Revvy Bitterleaf |
As you enter the theater dressed to go see a play;
A gnome directs the performers for the latest play, an indecipherable piece vaguely titled Dweomer Blade. He wears armor and directs with a longsword, pointing at the actors and the stage with his weapon as he
shouts commands and berates his workers, demanding seemingly impossible feats of them repeatedly. The actors all wear various pieces of armor and wield weapons, though these offer but vague clues as to what the obscure play is actually about.
The gnome welcome’s your arrival, and tells you pointedly that he needs a break from “working with these amateurs” anyway. He bids you to join him on stage as he dismisses his actors for a short break to their dressing rooms, which also act as personal quarters during times of high stress (which seems like all of the time at the Captive Audience).
"You're a bit early, we are not ready for the public yet"
No checks needed right now, just need to know how you plan to approach this
Kiyoshi Wakahisa |
Following Mohoks prompt, Kiyoshi steps forward and bows to the gnome.
"We're here on behalf of a mutual friend, Jarovar. We believe he usually collects goods from you? We were looking to trace the goods back to their source, we were hoping to meet with the supplier. We would be greatly indebted to you if you could tell us who supplies you?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Revvy Bitterleaf |
"Jarovar, sure he comes by here sometimes..he supplies some of our stage props. Here let me show you one of them"
He then moves over to one of the vases standing on stage and picks it up and starts to sing a verse from the play. It's a romantic interlude and as he is singing it he's looking 1d5 ⇒ 3 Birgit deeply in her eyes.
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
5d20 ⇒ (17, 4, 2, 19, 9) = 51
init Mohok: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
init Birgit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
init Kyhosi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
init Belka: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
init Zarunkumar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
init Gnome: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Mohok senses that something is wrong right before the gnome pulls out a small stick that he throws on the floor and smoke starts pouring out of it while everyone else thinks it's part of the performance.
init
Surprise round: Mohok
Normal round:
Zarunkumar,Birgit,Kyoshi,Belka
Gnome
You guys again
Map linked up top, The circle is the smoke
Mohok |
Sensing that the gnome is up to no good, Mohok moves to cut off any escape. He darts around the shabby purple couch that serves as a stage prop, drawing his falchion as he moves and positioning himself behind the tricky creature.
Move action to get behind gnome, drawing weapon as I go. I'll move a bit wide to avoid AoO, ending up directly opposite Kiyoshi. Can someone move my token?
Revvy Bitterleaf |
I think the smoke cloud might prevent Birgit getting a good enough look at the gnome from where she is standing, but she still has a move left so that shouldn't be a problem
Will save Gnome: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Uneffected by his attempt to fascinate her with his song Birgit tries to put the little gnome to sleep she finds out that for some reason or another the gnome isn't effected by her attempt at all I know he failed his will save, but he's immune to sleep (found that out after I already rolled a will save)
init
Kiyoshi
"Gnome"
You guys again
Mohok |
Mohok feels the little magical tingle that Zarunkumar zaps him with, but he chooses to hold on to that edge, just as he chooses to deal mortal damage to the gnome. Need to let him know we mean business, and I'll need that little boost to my aim when I'm trying to just knock him out. For now, I'm gonna hurt him.
He steps to his right, then swings his blade at the tricky fellow.
5-foot step, then attack. If moving one square north will provide the gnome with any sort of cover from the purple couch, Mohok won't move but will just attack.
+1 Falchion, PA, Flank: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 21
+1 Falchion damage, PA: 2d4 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 7 + 6 = 21
Miss chance, 1-20 misses: 1d100 ⇒ 55
Belka |
"Hopefully, we'll heal him when he falls unconscious" Belka says to Kiyoshi while angrily swinging her greataxe at the gnome.
I enter rage (round 1)
Att. mwk greataxe, flank, guidance: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 11
damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
20% miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 69
Revvy Bitterleaf |
Belka's axe cuts through the smoke hanging in front of her and it swirls and moves around in nice patterns..but there's not a spray of blood that follows it, Belka in her rage forgot that gnomes are smaller then she is. (didn't hit AC)
Birgit tries to make the gnome have some terrible luckWill save vs Misfortune: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 (I think that's enough to not be effected by the misfortune) but he doesn't seem to be effected by it that much.
Kiyoshi continues to assist Belka.
