Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
Huni cautiously steps into the house. He goes from room to room looking for.... He's not sure, but figures he'll know when he finds it."[/b]
Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Kara, please note that you can not telepathically communicate with your familiar... you have to actually talk out loud to relay information... and it does not automatically know where you are (or you she).
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
Floria continues to concentrate and slowly steps into the house, trying to remove some of the walls between her and the elusive presence she might have picked up.
"I think there's something... no I'm not sure""
If she detects a presence again she will hold and concentrate for the extra time required to get its location and to try to probe its mind.
She does spare a thought to chastise herself for lighting a torch when she can cast a light spell, but remedying that will have to wait until she's finished concentrating.
She's got a max of four minutes for the detect thoughts
GM, I was assuming that that much communication fell within the confines of Empathic Linkhere.
Empathic Link (Su):
The master has an empathic link with his familiar to a 1 mile distance. The master can communicate empathically with the familiar, but cannot see through its eyes. Because of the link’s limited nature, only general emotions can be shared. The master has the same connection to an item or place that his familiar does.
Kara: all you can convey with empathic link is emotions... so happy, sad, anxious, afraid, et al.
Sangkip, all the windows appear to be already partially open... about half way. Let me know which window you want to open further, assuming your intent is to enter.
As Alessio, Kara, Floria, and Huni work their way through the bottom floor of the building, they find it as deserted as it at first looked. All of the rooms look like they are set up for business, offices and store rooms and such. Although there is a small kitchen, it does not appear to have been used a while.
Two sets of stairs lead up to the second floor, both to either side of the front doors in the main hallway.
Floria:
You still sense nothing on the ground floor... though do locate the scoropion's thoughts again, in the northern room.
But, when you look up, with only the floor between you and the second floor, you do sense the presence of someone upstairs, though can not penetrate its thoughts enough to pick up more than its presence.
Even as you locate it, it moves again, and you lose track of it.
Sankip, need more direction to know what you're about =)
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
"Careful, there's someone up there!"
Floria drops her spell and follows Kara up the stairs, torch and wand held before her.
Edit: Just noticed there are two sets of stairs; Floria will take the other one
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
Huni will cast Shield of Faith at Floria's warning.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Kara will finally locate Aragostina, as the little scorpion comes scuttling out of the northern room on the first floor. She senses only contentment from the little creature, apparently happy with the job it did... even if it only got to explore a single room. Kara quickly scoops her up, and follows Huni up the northern stairwell.
Florio loses track of the mind overhead, though she keeps her senses looking upwards, trying to relocate it, as she slowly makes her way up the second set of stairs, Alessio following behind.
As the people in front reach the second floor, they find both stairwells open into long hallways, running all the way to the back of the house with multiple doors on both sides on one side, and just a single doorway on the other. Strangely, all the doorways are wide open... in fact all the windows appear to have been opened as well.
Floria will notice flashes light coming from the doorway immediately to her left... where Sangkip has pushed the window open to enter from outside.
Of course, with everyone's attentions focused in front of them, at the second floor and who might be lurking there, no one expects the danger that sneaks up behind.
Alessio is the first to hear it, a slight creak on the stairs behind him, not explained by his own footsteps... but he hears it a moment too late, as something suddenly slams itself into his lower back, causing him to almost trip on the top few steps, and sending pain lancing through his body! (16 damage to Alessio)
He turns to see a man standing a few steps down, a wicked-looking dagger in hand, now covered in blood, and a gleeful grin on his face as he watches Alessio's pained reaction.
In the other stairwell, Huni and Kara a sudden cry of pain from somewhere to the south, though are not entirely aware of where or who it is!
Male Vanara Unchained Rogue (Knifemaster, Scout) 6 | HP 45/45 | AC 25, T 18, FF 19 | F +5, R +13, W +6 | Init +7 | Perc +11 | Vanish 0/3
Okay, I'll just hop out the open window then, between 20' of climbing and an extra 10' of walking I should be able to reach my new location. I'll go ahead and draw my second dagger in that case too.
Hearing the pained cry, Kara steps back down the stairs, and sees the man who just stabbed Alessio in the back. She utters aa few arcane words, and the air between them seems to shimmer as a ray of force blasts across the entryway, to strike the man in the side.
He grunts slightly from the blow, then glances her way, his malicious grin widening just a bit. Seemingly unphased by the blast, he jabs his dagger at Alessio again, thrusting the blade deep into the Pathfinder's chest (19 damage to Alessio). There isn't even a pained cry this time, just a small gurling sound, as he coughs up a gout of blood, and collapses on the stairs, his body bouncing down a few steps before it stops.
