Daily Update
The moment you exit your room, a shuddering, grinding sound echoes through the manor. This sound is followed by a series of reverberating booms as the manor's interior portcullises are all lowered, sealing off the upper floors from invaders—but also sealing you into the ground floor with them!
This large hall has a polished marble floor. Several potted plants line the walls and tapestries depicting woodland hunting scenes adorn the east wall.
You see to the east the body of Rolf, the guard who escorted you to your room. He now lies dead in a pool of his own blood near one of the windows.
A portcullis bars the guardpost in a spiral staircase that goes up and down.
Initiative
As Lyra looks around the hallway, she notices figures trying to conceal themselves in the shadows and step quietly with her trained senses. Four assassins, three in guest rooms and one in the outside hallway she immediately registers and points them out to her roommates. As you all exit your room, you immediately notice the position of the assassin in the hall and hear the others in the rooms.
Initiative
Entire party except Edoom in any order, weapons drawn
Black Tear Cutthroats -- visible
Party
Just like that, Iradyiel slices at the assassin's back right shoulder, and the assassin falls to the ground unconscious and bleeding.
Emboldened by Iradyiel's heroism, Brightberry moves up with his twiggy legs.
He then looks for someone to zap!
Brightberry rubs his sticky fingers together and says, "Zap!"
He casts ◆guidance on Iradyiel.
He seems to know what he's doing.
And then ◆strides back 25' again.
Cover
Daily Update
Recap
Disturbed by violence in adjacent rooms and a scream, the heroes awoke and found assassins loose in the halls, the nearby guard dead.
Iradyiel cut an assassin down with a quick strike and Brightberry unleashed an electric discharge which the assassin dodged part of the blast, but is still badly burned.
Iradyiel is surrounded by a flurry of stabbing assassins, each attempting to finish him quickly. The first one hits him with a deep cut to his thigh spattering arterial blood. The champion is hard to bring down, and it takes four more cuts between them to bring him to the ground.
Initiative
Heroes to act in any order
3 black tear cutthroats
Lyra moves reflexively seeing the dead guard and the attackers still visible. She shoulders past Tibold, keeping her back to the staircase wall. She may seem unsure in social interactions, but she is a deadly serious machine in a fight, a look of quiet determination fill her features as she picks and shoots targets. She raises her bow and fires at one of the killers. Her first shot is true.
Critical!!!
Edoom clears his way into the room shocked at the suddenly unfolding violence, then he feels bile rising in his throat as he sees one of his just met companions fall.
So fast. This is real.
He then advances across the room aiming clearing the way to aim his shortbow at the one across from him.
◆ Move
◆◆ Spellstrike (Shortbow & Gouging Claw)
Shortbow
Arrow
Gouging Claw
Edoom's arrow flies true striking the offending enemy flush in the chest... then something strange happens The air around the entry wound begins to shimmer and solidify into an ancient white hand with long claws that seem to slash at the wound attempting to tear the wound even wider.
Your spell is coupled with your attack, using your attack roll result to determine the effects of both the Strike and the spell. This counts as two attacks for your multiple attack penalty, but you don’t apply the penalty until after you’ve completed the Spellstrike.
Tibold finds himself standing agape with little comprehension over what is happening. Actual assassins? Like in real life?? The man had never been in a situation like this and froze momentarily.
The contact from Lyra pushing past him jolts Tibold back to his senses.
Tibold rushes out until he stands next to Brightberry.
Seeing Iradyiel's dying form, he sucks air between his teeth. He raises one fist and his tattoo suddenly glows, visible even through his clothing. Lightning shoots from his clenched fist and strikes one of the attackers and then immediately arcs to the fellow next to him.
Right. Get to work. What do you see? What happens next? What can you control about the experiment? How do you make it behave as you expect?
Brightberry continues the lightening bug show by sending off another electric arc at one of the assassins before it jumps to another.
