Tark's Council of Thieves: Nobles without a House (Inactive)

Game Master Tark the Ork

While the rest of the party continues the assault, leaving Sclivian little opportunity to affect the battle, he casts his eyes about the room, tracking down whatever eldritch residue might exist here.

Cast Detect Magic and look around.

Round 3
Evil eye top left awake tiefling -2 ac 2 of 7 rounds

Action.
Continuing to focus on current target.
Evil eye dc 15 -2 to hit for 1 or 7 rounds.

Seeing his former favorite fall to Maeax's malicious mauling Pollus turns his terrible attention to a new suitor.

The tiefling facing Caldazar, finds it increasingly difficult to judge distances. His arms and legs seem to lengthen and contract in time to a faint piping that echoes in his mind.

Dont have time for a full description but 4 damage to caldazars target who is also at -2 ac and failed save.a no magic about this round beyond the obvious bits on pc's and spellcasters. merax misses, they miss and the world goes round.

Group is up!

map

Grinning with satisfaction as his morningstar strikes flesh, Caldazar reverses the swing and repeats the dose (same target).

Morningstar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Satisfied, Sclivian ends the Detect spell and calls out, "Tieflings! Do you know why we fight?"

He returns to aiming his crossbow at someone, should enemies appear.

Meraxilar smiles at Sclivian's outcry. These Tieflings will die by my hand regardless, Mr. Ruttle. I will unmake them and any others that we might find here.

Fueled by the pleasure of killing these infernal creatures, Merax attempts to cleave the Tiefling. (B23)

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Extra Damage: 2d12 + 6 ⇒ (10, 12) + 6 = 28

Round 4
Caldazars fiend. -2ac round 3 of 7. -2 to hit round 2 of 7.

"Do you know why we fight Tik-man? Life is short and taudry yet there is little else to do."

Pollux rotates his body until his feet face the entrance. A deep backbend keps his eyes locked on Caldazar's target.

Caldazar's fiend feels his own spine shiver and a chill run through his bones.

Daze dc14

Pollux's special friend bends forwards in tune with pollux as if that was the right way to stand. For his trouble he eats caldazars morningstar through the back of his skull. Meanwhile Merax's axe comes down and splits the head of his chosen friend for the moment like a melon at a gallagher show. But without the benefit of plastic on the first three rows of the audience.

The other two answer with snores, yes even the undying unsleeping mummy, to scivians call as merazilar and caldazar loom over them.

Round 5
No active effects.

Castor leaps free as Pollux overbalances and falls over.
"He is better at this game than me!" laughs Pollux as he stands again.

Free action, fall
move action Stand

Standard delay until until Merax stops dripping or something interesting more interesting happens.

Forgot to mention caldazar's target is dead in case no one got that. You can tell by dint of his brains being stuck to caldazars weapon.

Tark, Are you going to play for Tok? I'll put in my next round action for use when ready.

Meraxilar approaches the sleeping mummified creature calmly. After a brief look he brings his axe down in an overhead arc. Going for the Coup-de-grace.

Damage: 3d12 + 9 ⇒ (2, 9, 4) + 9 = 24

Tark, Are you going to play for Tok? I'll put in my next round action for use when ready.

Meraxilar approaches the sleeping mummified creature calmly. After a brief look he brings his axe down in an overhead arc. Going for the Coup-de-grace.

Damage: 3d12+9

"But there was supposed to be tea!"

Tark, Are you going to play for Tok? I'll put in my next round action for use when ready.

Yeah might as well. Looks like he's gone. I'll start making an effort to look for replacements later in this dungeon to introduce them at the start of the enxt book. You are very much nearing the end and things are going to get rather more complicated as it is.

Tok walks over calmly to the other sleeping tiefling and snaps his neck with his meaty arms. Merax MerAXE's the sleeping mummy who gushes black blood and feels for all intents and purposes like a normal living creature.

Caldazar stoops to strip the bodies of any valuables, occasionally glancing towards Merax with questioning eyes.

Merax mumbles to Pollux as he walks past him heading toward Caldazar."Tea does sound good right about now, Pollux." Merax then stoops to help Caldazar search the bodies.
Without looking up at Caldazar, he adds..."Is something vexing you, Caldazar?"

Responding to Merax: "Naught that cannot wait until we are finished here"

Tok strides to the door across the room and prepares to open it.

Caldazar takes guard behind Tok and waits for the door to be opened.

Guessing nothing of interest on the bodies

Pollux wanders over to the former mummy.

Couroius as to why it was wearing wrappings.

"Strange clothes. I mean apart from the blood. I can understand the blood, but why the wrappings?'

"Perhaps it was a gift for us to unwrap in one way or another." Meraxilar makes his way to the others by the door.

Did we find anything of value?

The mummy thing had 50gp masterwork studded leather arm, a dagger, a tangle foot bag and a potion. The rest have light crossbows with 20 bolts a piece light maces, 20gp and simple thieves tools.

Sclivian scoops up the bag and the potion, carefully looking it over. "This is odd..." he mentions, "I don't believe I had noticed any magic earlier. Is there something I missed?"

Cast Detect Magic, scan chamber, identify potion.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

The potion, or rather, a black substance swirlin around in a galss bottle does not apppear to be magical.

Pollux splatters over to Mr. Ruttle.
"You found the tea!" "Shall we try some?"

Caldazar claims the masterwork studded leather, though for now will just strip it from the body and store it.

"I'd be wary for now Master Pollux, at least until we know whether the tea smells of almonds"

Ready to move on through the next door.

So the Mummy had 50g, and the Tieflings had 20g each? Let's total it out and divide it evenly I guess.

After pocketing some gold, Merax hefts his axe and follows Caldazar.

North or east?

1d2 ⇒ 1 - North

Heading through the north door you enter a less used and somewhat newer portion of the tomb. To the northwest part of the room you see that soemthing or someone has broken through the carved stone of the tomb to open a tunnel.

The first thign to catch your eye however is a trio of mean looking hounds. They step into your light as their eyes reflect a baleful red light at you. Their fur is black but tinted a deep crimson giving them a frightful appearance. Even their fangs are twisted and elongated to give them a ferocious look. Then they lunge for your throat.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Caldazar
1d20 ⇒ 11 Merax
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Pollux
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 Tok
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 Sclivian

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

They rush forward and with an evil glare begin tearing into the group. They seem to favor Caldazar's flesh as if smelling the goodness in his heart. They leap straight for his throat and tear into it with a horrendous glee and caldazar barely has a chance to cry in alarm as one of the creatures clamps its slobbering jaws over his face and the hounds start to rend him to bits. ouch Caldazar just ate 20 damage. I'd trip him but I think that's a moot point.

Seeing his ally in mortal danger Tok leaps into the fray with a series of savage kicks. The reckless and merciless attack of the dogs make them easy targets and he plants a blow squarely into one of the dogs ribs causing it to yelp in pain and turn to him growling savagely 8 damage to the dog. The rest drop their chew toy and turn on the group with teeth bared to kill.

Rest of the group is up!

Map

Slight correction - Caldazar just ate the cobblestones :)
HP at -3
Stabilization check: 1d20 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 3 = 9 - failed, so I go to -4 on my initiative unless aught else happens first.

hmmm sleep expended. Too tight for enlarge person. Dogs have soft cover so crossbow and ray are out. Can't squeeze past Merax to administer potion. Castor has no hands, and in anycase is halfway back to traitor lady by now. Hmm choices limited.hmmmm

The wounded dog starts obsessively licking its chops. There is a very tasty bit of Caldazar stuck just out of reach....

Daze dc14

Sclivian watches as Caldazar drops. He watches the mental calculus that Pollux goes through, and realizes that he still thinks too much in non-combat terms.

"Mr. Pollux!" Mr. Ruttle calls, "Would this be of any assistance to us in this case?"

With one hand, he presents the black liquid to him, while his other pulls out the tanglefoot bag and prepares to toss it.

Meraxilar puts a hand to Caldazar then stands over his body brandishing his axe menacingly. Casting Defensively- Stabilize (DC15), then 5' step onto Caldazar's square.
"Awash in the Tide of Fangs, Caldazar, you will live to visit destruction on our enemies once more!"

Defensive Cast: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

If successful....
"Pull him away!"

As Meraxilar stands before the hounds they oblige his descent into death and lunge for Meraxilar tearing at flesh and bone with all the glee he's shown so far 5 damage. One stands idly unable to attack.

Tok in the meantime finishes his opponent with another savage beating to the chest destroying the dog and moving into its space to face another foe.

Map

Rnd 2!

Group is up.

Caldazar continues to lie motionless on the ground with resolute intent.

Sclivian seizes the opportunity to step ahead and pour a healing potion down Caldazar's throat.

Ignoring the pain, Merax tears into a hound with his Greataxe (E24).
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"Now is not the time for tea Tik-man! "Now is the time for feet!"
Following Merax's orders Pollux moves up, Grabs Caldazar's feet and attempts to drag him away from the doggies.

Caldazar feels the hands of pollucx around his ankles drag him away from the snarling fangs and crazed axe murdering. Merax's axe finds its mark and splits a dogs head right down the middle. Sclivian then reaches over and crams a potion in Caldazars mouth.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Tok stands fist to face with the other dog and plonks a solid blow on the besasts nose injuring it but not killing it yet.

Next round!

Round 3

Pollux looks at the swirling black liquid in his hand.
.
Pollux looks at Caldazar's open mouth.
..
Looks at the botle again
...
Looks at Caldazar
....

Gets distracted by the hellhound's yelp as Tok commits fleony animal abuse and realizes this is not time for tea.

Move. But black bottle in pocket.
Standard. Daze on remaining hound dc14

The hound is momentarily overwealmed by the heady mix of human and hound blood overlayed by the florals in the healing potion.

For the Potion: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Merax attempts to finish off the dog.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I think 3 HP healing puts be back at 0 HP? - that's the assumption for this post.

Groggily coming to Caldazar momentarily flinches as the memories of snarling fang filled maws flashes in focus. From his prone position he calls upon the healing of Milani "Give me strength to break the bonds."

Standard action to cast cure light on myself - hopefully I'm out of reach of the rabid pups?
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
3/17 HP; 2/3 1st level spells cast

Meraxilar misses his mark by a wide margin but Tok has much better luck. stepping over the hound he stomps on it hard with his boot and shatters its spine elliciting a yelp that is quickly silenced by a second stomp to the head. Within mere instants the group is left alone in the dark once more.

Off to the northwest corner you notice a hole in the tomb open into a tunnel it appears to have been carved from the ground recently rather than with the tomb.

Taking stock now that the danger is past, Caldazar retrieves his morningstar from where it fell and fishes around in his pack.

Retrieving two vials of liquid he chugs them both down in quick order and appears much restored from their effects. Drink two Cure Light potions for 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (7, 5) + 2 = 14 healing, 17/17 HP left

"I thank you for your action, and pulling me free from the slavering maws. Should we test the tunnel, or clear the cathedral first? I'm not sure I would want enemies at my back when we delved below."

"A solid strategy, Caldazar. I agree." Meraxilar looks to the rest briefly for signs of approval. "Lead on when ready, Master Tok."

Sclivian pulls out a scrap of paper. "I have a colleague who would be quite capable of guarding the door to the chapel. He would be able to give us an extra two minutes in the tunnel. Alternately, he could hold shut the catacombs while we search the chapel. Although, I would prefer to know that there is something we need to guard against before employing his services."

Soooooo what now?

Pollux looks up fron the 'tea'.

"I think we should take the tunnel. Castor likes the closed in spaces."

Craft alchemy to ID the tea? If yes 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19.