Myrial, City of Rogues (Inactive)

Game Master Rynjin

After a night of rest, I can prepare speak with dead. We need to present the evidence and have Charles held as a suspect until we can do this. I suggest we put the body in a bag of holding till the spell is ready and keep it safe. Don't tell anyone about where the body is until the last minute.

Indeed. I'd also try and find a way to have Charles (and his crew, if possible) to write something for us, so that we can compare the hand-writing (Jorriko's connection with the Drow might help with that). The note itself is not proof of anything, and maybe, not even convincing evidence, depending on how careful the Madrigal are. Charles could very well claim *we* are the traitors and that we're trying to frame him.

I somewhat agree with you. The note, the body, and the recent activity (from the OG) against the guild should be more than enough evidence to have Charles (and possibly ourselves) held until the spell can be prepared. I prefer that someone other than myself cast it so 1) I can't be blamed for tampering,2) I can only ask 2 questions this week (caster lvl 5 = 2 questions/ week as per the spell), 3) I'd rather prepare a combat spell for the inevitable fallout.

[ooc] However, we need to find someone who can be trusted to cast the spell without tampering and who can and will ask the propper questions. As an aside note. We have a member of the OG's corpse who can be gleaned for info (with a gentle repose spell for corpse maintenance) weekly: a highly valuable prize for the Mandrigal as a whole which further elevates our standing within the organization in general.

Check mate, b~*~+es!

However, we need to find someone who can be trusted to cast the spell without tampering and who can and will ask the propper questions. As an aside note. We have a member of the OG's corpse who can be gleaned for info (with a gentle repose spell for corpse maintenance) weekly: a highly valuable prize for the Mandrigal as a whole which further elevates our standing within the organization in general.

Check mate, b!*@+es!

That's a damn good idea!

^^ lets do it. I recomend tha the question be asked in the from of vivian.

All we need is for Jo to make the needed cha based checks to ensure a fair and/ or favorable setting... I smell a skill challenge brewing...

Ooh, I hadn't even thought of that possibility...you diabolical geniuses. He won't have an overwhelming amount of info, but he will have more than enough useful stuff for you for sure.

Tell me when you have your whole plan hatched out. I need to stat up some stuff if you're expecting a fight to break out in headquarters (visiting agents, I actually don't have stats for Vivian yet, etc.)

And don't forget to cast Eagle's Splendor to temporarily raise Cha by 4 points. Even if it doesn't stack with our level up bonus (it shouldn't, IMHO), that's still a +2 ^^

First off, we gotta communicate with Vivan without tipping Charles off. Then, we gotta get a sample of Charles & Friends' handwritting. All in favor of getting everyone unarmed in a room? Korak would enjoy that. lol.

I think we have a plan. It's all a matter of flavor texting. Here is your chance to write a mini novel. You can even script the fight if you want. I'm sure that after getting Charles in holding for the "trial" it's a downhill cruise from there. A fittingly epic end to this chapter of our story.

Thoughts?

I guess that's your way of saying "I'm done with Charles, let's do something else?"

What about the rest of his posse?

I believe Michaelis and his wife will be valuable NPC contacts (if they even stay). His bodyguard will need to be put down though. I'm not bored with this segment of the story. I just want to see how you spin it. I'm sure there is some sort of surprise you could throw at us, but I am confident in the end result... I don't want to interrupt good story telling with bad roll/ role playing.

First off, we gotta communicate with Vivan without tipping Charles off. Then, we gotta get a sample of Charles & Friends' handwritting. All in favor of getting everyone unarmed in a room? Korak would enjoy that. lol.

We can do it via that figurine, it was acutlally useful after all. There could be hte problem with charles being allied with vivian though. Perhas we need more witnesses.

I don't want to interrupt good story telling with bad roll/ role playing.

There is no storytelling, there is roleplaying.

Eh... I dunno. We could use the battle, though... If nothing else, just for the battle. We haven't had one of those in a while (Jorriko getting one-shoted doesn't count ^^).

Send the bird to Vivian, tell him to meet us somewhere safe with a priest or mage of his trust.

