Did you two get to clear the area of traps or dangers yet? Alain asks stopping at the second floor
"Tarphrex saw bad men walk all over room. Not know about stairs."
"Just step carefully as you climb the stairs, I'll take a look."
No traps are visible on the stairs. And so up to the top floor? There's no sign of anyone down here, so they're probably waiting for you up there....
Alright, expect resistance at the top, any preparations need doing before we likely hit combat?
"I should be good to go."
Zenaida whispers to Alain, "Are we trying to take them alive?"
"Tarphrex can make bad men sparkly. But first..." He casts a spell, causing a glowing sheath to appear around him briefly before fading into his clothes.
One more day to prep anything you all might want to do before going up the stairs, then I'll post tomorrow with Alain entering the top floor and the rest lined up behind him.
"Aiyeeee" Squeels the tiny halfling as he rises into the sky. Giggling he cries out "Sis will never believe I'm riding a great dragon into battle!"
Reaching into his folds again, the pocket scribe pulls out another vial. Stopping short, he shoves it back into his cloak before downing a red liquid. As his tiny muscles become more pronounced, he grumbles. "I'm not ready to pull him out."
"As a heads up, I've not used my bombs much before. I'll do me best to help more than I hinder...but it may take some trial and error to get it just right."
Ant Haul
Shadow Bomb Admixture
Reduce Person
Bull's Strength
Attribute Modifier Change Totals= +2 Dex, +2 Str
"Wait... you have bombs? Please just make sure you don't set the place on fire."
"Wait... you have bombs? Please just make sure you don't set the place on fire."
You are in a lumber mill, so this is a very real possibility. Be fore-warned.
___________________
As the group heads up the stairs, Alain boldly leading, spells being prepped and potions drank, you come into the fourth and final floor of the building.
Standing about the room, a range of thick-shouldered people wearing what would otherwise be absurd costumes (see map for picture) are quietly watching and waiting. They each carry a large razor in one hand, akin to a folding shaving blade sized for a giant. But the worst detail by far is the mask they wear, a muddy brown swirl. You've seen it before, it matches the one Sherman Blake showed you stashed beneath his floor.
One of them wears no mask, an elven man more heavily armored than the rest, with ornate robes and a shortsword at his side.
As you enter the floor, his stoic eyes search each of your faces as he speaks, his voice a deep monotone "I see. The prodigal son returns with offerings of forgiveness. You have done well."
Locals to Magnimar may make this Knowledge check untrained.
What do you do?
____________
I will allow Tarphrex to carry Quinn, but only if Quinn uses his move action each round to hold onto Tarphrex.
"Justice Ironbriar." Loth mutters. "What a surprise to see a magistrate of your caliber in a place like this. I suppose we may have some things we need to be forgiven for."
Loth will pretend to sheathe his weapons but actually conceal his enchanted dagger, just in case. He doesn't trust any of these people one bit. Not after what Sherman's told him about them.
He turns to the others briefly. "Meet the honorable Justice Ironbriar. He's known for sentences that are always strict, but fair." Before he turns back to face the judge, he mouths, 'bad news'.
"Charming place you have here, magistrate. Is this the meeting for sawmill workers union?" Sherman smiles drily, but there is little warmth in his voice. His eyes move from one figure to the next, trying to make sure they are all in his sights.
Reverend nods at the Loth's warning. His hands are sweating. This will very likely end in violence. And with this environment, his fire magics could prove to be very destructive - to all parties involved.
The elf nods at Loth's acknowledgment...
... his eyes dropping to linger shortly on the halfling's hand.
Then moving his attention to Sherman Blake.
"A meeting, yes. And not my favorite. Especially since our last meeting hall had such an unfortanate . . . incident . . with fire."
He pauses for a moment.
"But that is irrelavant. This place is not safe for public. You could . . . become injured."
Alain steps forward and draws his blade and points it at the judge, You betray the people and law...i can only assume. Otherwise what would a Magistrate be doing here. i will ask only once for you to come quietly as my code decrees, i must protect and prioritize the people... Anyone who surrenders will be shown mercy, I know not what calls any of you to the violent and dark path but it is never to late to turn back. Alain looks proud but bares a look of the purest compassion, he may not know these people but he knows not ever heart is filled with only darkness.
