DM Panic's Scourge of the Slavelords Prologue

Game Master wakedown

Ok, revising Doruk to instead fight defensively while cutting at a veil instead of producing a potion.

Here's how we'll handle attacking the veils. Each 5ft section of veil has 2HP and cannot be damaged by bludgeoning. You'll effectively destroy the veil if you do 2+ HP of damage to it but it will no longer provide concealment.

The veils are AC2 because they are inanimate and Large. You get an automatic hit if you spend a full round action, but need to roll if you move more than a 5ft step.

1---
Mukluk 24: Readies Grease against an attacker
Aralynn 21 : Fires two arrows into the darkness, steps back 5ft
Martigan 19: Channels for +1HP
Doruk 13 : Fights defensively, attacking a veil
Mukluk 13-: Readied action triggers, Grease
"h" 6 : Stands from prone, tumbles away
Petrel 5 : Drops smokestick

Doruk vs Veil: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Reflex vs Grease: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

As Doruk's weapon tears the veil apart, it reveals a young halfling girl standing beyond, a look of determination on her face as she clutches her short sword.

Mukluk wastes no time, conjuring a patch of slippery grease beneath their adversary. He can feel nothing but satisfaction as the girl slips and falls to her bottom while grunting, "Ooph!"

Acrobatics (to avoid AoO from Doruk): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The halfling girl scrambles back to her feet and darts away from Doruk behind another veil.

AoO from Doruk as she stands from prone.

You all hear her call out with giddiness. "Come, let's play hide and seek!"

However, what is disconcerting is she calls this out from near Petrel.

Updated Map - shows Round 2 before Aralynn's action.

The red arrow indicates which veil she moved behind, but the ? indicates general direction for her taunt.

I'll use white lines to cover the veils that have been sundered.

2---
Aralynn 21 : TBD
Martigan 19: TBD
Doruk 13 : TBD
Mukluk 13-: TBD
"h" 6 : TBD
Petrel 5 : TBD

Looks like Doruk gets two AoOs since his CMD was boosted to 18 by fighting defensively. Clever warrior!

Round 2, Init 21
1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 1 = 17
1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6
1d100 ⇒ 76

Aralynn readies to shoot the girl if she sees her.

Round 2, init 5

Haha, Doruk was almost cut down by a halfling child. What'd he practice on out there in the shield lands, gophers? Oh I know, skeletal gophers!

Petrel will go ahead with his previously planned action of cutting down the adjacent line. As a full round action.

Round 2 Init 19 a9[/b]

"'ware the twins."

Little blighter could've told us they were halflings.

Ready to attack any that come in reach (over Doruk or Petrel's body).

Round 1, Attack of Opportunity, Location b 9

The fighting defensively was Mukluk's suggestion, and a brilliant one!

Doruk takes two attacks of opportunity against the halfling with vigor and pleasure.
Guisarme attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 doing 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6 damage.
Guisarme attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 doing 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10 damage.

Amazing one so small can sting so much!

1---
Doruk AoOs : Hit and hit!

Not my "monsters", you're hurting them!!

As Tisa tumbles away from Doruk, the Shieldlander works his guisarme first into her calf. Then it sings upward it up into the air above the girl's head before he brings it back down again in a chopping motion. It's sharp blade sinks half a foot deep between poor Tisa's neck and shoulder.

"Sis..." she coughs out as she collapses into a quickly building pool of her own blood.

The voice near Petrel still taunts about playing hide and seek, but it's more of a worried question this time as opposed to a confident taunt.

Any of you can revise now that poor Tisa has been cut down in cold blood.

2---
Aralynn 21 : Readies to shoot
Martigan 19: Readies to attack with mace
Doruk 13 : TBD
Mukluk 13-: TBD
"h" 6 : TBD
Petrel 5 : Cuts down adjacent veil

That does it, my next character I roll is using a reach weapon with Combat Reflexes. Damn, Doruk!

I will maintain my action until we move into the room a little. No reason to get cocky, especially when we're down to one healing potion.

Sticking with the ready.

Mukluk smiles as he hears the first assassin go down.

"Well struck, Doruk!"

Upon hearing the second voice, Mukluk calls out.

"Your sister lies dying before us. We can save her...or you can save her. I'll grant you fair bargain, twin. You lay down your weapons and tell us what we need to know about finding the key that was taken from us, we'll save your sister and let you drag her away from here."