The bird flys with Korak message.

I thought you guys sold that? Decide it wasn't as useless as you made it out to be now? *huff*

Anywho...

Jo sends the message. About an hour later, Vivian sends one back via the raven.

I don't know what this is about, but I'll trust your judgement. Meet at this address.

-Vivian

A map is enclosed, with a house circled over in the Merchant's Quarter.

As soon as I get the info I head out to scout the area before the "package" is delivered.

kn local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 about the area
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 scouting pt 1
perception + detect magic: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 scouting pt 2

I thought you guys sold that? Decide it wasn't as useless as you made it out to be now? *huff*

Anywho...

Remember that we send the message to the elf with it.

Rynjin wrote:

I thought you guys sold that? Decide it wasn't as useless as you made it out to be now? *huff*

Anywho...

Remember that we send the message to the elf with it.

And now you made Rynjin's day!

Anyway... Might as well help with the scouting. I take 10 on Perception and Sense Motive. Total of 21 and 23, respectively. (In fact, I assume any time we're not actively rolling for a skill, we're "passively" taking 10 on it. Is that a safe assumption in this game?)

I suppose we all waited a night in order to get the spell rependish, righ, right?

Jo accompany Jorriko and Korak trying to not make too much noise.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Ok, they detected us ^^

So... What happens next?

Jorriko and Korak note a number of passive observers littering the streets, but they seem to have no specific interest in the group members that they spot.

(In fact, I assume any time we're not actively rolling for a skill, we're "passively" taking 10 on it. Is that a safe assumption in this game?)

Yes. But tell me when you're trying to be Stealthy because I won't assume that at all times, especially if you're trying to get from A to B.

Yes. But tell me when you're trying to be Stealthy because I won't assume that at all times, especially if you're trying to get from A to B.

Ah, sure. I wouldn't expect you to assume we are always taking 10 in UMD either. :). I was thinking more about "Passive" skills. To be stealthy, I have to actually do something. OTOH, Perception, Sense Motive, Knowledge skills and, sometimes, Spell Craft can be used passively.

Not worrying about the observers, Korak enters the meeting place.

Jo just enter the place since she have not noticed anything.

Should we knock? Is there a doorbell we can ring? ^^

On a unrelated note... How does Power attack interact with Dragon Style?

You count as using a 2H weapon (well technically, Natural Attack that deals 1.5x Str to damage). I'll update in a bit, gotta do stuff.

The group enters the meeting place, and finds Vivian waiting for them in the dining room.

He jerks his head towards a door and starts down the stairs through them.

Downstairs is another man, with the proudly displayed symbol of Pharasma on his chest. He stands next to a space cleared on the floor, surrounded by candles.

Vivian finally speaks.

"This is Arthur. I'd trust him with my life, and he's agreed to help verify your information."

Arthur clears his throat.

"Nice to meet you people. But can we get down to business Viv? I've got a funeral at 2:30." he gestures towards the circle of candles.

"It's my pleasure. My name is Korak, this is Jorriko and the lovely lady here is Jo."

Korak gesticulates for Jo to bring the Bag of Holding closer.

"We have a great gift for you, Mr.V." says Korak with a smile. "The type of gift I'm sure a man such as you can appreciate. Information. Starting with... The names of those responsible for selling out information to your enemies. And I'm sure we can learn even more interesting facts. We have a great source."

Korak slowly puts his hand on the Bag of Holding, to avoid alarm and carefully pulls out both the note with the name of Madrigal agents and the corpse of the Obsidian Guard.

Jo Smiles.

Yes, yes. Today could be a great day so Sweetheart please could you begin the interrogation.

"My pleasure."

Arthur cracks his fingers and neck, then begins casting the spell. He chants and waves incense for about 10 minutes, and finally the corpse shudders and its teeth chatter briefly.

"So, what questions should I ask him, exactly?"

