PFS 0-13 Prince of Augustana, Table B (Inactive)

Game Master DrGabe

Meri takes in the sanctuary, smiling and nodding at the assembled host of the poor. Having no questions not already asked by her companions, she simply takes up a position near the door in case a speedy exit is needed, and listens.

Ahn looks around in distaste ... detecting evil on the tall man (and everyone else for that matter.)

Ahna doesn't detect evil.
Helgoron sees three beggars in particular that appear to be very ill. It looks as if they have contracted some type of disease.

The bronzed-masked man speaks to Helgoron, They call me the Almsman. And this is my sanctuary. What brings you here to the sewers?

"Well met Almsman. We come following the recount of a man named Gandros. He has been found by the Pathfinder Society, and has claimed a truly remarkable history that we are now investigating"

The tiefling looks around at the poor souls, commenting - "I would like to know more of your work here, but for the time being we need to get to the bottom of this. Since this man has claimed he floated past the Almsman’s Sanctuary but couldn't climb out of the water, we have decided that this would be a good place to follow up our investigation. Namely, to try and understand if you were aware of any such recent event in the area" - he looks at the man with a smile.

"Additionally, he has informed us that he tried to grab one of the bridges, but a plank fell in with him - are there any such structures around? And if so, did you notice any missing one of its planks or boards?"

The masked man replies, I can show you where it be. However, I must ask a favor in exchange for that knowledge. If you made it this far into the sewers, then you must know about the Steel Wyvern, yes? You don't look their normal type, anyway.
They are forcing me to pay them money that I don't have. They threatened to destroy what I have here. They I fear that they might be coming soon. Any help that you can offer would be beneficial.

Meri nods, "I would be happy to assist, though I fear killing them is not necessarily necessary. Our gnome friend here seems more than capable of making them ineffective long enough to neutralize. I propose we take that particular path."

"She must be talking about the other gnome as I would be happy to exterminate them if they are doing you evil ... ", Ahn says with a scowl.

"As my friends here have just stated, we have a deal" - Helgoron confirms to the Almsman with a smile.

Turning to Meridyth, he adds - "They will be offered a chance for repentance if they show they deserve it - if any killing takes place, it will only be due to we lacking parley alternatives. Would that be acceptable?" - he asks with a stern look on his fiery eyes.

Meri nods her ascent and orders her tiger to defend her party members.

Helgoron bows shortly to Meridyth in respect, then turns again to the Almsman - "I will go ahead and accept your offer in name of my companions - tells us then how to find the Steel Wyvern members"

Very well then, I assure you that they are indeed evil men.

You have 2 hours. There is no furniture other than immovable sarcophagi (3 feet high) in the sanctuary, but there is a plank bridge nearby. The doors in the sanctuary are sturdy wooden doors (break DC 18), but can be reinforced with planks, making them equivalent to strong wooden doors (break DC 23). Beyond this, let the PCs be creative in their defense plan.

Anything you want to do before we move forward?

Ok everyone ... maybe we can fortify a couple of ways in and redirect them to a single way. (what is the layout DrGabe? If they can't get in via one way, is there a path to get back to the other entrances?) We could then cause them to bunch up in the one entrance and catch them in a crossfire.

Is the bridge spanning the fetid water? Maybe we could rig that to collapse (or if we are taking the planks, cover the frame with a cloak or something so it looks like the bridge is there, but causes them to fall in ... prestidigitation may help with concealing that?

Of course, we should provide them the opportunity to surrender first ...

Lirianne tries to make out the best way to fortify this further. Knowledge engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Helgoron poses additional questions to the Almsman, trying to figure where their positioning would be the best - "Apologies for the multiple questions but... I am assuming it is them that come to you for this extortion. Do they come here every day? Always from the same route? And how many? This information would be helpful in defending you. Where do you usually meet? At the outskirts of your area, or they come inside the perimeter?"

Meri hands the concoctions looted from the alchemist station to the Almsman "There are many sick people here. Some of these might heal, but I have no idea. We took them from an enemies alchemy lab just past the collapsing tunnel. They were Wyverns too. Easier for the sick and injured to escape if they aren't quite so sick and injured."