Mukluk takes on a serious tone, he is not happy.

"Of course, you can also let her bleed to death. The choice is yours."

Mukluk readies to Daze her if she comes again aggressively.

"Doruk, keep cutting that curtain. We can do this the easy way..." Mukluk raises his voice, "...or the way that has twins die this day."

Petrel will continue his planned action to cut down the curtain.

Painlord likes to push the word limit of a free action!

I'll say that you get this much offered in the six seconds you also use to ready your Daze spell and communicate with Doruk.

"Your sister lies dying before us. We can save her..."

"[or] let her bleed... The choice is yours."

"Doruk, keep cutting that curtain."

To which, Risa replies. "I didn't catch that, come alone a little closer and we can discuss?"

Doruk is up, yes? And then the halfling?

Round 2, Initiative 13, Location b 9

Doruk agrees with the parley and takes another swing at the curtain, maintaining a defensive stance.

Guisarme attack 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 4 = 13 doing 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7 damage.

Presumably Doruk cuts the other veil next to him - between (b,8) and (c,8) - since he didn't mention moving anywhere.

2---
Aralynn 21 : Readies to shoot
Martigan 19: Readies to attack with mace
Doruk 13 : Shreds a veil
Mukluk 13-: Speaks and readies Daze
T & R 6 : Action unknown
Petrel 5 : Cuts down adjacent veil

Everyone prepares themselves for an attack that never comes. Doruk's and Petrels swing tear apart another pair of veils.

A girl's voice, identical to the fallen halfling laying in the grease calls out again.

"I'm over heeeere. Come and see?"

Updated Map - shows top of Round 3.

I don't believe any of the readied actions ever triggered.

The voice is coming from the area with the red circles and question marks.

Round 3 begins...

Round 3, Init 13

"Keep cutting. We'll watch for you."

Mukluk keeps his ready.

Round 3, Init 21
*breathe in*breathe out* Frak it!

Aralynn moves up to 7a and fires a single shot at 5Z.
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 - Perception to confirm square
1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 - Single shot
1d100 ⇒ 31

Guess I'll have to kick her in the head.

3---
Aralynn 21 : Shoots into the dark
Martigan 19: TBD
Doruk 13 : TBD
Mukluk 13-: Maintains readied action to cast Daze
T & R 6 : TBD
Petrel 5 : TBD

Aralynn's arrow finds only flapping cloth with her arrow, while Mukluk stays readied for an attacking halfling wench.

Round 1, Initiative 13, Location b 8

"Please! We have no wish to kill both of you. Stop this senseless bloodshed now and save your twin!"

Doruk takes down another curtain.
Guisarme attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 doing 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10 damage to the curtain

Round 3 Init 19 a9

Martigan moves up to support his friend.

Move to b7 and ready an attack against anything in range.
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 161d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

What sort of movement it is to duck under the curtains?

Petrel would like to stealthily move west (so at half speed), knives out. He do an acrobatic roll under the curtains rather than crawl.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Stealth 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

His standard action depends on what, if anything, he sees as we goes towards Z8.

The curtains don't impede movement. Think of them as sheets on a clothesline, swaying in a slight breeze.

Since we are still in combat, you'll need someone to distract Risa in order to have a shot at using it. It's possible since you have concealment due to the veils.

3---
Aralynn 21 : Moves to (a,7) and misses
Martigan 19: Moves to (b,7) and readies
Doruk 13 : Destroys another veil
Mukluk 13-: Maintains readied action to cast Daze
T & R 6 : Actions unknown
Petrel 5 : Moves to (Z,8)

Everyone continues to move warily about the veils while Doruk slices through another.

The voice has stopped taunting. All you hear is total silence, Mukluk's breathing and the slight sounds of the veils swaying in the breeze coming in through the double doors.

Updated Map shows top of Round 4.

Round 4, Init 21
Doruk, how can you be so strong, yet so soft. Of course we want her dead. She wants you dead.

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 - Perception

Araylnn tries to listen for the halfing, but can't hear a thing over all the talking. "Be quiet everyone!" She readies to shoot the halfling.

