Dungeon Master S's page

No he pulled away too fast. Corran pulls back emptyhanded, but knows that he isn't kidding, that really was a command for a golem. this guy's no joke.

Ianthe wants to make this quick, so she hastens the party.

Argentus tries to maintain his defense while casting a spell: Concentration: 1d20 ⇒ 2, but loses the spell!

Unfortunately, the golem activates. The eagle shaped ice sculpture animates to close in and protect him!

The statue flaps its wings and then unleashes a cone of cold over half the party! Cold DMG: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) = 8 Kenton, Aurelia, and Ianthe can pass a DC 13 REF for half.

Thankfully the patrons are under the table, "Oh, chilled soup? This is incredible!"

ROUND 1:
Ianthe: Haste REF
Corran (36/36): Miss
Argentus: Fail
Kenton (54/54): REF + Go
Xavien (69/69): Go
Aurelia (40/40): REF + Go

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Seizing the pouch would be a grapple. He's unarmed and hasn't gone yet, so there's little he can do.

Though not adept at hand to hand, Argentus does pull away from Corran. "Golem! Protect me!" Sense Motive

ROUND 1:
Ianthe: Go
Corran (36/36): Miss
Argentus: TBD
Kenton (54/54): TBD
Xavien (69/69): TBD
Aurelia (40/40): TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Clearly the man has a secret that he wants kept. Government or magician intrusion - it's all the same. This man's secret is worth violence.

The patrons immediately duck under the tables, but they make sure to bring their meals with them.

INITIATIVE:
Enemy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Aurelia: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
Corran: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Ianthe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Kenton: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Xavien: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

ROUND 1:
Ianthe: Go
Corran (36/36): Go
Argentus: TBD
Kenton (54/54): TBD
Xavien (69/69): TBD
Aurelia (40/40): TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Savories

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

While Xavien doesn't see anything secret within the restaurant, he does see Agentus, the waiter-owner reaching to a spellpouch...

It's too good not to. That's a success.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7
"Oh shiiiii.... sure, yessure. I mean yes sir."...

The kitchen has two men cooking, nothing more, nothing less, though they don't seem to be very skilled.

"Without a reservation?" He looks around. "Only if you promise a big tip for your server." Will let others roll checks before advancing.

Approaching dinner time, the party heads over to Savories. This restaurant is tiny, with only four padded booths for diners. The wood of the structure is dark and embellished with gold leaf. An alcove to the southeast contains the restaurant’s main entrance, while a similar alcove to the northeast contains a massive, graceful ice sculpture of an eagle in flight.

There are currently five patrons in Savories: an elderly couple and a trio of very well-dressed men in their early 20s. They look like they could be brothers. An oily-haired but impeccably dressed man serves as host and server.

Remind me that you did that if it ever matters! What now team?

Neither of you recognize the name. Grammell then stops and continues, "Take my advice, and drop going after an earl. We'll stay out of your way, you don't get in ours. Deal?"

"Look we aren't professional investigators. We do what we can. Don't press us any further here. You're pouring drinks, so we'll give you one snippet. Like you, Earl Merkondus is a guest of the Mercantile Council, and he has brought us in as special agents to help Yanmass in its troubled time.... It's best if you leave him alone - you don't have the means to take on a man like the Earl. He'll be just fine in the Gilded Bal-"

The bard woman cuts him off. The conversation grinds to a halt.

"Cute." is the only response to Xavien's move.

"Fine."

Grammell returns to do the talking, "Look, we were hired because supposedly there's a cult claiming that the Prince has been reborn. We also got word that some knight or other went missing. We've found nothing in our investigations thus far. Seems like it's a lot of spycraft, propaganda, and nobles playing the commonfolk like chess pieces."

"Conversation about what exactly?" This comes not from the ostensible leader, Grammell Taychar, but from the tall severe woman who goes by Embla Hightune.

Will Hulgra: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Will Cardello: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Will Viara: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Before a fist is thrown, the lure of combat hasn't yet taken their minds. They're... open to it.

