Keeya tries to climb up the wall, but slips and falls
Keeya sighs and tries again
She whispers, "Toss me the rope and I will tie it to something sturdy."
Keeya climbs the old, crumbling wooden wall towards the rafters, slipping occasionally from all of the muck covering her clothing. She gets a leg up and over straddling a rafter.
Up here, nearly the entire ceiling below has collapsed, leaving only a criss-cross of rafters making the floor. Major sections of the firewalls to the south and the west have been destroyed providing access to other portions of the attic.
Someone hands up the end of a rope and Keeya begins to lash it around a sturdy looking rafter.
Keeya's perception:
Stealth:
Stealth:
Unfortunately, she is too engrossed in what she is doing and she missed two tiny creatures hiding in the attic's rafters. The two insectoid creature each with two pairs of bat wings, a tangle of thin legs, and a needle-sharp proboscis, silently fly towards Keeya from behind.
Vs AC 13 Touch:
Vs AC 13 Touch:
They both alight on her back, latching their barbed legs into her clothing, and sinking their proboscises into her. They begin to drain her blood.
10% chance of disease:
10% chance of disease:
The filthy creatures are covered in muck and disease, but fortunately neither of them infect Keeya.
Round 1
Initiative
Keeya:
K'nyaz:
Taize:
Talon:
Bloodsucker #1 :
Bloodsucker #2 :
Order:
Keeya (Grappled, DC to break/escape)
BS #2
Talon
K'nyaz
Taize
BS #1
Seemed someone had some rope - he wondered why it was they hadn't said anything about it before, but he wasn't going to look the gift horse in the mouth here. Unfortunately, it seemed that something had gotten to Keeya up in the rafters! Talon didn't waste anymore time, grabbing the rope and starting to pull himself up as quick as he could.
Keeya, seeing no one else around yet, attempts to slip out of the clothes they grasped on to.
"Uhg! There are things up here... things that are biting me."
K'nyaz is concerned when Keeya starts squirming around under the grasp of the creatures. "Hold still. I will try shoot them off you." He gathers primordial energies into a dart of acid, launching it at one of the creatures.
Keeya tries to struggle out of some of her clothing to get them off of her, but their proboscises go all the way through the cloth into her skin and the clothes don't come off.
One of the bloodsuckers continues to drain blood from Keeya, weakening her further.
Talon climbs to the top of the rope, struggling sometimes with the muck covered rope, but he finally drags himself up into the rafters, perhaps not as gracefully as desired.
K'nyaz takes careful aim so as to avoid hitting Keeya, he fires the dart of acid at the bloodsucker closest to him and pierces it right through in one shot. It detaches from Keeya before it can drain more blood.
Round 2
Order:
Keeya (3 CON, Grappled DC to break/escape)
BS #2
Talon
K'nyaz
Taize
BS #1
Keeya grabs one of her knives and tries to stab the remaining creature on her.
Possible crit
"I'm... not feeling so good."
Keeya stabs over her shoulder at the second bloodsucker, skewering it handily, even though she is feeling a bit lightheaded due to the blood loss.
Annoying. Once again, Keeya took the hits that he should have been there to take for her. "Damn. Looks bad. Stay still, let Taize take a look at you and see what she can do." Talon felt more than a little useless - he made his mind, at the very least. He'd be taking the vanguard position from here on out.
Once everyone had managed to climb up and Keeya's wounds had been taken care of, Talon motioned to them all. "I'll be going first now. Keeya, stay right behind me. Hopefully I can act like a proper shield for you all this way. Though try and help me look out for any of the rafters that are rotten while we walk across - well, I'm not going to die if I fall, at least..." He murmurs, before starting to walk slowly forward, heading towards the next area.
"I really really hate this place" Keeya said, her guilt over killing a guard COMPLETELY EVAPORATED at this point.
Taize climbs up caoutiously and once more channels her healing energy.
You move carefully through the fire wall, avoiding falling through the rafters. Like elsewhere, the ceiling has collapsed into the room below, but most of the rafters have gone with it in this area, leaving large gaps of empty space over the drop. A large fireplace in the room below climbs the wall as a wide chimney into here. The crumbling, charred brick of the chimney has been chipped away to create a large hollow within, with a tangle of discarded planks and other rubbish now serving as a floor.
On either side of the chimney's hollow is a sewer goblin with a heavy crossbow aimed in your direction. Standing in the hollow is someone matching your description of Natalya.
She looks at you and in a very imperious voice asks, "Who are you barging in and disturbing me? This is not how you apply for membership in my gang, which will soon be the richest and most powerful gang in the city!"
