GM Tealk's - Core - Cradle of Night

Game Master Tealk

Time passes slowly, as you are alert, making sure you are not suddenly attacked again from behind the shadows. But after some time, you hear a familiar five-knock combination on the trap door above you, as it grinds open. Quickly, two smaller shadows cast from your light grow in size as you find Aiyana has returned with a another humanoid wrapped in tatters of dark musty robes. It quickly covers it's eyes as the light washes over his face. You can easily see that this creature is in fact a dark caller. He hisses at you, "Aghh, put the light away! You promissssed me they could see in the dark! Don't you know it's not polite to shine your torches down here! We can't see!"

Aiyana sighs, and waves over at Telos to diminish his spell, "Please, friends, many who live in Lyrudrada cannot see in the light like you can. This is Gylfumi, a practitioner dreamer, he has agreed to help put Pietro back on his feet."

Okay, he is only a 5th level cleric, so he can cast up to third level cleric spells. He also has a (1d2 ⇒ 1) scrolls of restoration with him, and (2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7) scrolls of lesser restoration with him. How would you like to work this out?

Thanks Gylfumi, its truly Lady Luck that you've got exactly the right scroll for our friend here. Usually, he'd handle these situations, but when he is down, outside assistance is necessary. Please cast the restoration scroll upon him, returning Pietro to a mobile status.

May my back recover from my share of the work...

Assuming the sorcerer turns the light off...

As the lights dim and the room grows dark again, the dark caller rubs his eyes and lowers his hands, his eyes slowly adjusting back to his preferred light level. He nods, "Your welcome. Indeed, lucky we had these spare scrolls lying around."

He wanders over to the cleric, and slaps him a couple of times to wake him up. "You're a big on aint you? Never seen a human like you before...round." He kneels curiously, as he takes the scrolls out. "Terrible what's happened to you. But lucky for you, muscle atrophy is quite common down here. Many denizens in the darker parts of Darklands that can do all sorts of terrifying things to you." He takes a few minutes to prepare and cast the spells, imbuing new life into Pietro.

Once finished, Gylfumi stands up and turns to Aiyana, "This is the first time you've brought strangers down here, young shadowling. And look what trouble it's brought. Even Desna's dreams have gotten darker as of late..."

Aiyana frowns, "I had no choice. I used my last scroll to get back quickly. If i had returned alone, i am afraid i could have done nothing to stop The Reborn. These are my friends, Pathfinders. I believe they are our last chance to stop this..."

She waits for your reactions.

Yes... please return our graceful cleric to us! After you revive him he'll likely offer you a tribute. Perhaps a limerick. Possibly a fart. Likely the latter...

Telos steps forward offering his share of the money.

Will waits for Pietro before responding, expecting to hear something from the gregarious man other than the occasional fart or grunt when drug over a rock that comatose man has produced over the last few hours.

Assuming the sorcerer turns the light off...

Don't forget the day-glow morningstar. It's not like it has a sheath.

He wanders over to the cleric, and slaps him a couple of times to wake him up. "You're a big on aint yo-"

Pietro reaches out instinctively for his morningstar a wallops the strange stranger in the head with it.

"TO ARMS! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"

Telos winces at their clerics abrupt, violent awakening. Rubbing the back of his head, in embarrassment, he sheepishly offers Um... sorry. We forgot to warn you about that part. Pietro, please be calm, we're paying this person to keep you alive.

He turns to Lyrudrada, still curious. So, Desna is it? An interesting, but welcome choice out in a place like this. So, I take you haev some skill keeping a low profile in these parts?

Calm Pietro, this isn’t the first time you’ve woken with a stranger in your midst, nor is it likely to be the last! He’s always a little groggy until he’s had a wee nip of Cayden’s blessing in the morning...

GM Tealk wrote:

He wanders over to the cleric, and slaps him a couple of times to wake him up. "You're a big on aint yo-"

Pietro reaches out instinctively for his morningstar a wallops the strange stranger in the head with it.

"TO ARMS! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"

The dark caller does not take kindly to getting slugged across his face, "Uff, ahhh! What was that for? I am surprised you can even move your arms at this point. Well, good to see the spell did the trick..." He sighs, stands up, and turns to Telos.

