Without my campaigns, I will be down to only playing in 3 games. Hopefully I can keep up with that.
Search Posts
Okay, this has sadly become an inevitability that I tried to fight. I know I post slowly and keep a very relaxed pace, but I no longer have the time I used to have when I started all my games. I had been at 16 at one point, cut it down to 6 or 7, and now find I just can't maintain the games I run. I apologize for being just another campaign that dies here, and I thank all of you that have put up with me as a GM for so long.
Okay, this has sadly become an inevitability that I tried to fight. I know I post slowly and keep a very relaxed pace, but I no longer have the time I used to have when I started all my games. I had been at 16 at one point, cut it down to 6 or 7, and now find I just can't maintain the games I run. I apologize for being just another campaign that dies here, and I thank all of you that have put up with me as a GM for so long.
Okay, this has sadly become an inevitability that I tried to fight. I know I post slowly and keep a very relaxed pace, but I no longer have the time I used to have when I started all my games. I had been at 16 at one point, cut it down to 6 or 7, and now find I just can't maintain the games I run. I apologize for being just another campaign that dies here, and I thank all of you that have put up with me as a GM for so long.
As Rutter returns with the driver, Raliscar is still there to assist with getting the vampire's things loaded. It's slow going, as it seems to take him a while to haul any one of his chests up from the rooms below. After he leaves to go back for the last, Raliscar discusses the plan with the driver. The two men agree on a place they are both familiar with and a rough time frame. It's about a good couple miles outside the city, but will work for the plan. The vampire returns with his final piece of luggage, and with an exchanging of coins, he directs the driver to the destination and demands they move along the fastest route possible. The driver agrees, then offers a knowing look to the group as they see them drive out of the area, across the cobblestones.
Looking through the door, Brennan sees a hallway that goes both east and south. They extend beyond the radius of Omen's floating light. He also notices, that there seems to be an odd layer and seam in the north wall. It looks as if there's a hidden door that was left slightly ajar. If it weren't left open, he thinks he might not have even noticed it.
As Bardigan moves in, both Ganner and Tasha are left no good position other than tucking up on either side of the open door. The light itself doesn't move further down the hallway, just glowing at the edge, but the sounds of movement coming closer can be heard. GM's Rolls:
Peering into the darkness from the end of the hallway, the one on the right remarks, "Somebody at the door?" There is no time for a response, as the leftmost one calls back over his shoulder, "We have intruders in the warehouse!" The sounds of reaction can be heard from down the hall. Regardless of them spotting the hidden enemy, it was nothing compared to how ready the group was to get the jump on the men. Initiative:
Yodi is able to determine that the staff has a faint aura, but needs to think about which school it comes from. Arcana DC 16:
The faint aura is one from the school of evocation.
Tasha and Ganner, are the two of you still with us? Haven't seen a post from either of you in almost a month.
Okay, without jumping through hoops to change plans, you can go about it a different way. Stay true to what you agreed to with him, but.. Have the driver drive him somewhere in the open outside the city (I imagine he would drive at day while the vamp slept), then do circles for most of the day. You guys can meet him at said place and ambush the vamp where he has no safety nets and you've had some sleep.
Ciyradyl joins in the finalization of bashing the statue's remains, the heavy flail swinging wildly but doing more damage when it hits. When he feels he's finished with the statue, Brennan moves on to the pairs of stone doors that exit this room to the east and west, each emblazoned with black-and-white mask symbol of Nethys. The doors to the west are locked. The eastern doors are unlocked, but he just barely notices signs that the lock has been picked.
Yodi steps over to stand between Ciyradyl and Brennan. Drawing a wand from his belt, he utters the command word while touching it to Brennan, and heals him of most of his injuries. Brennan returns his focus to the statue, and drives his blade into the cracks he made with his previously lucky shot. The damage is enough to finish cracking the surface, and the arm falls to the floor. The statue stops in its tracks, almost falling on Yodi as it topples to the floor itself. Cracks run along the surface of the thing. The group fared much better against the thing with their preparations, and now it seems the threat is no more.
Dawnilea tries to quietly rush into the room in her haste, forgetting that Bardigan still had the stifled light in hand. Bumping into an empty barrel, the thing topples over onto its side and starts rolling across the storage room floor. She forgets herself and curses her error, only hidden by the grinding sound of the barrel rolling. GM'sRolls:
Pausing long enough to see if there was any results due to her action, a door can be heard opening from deeper in the darkness. Flickering light, either by lantern or torch, can just be seen casting shadows from what looks to be a hallway to the southwest.
