Aluvian's page

The group hurries allong behind Janiven who seems far more certain of her direction now than she had been. A good thing too as the sounds of persuit seem to be closing in all around. It's hard to tell if there are actually hellknights comming from all of those directions or if the echoes are just making it seem as though there are. Either way, the sound is enough to cause everyone to hurry.

After about another five minutes of frantic scurrying, Janiven stops under another grate. "This is it. We sawed through the lock on the other side so it should open easily. You'll find yourself in an alley behind an old abandoned temple of Aroden. That is where we are headed."

The murmur of what could be voices echoing down a side passage punctuates her statement and she hurries up the ladder to the grate. With a little effort she pushes the grate up and over, revealing a rectangle of star speckled night sky. Her head pops back into view for just a momment, beconing for them to hurry up before dissapearing once again.

Just as the misshapen figure comes fully into view, a soft moan echoes down the side corridor and a quick glance down that way reveals another shuffling figure.

One could almost believe that they were lost travelers as well, if it were not for the pale flesh hanging in ragged strips from arms and legs. An exposed leg bone here, the white of a skull there. It quickly becomes all too obvious that these are not lost travelers.

Init: Sordello, Koveless, Gene, Corvus, Zombies, Janiven, Klegg

I would provide a map for this one, however as I'm in transit my ability to do that is rather limited. When I get home, I will accommodate.

Janiven leans against a wall for a moment as everyone prepares to go through the door.

"This door brings us out into another part of the sewers, not far from our exit. There are only a few more turns left. As for a welcome at the other end... I doubt that the Hellknights have found the safe house. Arael will not have given up the location this quickly, even if the Hellknights have already gotten him. And they have no reason to suspect the location otherwise."

Moving cautiously into the new sewer tunnel and to the right in accordance with the marker, reveals another intersection not far down. A branch off to the left with their own tunnel continuing straight.

As the group is stopped at this intersection and Corvus takes a quick look around for the next marker, Sordello can barely make out a humanoid figure walking slowly down their tunnel towards them. A slow foot shuffling gate bringing it just within view in the dim light.

I just wanted to let you know I'm still here. The past few days have been pretty busy. We're turning over our deployment rotation and getting ready to head home. But I'm still posting! :)

Btw, I realize now that I might have been a little confusing on the tunnel. It meant to read another 'sewer' tunnel. So you aren't actually exiting anywhere quite yet. But'll I'll still keep things going without anyone having to change their posts.

Janiven smiles, "I'm sure some baths can be arranged on our exit," she whispers. Though I'm not sure how much time we will have for celebrating our survival." A grim reminder perhaps of the news of Arael's capture that Morosino brought.

Corvus' search of the door brings up nothing and carefully opening it reveals.... Just another corridor. This one crosses the door going right to left and a clear marker can be seen pointing to the right.

As everyone shuffles over the garbage and into the space on the other side, It is quickly discovered that the tunnel does not go far before ending at a makeshift door. A quick glance to Janiven shows that she does indeed recognize the door, and confirms that this is indeed the right path.

With nearly everyone helping the trash moves pretty easy and, though there is plenty of it and it is pretty smelly, it doesn't seem to be very dense. In only a couple minutes the trash is cleared enough to be clamored over and past. It's not cleared, but at least one can climb on top and through the roughly three foot deep hole between trash and ceiling.

Kleggisnep stands watch behind everyone else along with Janiven and Morosino and though he doesn't see anything certain, their minds are more than happy to create sounds for them. Feint rustlings, or scrapings seem to echo down, just shy of being overpowered by the tinkling sound of the running water and just peeking between the noises of the moving trash.

Janiven shakes her head with a shrug as Morosino takes the chance to crouch down and catch his breath again. “I can’t say. We could go back and try a side passage but there’s no guarantee that it would even connect back with this tunnel at all. There doesn’t seem to be much of a system to the layout of these sewers, at least, none that I’ve recognized from within them. And we didn’t explore alternate routes.”

