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

Game Master Tark the Ork

I'm here. Rough weekend.

"Yes, the main building seems to be best right now. These tunnels, however, may prove useful, later."

I didnt know Mr. Ruttle was missing too. :/ Hope he gets back soon. BTW, sorry I couldnt post yesterday. I was out at a Jeep dealer buying a new one.

What happened to your old Jeep Dealer?

Pollux follows the group. Castor slinking through the darkness behind him.

"Why did you want that bone Mr. Tik-man sir? There were others with more meat on them, but maybe this was a friend of yours?"

You return to the main crypt and to the door that you have not opened as of yet. A quick inspection reveals it to be unlocked. There are no obvious noises comign from within.

Quickly scanning the faces of the others to make sure they are ready, Caldazar opens the door.

Meraxilar stands ready to proceed.

"It can be quite difficult to find a good-quality femur these days, you know," Sclivian replies.

He adds to the men at the front, "Remember that retreat is an option in this case. I am ready, however, let us enter."

As Caldazar throws open the door the light at first reveals nothing but another cut stone room like the others in the crypt. However somethings starts to glow in the darkness. Three pairs of soemthing to be exact. Red, hateful, and silent. With a silent clicking of claws on stone they pad into your sight. Three skeletal dogs enter your vision. Their teeth grind together in a soundless growl as they lunge for Caldazar.

So today we discovered that Caldazar is a cat person.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Caldazar
1d20 ⇒ 6 Merax
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Pollux
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Tok
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 Sclivian

You:11.2

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Them:14.3

Loping forward they lunge for Caldazar. One snatches a hold of his leg and with a jerk jerk of its neck the surprised Caladazar tumbles to the ground. 3 damage and prone

Yup definitely a cat person after this.

Group is up!

MAP

Round 1
I'll try standing over Caldazar since he's prone.
Merax once again rushes to Caldazar's aid, standing over him as he brings his axe upward in a pendulum-like swing.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"More feet!" shouts Pollux. Somehow making it sound like a battlecry. He stoops down and grabs Caldazar's leg and after a momentary tug of war with the skeleton dog pulls him to relative saftey.

Move to 24,D when Merax moves to 25,D. Pull Caldazar to 24,D and retire to 23,C if I can.

Assumption is that Caldazar's flawless impression of a sack of potatoes is succesful and Pollux drags him clear.

Once more greeting his friend the floor so soon after a door is opened, Caldazar barely managed a grunt of alarm as the undead hounds closed in. Dragged to safety by Pollux, Caldazar regains his feet and nods a thanks.

Backing further into the corridor, Caldazar adds "Draw them out Merax, where we may bring more arms to bear"

Move action to stand, then ready an action to move to C,23 (where Mr Ruttle is) if he stands aside

Sclivian steps aside, adding, "I've got a tanglefoot bag, maybe we can keep them from advancing too far!"

He pulls out the bag and waits for an opportunity as clear as these halls will allow.

Waiting on Tark to see the results of round 1 before continuing. :)

Meraxilar, as always, swings with more vigor then skill missing the skeletal dog and nearly plitting caldazar down the middle as pollux ducks in under the axe and yanks caldazar out of the way. Tok curses in frustration as his meaty fists have no target to pummel and has to settle for glaring around people. Sclivian pulls out a leather sack from his belt.

So, when the wolves go after meraxilar? Roll 18,16,19. In that order. Where were these rolls when I'm playing.

The wolves leap upon meraxilar and throw him to the ground in a silent onrush of clankity death.10 damage

Map

RND 2!

"Get that door closed! Regroup!" Sclivian calls out, ready to respond.

Just for clarity - the door is in between Merax and the dog wall of doom?
But in order to close the door, I'd imagine we'd need to eat some AoOs... and if any of those AoOs hit, we'd get sent down to the ground?

They'd have to beat youe CMD first on those AoO's. Their are two doors in question, don't ask me why. Merax is currenlty laying inside the threshhold of one door and it swings outward towards the group. The first door also swings outward and is where Caldazar currently is.

Caldazar reaches down with his buckler hand and grabs Merax's by whatever limb is closest. Forcibly dragging the cleric back and away from the maws of the skeletal hounds "Make way! Tok - bring your fists to bear on the first to push through."

Caldazar wants to drag Merax from his current spot to D24 - or even D23 if allowed. He'll seek to have Pollux make way for him by moving backwards as well.
If Sclivian moves one space North, I can take his place - then we can have all three of our melee friendly hitters in base to base with just a single dog.
I thought about trying to close the door - but I'd reckon its a fair chance that all that would achieve is two people lying down getting eaten.

Pollux moves to D,21 to get clear.

"The feet Caldazar! The feet!"

Pollux draws a compact crossbow from his coat and proceeds to load it. He appears to be quietly singing a children's song.

[b]"...with a knick-knack-paddy-wack-giveadogabone...

Merax tries to withdraw by crawling away from all of these bony predators. "Getting eaten by a "Tide of Bony Fangs", how poetic. It would appear that the Unmaker seeks to test my resolve once more."

apologies for not noticing the readied action from sclivian. Rather I wanted to see if he wanted to change it. Actually considering he's readying a standard action let me throw you a bone and move him anyway. Also going to assume Meraxilar gets up. See I can be nice sometimes.

As the party drags itself from the jaws of the breach a single skeletal wolf pulls forward to eat a punch to the skull that nearly decapitates it before it pulls itself together and continues an unrelenting onslaught on the oh so secret worshiper of Rovagug. The cleric manages to push it away as the group reorganizes and regroups outside to a more advantageous position.

MAP!

GROUP IS UP!

Caldazar gives a quick nod of appreciation to Tok before gritting his teeth and launching once more into the fray...

Morningstar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

...satisfied with the audible crunch and rising cloud of bone dust.

Watching Caldazar stop the front wolf, Sclivian tosses the tanglefoot bag at the second wolf in the doorway before it joins the combat.

Attack: -4 soft cover, +2 dex -2 range increment = -4
1d20 - 4 ⇒ (6) - 4 = 2

Pollux fires his crossbow into the lead bone-wolf, or he fires randomly into the crowd in front of him. Potato, potahto.

Hit soft cover included? 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 - 4 = 3 damage to someone 1d8 ⇒ 5

Singing softly"...lets call the whole thing off.."

Merax picks himself up, digs his heels in, and brings his axe down on the nearest Skeletal Wolf.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

In a rapdi series of bone crunching blows Tok tekken air juggles the dog in the doorway and renders it to dust. Caldazar lands a heavy blow with his own blunt and pointy instrument and annihilates the dog. As the last one charges for Caldazar Tok finishes his combo and shatters the dog ina shower of bone shards destroying the last of the skeletal dogs.

Merax picks up a skull from one of the skeletal dogs and examines it. "Interesting beasts". He then casually drops it and heads into the room they came out of.

Caldazar moves into the room, quickly searching it. "Aye, but I am glad they are returned to dust - let us press onward"

Tark - do we need to go back upstairs for the next portal that we have not yet plumbed?

The only doors upstairs are ones leading out of the building. This includes the place you encountered the "it". The only places left unexplored are the places you just left (i.e, The two staircases leading up and going further down the tunnel.

A quick serach of the room reveals that nothing was kept in here. There are no doors leading out beyond the one used to enter Perhaps it was a storage area for keeping the undead wolves? Who can tell.

Sclivian shakes his head. "What a senseless, pathetic effort at organization. A bit of forethought, and they could easily have had better space in better positions... So, should we check the tunnel doorways again? Figure out which other businesses we are behind?"

He pulls out his crossbow, cocks and loads it, and prepares to continue his travel.

"Seems a fair plan Mr Ruttle" renewing his buckler light and proceeding into the tunnel.

As you leave the skeletal store room behind and reenter the tunnel you are again presented with the choices of going northwest, northeast, or further east to progress down the tunnel.

"It was a wolf closet. Open the door, wolves. Close the door, no wolves."
Pollux looks at Caldazar "Can we get one for Traitor ladies house? It would be useful for when the landlord calls for the rent."

"We are in a maze of tunnels all alike.

"I think that way. says Pollux pointing (1d3 ⇒ 2) northeast.[/b]

Caldazar nods sagely at Pollux "Aye that seems as good a choice as any." before pausing a moment and adding "Perhaps we could, though not with affronts to death... how would Castor feel to a 'cat closet'?"

"Perhaps we should travel northwest. There are two passages heading to the east, and only one heading west. Might as well see where the western passage leads to."
Meraxilar waits for the others to answer.

I'm ok with any direction. :)

"I'll vote northeast, then northwest, then down the east tunnel."

Caldazar steps into the Northeast tunnel.

Going up to the door in the northeast and checking the handle it appears to be unlocked. A cursory listen at the door reveals the voices of two men within. They sound like Ermalos and the ill tempered man whose name escapes the GM at the moment.

Meraxilar lazily follows Caldazar. "I wanted to say this earlier, Caldazar, you handle yourself pretty well. I had always thought that followers of Milani were more rabble rousers than capable warriors. You and I are not so different. You seek to overthrow tyrannical rule, I seek the same. We both use similar martial solutions to achieve this."

Merax ponders briefly before continuing. "The only thing I see different in our methods is that in your swing I see only a means to an end. There is beauty to behold in the journey so to speak, I fear you may miss it. I say this with the utmost respect and apologies will be given If I offend you with these words. I do realize not everyone kills with zeal, and I am not suggesting that you do, but trudging through every battle without letting go of reservation every now and again can destroy a person just as well as any weapon."

Hoping the rest (except Pollux) are out of earshot, Merax continues talking to Caldazar in a much lower tone. "Tok is an excellent example. His whole life seems based on order and reservation and it seems to be taking it's toll. He remains distant and does not seem to enjoy much. Take away the spellcasting and Ruttle is a remade Tok. Always seeking an neat order to things, always looking too far ahead at consequences, obssesive with his books and ledgers and all that.
Now Pollux on the other hand, lives in the moment. We are agreed in that he may be a little unhinged, but he probably lives better than both of us do. Food for thought, Caldazar."
Merax fails as he tries to supress a laugh at that last particular comment about Pollux, he then speaks to Pollux without turning around. "Pollux, did I ever mention how much I enjoy your company in our little escapades?"

Tightening his grip on his Greataxe, Meraxilar smiles to himself as he continues down the passage. I must admit that this whole endeavor has become rather enjoyable.

Late Edit*** All this was meant to be said before reaching the door, Tark and I seem to have posted around the same time. :)

Upon the Walk:

Caldazar puts his buckler hand to his chest, where the wooden rose is swinging freely and re-stows it within his armor. "The Everbloom takes root in many places Merax, and not all of her thorns think with the same mind. Most of my compatriots think words and soft deeds suffice to bring down walls, though I know that change is begat from more forthright deeds"

Not entirely sure how to take the next line of Merax's questioning, he ventures "You query whether I take pleasure from the kill? - If I might explain... We are as hornets assaulting a hive. I know that the hive can afford the loss of hundreds of workers and yet live on. What we must do is find a queen and slay it. When we find an enemy of import that rivals a queen - I can promise that the lust of battle shall sing within me"

"I look forward to this song, Caldazar of the Everbloom." There is hope for you yet.

Softly and meant only for Merax "When we are in safer climes, we must also talk of the tribute you offer to the Imprisoned King and what truths you scour from the Cycle of the Beast" his gaze locks with Merax for a moment and you can ken no ill will.... yet, just a wariness.

Sclivian shakes his head as he hears the voices. With a whisper, he adds, "Aren't these members among the band? Aren't they counted among our allies?"

Tark. Yakupulio maybe?

During the Caldazar-Merax summit meeting.
Pollux has gathered a dozen teeth from the bone-dogs and is sitting tailor fashion on the ground carefully stacking them atop each other. He is doing surprisingly well the rapidly drying blood of Merax is proving an effective glue.

"Pollux, did I ever mention how much I enjoy your company in our little escapades?"

Merax's voice startles Pollux and the tower of teeth and blood tinkles to the dirty ground. Castor takes this opportunity to swipe a particularly gory incisor and begins to lick it with obvious relish.

"Castor likes wasps; If they are fat enough he can catch them out of the air.'

At the door.

”Why is the traitor metal banging man hiding in the wolf closet?”

Right so going to get Tal in here and one of you is going to open this door already.

Caldazar opens the door.

Opening the door reveals what used to be a wevers shops. Leaning against the wall by the door is one of the Halroan Leageue, a large man who stood close by Ermalos when you've seen him. He raises his hatchet as you step therough the doorbut sighs with relief when he sees your bloodied faces. You see Ermalos across the room sigh with relief as well. Both appear to be injured and judging by the corpses of three tieflings with clubs gripped in their hands its easy to see why.

"Thank Gorum." The man by the door says. Arael had us check this building for escape routes. Sons of dogs were here waiting for us."[/b]

Surveying the room, Merax speaks to Ermolos.
"Greetings Ermolos. I hope the rest of our merry band has had similar success." He then glances at the large man with Ermolos and extends a hand. "Well met. I take it that some of this was your work?"

The new Tok is here...enter meat shield Tal.

As the door opens Tals first thoughts are Great more people in our way of cleansing the temple. At a second glance though he realizes his error and a smile breaks out. I see that you also are having as much fun as we are. I am glad to see that you can handle yourselves well and aren't too bored out here while we clean out the inside of the temple. How fares it with the others? Any word from them?

Ok I think I screwed up the ooc post from Tark and the IC post. I think I am actually the guy outside of the temple at the moment and have not replaced Tok yet. Sorry for the confusion. First post and already screwed up.

Releasing the battleaxe to let it hang by its weapon cord, Tal grips Merazilar's hand with a firm squeeze. The grip isn't meant to be intimidating, but Tal does try to get a feel of Meraxilar's strength.

Meraxilar: Indeed, but I will share the praise with Ermolos here. It was touch and go for a while until Ermolos dropped one while I was holding off the other 2. Once he joined in the others went down pretty quickly. I don't know if they were alerted to your presence and were coming in after you or were fleeing from you.

My name is Tal by the way. I will tell you more about myself later once this area is cleared out. If you would like me to join you I will. I believe that Ermolos can hold the area since we already got rid of the bastards stationed here.

It looks like you have been having more fun than we have though by the amount of blood on you. How goes it down below? If that is mostly yourown blood that I am sorry for you. Here is a potion of healing for one of you who needs it. If only a little of that blood is yours than very good for all of us.

Tal will go to all members of the group and shake hands with all of them likewise trying to gain an insight as to their strength. Even while he is listening, all you notice that his eyes never linger in 1 place too long. Even more disconcerting is the fact that when he speaks to Meraxilar, it feels like he is speaking to others that you can't see. Not crazy, just being aware of surroundings.