Kart shares what he knows, but delays until others act first for if they are not going into the room, neither is he.
The Night Swan shakes her head. ”If I need to reach higher, then I will grow to meet the challenge.” She downs her new potion of enlarge person in preparation for fighting a bunch of floating, climbing annoying things.
HP: 100/100
AC: 27/13/26
Saves: F9/R11/W12 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness, Enlarged
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 3/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]2d8+7[/dice] damage.
Round 1, Init 15
Kart 5' steps into the gap left by Elen, and fires his wand at red.
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
hp: 70/70
AC: 20/15/17
Saves: F6/R12/W12 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/2 used
Extend PotionRadiation: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/9 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/4 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+9-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Edelmira straddles the sludge as she grows to fit the hallway. Elen GMPC moves in and readies an attack which triggers, as does an AoO as the creature closes! Major Kort fries red a bit before it drops down, hitting twice.
As expected, the chitinous creatures descent and attack!
Red drops down on Elen with its dagger.
Blue and Green both close a bit and spit poison at poor Elen! She must make two DC 19 reflex saves to avoid the streams. If a stream hits, she has a Fort DC17 or suffer .
The last assassin bug drops down and closes as well drawing another AoO from Elen.
With their annoying DR (what is with all the DR in this campaign? Seems like a lot...) Elen doesn't do much, but she does nick them here and there. The do little more against her - a balancing act.
Round 2, Init 15
Kart fires at orange, then steps back to make room for others.
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
hp: 70/70
AC: 20/15/17
Saves: F6/R12/W12 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/2 used
Extend PotionRadiation: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/9 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/4 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+9-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Round 1
Kamari is tempted by the 5' step and two attacks, but decides to plunge in and clear the way for uber-Night Swan.
She slips and slides to the other side of green before stabbing him with Koriana's blade. She finds her blade goes in as easily as with any other creature and wonders about the accuracy of Kort's information.
Round 1, Init 4
AC = 24
HP = 78/78
Weapon Equipped = +2 A.C. Longbow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 27
HP = 89/89
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Underfoot pulls Muri closer to an open lane, where Muri gets a closer look on the skittering things populating the room, more aberrant beasts below the streets of Zimar. He's becoming desensitized to the otherwise shocking inhabitants of the unseen corridors of big cities, but it does nag at him, what he's missed in Oppara, what might exist elsewhere. It leaves him feeling a muted paranoia...
He shakes it off, and fires at Orange, adding his voice to the announcements. Given the Professor's insightful lesson regarding the bugs's weakness, the halfling chooses his newly-blanched silver arrows to punish the pests.
The Night Swan moves up and hacks a powerful blow at one of the foes surrounding Elen.
HP: 100/100
AC: 27/13/26
Saves: F9/R11/W12 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness, Enlarged
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 3/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx2)
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]2d8+7[/dice] damage.
Elen Reflex (DC 19)
One fail, so Fort (DC 17)
no dex damage, poison resisted.
Kamari handily tumbles past the slack-jawed crustaceans and smacks green. Muri opens up his bow and lodges three arrows deep in orange - bypassing DR! Edelmira steps up and ends orange with a fell stroke - killing the creature outright! Elen GMPC gives everyone the edge for this fight, and supports Kamari in her attack on green with a spring attack (provokes from red). Major Kort fries orange a bit, hitting once, but a hard hit indeed.
Elen enhances her allies, granting a +5 to attacks and damage for the turn. Wham!
so flatfooted until Elen’s next turn
Red spits poison at the enormous warrior the Night Swan. She must make a DC 19 reflex save to avoid the stream. If a stream hits, she has a Fort DC17 or suffer .
Meanwhile Blue and Green drop to the ground, surrounding Kamari. They claw and bite, and find a little purchase in Kamari’s tight defenses.
Three hits in total, and they're not even in flank yet! Though they've lost an ally, they feel confident about the future. But oh, how quickly a fight can turn...
With her increased size, the Night Swan has little room to dodge, but her stout training comes to her aid and prevents the toxin from taking hold.
She steps over the body of the downed creature and hacks at the one Elen so gracefully left vulnerable.
HP: 100/100
AC: 27/13/26
Saves: F9/R11/W12 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness, Enlarged
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]2d8+7[/dice] damage.
Round 3, Init 15
Kart fires at red after moving up.