Corvus spots the sign and off the group goes once again, hurrying through the cramped corridors. There are many more twists and turns and intersections but each time the sign is spotted quickly and the correct passage is chosen. Sordello places the goblin down a side passage at the first intersection and for a while all sounds of pursuit fade.

“I think I remember these tunnels,” Janiven whispers. “We’re getting close to our exit. But stay alert. If the Hellknights have guessed our direction they may try to drop in ahead of us.”

The idea of being close to the exit lifts everyone’s spirits, but they are almost immediately dampened as Corvus comes up to a near wall of piled refuse. The trash and filth stretches from wall to wall, and nearly as high as the ceiling. Too far to be climbed over without some effort and time spent clearing the way. The water still trickles through, but just barely and without a hole anywhere near large enough for a person to slip through.

It's hard to tell exactly, with the sounds echoing. But currently the sound is feint so it's probably at least a few minutes.

Good try Klegg. It's the thought that counts, right?

The goblin goes from giggling to squealing as it soon realizes it has bit off way more than it can chew. These are no peasants wandering lost.. These longshanks actually know how to use weapons! He never gets the chance to turn and run, however. Sordello's retaliatory strike crosses perfectly from shoulder to side, knocking the pitiful dogslicers out of the way and creating an opening that Corvus exploits. Her rapier dives in to pierce between the ribs, missing the heart but certainly puncturing a lung. The nuisance is just starting to fall, a pained expression on his face as Koveless' dagger plunges into his stomach.

A quick look around by Gene and Klegg after the splash of the body falling into the water shows no other goblins in sight. But where there is one, there are almost certainly more.

Corvus quickly finds the sword symbol pointing down a left passageway and the group is soon trundling along again. Janiven, who had previously been running with her longsword sheathed, now also runs with it drawn and ready for anything else that might come, and a dagger can be seen in each of Koveless' hands.

The minutes seem to crawl by as the tunnels drag on and on. A right turn is missed by Corvus but caught by Janiven behind her, keeping the trek on track, and two other intersections lead everyone first right, then left. The last turn barely caught by Corvus as the mark is nearly wiped clean by a rivulet of water.

As everyone moves into another multiple exit intersection, Corvus looking about for the proper exit, there is a cry from Sordello. A piercing pain shoots up his leg and as he turns around he spots the giggling goblin that must have lain hidden as the group past him, just waiting to plunge his dogslicer into the rear guard.

Sordello : 4 points damage

Init order : Sordello, Corvus, Koveless, Janiven, Goblin, Gene, Klegg

In case you hadn't noticed I will most likely always be a little slower on weekends as RL becomes more active. But you can bet on at least one post a day during the week.

The ensuing string of attacks on the two remaining torbles results in one crushed flat by Klegg's mace and another skewered on Corvus' rapier. There is a moment of calm before the familiar clink of armor echoes down one of the side halls, reminding everyone of the real danger. Still, the attack by these vermin give warning that there may be other things to worry about down here besides Hellknights.

Sordello is mostly successful in the bulk of his efforts to redirect pursuit. The idea of using a rat is quickly squashed as everyone realizes they haven't seen or heard a rat since they came down into the serwer.

The group erupts into a flurry of activity as the vermin are discovered. Kleggisnep’s mace comes down yet again at those near Gene but this time the surprising agility of the things throws off his aim and he hits only the stone of the floor.

Corvus swings her rapier down and forward towards another of the creatures near Sordello, but meets with little more success than Kleg had.

Koveless comes quickly to the aid of Genevieve bringing a dagger down towards the things but the odd angle, attacking around Gene as she is moving back, is hard to overcome and the attack goes wide.

Sordello steps back, drawing his sword and making a low sweep but it does more to keep them at bay than to hurt any of them.

Brief chanting proceeds an icy burst from Genevieve’s hand. The ray freezes one of the slimy things to the floor and stopping any movement from it.

Janiven acts as quickly as anyone to the danger, stepping up beside Sordello as he steps back and bringing her own longsword down in a chop that severs one of the vermin attack him cleanly in half.

