GM ShadowLord's Tyrant's Grasp - Group 2 (Inactive)

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

Sarela chimes in, "If it helps, we've slain all of your son's guards - he's alone, and given your clearly superior might and numbers, you could finish him off yourself."

Diplomacy, Aid Sam: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Aralah just stands there a solid frown on her face knowing this was going to be what the 'queen' wanted. While her bow isn't raised she tightens her grip, ready to pull it up and fight if it comes to it.

"I see." she says, mulling over what Sam and Sarela have described to her. She twirls her wooden scepter in her hand as she thinks on it for a moment.

She sits up and leans forward and clarifies "You mean to tell me that you have eradicated every last vile creature in this palace other than my son and that you have him captured and bound? You will turn him and the palace over to me to do with as I see fit, without further involvement if I give you each a stamps? On this I have your word?" she asks

"No."

"We will do better than that, we will allow you to publicly reclaim the throne yourself."

Laurel steps forward, inhaling and raising his arms. "As we have said, all of his guards are dead. He himself was injured during his fight with us. He is alone, weak, and bleeding. It would be child's play to finish him off."

"And it's vital that you do it yourself. If we dethrone him and deliver you, it will look like you hid in this room while others got rid of an enemy for you, almost by luck. But if you are the one that takes him down, then your reign will be that much more secure."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Unfortunately, Laurel's idea is easily seen through as the slimy tactic it is.

"Surely you realize it's better to just do it yourself," Mithralline adds. "There's no glory in having other people handle your business for you! If we kill him, what's to stop your followers from thinking we should be in charge here, after all?"

A grin crosses her face, as she realizes that they probably could do that if they didn't want to get back to their lives and see what had happened back home. Unfortunately, a hint of that thought escapes in her words, making them sounds almost like more of a threat than a suggestion.

Diplomacy (aid): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 wah-wah

Aira holds up her hands "Please please, calm down everyone, lets just calm down. My dearest Queen. What my allies are attempting to convey, is that leading by example is far superior for maintaining your position, than merely maintaining the status quo. Surely you can see the benefits of this route. And all of your other minions will see that as well."

here goes...
diplo: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

The queen stands, taking her feet. The psycopomp at her side rises with her, looking at her to see what her command is. She instructs "Bring me my son, bound and gagged and place him here before me and you shall have your stamps. After receiving the stamps you are to leave here, never to return."

Mithralline looks at the others and gestures for them to back up a little so they can talk.

"We're going to have to do something. Both of them want the other dead. We struggled against the prince earlier, but just one of those eshoboks nearly did us in (though I'm ready for it this time). We're caught between the hammer and anvil here, it seems like.

"That said, we already were more successful against the prince," she concludes. "I'm sure I could defeat the queen, but it might be safer for the rest of you to deal with her son instead."

Here were our negotiations with the prince, in case anyone else wanted to remind themslves of what we said/did then.

I mean he did give us a weapon to fight him now and it would be less of a fight since it is just him versus the mimic, the queen, and apparently a psychopomp with her. However, we did agree to help him and he did say she was the one that tried to kill him first.

Aralah looks to the queen as an idea pops into her head "You have a scepter right? If you gave that to us, we could use it to get close to the prince and then be done with all this. If you lend it to us, we will see what we can do about the prince."

"Aralah's plan is our best chance. Your son is not easy to get close too, but with your scepter in our hands, we can easily earn his trust, and get in a better position to overpower him"

bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

The Queen doesn't seem willing to part with the staff "This staff my dear, is the only thing that is keeping you here. It iss the stamp and there is no way that I'm going to give it to anyone. My son desperately wants this and was unable to take it from me, thus him locking me up here."

"You may think your plan is foolproof, but this scepter does not leave my hands while I am Queen of the Palace of Teeth. Either take your leave or bring me my son. That is all."

The queen sits as the guardian stands by her side. The mimic reanimates, moving into the room to stand at her other side.

Insert tumbleweed blowing between you and the queen.

Aralah sighs and then moves out of the room motioning for the others to follow.

When out of earshot she notes "Honestly, I think we should just kill the prince and be done with it... he was kind of an ass and it would be less of a fight, especially now that we have the weapon."