◆◆Electric arc Ref 17
To Tibold, he says "It helps if you have a couple of sticks to rub together!"
◆Putting a little bit of his will into Redleaf, he sends him zipping past the fighters to see what lays beyond. If given time, he will zip down the hall and back to report.
Daily Update
After Iradyiel was surrounded by the assassins in dark clothes and stabbed repeatedly, the response was brutal.
Lyra put an arrow through an assassin's neck, and the assassin spun into a heap after trying to hold his neck for about two seconds. Her next arrow winged the assassin Brightberry had already singed with electricity, dropping him. Edoom's arrow strikes true as it morphs into a giant claw in flight and drops the last assassin ripping out most of his upper leg.
Brightberry and Tibold reconsider their attacks as the two elves seem to have taken care of business.
Tibold and Brightberry, then dying 2, then everyone again with Iradyiel last
Seeing all of the assassins fall, Brightberry looks to his fallen comrade.
Hard to make an unconscious person eat a goodberry.
From where he is, Brightberry makes some noises that sounds like wind wrestling through his leaves.
◆◆Heal
◆Putting a little bit of his will into Redleaf, he sends him zipping past the downed fighters to see what lays beyond. If given time, he will zip down the hall and back to report.
Healing energy washes over Iradyiel and he stands up.
The downed guard Rolf has longsword, minor healing potion, chainmail, dagger, light crossbow. Each of the four assassins has a hand crossbow, dagger, studded leather. Between the downed guard and the four assassins are 20 silver pieces and 38 crossbow bolts.
There are five rooms like yours in this large hallway yet to be searched.
Tibold lowers his fist from the air seeing no need to discharge his tattoo’s power. He helps Iradyiel to his feet and helps collect the gear. He returns to the room to retrieve his buckler and don his armor.
Lyra sighs with relief when she sees the half-elf champion get up from the dead. "Sorry, I was late to the draw. Iradyiel, won't happen again. Maybe next time you'll stay up long enough to see my shooting! Hold one sec, while I grab my gear. If we are going to be in a fight, let's be ready at least."
She zips back to her room and quickly dresses in her leathers, emerging again with a gleam of excitement in her eye. She will take one of the fallen men's daggers, slipping into the top of her worn out boot. Crossbows and heavy armor don't concern her.
She gathers up the coins from the downed men and the potion from Rolf. "We can split it later, but never let a good loot go to waste, my mother always said. Let's check out what the these other rooms, and see if any more of these assassins are nearby."
She moves to the door adjacent to the room they bunked in and listens at the door. If she doesn't hear anything, she opens the door to see if any of the others are still alive or in trouble.
Interesting. Using this small crossbow would allow me to carry a shield and still use projectiles. I shall have to practice with it.
When Edoom sees that the Champion will live to fight again he clasps him on the shoulder before returning to his room to put on his armor. "It is fortunate that your strong blade and bravery will continue to protect us".
He then reassembles with the others to begin to explore the remainder of the rooms. When they are gathered around he sees that Iradyiel's wounds still seep a bit. "Does anyone have bandages to perhaps treat this wound"?
Starting from the bedroom you were assigned you search counterclockwise.
No bodies in the middle top room, but a longsword and tanglefoot bag are found under a bed and a severed hand is in the center of the room. Two beds are soaked in blood.
Top left room a minor healing potion is tucked under a pillow by the halfling. Corpses of two male humans, two female dwarves and a male halfling.
Bottom left room was Amiri, Linzi, Harrim, and Valerie's room and is empty.
Middle bottom room is bloody but empty.
In the bottom right room are five corpses: two female humans, a male human, a male dwarf, and a male elf. The elf has a silver ring of great value.
Lyra, Brightberry and Edoom easily discover the treasures in the rooms and Tibold appraises the silver ring at 15gp sale value and verifies the labeled healing potion as so.
It is about 3:20 AM and you are at full strength and preparing to head through the west door as the portucullises have blocked off any other exit or entrance.
