The Devil We Know Series (Part IV: The Rules of the Swift) (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Iso pats young Nefti on the head.

"Do not worry little Nefti. Iso Soturi will look after you. You will be Big Hero at end of this."

He scratches his rear, and then his beard in a thoughtful manner.

"Good question Tippy. Iso wants to know who else has been stolen? Is Iso likey to get reward for freeing others too? "

"And Nefti, did you see the kidnappers themselves? What did they look like?"

"They started a few months ago. Cassomir has always had some trouble with its citizens going missing, but this was different. Only those associated with the Imperial Naval Shipyards were taken — shipwrights, carpenters, navy guards, and so on. This recent kidnapping, where they took Cestis, was brash and bold. They grabbed more than a dozen people in one attack, neglecting to grab Nefti. Their mistake is our fortune." Themis answers to Tippy's question.

Turning to Iso she continues "We don't know the names of the other kidnapees. But you will at least get their gratefulness if you free more."

Nafti answers to Borrobol's question "They looked like cultists of a strange nature cult. Druids, they had rats with them, and some rogues."

"So religious nut bags. Lovely."

Iso continues to scratch at his own natural infestation.

"Iso wonders why druids would attack shipyards?"

The light slowly dawns.

"Ships are made of wood. Forests cut down to make wooden boats!"

"Did you see where they went or at least the direction they headed with their captives?"

Tippy sighs at Iso's display. "At least there's one of us who won't have to worry about offending the natural world," he mutters to Celentrai.

"i believe the kidnapped victims from the auction are being held at a dockside tavern in the shipyards called the Inn of the Unlucky Sailor, currently closed for business while being remodeled." Nefti answers to Celentrai's question. "I can lead you there."

Iso scratches some more.

"Unlucky doesn't sound good to Iso. Why does Nefti think people are held at bad inn?"

"That's the only clue I have, but not more than rumors, sorry."

"Well, given that sailors tend to bathe less often than Iso, we should all blend in."

Tippy bought a +1 cloak of resistance during the down time.

"Bathing makes you sick. Iso has told Tippy this before. Iso worries that Tippy cannot remember simple ways to stay healthy." mutters Iso, shaking his head sadly as if instructing a very slow child.

Then he grins.

"Iso also wonders if any ale left behind. That would make inn less unlucky.". The thought still fresh in his mind his feet are already heading out the door.

Perched precariously overhanging the dirty harbor water stands the Inn of the Unlucky Sailor. A fresh coat of white paint glistens on half the inn’s outside walls, and most of the windows are boarded up. The roof leans slightly toward the harbor, as if at any moment the entire thing could come off and slide into the ocean. The dock leading up to the inn is made of rotting wood connected to thick, rank-smelling pilings. Several small rowboats are currently tied up along its length.

"For such a fowl place it does seem to have its cliental!"

"Iso thought inn was closed for repairs. Iso sees no sign of repairs needed though, and boats tied up. Time for ale."

Iso approaches the boarded up door and opens it. Possibly not gently.

Borrobol joins Iso at the door, ready to charge through the open door if we hear signs of trouble within. "This is a win-win, no? We either get a brew or a battle."

"Iso is hoping for a Brew and a Battle. Iso's muscles need workout. Iso got used to hot lands down south and feels cold now. This is not good Borrobol."

Celnetrai smiles at the barbarians reaction.
"Do you think we could look around first before we go running in? We may be able to save more people that way." she ask innocently.

"Look around? Iso is freezing and there are people inside to rescue. What's wrong with charging in?"
says the +2 Perception dwarf

"Just wait a bit," Tippy says, and moves to check out one of the windows that isn't boarded. If none of them are in reach, he tries to find a boarded window with a gap between the boards

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Iso jumps up and down in the street, trying to look inconspicious.

"Iso is good at saving people. Celnetrai remembres when she first met Iso, and he hold chain of four men from cliff drop. " he looks around.

"Not far from here, now Iso comes to think about it. Iso thinks it good to revisit scene of past victory when people are saved."

Borrobol looks out into the harbor "Um...wasn't that on the other side of the sea Iso?"

"Cassomir, Absalom.. all big cities look the same to Iso. Friend Borrobol does have point though. Iso is not sure he is ready to get back on ship just yet."

Tippy peeks between the boards and has a look at the interior. The inn’s interior is in much better condition. The f loors are new and quiet, the walls are covered in fresh paint. Most of the furniture has been removed, though a few tables and chairs remain and are covered in sawdust and wood havings. Several buckets of white paint sit atop the bar.

A druid and his dire rat companion and minions currently guard a small group of six kidnap victims. Two more dire rats sleep in the center of the room.

Tippy sneaks back and reports what he's seen.

"I bet if Iso were to bang on that door demanding ale, making a big nuisance of coming back with friends to bust the door down to get it, the Druid would send out some of his pets, and we could divide and conquer."

