The savage tide hits Arcadia

Game Master Scarletrose

Bedu watches the Erick show with a serious expression fixed on his face. He moves slowly round the edge of the room tutting as he picks at the spikes of the Iron Maiden.

"Alas vermin and goblins do not hide in such a maiden as this. Please to tell me, I am the Ratcatcher, where the rats hide? They are friends of the wererat called Vanthus."

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Gavin's eyes go cold as he recognizes the man who burned his parents' tavern down. Clenching his teeth and his flail, the Chel keeps his gaze on the Kersh as he moves forward, his voice tinged with fury. "No need to inquire about goblins and rats, friends. I know this man - one Kersh Reftun, and he owes me a bar, which I'm going to take payment for tonight, one way or the other. What will it be, Kersh? You have a couple of thousand gold laying around? If not, I'll have to take the payment out of your hide..."

Moved Bedu, as he asked. I assume Erick moved aside to allow room. Didn't surround the guy, but it's him facing three of us. Of course, first round of combat, we can, as the GM said, surround him.

Gavin's eyes go cold as he recognizes the man who burned his parents' tavern down. Clenching his teeth and his flail, the Chel keeps his gaze on the Kersh as he moves forward, his voice tinged with fury. "No need to inquire about goblins and rats, friends. I know this man - one Kersh Reftun, and he owes me a bar, which I'm going to take payment for tonight, one way or the other. What will it be, Kersh? You have a couple of thousand gold laying around? If not, I'll have to take the payment out of your hide..."

Kersh confusion seems to wash away as his expression changes into one of grim enjoyment.

Ok I feel combat is breaking up so initiative is up. You all come before him so feel free to act in the order you prefer. Kersh suffered a -5 on initiative due to Erick bluff

"Mr. Ratcatcher, I do believe I have found your rat infestation issue." Erick says as saunters a couple of steps to the right, still dragging his sword tip on the stones, generating a little trill trill sound from the rings in the sword. As he finishes his step, he brings the sword around. However, is attempt to appear nonchalant appears to have thrown his aim off a bit.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11 Blech! Well, flat footed helps, I hope.
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Gavin's mind starts turning over the possibilities as Kersh's words ring in his head. Even if it isn't me... Even if it isn't me? Could someone else be responsible? Standing unsure for a second, he's brought back into focus by the ringing of Erick's broadsword, and Gavin's anger comes rushing back as Erick swings at Reftun. "ਪਹਿਲੇ ਹਿੱਟ! ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਾਲ ਪੁੱਛੋ!"

flail attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17
damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Ismaire takes a step forward and looks towards Kersh and sees his red hot branding iron in hand. Seeing both Erick and Gavin swing, she casts Guidance on Tessa, to help her add to the flurry of blows by the party. Before she casts her spell, she motions Cormag to go forward.

Cormag is double moving.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Bedu climbs onto the table using a curved stool to quickly scramble into position for the dinosaur to attack. Or that is the idea. He pulls out his scimitar leaving the crossbow where he stood.

Acrobatics: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Made a post this weekend, I don't know what happened to it. Sorry for the delay. Dice roll is better today then it was this weekend though! :D

Tessa steps up and thrusts her rapier towards her target, letting the steel do the talking for now.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

rolling damage for tessa since Kersh is flatfooted and 15 hits

Tessa rapier damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

After all the whacky talking and Gavin threats, Kersh was ready for an attack from the Caydenite, but not from his companions. The musketeer striked first, and even though he managed to dodge at the last moment, that was enough distraction to let Gavin strike at his side.
You hear the sound of ribs breaking and a lament of pain from Kersh.
Tessa seek to push the advantage and thrust her rapier through him.

As the surprise loses grip of Kersh mind, he refocuses. This whole fight seems to be on behalf of the Caydenite, so he has to be the first to pay the price for it.

Branding Iron Attack on Gavin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Branding Iron basic damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Branding Iron fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

With an enraged roar, Kersh smacks his branding Iron Right on Gavin face.
It's a brutal strike.
Gavin immediately feels his nose break and the sharp pain that accompanies that, but is soon replaced by something else.
His face is burning, like a piece of meat on a pan too hot, his flesh is sizzling and smoking on contact with the red-hot iron.
Gavin retracts in pain, but his pretty face sports now a hideous line from his right brow to his left cheek, putting a dent on his nose, replacing his fair skin with charred black flesh and sprouts of instantly dried blood.

Kersh branding iron is producing smoke out of the blood that it drawn from Gavin and bits of his skin that just glued to it.
The brute smiles satisfied with his work.
"That's more like it... now who is next?"

Gavin maintains his tradition of having enemies making spectacular rolls against him

9-Ring: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Erick looks coldly at the man's back, and brings the odd foreign sword down with both hands, opening up a broad swath of the man's back, sending blood spattering. "How about trying that on a man, instead of a boy, you piss ant?" He then steps to the side, moving himself opposite of Tessa to give the woman a flanking buddy, and open up room for the raptor to take his place opposite Gavin.

Ismaire runs up behind Tessa and sees the large branding iron in Kersh's hands. She quickly focuses on his hands and begins to heat the metal around where Kersh is holding the branding iron.

