GM Mindxing's Forged in Flame, Part 2: Cleased With Fire

Game Master MindXing

Trying to be fair and reasonable but at the same time moving us along. If the door wasn't open, then Ewari saw something else that triggered her suspicion. Maybe just seeing the library was enough.

"What escaped slaves?" Ewari's suspicion level raises even higher. She steps back from K'Anubis as he approach. After a particularly potent flatulence she waves her hand in front of her nose.

"Disgusting. That's it. I'm taking care of this problem myself."

She draws her falchion with fluid movement.

Sorry, gotta run to a meeting at work. I'll roll initiative next posting and get us into rounds

Ewari swings her falchion around and into K'Anubis. "Pathetic creatures like you have no busniess being here."

falchion@K'Anubis: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 Does that hit your FF? It looks like it.
damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 6) + 9 = 20

falchion@K'Anubis: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Round 1

Ewari
Garduk
Brady
Tarragon
Kulga
Kanubis [20 dmg]
Nella

Bold are up

So much for the tactful approach.

Garduk yanks a miniature shovel out of his pouch; he growls, "Pudota reikään!" and mimes digging with the shovel.

A square pit, 20 feet deep and 10 feet on each side, opens up under the efreet (purple square shows the area). The area around it slopes into the pit as well.

"Don't get too close to the edge!" Garduk barks a warning, then takes a few steps to be ready to dive under the table if necessary.

"Oh boy...we'd better handle this quick before anyone else shows up!"

Nella flicks her wrist, allowing a small wand to drop from a wrist-sheath and into her hand. She waves it high, in an arc, calling on the power within to bless the group's efforts. Then, mindful of Garduk's words about the conjured pit, takes a step or two away.
______________

Nella activates her wand of Bless (22 charges remaining) and then moves to her current map position.

We spent about 40 minutes in the library, and no more 10 minutes within negotiation. So I suppose Mage Armor is still up. If my calculations are right, the monolith got 24 FF AC, and avoids damage. My actions will depend on two conditions: dwarven blood being spilled or not, and Efreeti falls down or not. So I will wait for GMs actions.

@GM, you have Brady inside the room in the NW; I don't think he would have made it all that way before the efreeti interrupted us. Where should I start Brady's action from? Please place him where you feel appropriate and I'll take action from there.

K'Anubis, yes, your mage armor would still be up so you avoid the damage! Brady, I positioned you on the map.

reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

As the ground beneath her falls away, Erawi nibly jumps away from the pit. She sneers at the red-headed cleric. "Blessings huh? It's so cute that you think that even matters here?"

Round 1

Ewari
Garduk
Brady
Tarragon
Kulga
Kanubis
Nella

Active effects: bless
Bold are up

Brady briefly studies the efreeti, and sees something he likes in the way it dodges out of the way of Garduk's pit. He leaps forward, winding his arm back in a mighty swing which he targets at the center of the fiery creature's chest; the sound of impact resonates through the foyer.

Wow - I went away for a long weekend and am 37 messages behind. So sorry. I do not usually get behind in my games. Question - I can use that page of spell knowledge. Can Tarragon carry it? If so, before leaving the library he would have used to to cast Resist Energy (fire) on himself as he has spell slots of that level but seldom uses them, preferring to fight.

Tarragon steps forward and enlarges as he rages. Choosing not to draw weapons he attacks Eraw with natural weapons. Assumes Resistance is up.

bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 191d8 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 261d8 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 381d8 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Confirm?: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 341d8 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Brady, the exploit weakness succeeded

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Brady jumps into Ewari and delivers a devestating blow to Ewari's chest. As she is still reeling from the hit Tarragon moves into the fray. His bite goes astray but his claws deliver savage cuts across her body. The onslaught is too much for her and she falls unconscious.

unconscious rounds: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Round 1

Ewari [68 dmg, unconscious till round 8]
Garduk
Brady
Tarragon
Kulga
Kanubis
Nella

Active effects: bless
Bold are up

We will remain in round time because she can try a new save each round to wake up.

great move, Brady! Try to finish her off not noisy please!