The gnome swings his sword again with a flourish and takes a step closer to 1b2b3k: 1d3 ⇒ 2 Belka tries to stick his sword into Belka
To hit Belka's AC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
To confirm vs Belka's AC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 (I think that confirms)
Damage Belka: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 1) + 12 = 19
"If you surrender now I will let you live" says the gnome with a wicked grin as he stick his sword all the way through Belka midsection.
init
You guys
Gnome
Damage Gnome:21
Zarunkumar |
Don't hold back I'll make sure he doesn't die.
@Mohok go ahead and use the guidance I gave you last turn. I can always cast it on you again, it's a cantrip they don't run out.
Aims her new Flaming Light Crossbow at the area she remembered the cut came from and takes a shot.
Flaming crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Crit conformation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage roll: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4
Crit damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 66
10 points of regular damage and 2 points of fire damage.
Mohok |
Mohok looks briefly over his shoulder at Zarunkumar and says, "Fine by me, I don't like this little fellow."
He then steps into the smoke where he saw the gnome disappear and strikes at the little trickster.
5-foot step, the Power Attack.
+1 Falchion, PA, Guidance, Flank: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 24
+1 Falchion damage, PA: 2d4 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 + 6 = 18
Miss chance, 1-20 misses: 1d100 ⇒ 93
Kiyoshi Wakahisa |
"Don't worry Zarunkmar, I'll help Belka."
Kiyoshi mutters the healing magic of one of his most powerful healing spells.
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
Belka |
Belka grunts in pain and almost faints. The little fellow strikes hard. For awhile, she thought of retreating but the healings provided by Kiyoshi keep her fighting.
She strikes again at the gnome before temporarily stepping back.
Att. mwk greataxe, guidance: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
20% miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 77
Rage (round 2)
Revvy Bitterleaf |
Zarunkumar shoots a burning arrow into the gnome at the same time as Mohok slices through the smoke..and part of the gnome. a trail of blood is seen leaving the cloud.
Out of combat ..all though I'll assume that the healing of Belka still took place?
As the smoke clears you can see the corpse on the ground getting bigger. It turns into a grayish humanoid with a noseless face.
He was carrying a longsword (magical), cloak (magical), one more smokestick and a scroll (containing a spell)
Zarunkumar |
Does he look beyond saving, if not I could use my stabilize cantrip and a healing hex, but if it's not even worth it why waist the magic.
Either way she will use a healing hex on Belka.
Healing hex: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Mohok |
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 To see if it's beyond saving.
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 I think that's appropriate to identify one of these, no?.
As the smoke clears a bit, Mohok looks down at the erstwhile gnome and says, "I don't know if he'll make it - I was just doing as I was told - but I might have some idea what the hell this thing is."
Can we get a decent Heal check on the thing, Zarunkumar or Kiyoshi?
Mohok |
Mohok ties up the strange creature and stands ready, blade at the doppelganger's neck, in case it has any other surprises when it awakes. He makes sure to tie it tightly, so it can't shrink down again and escape its bonds.
Revvy Bitterleaf |
As Zarunkumar provides some healing for the shapechanger he gets a little bit of color back (so he looks more gray now?) and is breathing a bit more easily..but he doesn't wake up. (still below 0 hps).
While Mohok makes sure the creature is secure.
All though I don't mind playing it out a bit, I'd rather not have you spend time on something that will lead nowhere, so fast forwarding this a little bit; If healed further so he can talk (direct quote from the scenario) - he refuses to talk under any conditions, and tries to escape if given the opportunity.
Having little else to go on you guys decide to investigate the playhouse;
You find a dozen dressing rooms through a short corridor behind the stage. Each room has a piece of paper with a name scrawled on it tacked to the door where it looks like a nameplate used to be. One of the doors still features a gold-faced nameplate that says “Senlokto Boraminder”;
The door is locked with an average lock, which requires a DC 25
Disable Device check to unlock or a DC 15 Strength check to break through.
Mohok |
After realizing the doppelganger isn't going to spill any secrets, Mohok clubs him with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious once again. After they explore a bit and find the locekd dressing room, Mohok says, "Looks like this was the gnome's spot. Let's see if he's still alive, might be willing to tell us a thing or two if we help him out."
He gives the door a tentative push with his two meaty hands, then rams it hard with his shoulder, bursting it open.
Str check, DC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Revvy Bitterleaf |
As you break down the door and look around;
In the dressing room are a carpet, bed, desk, mirror, and chair. Zarunkumar finds a note in a dressing drawer, which provides further incriminating evidence.