Iso grins and bangs on the door.

"Ale!"

You hear a voice from the inside. "Move on, we are closed!"

"Ahah me hearties, I told you there would be someone in there." shouts Iso, as he continues to bang on the door.

"My coins as good as the next mans, open up in the name of Iso Soturi! Iso has got a thirst and a half."

He pauses, wondering where that expression came from before knocking even louder

"Iso has two thirsts!"

"It's a private party! Now move on! There is another bar around the corner!"

"No! Iso as been told this is best bar in all of Cassomir! Ohhh did you say party?"

Iso hits the door a little harder.

You hear a moving inside the bar and the druid opens the door. He seems to be surprised by Isos height but. "All the ale is gone and everybody is drunk already. Do you want to see grown-up men puking? If you don't stop hitting the door you will break it down!"

Iso can peek inside, three fat dire rats are moving around and a man leans at the bar. He seems to be unconscious.

Where is the rest of you? With Iso in front of the door or waiting around the corner?

Celentrai quietly waits around the corner.

"Iso!" Tippy yells coming up. "They're open after all?"

Tippy gets up to Iso and flings a dagger underhanded at the druid.

Dagger: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (5) = 10

Figured I was still right there with Iso at the door...
Seeing the druid at the door, Borrobol tries to push through him and knock him to the floor.
Overrun: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Armor Spikes if successful: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Iso smiles at the druid.

"Bar is Open!"
And drops his hand on the druids head.
Provoking an AOO if the druid is armed, but I am assuming not

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Non lethal damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

After the door is open Tippy throws a dagger at the druid's head but the dagger gets stuck in the door frame. Borrobol pushes through the druid, but the druid's reaction is fast enough not to be knocked prone although the spikes create some wounds. Iso's fists give the druid the rest. He's knocked unconscious.

unconscious due to the NL damage, not dying

The rats eye you varily but decide to attack, they are hungry. The fastest rat moves up to Borrobol.

Round 1
Rat green
Borrobol
Rat red
Druid -5HP, -6NL, unconscious
Tippy
Rat blue
Iso
Celentrai

"Friend has drunk too much!" says Iso, shaking his head sadly.

He then draws his axe and steps past the unconscious druid to have a whack at the green rat.

I know Iso is later on in the initiative, so feel free to change targets and move a bit if that works out better

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

I believe all I can do is double move up to the door so that shouldn't effect anyone who moves before me
"OK here I come!"

"That's what dwarves do! Or did you mean the druid?" Borrobol lowers a shoulder and slams into the green rat, trying to bowl the creature over on his was further into the tavern.
Overrun: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Armor Spikes if successful: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Borrobol smashes the first rat with his armor spikes. Another rat moves closer and tries to bite Borrobol but the rat cracks its teeths at Burrobol's shoe.
Bite: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 1
Rat green defeated
Borrobol
Rat red
Druid -5HP, -6NL, unconscious
Tippy
Rat blue
Iso [axe attack]
Celentrai

Tippy dashes into the tavern and leaps up onto a table.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Tippy assaults a table and jumps onto it, making sure he hides from the rats. The next rat moves and bites, but Borrobol's shoes are still strong enough to defend his feet. Iso swings his axe against the rat which just moved but misses.
blue vs. Borrobol: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 lol
+Aoo for Tippy

Round 1
Rat green defeated
Borrobol
Rat red
Druid -5HP, -6NL, unconscious
Tippy
Rat blue
Iso
Celentrai

AoO: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

I believe I took a double move for round 1

Seeing a rich set of target rats, Borrobol draws his warhammer and slams it down into the reddish rat.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Celentrai moves to the inn's main entrance. Tippy uses his chance to hit the passing rat on the head. Borrobol dispatches the reddish rat with his warhammer.

Round 2
Borrobol
Rat red defeated
Druid -5HP, -6NL, unconscious
Tippy
Rat blue -4HP
Iso
Celentrai

Tippy hops down off the table to flank blue rat and double stabs.

Dagger: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 23
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (4) = 7

Dagger: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (5) = 9

Tippy stabs the remaining rat to death.

combat over

"That was easy enough. Shall we see if our missing friends are among the victims over here?" Not seeing any further threats, Borrobol heads over to the kidnap victims. "Hey, we're looking for someone names Cestis? Any of you Cestis or know him? Oh. And someone named Kafar too. I guess."

The kidnap victims are hog-tied with thick rope and then tied to each other by the neck. Another victim is tied over the top of the bar, his abdomen bare, bloody and bruised.

No body answers but after a while a man opens his mouth. With a whispering voice he answers "Kafir is over there" and nods at the bar. "But I never heard about a man named Cestis. Can you describe the man? Some of us were already taken away."

Does anyone of you carry his/her wayfinder visible to the man?