Hells Rebels (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

Ragnar steps up and tries for a line drive.

attack: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 30
BAB, STR, Focus, Insite, Divine Favor, Magic Weapon
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14
2H STR, Magic Weapon, Divine Favor

Seeing that the tide has turned in their favour, Adonara doesn’t worry about scooping up her alchemical weapon for now, but hurries forward with the others, dancing around to flank the last ghost from Bran’s other side.

“For the Savoured Sting!” she cries, lashing out furiously.
Power attack, flanking: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 22 Yay, sneak attack!: 1d3 + 3 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + (3) = 10 Halved vs. incorporeal, sadly.

Ragnar deals the remaining ghost a mighty blow, this is then followed up by a blow from Adonara. The ghost is still there but only just.

The ghost tries to attack Bran but misses

Back to you guys

Bran flails wildly again.
attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
damage, ghost-touch: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Bran, you’re missing an extra +2, since we’re flanking.

Taking heart from Ragnar’s mighty blow, Adonara presses the advantage of having the ghost all but surrounded – especially with Bran drawing its attention and leaving its back exposed…

Encore (flanking, power attack): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 11 Damage?: 1d3 + 3 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + (2) = 10 Halved for incorporeal, not that it's likely to hit.

In the ladies name I return you to your rest

Ragnar flourishes with his axe as he brings it down upon the remaining ghost.

attack: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 31
BAB, STR, Focus, Insite, Divine Favor, Magic Weapon
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 15
2H STR, Magic Weapon, Divine Favor

confirm: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20
BAB, STR, Focus, Insite, Divine Favor, Magic Weapon
extra damage: 2d10 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7, 7) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 30
2H STR, Magic Weapon, Divine Favor

I think it is probably done, but, in case . . ..

Til adjusts again, trying to skewer the last of these things without flanking partner to better distract it for him.

+1 Adamantium Rapier: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Piercing, Magic, Adamantium: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Fulk dashes past Bachu and then, too close to throw acid, punches at the ghost with an acid-laced fist.

Melee Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12 ...and misses.

Between Bran's blow and Ragnar's axe the final ghost dissipates.

Loot: Jewellery worth 2400gp.

Where to next?

Does anyone need healing? I know Bran's okay.

We just have one room left to check, right? Once everyone has healed, let's do that.

Ragnar pulls out a rag, wipes his axe down, re-scabbards it.

He then steps back and picks up his bow.

Well, that was lively, what next

No healing needed here.

Til looks around at the group. "That was exciting! Everyone alright?" Once we're done taking care of any care that is needed, Til will spend a few moments searching the room for anything of interest.

Yes, I think the Loot comment addresses that answer already, and for that reason I'm not dice chucking.

Til got tapped for 3 HP, but that's not enough to worry about, I don't think.

“Stung once, but nothing to worry about until we’re sure this level is clear,” Adonara confirms. I’ll chuck some dice around just for the sake of appearances, but I doubt we’ll find much else in this room. Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

She gives the wreckage of the opium den one last quick glance, taking in the tattered curtains half torn off their hooks, the grubby, scattered pipes and divans, and has a horrible image of what one’s last moments must be like, caught in the crossfire of a Hellknight raid while addled by a high. “I wonder what…” she idly wonders, softly, before her mind catches up and clamps down on the thought before it can send her spiralling, if she were to actually let herself think … sort of ghost I would make, with what I have left unfinished.

“Just the one room left on this floor, off the main corridor, south of the pit trap,” the courtesan says, shaking off her morbid impulse. “And then, unless you all are much braver swimmers than I am, we might want to consider how to approach the level below while we bury our promised dead.”

She runs her strategical mind over the Ravens’ supplies. “We have a ring that will help one of us swim, Ragnar and I can see what the goddesses will offer us from the grace of their spells, and we have a couple of scrolls (air bubble) that Fulk might find useful… But first things first?”

On the way to clear the last room, she dips down briefly to snatch up and tuck away the alchemical weapon she didn’t end up using, since between her spell and the others’ ferocity, everything seems to have worked out well without it. Praise be to you, Calistria, our Savoured Sting. I shouldn’t wonder if I have another occasion to use it in your name.

An antique wooden desk sits in the southwestern corner of this room, attended by a high backed chair with tufts of stuffing protruding here and there from its rotting cushions. Partially broken shelves sit against the north and east walls, and strange symbols of a one eyes insectile face have been painted on the walls along with curving lines of strange, sinister script.

Knowledge religion

Bran checks the desk, "Nobody here?"
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

“There doesn’t seem to be, no,” Adonara agrees, advancing into the room with an eye on the insectile face she’s seen painted elsewhere on the walls of this place and the script that accompanies it here. Know (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Wow. The dice have decided they really don't want Adonara to know much about this place. Before you guys joined us, on our first trip down here, Ado rolled two natural 1s back-to-back on other (religion) checks, which was just adding insult to injury for a character who's probably hoping to retire to a temple library, write some theology, when all this is over. Sigh.