Two of the three simply.... stare at Corran. There's a dull-witted giggle out of one of them, hard to tell which.

The leader immediately snarls, "ENOUGH! No games. What're you here for?"

At the use of magic, the leader snaps, "Don't escalate, remember the job!"

The bartender then chimes in, "NO OFFENSIVE SPELLS OR I'LL CALL THE GUARDS!"

ROUND 1:
Kenton (54/54): Go
Ianthe (Hard to tell when it's Alisanne): Go
Corran (36/36): Go
Xavien (69/69): Vanish
Grammell: TBD
Cardello: TBD
Aurelia (40/40): TBD
Hulgra: TBD
Viara: TBD
Embla: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

The nearest lap is Alphabetical: 1d5 ⇒ 4 the dirty warpriest of Gorum.

He IMMEDIATELY shoves Ianthe off his lap calling her all manner of slurs, "Don't think your wiles spares you from the back of my hand!"

The other patrons clearly can tell when there's a brawl breaking out as they dash to the other side, making sure to fetch their drinks for the entertainment, and their coin purses for the betting...

Grammell: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Aurelia: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
Corran: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Ianthe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Kenton: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Xavien: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Hulgra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Embla: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
Cardello: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Viara: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

ROUND 1:
Kenton (54/54): Go
Ianthe (Hard to tell when it's Alisanne): Go
Corran (36/36): Go
Xavien (69/69): Go
Grammell: TBD
Cardello: TBD
Aurelia (40/40): TBD
Hulgra: TBD
Viara: TBD
Embla: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Whilst telling jokes, Corran overhears 1d5 ⇒ 2 “Have you seen the weirdo in the red bird mask? I have! Yesterday at sundown he was crouched at the top of a building over by that old theater, watching the street. Creepy fellow, but I guess if he was gonna do more that mope about, he’d have done it by now. I hope.”

Unfortunately, they're out the door before he can breakaway to follow up.

"Right, you didn't ask me anything about how they work only for Merkondus. I didn't tell you that I think they're just here for an easy paycheck - they're no partisans, except the cleric who gets in a fight almost every night. And you didn't ask me if I was looking right at the five of them. Nope."

He puts a nice bottle on the table, "Yours if I don't have to call the guards."

Kenton doesn't get much of a reaction from the bartender when asking about Dratavis. When he mentions the Bravos though, the bartender winces.

With a swallow, the bartender promises, "No blood or I'll call the guard. They pay their tab like any others."

The party has no trouble finding the inn. Describe what you're doing in the inn, how and for whom you are looking. Your demeanor?

Xavien doesn't get any real leads on aasimar specifically. They're rare enough, but there are still a couple dozen or so. No one has seen anyone of Dratavis's description though

You do manage to get a bead on Merkondus's hired help. The Kozan Bravos are led by a stern Taldan ex-soldier named Lieutenant Grammell Taychar. they are known to send the back half of the day at the Whistling Wyvern.

With a nod the Enumerator begins the process of cleaning up the room (and recalling the acolytes to help.)

The Grand Uncle ends up being a dead-end beyond a single scrap of information. It's the kind of place where a lot of people go to give and take anonymous jobs of less than legal bearing. After asking - and it takes some silver-tongued icebreakers - you get only that, "There's been a lot more activity with the so called 'Twilight Child', seems like they're making a name for themselves in the cult business if you know what I mean..." But follow up beyond that is nil.

What now? you've got leads.

The Chief Enumerator winces a bit at Xavien's somewhat crass description of the circumstances around the woman's death, "she was a local ....feature. The woman had some outlandish ideas about a great many things. Mayhaps they weren't all fantastical..."

Palliettor is at a loss to explain the ram.

------------------------

the chief Enumerator spares no church expense on interrogating the fallen. Once complete, he offers this report, "The rogues explained that they received their contract from a figure in one of their usual haunts (a seedy tavern called the Grand Uncle). Their employer was cloaked and hooded, but the rogues realized that he was an aasimar, not a human. Further, they spotted their employer attempting to conceal a strange round cap with an attached veil. That's all I could get out of their spirits."