You feel you can reclaim your items later that you do not carry and put them in your assigned room for now.
Edoom and Lyra from their knowledge of the criminal elements of Brevoy recognize the assassins as Black Tear cutthroats. They are trained in stealth and killing quietly and Edoom and Tibold with their society connections know it is likely they are just contract killers--the type that can be hired easily for a single mission at a good price.
You crack the door west and see:
This large, indoor garden resembles a tropical paradise. Lush plants and flowering vines hang from the walls, while a slow-moving stream of water cuts through the center of the room, flowing languidly from north to south through stone drains. Planters filled with colorful flowers line the stream. Two narrow wooden bridges arch over the water, allowing passage from one side to the other. Partially submerged in the stream to the north stands a life-sized marble statue depicting an armored half-elf woman holding a rose and wielding a shield.
You wait before venturing into the garden.
Brightberry would have armored up and suggested the healing potions spread out amongst the group. Free him from some healing.
"Well... This room is nice. It is hardly a run at all! But we should probably hurry. We need to catch up with Linzi's group.... So, I assume someone is unhappy that all of us adventurers are headed to the stolen lands to become builders of kingdoms. Not a great start for us."
Making sure the others are ready behind her, Lyra motions for quiet and enters the garden room. Unless something else catches her attention, she makes for the half-submerged statue, the obvious half-elf form calling to her. She tries to recall if she's a similar figure or symbology before.
After examining the statue, she turns her attention to the rest of the room, scanning with her keen eyes for any threats or other things out of the ordinary.
Tibold loads a crossbow, feeling much more confident with his heavy coat full of reagents now securely belted around his armor. He follows Lyra into the courtyard trying to see everything at once. What a lovely place this would be for experiments. All the smoke from failures would rise up and passersby would just think it was another outside barbecue. He’s certain the elf lady statue would be a great listener.
Initiative
Daily Update
Lyra moves into the garden in the dim light of the garden planning to observe the statue. The half elf champion follows equally comfortable in the dim light staying in the bushes on the east side of the garden bridge. The current in the garden pools is not strong, but seems to be circulating somehow from an unknown source, maybe magical.
The Black Tear cutthroats previously had pathetically tried to hide in the rooms, but this time they were completely hidden and quiet catching their quarry flatfooted.
An alchemists fire misses Iradyiel and lands next to Iradyiel splashing him with fire. Then two crossbow bolts pierce each of them as the deadly assassins fire from cover. The assassins do not even reload thier crossbows, but take a new position of cover and try to hide from view. Lyra can see all five, but some are concealed to the other party members.
Party up in any order
◆ Seeking Perception
◆ Recharge Spellstrike
◆ Shoot at visible target (3)
Shortbow (Has longbow but hasn't switched to it yet. The shortbow is easier to wield when seeking. I didn't state it, but Edoom would always have his bow out, and an arrow nocked if not drawn when danger is in the air.)
Arrow
Gouging Claw
Edoom now that he's aware there are enemies present quickly releases an arrow... perhaps too quickly as he only succeeds in precisely striking the assassin's shadow.
Edoom sees all the assassins now, but his strike misses -- a deadly arrow morphing into a claw flies by.
◆ Seeking
"Aha! There are two over there. I'll help you Iradyiel, but don't go unconscious this time. I've got berries for you after."
◆◆
Another zap of electricity shoots to 6 and then to 11.
Almost didn't see him. I'm glad the brush are on my side.
Suddenly bolts are flying, and his new comrades are shooting spells and swinging glaives. Tibold squints to try and see what all the elf-blessed eyes can already see. Tibold moves closer to Lyra, trying to discover the enemies location.
Seeing one directly across the walkway, Tibold cries, "Ah!" and shoots the crossbow at the one with the purple feather in his headband.
Tibold curses his unsteady nerves as the shot goes wide and drops the crossbow.
Tibold prepares for the Black Tear Assassin's likely counter attack and moves his buckler up in a protective position.
