Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Kyrademon’s Jade Regent PBP, Part II

Game Master Kyrademon

Tolde ye soh." She says quietly to the downed bird after Myri has taken it out.

is it still alive?

The raven is very, very dead.

As the raven falls, Hrunndalf looks absent-minded for a few more moments, as if the black swarms were still whirling about him in hypnotic patterns. Then his expression turns from confusion to revelation. "Oh. I see." He looks down at his hands, and starts moving them across the plates of his armor in a deliberate pattern. He ends with a flourish of Þrumublað, inscribing an invisible circle into the air around him. Something about him feels... changed. A vibrant air of magic surrounds him that bolsters body and soul.

That's Magic Vestment for a +1 enhancement on my armor for 6 hours, and a Magic Circle Against Evil for 60 minutes.

Hrunndalf's base AC is now 21, and he and everybody within 10' of him receive a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves against evil attacks, protection from mind control, and warding against non-good summoned creatures.

"Alright. Let's get healed up, before Goti comes looking for his pet." Hrunndalf plucks the raven's red feather from its wing. "Anyone want this?" Unless someone claims it, he sticks it onto his helm as a trophy. He casts Detect Magic on it first to check whether that might be dangerous.

Kalimac regards his bow with a shake of his head. "Tead, ma isegi ei tea, miks ma oma vibu. See ei ole nagu ma kunagi tabanud midagi," he mutters to himself.

He collects his sword from the ground and puts all his weapons away. "Well, since our cover is blown, there's no need to keep this hidden." He unfurls his standard for all to see.

As long as Kalimac's banner is clearly visible, all allies within 60 feet receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made as part of a charge.

Almost as an afterthought, Kalimac looks for the arrow he shot while the post-battle healing is happening.

Alaric taps Kalimac, Rhost and Lio on the shoulder in turn.

And another for Lio. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Flextime back to the ooc discussion below

Lio takes the wand from Myri, wondering if there was some kind of special wand holder she should be investing in, to make it easier to access. Perhaps a set of straps the secure it to the outside of her leg, like a holster. She tries to smile at Myri, as a small token of thanks for the trust to carry the wand, but she finds it's terribly difficult to be positive under the circumstances.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

"...or you could fashion a holster to the outside of your quiver. I know you're good with materials." Myri suggests, trying to be helpful.

Myri collects her arrows and checks with Mel, Alaric or Lio for mending services (whoever does not appear to be overly busy).

"Is there anything we want answered from one of these corpses?" Alaric says.

Alaric taps Kalimac, Rhost and Lio on the shoulder in turn.

As soon as Alaric finishes healing all three, Mel taps him on the shoulder.

"Well, Jakko and Kimo probably don't know anything more than what we already do. And the raven will probably lie as much in death as he did in life. So it depends if anyone thinks the other one has information, and if Rhost's final blow left his jaw intact."

Myri opens her mouth, hears Mel mention the dead can lie, shuts it again.

As soon as Alaric finishes healing all three, Mel taps him on the shoulder. As the healer turns, she kisses him.

"Mmmmmph!" When they part, Alaric looks a little sheepish. "Of course. You're ah... you're welcome."

"Alright. Let's get healed up, before Goti comes looking for his pet." Hrunndalf plucks the raven's red feather from its wing. "Anyone want this?" Unless someone claims it, he sticks it onto his helm as a trophy. He casts Detect Magic on it first to check whether that might be dangerous.

Detect Magic on the dead Druid

clarification edit: i am not claiming any potential magical item, Lio is just looking at the body to make sure nothing was left behind...

Flextime back to the ooc discussion below

"...or you could fashion a holster to the outside of your quiver. I know you're good with materials." Myri suggests, trying to be helpful.

Myri collects her arrows and checks with Mel, Alaric or Lio for mending services (whoever does not appear to be overly busy).

"Goode pointe." Lio nods. But when it comes to mending, "Ye knou, aive bean relyen on Mel, ta mend, or jus' amassen a paile of thengs tah mend lahter. Ah keep needen otter spalls." Slightly sheepish expression.

