So, you want to be a Pathfinder - IC

[Airanath]

Arwen stares almost in disbelief at the story being told by Arwen, even without the embezling, he almost doesn't believe he himself was part of all that, judging from the way the story is told, and the feelings it brings up. The story touches the elf deeply, making him happy for his, no, their, first adventure together, for those companions helped him last trought that run, and he knows he could trust them.

"Great dinner and someone almost making me not believe I was really there by their story telling make for a good night. Ma'am Kosta, thank you very much for your hospitality, wish the cooks at the lodge were like you, compared to our eating there this could be called a banquet."

When Lisane speaks of the guard Arwen promptly offers, "I will take first or last watch, first is best in case I have problems falling asleep remembering all that happening the past days, but last doesn't sound bad, as soon as its over I can start attuning my mind to the arcane energies of the world to use my magic."

[Firebeard]

Ma Kostas sat back with a smile and listened to Arthur’s words. The Oracle might a s well have been a bard, his words flowed so smoothly. Even those that had taken part in the events described felt themselves falling into a sense of wonder. Was that truly us? was a common thought around the table. When Arthur had finished his tale, the old woman stared at the wall across from her in silent contemplation, then said “Well boy, I dunno if even half of that were true, but it was a fine story, anyways. Ain’t heard a tale that good in more’n ten year. Maybe twenty. Seems you folks got yourselves more’n you bargained for, but came out on top all the same. I hope it stays that way for you.”

After some light conversation, the group helped Ma Kostas clean up, then spread their sleeping bags and bedrolls on her common room floor. The watched were agreed on, then everyone drifted off to sleep in their own time. The night passed uneventfully, and the crows of the village roosters announced daylight better than any city timepiece could have. The companions made their farewells and began the five hour trek back to Korvosa. The journey was uneventful, though the rains of two days ago still had the wagon track and roads filled with sticky mud. In time, the group found itself passing through the gates of the city ad headed to the Pathfinder lodge.

You arrive at the lodge to find Quentin Stiles in an office looking through some paperwork, the unlit butt of a cigar protruding through his teeth. He looked up at you and grinned. “We were expecting you back two days ago. Get lost in the rain, did you?”

When you told your story and showed him the weapons and gear that you had “recovered”, his jaw dropped and the cigar butt bounced off the floor and rolled under the desk. “Well, so much for your ‘egg run’. I guess this means I have to call you full field agents now. Good work all of you. I knew you had it in you”. Can you tell me more about the bugbear zombie? Were there any writings in the tomb area? What did you find?” Stiles was like a kid in a store full of sweets. The love of knowledge is a common thing among Pathfinders, and Stiles was no stranger to it.

Arthur showed the man his copies of the inscriptions, and what Arwen and Lisane had said they meant. Stiles, whose gruff exterior cloaked a razor sharp intellect, agreed with the two elf-kin and pointed out where the translation might have forked meanings. In all, he said, it had been a very successful adventure. “And to think, I’ve been there twice myself, and sent at least one other initiate group there before now. You just got lucky with that landslide - but luck is something Pathfinders should cultivate anyhow!”

A moment passed in reflection, then his demeanor shifted once more. “All right, you had yourselves a good run, and you deserve a rest before your next mission. Take as long as you like, but don’t dally too long. If you want to use Pathfinder agents to sell your loot, see Talbert Dothwhittle about acting as your agent. He’ll see that you get fair appraisals for everything. If you want, you can then take those appraisals to the local merchants and see if your pretty faces” - he glanced at Lisane - “will help get you a better price. Or, you can just sell it to the lodge at the quoted rate and get gold up front. Your choice, just don’t forget the tithe and to repay back that loan I gave you.”

“Once that’s done and you’ve rested up as much as you like, see the bulletin board across the hall. I personally go through every request or bit of information that comes into this lodge, and rate them for suitability. You’ll notice that there is a green section, a yellow section, and a red section. The green section has jobs posted on it that have been declared suitable for new pathfinders, like yourselves. As you progress in the guild, you’ll be considered for the more intricate and dangerous items on the yellow and red boards. Pick your job and come see me for all the gritty details I didn’t have room to put on the notice. That’s it. Now get outta here.”

In the hallway outside Stiles’ office is a large corkboard, about 3 feet high and nearly 9 feet across, divided into three sections. As Stiles had said, one section was painted green, another yellow, and the third one was a faded red. A few hand-sized notes had been pinned in each section, and there were many more pins and evidence of pinholes in the cork. Apparently, this system had been in use for a long time. The green section had about 10 notes in all, but most were listed as travelling jobs to far off locations around the Inner Sea. Only three appeared to be local jobs.

The first was listed as “Meet with Prince of Klostera at the Black Sheep Inn about magical portal under the city of Janderhoff. Janderhoff is about 3 days’ travel, but a portal there would be significant. Reliable???”

The second listing was “Escort Madame Vrakes to a party.” The date was listed as 16 days from today. “She wants an escort and will give us a rare book that we have been trying to recover for some time.”

The third listing was “Recover a ruby ring from the Drownyard over in Bluffside. No swimming expertise necessary.”

[stack]

Face flush from the expectantly effusive praise, Arthur drifts out of Stiles' office and over to the board. We're really Pathfinders now. Really. I didn't...didn't actually think I could do it.

He stares at the board for several seconds, lost in his musings, before snapping-back to reality. "Well, I think we should celebrate! We're official Pathfinders now. Say we unload the, uhm, salvage? Loot? Gear? Anway, sell it through the broker, settle-up our debt and tithe, then go out for a fancy dinner and drinks?"

He looks around to his companions, hardly able to see through his own euphoria.

But, since we're here... "Couldn't hurt to look at the postings though, we are right here. Maybe discuss them as we celebrate?" Arthur is feeling a bit unstoppable, all too eager to venture out into danger, the memory of the blood and terror fading rapidly in the glow of success.

He studies the board carefully, eyes occasionally darting to the yellow section, but returning to the green with a soft shake of his head. "Let's see...a portal? wow. That sounds fascinating...escort...oh, more than two weeks away. Maybe we can squeeze one of these others in first...ruby ring...hmm. I...I don't know if I can turn down a portal. Magic...who knows where it might lead? It's...magnificent." Arthur's eyes glaze over as he retreats into his own thoughts.

[Fuzzies]

"A little celebration definitely sounds in order, and I think we could all use a good bath and a nice bed. I agree that the best thig to do would be to use the lodge broker. It might cost us a small percentage in the long run, but the savings in time will be significant."

"As for the next mission, I really don't care which of these we take. The escort souns boring, but might be more beneficial to the Pathfinders as a whole. But, the portal might bring a wealth of knowledge of its own. Those two would be my first choices. The ring is a nice treasure, but I like the sound of the other two better. That is, of course, that the 'reliable???' remark isn't a sign that the whole thing might be a joke. I bet Stiles could tell us more."

[Airanath]

"I don't really have patience for all the walking around finding buyers, free markets might be nice, but very time consuming. So I would bet my coins on the broker too. And celebration would be lovely, we lived to tell our story, Arthur almost made it into an epic, and we are not in debt, let's just be moderate, better not get in debt anyway."

He studies the board intently, but the moment he sees the word "Portal" he lets a small yell in excitiment.

WOAH! A PORTAL! I totaly think we should go for this one! I can only imagine the kind of magic matrixes necessary to connect two points between space, let alone among planes! I couldn't help but want to see it, maybe even spend some time there studying its works!" seeing Arthur is also excited about the portal, he then turns for the oracle.
"We could even try to take some books on magical matrix weaving, so I can try to show you teach the basis of their identification there! I will be wonderfull", he lets out a full smile, happy he isn't the only one interested in this.

[stack]

Arthur's face splits into a grin as he and Arwen babble over each other about the portal. "Okay, we have to do this one. Roshan, you agree?"

Not waiting for a response, he turns back to Arwen. "Let's find those books! Oh, right, we need to sell stuff first. Definitely no time for the market. How about we unload the gear, then you and I can go do some research before we all meet for dinner. I know a place not too far away. How soon can we set out? Should we tell Stiles we want this one?" His face is still glowing with anticipation.

know local [roll0] to know about a good restaurant ( if needed, untrained)

[VonDoom]

Roshan had been fairly quiet since their return, largely keeping to himself -- a shift in mood Astera mirrored, though the Eidolon certainly had carried her share of the more heavy loot back without complaining.

As they finally stood before the board and had studied its contents, Roshan sighed. "As much as I'd love a chance to see this portal, I fear I'll have to sit this one out. Just before we left I heard that a group of travelers from Cheliaxia might be coming this way. I need to make sure they haven't been sent to pursue me."

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, not looking very happy with that fact. "Don't worry, I won't need any help -- I'll be discrete and stay out of sight. You go check out that portal, and once you're back we'll see about this noblewoman together. If my suspicions turn out to be unfounded, we can celebrate at that party." A lop-sided grin made its way onto his face, but Astera's demeanour made it plain that the Summoner was rather stressed underneath the confident exterior, her tail swishing nervously as she stood behind the well-dressed man.

[stack]

Arthur's revelry suddenly broken, his countenance falls. "You can't come? But...oh. What will we do without you? We're a team....Well, if it can't be helped. Be careful. You too Astera. We'll...we'll tell you all about it I guess. You don't even have time to celebrate?"

Looking rather like a kicked puppy, Arthur readies to execute his plan with rather less relish and gusto than he had a moment before.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looked a little crestfallen at Roshan's news. She had been loking forward to working with him and Astera more, and learning more of the bond between the eidolon and the summoner. Aloud she said "Are you sure that you don't need our help? We would be more than happy to help out. But, if you are sure, then I for one am sorry to see you go. Perhaps when we get back from this mission, we can join up again. that still doesn't preclude selling this junk and having a night out though, does it?"

[Airanath]

"What?" Arwen stares shocked "You have my bow and magic if you need Roshan, don't feel shy to ask, if they are seeking you and want to bring you harm, then they better be careful for those hunters will become prey!"

Once the offer is declined, the archer looks down, depressed with the news.
"Be safe Roshan and Astera, we will not delay there, hopefully we can come back in time to see it was just a fake alarm."

[VonDoom]

At their offers and reassurances, a light grin flitted across the handsome Summoner's face. Casually running a hand through his raven hair, Roshan briefly shook his head in disbelief at the displays of comraderie before him. The scion of House Sarini was hardly used to such treatment, after his time on the road.

"Ah," he finally said, stepping a little closer to the half-elf Ranger, "What man would I be if I did not accompany a beautiful lady to sell some 'junk'?" The Cheliaxian smirked briefly as he closed another step in, fishing for Lisane's hand in a graceful move as he briefly went on his right knee to breathe a light kiss onto the back of her hand.

Looking to the side, then, at their other two companions, he quickly added with a grin. "And I suppose you two can come along, as well. I'm feeling generous."

[Firebeard]

Talbert Dothwhittle turned out to be a gnome - unsurprisingly, from the name - with vibrantly colored hair, indicating the many adventures and exciting life he had led. He positively squeaked with excitement when you brought out your treasures, quickly sorting the items into piles. He lifted and measured the gems, noting their clarity and shape. The weapons, he deemed of "low quality" and tossed them into a pile, all but the glaive, which he could barely lift. He placed the heavy blade carefully on a workbench and looked it over, noting the runes in the blade and haft and copying them down. Then, he carefully wrote something on a tag, tied it to the glaive, and placed it on a rack near similarly sized weapons. The armor followed the same route, though he sniffed disparagingly at most of it, which was in rather poor condition, despite Arwen's and Arthur's best efforts. Last of all, he asked to examine the two magic items that you had found. He confirmed their abilities and, with an air of disappointment that you would not be leaving them with him, returned them to you.

A few minutes later, and much scribbling with pen on a scrap of parchment, he handed Arthur a piece of paper with the Pathfinder seal and a sum on it. "There you are! I know of a buyer that will give top price for those gems, especially the pearls. And that glaive! Well, there's a fellow pathfinder by the name of Georgios Burlswan that would probably like that. He dual wields them, you know. Never seen anything like it before, but there you have it. The rest of it's not much good for anything other than scrap or training, I'm afraid. I've given you the best I can for it, but it's not much. Still for your first mission, I believe you'll be happy with the sum."

"528g gold pieces. That's withholding the 10% tithe and the 100 gold advance that Stiles gave you. Not too bad. You could live like a king...well, a minor baron on a weekly rate of that. That works out to..." he scratched a few more numbers on the pad and continued "132 gold apiece!' He beamed at you as if you were grandchildren who just brought him something fine you found in the yard. "When you're ready for your funds, just take that to Marcus Beldin, the lodge treasurer, to cash it out. Or, any merchant in the city will honor it, though you might have a hard time getting change for larger amounts."

Leaving the gnome, you head out to the best Taldoran restaurant in the quarter, the Snuggly Duckling. The food here is superb, the staff attentive, and the wine flowed like rivers. Late in the evening you stagger back to your beds in the Lodge, to awake the next morning feeling the consequences of your celebrations of the previous night.

[Fuzzies]

"You hear that boys? He says he's feeling generous. That means he's buying!" Lisane hooked her arm through Roshan's and began walking for the door. During their training, she had head about this fancy Taldoran restaurant with a fun name and couldn't wait to try it out, but first they had to get their stuff sold.

She found the little gnome Talbert to be amusing, especially in his obvious excitement over what were - in all likelihood - the most mundane items he was likely to receive from Pathfinders. Still, it was a decent haul for an "egg run", and the glaive and magic items, at least, were interesting finds. Her eyes lit up at the final sum,and she mentally pocketed the money towards upgrading her bow. Although she didn't have much call to use it this last run, she knew that would not always be the case.

As she steered the boys to the Snuggly Duckling, she stayed excited, even though she knew that Roshan would likely be leaving them in the morning. She spent the evening sharing stories of her training with the Sisters of the Fangwood, of the joy in helping raise the hippogryphs and her expectation in bonding with one some day. The wine filled her head with clouds as they returned to the Lodge, and as she closed her room door behind her and lay on the bed, she could only wonder as to what lay before them all.

[stack]

(While still at the broker)

Arthur scratches his stubbly chin. "Out of curiosity, what would that ring be worth?"

I know Arthur already is carrying a chunk of his share in the form of the morningstar, but if we sell the ring, we might be able to buy a wand of CLW, which seems more likely to come in handy than the translator ring. If we can get a good price, there might even be enough left over for a masterwork weapon or something.

[Firebeard]

Talbert Dothwhittle looked at the ring again, then back up at Arthur. "It's a translator's ring, fairly common. Don't see too many that do giant, though. I'd say that I could get you 200 for it."

[stack]

After discussing it with his fellows, Arthur turns back to the gnome. "On second though, we will sell the ring. Do you have, or know of any reliable merchants who carry, wands with healing enchantments? Seems to be a call for such things in the Pathfinders." He smiles at the broker, hopeful.

After the sale is complete, Arthur goes with Arwen to the Pathfinder library to research portals in preparation for their upcoming mission, as well as to give Arthur an introduction to the practical identification of enchantments.

Eyes sore but in a good mood after spending time in the familiar company of so many books, Arthur joins the group to head to dinner. "Never had Taldoran food. Not too spicy, is it?"

During dinner he makes mental notes of the others stories, feeling his own are rather uninteresting, the great library not a place that sees much action, though he does share some tales and jokes he heard from his uncle.

When they part, he fights off the melancholy that accompanies Roshan and Astera's departure as he says his goodbyes, before heading to his own bed and dreams of portals and fantastic magics.

Sorry if I took over Arwen's actions, but it's what we had discussed before, so I thought I should put it in. We can add anything that we need, I just didn't want to spend a day with "let's go to the library" "Okay."

[Firebeard]

"I don't have any on me at the moment. As you said, there's a call for such things. But, there is a merchant by the name of Vanahasien, an elf, who was a Pathfinder himself once. He still helps us out as a buyer of magical oddities and gives a 5% discount for Pathfinders. He says it's to help out his old comrades, but really it's to keep a steady supply of adventurers moving through his shop and spending gold."