"Before asking your questions. Check if you can detect any spell or supernatural effect that could change his answers. Take any precautions you can think of. We want you guys to be completely sure that we are not cheating or lying to you in any way. When that is done, ask him the name and appearance of the man who gave him the list with the name of Madrigal agents... A list, I remind you, that includes our own names. Korak scratches his chin and quickly adds a few more words. "After that, ask him whatever you wish. I'm sure Mr.V would enjoy knowing more about the organization this man belongs to."

Arthur does as Korak asks.

"There only seems to be one spell effect going on him, which is the one I just cast."

"As for other precautions...not sure how many I can take. The dead are slippery like that. Strong willed individuals can potentially lie or just remain silent, and while Zone of Truth is a wonderful spell for these sorts of situations normally, when the person's not alive...things get iffy. Suppose it wouldn't hurt to use it in either case though."

He concentrates for a moment and makes a gesture, and a faintly glowing blue light appears around the edges of the room.

Will saves if for whatever reason you want to resist the truth zone.

That done, he turns back to Stephen's body.

"So, you heard the man. What did the man who gave you the folder full of Mandrigal names look like? And be exact."

The corpse replies.

"Medium length black hair, average height, red robes, creepy grin. About the kind of scum I expected going in."

this is not how I expected this to go.

Weren't we supposed to let Vivian question the body? We can take it back later for gathering information, if you want. Still, he only described Charles, so we can kill him and Salvador and spare the drow couple if you want. Convince Vivian that we can trust the duo and that they can be useful assets. Any suggestions on how we should proceed from here?

Sure, you can let Vivian question it. I figured it'd be easier if you guys fed him the questions since it lets you get in some exact wording. And how did you expect this to go, Jorriko?

"Three more questions, boss."

Vivian thinks for a second, and then asks a second question.

"What were your immediate plans for this information?"

"Simply gathering information as of yet. I would know more, but somebody killed me before I got my next set of orders."

Make me another Perception check.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25 (Scent also automatically detects creatures 30ft away from me. 60ft if upwind, 15ft if downwind).

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 (If necessary for whatever reason)

Ah, forgot about Scent.

Korak smells something in the room with them, but can't seem to spot where it is exactly.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Hah! Gotta love scent!

"Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights."

Have I sniffed this scent before?

perception w/ detect magic: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

Korak has not sniffed this scent, no.

Jorriko, however, spots the little intruder. It's a tiny eyeball, flying on itty bitty wings near the ceiling at the corner of the doorway leading up the stairs.

Not that I'm complaining... But how are you getting a +18 Perception?

Jo start casting SIlent image and create the image of charles.

Is this the one who contact you? - she ask to the dead body

+18 (actually 17, sorry!) = very carefully (+5 lvl, +3 class skill, +4 modifier, +5 misc magic, +3 vs traps)... And This is why I didn't want to do it this way.

flying dagger attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
f*~@ing atk dice!
we are being observed! I told you we should have had all interested parties held BEFORE this part of the investigation!

Krail begins mumbling to himself about propper spy protocol and standard operating procedures, and how difficult this is going to make the rest of his day.

Jorriko misses his dagger by just a hair, and the creature gets spooked.

Things have low Initiative. Everyone goes before they do if somebody wants to try and catch it.

"No, you didn't. You told us to have the interested parties in the same room at some point. I assumed that meant after we proved our accusations. Tsc... Whatever."

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I Cast daze on the eyeball.

Korak nails the eye with an arrow, the head slicing through part of the eye, but not dropping the creature.

The spell has no effect.

It silently turns and flies away at blinding speed.

Arthur speaks up.

"You'll want to catch that thing. It's an Isitoq, a foul undead spy. If it has a chance to report back to its master it could be bad. He may even be close by, in order to get the information in real time."

How distant is the creature? If we are inside a warehouse, it would have to dive in order to go through the door.

It has to go up a bit, actually. You're in the basement of this house. These things fly really fast, however. If the stairs are about 15 feet long (requiring 30 foot of movement to rise at a 45 degree angle up), it's already 90 feet away on a double move.

I gave you a chance to see them earlier but neither of you even came close.

Try to kill that thing, I will accompan y VIvian and arthur and finish this "interrogation". Aka, I have anything useful for killing htat thing no buff, no debuff, no direct damage)