Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris of the Clouds

Round 3-ish?

Glimmil's heart skips a beat, but resumes its rhythm once he is certain that Dyrant has spirited Skie away from the stockades to somewhere safe.

"Look miss, you have one option. You kidnapped someone. That's real bad. And you kidnapped someone *I* care about, that's worse."

Glimmil summons Claw-Whomper to his hand as part of his discussion.

"You can either come down and surrender and face what punishment we deem fit for this crime, or..."

Glimmil considers his words for a moment, as he appears to momentarily have the attention of Finneas, Toffitt, Atol and Cog.

"Or... we can beat you to a bloody pulp."

If she doesn't immediately surrender into our custody, Glimmil will whistle for Cog who will take a withdraw action to get to Glimmil, upon which Glimmil will hop onto his flying steed with his move action.

"I could surrender, but I won't." The woman continues to stand in the rafters.

"You could surrender, but I know you won't. Do we fight? Do we meet another day? Do I or one of my friends kill your mother in her sleep tomorrow?"

Hope you're not waiting on Dyrant. He may be slow to get back.

Round 3

When outside the Church, Dyrant will beg Aralynn for the gift of flight and move 60' towards the hideout.

Atol casts sound burst on the woman, but she shrugs it off. Toffitt spits on several members, which he claims is part of the spell. Finneas goes defensive. Dyrant teleports Skie safely away. Glimmil has Cog come back and hops on.

The woman casts a spell and disappears from everyone's sight (except for Mr. See Invisibility).

Round 2
Atol = 8
Round 3
Toffitt = 27+
Finneas = 27
Dyrant = 16
Aralynn
Glimmil = 9
Cog
Woman = 8 (-6 HP)

Map hasn't changed.

Round 2, Initiative 23, Location:G23->I23

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Enough of that invisibility now. Let's make everything clearer, shall we?"

Atol casts Invisibility Purge (60' radius).

That's not very nice. The woman is now visible.

Cog's returning in round 3 (he was full round summoned in round 1, and attacked/missed in round 2), so I believe Glim and Cog's next round is round 4?

Finneas continues to hold.

Can't get to her...yet.

Round 3, Init 27+

Finneas, Toffitt spat Air Walk on you last round. 40 minutes. Have at it.

Toffitt slashes out at the woman with his sword. [ooc]Not in a good place to verify where he is, but he should be within a 5' after last round.

Dueling sword: 1d20 + 18 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 18 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 22
1d8 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 21

Dueling sword: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 24
1d8 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 20

I believe were on Finneas with his air walk. Dryant is out since I suspect this battle will be over one way or another in a minute.

Round 2 Init 27

Tired from his earlier halfling slaying but ready for vengeance, Finneas walks up and attacks.

Greatsword Power Attack Buffs Fatigued: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 322d6 + 20 ⇒ (3, 2) + 20 = 25
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Atol brings the woman into view. Toffitt and Finneas each move up and cut into the woman. She winces in pain before departing.

"Don't worry. We'll meet again."

And with that she dimension doors away via cape of the mountebank.

Going to be slow this weekend. At PacificCon with the boys.

"Damn, she got away. I wonder where she went? Could be almost anywhere in the city really." Atol is frustrated.

"Shall we search the building? Maybe there's a clue as to her whereabouts?"

Dyrant double flies towards the hideout, passing above and around buildings as needed.

So they attack innocents more directly, do they? We'll murderize them all...

...by 'all', I mean bad guys, not innocents.

"There were plenty of them in the building earlier. Let's ready ourselves to fight our way out." Toffitt moves to the door and listens.

Perception: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (6) + 27 = 33

It's a short and ugly fight as the party clears out the rest of the building. The rest of the Last Laugh members are ill prepared for the likes of Toffitt, Finneas, and Glim. Even Dyrant makes it back in time to cudgel a few stragglers into unconsciousness.

About two dozen bodies lie scattered about when all is said and done and there is no sign of the town guard. How would the party like to proceed with them?

Atol looks down at the wreckage of yet another next of villainy crushed by the Cauldron Five.

"We should summon the guard to deal with the survivors properly. I'll go while you watch over them"

Atol heads off to the nearest guard post to summon the town watch to arrest the evil-doers.

Toffitt searches the bodies and the inn carefully for clues, treasure, and what not. "We need to find their headquarters and make sure they really do have their last laughs."

Nothing to be found. You will have to talk to one or more of them.

Let it be noted that the only reason that Dyrant is cudgeling them unconscious is that he lacks the physical strength to kill them outright. If they had surrendered, Dyrant would be happy to knock them out and turn them over to the (obviously corrupt in his mind) authorities. If they were resisting, Dyrant would have likely incinerated the lot of them.

Dyrant takes his AngelRelic in two hands and adds a few more pleasant whacks to the head of the gnomenabbers.

"Who told you *cudgel* to kidnap *cudgel* our friends? *cudgel* Tell me!! WHO!? *cudgel*"

"We don't need to know who, Dyrant. We need to know where." Toffitt lifts up one of the rogues and meets the fool's gaze his quasi-living pale eyes. "We've no wish to kill you, but your betters shall not survive to the next moon. Tell us where they are, and this shall go easier for you."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23

"Stop *ooof* that *ooof* already."

The thug dodges his head out of the way of Dryant.

"Enough. I can see that the Last Laugh has had it's last laugh."

The man looks around at any who are still conscious for a nod or two.

"You're looking for Jester Velior Thazo. He's a fiend, literally, horns and wings and everything. He's at House Rhiavadi for some extra secret meeting."

"My thanks. Now, tell me, are you yet a member of the Last Laugh? Think carefully before you answer, as we've been told we and our loved ones are in danger, as long as the Last Laugh lives."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

All my loved ones are dead...

"We should hurry to House Rhiavadi."

The thug dodges his head out of the way of Dryant.

Dyrant grumbles the man moves and avoids the Cudgel.

"Has your cudgeling taught you nothing?! How can I be sure you understand you cudgeling when you avoid it?" Dyrant whacks the man again to emphasize his point.

He wants to finish the Cudgel Confession, but realizes that there is still too much of more importance on the line than saving this man's soul.

"Yes, Finn, you're right. Let's go."

Atol explains to the town guard what happened with Skie and that there are prisoners to take into custody. He then rushes back to the house to see what the party has learned from the questioning.

"Did we learn anything useful? Where's their true hideout? Where did that person dimension door to?"

Knowledge local re: Jester Velior Thazo: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 2 = 33

Dyrant realizes he might so something that might help the party.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34 Know (Local)-Jester Thazo
1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 Know (Local)-House Rivaldi

"Skie's someplace safe, right Dyrant?"

Glimmil hesitates between demanding to check on the fair gnomess, and immediately following up on their lead to apprehend the "jester".

Anxious, he taps his foot and adjusts his grip on Claw Whomper half a dozen times as he feels his stomach twist into a knot.

"Let's hurry... these do-badders aren't getting away from us this time."

"Not that they want to get away from us. Clearly they think themselves safe where we're concerned." Toffitt also thinks on House Rivaldi.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 = 34

"Let's either make great haste, or pause anon so I might refresh my supply" (i.e., prep another dose of mutagen and some other extracts).

Dryant and Toffitt recognize Thazo's name as that of a half-fiend human cleric of Erythoul who wields a morningstar named "Bloodfever."

House Rhiavadi is one of the major houses of Cauldron and easily located. Lady Rhiavadi has long been one of the city's wealthiest nobles. Much of her wealth is inherited, but rumor holds that she has her hands in a large number of illegal enterprises.

"My thanks. Now, tell me, are you yet a member of the Last Laugh? Think carefully before you answer, as we've been told we and our loved ones are in danger, as long as the Last Laugh lives."

One man speaks quickly, "The Last Laugh? Never heard of them. Me. I'm just laborer. In fact, I should be getting to bed. Up with the sunrise and all that."

Another follows his lead, "Yep. I should be hitting the hay also. Leaving town for Sasserine tomorrow to start my career as a sailor. I'll be batting the sails, and raising the hatches before the weeks over."

While poor liars, the party believes they have seen the last of these men, unless of course the party waits for the towns guard and turns them over to them.

Atol frowns, battling his inner demons. Eventually he looks up, "They should go to the guard. They are kidnappers and must pay for their crimes." he turns to the prisoners, "Though the law will do much less to you than we would have, so you should consider yourselves lucky."

