Sic Semper Tyrannis! (Thrune's Hell's Rebels Revived)

Game Master GM Aarvid

The bolt of electricity streaks from Arcos hand and kills a single rat...leaving 299 others unharmed, not apparently affecting the greater hoard of vermin.

Oh, now we will see some fun! I told you! I told you! as the pipe music continues mixed with laughter.

Both piles of rats move forward to cover those closest to them

Blue rats crawl over Lubella, totally disregarding her drawn weapon as they try to tear her apart.

The red rats also try to bite and claw every inch of Talvek and Aldren.

Lubella and Talvek can take AOO with their drawn weapons. Aldren, I do not think you have a weapon out due to throwing the flask...
but if you have a way to threaten/attack, you can take it.

Lubella takes swarm bites: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Aldren takes swarm bites: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Talvek takes swarm bites: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Each of the 3 of you need 2 fort saves DC12.
First vs distraction/nausea and second vs disease.
Talvek is getting low on hp....

=== Round 6===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-3)
(12) Talvek(-14), Aldren(-4, prot evil), Arcos()

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Fortitude vs distraction: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Fortitude vs disease: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Lubella shuddered as rats swarmed over her; she quickly retreated out of the swarming mass of rodents. "Ugh, horrid creatures!", she cried in disgust.

Lubella manages to cut down a few of the rats before they overrun her position. Their tiny bites around her head and neck drive her nearly mad, and to top it off, she can feel their filthy mouth pumping viral toxins into her blood.

=== Round 6 con't===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-3), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-3, nauseated)
(12) Talvek(-14), Aldren(-4, prot evil), Arcos()

Still need two fort saves each from Aldren and Talvek prior to their actions...

You hear a voice faintly from back at the ladder.

Laria calls down, with a lantern in her hand...What is going on down there? Why are you sending all the teams up here at this hour?

"We have an invisible murderous trouble-maker down here — the same one who killed Bolodino!", Lubella called out to Laria.

fort save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
fort save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Phew! Since Aldren isn’t wielding his shield right now, I’ve figured he has his mace in one hand then uses the other for his holy symbol or alchemists fire. If that doesn’t work, no problem. Just in case, though, I’ll roll an AOO here.

Possible AoO w Mace: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Ugh. What the dice giveth...

Aldren tries to move out of the swarm before clasping his holy symbol again and praying to Calistria to heal the tiefling of his wounds. Convert Murderous Command

Cure Light: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 :-p

Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" The damned rats could bite quite hard! Time to change tactics. Shaking the furry bodies off him as best as he can, Talvek retreats towards the stairs.

"Pull back! We can hold them off at the stairs!"

Using Withdraw to move out of the rat soup.

Lubella calls back to Laria while she retches from the crazed rodents.

Laria yells down Trouble maker? What like bugs or rats?
That is not good for business at all! They'll revoke my license.
How many are we talking, just one or two or like a dozen? Oh my!

Aldren shakes off both of the effects and tries to squash the few rats, but misses.

Moving out he casts a minor cure upon himself from his patroness.

Talvek withstands the distraction but succumbs to the virulent bites. Calculating a tactical retreat is needed, he withdraws.

Having seen his electricity have almost no effect, Arcos tries to decide the best course of action.

=== Round 6 con't===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-3), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-3, nauseated,diseased)
(12) Talvek(-11,diseased), Aldren(-4, prot evil), Arcos()

"Well, a talking, spell-casting rat maybe; like I said, it's invisible!", Lubella replied to Laria.

”It speaks infernal, if that tells you anything!” Aldren hollers over his shoulder towards Laria’s voice. ”And it summoned a LOT of rats.”

Arcos makes a mystic hand gesture before the sound of a pack of cats issues from elsewhere in the buidling.

Casting ghost sound, the rat swarm need to make a DC 13 will save to disbelieve it.

Arcos creates the sound of a hundred cats.

1d20 ⇒ 17

But the rats either do not hear it or don't care, as they press forward looking for fresh meat.

Lubella and Aldren again find themselves overrun by the hoards of rodents.

Take AOO if you can...

On Lubella dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4 with fort save(s)
On Aldren dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3 with fort save(s)

The sickening pipe music plays on...and the flicker of a lamp can be seen down the hall to the east.

=== Round 7===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-3), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-7, nauseated,diseased)
(12) Talvek(-11,diseased), Aldren(-7, prot evil), Arcos()

Fortitude (distraction): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

She's already failed against the disease.

Lubella got a hold of herself, and started applying her training. She took a step into her whirling dance, and swung her scimitar in a circle,just off the floor.

5 ft step, Move Action: start Battle Dance, Standard Action: attack

Scimitar, Battle Dance: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20
Damage, Battle Dance: 1d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8 Battle Dance used: 3/9

AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Dmg (bludgeoning): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Crud. Assuming the order remains "First vs distraction/nausea and second vs disease.", looks like I'm nauseated.