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
hp: 70/70
AC: 20/15/17
Saves: F6/R12/W12 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/2 used
Extend PotionRadiation: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/9 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/4 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+9-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Round 2
Sure that creatures in the sewer are infected or venomous, Kamari braces herself for the attack on her immune system that never comes. She then lashes out at green and then blue or, if they are down, will move and take a single attack on red. They're not her most amazing attacks, but they should do given the circumstances and assists.
-
Round 2, Init 4
AC = 24
HP = 78/78
Weapon Equipped = +2 A.C. Longbow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 27
HP = 89/89
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
"Edel... careful, Hildegaard!" Muri lines up several more arrows for Green, taking a single steady shot, worried that the Night Puffin-up might intercept one of his multiple missile missives.
Shot taken, the halfling grunts a northern Taldor 'hya', and Underfoot bolts through the room, taking up a position free of obstruction, though they both pass awfully close to Blue and Green.
Muri sits his butt back down in the saddle, not ready to enter the room hastily, as Elen's voice echoes with confidence. He takes two more shots, with the elf's words to drive his attacks more powerfully.
so flatfooted until Elen’s next turn
Kamari lines up what the others prepare, and hits twice! The first lines it up and the second puts it away - dead before it hits the water. Muri plows two arrows into blue and though it doesn’t drop, it sets up Edelmira who doesn’t crit, but who kills her foe none the less with her second swing on blue. Elen GMPC spring attacks red to make it flatfooted as well! Major Kort finishes what Elen began, hitting twice and burning the last of the chitinous creatures as it drops steaming into the water.
The last is bleeding out, but not actually dead as the others. Do as you will…
Muri's first thought is to trot over to the last assassin bug, and give him a looking over. He won't be surprised to learn they're evil, but he's morbidly curious as to what kind of entity they are.
"So, they really were human once. Wait, could they change back, like werewolves? Blend in with the people of Zimar? Or are they down here because they would stand out above?"
He almost forgets to pick up his last silvered arrow.
"Man..." The halfling looks about the chamber, broken arrow in his hand. "What happens if we leave the bug bodies in the water? Is this water serving a purpose somewhere?" Out of curiosity, Muri taps on his Pillbox, uttering the single word 'Morbus?', to see if the silver turned blue comes to light.
The halfling does check the bodies for anything useful, like maps, equipment, and the like.
Muri checks over the assassin bugs and finds they are rather well equipped for, well, bugs.
Studded Leather +2 (4,175gp ea, x4)
Amulet of Natural Armor +1 (2,000gp ea, x4)
Cloak of Resistance +2 (4,000gp ea, x4)
Checking out the open passage to the east reveals their living quarters. A few bunks and a locked chest, easily opened (one has a key, or the good Major can do it with his eyes closed) are all that remains. The contents of the chest though are worth 2,300gp and there are three large sapphires worth 750gp each.
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”Not sure they were ever human,” Kart comments back to Muri. ”Really not sure what they truly are.”
”But why are there assassin bugs here in the sewers? Are they guards? I can’t help but feel they should have been turtles, hiding out down here,” Kart questions as he opens the locked chest with his eyes closed.
When others are healed, he will be ready to move on. He does not claim any of the treasure at this moment.
Kamari gathers up the loot and heads for the door. She examines it while loitering for the Major.
If they employ guards, they might also employ traps.
Elen makes her way to the door near Kamari.
"Look, they even had little beds in which to sleep, and their little bug beds are all neatly made!"
Kamari opens the door and you see a short ramp of stone up to a couple of long well lit hallways and an open room nearby. The room has voices coming from it, and the sounds of combat - or at least combat practice - for no alarm has yet been raised.
To the far east, at the end of the hall, you can see another small group, siting around a table having early afternoon tea - or perhaps a very late lunch. They have not noticed you yet, but if you pass into the hall, you’re surely to be spotted or overheard.
- - -
I will assume Kamari steps back and re-closes the door so the party can plan in safety.
Muri furrows his brow, while his cheeks flush. "That way," the halfling pointing northwest, "someone's at it with someone else. Down here, they don't seem to mind it."
"We were lucky to have a door in this chamber. I don't think we're going to be so lucky when we head in. They might not even bother putting clothes on if the alarm is raised." The image of naked monks makes the halfling shake his head.
