Silverhex Chronicles/Master of the Fallen Fortress/Crypt of the Everflame (Inactive)

Game Master Emmjay

"Is this a fair trade! Am I quite satisfied. Will I recommend working with you in the future!"

SLIDE 15 - Handout (Silverhex)

What do you know about the Vessels Between?

Following the map provided by the gnome, you make your way to Ulisha's hideout...

The hill ahead is not much to look at. It gently slopes away from the river. A shallow cave is near its top, smoke from a campfire curling upward in the gentle breeze. The grass wafts slowly along a gently curving path up the southern face of the hill, ending in a few switchbacks as the hill grows steep near the top.

SLIDE 16 Place yourselves on the road BEFORE the red line. The arrow shows the direction of travel.

New day, right?

Diplomacy, gather info: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

It's no surprise to anyone that The Armenian Man's off-kilter manner is not very effective at getting any information out of the local populace.

Yep. Thats the great thing about Pathfinder Quests, each one is basically a new day so all spells and such are back....

Diplomacy, Gather Info: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

Ne'erduwyl's insults don't get her very far either.

While not having much hope after watching everyone refusing to talk with either Neer or the Armenian man, Graktul still goes out to try to find some info on this mysterious group.

Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5

Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

”The assassins of Daggermark are dirt cheap here. They go by The Vessels Between, as they take their targets from life to death,” Roland reports, not having anything else to add.

Would someone please place me on the map? Anywhere is fine.

KnowL: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

We are still missing players putting their markers on the new slide. When that is done we will continue on with the final fight.

Placed on the map

Same

knowledge local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Just like a blacksmith, the more you pay, the better the horseshoe, Hekran says, "Course, the Daggermark even hires out its newest trainees, so you might come across a real tenderfoot of an assassin, if they cheaped out."

Walking up to the hideout, Pinch (who tells Ne'erduwyl) and Roland both see and easily detect Ulisha hiding and observing by a pile of rocks. Armed, yes, but no weapon drawn, Ulisha nonetheless tries to stay hidden and observe the group...

You know assassins are on their way to kill her, so what do you do?

We shouldn't let the assassins kill anyone. Assassnation is bad he remarks.

Roland double moves in Ulisha’s direction, hoping to warn her before those assassins find her and do their business.

Not one for subtlety, Ne'erduwyl casts mage armor on herself, then steps toward the rocks Ulisha is hiding behind and says, "Ulisha, you're as bad at hiding yourself as you were at hiding your journals. We're here to protect you from the Daggermarks. We suspect they're nearby, and we're more than capable of protecting you. Come on out."

Seeing Neer and Roland move towards Ulisha, Grak just seems to shrug and roll his shoulders before pulling his heavy flail from his back and moving forward while looking around for the assassin(s).

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"I figured that someone was coming, and was hoping to hide and sneak past them when the come through the area. Since that didn't work, will you help me defeat them?"

Graktul, the assassins haven't arrived yet, but you do note that Ulisha does have the Silverhex blade on her belt....

The gnome waves at her!

Hmm...since we are all here apparently before the assassins would it be better to lay an ambush with you near the fire Ulisha. With the rest of us hiding out of sight...Doubt either me or the Armenian man could be mistaken for you even with the dusk.

"Of course, but like Graktul said, let's try to spot them first. Assassins are notoriously sneaky."

"Will we aid you! Don´t I like assassins! Is this uncivilized!"
the little grippli adds.

"I think this is a good idea, but if we use Ulisha as bait, let's be careful. Assassins can strike from a distance also."

The Armenian Man studies the area they are in, looking to see if there is a good place to lay in ambush.

"If Ulisha were just around this first bend here, the assassins would have to round the bend to get a shot on her. We could hide archers and casters along the ridge to attack them as they come up. Our martials could hide among the rocks at the bend, or these along the left hand side of the main path. We come out of hiding and attack after the archer strike."

Course that would be assuming that they don't circle around to come from the other side of the bend which is the annoying part about assassins...They try to come from somewhere unexpected sadly...I am just worried that if they see all of us they will just hang back until we aren't around to carry out the hit.

"Of course, please help. I can't take on assassins by myself. Lets be quick about it."

