Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

The chest munches on the food, rocking side to side, sighing and moaning, the silver cage on top rattling. After the first two day's worth of food, it gurgles between bites,

Dyrant composes a new prayer in his mind.

Blessed be the food givers, for they are without equal..

After feeding the chest, Dyrant instructs Glimmil to remove the cage and bring it outside the reach of the talking treasure.

Dyrant will relate exactly what the chest said. Permission granted to read the spoilers above.

"May I suggest that we return to Ghelve and rest for the night and continue our search in the morning?"

I could use rest and the chance to talk with my Angel again.

Glimmil nods to Dyrant and moves forward to grab the cage, while continuing to chat with the star-rodent familiar. With cage finally in hand, he'll grab a small morsel of the food being fed to the talking chest to share it with the rat.

"Have you been Ghelve's familiar long? Does he treat you well?" the gnome asks cheerfully, making small talk.

"Have you been Ghelve's familiar long? Does he treat you well?" the gnome asks cheerfully, making small talk.

Permission granted to read the spoilers above.

"What a surprising creature. Would you ask us what it will do now, and if it has more information to share, perhaps on getting past the traps safely? You could offer to bring it more food from the surface, such as the soup you devoured at the Slippery Eel."

"May I suggest that we return to Ghelve and rest for the night and continue our search in the morning?"

"While we do not know the purpose or timeline of the hobgoblin behind these kidnappings, they have been occurring over a significant period of days. In the balance between rushing into the unknown versus gathering intelligence on our foes, we should take the chance that preparedness will win the day. Finneas here has shown us as much by carrying rations around the city of Cauldron."

"With a reservation,I find your suggestion appropriate. The addition is that we also purchase supplies that will aid us against the foes this chesty creature has kindly identified. Informing our contact at the guard of our findings is also appropriate."

As an aside to Finneas, Silfr jokingly says "If food is the foundation of all our future encounters, we should bring a variety of victuals."

"I agree, we should return to the surface. I'm not sure we should report to the guard yet. We have found the source of the kidnappings but we haven't put a stop to them yet. Once we have found our way to the Malachite Hold and released the slaves we will have some good news for them."

"Growing up as an orphan you learn to always have food on you. You never know when you'll be fed again."

"Finneas, well done sir! I wish I were so prepared for events as you are. We should leave a guard at the entrance though to make sure they steal no more children while we retire. I have little to get from my cell at the church, so I could stay and sleep blocking the secret door. I don't think I could hold long against the enemy, but I could raise the alarm."

Alexander always said I was a barrier! hehehe If he only knew!

"I will stand the watch with you Atol, I need nothing else from the city and have no wish for the silver men to get back into the city."

I fear for the children. But we won't be reaching them today, it sounds as if this is an even bigger problem than we thought. We'll need a better way through these doors, or to explore the rest of the tunnels. I wish I'd gotten a better look at the key Glimmil has.

Dyrant backs out of the room and down the hole.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind just checking out this one room...down here on the other side of this tunnel. It should be quick. And this way may lead back to the hallway with the pit."

Dyrant is pointing at R,-7.

"Glimmil, I will hold I rat friend so you can bravely lead the way. I've always wanted a familiar."

If brave Glim assents, Dyrant will move the blessing of St. Cuthbert to him.

+2 to AC/Saves, duh.

I wish I'd gotten a better look at the key Glimmil has.

The key went to the cage Starbrow was in.

"I have work to do now, you'll be home soon.," he says, a bit disappointed that the star-rodent wasn't more appreciative of their brave deeds.

Glimmil hands the cage with the rude little star-rodent to Dyrant and heads off down the side tunnel wondering the different social aptitudes of various familiars.

To R,-7

Oh, I didn't catch that the key opened the door.

Finneas follows behind the group as rearguard again.

"I will stand the watch with you Atol, I need nothing else from the city and have no wish for the silver men to get back into the city."

"I am thankful for the company Finneas and much relieved that I won't be alone guarding that door."

