After a hard fight the party are finally able to defeat their foe. They capture the mysterious caster, Aldashe Truesight and are able to extract the information that the Aspis Consortium were seeking control of an evil fungus within the fallen dwarven stronghold that they believed they could turn into a weapon. With this information the dwarves are able to enlist the aid of the Pathfinder Society and finally secure themselves a home and restore their honour.
The party go their various way, but the tales of the adventures are another story.
Sorry for the delay hols, and distractions, and kinda forgot I was up. *blush*
Treygar turns his twin blades upon Elhona, put can only skewer her with one. The Lumps assault Elhona and Kibur with their crude gauntlets, Kibur receiving a blow to the head that opens his previous wound further leaving him, unsteady on his feet.
Chandra is up!
Traygar vs Elhona: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10 Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (1) = 5
Traygar vs Elhona: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (1) = 5
Lump vs Elhona: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Lump vs Kibur: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
The cowled figure stops dazed and damaged by Chandra's assault his spell fizzling.
Elhona downs the injured Lump brother, and Kibur lashes out at Treygar with Elhona flanking, but is still unable to connect to his great frustration. Denenor moves exposing himself to Treygar and one of the Lump brothers to feed Yves a potion. Treygar's dagger is deflected by the elf's armour, but the lump catches him a telling blow on the cheek with his crude gauntlet sending blood flying.
Yves heals 7HP.
Gabriel and Yves are up!
Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Kibur vs Treygar: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Treygar AOO vs Denenor: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Lump AOO vs Denenor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
He's very dead, but Chandra and the cowled figure still to go before that happens - sure you know that, but just to avoid potential confusion.
Gabriel's alchemist's fire misses it target again, but shatters against the wall behind him splashing him with burning hot liquid again. But despite gritting his teeth at the minor burns the cowled man is able to continue his spell.
Flanking with Elhona, Denenor stabs at the thug before him, his blade comes away red and the man staggers, clearly only just able to keep his feet.
Following Treygar's roared orders the Lumps move to provide him with a flank upon Yves and their leader slashes out with both of his blades! Both knives land one sinking into the tender flesh over Yve's kidney and the mighty barbarian tumbles to the cobbles his blood flowing freely.
One of the Lumps takes a defensive stance swaying on his feet from his injuries, the other two lash out with their crude spiked gauntlets at Kibur and Elhona. Kibur takes a painful blow that breaks his nose and leaves blood trickling down through his beard.
Yves takes 25 damage. Feel free to run Denenor or Kibur if you like Yves, who has the healing potions?
Chandra's magic envelops him and for a moment his eyelids begin to droop and his chanting becomes half yawn, but then he shakes his head vigorously disciplined mind fending off the enchantment.
Chandra is up!
Alchemist's Fire Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Concentration: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Deneor vs Lump: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Deneor vs Lump: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
Treygar vs Yves: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24 Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (6) = 11
Treygar vs Yves: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 2 = 22 Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (2) = 7
Crit Conf Treygar vs Yves: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Lump vs Kibur: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Lump vs Elhona: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Sorry folks should have made this explicit, but like last time the water is difficult terrain, so no charges I'm afraid Gabriel.
The cowled figure begins chanting a spell, his words and movements eerily reminiscent of Chandra's as sand filters through his fingertips.
Elhona moves up to flank with Deneor, drawing her falcata, but the water is difficult to move through at speed and she does not have time to strike.
Kibur moves up and swing his battleaxe at Treygar, but cannot connect with his agile foe.
Gabriel, and Yves are up!
Kibur vs Treygar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Despite the cover afforded by the Lumps Yves mighty throw finds the cloaked figure, who cries out in pain, though he keeps his feet.
The thugs bellow and move forward moving at the direction of Treygar to surround Yves, as he joins them. Swinging crude gauntlets the brothers prove as inept as their names suggest and are easily avoided.
Wielding a pair of long knives Treygar dashes in to flank with a Lump, aiming for Yves's kidneys, but failing to penetrate the barbarian's armour.
Chandra is up!
Lump vs Yves: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Lump vs Yves: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Lump vs Denenor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Treygar: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1) = 7
Gabriel's throw goes wide of the mark, but the vial hits the wall behind the Lump brother targeted and shatters spraying the cloaked figure with flames.