Zenaida steps forward alongside the paladin, eyes sweeping across the opponents, watching for treachery. She remembers well the false Iesha and how it was somehow more than human, wielding a humble cleaver like a true weapon - and these war razors are far more capable.
She is prepared to defend herself first, to attack in response, but to follow Alain's lead.
Tarphrex looks back and forth among the masked men, counting. He looks at how they are arrayed, how close they are to one another, and estimates what a dragon's power might do.
And he holds Quinn so the quarterling can see for his own tactical decisions.
"If you are concerned of fire, you could have chosen better place for a hideout. But I understand, learning from mistakes is not everyone's forte."
Has he always done this? Light japes and prattle when he is nervous?
Sherman bites his upper lip, waiting for events to unfold. Alain's attempt was charming, but knowing Ironbriar and his like, they are not going to surrender just because someone asks.
Loth keeps his hand close to his weapon... "I'm sure we can resolve this tension amicably. As my friend here says, let's just talk about what's going on here, any mischief will be stamped out, and we'll all go on with our lives. No one gets injured."
He doesn't believe a word he's saying.
@Alain: The judge looks at you impassively as you speak, then ignores you completely.
@Taphrex: A fantastic question. It is not. You saw 4 workers on each of the floors. There are only 6 cultists here, not counting Ironbriar.
@Loth: None of them so much as ackowledge your presence, let alone your words.
@Sherman: For you, Justice Ironbriar has words. The elf speaks calmly, assuredly, "Come now Brother Blake, you may give up the charade. Father Skinsaw accepts your offering of repentence. Help us to subdue the sacrifices, and your place will be restored amongst us."
With that, Ironbriar draws the shortsword at his hip and combat begins.
INITIATIVE!
Sherman Blake, you get to act first, then the cultists.
What will you do?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Looks like the cult is on to him now, no escaping that. It could be trouble, but then again he only needs to worry about it if he survives this day.
"Of course. Father Skinsaw is known for his mercy." Sherman sighs with a tired smile. "But I do not know you lot. Are you even true devouts, or just amateurs with silly masks?"
"You there!" he points at the cultist behind Ironbriar. "Show your devotion to the Lord of Murder. Strike down you leader - his back is turned!" The Reverend's voice get deep and commanding. Magical, even.
...the reactions are minimal from your foes, and only Ironbriar speaks. "You are correct, of course. There will be no mercy."
Without a word, the masked murderers move up to confront the party. THe three in front lash out with their war razors...
....And the large blades scrape against the metal protecting your bodies.
The three that cannot reach the group hang back a bit, grasping at talismans around their necks. The trio begin to shimmer and a duplicate of themselves appears in their space.
The elven man also grasps at his talisman, but shimmers so completely as to disappear.
___________
@Sherman Blake: As the closest one to the stairs, you can hear booted feet from below you.
Looking around this room, the red lined cultists are all covered in sparkly glitter. Likely the ones that Tarphrex hit with his spell earlier. Two more cultists are here, but that leaves two at least that are unaccounted for. Not including those that were in the basement.
Loth will jump between Sherman and the cultist and lunge at him.
"Well, we've certainly tried! I don't know about you guys, but I think we don't need to go easy on these bastards!"
@Loth: You step forward and plunge your blades into the cultist, which grunts in pain as you are both sprayed with blood from the two wounds.
"Just so you know, I believe more enemies are approaching from downstairs." Sherman warns the others.
Wide eyes darting from each speaker to the next, the halfling hesitates. 'We're really going to attack a judge? I mean...we aren't supposed to be...' his thoughts trail off as Master Loth charges in, the tiny man shrugs.
Squinting towards the back of the room, he curses under his breath as the judge vanishes. 'Maybe he didn't see me?'
Grasping tightly at his Heroic Steed, Quin reaches into his cloak and pulls out a round vial. He proceeds to mix together a few chemicals, careful to avoid any spills before chucking it towards the back of the room.
