GM XaveTheNerd's Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master X Hums

"Do you think this 'something' to be cause for alarm?" asks Wulthur. Though allowing the skinwalker to pass him, the man reaches for his weapon.

Ao draws his own weapon - a strange and exquisite Eastern-style blade - and a handsome, if ominous, black shield.

He is torn between calling out a warning and waiting to see what Barrabas has in mind.

As Shenzen and Barrabas weave into the room, they can't help but notice an audible click at their feet. The Grandfrogger then finds his feet completely unsupported as the floor beneath him gives way to a 20-foot deep pit.

Both inside the vault and at the bottom of this pit are gaunt, grey humanoids who seem terrified at the fact that they've been noticed. The one in the pit, however, looks to be hurt, as its holding its left arm as if it had been sprained.

Character profiles updated

Grandfrogger nooooo!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thump damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

The humanoid within the pit shouts as the Grandfrogger hits the floor near him. "Nonononono please. Don't." he shouts. He's delaying.

Skulking About
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (-4; Delaying; In pit)
Wulthur
Zahkar
Ao Shoku
The Grandfrogger (-3; In pit)
Shenzen
Barrabas

Wulthur considers the creatures and whether they may have a reputation for bloodthirst or cowardice.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Stay back!" he cautions both the creatures and his allies as he draws his blade, raising it fully.

"My fallen friend, how are you doing down there?" he calls to the grippli in the pit. Looking to his allies he for confirmation, he says to the grippli, "We should be able to get you out of there soon."

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

The humanoid within the vault pokes its head out, sees everybody, and hides.

Effectively, those who don't make the above check don't know where the creature actually is in the Southern room without moving or making a perception check with a DC equivalent to the stealth check.

Skulking About
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (-4; Delaying; In pit)
Wulthur
Zahkar
Ao Shoku
The Grandfrogger (-3; In pit)
Shenzen
Barrabas

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

To be clear, what can I see now?

"Ooof, dear me." The Grandfrogger looks around at the other companion in the pit, leaning heavily on the walking stick clutched in grey molted hands. "I'm alright, I'm alright. Now then, all this yelling is really not necessary. Please don't what?"

What check would it be to identify the grey creatures?

Move action to stand.

Local check to identify the creatures. They are actually humanoids.

"Don't....hurt me! Or turn me in! It was an honest mistake!" the creature says at the bottom of the pit.

Barrabas can no longer see the creature without moving in, though scent still confirms the presence of a creature in the vault.

All non-actions. Initiative hasn't changed.

Also: Sorry for using the general persona. Didn't realize I did that 'till I couldn't edit it.

Barrabas follows the scent, Who's there? Come out.

Shenzen reaches up to his head and once more grasps something that is not there and pulls out a translucent lucerne hammer, one that seems to form as it is being drawn out of the top of his head.

He also calls out to the creature in the vault.

"Come out now and you won't be hurt. Make us come in and get you..." he lets the threat trail off.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

As Barrabas follows the scent, he hears an audible hiss emanate from the creature before Shenzen's words strike its ears.

"Let me pass! I want to leave this place!" the creature within the vault shouts.

Skulking About
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (-4; Delaying; In pit)
Wulthur
Zahkar
Ao Shoku
The Grandfrogger (-3; In pit)
Shenzen
Barrabas

"We mean no harm," Ao calls out. "We are investigating the death of a man who used to live in the house above. If you could but answer a few commonplace questions, we shall happily grant you safe passage."

He turns to the others with an 'isn't that right?' expression on his face.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 If there simply isn't enough time for that, I shall instead begin detecting Evil

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

"What was a mistake?" A heavy sigh issues from beneath the hood. "Here, my rump is bruised and your arm is broken. One moment and we can fix both these problems." A small willow branch appears from one sleeve, held unthreateningly in the opposite hand.

Move action to stand in last post, move action to retrieve wand of cure light wounds in this post.

The creature from within the vault speaks back to Ao. "Oh, yeah, sure. Just a bunch of dumb guards, but you'll definitely just let me out of this place. I've played this game before. Your honeyed words have no place here."

Unfortunately, diplomacy does take a minute, but tactics as written for this thing makes it REALLY hard to Diplomacy with it anyways. Just a heads up.

----

The creature in the pit speaks in hushed tones to the Grandfrogger. "They told us to come here. So we did. And then we set off this stupid trap, and I fell in. HURRY! Somebody hold it open! It closes automatically, and I just want to go home!"

The creature in the pit stays in delay

For ease of pbp initiative, Wulthur delays until after the creature in the vault...which...unfortunately...also delays.