The blade does a quick twirl in his hand as he then steps away from Alessio's crumpled form, and then darts further into the house, disappearing into the northernmost room on the bottom floor, and out of sight.
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
Huni runs downstairs looking for the mysterious assailant.
hmm.. hadn't actually determined the stealth roll yet, but I suppose its kind of important to know as you go in...
GM Screen:
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
As Huni rushes down the stairs, past Kara, she is pointing emphatically towards the large room where she saw the man flee. The warpriest quickly makes his way there... but sees no sign of the attacker as he enters. There is only the furniture that was there earlier, and the flickering shadows created by them... all perfect places to hide if one was stealthy enough. A quiet breeze blows past him, from all the windows, open to the outside.
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
Seeing Alessio get so viciously stabbed, Floria reacts too slowly to do anything about it. She concentrates on using her mind to affect the world, and seals up the worst of Alessio's bleeding. Casting stabilize
She then moves over his limp form, mouthing a silent "Sorry!" as she moves toward where his assailant went
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Huni heads to the room where you saw the man go, though sees no sign of him once he gets there. He could not have gone far. Floria follows closely behind, after taking a moment to stabilize Alessio, where he lay on the steps.
Kara wrestles with her conscious, as she moves over to where the alchemist lay, her hand hesitantly going to a wand at her side... she can almost feel it encouraging her to use it... after all, what choice does she have? Right?
Unaware of the morale struggle happening nearby, Sangkip arrives at the open door to find his target is long gone. He sees Huni and Floria heading towards the room at the end of the entry hall, but no enemies.
GM Screen:
melee vs ff Huni:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Huni carefully starts into the room, his senses on high alert... but it is not enough. Whoever the attacker is, he is clearly well skilled at killing from the shadows, as the table to Huni's left suddenly shifts slightly, and the cloaked figure slides out from behind it, knife jabbing low, aiming for the artery on the inside of his unprotected leg.
Still, despite not being aware of where he was, Huni is not some unsuspecting villager. Almost instinctively, he shifts at the sign of motion out of the corner of his eye, turning just a little on the ball of his foot. It is not much, but enough to cause the blade to tear at the fabric of his breaches, instead of flesh, ripping a long tear along the pant leg, but not breaking the skin!
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
Protection v Evil
Huni retaliates almost without thinking. He activates his Sacred Weapon and hits the enemy
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
Assuming he's still up...
I really must learn some finesse spells Floria thinks before sending her thoughts and emotions down the familiar pathways required to conjure magic missiles.
She sends the two bolts of psychic force toward the shadowy man, mentally willing them to knock him unconscious rather than kill him.
Sankip races into the house, his small form ducking under Huni, working his way into the room to join the fight! But, despite his caution, the man still manages to lash out with his blade, cutting a small gash along the vanaran's flank (Crit! 5 damage to Sangkip). It is enough that his return strike, with his own dagger, misses the man completely.
Huni uses the distraction to return the favor, striking the man's arm with his bare fist... a blow that breaks the skin with ease, creating a deep wound on the man's extended arm. He quickly draws the arm back, before Huni's can do more damage, but it is still bleeding profusely from the wound, as he transfers his blade to the other hand, and holds the bleeding arm close to his chest.
Floria moves closer, sending a few physic missiles racing through the doorway, to strike the man... sending him staggering backwards.
Back in the hallway, Kara seems to make her decision, and activates her wand, before touching Alessio where he lay. She doesn't wait around to see the sudden tormented look on his face, moving quickly to join the others.
Now that you can see him, none of you recognize him. He is tall and slim, with dark hair cut short, a small neatly trimmed patch of beard on his chin, and a large malicious grin on his face.
Yes, he has a soul patch!
Alessio:
I wrote up a whole thing, but realized it was too early... it needs to come just before you come to!
Seeing the Pathfinders massing at the door, the man takes another swipe at Huni, though it appears more a feint than an actual attempt to hit him. He then quickly ducks backward, diving through the narrowly opened window... and somehow managing to squeeze through the narrow opening with only a few awkward kicks of his legs. He rolls through, somehow coming up on his feet, then promptly turns to the left, moving out of sight along the back of the house.