"That could be a problem." he acknowledges. "I'll keep an eye out for them, sir."
for
If they fail the Fort, they gain concealment vs others and treat all enemies as if they are concealed as shadow engulfs them. Lasts 6 Rounds
If they fail the Reflex, the are Entangled. If they are hit directly by the bomb itself, they are glued to the floor
@Quinn: A worthwhile bomb. Partially due to the absolutely terrible saves on behalf of the cultists, but that one is pretty disadvantaged now.
__________
Alain blocks with his shield and then steps forward to counterstrike red .
The warpriest of Falayna keeps her defenses active, but seeing Alain strike one of the two she can reach, she opts to try to take that one out of the fight so they only face two...
Two of the cultist in the front takes some heavy blows from Loth, Alain, and Zenaida. The duo in the back gets wracked with Quinn's shadow bombs and then solid red (the poor fool) is coated with glitter and blinded.
Just need Rev. Blake to take an action and then it will be the cultist once again.
While Ironbriar is probably the most dangerous of the lot, the lackeys must be dealt with as well... He relaxes a for the briefest of moment, letting his visions overcome his guard. The unthinkable void between the stars, and the horrors the lurk within. And this he shares with one of the cultists, to see how his mind handles it.
The three in the front (solid green, dash red, and dot/dash red) all begin with the same trick, saying a quick prayer and duplicating themselves in their squares. Then they attack, concentrating on Alain as the only one they can all reach...
Only one of them hits, and does...
damage to Alain.
Now let's deal with the bomb duo:
Confused cultist....
Getting to act normally, he will attempt to cast a spell....
... and he will fail, losing the spell. He then uses his ability to duplicate himself.
Then the other one (solid red), well he's hosed. Blind, entangled, etc.
Move action to duplicate himself, standard action to take total defense.
Those two accomplish nothing this round.
And then dot green, off by himself. He will cast a spell, without having to roll anything. Trying to get a two-for-one, he points his war razor at the kobold in the corner and commannds, "LEAVE". Tarphrex, of course, tries to resisit....
... and does so handily, securing his place as a trusted mount.
PART 1 OF 3
Does a thing.....
PART 2 OF 3
Storming up the stairs are... MORE CULTISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
3 of them, in fact. We'll call these ones the purple ones. Only Sherman can see all three of them from where he's at, two of them are staying down the stairs a bit until there is room.
Loth can also see the one at the head of the stairs. That one is going to swing on Sherman Blake...
... missing him as the blade scrapes some of the wooden floor.
The other two need him to move, and try to force him to it...
While the cultist try to fill Sherman's mind with the force of their patron, they cannot conjure anything darker than Sherman's own mind has tormented him with over the past weeks.
PART 3 of 3
_____________
That was the bad guys. The group is up next, what will you do?
'This is nothing like the books...' considers Quinn.
His grip slipping, he clutches tighter the scales of his companion. "They've arrived at our backs, sir." Hastily, he mixes up another round vial and straps it to an arrow.
Taking aim, he fires towards the stairs.
for and
Tarphrex mutters arcane syllables and as he pronounces the last of them, they echo oddly from the floor behind the first rank of cultists as a hole opens up immediately under one of their fellows and the floor they stand upon suddenly slopes back into the depths.
20' deep pit
6 rounds' duration
Reflex DC 16 to avoid falling in at casting; those ending their turn adjacent have a Reflex DC 16 with a +2 bonus to avoid falling in at the end of their turn. Creatures subjected to a pushing effect do not get a save if they are affected by the push.
Those falling in take falling damage as normal and it has a Climb DC 25 to get out before the spell ends.
Zenaida grins fiercely at the sight of the hole in the ground. "A new trick, mighty dragon?"
With a lunge and a stomp to catch the cultist before her off-balance, she tries to shoulder-check the middle cultist back into the hole.
"You never cease to surprise, Tarphrex!" Loth says cheerfully. He thinks Zenaida has the right idea, so he will try the same... Although his body is maybe a little less built for this sort of thing.
His small frame dinks against the cultist with no actual result.
"New enemies coming. I try to hold these ones back..."
Me? A frail old man blocking the way from armed cultists. I'd laugh at the very idea.
But to his own surprise, Sherman manages to keep the new wave of enemies at bay. His arm might be frail, but the shield is sturdy.
