[PFS/PbP Gameday 3] Cairn of Shadows (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

I could cover most of the room in fog, to cover our retreat, but will my companions realize we´re fleeing? And where we´re going to flee, to the ship?

The bounty hunter is on the map. I've Inidcated Tessera with MagenTa, Aetherys with OrAnge. We're in combat, you can all post your actions for this round

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Thekk
Aetheris
Artian
Isabella
Tessara
Velidor
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Bounty Hunter
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Damn he is miles away. I'll just double move and then end.

Sorry...my dots must have been reset.

Thekk moves out of the hallway (alleyway?) and readies a shot against the Bounty Hunter making an aggressive move toward Thekk or attacking another party member.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23, Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Deadly Aim
Internal Chronometer
Improved Deadshot
Point Blank Shot

Velidor double moves through the tavern while slowly drawing his throwing axe out.

Artian moves near to the dwarf drawing out his nodachi.

I don´t want harm to you, but I´ll hurt you if you meddle in our affairs

Then he readies his nodachi to attack the bounty hunter if he come near us.

Non letal attack: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 4 = 121d10 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Tess moves with the rest of the group, scanning the building for any closer exits than they originally came in. "We need to get out of here, quickly!"

Is Golbrier free or still bound?

"Sorry hun, I wish it hadn't come to that." suddenly says Aetherys as she draws Dawnblade, empowers it with her magic, then strikes with the flat of the blade to subdue the bounty hunter.

Move action: Draw Dawnblade.
Swift sction: Use 1 AP to give the blade an additional +1 and the keen property.
Standard action: Strike the bounty hunter for nonlethal damage.
Dawnblade, nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 4 = 131d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 vs flat-footed, I assume?

Thekk's determined shot almost stops the bounty hunter in her tracks. Isabella, Velidor and Tessera run up, while Artian and Aetherys try to take the huntress by surprise- only to notice that she keeps her plate armour on at all times.

The bounty hunter contains her rage, and tries to knock out Thekk with her sap.

Sap, Thekk: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 251d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Sap, Thekk: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
All damage NL

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Thekk
Aetheris
Artian
Isabella
Tessara
Velidor
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Bounty Hunter (12)
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Are we trying to not kill people here?

So that's why he didn't want to go up in his room! ;)

Velidor: I don't think outright murder would be a great way to start out in Nidal. Aetherys is going for nonlethal.

Aetherys waits until someone else engages the bounty hunter in melee, then takes a step around him to move into flanking position and strikes again with the flat of her blade, this time conjuring her arcane expertise. However, Desna isn't with her this day and the elf fumbles her attack.

Dawnblade, Arcane Strike, Flanking, Nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 9

Velidor jumps over the furniture in his way
acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 runs up to bounty hunter with his throwing axe and swings at the man
throwing axe, flanking, nonlethal: 1d20 + 8 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 4 + 2 = 20

Signaling Blake to charge forward, the Tiger moves into position and attempts to Bite the bounty hunter.

Blake Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Bite Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

With Blake in position, Isabella closes in for the kill...

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 28
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 - 5 = 17
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 6) + 10 = 17
Additional Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1) + 10 = 13
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Technically, Isabella really should be using lethal damage rather than non lethal as per her assassin training but I don't want to be "that guy" so I guess I'm rolling Non Lethal damage.

Velidor: your character sheet doesn't list a throwing axe... are your sure you have it? If so, what's the damage?

Aetherys uses the arrival of Isabella's tiger to surround the bounty hunter, but her presence serves as distraction more than anything else. A distraction the tiger makes eager use of, biting the bounty hunter in the leg. Isabella tries to subdue the bounty hunter with a smack of the greatsword. A ringing blow to the head almost sends the huntress crashing down.

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Thekk
Aetherys
Artian
Isabella
Tessara
Velidor
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Bounty Hunter (51)
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Really? You think you´re able to win against so many people? Artian tries to give the bounty hunter one last opportunity to surrender.

Non letal attack: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 4 + 2 = 111d10 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

i think i only listed my musket and falchion since he uses them most of the time. i put the info online but i refer to the Bad Ass Banana studio downloaded character sheet on my computer where it lists everything. my apologies. think hawkeye from last of the mohicans, that is velidor. throwing axe is 1d6 like a hand axe. i will update my online data.

Tess casts Hold Person on the bounty hunter, hopefully giving the group time to get away.

Dc 17 Will to resist.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The severely hurt bounty hunter is held, giving the party a chance to clear the inn before the silent enforcers arrive.

Combat over!

Golbrier knows a way out of the city. The leper's gate, they call it. Let's leave this place before the Enforcers find us. I can tell you what I know once were safe. He leads the adventurers to a secret passage out of the city.

