So interesting story from my game that took place tonight.
First, as a point of background, I included the modification (I believe from DelvesDeep) to make Skylar Krewis to have been the ex-husband of Triel Eldurast and a member of the ill-fated patrol that she turned on and slaughtered (he was brought to negatives but stabalized and survived after a convalesence during which he found faith in St. Cuthbert).
During Life's Bazaar I had a new player who liked to go out at night and "look for clues" while aimlessly wandering the city. One night he saw a red-haired woman in spikey black armor who was speaking with some tough/punk looking fellows wearing red armbands. Further investigation told them first about the Alleybashers and actually directed them to Sgt. Krewis for more information on the lady. Krewis told them he would take this part of the investigation and try and track her down, the party resisted this until he told them the whole story of her betrayal and promised to tell them if any of this led anywhere or had anything to do with the missing children. At the time it was a red-herring for them, but the kicked themselves later for not having found out more about her (like they could have found much) after the attack on the lucky monkey. The point was, though, that it tied her closer to the plot and turned her from a random bad guy into someone the party hated.
Fast forwarding, we had a player coming in who would likely be joining the group full-time at some point in the future but would only be able to sit in for one session for right now. My players really wanted to keep playing this campaign as they were really into the story rather than a one-shot of something else since he was there. Since they were heading down into the Kopru Ruins at the beginning of the session he joined, I went ahead and advanced Krewis to level 5 to match the party and gave him to this new player. He resigned his commission (he will get it back) and joined the party to 'put an end to his divorce issues once and for all.'
Fast forward again to the encounter with Triel. The rogue in the party had found and disabled the trap on the door, so that wasn't an issue and when he opened the door combat began with initiative. Triel won with Krewis going just after her (the alarm had been set off earlier so she had 4 mooks in the room with her and had her armor on). She taunted them a bit and then cast Bull's Strength on herself to buff herself up while they played with the mooks. Then Krewis stepped into the room and begged her to lay down her weapons and come back to the city with him and he would use the last of influence to try and avoid the death penalty for her, which she of course laughed off. The mooks all moved in on Krewis and three of them surrounded him, each swinging but having their blows swept aside by a swift parry or blocked with his shield (good rolls, just not quite enough to hit him). The party then moved into the room as well, with the Paladin moving up to threaten Triel and the Sorceress softening Triel up a little with a Lesser Orb of Fire.
Then Skylar went... in advancing him he had gotten Great Cleave... and there is a reason it is called "Great." He downed all three of the mooks who had surrounded him in a single flurry of activity (cleaving into each after downing the last). I described this as reversing his sword and plunging it into the stomoch of the poor fellow behind him and leaving it in the astonished fellow, then grabbing the wrist of another as he was thrusting and tugging him off balance to impale the other guard who was also thrusting... ending both of their lives. He then let go, spun and retrieved his sword as all three toppled to the ground.
Triel was duely impressed and said "My! You have improved some! I shall enjoy laying you low a second time right after I down this pathetic patsy of St. Cuthbert." (Meaning the Paladin who was threatening her). She rolled well... but one short. The rogue then finished off the last mook and the Paladin, Cleric and Sorceress all missed Triel who was gleefully taunting them and enjoying being in the thick of battle.
Then Skylar went... He walked forward 15 feet and swung... natural 20... confirmed critical... since we use the Critical Hit Deck in our game for the PCs and "Boss Types," the player controlling Krewis was able to draw. He got a "disembowel" action. He then rolled his double damage on top of the bleed and constitution damage this would be doing... max rolls on both dice. This was described as:
"Krewis marches forward on his former wife saying, 'Very well, if this is how it must be...,' bats aside her raised flail with his shield and cuts low once with his sword. Triel's haughty expression turns to shock as she slowly looks down, sees her own innards spilling across the floor and then topples back into her still bubbling hot spring which quickly churns with reddend water."
Sgt. Skylar Krewis had three actions in this fight. He entered the room begged her to change her mind, killed 3 of her 4 guards and then laid her low in one spectacular blow. It was a perfect performance from one of the parties favorite NPCs and resolved his back story with his ex-wife beautifully. I couldn't have planned it better had I wanted to. One of those time when the dice make for a great story.
Sean Mahoney
Very nice. It's moments like these that lift an already great campaign to a climax. Your group will remember this for years.