtroom into a weapon against him. She’s the one who handed down his banishment. I wager he’ll hunt her next.”
Rutowski pauses a moment, his brow furrowed in indecision. He looks away from the party starring at the unlit fireplace as he speaks; “He was here, you know. Not five days ago he stood where you are now, ranting and raving about Judge Pradowca and her lofty position. He was… so different from the Vonran I loved. So cold—hate just roiling off of him. Help him. Please....if you can.” Rutowski falls silent until one of you speaks to him again. He seems lost in memories.
HP 45/45; Reroll@+3 1/1; uRogue 6: (AC21 normally) Fort +5; Reflex +12; Will +5; Init +5; Perception +12; SM +10;
"We are hoping to do just that." says Bulgo.
"We have a tonic we hope will heal him. Do you have any words for him. Any message you would like us to pass on, something that might help calm him and encourage him to drink the healing tonic?"
You talk at some length with Rotowski. Once he has let his guard down Rotowski, seems quite at ease, with all of you. He laughs at Swarmholio's antics and is impressed and curious with Constantin's linage. Likewise, He is genuinely touched that, Bulgo wants to save Vilk. He offers you all tea and you end up talking for quite a while. Among other topics that, are discussed; the topic of Volk's banishment from Ustalav comes up.
“ My Prince was banished because of politics, more than anything. He turned a daughter of the Moulot family into a Pathfinder, and then she died on one of those damnable adventures of hers. Graverobbing is a crime in Ustalav, but banishment is a sentence reserved for those with powerful and wealthy enemies.”
His sitting room is beautiful. Decorated with pieces from the four corners of Golarion. A particularly notable piece is, a framed brass Tian crest.
knowledge geography/nobility DC:18:
This exquisite piece is a crest of the Xi Wikong clan. A rare piece indeed to find on this side of Golarion.
Bulgo wrote:
"We have a tonic we hope will heal him. Do you have any words for him. Any message you would like us to pass on, something that might help calm him and encourage him to drink the healing tonic?"
Rotowski considers for a moment and then says, Tell him I never stopped loving him. For a moment a look of desperate sadness shadows Rotowski's face. If that means anything at all to him now. Rotowski is pretty quiet after that. He does mention that he's grateful to you all and wishes he could help further but, doesn't have anything more to offer you at the moment. He also says, Thank you...thank you all for everything. I do hope you can save him. If ever you find yourselves in Ardis again...please look me up...I feel I'm in your debt.
Your group concludes their business with Rutowski just as the sun sets and the full moon begins to peek from behind the hills. Almoch has provided directions to Judge Cevianna Pradowca's courthouse. She normally hold's court till late afternoon sir. However, there's been an on-going embezzlement case that's been the gossip of town, so I suspect she and her assistant will be working late. Almoch says with some confidence. Your group departs Rotowski's house and steps in to the streets of Ardis. Somewhere in the distance, an eerie howl echoes through the avenues.
OK guys...I'll be boting Bulgo for a while. I need two of you to decide what's next. Laiashi is currently away making her wolfsbane, into a contact poison; so what do the four of you do next? Go to Judge Cevianna Pradowca's courthouse? Stay (on the street outside) and guard Rotowski? Or return to Erudyta's safe house and ask further questions? The moon is out and it's dark time is a factor.
I say we can go to the courthouse during the day. Stay and guard seems the SAFE choice, so, that may be a trap in and of itself. Still seems the right choice to this player. To Swarmholio . . . not so much. I think he would want to go hunting instead of waiting.
I say we can go to the courthouse during the day. Stay and guard seems the SAFE choice, so, that may be a trap in and of itself. Still seems the right choice to this player. To Swarmholio . . . not so much. I think he would want to go hunting instead of waiting.
That's great Swarmholio...so what do you vote? As a player (stay and guard Rotowski) or as your character..(hunt the werewolf presumably, at the judges courthouse.)
Oh, I don't think Swarmholio thinks going to the courthouse is hunting. He would want to go looking for the beast, not find a blind to sit in and wait. I offered the player's perspective to help others who may want some. I should vote for the character, though. HUNTING!
OK that leaves Constantin the Azlant's vote as the swing vote. FYI as far as distribution of the Wolfsbane goes..Laiashi had one dose so everybody else except Bulgo has a dose unless you guys vote to distribute it a different way. If one of you chooses to give your dose to Bulgo please note: I will not use it while I'm boting Bulgo unless; the creature is down and unconscious/dying. Constantin waiting on your decision to stay and guard Rotowski or go to the courthouse.