Ahna is able to get some planks but it doesn't appear that he is going to be able to trick the Wyvrens that way. However, the planks can easily be made to fortify their position.

Liriann is able to see that the planks along with the sarcophagi could provide cover from anyone coming into the room.

Infact, Helgoron learns from the Almsman, that the thugs usually come here and threaten to make a mess of things until he promises them money. Only this time... there isn't any money left.

MAP

You have awhile to prepare defenses before the thugs show up. Feel free to tell me where to place you on the map.

Do we know they are coming from the left corridor? We could position some down the corridor to the right, the rest in the back room (to the top/north on the map) or behind the top most sarcophagi ... once the baddies are in the room the rest of the party swoops in behind them.

Lirianne will prepar defenses, cover would be nice, with her behind cover so she can shoot without difficulties.

"I am not very good at disguising myself, but perhaps I could find a place here amongst the others, pretending to be one of them, only to reveal myself once we are sure the Wyverns are all inside" - Helgoron offers.

Koemi would just position herself 5 feet away from the door to the right wall, so she can have a nice coning position on any intruders. If she finds something suitable, she would give herself some cover there. Like a barrel or table to throw over.

Helgoron will probably be placed in the left bottom corner, trying to pretend he is one of the Almsman "sick", so as to quickly occupy the entrance and prevent any from escaping - we need someone to address them once we close the trap. Helgoron can also do that, but I'll leave it up to you guys if anyone else wants to step forward.

After about an hour, you can start to hear laughter and footsteps can be heard approaching from the west. A voice calls out Almsman! What say you? Are you resisting or giving us what we want? I hope you’re resisting! It only takes a moment before the door to the sanctuary is kicked in by the thugs!

MAP
I placed you all where it seemed best, pink triangles indicate cover that you are taking. They come looking for money... nothing else will do.

Without hesitation, Koemi mumbles some arcane words (color spray DC 16).

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

If she goes before them, all fit in the cone and may make a will save DC 17 or be
unconscious, blinded, and stunned for: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 rounds
then blinded and stunned for : 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds and then stunned for 1 round.

initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Presuming that's pretty high on the order ...

Long bow shot to guy on their right ... five foot step if necessary.
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3, damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Ahn ducks as his bow shot ricochets back over his head ...

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Initiative order: Koemi, Ahna, Liriann, Meridyth, NPC2, Rackle, Helgorn, NPC1

Koemi sends out a blast of dazzling colors.
NPC 1 Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
NPC 2 Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
The four men seem to be unaffected, but the "leader" drops to the ground apparently deciding that sleeping is better than fighting the Pathfinders!
Ahna's shot is high and bounces off of the stone.

Initiative order: Koemi, Ahna, Liriann, Meridyth, NPC2 (unconscious), Rackle, Helgorn, NPC1

MAP

Realizing the four standing men have no desire to surrender, Meri orders her tiger to attack.

Tiger to Hit (Bite): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

As her tiger bounds forward, the oracle loads her crossbow Move and looses a shot at the nearest enemy Standard.

To Hit (Crossbow): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

2 steps forward and Lurianne shoots (the one on the left)

Attack vs touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Lying in wait with his blades drawn, Rackle readies himself to fight. He lets the magic fly before he darts forward and tries to slash one of the men.

Advance and attack. They are still flat-footed, yes?
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Crit threat 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 damage, plus 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10 sneak attack, plus 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 if the crit confirms

Halgorn's turn.... the first two men are dropped by those viscous attacks! Two NPC's remaining plus the sleeping leader.

Sorry for the delay guys, posting in a few minutes.

Helgoron takes a slow and careful step ahead, his long reach weapon allowing him to attack the remaining opponents without the need to get close - "You have here a chance to surrender - take it, and live" - swinging his weapon, he attempts to bring down their opponents without killing them.

Bardiche Attack - Non Lethal: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 4 = 22Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

LOL

Bardiche Attack - Critical confirmation: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 4 = 22Additional Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Wow...

Realizing she does not have the time to put the fear of Lamashtu into them, Meri simply begins setting the mood for the future. "You have proven yourselves brave enough, you stood up to us. You unblinkingly stood in the face of unbeatable odds. Please drop your weapons."