Given that we must wait for the guard, Atol suggests the doctor prepare his mutagens and such now. Even with the increased taxation, the guard is still just as slow it seems.

Toffitt prepares another dose of his mutagen and readies an extract of heroism (open slot). "Let's see what we can see about House Rhiavadi. Perhaps Lady Rhiavadi can also enlighten us about her association with the Cagewrights."

Finneas nods, happy to see action again so soon.

"Don't let us catch you again."

@Rhiavadi:

Dyrant calls Aralynn to him.

Aralynn will scout the grounds from the air. She is also looking for open windows or the like so Dyrant's prying eyes might explore the inside.

Dyrant casts extended Heroism on himself.

Toffitt waits patiently for Dyrant to complete his scan of the manor's perimeter.

How stealthily and how close will Aralynn get?

On her first pass from a distance Araylnn gets a general layout of House Rhiavadi. She is unable to see anyone in particular, but there are many people about the grounds in including half-orc guards.

House Rhiavadi

I am assuming at least two hours pass between when we entered the inn and when we enter House Rhiavadi. If not, Barkskin, Heroism, Freedom of Movement and Perceive Cues are still active.

I don't think it has. I'm assuming a fairly quick transition. Maybe 15-30 minutes of interrogation time plus maybe 30 minutes to wait for the guard to arrive and accept the prisoners.

Okay. Above post corrected accordingly.

Toffitt whispers, "So I suppose we'll need to fight through the guards. Unless someone has a better solution..."

Dyrant doesn't mind if Aralynn is seen, but Aralynn certainly won't be going into weapons range. If she is attacked, then Dyrant might happily use that as a implication of guilt, after all...because who would attack an archon but evildoers and those with things to hide? /St. Cuthbert's Fervor

Dyrant goes over the layout in his head.

"I think we should give themselves time to discuss the allegations before them. Aralynn and Glim can sniff out those evildoers most likely to lie. Glim, you are our champion. You should lead the inquiry."

"Let us not tarry too long. The woman is a known associate of the Cagewrights and now our Last Laugh foes. This will come to blood one way or another."

"Good. People who hurt my friends should be blooded."

Finneas growls this last, his eye smoke particularly pungent.

And here I thought St. Cuthbert was the god of retribution. Well, I suppose he does have a large portfolio.

Glimmil paces, with Cog at his side, in the long shadows of the manor house.

"Do you think they've taken over the manor? Is everyone inside up to something bad, or just the half-devil?"

Glimmil checks the various straps of his gear, tightens his backpack, since you never know when you'll need your backpack, and climbs onto Cog's saddle.

"I say we just walk through the front gate and demand this Thaco."

I never liked Thaco... too unwieldy.

Like many buildings in Cauldron, House Rhiavadi has walls composed of gray and black volcanic rock. The building has two stories and four squat towers. Three of the towers have pointed spire caps. A domed observatory made of alabaster and glass surmounts the fourth tower. A large portico supported by four marble pillars covers the main entrance doors. Each pillar is carved to resemble a dragon. The windows of House Rhiavadi are made of frosted glass set in heavy copper frames, with locked wooden shutters covering them at night. Continual flame spells illuminate the manor's chambers. Doors are of sturdy wooden construction with ornate bronze hinges and fittings.

Toffitt gives an after you gesture to Glimmil and proceeds into the grounds.

Glimmil tips his helm towards Toffitt and takes the gesture to mean acquiescence to his plan to go "full frontal" on the manor.

"Alright, Cog! Move out!"

Trotting ahead, lance in hand, Glimmil makes his way to the manor's main gate and looks about for an obvious guard.

If there's no guards, then Glimmil will try to open the main gate if it is locked or barred, allowing entry into the courtyard. He'll take 20 on Disable Device as needed, getting up to 32 (or higher if there's a Guidance available)

When the gate is opened (by guard or gnome), Dyrant will beg Aralynn for the gift of flight.

"Uh...ask to speak with the lords of the house."

Dyrant's eyes flash to Aralynn to see if she senses evil at any point.

As the party approaches the house, a half-orc in chainmail with a double axe opens the front door.

"Go away. No visitors tonight."

He stands in the doorway and glares at the party as he twirls his axe.