Leaving the oppressive city of Nisroch behind, Golbrier catches his breath for the first time. The whispered Song he says has gathered some information about the leader of the Onyx alliance. Their leader is a man named Lord Maravan. He is rumoured to be a spellcaster of some power, having trained in the Arcanamirium in Absalom, but also an accomplished duelist who studied under a Tian Xia weapon master.

Our spies have heard him claim he was planning on recovering a minor artifact known as an “obsidian obelisk.” He seems to know the location of an ancient barrow known as the Cairn of Shadows, which lies within the Barrowmoor. They believed is was the burial mound of a horselord chieftain named Telendrak, an ancient foe of the Midnight Lord who the Desnans hold in high esteem.

"That lines up with what we were told. This 'Obsidian Obelisk,' do you know what it does? We need to secure that to keep the Onyx Alliance at bay."

Plain Knowledge roll. 1d20 ⇒ 6 My base modifiers are: Know. Arcana +13, Know. Dungeoneering +10, Know. History +9, Know. Nature +9, Know. Planes +9.

Aetherys smiles as she revels in her escape, lost in her thoughts. The arabesque carved on her black scimitar's blade seem to glow faintly in echo.

Praised be Sarenrae, we were able to succeed in our task without murdering anyone.

Sarenrae has nothing to do with it, 'Therys. It is your own choice that led to this man's survival. You made the right call. Besides, I was as much to blame as you were when Buri-Buri died.

No! The arm holding the blade is responsible, not the blade itself. I'm taking responsibility for it.

Snapping out of it, she thanks Golbrier for his information.

"A student of the arcane and the blade alike? That sounds very much like my style. I'm looking forward to meeting another magus in battle, if he is one. Maybe he also wields a sentient blade? That would make for an amazing four-way duel, don't you think Dawnblade?"

"Regardless, we must find him before he recovers that artifact, and prevent him to."

Knowledge: 1d20 ⇒ 6 Arcane, Dungeoneering, Planes: +8; Local, Nature, Religion: +5

"Friends if we have the info we need, I suggest we remove ourselves from this location and press forward."

Golbrier is well=prepared. I knew that you were coming. I've already arranged a route for you, and we can depend on Desnan sympathisers to get us where you wan to go.

Travel from Nisroch to Barrowmoor goes smoothly for the party, taking about a week to cover the roughly 200-mile journey. Golbrier is in regular contact with Whispered Song spies, who ensure the adventurers don’t run afoul of patrols or Kuthite loyalists during the journey. Just before the party arrives in Barrowmoor, a spy’s report informs Golbrier that the Onyx Alliance expedition has found the Cairn of Shadows and they’ve begun excavating the ancient tomb. The report pinpoints the cairn’s location, but can’t be sure how long the Onyx Alliance has been inside.

Upon arriving, Golbrier makes clear he has no ambition to step inside the barrow: “I’m a lover... and a singer... and a bit of a dancer, but not a fighter.”

The barrow mound holding the entrance to the Cairn of Shadows is a tall mount of rock and gray earth, 30 feet in diameter and 20 feet high. One side has been excavated with piles of dirt and lose rocks tossed about. The excavation into the tomb is only a few yards deep, beyond which there is an archway made of black stone and the tunnel walls change from roughly dug dirt to worked black stone. A passage descends deeper underground.

A large hall stretches to some great height, its ceiling too high to see. Chains of every size and length hang from above, filling the space with delicate clinks and slow scraping sounds as they gently sway in some unfelt breeze. The depth and height of the chamber are difficult to assess as the chains obscure vision beyond a few feet, but through the forest of chains comes the sound of strangely slow running water.

"I don't suppose any of you are crypt specialists? Traps are vey bad for my complexion."

Tess will prefer to be at the middle/back of the marching Order.

Aetherys will gladly walk at the front, or second row.

"I'm no specialist about trap. I would rather let someone else try to spot them."

Thekk will check for unusual stonework.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 (free check within 10 feet.)

"Sadly fair lady my talents lie in the natural above ground world and not in the dark.I shall defer to the expertise of the Dwarf."

"If that's the case we're all screwed, lad!" Thekk snorts.

Isabella is quite happy to stay near the lead, preferring to stealth if possible.

"Couldn't help with stonework but maybe I could help on searching for the traps front", Isabella remarks casually, before inspecting the area ahead of her, looking for traps.

Taking 20 on Perception for 20 to search for traps.

About 35 feet into the hall, a stream of shadowy ichor flow under a small arched bridge. Moving through the room, the chains brush the adventurers, leaving streaks of rust, oil, and blood on clothes and armor.

At the end of this macabre hall, a desiccated humanoid husk stands propped up by chains. Dozens of hooks of all sizes dig into its flesh, suspending the frail looking corpse a few inches above a throne of rusted iron like some corpse marionette. Its head hangs limp against its chest.

