Iron Fellowship’s Passing the Torch (Inactive)

Game Master TriOmegaZero

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 20 = 28

Haha, willing to bet that doesn't do it.

As the party exits the stairway, a number of acolytes appear to be cleaning up the bodies of their fallen comrades. They instantly throw down their brooms and draw blades with more cries of "INFIDELS!"

"Looks like it's a fighting retreat then." Goblin-Strake observes.

Pitched Battle with the Red Mantis Assassins

A platoon of assassins has engaged the party! While individually they are little threat, en masse they still require effort to overcome. Rather than a drawn out combat against low level foes, each party member can describe how they heroically overcome the enemy forces, expending resources from the list below.

Choose one of the following resources to expend:

• Randomly rolled HP damage. (Counted as slashing.)
  
• Randomly rolled number of spell levels. (The PC chooses which slots to expend, so long as they equal the number of spell levels rolled.)
  
• 1/4 of the daily uses of a key class ability, rounded down.
  
• A consumable item worth a minimum of 500gp.
  
• A comparable cost equivalent to the above examples, subject to GM approval.

I'll just get this out of the way.

Kulik Damage: 13d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 6, 6, 1, 1, 4, 6, 1, 4, 1, 3) = 47
Bishop Damage: 13d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6, 3, 4, 2, 4, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5) = 62
Nym Damage: 13d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 1, 6, 6, 2, 1, 2, 1, 4, 6, 6) = 44

Actually I was going to take damage this time...

*adds a 1 in front*

Another Lay On Hands for me.

Another Judgement for me

Okay, party has exited the pagoda.

OOF what a damage roll! 10 charges marked. CLW: 10d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 8, 4, 6, 8, 1, 5, 8) + 10 = 60

Ten charges from wand of infidel infernal healing.

"I don't suppose we kept the wagon, did we?" asks Munny. "Ok, let's get this lot to safety. Where we found our contact's body, I reckon."

Munny will take a rear guard position, unless Bishop or KULIK would prefer it.

5 infernal healing charges

"Yes, we should get back to the never ending party."

Nym activates his invisibility ring. He does his best to stay in the middle of the pack.

Navigating the streets: KULIK will take 10 on Survival for 31 (if he can).

Bishop too will trust his training T10 Survival = 40

survival: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Hey, Hoss! Where ya' goin'?" asks Munny. "Its this away!"

Anyone see Hayato human person...?

Crossing the city streets is much easier than navigating the temple unseen, despite having to redirect Hayato from an oncoming patrol at one point. Pulling the wagon up to Strake's villa, the rescued captives are quickly hustled inside.

Goblin-Strake marches directly up to the one-eyed head of staff, who rises with a bemused, slightly irritated expression. "Mister Doane, we have a Calistrian Queen situation. These fine gentlemen will need access to the study. See to our refugee situation in the meanwhile and have the fellow wearing my form join us." The irritation washes away in relief almost immediately.

"Aye Captain, right away. Bloody good to know, but damned to see it twice in one life." With quick and quiet commands, Doane leads the party to the stone house at the back, marshaling the other servants to handle the matters.

Before long you are ensconced in a comfortably appointed room filled with more booze than books. Kirhed-Strake looks puzzled, regarding Goblin-Strake's incongruity of well spokeness.

"So, now that you've escaped the evil clutches of the assassins and reunited me with my form, what's next?" Goblin-Strake smiles widely. [b]"I would say you are on the guest list now, but I doubt you'll ever want to return here, even if I don't have to sail away myself."

"I wonder what happened to Luna?" asks Munny out loud. "Anyway, Master Strake, I think the plan was to get you back to your body as soon as we can. But, first, we'll need to return the chap that is inhabiting yours to his. See, there's a varmint back in Absalom wearing his body, so I think that bastard is due a come-uppance. As we figger it, when a feller's memories go back to their own body, those inhabiting it get sorta kicked out. So, we're evictin' the spy, and then we'll give you back your body.

"That sound about right, Nym?"

"So, whose body is the goblin in?"

"That sound about right, Nym?"[/b]

Kirhed-Strake brightens as Munny lays out the plan. "I didn't know how you could possibly manage it, but I'm amazed at these powers you possess! Thank you so much!"

"So, whose body is the goblin in?"

Goblin-Strake shrugs. "Don't know, don't care. If you see someone eating garbage, might be the one you're looking for."

"Furthermore, where's the guy whose body the goblin's in?"

"It's a fine mess, but Munny has the right of it. Getting everyone back into their right bodies is the best thing to do, but it's also a complicated mess that could take some time to sort out. Either way, I will need to rest before I can get us anywhere near Absalom."

”Well, I wish you the best, but whatever you sought me out for, I’m certainly not tagging along to that city with you for it.” Goblin-Strake muses with a more serious expression.

"Yeah I agree with Munny as well. So let's get on it."

"Nymanthor, can you do it all today, or will we need to wait until tomorrow?"

"I can't break the enchantments today. I don't have that magic at my disposal. Perhaps someone else can?"

The half-orc points his thumb to his chest. KULIK can, he says.

"Does this mean I'll be going home?" Kirhed-Strake asks, hope apparent in his voice.

"That's the plan."

At Nym's nod, KULIK casts break enchantment, following the careful directions the wizard gives him as to targets. Nym is much, much smarter than the half-orc is. Then he casts it again when told.

Two castings checked off.

As Kulik completes the incantation, Strake's body slumps in the chair, staring sightlessly, catatonic with shallow breaths raising his chest. "Disturbing to see my own face that way." Strake mutters as Kulik begins the next spell. Before long, the goblin body slumps over as Strake blinks his own eyes and rises.

"Ah. Back in proper alignment." he observes, moving to open the door. "Doane, get someone to arrange this poor sot with dignity." he orders, gesturing to the form in his chair. As the servants quickly take charge, he looks to the gathered Pathfinders.

"Now I believe we come to the point of your demands of me." He takes a seat at the desk and leans forward in his chair. "I imagine there is only one thing Pathfinders would brave this isle of assassins for, so out with it."

”Well, as it happens, sir, you are not wrong. ” replies Munny. He looks to see that they are in a safe place without extra ears.

”We understand that you are in contact with a certain gnome, goin’ by the name of Eylysia. She’s a one time a Pathfinder, and an associate of Grandmaster Torch. You ain’t gonna wanna know why we need to talk to that varmint, but i am sure that you would agree that is the least you can do for us, given we saved your mangy hide from them there bug assassins.

“So, there is that, but I gotta ask. Why did them Red Mantis varmints do that to you?”

"Honestly? I don't know. I have been very careful to spend my time in comfortable retirement, never straying towards anything that might bring their ire upon me." The pirate rubs his temple, his face rueful. "But if you are seeking Eylysia, then you may well be after the Mantis' prey as well."

"You are, of course, correct that I have dealings with her. A mutual exchange of information, you see. I am compiling a history of Mediogalti Island as a way to fill my quiet hours. She provides me knowledge in pursuit of that goal and in exchange I pass the odd tidbit of the outside world to her." He folds his hands before him on the desk and regards you all in earnest. "I do not know where she is, but I do know how you might track her down. She keeps her home secret and rarely visits me here. When I have need to contact her, I send packages via courier, kobolds specifically, to a pyramid deep in the jungle. I'm certain that is not where she lives, but she finds the delivery and leaves responses there as well. She must be nearby, so I suspect you can find her trail there."

"Then it's time to make our way to the jungle."

<opening riff of "Welcome to the Jungle" begins to play>

Munny raises an eyebrow at the man,

sense motive: 1d20 + 34 ⇒ (13) + 34 = 47

"What do you mean by the Mantis's Prey? Is someone else after the same varmint that we are?

"Now, I know that it also doesn't need to be said that you never saw us, and that you ain't gonna be tellin' no one who saved you and why."

”Of course not. Me, consorting with Pathfinders, on Red Mantis Isle? That’s just suicide.” Strake drawls with a smirk, before the smile drops off and the serious mein returns. ”As for their prey, you came to me to learn about Eylysia. It stands to reason that the assassins wanted the same thing from me. If I understand what you’ve said of that beasts abilities, it isn’t impossible they know everything I know. Including how to find Eylysia.”

KULIK nods, picking up what Strake is laying down. We race Mantis and time both, the half-orc says.

”We’ll, there is no time to waste, then. We need to get ourselves of this island, and heading to that jungle pyramid.”

"Yes, let's be about it then." Nym says, tired but resolute.

Strake nods solemnly. ”The temple is located more than a week’s travel inland. The center of the jungle is a place few souls venture to. If you journey overland, you can navigate by the Horn once it is in sight. It’s a stone spire not far from the ruins that can be seen for miles.” A grimace passed over his face as he continues. ”You should also beware of the Champion of the Green, Rurat. He guards the area and slays all trespassers. Fascinating creature, a saurian who shepherds the dinosaurs of the island. He's one of the topics I consult Eylysia on. His kind once ruled the isle, but the Red Mantis have hunted them to the brink of extinction.”

"Ah, I had misunderstood that the temple is on this island. Is this creature something we should protect? Is there a way to tell it that we are friends and that it should not attack?" asks the lawman.

"Granted, if it is a critter that needs killing, I usually don't care. But if it is a critter that makes life difficult for the Red Mantis... I am all for making it even more difficult."

"Never met him, so I can't say either way. I sent human messengers once, but they never returned. He may not be willing to listen to reason."

"So if this is such a big deal, why isn't the Society teleporting us, or springing for some Overland Flight? Bah!"

"I'm sure I don't know what your Society is thinking." Strake answers the question, despite it obviously not being directed at him. "I have no knowledge of this Grandmaster, but I suppose that was who Eylysia referenced the last time we spoke. Why ARE you after them, if I may ask?"

”That’s something you don’t want to know, pardner. I ain’t a gonna lie to you, but I ain’t gonna put you in further danger. Plausible deniability and all that.” explains Munny. ”The assassins got you once. I suggest you make yourself scarce for a while.“

KULIK nods. Safer for Strake human person if Strake human person not know.

"Fair enough, it is none of my business." Strake raises his hands in acknowledgement. "Still, you should know she still cares for you and your order, even all these years later and despite the treatment she received. When last we spoke, she said she'd discovered something terrible. Something that couldn't wait for our usual method of subterfuge. I wish she would have told me what it was all about."

"Well, I certainly don't mean her any harm, but that is very interesting news. On my word, we will do the best that we can to prevent her from harm, and if possible, bring her back into the Society." says Munny, in what is his best comforting voice. "I have nothing against her."

"In fact, I would like to know how she was ill-treated, and to use that information to work towards making improvements in the Society as well."