Cloaked fellow takes 1 fire damage.
Denenor moves forward.
Yves is up! Technically moves before Denenor, but I wanted to get the action out of the way, if it effects you negatively you can assume Denenor has not gone yet Yves.
Alchemist Fire Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 4
No need to feel bad Kibur, this was specifically designed as a low commitment campaign. Posting rates were getting lethargic all over and I am all jazzed about PFS. Some things are just not meant to be. I think the game has come to a natural end and while its sad that it did not get the wind under its sails I hope we all had a bit of fun with the experiment - you guys certainly faced down some near epic encounters for your level.
Sorry I forgot to rool your init Elhona, can you move yourself on the map?
Moving forward Kibur hurls an acid dart at one of the Lump borthers, hitting the man and eliciting a roar of pain as the acid sizzles upon his flesh.
Gabriel is up!
Kibur Init: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Deneor Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Lumps: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Treygar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Cowl: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Kibur Acid Dart: 1d20 ⇒ 12 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Thanks Yves, and I'm sorry to wrap things up, but as I say I really think PFS PBP is the way to go. A nice short scenario takes less than a month to play out, there is a clear resolution, and your character can still progress. I'd be delighted to ahve you in one of my PFS games if you feel you can meet the posting requirements - the nice thing about short PFS PBPs is you can always hop into oen when you feel like you will have a relatively free month and be done by the end.
Moving forward the group see five figures emerge from the blue door, as they approach the burlier of the two cloaked figures on your right calls, "Snivelling little s#$# sold us out did he, he's not going to like the consequences - I'll feed him to his own vermin."
MAP
"Three Lump brothers, all stupider and uglier than the last, but I better be on my way. Good luck, me and my progeny are routing for you!" The halfling says before rushing off into a nearby alley.
Ahead of you the blue door swings in a gentle breeze ajar, and Tom Filth whistles, "Well, better you than me, for what its worth good luck to you, you seem nicer than that bunch of butt monkeys."
Right I've had a PM from Kibur, who is dropping out. I'm afraid due to a number of factors I'll be looking to finish things off shortly. I would prefer to finish with a satisfying conclusion, so would anyone like to run Kibur for the final encounter - I can DM PC though I generally prefer not to. I would love to hear any feedback you have for me, and hope this has been a relatively positive experience. Ultimately I ended up finding the random idea rather limiting and gimmicky, I think a lot of the stuff I was trying to achieve regarding lighter commitment and a character pool is handled far more adroitly by Pathfinder Society play - which I've just begun getting into.
I'm moving over to Pathfinder Society exclusively for PBP after this as I feel it offers some major advantages. The fact that both DMs and players have a real incentive, that you can continue the same character between various games, and that each scenario is relatively bite sized makes it perfect IMO. Elhona, Chandra, Gabriel I would be delighted to have you in my games again if you are interested in running PFS, and I'll be posting a recruitment thread for Black Waters in a few hours, using the alias The Broken GM.
The halfling nods,
"I'll watch from a safe distance. Sure you don't want to know anything about those you face? They are not subtle, but don't let Treygar catch you distracted he's deadly with those knives, don't know much about the cowled fellow, except he's very ugly, and I'd swear he's some sort of wizard. The Lumps are stupid, but strong enough. All a@!+!@$!s."
I'll put up a battle map tomorrow.
"We did we did, and I'm here to live up to the spirit of that promise. My colleagues have sent me out to offer you terms you've already rejected. I've come to offer my own terms though. You see I've fallen in with a bad crowd and wish to extract myself, but I have a family and don't need the kind of trouble pissing off their Masters would bring. So if you take them down I'll stay out of it, I'll even sing like a canary so long as you all promise not to go spreading it about. What do you say?"
The children fan out dispersing through the crowds around you with only Tom staying with you, just out of grabbing range,
"Ehhh, we're easy, we'll take anything that's worth coin, got any gold teeth, fancy armour, any of that stuff."
He leads you through the teeming masses of the market in Coins and back into the flooded streets of Puddles, heading for one of the most saturated sections. After twenty minutes or so he points to a house at the end of the street some five hundred feet away.