He turns to Lyrudrada, still curious. "So, Desna is it? An interesting, but welcome choice out in a place like this. So, I take you haev some skill keeping a low profile in these parts?"

"Indeed. The dreamer does not visit us down here often, but she does come, especially whenever we call to her, she listens. Not many of us down here who follow in her stride, but there are a few. We do what we can to harbor those who chose to seek shelter down here. It's easy, you see, to be forgotten in a place like this..."

Aiyana smiles, "Glad to see you're back to your normal self, Pietro. Now that you're strong again, we can get back to business. First order of things, is to secure a defendable base of operations. My estate should be secure enough, but i fear it is overrun by The Reborn at this point. If we find them there, maybe they could give us clues as to what their plans are." She pauses, and turns to her cleric friend, thanking him for his troubles. The dark figure nods silently, puts his large sack of coin into his sash, and disappears back into the shadows. The caligni turns to you, "Take some time to prepare. We will need to travel across town, so perhaps if you could disguise yourselves, or do something to be a little more...discrete. I don't want to bring unwated attention to ourselves while we travel."

It will take you 30 or so minutes to travel to Aiyana's estate, how would you like to diguise yourselves while you travel the streets of Lyrudrada?

Telos will simply pull his cloak fully over his head and letting it drop down partially in front of his face. He'll also wrap a bit of cloth around the lower half of his face so that between the two he's little more than a moving cloak.

Darven will stuff his shield, bow, arrows and extra shortsword in his sack.

He lifts the hood and ducks his head. He takes a piece of cloth to shroud his longsword.

"NO NEED TO WORRY. WHY 'DISCRETION' IS MY MIDDLE NAME!" booms the cleric, with his engraved holy tankard, and burning morningstar.

"NO NEED TO WORRY. WHY 'DISCRETION' IS MY MIDDLE NAME!" booms the cleric, with his engraved holy tankard, and burning morningstar.

"Ah, Pietro, perhaps you could put that weapon away, or at least dismiss that daylight spell. There is no need for it here, and i am sure your eyes will adjust to the darkness after some time. All of your friends here are used to the physical changes that your bodies are undergoing."

Before you leave for the estate, Aiyana offers some information. "A few generations ago, an ancestor of mine had won a bet with a drow noble, and in turn had the the estate written in his name. It is small, and we have long been removed from any line of nobility, but i have been looking after it ever since it was my turn to harbor such responsibility." She rummages through one of the wrecked tables, and finds a quill, dipping it in some ink. She draws you a rough sketch of the outline of the estate, and marks a few rooms. "It is small, but i prefer to keep things humble. This is the entrance and the main hall. The kitchen and the butler rooms. Old servants quarters on the other side. The dining hall. The far side of the estate is where the master bedroom, study and armory are located. Well, what is left of them."

I have updated the map, and opened it up for you. How would you like to make your approach? Any other ideas?

Well... Telos offers sheepishly, a humbler home is easier to clean up and restore in these situations. Perhaps we could help once this mission is complete! Do you suppose your servants are still there?

Pietro Slaszval the Boisterous wrote:

"NO NEED TO WORRY. WHY 'DISCRETION' IS MY MIDDLE NAME!" booms the cleric, with his engraved holy tankard, and burning morningstar.

"Ah, Pietro, perhaps you could put that weapon away, or at least dismiss that daylight spell. There is no need for it here, and i am sure your eyes will adjust to the darkness after some time. All of your friends here are used to the physical changes that your bodies are undergoing."

It's just continual flame. He doesn't mind wrapping it up.

"WHAT!?" Pietro says shocked. He tests the timbre of his voice, then looks down the inside front of his trousers, before sighing in relief.

Aiyana shakes her head, as a wave of melancholy washes over the bard. "No servants. It is just me, taking care of the whole estate by myself. I would admit, some parts of it are in more disarray than others, but I have no use for such a large home. And with the amount of travelling that I to the surface, my family heritage lies untouched for the majority of the time. The Bleackshore Council helps keep it secure while i am away, but with them gone, i fear my home is no longer my own." You can clearly tell she is a little embarrassed.

She watches Peitro from a distance, not quite sure what to take of the cleric. "Perhaps taking the front door wouldn't be the best idea. There is a postern behind the master bedroom which The Reborn wouldn't have found. Or at least, they shouldn't of. If we want to surprise them, i would advise we use that entrance instead. But i would leave that decision to you."

Okay, make your final preparations, buffs etc. How would you like to approach/enter the estate?

"Your idea is tactically sound. Just do not expect us to be stealthy through out." Darven says grabbing his shield from his magical satchel.

Aiyana shakes her head, as a wave of melancholy washes over the bard. "No servants. It is just me, taking care of the whole estate by myself. I would admit, some parts of it are in more disarray than others, but I have no use for such a large home. And with the amount of travelling that I to the surface, my family heritage lies untouched for the majority of the time. The Bleackshore Council helps keep it secure while i am away, but with them gone, i fear my home is no longer my own." You can clearly tell she is a little embarrassed.

"OH, A COUNCIL ESTATE IS IT? NO WORRIES. TIMES ARE HARD EVERYWHERE." Pietro sympathetically says to Aiyana.

She watches Peitro from a distance, not quite sure what to take of the cleric. "Perhaps taking the front door wouldn't be the best idea. There is a postern behind the master bedroom which The Reborn wouldn't have found. Or at least, they shouldn't of. If we want to surprise them, i would advise we use that entrance instead. But i would leave that decision to you."

"SURPRISE? LIKE A PARTY?" asks Pietro a bit confused as to what has been going on since the start of his recent "nap".

Possibly eventually maybe....

"OH! I SEE. WE ARE BREAKING INTO YOU HOUSE TO PUT OUT THE SQUATTERS, AS IT WERE."

"Your idea is tactically sound. Just do not expect us to be stealthy through out." Darven says grabbing his shield from his magical satchel.

"Thank you Darven, what do the rest of you think?" She looks about at the rest of the group as they get prepared to leave.

"OH! I SEE. WE ARE BREAKING INTO YOU HOUSE TO PUT OUT THE SQUATTERS, AS IT WERE."

She explains things again, but slowly, before adding "Indeed, i am glad you are able to keep up, Pietro. How are you sugar levels? We don't want you falling over again when we get inside, your snoring would cause an alarm with our enemies."

Telos frowns at Aiyana's embarrassment and discomfort. I get it. While you travel alot, it's still further unsettling to not really have a home base. Maybe it's time to consider something smaller, easier to secure.

---------

The plan makes sense. You know the house better than any of us or the Reborn. Some of us could approach invisibly, and retain it even if others are discovered. If there is a more advantageous place to emerge, that could be seen through a window, I can get a few of us their via a Dimension Door. We're not strictly limited to doors.

As you aproach, you see The estate consists of a cluster of stalagmites that have grown together over eons. You can imagine the space inside, hollowed out into comfortable and spacious chambers, more grand than the smaller structures of the lower part of town.

Aiyana puts her hand up behind her, leading you to halt for a moment. She watches the building from a distance, for a while, observing any movement. Eventually she relaxes, "Strange. No patrols."

Okay, i need to know exactly waht you guys are doing. Invisibility, dimension doors. Front door, back door? You have the map to make any plans, but please be specific because certain things happen in certain circumstances.

If Telos can get us all, I'd say do that. Less noise then going through a door or window. If not. Just use the back door.

If we have a rogue, I'd suggest sending them in first to get a clear lay out of are we are about to enter.

...You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per three caster levels.

So he can take along 3 riders. We could enter at two points and, e.g., try to come from two sides. He also has enough castings of Invisibility (2nd level, 7) to cover the whole group, which may be sufficient on its own. Those are the options Telos has to offer. Any others?

Haha, you guys have had the same party since level one, you all know what each of your characters are capable. Unfortunately, you did lost your rogue along the way and picked up a bard instead!

Map updated, slide 3, with the estate and map. Please place your characters on the side of the house you wish to scout/enter.

As you bring up the dimension door strategy, Aiyana nods, "If you wish, a bold strategy. But I would advise your best point of landing to be the study, or the main hall, otherwise you have a higher chance of landing inside a wall." The caligni takes her bow in both her left hand, and slides her cowl back.

So what do you guys wanna do. You can discuss more in discussion tab, otherwise let me know when you press play.

Placed

Telos moves around back to scope out the situation through a window. Though they aren't clear on the map, are there none?

Moving around the building, Telos makes notice that the estate has no windows. Well noted, i forgot to mention this.

Well, that kills the dimension door plan then :) Invisibility is still a good candidate if we can get the door open quietly.

The halfling frowns as he realizes the only portal to the interior is, in fact, the back door. He waits for his companions to catch up and offers Invisibility to any who will take it.

Will takes the invisibility, but not before making himself look all heroic. He looks over the door for traps before anyone opens it.

Take 10 for a 26 perception

"REALLY AIYANA, NO WINDOWS? HOW DO YOU GET ANY LIGHT IN THERE?"

Well, that kills the dimension door plan then :) Invisibility is still a good candidate if we can get the door open quietly.

"SHALL I KNOCK THEN? HA! WE WON'T EVEN HAVE TO RUN AWAY." says the cleric. Even while invisible everyone seems to know where he is.

Telos will cast Invisibility on Pietro too, wether nor not he asks. :P feel free to save against it

Including Aiyana, 6 castings total total

Back door it is then. Darven will also take a casting

Darven waits for Will's inspection of the door before he opens it.

As you get closer to the building, you decide to double back around the far side of the estate, and approach from behind. Aiyana points out the position of the secret door to the postern, and before you make your move Telos cast's invisibility on the entire group.

Even under the cloak of the spell, the cleric's boisterous voice echoes softly on the wind.

Cleverly disguised, the narrow entrance way looks like it is one sheer piece of stone, but at a certain angle reveals a small opening to a door and a lock. You tug on the door, and you notice it is locked.

I will need disable device, or another way you wish to break through this lock.

Pietro invisibly turns to Aiyana and says "DON'T YOU HAVE THE KEY?"

A quiet voice, Aiyana says, "No key on me. I guess I never really found it. This entrance probably hasn't been used in years."

...F****...Um. By chance...does our bard of disable device?

...F****...Um. By chance...does our bard of disable device?

Lol, that's a nope. We might be headed out for a scroll of knock. Unless we want to try a brute-force approach, like Pietro's door-to-door sales pitch, or telos mobile weapons platform blast through the door.

Darven Kinock wrote:

...F****...Um. By chance...does our bard of disable device?

Lol, that's a nope. We might be headed out for a scroll of knock. Unless we want to try a brute-force approach, like Pietro's door-to-door sales pitch, or telos mobile weapons platform blast through the door.

Darven would think it would be a waste time to go and get the scroll of knock and just breach...he does carry a crowbar for such occasions.

koolaid man style it is

Pietro sighs profoundly.
"FINE. WE CAN GO BACK AROUND, PULL ONE OF THOSE KNOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR AND RUNAWAY AND HIDE PRANKS WITHOUT HAVING TO ACTUALLY 'RUNAWAY AND HIDE.'"

Aiyana sighs, "Keep it down please Pietro, it's not the end of the world. Darven, are you able to bust it open?"

Give me a STR roll with any bonuses you wish to apply.

Seward goes up towards the door. Never was any good with locks...

Will helps brace the crowbar for the attempt.

aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Darven pulls his crowbar from his satchel and presses it to the door jam.

str + crowbar: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12

umm

He looks down, rubs his hands together and tries again.

str + crowbar: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26

Will, assuming he didn't throw out his back on his laughable first attempt, tries to help Darven once more.

aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

{Rolls eyes, and looks slightly embarrassed for his fellows imagining what they look like since everyone is invisible.}

Just imagining how folks are aiding one another when they can't see one another.... "Who's stepping on my foot?" "OW! My fingers!" "Watch where you're shoving that crowbar!" etc.... It would be like watching the Three Stooges on radio. :D

Darven tries the crowbar on the door, but is unable to get a good angle. He tries again, this time feeling Will's hands guide him towards a better angle at which he can put more pressure on the door. After another moment, the old locked door pops open, the vaacuum inside releasing a breath of stale air.

This small chamber is dusty and cramped. A narrow alcove contains a large barrel with a small knapsack atop it, a blanket, and rusted bucket. It looks like no one has stepped foot into this space for a very long time.