Zinou's Dalsine Affair (#2-21) (Inactive)

Game Master Zinou

Jiggo helps Hasshin who successfully frees himself from the creature's grapple. Meanwhile, Amarandlon uses the powers of the void to reveal the weaknesses of the monster. Erevan hits a vital point.

Akkuret (shaken, -1 to saves and AC, @32)

Callan is still up :)

Callan takes another swing at the creature.

MW Great Axe melee vs ??: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 21
Damage?: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + (6) = 14

Akkuret screams loudly as Callan's sword slashes his forearm. The beast looks at you and attacks once again but finds only the bench with his scimitar and finishes the bench with his slam attack! He eventually retreats back one step.

Akkuret vs Hasshin: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Akkuret vs Hasshin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The Vault of Sarenrae - Round 4 - Finish him!
Hasshin [12/26], Amarandlon, Jiggo, Callan, Erevan
Akkuret (-1 to saves and AC, @46)

Jiggo takes this opportunity to ask Erastil to guide Callan's hand.

Casting Guidance to give Callan a +1 to his next attack or skill roll.

"Oh Grand Farmer, help us destroy this evil deceiver!"

"How about I help you destroy this evil deceiver?!" Erevan quips as he drives his sword into the creature again.

MW Dueling Sword (cold iron): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 201d8 ⇒ 6

"My god is not picky! Keep it coming!"

Again Callan's blessed axe sings thru the air with an extra push from an unseen force... Thanks Jigs!
MW Great Axe melee vs ??: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 29 
Damage?: 1d12 + 6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 + (1) = 11 

MW Great Axe melee crit conf: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 20 

Damage?: 2d12 + 6 + 1 + 11 ⇒ (3, 10) + 6 + 1 + 11 = 31 =total damage!

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Just in case he's still alive...

"There. In the middle. I see it. The gap," Amarandlon intones. The creature stumbles again, as though it's momentarily stuck in something sticky.

If he's still up, Amarandlon will use reveal weakness one more time.

The coordinated assault of Callan and Erevan splits the creature in half. The creature dies before even having the time to say anything.

Combat over! Nice job, guys!

You find a potion of cure moderate wounds, a masterwork scimitar, and bracers of armor +1.

As the sound of combat fades, you can see that the Dawnflower Blossoms cultists are quite upset, chatting loudly, probably because they know that their entire organization has been compromised.

"Well done," Amarandlon says tartly to the remaining cultists. "You were deluded by some kind of shapeshifter into losing your own high priest. This is what comes of putting faith in anything besides your own abilities! I hope you're happy."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

He barely even listens to their response.

Out of character, Amarandlon can use those bracers unless someone who sees more melee (Erevan?) needs them more.

"Phew, glad that's over." Jiggo looks at the slain. "Is anyone wounded?"
Noting Hasshin's wounds, Jiggo pulls out his wand of Cure Light Wounds...
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
38 charges left

Jiggo walks up to the frightened Dawnflowers. "I'm glad all of you are alright. I don't know how long you knew Akkurett. The real one. It is a tragedy he has been lost."

He shakes his head. "It is best for you to leave town, yes. Dalsine clearly has it out for you, and it's best to lie low until he is brought to justice."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Scanning for the reaction, he shakes hands with all of them and wishes them the best of luck.

Erevan cleans his blade and walks over to the cultists.

"Did any of you know about this? Where will you go? It is not safe for you here."

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

After listening to their response, the half-elf warrior asks if they need an escort to safety.

I don't need the bracers if you can keep using my mage armor wand on me. Go ahead and take them.

Callan stakes no claim to the bracers. Though he may purchase them if affordably offered at the end.

Callan spends no energy on talking with the dawnflowers, rather he draws his dagger 'nail' and takes a trophy from the shapeshifter... A talloned fore finger.
"First one of these I've ever killed..."

