medlii's Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master medlii

The leader is surprised at Lantressa's response, not stopping her from approaching and touching his tattered leather armor. "Oh. Er... That sounds nice. Yeah. Bodyguards. We'll take you to see the Emperor." Regaining some of his composure, he adds sternly "We'll let you keep your weapons for now. But don't try anything funny or we'll gut ya on the spot."

A few of the men snicker. "Do you think she's ever seen the Emperor?" But they do not argue with their leader's decision.

The group of men surround you and begin to escort you into the heart of the Emperor's territory. The results of his regime are obvious everywhere - you see burned buildings, statues reduced to rubble, and several corpses.

Along the way, the posse of men throw comments at the women of the group. "You could be my love slave." "I'm your biggest fan." "Do I get any thanks for escortin you?" Laori rolls her eyes but keeps her mouth shut.

I'm writing up what happens once you get to the Emperor, and I'll post it later tonight.

Well that worked better than expected, here's hoping I haven't gotten us all killed.

Lol, nice one Lantressa! And don't worry, we'll be fine >:-)

Yrsa trails behind the rest of the group, staying close behind Trey. This place sure could use some of Serenrae's light. She says unhappily under her helmet. Think the emperor is gonna give us Salvatore Scream? There's a laugh. We might even find Vencarlo here. To be completely honest, I don't think I'm going to lose much sleep over what I'm going to do to these brigands when they refuse to come quietly. Blehh. Yrsa picks out one of the cat callers and points at him. She draws her finger under her throat and farts.

"Welcome to the Emperor's Palace," the bandanna- wearing leader announces. Several snicker in response. The home you've reached has been gutted. A huge mound of rubble—broken timbers, bits of wall, ruined furniture, and more—lies heaped in the center of the room. Rickety wooden stairs wind up to a splintered hole in the wall near
the roof above.

Without any hesitation, the Emperor's goons escort you up the creaking stairs. A rope bridge leading from the top of the rubble to the attic of a building fifteen feet away. Throwing caution to the wind, the men shepherd you across, shoving anyone who hesitates. Laori grins, excited to walk across the swaying bridge.

Reaching what once might have been an attic, you find it has been cleared of all clutter, leaving a large open area under exposed rafters and the roof above. Three additional thugs lean against the walls here, arguing about something. They stop when you pass through, making sure that you don't cause any trouble, whistling when the leader explains why you've been brought in. Rope bridges lead to other areas outside of the room -back to the northeast where you entered, and also to the southwest. A flight of stairs descends to a lower floor to the northwest. You cross a second rope bridge that slants upward to the Emperor's throne.

This took longer than I thought to write up. I will post the maps and your meeting with the Emperor tomorrow.

As the emperor's thugs make their snarky remarks and lewd suggestions, Lantressa titters at them and simply replies, "Only if my emperor allows it." Ultimately, Lantressa gives a silent sigh of relief that all is working out as she hoped it would.

sorry I'm late. should I attack now? ... just kidding... trey will just like, ya know, be there. let me know when you need healing... looks like that's all i'm really needed for right now.

Trey follows everyone. one thing is for sure... trey does not fit any mold of bodyguard for lantressa.

Trey is definitely not happy to be associated as lantressa's bodyguard, unless forced she probably wants no part of this deception.

Noticing Trey's unhappiness with the situation, Laori whispers "I don't like this either." The elf looks like she wants to say more, but does not want to attract the attention of the thugs. Instead, she pats Trey on the shoulder.

The Emperor's Palace
The leader of the thugs growls at his men. "Get outta here, the Emperor doesn't wanna see your ugly mugs. Go get some supper. "

"'E's just gonna take all the glory fer himself! He won't even put in a good word for us!" Grumbling complaints, his squad of lackeys disperses back across the rope bridge. The other guards remain across the way on the top of the building.

At last, you've arrived in Emperor Pilts Swastel's throne room. The open-air balcony is shielded from inclement weather by a brightly colored canvas roof that extends up over the area like a dome, held in place by a wooden framework. The inside of the canvas has been decorated in scenes of gruesome debauchery: battlefields, executions, torture chambers, and man-eating monsters all vie for space. The balcony itself contains two major features of note. The first is a high-backed throne that looks like a poor man’s version of the Crimson Throne itself, a thing of blood-red cushions and silks and spikes. Directly west of the throne stands an intimidating device, a tall guillotine of carved wood and bone, its base depicting grasping demonic feet and the housing that holds its glittering blade a leering demonic face.

"Captain Cogsward, make your report!" The Emperor of Old Korvosa commands from his throne. Pilts is a hideous man, thin with scraggly dark hair. His acne-scarred face bears the blisters of someone who survived blood veil. A tatty red cape lined with matted white fur gives him the look more of a vagrant king than actual royalty. A gaudy, gold colored crown with gems that are likely fake sits atop his greasy hair.

Two other guards stand near the Emperor. Near the guillotine, a gnome in a leather executioner's outfit waits patiently, staring at Swastel with undisguised admiration.

The bandana-wearing thug steps towards the throne, making an awkward bow. "Your majesty! We ad a good haul today. First, I got us a bit o food. Second, we found a big fat hog for the game tonight. And most importantly, sir. Your majesty. These folks are here to join us. Got us six bodyguards and a lady what says she's a big fan of yours. Wants to be yer royal concubine. "

Despite his unsavory appearance, Pilts has an almost hypnotic speaking voice. His voice drips with sympathy and pity. "Oh, Cogsward, you are a fool. An inquisitor, an elf dressed like an owl, and a priestess of Sarenrae! And you think they are bodyguards? The tall one might be, but the rest of them?" Pilts laughs, sounding genuinely amused. "We are always in need of entertainment here, though I never thought you would be providing it, Cogsward!"

The Emperor learns forward in his makeshift throne. He speaks loudly enough for all to hear, but addresses the party specifically. Despite the subject, his tone is soothing and relaxing. "My visitors! You may have fooled Captain Cogsward here, but I am smarter than he! Tell me, darlings. Why shouldn't I just take the concubine for myself and send your bodyguards to Jabbyr and the Tall Knife?" He nods in the direction of the gnome and the guillotine.

As he finishes his question, a beam from the setting sun illuminates the Emperor, washing him in bloody red light.

I added several slides to the encounter map, one showing the current 'encounter' map, one showing the Emperor's Palace that you've seen so far, and one showing a picture of the Emperor, his gnome, and his guillotine.

The Emperor and the guillotine are 25 feet higher than the lower area where you are.

If you want to attack, go ahead, it will count as a surprise round. Otherwise, you can ask questions and make social checks if you are trying to convince Emperor Pilts of something.

Hearing the emperor's words as she examines the room, Lantressa lowers her hood, "Why should you let them live? You shouldn't!" Saying words in Abyssal a bead of red shoots towards the Emperor's platform as she yells, "You shouldn't let me live either!" The bead arrives and explodes into a ball of fire.

Fireball (dc 19): 7d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 5) = 23
Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
I love a good fireball in the surprise round. Even better a lot of stuff will be burning up there now too. Placing the fireball so that it gets all 4 on the platform, shouldn't be a problem to do.

Trey seemed a bit timid and frightened as they were escorted into the lair of the Emperor. but this was a ruse, hiding her true potential.

as the emperor spoke, an image became clear in her mind. something shown to her back at the Academae, the idiot she mumbles.

then suddenly the fireball is hurled, trey almost immediately follows through with a prayer

So long as Sarenrae endures, the sun endures.
So long as the sun endures, we endure.

and with that just as the flame of the fireball start to clear a ray of divine light hurls toward the Emperor.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
holy damage: 4d8 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 5) = 19

The Dawflower's light rips through the vile flesh of the Emperor. Sarenrae's Light burning away the evil.

The man had been barely to contain himself with all the gruesome display. The fool that addressed him left little doubt as what needed to be done but he hesitated. Frankly, he was afraid for the others around him. Cephelo was actually glad that the decision had been taken from his hands.

Not wanting to be left behind, Cephelo's form changed, grew as he yelled at the guard next to him, "I told you we weren't any fun."

He whipped out his axe and brought it down in one mighty swing.

power attack, rage, enlarged
axe to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 5) + 15 = 22

The scene erupts into chaos as a fireball blooms on the balcony. The Emperor is surprisingly agile, leaping to stand in front of his throne and avoiding some of the flames. He smirks at Lantressa, only to be blasted in the face by Trey's beam of holy light! The entire front area of the balcony catches fire.

Cephelo's axe strikes the captain in the torso, ripping a large patch of armor and flesh from his body. The captain gasps in pain.

"Kill them! Kill those who dare assault the Emperor of Old Korvosa!" The Emperor shouts from his now-burning throne.

Initiative order: Typhon, Trey, Yrsa, Lantressa, Cephelo, Enemies, Laori. Act in any order if you'd like, then the enemies will go.

Lantressa casts a spell and her body seems to become hazy as it spreads out to take up slightly more space leaving it hard to tell where exactly she is.

Staying in place and casting blur on myself for a 20 % miss chance and nullifying sneak attacks unless they can see through it.

Taking advantage of his speed, the enlarged, demon-tainted barbarian's axe went up and down a couple of times.

The captain could barely gasp at the onslaught.

power attack, rage, enlarged
to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30, hit, critical?
to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27, yes
damage: 6d6 + 45 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 4, 1, 6) + 45 = 63

I hope that kills him. if not, I still have my 2nd attack. This is when I need to surrounded. :)

Surprise round.
" Aww, what a load of crap..."
Ty begins as a small red bead explodes on the balcony.
"nice.." he sys as he draws a wand.
1st round.
UMD DC20: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Using his wand, Ty fades from sight, and moves a bit away from where he was.
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Invisibility 10 rounds or until attack or dispelled

With a sound reminiscent of a wet rag being torn in half, Cephelo's blow severs the captain's head from his body. The man is dead before his head lands on the ground a moment later.

"Find them! Kill them!" The Emperor roars from atop the balcony!

Cephelo still has an action left, I believe. Once we hear from Trey and Yrsa, the enemies and Laori will act.

1d100 ⇒ 10

Cephelo still has an action left, I believe. Once we hear from Trey and Yrsa, the enemies and Laori will act.

I don't think so. I hit the captain twice (surprise round and round 1). I have the cleave feat but no opponent. I'll take an action though. :)

Combat Round 1
Yrsa and Trey, I am DMPCing you here for round 1. But you are up again for Round 2, so have at!

Trey intones "Sarenrae, grant us courage in the face of evil!" Trey casts bless, all gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear.

Not wanting to risk the fire on the balcony, Yrsa waits, poised to strike.

"What are you doing here? Why have you come to Old Korvosa? How can you tell who is your friend and who is your foe?" The Emperor asks from his perch. A wave of befuddlement washes over you, attempting to distract and confuse you. He backs away from the edge of the balcony, and you hear him command "Jabbyr, kill the big one!" Emperor has cover from you, I will factor the bonus into his AC.

Lantressa and Trey are confused! Roll d100 at the start of your turn and look at the chart in the link to see what you do.

The gnome leaps from the balcony, charging directly for Cephelo. Although much of his face is covered by the executioner's mask, his eyes are wild and he babbles nonsense as he hefts his undersized greataxe. Jabbyr's fierce blows only reach Cephelo's legs, splitting his knees. Cephelo takes two attacks from Jabbyr at 9 damage each, before DR.

With less enthusiasm, the other two men on the balcony leap down to engage with Cephelo, as does one of the guards on the ground. The two from the balcony hack at Cephelo with battleaxes, managing to get through his guard. Cephelo takes 4 damage and 6 damage from two separate attacks, before DR.
#1 and #2 provoke from Cephelo.
#2 runs past invisible Typhon, provoking an AOO.

The fourth guard rushes Trey, slicing with his own battleaxe, but the light of Sarenrae protects her from his attack.

Seeing that targets are now within reach, Yrsa hustles to Trey's side, mangling his arm with her falchion.

Meanwhile, Laori giggles as she causes a pillar of unholy fire to erupt under Jabbyr and the thug next to him. "Gotcha!" she laughs, as the thug is incinerated. Jabbyr dodges most of the attack, but shrieks in rage as the black and red flames sear him!

Initiative, round 2! Typhon, Trey, Yrsa, Lantressa, Cephelo, Enemies, Laori. Party can act in any order, then the enemies will go.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 99
Thug is 1, Cephalo is 2, Laori is 3.
Target of attack: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Realizing what the spell is too late to do anything about it, Lantressa feels the confusion come over her. Unable to tell friend from foe Lantressa lashes out at the one who seems the most threatening by casting a spell near her.
Claw 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 231d4 ⇒ 2
Claw 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d4 ⇒ 3

Ohhh, if that emperor lives through the fight he won't live for long, Lantressa is sooooo gonna claw him into little bitty bite sized pieces. She might even feed him some of those pieces before he dies.

Blows raining from everywhere, Cephelo barely registered that he had killed the captain. All he knew was that he was surrounded. He reacted with a snarl, baring his teeth. And swinging his over sized axe.

power attack, rage, enlarged at gnome
to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 6) + 15 = 26
to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 4) + 15 = 24

cleave attack at guard
to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 1) + 15 = 20

Cephelo is 50/74 hp

confusion effect: 1d100 ⇒ 2 = act normal

Trey looks a little confused as the magic infects her mind. but the Dawnflower's light shines the way allowing her to practically ignore the effects of the evil magic.

trey backs up from the threatening guard leaving Yrsa to deal with him, she returns her attention to the Emperor.

Your Darkness cannot quench Sarenrae's light. she yells as another beam of light flies out at the Emeror.

searing light touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
holy damage: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 3, 1) = 13

Aren't bards great? ;)

The Emperor dashes onto the shaky boardwalk near the balcony, only to be struck by another beam from Trey. He raises a plain wooden stick adorned with a rounded yellow gem, and points it towards the group clustered in the center of the courtyard. An eerie green glow outlines the forms of Cephelo, Lantressa, Trey, and Laori, but doesn't cause any harm. The Emperor squeals with delight. "Now we won't have to light the torches tonight, boys!"
Cephelo, Lantressa, Trey, and Laori are afflicted by faerie fire for 10 minutes.

The thugs continue to attack Cephelo, but most of their blows miss. Cephelo's AC is 20, is that while he is raging? If not, he will get hit by one attack (18 vs AC, 11 damage before DR)

In a frenzy of rage, the gnome hacks with his own miniature battleaxe, cutting deep into Cephelo's ankles. Cephelo takes 14 damage and 9 damage before DR

Not helping to clear Lantressa's confusion, Laori giggles after Lantressa's claws sink into her. "Maybe we can do more of that after we kill these guys!" Noticing that Cephelo is surrounded, the elf charges one of the goons. She whirls the chain at him, striking him twice. "Yay!" she cheers.

Typhon, not sure what your plan was while being invisible. I assumed you would double move towards the Emperor, please retcon if that's not what you had planned. You do threaten him, so you could get an AOO when he moves.

Yrsa continues to hack at one of the thugs, scoring a slice to his arm with her falchion.

Party is up again.

Because of her confusion, Lantressa takes a swipe at Laori as she moves away.
Claw AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d4 ⇒ 2
confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 67
Not sure how to handle this one as I have no held item. Roll damage for me if I need it medlii, no strength mod to add.

The blood rager continued to hack at the gnome. The axe went up and fell down with a heavy thunk.

if gnome is dead then he will concentrate on guards, hacking until they're down

1st attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 3) + 15 = 20
2nd attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 4) + 15 = 23
cleave: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 4) + 15 = 23

Cephelo is 29/74

confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 85

looks like the Aasimar is attacking the rather promiscuous Tiefling.

Sarenrae's light soon fades as Trey used much of it against her foe, the magic against her mind takes hold, and visions dominate her psyche.

She sees enemies where there are none, and Trey lashes out against them.

attack with staff on Lantessa: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

but in her confusion she completely miss judged her height and position and did nothing.

Cephelo's second blow slays the gnome barbarian! Following through with the swing, he rips the thug next to him to pieces as well.

Lantressa manages to punch Laori as she moves away.

Lantressa's damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Waiting on Yrsa and Typhon, then the enemies will act.

Lol, Your damage roll and mine were the same.

sorry for lack of posts, computer crashed in final way. Posting Zeki tablet, sucks much. Ty was indeed after the emperor.
" Where are my friends? You Guttersnipe!"
Attack with invis. Target loses Dex mod to ac: 1d20 + 12d6d1d4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + (4, 4, 4, 1, 3, 4, 4, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4) + 2 = 136
sneak stab: 4d8 ⇒ (8, 6, 5, 7) = 26

sorry for lack of posts, computer crashed in final way. Posting Zeki tablet, sucks much. Ty was indeed after the emperor.
" Where are my friends? You Guttersnipe!"
Attack with invis. Target loses Dex mod to ac: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
sneak stab: 4d8 ⇒ (6, 1, 8, 4) = 19

Lantressa, whoops I missed that. I just read your comment about rolling damage.

Ty, I'm glad to hear you are okay, sorry to hear about your computer! I'll go with your first roll, which was an 18 before you added the +12

Yrsa breaks through the thug's guard and runs him through with the falchion. When she wrenches it out, he pitches face-first to the courtyard floor.

Typhon hits the Emperor with a precise strike to the kidneys. Combined with Trey's dazzling holy blasts, this is enough to end the Emperor's life. "No... I was having so much fun..." he whispers.

The one remaining thug cowers before Laori and Cephelo. "Please! Don't kill me! I'll give you anything you want!"

"What do you think?" Laori asks, casually whirling her spiked chain. "Should we let him live?"

From the fallen body of the Emperor, you find a rod of wonder; +2 glamered chain shirt; +2 war razor; +1 crossbow; cloak of charisma +2, wand of dimension door (caster level 7, 16 charges).

From the gnome executioner, you gather a +1 greataxe; +2 leather armor; belt of incredible dexterity +2; amulet of natural armor +2.

Between the three dead thugs and the captain, you find two +1 daggers; a set of +1 studded leather armor; two cloaks of resistance +1; and an amulet of natural armor +1.

You note that there are two stairways in the courtyard leading eastward into another building. A door near the Emperor's throne leads westward deeper into that building.

As the effects of the confusion wear off, Lantressa looks at the aftermath and sees what is left of the enemies and then goes to see the corpse of the emperor. "Abyss take him, we can't find out where the girls or your friends are at from him." Using her clawed fingers, Lantressa reaches down, and rips the man's throat open, "There, just in case he was playing dead he isn't now."

Her work done, Lantressa casts a spell to clean her clothes and hands of the gore, and then another to examine the room for any magic that may be used to hide anything. Once she finishes her checking of the room, "We should check these other paths, I suggest the one leading in deeper to the building first."

The only things of interest to me from the loot are the wand of Dimension Door, and the amulet of natural armor +2.

Cephelo wiped off the blood from his axe and kicked at the crazy gnome.

He slowly breathed out trying to catch his breath; his body numb from the extra adrenaline.

He noticed that he was covered in blood and not all of it were from his enemies. He patched himself up as best he could.

he turned to Trey, "Any loving care from your goddess. Does she value a brave warrior?"

After a few moments, he started looking at the weapons his opponents used, noting their worth.

waiting on healing, if none coming then he will take a potion (or two). Not really interested in anything of the loot but will trade his armor for the chain shirt and his amulet of natural armor and take belt and crossbow if 'available'.

Scanning the Emperor's room and the courtyard, Lantressa does not find any traces of magic, aside from the items that you uncovered. She does find that the door behind the Emperor's throne is not locked.

Looking more carefully at the 'courtyard,' you notice that it is more like a marshalling yard or game field. Two large square areas are marked off, and at either end, small cages of wood are set up, with holes dropping into the upper floor of the building below.

The building to the south has a gently-sloping roof, littered with boards, shingles, and other impromptu chairs, transforming it into a sort of arena-style seating to observe the courtyard.

Overhearing Lantressa, the captured lackey interrupts. "Girls? Friends? Emperor had a couple a prisoners. Let me go free and I'll tell ya where they are!" he begs.

Laori rolls her eyes. "Yeah? I bet we could find them without your help!"

Stalking up to the man who is trying to bargain for his life, Lantressa drops her hood and opens her cloak so that her full appearance can be seen by the captive. She stalks up to him, her claws out and fury in her eyes as she begins speaking, "Let you go free?! You are begging for mercy after what you have been a part of with something so simple as where they are!? That's not good enough. If you want out of this alive you will tell us where the girls are, the captives who you helped to torture, and if they are in good health you might get out of this alive!" Her claws are at the man's throat, ready to take a chunk out if he doesn't speak.

Bluff that she will rip his throat out with her claws: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 +1 if charming. Lantressa isn't planning to actually rip his throat out, but he doesn't need to know that.

Intimidate chaser if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The thug recoils at Lantressa's threat, unconsciously putting his hands to his throat to protect it from her gleaming claws. Now that you are up close, you notice he is missing several teeth. "No, no nobody touched em! The prisoners're the Emperor's pets. He'd cut anybody's head off if they even looked at em the wrong way. Come see."

Unless someone moves to stop him, your captive leads you into the door behind the smoldering remains of the Emperor's throne. By this point, the fire has mostly extinguished itself, though you feel the heat as you walk by.

Opening the plain wooden door, the reek of smoke changes to a sickly sweet smell - a combination of flowers and vinegar. The unpleasant smell likely comes from the fourteen poorly preserved heads mounted on the walls of this grisly trophy hall. Most of the heads are human, although two are elves and one is from a dwarf.

Your guide points one of the disfigured heads out in particular. "That one was late feedin the prisoners one day. Ya see where that got him. And the gnome slept right there." The man points out a child-sized bed sitting opposite the door next to a wooden table decorated with a magnificent set of silverware.

"An' this is the Emperor's chambers," the thug says, sounding more like a tour guide than a prisoner as he opens the door into the next room. This extravagantly decorated bedroom would feel at home in the richest of noble villas or monarchs' castles - at least until one looks a little more closely at the sheets on the four-poster bed and notes how stained and frayed they are, or examines the tapestries and curtains and sees the patches of mold and threadbare edges. A tall, well-stocked bookcase to the south turns out to be leaning against the wall for support; the contents of its sagging shelves are poorly produced books with violent or erotic names on their mildewed spines. Everything is slightly musty, stained with age and well-beyond its prime. Only three paintings hanging on the wall hold up to closer examination, but their grisly subject matter might make them difficult to show in most public venues. To the west, a simple wooden door is secured with a lock and a heavy wooden bar.

Encounter map is updated, I just put Lantressa on it to show your location to cut back on clutter for the moment. You are welcome to search/explore these two rooms.

If anyone wants to stop and examine each room in detail they can, I won't follow this guy alone so interrupt me as needed.

Lantressa lets the man lead, and as they move out of the 'throne room', she repeatedly casts a spell to detect traces of magic as it wears off. While highly disturbed at what she sees in these rooms, her darker side begins to feel greatly aroused by what she sees around her. Shoving the disgusting feelings away, Lantressa continues following the guard until they reach the door with the bar. Looking at the man, she asks, "You said you were showing us where they were, I assume they are behind this door? If so, where is the key?"

I wonder where everyone has gotten to? Been kinda quiet here lately.

Ty will gather the magical daggers, leaving the rest to the others.
Looking on as Lantressa tears out the throat, he grimaces, but nods.
"Nasty enough, needs put down. Same ilk as Lamm I'd say. Let's find these prisoners. "
He doesn't search, instead following the lackey to the captives.

Cephelo really wanted to leave the room but his upbringing forbade him from not taking the 'earned loot'. He especially wanted to search the throne room.

However, Lantressa's concern for the captives overruled his instincts. The loot wasn't going anywhere.

He slowly limped along with the sorceress and Ty. Although hurt, he was still a force to be reckoned with should the guard try anything funny.

Cephelo is going along to find the captives but he will want to go back and loot the the place

been real busy at work and RL stuff. catching up today... going through some posts... also to late now , but Trey would intervene way back before the guided tour at Lantressa's "interrogation" but since it is a little late.... I assume that there will be no assumption of trey's acceptance of that behavior.

Not sure how wounded Cephelo is, looks like he is full health don't want to waste a high level healing if it isn't needed

The confusion in her head wears off, she soon realizes that her protection had faltered, she vowed to be more resolute in her faith, relying on sarenrae's light to protect her.

As Lantressa interrogates the survivor and rips the throat of the "Emperor" trey was about to speak out, but Cephelo's wounds need tending, trey gave her a look of disapproval instead and said nothing.

Trey goes to Cephelo's aid after the fight, she recites a short prayer in celestial as her hand glows with a blue glow, the light washes over cephelo and soon his wounds heal.

healed: 3d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) + 7 = 15

there, this was before the tour so you should not be "limping around"

Once trey gets to the "trophy" room Trey has a look of total disgust. She places a piece of cloth over her nose and mouth, she apparently wants nothing more than to destroy this place but that will have to wait.

getting out of that room was the only thought on her mind.

"Right, the key..." The thug retrieves a key from under the musty bed and unlocks and unbars the door. Laori is unusually quiet, examining the paintings in the bedroom.

The air in the cell room is an unpleasant mix of body odor and paint. Two lumpy straw mattresses lie on the floor in one corner, partially covered by a few blankets, while in another stands a large easel on which rests a nearly completed painting of immense fiends attacking a village.