K'Anubis giving Advice to boost offensive of his team and then move closer to unconscious Efreeti using his short length to remain under stairs if possible.

+1 To attack and damage. This is moral bonuses, so not stack with bless and everyone receive just +1 to dmg effectively.

Wow - I went away for a long weekend and am 37 messages behind. So sorry. I do not usually get behind in my games. Question - I can use that page of spell knowledge. Can Tarragon carry it? If so, before leaving the library he would have used to to cast Resist Energy (fire) on himself as he has spell slots of that level but seldom uses them, preferring to fight.

Tarragon - I think you're good to take the page of spell knowledge. Garduk offered it to you back in the library.

Kulga's habitual scowl only deepens when the efreet fails to put up an interesting challenge, but she's not particularly sentimental about killing the guard while it's easy either.

Axe (Advice, Study, PA): 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 13 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 33
Magic Slashing: 1d10 + 6 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 + 4 + 1 + (6, 6) = 33

Reflex not to fall: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 = 26

Well that was rather easy for you guys!

Kulga's axe finishes Ewari before she had a chance to recover.

Out of combat. Now what?

"Oof, that's one way to take care of it," Nella winces. [b]"Come on, we need to hide the body and clean up the mess and fast!"[/n]

And Nella proves quite ready to do what she can to help with such an endeavor, whether it involves dragging the body into a nearby room or creative application of Create Water to clean up any blood on the floor.

Good job, fellows! Quick and effetive. We almost went through without blood shed here. But we could be noisy.

K'Anubis asks Brady to help him and drag the body back to azers room. After this he will close all the doors double cheking. Kanubis grabs keys from Ewari and check for other loot quickly.
After returning to main hall the monolith suggest:
Thanks for cleaning blood, Nella! I suppose bosses office remains somewhere at second floor. I have hypothesis about where his kabinet is and I could get there through the balcony. Or lets go there immidiately just using general stairs here. I think now we are under risks of quick troubles escalating.

While team decides how to move along next, K'Anubis approaches balcony doors, open one of them and look up to understand if he could enter windows or doors upfloor. He preventively activates his boots to be able to walk over walls or ceilings.

Do we have a plan of sceond floor here thanks to Azers?

"Hrm. I thought we were checking out the rest of this floor before heading upstairs. If you've got her keys, K'Anubis, maybe that will make dealing with the trapped doors go faster?"

Anything else on the efreet's body?

Tarragon reduces back to medium size as he lets his rage drop. He helps hide the body.

A search of the body reveals nothing more than a key on a chain. The key looks like it would fit the door locks of the meeting room you were previously in.

Yes, the Azers gave you enough info about the second floor. Slides updated.

Nothing useful at the balcony. Garden, I suppose it is not universal key. But we can try for sure. Anyway I suggest that we go upstairs and check south-west and south-east rooms there as these looks interesting upon azers description. If you wanna vote - start. Garduk, if you want to try the key - feel free. K'Anubis sits to the coach to spend some moments resting after tossing the key to Garduk.

"Reasonable enough. We've still got a gorget to find. Hopefully that was quick enough not to draw more eyes."

"Okay, I guess that does make sense after all to go ahead upstairs and hit what we can as quickly as we can and then get back down here," Nella finally agrees. "Let's do it and start with those two rooms; either one would work for me."

The top of the stairs opens up onto a large balcony and sitting area. Windows provide expansive views out both the front and back of the estate. Based on information from the azers, you know that the two rooms on the north side are bedrooms and that they are most likely empty. A quick inspection shows that they are in fact empty. Each bedroom has a striking portrait of an efreeti standing in a noble pose.

All that remains upstairs are the two southern rooms. The azers weren't entirely clear about the contents of either since they were never allowed in those rooms.

Which one first?

Kulga spares barely a look for the portraits as she examines the western door for any traps.

Knowledge (nobility): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Knowledge (Nobility): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Garduk will follow the group. Should be able to post later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Kulga detects nothing unusual about the door to the room to the west.

Tarragon stands at the back looking the way the group had come, just in case.

Nella follows along near the rear of the group with Tarragon, preferring to keep her eyes and ears open for signs of trouble while the others investigate the doors. Though she doesn't recall the azers mentioning any traps up her, Nella still can't help but feel uneasy.

While Tarragon keeps watch towards the stairs, she begins to scan for magical auras out in the halls and passageways.

"Western door seems a good a place to start as any," she whispers as Kulga heads that way to have a look at it.

Following the group, K'Anubis respects silence. And fresh air.

Nobility: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
He will approach western door and carefully open it after Kulga inspection.

Brady waits patiently with the others, also unsure about the lack of warning from the azers about this area.

K'Anubis opens the door into a nicely furnished reliquary. Exotic trophies, ancient relics and glimmering weapons rest atop illuminated pedestals that encircle the room. Each item on display has a storied history of how it came into the family’s possession, ranging from the spoils of war to royal rewards to the fruits of a particularly grand business maneuver.

Three of the pedestals are empty.

One pedestal contains a noteworthy item -- a frost-forged steel breastplate inscribed with iconography that Nella immediately recognizes as Shelynite.

The remaining items in the room seem to be of little interest.

Garduk casts detect magic and scans the room.

From first view nothing interesting inside for Kanubis. So tha monolith remains near main door to listen what happens outside while teammates inspections things and understand magic.

Garduk doesn't sense any magical auras in the room.

"That's...that's Shelynite iconography," Nella remarks, frowning. "I wasn't expecting to find something like this here, but...well, even the dark-hearted are known to appreciate beautiful things. Maybe that's why?"

She carefully approaches, providing nothing seems out of place to those with sharper eyes, curious for a better look. "Don't worry, I'm not going to take it...I know it's not what we're here for and it might actually be something the family acquired legitimately. But I'd like to know if there's a maker's mark or anything."

If nothing happens, Nella takes a moment to give the breastplate a closer look, curious as to its origins.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Aren't we going to take the frost-forged breastplate?
This place is very interesting, both not during lack of time and some good wine

Nella examines the breastplate but doesn't notice anything special about it.

"Well...it's pretty but otherwise seems to just be a breastplate," Nella declares after a few moments. "Sorry for wasting time. No one else sees anything worth checking out in there, then? If not, we should go check the other room across the way."

Do not like all this paintings and carvings anymore. And not worth to do soomething with laa these.
Kanubis inspects the room quickly, tapping walls for a while and if nothing unteresting remains, with nods aproaching another room, to the south-east. Sneaky as he can.

If somewhere you need a roll, feel free to take 10. Stonecunning and Jem Scent ovearall!

The monolith will open the door as far as team pay attention and ready to enter. He surely use efreeti key first and not before
looking close to this door: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20.

"I've seen Shelynites waste time for longer," Kulga replies, her eyes fixed on the empty displays. "But we should move on. Even with the guards in disposed, we've already had to kill one efreet."

Since there's no where else to go, I'll move us into the next room. Map updated. Please position yourselves in the room (or outside if you wish to stay outside of the room).

Satisfied that there's nothing else of import in the reliquary, the group moves to the remaining room. The door is unlocked and they enter.

The walls of this chamber bear a patina that continuously shimmers and swirls, and every inch of the floor bears fantastic mosaics of metallic tiles. A desk of polished marble stands to the southeast between two bay windows. The desk’s surface is covered in an abundance of brass sheets. A large efreeti sits at the desk apparently engaged in business. At his side a large creature made of glowing stone stands at attention. Resting in a glass case in the northeast corner of the room is brass azer jawbone poised atop a metal stand.

The efreeti looks up with a sneer. "Ah. The mortals. Welcome. Well, not really. Civilized creatures schedule an appointment to meet with me, but what can I expect from lower creatures such as you?" He makes another flourish on the sheet he's working on then sets it aside. "How can I help you?" The disdain is clear in his voice.

Brady stops at the door once they're addressed, clearly waiting for someone else to take the lead in whatever negotiations might result.

K'Anubis enter as soon as he was spotted. His Kalistocrate Mantle still perfectly white.

Hello! You seems to be a boss here. Well, I am Trade Prince K'Anubis. Not nice to meet your. Your security system here is far from perfection, and your mannerism in underrastimating different kinds plays badly in negotiation with us. But now I see where these habbits and social patterns come from.
You relative Tygora Synderfury was unsucessful in ruling half-material town. Since facing her, my Society is cautious about your family. In case you might proceed unfair and unlawful operations this place now is under third party inspection. , - Kanubis drinks some water from jar, watching efreeti's reaction
Sense Motice: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
After a pause he continues.
So, about your question. YOu may be polite, helpful and cooperative during our upcoming audit. That would be handy for all the sides. Objections? - K'Anubis burps to make sure how he will face objections and stand a pose with maximum respect.

If the efreeti still in his chair - Kanubis gonna sit to a coach nearby.

The mortals? He sounds like he knew we were coming. And what's that thing?

"Hrrm," Garduk growls from just outside the door, safely behind Brady. "It seems you already knew we were coming, so am appointment would have been superfluous."

He nods in the direction of the glowing stone creature. "You haven't introduced your friend."

Knowledge (arcana or planes?): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Tarragon stops with Brady, hoping for a diplomatic solution but not expecting one. In fact Tarragon, seeing K'Anubis's approach decides that diplomacy is right out and tries to assist an intimidate with a glare.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Steam starts to rise from the efreeti's body and his face grows fierce. He glowers at K'Anubis then replies with a tight voice. "First you come into my home, unannounced and uninvited, then you do something to disrupt my security forces, and the fact that Ewari isn't here right now suggests that you did something to her as well. Then, you have the temerity to acuse and insult me, Xojject Cinderfury, the master of the great Cinderfury house?"

K'Anubis, it is clear that Xojject is extremely angry but is keeping himself in check, just barely. Also, need a Bluff check to convince him about the audit.

[ooc]Garduk, you recognize the other creature as a Magma Elemental but you don't know anything about such creatures.

With negotiations underway, Brady steps into the room, keeping an eye out for this to turn ugly.

Well, that is almost true...
Bluff: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (20) - 3 = 17
Weather or not this Efreeti believe in this, the monolith will show some polite but offensive words...

Oh, Xojject! I am sorry, did not recognize you. Actually, not sure I've heard of you. But trust me, it's better to cooperate with us. And yes, we've got temerity to advice best solutions. You just work with us, or go to Anubis.

Kulga carefully looks over Xojject, wary of any sudden treachery, but holds her tongue.

Bad luck for us that he's here, but he's not going to let us just walk away with the Jawbone, and the Azers will make better allies than this fop.

Any sign in here of the gorget?

It seems that he's wearing the gorget.

K'Anubis, good luck with the bluff. I didn't realize that he has a +15 to Sense Motive!

Xojject leans back in his chair, folds his hands and chuckles. It is not a pleasant sound. "So, in addition, to your previous crimes, you are now lying to me. Let's get down the it. Why are you really here and who sent you?" His smoldering gaze shifts from person to person.

"You know what? On second thought, I don't have time for this." He nods to the elemental next to him. "Craterflame, show our guests out please."

The massive creature grunts and nods then moves towards the group.

I only see Brady, Kulga, and K'Anubis in the room. Are the rest of you in there as well? Please update your token location on the map.