Artian remembers having told the party than he isn´t neither very good looking for traps, so all of them shold search to have an opportunity.

As usual, Artian has casted Magic vestment before entering the Cairn.

Artian stop surprised of the scene What in hell is that? Asks to his companions, not trusting his own knowledge.

knowledge check: 1d20 ⇒ 9 modifiers: arcana +4, engineering +3, history +3, planes +5, religion +3

Also, I want to know if the blood brushed by the chains is dry or not

Tes looked on in horror at the visage and promptly pulled a wand before casting Mage Armor on herself. "Im not sure, but something evil is going on here, that's for sure."

Basic Knowledge roll. 1d20 ⇒ 8My base modifiers are: Know. Arcana +13, Know. Dungeoneering +10, Know. History +9, Know. Nature +9, Know. Planes +9.

While the smart ones are trying to figure out what that is, Velidor will look at the area for any signs of tracks to see where the blood trail goes/came from...Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
dang! would rather have that roll on a save or an attack in combat

The blood on the chains is slightly sticky, but there is no apparent trail of blood, or a source for that matter.

The corpse marionette lets out a dry coughing, sending ripples through the chains he is suspended by, If only barely, the man is alive. Ancient, empty eyes lift to see who disturbs his rest, and a powerless, rattling whisper asks who speaks to Telendrak?

"We have a common enemy, horse lord Telendrak. i am Tessara. We were not lead to suspect you would be here to greet us however. Tell us more of your plight, before we betray any of our secrets."

I am Telendrak, chief lord of the horse tribes. I have been imprisoned because I dared defy Zon-Kuthon.

The horselords tribes ruled the Atteran Plains, their warriors riding mighty chiardmars and driving foes before them with spear and lance. The tribes were fierce and independent, worshiping spirits of nature and our ancestors. So it was in my day.

We have been imprisoned here forever. We have always been here. The horselord Telendrak came to the Cairn of Shadows in the time of darkness, and before true darkness descended on the land called Nidal. That’s what the last Telendrak said.

"Sounds like my kind of people.

"Mighty Telendrak, did you see other outsider in this place recently? More importantly, would you let us pass unharmed? We have no wish to fight you if it can't be helped."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

The man looks in no shape to put up a fight. As far as appearances are concerned, he looks to be a tortured soul, hanging from the chains that bind him, barely alive.

The word 'harm' triggers something in the man: No, no, no. I am Telendrak. It doesn't need to come. he says, almost panicked, looking up at the chains. It doesn't need to come down! I obeyed! I said I am Telendrak!

Zon Kuthon... There´s always a god involved with people suffering. Artian tries to not let his hate reveals when he talks to Talendrak.

Don´t worry Chief Lord, I´m sure it knows you obeyed. No one can say otherwise.

I´m suffering seeing you in this state, is there any way we can help you? Maybe we can talk to it so it knows you are obedient, would you tell us what you don´t want to come?

Artian tries to calm the man and see if he can provide some information.

"What is the deal with those chains? I've never seen undead supported by chains before," Tess whispers to the others.

No, no. I am obedient! You trick Telendrak into being disobedient, but I am not so easily tricked. I am obedient, yes. I am the humble servant of The Master of Chains. The Lord Above. Giver of the Gift of Anguish. Our only god, now. He made me Telendrak, when the last Telendrak was so foolish as to die.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

"You're talkin' so batty that you've got me confused! Who is this Master of Chains?" Thekk thinks that, the longer he stands here, the more likely it is that he will meet him.

"I agree, such a sight is not one I have seen commonly during my time as a Pathfinder", Isabella remarks, hesitantly drawing her blade. "I suppose I could always cut him down?" she asks, although her tone implies that she would be perfectly happy leaving him as he is.

The Lord Above, the giver of Anguish. Others came, others went up there. We could hear the scream as the lord gave them his gift, and there was blood trickling down form the chains.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Unable to make the perception check. ups

K. religiom: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Any relation between Zon Kuthon and Master of Chains?

Don´t know so much uf undead,but he hasn´t done anythiing to us. Maybe he is "only" cursed. And insane. Artian whispers to the party.

Lord Talendrak, had you said others had come? And they dare to go up?

"Up. Blood on the chains? Can anyone climb? Are you saying there is something up there above you at the top of the chains, Talendrak?"

Velidor looks at the chains and then asks Talendrak, "You said others came? How recently? How many? and they never came back down?"

Others case but never returned. Up they went, climbed the chains, and blood trickled down. The master of Chains, he gives the gift of anguish. Telendrak is not specific on number or history, and he doesn't seem to have a firm grip on time.

What do you do with him? Cut him loose? Kill him? Leave him be?