The swarm is too much for Aldren and, as Talvek withdraws, the half-elf follows suit, heaving and retching as he does so.

Neither Aldren nor Lubella are able to find off the approaching rats before they maul them again.

However, Lubella composes herself and grips her blade before starting her battle dance to dismember many rats in the hoard facing her.

Aldren takes his turn being engrossed by the magnitude of tiny horrors crawling him over. He forces himself towards the stairs.

=== Round 7 cont ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-3), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-7, nauseated,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-7, nauseated, prot evil), Talvek(-11,diseased), Arcos()

Does the diseased condition have any mechanical effects right now?

"Lubella! You cannot fight them alone!" A note of panic creeps in Talvek's voice as he realizes that the halfling did not retreat with them and is still laying into the rats.

Throwing his rapier down, he unslings his bow and fires an arrow towards the heaving mass nipping at Lubella's toes.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Arcos begins chanting, beginning a ritual to summon an eagle.

Talvek draws a bow and shoots his arrow into the pile of rats. There is not much effect, but a couple of the hundred rats go down.

Arcos starts a long spell from the steps. Laria moves up behind the 3 men with her lamp. So what was it you are facing? And where is Lubella? Don't you tell me you left her alone! Men!

The music continues and the rats turns to pursuit their fleeing meals....not quite fast enough to reach Talvek and Arcos, but reach Aldren on the stairs.

AOO if you have them

On Lubella dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5 with fort save(s)
On Aldren dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3 with fort save(s)

=== Round 8 ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-4), blue-rats(-3)
(20) Lubella(-7,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-7, nauseated, prot evil), Talvek(-11,diseased), Arcos(summons)

I think the blue rats should be at 7 damage. I think Lubella hit them for 3 damage on the first round, and 4 damage last round.

Fortitude (distraction): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Lubella continued her pest control efforts, and started circling around to move towards the stairs.

Scimitar, Battle Dance: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
Damage, Battle Dance: 1d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9 Battle Dance used:4/9

If the swarm enters her space next turn (previous post had the AoO for entering this turn):

Yep, lost the 4 dmg in the copy/paste (as well as swarm damage on the two of you) - all fixed.

Lubella resists the nausea and slashes again at the hoard while spinning towards the stairs. More rats drop.

=== Round 8 cont ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-4), blue-rats(-11)
(20) Lubella(-12,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-10, nauseated, prot evil), Talvek(-11,diseased), Arcos(summons)

Talvek shoots anguished glances at Lubella as he stumbles backwards before the surge of rat bodies swarming up the steps. Laria's admonishment stings all the harder and compounds his guilt. He shouldn't have left her by herself! He should be by her side, protecting her! Loosing another arrow at the closest fur pile, he picks up his rapier, determined to rejoin the halfling's side in the fight.

Attack, shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Free action - 5' step. Move action, pick up rapier.

Lubella called out, "I'm over here, Laria! My feet are taking a beating, but so are the rats." Taking another swing at the detestable vermin, she cried, "Death to toe nibblers!"

No AoO while nauseated, I would imagine, so straight to the saves...

Fort Save 1 (nausea): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Fort Save 2 (disease): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Aldren stumbles out of the swarm, hundreds of scratches and scrapes covering his flesh, and wiping vomit from his mouth. Another retching, hacking sound escapes from his lungs before he clasps his holy symbol. "Savored Sting, please, heal us so we may avenge the fallen."

Channel, 30', afraid it will include the blue swarm: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Also, since I haven't hit them a single time, I have no in-character reason to know this, but Aldren is happy to share his mace with anyone who can make better use of it against the swarm (would overcome their DR).

HP for Aldren go from -10 to -5; adjusting summary line now.

If y'all can form a line with a slow retreat, I can start spamming healing channels, timing them to hit you when you retreat from the swarm(s). Just a thought.

Talvek shoots an arrow but it bounces wildly off a crate rather than any rat. He picks up his rapier with grim determination.

Aldren fights off the nausea and calls forth divine healing on himself and the rats, who regain some of their strength and numbers.

Arcos's finishes his summoning spell, and a celestial eagle appears.

Laria pulls out a vial of oil and appears to be making some sort of make-shift bomb.

eagle: 3d20 ⇒ (17, 9, 6) = 32 1d4 ⇒ 1 as the eagle chews a few rats.

The rats rush Lubella and the gents one more time, driven by the maddening song mixed with laughter from above.

Lubella has moved beyond the rats reach for a moment, but Arcos and Talvek are not as lucky.

AoO for Talvek with rapier

Talvek 1d6 ⇒ 1 and 2 saves DC13
Arcos 1d6 ⇒ 2 and 2 saves DC13

=== Round 9 ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(-14), blue-rats(-1)
(20) Lubella(-12,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-5, prot evil), Talvek(-7,diseased), Arcos(-2), Eagle()

Lubella danced back and made another sweep with her scimitar.