Aira nods and chimes in "And this time you have me to help! It sounds like a good plan"

Sam looks distraught "The weapon he gave us when we agreed to work with him..." This betrayal does not sit well with her but nothing has sat well with her since they came to these strange lands...

Laurel just nods wearily. He seems too exhausted and confused to bother sifting through the morality of it all.

Sarela sighed. She had hoped that the queen could be goaded into attacking the prince, but it appeared it was not to be. Sam didn't seem comfortable with the betrayal of the prince, and neither was Sarela, but it was the path of least resistance. The prince, solo, with a weapon that could harm him was exactly what was needed. Sarela had cast only a single spell today, as well, and he would likely be susceptible to her curse if ill luck again. How quickly I turn to the most expedient option. I don't know if I can live with myself. To the others, she says, "Agreed. Let's deal with the prince."

Mithralline nods. "We almost had him last time; I'm sure we'll manage this time."

Yeah. Really feel like the mod is backing us into a corner. Been a frustrating start (not because of any of us, just the adventure).

Aira looks are her friends. "I know I have not been with you in your previous encounters, but my friends and my family, we must remember that our home is not just a place, but its a people. We are whats left, and we must protect each other. If that means one of these demon bug creatures must die in order for us to move on, then so be it. We have to stick together, work together, and eventually I know that we will come out on top. Keep your heads up. We will figure this place out."

With that Aira grips her staff firmly, ready to proceed to the prince.

Aralah nods, it wasn't her preferred option either, but she was ready to move on from this place and she would rather do it with the least likely hood of anyone else being hurt. She goes back to the queen quickly and notes "We will deal with you son. If we can't subdue him, I assume you have no qualms of us putting an end to him? In that case, if it comes to pass, what proof do you require that the deed is complete?"

The Queen nods "Do what you must with him, he would kill me but knows that he lacks the power. His traitorous ways must be brought to an end. Bring me whatever part of him shows that he is now dead."

Aralah nods and heads back down with the others, letting Mith and Laurel lead the way.

Okay to move you back to the prince or is there more conversation among yourselves you would like to do first?

My vote: to the prince!

Regicide it is!

The prince is sitting at his desk when you walk in, eagerly awaiting your presence. His eyes flit back and forth between all of you as he looks for the scepter. "Well?" he demands, his nervousness clearly showing. "Did you bring it back?"

Laurel casts a spell, continuing to walk forward with a blank expression.

Casting Weapons Against Evil on Mith and Aralah's weapons of choice, that should hopefully let you bypass the prince's DR, but only for 2 rounds.

Mithralline shakes her head.

"Sorry, prince. Your mom made a better deal, I'm afraid. We're going to be bringing you back to her! Surrender now and we'll make this easy."

Intimidate (+1/2 level when at full hp) to demoralize: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25

Think that might be best waiting until combat starts, Laurel, though I think my sword should probably suffice on its own.

Yeah if you are casting spells in front of him combat would trigger first. If you were doing that outside of the room before you got there, then that's fine but you're down a round.

"What?! NO!" Prince Uspid shouts. "TRAITOROUS LIARS!" he shouts again before disappearing completely from sight.

R1: Prince, Mith, Laurel, Aira, Sarela, Aralah, Sam

Is the map updated? where would we be in relation to him, and where was he when he went invis?

Holding for the moment to see what the others do.

The map is updated. He's back in his office. He was sitting at his desk (on the left) when he went invis, but if you can't see the desk from where you are you didn't see him first.

Aira walks into the room after the others and shouts "Show yourself fiend!"

Aira casts burning hands
dmg if hit: 1d24 ⇒ 18((whoops. wrong dice, please ignore))
real dmg if hit: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 DC 15 ref for half

Sarela fixes her gaze on Mithralline, willing good fortune upon her. She then cackles.

Fortune Hex on Mithralline, Cackle as a move action.

Did my spell go off before initiative? It sounds like it didn't, which is fine, just let me know.

Mithralline grins as the fight begins.

Cold iron longsword (Power Attack): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 1 = 17
Reroll?: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10

Sam casts a spell to bolster her allies and tries to block the doorway.

Bless. +1 morale to attack rolls and saves against fear.