Since I already described the evening at the restaurant, I'll just spoiler the rest. The merchant sells you a wand of cure light wounds for 712g. You find the appropriate information at the library, and manage to copy down a few key passages.

Anything else that anyone wants to add for today, have at it. I'll post the next morning's introduction in about 5 hours...or in the morning if my birthday celebrations keep me out too late.

[Firebeard]

The morning dawns with a warm sun, though most of you aren't up to see it. When you finally stumble out of your beds and head to the lodge mess hall, you greet each other with varying degrees of enthusiasm, depending on your personal enjoyment of waking up after a late night of carousing.

You go to Stiles' office to get more information about the job you have selected. He is inside, chomping on another unlit cigar, and looks up sharply at your knock. "Talbert tells me you brought back quite a haul from the old tor, and you paid off your debt too. That's good, that's very good. Went to the library last night and looked up some information about the old tor. Seems about 500 years ago or so, the place was taken over by a ruthless bugbear and his gang of greenskins. They did a right good job of terrorizing the area before they were put down by a group of mercs hired by the city. one of the mercs, a wizard, wrote in his journal that they 'sealed the menace away forever.' Explains part of what you found, mayhaps."

"Anyways, if you're back in my face already, it means you're looking for a job. Did you pick one yet?" He looks at the slip of paper and smirks. "Oh, this one. I can't believe we're wasting our time on this one, but if his story pans out, it could provide us a wealth of information. Look, I ain't gonna lie to you. A few days ago a vagrant was found collapsed on our doorstep gripping a wayfinder and babbling about a lost empire and some magic portal under the town of Janderhoff, a little place about 3 days' ride from here."

"Now, if he hadn't had the wayfinder, I'd a thought he was just some loon, but he's not a Pathfinder, as far as we can tell, and I want to know where he got that wayfinder from. And, frankly, the wayfinder makes his story more believable.So, if you're still interested, get over to the Black Sheep Inn, find out what he knows, and then come back here. I'll be sending Milton Drinkwater with you. He's a Diviner with a knack for truthsaying. He'll know if the man's words ring true. come back to me when you are finished, and we'll go from there."

[stack]

Arthur exits bed much more reluctantly than the morning before their first quest, eyes red and head pounding. He dresses slowly, taking care not to jostle himself putting on his armor. A quick glance in the mirror makes him consider shaving, but he puts it off till later.

Upon receiving further information, Arthur's face clouds as Stiles casts doubt on the veracity of the mission, but brightens up somewhat when he here's about the wayfinder. I haven't ever actually held one...maybe I'll get a chance. I always wanted one.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get over to the...Black Sheep was it?" Sounds...disreputable. "Where to me pick-up Mr. Drinkwater?

He remembers his throbbing head. Maybe meeting in an inn is not such a good idea. Dark, dark and quiet. That would be better. No more beer...or whatever that stuff was. Note to self, identify BEFORE consumption.

[Firebeard]

"Milton should be waiting out in the hall now," Stiles said. "He's already been briefed on his part of the job, and I think you'll find him adequate. He'll essentially just stay out of your way while you question the Prince and then come back here with you to discuss the man's story."

[Fuzzies]

Lisane plodded through her morning routine with red eyes, and a very heavy gait. Maybe that 3rd bottle of wine last night was s bit overkill...or was it the 4th? 5th? Whatever, it had certainly turned the normally vivacious morning goer into a zombie not unlike the one they had dipatched in the tor. The thought brightened her eyes. They were supposed to have breakfast and meet with Stiles today for their next mission.

Two boiled eggs, soe toast, and 2 glasses of halafruit juice later and she felt more like herself. She greeted the others as they came in, and then went with them to Stiles' office.

She listened to the man's spiel in somewhat of dismay. He sounds as if he doesn't even believe the man. Why is he sending us, then? Because no one else could be bothered to go? Give the joke job to the newcomers? then, she thought back on Stiles' insistence that the tor was empty and that their last mission would be an egg run. Perhaps there is more to this one as well.


"Very well then, Let's be off to collect our Diviner and then see to this Prince. It might be that Arthur and Arwen get to see their portal after all."

[Airanath]

Arwen wakes up, late, as usual, but the sun shining bright on his eyes warn him that he IS late, probably very late, he hastely dons a shirt, leaves his armor for when they actually depart, and grabs his grimoire. If his appearance is usually disheveled, today he could pass for a beggar, with the mess he looks.

His mood was still good, the night was enjoyable, their first job was good, and they had a portal to see soon, wait, what did Stiles say? Probably no portal? When he actually processes that information, the elf mood swings down almost all the way across, but he hangs to a bit of hope.

"I hope so, it being just some crazy drunkard tale would be simply heart breaking" he replies a bit sour. "Before we go, I want to ask Roshan to lend me that headband, I can use it to start teaching Arthur about magic reading."

Was supposed to have asked that yesterday, but I simply forgot to =(

[Firebeard]

Out in the hallway, as promised, waited a tall dark-skinned human who introduced himself as Milton. He wore a loose, flowing tunic of dusky brown tucked into brown felt pants. His attire made it obvious that he had no intention of going anywhere dirty this day. On his brow was a circlet with a blue stone, perhaps an agate, set into a silver filigree. The man had an easy smile on his face, and explained to you that he had a knack for determining truth from lies. "You might call it a gift, but not if you've ever tried to take a woman...or other companion...out for a friendly dinner. The trivial banalities that we surround ourselves with in polite conversation do not hold up well to a truthsayer's gift. Ah well, the burdens we each must bear."

He followed - led? - you to the Black Sheep Inn, where the 'person of interest', as he called him, was being housed. You climb the stairs to the second floor and stop outside the room that Milton indicated. He looked at each of you, as if to test your resolve to go through this farce, then knocked upon the door.

From inside, a haughty voice answered, "You may enter."

Stepping inside, you see an old, withered man seated on a chair by the window. His skin is shockingly pale and his features sharp, with high cheekbones and an angular jaw tapering to a pointed chin. He looks vaguely Chelaxian, but only just. His clothing, though regal to begin with, is matted with dirt and filth, as is his hair. "He has been here 3 days, and yet still looks thus," Milton whispered to you.

The man looked up sharply at you and said "My loyal subjects, welcome! I know that my current state is not what you may remember from your last visit to our throne, but it is I - Gandros, the long-lost Prince of Klostera. I have been in hiding these long years, since the death of my father, the Emperor, preparing for my return to glory. But, I bear ill news! The army I was secreting away in the otherworld has been infiltrated and agents of the enemy have attacked from within. I was asaulted, and the would-be assassins nearly took my royal life."

He shoved up the tattered sleeve of his left arm to reveal a set of badly infected tooth and claw marks, obviously not from any weapon. He then launched into a breathless retelling of how he escaped from the assassins and came to the Lodge at Korvosa. The words tumbled from his mouth like rocks in an avalanche, each bounding over the other in their haste to be heard.

"I fled through the portal, yes even so, back to this realm. Grievously wounded, I leaped into the dark river of filth, the assassins only moments behind. I floated until the river cleared and I was able to climb out upon the banks. Klostera had changed since my last visit to this realm, but my father's symbol pointed the way." He held a wayfinder aloft, clutching it as a drowning man clutches a pole lowered to him. The device looked old, and was scarred from years of use and abuse.

" It took many nights of traveling, but I at last found the holy place, and you have come to remove the threat from my kingdom and restore me to my rightful place as the Emperor of Andoran. Serve me well in this, and I will grant you any boon that you desire."

[stack]

Arthur greets Milton enthusiastically. "Glad you can come. Hopefully there will be something to this. I'll try to keep by banality honest." He smiles, hoping for a positive reaction.

Upon seeing the filthy man, his mind roils. Could it be true? Or is he some mad beggar? That looks like a real wayfinder...but old, worn. Emperor of Andoran...but...? Thinkthinkthink. Assassins and hidden armies, I hope it's true. That would be a much better story.

knowledge checks:
history [roll]1d20+8[roll]
geography [roll]1d20+8[roll]
nobility [roll]1d20+8[roll]
planes [roll]1d20+8[roll]

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looked warily at the man who purported to be a prince, albeit a prince in exile. She took in his shabby, filthy clothes and the lck of hygiene. The man's words made as much sense to her as his appearance did, yet there was something about his story...and those wounds on his arm. Perhaps he had more information for them.

"Excuse me, but can you tell us what form these assassins took? It is obvious from your wounds that they were not mere men."

"Also, where is Klostera in relation to Andoran?"


Perception to see if Milton reacted at all to the man's words [roll0]

Perception to see if I can tell anythign else about the man [roll1]

[Firebeard]

The man looked at Lisane and smiled at her with a serene look of grace and benevolence. "My dear, please use the proper titles. Propriety is the only thing holding us above the barbarians or the animals. In public, you should refer to me as 'Your Grace' or 'My Liege', or even 'Your Highness'. We must never for get the proprieties. However, your questions intrigue me and you are most observant. The creatures that attacked me were foul things and filthy in every way. Long claws and sharp teeth, and a distinct odor of sulfur. Huge bodies over thin legs, and spines sticking out of their skin in odd places."

"As for Klostera, it is only a few days' journey from here. You should know that, as it is the heart of your kingdom." He peered at Lisane suspiciously. "You aren't from around here are you? Are you an agent of the enemy? No, you can't be. You are too fair of face to hold that kind of enmity in your heart." The man stared at Lisane with wild eyes that calmed as he spoke the final sentence.

[stack]

Arthur's face twists in confusion. "Si...your Highness, Andoran is...to be blunt...not and never has been, since it broke free from Imperial Cheliax, a monarchy. You are presently in Varisian Korvosa, on the continent of Avistan. I am not doubting your story," maybe a little....a lot, "but magic can do many strange things. Perhaps you could tell us more of this portal?"

I wish Roshan was here, I bet he knows about planes and portals...though he may not take this "Prince" too well. Maybe it's better this way.

[Airanath]

Arwen listens attently to the mans tales, his story verging the unbelievable, like something spun out of a bard's tale for the magus, yet, the mention of the creatures and the bite marks on his arms, it rang something in the elf mind.
"Uhm... Sir mayhaps you could tell me more about those creatures? Did they have any distinctive cry? Their eyes, maybe they had some peculiar characteristic?"
Knowldge Planes: [roll0]
Knowledge Arcana: [roll1]

[Firebeard]

"I nearly lost my life and the hopes of our beloved empire to these creatures and you expect me to have taken notes on their physiognomy? Preposterous. No, I have said my piece. The word of a Prince - and soon to be rightfully reclaimed Emperor - should be enough for my loyal subjects. There will be no more discussion. You shall go and remove the threat from my kingdom below, and I shall reward you greatly." The man's eyes grew unfocused and he began to stare at the wall behind you in earnest. A few moments pass while everyone awaits his further words, and then a light snoring sound is heard, though the man's eyes are still wide open.

Milton nods his head at the door, indicating that you should leave the room. Outside, in the hallway, he announces, "His words have the ring of truth to them, though not everything he says makes sense. You were right," he said to Arthur, "in noting that Andoran has never been a monarchy...at least in modern history. I do not know whether in ancient times before the Azlants fell...it matters not. Or mayhaps it does. I shall have to think on it. Nonetheless, he believes himself to be a noble - perhaps of a lost line somewhere - and his wounds bear the truth of at least part of his story. I think it is time to return to Quentin. I doubt we'll get much more out of the Prince today.

***

Stiles looked up as you returned to his office, and shifted the cigar from one side of his mouth to the other. "Well, what'd you learn? Is he a loony? Or is there something worth investigating under Janderhoff?"

[stack]

Athur just shakes his head gently at the man trying to wrap his mind around everything. When Milton suggests they leave, he shrugs and complies.

Arthur furrows his brow at Stile's question. "I think, maybe both. Milton believes that the man is not lying, though his words make little sense. He speaks of countries that do not exist and kingdoms never built. Or built so long ago they are forgotten. Or built somewhere else. If there is a portal, he may be completely sane, just...misplaced. I think it would be worthwhile to at least take a look." Arthur's face remains hopeful, not yet ready to abandon the idea of a passage to another world.

[Fuzzies]

"I agree with Arthur. The man looked deranged, but some of the elements of his story rang true. His wounds were not caused by weapons, nor by any beast I can recall. He looked and smeeled as if he had been swimming in a sewer...not unlikely if his 'underground kingdom is beneath Janderhoff. Also, the wayfinder looked real - from what little we saw of it. I think Arthur is right. It might be a snipe chase, but perhaps we should investigate."

[Airanath]

"He also mentioned assassins after his life, and had some bite marks of an odd nature on his arm, so he might have been attacked by something between planes in the passage or from some outer plane" Arwen adds to Arthurs comment.
"But seeing he seems to be saying the truth, the portal might still be open, so we could replace him, and even learn things from his world or time. Imagine if he is from the past! We could unravel secrets never relearnt about the wayfinders!"

[Firebeard]

Milton waited until the others had finished before speaking. "As they said, the man's words smack of truth, but there is something hidden from my sight. He had been badly treated, and perhaps that was all, but the man's mind seemed quite ... chaotic. Either way, the wounds on his arms and the ones he did not show us on his torso were made by otherworldly creatures. I discerned that much, at least. And the wayfinder is indeed legitimate, though he himself was never a Pathfinder. He definitely came from the sewers beneath Janderhoff, from the fragmented images I found floating on his mind's surface. There was also a thought about someone named the Almsman, but no more details. That is about all I could glean from his mind as he talked with these others."

Quentin Stiles sat up straighter and looked at those before him. The cigar made another roundabout trip, switching from one corner of his mouth to another. Then he growled, "Well, if this possible gate to the otherworld does exist, I want to know about it. Implausible or not, those injuries are consistent with the story and so we must take the possibility of the portal seriously. Seriously enough to send a team of investigators, anyways. You up for it? I sure as hell ain't slogging through the sewers to run this down, but you lot seem interested."

"So, if you're going down there, there are a few things you need to know. I did some checking while you were gone. The sewers of Janderhoff are the claimed territory of a local street gang calling themselves the Steel Wyverns. They've made things rough for a few shopkeepers, and their tendency to kneecap anyone who says 'no' the first time has become something of a local legend. So, you'll need to be careful, but go prepared to break some skulls. "

"On a related note, Roshan was in here before you. He told me his story, and while I told him he was a damn fool for leaving your sides if someone was looking for him, he insisted. Well, he's a grown man, so he's off now, but that leaves you a little shorthanded. So, I've done you a favor. Got someone that can go with you and help break Steel Wyvern skulls if you need it. He's raw, like you lot, but eager and proved himself in training and in his initiate run."

"Kargath!" he bellowed. "Get your sorry dwarf self in here!"

In the door walked the roughest looking character you have ever seen. Scarred and weathered beyond belief. That's about how you would describe him. A network of crisscrossing scars line his face and arms, evidence of hundreds of bar fights and street brawls. The dwarf stares at you through one bloodshot gray eye. The other eye socket is empty, the scarring around the socket a testimony to the fate of the eye. A bulbous nose, broken many times, protrudes from Kargath's face, and his grin is missing teeth. Still, the dwarf appears friendly enough.

"Kargath Thunderstrike, at yer service!" he called out, then halted. "Wait a minute Stiles, ye didnae say nothin' about one o' them bein' an elf! Two o' em, if'n ye count the pretty one. Course, she don't count cause she's a looker, but an elf? Really?"

Stiles glared at the dwarf for a moment, then said "Kargath, you volunteered and you know that Pathfinders take all kinds, races, creeds, religions, and hygienes." He sniffed loudly. "But, if you'd rather we strike you from the rolls, we can do that. And then you can go settle your debts with Beldin."

"Now don't be that way. I was just funnin' him. See? Me and the elf 'll get along just fine, you watch." And, to Arwen's horror, the scarred dwarf leaned in and gave him a one-armed hug, with teeth bared in what was certainly not a grin.

