Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Dyrant moves quickly to aid Finneas, unsure what to do.

Cast Detect Magic. Uh..Knowledge roll?

"Atol! HALP!"

I hope he didn't try to eat the cloak, the final meshing was arsenic based.

Dyrant examines Finneas, but nothing new is apparent.

"Atol! HALP!"

Atol bites his tongue as he was munching on some crispy bacon at the time of the call. He grasps his cudgel and looks out the windows and doors for trouble. Finding none, he looks back to Dyrant and shrugs his shoulders. "Where? What do you need?"

He notices Finneas in some discomfort. Must be the wine from last night.

He checks him over quickly for other injury.

Heal: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Finding nothing obvious, he asks Finneas "What is it? Are you OK?"

"Over here, Atol! He's hurt...but I'm not sure if this is the 'I have a splinter!', the 'Hangnail! Ooh! Hangnail!', or 'Dragon, it has my spleen! I'm ***ked!' whine though." Dyrant pats Finn on the back, as if that will help.

Heal: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38

Toffitt glances Finneas over and says, "He could use a bit more fiber in his diet, and there's a bit of scar tissue in his esophagus from the last time he was killed. And there's a gaping, fiery hole where an eye used to be. Nothing else though." He retrieves a bran muffin from Atol's table.

"Now then... What shall we do?"

The party examines Finneas for a while, but finally decides there is nothing to be done for him.

Dragging the party along a bit.

The party heads to City Hall where they are not so politely denied access to both the city's bookkeeping and its treasury. They're are also denied access to the mayor or his office. An older gentleman, possibly a half-elf, but it's hard to tell with the robes he wears, acts as secretary and "guard" for the mayor's office.

"The mayor is quite busy, but things are running quite smoothly. Just this week all the potholes on Crater Road were fixed. In fact, it'll be great if he stays away a bit longer. Things are so much more efficient without politicians."

--

By dinnertime the party has found no new leads (unless they do something more dramatic/unlawful). Glimmil stops by Skie's, but all is dark. It appears she will not be toasting with him tonight.

Feel free to fill in any part of the day, but I'm trying to get the momentum going again.

Toffitt asks the 'secretary,' "Away? Where has the mayor gone? I trust he is well...?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

He mutters darkly as the party leaves. "It's clear to me that the government has been taken by bureaucrats, likely under the command of Vhalantru. Perhaps we should ask those who know best about political corruption: the thieves guild."

He makes such an effort with the remainder of the day, doing his best to track down members of the Last Laugh and their competitors.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Toffitt asks the 'secretary,' "Away? Where has the mayor gone? I trust he is well...?"

"Oh, I'm sure he's fine. Just busy, busy, busy."

Toffitt finds the man to be honest. He does not seem to know or care what the mayor is doing. He's just happy he's not there.

He makes such an effort with the remainder of the day, doing his best to track down members of the Last Laugh and their competitors.

Toffitt visits the usual fine establishments frequented by the gangsters for whom he is looking. A few hours of searching seems to have had no success until he notices a few shadows following him on the rooftops.

Finneas coughs a few times then gently removes the Doctor from his ministrations.

"I'm fine. Nothing wrong, nothing at all. I'm not hearing voices in my head, why do you ask?"

Female: Smooth.

Toffitt pauses, quietly activates his armor's flight ability, and takes out a potion of invisibility. He drinks it takes to the air, attempting to hunt the hunters.

Toffitt successfully eludes the hunters.

I'm guessing that you are following them.

The rooftop runners seek Toffitt frantically for a while before giving up and going there separate ways. Toffitt follows one of them to an abandoned two-story inn with an iron sign bearing a brass trumpet. The man enters through the front door which looks much newer and sturdier than the rest of the building. A quick circle of the building reveals no other obvious entrances even for a flying, invisible, half-elf. All the windows have been boarded up.

Seeing the dark within Skie's shop and the note he placed in the front window, Glimmil looks down at Cog and shrugs.

"Wonder how much time she'll need?"

Spinning on his heel, Glimmil whistles a somber tune while headed towards the Drunken Morkoth to see if the gnomes will be playing catapult-a-fruit tonight.

He wonders if he'll run into Finneas or Toffitt on his way.

Toffitt tries to remember whether he recognizes the inn or the brass trumpet from somewhere.

Know (local): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

He moves away from the inn and takes a few minutes to produce two extracts: more invisibility, and one to make him as gaseous as Atol's ample winds. He imbibes them, his extract of free movement and his mutagen and slips inside of the inn, intent on reconnaissance.