A familiar halfling leans against the blue door, pipes in hand and begins walking towards you holding his hands above his head grinning.
"Right you are Mrs, the boy says, wrapping the coins in a rag and tying it and tossing it over his shoulder where another boy snatches it, "you want us to show you the way since we'll be following you anyways?"
I'm going to assume that Chandra gives the coins, as I think that's her intent, if not we can retcon.
"Oh, I doubt that'll happen, we're still telling them exactly where you are, you only paid to know where they are - they paid to, we've gotta be fair," there is some sniggering at this, and one child shouts,
"You tell them Tom Filth!" before being shushed and punched in the stomach by another youth.
"Told you twenty to tell you where they are fifty to stop following you. Gold don't stretch far with so many of us, we Scuts have to earn our bread you know, think of this as us encourijin you to be charitable."
"S' a bunch of toughs, I know most of them and can describe the other. You got Lem Pipes, Toothless Treygar, the three lump brothers, and some fellow in a cowl. They're waiting in a building in Puddles, a big house with a blue door across the street from the old Wyflin Mill - that's gotta sign. Didn't give us a why, but I'd bet its either to kill you or beat you so bad you stop doing whatever it is you are doing they've taken against." the lad says holding out a grubby hand.
"Nope, sounds like you think I'm a sucker. We can tell you exactly who is trying to hunt you down and probably murder you, you tell me how much that's worth, cause twenty gold sounds pretty damn cheap to me," the urchin responds, backed by a chorus of affirmation from his scruffy peers.
"We ain't fussy about taking trade neither, we can sell most anythin'"
The boy squints at Gabriel, obviously enjoying being able to look down at someone for once,
"Oh yeah, and who gets to say what its worth? You give us... twenty gold pieces and we'll tell you who hired us to follow you, give us fifty and we'll stop. I'd pay if I was you, I wouldn't much fancy meeting the types after you in a dark alley.."
Please roll diplomacy, etc., when negotiating :)
The money vanishes into the grubby hands of the half dozen waifs she is able to get near,
"Know loadsa stuff Mrs, know you'll need to cough up more than that if you want to be competitive."
There are no shortage of money lenders in Coins and Chandra has no trouble exchanging her coin, though nobody offers the service for free.
Call it 2 CP per GP exchanged.
As the group head down from Misery Row into Coins, they begin to notice ragged children following them, pointing and darting away. The street children do not seem to be any effort at stealth, and there appear to be dozens of them...
"No, do not trouble yourself on my account, I am quite done with the boy - perhaps one day he will grow up and reform, until then I have washed my hands of him. You might try the Bronze Bowl over in the Ivy District, its a popular Aspis haunt, the cities restrictions upon business make it difficult for them to operate openly. Tell them you have some money making scheme or another and I am sure their greed will force them to take the bait. I really don't know any of their representatives other than my son, good luck and don't be tender with them on my account." Slantern says, turning away and moving back to his desk muttering,
"Simon, Simon, Simon, what have you gotten yourself into now?"
"Kind words. The Aspis are some kind of world spanning group of unscrupulous merchants and mercenaries. I believe they are headquartered in Cheliax, but they are a major power. They attract acetic opus fools like my son who do not understand the value of running a business properly, they are all schemes and plots. Alas my son is exactly the sort they seek, a bright, but greedy man with little in the way of morals. I don't know where you might find him I am afraid. Now was there anything else?" Archos Slantern says, rubbing his forehead and looking tired.
"Ah, I am afraid you are barking up the wrong tree. I have disowned the boy his practices are unscrupulous and cruel, and worst barely effective. He has taken up with the Aspis Consortium, may they ruin one another."
Unsure how to move things along here guys. Basically you are trying to find out about this ma's son and see if you can uncover who you are up against, etc.
The young man is about to reply when his master looks up, Arcus Slanter is a handsome older man with grey flecked hair oiled back and a neat goatee, dressed immaculately in black robes which close up are embroidered with intricate design in silver thread,
"Let them pass Melencoss, there is no point antagonizing people I am sure they are reasonable people and know the consequences of misbehaviour here. Lady, gentleman how can I help you today, I take it a fair assumption from your expressions that you are not interested in my wares. And I am afraid I do not believe you are a member of the Dwarven Merchants Alliance, master Kibur, pray do not lie to me again or I shall cease being civil. I am a good and honest man, though I doubt you will believe it, and have little patience for duplicity. It is in a merchant's interest for his word to be as good as gold. I shall further tell you that I have little interest in being judged."
Kibur Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
"I'm sorry Sir Elf, but you do not appear to be interested in making a purchase, perhaps if you could tell me what you want with the Master I might be inclined to trouble him. I am sure you understand a slave who interrupts his master for a waste of time is a poor slave and we here at The Gilded Cage are anything but that."
"My Master is a very busy man I fear Sir Elf, how might I assist you?"
As the group enter the shop a teenage boy, who has been performing complex calculations upon a sheet of glass with some sort of oily paint-like substance rises and glides towards them,
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Caged Bird, how may I facilitate your desires today? I regret to inform you that our wares may be beyond your price range if I am to be so crass as to judge by appearances," his tone is at once subservient and apologetic.
The musician inside is a rather plain young girl, but she plays violin with obvious mastery, the sweet music unobtrusive, but elevating. She wears expensive make-up, her hair glistens, and aside from the gold manacles upon her wrists and plain white nof her garments she could be a wealthy woman.
Oops, or I'll accidently preview it instead of posting it and then fall asleep!
The group make their way back over to Coins, and head for the districts eastern side where the massive wall that is Misery Row rises above the district. Stairs lead up to the slave street every few hundred feet, and those that look down upon coins are distinctly more affluent, save for the few subdued folks being lead in chains, or following their master's with bowed heads. The place is clearly busy, and the establishments upon it all reek of wealth, that and expensive fragrance, which cannot quite conceal the scent of ripe humanity.
The Shackled Bird is one of the more understated businesses in evidence, with beautiful girls in chaste white outfits that are somehow far more alluring than they ought to be sitting inside styilized wicker bird cages playing flutes. Its entrance is large and open and reveals a half dozen slaves, all of whom wear golden manacles that would clearly struggle to restrain an enfeebled elderly goblin. The slaves are seated upon luxurious white silk cushions, and each demonstrates their talent for perspective buyers, calligraphy, music, and math all being displayed.
A tall man wearing an elegant black robe, sits behind a shadowed desk at the back of the showroom intently studying a ledger.
I'll give it a few hours before simply advancing you over there. I'll point out that Diplomacy to Gather Information is also viable here, remember if you do use it it takes 1d4 hours - people always seem to forget.
Watching the group from the other side of the room Jacq prowls back over,
"Looks like you've made up your mind, and I think I can see which way the wind is blowing. I'll take a light conscience and a light purce over the alternative happily enough. Now I think I've got something that might help you discover the murderer of our unfortunate Ambassador, its got to be connected to this stuff with these ragamuffin dwarves I'd think. The man who came trying to pay us off thought he was nice and anonymous, but I am sure I recognized him of old, used to do some business with his father. His name is Simon Slantern, and his father Arcus Slantern runs The Shackled Bird over on Misery Row in the Coins district. I don't know how the lad turned out or what he does specifically, but the father is a greasy money grubber albeit with a certain oily charm. Don't cause any trouble if you head for Misery Row, or you'll end up for sale yourselves, you can't handle that kind of trouble I promise you."
The group make their way back to Jacq's a relatively short distance and are immediately greeted by the halfling proprietress who looks deeply disgruntled,
"I don't need a briefing, I know what's gone on - you did fine. Trouble is I've, we've, been offered a great deal of money to leave things well enough alone. Now I don't like being bought, its different to being paid if you take my meaning, but its a lot of money for no work and I'm no paladin. So I'm putting it on you. Two thousand gold pieces each if you agree to a geas to leave the dwarves alone and not seek to aide them in any manner, same for me so no more hires from here. Talk it over and give me your decision, I'll have more work for you either way."
Ozzit provides the group with a list of suppliers, but they all appear to be small businesses within Absalom, with the exception of a half dozen transport companies. Ozzit explains that he had never had dealings with any before and that he was no expecting any trouble and so did not concern himself over much with secrecy,
"I cannot see what use the place would be to anyone else. It is a dwarven place, humans would do poorly there, it occupies no great position save that the lands around suit goats and there is a good source of iron. But iron is not difficult to come by. It seems to be connected to the deep tunnels, and most of our efforts are to be spent sealing those off and slaying the dark denizens that have crept up there, but it would seem strange that such creatures could have a hand here in Absalom..."
Late in the afternoon the next day, once all the group have finished their preparations a terse note is delivered to them from their employer, reading simply, "Report in - Jacq's"
Ozzit looks uncomfortable,
"We have found an ancient dwarf hold, no Sky Citadel, but a place of our people from ages long past that we believe we can reclaim. I made the foolish decision of giving its location to some suppliers and now it seems someone wishes to prevent us claiming it. We would know why, and who we face, all I can tell you is they are wealthy and unscrupulous and have already cost us many good lives."
Please let me know if you wish to do anything further, I'll advance things later today.
Most of the equipment bears the marks of the late smith whose murder got you involved, the remainder is obviously far older.
You have a day to do as you wish, but it might be reasonable toexpect another attack if you leave The Boar. I'll advance tomorrow.
The dwarves are happy to supply Kibur with a drink, though it is poor fare compared to what he is used to - The Boar may once have been a tavern, but its clearly not one any longer, more like a small barracks.
After some discussion a female dwarf steps enters with Ozzit and passes Gabriel [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-of-tumbling]a roll of black cotton cord]/url],
"I used this in my younger days, but I am not moved to dance any more. It has some small magic I think, Ozzit says you might find it of use. Truth I do not even know if it helped me dance, but the elders said it had an enchantment of nimbleness."
Kibur, may I suggest a Masterwork Shield? And its always handy to have a second masterwork weapon, whether its a reach weapon or a ranged weapon, or simply a different damage type to overcome DR. Chandra I don't want to give the dwarves here too much magic, I'll ensure I put some appropriate stuff for you in the next haul.
Randomness: 1d100 ⇒ 76
Randomness: 1d100 ⇒ 82
Randomness: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Hmmm, good point Gabriel, I'll try to think of something that would be useful to you that makes sense for them to have after work.
"Right you are folks, no hard feelings hey?" The halfling says, before carefully lowering himself down on the far side of the roof and dropping down out of sight.
I'll advance things, don't worry about heal checks, etc., nobody is in any real danger of dying. Feel free to RP limping to Tin Hill.
The group limp to Tin Hill without further incident where the dwarves tend their injuries after hearing their tale. An ancient dwarven woman, who can barely stand and who does not appear to speak common channels the power of Torag and restores all to full health before being led off with the aide of two younger dwarven maids.
"It seems our enemies had better watch on us than we thought," Ozzit says, "if you are willing we would make your payment in the goods we have, and better prepare you for another confrontation at the same time. We have masterwork weapons and armour of most types, potions, and other supplies, you may choose freely from. I ask that you take no more than one weapon and suit of armour each, but otherwise select what you may."
The interior of The Boar is a construction site, with dwarves industriously repairing the damp ruined floors, and the water filled former fighting pits being drained by a bucket chain of younger dwarves while some sort of strange mechanism with hoses is being tinkered with by the side of one of the great pits. All told there must be some seventy dwarves present, though most appear old, poorly dressed, or very young.
Ozzit leads you up to a new made wall, and through a door with steps, which you realize lead up to the former stage, which has been walled off and turned into an impromptue armoury. Gleaming weapons of a dozen varieties are carefully hung upon the new walls, with fine armour hung upon crude, but practical wooden dummies, vaguely dwarven in size and shape. A door behind the stage leads to a cupboard sized room where racks of shelving contain various carefully labelled vials.
You may select a masterwork version of any martial or simple weapon, Elhona you may instead gain access to enough materials to upgrade your battered firearm to masterwork per the Gunsmithing feat, you should have the time to do so. You may also select any one piece of masterwork armour, with a maximum value of 350gp - so 200gp base before masterwork. The shelves contain nine potions of Cure Light Wounds, and twelve vials of alchemists fire, and ten vials each of alkali and acid.
You each receive 800 XP, which is for all three encounters so far - including meeting the Rough Diamond Clan. 500 XP to go until level 2.
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