Stiles smirked a moment, and then said "Fine then, begone all of you. Draw some horses or ponies from the stable to get to Janderhoff. You'll be responsible for replacing them if you don't manage to bring them back." With that, he went back to looking at the papers on his desk.

[stack]

Arthur tries not to show his surprise at the appearance and manner of their new companion. Definitely not as refined as Roshan, or as...exotic as Astera. Hope Lisane doesn't have to, em, rebuff him too forcefully.

He sticks his hand out, hoping to avoid the hug that Arwen got. "Arthur Beronius pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm certain we will be in need of your aid. If there is nothing else we need, I suggest we leave directly. Three days ride and all that, with a late start today, too."

After three days, I might not be hung-over. Swimming in sewers, truly a charmed life. He smiles, chuckling to himself at the dark and smelly nature grand adventures seemed to have.

[Airanath]

Arwen attempts to push the dwarf away, shocked with the odd show of affection, even if required to reassure Stiles there wouldn't be in-fighting, and somewhat disgusted at the dwarf smell.
"Sir, I don't have that kind of attraction for you, could you please release me. Its also the first time we meet, it wouldn't be right even if I did have it." the elf meekly says to the dwarf when strenght doesn't free him right away, and doesn't understand the laughs it generates.

Once released the elf offers his hand for the hard and introduces himself "Name is Arwen Moontouched, pleased to make your aquietance. I hope we can respect each others preferences Mr. Kargath, I sure wouldn't want some bad blood between us with all the general racial prejudice our kinds throw at each other."

To himself Arwen holds the toughts of one of the most basic elven jokes over dwarves, which he always understood as a serious statement, must be hard growing in a society where everyone has beards, must be why he was hugging me like that, glad I was closest, Lisane might have skewered him.

[Fuzzies]

Oh, joy, another one thgought Lisane as the dwarf started throwing her compliments. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate sincere compliments, just that most of the comments she received were tossed at her in an offhand way, like htis dwarf. At least he wasn't trying to make advances on her...yet.


At Arwen's words and attempt to extract hims3elf, she giggled. She couldn't help it, the sound just popped out. Blushing, she said "Well-met Kargath. While I am sorry that Roshan could not join us, I am glad to meet you. I am sure that you will be a lot of help." After all, if Stiles recommended him, he couldn't be all that bad...could he?

"Well, if we are going to be heading out today, I need to go pack my traveling gear. Meet down at the stables in 30 minutes?"

Once they were spearated, Lisane went to her room and grabbed her gear. Most of it was already packed, and she spent a few minutes rolling up those clothes that had been laid out from the previous night. then, she mended a few tears in the rigging before grabbing Alrathien and her bow and heading out to the stables.

[stack]

"Half an hour? Sounds good. I'll pack a few more rations for the trip. Don't want to go hungry, especially if we end up in some far off world. Not that I expect that. But still, better safe and all." Arthur makes his own hair stand on end with the thoughts of what he has heard dwells in the darker planes.

Back in his room, he carefully stows his gear in his pack. He takes a look at the mapmaking kit before tossing it in. You never know.. After fumbling for several minutes to get his bedroll bound, he is ready to go, armor donned and pack packed and slung.

The horse he picks out is a calm tempered bay gelding, unsuited for combat but easy to handle for an inexperienced rider on a decently long trip.

purchase 6 days rations, assumed to have eaten 1 day on previous adventure, to 9 days in pack, deduct 3 gold

[Firebeard]

At Arwen's words, Kargath burst into a bellow of genuine laughter. "Ha! Yer all right, aren't ye elf? I can work wi' that. Nope, no need to bring racial predujic...prejer...fights into it at all. In fact, I think this'll be good fer me it will. Been bashin' up bars too long, fergot me manners.

Kargath took the time to meet the others, and you get a sense that he is loud and uncouth, but a good hearted dwarf, appearances notwithstanding. When Lisane mentions the stables, he scowls, but then wipes the expression away. "Guess we can't just take our time dawdlin' on our feet, hey? All right, I'll go grab me gear and be ready to go in 30."

[Fuzzies]

Lisane chose a dark brown mare, with white socks and an even temperament. She enjoyed riding, whether hippogryph or horse, and was looking forward to a few days of travel. She had a feeling that the others might not be quite so practiced, though....especially the dwarf. She carefully, packs the saddlebags and ties on her own kit before leading the horse out into the stable yard. She chats with Arthur about the upcoming trip, the conditions of the roads, and what they might expect in Janderhoff while they wait for Arwen and Kargath to arrive.

[stack]

Before reaching the stables, Arthur is careful to note the events of the day, leaving space for a clever title to be decided after they determine the veracity of the man's statements.

He mounts carefully, making use of the stables provided mounting block. He waits, chatting with Lisane and trying to recall anything else he might have heard about Janderhoff.

know local [roll0]
know geography [roll1]

"I expect Arwen to be late, but I had hoped for better punctuality from our new companion." I hope I won't regret dispensing with my shield. Still, two-handing this big thing feels better, more heroic.

[Firebeard]

@Arthur

You recall that Janderhoff is to the northeast about 2days' horseback ride along a fairly well--maintained road. That's about all you can remember, though you strain your mind trying to think of any other details.

((OOC: terrible rolls there.))


Kargath was the third to arrive, the dwarf looking as if he had dunked his head in a rain barrel before coming to the stables. "Sorry I'm late. Had to clean up fer the road, didn't I?" The dwarf was outfitted in a an evil-looking spiked chain shirt, the barbed armor shiny and obviously better maintained than his person. He wore black leather gloves with the fingers cut free. The knuckles were covered with short metal studs that tapered to a point. At his side were a pair of punching daggers. If it hadn't been obvious before, the armament showed that the dwarf was no stranger to the ins and outs of close-in fighting.

The stablehands already had a pony saddled and waiting for Kargath, and the dwarf glanced suspiciously at the beast before putting his hand into a belt pouch. It came out with a lump of brown sugar, and he held it up to the pony. The rubbery lips reached out and took the offering, and a crunching sound could be heard. The pony's ears went up and it nuzzled the dwarf, looking for more of the sweet treat. "Don't ya be greedy. There'll be more after a time."

Kargan looked around." Where's tha elf? I thought we were is a hurry to be going?"

[stack]

Arthur chides himself for being surprised at the uncouth dwarf's kind treatment of the horse.

"Our friend Arwen sometimes...struggles with punctuality. I'm sure he'll be along shortly."

[Airanath]

Arwen comes running along to the stables, his apologizes can be heard from way off.
"Im sorry guys, sorry, sorry, sorry." his looks even more messy than usual, his chainshirt doned almost in a bad way, and his clothes beyond being messy, "I misplaced my grimoire, spent the better part of the hour looking for it, before someone from the library came over to tell me it was in the library. I am ready now."

[Firebeard]

"'bout time ye got here. We was just about ta leave without ya. Well, mebbe not, but Lisane here sure was lookin' antsy." Kargath smiled at Lisane with a leer that was a fake as a Taldorian aristocrat's hair color. "Naw, we was just catchin' up. I was tellin' em 'bout some of the fights I been in recently. Used the same maneuver on Grotty Grik that cost me me own eye back 2 year ago..."

Kargath continued to talk loudly, and at great length about his fighting as Arwen collected his horse and the companions headed down the road. It was hard to get in a word edgewise once the dwarf started going, but you all managed to talk some about your backgrounds and expectations of what lay ahead in Janderhoff.

The road to Janderhoff was well-drained and the rains from the days before hadn't turned it to the sticky mud that so impeded travel. In fact, you made good time. So much so that you spied the roofs of Janderhoff around mid-afternoon on the 3rd day.

Kargath, finally having run out of barroom brawl stories to tell, said "Well, there 'tis. You lot got any idea where to start? I mean, sewers run all under the town, and the river is decent sized. How're we gonna find this portal?"

[stack]

The question brings Arthur up short. In all his musings, he had failed to consider the need for actually FINDING the portal, in the hostile sewers of a strange town, no less.

"Well, the primary denizens of the sewers are apparently these Steel Wyverns. I suppose we could approach them directly, but I suspect they may be less than cooperative. I'm not eager to just dive into the sewer and start wading around either. I wonder if the city has any kind of maps showing the layout, so we could approach this systematically?"

He scratches his chin, stubble ignored for several days becoming a short beard. "We could ask around. I suppose a tavern or inn would be our best shot for getting directions to someone who would be helpful. Seems to be the way these things are supposed to start, anyhow. I wonder if they have a library?"

Another thought strikes him, of a practical kind. "Arwen, you did prepare prestidigitation today, right?"

[Fuzzies]

"Well Arthur, you're the one with the glib tongue. I suppose you should be the one to ask around. I mean, Kargath is more likely to beat an answer out of someone than extract it with questions. Or, we could look for the sewer exit, though that might take a while. It'll be on the downstream end of town, but that covers a lot of area. There's likely a city hall as well, but they probably won't take kindly to questions about the sewers...unless you grease some palms."

"I'm sure the Steel Wyverns would know how to get in, but that info won't come cheap, or easy, is my guess."

[stack]

"Well, I'm not eager to start with bribes, especially for thugs, if we don't have to. Let's find a tavern or shop and do a little asking." He begins to scan the area for signs of a likely location where strangers with questions would not draw too much attention.

[Firebeard]

Janderhoff is a decent sized town, about 1000 people or so. There are numerous inns, taverns, merchants, and city watch about. Any one of these might be a likely candidate for information.

A knowledge(local) check would be the fastest way to find info, but since you already muffed it...seeing the town might have brought a few more items into your memory. Feel free to roll again.

Alternatively, a diplomacy check to gather information (1d4 hours) would take a while, but be a good chance to try.

[Airanath]

"Yeah, would be just silly to leave home without that considering we might have to wade through sweres" he shrugs in disgust at the prospect, "I just hope there is really a portal... Getting covered in you don't even want to know what for nothing will be really depressing."

The wyverns most likely know a way in, and if we talk to them we can also negotiate safe passage maybe? Won't be cheap, but beats the hell out of fighting the whole lot all the way in, and whatever may be near the portal too...

[stack]

"Well...I guess we ask around." Arthur furrows his brow again, trying to recall anything useful before setting out to bumble about asking guards and shopkeeps for information. I hope the dwarf doesn't make us look disreputable. Lisane should be helpful though, Arwen too, in his way.


know local [roll0] untrained
gather info for [roll1] hours, diplomacy [roll2]
can I get an aid another on the diplomacy for gather info?

[Fuzzies]

While Arthur was busy asking all the merchants and innkeepers, Lisane wandered with him. She spied a dirty looking boy following closely, looking as if he wanted to try and lift a purse, but was too scared to do so. She looked at the boy, then fished 2 silver coins from her purse. She flashed them at him, and nodded for him to come over.

"We are looking for a way into the sewers, preferably one where we don't have to swim. Know where one is?" She opened her hand and let the boy see the silvers in her palm. "An easy fare for an easy question."


Gather information [roll0]

or Diplimacy to improve his attitude enough to answer the question [roll1]

whichever you feel appropriate. Add the appropriate modifier for the coins, please. :smallwink:

[Firebeard]

The boy looked at her, and then at the others, grimacing as he saw Kargan's scarred face. "Lookit, there's a way down the sewers to clean it, allright? Everyone knows 'bout it, only they steers clear, cause of the Steel Wyverns, right? It's down Carver street behind the smiths, innit?" The boy held out his hand and took his prize from Lisane. He looked greedily at the coins for a minute, then bolted.


Technically, since those were the same skill, I had to use the first roll. However, 2 silvers for a boy like that goes a LONG way towards making friendly-like.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane caught Arthur's eye and beamed at him after the boy had left. "Well. for a boy like that, it wasn't so much of a bribe as it was a tip. Now all we have to do is find Carver street and the smithy." She didn't worry too much about the silvers. She was engaged in what might be uncharitably called "sanctioned profiteering". Adventuring was a profitable business for those who had the skills and the mercenary tendencies to take it up. Of course, there were very few old Pathfinders, but that was a thought for the future.

[stack]

Arthur nods to Lisane. That works.

"I'll keep on asking around though, see what I find. The more we know and all that. I'll get the directions to the Carver street smithy while I'm at it." Arthur continues his inquisitive rounds, adding the location to his questions about the sewers and Steel Wyverns.

Any reward for taking out gang members?

[Airanath]

Arwen follows the group, trying not to disturb the gathering of information. Social interaction was something that he didn't really get a grip on, he checks the stalls, looks around to make sure they aren't in danger, and ocasionally tries to talk a bit with the Dwarf, well, listen, as that is all that he is allowed to do by that one.
"I wonder how large are the sewers in this place?" he asks his companions as ne finally notices the town size.

[Firebeard]

A man passing in the street heard Arthur's questions and stopped to listen. He was a big man, beefy in the arms and shoulders, and his clothes were soot-stained. His red beard was singed at the tips, and his hands showed many burn marks. If you didn't know any better, you'd say the man was a smith.

After you finish asking the questions of your current target, he strides up to you, in a deliberate stance. He stares for a moment, looking as if he didn't know whether to talk or to fight. Then, in an unexpectedly quiet voice he said "The sewer maintenance entrance is out back of my place. Those filthy gang members go through there at all hours of the day and night. It's not enough that they steal a man's hard-earned gold with their 'protection' racket, but they steal his sleep with their late night comings and goings."

"My name's Kendrick, and if you're looking to head down into the sewers, I'll tell you right now that they won't let you by without a fight or a bribe. But, if you aiming to fight them, I'll sweeten the deal. They all carry those spiked chains - Steel Wyverns, right? Well, if you bring 'em to me, I'll pay you double what they're worth, just for the chance to reforge 'em as plows and hammers and such. I hate them, and all that they stand for. I can't go against them myself; I've got a family to look after. But if you're going after them, I won't cry none."

"If you're ready to go now, you can follow me back to my place. Just don't let it look as if I am helping you. Or, you can just head down this road to Wishbone Street and take the 2nd left to Carver. My place is at the end of Carver and the sewer maintenance entrance is in the back."

[stack]

Arthur is pleased with his sudden success. "Well, we are certainly no friends to the gang. We will discuss our plans for a moment, then follow your directions. Wouldn't want to be seen following you. Perhaps if you look disgusted when you walk away, just in case."

After the man leaves, Arthur speaks quietly to his friends. "I am for going in directly. These thugs are dangerous and we would be doing the city a favor if we take them down a peg. My only reluctance stems from not knowing much about their numbers. If we fight them, we should be able to interrogate a gang members to get the details of the sewers and maybe even the portals location." Though his words are bold, Arthur fidgets slightly while his eyes dart between his companions.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane nodded at Arthur. "I agree. We follow his directions and don't endanger him. If we don't run into any gang members on the way, perhaps I can examine the path and see how many different tracks are present. That might at least give us an estimate of their numbers."

[Firebeard]

You follow Kendrick's directions to Carver street and see the evidence of the smithy at the end of the row. A faint hot metal odor fills the air, and the distinct 'clink' of hammer on metal sounds from a shop at the end of the row. You walk down the road, noting how several of the shopkeepers give you furtive looks. A cooper, working on a small wine barrel, even nods in your direction. Apparently Kendrick told his neighbors about you.

Across from the smithy was a tinsmith, light colored metal wares hanging on racks easily seen from the street. The tinsmith, a portly halfling with a balding head, was wringing his apron while two tough-looking humans loomed over him. You can hear faintly as you approach "...that's all I have...next week...slow month..."

The toughs loom over him and one speaks in a low voice that cannot be overheard. Then, the other yanked a platter with undeniably fancy scrollwork off the shelf and with extreme exertion, folded it in half. He sneered at the halfling, and then he and the other thug spun around, glared at you, then headed for an opening that led behind the smithy.

[stack]

Once the thugs have passed, Arthur looks to his fellows. "Well, if we must fight them, I believe we have evidence of their character. I suspect few tears would be shed for them either. Shall we pursue, perhaps take them before they rejoin their comrades?"

Arthur tries not to let his nervousness show. Hunting humans is very different from rats and zombies, even different from defending oneself from hobgoblin ambush.