I don't mean to delve very deeply or derail the campaign—mostly just want to confirm whether this is a location of note, and get a visual of his pursuer.

[B1] Toffitt slips in under the front door and finds a twenty-foot-wide, fifteen-foot-deep room that contains no furnishings. Arrow slits perforate the western and eastern walls--three arrow slits per wall. Behind each slit lurks a human with a bow.

[B2] This rectangular room has five heavy crossbows focused on the door. There are heavy curtains to the south (B3) and East (B4)

[B3] These rooms are filled with grids of iron spikes as tall as short swords.

[B4] This appears to have been the inn's common room. There are some wooden chairs and tables, but the fireplace has been removed. Four thugs hang out in this room. There are steps up to the second floor here.

[B5] Fifteen wooden cots are spread across this room. Currently four humans are here.

[B6] Empty bedrooms.

[B7] Passageway

[B8] Five thick red curtains hang from the rafters of this fifteen-foot-by-thirty-foot chamber. The curtains divide the room into a maze of five-foot-wide passages and look thick enough to catch missile fire.

There is a chest with a lantern on top of it. A halfling stands nearby.

[B9] Magical light from an unseen source above the rafters paints the walls and floor in dark shadows. A young woman in black garb with half her face painted black, the other half painted white holds a silvery whip in her hand. She looks familiar (you've seen her before, but I can't find the encounter. Might have been only from a distance). There is a wooden torture rack in the middle of this windowless fifteen-foot-square, fifteen-foot-high room. The wooden rack is shaped like an "X" with iron manacles binding the wrists and ankles of Skie who appears as yet unharmed.

"Is the gnome really worth all this? Just answer my questions and we can go back to our happy arrangement. You'll continue to live your comfortable life. No harm will come to you. We need you alive to fence our items."

Map to follow later.

Brass Trumpet map

Toffitt thinks on the faces of the people around him, hoping to gauge their association.

Local: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

When he sees Skie, he almost calls out, but catches himself. Shall I try to save her now? Hrm. Not with the strength of my foes unknown.

He flows out of the inn and, using an extract of expeditious retreat, makes haste to the house of the Cauldron Five.

"Quickly! Skie has been kidnapped. I'll explain as we go. She's being held in an abandoned in by a gallery of rogues. I know the precise layout, but do not know their real strength."

"Skie has been gnomegnapped!? Why didn't she say anything?" Dyrant says, grabbing his AngelFire Relic and yelling for Aralynn, his eyes blazing with fury. "An assault on her is an assault on all the Cauldron 5."

Dyrant turns to Doctor Toffitt. "Tell us what you know. Who would do such a thing?"

Toffitt conveys his sense of the inn's layout, as well as any insights he may have gleaned about its non-gnomish occupants. "She appears unharmed thus far, but she's been put on a rack. We haven't much time."

A rack? Gnome would taste terrible!
Male: We could ask Glimmil...
Fifth: Enough of that.

Finneas swirls his new cloak around himself, careful not to fall over or bump into anybody. He claps his helm back on his head and staggers only a little from the strength of the blow.

"What are we waiting for?"

My hope is that Toffitt gets back to the house and then the party makes the return within two hours (the duration of his mutagen). If people aren't ready to rush out the door, he'll likely begin renewing the mutagen dose...

Glimmil drops his scone when he hears the news.

"Skie? But, wait... the note?"

In a foggy daze, he shakes the confusion from his brain and focuses on the one thing that has helped him get through everything.

"Heroic do-derring must be done!"

Strapping on "Judge Whomper", Glimmil prepares himself both physically and mentally for the saving of the fair Skie.

"Okay, Doc. How should we do this? Kick down the front door and storm this inn?"

Before anyone can answer, Glimmil responds to his own question.

"That works for me, let's go Cog!"

And they are both out on the street.

Toffitt hurries after Glimmil. "I suggest we approach with some quiet, and that Dyrant transport us directly into the room once I point out where it is. Glim, you'll need to send Cog to heaven for a moment if we take that route."

Glimmil hesitates, only briefly.

"Heaven? Isn't that a place on Oerth?"

Glimmil blinks a few times at the statement.

"If Dyrant is teleporting us into the thick of it, Cog does have the ability to visit a shiny dog park in Jovar, which is where the Great Garl hangs out. Cog made a friend with this solar one time..."

Glimmil cuts himself off from his anxious rambling.

