Chaos in Korvosa - Crimson Throne for PF2e by DM Doctor Evil (Inactive)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Daesra, there are a number of doors in the front room, which one are you listening at?

I was originally thinking of the door to the room Morganne is now in, but the door Daesra is now in front of will be good.

Camber stands at the ready, should the cupboard need opening.

Sure enough the key that was found on the fallen gnome fits the lock in the cabinet door and with a few quick turns, the doors open. Inside are 3 pouches filled with coins. Two of the pouches have 50cp each, while the third has 50sp. This is clearly where the fishery's petty cash was kept, likely to pay those who delivered the fish cast offs for processing.

Totals to 6gp, which I will spread on the Cash tab assuming you take it.

Rienas hefts the pouches a few times to get a feel for the weight before loading them into his backpack. "A good start to filling our coffers, anybody want to count this out now? Otherwise well split it when we settle down for the night."

Morganne steps back into the room they had just fought in and answers Rienas. We really shouldn't linger, we don't want Lamm and his lackeys escaping. A pause, and in a quiet and shaky tone. We still... don't even know where the children are.

Gathering herself she points to the door in front of Daesra. Shall we?

Rienas shoulders his pack, fully in agreement with Morganne, and heads toward the door she indicated. "We shall."

Daesra does not hear any sounds from behind the door, and soon enough the others are ready to move forward. The door is not locked, but as you try to open it slams against something heavy from behind, which allows the door to be opened only a small amount. You can shine the light inside, and see that it appears to be a small office. Stacks of slate boards with chalk marks on them are stacked in the room. A worn looking cabinet slouches on the east wall, and it appears to be a desk that is preventing the door from opening fully.

It is an Acrobatics check to Squeeze through the narrow door opening if you wish to try it. Small sized characters might have an easier time of it.

”Nope! Learned my lesson last time! I’m not leading the group into any strange room anymore,” he says with a flourish!

"No children or Lamm in here. I'm thinking we should press on and check this out later.", she whispers back to the group.

I don't like this - someone must have heard the fight. Can't imagine all the kids being heavy sleepers, unless they're not here.... The thought passes quickly thru her mind as she presses her head to the door, hoping to hear something...

Daesra steps to her left to the next door, and listens there before checking to open it carefully and quietly.

After hearing nothing at the next door, Daesra opens it, weapon and shield at the ready, but this time there is short, narrow hallway that leads only to another door.

Who is providing or holding the light at this point?

Nox is happy to spark up a torch and hold it for the group. He will be toward the back of the group, trying to avoid any more beatings about his head and shoulders.

Rienas needs no light source; Darkvision.

The warlock stays with the group but avoids the frontmost positions preferring to let the appropriate members of his party lead the way. He will move up if his dark vision is of use.

Using his dark vision, Rienas will use the "seek" action when not in combat.

Just waiting to see if someone opens this next door.

Thanking Nox for the light, Daesra slowly advances down the small hallway, peering back to make sure everyone is ready to go. Readying herself for another potential fight, she carefully opens the old door and steps beyond the portal into the next chamber.

As soon as the door is open, she'll Ready her shield and move in. If the door opens to the left she'll go right and vice versa, to keep as much light as possible spilling into the room so she can see.

Daesra pushes open the last door, which opens into a large mostly dark room. As the light from behind illuminates the scene, she can see she stands on a catwalk set about 10' above the floor of the room. A narrow stair case runs along the wall descending to the floor below. A burly half-orc with a scarred face and eye patch stands in the middle of the steps, giggling crazily, but ready to attack. A second thug is in the middle of the floor below.

With a quick glance, Daesra and the others can see the floor in this room is wet with a mixture of river water, seaweed, and fish remains. The air is heavy with the scent of that foul mixture. There is a wide opening in the floor below where the sloppy muddy waters of the Jeggare River can be seen passing by indolently. To the northeast, an immense 8' tall wooden vat stands, its sides caked and waterproofed with tar. Inside is a foul-looking mixture of chum, river water, and who knows what else. To the east are stacked an unruly pile of crates, barrels, and casks each with a red fish painted on it. Over a dozen small hammocks are hung under the catwalks in the room, each filled with at least one, and sometimes two, small children huddled under thin blankets.