[Airanath]

Arwen's ayes flare in rage seeing the mugging.
"Yeah, we might as well get started somewhere too... these might be just lowly thugs, but might help access their strenghts."
, he says as he draws his bow, readying to engage.
"Hey Kargath, you said your fists needed something to smash, I think those guys need a good smashing, shall we offer them their fill?" he says coldly to the dwarf, clearly holding his temper from firing at the thugs in the open street.

[Firebeard]

As you round the last corner, you can see the two thugs standing over a trapdoor, one that must lead to the sewers. One of them catches sight of you and nudges the other. "Look here Freb, looks like the merchies found themselves some protectors of their own." He uncoiled a wicked looking spiked chain from around his waist and swung it menacingly before him. "You got no business here. Now get going 'fore we teach you not to stick your noses in Steel Wyvern business. This is our town, and we don't take kindly to strangers butting in."

Kargath spat at the man, and growled. "Look, ya pup! We're here to find somewhat's been lost in the sewers. If'n ye can't be making way fer us, yer gonna find out the hard way why yer mum tried to teach you manners."

The thug did not look at all distressed by the dwarf's words. "Shut your mouth dwarf, or I'll put a couple more scars on that ugly face of yours. Now get lost before Freb gets angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry."

"I don't particularly like him now. He looks like something left behind in the jakes pit after a long day of eatin' red meat. Not that yer such a pretty sight yer own self. Been wallerin' in that sewer have ye?"

The man called Freb roared something unintelligible and began to charge...



Round 1 initiatives...

Lisane 15
thugs 13
Arthur 11
Arwen 10
Kargath 2

Here is the map. (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/streetfight1a.png)

[Fuzzies]

Well, I can see Kargath's manners aren't exactly social-ready either, but at least he has just reason for his anger. Let's see if a show of force doesn't encourage a more helpful attitude.

"Just tell me which of them you want left alive to question." Lisane called as the drew Alrathien. 4 foot of razor-sharp elven steel whispered in the air as Lisane adopted her fighting stance. She tensed her muscles, ready to attack at the first sign of lethal intent by their opponents.


Readying an action to charge (or attack) at the first sign of lethal action by the thugs.

attack [roll0] with PA, charge
damage [roll1]

[Airanath]

"The one with a tongue, obviously." Arwen says in a somewhat dark humor attempt as he nocks an arrow to shot on the silent thug, "Its already sprouting a lot of crap, so it might be easier to get it loose on useful stuff. I am pretty sure if Kargath gave him one of those "friendly hugs" he claims to have he'll be quiet and singing to us soon, not that I want him singing, his voice is horrible anyway, I swear a banshee could sing better."

Deadly Aim on the silent thug.(-1/+2)
[roll0]
[roll1]
If the guy drops, add -4 to that roll as Arwen tries to shot an arrow to incapacitate the talking guy.(Penalty for non-lethal damage)

[Firebeard]

The two thugs came rushing forward, spiked chains out and swinging. That was all the "lethal intent" Lisane needed to see, and she slid forward towards the large thug, Freb. Her blade carved through flesh almost as easily as through air, splitting the man open from neck to groin. His spiked chain fell from nerveless fingers as he looked down, then slowly toppled forward.

The other thug, the nameless one who had done all the talking, lashed out at Kargin. The dwarf simply ducked beneath the swing, letting the spiked chain sail over his head. He just smiled evilly at the man, before launching himself forward, scooping a handful of dirt from the ground. Kargath's hand flew up, sending a spray of find sand and rocks right into the thug's face. The man didn't even have time to close his eyes or turn away, and the dirt found its mark. He gasped and began clawing at his eyes with his free hand.


thug is blinded for 1 round

Edit: yay! my dirty trick fighter actually worked :smallcool:

[stack]

Arthur, having brought his weapon to the ready as they rounded the corner after the thugs, moves forward to engage. Seeing Lisane drop one, he steps over the gore. Seeing the dwarf moving to engage, he waits to see what happens, then takes advantage of the thug's temporary blindness to strike.

attack [roll0] (eating the -4 for nonlethal damage) delaying his action to after Kargath's turn.
damage [roll1]

[Firebeard]

Blinded by the dirt, the thug never even sees Arwen's arrow as it takes him in the leg, just above the knee. He trips slightly, and the motion just barely carries his head out of the range of Arthur's morningstar. He staggered backwards, flailing his spiked chain in front of himself, trying to hold you off while he clawed at his eyes to clear them.


Well, that was easy! one down and one to go.

Round 2

Lisane
thug
others

Sorry there's no updated map. I must have left my thumb drive at home. If you guys make it down into the sewers today, I'll try and remote in later. You don't need it for this chump though.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane, somewhat shocked at how easily the first foe had fallen, sidestepped and changed her grip on Alrathien. She easily avoided the blinded thug's wildly swinging chain, then reached in and tried to whack him on the head with the flat of her blade. Leaning in over the dwarf made things more difficult, but she supposed she was going to have to get used to that. The man's head made a sound much like a melon falling off a wagon as he staggered from her well-aimed blow.


nonlethal with the sword [roll0]
subdual [roll1]

edit: wow! lucky whack.

[Firebeard]

The thug staggered backwards from the force of Lisane's blow. A thin trickle of blood ran down the side of his head where she had hit him, and his eyes blinked madly as he tried to clear them of the dirt the dwarf had thrown. He dropped his spiked chain and sank to his knees.

Gone now was the blustering manner, the tough words, and the look of casual cruelty. In their place was abject terror and the very real understanding that his life was the price of continued defiance. He had seen what the girl had done to Freb, and the thought of ending up like that terrified him.

"P-p-please, don't hurt me any more. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I won't ever do it again, please!"

[stack]

Arthur keep his weapon ready as he steps in front of the bleeding man, leaning down to face him directly. Don't think of the bloody corpse Don't think of the bloody corpse. "Perhaps you are in a mood to talk? First toss that bit of chain away, thank you. Now, we have a few questions for you. I'm sure you'll be good enough to answer. First, you are a Steel Wyvern. That wasn't the question. How many of you are there? Where would the other be concentrated at this time of day? Who is your leader?"

"Secondly, do you know of any strange things in the sewers?" He does his best to appear to be a very nasty person pretending to be nice.

bluff [roll0]
diplomacy[roll1]
intimidate[roll2]

[Firebeard]

"You want my sting, take it. Take anything you want, just let me go, please." The thug wiped dirt and blood from his eyes. He looked to be about 19 or 20, a typical street child turned to thuggery with no other prospects. "Yeah, 'course I'm a Steel Wyvern, and if you know anything at all about us, you know that we stick together. You can't hurt one of us with out 20 more taking vengeance. You best leave town...now."

He cringed at the baleful glare in Kargath's eyes. "I'm not threatening you, all right. Just telling you how it is. Kojy's not gonna be happy about what you did to Freb. Neither is Firedrake. He was like his younger cousin or something. Anyways, there's lots of us, no idea how many, and they scatter all the time. Never be about in more than 2s or 3s, sometimes 5 at a time. Mostly in the sewers. Please let me go. I'm being all helpful, right?"

[stack]

Arthur speaks to the others. "If we let him go, he will only warn the others. Then we would have more than we can handle. Do you think any authorities would take him? I suppose we could bind and gag him then leave him somewhere until we are finished. At least they shouldn't be in any concentration, if we keep moving. As such, I am loathe to spend any time standing still, we can't let them discover us and rally their forces."

[Airanath]

"They surely would take him, but dragging this trash all around town with his companions scattered about as he claims will warn them all the same... Perhaphs we should just let him join his friend, that way he will also not pose a threat to anyone in the community in the future..." Arwen says, as cold as he can, to scare the boy, the dead thug turning his stomach, he may be mad at them for bullying people, but he also didn intend to put them off like rabid dogs if he could help.

Intimidate:[roll0]
I think the DM just wanted to give me a chance to use this skill! *had a spare skill point*, anyway, playing good cop, bad cop with Arthur, so hopefully he'll intervene, Arwen doesn't plan to go on with the threats anyway, but better for credibility if it seems his friend is all that stopped him.

[Firebeard]

"Bah!" snorted Kargath, and slammed his cestus-gloved hand into the back of the thug's head, just above the neck. The man collapsed like a sack of potatoes, falling heavily to the dirt. Rhythmic motions of his chest showed that he was still breathing, but there was no sign of consciousness. "That'll keep him out for at least 2 or 3 hours. Plenty of time to do sewer searchin'. Just drag him and that other one over to the gap by the smithy and get 'em outta sight."

[stack]

Arthur's eyes go wide as Kargath knock the man out. His mouth opens once, then twice before getting out, "I...guess that solves the problem. Though...oh well. Help me drag him then, so we can go swimming. We can toss the chains to the smith as well, though maybe payment waits for later."

I wanted to keep moving, but we usually do things by consensus. May have to speak with him about that.

I have no objection to keeping it going, as discussing his fate further would have taken too long.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane starts to say something to Kargath, then looks at the dead thug at her feet. Oddds were, it was just another kid who had made bad decisions. Did that really make him worth kiling so casually? She thought about it for a moment, then shrugged and sheathed Alrathien after wiping the blade on the man's clothes.

"He made his choices in life, just as the others, just as we did. At some point, either here or in the hereafter, you have to accept the consequences of those choices. If he's still here when we get back, we'll hand him over to the law, or not. That's a discussion for another time. I'm more worried about this Firedrake and Kojy he was talking about. It sounded as if they might be leaders of some sort."

She grabbed Freb by the ankles and began hauling him over to the gap Kargath had suggested, mostly out of sight of both the road and the sewer entrance. Then, she looked at the ground around the entrance to see if she could determine the number of people that had passed this way recently.


Perception [roll0]

[Airanath]

"Hopefully for him, the beating will be enough for him to learn his lesson."

[Firebeard]

@Lisane

The area around the trapdoor shows signs of heavy traffic. Apparently either the sewers need a lot of maintenance, or the Wyverns really do come in and out through here a lot. There is too much disturbance to make out all of the individual tracks, but you can easily distinguish at least a dozen unique prints.


Kargath spoke up, dragging the unconscious, still unnamed, thug the same way. "Hah! If'n it weren't I'll thump 'im again. Loudmouth pipsqueak needs to learn when to talk, when to fight, and when to run the other way. So, lass, what're we in fer? You got a number for us? If'n it ain't more'n twenty, we should be fine. Course, if'n they all fight like that lot, maybe 40."

[stack]

"Hmm, concentration, skill, and abilities may matter more than pure numbers. If they lack and magical inclinations and stay spread out, we should be able to handle them decently well, as long as they are relatively unskilled. Which still leaves our best option as moving quickly. If we can surprise any other we come across, we can eliminate them in small groups. We have the advantage of healing ourselves in between fights, so long as we don't get overwhelmed."

Arthur joins Lisane back at the hole after dropping the thug off and checking again to make sure he seems both healthy and unlikely to wake. "Shall we descend?"

[Fuzzies]

"I can make out a dozen or so individuals here. this entrance is very busy. I imagine that we'll run into some resistance down there, so be prepared." She bent and grasped the handle of the door and lifted it up to expose the sewer entrance to the light of day.

[Firebeard]

The door leading to the sewer maintenance entrance opened easily for Lisane, testament to frequent use. Far more frequent than you might expect. It revealed a stairway leading down into the darkness of the sewers. At the bottom of the stairway a flickering glow to the right showed evidence that torches or other light sources were at work, just out of sight. The smell of rot and waste rolls out of the darkness, engulfing your noses and causing you to gag slightly. This is not a smell for getting used to. It is a smell for beating back with a blunt object and forcing it to keep its distance.

[stack]

Upon entering the sewer, Arthur reels from the scent, nearly dropping his weapon. "Wait, we could have went to a party. Why didn't we go to the party? Or swimming. Gah."

He looks around. "Seems to be some illumination, so maybe I shouldn't bother making my own light. Elf eyes see anything I've missed? Or dwarf eyes, for that matter? Maybe I shouldn't walk point."

[Airanath]

Arwen places his hand on Arthurs shoulder to confort him. "Because the party didn't have a portal, well worth a new set of clothes and a stroll in the crap."

[Firebeard]

Lisane and Kargath led the way down the stairs and into the sewers. At the bottom of the staircase, Lisane held up a hand to stop the others and peered around the corner. A stream of filthy water flows sluggishly through a wide channel between a tiered series of stone platforms. A ledge appears to run alongside the waste water, raised high enough that someone could walk fairly easily without ever getting their feet wet. What a relief that would be. This area appears to be well-lit by a set of torches, though you can see the walkway extending into the darkness of the sewage tunnel.

Two men are jumping back and forth on the platforms, swinging spiked chains at each other. The sounds they make are of lighthearted banter, not the visceral sounds of true combat.

On the far side of the stream a raised platform is connected to the sewer walkways by means of a rickety looking plank bridge that rises upwards across the water. On the ledge is a half-elf, back to you, working at what looks to be an alchemy set. He calls out "Will you two knock it off? I'm trying to work here. I need to get Kojy some more of these elixirs. If you cretins would stop trying to knock each other in the sewage as a joke, I wouldn't have to make these up every day. As it is, I'm going to need you two to go to the apothecary's shop and 'convince' her to donate some more hallowbloom and rosewort." It is clear from the way he says 'convince' that he knows full well the kind of tactics the two thugs might use on the poor apothecary.


Here is what you see. (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers1a.png)

There is a wall between the stairway and the sewer chamber, so only Lisane can see the room at the moment.

[stack]

Arthur hears the voices, but is unable to see the situation. We need to strike fast, before they get off a warning. Dare not talk though, can't let them hear us either. We need to get off these stairs so we can actually do something!

[Fuzzies]

Lisane whispered back tot he others, "There's 3 of them that I can see. Two are playing some kind of game on pillars in the middle of the water, and the other is at some kind of lab bench up on a platform about 40 or 50 feet away. We can't just rush them, though. Even if they are gang members and thugs, we can't just kill them in cold blood. I think we'll have to at least try and talk our way past."

[stack]

Arthur leans forward to whisper back, trying not to push Arwen into Kargath. "Agreed. But can we talk from a more advantageous position? Can you sneak around to cut them off, or do we just stroll out?"

[Fuzzies]

"It's pretty exposed. I am afraid our only option is the frontal appraoch. I can't even count on shadows, because they have several torches lighting the place up."

[Airanath]

"Don't really think there would be a problem going in and shotting, those guys were planning to go out and steal, or harm or both anyway. In some places that is punished with stuff harsher than simply "jail", they have it comming for them, sooner or later." the elf whispers quietly, drawing his bow.
"If we take down the guy in the lab, the rest of them will be forced to leave the sewers in time, to be treated from the sickness, that by itself might clean up their numbers, I am taking my shot at him."

Ready Action: Once the group advances, cast gravity bow.

[stack]

Arthur shrugs, his face still doubtful. "Let's do it then. Move out quickly, we'll try to get them to surrender, but be ready for a fight. I'll try to talk to them, though I doubt they will listen. Don't let them flee though. Sound like a plan?"

He looks to his friends to see if they agree. Ambushing thugs in the sewer, also not in the stories. Stories seem to leave out many things.

[Fuzzies]

"Okay, let's do this." Lisane grabbed her bow and nocked an arrow before stepping out onto the walkway beside the stream of sewage. She said nothing at first, trying to get as far in the room as possible to clear the way for her companions behind.


Moving to -g/-5

[Firebeard]

As the four of you sidle into the room, the men on the pillars in the middle of the stream catch sight of you. They immediately stop their game and turn to face you, sneers on their faces and spiked chains twirling in the air. The half-elf on the platform has his back to you and doesn't notice you at first. But when the thugs start talking, he turns slightly to get a look at you.

One of the men, a hairy brute with a missing eye and a nasty scar running from forehead to chin, spoke up first. "Here now, whatcha doin' down here? Don'tcha know this be Steel Wyvern territory. You can't be down here, less'n you pay the toll!"