1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 = 22
1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9
1d100 ⇒ 7 - miss chance if necessary please let it not be

Round 4, Initiative 13, Location a 8

Doruk shifts to a 8 and continues to cut down curtains.
Guisarme attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 doing 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11 damage.

He remains silent at Araylnn's request.

Round 4 Init 19

Martigan continues to ready an attack and makes as little noise as possible at Aralynn's request.

Petrel round 4, init 5

Petrel continues to stalk around with stealth, alert for the chance to catch the halfling unawares.

With concealment there is no stealth penalty it would seem. Half move though, like normal.

Move to Z5, attacking the halfling or readying to attack with the standard.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Stealth 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Round 4, Init Readying

Mukluk will move to a8 and continue his ready.

@MM: (a,8) is occupied by Doruk a milisecond before you.

4---
Aralynn 21 : Readies to shoot
Martigan 19: Readies to swing
Doruk 13 : Destroys another crucial veil
Mukluk 13-: Maintains readied action to cast Daze
T & R 6 : Readied action trigger, stabs at Petrel, misses
Aralynn 6-: Catches a glimpse, fires, misses
Petrel 5 : Moves to (Z,6) and finds the halfling!

Everyone stays ready while Doruk tears slashes another of the fine veils to pieces.

Petrel sneaks along the wall, and brushing past another veil spots a small halfling girl crouched their holding her breath.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

In a forced whisper, she greets him - "Found me!" and stabs at him with her shortsword, but Petrel steps away in time.

Aralynn sees the briefest glimpse of movement, releases her arrow, but it bounces harmlessly off a nearby veil. Doruk also spots some shadowy movement, what he assumes is combat between Petrel and their opponent.

Petrel still has a standard action for Round 4.

5---
Martigan 19: TBD
Doruk 13 : TBD
Mukluk 13-: TBD
T & R 6 : TBD
Aralynn 6-: TBD
Petrel 5 :TBD

Updated Map - shows Round 5 before Martigan acts.

Round 5, Initiative 13, Location a 8 → Z 7

Doruk moves to Z 7 and attempts to trip our opponent over Petrel's shoulder (cover sadly).

Guisarme trip 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 4 = 5 vs the opponents CMD.

Round 5, Init 13-

Mukluk will try acrobatics to move through the cloud at full speed.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18 Acrobatics vs DC10

Move to Z(X?)8 and try to cast Daze (DC 13) on the halfling.

1d100 ⇒ 23 Spell failure (I'm fine.)

Petrel will counter attack! With his standard

Single knife no-sneak 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d4 ⇒ 3

"You found me, I found your emeralds," Petrel will taunt.

Round 5 Init 19

Martigan continues to guard Aralynn, wary of additional foes in the room.

"Do we have her?"

I believe the halfling is up in Round 5.

5---
Martigan 19: Continues to ready a melee attack
Doruk 13 : Moves, attempts to trip, fails
Mukluk 13-: Moves to wall, casts Daze
T & R 6 : Dazed
Aralynn 6-: TBD
Petrel 5 : Attacks, misses

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Martigan continues to protect Aralynn while Doruk moves behind several veils and tries to trip the halfling rogue. It's the dwarf that stands out now, somersaulting out of the Petrel's smokestick cloud past several veils and reciting arcane words. His spell hits poor Risa's mind with a bang, leaving her dazed and confused.

Go ahead and get Round 6 actions (need Aralynn's round 5 still).

Updated Map shows top of order in Round 6 (and missing Aralynn's round 5 action if she moves)

Round 5, Init 6-

He tumbles, too. We have joined the cirucs.
Flashback

Araylnn walks over to Y8 and fires once at the halfling. I'm guessing one arrow without concealment is better than two with.

1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 19 - includes -4 for cover
1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4
1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 1 - no confirmation
1d100 ⇒ 94 - would've beat concealment anyway :)

Round 6 Init 19

Martigan moves up and attempts to strike the halfling.

Move to Y5 and attack w/ Heavy Mace
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 151d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Can't tell if there's a veil or not 1d100 ⇒ 15

Round 5, Initiative 13, Location X 7 -> X 4

Seeing that she is dazed, Doruk drops his Guisarme, moves to X 4 to flank, draws his Flail as he moves, and strikes from the flank.
Flail attack 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22 doing 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage.