Skulking About
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2nd round since trap triggered
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (-4; Delaying; In pit)
Wulthur
Zahkar (Delaying)
Ao Shoku
The Grandfrogger (-3; In pit)
Shenzen
Barrabas

With a fellow Pathfinder still in the pit, Wulthur drops his blade to retrieve a length of silk rope, one end of which, he tosses into the pit toward the Grandfrogger, even as he hold tight to the other, unsure of where it can be secured.

Silvery light pours from the willow branch and pools in mottled grey hands. "If we're in a hurry, then you'll need to climb that rope." The thin voice is patient and steady. "And you can't do that with your arm in such bad shape. This is healing magic - come, put your hand in it and you'll feel fitter than a good cheddar in no time."

Casting cure light wounds from wand, but holding the charge so the stranger can choose to accept.

It seems that his companions have the creature in the vault taken care of. Especially since it doesn't seem the least bit aggressive.

Hearing about the trap and reset, he acts quickly. He kneels next to it and jams his ectoplasmic lucern hammer into it. Despite having spawned from his mind, it's quite solid while its in his hands.

It has hardness and HP just like a regular weapon and it's got reach so I assume it's at least 10' long.

Barrabas checks his hip pocket to make sure he has his bomb reagents handy. Look, you come and talk to us or we WILL drag out out unconscious and talk about it later. What would you like?

Unfortunately, diplomacy does take a minute, but tactics as written for this thing makes it REALLY hard to Diplomacy with it anyways. Just a heads up.

Fine, then; as stated above, I went with detecting Evil last round. Now it's round 2 of the process....

The grey being in the pit accepts the healing, finding his arm in much better shape. "Thank you," he squeaks.

Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Zehkar, please," the thing shouts. "They healed me. I'm sure they also mean you no harm!"

"They..." the creature in the vault pauses. "It doesn't matter. We need to leave. Now."

The creature within the vault continues to stay in the shadows.

Skulking About
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (In pit; Friendly)
Wulthur
Zahkar (Delaying;)
Ao Shoku
The Grandfrogger (-3; In pit)
Shenzen
Barrabas

Intimidate or bluff will end the fight, and Ao can then use diplomacy from there.

Barrabas leans into the vault, You have not choice but to trust us, we have the whole place surrounded.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Shenzen keeps his polearm wedged into the hole, keeping one hand on it (so that it doesn't disappear.) He uses his other to fish his rope out of his pack, holding on to one end and tossing the other down into the pit.

That was probably more than one round of actions, but parse them out as needed.

Barrabas leans into the vault, You have not choice but to trust us, we have the whole place surrounded.

Bluff (Aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

"That is correct, I suppose." Wulthur adds.

”There you go. Now hold onto those ropes and you can climb your way out. I’ll be right here beside you.” The Grandfrogger’s slightly-sticky hands and feet cling to the wall easily as the two make their way out of the pit.

Climb speed of 20 should allow for getting out of the pit this round, but sticking with the grey one for moral support. Hopefully somebody up top has Knowledge (local) to ID these two.

heh. so i do. kn local: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Barrabas manages to convince the creature within the vault that talking is a better option. Ao MOSTLY dissolve the situation. Enough so that the one in the vault is willing to talk, though she refuses to show her face.

The one saved from the pit, however, seems to feel mildly indebted, and between the two of them, you find out the following information:

They belong to a tribe of Skulk (Barrabas IDed them. This definitely isn't a lie) known as the Nisku. They do favors for a group of humans in exchange for the narcotic Shiver. There's little love between the two groups, and the humans have the upper hand here; after all, most if not all of the Skulk in the group are addicted. The humans also seem to have recruited two of their ranks, Skulks by the names of Kymeth and Onamae, to work for them full time. All orders and deliveries to the tribe go through them.

The skulk in the vault then speaks one final time. "I and my kin here will go our separate ways now. You know everything we do. Just...let us go home." These whispers seem to still be a bit hostile, but are otherwise the same shady whispers she's always spoken with from the vault.

Voting time. Let 'em go or somethin' else? We'll move on once 3 of y'all agree

”You haven’t explained what you two are doing here though,” the Grandfrogger observes. ”We are investigating the murder of the proprietor of this shop last night - would you happen to know anything about that? The timing of your being here is certainly... convenient, wouldn’t you agree?”

"We only killed one guy," says the Skulk from the pit.

"Silence!" shouts the one from within the vault.

The pit Skulk talks again, but quieter. "We were told to kill the guards. There was only one here. Do you think that guard owned this place?"

Barrabas gets a good sniff on these guys. Looking for any residual scent from contact. Who told you?

"Kymeth told us. Brought some Shiver too!"

What Shiver? What did you steal and why?

"While I admire your willingness to confess and your honesty, forced though it may be...you just confessed to killing someone. We can't, in good conscience, let you leave free. You'll have to come with us and face justice," Shenzen says, keeping his grip on his hammer since he suspects these two aren't going to come quietly.

"And where is the body of the guard?" asks Wulthur.

@Barrabas: "Shiver, ya know. Good stuff. Makes ya feel whole and complete! We didn't manage to steal anything...got stuck...Have fancy silver, though!" The skulk by the Grandfrogger pulls out a handful of silver trinkets.

"Shut up!" shouts the voice from the vault once more. Obviously getting irritated.

@Wulthur: "You mean, it's not just outside?"

@Shenzen: The voice from within the vault shouts, "I knew you'd talk to much you fool!"

One vote for not letting them go.

Barrabas sees no reason to let a murderer free, All the same. You're coming with us. And we'll need you to get those other two, Kymeth and the other one, to come forward.

"Though I'm sure the sheriff has heard of the idea of a plea bargain," the Grandfrogger adds. "If you testify as to who paid you to carry out the killing and why, she might be willing to give you a lesser sentence. And perhaps find you some help so you're not a the whim of anyone with a bottle of shiver."

"You see! They won't let us go! The filthy surface dwellers are always stupid! Kymeth and Onamae are stupid to have joined up with a bunch of 'em!"

Well. The information's been gathered.

As if by some unspoken signal, Rogi draws his blade and stabs at the grandfrogger, a quick "Sorry." ebbs from his mouth.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

No Deal
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi
Wulthur
Shenzen
Zahkar
The Grandfrogger (-3)
Barrabas
Ao Shoku

Wulthur strikes the nearest skulk with his blade. "You were warned."

Melee (greatsword): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Damage (S): 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

If the closest Skulk is out of the pit -

"As Wulthur said...and we can't really let you stab our friend without some repercussions. Consider this a lesson on your Path... Shenzen chimes in then...Hammer TIme.

Psychic Lucerne Hammer: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Blunt or Piercing: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

If the closest Skulk is still in the pit. X marks where he ends up and use the above role as his readied attack, please -

Shenzen heads into the vault, hammer at the ready.

Yes. The skulk did climb out of the pit. It's marked there faintly on the map, and is currently open.

Shenzen's hammer quickly collides with the creature, sending it reeling back in a way Wulthur didn't expect. Wulthur's sword cuts nowhere near the creature as a result.

---

The Skulk within the vault throws a dagger at the unprepared Barrabas.

Attack Barrabas FF: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (6) = 7

The creature then tucks out of sight. But can't stealth because it attacked already this turn.

No Deal
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (-13)
Wulthur
Shenzen
Zahkar
The Grandfrogger (-3)
Barrabas (-7)
Ao Shoku

Barrabas downs an extract of Shield and chases the other one down.

”I certainly don’t believe that you’re sorry, or else you wouldn’t be doing this.” The Grandfrogger’s thin voice is tinged with both sorrow and scorn as it wraps around the skulk. Sticking to the wall like a fly, the grippli calls out to the other Pathfinders, ”If they stay alive, they can testify.”

Using Evil Eye to give Red a -2 penalty to AC for 7 rounds (Will 15 to reduce duration to 1 round) and 5ft step onto wall.

"Indeed. I would say 'shame on you', but would you care?"

masterwork gandasa: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Ao's gandasa chops deep into the Rogi as he falls unconscious.

Stabilize?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 Nope.

No Deal
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (Unconscious; Evil Eyed; -20)
Wulthur
Shenzen
Zahkar
The Grandfrogger (-3)
Barrabas (-7; Shield)
Ao Shoku

With the first interloper down, Shenzen goes looking for the other. He finds him soon enough, hiding in the vault, still.

He doesn't give him much chance to prepare and brings the hammer down.

Psychic Lucerne Hammer plus Flanking: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23
Blunt or Piercing: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

With the foe before him down and the other known opponent cornered by his allies, Wulthur holds his blade at the ready.
Delay

As shenzen and his spectral hammer move, the pit quickly closes, latching back into a floor. But as he steps into the vault it opens up again.

Shenzen quickly approaches Zahkar and lands a solid blow into her head, almost knocking her unconscious. Unfortunately, she still stands.

Zahkar realizes she's cornered, draws her short sword, and swings at Barrabas.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

She misses horribly before cursing under her breath.

No Deal
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects:
-----------------------------------------------
Rogi (Unconscious; Evil Eyed; -20)
Wulthur
Shenzen
Zahkar (-10)
The Grandfrogger (-3)
Barrabas (-7; Shield)
Ao Shoku

Barrabas returns the favor with a gore attack.

gore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Barrabas drops the Skulk.

Out of initiative

Now what?

Bennett brings this skulk over to the other in a pile, We should round up the rest of them and keep asking questions.