DM Khel's Questapalooza (Inactive)

Game Master Khelreddin

RAGE!!!!

As Rax energizes his inner Angry Guy, Hampton sends a pair of arrows at the figure crouched on the box! It cries out in what is clearly Barralbus’ voice, ”Ouch, damn you! So you are in league with Themolin! I’ll find out what he’s up to, once I’ve killed you all!”

He rubs his fingers together, as if they’re coated in butter, then flicks his fingers toward the Pathfinders, conjuring a strip of grease on the floor! He then drops off the stack of boxes and disappears around the corner!

Farzin, Rax and Hampton, please make DC 20 Reflex save vs grease. Shimmery squares on map are the greased area.

Round 1 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-6 hp)
Farzin
Blades
Karsus
Filbert

Farzin is up!

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Farzin manages to steady himself!

”You would dare try to grease an old woman? How rude!”

DC 20 Refl: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 close, but good enough

Hampton does not lose his footing as he focuses on Barralbus. Not if we kill you first, friend.

Farzin strides out of the grease and, seeing someone behind the boxes, he wiggles his fingers and speaks in an ancient tongue. Tendrils of darkness race from his fingertips. Targeting yellow blades

"You should know better than to ambush old ladies in a warehouse."

Casting Grim Tendrils 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 + 1 Persistent Bleed DC 19 Fort save

Also, blood magic is in effect: The first creature that deals damage to Farzin before the end of his next turn takes 2 mental damage and must attempt a basic Will save.

Yellow Fort Save, DC 19: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Farzin’s tendrils of unlife hit the woman in yellow-accented leathers with full force, causing her to grimace in pain. She then darts forward, and her companion in blue does the same, rushing to either side of Farzin and stabbing at him with their rapiers!

Blue stab vs Farzin: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Yellow stab vs Farzin: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 This is vs your flat-footed AC (i.e., your regular AC minus 2)
Damage, Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (3) = 10

Yellow stab vs Farzin, MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 5 = 10 This is vs your flat-footed AC (i.e., your regular AC minus 2)
Damage, Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (4) = 12

Round 1/2 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-6 hp)
Farzin
Blades (Yellow: -7 hp)
Karsus
Filbert

Karsus and Filbert are up, still need a Reflex save from Rax. Then Rax, Hampton and Zandu to start round 2!

REF: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 "You'll have to try harder than that ye greasy fool!" Rax steps out of the grease and brings his greatsword down on the easternmost foe!

ATK 1 v. Yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 for DMG: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
ATK 1 v. Yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 MISS

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Hampton steps out of the grease as he pulls out his shortword. You should choose your friends better, he says, dropping his bow and taking a stab at Blue.

shortsword vs. flat-footed: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
piercing stabbity: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Interact to draw, Stride, drop (free), Strike.

Rax’s blade cuts down the assassin in a single swing! He shifts his stance and swings at the other attacker, but his aim is off. Hampton steps in to flank the flanker, and shanks her flank!

Since Rax finished off Yellow with his first attack, I had the second one (which missed anyway) go at Blue.

Round 1/2 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-6 hp)
Farzin
Blade (Blue: -3 hp)
Karsus
Filbert

Bold are up.

The rat is trying to run away! Hampton shouts.

What would it take to crawl up on top of the crates to the point that Filbert could see Red?

Hearing a commotion up ahead, Karsus abandons stealth in favor of action. The orc rushes into the warehouse, retrieving a scroll from a pouch as he goes.

Double moving and drawing a scroll.

Athletics to Climb Crates (DC 10): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Zandu barely manages to climb over the crates, appearing on the opposite side of Barrelbus. "Remember me?" he asks, stabbing at him with his shortsword.
Strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
r
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Karsus moves into a better position, while Zandu scrambles over the crates and gets the drop on Barralbus, stabbing him in the side!

Round 1/2 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-16 hp)
Farzin
Blade (Blue: -3 hp)
Karsus
Filbert

Filbert is up!

"Mustn't allow that, now..." mutters Filbert, the air whistling through his lips on the sibilant. "Hehehe... you like oil, eh? Here, try this..."