Casting Burning Disarm on the branding iron, the reflex save DC is 13.

Cormag sees Erick move, and he shifts into Erick's former spot and attacks Kersh.

Talon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Don't forget flanking bonus on the attack

"In the desert, we fight to survive, for each other and our families. Here we do the same. Fight to win!"

Standard action to inspire courage, +1 to hit and damage.

Gavin brings his flail up to strike at Kersh again when the ruffian lays his branding iron into Gavin's face, searing the young man's flesh. Roaring, in pain as well as frustration, Gavin brings his flail down but misses wide, the pain from Kersh's strike thowing Gavin off balance as he swings. At least I assume a 13 doesn't hit.

Fall, damnit, fall!

flail attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Gavin maintains his tradition of having enemies making spectacular rolls against him

Haha, what a tradition to be a part of!

still waiting for tessa's turn, also cormag hits, you can roll for damage or I will before Kersh's next turn

"You're going to regret opening that mouth of yours!"

Taking the opposite side of the man as Erick, the fiery redhead thrusts her rapier forward with a well-placed attack.

1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 26
1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Cormag Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Soon enough you make clear that Kersh cockiness is misplaced, as strong as he can be the numbers he is facing are just too much for him.
You overwhelm him while Erick, Tessa and Cormag slash and pierce through his body. Nothing in his face change, he looks at you with smug determination up to the very end when his body just gives up and he falls to the ground bleeding all over the floor while the branding iron reddens way too close to the handle and burns through the glove.

You notice something strange about him, despite appearing as simple jacket, his attire produce an oddly metallic sound when he falls, awfully similar to what a chainmail would produce.

Kersh is down. the initiative is no more and you have free reign. Inspect everything you want as you please and as always if you want to poen a door just say so and move into the map accordingly.

Erick moves to stand guard next to the next door. "You lot search the room, and him. Move the brand before it sets him on fire. Make sure he's dead, or heal him, either way. Don't want to leave him for dead and have him not be. I'll guard the door in case anyone heard that."

Gavin holds his flail above Kersh's fallen body, ready to bring it down on the man's head, but as quickly as it came on, the anger drains out of the young man. Sighing, he drops his arms and lets the head of the flail hit the ground with an unsatisfying clunk.

"I... can't do it. He'll get no help from me, but I'll not end a man's life when he's prostrate on the ground."

Making a quick intonation to the Drunken God, Gavin winces as his wounds close and the blood staunches, and then the Chel goes to work, rummaging through Kersh's pockets and searching the dying man's corpse.

Casting cure light wounds and then detect magic. 2/3 first level spells left.

cure: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Tessa walks over to Gavin and asks, "Are you ok? That looked quite ... brutal?"

She leans in and whispers, "I'm more than willing to stick it to him a little, you know, in case you really want it done but just couldn't ask for it." She winks and heads off to begin searching the room.

Kersh's jacket reacts to Gavin's magic. there is for sure at the very least some sort of illusion on it, because when you touch it it clearly feel like a chain shirt.
You don't know about other properties it can have. (you lack the skill to identify it)

There is also a pouch with a few spare coins, 20 gold in total, and a little case with what seems to be some elaborate lockpicking tools.

I have put a loot list on the top. I'll remove items from the list as soon as you split them among the party

Gavin sighs. "Part of me wanted him dead more than anything, but now that he's beaten - still a psychopath obviously, but a beaten one - I don't know."

At that moment, Gavin has a realization. He knows who you are. He knows who your parents are. This realization is all it takes - Gavin raises the flail once again and caves in Kersh's head.

"Well then. Ahhh, I suppose I should have taken the shirt off of him. Its magic, most likely a chain shirt glamered to look like regular clothes. Anyone want it?"

Ismaire begins walking towards Gavin as his flail drops towards the ground. She is about to speak as Gavin's flail comes back up and then down onto Kersh's head. She flinches back at the sight and begins breathing quickly and heavily. She tries to take deep breaths to try to calm herself down, and as she does Cormag hears her in panicked state. He quickly runs over to her and puts his head near her to show that he is still here and help her calm down.

Erick nods. "Rational Necessity rather than Emotional Rage, yeah? Realizing he'd hire people to come after us even if we took him to trial? Realizing we have no way to ensure he can't escape and continue on mission? Or realizing he'd have your family killed if he survived?" He eyes Ismaire, to make sure she thinks through the implications of what he just asked.

After a minute or so of taking deep breathes Ismaire picks her head up and looks to see Erick looking at her as he finishes speaking. "I.. I understand that it had to be done. I just can't really look at..." Her voice fades and she points to Kersh. She takes another deep breath and walks towards Erick and the door and stops and faces the door to keep her eyes off of the now mangled corpse of Kersh.

"Well, it would be a shame to let such a nasty killer free to do it again. He is a poisoned oasis, no use now or ever, no love and a dead heart. Gavin, my friend, family first."

Not sure that the chainmail would fit bedu, plus the weight would be an issue.