I will rule, sadly, that it will be a little too late to tell Rutter a different plan before he returns (mainly as it was only brought up recently) and he darted off rather quickly after the arrangement. Raliscar, the vampire will not be long in gathering his things, but will need to make frequent trips with some of his stuff. He will be coming and going to and from the wagon while Rutter's away. It really only leaves Vyshael, Neva, and Feldivar to try and manage something in the few uncertain hours Rutter is away. EDIT: I have an idea that could work, but I'm not going to just give it to you. Everyone (including Rutter and Raliscar) can make an Int check for me to share. :)
Where the opening left was a boon to him, without it Brennan learns once more how difficult a target the stone guardian makes. Neither of his blades find real purchase along the stony surface. Omen's darts of energy, though, still find a way to pierce the solidity of the thing. Once more his spell leaves two pock marks on the chest, but this time the smaller one doesn't vanish completely. The statue mostly ignores this, focusing on Brennan, not out of any malice or vengeance, but pure mechanical measure of the largest threat in the room. It swung without care at the man, smacking him hard with its staff, but the damage to its arm caused it to jolt on its follow-up swing, missing by a large sight.
Ciyradyl tries to take advantage of the focus on Brennan, but is thrown off as it leans too far from her, and Yodi's attempt to create an opening actually distracts her instead of it.
Dawnilea examined the door, and found nothing untoward that would be a risk for them going further. The door opens into what is more than likely a kind of warehouse. Though tough to make out exactly in the dim light, the place looks to be stacked with crates and sacks of salt, probably prepared for shipment.
The statue did something that is the bread and butter of Brennan's skillset, by leaving itself open. The man jams one of his blades into a weak point, not only on humans, as the armpit is a major joint on the statue as well. The damage is too much for it to even potentially maintain focus on its casting. Buoyed by Brennan's strike, and taking advantage of the statue's attention on its attacker, Ciyradyl wields the heavy flail much better after the few poor swings. She smacks the statue on the back of its left thigh.
Yodi steps up to offer a disruptive and distracting strike against the guardian's weapon to throw it off, but it already looks to be moving its weapon to strike at Brennan.
Sorry, Krizta, I totally forgot I have the treasure tab locked because I have the full info of each item in hidden columns. Nevermind the "carried by" comment. Also, I'll have to remember to come back and check for your rolls when you guys get time to look things over. Thank you for the pre-rolls. Mostly, I was referring to the oft-unused checks:
Okay, moving it over here to allow a little more open discussion. Looking at the Player's Guide to Korvosa. Haven't looked at it in a while, and that thing is a font of information. I wish the later ones were as fully fleshed as this one is. That said, there are three churches in Korvosa Abadar is the primary and most influential, Pharasma handles the the Grey, and Asmodeus is ... well Asmodean in function. You guys know one member of the Abadarian church, and Neva is a member of the Pharasmin. Abadarians require payment for every service they perform, down to the lowest level spell. Even if he wanted to help, Ishani Dhatri would be required to ask for a significant contribution determined by each action he took. Neva hasn't had a strong presence in the Pharasmin Church, just by minimal association with it mainly. Even still, a task like this may involve some convincing to get them to act against the 'hospice', then some time to prepare themselves against a vampire. Field Marshal Kroft still cannot act against the hospice until their crimes have been made known to either the public or the powers that be, or both. She has worked through you guys frequently for the sole fact you are free agents of the guard and for the sake of the Korvosan Guard's role in the city, she can claim plausible deniability to prevent the entire organization from being upended. All valid methods or means, but they require time you may not have or resources you may not want to spend.
Despite the glancing blow, Brennan managed to put a noticeable chip in the stony exterior of the statue. It turns to look at him impassively, before Omen's magical bolts of darkness slam into it, leaving two little pock marks on the chest. It returns to look forward. As it does, the smallest one of the marks looks to be magically repaired. It shifts to hold the quarterstaff directly in front of it, hands clasped closely around the middle of the weapon standing parallel to the statue. Appearing to be doing nothing, the two beside it see that it is slowly lifting the staff upward with both hands, activating some effect.
Even leaving itself exposed, Ciyradyl's unfamiliarity with the weapon continues to prove a hindrance in connecting an actual solid blow on the thing.
With most of the gear of the occupants, who are now in a forced sleep vice a voluntary one, wrapped up into a bundle and deposited by the door, the group discusses how they are going to go forward from this point.
I updated the loot list with all that was found so far, but not all is being taken (unless you remove the thugs' worn armor, and since they were manacled to their beds). Light blue means known magic, but unidentified. All items with unknown variables (and some with known), can all be identified by some means, Appraise checks, Spellcrafts with Detect Magic, or even Craft checks of the appropriate item type (for things like special materials or masterwork, or alchemy). Ideally, I would like the loot list more often utilized. I put what gear and loot is on each enemy, but it is up to you guys to tell me what you are taking, and what you are leaving behind. Also, there is stuff in there you guys could put to good use, but is currently probably just resting in a pile in the Wasp's Nest. If possible, could you mark in the "Carried by" column, anything that you guys DON'T take while looting. That allows me to just delete it and clean up the list.
Yodi moves into the room with a prayer on his lips, asking for aid to his allies and himself. Brennan moves into the room opposite where Ciyradyl stands in relation to the statue. Lashing out with his left, his blade just barely glances off the solid surface of the statue.
Looking in the bags, Krizta sees a white, almost doughy-looking substance, in a semi-liquid state. The belt pouch contains a fair number of coins and two glass vials of liquid.