While Bran checks the desk, she calls up her cantrip to scan for magic, and checks the door to the southeast for anything suspicious as, once again, she tries to estimate where the room she’s in fits among the rest of the complex. “But it looks like there might be just one more room after all.” Perception, checking for traps: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Though we should probably get Til, as our professional, for a second opinion.

Bachu looks at the symbol and says to Adonara "That kinda looks like..well maybe."

Kn: Religion Aid Another: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

know relig: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Not completely sure, but I think I have seen it somewhere

Ragnar grips his bow tightly keeping an eye out for any ambushes.

I will not be able to do any spells for underwater until at least tomorrow game time. but my luck with the dice roller usually does not equate to hits in combat. :(

Til looks about the place, first for anything worth attention in this room, then to see if the new door seems safe to try . . ..

Perception for room contents: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 (+4 Canny Observer to find concealed or secret objects)(+3 Trapfinding to locate traps)(+2 Danger Sense to avoid surprise)

Perception for exit being trapped: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 (+4 Canny Observer to find concealed or secret objects)(+3 Trapfinding to locate traps)(+2 Danger Sense to avoid surprise)

If I discover a trap to deal with . . ..

Disable Device for trap w/ MW tools: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 19 + 2 = 32

Once I think the door is safe, check to see if it is locked or not.

Deal with a locked door

Disable Device for secured door w/ MW tools: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 2 = 29

At this point . . .. "Everybody ready?" With a reasonable assent from the group, Til will open the door.

Edit. Wow. Nothing on THAT door. Hope that's right . . ..
If it is trapped, the 16 is really a 23, probably, but, even so, that's not going to spot much at this level.

Ragnar you recognise the symbol as belonging to Mahathallah, the dark goddess of death.

You do not find any traps on the connecting door. This door is half open and leads into a small cell. A set of bloodstained, but new manacles hangs from the wall and you surmise that this was used as some kind of cell to hold sacrificial victims.

"A holidng cell. Behind an office. What kind of people did you these were, again?" He looks to Adonara as he asks the question.

Well they belonged to the dark goddess of death, Mahathallah
He shakes his head and makes the sign of the sword.
Anyone want to help me destroy this symbol later, and probably a cult of them judging from the condition of the manicles.

Ragnar relaxes a bit when he sees the room empty/

Bran nods, "We should clear away all of the unholy stains in this place. Make it safe and a bit comfortable, if we are thinking of living here."

He inclines his head toward the previous room, "We need to wait until dawn to put this ghost to rest, may as well make good use of the time!"

With the group at full strength and having cleared this floor (and having no concern about threats from below for now), I suggest that we thoroughly search each room (take20) apart from the ghost's room which we leave until after the dawn.

It would be good to make sure we don't miss anything or leave any surprises behind.

Then we need some way to give everyone touch of the sea and some kind of water breathing. Air Crystals give 1 minute of water breathing for 50gp?

"A holidng cell. Behind an office. What kind of people did you these were, again?" He looks to Adonara as he asks the question.

Adonara shrugs. “The Norgorberites in their time were racketeers, smugglers, and slavers. But that was years ago: the most recent lot were Mahathallah cultists, and they were even less inclined to be talkative than the common-or-garden secretive death cult once they realized we weren’t their friends.”

“It sounds about right for diabolists, though, doesn’t it? A little human sacrifice, all duly accounted for? Perhaps especially for someone like Mahathallah, but Asmodeus as well: it’s all, ‘Bless this willing sacrifice to the Dark Prince,’ and so on and so forth. Tedious, really, and beyond absurd.” Her light tone somehow manages to make her contempt all the more withering. “Fortunately or not, they didn’t seem to have any prisoners when we performed our own raid.”

He shakes his head and makes the sign of the sword.

Anyone want to help me destroy this symbol later, and probably a cult of them judging from the condition of the manicles.

Ragnar relaxes a bit when he sees the room empty

She nods her thanks to Ragnar. “I was wondering about that. I thought they would have redecorated, but between this particular Queen of the Night and Norgorber, I wasn’t sure what sort of trickery there might be behind this symbol.”

Bran nods, "We should clear away all of the unholy stains in this place. Make it safe and a bit comfortable, if we are thinking of living here."

He inclines his head toward the previous room, "We need to wait until dawn to put this ghost to rest, may as well make good use of the time!"

“Or at least use it as a safehouse. In any case, you’re right. We should clear up some of this rubbish, though it would be easier with magic. But for now…” Prestidigitation to be prepared overnight then? Save on some scrubbing?

The courtesan sighs long-sufferingly, thinking she’s not some quean to do this sort of work with *shudders* elbow grease, barring awful necessity. “I’ll need a bucket and a mop.”

… I would say I’m sorry, but that would be a lie. ;)

Taking your time searching each room methodically you find another 200gp in total and 2 bottles of alchemist's fire.

Bran is used to hard physical labour. He begins by removing anything big (statues of evil gods?) and breaking it down. He stacks the junk by the well.
Then he sets about getting rid of junk and anything tainted by the cultists.
After that, he starts scrubbing.

Bran is a homeless escaped slave who has been picking up day-work on building sites to get by. Having somewhere to sleep, a table and chairs for eating, a place to leave things... he appreciates that.

”Can we put a lock on that front door?”

And maybe use an iron spike of safe passage to conceal the entrance?

Bachu says "If we are done for now then cleaning for a while seems like a good idea. Anyone see any mops or brooms or brushes or other supplies?"

I'm not sure where the next step is. If I understand correctly there is a lower level that is flooded. Where is it's entrance?

"I'll certainly help with destroying them."

I'm not sure where the next step is. If I understand correctly there is a lower level that is flooded. Where is it's entrance?

We haven’t got to that part of your tour yet. :) That’s in C16, past the fancy tiled room (recently de-xorned for your comfort), the archives, and the remains of a desperate last stand by the original Spiders, presumably.

Adonara helps out as best she can: considering the size of the space, she starts by sorting out what looks like it can be salvaged with a bit of mending and magical dusting off (she definitely has an eye on any of the less appalling divans from the opium den for her own use) and piling up the junk for later disposal.

“We’ll have to burn some incense,” she says determinedly, at one point, because there are a lot of dead bodies to get rid of, in various degrees of ripeness. It will have to wait until the lower level is cleared to bung them into the river to be carried to sea, or for a horrific fire in one of the hearths on this one, or a suspiciously large delivery to the potter’s ward of the Temple Hill Gardens.

She focuses her proper efforts at cleaning on the first large hall (C2), whose stage offers a rather comforting thought of happier times, and chooses out a cell for herself: close to the door, and with useful access through to the actual temple space at the other end of the complex, which offers a much more daunting challenge to reclamation. Ecumenically, of course. It would only be fair to Ragnar, and in the long run… A delightfully wicked idea crossing her head for later development. Oh, that would be delicious.

While she works, only slightly desultorily, she considers what magic might be most useful both for that task, and for braving the waters below. Inspiration strikes, and she goes to find Bran, still softly singing a work song to herself, her posh, temple-trained voice adding an inevitable layer of irony to her performance.

“I think I’ve got the beginnings of a plan for the lower level. I can ask the goddess for spells that, while they won’t let us breathe underwater, will give us a bubble of air to carry with us. I should hope Iomedae would provide to Ragnar as well, and Fulk might be able to find some profane equivalent, so between the three of us, that should give us about ten minutes. Or we can see what gold can get us in the markets again.”

I suggest we can work out some of the mechanics in the Discussion thread. The iron spike of safe passage sounds like a good, thematic investment at some point, and we do have some stuff that could go towards that. Oh, and there’s that cloak Fulk found that needs to be identified in-character.

I'll let you talk it out before we move on.

I can't help with the cloak. Identify is a very useful spell sometimes.

Ragnar pulls out a lantern, lights it.

To save on the magical energy

He then sets down his gear, and digs in to help clean and scrub the place down.

I can't help with the cloak. Identify is a very useful spell sometimes.

We do have a scroll of, if it comes to that.

Eventually, it’s time for a break, and Adonara takes a moment to scan the cloak Fulk found at the beginning of the day’s excitement for magic: it seems to have weathered being down in the only recently reclaimed lair for who knows how long quite well, after all.

Spellcraft, with detect magic: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15 Yeah, I expected as much.

It's definitely magical, but she's a theologian, not a mage, and after only a second glance she realizes Ragnar or Fulk would stand a much better chance of actually figuring out what the cloak does.

Not thrilled with the idea of cleaning up, Til still finds himself unable to hide well enough to avoid working with the others.

"As good as being able to lock the door is, if the place is obviously inhabited, it will attract visitors. We might want to leave a room or two at the door as they are now, and secure from there instead of from the street. Maybe set up a simple illusion or so to scare off children?"

Fulk casts Detect Magic and attempts to identify the cloak.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
IIRC it takes 3 rounds of thorough examination. I take it we've got the time.

Aaaa, so close! I think we need a 24? If a couple of us can aid, between Ado and someone else helping Fulk, we ought to be able to manage it?

“We could leave the basement upstairs in disorder, though I think we should like to get rid of some of the more noisome mess so we don’t have to hold our breaths on the way down. There’s a lock on that next door, and we could definitely consider ways to cloak the entry to this whole space proper with an illusion as well.”