The remaining two beasts that had gone after Gene continue to pursue her, intent on feeding. But the aim of Koveless and Kleggisnep is more true this time and both vermin fall to their blows before they can even get close enough to attack.

Likewise, the other three chase after Sordello, moving in through the attacks of Corvus, and Janiven. Though Sordello manages to bring one down, the other two catch up to him and he is forced to bring his shield low to fend off their acidic bites.

Through all of this Morosino makes himself as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to get in the way of the flashing blades and crushing mace.

Only two left. Both on Sordello. No damage to the party.

I've no problem with you posting out of order if you don't want to wait to see what happens to decide your action. It does make it more realistic, and in this fight it likely matters little.

This combat I'll be doing more cinimatic, without a grid. This will not be the norm, but for something this minor, I think it works well. The cretures are diminutive, which means they are sharing a space with the targets they are attacking (Gene and Sordello). I'm assuming everyone is in reach as the quarters are still pretty cramped. Please post To Hit and damage rolls and I'll reply with whether you hit and the effect.

This shouldn't be a hard fight after the initial surprise, so have fun squishing some Torbles.

Some kind of slimy rat sized things have already gather at the feet of both Gene and Sordello, four at each.

Kleggisnep brings down his mace, causing the light to cast confusing shadows as if moves and smashing one of the small vermin approaching Gene into a gooey smear.

The other three start to bite at her feet, however, one scoring a stinging bite as a bit of acid sizzles into the skin of her leg.

Genevieve - 2 Points damage

Sordello meanwhile is assaulted by four of them, though only one manages to get through the half-elf's armor to deliver a sizzling bite.

Sordello - 2 points damage

Init order - Torbles, Klegg, Koveless, Sordello, Gene, Janiven, Morosino

The slimy things continue to bite at the feet and legs of both Gene and Sordello, attacking faster than nearly anyone can react. Another scores a hit on Gene's foot while the four clamoring after Sordello seem to be getting in each other’s way too much to mount any effective attack.

Genevieve - 2 points damage.

Indeed.

Well it wont be that cool when I go home either since I'm stationed on Okinawa.

While everyone is enjoying the moment of rest they also know that it cannot last long. Just because the sounds of pursuit can no longer be heard, doesn't mean that the pursuit is gone.

The time is spent well, however, as Sordello begins to set up some distracting signs towards the grate above. It is as he is doing this that Kleggisnep notices something.

SURPRISE ROUND

I'm deployed in the desert, yes. Very drab. Only four weeks left, though. Woot!

The seven of you move quickly down the tunnel. It isn't long before you can hear the door into the sewers that Janiven had barred behind her being pounded through.

After about forty feet you come to a side passage that leads off to the right. Corvus stops as she quickly tries to find the marker and as she's looking everyone else crowds up behind. The sound of pounding against the door echoes down the dark passage, reminding everyone of the urgency required. Then Kleg spots the sword, pointing down the right hand passage and it is with great relief that everyone hurries down that passage, hiding the light from pursuers. And none too soon as the obvious sound of the door giving way can be heard behind them.

The moments pass by in a blind rush of shadowy worked rock, murky water, and unpleasant smells. The echo of pursuit remains close behind but with the twisting that the tunnel takes and the few other intersections passed where the mark is more obvious, the exact direction of pursuit becomes hard to discern.

After what seems about fifteen minutes of hunched running the passage opens up into a four way intersection with a larger area off to one side. Wooden planks form crude bridges over the murky water but the sight that draws everyone's eyes is the grate in the ceiling with iron rungs imbedded into the stone to form a ladder up to it. Soft starlight filters through the bars of the grate, teasing everyone with the idea of escape.

"That's not our exit," Janiven is quick to explain. "And as much as we might like to use it, all the entrances to the sewer are locked from above. They're next to impossible to open from below." She pauses a bit to listen then leans against a wall, painting softly. "We should take a second to rest. But not long." The boy especially looks in bad shape. He was tired before he even got down here and this hunched running has been hard even on those used to such exertion.