Meridyth's tiger pounces on a thug as her bolt strikes the man in the thug. He stands tall and continues to try to fight them off.

Liriann's bullet finishes off the thug while the tiger looks for another foe.

Rackle dashes in the shadows, and quickly ends the life the Wyvren thug.

Helgoron moves to the next thug in line, and decapitates a thug in a smooth strike.

The remaining thug drops his spiked chain and tries to run out the sewers.

Nice work team, that ended in a hurry once the crits started to fly! You have the leader at your disposal. The fleeing thug can be captured or allowed to flee as you see fit. Feel comfortable that you have saved the Almsman from his Wyvren problem!

Recovering from almost hitting himself with his own arrow Ahn dashes forward yelling, "That's right, run! You were next! And tell all your comrades to steer clear or you'll meet a similar fate!", Ahn clears his throat, straighten's his mail ... "If you all weren't so efficient ... "

Rackle clicks his beak at the fleeing thug, then moves up to tie the leader with his rope. "Quick, quick." he says with a chuckle.

Meri moves to subdue the ring leader, ordering her tiger to menace the bandit. "You know, you can either follow in the footsteps of your colleagues here, or you can help us out a bit."

Intimidate, Meri: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Intimidate, Noni (Aid Meri): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Edit Intimidate Total = 20

DrGabe, please keep in mind that Helgoron was striking for non-lethal damage ;)

Helgoron would not allow the one left to flee, and would try to give chase.

"Do not let him escape to return afterwards!" - he urges his companions, bursting through the entrance.

Helgoron and Meridyth are able to get one of the thugs to talk. You find out that the Steel Wyverns are not a formidable gang in the city any longer. They have sunken to basically shaking down easy targets such as the Almsman.

The thugs no nothing of the prince, but the Almsman does.

The Almsman thanks the Pathfinder's for helping him with his problem. As promised he gives you directions to travel through the sewers to where the Prince was last seen. The instructions include looking for a door marked "Skytower."

The Almsman also hands you 2 vials of bless weapon as thanks for your help. The leader was armed with +1 studded leather and a masterwork whip.

"Thank you, sir. We were happy to help. What do you wish to do with these thugs?" Rackle asks the Almsman.

"Sir, I recommend you convert these heathens to your own use, perhaps as tempe guards, or we can remove them to the surface and hand them over to the Pathfinder's Lodge when we complete our mission down here. I believe Paracountess Zarta Dralneen is always on the look out for new toys. . . I thank you for your gifts sir, we will do our best to put them to a good use. May your sanctuary remain safe. If you have future problems with these vermin, please do send word to the surface. Just ask the Lodge, and I will return."

Meri comforts her tiger after the short battle, checking him for any wounds before preparing to move on.

"I believe we should simply follow the Almsman's direction to our next destination."

Walking through the tunnels, the Almsman’s directions lead to a heavy wooden door. A sign on the door is partially obscured by grime and moss, and the word “Skytower” is still barely legible. The door is made of sturdy wood and is unlocked. Entering the door you see a room that was once the basement of a building above, but the stairs in the far corner are now choked with charred rubble and seem to lead to a new stone foundation of the new building above. Odd furniture and knick-knacks of all description fill the remaining space, and strange winged effigies made of wood and broken pottery are arrayed in a bizarre diorama. The focal point of this display is a pair of chairs standing on different-sized piles of old crates like thrones on a dais. A charred and shriveled corpse dressed in rotting and burnt finery and wearing a tin crown is propped up in one of the chairs while the other, lower chair, sits vacant.

Perception checks and Knowledge: Nature checks if you like.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Liriann can hear shuffling and snorting sounds coming from the farthest vault to the west.

MAP

"Something moves in the farthest vault to the west," she whispers, getting her pistol ready.

Meri nods, "I doubt the Almsman would have provided something he didn't think we would need. Now would be the best time to apply those oils I reckon."

As the party nears the vault, Meri casts 'bless' on the little group.

Rackle nods and holds a hand up. "Let me have a look first." he whispers, readying to sneak ahead and see what might be making the sounds.

Stealth 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 +1 more vs traps

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 2