Athletics (DC 10) to Ascend Crates: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

With a mighty leap, the not-so-young man leaps for the edge of a crate, intending to pull himself up... and completely misses, landing on his posterior instead. Grunting with effort, he climbs to his feet and tries again, this time choosing a crate that's not quite as high for his first hold.

Athletics (DC 10) to Ascend Crates: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Huffing and puffing, he crawls up on top of the crates and peers around, trying to spot the runaway rat. "Ha!" he exclaims, grubbing around in his pocket for a handkerchief.

Climb, stand up, climb.

As Filbert flails about trying to get on top of the boxes, Barralbus runs past Zandu, then spins and begins a spell! He conjures a sphere of flame, which rolls towards the grizzled rogue! As Zandu watches the officious fellow cast his spell, he notices that Themolin sits bound to a chair a little ways away, his form completely still.

Fire damage vs Zandu: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 2) = 10 DC 20 Reflex save for no damage

Round 2 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-16 hp)
Farzin
Blade (Blue: -3 hp)
Karsus
Filbert

Farzin, go!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

”Don’t let him get away!” Farzin pursues Barralbus, and then, almost as an after thought, flings some debris at blue.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

”I didn’t forget about you. Consider this revenge for grandmothers everywhere.”

Zandu dodges Barralbus' ball of flame with effortless ease! Farzin hurries after the bureaucrat, while conking the remaining assassin in the head with a small, heavy crate!

The assassin stabs at Rax, then stabs again, before trying to run away across the grease! Sadly for her, she slips on the grease and falls to the floor!

Rapier at Rax: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Rapier at Rax, MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 5 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Acrobatics across Grease, DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Round 2/3 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-16 hp)
Farzin
Blade (Blue: -9 hp)
Karsus
Filbert

Everyone but Farzin is up!

"YOU STABBED ME WITH A TOOTHPICK!" Rax steps up and with both hands brings his blade down twice!

ATK 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 for Double: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
ATK 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 for DMG if hit: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"Running, are we? That's not smart. But it will be fun... for me," Zandu says, taking the few steps and working to skewer Barralbus with his sword.

Strike 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
(Hero Point, please)
Strike 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage (S): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Strike 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage (S): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Stride, Strike x2

Hampton leaves Blue to face Mad Rax and the Blades of Fury, snatching up his bow as he races after the fleeing foes.

He gets a bead and takes a shot (targeting Red if still up, or the prone Barralbus if not)!

composite shortbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 yeah, that's gonna miss
piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Interact to pick up, Stride, Strike.

It occurs to me that I should have ended last turn further back.

Karsus gives himself some space and then takes a bounding leap across the puddle of grease.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Triple moving.

Karsus hops over the greasy spot on the floor and joins in the chase after Barralbus! Rax makes another greasy spot on the floor with his blade, cutting the hired assassin in half with his first strike! Hampton grabs his bow and lets off a wild shot in the general direction of Barralbus, while Zandu races after the man and manages to stab him once!

Round 2/3 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-23 hp)
Farzin
Karsus
Filbert

Filbert is up! Rax has another action if he wants to do anything besides revel in the glory of his kill.

Filbert narrows his eyes at the crates before him, knowing that a young whippersnapper in need of a lesson awaits him on the other side. With a grunt of effort and ever-increasingly loud breath, he crawls over the crates toward the miscreant!

"I'm"—huff—"not as young"—puff—"as I once was," he mutters to himself.

Finally reaching the other side, he crows in triumph and pulls a grubby handkerchief out of his pocket. After wiping his brow (and leaving a dark streak in the handkerchief's wake), he rings out the handkerchief and blows the oily residue toward the fleeing foe!

Stride, cast grease as shown... assuming I can do that from current position.

Can I use my third action to stride?

Reflex vs grease: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Barralbus darts nimbly across Filbert’s greased stretch of floor, laughing and saying, "You won't get me with my own trick!" He then flicks his fingers to direct his flaming sphere at Zandu again! He continues to run away, making it to the large warehouse doors!