Scimitar, Battle Dance: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21
Damage, Battle Dance: 1d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

Talvek sighs in relief as the healing energy washes over him. With renewed energy, he rushes over to Lubella and pokes a few times at the heaving mass of fur and tails, hoping to skewer a few of the bastards.

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Attack red swarm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Probably taking an AoO from the blue swarm, heading over to the red swarm.

Fort save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Fort save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Arcos winces in pain at the biting rats, their filth beginning to course through him. He stumbles out of the swarm, unable to do much else. However, the eagle lets out a defiant cry and attacks the rats, snapping slashing at them and snapping up a few in its beak.

Fort 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Fort 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Talon 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Talon 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Bite Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Talon 2 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Lubella hacks at the red rats and manages to drop enough of them, the others scatter.

Talvek lands an opportunistic hit on the approaching rats, taking out several.

Seeing Lubella finish off her pile of rodents, he uses his strikes on the blue ones facing the stairs, but has no luck this time. Fortunately he takes no ill effect from the rats this time.

Swarms cannot take attacks of opportunity

Arcos is less lucky with the rats as he is sickened and diseased by their filthy bits.

The flying eagle manages to score a couple solid hits before it disappears.

=== Round 9 cont ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(dead), blue-rats(-9)
(20) Lubella(-12,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-5, prot evil), Talvek(-7,diseased), Arcos(-2, sick), Eagle(unsummoned)

Lubella called after the retreating rats, "That's right, run and don't come back! That's what happens to critters who mess with my feet!" Her feet and ankles were truly in sorry shape — covered in scratches and bites.

Where has Lubella gone? I don't see her on the map.

Aldren is briefly buoyed by the strength of his goddess but the joy is fleeting when he sees the swarm has cut him off from Talvek, Acros and the others. Well, ain't that just ducky... And the devil is still about, too.

He draws his last flask of alchemist's fire and tosses it towards the pile of rats.

Ranged Touched: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 Dmg (fire, splash): 1d6 ⇒ 3 And, of course, this is where I roll a 20.

Aldren draws another flask and hurls it into the mass of rats, striking dead-center. Flames erupt and the smell of burnt fur permeates the room once again.

1d2 ⇒ 1 1=left, 2=right

The strange music plays once again and the rats move back into the room, towards Arcos, and directly crawling onto Talvek

Aoo if you desire...succeed and you may avoid THIS!

On Talvek swarm: 1d6 ⇒ 4

=== Round 10 ===
(21) laughing voice (music) , red-rats(dead), blue-rats(-13)
(20) Lubella(-12,diseased)
(12) Aldren(-5, prot evil), Talvek(-7,diseased), Arcos(-2)

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Talvek misses the rush of rats as the maul him once again. However, between his attacks and assistance from Lubella, they manage to disperse the second hoard of rodents.

Aldren calls forth another blast of healing from his goddess.

The music stops and the small female voice calls out from the southern part of the room while moving above.

RATS! You may have survived my little friends, but no matter. Produce the contract or I will be forced to kill you myself!

The voice stops near the X

=== Round 11 ===
(21) laughing voice ()
(20) Lubella(-6,diseased)
(12) Aldren( prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()

Lubella stopped her dance and responded to the disembodied voice, "You killed one of my team members, which doesn't make me think well of you! I'll give you some advice: I don't respond well to threats. 'Give me what I want or I'll kill again', is not the best way to make a request!

"I'm waiting to hear a good reason why we should give you something that might otherwise restrain you." Perhaps this 'contract' was all that was preventing this creature from causing even worse trouble!

"You say that the Silver Ravens of old wronged you. Why don't you try explaining yourself?"

Aldren tries to sift through his memories of planar creatures and servants of the divine to see if he can recall anything that may aid them in dealing with this unseen presence. Invisible, playing music to summon rats, actually summoning creatures through conjuration, radiates evil... is a devil? Fey?

Know (planes or religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Same bonus for each. He does not have knowledge nature.

"You should listen to her. She's the nice one. She might kiss your boo-boos and make them better. Maybe even give you some shinies by way of apology. Me... if I find you first, I'm splattering your invisible guts into the wall."

The Calistrian didn't bother to hide his fury. It wasn't even an effort to intimidate their foe, not really. Bolodino's murder was one thing. Now it was personal. I think one of those rats nipped my cobblers!

He moves in the general direction of the voice, mace and shield at the ready.

Shield is now equipped. With Protection from Evil AC is 19 (less any penalties/modifiers for an invisible opponent). All out of 1st level spells. 2 of 5 channels used (3 left). Also out of alchemists fire.

Kn:planes gets you the same info about her being an imp. .

