Nekome's (High-Tier) Oathbreakers Die (Inactive)

Game Master Nekome

Timinic locks the door and peers out of every window before settling down to talk to the party. "Timinic was mapping the places underneath Daggermark, but strange people live down there. Dangerous people! Venture-Captain Bosk always listened to Timinic's reports well."

"Bosk argued with Brandur Clovesh about 'broken oath' or something. But Brandur found Timinic this safe place to hide. Timinic is very worried about Ramyla who runs the distillery. Timinic always explored from there. Maybe the people down there know about her. Timinic tried sending her a letter to warn her. Please make sure Ramyla is safe!"

Aatish is almost a little upset!

"Are you making fun of Aatish??! Pathfinder or not you do not want Aatish to be in a bad mood! And why do you believe Aatish cares for bartenders? What is this oath topic you speaks of? And what did you find on your excursions?!" Aatish says with a raised eyebrow.

At the mention of Ramyla, something at the back of Solum's mind seems to trigger. "You are correct, Timinic. Ramyla could be in danger. She was able to tell us how to find this place, so she may be coerced to do the same for the killer."

"Speaking of Clovesh, how sure are you of his allegiance? He is currently a suspect of poisoning Bosk."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"I feel we are starting to go in circles here. Now that we found Timinic, what are we supposed to do with him? Export him out of town..."

"I am not sure what to do next."

Cuethric continues to watch out the window.

"We can't watch Timinic and hunt the prisoners. It would be like putting him out as bate as we travel around."

"Better he stay with us, then leave him to be tracked down by our own quarry."

"So do we march over to Brandur's with the guy from the safe house he worked hard to set up? Or do we go pluck Ramyla out of the distillery. Even though she probably needs to work? That is all I think is left. Unless we get Timinic to show us where he saw the strange, dangerous people."

"Timinic heard nothing else about the oath," the gnome says defensively. "But Brandur is a friend of Pathfinders! Timinic can stay here, very safe, not letting anyone in. Thanks to Brandur! You should go, talk to Brandur, clear this up."

"Ah, maps!" he says in response to Cuethric. "You can see all the maps." Timinic gets out his journal, and shows everyone his sketches of the sewers around the distillery. "Here is where the strangers came from," he adds, pointing to a particular passage.

Akito studies the maps the gnome displays.

"Seems straight forward enough. Let's go investigate - we can check on Ramyla on the way!"

Or do we want to track down Brandur first? And enquire about Oaths...

Manus just shrugs, "Let's follow this play to its conclusion, even if we are the ones with strings attached."

"Let's investigate the distillery tunnels. At least I will feel like I am helping somehow."

Cuethric gathers his things, again. "Do you mind if we borrow your map, Timinic? Else we should probably make a quick sketch of it."

Cuethric pulls out his journal and makes a quick sketch of the map in charcoal.

Just as the party is preparing to leave, there is a knock at the door. Ramyla's voice calls out, "Hello Timinic, it's me!"

Please arrange yourselves on the map.

Manus calls back, "Passphrase?" before whispering to Timinic, "Remember, magic can create and alter voices."

Solum looks to the door suspiciously. "We just came from the distillery. Why would she risk coming here? Something seems off." Carefully drawing his scimitar, the masked elf makes his way over to the door and tells Timinic, "Make sure that you are 100% certain that is Ramyla before opening that door."

Nargal stands there, ready to attack the person on the other side of the door should they be hostile, or protect those on this side if the need arises.

I'm moved Aatish so she's inside the house, and placed Nargal near the door.

"Timinic? Are you all right?" Ramyla sounds concerned. A moment later, she looks in through a window. "Oh, you've got visitors! I've brought some of the latest whiskey, they can all try a taste of it!"

"Ramyla! Yes, just a moment!" Timinic moves toward the door to open it.

Manus appears utterly flabbergasted at Timinic, "Who hit this man with a feeblemind spell!? Ah well, if these people really mean us harm, not opening the door isnt going to solve anything, though if anyone cares about Timinic's survival, maybe they should open the door instead." he says as he checks his buckler and prepares for combat.