Take a day (or two) real time to plan and move your characters as you see fit. The map is pretty self explanatory and you will have time to reposition as needed....

Maybe dress the elf up like her so that we can create a decoy he says clapping his hands.

@Emmjay: where would the assassins be coming from? Are they going to the cave, or coming out of the cave?

"If you think they're coming soon, we can all take cover behind one of the rock outcroppings, and post Pinch as a watch."

Pinch waves.

”The witch make sense. They’ll never notice a tiny scorpion like that.”

"Ulisha, where do you suspect the assassins would approach from?"

"Let's hurry up to the cave. At least we know they won't come from inside there!" He gets a bit distracted as he ponders the planning involved to surprise them all with deep cover assassins hidden inside the cave, giggling to himself, but eventually his mind wanders back.

"Ulisha... do you fight? We see the shiny sword... can you use it? Do you want to?"

He points as he begins walking up towards the cave. "We can post guards on the ridges up there. Neerduwyl, Gnickyknack. You throw spells and bombs on the assassins as they approach. The rest of us stay at the mouth of the cave."

He nods towards Ulisha. "You inside... you're the target. But if it feels right for you when things go down.... swing your sword. It can be fun!"

"We all watch, react, when they show up. No matter from where or how. Eyes open, minds open!"

Proposed starting positions in lime green. Until we know where the assassins are, Armenian is primarily watching Neerduwyl's flank and Graktul is watching Hekran's.

Armenian Man, would you please place me on the map somewhere in he general vicinity of the group? Thanks.

Bombs away! he says.

Glok again calls divine favor onto himself!

@Emmjay: where would the assassins be coming from? Are they going to the cave, or coming out of the cave?

"If you think they're coming soon, we can all take cover behind one of the rock outcroppings, and post Pinch as a watch."

You don't know that, nor am I going to tell you....

Ne'erduwyl hides behind a boulder near the place The Armenian Man suggests.

Pinch stands watch in a crevice on top of the boulder.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Is our protectee wearing armor? If not, I'm willing to use my daily Mage armor on her instead of myself.

Is our protectee wearing armor? If not, I'm willing to use my daily Mage armor on her instead of myself.

Not much armor....

Go ahead and move where you want to go, tomorrow the assisns come....

The party seems to accept The Armenian Man's suggestions without discussion, so he directs Ulisha into position in the cave, and takes up his own position outside. He'll primarily be guarding against an approach by the assassins from Neerduwyl's flank, letting those closer to the path alert him if the assassins come from that direction.

Armenian and Ulisha are both in position.

Anyone who is attempting to hide, go ahead and make STEALTH checks. DC for success is 27. Everyone go ahead and make PERCEPTION checks. DC 23 and 16 (only make 1 check).

Ulisha attempts to hide with the group, but given her curiosity she refuses to hide alone deep in the cave and wants to watch the action. So, much like before, she is unable to hide well at all...

The Armenian Man is not attempting to hide.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Glok tries to hide. Tucking his feathered hat away and also using his natural ability he is soon a part of the environment.
stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
But still he keeps his eyes open.
perc: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

At this point Glok spots two assassins attempting to sneak in. I still need STEALTH checks from those attempting to hide, but you no longer need to do PERCEPTION checks.

Roland wasn’t a stealthy sort. He stood tall and proud, ready to fight off the oncoming assassins.

I can't beat the DC, so no sense in rolling it. Pinch's roll is already up.

If we've spotted the assassins, and Ne'er has an opportunity to act before combat, she will pull a scroll of mount out of her backpack and cast it.

The gnome will stick with the half orc.

Going to roll the stealth check though no way for me to pass it unless the boulder is giving some bonus, but Grak wouldn't know that going in.

Attempting to crouch in the shadow of the boulder. With his heavy flail lying next to him in the dirt with a little thrown over the spike and head to darken the metal glint.

Wonder if I should be completely behind this or not.

Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (10) - 3 = 7

SURPRISE ROUND
GLOC
Pinch

COMBAT ROUND 1=====================
Armenian
Roland
Glok
Neerduwyl
Pinch
Hekran
BLACK
Gnickygnack
BLUE
Graktul