Aralah moves out of the way so that Sam can shut the door, she then pulls out two arrows ready to loose them as soon as they get an indication where the prince has disappeared to.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Flurry: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Confirm: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 + 1 = 19
Exrtra Crit Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 1) + 2 = 11

I was giving you the option, Laurel. If you want the spell to go off outside of the room before you went in, you can do it -1 round and take a different action this round. If you want to do it in the room in front of him, then no, you need to do that in initiative this round. Let me know which you prefer.

Flames burst forth from Aira's hands as she torches the desk, chair, books and everything in front of her. No screams come from within the blaze though and there is no sign that the fey was caught in the inferno.

Sam slams the door shut as everyone holds their ground waiting for something to happen.

No, it's way too short for that, so I'll just have it ready now.

Laurel does not finish the spell, holding it in anticipation.

As soon as the prince is visible, Laurel will cast weapons against evil on Aralah's bow and his own scimitar.

Laurel holds his actions, waiting for Prince Uspid to show himself. After several seconds, he doesn't appear. The group begins to scour the room for signs of magic or the prince hiding, and they do not find him. After several minutes of a tense standoff, the group decides the prince somehow must have left the room. Taking caution, they begin to slowly work themselves out of the prince's office and scour the second floor in search of him before returning the first floor for much of the same.

Without signs of the prince or anyone else, they reluctantly return to the third floor to the queen again to tell her that the prince has abandoned the palace. When they enter the Queen's throne room, they find the prince's mauled body on the floor of the room, both of his arms viciously having been removed and laying near the dying body. The queen's bodyguard pet holds the prince tightly in its bloody jaws, preventing it from escape.

The queen declares "Ah, there you are. It's about time. A short while after you left he came buzzing in here and attacked me. Stupid fool, he should have just fled." she scolds, looking down at him.

"I have him now and will be teaching him lessons on respecting ones elders for a long time to come. As such, there is no further need of our prior arrangement. For clearing out the palace of those that would betray me, I will give you my stamp and ask that you take your leave. Is this acceptable to you?"

"Yes!" Mithralline says in relief, though a small part of her feels disappointed the prince escaped them and that she won't get to test herself against the queen. Still, most important is getting out of here.

Sam looks immensely troubled when she sees what has happened to the prince but keeps quiet and nods, desperately wanting to leave this horrible place.

Laurel's eyes seem to go fuzzy as he looks at the prince. He simply nods to the queen, glad they have a way out.

”Yes, your majesty, this is acceptable.”

Aralah doesn't say a word, just nods glad to be done with this place.

Aira looks at her hands, and then the dead prince. She thinks to herself How? I did not know my magic was that strong!

Then hearing the Queen discuss how she disposed of him with ease, Aira then seems more pleased with their idea of NOT engaging this queen. "Ahh yes, well glad that we led him here straight to you. It was only through our clever ploy did we lead him begging for your mercy. A great plan that led to his downfall. I am glad we could have been of service. We accept your bargain, will take our stamps, and then be on our way."

She reaches on to the floor and opens a box, withdrawing an old set of teeth. Holding it up for you to see, she says "This is what you seek and I shall give my stamp of approval. Approach me and I shall give it to each of you in turn."

The Queen takes her set of teeth, which are sharpened into rather pointy tips, into her left hand and grabs Mithrallines's arm with her other hand holding her arm down on her throne chair arm. She says "Hold still." as presses them firmly into her skin. She presses harder and harder until each of the tips of the razor sharp teeth pierces her skin, bringing pain and drawing blood in more than a dozen places. It hurts enough that it causes 1 damage.

When she's done, she pulls the teeth back and ensures that they have successfully stamped her arm before stating "Next!"

Sarela observes the queen with Mithralline, and once again feels a strong sense of annoyance at the whole affair. Of course the stamp involves drawing blood. It couldn't just be, I don't know, an ink stamp.

Sarela approaches the queen and sticks out her arm.

Mithralline grimaces -- more in annoyance than pain -- and then retreats slightly, though keeping an eye on the queen to make sure she means no treachery.

The Queen stamps Sarela and each of the other members of the party, one after the other, granting them the first of the three stamps they need to hopefully return back to their home. There is pain, but it is fleeting and in the grand scheme of things, the least of which they have felt in this terrible place. Without much fanfare, the Queen bids you farewell. As you exit the Palace of Teeth, you hope that you never have to return to this place ever, ever again.

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