"You mortals would not understand if I told you. You are in way over your heads and don't even know it. The Ravens stranded me here."

"I don't mind admitting that I have a lot to learn," Lubella replied. "I'm sure you could enlighten me if you set your mind to it." She was trying to work on her patience; sometimes you learned more by talking than fighting, or so the sacred texts advised.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

I cannot imagine why the Ravens would do such a thing, she seems so nice. snarks Talvek in his head, but out loud he tries to support Lubella's attempt at resolving this more or less peacefully, moving closer to her as he speaks.

"We are all intelligent beings here, so the more information we have, the better we can decide what to do about this situation, wouldn't you say? We have something you want, after all."

Diplomacy aid another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

With his temper already stoked by the indignities of the rat swarms, the polite nattering of his companions grated on bastard’s nerves. Still, if they can keep it talking...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The blood ringing in his ears and grinding of his teeth proves too much a distraction.

Not moving my token since I’m not sure how you’ll want to resolve that roll, but he will still try to move in the direction of the voice.

Arcos says, ”The Ravens that stranded you here were long before our time. I must admit we have no knowledge of who you are.”

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

You hear a heavy sigh, as if the voice is anguished as to how to deal with you.

Very well. We may be at an impasse. I could kill you all, but then be stranded here. However, I can see you are bent on following the misguided steps of the prior Ravens - fools though they were.

Aldren suspects something odd with this one, but her story does not seem typical of her kind.

Do not come closer, or I will be be forced to slay you.
And while that may bring short joy for me, it would in the long term keep me from serving the nobility of this city. I don't suppose you would be willing to deliver the letter to the Thrune?
No? I did not think so. Convictions are a terrible habit.

She appears to keep talking but has stopped moving as far as you can tell by sound. (see X for general location - likely 10' up)

We stay in rounds for the time...depending on the direction the conversation goes...

It seemed to Lubella that there was something very odd about this invisible creature, and its' predicament. She was also struck by the language that it had addressed her in a few moments ago. She commented, "You spoke to me in the language of halflings. I thought those in Cheliax considered my people's language beneath them."

As she listened to the rely, she tried to figure out how much of what the creature was saying was true, and guess at what it might be concealing.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The Calistrian bites his tongue, quite literally, while the others talk. Murdering, scheming, deceitful little rat-tosser. Only I get to do the murdering, scheming and lying. They can talk all they want. I swore the thing that killed Bolidino would pay for it. Still... some information might be helpful.

He casts a quick glance about, then slows his approach towards the voice, instead moving at an angle, not directly towards it, and tries to interpose some supplies between him and the voice.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Oh well.

Hopefully he'll have some cover against a ranged attack. He also readies an action to attack anything that appears next to him.

"A letter? I thought we were talking about a contract...?"

Talvek stays put, listening intently and watching Lubella, taking his cues from her.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Lubella kept her distance from the voice; it seemed to be coming from a spot well off the floor, so she assumed the creature was flying. She didn't have a good way of fighting a flying, invisible enemy, so talking seemed to be the best course of action for now.

The voice responds to Lubella's questions...in halfling language

I speak the language since I was once of your race many years ago.
I have vague memories of life as a halfling slave, filled with pain, misery, and shame, but above all else, the joy of inflicting those same misfortunes on those weaker than me.

There is a brief pause with a sigh. Then continuing in Common...

I don't remember how I died, but my new life as an imp, has much greater prospects than I ever did as a mortal slave.
I spent much of the time since in tormenting or being tormented.

Aldren cannot tell much, other than the voice is very fond of evil and tormenting and has no intention of changing her ways.

Talvek senses a bit more, but the contract is her key concern.

Yes, yes. That is not a letter but a contract. If you will not deliver it to House Sarinis, or the Thrune. If neither of those then just destroy it and I will take my chances in Malebolge.

Lubella responded in halfling, "I am very sorry for the pain that you suffered in life. But that doesn't justify inflicting pain on others, it just makes you the same as those who tormented you!"

After the imp switched to Common, Lubella replied in Common. She couldn't help expressing her convictions, even though they were almost certainly wasted on this creature. "There isn't just tormenting or being tormented, you know. Tormenting those weaker than you brings you shame; protecting those weaker than you brings you honor!"

After the imp mentioned the contract, Lubella replied, "So how does this contract work? Why deliver it to the Sarinis, or to the Thrune, rather than destroying it?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 To help understand imps, and the whole contract business.

This why I take 10 so often!

Knowledge planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 In case imp does not answer Lubella's question (correctly).

Aldren can't help roll his eyes. Ugh. She's going to try to convert the murdering little beastie.

Still, he listens patiently to the exchange and looks about for anything in the environment they may be able to use against the imp.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Looking for powders that could cling to something invisible, a cloth that could be made wet to cling to a person (or an imp), things that could be knocked over or thrown to make a distraction, etc.