"Agreed. Timinic, You best stay back here with me. Nargal - Why don't you greet our guest?"

Nargal nods her head, short and direct, curt like, at our guest. Not one to really talk unless she has something important to say, she keeps her mouth shut.

"Nargal, I think Akito wants you to open the door and let Ramyla in. But first, Timinic, you need to be well away from the door until we are sure it is not a trick."

Cuethric escorts Timinic well back from the door.

"A few more seconds before you greet Ramyla is worth not getting a sword in the gut."

"Okay you can open it now, Nargal."

Nargal opens the door, wary for a potential attack.

Sure enough, when Nargal opens the door, what is standing there no longer looks like Ramyla, but a humanoid creature with clawed hands.

Initiative time!

Aatish: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Akito: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Cuethric: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Ilchok: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Manus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Nargal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Solum: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Those in bold may act.

Aatish
Cuethric
Solum
Manus
Nargal
Ilchok
Akito

knowledge nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

"Hmm...a doppelganger eh? Whoever wants to stop us must have some decent resources." Manus says as he walks into sight, charging a spell.

self damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 As Manus completes the spell, his blood flows into the shadowy magic as well before it flies at the face of the doppelganger.

Casting Blindness/Deafness (blind) at the creature with my curoromancer improving the DC by 1. DC 19 or blind forever.

Aatish steps forward and casts magic missile on the Doppelgänger.

MM, spell specialisation +2 CL : 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) + 3 = 8

Reacting quickly, Nargal swings her hammer, and swings it hard.

+1 Cold Iron Lucerne Hammer: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Raging/Power Attack/Power Stance
Damage: 1d12 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Know(Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Yep, its a doppleganger!"

Solum's movements shift into a rhythmic cadence, his sword weaving a pattern in the air in time with his body. "Wonderful. A doppleganger. Let's do something about it, then." Moving with the grace of a dancer, Solum casts a very brief spell over his weapon, then he starts to move. Solum weaves around Nargal, out the door and past the creature, to get block one of the alleyways.

Acrobatics (Tumbling) DC CMD+5: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Swift Action: Cast Dazzling Blade

Move Action: Activate Battle Dance (Inspire Courage; Self only)

Standard Action: Tumble 15' out to current location.

Cuethric moves forward and fires a shot at the figure in the door.

bow shot w pbs and cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 10
dmg:P: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Computer problems just lost me the fort save roll, but it failed.

The creature shrieks in surprise and fumbles uselessly as Solum dances past it. Aatish's missiles and Nargal's hammer connect solidly, bringing out another howl of pain. Cuethric is less lucky, with his arrow bouncing off the doorframe.

The creatures backs away (5' step), pulls a bottle out of its remaining clothing, drinks it, and vanishes! But its voice remains: "You are all doomed, Pathfinders! The Ghostknives will hunt you down!"

All may act.

Aatish
Cuethric
Solum Dazzling Blade, Battle Dance
Manus -5hp
Nargal
Ilchok -33hp, blinded, invisible
Akito

It would be funny if he didn't grab the right potion since he can't see the bottles. Anyway, I can't do anything against an invisible enemy, but maybe our martials can, so delay.

Cuethric shifts to get a line on the spot the creature vanished from and fires two rapid arrows at the voice.
shot with pbs, precise, but cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 19
dmg P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
miss if 50 or less: 1d100 ⇒ 16
shot2 with pbs, precise, but cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 10
dmg P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
miss if 50 or less: 1d100 ⇒ 21

"You can't get away. We will track you down."

Other than swinging wildly with her hammer (reach weapon), there isn't anything Nargal can do. She has Darkvision and no way to see invis stuff.

Aatish delays to see how this unfolds.

Akito is unable to even react before the creature disappears.

"Uhhhh What?"

He fumbles a Wand from his sleeve and waves it at his companions.

Cast Bless

@Nargal, you can swing into the square where the voice came from. It has to be the square right of the door. 50 percent miss chance. But the thing has to be there.