"I have made my own investigations into the Cult of the Twilight Child, as I have become concerned that the cult is tarnishing my faith’s good name. I can confirm that the Cult of the Twilight Child has nothing to do with Abadar’s faith. Further, I'm now become worried that the cult’s objectives are more ominous than they appear on the surface. I have a strong feeling that these assassins are related. I don't have much now, but I can pass on any information that I have now."

He looks at the corpses, "Should we ask them?"

"Tell me what you know about the Cult of the Twilight Child"

Before long, Xavien shrinks to normal size.

Corran knows not the name, but he knows the artistry. There's a goldsmith who lends his hand to both arms and armor. His name is something like Oster Cullin. He's a young man of Chelish ancestry, but lives in Oppara. That likely means the weapon is untested, but undoubtedly of masterwork quality.

Aurelia's pack gets to work. In the chaos only a single bite and trip connects, but the assassin is clearly not long for this world.

Calling it, as he's about to draw WAY too many AoOs. For saving the Chief Enumerator, each of you earns 800 XP.

Without missing a single beat, the Chief Enumerator stabilizes the final assassin. "If you need to question him of course... I thank you for your aid, and I apologize for the mess in my house. Please, whatever they have is yours. Additionally, I have a personal gift fort your efforts."

He grabs a heavy crossbow off the wall. It has a heavy wooden stock decorated with ornate golden filigree. "It's known as the Scofflaw Hunter"

When in doubt, go with the sure thing. Ianthe, looking a little different than normal, launches a trio of magical missiles into the remaining assassin.

the chief enumerator casts a spell that massively and literally increases Xaavien's presence in the cathedral. Righteous Might

ROUND 2:
Kenton (42/54): Kill
Xavien (69/69): Hit
Ianthe (37/37): MM
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): Magic
Corran (29/36): Go
Aurelia (32/32): Go
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Kenton makes two quick hits, with one nearly hitting the heart. The second hit draws too much blood for the man to stay in the fight. The erstwhile assassin collapses!

ROUND 2:
Kenton (42/54): Kill
Xavien (69/69): Hit
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): TBD
Corran (29/36): TBD
Aurelia (32/32): TBD
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Xavien moves to defend his charge and delivers a telling blow in the process!

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 12 Without breaking Corran's heart.... the assassin freezes in place!

The free assassin ignores the foes around him and stabs at the Chief Enumerator:
Rapier: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 for DMG: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The paralyzed one Will: 1d20 ⇒ 11 breaks free after losing precious seconds.

ROUND 2:
Kenton (42/54): Go[/b]
Xavien (69/69): Hit
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): TBD
Corran (29/36): TBD
Aurelia (32/32): TBD
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 7 Without breaking Corran's heart.... the assassin freezes in place!

The free assassin ignores the foes around him and stabs at the Chief Enumerator:
Rapier: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 for DMG: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The paralyzed one Will: 1d20 ⇒ 17 breaks free after losing precious seconds.

ROUND 2:
Kenton (42/54): Go
Xavien (69/69): Go
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): TBD
Corran (29/36): TBD
Aurelia (32/32): TBD
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Aurelia piles on the numbers, looking to thwart and overwhelm the assassins. While the wolves fail to wound them, they do make it harder to get to the would-be target.

ROUND 1:
Kenton (42/54):
Xavien (69/69): Skalding
Ianthe (37/37): MM
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): Spell
Corran (29/36): Go
Aurelia (32/32): Duran Duran
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Xavien starts a song to make everyone see red while Kenton channels it into a solid strike. Ianthe launches a trio of missiles at the other assassin.

The Chief Enumerator offers up a Prayer to Abadar. It's not a plead, but an invocation of divine power! each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.

ROUND 1:
Kenton (42/54):
Xavien (69/69): Skalding
Ianthe (37/37): MM
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): Spell
Corran (29/36): Go
Aurelia (32/32): Go
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Prayer
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Abrun hears the music, but doesn't let it inside him. It's not his style.