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While talking with the cultists, Erevan noticed that Charito, one of the female human cult members, has gotten very nervous and seems to be hiding something. When you confront her, she breaks down in tears and falls to her knees, begging not to be killed. As you show her mercy (I guess), she reluctantly confesses that she knows who Chalfon Dalsine is.
"I didn't mention anything until now because I was afraid the other Dawnflower Blossoms wouldn’t trust me! I knew nothing of the attack, I know him cause I worked as a chambermaid for... a woman who was having an affair with Chalfon last year! But I know very little about him. Only that he was the 'black sheep' of his family and that he only returned to Taldor a few years ago!"
She pauses, eyeing her fellow cultists, breathing heavily and sweating a lot. Suddenly, she seems to remember something as her eyes light up.
"Oh, yes! I know something that could be useful to you! I know where his manor home is located! It's in Senate’s Hill!" and she gives you detailed information on how to reach it.

As you start to head towards the manor, one cultist approaches you before you leave to give you a potion of cure moderate wounds, a potion of lesser restoration and an illuminated Kelish manuscript of key passages from Sarenrae’s most holy text, The Birth of Light and Truth.
"Accept this as a humble offer!"

"You can't spell Trust without some Truth, Charito." Jiggo puts a hand on her shoulder. "This information will help us out greatly. Now we can punish him for the wrongs he has wrought. I know your Dawnflowers will help you. For they always stick together. "

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Jiggo turns to leave when they offer some goods. "This will be most helpful for us. Besides I always wanted to compare Sarenrae’s key tenets from Erastil's principles."

No one called dibs on the loot, so I can hold onto them. Tell me if you want them.

2 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds, Potion of Lesser Restoration, The Birth of Light and Truth, masterwork scimitar, and bracers of armor +1.

Erevan gratefully accepts one of the potions.

"This, along with the information you provided, will be extremely useful," he says.

"Will you make it out of here okay?" he asks the group. "If so, we will go find your oppressors and see how we might stop them. I am confident my blade will deter them."

Amarandlon had claimed the bracers a few posts up, FYI.

I had indeed, though it's not a big deal. Y'all have been great at keeping me off the front lines. :P

"Sarenrae, Erastil," Amarandlon snorts. "Not much to pick between them, is there? 'Be good!' 'Help others!' 'Don't recklessly tamper with the natural fabric of the universe!' Bah! Give me Nethys any day. There is a deity who understands the world as it is!"

He slides the bracers onto his wrists, smiling at them. "That looks well. Shall we be off?"

"Well, the last thing you want to do is blow a hole open to the Abyss..." Jiggo muses. "But listen to me waste time ramble- we have a corrupt nobleman to bring to justice."

"To Senate's Hill!"

The cultists answer you that they'll find their way out easily, they know place well enough.

As you push forward following the instructions Charito gave you, you easily go out from the catacombs and find your way in the streets of Oppara to arrive at the manor. The Dalsine Manor is a modern, two-story structure set back from the main road and surrounded by a twelve-foot brick wall. Its main gate is shut and guarded, but through it can be seen a well-kept garden surrounding the house. A carriage covered in gold filigree and inset with gems stands parked inside the gate, while another, constructed of modest wood with drawn shades, waits just outside the gate.

Just after you get there, a carriage arrives and two men dressed in a qadiran fashion get off to talk with the guards. The conversation escalades quickly and you sense that the four men are on the verge of violence, speaking very loudly.

What's your plan? You have to get in.

"Let me see if I can calm them down a bit. Maybe we can enter then."

Jiggo nods to the party, prays to Erastil for a bit of Guidance, and then approaches the guards, holding up his hands.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen. Please, calm down. What's going on? Surely you can resolve your differences without getting violent."

Diplomacy, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25 Good dice! You get an extra Scooby Snack today!

Nice job, Jiggo! Actually, the diplomatic way requires two more rolls (and RP, of course ^^). Your teammates can help you in the task if they wish to :)

The four men seem to calm a little as the warpriest step forward. They look at you and the two qadiran men raise an eyebrow. Now that you're closer, you can see they are armed, and wear an armor beneath their clothes. They look at you with perplexity.
The guards don't loose their composure and bark "Who are you? State your business or leave at once!"

"I'm here to visit Dalsine Chalfion. This is his home, of course- it's quite opulent. There is an investigation going on, and I'm here to ask him a few questions. No need to announce me. If you could just step out of the way..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Alright, I'll play fetch with you in the dog park!

WHEN DID YOU BECOME CATFOLK, ZINOU?! O.o

Diplomacy, Aid Another: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Amarandlon cuffs his dice. "Oh, let us through already!" he snarls impatiently under his breath. Well, he meant it to be under his breath.

Haha I was bored of the other one and as a play a catfolk in my homegame (a pirate swashbuckling catfolk, what else?) and I love them, I chose this avatar :D

One of the guard nods and seems to agree with Jiggo, while the other one seems not very encline to let you pass. The qadiran men stepped back and look at the scene with an expression mixed between anger and annoyance, tapping with feet on the ground.

"Yeah? And you don't even spell his name correctly, it master Chalfon Dalsine, and what is this investigation about?" asks the second guard.

You made two on three. One more is required to pass ;)

I never spelled that man's name when I GMed this, haha.

"Ah, yes. My entourage and I are here to investigate several murders that happened in the past week. We've also heard of wrongful arrests of political prisoners- very serious allegations. These investigations link Master Chalfon Dalsine to these terrible events." Jiggo shakes his head.

"To be honest, I'm certain someone subordinate to Dalsine is using his name to commit these crimes- we need to investigate immediately. You understand, of course."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Erevan keeps a hand on his sword pommel, but listens as Jiggo adeptly disarms the situation.

The swordsman knows he would likely only make things worse by saying too much, so he simply says with unusual delicacy, "Please...you do not want to impede this investigation."

diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Callan remains silent as he knows he has little to aid in the ways of diplomacy...

@Jiggo: Yeah, your misspelling made me chuckle because in vulgar french "fion" means "ass". What a way to make fun of the man! :D

The second guards blinks several times, as if Jiggo's informations were too much for him to handle. He looks at the other one and eventually shrugs. "Okay, then. But don't linger!"
As you pass the gate, the qadiran become a lot more violent and argue even more loudly, nearly starting a fight.

______________________________

The grounds within the manor’s walls are well tended and decorated with small statues, topiaries, and the occasional bench. Everburning torches burn inside colorful lanterns from many of the grounds’ trees.

Let's skip the pointless optional fight with three dogs -_-

The front porch of the manor sports a stylized compass inlaid in the masonry, and a similar symbol graces the lintel above the open double doors. Within, the sound of clashing blades echoes off the marble floor. Suddenly, the sound of combat ceases with a gruesome thud, and the sound of a laughing man replaces the metallic din. The furniture in the foyer has been thrown about, and a growing pool of blood escapes from a crumpled corpse at the foot of the wide, carpeted stairs.

As you enter, Chalfon Dalsine stands laughing at the top of the stairs, an awkwardly aloof look on his mustachioed face.
A beautiful woman wearing qadiran clothes stands in a pool of blood over Baron Jacquo Dalsine’s beheaded corpse, twirling her twin kukris around her nimble fingers. As you approach, she bitterly declares with a cold tone:
"With my sister’s death, I'm done with this whole ‘shadow war for Absalom.’ You, pathfinders can keep scouring the world for useless treasures and risking your lives for delusional fame and worthless fortunes if you like."
She spits on Jacquo’s corpse, then taps her left toe to her right heel, and vanishes from scene of the crime. Chalfon continues to laugh hysterically, pointing at the headless corpses of what was once his cousin.

Damn! Why are you always taking the good rolls for init?

The Bloody Foyer - Round 1 - Fight! - Map updated
Hasshin, Callan, Amarandlon, Erevan
Chalfon Dalsine
Jiggo

"Phew. I'm glad we were able to avoid that fight." Jiggo wipes the sweat off his brow as the party passes the gate. "Sometimes words can resolve conflict faster than a sword."

Jiggo walks by the sleeping dogs. "Good boys. Take a nap."

Jiggo enters the mansion and picks up the pace as he hears the sounds of combat. "oh no." Jiggo mumbles as he sees the corpse.

Too dumbstruck by the events in front of him, Jiggo is very slow to react.

"You're gonna pay for being murderous filth!" Erevan says and strides into the room. His blade rings forth from its scabbard.

Avoiding the unseen woman, Erevan makes his way toward Dalsine.

I have 60' of movement and it looks like I can hug the wall and still get to him. But if the woman was standing on the stairs close to him before going invisible, I'll actually change to the south stair and get behind him.

As his Elvin companion rushes forward, Callan will engage with his short bow but misses badly. He curses the weapon and discards it for his axe and advances.

Short Bow atk vs Baddie: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 6  Damage?: 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7

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Spellcraft to identify how the woman disappeared: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 *sigh* or a 16 if she used a magic item?

"Hold, you fools!" Amarandlon cries in a panicked voice as the others charge Dalsine. "Who was that woman?! What is going on that we don't know?!" He mutters something under his breath and dashes forward, staring at the spot where the woman vanished. "She may still be here!"

Move and detect magic to see if I can pick up any auras (even the dim one from the spell she cast, if she did).

Kittens: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Callan's shot goes wide and hits only the wall.
As Erevan hits Dalsine... it seems truly inconsistant and you realize it's an illusion!

Illusion stuff: I remember you all that if someone disbelieves an illusion, it's not enough for the whole party to disbelieve it. If someone tells you that it's an illusion, you have a +2 bonus on your will save to disbelieve it.

Amarandlon's spell detect indeed magic before you but has no idea what the woman did.
Detect magic is a 60 ft cone, but you have to focus for many rounds.

Hasshin is still up!

"An illusion!" Erevan curses. "Look for the woman and bar the doors!"

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Think I ninja'd your post, but here's a will save. :P

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Yup! You don't disbelieve the thing. :) And Erevan sees nothing else.

Will +2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

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Callan and Amarandlon wipe their eyes but they indeed see Dalsine as a real person. Is that elven warrior trying to trick you?

Hasshin is up :)

It's not Jiggo's turn yet, but I'm guessing his action will rely on the illusion's status. I'll roll a preemptive Will Save.

Will Save to disbelieve: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19

sorry for my silence been a hard week...

Silent this whole time hasshin is surprised by the woman's. Magics
will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Hashiins eyes are not fooled by it and he....
gm?

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With no enemies visible, Erevan yells "I said bar the doors!"

He listens carefully for any other sign of enemy movement.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Jiggo and Hasshin disbelieve the illusion. Hasshin still has an action.

Hasshin moves up the stairs

dub move, again sorry it had taken me so long to post...life

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No worries, Hasshin. That's the final fight :)

As you all rush towards the illusion, the exact same man appears in Hasshin's back and delivers a blow with his rapier, misses once but succeeds on the second try and the cold hits direly Hasshin, leaving him staggered!

CD vs Hasshin flat footed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
CD vs Hasshin flat footed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 for 5d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5, 2, 2, 4) + 3 = 22 :O Almost a crit!

Hasshin: You are staggered.

The Bloody Foyer - Round 2 - Fight! - Party's up
Jiggo, Hasshin [0/22, staggered], Callan, Amarandlon, Erevan
Chalfon Dalsine

Jiggo stares at the laughing man and his stupid mustache. "Wait...that is an illusion...Hasshin, look out!"

Jiggo moves up and casts bless. He curses his slow reactions. "You're too far away, Hasshin. I can help you if you get close to me!"

Bless is active.

[b]"Cursing that he fell for the illusion, Erevan swings around to confront the real enemy.

He assumes a defensive stance and thrusts at the mustachioed man.

MW Dueling Sword (cold iron) (fighting defensively, crane style, bless): 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 + 1 = 151d8 ⇒ 1 (+3 dodge bonus to AC; AC is 24 through next turn)

Jiggo blesses the party and Erevan curses under his breath but misses his blow.

Hasshin [0/22, staggered], Callan, Amarandlon are still up :)

On phone, please someone move Callan into attack position Seeing the illusion and then the devastating hit against his reptilian friend, the Barbarian flies into a Rage and attacks his foe (keeping an eye out for the female ninja as well). MW Great Axe melee vs DC: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 10  Damage?: 1d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 

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I moved you, Callan. Don't forget the Bless bonus. Not that it will help you, here...