A tall, thin man, wearing a paint-stained smock falls to his knees and breaks into sobs. Between each heartbreaking shudder, he begs "Please... please... get me out of here!" His face is pale and drawn, with dark bags under his sunken eyes.

Laori's eyes grow wide and she beams at the painter. She bounces with excitement, but waits quietly, knowing that you want to speak to him for your own reasons.

The other occupant is a pretty Varisian woman, wearing a dirty, gaudy dress and tarnished costume jewelry. "Lantressa! By Desna's luck, I'm so glad you are here!" She throws her arms around Lantressa - this is Agatta, one of the women from the Silken Cloud who had gone missing. Turning Cephelo, Typhon, Trey, Yrsa, and Laori, she adds "And you must be Lantressa's friends. Thank you, oh thank you!" She hugs each of you in gratitude.

Lantressa, please clarify if I'm mistaken, but from my understanding, she attacked the Emperor's corpse. She also threatened the thug who is leading you around now, but didn't hurt him.

looking at the thug, "You live but if I see you again you might not." Returning Agatta's hug, Lantressa holds her as long as it takes for Agatta to be ready to break the hug. "You look a complete mess Agatta, let me fix that as best I can." Lantressa casts a quick spell and cleans the woman off, "There, that is much better. Now, tell me, have you seen Sarah or Daisey? they both went missing as well and have not turned up anywhere else they were expected."

That is correct medlii, Lanressa had no issue ripping the emperor's throat out, particularly since it sounded like he was dead already, she was just making sure he stayed that way. The guard was a complete bluff to make sure he didn't lie just to save himself and would not have murdered him like that as he was just a thug.

Awkwardly mumbling a thanks when the girl hugged him, Cephelo could not help but think of Helena.

He patiently waited for the others to interrogate the artist and see where his path led him to next.

Trying to stay within character and letting others shine a little here.
what was the final outcome of 'loot splitting'

"They're missing?" Agatta looks surprised at this news. "Oh... Life was just so... normal! And now look- missing girls, I'm captured by an insane man dressed up like a king and sharing a cell with Salvatore Scream... It's like a book or a play, I can hardly believe it's real!"

Agatta shakes her head, as the situation sinks in. "So... the Emperor is dead? He wasn't so bad to me, and Salvatore, but... well... did you ever go to any of Swastel's plays? With the quarantine, there was no one to stop him from killing people on stage, or using that guillotine. Lately, we had to play some game called blood pig. I don't think there was really a point to it, besides mutilating the poor animal. Good riddance!"

"Speak for yourself," Salvatore says despondently, raising his sleeve to show that his arm is covered bruises.

"Who did that?" Laori asks suspiciously, eyeing the guard and fingering the hilt of her weapon.

"Swastel. If he wasn't pleased with my work, then he let me know. I've tried to capture my inspiration, but it's gone."

Comparing the painting in Salvatore's cell to the three in the Emperor's bedroom, Salvatore's words ring true. The first depicts a full portrait of a thin humanoid wearing shadows as he stands framed by a stone burial chamber of great size. The figure's brilliant blue eyes are the only true points of color, and they seem to almost glow with anger. The second depicts a rugged mountain range above a desert under a brilliant blue sky. A quartet of tusked camels ridden by tribesmen race across dunes that, upon closer examination, consist of tiny skulls. The third portrait is perhaps the most disturbing, for it depicts a handsome man in the process of peeling away the flesh of his arms as if he were taking off a pair of gloves - underneath, his arms are muscular and covered with glittering blue scales. The man's expression is one of delight, yet his eyes are empty pits of blackness.

Salvatore's in-process painting of several fiends attacking a village lacks a certain something that the other three paintings have. The other three paintings also are dominated by blue, where the colors of the nearly-complete painting seem dull, with no touch of Salvatore's signature color.

Laying a hand in comfort on Agatta's arm, "It is definitely real, I made sure he was dead myself." Lantressa lets her claws on one hand show to emphasize her point. Turning to Salvatore, "I must say your work is...interesting, it both revolts and entices me, a rather unusual combination."

Peering at the paintings, Try shrugs and turns away.
" Weird. Definitely not my style. So....What's with all the blue stuff? Attention grabbing, but disturbing."
He turns to Trey, but seeing her and Lantressa in serious conversation, turns around again. Deciding instead to help Cephelo secure the loot.

hope Trey is OK. Lantressa is ..disturbing on some level, but seems to mean well....