5---
Aralynn 6-: Moves to (Y,8) shoots an arrow and hits for -4HP
Petrel 5 : Attacks, misses

6---
Martigan 19: Moves to (Y,5) misses due to veil
Doruk 13 : Moves to (X,4) to flank
Mukluk 13-: TBD
T & R 6 : Dazed
Aralynn 6-: TBD
Petrel 5 : TBD

Aralynn moves past several veils and finally fires an arrow that hits it's mark, catching the halfling girl in the shoulder. Martigan looks about ready to catch her in the shin with his mace, but it gets caught up in one of the veils.

@Doruk: Can you elaborate the steps you took from (X,7) to (X,4) - i.e. which squares you used?

Then just need Mukluk's Round 6 action to continue...

Round 6, Init 13-

"Suck it, biyotch. Enjoy dancing with your sister in hell."

Acid cloud in the squares behind her, careful not to hit allies.

1d6 ⇒ 6 Acid damage, DC 13 Fort for half damage & to avoid sickness

Mukluk feels regret at having to do that, but there was no good nor reason within her.

@Doruk: Can you elaborate the steps you took from (X,7) to (X,4) - i.e. which squares you used?

As the halfling is dazed and cannot take AoO, Doruk takes the most direct route through one curtain and back. He drops his Guisarme at the beginning of movement so it's in X,7.

X,7 -> Y,6 -> Y,5 -> X,4

Did Mukluk just release one of his stinking clouds in that area?

Petrel will attack though which rolls are used depend on if there is flank... I'll check back in a few minutes.

At this point he did, but after I moved into it. I think he's trying to kill me.

At this point he did, but after I moved into it. I think he's trying to kill me.

What you talkin' aboot?! Ack. Oops. If I'm going to hit Doruk (again), I'll move it instead to the side so if she tries to escape, she gets it. Like YZ,3/4?

Petrel will try, fail to hit the dazed halfling just standing there.

TWF #1 two knives sneak + flank 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d4 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + (6) + 1 = 10
TWF #2 two knives sneak + flank 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d4 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + (3) + 1 = 6

Sorry for the delayed updates, been a hectic work week. Lots of things saved up for me while I was away on vacation!

6---
Martigan 19: Moves to (Y,5) misses due to veil
Doruk 13 : Moves to (X,4) to flank, falls through pit into junk room
Mukluk 13-: Conjures his infamous acid cloud
T & R 6 : Dies

Thanks for the update on the route you took, Doruk. I have bad news...

As Doruk makes his way around the dazed thief, he hears a creak and a snap and the floor gives way under him.

Doruk Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The Shieldlander desperately tries to leap away, crashing into the side of the chute as he drops into the junk filled room below.

Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

At least now he can inspect the room's contents.

Risa shakes out of her daze and giggles with glee at Doruk's misfortune just as a cloud of acid bursts forth into existence at Mukluk's command, singing the poor halfling. He laughter is cut short as it turns into vomiting.

Risa Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Wretched... *gurgle* Dwarf!!"

She tumbles forward past Petrel aiming her shortsword for Mukluk's heart before she collapses to the ground with a final wheezed wretch of her gut.

Combat is over!

Map at the end of combat

Seeing Doruk bleeding to death in a pile of junk Martigan will move down the hole and search for the potion in Doruk's backpack, administering it to him.

Potion of CLW
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Now that combat is over, Mukluk will carefully pick his way to the fallen twins, searching them for immediate goods that might aid them in their efforts.

The halfling twins were dressed identically - same colors, same haircuts - everything. It's eerie to see them near each other, and you all could see had they not be so handily defeated, that it could have been considerably confusing to have them darting out from opposite sides stabbing at you all.

The two halfling's possessions were identical:
Leather armor (small sized)
Short sword (small sized, and of masterwork quality)
2 potions

... for a total of identical 4 potions. They carried no coin.

... a single Spellcraft roll to identify them.

A thorough search of the room (which certainly follows), yields the following additional details...

Aralynn is quick to point out another pit trap, likely Tisa was leading someone away into it when she attempted to tumble away from Doruk earlier.

The half-elf also identifies another sliding panel (secret door) on the north wall.

Located at (e,7)

It appears to be the only method of egress from this room.

"Hmmm....potions! Excellent."

Mukluk sniffs and pokes at the potions, hoping to determine their nature.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Spellcraft to identify

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Perception to identify