Eostre Roldheim |
"Sod you, Conner," Eostre says with a sour look. She turns to Nicat.
"Nicat, you're good with people. Tell them we're trying to find Ameiko and help out the town. Be charming or something, they'll listen to you more than me. Quickly, please, we've got a search to conduct."
Nicat Brightluck |
”Hey everybody!” Nicat says, putting Eostre’s suggestion into action. ”I guess this looks a little funny, but there’s a simple explanation.” He begins to gesture with his hands, as if offering a most reasonable explanation, ”See, we’re all staying at the Rusty Dragon, Ameiko’s place. And Ameiko needs a bunch of new glasses for the bar, because some people keep breaking them. But she’s really busy, and my friends and I offered to come pick them up for her. But she said her dad might be sleeping, or out of town, or something like that, so we should just make our way in and collect the glasses. The door was supposed to be unlocked, but it’s not, so we’re just opening it so we can do this favor for Ameiko. See?”
He looks at the curious locals, one eyebrow raised, as if he’s wondering whether they’ve bought the tale – and then he turns back to Conner and says, ”Carry on.”
Bluffplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
GM_Runecat |
Nicat's explanation doesn't appear to have helped much.
"Oh, really? And what's stopping you from just knocking at the front door instead of breaking in through the back?" One local calls back just as Conner tries breaking the door open again. The door still doesn't budge.
"Bloody hell, will you quit banging on that poor door?!" Another yells. "If you're that desperate to get in, why don't you just ask Lonjiku's servants for the key?"
Eostre Roldheim |
"Bloody hell, I asked you to explain things, not lie to them."
She turns to the crowd.
"Fact of the matter is, Lady Kaijitsu went missing last night, these are her last known whereabouts and her brother had suspicions their father had something to do with the goblin attack at the Festival. She could be in bloody danger, and if what her brother says is true, you think they'll just answer the door or give us the key so we can investigate at our leisure? No? Then move along and let us do our job! Time is of the essence!"
She brandishes the letter to prove her point.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn's eyes and astonishment grow larger and larger. First Nicat tells the crowd obvious lies, then Eostre spills information the crowd shouldn't have to know.
What if Ameiko's father has friends in the crowd?!
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
"Dear people of Sandpoint," Evelyn says as she emerges from the back of the party, "we are here with just reason. My name's Evelyn Grimley. I'm an oracle who carries out the will of Desna, the Tender of Dreams."
Her hand goes to the necklace she's wearing, from which hangs the wooden holy symbol of Desna. Evelyn holds it up for all to see. "I'm here to oversee the task your sheriff's deputies have been given, which is to protect the fair town of Sandpoint and its citizens. It's true that miss Ameiko Kaijitsu has gone missing. Further details cannot be shared at this moment. The sheriff's deputies and I will make an official announcement on our business here and miss Kaijitsu's disappearance tonight, in front of Desna's cathedral."
Evelyn kisses her holy symbol and tucks it away. "May the Starsong guide your way home, or wherever else you're heading."
She folds her hands in front of her and briefly takes in the crowd. Evelyn gives a polite nod at the crowd and turns to the party, practically dismissing the citizens.
GM_Runecat |
While Eostre's harsh words don't do much to calm the locals down (and Conner taking a chunk out of the door certainly didn't help), Evelyn's words finally seem to appease the crowd. There's a few murmurs of dissent, but they're silenced as the crowd disperses.
The door looks to be in bad shape from Conner's blow, but it's still standing.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn points at the door. "Hit it a couple more times. Once doesn't seem to be enough."
Nicat Brightluck |
Very nice post to get Nicat out of the hole he dug for himself, Evelyn!
His interaction with the crowd already forgotten, Nicat stares wide-eyed at the blood on the floor. "I hope someone just cut themselves on broken glass," he says quietly. "I hope."
He steps through the door and looks around.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Nicat Brightluck |
"Um, okay, sure," Nicat says uncertainly. "Do you guys hear that noise? It sounds like it's probably the furnaces, for the glassworks, you know? I hope that's what it is."
He moves to take a closer look at the bloodstain on the floor, trying to figure out how long it's been there, and if the quantity means someone was injured, or someone is dead, or someone has been butchered.