So how this is gonna work, is I'm just going to describe you moving through the sewer, and I'll make your perc. checks to see if you see the markers. You wont have time to be taking 20 at every intersection to find them, so it is possible that you'll miss one. If so, you'll need to just make a guess and keep going, unless you wanna stick around and let the Hellkights catch you.

As I read it I got Corvus, Janiven, Kleg, Morosino, Gene, Koveless, Sordello. This is the order I'll go with. Morosino is more than happy to fall into the middle as he's just a lad with no weapons.

Glad to hear that your weekend was good. I can't wait to get back to somewhere, anywhere, that has a color other than brown.

Marching order might best be discussed here. Just a thought.

Janiven walks out into the sewer tunnel that crosses left to right just on the other side of the small side tunnel every has huddled in. The sewer tunnel is no taller than the side tunnel, and ten feet wide with half of that width taken up by a three foot deep trench for the water. The construction is solid, with walls and ceiling giving no hint of collapse, but the cramped quarters and smell more than make up the difference.

"I doubt they know the tunnels well at all, but neither do we. I seriously doubt I could find my way again if I did not have the signs. At best it would take me some time." As she moves to the left, the symbol of a sword pointing that direction drawn on the wall becomes plain to everyone. "If you wish to attempt to obscure our tracks, that would certainly help, but I wouldn't disturb the signs as we pass them. We may need them again if we get lost."

With that she heads off, Morosino in front, hurrying down the tunnel at a good pace.

(OOC: I'll need a marching order. It's single file unless anyone wants to walk in the sewer water.)

The way I see it everyone's posting pretty regularly. At least once a day. That's about all I hope for. Anything faster than that is just bonus.

The space on the other side of the door is not large and gets smaller as all seven people eventually file in. The space is even more reduced by the barely five foot ceiling, causing most everyone to stoop at least a little. The smell is not as bad as one would think from a sewer, but is there none the less. Running water can be heard near at hand though at least this stoop seems dry.

As Janiven comes in behind she closes the final wooden door, dropping a bar across it before turning to look at Gene. "It is a ways but not far. We should be able to make it within an hour if all goes well. But the Hellknights will not let these small barriers stop them. We must assume that they will follow." She hurries over to a rock propped near the entrance to the small foyer and pushes it aside, sighing with relief at what she finds.

"Good, they're still here." Reach into the small hole she pulls out a handful of softly glowing blue potions, handing them to the nearest person. "There will be no time to rest with the Hellknights pursuing us. These will help should we be forced to fight."

(OOC: She passes out enough Cure Light Wounds potions for each of you to have 3.)

The secret tunnel under Vizio’s Tavern is very dark, save for the soft glow from Genevieve, rough-hewn, and leads down along a 20-foot-long, 5-foot-wide hallway to a simple wooden door. As each person comes to the door they find it already open, Morosino on the other side beckoning each through the doorway. Janiven is not idle as her guests flee. She knocks over the shelves in front of the door, then tosses a tanglefoot bag onto the floor before retreating into the tunnel last.

James and I don't know what a "CMD" is. What is it? I can't find it on my char sheet.

CMD is new with the published PFRPG. All Combat Manuevers (and tumble checks) are vs the opponents Combat Manuever Defence.

Your CMB is equal to your BAB + Str + Size bonus + Misc.

Your CMD is equal to 10 + BAB + Str + Dex + Size bonus + Misc.

For anyone looking at tumbling this is important as the DCs are higher now. In addition there is a +5 to the DC for tumble if you're trying to go through the enemies square, and eaach additional enemy adds +2 to the DC.

As I read the rules for tumble it is a seperate check for each enemy, with a +2 added for each one over 1. So if, for example, you wanted to tumble past 5 people (as happened in the campaign I'm playing in here just last week) you'd have to roll 5 times vs the CMD, CMD+2, CMD+4, CMD+6, CMD+8. This makes tumble far less powerful, which as we know from Simon, is a good thing.

I'm just glad I have some players who seem very interested in playing. This is already going much faster than any of the other PbP campaigns I've tried. I just hope it keeps up.

Dispite the news Janiven remains calm, setting her jaw in determination. "I am sorry to have involved all of you in this." she says as she walks towards the back of the room, just as a mailed fist begins hammering on the door and booming voices demand entrance and surrender. "Follow me, quickly. You have indeed hit on just the way out of this, Genevieve."

Swiftly, she and the young boy move behind the tavern's decrepit bar and into the kitchen where they lift up a heavy trap door in the floor of a cupboard. As the pounding on the door increases she looks to the faces around her. "This drops down into the sewers. There is a route that we explored earlier to a safe house. The way is marked with signs but you will have to be careful and watch for them. It will be very easy to get lost if you miss one." She motions for the boy to go, and then Gene. "Morosino knows the way. I will dellay them as best I can but I will be right behind you. I do not intend to be captured and tortured today." Without waiting to see if anyone else goes down into the tunnel she moves to close the kitchen door.

(OOC: I made the assumption that everyone followed her, but I figured it was a safe one.)

It looks like things are picking up now! I was going to order the CoT path, as I usually DM, but I am enjoying playing this with no knowledge of the actual path and very little of Glolarion.

One question for Aluvian, my character has knowledge plains and evil outsiders for a favored enemy (maybe I should have picked Hellknight :p). Anyway, does Pathfinder use the same set of oustiders as 3.5E D&D? I just want to make sure that I can role play my character's knowledge realistically when the time comes. Thanks for any advice. Regards - Joe

I'm glad that you're enjoying it. If I'm understanding your question correctly, then yes, they use the same sets of outsiders from the same locals. Some of the flavor has been changed but the essential ellements remain the same. Devils, Demons, Celestials, Elementals, they may have different names or different stories but they all follow essentially the same rules.

Janiven moves slowly to a window and peers through the boards. Letting out a visible sigh of relief she moves quickly back to the door, unlocks it, and opens it, letting in a terrified and out of breath young lad of no more than 14.

"They've got Arael!" he calls out before Janiven has even finished closing and locking the door. He immediatly doubles over, his chest heaving interspersed by coughing as he tries desperately to catch his breath.

Janiven's face grows grim as she clicks the lock to the door shut and turns to confront the boy. "What do you mean?" she asks, though it looks like she already fears the answer.

"The dottari nabbed Arael, and the Hellknights of the Rack are trying to get custody of him! There's a bunch of Hellknights on their way here now! I only just made it in here; they've already surrounded us!"

Even as the boy says it, a keen ear can catch the sound of clanking armor from outside.

Janiven is just about to speak in answer to just that question when she is startled by a

BANG BANG BANG BANG

on the front door. The sudden loud sound in the otherwise soft conversation combined with her proximity to the door makes her jump slightly and turn to face the door with a hand on her sword.

Janiven smiles a bit, seeing that she did not choose wrong in these people. "I did not ask you here because I already knew the answers," she comments softly, still pacing a bit near the door. "But I do believe that a group of like minded individuals can improve the lives of the people of Westcrown. But what I am speaking of is not revolution... Not armed uprising... But a band of protectors working to win the admiration and support of the citizens by doing good works and providing what aid we can." She glances to the window again, biting her bottom lip before continuing. "The key... Is the fact that Westcrown is ignored by Egorian, the nobility outcasts. As long as we work to win the hearts of Westcrown's citizens and avoid any direct entanglemets with the government, the House of Thrune will continue to ignore what they will iterpret as petty squabbling."

"As for the shadows, I am sure that if we work togeather, we can come up with some action to take against these shadows. And that doing so would be the greates symbol of hope we could give Westcrown."

Hah! The fact she hasn't got herself killed yet? :P (I was half tempted to get all paranoid based on a false conclusion drawn from that terrible, terrible sense motive roll.)

That would have been pretty funny. But Really if she was going to spring a trap on you guys, she really would have to wait until you were more committed. Otherwise it's just capturing and interrogating you for the heck of it. Which if she could find you all... would have already been done without all the fuss.

Of course... There is something dramatic about bringing you all togeather for a mass arrest too. Hmmmm.... (GM chin tapping)

Come on guys... What could possibly be suspicious about a woman openly decrying an oppressive government?