[stack]

Arthur straightens up and tries to look taller. "Our toll is your lives. Lower your weapons, you are out numbered. If you raise a hand against us, you will perish. If you cooperate, you will be unharmed."

He holds his weapon on his shoulder, but mentally prepares himself to cast a spell.

intimidate [roll0]

Can I ready an action to cast a bouncing murderous command if they act hostile?

[Airanath]

"We are not joking here, stay quiet, drop your weapons, and allow us to tie you for a bit, and you will see the morning, otherwise, well, can't say people will miss you can we?" Arwen adds to Arthur speech, firing a warning shot close to the alchemist, who he deems the most dangerous.

Aid Another Intimidate: [roll0]

[Firebeard]

It happened in an eye-blink's time. One moment, the thugs were sneering at you, completely ignoring your threats and attempts at intimidation. The moment Arwen's arrow left the string, however, it all turned to chaos. The alchemist, who had been holding a yellow flask in his hand, hurled it with practiced accuracy at Arwen. The flask burst apart on the wall above the elf's head, dousing him with burning chemicals and splashing those nearby as well. Lisane fired her own bow, the arrow narrowly missing the man and shattering on the bricks beyond, just as Arwen's had. Arthur's murmured words had their desired effect, with the man nearest him turning to glare with hate-filled eyes on the thug he had just been playing games with.


Wow, what a surprise round.

Arwen takes [roll0] damage from the splash weapon, and Arthur and Kargath each take 1 point of splash damage (Fire).

Arthur cast murderous command on the guy at -e/-2.

Round 1 initiatives...

Arwen 16
Lisane 13
thugs 7
Kargath 5
Arthur 3

Here is the map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers1b.png)

[Airanath]

Arwen places another arrow on his bow, and draws the string, this time, he really aims for the alchemist.
"Can't say we didn't offer them a chance.", he states as he fires on the man.

Free Action: 1 point from magic pool to make my bow +1.
Deadly Aim attack(-1hit +2 dam)
Attack roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll [roll1]
(Condiering I managed to cast gravity bow before we advanced, if not its just 1d8+3 damage)

[Fuzzies]

Lisane drops her bow on the walkway and pulls Alrathien as she rushed for the bridge and the man throwing bombs. Fleet of foot, she navigated the bridge an draced up to the half-elf, not sure what would hurt him more, the sword against his head, or his alchemy set.


double move to -B/0

[Firebeard]

The wild-eyed man leaped across 5 feet of filthy water to land in the muck and filth of the stream of sewage next to the man he had been talking to just a few moments earlier. Spitting out filth, he raked his arm across his eyes to clear them, then swiped at the other man's legs with his spiked chain. The other man shouted "Isstvan! What are you doing?" as he leaped clear, then took the only route available to him. He jumped to the walkway and ran up to Kargath, intent on doing serious bodily harm to the dwarf.

Across the sewage, the half elven alchemist paled at Lisane's approach. Nervously, he backed away from her, grabbing another pouch from the table. He flung it at her feet. The bag expanded as it hit, tendrils of sticky webbing flying free and wrapping themselves around the ranger's legs.

From around the corner came another Steel Wyvern, this one a gnome. His hideously distorted face spoke of magical ailments, but the spiked chain in his hand looked just as deadly as those wielded by the others.


here is the updated map. (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers1c.png)

all the group goes now, as we finish off round 1 and begin round 2


Kargath ducked under the man's spiked chain and punched him in the groin, the sharply pointed studs on his cestus bringing stars tot eh thug's vision as the pain hit. The man bent double, gagging and groaning with the pain. That was a move guaranteed to incapacitate anyone for a short time at least.

[stack]

Grimacing, Arthur hops down into the filth, truly regretting his lack of reach and inability to flank while remaining dry. He wades forward, channeling his disgust into a swing at the man Kargath momentarily incapacitated while holding back the sick taste rising in his throat.

move to -F/-5, attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

I assume the sewage is difficult terrain?

[Firebeard]

@Arthur

Oh yes indeed. And make me a Reflex save to avoid slipping on the slimy bottom.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane tried to dodge the missile as it flew at her, but she was unable to get quite away. The sticky goo made her grimace, but still she bore down on the man that had thrown it at her, blade swinging through the air.


I am assuming it was a tanglefoot bag? so Ref [roll0]

If I can reach...
attack [roll1]
damage [roll2]

[Airanath]

Arwen refocus, and aims properly after the wild shot he took last time.
Seeing Arthur wading through the sewage he feels sickened for his friend too.
Deadly Aim shot on the alchemist.
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Firebeard]

Arwen's arrow took the alchemist in the shoulder, spinning him into Lisane's swing. Between them, the alchemist crumpled to the floor, quite dead. Arthur's attack took the huddled man in the leg, breaking the knee and nearly dropping the man into the filthy water.

His distraction cost him dearly though, as the wild-eyed man shook off his compulsion and turned hate-filled eyes toward the oracle. Wading through the filth, he reached out with a leg beneath the scum-covered flow and hooked Arthur's ankle. Arthur had time for one off-balance blow before he fell beneath the turgid flow.

Kargath saw Arthur go under and raised a clenched fist. The cestus spikes crunched into the thug's face, sending the man bouncing off the stone wall. The gnome leaped to the large pillar at the center of the flow, glaring at Lisane and swinging his spiked chain menacingly.


2 dead, 2 to go.

Arthur gets an AoO before he goes under. Yuck!

Round 3
group, then enemies

Here is the updated map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers1d.png)

[stack]

AoO:
attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

Arthur swings desperately as he falls down, though perhaps he would have been better served by grabbing the walkway next to him instead. He immediately sits up, trying to wipe his face clean with an even filthier arm. (Thoughts removed to maintain PG-13 rating).

Arthur stays where he is, trying to keep his weapon between himself and his assailant, waiting to stand until he can do so safely.

Delayed action to stand if someone drops the punk.

[Fuzzies]

"Arthur!" Lisane calls as she saw her friend go under the digusting sewage. She tried to move, but was held in place by the sticky strands. At least eh bugger that did this to her wasn't causign any more problems, but she saw the gnome approaching and knew she had to get clear. She raked Alrathien's blade across the sticky strands, hoping to cut enough away so that she could free her legs.


No hit roll necessary, PA for [roll0] damage

[Airanath]

Arwen sees Arthur diving into the sewer water, and quickly shots at the thug who was fighting him, to ensure he won't trie to jump on the oracle and drown him, once the enemy is down, he helps Arthur from the water.

If Arthurs attack managed to fell the enemy, he shots at the gnome advancing on Lisane, and then helps Arthur up from the water.
"Spit first, then take a deep breath, you don't want to swallow this crap."

Deadly Shot according to the above:
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Firebeard]

Arthur finds himself submerged over his head in sewage. Swearing is not nearly sufficient, and would be counterproductive at best, given his current position. Sitting up, he found that the sewage was over his head, at least 4 feet in depth. He would have to stand in order to get to clean air, but that would open his to a counter blow from the madman that knocked him under in the first place.

The wild-eyed thug watched the effluent intently, waiting for Arthur to emerge so that he could smash the oracle with his chain. He shouldn't have been so focused. Kargath knelt over the dead man in front of him and smashed the wild-eyed thug in the side of the head, crushing the man's cheekbone and one of the wild-looking eyes. A second later, Arwen's arrow took the man in the other eye. The man sank into the filthy water and began floating downstream, headed no doubt towards the river outlet.

Arthur stood, gasping and sputtering. He clawed at his face with an arm, fully expecting to be hit by the thug's spiked chain. When no blow came, he opened his eyes to see Kargath a few feet away, grinning at him with those broken teeth. A burly arm was stretched out to help the oracle back up on the walkway.

Meanwhile, Lisane finished cutting herself free from the flagstones,and was trying to get rid of more of the sticky strands, when the gnome came hurtling across the gap. His spiked chain barely missed her head as she ducked aside, and tore a ragged chunk out of the alchemist's workbench. The misshapen face leered at her through matted curls in a riot of colors. Clearly, this gnome had led an eventful life.


Lisane can move at half movement, and is at -4 dex and -2 to hit for [roll0] more rounds

Round 4
group, then enemies

Here is the updated map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers1e.png)

[stack]

Arthur takes the offered hand and scrambles back onto the walkway, before collapsing to his knees and retching repeatedly. Between heaves he manages to sputter, "Didn't know <blech> it was so deep. Never again."

He spares no thought for the troublesome gnome, unwilling to even consider trying to jump across the sewage, even if he could stand. He proceeds with his plan or puking,trembling, and dripping on the walkway.

-g/-5 or so, if it matters

[Fuzzies]

Lisane managed to avoid the gnome's first swing and brought Alrathien up to block the next as she studied her opponent. His misshapen face bespoke hardship and his brightly colored hair spoke of an eventful life. Well, I can end both of those for you now, she thought. In a swift movement, she brought Alrathien around in a looping cut, distractingthe gnome with a fake kick towards his groin.


attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

[Airanath]

Only one more and we are safe... They had it coming to them with their crimes, but why does is it so painful to do this anyway... Arwen's toughts race as he nocks another arrow to shot the gnome this time, and end their skirmish.

[roll0]
[roll1]
Still using deadly shot.

[Firebeard]

The gnome dodged the kick, but not the blade. The elven curveblade ripped through light leather armor and tore into the chest beneath. The gnome gave a gasp, which turned into a gurgle as Arwen's arrow took him from behind. The broadhead pierced a lung and lodged behind the gnome's sternum. The gnome fell to the floor, coughing and gasping. In a few moments, it too had ceased moving.


250 XP to everyone!

Oh, and if you want to look over that 4th body for loot, it's floating downstream at 10 feet per round

[stack]

Arthur remains on his knees, but sees the gnome go down. "Arwen, some help, please. Prestidigitation. And keep casting. For the love of celestia keep casting!"

He looks at the dead man floating away. No, not going back in. I don't care if his pockets are made of platinum. Maybe this part stays out of the official record. Covered in effluent is not how I want to be remembered. There better be a portal, or I may drag that crazy old man down here and toss him in myself.

[Airanath]

Arwen goes to Arthur and helps him climb out of the water, and then does his best to give him some cleaning with the magical cantrip.
"Relax, we are safe for now. You might want to try some of the chemicals their alchemist was making, he did say it was to treat some kind of disease the thugs got from the dirty water. Speaking of water... wish I could conjure some clean one... would do better than removing small portions of dirty at one time from you."

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looked across the chamber and saw Arthuer safe on teh walkway. "Arthur! I'm so glad you got out of there. Don't do that again, all right? That was...well, I was about to say disgusting, but that really doesn't cover it, does it? I'll look and see if there is anything over here that can help."

With that, she cleaned her blade on the tunic of the gnome, and then began searching him, the alchemist, and the workbench for any useful items.

[stack]

As the magic removes the indescribable grime, Arthur stands, his mood improving concurrently with his cleanliness. "Really? Hadn't noticed it was disgusting. Planning on doing it again, just for fun. I think I may still have a stomach, could try to puke that out too."

He laughs quietly at himself. "Sorry, feeling a bit off for some reason. That you all for your help and concern. Anything interesting over at that bench? I don't want to stop too long, but a clue about where we are going would be nice."

[Firebeard]

The thug's body drifted around the bend and was lost in the darkness as Kargath said "Oh sure, waste yer concern on the one who jumped inta the muck. But does anyone ever think about the poor sod who helped pull him out? Nae, they just go on about th' dunkin'. What about my trauma? I mean, look at 'im. He's covered with eh stuff, and I got it on me!" He wiped his arm on the dead man at his feet with a slight grin. "Ah that was a fine dustup, though. Cannae complain about tha'."

He reached down and grabbed the spiked chain from the body at his feet. Rummaging through the man's pockets he found a small pouch filled with coins.
Lisane found the same on the gnome and alchemist, along with their spiked chains. On the workbench she found a dizzying array of chemicals, materials, and jars. Beside one rack of materials was a book entitled 'Toxins and Contereasures', written by Giacomo d'Enzinas. There were also a number of alchemical items ready for use - the very ones the alchemist had been throwing at them.

Looking around for any indication of direction, the group only noted that the sewage flow ran from east to west, and that the tunnel in each direction quickly blackened into pure darkness. Apparently only this area was kept lit by the Steel Wyverns.


You find

3 spiked chains
43g in mixed coins
2 acid flasks
3 alchemists fire
2 smokesticks
1 tanglefoot bag
2 thunderstones
4 vials filled with a murky brown liquid
Book
alchemist's lab plus lots of raw materials for alchemy


Map was oriented North up (as all my maps are), so the sewage is flowing from the right of the map to the left (and presumably continues west towards the river).

[stack]

Arthur heads over to the alchemist's bench, quickly casting and scanning the area for magic. He then relieves the gnome of his weapons and valuables. Eyeing the pile of gear, he asks, "Should we carry all of this with us? It's a bit of weight, not what we want if one of us falls in again." He shudders.

"Upstream or downstream? I'm afraid that by letting that body go we may cause a bit of a stir. If any others find it, so tactically it may be wise to follow. However, we are not here to wipe out the wyverns. I have no idea which way to start looking for a portal though."

[Fuzzies]

"Honestly, I'd like to leave the alchemy stuff here until we can come back for it. It might be worth a lot of gold, but it will really weigh us down, and I don't like the thought of carrying it into combat. What if the wrong thing broke? No, I say take the finished products and the book and leave the materials and kit here."

"As for which direction to go, I don't know. At this point either way is as good as any other. Though we might as well grab one or two of these torches to light our way, unless you want to do your floating rock trick for the next couple of hours. I somehow doubt the body will cause that much of a stir. After all, gang members kill each other over all kinds of things, don't they?" Lisane was unsure about this last part. She had heard vile stories of what kinds of things certain cities permitted to go on within their walls.

[Airanath]

"I am sorry Kargath, would you want me to clean your cestus too?" the elf apologizes, there is no denying how helpfull the dwarf was, and the stale smell of booze coming from the dwarf was better than the same smell combined with sewage.

"Might not be our mission, but the townspeople will be happier for it, so I am in for cleaning those sewers a bit." Arwen says.
"Indeed, we don't want the alchemical kit weighting us down now, but its also hard to disassemble for your avarage person, we could collect the ready items, and leave the kit for our way out."

[Firebeard]

"That would be most kind." said the dwarf, holding out his befouled arm. "Now, as fer which way ta go? I cannae say. Either way's as good to me ans another."

[stack]

Arthur pulls a coin off of the deceased. "Heads for East, tales for West?" He tosses it in the air and catches it, turning it over on the back of his hand.

1 for east, 2 for west
[roll0]

Tales shows. he holds the coin out so the others can see. "Our story lies West." He looks to see if any of the others object before resting his weapon over his now-cleaner shoulder and carefully walks around to follow the walkway downstream, stopping only to pick up a loose stone, quickly illuminating it and sending it on ahead.

He'll keep the stone over the walkway so that it is less likely to drop into sewage if he gets interrupted.

[Airanath]

Arwen uses his magic to clean the dwarf cestus.
"There you go, bright as new" he smiles after doing the job.

"West it is, we have as good odds of finding the portal and or the wyverns on one side as the other, so I don't see why object. If the portal is not that way, we check the other, and if the thugs want to fight, can't say I will hold back one way or another.

[Firebeard]

West it is, then. You grab your gear and head westwards, staying on the walkway. The stone path is relatively clean, with only a few stray bits of rubbish or fern-like vegetation littering its surface. It stays a fairly uniform 5 feet wide, and looked to be well constructed. The engineers that constructed these sewers apparently took their jobs seriously and did them well.

After 10 minutes or so of walking through the dark corridor, you have stopped noticing the horrendous smell quite so much, both a bless and, you fear, a curse. Suddenly, Arthur's glowing stone reveals that the walkway ahead ends. There is a faint glow ahead, clearly that of daylight.

[stack]

Arthur walks ahead to the opening. "Huh, guess the coin lied. Won't find the portal out there. Guess we turn around and head the other way."

He shrugs, feeling sheepish since he was the one who chose the direction, despite none of them having a better idea.

[Airanath]

"Unless that is already a passage to another world... I mean, I didn't see any slopes or anything, and we are bellow the city..."

[Fuzzies]

"Personally, I agree with Arthur. His coin was defective. I'd rather go the other way and look, because I am not getting in that sewage unless I have to. I wasn't expecting this walkway, but now that we have it...I'm grateful. Let's try going the other direction. If we have to come back here later, so be it." Lisane turned and began heading back the way they had come.


That last assumes the others agree.

[Firebeard]

Failing to gather any response, the group turned back around and returned to the maintenance entrance area. From there, you continued to travel in the dank, smelly darkness. Occasionally, you would pass over small tributaries to the sides, each about 5 feet across and with no walkways. By common consent, you marked these as something to return to if the main passage did not yield results. It was beginning to look like this search would take a lot longer than it seemed at first.

Finally, after nearly an hour of walking, backtracking, and carefully navigating the areas where the walkway had crumbled, they came to the first major intersection of main sewer lines. The new line was smaller than the main branch, only about 5 feet across, but it did have a walkway. The ceiling of the smaller passage had partially collapsed, filling most of the tunnel with rubble.


By the way, it is pitch dark down here. So, who has lights?

[stack]

(Arthur has been using the light/stone/mage hand trick)

Arthur sends his improvised light up and down the smaller passage, peering as far as he can to see if they show any promise. "I have the worst vision for these dark conditions, I believe, does anyone else see anything? Should we stay on the main line or check up or down this smaller passage? Seems like the wyverns would know about anything unusual in the main line, so maybe the smaller path would be more profitable. I just hope it doesn't lie down one of the paths without a walkway."

[Airanath]

Arwen looks around, lazily as the part explores the sewers, he was never really interested in scout work, it being so boring and making no sense for him. He looks around as far as his eyes can go, searching for any distractions or interesting changes of scenery, as to help keep his mind of the unbearable stench.

"I see dirty water, dirty walls, slipery ground and I think my eyes are starting to see the smell, so my nose doesn't have to suffer alone.", the elf says, his mood not the best at moment, the portal still not having appeared in front of them as if by magic surely making the whole treck feel boring. "But whatever, the side lines make as much sense as the main lines, and sense as portals in sewers actually, this must be an acidental work or the work of some wizard who blasted his own nose off with a miscast spell..."

[Fuzzies]

Lisane carries the torch taken from teh entry room high overhead, knowing that at the first sign of danger Arthur would have to drop his concentration on his lit stone. The torch wouldn't be much better. She'd have to drop it to get her sword out, but at least it would provide some illumination from the ground - assuming it didn't land in the sewage. She was really starting to regret coming down here. The smell wouldn't be so bad by itself, but she was starting to be able to taste the filth. She wasn't sure any amount of wine would ever fully rid her of the sensation.

As they came to the major intersection, she moved out ahead to scout, trying to make use of her elven heritage and peer down each passage before inspecting the rubble.


Obviously Lisane has a torch. Can she see down the smaller passage? Or is the rubble blocking it? perception [roll0]

[Firebeard]

As Lisane approached the intersection, she could see that though the rubble blocked most of the hallway, there was still enough gaps for the sewage to flow beneath it and to see through to the other side - perhaps even some large enough to crawl through. Of course, that assumed that you would want to, what with all the spiders crawling about. The rubble was carpeted with small webs, and among those webs scuttled thousands of spiders. The sight of a carpet of swarming spiders is unsettling indeed—particularly when the swarm is made up of spiders each the size of a gold coin and possessing blade-like mandibles capable of lacerating flesh with sickening ease.

The spiders formed a veritable carpet and surged towards Lisane as she stepped nearer. The raised torch provided enough illumination to see the things clearly. It also provided the spark necessary to ignite the pocket of sewer gas that had formed in the hole in the ceiling that the rubble once occupied. The explosion sent a wash of flame out 30 feet in all directions, scorching the spiders and Lisane, and even singing Arthur.



reflex saves from Lisane and Arthur. They both take 9 damage (half if you pass a DC12 reflex save)

Round 1 initiatives

Arwen 22
spiders 22
Arthur 19
Lisane 12
Kargath 5

Here's the map! (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers2a.png)

[stack]

"More spiders! Everywhere we go"

You and your bloody spiders. Reflex save [roll0]

As he begins to raise his weapon, he catches scent of the high concentration of gas, then sees Lisane's torch, he starts to warn her as he ducts for cover, turning to shield himself from the flame, but still very careful to not fall into the sewage.

[Firebeard]

In the aftermath of the explosion, Lisane stands tall, her leathers and hair smoking slightly, but otherwise the damage is restricted to a few small burns on her arms and hands. Likewise, Arthur is a bit crisped, but mobile. The spiders, on the other hand, are a blacked mass of crisped carapace on the ground of the rubble pile and walkway. A few living specimens still within the crevices of the rockpile can be seen, but they do not reform into the dangerous concentrations of before.


Umm...100XP to everyone because Lisane set herself on fire?

[Fuzzies]

Lisane curled her arms around her head to protect heself from the expanding fireball, and threw herself sideways agaist teh wall to avoid the worst of the blast. She could feel her arms burning slightly, as if from a very bad sunburn, and could smell her hair crisping. All she could think of was Please don't let me die in a fire. Or worse, have to jump in the sewage to smother the flames. Then, the flames were gone and she stood whole, singed but mostly unharmed. She glanced back at the others to see that they were okay, then back at teh mass of spiders. Well, what had been spiders anyways.

Shakily, she said "I don't think I'm going up that side passage today. Maybe some other eternity." She clenched her jaw, and then jumped lightly over the side stream to the walkway on the other side, planting a booted foot on the rubble pile to help get across.


I am assuming that there is no bridge, but that we can jump across using the rubble as a stepping stone?

[stack]

Arthur looks over Lisane and himslef, then turns to the two behind him. "You two get caught in that at all? No, guess not." He steps on a few spiders as they scurry away and draws the healing wand and reaching it toward Lisane.

"Ladies first. If you got as singed as I did, I think you need this." The short stick glows as he touches it to her most obvious burns, then he does the same to himself.

CLW from the wand,
Lisane - [roll0]
Arthur - [roll1]

Roll again if you need more healing and let me know so I can subtract the uses.

He then looks around and chuckles to himself as he puts the wand back in place. A scorched spider carcass floating into the air, streaming light. "You light them up your way, I'll use mine."

Maybe the gas is getting to me, this shouldn't be that funny.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane smiled gratefully at Arthur as teh wand healed some of her new injuries. She stopped to check the others, then ruefully turned to him again. "I think if we are going to meet any more thugs down here, I may need another dose of healing. I'd hate to fail after coming this far."


Yeah, lisane is still at half health. Another tap would do nicely

[stack]

[roll0] just assume he did it twice in the above description. If you need more, go ahead and roll 1d8+1, I'll mark down the use.


Arthur sends the glowing spider corpse over the rubble. "Shall we?"

[Airanath]

"Maybe we shouldn't use the normal torch from here on? In case it makes the air burn like that again? The noise could warn the wyverns..." Arwen displays a rare moment of insight.

[Fuzzies]

"That's a good idea. Let's just rely on Kargath's darkvision and Arthur's glowin..spider from now on." Lisane nodded at the elf, then ground the torch into the wall beside her. She stuffed the implement in her pack, just in case, and headed off once more into the darkness.

[Firebeard]

Traveling east from the ruined intersection, you soon find another sewer junction. Graffiti covers much of the walls here, most of it simple drawings and stylized names. Prominent among them is a large drawing of a wyvern in shiny gray paint. A signpost of sorts appears to be painted next to the intersection. A skull crawling with bugs sits atop an arrow pointing back the way you came. Another painting - a representation of a beggar's bowl holding a key and a coin - sits atop an arrow pointing to the south. Underneath this is the word "Almsman" scrawled in red paint.

[stack]

Arthur studies the signs briefly. "Obviously that way leads to the wyverns main lair. I wonder who or what the almsman is? If the wyverns left it alone...could be dangerous. We aren't here to fight the wyverns, but they may be able to give us direction is persuaded. There will likely be more of them in the lair though, so I'm not sure I want to barge in there if we don't have to. The almsman...no idea."

"If we go to the wyverns, I could try to draw some of them out, using magic to make sounds, floating lights, etc."

[Fuzzies]

"Wait a minute...the Almsman? Didn't what's-his-name...Milford?...say something about an Almsman in Stiles' office? I seem to remember that. Perhaps this Almsman would be more helpful than beating information out of Steel Wyverns. As much as I don't mind knocking their kind about, I can't help but think we may have a time limitation here."

[stack]

"Yes, but he pulled that from the mind of a man who thinks he is the rightful emperor of a democracy who spoke of being attacked by spiny creatures in the sewer. I had assumed the almsman was something from wherever he came from, put it out of my mind, but now...seems like that is the likely way to our goal, though I don't care to have wyverns at our backs either."

[Airanath]

"Crazy, deluded, or masterfull lier, its the best hint we have right now. Unless you want to rid this town of the wyvern trash before finding the portal. I am game for both."

[Firebeard]

"Fagh!" Kargath spits as he listens in. "Ain't no need to be worryin' 'bout scum like that sneakin' up from behind. I'll claw the eyes outta any what try to be sneaky. Let's just find this place and be outta these sewers!"

Lisane nods, Arthur shrugs, and Arwen glances up from the graffiti he was studying and looks blankly at the dwarf before everyone began moving again. It wasn't long before the group found the first new addition to the walkways they had been traveling on. A heavy steel door, barred and locked from the inside, opened onto the walkway. A little further down, the companions saw signs of another door. Perhaps these were entrances to the buildings above? Maybe where older constructions led to the sewers for waste disposal before modern flushing mechanisms?

Also ahead was a light from a lantern. Two figures sat lounging against the wall, playing some form of dice game. Set into the wall wasa ladder leading up to what appeared to be a storm grate above. They shot to their feet when they noticed you, and one of them called out "Oi! Who're you to be down here? You gots to pay the toll, don'tcha? A copper apiece, ain't it?" the speaker was the smaller of the two, a child of about 12 or 13 years, still having not gotten his growth yet. His companion was a girl, maybe 17 or 18, tall and strong looking, with a pox-scarred face and hands the size of pies. Both wore the colors of the steel wyverns, but the chains around their waists were not spiked, nor were they making any move to pull them out in menace.

[stack]

Arthur steps forward, lowering his weapon deliberately. "Just some passers by. No need to cause any trouble. Now, how about we make a little trade. I've got a gold piece for each of you if you can tell us about the almsman. Then go go on and forget we were here. How about it?"

diplomacy [roll0]

[Firebeard]

Diplomacy modified by more money than this kid ever expected to hold...


"A gold mister? Apiece?" He looked at the towering girl beside him , who looked back just as amazed. "Lessee it, then." He held out his hand, sure that it was some sort of trick. "I thought everyone knew about the Almsman, hey? I mean, he's been here forever, ain't he? Longer'n me 'n Zea have even been alive. Makes no sense, you askin' about him, does it? But it's your gold...ours now, 'course."

"The boy licked his lips, and said "i ain't sayin' no more till I've got that gold you promised." He took the coins from Arthur's hand, obviously wanting to snatch them from the Orcale, but just as obviously afraid that he might lose the coins in haste. He handed one to the girl, Zea, and bit down on the one in his hand. "Ow! the merchies never seem to hurt their teeth when they do this, do they Zea? You sure it's real?"

The giant of a girl rumbled in a deep basso "Real. Da says it's soft, but hard. Do we still need the toll? Kojy said we was to get the toll."

The boy replied, "Toll? Zea, they just gave us mebbe a thousand tolls, didn't they? 'Course, we can't tell Kojy about these coins. Not if'n we want to keep 'em. He'd take 'em sure as snot and we'd get nothin', would we? Stuff it in your small clothes where he won't look. Better yet, give it back an' I'll bury 'em somewheres safe."

"Whatcha want to know bout the Almsman mister? I don't know who is is, no one does, do they? Wears that bloody mask alla time, don't he? But all the beggars and vagrants know him. Takes care o' them, don't he? Basement o' the church, I think it is. Signs point the way, the bowl and key. I mean, that's bleedin' obvious, ain't it?"

[stack]

Arthur hands over the coins, making an effort not to show the size of his coin pouch, making sure not to drop them into the sewer, certain the poor youths would try to follow. "Ah, of course. We aren't from around here. Have you seen anything unusual about down here? Magical? Possibly dangerous, strange creatures and the like?" I hate to pay anything that will go to the wyverns, but perhaps they will not be an issue after today.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looked skeptically at Arthur as he handed over the coins. She was sure a silver apiece would have gotten them the answers that they desired. Oh, it wasn't that she was concerned about the money. It was just that she had always heard that flashing large sums in front of those that obviously have none, would be tantamount to asking to be robbed. Either at the time, or later when you were in bed at the inn. Still, these were children. Rough children, to be sure, but children nonetheless.

She interrupted Arthur's line of questioning with a few of her own. "What about a man named Gandros, calls himself a prince?"

[Firebeard]

"Magic? Mister, you seen what it's like down here. You think a wizard is going to dirty his robes? ain't no magic down here. Me'n Zea been here nearly 3 years, takin' tolls, ain't we? We'd know 'bout that, wouldn't we?"

When he hears Lisane's question, he looks up at the big girl and snickers. Zea snorts so loud that snot comes out of her nose, which made the boy laugh all the harder. "Oh him, yeah, he's a right nutter. Heard 'o him, but ain't never seen him. Most of the wyverns think he's right joke. But no that you mention it, the Almsman said that looks can be deceivin', whatever that means. I guess it's like Zea here. She looks like she could rip your arm right off, don't she? And beat you 'alf to death with the wet end. But she's a baby. Can't even lean on the merchies. 'Swhy she's down here with me, ain't it? But yeah, if'n you're lookin' for Gandros, then you best be talkin' to the Almsman, ain't you?"

[stack]

"Then we best be going. Remember, if you tell anyone about us, we may let news of your new-found fortune slip. Wouldn't want that, right?" He hefts his weapon, ready to continue, and nods to the youths, signalling that their service is complete (unless someone else has a question).

[Fuzzies]

Lisane nodded at the two as she edged past. It seems that even in a scum-society like the Steel Wyverns there might be good people. Too bad the kids had to grow up in such an environment. She tried to imagine her childhood spent in a sewer collecting a pittance of a toll from those who wanted to visit (or avoid) the Steel Wyverns. Her life of raising the hippogryph chicks, learning scouting skills and swordplay, and, most of all, time spent with her mother seemed worth even more in comparison.

Reaching down to her pouch, she "accidentally" let slip a couple of coins, then said aloud "Oops. I must have dropped something. Ah well, I can't be bothered to stop now. You kids can have it. I'm sure you'd get more out of it than I would."

She led them through the darkness, following the signs that pointed towards the beggars bowl, eyes straining to see anything coming towards them that might pose a danger.


Let 4g fall to the floor for the kids.

[Airanath]

Arwen looks in disgust, what kind of parent would abandon their child to this kind of life? He feels happy about his friends helping the kids, but that is not logical either, give them too much money and they might think begging is easier than providing for themselves... Maybe he should try to take them out of here and see what he could do to teach them about caring for themselves without stealing, begging or murdering...

He follows silently.

[Firebeard]

You pass a few more intersections with hand painted signs, each one having more graffiti than the last. More iron ladders leading to storms drains above are also present, though the steel rungs on most of these appear to have been damaged or removed. It looks as if the Steel Wyverns are trying to control all access into the sewers from the common areas above. Judging from the steel doors that you are also finding as you go, there may still be other avenues, but whether those doors are still connected to the surface, you have no way of knowing.

Eventually you see the first sign of someone else in the sewers in front of you. A pinprick of light grows as you get closer to reveal an old man holding a lantern. He is aged, with visible sores on his face and arms. His leg is in a sort of splint, and his clothing is filthy. In his right hand, he clutches a chair leg like a club, though he barely looks capable of swinging it. Beside him is a young boy, maybe 8 years old. Likewise armed, he looks terrified at your presence, glancing up at the old man for direction.

The old man spoke loudly, but with a slight quaver in his voice, "Who be ye? If'n ye be come in peace, pass ye can. The Almsman makes no qualms about helping others, and Abadar welcomes ye if'n ye be respectful of others."

[stack]

Arthur steps forward, lowering his weapon. "We do indeed come in peace. You have our respect, elder. On a quest for knowledge, knowledge that will be shared with all people, to build civilization, as the Master of the First Vault commands. We would ask you of events here, if you will."

Diplomacy, if needed [roll0]

[Firebeard]

"Well, ye be a learned man, if not a spiritual one, that be sure. I be happy to answer what questions I can, but the Almsman inside be far more informed than I."

[Fuzzies]

"Who is the Almsman? We were told he could help us find someone, or some place, in the sewers here, but all we have seen so far are thugs and pickpockets. Is the Almsman associated with the Steel Wyverns?" Lisane wasn't about to walk into any place with those cretins in charge, even if she could find out information about the Prince there.

[Firebeard]

"He be who he be. Don't let the mask lead you down a wrong path. He be a cleric of the temple above - Abadar, you see - that chooses to follow his heart, instead of the edicts of his superiors. In that, he be a greater man than he may seem at first. More than that be his place to tell you, not mine.

As for the Steel Wyverns, fegh!" The old man spat into the sewage. "They think they be owning everything they be seeing. The Almsman protects us beggars and vagrants from their cruelty, and don't be thinkning we don't be thankful for it."

[stack]

"Would you please take us to speak with the Almsman then? Is there any particular etiquette we should know?" Arthur is ready to follow the man if he leads them in.

[Firebeard]

"The Almsman be through those doors there, tending the sick. I can't be leaving my post, but you just walk on in."

Beyond the doors, a short flight of steps leads up to what appears to be a crypt, likely of the Abadar church. Maybe two dozen beggars huddle among the sarcophagi lining the walls. Some appear to be sleeping, while others are obviously sick or injured. A few help tend to these as others haggle over bits of junk and small bowls of food scraps.

A tall man in clean robes walks among them, tending to the sick and injured. As you enter, he glances in your direction and you can see that his face is covered by a plain copper mask. He speaks in a mellifluous voice "If you respect this place and those who dwell here, I offer you sanctuary. Otherwise, begone!"

[stack]

Arthur bows as the man speaks. "We accept your gracious hospitality. We come seeking knowledge and offer some aid. I have some power to heal the wounded, though I can do little for disease and other afflictions."

He puts his weapon back in its place on his belt, trying carefully to not accidentally bludgeon anyone with it as he walks. "There was a man through here, some weeks ago. He would have seemed quite mad, raving about a kingdom and assassins. He mentioned you as well. We are investigating his claims. If he speaks the truth, it would be a boon to us, opening an opportunity to understand the nature of magic. If he is mad, then proper care can be sought for him. Did you meet this man?"

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looked around the room in pity. She knew that every large settlement had it share of beggars, vagrants, and other rejects of society. She just hadn't come into contact with so many of them in one place before. She watched the ones that were trembling in sickness and wondered if there was anything that they could do for them.

When Arthur spoke, she remembered the vials from the alchemist. "Wait! The alchemist had some tonics that he was making to cure the 'filth fever'. I have them here somewhere." She pulled out the vials, all four of them, then looked at Arthur. "Maybe we should keep one for you, just in case."

Turning to the almsman, she said "Arthur managed to fall in the sewage, and we don't yet know if any ill will become of it. Still, these are yours if they will help your suffering people."

[Firebeard]

Behind the copper mask, the Almsman's lips quirk into a smile as he listens to Arthur speak. "Yes, I know of this Gandros, his secrets, and even where he stays when he is among us here in Janderhoff. He is an interesting fellow, though difficult to talk with as I am sure you well know."

His attention is distracted by the vials that Lisane is holding out, and the mention of the alchemist. "Are those the filth fever tonics that Firedrake makes? You spoke of an alchemist; perhaps the one who has a lab by the maintenance entrance? Kojy's half brother? His alchemical skills are as good as his personality is vile. He comes here often to gloat at the sickness of my children, and to offer these cures at a horrifically exorbitant price."

"All of the Steel Wyverns share that temperament, I am afraid...or at least most of the older ones. Some of the younger members, the ones they have acting as pickpockets and 'toll-takers' haven't yet succumbed, but I fear it is only time. Yes, the vials will be of great use. They can cure the fevers that waste the frames of those you see here, and even small draughts have the ability to hold back the disease so that those afflicted can recover on their own. Let me show you."

He took the vials from Lisane and moved to a young woman. He body was wasted as if she hadn't eaten in weeks, and the smell of the fever-sweat was strong upon her. He bent to pour some of one of the vials into her mouth, and the transformation was immediate. Her shaking stopped, and her unfocused eyes regained their clarity. She sobbed for a moment, then looked at Lisane and tearfully cried "Bless you!, Oh bless you!" Sobbing she hung her head and combed her matted hair from her face as a small boy ran to her and hugged her.

The Almsman stood and looked at you with respect and gratitude. "So you see it is two lives you saved with a single deed. Perhaps you can be trusted after all." He looked thoughtful - if a copper mask can be said to show such emotion -and then continued. "Firedrake does not give those vials away cheaply. Nor is he prone to acts of goodwill. Those were taken against his best efforts, if I am not mistaken?"

[stack]

Arthur nods solemnly, pleased that Lisane thought of the vials. It is certainly a worthwhile use for them. He smiles as the woman recovers as she clutches her child. Even if there is no portal, no magic, this was worthwhile.

"Despite our efforts, we were forced to fight him, as well as some others. His alchemical equipment is intact, though we lack the knowledge of its use, and he will not be producing any more of the serum. Is there no one else who knows of its manufacture?" Perhaps someone in the pathfinders could help, teach someone here to make it?

Turning back to their quest, "Can you tell of of Gandros? He spoke of things that either never where or have been lost beyond recall. We theorized that there may be some form of portal, hidden here beneath the city, if he speaks true."

[Firebeard]

"I do not know of anyone that can make the tonic, but then Firedrake was in possession of a book of cures. I believe he may have adapted one of the formulas there, but it is possible that someone else can recreate the recipe."

"As for Gandros, I believe you can learn the most from his place of residence. It is not far from here. But first, I have a proposition for you. It seems that you have had at least one run-in with the gang calling itself the Steel Wyverns. Most of what my children here collect topside goes towards paying off these miscreants, with what little remains going towards food and medicines. But that is about to change."

"Kojy, their leader, came to me last week telling me that he was raising our protection rates. I put him off, but there is no way we can afford to pay the fees. It is his way of putting me and my children out of what he considers to be 'his' domain. In any case, he will be back today, in a few hours in fact, and he has said that if we do not pay up he will beat everyone that remains and destroy the refuge."

"You look as if you are not unfamiliar with the violence forbidden to me by my vows. If you were to help us drive Kojy away, we would be grateful. Obviously, we would not be able to pay you anything, but I feel that you might gain nonetheless. Would you be willing to help us in these matters?"

[stack]

Arthur looks about to his companions. "They need our help. Ridding this city of the Wyverns is a worthwhile endeavor in and of itself. That doing so moves along our other goals is welcome, but incidental. I say we help them, and I suspect you feel the same. The questions is how? Ambush here? Farther up the tunnel? Hit them in their lair before they get together and equipped?"

Lisane and Arwen will certainly agree...Kargath will be inclined to get in a fight either way.

Sorry if I seem to be running the show too much. Talking is kind of Arthur's job, stat-wise.

[Airanath]

"Its better if we can do it somewhere else, if we fight here we could harm the bedridden... Unless they can be moved, then we could set an ambush here, and bobby trap the place." the elf voices, holding back the sadness and pity for the sick, and the anger and hate at the thugs.

[stack]

"A fight in the tunnels would make it harder for them to bring numbers to bear. I suspect they are not much more eager to get...uhm, wet...than we are. If they lack bows, it could give us an advantage."

[Fuzzies]

"Fighting in the tunnels also makes it easier for someone to get knocked into the sewage. Perhaps if we barricaded the door somehow and used it as a choke point? Maybe if Arwen could stand in the back and use his bow, Karath and I could hold the line at the door, and Arthur, you could support us with spells and healing, as necessary?"
She turned to the Almsman. "Is there a place for the sick and children to hide? It would be easier if we didn't have to worry about them accidentally getting in the line of fire."

[Firebeard]

The Almsman says " There is a back room here where we can move the sick and others who would only get in the way during such an altercation. While fighting in the tunnels might seem a good idea, the Steel Wyverns likely have more practice at it than you do. Whether that makes up for your skill and tenacity however..."

[stack]

"Let's start moving them then. The entry is a good choke point and I don't fancy another swim. Is there anything we can use for a barricade? It would be wise to slow their entry. Are there any other ways in that they could use to flank us?"

Arthur looks about for pallets or old furniture to put near the door to create difficult terrain. He wants to slow, but not necessarily entirely stop, entry. The goal is turning the doorway into a meat grinder. He will stay close to help fight as well as heal.

This will get ugly, but it might work. They need our help.

[Firebeard]

The Almsman hesitated for a bare moment then replied, "There are no other entrances into this place for Kojy and his brood to attack from. These doors can be barred from the inside, but there is nothing else here to barricade with except the sarcophagi, and I would be loathe to use them for that purpose even if they didn't weigh more than we could feasibly move."

[stack]

Arthur nods in response, slightly disappointed about the lack of barricades but greatly relieved that they cannot be surrounded using other entries. "Let us be ready for them then. We will see this matter through, you will be free of them." He sets his jaw, feeling an unaccustomed resolve and confidence.

Our last adventure, it was exploration and adventure for its own sake. Here we have a purpose, a chance to really help people in need.

[Airanath]

"Do you have any sturdy wire? he turns to his companios, "Also is there any left over alchemicals from that bench? Alchemist fires, acids, thunderstones, anything?"

"We could make some simple booby traps, to make this place seem more trouble than its worth, and make their vanguard weaker, with some wire we could most likely trip the first few to try advancing."

[Fuzzies]

"I don't have any wire, but I do have some rope. I also have a tangelfoot bag left from the alchemist, as well as some acid and another alchemist's fire. I imagine we could rig something with a rope, these flasks, and maybe a few arrows to hold it all above the doorframe and out of sight."

[stack]

"Can we figure out a way to control when they go off? We don't want the first one through to get the tangle-foot bag. It would be better hitting someone a few people back to control how fast they can come at us. Our best bet is fighting as few as possible at one time, though surprising them would certainly help."

[Firebeard]

Kargath listened to the talk of the upcoming battle with relish, cracking his huge knuckles and grinning all the while. "Mebbe if'n we rigged it so Arwen could release the traps wi' a shot from tha' bow of his? Tha' way we could control the timin'. 'sides, I can mebbe help wi' knockin' a few out o' action."

[Airanath]

Arwen nods at Kargath suggestion, "Sounds like a sound idea, this way we also get to lure more of them into the traps, they'll think its safe untill its too late."
"Wish we had some lamp oil too, they have advantage and trust the sewer walkways, we could turn their advantage into their downfall, some oil spread around would quickly make their advance even slower, and jumping like the two earlier fighters a silly idea." he sighs, "But no use wishing for what can't be, lets prepare and teach those thugs how to behave, then pack the lot of them to the city guard."

[stack]

"I hope that we can take them alive to deliver to the guard. They are a gang, perhaps if we can strike the leader first, the others will not wish to continue?"

He turns to the Almsman. "Can you describe him to us?"

Arthur uses his magic to help set the trap, but can lend little aid as far as actually rigging it.

[Firebeard]

"Kojy is about 6 foot tall, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He has a small scar the shape of a crescent moon on his left cheek, and always carries a long spiked whip. He usually sends his goons in first before entering himself, so be aware of that."


Here is what the room looks like (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers3.png), with the isolated squares being pillars.

[Airanath]

Arwen nods and closes his eyes for a moment after hearing the description of the leader of the Wyverns, "I will keep an eye out for him, if he comes withing bow range, I am going to give him some shafts to be concerned about, hopefully I can get him wounded or uncouncious."

[stack]

Do we need any rolls to set the trap? Arthur wouldn't have the necessary skills. Other than that, I think we are ready for them. Do bad Arthur doesn't know any good buffing spells.

The preparations made, Arthur takes up his position, morningstar in hand, and prepares himself for the coming battle. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply, trying to slow his racing pulse. I wish they would just come so we can get this over with. The waiting is terrible. One more thing that rarely gets mentioned in heroic tales.

Ready an action to cast a bouncing murderous command when battle becomes immanent.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane helped rig the alchemical traps over the door before helping the last of the children and sick to the back room. Based on everyone's hurry, this Kojy person must be bad news indeed. Once everyone was clear, she managed to set herself up near the door, Alrathien at hand, waiting for the inevitable showing of the Steel Wyverns.

[Firebeard]

About an hour after the plans were made, the old man and boy that were on lookout duty came running into the room. "They're coming!" The Almsman hustled them into the back room and ordered them to bar the door. Then, he came back to the room, standing in the center where he could be seen, with the companions standing in front of him in a loose arc.

A few minutes later, a glow is seen beyond the doors followed closely by two of the ugliest humans you have ever seen. Behind them is a tall, dark-haired man with the air of command about him. The crescent shaped scar on his cheek marks him clearly as Kojy.


I know you guys had an ambush planned, but I am going to give you the chance to talk, if you want it. Talking will reduce the effectiveness of your ambush, and probably cause you to give up the surprise round. Hash it out in the OOC thread if you need to.

Here is the map at the moment. (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers3a.png)

[Airanath]

Arwen notices the leader is coming with his soldiers, a bad tactical choice, and even on small numbers, good thing, they didn't expected resistance, he holds himself, and shots, springing the trap over the enemy group. He waits enough to make sure the leader will get the worst of it, hoping for a rout.

Attack roll if necessary: [roll0]

[stack]

As the trap is sprung Arthur thinks, Let's see if we can sow a bit of confusion. He holds the small wooden representation of scales that hang on his chest high, speaking out words of power and pointing to the nearest wyvern "Turn on your friends."

murderous command, dc 15 will

AC 17, hp 10

initiative [roll0]

[Firebeard]

Arwen's shot was true, sending a cascade of alchemical components dropping onto Kojy from above. The man was startled at the sudden violence, not really prepared for any truly desperate resistance to his thuggery. He cried out in pain as he was bathed by acid and fire, then in fury as the remaining tanglefoot bag glued him to the floor.

The others were still standing flat-footed in confusion as Lisane and Kargath attacked. The ranger attacked with a fury, cutting down the man in front of her with a tremendous blow. Kargath, ready to deliver one of his crippling groin shots, changed his attack at the last moment when Arthur cast his spell to strike the man in the face with his metal studded gloves. The man reeled backwards, eyes glazed from both Arthur's spell and the crushing blow from teh dwarf's fist.


Surprise round over, great shooting Arwen!

Round 1 initiatives...

Arwen 18
Kargath 12
Thugs 8
Lisane 7
Arthur 3

Here is the updated map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers3b.png)

[stack]

Arther steps to the side to get a better view of the incoming wyverns. It's a good start, but far from over. Let's keep them busy fighting each other.

He speaks again as he looks at the rear-most gang member. "Kill your leader."

5 ft step to N 81, bouncing (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/bouncing-spell-metamagic)metamagic murderous command (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/murderous-command) (full round action) on S 82, swift action bouncing is save is made, to Q 81 or to the leader if Q 81 is dead.
Will save DC 15

HP 10, AC 17, 2 lvl 1 spells left, weapon in hand

[Airanath]

Arwen watches the combat, waiting a moment so in its chaos Lisane or Kargath moves out of the way, finally, when one of them does, he takes another shot, this time, aiming for the leader of the thugs.

"Don't be so surprised, its just a cleaning sweep, we are taking out some trash from the neighborhood." he glares at the man as he shots.

Attack with longbow:[roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Firebeard]

Kargath rolled into the space that Lisane had cleared and lunged upwards at the leader of the gang, thumbs hooked. He drove his thumbs into Kojy's eyes, causing the leader to cry out in pain and fury. The man flailed his chain at Kargath but the dwarf easily dodged the unaimed blow. He took one instead from the thug in the back, who stepped forward to deliver a raking blow with his spiked chain on Kargath's shoulder.

The balding man who Arthur had enspelled turned on his leader and ,with a punishing blow of his spiked chain, ripped Kojy's neck and shoulder. Running footsteps could be heard from outside the room and another thug appeared in the doorway, obviously the rear guard.


Kargath takes 5 damage.

Kojy is blind for 1 round, man in R81 is enspelled.

Lisane is up, then on to round 2

Round 2 initiatives...

Arwen 18
Kargath 12
Thugs 8
Lisane 7
Arthur 3

Here is the updated map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers3c.png)

[stack]

Arthur had stepped into R81 last round.

Arthur looks through the crowd, seeing more incoming. "How many of them came to shake-down poor sick beggars?" No loss then. The city will be better off, even if I hate having to kill them. Why did they chose this path? What makes men prey on the poor and weak? Are they men, or animals?

Seeing Kargath getting surrounded, Arthur calls out again, eyes fixed on the nearest gang member. "Strike your leader again."

bouncing metamagic murderous command (full round action) on Q 81, swift action bouncing is save is made, to R 81 or to the leader if R 81 is dead.
Will save DC 15

HP 10, AC 17, 1 lvl 1 spells left, weapon in hand

[Fuzzies]

Lisane glanced down at the thug she had felled, then across. Motion in the back of the door showed another coming into the fray. Lisane knew that she had to help even the odds, but Kargath was between her and the leader. Fine, she would just have to carve her own path there, starting with the opponent on her right. Alrathien flew across in a hard cut, driving into the thug.


Attacking Q81 [roll0]
damage [roll1]

[Airanath]

Take it I couldn't shot last round due to them blocking the LOS?

Arwen holds his ground, the thugs are in a good range, he just needs the oportunity to fire at one of them without hitting his allies, but that is dificult due to the choke point.

He keeps scanning, seeking the right moment, and if it comes, he lets the arrow fly into the leader, seeing as Arthur is keeping his friend busy.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Firebeard]

@Airanath

You missed, sorry I should have put that in the descriptive text


The companions waged a swath of destruction through the thugs, as Lisane opened the way with a heavy blow, felling the large bald thug to her right. Arthur shot through the gap to bring a threat to bear as he commanded one of the thugs to strike again at Kojy. The thug did as commanded, swiping his chain at the leader's back, just as Arwen's arrow punched into his chest. Kargath completed the combination by driving his spiked fist into the leader's throat. Arthur ducked a swing from one of the remaining thugs and the rout was on.


2 dead, including Kojy!

Lisane and Arthur are up, then on to round 3

Round 3 initiatives...

Arwen 18
Kargath 12
Thugs 8
Lisane 7
Arthur 3

Here is the updated map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers3d.png)

[stack]

Arthur, surprised by his present location, quickly adjusts, turning his hip as he wrenches his morningstar up, then down, swiping at the thug in front of him. If they scatter, they may regroup and come back when we are gone. Can't have that, these sick people can't be punished for our aid.

Darn typos. When I wrote R81 I meant N81. Which is weird as they are nowhere near each other on a qwerty keyboard. He could only take 5' steps, as metamagic is a full-round action. No big deal though, as he would have charged this round anyway. If you want to retcon it, add 2 to his attack and take 2 from his AC this round. Note to self: double-check space references

attacking S81
attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]
confirm if needed [roll2]
damage [roll3]

AC 17, HP 10, 1 spell left

[Airanath]

"Your boss is dead, drop you weapons and surrender, and you may keep your lifes still, try to fight or run, and you are forfeiting it scum!" Arwen shouts at the thugs, while nocking another arrow to shot in case they attempt to flee.

Intimidate: [roll0]
Ready Action: Attack if they flee.
Ready Action Roll: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

[Fuzzies]

Lisane withdrew Alrathien and weaved through her companions and the dead on the ground to threaten the remaining 2 thugs. She brought the curveblade over in a sweeping loop, feinting a blow at the foe on her right, but following it through to the opponent right in front of her.


move to R82 (kicking Kojy in the head for good measure), attacking S82

attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

[Firebeard]

Lisane's blow cut her opponent's head nearly clean from the neck, and the thug fell to the ground, clearly dead. The thug's death was the final straw for the remaining Steel Wyvern, who turned to flee. As he did so, Arthur slammed him in the side with his morningstar, caving in the man's ribs and staggering him to one side. The man clutched his side and was still turning as Arwen's arrow took him in the back of the head. he pitched forward, landing in a crumpled heap with one arm dangling over the ledge and into the sewage below.


Nice job keeping Kojy out of the fight. He was a level 3 bard, and could have seriously impeded your victory. 400XP to everyone.

On the thugs' bodies you find more of the same, but Kojy had some interesting items on his person. Total loot:


4 spiked chains
1 Masterwork spiked chain
1 potion of cure light wounds
2 flasks of acids
4 suits of leather armor
1 very high quality suit of studded leather
73g in mixed coins



The Almsman hurried forward at the end of the combat to check the bodies. "They are most certainly dead. When the four of you do a job, you do it most thoroughly. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your help here. The town itself also owes you much for dispatching Kojy. Without his charismatic rule over the underworld, the organization of the crime in this town will shatter."

"Now, as for your initial query, Gandros' lair is a short ways from here. If you cross over the flow on the bridge outside our sanctuary and follow the flow, you will find Gandros' place of...residence. It's the 3rd door on your left."

[stack]

Arthur looks down over the results of their work, again feeling queasy. he turns away and fumbles for a rag to clean his weapon with. Then he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, before speaking to the others.

"Can we be certain that the wyverns will not regroup, even in small numbers, and return for vengeance? We will not be here to protect these people and I am not certain the guards will ever come down here to make sure they disband thoroughly. As much as I want to be done fighting, should we instead strike at their lair while they are scattered and disorganized? A show of force may be enough to ensure this matter is at its end." A steely resolve comes into his face. His shoulders straighten and he again raises his over-sized morningstar to his shoulder.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane cleaned Alrathien and then sheathed the sword before helping loot the bodies. She noticed that Arthur was looking a little green, but tried not to make it obvious. Everyone handled death in their own way, especially when that death came, at least partly, by their own hands.

"I agree. We started down this path. We should take it to the end. Perhaps we should check out Gandros' place first though, before we take on another task."

[stack]

Arthurs shakes his head. "I would see the blood-work done. I may not have the resolve to finish if we delay."

He tends to Kargath's wounds, expending the last of his divine gift. "This should help a bit. That's quiet the fighting style you have, never seen its like. Good to have you on our side."

As they gather the equipment from the fallen, he studies it for any enchantments.

CLWs for 5 (rolled in OOC), detect magic on gear

He turns to the Almsman, "I am glad we were able to help. Also, thank you for the information as well. Is there anything else we can do for you? Besides looking into more medicine, of course."

[Firebeard]

The Almsman looked thoughtful behind his mask for a moment before speaking. "I have long suspected that Kojy and his half-brother Firedrake were the only ones that maintained control over the Steel Wyverns, most of whom are kids that got in over their heads. Kojy wouldn't let them leave once they got in. Sure, there are a few that are truly bad, but you have already taken care of them." He gestured to the dead guards by the door.

[Airanath]

"We better at least pass by their lair, and scare them so they indeed disband, if he was so mean a leader showing his remains will put the rest to run and leave their chains, chores, and even pants behind.", Arwen offers, "I would hope they do that, enough blood was spilled, and if I can, I don't want to hunt down those kids we met earlier, nor others that like them are just being abused by this kind of... demons... can't call this a man, really."

[stack]

"Kargath, what do you say? We have two votes for the bandit's lair and one for continuing our original mission. I doubt Gandros' lair will be going anywhere." The steel remains in his expression, but it is clear he will cede to the general will if necessary.

[Firebeard]

Kargath grinned at the rest. "I ain't never been one t' back from a fight. If'n you want t' bring the brawl to the Wyverns, I say that Kargath is ready to crack some heads!"

The Almsman spoke once more. "While I have seen you in action, and have no doubts whatsoever about your skills, you might wish to consider two important things. First, there are several dozen Steel Wyverns in this city, at least 50 by my reckoning. And, while they are probably not all at their hideout, I imagine that a significant number may be. Secondly, not even I knows where their hideout is. I am certain one of these doors in the sewers leads to a warehouse or something above, where they would have plenty of room, but I could not tell you which one."

[stack]

Arthur deflates slightly, his resolve faltering. "If you are certain you will be safe...maybe we can talk to the guards about doing a sweep. Probably time to do our job then." He looks both relieved and Dissapointed, though the later seems self directed.

Well, there is still the portal...maybe. He brightens up somewhat.

Okay, Arthur's spells are spent, so in-combat healing is pretty much out of the question, as it would take two standard actions (one to draw the wand, one to use it). If we expect serious opposition, that may be a factor, though generally in-combat healing isn't the best idea anyway. He still has stabilize in a pinch.

[Airanath]

Arwen snorts, disappointed that they probably won't be taking down the thugs.

"If the guards don't come, maybe we could place a request for reinforcements from the Pathfinders to sweep the place... Provided what we came to search is here, I doubt there would not be interest in taking out the gang that would try to keep us away."

[Fuzzies]

"I, for one, would be happy to lead that rout. Even if it is just to bring a cadre of guards down on them. I doubt it will be too difficult to find their lair. I imagine we can just show Kojy's chain and other belongings to a Wyvern and make him talk. If he's reluctant...well I suppose Kargath might be able to get the information out of him." She looked at the scarred dwarf and quirked her lips in a half-grin.

"But, I would like to get our primary goal taken care of first. Or at least figure out where we stand with respect to it. If you guys are ready, I say we go now."

[Firebeard]

Sorry for the delay. yesterday was buuuuuuuuussssssssssyyyyyyyy.

Anyways, I am taking it that you are all on board for continuing on to Gandros' place? At least for now?


You said your farewells to the Almsman, promising to return with the city guard to clean up the remnants of the Steel Wyverns. Following his instructions, you cross the plank bridge outside of the sanctuary and head south. The first door on the left is made of stout wood, instead of the steel that you have been seeing. Its age and makeup suggest it is part of an older area of the city, built when seasoned oak was far more readily available than banded steel.

Reaching the third door on the left, you stop and look carefully, trying to determine what might lay beyond. A faded old sign hangs above the door, reading "Andoran Emporium", with a few faded drawings of herbs and vials beside the words. The door is half covered with rot and moss, but appears thick and sturdy nonetheless. It is just as obviously unlocked, as the door stands an inch or so away from the jamb.

[stack]

Arthur looks over the doors and surrounding area, muttering a spell. "Maybe we take this careful, just in case Gandros isn't crazy. Can't be sure what we might find." Though with the door open, whatever we could find might already be out here. Portals are interesting, small monsters with claws and teeth...also interesting, but best studied from a distance.

"Lisane, can you hear anything through the door?" He illuminates his weapon, held loosely in one hand.

Detect magic, re-casting as needed to keep scanning as we enter. Also, light on the morningstar. If the room is big enough to warrant it, he will alternate detecting magic and illuminating/levitating a stone.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane drew Alrathien and leaned to put her ear near the open door, listening to see if there were any noises from beyond the door. She gripped the edge of the door in preparation of yanking it open.


Perception [roll0]

[Firebeard]

Lisane didn't hear anything from beyond the door, but she did detect a faint odor of smoke.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane whispered to the others "I don't hear anything, but I do smell a faint trace of smoke. Be ready." She waited until the others had acknowledged, then threw open the door, sword in hand.


Sorry, life has been a little hectic lately.

[Airanath]

For all of us, didn't log on the forums since my last post =X
Also, want to leave detecting magic for me so you can focus on the light? Not like I can do much right now before combat starts =)

Arwen walks with the others, and on Arthur's cue focus his mind to read the the flows of magic, if there are any, on the room they are about to enter.
His bow ready, the hint of smoke could possibly be foreshadowing a fight.
He holds his breath and words for a moment, to not warn any foes that might be inside.

[Firebeard]

The room you see was once a basement of the building above. The odor of an old fire is present all around you, though from the smell it is obvious that it was long ago. In the far corner is a set of stairs choked with charred rubble, and an open doorway leading further into the building. Old furniture and knickknacks litter the room and seem to be tumbled somewhat haphazardly around. Small winged effigies of sorts sit on every available flat surface, looking somewhat like pixies in appearance.

The focal point of this somewhat bizarre display is a pair of chairs standing on different-sized piles of old crates. The impression you get is of thrones on a dais. A charred and shriveled corpse dressed in burnt and rotting finery and wearing a tin crown is propped on the largest chair. The other chair sits empty.


Here is a map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers4.png)so you can kind of see what I was describing

[stack]

Arthur surveys the scene. "That...is not what I expected."

He bends down to study on of the effigies, trying to make sense of the scene. "Let's not touch anything just yet. Should we check the back room there?" I believe this is a check in the madness column...disappointing, but not surprising. The corpse though... He looks crestfallen at the room's apparent lack of either magic or monsters, his weapon drooping to the ground loosely in his hand.

not sure what knowledge to roll.
know planes [roll0]
know history [roll1]
heal to study the corpse [roll2]

[Fuzzies]

Lisane looks around the room, with a sinking feeling in her stomach. "It looks as if the 'Gandros is a madman' theory is right. Still, it might be worth investigating here for a bit before we move on." She proceeded to look at the piles of knickknacks and furniture, hoping to uncover any information that might lead to more understandign of the situation.


take 20 on the search for a total of 27

[Airanath]

"But his wounds... something odd certainly happened here. Even if he is some sort of king of beggars and not a king from another time... But for all his madness, he knows a lot about nobility, so there is something somewhere behind it, other than simply madness of a self proclaimmed king." Arwen says, feeling utterly disappointed at the lack of a portal in this room.

[Firebeard]

Arthur's healing skills tell him that the man before him was likely killed by the fire that so ravaged his body. The classic 'pugilists' pose of the arms and body show that quite clearly. He paused in his inspection to note that the tin crown has a crude inscription reading 'Emperor Relios'.

in her search, Lisane sees a number of things that stick out enough to bear further examinations. Firstly, the winged effigies appear to be faeries, all of which are turned to face the 'thrones'. Secondly, in a shattered and partially burned desk there are several log books and journals. A casual inspection shows them to detail the day-to-day transactions of an apothecary shop - the Andoran Emporium.

One book sticks out from the rest. Written in the same hand as the others, this one appears to be a personal journal of the shop owner, a man named Relios. In it are a number of stories about his wife and young son, as well as a detailed ancestry of their family, once high in the Andoran nobility. It also details the goings on of his more wealthy clients, including a number of mentions of yellowcaps - mushrooms that were once the highly-prized hallucinogenics of the high society here in Janderhoff.

[stack]

Arthur read the logs that Lisane uncovered. "Mushrooms, hallucinogens...fire. I think we have our answers. Though the bites...was he attacked by something in the sewers? Rats, spiders, something to account for those wounds? I doubt these little fairies where responsible." He tips over one of the effigies with a finger.

"But we should be thorough. There anything else we can find down here? Would it be worth finding the shop up above, see if any more traces remain? May have been boarded up or re-purposed, but we can check." I suppose a portal was too much to hope for. But this...the detritus of madness, this is disappointing. Disappointing and disturbing. Did Gandros kill this man in a mad fit?

Did our search only include the current room, or did we check the back as well? 'Cause we should do that too. Arthur will head back there with his light if we haven't.

[Fuzzies]

"Andoran Emporium. It's the same as the sign outside. