Kingmaker

Game Master Galahad0430

Quickly downing another concoction, Faerin moves to support Pyros, her muscles standing out, taut and lean, adding to the predatory nature of her advance.

Consume concoction of Bull's strength, advance.

Correction. Forgot I'd consumed a concoction of Cat's grace just before engaging in combat so last round would have been Bull's Strength, and this round Barkskin.

Taking a moment to quickly consume one of her concoctions, and stretching subtly as the effervescent draught sends a feeling of balance and limberness through her body, she touched the crystal at the top of her staff setting it aglow. Once everyone is ready, she advances down the tunnel.

Concoction of Cat’s Grace +4 Dex. Cast Light

Current effects Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Barkskin.

Pyros takes another swing at the annoying little wizard.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Damage, Magical Slashing: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
I'm not sue what the terrain is here. Can I move around to flank? If I can I will, and add +2 to my attack.

Yes. you are in a large chamber an currently Tartuccio is not near a wall.

Happy 4th everyone.

Linzi advances forward. She's not worried about much since there's lots of images of her. She wants to get close enough to the archers. Focus on limiting their effects on the battle.

Not certain if it requires a double move to get to the archers or not. If it does, then She'll use color-spray next round. If it's just one move (Linzi's speed is only 20) then she'll color spray this round.

You dim=whits don't even know how to "bend wood" properly. Why don't you take a break from this fight.

Ekun continues to send arrow after arrow at Tartuccio.

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 2 = 7
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 14
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

1d20 ⇒ 6
1d20 ⇒ 2
1d20 ⇒ 1

All three Kobold archers fall unconscious.

Tartuccio attempts to cast defensively
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
He succeeds and steps back five feet and also casts his own Color Spray.

He catches Harrim and Pyros in the area of effect.
Harrim's Will Sv: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Harrim successfully saves against the spell.

Pyros, Will Sv vs an illusion spell, please.

Everyone can go now.

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Welp.

As Pyros drops, Aaerin steps forward, bringing her staff up in a quick strike aimed for Tartuccio's head.

Quarterstaff/Bull's strength: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Pyros, is blinded and stunned. Also, currently, only Harrim and Faerin are threatening Tartuccio (but you both can easily flank him). Anyone else can move up and I will assume you each do the alternating 5'shift dance so each person gets to attack with the flanking bonus (for ease of posting, you don't have to delay for each other).

Faerin's quarterstaff bounces harmlessly off of the shield of force protecting Tartuccio.

Harrim moves in to attack.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Harrim is able to land a solid hit.

Shayn attempts to use her slumber hex on Tartuccio.
Tartuccio's Will Sv: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Tartuccio does not fall victim to Shayn's hex.

Ekun, you are up again.

btw, Linzi, are you doing your Inspire Courage?

Ekun has a little trouble with his aim in the dark cavern but he continues to send them at the small false kobold.

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 2 = 15
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Stepping into a better position to flank with Harim, Faerin brings her staff slamming down on the accursed gnome-kobold menace.

Quarterstaff /Bull's strength/Flank: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 25
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Faerin is able to get through Tartuccio's defenses and finally brings him down. With that, silence again reigns in the chamber.

What does everyone do? There is still a slight glow from the spot where Tartuccio seemed to pass an object through what appeared to be some sort of portal. There are also a lot of dead kobolds.

Faerin, feels nice to finally roll some numbers over 10, doesn't it? :)

Hip! Hip! Horray!!! Granola totally brained that faker.

Linzi checks out the glow area. Trying to use her poetic mind to put what she sees into words and coherent concepts.
knowledge check? Knowledge Arcana?
1d20 ⇒ 11 Arcana gives +10. Engineering or Dungeneering gives a +11.

Faerin, feels nice to finally roll some numbers over 10, doesn't it? :)

*Grumble grumble*

Faerin, feels nice to finally roll some numbers over 10, doesn't it? :)

It does indeed!

Faerin breathes a satisfied sigh of relief as Tartuccio drops. Studying him to see if his form changes again, she checks for any signs of life, searching his body for anything of note in the process. "Anyone have any clue as to what he was doing, or what that portal thing is?"

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Linzi is able to determine that an extradimensional portal was recently opened and closed here. As to its purpose, it seems that Tartuccio was sending whatever he found in this room somewhere.

You gather the loot (i'll give an updated list later), and head out. As you exit the sacred chamber you are met by Chief Sootscale and several of his followers.

"Friend! We fight! Chase off all Mitesss. You find Tartuk and sacred relic?"

Remember, the two branches that you used to open the chamber are the relics he is asking about.

"Tartuk lied and betrayed you. He tried to escape with your sacred relic. We stopped him." Faerin proclaims, presenting the branches that carried powerful religious significance to the tribes.

Upon hearing the news about Tartuk the Chief exclaims,
"Treachery! Treason! It is good that he diesss!"

When you return the branches, he tells you,
"Wissse and fearlesss! Loyal Friend! You friend now kobold always! Glory!"

Wissse and fearlesss! Loyal Friend!

and don't forget velvety good!!

Linzi is quite happy to have entered the stump , gathered treasure, and made kobold allies. Boom! Big win!
what a team we make?! Huh? Huh? Don't you agree o' leader- Mr. Executioner?

But, something is itching her mind. Like what items did that turd pass through the portal. What items that were more important than these "relics"?
and, the next question, who is on the other side receiving said items?

Linzi voices these questions when out of earshot of the kobolds.

"It implies he might have been working for someone else, possibly sent to undermine the whole charter process on behalf of another nation. Whatever he sent through that portal, we should assume it is now in the hands of a potential enemy." Faertin replies.

"There is no glory in slaughter." Ekun grits his as he comes face t face with the Chief. He quickly realizes it falls on deaf ears and stomps away He is tired of death, tired of war. It brings nothing but death and destruction in its place. "How can we find out where that portal went?"

"It would likely require someone with a greater understanding of magic than any of us. Maybe something on him will provide a clue." Faerin suggests.

I suppose I eventually get over the blindness and whatnot.

Yeah at 4HD it's 1d4 rounds max. We'd wait 30 seconds and you'd be fine

"There is no glory in slaughter."

To this statement, Linzi rolls her eyes. She keeps a bit quiet as Ekun is obviously upset. There's a time and place to correct someone on the rules of story boarding and novel composition.

Good question Legs. I guess we have to figure out if Tort-turd created the portal. If he did, we'd need to know more about him to see what kind of magics he employed. Maybe he has a spell book.
Or, if it's this "holy place" that helped create the portal, maybe it's a place that offers a thin membrane to another place - like "the upside down".
Or it folds space and the other side is the Aldori Treasure room.
I guess we need to ask the Kobolds - Hey Chief Sootscale -- what's so awesome about this room? What did it hold?

@gm any hints or spellbooks or skill rolls to glean more?

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

No, the detect magic and knowledge arcana rolls gave you the little information there was. You can't really tell where the portal went to without having it be active.

"Whatever it is, it's likely the secret died with him or will become our problem later. We can deal with it then. We should clear out anything of use and find a suitable place to spend the night if not here." Faerin points out.

Granola's right. When she's right. She's right. Let's find someplace safe and get 20 winks. 25 if you are a halfling like myself!

"That's a good idea. It's been a tough slog down here."

I assume you all head back to Oleg's?

Btw, I've never played this where I made an alliance with the kobolds, usually I wipe out both sides. It will be interesting to see how this develops...

"We are all the way down here, should we head back to Oleg's or keep searching for the Stag?" Ekun asks the group. "We have made it this far, let's press on."

"We should be able to rest here, I'd think, then press on from here."

You have a lot of stuff to unload. Also, there is still the unnatural fog which hasn't dispersed yet.

I realize the pace was slow recently, but there are a couple of things waiting at Oleg's. First, Kesten Garress awaits your capture or killing of Tartuccio. Second, Jhod Khavken is waiting to hear about the Temple of the Elk. You also, have some people you sent to Oleg's; Tristian, the Aasimar cleric of Sarenrae, and the two people you freed from the Technic League slavers, Octavia and Regongar.

After unloading the mundane items you have acquired at Oleg's, the party gold total is 9598gp. Also, as soon as you find a collector, you have the 12,000gp worth of antique armor from the skeletons.

You also have the following in your party (this is in addition to what you have on the treasure sheet already):

Potions (all at minimum CL):
CLW x36
CMW x1
Vanish x1
Lesser Restoration x2
Shield of Faith x3
Mage Armor x4
Acid x2
Alchemist Fire x6

Scrolls (minimum CL):
Bless x2
Divine Favor x1
Mage Armor x1
Communal Prot. from Chaos x1
Communal Prot. from Evil x1
Remove Blindness x1
Shield of Faith x1
Shocking Grasp x2

Wands:
CMW (14)
Ear Piercing Scream (9)
Lead Blades (17)
Magic Missile, CL3 (18)

Other:
+1 Cold Iron Dagger
+1 Aldori dueling sword
+1 Scimitar
+1 heavy steel shields x2
+1 Breastplate
+1 Full Plate
+1 Chain shirt x2
Headband CHA +2
Headband INT +2
Headband WIS +2
Cloak of Resistance +1 x2
Ring of Prot. +1 x3
Bracers of Armor +1 x2
Amulet of Mighty Fists +1
Amulet of natural armor +1

Besides most mundane gear, Oleg has a collection of items available, just ask.

Two other people are at Oleg's when you arrive, Amiri, who you already know, and Valerie, a retainer of Jamandi Aldori who volunteered to come out and help since it was found that Tartuccio was the spy. Valerie is an incredibly beautiful woman who seems to go to great lengths to downplay her beauty. Her hair is cut in an unflattering bowl cut and she is heavily armored (tower shield fighter).

Upon seeing all this treasure and loot!
I'm throwing a party!! Open BAR at the Trading POST! If I don't see at least 3 people dancing on the slanted rooftop by the end of the evening, it'll be a major disappointment! She then goes around and asks everyone.
You going to my party?
You going to my party?

She very overtly DOES NOT ask Valerie to the party. I mean, having that hot a girl at the party hurts her chances with the guys. Linzi's charasmatic, and doesn't need competition.
There's certainly girl beauty politics going on, and Linzi is nice, and good, but petty.

Upon the party's return, Faerin is happy to see that the rescuers have made it back to Oleg's safely. Going to see Jhod, she brings him up to date on their developments at the Temple of the Elk, before taking the time to meet with the newcomers and checking in on those they rescued.

Pyros notices that Linzi avoids Valerie. I wonder what's going on there. Later on, he makes a point of speaking with the tower shield fighter. "I don't know what's going on with Linzi. But you shouldn't be the only person at the Trading Post who doesn't come to the party. If need be, you can come with me."

He also makes a point of going to see Kesten Garess and tell him about Tartuccio.

Linzi is going to party. She is going to be a social butterfly. Flittering here and there. Listening for gossip. Listening for story ideas. Listening for how GREAT her and her companions are. Telling people, You ain't seen or heard the half of what's happening out there in the wilds. Just wait for my book. It's sizzlin' hot!
OH! You know what else is sizzlin'? The romance budding between the Aldori Sword-guy Pyros and Valerie. I heard her asking about his tattoos. The one with the rose vines intertwining. She'd asked about the meaning of the budding red roses. If Valerie wasn't hinting at sexual innuendo, my name isn't Linzi of The Velvet Voice.
When someone she's gossiping with mentions how both Pyros and Valerie are "just over there at the tavern table together", Linzi will feign surprise.. and mouth. "See, I think some alchemist is creating some heavy *chemistry*.".

Linzi wants the rumor mill to make Valerie "claimed" and thus off the singles market. Once her work properly done, and rumors spread, she makes certain Ekun is having at least a little fun. She wants to hear at least one laugh from him tonight. She also goes to Faerin with one of those starter conversations, Oh, you should have heard how they exaggerated the spider den encounter. People at this Trading Post think there were like 10 spiders. But, I did tell them how *GREAT* you were Granola. I want that record straight. You helped us survive death's door.
*****
At some point, she ambles up to Regongar to see what he's all about.
[b] So, people tell me your name's Regongar and you are *ELECTRIFYING* She giggles at the pun and description of the halforc.
You got a nickname? Or should you head out on campaign with us and I'll give you a fitting nickname. You don't wanna be called anything said about you around this camp.
She uses that to break the ice and start a conversation - drinking a pint of ale while checking out the half-orc.

"I mean it wasn't that far off. I think there were maybe 7 spiders in all, but thank you Linzi. It's how a pack should work, we keep each other alive and watch each other's backs." the druidess says, ignoring the whole granola nick-name that she'd apparently now been saddled with. Everyone expressed their...connection with people in different ways.

OK, a lot to unpack :)

Kesten first:
When you inform Kesten of Tartuccio's fate, he responds:
"Well, not the best result, but I think it will be good enough for Jamandi. Here's a reward for your troubles. I'll send word to Restov and let them consider how they might return the favor."

"Once again, I thank you for your help. I will remain here while my men recover. In the meantime, we can help defend the trading post if the bandits return. Good luck in your plans and endeavors."

Next, Jhod in response to Faerin:
When you approach, you see that he is in deep conversation with the Aasimar cleric of Sarenrae, Tristian, that you met at the Temple of the Elk.
"Ah, Faerin, greetings. Tristian has been telling me of your success at the Temple of the Elk. I am happy that my visions led me to you. These visions...they were the voice of Erastil himself, quiet, but clear. Before this I had thought He had turned his back on me, but now it is clear -- he has shown me his divine mercy and led me to you -- and invited me to aid a fellow priest in his deliverance. Lady Sarenrae and Erastil walk the path of the gods, hand in hand, and so must their servants as well."

"Tristian is still very young, and youth is a time of naivete and confusion," an amiable smile crosses Jhod's face, "but I see kindness and strength of spirit in him, traits indispensable to a priest. I sense that things are just beginning and great things are in store for Tristian -- and you. I pray for all of you each day, may the Stag God lead you down the true path!"

Next, Pyros's advance on Valerie:
Valerie regards Pyros's comment with cold detachment. Pyros gets the sense that she is annoyed by such advances. However, Pyros's moderated approach, which could be construed as mere politeness, seems to mollify her.
"Thank you, but no. Parties do not interest me much anymore. I am, however, very interested in what you are attempting to do here. I am willing to offer my services to this project."

Linzi, you walk up to Octavia and Regongar. I hate to disappoint you, but as strikingly beautiful as Valerie is, Octavia is no slouch either. She is a red-headed half-elf. Where Valerie has a cold, classic beauty, Octavia has a fiery cuteness. She also seems to be eternally cheerful.

"Ha! You hear that O? She called me "electrifying!" He says to Octavia, turning to Linzi, "So little one, I like you already! What do you say, O, should we invite her to join us sometime?" He finishes with a loud guffaw.

In his current state Ekun is not much for parties. In his past life before arriving here he would have been all for them. Singing, dancing, drinking, laughter. Blazes it had been so long since he had even heard his own laughter.

Grabbing a bottle and a metal stein he slams both on a table in the corner where he can watch and brood. He does enjoy watching the others be happy though and it does lift his spirits slightly. All in all it makes him miss his family all the more.

He slips back a drink quickly as he taps his foot to the beat of the music.

With Jhod/Tristian

Faerin nods, giving Jhod a bit of a smile. Though she didn't exactly follow Erastil, the Green Faith and Old Deadeye often enough walked similar paths and shared mutual interests, and the same could be said with Sarenrae, the warmth of the sun an integral aspect of the natural order of things.

"I appreciate that greatly...as would we all."

Between the three of them, lay the tools to guide the party of this developing community into something harmonious with the land around them, as it should be.