@Doodle: Saying that is actually probably *more* likely to make them continue fighting - the Society is not liked around here; we are considered to be a bunch of meddling, grave-robbing thugs...
Doodle is kind of goofy. She is hoping that by announcing the Pathfinders that she can win over the baddies by not fighting them, if they agree to put down their weapons. Convoluted, but that's how I think she thinks.
Male Dwarf Core Cleric/1 | HP: 11/11 | Init 6 | Fort/Ref/Will: +5/+0/+5 | Perception: +3 | AC: 16/10/16 | CMD: 12 (16 against trip and bull rush)
For last round:
Taklinn moves behind Renedar and slaps him on the back:
"Swing away, jolly green!"
Taklinn uses Strength Surge on Renedar (+1 to STR checks for one round)
For this round:
Taklinn charges the goon in yellow, providing flanking for Taerel.
Charge attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Dmg:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Lost my laptop over the weekend. It's recovered, now, but it slowed me down a bit.
Mercutio stabs at the blue figure, slicing open his belly.
Taerel releases a burst of flame that burns the wounded man. He falls, his screams eventually stopping as his body burns. The other two are also swallowed by the flame, but the rogue in red manages to hide slightly behind his companion.
Yellow, Ref:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12Fails, even without blind penalties. Red, Ref:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14Success.
Doodle seeks a better position, and calls out in vain, trying to get these toughs to stop attacking.
Renedar smashes his fist directly at the group's leader, and breaks his nose.
Varian stands watching, his mind running an internal dialogue with fate, but doesn't move his body to action.
Taklinn flanks the hapless yellow goon, and wounds him deeply.
The yellow figure listens to directions from his companion, and steps around Taklinn. In trying to flank these adversaries, the dwarf cleric left himself open to flanking. The figure in yellow grabs a potion from his belt with a free hand, and swallows it in a single motion. His wounds close, slightly.
Taklinn may AoO versus yellow. CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
The goon in red steps to the other side of Taklinn, and punches determinedly with his cestus. The punch connects uselessly against Taklinn's armor.
cestus:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
The leader steps back away from Renedar, and throws yet another foul object at Mercutio. The object hits Mercutio full in the chest and bursts, engulfing him in a foul gas and a burst of small, biting vermin.
stingchuck (ranged touch):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 dmg:1d6 ⇒ 4 @Mercutio: DC 11 Fortitude save to avoid being nauseated for 1d3 ⇒ 2 rounds. Take an additional -1 hp for each round nauseated. -1 hp splash damage to Taerel, too.
—COMBAT—
Mercutio (-8)
Taerel (-14)
Doodle (mage armor)
Renedar (-1)
Varian (-1)
Taklinn
* Goons green (-8)
* Goons red (-2), yellow (blind, -10+3=-7)
Those in bold may act
Hit with the bag of vermin again, Mercutio is nauseated.
"I need some help, my friends. I feel death's icy grip far too close to my heart. Taklinn. Taklinn!"
Mercutio moves around the other side of Taerel, hoping to pull himself from the battle with find some cover from a friend.
Varian lets a magic missile fly. It impacts forcefully against the red thug.
A wave of warm energy emanates from Taklinn, healing those within 30' around him, including the thugs.
Taklinn does not appear to have the Selective Channeling feat. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Feeling the healing surge, the blinded thug turns and punches at Taklinn, missing wide. After his miss, the thug's eyes clear, and his grin turns evil.
Cestus+flanking:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 8
His companion focuses on Taklinn too, connecting hard with the cleric's chest.
Cestus+flanking:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16 damage:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
—COMBAT—
Mercutio (-4, nauseated 2/2)
Taerel (-10)
Doodle (mage armor)
Renedar (-0)
Varian (-0)
Taklinn (-7)
* Goons red (0), yellow (no longer blind), -3)
Those in bold may act.
Varian conjures a ball of acid just above the thug in red. It drops on the goon and burns his skin.
Renedar swings in a flurry of blows. Both attacks hit soundly, and the thug drops.
Flurry left:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Flurry left:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
The remaining tough turns to Doodle, hoping she's the weaker of those flanking him. He strikes the gnome forcefully in the snout, then steps around for a better tactical position.
Cestus:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 CONFIRM Cestus:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12nope damage:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
—COMBAT—
Mercutio (-6)
Taerel (-10)
Doodle (mage armor; -7)
Renedar
Varian
Taklinn (-7)
* Goons red (-2)
Those in bold may act.
Mercutio makes a wide arc around the room (not in incur AoO) to get behind the last baddy. He then sticks him in the back with his good ol' masterwork rapier.
The final goon splatters across the carpet, and drops in a messy heap. A quick search of the bodies reveals two potions and a note.
Identify potions, DC 16:
cure light wounds
The Note:
Boys,
Someone killed my friend, Horis Collgardie. They left his body to rot inside his own house. Go there and wait. Don't touch anything. If anyone comes back looking to toss the place of take the body and that person's not an Ardoc, it's most likely his killer. Kill anyone who shows up there that isn't a member of my family—I mean anyone. You'll be paid well.
—Besel Ardoc
A copy of the note is in the slides, too.
A quick search of the room reveals little else of interest.
Heal, DC 12[/spoiler:
Two of the goons are dying, but not yet dead. The body of Collgardie has been dead for some time.
..., DC 15 AND Perception DC 15:
The back of Collgardie's skull has been caved in. There is also a slice to an artery in his neck that occurred about the same time. He appears to have died of blunt force trauma to the head, followed by exsanguination. Someone wanted to be very sure.
Once everyone is healed, Doodle leads to the group to the nearest inn. "I love missions when I get to have a drink," she smiles mischievously. "A nice cool drink breaks up all the fighting we end up doing."
This is a big investigation section. Finding Ardoc may not be easy, and may require multiple Knowledge(local) or Diplomacy(gather information) checks. After each encounter, you can search for more information (i.e. roll again) ... each attempt takes 1de6 hours.
For this part only, it's okay to split the party ..
Varian is the first to find some measure of success. After 1d6 ⇒ 2 hours of searching, he stops by an tavern where he hopes someone will help. An inebriated dwarf beckons for another round of ale. "Sard Coalbreath. Pleashed to make yur acquaintensh. Beshel Ardoc ... hmmm ... I'm betting the next pershon to buy a round might hear shumthing about Beshel..." The sotted dwarf continues blathering about nothing in particular until Varian gives in a buys him more alcohol.
"Ah, yesh, Ardoc. I hear that Beshel can’t make it through a day without a pint or sixsh of whatever grog the pub he’sh in ish selling. I don’t know what tho' Ardocsh are involved in, and I don’t even want to—whenever someone tells me what they’re up to, I realize again that I’d probably drink myself stupid three times a day if I were one of them.”
At this point, everyone should probably make several checks, or several aid checks, as this will take several encounters. The DC is a bit high. Achievable, but 15 won't cut it. If there is a place you'd like to look to focus your search, please add that as well.
Doodle isn't terribly effective at Gathering Info, so she will try to Aid whoever steps up and tries. She has no idea of particular spots of town to focus in.
Gather Info Aid 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Gather Info Aid 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Gather Info Aid 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Gather Info Aid 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Gather Info Aid 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Being rather shy and gruff when it comes to talking to other people, Taerel instead goes to the library and hall of records to see what information he can find. He also asks someone to help him heal up, as he was still quite wounded.