Woozy the words squeaked out of Keeya, "Gang? Rich? okay... sure... Can I shower somewhere?"
Talon keeps in front of the rest of the party - with Keeya in bad shape, he wanted to present himself as a bigger target to those goblins and their crossbows - well armored as he was, he had a better chance of surviving any hits. Natalya's appearance surprised him, just a bit - he had a small suspicion that perhaps she was just a captive, but that was all but negated now.
"We're not here to join your gang. Natalya, if I'm not mistaken. Our mission is to bring you back to the Pathfinder Lodge here in the city. It's been a real hassle moving through this place trying to get to you, so I'd really appreciate it if you would come quietly." He takes a moment to glance at both goblins, tightening his grip on his bow. What he wouldn't give for some solid ground so he could utilize his sword.
Natalya scoffs, "Bring me back to the lodge? Come along quietly? How dare you speak to me like that! Don't you know who I am? I do not follow along quietly or come at the beck and call of anyone. Go back to your lodge and tell them to come meet me here."
"Okay then." Keeya said before slowly walking away. Once she is as far as she can get while still in line of site she turns. Kneels and prepares to reach for her bow. Winds kicking up around her.
She gave the others a nod as she pulled an arrow from her quiver.
Talon glances back at Keeya and the others, before sighing as he looks over at Natalya. "That's a problem, to be perfectly honest. Aside from the fact that your headquarters is in no shape to welcome an audience, there's the fact that I really, really, really never want to have to come back to this cesspool for the rest of my life. I guess that if you're not going to listen to reason, we're going to have to do this the hard way."
He draws and nocks an arrow in his bowstring, looking at the goblins. "Deal with the goblins first. Try your best to take Natalya alive," He told the others, ready for a fight.
Taize readies for combat, saying "You know, Miss Vancaskerkin, failing to keep your promises is a bad way to start a climb to greatness."
Keeya drew her longbow with the speed of an expert bowman, nocked an arrow took aim at the goblin and loosed it.
Keeya looked at her bow curiously... [i[sewer water was apparently bad for aiming. Though it might the lack of blood. Blood is red, Some fruit is red, Red fruit is my favorite, no wait, purple fruit is better! I wish I had some grapes right now. No I bet they would taste terrible because all I can smell is sewer water. Oh right! Sewers! Goblins! I have to fight now. Head is so light... hard to concentrate.[/i]
Talon doesn't miss a beat, for as soon as he hears the twang of Keeya's bowstring, his own releases out at one of the goblins, hoping to take it out before it has a chance to loose its bolt.
K'nyaz is once again put off guard by the group's decision to talk little and act violently at even the slightest risk of things not going well. He prepares to act if necessary.
Taize comments "Weren't we supposed to retrieve her and the item? I don't think the Lodge will appreciate having to raise her to ask about her discovery."
She tries once more."Miss Vancaskerkin, despite my companions enthusiasm for combat, I don't think this is necessary. I don't care if you want to start your own gang, or how you wish to make your way to the 'top' as long as it doesn't interfer with my duties. Which, currently, are to bring you and the item you were to recover for the Pathfinders to the Lodge. Please, just stand down."
Frustrated with Natalya's imperious and stymieing attitude, and trying to improve their bargaining position, Keeya and Talon both fire at the goblins and miss.
The goblins nearly drop their crossbows they are so suprised at the arrow fire, but they start to recover soon enough. Natalya looks shocked at the party's temerity, but begins to recover.
Taize, attempting to calm down the situation, tries to appeal to Natalya, but feels her entreaties fall upon deaf ears. Sense Motive:
After K'ynaz, we'll be on to round #1:
Initiatives:
Talon: 21
K'nyaz: 18
Taize:
Keeya: 12
Goblin #1:
Goblin #1:
Natalya:
Order:
Talon
K'nyaz
Keeya
Goblin #1
Goblin #2
Taize
Natalya
There was a tiny, nagging doubt in the back of Talon's head, saying that perhaps they could have managed to negotiate a peaceful solution here. But his fighter's instinct compelled him to strike before they had the chance to retaliate - if the goblins went down, at least, perhaps Natalya would realize that she was vastly outnumbered and surrender on her own volition. He hoped so, anyways.
Drawing and nocking another arrow, he fires it fast at the goblin again, hoping this time his aim wouldn't veer off to the left so much.
Realizing things had gone sour real fast, K'nyaz follows suit on the idea of at least removing her goblin allies. He conjures another dart comprised entirely of acid, before firing it at the same goblin as Talon.
"Muck... grime... poo... bugs... goblins... I AM SICK of this place. Natalya REMOVE your goblins from this place and surrender before we do it for you."
She fired another arrow at the first Goblin.
Okay sometimes goblins speak gnome... I don't actually speak Goblin at all...
Keeya adds in Gnome... "Flee the big one, she will be your unmaking! I have plenty of arrows and she doesn't mind using you goblins as shields to die so that she might live!"
Keeya said it, unsure how serious even she was taking the conversation in between arrow shots. So woozy...
Taize channels healing energy once more, though she suspects that's not exactly what Keeya needs.
Talon fires at one of the goblins and misses again followed by K'nyaz' acid dart missing the goblins as well.
Natalya looks a bit shaken by Keeya's vehement exhortation bursting out of her after her recent unpleasant experiences. She channels that anger into firing an arrow at the first goblin, which hits and sticks in it. She follows her threats and arrow with an entreaty to the goblins. The one goblin, clutching and pulling the arrow out replies, "The Mistress must be obeyed, all who oppose her must be crushed."
Sense Motive DC 15
Heavy Crossbow vs AC 15
Damage:
The first goblin fires back at Keeya and hits her solidly, causing her to stumble and begin to fall.
Heavy Crossbow vs AC 15
Damage:
The second goblin fires back at Talon and hits him as well with a nasty shot.
Taize channels energy causing both Keeya's and Talon's wounds to knit nearly closed and Keeya stumbles but doesn't fall down, although her day has not become any better.
Natalya chants a few words and the rafters between her and the party become covered in grease, making traversal extremely tricky.
Round #2
Talon (HP: 8)
K'nyaz
Keeya (HP: 4)
Goblin #1 (HP: 3 less)
Goblin #2
Taize
Natalya
Talon winces as the crossbow bolt sticks hard into his side, punching through his armor. He's grateful for Taize's healing, but he's also extremely concerned that the goblins are better shots than he expected - it would take them time to reload those heavy crossbows, though.
"Take them out before they reload!" He tells the others, nocking another arrow and letting it fly at the wounded goblin again.
Talon also notes the strange behavior of the goblins with Natalya, trying to make sense of it.
He's no expert on things like this, but he has a hunch. "The goblins are under some kind of spell - she's controlling them through magic!"
Taize sighs, then calls on Gozrah. "You had your chance. Gozrah, lend me your power."
She uses her Lightning Arc power to blast the wounded goblin.
Keeya looks at Talon puzzled as she does her best to ignore her wound. "Magic? It changes nothin' we still need ta deal with the Goblins, we won' be able to stop her with crossbow bolts in our sides. 'specially if she's got magic."
"Last chance to surrender!"
Keeya readied another arrow, took aim at the uninjured Goblin and loosed the arrow.
As Talon hits the injured goblin, K'nyaz fires another one of his conjured darts at the uninjured one. He just hopes that the hit by Talon was enough to remove the threat of the creature.
After he summons the energies and fires it at the goblin, he too, tries to sway Natalya's decisions. "I implore you young lady, we do not want to have to hurt you. We merely intend to help you back to the Manor of Lady Heidmarch. She is concerned."
Taize calls out again. "Please, Miss Vankaskerkin, stand down. We will do no further harm to you or your allies. We simply wish to make sure you keep your original commitment."
Talon fires an arrow at the wounded goblin, piercing it thoroughly. It clutches at the arrow and falls to the attic floor passing out, its crossbow clatters on the floorboards.
K'nyaz fires his acid dart at the uninjured goblin, hitting it in the neck. It falls down between the broken rafters and splashes as it hits the sewage far below.
Keeya's and Taize's pleading with Natalya appears to fall on deaf ears as she yells back, "Surrender? I will never surrender to the likes of you! As for Lady Heidmarch, she was going to cheat me and try to take it away from me, but I caught on to her plan and now its mine."
Talon: DC 14 Will:
She gestures and casts a spell at Talon, who feels a swelling of affection and trust for Natalya, but he realizes in time that she must be trying to control him and he shakes it off.
Sense Motive: DC 15
Round #3
Talon (HP: 8)
K'nyaz
Keeya (HP: 4)
Taize
Natalya
Talon grimaces, pressing a hand to his head for a moment. Dammit, enchantment magic? He was going to have a word with Lady Heidmarch about why she wasn't aware her contact was a magic user - Magic was such a pain.
In a flash of unusual insight, he understands that their attempts to talk her down are just making her look at them as weaklings. Well, he supposed that perhaps a little pain might reverse her decision there.