Lyra sees the Black Tear killers but before she can react, two bolts strike her, causing her to grunt with pain. "There's five, not very well hidden!" she groans out to the others, who have already started reacting.
She takes a beat and studies the man across the stream from her, looking for weakness. She fires once, carefully aiming for a weak spot. Then she fires again, thinking she hit the mark with both shots. She prepares to receive return fire.
Daily update
The assassins ambushed Lyra and Iradyiel, getting the drop on them and striking them with bolts from their hand crossbows then hiding. Lyra under cover managed to dodge a bolt from the cover of the bushes, but was hit one time. The assassins attempted to hide in the bushes in the garden with varying degrees of success.
Edoom and Tibold miss two shots at the assassins, the bolt and arrow go high. Iradyiel and Lyra both take the assassins down with a single strike. Brightberry's lightning rips into a another and damages him, but the arc cannot find another living bandit to rip into.
Two bolts miss Lyra and Iradyiel, but a single bolt hits Tibold.
The assassins hide, this time without taking cover as they had to reload too. The assassin to the left was singed from electricity.
Party up in any order
◆ Seeking Perception
"I know you're there somewhere. There is no escape come out and surrender".
Flat Check
◆◆ Ready (Hold action till they attack next round, then release crossbow bolt if they're now detectable.
Shortbow
Arrow
Brightberry sends another jolt to the bad person on his left that he can see.
◆◆
Seeing Edoom holding his arrow for a shot at one of the bad people, Brightberry sends a glowing mote of light to help steer his arrow true.
◆Guidance
Thanks for clearing things up, Tibold
Lrya grimaces as she downs one of the bandits, and a pair of bolts fly past her harmlessly. She looks carefully trying to pick one of the nearby assassins out from the cover. Spotting one, she takes a shot which flies wide, then follows up with another that she believes hit the mark. Hoping the man is down, for good, she calls to her allies. "Got another one, I think! They should be down to 2 or fewer. Keep the attack up!"
Daily Update
Lyra seeks the hidden assassins.
Lyra proceeds to fire an two arrows at the front assassin, the first arrow misses, but the second hits center torso and drops the assassin with one shot.
Brightberry shoots another shot of electricity through the left assassin as he is writhing in pain, Iradyiel sees him with his keen eyes and moves up to finish him with a brutal strike.
The last assassin, who was very well hidden, throws out a hand crossbow and dagger from the bushes.
"I am unarmed now--I just want to leave."
Edoom informs you that these Black Tear assassins are not trained in unarmed combat at all.
Edoom and Lyra look at the statue Edoom points out is the deity Milani. Milani is the patron mother of those who war against oppression, rewarding those willing to sacrifice their lives and use whatever tools are available to fight for those who cannot defend themselves, especially people who have been captured or enslaved. Throughout Golarion, Milani is also known as the Everbloom, as the symbol of her church is a beautiful rose growing from blood-soaked soil. Lyra finally has time to observe the statue has a watertight compartment below the shelf. Opening this compartment reveals a bronze key and six clearly labeled potions: 4 minor healing, barkskin, lesser fire resistance.
From the four assassins you find:
4 hand crossbows, 4 daggers, 4 suits studded leather armor, 4 pouches with 5 silver each -- you also have the handcrossbow and dagger "gifted" to you by the fifth assassin.
The hidden figure says: "This was not the easiest way to earn 5 silvers at all!!"
"Step out with your hands where we can see them. I've got an arrow with you name on it if you so much as flinch the wrong way. Lay face down on the ground when you leave your hiding spot, and you might live to see another day. Depends upon how you answer the next few questions".
Tibold grunts and clutches the quarrel stuck in the meat of his thigh. It must have hit a bone because it hurt!
Seeing that Lyra and Edoom have the last remaining assassin on deathly overwatch, he takes time to examine the wound, and what he can do to safely remove the projectile.