"But, Skie needs saving! Let's go!"

With a gesture of his hand, Cog disappears with the same popping sound in which Claw-Whomper appears and disappears, but not before whining in protest.

Dyrant readies for battle, his fury rising. His 3rd act is to reduce his size, but his stature.

When people are ready, he will DDoor them to the coordinates suggested by Dr. Toffitt.

Sounds like transporting straight to the room with Skie within two hours of Toffitt's return. I'll wait for people to prep some.

Good: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Bad: 1d20 ⇒ 16 Evil wins!

Atol takes out his cudgel, and casts Bull's Strength on Glimmil.

unless Glimmil has a belt of strength, in which case he'll cast it on Finneas. If they both have it - sigh...

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

Toffitt drinks heavily before the party teleports (barkskin +5, shield, perceive cues, heroism) and uses a charge from the wand of see invisibility before the party teleports in. He reminds Atol and Finneas to drink the honey-sweetened extracts that he's given them (Barkskin +5 and perhaps Shield for Finneas, Ablative Barrier for Atol). "Let's hope they haven't been keeping tabs on us."

Atol drinks his Ablative Barrier cocktail at breakfast typically as it lasts all day (until burned out of course).

It tastes like a bloody mary.

Dyrant transports the party into the room. It's just as Toffitt described it. However, the woman is nowhere to be seen. The halfling however, stands next to Skie with a wand in one hand and a bottle in the other. He wears leather armor and also has a short sword. Skie has a couple cuts on her arm and is either unconscious or dead.

"It's about time you returned. I was sure you'd be back more quickly. The timing of poisons can be so tricky. She might be dead already."

Initiative
Atol 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Dyrant 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Aralynn
Finneas 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Finneas Bonus roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Glimmil 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Cog
Toffitt 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Halfling 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Round 1
Toffitt = 27+
Finneas = 27
Dyrant = 16
Aralynn
Glimmil = 9
Cog
Halfling = 8
Atol = 8

Round 1 Map

Round 1, Init 27

"Villainous cur!" Toffitt's arms flood with rage as he strikes at the halfling.

Dueling sword: 1d20 + 18 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 25
1d8 + 8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 9 = 18
sneak if he's not a rogue: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2) = 16

Dueling sword: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 28
1d8 + 8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 9 = 25
sneak if he's not a rogue: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 3, 1, 1) = 18

Rage +4 Dex, 40 AC, 32 CMD

Perception requested by GM Chris: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (14) + 27 = 41

Toffitt sees the (now invisible and hiding) woman in the rafters above Dyrant. On that note, the ceiling is 20' with rafters 10' up in a GM convenient 5' criss-cross pattern.

Prep
Cast See Invisibility and Prot Evil, drink Barkskin +5, Shield, and Bull's Strength from Atol. Divine Favor and Deadly Juggernaut right as we teleport.

Round 1 Init 27

Seeing the halfling threatining Skie, Finneas rages and attacks.

Greatsword Power Attack Raging Reckless Buffed to Hell: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 21 + 1 = 322d6 + 24 ⇒ (4, 6) + 24 = 34
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Greatsword Power Attack Raging Reckless Buffed to Hell: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 1 = 202d6 + 24 ⇒ (6, 2) + 24 = 32
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Toffitt cuts the halfing twice and Finneas finishes the job by cutting the halfing in half. The bottle falls to the ground and breaks open. The liquid spilling over the floor.

Dyrant and Glimmil still to go.

Round 1, Init 16

Dyrant surveys the situation with great anger.

What could she have possibly done to them! This is a righteous revenge. But even the righteous must sometimes protect the weak. This is one of those times.

Dyrant considers then rolls his mental dice. He casts Heal into Aralynn then begs her to deliver it to Skie.

Heal on Skie. (Nothing but the best for the beloved of Glim.)

Dyrant 5' steps to G25.

Araylnn flies over the halfling halves and touches Skie.

"Wake up Skie. Wake up my dear."

Skie's body shudders and her eyes open as the cuts on her arm disappear.

"Glimmil?"

Glimmil would've used Shield Other on Finneas prior to the teleport.

Round 1, Init 9

Before Glimmil can even blink, the slicing and slashing from Finneas splatters him with the halfling do-badder's blood. Just as he's about to step forward to Skie, Aralynn brushes past and brings her "back" to life.

Glimmil, eyes red with concern, steps forward to protect the fallen gnomess.

"I'm here! We're all here! You're saved!"

