Kendrick had to admit that one stung a little bit. He had lost everyone who had mattered to him. First his father. Then his mother. Then Mara. He found himself wondering if he had even lost himself recently. The taunt did not intimidate him, however. It angered him.
"You're right, Devargo. My best friend in the whole world was killed by someone like you selling her some bad junk to line his own pockets. There isn't anyone left to mourn me. That means I've got nothing to lose. You and me Devargo. How about you save me some time and tell me where you stashed your blackmail material before I kill you?" Kendrick does not wait for an answer and instead walks confidently up to his opponent, abandoning his original plan for some vengeance. He grabs the bastard sword with both hands and swings with all his might, hoping to hack one of Devargo's arms off with a hard slash into his shoulder.
His taunting successful, Devargo leans away from Kendrick's telegraphed and furious attack. Kendrick's blade cleaves right through part of the Spider King's throne before slashing deep into his shoulder. The force of the blow pushes him to the side enough that he can easily reach a hidden button. Suddenly the floor slides out from Kendrick and he drops like a stone down to the next level.
Kendrick finds himself in a dark chamber, riddled with dizzying tunnels and twisting corridors formed by thick cobwebs. The floor is a sticky, lumpy mass of webbing and dozens, if not hundreds, of bones—many of which appear to be from humanoid bodies. Some of the webs seem to shimmer and dance, almost as if reflecting rainbows in their silken forms. Dozens of of eyes stare hungrily out.
Kendrick Reflex save vs. DC 15:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Rather than curse the darkness, Kendrick opts to cast a spell to brighten the gloom and give him a chance to see his foes coming. He then moves to put his back to the bulkhead behind him, then, if the path is clear enough, move to the port side corner.
So standard to cast dancing lights and move to keep from being flanked (hopefully).
Dax notices Nuriel's patience wear as Nuriel draws her sword.
"It's go time." Dax thinks to herself and she takes a step to put her back againts the boats railing and casts Bull Strength on herself.
"I don't know if you can her the Maiden from up here but she doesn't seem to be in a good mood. I would suggest you leave immediately." Dax shouts to the men on deck as she grips her halberd in anticipation of and attack.
Light floods the web-filled room and Kendrick can see that most of the webs aren't just gray, but rainbow-colored. He also notices eyes in almost every corner. Two child-sized spiders hide in the north west corner. A larger man-sized spider sits before a door in the north east corner, and some kind of man-sized, half-spider, half-man cowers in the south west corner.
The man-spider chitters noisily, and tries to scuttle back farther into the corner. The man-sized spider turns and launches a glob of webbing at Kendrick. It smacks into Kendrick's leg with a wet smack.
Kendrick is entangled.
The thugs begin looking around and at each other nervously. Two crazy women walking into the den of thieves just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Especially two law bringers. They must be scouts for a larger force!
Kendrick and Nuriel are up (full round)!
Kendrick:
Every square in this room requires a DC 10 Reflex save to avoid contact with the webs.
DC 10 Knowledge (nature):
The man-sized spider is a giant spider, and like most spiders, rather poisonous.
"Whoa!" Kendrick groans when he sees the array of spider-like beings. "Are you kidding me with this, Devargo? Do you know what sort of fines Nuriel is going to want to levy on you? I'm sure there are 'exotic pet taxes' that apply. Plus something about habitating a condemned structure, I don't know." Kendrick gulps and keeps his back to the wall. He waits for them to come to him.
I'll discharge the dazzling blade spell at the first thing to move to melee with me. It's a DC 14 Will save or blinded for 1 round (dazzled 1 round on save). This is a pattern effect, so vermin are affected.
Seeing the odds are still against her, Nuriel looks for a way to draw some of the thugs away.
Spying an unattended lantern sitting upon a crate on the pier. She concentrates and casts mage hand sending the unattended object flying into a nearby pile for refuse. Hopefully setting it aflame.
Then brandishing her sword.
”You can fight me or the fire. Which will it be?”
Mage Hand:
Mage Hand
School transmutation; Level bard 0, magus 0, psychic 0, sorcerer/wizard 0, summoner/unchained summoner 0
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one non-magical, unattended object weighing up to 5 lbs.
Duration concentration
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You point your finger at an object and can lift it and move it at will from a distance. As a move action, you can propel the object as far as 15 feet in any direction, though the spell ends if the distance between you and the object ever exceeds the spell’s range.
"Easy choice, luv" the nearest says. He swings his sap hard at Nuriel. Most of the blow is absorbed by her shield, but she can feel the blow into her arm. Another thug swings as well but miss. The goon behind him sneers at Nuriel and makes a few obscene gestures and some obvious threats. "Don't worry las, we'll be sure to cuddle ya before tossing ya into the waters.
Two more thugs more up to surround Dax, while the rest hustle about the connected docks trying to make their way towards the commotion. The refuse pile begins to slowly smolder.
Nuriel takes 7 points of Nonlethal damage and is Shaken for 2 rounds.