Myri collects her arrows and checks with Mel, Alaric or Lio for mending services (whoever does not appear to be overly busy).

"Goode pointe." Lio nods. But when it comes to mending, "Ye knou, aive bean relyen on Mel, ta mend, or jus' amassen a paile of thengs tah mend lahter. Ah keep needen otter spalls." Slightly sheepish expression.

"It's okay. I can't not know how to do so." And then quietly to Myri, "Sorry about the lack of warning, but I thought you knew about him..."

"'Runndahlf, moight ahye 'ave thot?" She asks him for the red feather.

"Sure," he says, holding it out to her. "you and Myriana took it down, so the trophy is yours. Just be aware that it might draw the ire of Goti Runecaster onto whoever carries it."

Good thing Lio has a high Will save! ;)

liothonae cromvathar wrote:

"'Runndahlf, moight ahye 'ave thot?" She asks him for the red feather.

"Sure," he says, holding it out to her. "you and Myriana took it down, so the trophy is yours. Just be aware that it might draw the ire of Goti Runecaster onto whoever carries it."

Good thing Lio has a high Will save! ;)

Lio nods solemnly. "Thankye." She takes the feather, and places it in her scroll case, sliding it in the center of the two rolled up cure light wound scrolls she has left.

"This bear-man might have borne knowledge of this fort and its keepers, but it will be somewhat hard to intimidate him into talking at this point. Might as well just let the wolves seek our friends by scent, and kill whoever stands in our way."

Hrunndalf waits at the doors at the end of the hall, impatient. He keeps a casting of Light on his spear to light the way.

Hrunndalf plucks the raven's red feather from its wing. "Anyone want this?" Unless someone claims it, he sticks it onto his helm as a trophy.

A disturbed look flashes momentarily over Mel's face, which she tries to hide by turning to Alaric.

"This bear-man might have borne knowledge of this fort and its keepers, but it will be somewhat hard to intimidate him into talking at this point. Might as well just let the wolves seek our friends by scent, and kill whoever stands in our way."

Hrunndalf waits at the doors at the end of the hall, impatient. He keeps a casting of Light on his spear to light the way.

Since we know Runecaster might be in his lab on this level, in the basement, or in the tower... Do we want to look here first, or head down or up as soon as we find stairs? I would think the holding cells are down, but questioning may happen in his lab, which is up." Mel comments as she waits by the door, eyes shaded against the bright light.

A disturbed look flashes momentarily over Mel's face, which she tries to hide by turning to Alaric.

Alaric returns the glance with a shrug. He has the same expression on his face when Reta explains some terrifying aspect of goblin culture.

The consensus seemed to be hold onto Speak with Dead. I agree with the arguments presented. Thus I will hold onto it. Probably for the best, Alaric and the raven would have just traded bird puns.

Do we want to look here first, or head down or up as soon as we find stairs? I would think the holding cells are down, but questioning may happen in his lab, which is up.

Hrunndalf ponders the question. "Finding cells would allow us to free most of the prisoners as soon as possible... but should any one of them be interrogated somewhere else right now, that one would need our intervention more than the others."

He closes his eyes and concentrates to determine whether he can hear muffled screams from anywhere.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Hrunndalf ponders the question. "Finding cells would allow us to free most of the prisoners as soon as possible... but should any one of them be interrogated somewhere else right now, that one would need our intervention more than the others."

He closes his eyes and concentrates to determine whether he can hear muffled screams from anywhere.

Perception 1d20+9

Lio thinks about this for a moment.

Perception detects no screams, nor any additional information.

While Attatoq's nose detects that your friends have been here, he can find no trail.

We are therefore going into Dungeon Crawl Mode, on the presumption that you plan to search the complex on a floor-by-floor basis so as not to miss any potential secret doors, etc.

Perception detects no screams, nor any additional information.

While Attatoq's nose detects that your friends have been here, he can find no trail.

We are therefore going into Dungeon Crawl Mode, on the presumption that you plan to search the complex on a floor-by-floor basis so as not to miss any potential secret doors, etc.

That works for me.

A search of the bodies in the room reveals the following. All sized items are medium unless otherwise noted -

On the ninjas, tengu and human:

3 fugitive’s grenades: When broken, a fugitive’s grenade creates a 10-foot-radius cloud that lasts for 2 rounds. This cloud is otherwise identical to a fog cloud. A single smoke tendril in the center of the cloud forms a solid-feeling rope, 20 feet long, that functions as a rope trick spell. When the smokecloud dissipates, so does the smoke rope, though the rope trick’s extradimensional space remains for its full duration. Once the smoke rope disperses, any creatures inside the extradimensional space must jump or climb out by other means. A fugitive’s grenade may be thrown as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet.

6 potions of vanish

3 potions of disguise self

1 potion of blur

8 tindertwigs

4 masterwork shortbows

4 masterwork sianghams

3 masterwork wakizashis

7 shinobi shokozus: This is a close-fitting bodysuit of dark fabric, favored by ninja and assassins. It is of masterwork quality and grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Stealth checks while worn. Note that this stacks with the competence bonus to Stealth provided by most magic items.

4 jade raven statuettes worth 100 gp each

4 sets of masterwork thieves’ tools

3 blowguns

30 darts

80 arrows

7 sets of leather armor

13 daggers

3 climber’s kits

3 fifty foot silk ropes

3 grappling hooks

Qiao is also wearing a pearl necklace worth 2000 gp

On the Bearman:

Ornate jade raven statuette worth 200 gp

Chain shirt

Masterwork battleaxe

2 masterwork throwing axes

On the Raven:

Scroll case

Scroll of Summon Nature’s Ally II

Scroll of Summon Nature’s Ally V

Ring of protection +1

Alaric and the raven would have just traded bird puns.

Oh I can see how that ends. The raven says something mean, and Alaric goes ragin' and raven, huffin' and puffin. He cries fowl and recites vengeful poultry, robin everybody within miles of their sleep with his wolfish owl of despair. Albatros would try his best, but only Mel could really help, by pressing Alaric against her... um... chickadees.

DUNGEON CRAWL MODE – Ground floor, part 1

Guardrooms

The guardrooms by the front door, behind the arrow slits, are empty save for piles of rock and broken rubble for defenders to throw at attackers climbing the stair outside. The rubble appears to be recently quarried local rock.

Unused Bunkroom

The door Qiao was leading you to proves to be an empty bunkroom. Numerous wooden bed frames with rope mattresses occupy this sparsely furnished room. It does not appear that anyone
has used this room recently, but it could quarter as many as a dozen. A curtain to the north conceals a small alcove containing a bench and discolored bucket serving as a rude privy. A door next to the privy leads to an empty closet.

Empty Bunkroom

Behind the door across from that room, a dozen bunks stand haphazardly, strewn with rumpled bedding, assorted clothing and personal items, and the discarded remains of food and empty plates. Near the north door sit two stained, foul-smelling buckets that are apparently not emptied frequently enough. A number of items have been left in this room;

15 suits of studded leather
15 battleaxes
15 spears
15 jade raven statuette worth 100 gp each
A hnefatafl board and pieces (a traditional Ulfen game) made of walrus ivory worth 240 gp
Three nonmagic runestones carved in chalcedony worth 70 gp each
A gold ringed pin brooch worth 40 gp
An ornate Varki needlecase carved from whalebone with three bone needles worth 30 gp

Food and Wine Stores

Behind the first door furthest from the entrance, there is a dark, cold room with numerous barrels, baskets, and sacks. Butchered carcasses — primarily sheep, but a few hogs as well — along with bundles of roots, tubers, and herbs hang from the wooden rafters overhead, and there are also casks of ale, mead, and wine. In one corner sits a clay pot filled with fresh honeycomb.

Ninja Bunkroom

Behind the door Wodes, the Bearman, and Kimo came through, ten sleeping pallets lie neatly arranged. At the foot of each is a small locker for personal belongings. Like the unused bunkroom, this room contains a privy and small closet to the north. The closet has been turned into a shrine to a foreign deity. A painted stone idol depicts a man with a fearsome scowling red face, bulging eyes, and long beard,wearing red Tian robes and an iron crown. In one hand he holds a noose, while the other holds several shuriken.

A search of this room finds:
450 gp
20 blocks of Tian incense worth 20 gp each
A jade bracelet worth 50 gp
An antique painted ebony fan worth 500 gp

A further door leads on to the south. Dungeon Crawl Mode Continues ...

What the heck. K:religion 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Nope.

DUNGEON CRAWL MODE – Ground floor, part 2

Kitchen

Two massive ovens occupy the south wall of this room, and a number of tables and trestles have been set up about the room for food preparation.

There are two further doors, one to the south and one to the east. The southern door proves to be a stout exterior door that opens on to ...

The Hidden Dell

A picturesque dell squeezes between the steeply sloping flanks of the nearby crags that rise a hundred feet or more overhead. A narrow waterfall rushes in a torrent down one of these slopes and collects in a catch pond. A small torrent exits this pond, wending its way toward the fortress, where it disappears into a metal grate. A path leads over a narrow bridge of rough-sawn logs arching over the stream and farther down the defile, until it is lost among the rocky outcroppings beyond. There are currently seven sheep pasturing in the dell.

Hallway

The eastern door out of the kitchen opens onto a cramped corridor. All manner of boxes, bags, chests, and crates have been stacked against the walls. The rafters overhead hold hooks and nets from which hang additional supplies. You see nearly every normal, mundane tool you can think of, and also:

A portable forge
A set of masterwork smith’s tools

And yes, those are actually explicitly in the module, I didn’t add that.

A door at the other end of the hallway opens into:

Laboratory

This room has been hewn from the rock of the crag, and a against the north wall there is a set of stairs going up, and another set of stairs below it going down. Tables and workbenches fill the chamber, holding all manner of alembics, crucibles, burners, and assorted tools, as well as a large glass case holding what appears to be a humanoid body. A variety of dried herbs and plants dangle in profusion from hooks on the bottoms of the stairs, and sacks and chests holding additional equipment and components have been shoved against the walls. A torch mounted on one of the stair posts illuminates the chamber with a flickering glow. So much junk is crammed into this room that you think it would take you at least an hour to search it fully.

When you enter the room, the body in the glass case rises to its feet with jerky movements and begins banging on the glass. It speaks to you in a strange, droning voice:

”آزاد من.من به شما التماس.آزاد من.اجازه بدهید.“

Dungeon Crawl Mode ends here for encounter with NPC, and for decision as to whether to go up or down when you continue.

In the Ninja Bunkroom, you also would have found 4 doses of Blue Whinnis poison.

Mel walks over to the glass case, horror on her face, "شما چه کسانی هستند؟چرا...چه هستند آنها را به شما انجام می دهد؟"

Mel walks over to the glass case, horror on her face, "شما چه کسانی هستند؟چرا...چه هستند آنها را به شما انجام می دهد؟"

The reply comes: "خیلی بد چیز است.من یک زندانی هستم.آزاد من."

"OK, Mel," says Kalimac. "I'll bite. What's he saying?"

She stops, the handle hovering near the glass for a second. Turns to Kalimac, "That he is a prisoner, that they have done terrible things to him and he requested that we free him."

Hrunndalf raises a hand. "וואַרטן ... ער קען זיין אַ אַרעסטאַנט, אָבער אַז טוט נישט מאַכן אים אונדזער פרייַנד. זאל ס געפינען אויס אַ ביסל מער איידער מיר פאַרשאַפן אים אויף דער וועלט."

He asks the creature: "چرا آنها به شما زندانی؟"

And then quietly to Myri, "Sorry about the lack of warning, but I thought you knew about him..."

Myri glances at Lio, with a "no worries" expression, then a small grateful expression to Mel, followed with, "Makoa...yeeaahh, knew about him. Never heard him before you know? Sorry, next time I...shouldn't be distracted."

Translating for Hrunndalf, Kalimac says "Hrunndalf says that just because he's the prisoner of our enemy, that doesn't make him our friend."