The light from the lanterns illuminates 30' of bright and then 30' of dim light, so targets on the far side of this room, may have concealment. There is another lit lantern on the crates to the east.

Fishery Floor - Round 1

22 Laijiri
20 Nininox
16 Derrick
15 Camber
13 Daesra
12 Giggles
11 Morganne
4 Rienas

Hearing the commotion from the darkened room, Laijiri and Nininox are the first to react.

You guys are up first, though the way forward is pretty narrow and crowded.

Nox delays, not wanting that weird looking orc to split his head open. ”Go get him and I’m right behind you,” he whispers.

Fishery Floor - Round 1 - continued

While Nox could rush inside, he has learned about discretion and valor and still has the wounds to prove it. Instead he waves the others forward, an takes his time entering the fray.

Nox delays, so just let me know when you want to jump back in. Laijiri is on the clock. I will run him tomorrow if no post in the meantime.

Fishery Floor - Round 1 - continued

As Nox steps aside, Laijiri charges ahead, knowing its his duty to clear the path. He shoulders past the rest of the group roughly, but ends up next to the laughing half-orc. He brings his massive maul to bear on the target. In his haste, Laijiri's aim suffers, and he smashes the wooden railing of the catwalk splintering it, but does not damage the foe.

Atop the stairs above the foul-smelling vat, another human man fires a crossbow at Daesra after climbing up a bit more. He fires an accurate shot, and the crossbow is headed right for the maiden, who does have her shield raised.

Daesra, do you block the bolt with your reaction? Laijiri uses Sudden Charge to get adjacent to Giggles, then attacks twice with the hammer. Daesra and Camber are up next.

Laijiri charge, maul: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Lajiri maul, 2nd strike: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 5 = 7
Derrick crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Piercing dmg to Daesra: 1d8 ⇒ 5

As the bolt bounces off her shield, Daesra growls towards her comrades in the hallway, "Archer on the left, heading towards the room behind us!"

Glancing to her right at the half-orcs squaring off, she thinks it best not to push past that and instead glances downwards towards the floor below. One strike at a time!, she thinks as she jumps straight down to level below, intending to move around the vat to engage with the crossbowman who just shot at her.

With her shield Raised, Daesra's AC should be 20 - If that's not the case then she will Shield Block the incoming bolt.

She will Jump/Leap down to the square in front of her; any remaining actions will be to Raise her shield again then Stride around the vat towards the western set of stairs and Derrick.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Camber hears Daesra's call and understands: the two of them know how the fishery looks on the north side; the slippery mess on the outside stairs but the door leading to escape up top still available. Hold the door, be ready to strike from the side.

Stride to the fish vat room by the vat, then hide, and ready an attack on anyone who passes by trying to flank.

Fishery Floor - Round 1 - continued

Hearing Daesra's call, and with a mental map of the fishery formed in his head, Camber scampers back to the upper workroom, and hides, lying in wait for anyone who comes through that other door.

Daesra, see my note in Discussion to make sure what course of action you want, given the PF2 rules on falling and leaping. Camber, if she leaps across the lower vat, you can retcon to something else if you wish.

The one-eyed half-orc giggles breathlessly again, the sound grating on everyone's nerves already. He swings a flail in a large arc and sends the spiked ball crashing into Laijiri's shoulder, breaking the skin and bruising the tissue. Giggles then swings the weapon to use the chain to pull the maul from Laijiri's grasp. As the hammer is pulled, the orc wrestler keeps his grip but only barely.

EDIT: Daesra looks down, but rather than falling to the wet floor, she gets atop the catwalk railing and leaps over the stinking vat of fish goo, landing daintily on the stairs on other side of the room. Few of you have ever seen such a feat of aerial artistry.

Laijiri takes 8hp dmg, and takes a -2 penalty with attacks until the start of his next turn. He is at 18/26hp. Morganne and Rienas are up now. Nox can come in anytime. Laijiri can post for Round 2 also.