Fire damage vs Zandu: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) = 17 DC 20 Reflex to Negate

Round 3/4 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-23 hp)
Farzin
Karsus
Filbert

Everyone is up! Rax can use his leftover action from last round to Stride.

Recognizing that he'll never catch up with their prey taking the long route, Karsus follows Filbert's example up the stacks of crates.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Making his way to the top, the orc gestures sharply sending a lance of flames at the scoundrel. "Don't run. You'll just die tired", he growls.

Stride. True strike. Produce Flames.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Take the better: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Hampton hustles forward, up where Zandu stands, and catches a glimpse of the fleeing Barralbus. Bow back in hand, he uses Hunted Shot on his prey.

Hunted Shot strike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 I VOLUNTEER THIS HERO POINT AS TRIBUTE
Hunted Shot strike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 ...DAMMIT CHAPMAN
Hunted Shot strike 2: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 3 = 12 nope

Strike 3: 1d20 + 8 - 6 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 6 = 16 probably not

Hampton can't quite seem to get a bead on the fleeing man, sending arrows all about him.

Stride, Hunted Shot ◈, Strike.

Barralbus screams in pain as Karsus' flames strike him, leaving the man barely standing as he struggles to open the door blocking his escape. Hampton helpfully peppers the door with arrows, almost silhouetting Barralbus with their fletching.

Round 3/4 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu
Barralbus (-23 hp)
Farzin
Karsus
Filbert

Bold are up!

"NOT SO FAST YOU COWARD!"

Rax huffs it around the door to try and head off the fleeing man.

v. Grease 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
V. Grease 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

That's a stride from last round and a triple this round.

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
HERO POINT
Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

This time, the fire catches Zandu full on. He drops in a sizzling fury.

Flat check to stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 4
[ooc]That should take him to Dying 2[/dice]

Rushing after Barralbus, Farzin tries to get through the grease.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

But he slips and falls beside Zandu's burning body!

"This warehouse is no place for an old woman!"

He quickly stands before anyone can notice what happened.

Stride, stride, stand

Filbert grimaces, then frowns. After a moment he wads up his dirty handkerchief and sends it flying at the fugitive fleer! I larned me a new word today!

Snowball, stride.

Snowball: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
And a 5ft bonus* to his speeds for 1 round on success.

Just realized I described Karsus’ spell burning Barralbus, but didn’t update his HP. That’s going to make a difference here…

Farzin and Zandu both fall to the floor, though for different reasons, and one in more definitive fashion than the other. Rax, ever the tactician, hustles around to the warehouse yard to block Barralbus’ escape! As the officious fellow struggles with the heavy warehouse door, Filbert’s rather filthy snowball catches him in the back of the head, sending Barralbus crashing to the dusty floor!

The chaos of combat makes enough noise that Themolin stirs slightly, though he can’t move much, being tied to a chair.

Combat over! Will keep us in rounds because Zandu is dying.

Round 4/5 Initiative:
Rax
Hampton
Zandu (Dying 2)
Barralbus (-32 hp)
Farzin
Karsus
Filbert

Pathfinders are up!

Karsus rushes to Zandu's side only to find himself powerless to help. He was usually responsible for lighting people on fire, not putting them out.

Nothing I can do to help here. =(

Hampton grabs a minor healing potion and pours it down Zandu's gullet.

healing: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Zandu, though still singed and smelling of smoke from his burned clothes, regains consciousness. Barralbus does not.

"That was quite the cooking you got my friend! HAHAHA"

"Thanks for that," Zandu says, recovering slightly. "Did we get the bastard?"

The Varisian retrieves his own potion, adding that liquid to the others in his belly.
Minor Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Now that Zandu is conscious and recovering, Farzin drops his disguise, and turns his attention to Themolin.

"He looks to be alive at least. Shall we wake him and get out of here?"

Yes, and quickly, Hampton says, moving over to Barralbus to check if he is alive.