Just to clerify, any active sense motive you might make on Janiven finds her very much sincere.

As dinner seems to be wrapping up and all eyes are turning to her with the expectation that she finally offer a little more in the way of explanation, Janiven rises. Walking to the front window she takes a long look out of it before pulling the shutters against the light that is just starting to fade. She locks the door as well before turning back to face the company. Taking a deep breath she begins.

"First, I would like to thank you all for coming. I know that it was a leap of faith for you to do so. I hope that it will be rewarded. Also, rest assured that I am well aware of the time and this should not take long, allowing you plenty of time to get home before sunset."

She takes another deep breath then starts to walk slowly about the room, addressing those assembled in a speach that is as obviously unpracticed as it is sincerely passionate.

"Each of you are here for a singular reason. Everyone here, myself included, has either suffered, or been witness to suffering. I have lived in Westcrown my whole life, and although I love this city, I must admit, as must you, that despite our peace and prosperity, we continue to suffer. Fear should not be an expected part of life, and yet each night brings fear to our doorsteps. Yes, Westcrown has been safe from war and famine for nearly seventy years, and yes, our businesses has prospered—but this safety and prosperity has been bought in the coinage of fear and prayers to Hell. Other lands live free from tyranny. Other cities do not fear the night. Other governments do not cede the streets to monsters of the infernal shadows. Westcrown was once such a place, and she wants to be such a place again. Westcrown is not only her buildings and canals and docks and history—she is also her people. Westcrown is our friends and neighbors, our mothers and fathers, our siblings and cousins, our sons and daughters! With but a small group of supporters and dedicated brothers and sisters, we can earn the trust and admiration of those people. A Westcrown free of these shadowy beasts that stalk our streets is one step closer to a Westcrown free of the devil that is the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune!”

Janiven’s words are, of course, treason—everyone in Westcrown knows a friend of a friend of a friend who was taken away by a Hellknight or executed after a swift trial for speaking less treasonous words than what Janiven has just uttered. Yet here she pauses, perhaps to gauge the reactions of her audience before continuing.

"Not at all," Janiven responds. "I am well aware that your problems are important to you and it was not my intention to decieve you in any way in order to bring you here."

Janiven breaks a small smile to the cleric at his mention of her. "There are many who have troubles and complaints. We are only a small few."

Janiven lays the food out for everyone, as they talk. It isn't a feast, but there is enough for everyone and it is filling. After everything is set out she joins you all for the meal. She makes light conversation during the meal but for the most part just watches everyone else as they talk.

(OOC: This is a chance for all of your characters to get to know each other a bit. Feel free to keep posting without any GM inputs for a bit. When the RP slows down or you all are ready to move on I'll continue things.)

Janiven greets everyone and as the last arrive she gives an obviously grateful smile.

"Please, have a seat and get to know each other a bit while I finish up preparing the meal. Buisness can wait until after we've eaten."

Vizio’s tavern is nothing more than hundreds of other buildings in this part of the city. Obviously closed, upon closer examination it does appear to still be in good repair. There is nothing to suggest anything is amiss as one approaches and upon arriving close to the door you can see Janiven within, walking about straightening up while in the midst of preparing a meal.

As each of you enters, Janiven, who is quite alone, directs you to a chair at a large table she has prepared. The interior of the tavern is solid, but obviously unused and it is evident that Janiven has gone to some effort to clean the place up and make it presentable. She gets each of you something to drink, but politely refuses to answer any questions until everyone has arrived.

Corvus is the first to arrive, and anyone who comes after finds her already there, sitting so as to watch anyone else coming in.

Got my character stuff up! WOO!

What feats did you take?

Nearly everyone is finished with their intro RP. Just to give everyone an update. We should be good to start soon.

As everyone is either complete, or nearly complete, with their characters, I'll be starting up the campaign here soon.

Since it seems at least half the people want me to run the opening by emails, I'll start that today. It may take a bit to work through that, so when we're done, we'll start up the actual thread.