"Berrybright, was it? Would you mind giving me a ha—...uh, a vine?"
Lyra scoops up the coin purses, wincing a bit at the pain in her side from the bolt she took. She also shows the potion trove found under the statue of Milani.
"You can take one of these, Tibold. If needed. We have several now."
She downs one of the potions, unless Brightberry has the time//inclination to Treat Wounds. If he goes to the others first, she won't require the extra 10 minutes, but just shoot the potion.
If Edoom successfully brings the remaining Black Tear out from hiding, Lyra will snag his coin purse as well. "Taking on alive is good start! Maybe we can find out who is behind this, and what they are after?" She stares at the man, trying to weaken his resolve. She draws the new-found dagger from her boot, and points it to the man's throat.
"Who paid you, and what is your mission?" She points at Iradyiel with a head motion. "That one has no compunction about killing bandits, so I'll give him his turn, unless you tell us. Now!"
BLEH!
MEH!
Hearing Tibold ask for his help with the bolt in his leg, and Lyra speak about drinking potions, he waves his hands. "Wait wait! Don't drink that yet. Just yank the bolt out and you and Lyra can have a healing berry."
Brightberry squints his eyes, clutches his fist, and gives a little grunt.
He then plucks another berry from his person that was already there.
He holds them out too Tibold and Lyra, letting them choose which one they want. He then turns to the interrogation with interest.
The assassin remains defiant.
"I am already losing money on this with no weapons. We don't get captured. Leave me be and the Black Tears will owe you a favor."
Edoom recalls more information about the Black Tears. Originally formed through a merger of seven street gangs from New Stetven and Port Ice, the Black Tears are a criminal organization of cutthroats and thieves known to dabble in kidnapping, extortion, assassination, and the sale of illicit substances. Members are fanatically loyal and exceptionally ruthless. Each carries the group's signature weapon (a dagger with an ebony pommel) and have a trail of three black tears tattooed under their left eye.
Daily Update
The heroes had survived a brutal ambush from the Manor Garden, killing four assassins and convincing one to throw out his weapons. For some reason, he refused threats to abandon cover and come out into the open against five armed foes.
You begin treatment of wounded and even start gathering some treasure, as there seems no place for the assassin to go.
After 20 minutes of healing in which Iradyiel lays on hands 6 points of healing TWICE to others that are wounded......
The door to the west behind the assassin seems to lead further in, and you hear a voice from behind the door bellowing loudly in common.
"Where are you halfling, I can't see you no mo. When I find you I will smash all your eyes out!!"
Lyra would not allow the bandit to stay behind them and free, armed or not. If he won't come out with prodding, then she will draw her longsword and go in and get him at sword point. He will also surrender his purse.
"I don't mind letting you go after you've told us what we need to know, otherwise, you'll be staying here, dead or alive."
While others are healing, Lyra moves in to get the assassin sword drawn. ”For my children!!” the assassin says.
The assassin drives a crossbow bolt through each of her eyes and dies quickly. The dedication and ruthlessness of Black Tears is another thing witnessed firsthand. She was a middle aged Brevan woman about 5’ tall.
Another pouch of 5sp is found with a suit of studded leather and 4 unused crossbow bolts.
Lyra moves to stop the suicidal assassin, but is too slow in her reactions and watches as the woman dies in front of her. "Stupid!" she says grabbing the body from its hiding spot, and dragging it out to the path. "Why surrender at all, if you're just going to off yourself. Better to die fighting."
During the down time, she will help load the weapons and loot back in the team's chamber, and pocket the silver pieces in a pouch along with the others.
"If it matters, I also got this bronze key from the statue," she says to the others putting it inside a fastened pocket on her tunic. "Don't know what its for...yet."
She gratefully accepts the healing hands from Iradyiel, and offers him the potion of barkskin. "Think you'll be toe to toe with anything else we run into. Might want this" If he demurs, she will offer it to the spellcasting Edoom instead.