He turns towards the cultist trying to strike him with the razor, and gives him a nasty glare. "Fool! Do you not know it is bad fortune to attack the chosen of Lady Luck. Curses on you!!!" he yells, brandishing his finger.
@Quinn: He takes that right in the chest, and it hurts a LOT.
@Tarphrex: Unable to dodge, what with being glued to the floor and all that, Solid Red falls into the pit and expires.
@Zenaida (sort of): You reach out to shove the cultist, getting a good hit in on their duplicate. They use the opening to strike against you, scoring your side for 6 damage.
@Loth: It uses your CMB, which I notice is no updated for you. It should be a +2 (+4 BAB, -1 STR, -1 Size). You beat their CMD, you shove them 5 feet. If you beat it by high enough, you shove them further.
But it does still provoke an AoO, and you take 6 damage as you attempt to shove them into said pit.
@Sherman: That is an amazing feat. I have noted it down for one of my own characters.
Oh, and he fails. He can't make that DC even on a nat 20.
____________
After Alain's turn, it'll be time for the bad guys once again. You've defeated one of them, but where is the boss man?
Alain will strike out again at the most injured or vulnerable target in front of him....
@Alain: It does indeed miss, but it does also pop the duplicate image. So you got a bit of info there.
Alright, the 3 in the front line are going to try and stick it out.
As a move aciton, they all re-up their duplicates, giving the 50% mischance once again. Then they attack, but with Red Dash targeting Loth to get that sweet, sweet sneak attack. If it hits...
...holy missed opportunities bat-man. That was a horrible set of attacks.
Then they all three need to save vs. the pit...
... and with even more horrible rolls, Solid green slips back and into the hole, taking...
... 8 damage and falling prone.
Red dot just moves. Double move action while entangled, just tries to get away and collect itself.
Green Dots is going to take the opening and try to prove itself...
... it gets over the hole and tries to attack Loth...
...misses the swing and then tries to stay above the boards...
...fails at that as well (of course) and takes...
____________
Whoa. that was a garbage round. Less than a quarter of my rolls were over 10.
Anyway...
PART 1 OF 3
The ones on the stairs are going to try and get past Sherman, to join the fray...
... he makes it past Sherman, dodges Loth, but gets swung on by Alain...
...who hits for....
...cutting into the strangely garbed cultists, but not stopping it from getting into position to strike back at Alain for that sweet, sweet sneak attack damage...
... but misses regardless.
Dash Purple, emboldened by its allies success tries an even more daring move, trying to move past Sherman, then Loth, into the square near the pit....
...it somehow makes it past and strikes out at Loth...
...and misses. Couldn't finish strong. But oh well.
Let's go to poor Purple Dots.
It wants to kill the fool who cursed him...
... but second guesses itself into a miss.
_____________
PART 2 OF 3
@Alain: Are you using Power Attack?
His spell from last round completes...
...for 1, count them 1, creature....
It's turn will be at the end of this.
Ironbriar himself will instead do some INVISIBLE stuff...
.... with no visible affect...
_______
SUMMONED CREATURE round 1
Appearing in the air above Tarphrex, this apparition of clouds and electicity orients itself, then slams down on the Sorcerer...
and
... for 3 whole damage. Tarphrex is dead and dying with that whallop, I'm sure.
_________
PART 3 OF 3
Zenaida continues to focus fire on the cultist in the middle, hoping to free Alain up.
"Company! Behind you!"
"We're stuck from all sides, huh? Guess the best way out is through!"
Loth attacks the cultist in front of him, normally this time.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"That one slipped past! Can you deal with him?"" Sherman cries.
Hearing a series of shrieks, Quinn looks back towards the main room as a giant hole opens in the ground. Chuckling, he tightens his grip on Tarphrex. "Great Dragon, that is a magnificent skill you've picked up. I think you and I may become great friends."
As the enemies press the attack, he frowns. 'I hope this cloud isn't too dangerous...I may have to...' his thoughts trailing off, he thumbs the vial with the skull again.
Shaking his head slightly, the alchemist quickly mixes up another shadowfrost bomb before smashing the vial against his chest. Concentrating, waves of cold and shadow radiate outward in a cone from the tiny man...snaking around his allies.
7 Splash to Solid Purple and dot red in front of Alain