Survival/Heal (same bonus): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19 Awesome. Now he'll think he's a master tracker and gifted healer too!
Nicat Brightluck |
Nicat gets down on one knee, studying the ground carefully. He sniffs the non-existent wind, and runs a finger along the floor, then holds it to his ear, as if listening to the dust might tell him something. He looks for all the world like someone who has heard descriptions of a master tracker at work, but has never actually seen one.
”Someone was badly wounded here, at least a day ago,” he offers, trying to assume a mask of stony confidence. He points to the right-hand door on the west wall and continues, ”There’s a trail of blood under that door. Whoever was wounded went that way. Let’s check it out.”
He stands and moves to the door, lifting his feet high as if he’s walking through a bog or similar terrain. He listens at the door, then lets out a quiet whistle to his companions, as if they couldn’t hear him if he just spoke.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
DM Cat - I think you meant the door on the west wall, right? North is to the right on the map, so the top of the map would be west, oui?
Nicat Brightluck |
Nicat waves the gang forward, making a particular point of waiting until Conner is standing by his side. He says, "I don't hear anything but the furnaces in there, let's see what's going on." He then opens the door.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn enters the room and watches Nicat with amusement. When he's about to open the door Evelyn's at the back of the party, nodding her head once to indicate she's ready.
She takes a deep breath when the door's opened by Conner, and hopes she really is ready.
Let's see if the links I made with them do what they're supposed to do...
Nicat Brightluck |
Continuing to labor under the illusion that he's a master tracker, Nicat sniffs the air - as if he needs a clue other than the obvious streak of blood across the floor - but detects nothing. Carefully avoiding any contact with the blood trail, he approaches the north door, saying, "Good thinking, Ekan," in the tone of someone trying ineffectually to sound like a consummate professional.
He listens at the door, then gives Conner a wave forward to open it.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
GM_Runecat |
The room beyond this door appears to be a loading room; a wheelbarrow is upended against one wall, and several shelves bear jars of reagents used in the creation of glass. A floor safe lies open in one corner of the room. The trail of blood the party is following leads through an open door in the north wall, into the basement of the Glassworks.
There is a door in the south wall right next to where the party enters, a set of double doors that lead outside, and another set of double doors on the southwest wall. The southwest doors have a massive bloodstain underneath them...
Nicat Brightluck |
"Do you hear goblins, Ekan?" Nicat asks, his facial expression a blend of worry and ferocity. "Goblins, again? Don't they know not to mess with Sandpoint's deputies?"
He leads the way to the southwestern doors, then looks to Conner to actually lead the way through the doors.
Eostre Roldheim |
"Well, that confirms our theory that someone among the Kaijitsus was involved in the initial attack. Anyone want a size boost? Conner? Ekan?"
She pauses, then rolls her eyes.
"Nicat?"
She figured if the knucklehead wanted to get involved in melee again, at least this time the tables should be turned with a giant Nicat fighting normal-sized goblins instead of small Nicat fighting a man-sized mutant.
Nicat Brightluck |
"Nah, I'm perfect for combat as I am, Eostre, nimble and deadly," Nicat replies, not a hint of humor in his tone. "Let's get in there and see what's going on in this place. Could be the Kaijitsu who's bleeding, and goblins enjoying it, not sure we have confirmation of anything at this point."
Seeing that Conner is merely standing ready, Nicat opens the door and quickly steps to one side.
He'll wait until any buffs are set up, of course. He's very strategical, Nicat.
Evelyn Grimley |
"Sure you don't want to be reduced then, Nicat?" Evelyn asks the little man with a grin. "It may make you even more nimble."
Evelyn attaches her buckler to her arm and draws the wand of cure light wounds. She quickly touches everyone on their arm, giving them a bit of guidance. Finally, Evelyn casts shield of faith on herself. "I'm done preparing, let's go."
Just going alphabetical, and with myself last:
Conner - Guidance available for 5 rounds
Ekan - Guidance available for 6 rounds
Eostre - Guidance available for 7 rounds
Nicat - Guidance available for 8 rounds
Evelyn - Guidance available for 9 rounds & Shield of Faith for 30 rounds
Shield of Faith bonus included in stat line.