The halfling begins to search at Erick's request, whistling as he steps over the man's body.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Gavin looks down at Kersh. "The third one, Erick. He would have taken this out on my family."

Looking to Bedu, Gavin cracks a small smile. "Indeed, my friend. Family - and friends - first. Shall we see what is beyond the next door?"

Barring us finding anything of interest in the room, Gavin will open the door to the east.

The chamber sports a large bed covered with furs.. An iron cage sits on the foot, and a low table in the southeast corner is heaped with salted fish, bread, and bottles of rum.

"Put the body under or behind the bed, and wash down the blood with some rum, the alcohol will make the blood disperse better and dry faster." Erick says, frowning at the man. "Oh, and strip him of anything valuable, like the cloth looking metal armor. Grab a couple of bottles of rum, we can celebrate later. Oh and if the bird's hungry, bread and fish."

when anybody goes to actually place Kersh under the bed he will find a footlocker in there.
it is open and contains 272 gold coins and a set of flensing knives with ivory handling.

"These are godless knives, sharp as my mother's wit and just as deadly. We can sell them for many of your gold coins, at least 200 with the sun smiling down on our luck. Plus the various bits and pieces makes over 470 happy pouch fillers. Ah, what a pretty day this has become."

Ismaire, now calmed down walks towards the table amd grabs some of the food and puts it in her bag. She throws Cormag one of the fishes and packs the rest up. "I might not have to feed him later at this rate." She lets out a light chuckle.

Tessa looks at Erick's comment of washing it down with rum and frowns. "Sounds like a waste of rum to me."

She pauses and adds, "Do this often, do you Bonestihl?"

Tessa admires the chain shirt but shakes her head, "I think this is going to weigh me down a little too much. I like to keep things light so I can move as quickly as possible. I already feel like this thing is too much." She pats her studded leather armor a few times.

"We should take it and see what we can get for it though, could prove to be valuable."

Nodding to Bedu, "Agreed, quite a pleasant turn of events I'd say?"

Stacking the goods in the corner, Gavin adds a little rum, bread and fish to the pile. "I'll be hungry in a bit, I'm sure. And the rum, not my drink of choice, but it'll do."

Turning to Tessa, the Chel frowns, rubbing his cheek where the branding iron scorched away his stubble and left a wicked burn, one that even the light of Cayden Cailean's power could not totally erase. "Happy day? Not exactly, I'd say. But a good day none-the-less. Let's see if Vanthus is down here, yes?" Turning, a determined look in his eye, Gavin begins walking back down the hall, towards the worg and the bunkhouse...

Perception check to search Reftun's room for any secret doors, please. Barring finding anything, I've moved Gavin down south to another door to open, as long as the worg doesn't attack him on the way.

You search in the room but you fail to find any secret passage.

if the rest of the party is ready I'll open the door for you

Bedu lines up his scimitar and shield, ready to advance as the door opens. "You have a good heart, Gavin."

Ismaire stays a bit away from Gavin opening the door and waits for them to go.

Erik waits next to the door, ready to attack anything that comes through when it's opened.

Bedu checks the door is unlocked and untrapped, if not he tries to make it so pulling back his cuffs to give a better effort.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Disable device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

For once Bedu gives off a cheery atmosphere as he works.

You open the door on a small corridor, you don't need more than your sense of smell to recognize the lateral door as the latrine.
Before you there is the door to another room.
A long banquet table fills the room, leaving barely any clearance to the east and west.
A large cage filled with listless tropical birds stands to the northwest.
At the table sit 3 men chatting over some beverage.
they don't seem to have noticed you yet.

You can decide if you want to attack with the element of surprise, avoid this room completely or engage in any other way you want.
If you decide to act though you are first as they would be in a surprise round, so feel free to act freely until I tell you otherwise

"Take them alive to question?" Erick asks in a whisper, thinking 3 is easier to take alive at least one than 8 was.

Gavin nods at Erick, and grips his flail tighter. A fine idea. Perhaps one of these thugs knows where Vanderboren is.

I'm not very stealthy. I'll wait for someone with a better surprise ability to act before I go.

Tessa nods in agreement. "I concur. What's your plan Bonestihl?" She tightens the grip on her blade and tries to take measure of them while they weigh their options.

Tessa isn't queen stealth but would certainly turn down and opportunity to show everyone how amazing she is! :)

She adds, "I'll do it. I can get in there quietly."

"Hit the one that looks the frailest with the hilt of rapier, I'll follow up by punching him until he quit's moving. Everyone else kill the other two."

Are we waiting on me?

"That sounds like a solid plan to me."

Tessa begins to enact the plan, trying to identify the frailest target.

Identification: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

But apparently her eagerness just to hit something causes her to thwack the first target she can find.

Following Tessa into the room, Gavin slides by the swashbuckler and brings his flail up, ready to attack.

Surprise round action: move 20' into the room.

Sorry, are you waiting on me here?

Tessa uses the hilt of her rapier to knock the first person she sees over the head.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

I didn't realize we had to either wait out the surprise round, or all charge at once. Usually even in the surprise round, you can act after someone else if you choose to.

Erick follows Tessa and punches the same target in the back of the head.

Punch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Subdual