Giggles flail vs Laijiri: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Bludgeoning dmg to Laijiri: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Giggles disarm vs Laijiri, 2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 5 = 16 success

Round 1 Init 4

Rienas looks both ways, analyzing his position. To one side, he watches Daesra leap over the railing to land like a cat, cutting off the other threat on the far stairs. To his right, Laijiri battled through a heavy blow. Pausing, unsure which ally to aid, he sees Daersa raise her shield to protect herself. That decided it. The warlock cut around the corner to his right (1 action to move 10', just around the corner toward Laijiri.) and pulled on the power loaned to him by his patron. "Ok big man, make this one count!" (1 action to cast Guidance on Laijiri) As soon as he felt his magic take purchase in his target, the versatile caster brings his right eye to bear on the one-eyed half-orc, draping him in the effects of a malevolent hex (1 action to cast Evil Eye on 'One-eye', need a Will save against DC 16).

Guidance - You ask for divine guidance, granting the target a +1 status bonus to one attack roll, Perception check, saving throw, or skill check the target attempts before the duration ends. The target chooses which roll to use the bonus on before rolling. If the target uses the bonus, the spell ends. Either way, the target is then temporarily immune for 1 hour.

Evil Eye - You fix your eye on the target, imposing a malevolent hex. The target becomes frightened based on the results of its Will Save. This condition value can’t be reduced below 1 while the spell is active and you can see the target. Regardless of the outcome, the target is then temporarily immune for 1 minute.

S - The target is unaffected.
F - The target is frightened 1.
CF - The target is frightened 2.

Status Changes & Effects
HP: 16/16
AC: 16
Spells Cast:
- Friendfetch (lvl 1)

Fishery Floor - Round 1 - continued

Rienas moves down the catwalk, a bit closer the orc melee. His witchcraft allows Laijiri a slight advantage on his next attack, and then he turns his hex on Giggles. The half-orc has a bit more willpower than the warlock counted on however, and the hex seems to have no effect.

Just Morganne to go for Round 1 (and maybe Nox). Laijiri can post for Round 2 anytime as well.

Giggles DC 16 Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Seeing Rienas turn to assist Laijiri, Morganne decides to support Daesra. She moves onto the catwalk and turns, casting a daze spell on the man with the crossbow.

Fishery Floor - Round 1 - concluded

Stepping out onto the catwalk, Morganne sends a blazing bolt of mental energy into the crossbowman adjacent to Daesra. The man shouts in sudden pain, trying to grab for his thundering temples.

End of Round 1

Derrick DC 17 Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Fishery Floor - Round 2

22 Laijiri (18/26hp remain; guidance pending)
20 Nininox (delayed)
16 Derrick (4NL dmg)
15 Camber (hiding)
13 Daesra
12 Giggles
11 Morganne
4 Rienas

The new round starts with Laijiri who has Guidance on him until he acts. Nox can also act now.

The grin that was on his face probably did not look as pleasant as he thought it did. Everyone always thought the maul was the concern.

One hand was kept low as a fist swung out at the flail wielder, tucked in against the potential swing, then the positions changed as the action was repeated, the other hand lashing out in an attack aiming for their eyes.
_______________________________
Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 11
Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 5 = 13

I had been waiting on Nox to post, but I will run him later today, if I don't see anything posted.

Oh my bad.

Nox moves forward enough to get in range for his daze cantrip on Giggles.

Basic Will save or take damage. A critical fail would result in a 1 round stun. If someone could move me forward, that would be great. Thanks so much!

Fishery Floor - Round 2 - continued

Laijiri continues to press the attack on the half-orc with his fists. He deals a combination of strikes, but neither lands against Giggles who shifts just out of the way each time.

Nox enters the room, stepping out onto the catwalk, trying to manipulate Giggles with his mental magic. The effect is softer than anticipated, but the half-orc takes mild damage, and is not stunned.

On the other staircase, Derrick finds himself face to face with the aerialist Daesra. He drops his crossbow and draws a studded baton that he swings like a club. He tries to bash Daesra's head in, but the attack whooshes over her head harmlessly. Then the man backs down to the bases of the stairs, defending.

Camber and Daesra are up now.

Giggles Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Derrick club: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Seeing the hurried attack going far over her head, Daesra takes a moment to aim a swing back at the retreating ex-crossbowman.