Belka looking around under the carpet finds a trap door hidden beneath the carpet. The trap door opens to a ladder that leads down 15 feet to a crawl space measuring no more than 20 feet square. In one corner of the room is a pile of rags, beneath which lies the decomposed body of the true Senlokto Boraminder. In the other corner of the room lie scattered papers, including the deed for the Captive Audience, signed by Senlokto Boraminder, as well as papers providing the details of the recent renovations to the playhouse, some of them signed by both Ouidda and Senlokto.
(Assuming you look around further)
None of the other doors to the dressing rooms are locked. In each of the other dressing rooms in the back of the playhouse rests a charmed actor or actress. There are a total of 12 dressing rooms, not including Yero’s. All of the actors lie docilely on their beds, muttering their lines to themselves repetitively, and don’t move or otherwise act.
Mohok |
”Nice work, Belka,” Mohok says on the discovery of the trap door. When they find the unfortunate gnome and the other materials in the room, he says, ”Well, looks like we’ve found some evidence at this end of the deal, now we just need to nail down whatever’s at the other end.” He collects the papers and stuffs them into his backpack, half-orcs not being known for their filing systems.
When they discover the charmed folks in the other dressing rooms, he says, ”I guess we should tell the venture captain about this, seems like it’s more dirt on the Spider. Anyone know if this spell will wear off eventually?”
Once they’ve sorted out the theater, he asks his companions, ”To the ship?”
Zarunkumar |
Right before Mohok can shove the papers into the black hole know as his backpack Zarunkumar speaks up "Hey Mohok, can I have a look at those?"
Assuming he hands the papers over.
Zarunkumar will study the papers
Linguistics check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
and find nothing. Upon further inspection
Linguistics check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
she still sees nothing. Finally, looking a little harder
Linguistics check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
So glad you're allowed to keep trying Linguistics check until you get it.
she notices that the signature on the deed and the signature on the renovation details are very different. Holding up the renovation details she points to the signature and says "This is a forgery. This signature right here is a forgery the real Senlokto didn't sign this document, it was clearly a forgery by our friend the shapechanger." she is about to hand it back to Mohok when she quickly reconsiders and says "You know what I think I'll just hang on to these. When we get back to the Venture-Captain it will be easier for me to explain the differences if I'm the one to hand them to him." Not to mention the fact that they have a better chance of surviving the trip in my bag then in his.
Zarunkumar then proceeds to neatly flatten out the papers and carefully places them in her bag between the spellbook she is currently working on and the one she keeps with her just incase she runs out of room in the first, there it should stay nice and safe till she can use them as evidence against their current foe.
Mohok |
Mohok reaches for the papers that Zarunkumar has been studying, and reaches even further as she begins to put them away, then gestures vaguely at his backpack, which has crumpled papers sticking out of it, "You don't wanna put 'em all in one place? You know, keep 'em organized?"
He shrugs and says, "Whatever, let's get to the ship."
Revvy Bitterleaf |
As you approach the docks at night;
At this late hour, the briny sea air of Almas’s wooden docks is void of the daytime crowds of crew members bustling about.
Nearly a dozen ships are docked here, and several more are anchored in the calm waters further from the shore. One ship in particular still has lanterns hanging lit next to its gangway, a shoddy wooden plank that connects the old ship to the dock.
Red letters scrawled on the side of the ship read “Sailswift,” and several cloaked men move to and fro on the ship’s deck with uncanny grace, shifting boxes of cargo about and going below deck occasionally.
Kiyoshi Wakahisa |
Kiyoshi catches the attention of his fellow Pathfinders and addresses them in a whisper.
"How do you wish to approach? Do you want to talk to them, or would you rather sneak closer? I respect either decision, but I would prefer to avoid bloodshed unless we have no other resort."
Mohok |
"I'd guess it's going to come to a fight either way, but I don't especially want to kill anyone without giving 'em a chance to avoid it," Mohok says. "You're the talker, Kiyoshi. You lead the way, we'll back your play. But I will have my sword handy, just in case.
Revvy Bitterleaf |
@Belka, including the search of the threaten and the walk across town to get here more then an hour has passed
It seems I overlooked some loot, the actors we're wearing fancy stage armor..which is worth a bit of money. Just for your information.
As you make your way towards the ship you are greeted by some Dhamphirs who in very broken common offer to sell you some "vewwy nice Kathapesi rugs" and when you appear not that interested switch to offer to sell you the finest pesh this side of the world.
Kiyoshi Wakahisa |
Kiyoshi appraises the dhampier with pity in his eyes.
"My associates and I have no need of your drug, and you would do well to avoid such harmful substances yourself."