Boodiddly moves into the doorway to get a better view of everything happening inside, still humming to maintain the calming effect on the fish-person. Reaching for his violin, he pulls the instrument out carefully.
Urzok rushes in and hits Green hard!
Jevar throws fire at Green, but misses due to Urzok being in the way.
Boodiddly moves forward and pulls out a violin.
Shakur moves forward and casts telekinetic projectile.
Red Steps forward, bites Shakur, then Steps back.
Green bites and claws at Urzok then Steps back.
Blue continues to stare out the window.
Round 4—>5
================
Shakur (-7)
Boodiddly
Red (-26) {-1 attack}
Green (-16) {-1 attack}
Blue {no hostile actions}
Urzok (-35)
Jevar
================
Jevar frowns. He doesn't want to harm those that seem to have become non-violent, but he's having trouble getting at the violent one behind Urzok.
The mage hops up on the chair in front of him, hoping for a better shot and lets loose another bolt of flame.
"Not so tough now, AH?!" Urzok taunts as he closes in and makes another hefty slash.
________
Boodiddly hums and plays his violin frantically, but can't contribute much more as he maintains the magic flowing through the instrument. "Um... Ah, well..." he stammers between stanzas.
Jevar’s flame scorches Green into oblivion!
Urzok runs over to Red and cuts that deep one in half!
The zombie soldier did not have anything of note on his person.
The amnesiacs go back into the dining room then head west.
This room is furnished with a wooden desk decorated with the Ustalavic coat of arms. The walls are almost completely draped with warm, woolen tapestries.
Shakur, Boodiddly, and Urzok all notice that there is a trap on the cabinet in this room.
Boodiddly disables the trap. He tries the cabinet and finds that it is locked.
Inside the cabinet is a cloak, a dagger, and a leather bag containing 12 pp, 48 gp, 142 sp, and 343 cp.
Boodiddly determines the cloak to be a clandestine cloak and the dagger to be a +1 striking returning dagger.
The amnesiacs go through the southernmost door that leads to the west.
The fort’s modest lobby contains only a long bench for visitors, a small, twowheeled cart, and an attractive standing mirror. A faint briny smell hangs in the air.
As the amnesiacs open the door, they are greeted by two zombie soldiers, with a longsword in one hand and manacles in the other. One of them points to the amnesiacs and shouts ”There they are!”
”I’m gonna focus-fire this one!” Shakur magically launches one of his daggers with telekinetic projectile at White.
The dagger slices easily through the zombie’s flesh as it embeds itself in its body!!
Shakur then moves to the other side of Urzok.
”So that’s how it is?!”
White steps forward and swings his sword around the corner at Shakur!
The zombie then limps away, making room for Black! Black moves forward and slices around the corner at Shakur as well!
That soldier slices hard into Shakur and uses his crossguard to slam the Pharasmin’s head against the adjacent wall and says ”Stand down if you know what’s good for you!”
Round 1—>2
================
Shakur (-28) {frightened 2}
White (-31)
Black
Boodiddly/Urzok
Jevar
================
"Get out of here, Elf, this is where I'm meant to be!" Urzok chides Shakur as he retaliates against the zombie solder with a neat slice aimed for his legs and the interposition of his shield.
"I could say the same for you, pasty!" he taunts.
________
Urzok, try stepping back and letting the zombie come through to be surrounded by us! We can probably prevent more than one of them coming through at once anyway!
For the time being, Jevar steps around the table next to him and tries to shoot through the doorway and around the half-orc.
”Just be careful, Urzok!” Boodiddly urges as he grabs a stone off the floor and throws it through the doorway.
”Tha-that was a warning shot!” the gnome stammers.
Urzok slices cleanly through the zombie easily, while Boodiddly and Jevar try and fail to hit him.
Shakur begins to cast chill touch, but the soldier snaps out against him!
Shakur then starts moving up the stairs to get some distance.
Black motions to White, who rushes forward and swings at Urzok.
White then prepares to Aid Urzok.
Black begins moving to strike with his manacles, and Urzok strikes in retaliation!
White moves to Aid Black.
Black uses the momentary distraction from White to put the manacles in his hand on Urzok’s ankles with astonishing speed! Before he is even realizing what is going on, Urzok finds his ankles chained and locked up!
Round 2—>3
================
Shakur (-28) {frightened 1}
White (-31)
Black (-19) {Flat-footed: Round 0 of 1}
Urzok {-15-foot penalty to Speed}
Boodiddly
Jevar
================
"What the f##+ was that?!" Urzok shouts at his ankles. "Did you see what they just did to me?!" he asks the others.
"You'll pay for that!" he promises, taking a swing while backing towards his allies.
________
”Oh no!” Boodiddly dashes forward and pulls out his lockpicks. ”Urzok, try not to move and I’ll see what I can do to get you out!” Gershwin croaks affirmatively.
"Well. That's a problem."
"You got this, right?" Shakur shouts to Boodiddly as he casts Guidance. "Right?"
Yes indeed, and we're not taking those zombies down quickly enough...
He looks down at Oreb on his shoulder and makes a path for her to hop into his open palm. Gazing into her eyes he accepts an amount of energy that allows him to recover one of his spells. After the bird hops back up on his shoulder as he completes the incantation.
You are correct in assuming that a creature cannot Step when their movement is normally 5 feet total. That said, yours is normally 25 feet; medium armor doesn’t reduce your Speed (assuming you have a high enough Strength, which you do). So you actually could have Stepped there, which does make a difference.
Because one’s only providing a bonus, while the other is doing an entire action? I see where you’re coming from, but at the same time I DEFINITELY see where the design team is coming from in this distinction.
For the record, there was an errata that covered carrying stuff. One of the things was talked about was “worn” (meaning immediately available in a single Interact action and not in a backpack) tools, which basically amounts to as long as the tools are “worn,” you can draw and replace them as part of the action required to use them. My point being that you didn’t need to separately draw the tools, you could do that as part of the action to Pick the Lock on the manacles. And seeing as there was a slight mix-up (Urzok didn’t move his token like he said he did), Boodiddly could have actually taken the two-action activity to Pick the Lock on the manacles since he didn’t need to Step toward Urzok (which I will retcon into Boodiddly’s turn in a bit).
Urzok slices easily into Black as he moves towards the gnome who can pick a lock.
Shakur shoots out one of his daggers, but it gets lodged in the wall.
Jevar summons forth a sphere of fire on top of Black.
But quickly dodges out of the way of it!
Boodiddly causes his music to echo as he pulls out some lockpicks and begins working on the manacles around Urzok’s ankles.
Boodiddly manages to get a bit of the way towards opening the manacles
The zombies look at each other. ”New plan.”
The zombies Step away from Urzok then retreat further back into the room, sheath their longswords, and pull out shortbows from their backs.
Round 3—>4
================
Shakur (-28)
White (-31)
Black (-41)
Urzok {-15-foot penalty to Speed}
Boodiddly {Lingering Defense: Round 1 of 3}
Jevar
================
Jevar risks entering the room, thinking he should be able to dodge some arrows.
Just... no face stuff. And avoid the bird. he explains politely to the zombie soldiers.
”Um, maybe just shut the door?” Boodiddly suggests as he continues working on the manacles. ”Anybody think they’ve got quick fingers and could help?”
"I've got healers' tools at the ready. Not thieves' tools. And...I would totally close the door but I'm pretty sure they'd kill Jevar in there."
Shakur, with a sigh, walks into the room slowly with his hands out. "You're pretty smart for bog standard zombies," he retorts. "Sentient speech and everything, so maybe you'll understand when you're backed into a corner?"
Shakur places a tighter grip on his holy symbol as he casts shield, intending to reflect the first main source of damage. He offers a small laugh as he approaches further while Jealous Hexing white.
[A]Stride
[A]Shield
[A]Jealous Hex
Like a petulant child, Urzok shuffles his feet with urgency. "Come ooooon Gnome, do your lock thing! They're having all the fun in there!" he complains, looking at the door wistfully.
"HEY, THE LEAST YOU SHMUCKS COULD DO IS GIVE ME THE PLAY BY PLAY!"
________
Jevar moves into the room and moves his sphere along with it.
Some of the zombie’s already-decomposing skin sears.
Boodiddly tries fiddling with the lock, but doesn’t quite seem to find the second tumbler.
Shakur enters the room and hexes White.
”Gah!” White’s hold on his bow weakens as if it became heavier.
Urzok whines like a child as the gnome tries and fails to get the manacles off.
"Sentient speech and everything, so maybe you'll understand when you're backed into a corner?"
The soldiers smirk as they pull out shortbows. ”We prefer to think of it as holding our ground.”
White drops the set of manacles in his hands and both of the soldiers pull out arrows and shoot two of them each, Black aiming at Shakur and White aiming at Jevar.
The arrow hits Shakur, but with a wave of his hand he sends the arrow flying into the wall.
White shakes off the sudden weight of the bow and holds it confidently .
Round 4—>5
================
Shakur (-33)
White (-31)
Black (-47)
Boodiddly {Lingering Defense: Round 2 of 3}
Urzok {-15-foot penalty to Speed}
Jevar
================
Come at me! See, they're harmless! He yells back through the door, before turning back to the zombies.
They burn all right.
He concentrates on the flaming sphere and sends more fire at them.
”And... that should help!” Boodiddly pats Urzok’s leg as the gnome inspects his handiwork. ”Don’t you think so, Shakur? Wait, Shakur? Where’d you go?” He looks around worried. ”Jevar? Wait, don’t tell me they went in there!?”
"Hot DAYUM!" Urzok cheers, ruffling the Boodiddly's hair. "A couple of drinks on me!" he promises, already careening around the corner.
he shouts, wooping and hollering as he leaps onto the burning zombie.
________
Black dodges from Jevar’s ball of fire, but is directly hit by the mass of flame the wizard throws, completely incinerating the zombie!
Boodiddly manages to free Urzok from the manacles, and the half-orc rushes back into the action, completely cleaving straight through the remaining zombie’s torso!
”Huh…” Shakur notices something interesting and leans down next to the cleaved zombie’s lower half. ”Weird request: Urzok, help me take off his pants. I think I might know why they walk so weirdly…”
The two work together for some time to remove the pants from the legs of the zombie, and what they find immediately makes each amnesiac squirm.
Unsure of the implication with that (as well as Shakur’s spells running low and Jevar wanting to use his new ring), the amnesiacs decide it best to unbar the front entrance to Fort Hailcourse and return to Thrushmoor for the time being—after all, they liberated the captives, which was their primary objective, and it would be some time before the fort’s residents could do anything else.
*
As the amnesiacs wake up for the day, they immediately notice that something is amiss: The pugnacious half-orc Urzok is gone!
Each of you find a note near your head. The handwriting's a little sloppy and the paper's ruddy and wrinkled, but it's all generally legible.
"Elf, it's clear from the start we've had at least a little beef. Don't worry where I've gone, but know it is for the best. You didn't like it when I killed someone so dead they got undead. You didn't like it when I did everything I could to fight back either. You definitely won't like what I have to do now. And I just have to. So, uh, thanks for the healing. You kept my brains from going soft."
-Urzok
"Human, you're alright. I never understood what was going on with you and that bird, but that magic shit you can do saved my ass at least a couple times. So keep doing that. Thanks for giving me my axe back. Didn't even know it was mine, so you could have stolen it but didn't. Respect."
-Urzok
"Damn Gnome, this one's the hardest to write. First off, I ain't going back on my word, so here's the change for those drinks I owe you. I'd be zombie chow if it weren't for your little fingers. Second, your singing makes me better at killing things, so thanks for that. Don't think we would've made it through as much as we did without that."
-Urzok
Jevar blinks awake the next morning and goes about his routine generally thoughtlessly. Have a small breakfast, brew his coffee in that "special" set of beakers and tubes that he never mixes up with his alchemical equipment, feed Oreb breadcrumbs... etc.
Just after he closes his spellbook shut with a satisfying "clap", he looks around and counts his companions for the first time that morning.
Say... has anybody seen Urzok? He usually doesn't get up before me. He must be having a rough go in the latrine...
Just then he looks back at his bed where he notices a note he'd missed. Unfolding it, he reads...
He sets it back down again. It would seem our half-orc has departed company with us for personal, urgent reasons. Does anybody know if Thrushmoor has a Brute Squad we can hire out of? I suppose it's better if we find a like-minded adventurer who has an interest in these same problems. Though, I admit it will be hard to find a replacement who shared our experience at Briarstone and the incentive to unravel all of this...
He waits to hear what Shakur and Boodiddly have to say about this development.
Boodiddly stirs the contents of the skillet, his mind obviously elsewhere as a gentle trickle of tears wind like a stream from a mountain spring in his eyes down his ruddy cheeks before disappearing into the red forest of his beard. Perhaps they are caused by the smoke in the air, or the smell of eggs passing from "overcooked" to "low-quality charcoal". The gnome brushes his sleeve over his face, leaving a wet streak on the once-white fabric. "He didn't have to... to leave like... like that..." he whispers, continuing to stir while looking blankly into the distance. "He could have... you know, at least told us he needed to go. Not just... just abandoned us like that. Like he didn't mean anything to us, or, or that we wouldn't miss him." More tears roll down his face, and his belly heaves as the gnome starts to hiccup.
As the amnesiacs are comprehending Urzok’s message to each of them there is a knock at the door. Standing on the other side is the familiar face of Ms. Wrentz, and the not-so-familiar face of a rugged and armored dwarf.
”Oh good, you’re awake. May we come in?”
Ms. Wrentz and the dwarf situate themselves in as the amnesiacs explain what has happened to Urzok.
”Strange. None of my agents saw anyone matching his description in the night. Curiouser and curiouser. Nevertheless, it appears that he does not wish to be found. And besides, we have much more pressing concerns. For example:” Ms. Wrentz motions to the dwarf beside her. ”I believe we’ve found another of your past associates.” She turns to address the dwarf. ”Please, tell them what you told me.”
The dwarf steps forward, his nervous eyes flitting around the room as he's unable to meet anyone's gaze. He rubs his hands together as he works up the courage to speak.
"I- well. I've lost my memory."
He finally looks up now that he's managed to get it out.
"I know it seems far-fetched, but it's the truth. My earliest memory is just a few weeks ago, tied up in a small room. Sometimes people would come in and work on me while this fella looked on and told em what to do. Surgery."
He looks quite shaken as he speaks about it, but he gathers his courage and continues.
"This smug looking git with a skunk's arse for a beard, I seemed to know him. Count Lowls I thought, somehow. Sometimes I'd have a flash while they operated on me of working for him. I remembered a viscious half-orc murdering someone while I looked on, and a gaunt artist..."
He trails off as his mind seems to wander before he snaps back.
"He asked me about the memories, the count, and he seemed disappointed with them. The next time I saw him and his cronies they knocked me out, and I woke up in the forest with just my clan dagger and my britches to my name. I've been trying to piece my life together for the past few days, hoping something would come back, until I heard some of these Sleepless Detectives talking about Melisenn. It triggered something, a memory of an olive-skinned woman. Mistrust. It wasn't much but it was something so I spoke up. They brought me to her-" he nods to Ms. Wrentz "- and she brought me to you."
He looks around again very nervously.
"I'm Kolgradd. I think. Do you know me?"
Jevar turns and stands silently, listening to Ms. Wrentz's introduction of the dwarf, and his own testimony.
Yes, we know of Count Lowls alright. But... I have no memory of you.
He squints and looks closer.
Do you know if you spent any time at Briarstone?
Jevar looks to Ms. Wrentz, hoping she might have a clue here too.
He thinks again on something Kolgradd said. Gaunt artist... we'll have to check with him later.
Turning back to Boodiddly and Shakur, the wizard remarks Well, I guess we don't need to visit the Brute Squad after all. Somehow this one is as wrapped up in this mess as we are.
Turning back to Ms. Wrentz, How do you keep finding people with this common thread?
Turning back to Ms. Wrentz, How do you keep finding people with this common thread?
”Your guess is as good as mine…” Ms. Wrentz clears her throat. ”Kolgradd Thunderiron: head of Count Lowls’s security detail, or at least was. If he was admitted into Briarstone Asylum then it was at a different time from the rest of you; the count admitted you three into the asylum simultaneously, correct?” Without waiting for an answer, she turns to Kolgradd. ”These gentlemen are in a situation very similar to your own: having a working relationship with the now-missing Count Haserton Lowls, only to suddenly be without any memories. They are looking for the count as well for answers.”
Kolgradd shakes his head at Jevar's question.
"Briarstone isn't ringing any bells, nor are any of you I'm afraid. But it's a start. Have you any leads on the count's location? Four brains is better than three I'd say, even broken ones. I'd like to help if I can."
He adjusts the numerous weapons at his hip and on his back.
"Head of security? Sounds about right. I seem to know my way around a blade at any rate. I'd like to ask this count a few questions."
He strokes his beard while he ponders.
I stood and watched that half-orc beat someone to death. Why didn't I stop him? Why didn't the count kill me?
"Lowls, no." Shakur grimaces a bit. "But we do have reason to suspect something a bit more...umm....cannibalistic has taken up residence on the Hill. We're currently mid raid on the fort as, did they call them 'sacrifices'? Well. Things are going from the fort to the Hill. We plan to stop that first so things are a bit more manageable when we storm the Hill. Right?"
"Also, where are my manors. Shakur Hektat! Cleric of Pharasma. 'Healer' by trade, from what I can remember at least."
”Well, the count is unfortunately not in Thrushmoor at the moment; we do not know where he went, but if there is a way to discern that, then it is in Iris Hill. Unfortunately, while you have freed the captives, it is still imperative that you all make sure that any chance of that occurring once again is stopped. You must return to Fort Hailcourse.”
Jevar suddenly looks embarrassed. Oh, goodness. Sometimes I'm too aloof. My manners. Yes, I'm Jevar. I do wizardry and alchemy. And this...
He gestures to the small raven on his shoulder
...is Oreb. My handy sometimes-assistant.
He stretches his left hand out towards Kolgradd, but rather than extend his hand for a shake he lets Oreb hop down his arm and over onto the dwarf. She pecks curiously at his beard as a way of introduction. Perhaps it will make a good winter home.
Boodiddly sniffles, fishing a handkerchief out of his pocket and blowing his nose noisily in it before wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. ”Um... Sorry.” He stuffs the handkerchief back into his pocket and extends a small hand. ”You can call me Boodiddly. Oh, and this is my friend. I’m still working on a name, but I’m trying out Grieg right now to see if that fits.” The gnome points to the toad sitting on his shoulder, a smile peeking through his tears-streaked face.
Kolgradd returns everyone's handshake with a firm grip and a quick stoic "Kolgradd". He nods to Grieg as well, and laughs nervously when Oreb jumps on his arm. At the beard-peck though he jumps back as if hit with a lightning bolt. For a second he's back on the table in that room with sharp implements coming for his head, and he reacts instinctively to bat Oreb out of the way.
"Oh I'm sorry-" he smooths his beard down and breathes deeply. "just a bit protective of the old beard there, sorry Oreb"
"Cannibals and sacrifices you say? Maybe you should fill me in on the way."
The amnesiacs explain all that is going on to the newcomer as they return to Fort Hailcourse.
When they arrive at the fortress, they find that the front entrance is surprisingly barred, which is strange since they took the bar to the door with them. It seems that the doorway is far more loosely barricaded than it should be; it would just be a matter of shoving whatever is blocking the door on the other side out of the way.
But just as Kolgradd is about to ram into the door, muffled voices from the other side echo ”I told you they’d be back!”
Rustling is barely audible from the other side of the door as suddenly the glint of arrowheads emerge from the arrow slits on each side of the door!
And arrows fly from the arrow slits, but none of them hit their intended target.
Round 1
===============
White
Black
Shakur
Kolgradd
Boodiddly
Jevar
===============
"Gah, we're sitting ducks out here, best get this thing open!"
Kolgradd puts his shoulder to the door and tries to ram it open.
Oh... wow Kolgradd. Good job on the doors!
Jevar, impressed by their new teammate rushes back into the fort to quick dispatch the other archer.
Watch out over your right shoulder! It's going to get a little hot...
Shakur pops his head through the doorway and says "And stabby. Don't forget stabby," as a dagger from his necklace quickly flies dangerously close to Kolgradd's beard.
slashing.
Shakur then turns to see the other one and quickly casts shield, interposing it between him and the one not being attacked.
”Stay safe!” Boodiddly claps his hands a few times before continuing, ”And way to knock on the door!” Imitating Shakur, he grabs a piece of splintered wood and throws it at the overwhelmed guard.
Kolgradd bashes through the door, shattering the wagon that was used to block it on the inside.
Jevar then chucks fire at White, scorching the soldier.
Shakur sends one of his daggers flying at the zombie soldier, which easily slices through.
Boodiddly then begins to sing and advances forward.
Black fires an arrow at Kolgradd.
The arrow hits the dwarf, who is protected by the gnome song, and the zombie pulls out a set of manacles as he moves over to Jevar!
White, seeing the angry dwarf with a massive hammer, takes several careful Steps away and pulls out a set of manacles.
Round 2
===============
White (-30)
Black
Shakur
Kolgradd (-4)
Boodiddly
Jevar
===============
Jevar's eyes light up as the soldiers flank him.
Manacles?! Oh no. No no no no.
He runs out from between them with abandon before turning back to try to burn one of them.
"Oh no you don't!"
Kolgradd steps after the zombie and brings his hammer down with both hands, aiming for its head
He then releases one hand from his maul for balance and cautiously tries to sweep the legs of the other zombie to knock it down.
Boodiddly's eyes likewise widen at the sight of the manacles. "Get out of there, Jevar!" he yells. "Kolgradd, they'll try to put those manacles around your legs! Don't let them!" Quickly he grabs a broken piece of barricade and hurls it at the wounded zombie.
Jevar disengages from the two soldiers, who both kick at the wizard in retaliation.
Jevar then chucks fire and hits Black.
Kolgradd rushes into the room and brings his hammer straight into the chest of the zombie, audibly cracking several bones. He then tries to sweep the other soldier’s leg, but Black leaps above the incoming leg-sweep.
Boodiddly then causes his music to echo and sends a piece of the barricade flying, completely decapitating White!
Shakur casts shield and continues to harry the remaining zombie with his dagger.
Black, taking the brunt of the situation, looks over at Kolgradd and lunges at the dwarf with his manacles!
Kolgradd manages to punch the zombie in the jaw, but this doesn’t stop it from continuing to come at him with his manacles.
But the soldier completely overestimates the dwarf’s height and merely manages to smack Kolgradd in the face with the manacles.
Round 3
===============
Black (-39)
Shakur
Kolgradd (-4)
Boodiddly {Lingering Defense: Round 1 of 4}
Jevar (-8)
===============
That's right Kolgradd. Do NOT let it get those manacles on you! Lean away so I can burn it!
Then, with a quick flick of his right forearm Jevar summons a temporary force shield in front of him.