Atol turns to Dyrant, "I agree. One more room shouldn't be a problem. Maybe even two? We could be better prepared, but we have done well so far with our pooled resources. A little further shouldn't hurt us."

Didn't Dyrant just tell me not to rush for the surface? It wasn't that long ago I'm sure of it.

Atol falls into step with the others in his usual place near the center of the group.

Dyrant accepts the cage and holds it before him, admiring the rat.

I'd let you out, but there is no guarantee you wouldn't run away.

Dead rats, burnt tindertwigs, and bits of broken stone litter the floor of this room whose only furnishings include a cot against the northeast wall and a wooden chest bearing a dented lantern. The lantern is lit, but barely enough light escaped through its shutters to illuminate the room. There is another round door in the west wall, and then there are those two silver men popping out from behind the chest and cot and stabbing at Glimmil with their rapiers. Neither of these silver men exhibit the wounds that the one you let go had.

Stealth
1d20 ⇒ 18+ a lot
1d20 ⇒ 2+ a lot
Perception
Atol1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Dyrant 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Finneas 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 - If only he had line of sight
Glimmil1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Silfir 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Attacks-surprise round
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Hmmm. I've seen this with copy/paste before. I think I'll avoid it in the future. Of course, if I had two 20's I probably wouldn't be complaining. Then I couldn't recreate it when crafting a feedback post. Oh well.

Initiative
Atol1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Dyrant 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Finneas 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Glimmil1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Silfir 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
S1 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
S2 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Initiative
Dyrant = 25
Glimmil = 20
Silfir = 18
Finneas = 17
S2 = 16
Atol = 11
S1 = 7

New Map

I love your maps, Shannon. Damn. You have mad skillz.

Dyrant will delay until Atol moves his fat head and Dyrant can see his opponents...unless I can squeeze into S,-6?

Round 1, Initiative 18

The just one more room temptation can be the death of adventurers.

"Undzo, provide your light"

Summon Monster Fire Beetle into T, -8. Undzo scuttles to S, -10 and attacks

Bite +1 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 111d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Poor beetle.. in the future I need to memorize the calls for other celestials, if my armor is overcome again.

Round 1 Initiative 17

"Dyrant, Atol, try to move past me in the room so nothing sneaks up on you."

Move to {S,-8}

Greatsword Melee
+4 Strength +0 BAB Attack = 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage +6 Strength Damage = 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

Round 1, Initiative 11

Atol moves into the room to T -11 (T -10 if it's taken) and shoots the wounded silver man, or whichever looks most like they want to be wounded if neither are.

Crossbow 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (16) - 4 = 12 for 1d8 ⇒ 3 points of damage on a hit. -4 for shooting into combat.

Round 1, Init 20

"Ah! More silver-men. We shall handily defeat you as we have your brethren!" Glimmil boasts with confidence.

"Lay down your arms swiftly and we can avoid bloodshed that you can float like a free cloud." Glimmil knows the silver-men like clouds, and hopes mentioning them makes them more amiable.

The gnome keeps his shield ahead and swings his hammer at one to let them know he means business. His swing is weak, meant more to show his potential as a gnomish fighting hero, rather than to actually inflict harm.

Fighting defensively. +2 more AC, -4 to attack. AC now 23 with the Ward hex.

Attack (hammer): 1d20 ⇒ 9
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

5ft step to S,-10

A silver man (S-1) stabs Atol in the arm as he moves through (AoO) S,-8 (the only entrance to the room).
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
1d6 ⇒ 1

@Dyrant. S,-6 is not a legal square and you're up from your delay.

S-2 will delay until after Dyrant for simplicity. I might try a monster group initiative in the future.

Initiative Round 1
Glimmil = 20 - Swung & missed, 5' to S,-10
Silfir = 18 - Summoned Undzo who moved to S,-11 (since Glimmil took S,-10) and missed
Finneas = 17 - Moved to S,-8 and missed
Atol = 11 - Moved to T,-11, was stabbed on the way, then shot his crossbow and missed
Dyrant = 10 - Delayed and still to act
S2 = 9 Delayed and still to act
S1 = 7 - Still to act

Dyrant will move to T,-8.