Before your very eyes a pair of assassins in black leather armor shift into view, their invisibility collapsing under their attack.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 = 20 CLANG! The enumerator has plate under his robes!
Rapier: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 24 for DMG: 1d6 + 3 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (1, 4, 5, 4) = 22

"ASSASSINS!" he shouts through a clenched jaw.

ROUND 1:
Kenton (42/54): Go
Xavien (69/69): Go
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor (48/70): TBD
Corran (29/36): TBD
Aurelia (32/32): TBD
Assassins: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Temple of Abadar

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

"You dodge my question, so I'll speak plainly. Who should rule Taldor?"

"But unite behind whom sir?"

The party heads to Yanmass’s temple of Abadarto follow up with the Mercantile Council member who serves as the temple’s high priest, Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor.

Although located in the low valley between Yanmass’s two hills, the soaring roofs of the city’s temple of Abadar tower over all others in the city. Designed by a renowned Taldan architect in an airy, elegant style, the temple took nearly a generation to build and almost emptied an entire quarry in the Fog Peaks of its rare, gold-hued stone. Acolytes ring the key-shaped chimes in the temple’s tallest towers to signify holy celebrations, and the temple’s canny high priest, Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor, is a popular figure and member of the city’s influential Mercantile Council.

You arrive just as he is dismissing the trio of acolytes. He brings you into the main room. "Tell me outsiders. What do you think of Yanmass thus far? And be honest, we are in Abadar's house."

"Can't say that I have...." He seems very much not interested in conversing.

"Still definitely my final offer..."

510 Platinum. Final offer."

The "collector and purveyor" is awkward, shy, and FAR more interested in the gear than he is in you, "Yes. Yes. Numerian in make. Rarely do I find such pieces outside Numeria. You have piqued my interest, and I hope there are no barriers to a quick sale."

Aurelia confirms, but don't build on Xavien's findings. The skald is stumped on the Sanguine Brothers. The name doesn't wring a bell.

The party heads out, poking around and trying to put things together. The Enumerator seems like a good option, but Corran locates someone who may be interested in buying some... strange equipment.

DM: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2 Ha!

Corran's lead isn't a shop, it's a private residence. Before knocking on the door, it's obvious that this place has an eccentric owner. When pressed to discern why, no one can put their finger on it. The place is just.... different.

Xavien does his best. It looks like Farkin suspected the “secret masters” occupied the abandoned Sanguine Brothers slaughterhouse.

Kenton and Xavien follow her movements, wounding her at every step. Before she can regain a fighting position, she falls.

The victory earning each agent 960 XP.

Caradinna Farkin’s house is in disarray, with maps, notes, and frantic ravings covering most surfaces. Unexpectedly, when you check, you discover a corpse stuffed in a trunk. A more thorough review of Farkin’s notes requires separating fact from rambling theories; which requires a Linguistics check.

Checking the half-orc, she's way too well decked out for this... with equipment that seems otherworldly.

Ianthe bolsters the party's speed as Aurelia lightly wounds the half-orc.

She steps into the room with a tumbling flourish:
Acrobatics: 1d20 ⇒ 3 but not acrobatically enough!

Nevertheless, she stabs at Kenton!
A few feats: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 for DMG: 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + (5) = 12

ROUND 3:
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Kenton (42/54): AoO + Go
Xavien (69/69): AoO + Go
Corran (29/36): Go
Aurelia (32/32): Go
???: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Streets of Yanmass

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Xavien gets a hit in, albeit barely! Still, a wound is a wound.

Kenton draws first blood. She may be an assassin by faith, but she isn't so skilled as to be able to fight on two fronts.

ROUND 2:
Ianthe (37/37): Go
Kenton (48/48): Hit!
Xavien (69/69): Hit
Corran (29/36): Tasha FORT
Aurelia (32/32): Go
???: TBD

-----------------------------
TACTICAL MAP
Location: Streets of Yanmass

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions: