PbP GameDay V: DM Sfounder's Before the Dawn I - The Bloodcove Disguise [CORE] (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

(You're currently in the NE corner of town.)

"Aye, it's a bit of a hike across town. You'll find it on the west edge on Tremont St."

Travel
Kyra: TBD
Merisiel: TBD
Thiera: TBD
Piper: TBD
Auri: TBD
Dupine: TBD

Kyra continues acting the muscle:

bluff-disguise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Local: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Piper has read many travelogues about Bloodcove, and is quite familiar with this stretch of road.

Travel
Kyra: 12
Merisiel: TBD
Thiera: TBD
Piper: 21
Auri: TBD
Dupine: TBD

The shadows are Merisiel's (and any other self-respecting rogue's) friend. She clings to them like an amorous lover.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

Kyra feels a bit flushed after Merisiel's description.

Auri travels the roads streets of Bloodcove at a relaxed pace. Stopping and buying odd things that she thinks will prove valuable later on. From her backpack she takes out other assorted smallgoods and sells them, recognising that even a dive like Bloodcove has need of certain luxuries.

travel-profession(merchant): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Take off whatever penalties for armour and weapons you feel are appropriate.

Travel
Kyra: 12
Merisiel: 18
Thiera: TBD
Piper: 21
Auri: 21
Dupine: TBD

Since it's not a major piece of the game, I'll bot the remaining pair with the same skills as before.

Travel
Kyra: 12
Merisiel: 18
Thiera: Local): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Piper: 21
Auri: 21
Dupine: Merchant: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

You make your way west to the erstwhile supplier of potions for the Pathfinder expedition to Azlant Ridge.

A small bell rings as the door opens into Rulkep Tonics. Colorful bottles and bags of powder decorate the shelves, while curious, twisted roots and larger bottles lie securely beneath a glass countertop. Several disinterested customers mill about, eyeing newcomers suspiciously before pointedly examining the shelves once again. A gaunt, half-elven man steps out from a doorway behind the countertop, his dusky skin gleaming slightly from perspiration. He smiles crookedly from behind the counter. “Welcome to Rulkep Tonics, friends. What can I do for you today?”

The shopkeep eyes the other customers uneasily for a moment before his expression shifts distinctly to fear. Silently but clearly, he mouths a single word: “Help.”

Merisiel smirks, then casts a furtive glance at the other customers.
"Just looking for a polyjuice potion. I think I saw one on that other shelf. May I?" she doesn't wait for permission, wandering off to 'peruse' another shelf.
Moved Merisiel on the map.

"He doesn't have any. You should try the store down the street."

"He? If you are not the shopkeeper, then who might you be?"

Dupine steps closer to the man who spoke.

Kyra smells what they just stepped in and moves to protect the shopkeeper. She smiles at the two next to her and places her hand lightly on the hilt of her sword.

Auri smiles and approaches the man who spoke.

"Friend. Do you have one? And how do you know 'he' doesn't?"

One of the thugs immediately shouts with unexpected force. "SHUT THE HELL UP! I'LL BREAK YOU ALL!" Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7, but his voice cracks, and no one is frightened. The thugs drop their scare tactics and switch to violence.

Baddies: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Thiera: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Auri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Dupine: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Piper: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Merisiel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Round 1:

Piper: Go
Baddies: TBD
Merisiel: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD
Thiera: TBD
Kyra: TBD

Piper steps out of reach of the thugs, then unleashes a blast of light.

Color Spray, DC 19, on the 2 thugs on the bottom of the map.

Piper gets the jump on the thugs, trying to put them down before a fight even properly starts:

Blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Black: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Both the thugs are caught by the light. They drop the saps in their hands and wobble a bit, but don't go down. It looks like they'll regain their wits in a few seconds!

The lone thug unaffected shouts, "You know what happens if we fail. To the DEATH!"

He draws a scimitar and slashes at Merisiel:
ATK: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15, but the elf is too nimble

Round 1:

Piper: Color Spray
Baddies: ATK and nothing
Merisiel: Go
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Go

Kyra thinks it might be a good idea to keep them alive so we can get some answers:
attacks the guy south of her: non-lethal (-4 to hit already taken)

attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Dupine isn't interested in killing them anyway... but punching their lights out? Sure thing!

He moves up to blue and takes advantage of his situation.

Punch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
NL Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + (6) = 17

I am assuming he is blinded and stunned, which means sneak attack damage should apply since no Dex and -2 AC, correct?

Kyra's blade is quick, but not quick enough as the thug twists away enough to take the hit on his armor.

Round 1:

Piper: Color Spray
Baddies: ATK and nothing
Merisiel: Miss
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Go

Auri steps up to the nasty man menacing the poor elf, draws her blade and smashes it into him, hard.

power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 = 13
NL Damage, PA, merciful: 2d6 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 9 + 6 + (3) = 25

"Stop this nonsense at once." she commands.
However the blow is poorly directed.

Auri nearly destroys a shelf of wares, but her blade hits the floor nearby.

Round 1:

Piper: Color Spray
Baddies: ATK and nothing
Merisiel: Miss
Dupine: Go
Auri: Miss
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Go

I assume you don't mean that Merisiel missed, but that Kyra missed? Going to take a turn.

Merisiel does a tip of the imaginary hat to Auri for the flank, then stabs! Rapier w/Flanking: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Confirm Crit on Rapier w/Flanking: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage w/Rapier: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Additional Damage from Crit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Sneak Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 6) = 17

Oops, yes, you're correct.

Merisiel's rapier sinks deep into the thug's ribs. He puts his hand over he wound, but he knows another like that will be fatal.

Round 1:

Piper: Color Spray
Baddies: ATK and nothing
Merisiel: CRIT
Dupine: Go
Auri: Miss
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Miss

Dupine tries to take out the two baddies to the south.

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
NL Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (3) = 11

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
NL Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (3) = 8

Dupine's first attack is absorbed by armor, but his second kick knocks the man for a bit of a loop. (Blue)

Thiera's last post was a week ago, though it hasn't been the elf's turn in a while. Feel free to bot her Round 1.

Round 1:

Piper: Color Spray
Baddies: ATK and nothing
Merisiel: CRIT
Dupine: Hit
Auri: Miss
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Miss

Thiera, seeing the enemies under pressure and out matched, opts to use a simple bolt of force. DMG v. Blue: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 2:

Piper: Go
Baddies: TBD
Merisiel: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD
Thiera: TBD
Kyra: TBD

Piper conjures magical grease beneath the two thugs against the southern wall. DC 16 Reflex

Not letting up, the gnome gives the thugs a new problem. Their stances falter and:
Blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Black: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The injured thug goes down, but the other keeps his footing.

The standing one steps out of the grease, leaving the sap behind and taking out a scimitar and slashes at Kyra:
Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 and scores a hit for DMG: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The other thug, injured as he is, crawls out of the grease, knowing it could end him (AoOs from Kyra and Dupine)

The third tries to escape the deadly rapier and cuts at Merisiel before maneuvering away: Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 MISS

Round 2:

Piper: Grease
Baddies: TATK
Merisiel: Go
Dupine: Go & AoO
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Go & AoO

Kyra takes a nonlethal swing at the crawler (AoO):
hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

And another (regular attack)
hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Dupine punches the man, respecting his don-t-quit attitude, but not really appreciating it at the moment.

AoO: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24
NL Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Kyra takes a swing, missing, but then coming back and cutting the man closer to her across the back.

Dupine connects once, but these thugs aren't entry level ruffians. He takes the hit with a grunt.

Round 2:

Piper: Grease
Baddies: TATK
Merisiel: Go
Dupine: ATK
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: ATK

Auri steps sideways, and slashes out at the doorway thug again.

power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 2 = 23
NLdamage, PA, merciful: 2d6 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 + 6 + (3) = 29

This time the blow is on target, and quite powerful.

this time Auri knocks the man clean out!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sorry guys, I'm back! As is Merisiel as we were at the same convention.

Auri knocks out the thug between her and Meri.

Round 2:

Piper: Grease
Baddies: ATK
Merisiel: Go
Dupine: ATK
Auri: KO thug
Thiera: Go
Kyra: ATK

Yup, I'm back now. :)
Merisiel loops around the shelves and comes up to the prone man. She smiles a wicked grin and stabs at him!
Rapier attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Meri's stab lands right on target, causing a yelp of pain from the man.

I sent Thiera a PM, but he hasn't posted in his other games either. I hope everything is okay, meanwhile I'll have Thiera stick with the previous plan.

Assuming the prone man is taken care of, the elf launches another bolt at the thug by the shop keeper. DMG: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Round 3:

Piper: Go
Baddies: TBD
Merisiel: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD
Thiera: TBD
Kyra: TBD

Piper tries to blind the thug who ran behind the counter.

Blinding Ray: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 4 = 13 vs. touch

Piper's ray hits the man square and he panics as his vision is taken from him!

The man at Merisiel's feet knows that staying on the floor is a death sentence, so he tries to stand (Drawing an AoO from Merisiel and Dupine (though he has cover from Dupine.))

If he survives the attempt, he slashes hard at the elf, hoping to cut his way to a better position: ATK: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 MISS

The man near Kyra swings wildly Blind: 1d100 ⇒ 9 but misses by a mile.

Round 3:

Piper: Blinding
Baddies: ATK
Merisiel: Go & AoO
Dupine: Go & AoO
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Go

Kyra continues using the wrong end of the Scimitar on the standing guy in reach.

nonlethal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 (take a -4 for nonlethal)
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Merisiel is not to let up. She'll stab at him again as he tries to rise.
Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

She'll then take a 5ft step to flank with the ever threatening Dupine, and proceeds to try and shiv him repeatedly.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Doubt that hits, but just in case...
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 2) = 8

Merisiel gets a quick flick of the blade in as the man stands, but he doesn't drop... Her follow up is slightly off target.

The cleric tries to spare the other thugs life and smacks him with the side of her blade!

Round 3:

Piper: Blinding
Baddies: ATK
Merisiel: ATK
Dupine: Go & AoO
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Hit

What is the grey box?

"Why are you getting up?"

No AoO for Dupine, because of the cover. But he'll still punch the guy after he gets up.

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

It's a grease spell

August scores a glancing blow as the man's wounds begin to add up. Nevertheless, he keeps fighting.

Round 3:

Piper: Blinding
Baddies: ATK
Merisiel: ATK
Dupine: Hit
Auri: Go
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Hit

Auri works her way towards the thug that is still up and threatening the shop keeper.

"Surrender really is your best option." she offers, as her sword lashes out at him.

power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 - 2 = 18
NL damage, PA, Merciful: 2d6 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 9 + 6 + (1) = 19

"Give up now and spare yourself the pain."

Auri steps forward and knocks a second thug out. Despite the odds against him, the last thug shouts, "TO THE DEATH!"

Round 3:

Piper: Blinding
Baddies: ATK
Merisiel: ATK
Dupine: Hit
Auri: Hit
Thiera: Go
Kyra: Hit

Thiera decides that enough is enough, nd opts to use a REAL magic missile as a pair of arcane missiles fly unerringly towards the remaining thug. 2d4 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 + 3 = 11

It's enough to knock him out.

Senzer wipes his brow and wrings his hands in his leather apron. “Thank you, Pathfinders! I’ve been expecting you ever since I stopped contact. Tragic illness grips my poor son, Roald, and a woman named Lura Ichon claimed to have a cure. I signed away my entire operation to the heartless wench to cure my son, but the elixirs she sends every day are diluted with cheap rum to the point of being almost useless. In exchange she’s worked me sunup to sundown manufacturing drugs for her little den of vice, the Sanguine Pit.

“I know she found a real cure for my boy—tiny amounts of it in those elixirs she sends keep him from getting worse— but I can’t march into that bar of hers and demand it. And as soon as she learns what you did to her men, she’ll kill me and Roald, as sure as you’re standing here. I want to help you, really I do, but I gave the Society everything I had for three years. Now, I need you to return the favor. If you want any help supporting your excavation, I need that cure for my son, and some guarantee that Lura Ichon won’t dump us in the bay the moment you leave.”

As he explains the situation, Merisiel takes the opportunity to divest the thugs of anything important. Surprisingly, there's a lot to take: 6 oils of Magic Weapon, 3 potions each of Bear's Endurance and Shield of Faith and 3 Cloaks of Resistance +1