He will Command the silver man in R,-9 to drop to the ground (DC15 vs. Will).

"By Cuthbert's will, on your knees and repent!"

Round 2, Initiative 11

A silver man (S-1) stabs Atol in the arm as he moves through S,-8 (the only entrance to the room.

Not fair! It wasn't his turn! I must watch the reach of these creatures for truly they do not fight as fairly as we were taught in the church. Everyone should take their turn, not tromp on someone else's! Truly these are creatures in need of St. Cuthbert's wisdom.

Atol takes out his cudgel and puts away his crossbow preparing to step in and teach these foe a proper lesson.

"By the power of St. Cuthbert you will learn to respect your opponents!"

Will Save 1d20 ⇒ 13
S1 drops to the ground, but stabs up at Finneas.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
S2 takes a 5' step to S,-9 to stab the loud mouth, aka Dyrant.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Initiative Round 2
Glimmil = 20
Silfir = 18
Finneas = 17
Atol = 11 - Stows crossbow. Draws cudgel. And soon to draw ire of Dyrant
Dyrant = 10
S2 = 9
S1 = 7

New Map

Atol takes out his cudgel and puts away his crossbow preparing to step in and teach these foe a proper lesson.

Ah the life of those with no BAB.

Round 2, Init 20

As the silver-men ignore him and instead stab at Dyrant and Atol, for the first time, Glimmil appears agitated.

"Hey! You two, pick on someone your own size!"

To make himself more imposing, Glimmil drops his hammer and shield to the ground, and unstraps The Big One.

"Now you're in trouble!"

Glimmil swings his axe hard at the prone silver-man to attract some attention.

Drop current items as free action.
Move action to retrieve his axe.
Standard to attack.
AC is 21 with the Ward hex

Attack (Axe,2H,Power): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

*whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff* *whiff*
The ventilation system of Jzadirune appears to have been turned up a notch.

Round 2 Initiative 17

Attack man at {S,-9}
Greatsword Melee
+4 Strength +0 BAB Attack +2 Flanking = 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage +6 Strength Damage = 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 6) + 6 = 17

Well that should put an end to the A/C problem.

Even with the +4 for prone?!

Yes. Nimble and tough skin. EDIT: Or, I could be totally on drugs and doing this wrong from memory. Ooops. I adapted them somewhat for Pathfinder, but it was the thugs that were AC 16. Glimmil hit.

Attack man at {S,-9}
Greatsword Melee
+4 Strength +0 BAB Attack +2 Flanking = 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage +6 Strength Damage = 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 6) + 6 = 17

Ouch! Both still alive.

Round 2, Init 18

Silfr moves to the doorway S, -7 and speaks to Undzo in celestial.

Undzo will scuttle around, from S, -11 to T, -10, barging past Atol in order to bite the prone silver man at T, -9.

Bite +1 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 141d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Don't know if I can add mods after the roll, should add +2 flank and +4 vs prone for 20 to hit.

*edit* Looked at the map again, saw that the creature locations were not where I thought - was looking at their names and not the icons. So no modifiers.

Angry that they would dare attack a holy man of the cloth (as well as Atol), Dyrant will smite the nearest baddie with his weapon in hand.

1d20 - 2 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) - 2 - 4 - 4 = 4 to hit, nonlethal, with a caged rat (improvised weapon)

"Repent heretic! Give us our children!"

Argh. I can't find my adaptation files here at work, so I'm going to call this one. Both silver men are bleeding out. Once again, the room contains dead rats, burnt tindertwigs, and bits of broken stone litter the floor of this room whose only furnishings include a cot against the northeast wall and a wooden chest bearing a dented lantern.

If both silver men are down Finneas will search the room.

Perception:
+1 Rank +3 Class Skill +0 Wisdom
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

...l and a wooden chest bearing a dented lantern.