Sounds good, Tilorean. We kind of glossed over it, in getting in to clear out the ghosts, but we’re definitely defaulting to a wheels within wheels sort of approach: the surface level is ruined, with a secret(-ish) entrance through the remains of a fireplace to the first basement level that used to house the otyughs, and which had another concealed door (with a lock) that leads down to the next level, that we’re currently on. The thing Bran had in mind would do for an illusion on top.

You manage to identify the cloak between you as a cloak of the manta ray.

Going forward do you want me to just list the basic equipment and then you have to detect/identify any magical items?

I think the way we’ve been doing it is fine: we know what we’re trying to figure out, so you don’t have to play hot/cold with our Spellcraft checks (“Is rolling X good enough to identify what it does? How about X+5?”), but there’s at least that bit of mystique of figuring out the details. And maybe risk getting possessed by the odd serial killer intelligent dagger. :)

The exciting revolutionary work of beginning the tidying-up of a new lair lends itself to conversation at the same time, and eventually the Ravens, when they’ve cleaned enough that they feel they wouldn’t just be shirking if they take a break, and considered their various options, decide to ask their Milanite contact if he would be willing to cast a water breathing spell on them in the morning when they’re ready to proceed to the lower level, and to amass what useful trinkets they can each think of for an amphibious expedition.

Now that the worst of the cleaning is out of the way, I was wondering if we should stay here the night, or should we surface with a come back in the morning prepared for water works

“Well, it is, properly speaking, a working night for some of us, as usual, so I probably won’t be able to attend too much of the house-warming. If anyone else wants to start moving in, of course, they’re welcome to do so.”

“In the interval, we can all think about what’s useful for a swim. Very different from an ideal merchant expedition, I’m sure, but your expertise will be invaluable, Ragnar. For my part, I’ll first see if I can find a plot for Lorelu: I doubt the sextons will have many questions in the potter’s ward, but if we can at least lay down the bones before holding the interment as such, that would be best, I think. And then I’ll talk with Haetamon…”

I'm happy to skip ahead as quickly or not as everyone's comfortable with: if anyone wants to be introduced to Haetamon before the next morning, if he's willing to help us out, or wants to chase that Sts.-Innocents feeling and join a strumpet in dodging necromancers and getting ready to say a few prayers over the otherwise unlamented dead we've got to bury. :)

Could you just confirm what the plan is?

Sure! All of this can happen off-stage, I think.

B) All those preparations in place, meet again to go (literally!) dungeon-diving on the next level down. ;)

Adonara, If you wish, I will accompany you to help with the internment.

I will accompany, so that we are not doing things alone. Plus it will allow a portable packmule to come along.

"I'm always happy to see Hetamon again. Happy to go with you then."

"I think I should as well, since I'm playing hearse, and all.
Besides. I promised to make sure the sunrise falls across her bones."

Bachu says "We should all see her buried properly and then make preparations for tomorrow."

Leaving the hideout you head out into the city. After talking to Haetamon he readily agrees to cast water breathing on you all tomorrow.

You find a small secluded hill overlooking the harbour where you can bury Lorelu's remains.

Ragnar pulls out his holy text, and pulls a passage out in regards to funerals.

He then recites it, and asks those around if they have any last words to say.

There is, of course, a liturgy for such things in the Book of Joy – and like any Calistrian worth her salt, Adonara can think of a dozen ways off the top of her head to top off rolling her eyes at anyone who might think it oh-so-clever to make a joke based on the name of Calistria’s single most canonical holy text – but there are also very good reasons why Adonara has avoided putting herself in situations where she might be expected to officiate at a funeral.

In any case, she doubts that Lorelu, with her Norgorberite affiliations, would appreciate the rites of the Savoured Sting, so the courtesan offers a quiet, minimal version that is both true to her own faith and not wasted on an unbeliever. It ends with an informal address to the goddess that is pointedly different from Adonara’s regular devotions, though perhaps less so from her personal understanding of her: “Well, o Lady, here we are, and well you know, I’m sure, that this poor soul will barely appreciate it. I doubt she’ll have the sense to ask for the better when she comes before Pharasma, even if she would have infinitely better hope if she surrendered to your vengeance and vindication. Still, if she sees sense, stealing her soul would show that jumped-up thief who’s really a master of trickery. Your will be done.”

After a pause, she addresses the grave directly, for lack of an actual ghost. “I will keep my promise. May the earth lie light upon you.”

It’s more than the creature deserves, but there it is, so Adonara pulls a silken wrap around her and prepares for a nightly vigil, thinking ahead to her other preparations for the morrow.

As you finish your prayers and readings for a second you see the ghostly form of Lorelu who smiles at you in thanks before it dissipates in the warm sunlight.