All the windows are open, but only a foot or so. It will take a move action to open it further to move through easily (costs 10' of movement)... or an average escape artist check, to slide through the narrower opening without opening it further (still costing 10' of movement)
Just curious...one Acrobatics roll to avoid AoO's and to get through the window? I would generally make my players roll twice for that. "There's a reason for it you don't know" is always a sufficient answer from the GM for me.
Nice work, Huni, I think you hurt him!
Kara rushes to head off the intruder.
@GM, nobody mentioned closing doors as we moved through the house in our searching. Can I assume the doors are still open?
Moved 20ft, waiting on ruling before moving further on map.
Male Vanara Unchained Rogue (Knifemaster, Scout) 6 | HP 45/45 | AC 25, T 18, FF 19 | F +5, R +13, W +6 | Init +7 | Perc +11 | Vanish 0/3
Escape Artist:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29+anything else for being small?
Sangkip scoffs and hurtles through the narrow gap after the assassin, light still shining from the compass held in his tail.
I'm part way through a move action, but I'll have to see what I see before finishing it. Doesn't look like the assassin could've easily moved anywhere with cover or concealment without walking past a window though...
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
That should have been Shield of Faith which Huni cast when Floria warned us someone was upstairs.
Shield of Faith
Huni goes to help Alessio.
Wand of Cure Light Wounds 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Sangkip, that's more than enough to slip through. You will see the man easily enough, as he has nothing much to hide behind, beyond dim lighting, which the light on your tail will remove. He's on the map.
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
Floria moves out through the doorway and puts herself in the assailant's way.
"Surrender villain!"
That was a double move for Floria as taking a torch from her porter pushed her into medium encumbrance. That'll teach me to post distracted!
As your mysterious assailant squeezes out the window, Sangkip immediately chases after him, sliding through the narrow opening with ease! He sees the man, not far off heading south along the back of the house, keeping to the deepening shadows, and he races after him, slashing his dagger across the back of the man's leg.
Sangkip:
You hear the sound of people approaching, from the front side of the house. From the sounds of it, there are quite a few of them.
Kara and Floria go the other way, both of them running towards the door you left open, back in the storage area. Kara does not see the man from inside the doorway, though Floria, who runs right outside, finds herself staring at the man as he runs towards her, Sankip in chase. Behind her, Kara says a quick arcane word, and disappears from sight.
Huni, takes the time to try to help Alessio, moving back to the stairs, and using a wand to send a small burst of healing through his fallen comrade.
Alessio:
______________________________
You remember sudden sharp pain, and turning to face a stranger with a long knife, covered in blood that could only be your own. You're pretty sure he smiled at you, before thrusting it again, directly into your chest, then your entire world went dark.
It doesn't stay dark for long though, as the darkness quickly seems to burn away, replaced by a strange orange glow.
You are still laying on the stairs, but everything else is wrong.
The rest of the house has burned away, the upper story is completely gone, revealing a strange orange/red swirling haze far overhead, instead of the evening sky you expected. The lower floors of the house are almost completely gone as well, the entire structure appears to have burnt down almost to the foundation, only rotted and burnt timbers, and the small remnants of the stairs you lay on, remaining
Beyond where the walls used to be, you see more of the same. Where Dawnton was, you see only more destroyed buildings, reduced to ash and charcoal, some of them still burning. In the other direction, there is no sign of Tent City at all, and the river to your right is completely devoid of water entirely, only a dry cracked channel of dust and ash to indicate where the river used to be. Everywhere, you see the remains of the dead, little more than charred skeletal remains, scattered across the ground.
You try to get up, but can't seem to move!
Only then do you realize the pain in your chest is still there, and as you look down, you see the dagger still sticking out of it, blood slowly dripping down the blade towards the hilt.
But more than that, there appears to be a tiny creature resting on the handle. It appears to nothing more than a gnashing maw in an orb-like body, with row on row of mismatched teeth, that seem to be opening in closing in anticipation, as it eagerly watches the blood that runs down the blade. Although it seems able fly, it is not doing so, instead it periodically bounces on the hilt of the blade sticking out of your chest every few moments, sending sharp pain lancing through you every time it does.
It looks your way as you stare at it... at least you think its looking, with no eyes to reference, you can only go by the fact its maw starts gnashing in your direction.
So hungry. A voice hisses in your head.
It seems suddenly excited, as it turns its maw back towards the blood flowing impossibly slowly down the blade. As it reaches the hilt, some of it turns towards the edge. The little creature suddenly exudes a long blackened tongue, that flicks out, and holds steady beneath the dagger. As the first drop falls from the edge, it catches it on its tongue, then draws back into the maw. It shudders, almost ecstatically.
Only a taste. It hisses again, disappointment and yearning in those three words. But always more.
You suddenly feel a comforting warmth flowing through you, washing away the strange hellish landscape. But even as it fades, you hear the sibilant voice in your head one last time.
I can wait...
When you open your eyes again, you have not moved. You are still laying on the stairs, but the building seems to be back, no longer the burned out husk it was moments before. A quick glance down and you no longer see the dagger, just the jagged whole it caused, still bleeding.
Huni is standing over you, offering a hand to help you up.
You can't shake the feeling that something is wrong... the voice of the tiny creature still echoing in your mind, and through your body.
______________________________
With the heal, Alessio will come back to consciousness, a haunted look in his eyes
Outside, the stranger, continues to run, ducking past Floria, and away from Sankip, rushing around the side of the house.
He starts yelling as he goes.
"Help! Help! They're trying to murder me!" He cries, sounding panicked and afraid. "Help!"
You all start to hear the sounds of people... many people, approaching from the other side of the house, and you begin to hear responding cries of people coming to aid, at the sounds of your attackers calls.
Anyone on the front side of the house will see a large group of villagers approaching quickly... and this time you see both torches and pitchforks in hand. Ekira is at the forefront, Sheriff Luin hurrying along side.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
Alessio scrambles up to his feet. holly hells what happened? Where are the others?
Human Warpriest 6| AC 21/23 T 13 FF 18/20 | HP 46/46 | F +7 (8) R +5 (6) W +9 (10) | Init +2 | Perc +3| Blessings 6/6 Fervor 6/6 Sacred Weapon 6/6 Channel Energy 3/3| Lvl 2: 4/4; Lvl 1: 5/5 Orizon: 5/at will
Huni assumes that their assailant is the murderer that lured both groups of Pathfinders to this town. "I believe we found the killer. He ran away though. The others are chasing him now." Huni helps him up.
Male Human Alchemist (chirurgeon, wasteland blightbreaker) 5 | HP 38/38 | AC 21/14/17 | F+7 R+9 W+2 | Init +6 | Perc +7 | Bombs: 10/10 | Active Conditions: None
thank you, let's go. Alessio takes off out the house to find the murderer between us and the Sheriff.
Sheriff, apprehend this man. I believe you'll find the eye witnesses to Identify him as the culprit. In fact we were lured here for our murder as well. Those charged should be added
“Floria Avernathus” | Female NG Medium Human Psychic 7 | HP 33/48 33 | AC 16 / 11 T / 15FF | CMD +1 CMD 12 | F +8, R +5, W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +6 SM +3 |Speed 30ft | Spells 1st:0/8, 2nd: 2/8; 3rd 2/5 Detect Thoughts SLA 1/1; CI bolts 36; Phrenic Pool 0/5; Dark Half 2/8 Reach Rod 3/3| Active Conditions: Ant Haul, 3 negative levels, investigative mind
Floria sheathes her wand and turns to face the approaching group. "We are not trying to murder him, we were trying to apprehend him after he lured us here and attacked us"
"Help!" His arms go wide, showing all the wounds the Pathfinders inflicted... one of them still bleeding profusely.
"I am unarmed!" He exlaims. "They just attacked me, going on about sacrifices and demons! They tried to murder me! Thank the gods you have come!"
He sobs, as he partially collapses to the ground.
You do realize you do not see the dagger he had only moments before... the only ones holding weapons are the Pathfinders and the mob.
"I told you!" Ekira shouts. "Iomedae herself only just warned me of this! Praise the Inheritor that we've arrived in time to stop them! They finally show their true colors!"
She glances back at the others villagers, who seem equally riled up.
"Arrest them all Sheriff!" She shouts... a shout echoed by many of those assembled.
Sheriff Luin eyes the scene with a concerned frown. "Everyone, put down your weapons! We'll sort this out soon enough!" Most of the assembled mob seem to not be listening to him.
"You lot too!" He calls, with a frown towards the Pathfinders.
"And someone see to that man." He adds, pointing to the injured stranger bleeding out on the ground.
(D) Dismissible If the duration line ends with “(D),” you can dismiss the spell at will. You must be within range of the spell’s effect and must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a modified form of the spell’s verbal component. If the spell has no verbal component, you can dismiss the effect with a gesture. Dismissing a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