With a whistle (and a full round action), Cog appears and joins the party, swiftly planting his own wet tongue on Skie's brow.

"Now why did you have to do that? He wasn't that bad a fellow?"

A bolt shoots from the ceiling and a woman appears. The bolt lands in Skie's chest. Her eyes bulge before her head droops.

attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
fort save: 1d20 ⇒ 13
poison: 1d6 ⇒ 3
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
sneak: 7d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 6, 1, 5, 1) = 25

"You didn't even give him a chance to finish talking. Will you let me?"

Round 1
Atol = 8
Round 2
Toffitt = 27+
Finneas = 27
Dyrant = 16
Aralynn
Glimmil = 9
Cog
Woman = 8

Round 1, Initiative 23, Location:G23->I23

Is Skie dead? Heal: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

If Skie is dead, Atol rushes forward and casts Breath of Life healing: 5d8 + 12 ⇒ (5, 7, 6, 6, 6) + 12 = 42

If Skie is not dead, Atol casts a Sound Burst at the woman in the rafters as he rushes forward to be next to Skie. Maybe that will peel her off the ceiling.
Sound Burst damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6 and DC 17 (Fort) or be stunned 1 round.

Round 2, Init 27+

"If your next words are, 'I surrender,' we shall indeed have a lovely conversation." Toffitt imbibes his extract of airiness and spit sprays its contents out on Finneas and Cog Communal Airwalk, 40 minutes for each of us). He then climbs up to put himself between Skie and the woman.

Round 1, Whenever Woman Acted

As an immediate action...

Glimmil, eyes wide as the arrow flies at Skie, remembers that Garl will always protect those he loves.

Paladin's Sacrifice!

Fort vs Poison: 1d20 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 19 + 4 = 39

And 32 damage to Glimmil!

Round 2, Init 9

Glimmil glares at the woman in the rafters.

"If you keep shooting Skie, then no - no, we won't let you talk..."

The paladin struggles with his next thought and doesn't voice it.

...or live.

Stepping over Skie, he positions himself between her and the sniper, reaching down to touch her cheek as he picks her up. Glimmil wastes no time and looks for somewhere safe to take her.

Lay Hands (on Skie if she's still hurt, on himself if he is): 7d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1) = 17

"Dyrant! Can you take us somewhere safe??"

Round 2, Init 9

Cog looks to Glimmil, who gives him a nod in return before leaping into the air thanks to Toffitt's extract and soars forth towards the woman, his mouth a wide "grin" of wicked teeth.

Cog will smite evil as a swift action and charge.

Cog attack (Bite with amulet): 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 1 + 2 = 19 for 1d6 + 5 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 11 = 20 with trip CMB 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 1 = 31

Skie is still shackled to the rack, but saved by Glimmil's sacrifice. She looks down at the hole closing in her chest.

save vs sound burst: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Skie is still fine from Atol's heal and now has cover from Glimmil. Therefore, Glimmil's lay on hands goes to himself. He can try breaking the shackles. I'll allow two manacles per round. There is one one each wrist and each ankle. Breaking the manacles requires a Strength check (DC 26). Manacles have hardness 10 and 10 hit points.

"If you keep shooting Skie, then no - no, we won't let you talk..."

"We will always be able to shoot Skie or any of your other loved ones. You cannot win. You might as well negotiate. We all can win."

Toffitt gives a pained laugh. "You do know you just spelled doom for yourself and your associates, don't you. Which are you? The Ebon Triad? The Last Laugh? Do you think us scared?"

Round 2, Init 16

Dyrant grumbles as the unholy woman takes another shot at the innocent.

She is weakness...she is weakness for us all. I should either immolate her on the spot or take her something place safe.

Dyrant ponders and weighs the two options. And ponders. And weighs. And ponders. And weighs...they both have several good points in favor and against.

Sighing, Dyrant decides to do what must be done.

He casts Teleport and touches Skie (and Aralynn), leaving everyone behind, taking her to the church of St. Cuthbert.

1d100 ⇒ 67 Error Chance (on target if less than 97)

"Stay here, Gnomess. There is a safe place. We will bring Glim back to you after we have dealt with those who would harm you."

Dyrant begins to walk out of the Church, back to the hideout.

Round 2 Init 27

Finneas stops raging and goes fully defensive as the group negotiates.

I don't think they're negotiating with Dyrant popping away and Cog charging, but I could be wrong. In case there was any confusion, the woman is with the Last Laugh based on her painted face.