Seeing as crossing over to her while the beams were greased as they were was pretty much foolishness, he nocked his bow once more, aiming for her thigh - he wasn't looking to kill her, after all. "Non-lethal attacks only, until she attempts to use lethal force on us. Again, sorry," He apologized, before loosing his arrow.
Regardless if he hits or not, he carefully takes a slow, slow step along the greased crossbeam, heading towards Natalya - was there a chance he would slip? Certainly. But he wanted her to focus on him, and if he did, his ring would prevent him from taking any damage from the fall.
Unfamiliar with the kind of magics the woman is wielding at Talon, K'nyaz's thoughts are preoccupied. He agrees, the battle from range may be the best choice. Since they don't really want to hurt the woman a great deal, and he doesn't think he can conjure too many more of his acid bolts, he tries to fire a simple ray of frost her way. He conjures the frost of the north, and lets loose the spray of cold and ice. Sadly, it is not enough to even get close, he will need to put more energy into it next time.
Frustrated and angry, Taize unleashes another Lightning Arc, this time at Natalya.
"This is getting ridiculous! It's almost like she's being shielded! OK, let's see if melee works."
Grimly, she prepares to work her way across to where Natalya now stands.
If Talon had been a little more daring, He would have just slid across the beam. But falling wouldn't mean that he would die - it would mean that his fellow pathfinders would be without their toughest warrior to shield them from attacks. He noted that their attacks were having trouble hitting - he'd do his best to keep himself out of their line of fire if he made it across.
Taize inches her way across the rafters, trying to reach a point where she can do some damage to her oponents.
OK, here's the opening for the new folks:
A site set up by the previous GM for this game.
All of you received the following note, delivered by courier:
Greetings, fellow seeker of adventure!
I am Sheila Heidmarch, Venture Captain of the newest Pathfinder Society lodge – and the only such lodge in Varisia at this time. You have come to my attention as someone who possesses a certain amount of skills and interests that make you an excellent addition to a highly specialized team I’m putting together for a matter of grave import, not only to the Society, but to Varisia as a whole. Please report an hour before noon to Heidmarch Manor – you will be compensated for your visit, but that reward will pale in light of the riches that await you should we come to an agreement on my proposition to you. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Sheila Heidmarch
For various reasons, you arrived a few days after the first group. Upon arrival, you met with Venture-Captain Heidmarch, Koriah Azmeren (a half-elven pathfinder and associate of Lady Heidmarch), and two young women, who are introduced as Taize Vesper (a Samsaran) and Keeya, a slight young foreign woman who seem to have something not-quite-human about her.
"These young women are part of the group I gathered. They've been helping to locate a source of mine, one Natalya Vanckaskerkin, a half-Varisian who recently approached the Pathfinder Society with an offer to serve as a street informant. She runs with the Sczarni, thopugh I'm not sure with which group. A week ago, Natalya sent me a cryptic hint that her gang was on the verge of uncovering an item that would be of great interest to the Society. Since the Sczarnis' methods of uncovering something often involves an armed robbery or breaking into somebody's personal chambers, we thought it prudent not to press for further details and instead wait to see what it would produce. Suffice it to say, she hinted strongly that it pertained to Thassilon, and promised to meet with me to discuss this find three days ago."
"She never kept that promise - instead, she seems to have simply vanished. Initially, I assumed that the acquisition of this item was simply taking longer than expected, but now I'm hearing rumors that the Sczarni are looking for her as well."
"It seems likely that Natalya has absconded with this item she's discovered. And this is where you enter, my friends. I want to know what it was that Natalya and the Sczarni found. In fact, I'm more interested in that than in what happened to Natalya herself. For now, I'd like to keep all of this quiet - if you can find out what happened to Natalya without letting a lot of people know she was also working for me as an informant, that would be preferable - that's a big part of why I contacted you, as new members of the Pathfinder Society, with this task. I hoped that, since you don't yet have a reputation in Magnimar, the lowlifes and criminals you are likely to encounter may be more likely to talk."
"It seems to have worked as they believe they've located Natalya. My offer to them still stands, and will apply to anyone who aids them. If you can secure the item, bring it back to me and I'll have a reward of 500 gold pieces for you. And if you can bring Natalya back alive for me to speak to, I'll double that!"
Taize says ”We've been rather busy, but yes, we think we've located her. Unfortunately, one of our group vanished while we searched. Keeya here is going to try to locate Pai and I'd be happy to take the rest of you to the site of what we believe is Natalya's hideout. We were able to determine that Natalya used to be a part of an all female Sczarni group called the Tower Girls, but they haven't seen her recently either. And they're not happy about it. They're searching for her too. So, we may have rivals. If you're up for it, I'll take you there.”