Seeing herself being surrounded, Dax cracks a slight smile. "Okay, don't say I didn't give you a chance." she says as her halberd begins to glow and she strikes out against the thug to her south.
Dax's halberd nearly cleaves the man in two, but somehow, he remains on his feet. The two smaller spiders approach Kendrick. Kendrick's blade erupts in a blinding flash of light, but the spiders don't seem to notice. One spider sinks it's teeth into Kendrick's leg and he can feel the poison being pumped in, but is able to resist it. The other spider misses. The giant spider lumbers forward and bites Kendrick in the hip. Again he can feel his body fighting off the poison. Kendrick loses sight of the Ettercap in the commotion.
Though only giving minor attention to the Thug’s words. Nuriel is more disturbed by the distance between herself and allies. She decides to concentrate on defense until she clears her head.
She activates her Protection Judgement, granting a +1 sacred bonus to AC Swit Action
Fighting defensively +2 dodge to AC for -4 attacks
She finally takes a swing with her sword. More to keep the Thugs at bay then really hoping to land a blow.
"You want to know what's happening to your business right now, Devargo?" Kendrick says as he grits his teeth and hisses from the pain of spider bites. "The Maiden is costing you a fortune while the Hellknight is hacking your people into tiny bits! It isn't too late to save yourself a lot of trouble and give me what I want. You can grab a hidden stash and split town."
Knowledge (nature):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17Missed that earlier, not that it does much for me!
Kendrick's blade carves into the giant spider with a sickening crunch. Blood begins pulling around the spider as it slumps to the floor and doesn't move again. Nuriel's sword somehow finds a way through the thug's guard and draws blood. The two thugs try to bring Nuriel down but cannot get through her defenses. Other thugs hustle from ship to ship trying to join the brawl. One shouts threats and curses at Dax as three others try to smack her around. Two of them land blows.
Dax takes 11 points of nonlethal bludgeoning damage.
Dax's halberd drops the thug like a sack of potatoes. Mandibles from both dream spiders clack and nip at Kendrick's legs and one manages to score a gash. Kendrick can feel blood running down his ankle as the wound begins to burn.
Kendrick takes 3 points of bite damage and 1 point of Wisdom damage and is entangled and poisoned.
A creeping numbness crawling up his leg informs Kendrick that bite carried some sort of poison along with it. He snarls and tries to stab the offending creature, but the webs coating his body make that difficult.
Kendrick's blade leaves a gouge in the floor as the dream spider dodges aside. Meanwhile, the thugs have found new respect for Nuriel and are wary of her steel. Still, they are more afraid of their employer and know their job. Both thugs move to try and push Nuriel into the water. Seeing it coming, she is able to maneuver her sword just in time to catch the first thug in the shoulder. The second thug is able to get pash her sword though, and Nuriel falls off the dock with a splash.
More thugs rush to surround Dax. Her halberd dances around keeping most of the thugs off-balanced enough, but one manages to land a hard blow upside her head.
Dax takes 13 points of nonlethal damage. Nuriel has been bull rushed off the pier and must make a DC 10 Swim check or sink. Armor check penalties apply.
Dax's halberd manages to keep the thugs off balance as she enters the drink. The dream spiders close in again on Kendrick's legs, but are unable to find flesh.
Kendrick takes no damage from the poison this round but remains entangled. Nuriel needs to make a DC 10 Swim check (including armor check penalties) or sink.
It's okay. I'm fine. Right now Dax is surrounded by a pile of corpses she made and the rest are running from Nuriel to go hide their undeclared income. I just have to hang on for another minute or so, Kendrick thinks to himself as he remembers to take a breath. "Let's try that again, okay Mr. Weird-spider-thing that's trying to eat me?" he tells the dream spider he missed a moment ago. The large man narrows his eyes and tries to stab down hard.
Seeing the thugs rush her and realizing they intend to push her into the water, Nuriel tries to disrupt their action. Only managing to hit one of them.
She is suddenly falling, then water closes over her. Concentrating to keep grip on her sword and shield while attempting to get back to the surface.
swim check:1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 4 = 9 ACP -4
Unfortunately she is trying to do too many things and c!$#inues to sink
Hold breath. CON 16 = 32 rounds capacity. Swim check move action.
A resounding cheer erupts on the dock as the outsiders land in the drink. Numerous guards begin to put out the small fire smoldering on the dock and even a few patrons help out.
The remaining dream spider tries to bite Kendrick again but misses widely. Seeming to phase out of the webs filling the room, the ettercap emerges behind Kendrick and bites deep into his shoulder. The wound ignites in burning pain.
Kendrick takes 1 point of Wisdom damage, 2 points of Dex damage, 5 points of bite damage, and remains entangled.
Kendrick howls with pain from the ettercap's fangs, then hisses as a fiery burning spreads from the wound, poisoning his blood. His hands shake from the venom. Despite the pain, he grips his sword hard and takes aim at the other dream spider
"I w-wondered w-where you w-went," the marine hisses at the ettercap, stuttering slightly from the nerve damage. "You're going to have to w-w-wait you're turn! Your spiders first, Devargo, then YOU!"