As Zandu gets back on his feet, Farzin manages to give Themolin a gentle shake and return him to consciousness. Hampton has no such luck with Barralbus, who has succumbed to his wounds. Themolin, however, mutters in confusion, ”What happened…? Did Barralbus let me go?” He tests his bonds and finds he is still tied fast to the chair. Once freed by the Pathfinders, he rubs his wrists and looks around a bit, spotting Barralbus’ body on the floor. ”Is he dead?” he asks in alarm. ”Oh, now I really need to get out of the city. The ambitious fool was mad enough to think he’d become Minister of Tithes one day! He suspected me of being up to something – I’m a bit of a nervous sort on my best day, and arranging with your man Karela to leave the city, only to have him break contact with me, that didn’t do my nerves any good. So Barralbus thought he’d find out what was going on, and that’s why he took me by surprise here, and tried to beat the information out of me, to use it against me. I guess he got a bit too eager, though, knocked me out before I told him anything. So he had no idea I’d arranged with your man Karela to leave Xin-Edasseril, which can’t happen soon enough now.”

Themolin takes a deep breath after so much exposition, then continues, ”So, you’ll get me out of the city, right? My reasons for leaving have nothing to do with Barralbus, or at least they didn’t before his death. My deal with Karela is still good? There’s quite a bit of valuable artwork in the crates here, that I intend to pay with, but I need to be gone before anyone finds out what I know.”

The artwork represents 2 Treasure Bundles, and the gear on Barralbus and the two hired blades is another Treasure Bundle. I usually don’t give the treasure bundle count to players in exact numbers, but it will come into play later. Aside from mundane weapons and such, Barralbus also had a potion of invisibility that he would have used to escape if he could have gotten just a few more steps ahead of you all.

"He couldn't get by me! HAHAHAH!" Rax ignores the man, expecting the more learned types to handle the answers.

"Well, it's getting a bit tricky now. This bit with Barralbus is just another example. Karela isn't here for a reason, so I think. You're not conveniently forgetting any part of your payment, right? No collection of rounding errors in an account of yours? Because if I count and the math doesn't add up..."

Picking up what Zandu is laying down, Hampton tries to play the sweet to the rogue's sour. It would be a shame if we ran out of room in one of the boats before you were aboard. Now, it's all straight up, right?

Themolin's eyes go wide in indignation at Zandu's questions and Hampton's implication! Overcoming his inherent timidity, Themolin responds angrily, "I'm offering a horde of valuable art as payment! I had an arrangement with Karela and he disappeared without a word, and now you accuse me of shorting you on payment! To think I thought, because you saved me just now, that I could trust you, that we could work well together to get us all out of here...if I had any choice in the matter, if I believed I'd survive if I stayed in the city, I'd walk away from you right now!" More calmly, and perhaps rather coldly, he continues, "I have held up my end of the deal, and you must hold up yours."

As Themolin grows cold, Farzin's smile warms up.

"Themolin, we are here to rescue you, and take you to freedom, and we shall work together, for that is truly the only way. Yes, I know, tensions are running high, but of course they are, with so much at stake. My friends here are just concerned with some of the more logistical details. And I'm sure you'll understand when I tell you that Guaril was not able to come because Belimarius has placed a price on his head. So it's understandable, no? But don't worry, we are on your side and we shall certainly keep our end of the deal. We haven't come all this way and fought off your rival just to fail you now."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

The tension visibly eases from Themolin, and he collapses back into his chair for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he looks up at Farzin and says, ”Thank you for your kindness, old woman. I’m not sure why you’re here with these fellows, but I’m glad you are. My life has been terrifying for the last month. I discovered an accounting error made by Belimarius herself, and I’m terrified that she’ll somehow find it too and have me imprisoned or killed or worse. So when Karela offered to get me out of here, I jumped at the chance, and then he disappeared, and I didn’t know what to do, and then these guys showed up at my office, and Barralbus jumped me here, and now he’s dead…” He trails off, scratching his shoulder nervously as his situation weighs heavily on him.

”I don’t know what your plan is,” he adds after a pause, which he spends looking around the warehouse as if seeking a way out of his dilemma, ”but if you need to use this place to stay in, or to plan, or store things, I own it and you’re welcome to it. Most of this stuff is mine, but I’ll be leaving it all behind when we leave.”

Zandu mutters, then says, "Good enough. That's all you had to say."