"Are you going to take a look, Major? With your disappearing trick?"
”Oh, that’s a good idea, Muri. Alternatively anyone of us could do the scouting in the Professor’s place should he feel it more convenient.”
Perception
Kart nods to Muri, knowing the halfling is on to something. He assents, and casts Invisibility while hoping his creaking knees don't creak too loudly while he scouts.
He moves up to listen/look at the first passageway (and will do the same on the way down the corridor if that will speed things up).
Stealth
Perception
Major Kort opens the door again, which creaks only slightly, and sneaks within. He crosses the hall quickly, just in case the invisibility doesn’t fully protect him, but the charm does the trick and he finds himself in a small, unusual, barracks.
Five small cells - each with feather bunk beds and silk sheets - are accessible from this wide, stone hallway. A rough‐hewn passage in the hallway’s northeast corner heads east. In the far cell, a pair of monks are definitely enjoying each other’s company - oblivious to the outside world.
You back up a bit, and head east enough to see into the training hall. Worn, red rugs crisscross this circular chamber, broken up by wooden pillars wrapped in heavy padding. A pair of weapon racks to the east hold a well‐used collection of deadly weapons - mostly kama and quarterstaves. Four human monks in loose robes are sparring two on two. They’re very energetic, and seem to be enjoying themselves.
Does the Major proceed down the hall further? I'm presuming the door is left ajar so the party can hear the sounds of an alarm raised should Major Kort be discovered.
The Night Swan is caught completely off-guard by Muri so blithely mentioning hearing people going at it. She freezes and blushes under her mask. She begins to walk the direction of the sound, but then why is she doing that? It is probably men anyways. No! She needs to check in case this is a trick meant to throw them off and not look. Someone could be using illusions cleverly. But then what would she actually accomplish by checking it out besides let people know she is onto them? Or run into people in flagrante delicto? Goodness this is distracting.
She just silently sticks with the others, trying to not let slip how thrown-off she is.
The Invisible Professor Kart will sidle silently up to the next opening and peer around the corner, then return to the party to report the positions of the possibly bad guys.
Major Kort pushes on a bit. He notices that one of the monks having tea is an elf. Her ears seem to prick up as he approaches, and he freezes, but the moment passes with her none the wiser.
The next room is clearly a meeting or dining hall. Though this hall is far from clean, the rich scent of spices fills the air. The four vases on the tables are fine works of porcelain. Done in styles ranging from Quadira to Tian to Taldan itself, the vases are worth 1,000gp each, once you get the flowers out.
An adjoining room to the northeast serves as a kitchen. GMPC, you step into the kitchen a bit and though messy there are some very fine spices here (1,200gp worth), seven bottles of rare Cherish red, vented in 4562 and worth 200gp each, and a gilded porcelain tea set worth 500gp.
I’ll assume you leave things for now, though the beauty of the artworks are breathtaking.
Major Kort slips back into the long hall and down to the door. No alarm is raised as he closes the door behind him. You are safe.
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Still invisible, the noble Professor Kart will relay what and where he has seen foes.
"And yeah, they are really going at it. I had no idea you could finish off with one's knuckles like that," he notes appreciatively. "And there was the counterclockwise twist. Well done, it was. Unexpected."
The halfling regards the old man, and what he considered relevant report.
"The Professor describes the floor. We should use that to our advantage. Choke points make their numbers count less. But that makes it more punishing on those standing in the holes. What do we do?"
Kamari reflects on what they know of the monks.
"Hmm. They might be open to persuasion or coin, but we did just likely kill their guards so it seems unlikely. We could always try and then resort to cleaning out this rat's nest if needed. In the end, they do appear to just be hired thugs in this plot. If they've only dealt with Milon, there might not be much we can learn from them."
Kamari mulls over the existence of an assassins' guild and finds herself uncomfortable with the idea of letting one exist. Sure, another will likely take its place eventually, but since it's a tool they're unlikely to use better to deny it to the enemy.
Kamari takes a few taps of a healing wand while they discuss.
”They are assassin spies, and I would not be comfortable just letting them be. Maybe we can draw some of them out here by raising an alarm, or would they all just flee?!”
Elen looks around for an alarm. She finds none. Apparently they grew complacent having never before lost their bug-guards.
You certainly have surprise if you wish to attack them. So you each have a surprise round before we get to initiative. Feel free to prepare as you wish, and then take your surprise round. Surprise rounds begin when someone (not invisible) enters the hall or makes noise.
If you want to talk, that works too - same structure, but holler away and their leader may respond.
Kart ponders the questions and will answer if he has them.
"I like the idea of using a choke point, especially right here, and I am happy to serve an instigator, as needed for that. Or others can certainly make people angry, of course."
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"Can't we just throw a bug body through the door, close it and force them to re-open it?"
"We pour in, I think. Some of us cover the approach from the east, and some the north. We don't want them flanking us, right? Assassins with pointy daggers on both sides, not good."
Muri indicates where he'd like to position with his arrows trained in both directions, back kinda against a wall, but still less likely to endure a flanking attack at the start.
"No special ammunition this time. Just normal, evil monks. Ready?" Muri enters the hall, and prepares for the worst.
”Wait — with aah — Hidegaard enlarged and our own Weaver— wouldn’t it be better to take them in using the doorway as a gauntlet/choke?”
The party charges into the hallway, ready to fight! As they take up positions (everyone please take a surprise round to move into the hall prior to initiative), someone down the hall yells simply, and in surprise, ”Oi! We’re being invaded!”
Immediately you hear the fighting stop nearby, and chairs dragging as the farther folk stand up.
Elen turns to Kamari. "Shall we go north? Assassins interrupted?"
Elen moves to the north and spring attacks.
for
In a surprising move in the surprise round of befuddlement, the flabbergasted Professor makes an effort to lower his startled, raised eyebrows and cast Divine Favor.
He has his wand in hand.
The Night Swan rushes ahead into the room and hacks at the first enemy she finds, aiming for a perfect nonlethal blow.
HP: 100/100
AC: 28/13/27
Saves: F9/R11/W12 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6[/dice] damage.
Round 1
Not as quick as Elen, Kamari has to go right to the closer foes.
Round 1, Init 15
AC = 24
HP = 78/78
Weapon Equipped = +2 AC Longbow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 27
HP = 90/90
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Farther Folk, especially the one who raised the alarm, receive the halfling's attention. He looks north, checking on the elf, loses sight of the Night Swan and Kamari, then begins his volley. "Now why'd you go and yell like that?? You're not wrong, you're just..." The halfling utters his challenge, then starts firing.
Edelmira rushes in and swings on purple, getting a bit. Kamari follows into the nest and also hits. Muri lets loose a volley hitting thrice against the flat footed monk (an odd phrase!). Elen spring attacks one of the poor monks trying to get up from their recent sexual tryst!
Monks move in from all angles! The two in the northwest just leap out at Elen, still naked, everything swinging every which way. Elen gets an AoO on Blue.
Pink and Purple smoothly 5’ step and attack on the less giant Edelmira and Kamari.
Green and Orange charge Kamari.
From down the hall, an elven woman with distinctive markings (image) practically flies down the hall as she closes in with the scrum. Two monks trail her. (Double moves all around.)
They open up with a plethora of moves! A few hits here and there, but Edelmira has a Will save and Kamari has two to make or freeze up!
for
Elen takes a step back and swings on blue.
for
for
Hits: 79/81
Current AC: 28 (Mage Armor, Challenge (Songbird))
Current Saves: Fort: +12; Ref +13; Will: +8, +10 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak, Challenge)
(Normal) AC: 24
flat: 17 (ring +2, nat armor +1, mage armor +4)
touch: 23 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +5, Dodge +1)
CMD = 26
WandofMageArmorCharges = 30/50
Resolve = 6/6
Challenge = 2 / 3
Hero Pts: 2/3
Round 1, Init 15
Kart moves up and fires from invisibility, once at the newcomer, then at yellow (or both at the newcomer if yellow is down).
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
hp: 70/70
AC: 20/15/17
Saves: F6/R12/W12 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/2 used
Extend PotionRadiation: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/9 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/4 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+9-2+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism,-Rapid)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Round 2
Kamari remains in the fight thanks to Kort's magics.
Kamaria stabs twice at green.
-
Round 2, Init 15
AC = 24
HP = 78/78
Weapon Equipped = +2 AC Longbow
Condition(s) = None
AC = 27
HP = 90/90
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Underfoot throws a bite at the elf, while Muri makes sure the Farther Folk Yellow Fellow is felled.