As it looks like he Moved away, Daesra would like to use her Reaction to take an Attack of Opportunity against Derrick.
Longsword Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"Don't worry kids, we will get you back home," she directs towards the small forms curled up in the hammocks under the catwalks. Keeping her visored gaze on the thug backing away, she advances after him and growls, "As for you, the fishes are going to eat very well tonight." Daesra hopes to keep him off-kilter, allowing her to finish this fight quickly.

She closes in on the nervous man and aims another attack with her blooded sword at him.

Her Actions this round will be to Demoralize Derrick, Stride to be adjacent to him, then make another Attack.
Intimidation(Demoralize): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Longsword Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Camber peers through the door, and sees how the situation has shifted. He sprints down the balcony to flip off and land in a position guarding the exit door.

Stride, Open Door, and Acrobatics to get over the railing and land on the floor below.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Fishery Floor - Round 2 - continued

Daesra strikes out at the withdrawing thug but cannot score a hit. While the maiden shouts at her foe, it does not seem to rattle him any. Finally she strikes once more, this time scoring a hit, as her blade slices into his shoulder painfully.

Camber same discussion as with Daesra. There is no mechanism at your level ot land on your feet and not take damage if jumping down from a 10' height. You'll take 5hp dmg and be prone at the end. Sure that's what you want?

Camber same discussion as with Daesra. There is no mechanism at your level ot land on your feet and not take damage if jumping down from a 10' height. You'll take 5hp dmg and be prone at the end. Sure that's what you want?

No. But there's seriously no mechanism to prevent damage from a 10' drop? What's the drop to the edge of the vat?

The vat is 8' off the ground, so you can drop to the edge if you want, then Grab an Edge hang off, and likely fall without damage. You can use that Acrobatics check you already made to land on the edge without falling in (or out).

I'll do that, then. I do have Steady Balance, so that should help with Acrobatics in this situation.

Fishery Floor - Round 2 - continued

After realizing the foes aren't coming into his ambush trap, Camber carefully opens the door. seeing it blocked by the melee with Daesra, he leaps over the railing, balancing on the wooden rim of the tub full of foul-smelling fish goo. He carefully steps along the edge, then lowers himself to the floor without falling.

Up on the catwalk above, the half-orc continues to snicker and grin despite the life and death fight he's engaged in. He swings his flail at Laijiri' s head, bashing the orc warrior causing a trickle of blood down the side of his face. A second swing from Giggles sweeps the legs out from the orc, who ends up prone on the stairs. Giggles taks one Step back from the fallen foe, looking to see who comes next.

Laijiri takes 7hp dmg, and is at 11/26, and winds up prone after the Trip is successful. Morganne and Rienas are up now, to end Round 2. Sorry for the long delay. Laijiri and Nininox are up in Round 3 thereafter.

Camber Grab and Edge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Giggles flail vs Laijiri: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Bludgeoning dmg to Laijiri: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Giggles flail to trip, 2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 5 = 18

Hearing the thud of someone hitting the floor Morganne turns to see Laijiri on the floor. After a moment of panic, she sees that he is still alive and casts her healing magic on him.

She uses the 2-action heal spell, healing Laijiri 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 hit points.

Fishery Floor - Round 2 - continued

Morganne turns at the sound of Laijiri crashing, and boosts her ally with some divine healing that restores much of the damage he has taken.

Nice healing! Still waiting for an action from Rienas, I will run him next check if no post. And Nox and Laijiri can post for Round 3.

Nox again targets Giggles with his daze cantrip, hoping to get lucky and disable him.

Basic Will save or take damage. A critical fail would result in a 1 round stun.

Round 2 Init 4

With a glance over his left shoulder, the warlock judges both Daesra and Camber to be holding their own for the moment, allowing him to focus on helping Laijiri get back into the fight. With the half-orc down, and only Nox between him and his target, Rienas decides on a more mundane approach and drops his hand before sending it through the motions of an underhand throw; releasing an object that glints in the flickering torchlight (1 action to draw a dagger, 1 action to throw it.).

Attack vs Giggles: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 (Giggles has soft cover from Riens, +1 to AC.)
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Frowning at both the accuracy and impact of his throw, he lowers his hand and drops another projectile into it (1 action to draw a dagger.).

Status Changes & Effects
HP: 16/16
AC: 16
Spells Cast:
- Friendfetch (lvl 1)

The rush from healing felt good as he stood, now certain that this giggling flunky had to be broken. The maul was left where it was as a tool to stand up and rushed them, getting one hand on the arm with the flail, and the other on their vest. Their anger was on the edge, and it was being used to focus.
_____________________________________
HP 26/26, AC 18
♦ Stand up, ♦ Move, ♦ Attack(Grapple)
Grapple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Fishery Floor - Round 2 - concluded

Rienas tries to get involved in weapon-play, but his dagger toss is ineffective against Giggles. The warlock drops another dagger into his hand readying in case the half-orc advances.

End of Round 2

Fishery Floor - Round 3

22 Laijiri (25/26hp remain; prone)
20 Nininox
16 Derrick (9hp dmg + 4NL dmg)
15 Camber
13 Daesra
12 Giggles (2NL dmg)
11 Morganne
4 Rienas

Leaping up from where the foe tripped him, Laijiri moves closer and grabs Giggle locking him in a grappling embrace.

Nox continues to try to stop Giggles, but the half-orc keeps resisting, and takes no damage at all.

Now hurt by Daesra's blade, Derrick malevolently swings his club at her helmeted head and then makes a brutal back swing as well. The first strike really rattles Daesra's skull, but fortunately the second misses.
Finally, the man Steps back trying to avoid being encircled by Camber how appeared at his side.

Daesra takes 12hp dmg, and is at 7/19hp remaining. could've been much worse. She and Camber are up now.

Giggles Will DC 17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Critical success
Derrick club strike vs Daesra: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Critical hit
Derrick club strike, 2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 5 = 13
Bludgeoning dmg vs Daesra, critical: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 total of 12hp dmg

Camber steps closer and looks to the door handle behind Derrick, calmly commenting, "Heading out the door? It's a mess out there."

Step, Feint, Attack

Deception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Using the top of her shield to lift her helmet just enough to spit out a bit of blood, Daesra then growls back at her foe, "Not bad for a dead man."

She steps up to corner the thin man and lunges twice with powerful strikes, seeking to end this fight and get the children free of this foul-smelling place.

Action to Step up followed by:

Attack #1:
Longsword Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
 
Attack #2:
Longsword Strike: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 5 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Fishery Floor - Round 3 - continued

Camber leans one way, but then attacks the others, leaving the poor thug flat-footed and unable to defend against the weapon attack that follow. The rapier plunges deep and Derrick's thoughts of escaping are perhaps more crystal now.

Then Daesra jumps in, stepping into the fray despite her own wounds. She deals Derrick his final blow, killing the man with her first strike, and give a small triumphant noise when he falls. As he goes down, several of the small children leap from their hammocks and begin hitting the dead man with brooms and rakes and kicking out with small feet, showing their accumulated displeasure in a dramatic display.

He goes down on the first strike, so Daesra technically still has a third action left.

Up on the catwalk, Giggles finds himself grappled by Laijiri. The thug flexes his own ample muscles and tries to break free. His ever-present giggling ends as he sees his sole ally fall. The half-orc frees himself and makes one more attack on Laijiri with his flail before stepping to the bottom of the stairs.

Morganne and Rienas are up once again to close the round.

Giggles Escapevs DC17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Giggles flail vs laijiri, 2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 5 = 4

Shaking her head to try and clear it, Daesra steps past the fallen man and the small crowd around him. "Could you mind them - one more thug to deal with.", she says as she heads towards the giggling orc.

As she advances she calls out, "Not so fast orc - we're not done with you yet!"

Daesra's final action will be to move towards Giggles, trying to intercept him as best as she can. I'm not sure of the difficulties in getting past Derrick and Camber and the kids to see how far she moves on the map.

I moved Daesra 25'. Derrick is dead, and there is no penalty for moving through an ally's square (can't stop there). The boxes and crates are difficult terrain, so I steered you around them.

Still looking for actions from Morganne and Rienas. I will run them tomorrow if no post.