HP 45/45; Reroll@+3 1/1; uRogue 6: (AC21 normally) Fort +5; Reflex +12; Will +5; Init +5; Perception +12; SM +10;
Just got a chance for a last post
"I think we should check out the court house. He is after vengence, and surely the person who banished him will be higher on his list. He'll hopefully want to keep Rotowski... maybe wondering deep down if he can still ... well... "
The four remaining party members rush across town, towards the judges court. As you draw near, the wolf howls become more frequent and you appear to be getting closer to, the source of those howls. Your pace quickens as, you hear growling up ahead. You race around the corner and there stands the courthouse.
The black granite edifice of the courthouse looms high above its enclosing wall, though a gate ahead stands ajar. A scream breaks the evening’s silence, and upon the wide, stone steps two figures fall prone. A third, hulking form unleashes a furious howl before bounding to the roof and through an open skylight. The courthouse door stands ajar, and a low growling echoes from somewhere within.
male human swashbuckler(rondelero)8/brawler 1, HP 93/93, F +8(+1 vs poison/disease), R +16, W +8, AC 28, T 20, FF 23 Init +7(+9), Per +14 Panache 6/6
Mykel rushes forward as fadt as his feet can take him. Remember, try to take him alive....but if necessary, take him out.double move forward....dob't wanna risk a triple move
Since only Mykel has responded so far, I'll move us along a bit.
The four of you approach the large double stone doors of the courthouse.You bound the short stairs to see two bodies on the landing banister. Two men whom appear to have been guards, lie unconscious and are bleeding profusely. Their wounds appear to be from bite and claw wounds. One of the two stone doors is half ajar you can hear some commotion inside the building.
Swarmholio, Constantin...do you follow Mykel in the building..you have till the end of today 01/02/18 (8pm pacific) to post...otherwise I bot you both..thx
Sorry, I was trying to come up with something more useful than I'm providing here . . .. I keep forgetting that sometimes a bad response is STILL a response.
"I spy an old guy to fry!" The gnome bounces as he seeks out something (someone) he expects to be allowed to burn . . ..
The dark courtroom looks like a scene out of a nightmare. A young woman, perhaps twenty, lies on the floor with her throat torn out. Across the room, a well-preserved older woman stands atop her bench, supporting a bleeding arm and swinging a ceremonial blade erratically. Four slobbering mongrels, each as much dog as wild wolf, circle her makeshift tower. A couple of the feral wolfhounds snap at the woman on top of the desk, narrowly missing dragging her, from atop her perch.
Ok maps and tokens are up. *edit*Everybody roll for initiative Please state your first action! Bold may go. Also you can move your pawns (if on a phone just tell me where) beneath the following spoiler are rules for maneuvering in the courtroom.
courtroom movement:
The courtroom benches and chairs count as rough terrain, but do not directly block movement. The bar and tables are low barriers, requiring a DC 5 Acrobatics check to leap over. Standing atop the judge’s bench provides partial cover from low attackers (such as the mongrels) and provides a +1 circumstance bonus on attacks against opponents on the ground, but is tall enough to require a DC 10 Acrobatics or Climb check to mount.
The judge will hold action until after Constantin's Bard effects take place..If Mykel and Swarmholio want to hold action as well they'll get the +2 this round...otherwise it won't effect them till next round(just take your actions as normal and tell me if your taking the +2 Mykel and Swarholio..I'll adjust the initiative order accordingly next round)
Never one for careful thought or consideration, The Great Swarmholio furiously flings fire without waiting for the benefit his companion could provide. He moves closer to his targets as he tosses small flaming projectiles, one into each of the two dog things in the back. "Bad dogs! Play dead!"
Cast Magic Missile. Convert from Force energy to Fire energy (making Swarmholio effectively 4th level for casting, increasing spell range to 35')
Damage to dog 2:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Damage to dog 1:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Bulgo moves forward with a dagger in each hand. Swarmholio Cast fire missiles at two separate dogs causing the viscous beast to yelp in unison. Mykel moves forward and takes the head off the dog nearest to him. Constantin un-furls his banner and plays a triumphant song of victory to encourage his friends. The judge takes heart at the party's welcome appearance and the elderly lady says, Thank you! Can you help me get rid of these others as well? The elderly lady assumes a practiced defensive posture with her ornamental sword attempting to swat away the remaining canines.
Practice though she may be...The wolfhounds are too quick for the elderly Judge. One of them catches her ankle as she prances on the table and rips hard tearing flesh from the vulnerable area of the old lady. She immediately drops to the top of the desk sword falling from her hand. As she desperately struggles to kick away the snapping jaws of one of the two remaining beast,
the last on catches her near shoulder dragging her off the desk. The elderly woman lets out a horrible scream as she's dragged off the desk and desperately says, Help me! They're going to eat me alive!
Swarmholio pushes forward as fast as his little legs will carry him. He stops short of the gruesome scene of, three dogs mauling and elderly woman. Fanning his hands, he summons magic flames that erupt from his hands. Gouts of flames sprinkle over the feral canines and the pungent odor of burnt hair wafts through the courthouse. One dog is left hairless blistered and whimpering..the other lie still on the floor.
Bulgo takes the opportunity to move forward and attack the hound set upon the judge. He straddles the motionless body of the just burnt wolfhound, and punches forward with both his daggers
Bulgo makes quick work of the dog attacking the judge. The Judge scrambles to her feet and snatches her sword off the floor. She turns to Bulgo, Thank you! reflex wolf 2:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 reflex wolf 3:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Mykel lunges forward and his sword pierces deeply in to the remaining Wolfhound. The creature yelps and then falls still on the floor of the courtroom.
Judge Pradowca, *gasp*, and leans heavily on her desk. I can't thank you all enough! The judge holds her torn shoulder gingerly and sets her sword on the desk. If you hadn't happened by... The judge shudders....I dread... The judge suddenly stops mid sentence and looks at the body of the woman on the ground.*sob*...oh poor Natalie...she was only 18! Just hired her this last summer! That filthy beast and his mongrels, came and took her away from this world and me! The judge collapses in to her chair and tries to kick the nearby dead canine ..but, she starts in pain as she lifts her ravaged ankle.
I don't know who you are or why you're here...but, if you saved me, perhaps you're willing to do the city and myself, another service. I was attacked not just by dogs but...by the beast known as the, "Midnight Mauler" The judge has fire in her eyes as she fumbles with some keys and opens a drawer in her desk. A Werewolf! He may still be in here! she points to the back of the courtroom at an apparent holding cell that has the iron and wooden doors torn half-way off the hinges.
Here take these! The judge pushes her ornamental sword of office and a jeweled box towards Bulgo. The box is just reward for saving me; as is the sword but, the sword has the power to command, weak willed creatures. Just activate it by saying, "By the laws of Ardis!" and then give a short command to the creature. The Judge slumps back in her chair, Hurry and pursue the creature, before it gets away...I can hear the city guard coming for me now..they'll tend to me.
assuming the party doesn't linger to ask the judge more questions..you pursue the Mauler.
The Mauler’s trail through the courthouse leads clearly to an open holding cell and a torn-open sewer grate. Mykel is the first to drop down in to the dark tunnel. He's followed by Bulgo then Swarmolio and finally Constantin.
Mykel fumbles around in the dark for a moment before Constantin cast light on Mykel's buckler. The tight confines of the courthouse sewers eventually open into wider tunnels collecting effluence from the neighboring buildings. The putrid stink of human refuse mingles with a more natural stink of decomposition. Bubbles and ripples occasionally break the water’s surface, filling the chamber with a constant gurgle. The water is over waist deep for the small Bulgo and Swarmholio, each of them struggle not to gag at the nearness of the filth they wade in.
An fierce howl can be heard echoing from the southern tunnels. The Mauler isn't far!
the mauler's trail isn't hard to follow...you need not make survival checks. Just position your PCs the way you want to in the tunnels and everyone please roll for initiative..We'll play this chase in rounds for now.
Once a common sight in Ardis’s courts and courtrooms,
swords of station began falling out of favor over a century
ago, and most now collect dust in storerooms or mounted,
forgotten, on mantles.
Sword of Station
Aura faint abjuration and enchantment; CL 1st
Slot belt; Price 360 gp (lesser), 1,680 gp (normal), 4,120 gp
(greater); Weight 5 lbs
DESCRIPTION
This ornate sword and belt impart uncanny confidence
and insight while worn, granting a +2 competence bonus
on Sense Motive checks. Three times per day, the wearer
may draw the sword and deliver a single-word command,
as per the spell. Lesser versions of swords of station exist
that allow the wearer to cast command only once per day,
and that lack the confidence-boosting enhancements. For
greater swords of station, the competence bonus on Sense
Motive checks increases to +5. A sword of station is blunted
and poorly balanced, intended as a showpiece rather than a
weapon. If used in combat, treat it as an improvised club. FYI
the PCs have the standard version of the sword
HP 45/45; Reroll@+3 1/1; uRogue 6: (AC21 normally) Fort +5; Reflex +12; Will +5; Init +5; Perception +12; SM +10;
Bulgo quickly joins the others in the sewer. He does his best to stick to the walkways at the edge, risking the odd slippery jump to keep his attire out of the disgusting liquid.
init:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
"That sword could be useful.. I wonder if it would make him drink the cure?"
Male Human (Azlanti) Bard (Duettist) 7 | HP 52/52 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 CMD 14 | Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +7 | Init +4(5)* | Perc +10 | SM +18* | Spells Remaining: level 1 4/5 level 2 4/4 level 3 2/2 | Bardic Performance Rounds 22/23
Constantin holds a perfumed handkerchief to his nose as he wades through the effluent. A part of him weeps at exactly how much he's going to have to burn this outfit, but he reminds himself that a life, and indeed, a soul, may be saved by this haste.
Constantin I'm going to move you keeping you behind Mykel when I can. If you're not playing by phone you can move yourself too. For everyone..assume everywhere in the sewer is difficult terrain for now OK?
"The Great Swarmholio is NOT AMUSED. Where is the bad old man? He must pay for making The Great Swarmholio do this!" The gnome goes to grab a cookie in a an attempt to make himself feel better, and realizes that they have been . . . exposed. He throws the rest of the cookies down a passage and settles for grumbling as he tries to keep up.
"The Great Swarmholio is NOT AMUSED. Where is the bad old man? He must pay for making The Great Swarmholio do this!" The gnome goes to grab a cookie in a an attempt to make himself feel better, and realizes that they have been . . . exposed. He throws the rest of the cookies down a passage and settles for grumbling as he tries to keep up.
Swarmholio roll for initiative if you catch this before you turn in 4 night..
Mykel I'm going to assume your leading the chase...being the only martial fighter..so I'll move your pawn. If you can't move it or don't want me to move it let me know one way or another ok? We'll move on to round 2
As Mykel turns the corner in the sewers, another eerie howl echos through the tunnels. However, he pulls to a sudden stop. Something feels wrong about the southern tunnel. Within a heartbeat, he notices something..several pebbles, stones, old pot and a few bones seem to be suspended in mid air, about 10 paces down the southern tunnel! Mykel shakes his head a moment, to make sure he's not seeing things in the dark..But then, the objects seem to move! The objects, seem suspended in some type of clear jelly. The jelly has, a roughly rectangular shape... The whole mass is inching it's way towards him and his friends!
Every moves as quickly as they are able, through the mire. As Mykel pushes ahead of you all...He suddenly stops as, he begins to round the corner. He seems to be staring at something.
Constantin
Bulgo
Mykel
?
Swarmholio
Bold may act. BTW please move your pawns when you act..if you cannot move (because of phone or incompatible software ect..) please ooc and describe where you want to move..otherwise..I'm kinda just boting your moves...thx
male human swashbuckler(rondelero)8/brawler 1, HP 93/93, F +8(+1 vs poison/disease), R +16, W +8, AC 28, T 20, FF 23 Init +7(+9), Per +14 Panache 6/6
There is a...blob of some sort in the way...it's transparent...but it is there...watch...Mykel says as he tosses a stone at the blob to prove its there and he's not crazy.
on phone....can't see where the blob would be...is there a way around it?
I’ll place a gelatinous cube 20ft in front of Mykel when I get back to my house later today ( or one of you guys can if you want to) in the mean time everyone can act except Swarmhoili thx
OK sorry 4 the delay guys..I'm usually more on top of my games. (kinda take pride that I often post 2 or more times a day) But, needed to bond with my brother-in-law over playoff football this weekend. So had a valid excuse LOL! Answer to Bulgo's question: it's beginning of round 2 with the only action having been taken so far is a move action by Bulgo (he still has an action remaining) all others have yet to act. (btw thx for putting the pawn up Bulgo perfect placement)
Bulgo skips from one ledge to the other trying to asses the gelatinous blob that's moving slowly toward the group. Bulgo pauses for a moment, considering his options. Constantin studies the weird mass for a second, realizing this must be one of the famous gelatinous cubes! All of you see it clearly now except, Swarmholio who is struggling to keep up, in the waist high filthy water.
*conditions*
Constantin
Bulgo(only one action left) Mykel
Gelatinous Cube
Swarmholio