The Eel End guards quickly douse the fire before it has a chance to burn the sodden docks. They then begin to slowly spread out, looking down into the dark water, waiting for the women to resurface.
The lone dream spider continues to harass Kendrick's feet but misses its attack. The ettercap has no such luck with Kendrick's back exposed. It opens large gashes before its fang deliver another dose of vile poison.
Kendrick takes 9 points of claw damage from the Ettercap.
Kendrick cries out in pain when the ettercap's fangs sink into him again. "Hey, pal, guess what? It's finally your turn!" he tells the ettercap as he spins about, aiming to take the creature’s head right off.
Nuriel manages to haul mouthfuls of air back into her lungs as she breaks the surface of the water, despite the weight of her armor and shield. Kendrick's sword bites deep into the ettercap's shoulder as it manages to avoid being decapitated. It hisses in pain as it staggers back and looks ready to bolt.
The enforcers begin to spread out, looking for those that went into the drink.
I forgot they don't get domain spells. And was thinking Arcane on 0 level. Dropped Sift and shield . Probably don't need read magic but background wise it is good.
• small studded leather armor
• a small masterwork kukri
• a disguise kit
• light crossbow
• chainmail
• composite longbow (+3 str)
• arrows x20
• Lt. flail
• 106 gp
• 3 x cure light wounds potions.
• Sword cane
•a narrow teak cigar case inlaid with tiny bits of jade (worth 25 gp)
•a 2-pound gold ingot bearing the Cheliax coat of arms (worth 100 gp)
• a miniature gold crown (worth 350 gp)
•a fist-sized scrimshaw carving of a kraken with garnets for eyes (worth 200 gp)
•a silver ring bearing the inscription “For Emmah—the light in my nights” (worth 150 gp)
•a highly realistic and highly scandalous ivory figurine of two entwined succubi (worth 450 gp)
• a masterwork shuriken
• an adamantine arrowhead
• a masterwork dagger with a strange blade shaped almost like a key bearing the inscription: “For an inspiration of a father” (worth 750 gp)*
• an abalone-shell holy symbol of Shelyn (worth 300 gp)
• a glass tube containing a dose of oil of keen edge
• an obsidian wand of magic missile (23 charges)
•a crystalline vial (itself worth 50 gp) containing a dose of silversheen
• a used harrow deck Zarelle’s
• a small silver chest (50 gp)
•12 gold ingots, each imprinted with the seal of Korvosa. Each bar is worth 100 gp.
*The inscribed masterwork dagger seems almost familiar. Tales abound many taverns in Korvosa about a notorious killer who slaughtered over 50 victims over the course of 7 years before his spree mysteriously ended. The killer's name was Rolth.
The ring might be an item we could try and return when things in town are more settled. You hadn't mention the daggers story in character that I recall, but that could be an interesting follow-up. Where did he get that? He isn't a serial killer himself, Lam was just a killer-killer, right? Like he killed for business reasons, not just because he was a sociopath.
I could use the wand, but it's likely I'd be doing other things in a fight than slinging spells. At least one of the oils would be nice to have. Kendrick doesn't really have an opinion on anything else.
There is nothing in particular he needs right now. Weapon or armor upgrades are always useful, but we are talking just MW or +1 stuff at best anyway. What's our healing items situation look like?
I don't need/can't use any of the weapons or armor so we could sell them. We should keep anything that might have a story significance like the ring with the Emmah inscription or the key dagger. I think we need a healing wand for sure.
After Selling things we still have
a disguise kit
· composite longbow (+3 str)
· arrows x20
· 5 x cure light wounds potions.
· 2x Potion of Jump·
· a silver ring bearing the inscription “For Emmah—the light in my nights” (worth 150 gp) *HOLD·
· an adamantine arrowhead
· a masterwork dagger with a strange blade shaped almost like a key bearing the inscription: “For an inspiration of a father” (worth 750 gp)*hold·
· a glass tube containing a dose of oil of keen edge
· an obsidian wand of magic missile (23 charges)
· a crystalline vial (itself worth 50 gp) containing a dose of silversheen
· a used harrow deck Zarelle’s
· After selling equipment and jewelry we have 3267 Gp!!
I would like to spend 750 to buy a CLW wand and 1500 to buy Maiden plate (giving me a +3 AC).
[I will take one of the Jump potions and two CLWs. If no one else really wants the Harrow Deck for any reasons, Kendrick would hold it wrapped in a scarf or something of Zellara's. They both lost someone they loved so he feels a little bond with her.
As far as I know we only really need healing stuff right now. If there is gold leftover I wouldn't mind maybe masterworking my sword but we are still low level so let's make a decision quick so we can beat up these goons and level or die trying.
I've taken to using copper as less of a law enforcement slur and more to refer to the priests of Adabar and the bank's collectors, in a penny-pinching sort of way.
Returning to barracks is my preference, but Kendrick would be open to finding a building near the target location. Might be a rough neighborhood, but Nuriel make the call.