Looking in from his position in the tunnel, Silfr casts the cantrip Detect Magic.

GM_Chris wrote:

...l and a wooden chest bearing a dented lantern.

Looking in from his position in the tunnel, Silfr casts the cantrip Detect Magic.

No magic. The silver men each have the typical rapier, crossbow, 20 bolts, and a thunderstone. The chest is closed.

"By the power of St. Cuthbert you will learn to respect your opponents!"

Atol looks at the silver men, "OK then. I see you've learned your lesson. Now was this really needed?"

He keeps his cudgel out as he helps the others search the room.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

He keeps his cudgel out as he helps the others search the room.

"Atol, would you kindly prod that chest with your cudgel to see if it is animate?"

The chest has not smiled or otherwise moved as people have been around it.

Dyrant will begin collecting the loot and aiding in the search of this place.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Perception

Then, Dyrant will take 20 (+4=24 Perception) on the door to see if it looks trapped.

Assuming it is, Dyrant will take out a piece of parchment and quill and begin to sketch the lock/trap mechanism as best he can.

"Atol, would you kindly prod that chest with your cudgel to see if it is animate?"

"Sure thing Silfr!"

Atol will march up to the chest and politely rap on the lid. Assuming it does not attack, he will try and open it. If it is locked, he will search the silver men for a key.

"After we rest and supply ourselves, there remains one additional tunnel that we know of, located at the end of the great hall of gnomish totems and carvings."

After looting, Silfr is ready to return to the surface and learn what protections Ghelve has affixed to his door into Jzadirune.

Atol will march up to the chest and politely rap on the lid. Assuming it does not attack, he will try and open it. If it is locked, he will search the silver men for a key.

The chest contains:

This brings up the excellent point of who is tracking party loot.

"If these tunnels are the only way for these silver men to move about, then closing that first door we found should keep them from assaulting us on the surface when we finally return."

New part of my profile:

Assuming someone grabs the treasure out of the chest. It's mostly safe. I think...

"If these tunnels are the only way for these silver men to move about, then closing that first door we found should keep them from assaulting us on the surface when we finally return."

"Good idea Finneas. We should also make a list of the things we think we might need and buy it from the proceeds of these trinkets if possible. As I'll be guarding the door, perhaps Dyrant can handle it?"

Surely he's smart enough, and he might piously give the rest to the church as I would!

Atol removes the treasure from the chest and hands it to Dyrant. Likely in several arm-fulls.

Dyrant continues to investigate and sketch the door and lock.

Dyrant continues to investigate and sketch the door and lock.

Yes. It's locked and trapped. Also, I see I forgot to mention the party found a key ring with three keys on it on one of the silver men. The keys appear to fit normal locks and not the ones on the round gear doors.

Finneas finishes off the wounded silver men if nobody has done so already.

"Dyrant, as soon as you're done we should move to our next location. Are we returning to the surface, exploring the last tunnel, or going back to the pit to retrieve Silfr's armor?"

Odd that he would leave such armor behind. Or get out of it so quickly for that matter.

We can return for the armor when the old bag remembers where he lost it.

Dyrant looks up from his sketching to answer Finneas. "I would like to return now. I bet Master Ghelve has worried enough about his friend."

Dyrant holds up the cage.

Losing a friend like this would be painful, wouldn't it, Angel?

Dyrant considers something, shakes it off as madness that can not possibly help, but then reconsiders...

It's crazy, but just might work.

"GarlGlimGnome, would you also look at this door, trap, and lock? I have made a picture of it so that I can discuss it with Master Ghelve. Perhaps there are some insights that you would offer as well?"

Both Silfr and Dyrant look like they might fall over if they carry too much...

Glimmil examines the gnomish stage mask with wonderment and offers to carry it along with Atol and Finneas to distribute the load.

"I'm able to continue exploring a little more, if you would all like. We are still fairly close to the stairs up to Ghelve's, aren't we?" The gnome appears eager to continue discovering more gnomish treasures throughout Jzadirune.