You see the massive half-orc step forward, slightly dragging his right leg. He's not particularly tall, but he is solid. He looks like he could use the greataxe strapped to his back to great effect.
"I gladly accept this challenge. We will endeavor to bring you Natalya, the item she may have found, and to find the missing member of the previous group." With that said, he looks for confirmation of whether he missed anything in his summary of their duties. Once he receives some affirmation, he looks to the rest of the gathered Pathfinders for their response.
The halfling, barely three foot tall but handsome as the devil, whistles at the sums on offer.
500 gold? A thousand if she's alive? he runs his hand through his scruffy mop of hair, a bright smile on his face. Man, I could get pretty far on that kind of scratch. You can count me in, miss.
He adjusts the short bow on his back and gathers the rest of his things. He offers his hand to the giant half orc.
Fletcher Woodward. Call me Fletch. And you are?
Hralyk takes Fletch's hand and shakes it firmly. "Greetings, Fletch. My name is Hralyk. I am pleased to make your acquaintance." You get the idea that he has rehearsed that particular greeting often - it doesn't look like the words would come naturally to him.
When he is done with his recitation, he looks to the others, to see if they offer their names, as well.
An elf in studded leather, slightly wild hair and wearing a mischievous smirk, muses to herself. "An all-female gang? Charming. And we're to bust in on their search and snatch our missing agents and their treasure to safety? Hmm..."
As her smirk widens, she nods in agreement. "I'll go along then. Might make for an exciting story. I am Kelgeah, and I bring Calistria's blessings with us. It'll be fun finding out just what little trinket has everyone in such an uproar. Even more fun fending them all off to bring it back."
Kelgeah notices the limp Hralyk carries, and regards him with fascination. "Injuries like that don't come lightly. That must have been quite the adventure, no?"
Hralyk asks, as an afterthought, "Who is this person that we're to find, and how will we know them?"
Then, responding to the cleric, "Not as much of one as you might think, though it ultimately brought me here. As it is, I'd not trade it, or anything that came with it, away." Hralyk smiles...not a particularly pleasant sight, but at least his tusks aren't too pronounced, and are relatively clean. "...and your name is?"
"Natalya Vanckaskerkin is an attractive half-Varisian with an unfortunate family history. She fled Riddleport to come here and start anew. And promptly fell into bad company. I truly believe she was intending to work with me and the Pathfinders to improve herself."
Venture-Captain Heidmarch pauses. "It's possible that the item she found is cursed in some fashion. Please keep that in mind and be careful."
As you leave, the young blue-skinned woman leading you says "That's the first time she mentioned a curse. Hm. Well, that's not that unusual for ancient items. Oh,yes, I'm Taize Vesper, and a servant of Gozrah."
She pauses. "The remaining members of our group are Talon Neverion, a nice young fighter who has taken on the roll of group leader, and K'nyaz Dyetskovo, a Tiefling conjuror."
The place assumed to be Natalya’s new hideout has seen better days. Its clapboard sides are dark with mildew and marred by scorch marks. In places fire has gutted portions of the roof ’s moss-covered tile shingles, but the building appears to be structurally intact. The building stands near the stark wall of the Seacleft, and scree from several decades of minor rockfalls has piled up along its southern face. The building’s windows are heavily boarded over and the entry doors are wooden.
There is a small shack leaning against the side of the building, probably a storage shed of some sort. Its windows are also boarded.
Taize leads you to a building a block away where two people await.
"Talon, K'nyaz, these folks are also part of Venture-Captain Heidmarch's group. They've come to help. Keeya is going to look for Pai so she's not returning. This is Hralyk the Crooked, Fletcher Woodward, and Kelgeah. I've filled them in partially as to what we're doing. have you noticed anything going on in or around this building?"
It'll be good to meet them too, But how much progress have you made? The disappearance of your companion must have set you back, do you have any leads on finding him?
He turns to Kalgeah.
Hi I'm Letcher - err, Fletcher I mean. Ummm, lead on Taize, I'd like to catch up with the other members of your group as soon as possible.
The halfling strolls on behind, his battered but well loved heeled boots sounding on the cobbles with each step. His chain shirt clinks slightly as he moves but it is worn beneath a loose fitting white cotton shirt which in turn is tucked into his tight black breeches. He doesn't look much like an Agent - But it's my first mission so I need to look good, even if I don't know what I'm doing. If the Folks could only see me now!