Nargal flares her nostrils, angry at her disappearing opponent. She swings wildly at where the doppleganger was, hoping to connect.

+1 Cold Iron Lucerne Hammer: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Raging/Power Attack/Power Stance
Damage: 1d12 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Miss Chance high=good: 1d100 ⇒ 66

Crit Confirm?

+1 Cold Iron Lucerne Hammer: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Damage: 1d12 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

Your opponent had two potions and already drank one, so he's going to know what he's drinking. Not that it's helped him much...

Cuethric's arrows whip straight through the spot where the creature was and clatter to the floor of the alley. Nargal, though, connects solidly to the sound of a hideous crunch of bone, followed by that of a lifeless corpse collapsing to the ground. The broken body of the doppelganger glimmers into view.

Combat over!

Aatish looks at Nargal and a wide grin forms on her lips.

”Aatish is happy to have witnessed your martial prowess ... “

Athum looks down at the Doppleganger's body that eventually appears on the ground. "We would have to be sure, but this might explain why a supposedly good man would poison the Venture-Captin." He starts to search the body, and while he does, he randomly asks, "Who are the GhostKnives?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Nargal almost grins. "At least it was a challenge."

"Bravery, you crazy bird, go get my arrows."
Cuethric waves at the eagle perched on the roof and points in the direction of his lost arrows. The bird just stares at him.
"We are still working on that one."
And Cuethric heads off to find his arrows.
broken? Below 50: 3d100 ⇒ (47, 67, 75) = 189

On the body, Solum finds a fancy-looking belt, 10 gold pieces, a vial of mysterious powder, and, incongruously, a single pearl earring.

Timinic peeks out the doorway to see the body. "Not Ramyla? Good, good! Timinic will stay safe here now. Please make sure Brandur is all right too!" He gives you directions to Brandur's cottage which match the ones from Pemak.

Standing, Solum nods to Timinic. "You may be correct, and we've put off checking on him long enough." He offers the items to others in the group for identification, if possible, before he makes preparations to leave. "In light of the fact that we know the enemy has shape-changers, be sure to only open this door for someone who identifies themself as Pathfinders. Even your friend."

Akito takes the items off of Solum and studies them carefully....

Cast Detect Magic

Cuethric returns, "Do we know where to find the dwarf sergeant?" "I think we were going to try the militia headquarters or something. Or Ramyla give us his home location. Perhaps you know Brandur's home location, Timinic?"

It is either find and warn Brandur or explore the Timinic's strange people sitings under the distillery. I vote Brandur then distillery.

Timinic gave us directions.

"A single assailant shows up on your doorstep and you believe you're safe now because we killed it? They clearly know where you're hiding out so you either need to move base, come with us, or find a really good hiding place here." Manus says to Timinic.

Only the belt gives off a magical aura.

Timinic nods to Solum. "Timinic will stay very safe here, and only open the door to the password."

Nargal stays quiet, waiting (impatiently) for the group to leave to head to the cottage.

Well, heck! I missed that last line where Timinic gave us the directions to Brandur's cottage. Please ignore my blunder. I play Cuethric as a hard headed, rube even though his intellectual scores aren't that bad more out of necessity attempting to cover my own errors.

"So are we decided to go to talk to Brandur?" Cuethric notices what they are doing. "Magical belt than? Cool."

Rolling the belt over and over in his hands, Akito studies it quietly. ”I feel like I know what this is but it’s hiding just out of reach. Perhaps another time.”

Next he looks at the vial of powder. Considering the nature of the latest mission, he mutters another small prayer as he examines it. Cast Detect Poison

Finished with it, Akito turns to the group ”I could probably do a passable impression of a doppelgänger if need be. I have the ability to magically disguise myself and I’m a pretty good liar as well. Just a hunch..... but perhaps the pearl earring has something to do with the GhostKnives? Pearls seem.... ghostly...”

Shrugging to himself, he puts in on. Just in case.

Spellcraft vs Belt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Unless someone else has a suggestion, I would think that we will head for Brandur's place as soon as Akito is done.