As Dawnilea gathers up the majority of useful gear into a blanket, Krizta does a quick scan of the place for auras. Under the armor rests two fairly dense, full, spherical bags. Each one is about the size of a cantaloupe. It is the two faint conjuration auras in the belt pouch stuffed beside the two packs that get her attention.
Ciy shakes her head at Yodi's offer, "If I got the adamantine, let Brennan use both the oils for his knives. They may need the extra push." Once everyone has readied themselves, Brennan unlocks the self-closing gate once more, and the group moves in with a quickness to deal with the statue. As a vigilant guardian is wont to do, the thing reacts with alacrity in response to whatever the trigger seems to be before everyone can get too far in. Initiative:
Springing to life, however, is not enough to react for the group's new preparations. The rush of the crew catches the statue as off guard as something of its nature can be. Ciyradyl rushes in almost as if she has a vendetta against the thing, swinging the heavy flail awkwardly in both hands. Her method and angle are just too off for her to connect effectively enough to damage the thing, but she just may have gotten its attention.
Sorry, Yodi, I didn't answer your question. She is down 8 HP. Also, I tried to push the thought when she asked about all the gear/loot, but with the site having been down I'm just going to point out that you guys have an Adamantine Heavy Flail just sitting in your inventory. Might help against a statue. She's not proficient, but in her hands it's a +2 to hit (including penalties) and 1d10+3 Adamantine damage. Brennan could manage a +3 to hit and 1d10+6 damage (with 2d4 sneak attack if he flanks), but doesn't have the AC she does to soak hits if he gets its attention.
Looks like I spoke too soon last time. I went looking for it, but couldn't find it. What did you guys do with the toothless body of the small tiefling child that was wrapped in the 'summoning-marked' sinews. You moved to the task of destroying the critters into the stinky goo, but I'm not sure what happened to the child's body. Also, did you guys keep one of the things alive to study, or destroy them all. If you kept one, who has it?
Of the unconscious men assembled in the room, the four on the bunks each have only simple studded leathers, a light mace, and a bronze Thrunite pendant. On the corner of each bunk hangs a pair of manacles. The dwarven priest is wearing only his holy symbol and the padding typically worn under armor. Beside his bed rests a heavy mace, the head of it on the floor to allow the weapon's handle to stick upright. At the foot of his bed is a piled suit of chainmail, with a heavy steel shield and longbow resting atop it. GM's Rolls:
The group stops to listen for any signs of alarm, but they hear nothing that indicates an alarm has been raised. The speed at which they handled the group of sleepers worked well for them.
Ideally, with the outage ended, posting can return to normal.
Ideally, with the outage ended, posting can return to normal.
Ideally, with the outage ended, posting can return to normal.
The vampire rolls his eyes and scoffs, "I have no intentions of harming your new purchase. I just asked for a little respect towards my privacy in gathering my things, as I am not your prisoner." As the group leaves, he glides smoothly forward in graceful strides to close the door.
The vampire sneers at Vyshael, "I do not have my payment yet, and as such, you shall not have what I have promised until then. I will not, however, while away my hours talking as if we are engaged in story hour. So, it appears we just stand and stare, as you refuse to afford me my privacy and I refuse to entertain you with tales of yore."
Understood Brennan. So, what are you guys doing right now?
Bardigan's eagerness to silence the last man betrays his actions, as he rushes his punch into the frame of the bunk itself instead of the man atop it. Following him, in an unusual move that surprises the others, Krizta leans in to grab the man's leg and bite him with previously unnoticed, long, thin fangs.
As Rutter leaves to finalize the deal with the driver he had in mind, the nosferatu looks at the collected group of you before mostly demanding, "Well, won't you leave my room that I may gather my things? I do not feel the need to entertain guests at this hour."
Tasha backs into the doorway, arrow still nocked and aimed at the opposite door. If any backup arrives from the commotion, they're in for a nasty surprise. Dawnilea dances a vicious circle, as her blades flash out in the glow of the light pebble. Her right hand blade cuts a sharp gash across the swinging arm of the man on the upper bunk, and her left hand stabs hard into the stomach of the one on the lower bunk. The upper man looks worse for wear, but he's still barely holding on.
He cocks his head, "You're not 'bringing me along' anywhere. If you have the means to gather this driver to the wagon you claim to be just outside, then do so with haste. Throw in, shall we say, two-hundred fifty gold? Then I will release this test subject and be about my way. May we never have to cross paths again."
He waves his hand dismissively, "I care not for the driver, wagon, or carriage. My only want is that I can be out of this wretched city before the break of dawn, and away from this inane cult and their ridiculous obsession with pestilence. Getting back to my home in Ustalav is all I desire."
Ganner is about to deliver a combination of attacks on the woken man, but Bardigan beat him to the punch, literally. As such, he quickly darts down around the bed to swing at the man laying in the lower bunk, but in his haste he messes up his swing in the dimly lit confines by cracking his elbow hard on the bedpost.
The last of the men to react follows suit with his bunkmate. Refusing the risks getting up out of a bunk when surrounded by enemies, he instead swings his light mace at the back of Dawnilea's left knee. He's just as sleep-addled as the man above him, and instead his swing hits the bed frame beside him.
|