GM_Runecat |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Once the party has made their preparations, Ekan throws open the door!
The sight that greets the party is a gruesome one, indeed--what was once the main floor of the Sandpoint Glassworks, complete with worktables, furnaces, and glassblowing machines, has become a goblin's playground. Eight goblins are cavorting madly about, breaking glassware and mutilating the bodies of murdered staff. Two of the goblins pull a scorched arm out of the main furnace, giggling to themselves before pouring what appears to be molten glass on the remains.
Four goblins supervise them, or more accurately, yell at them--a female goblin in a stained wedding dress (complete with bridal veil), a goblin with a face covered in pustules and a body clad in black studded leather, a goblin wearing a chain shirt, cloak & some sort of holy symbol, and another goblin wearing a skull on his head, dressed in brown leathers. The skull-headed one is juggling several black spherical objects.
When Ekan kicks the door open, all the goblins turn to look at them, completely taken off-guard!
Initiative (Eostre): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Initiative (Evelyn): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Initiative (Nicat): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Initiative (Ekan): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Initiative (Conner): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Surprise Round: GO!
Eostre Roldheim |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Ah, soddit! Should have gotten here sooner. Well, no matter. You want broken glass, I'll GIVE you broken glass!"
She chants and spins her glaive as her eye tattoos flare up and she punctuates the casting by pounding the butt of her glaive on the ground. The entire room starts to shake as the goblins find themselves pelted with dirt, gravel and small pebbles.
Eostre casts stone call, centered on the goblins.
Stone Call damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6
Nicat Brightluck |
Nicat grimaces at the scene before them, disgusted once again by the ways of goblins. "Well, ya nasty little buggers," he cries, "your luck's run out! You don't stand a chance against us!"
Inspire Courage, +1 to attack, damage and fear saves. Round 1/8.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn stays where she is, at the back of the party and out of sight of the goblins. She casts infernal healing on herself, temporarily losing the defense her buckler provides, in preparation of the pain that's likely to hit her soon.
Ekan Waterfield |
"We Are too late," the monk winces at the scene feeling regret for not getting in here soon. Ekan rushes forward and closes in on the one with the unholy symbol. He tries to strike the potential healer down.
Kama strike (Bard bonus included) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
GM_Runecat |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Alright, folks, I'd just like to remind you of the action economy of the Surprise Round: you can only take a Move Action or a Standard Action in the Surprise Round, not both. Eostre, I've moved you into a position where your stone call spell could be cast from, and I've moved Ekan as close to the goblins as his movement speed allows.
Eostre's spell causes a cascade of dirt and stones to fall from the ceiling of the glassworks. Several chunks of rock come crashing down on the goblins' heads, crushing the rank-and-file goblins in a spray of gravel and blood. The other, better-dressed goblins are still standing strong, but wounded.
Ekan races forward, his kama readied to strike, and Conner strides forward, the *clanking* of his armour echoing throughout the room.
Initiative (Reta): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Initiative (Chuffy): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Initiative (Poog): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Initiative (Mogmurch): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Turn Order
Poog
Nicat
Ekan
Chuffy
Evelyn
Conner
Eostre
Reta
Mogmurch
The goblin cleric shakes his head and starts cackling. "Ha ha ha! Hloupý Dlouhán - jsme Licktoad! Jsme příliš silný na to!"
The cleric grabs his holy symbol and points at the advancing monk. "Nyní sledovat, jak Zarongel zavání jste mrtvý!" A dogslicer formed of raw spiritual energy coalesces from the fires of the furnace, and leaps forth, aiming for Ekan's heart!
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
The monk easily dodges the weapon's wild swing, but it doesn't vanish.
Round 1: Nicat & Ekan are up!
Nicat Brightluck |
Nicat moves through the door and up the stairs, continuing to give the goblins a hard time and drawing his whip as he moves. "Well, the dead ones are lucky, you ugly little things!" he cries out.
Double move action up stairs, drawing whip as part of it. Free action to continue Inspire Courage (round 2/8).
Ekan Waterfield |
Sorry about that
Ekan weaves under the dogslicer and then says, "I don't know what you're saying, but you've certainly made choosing you as a target seem wise."
to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Alas, his swing is too eager, too wide.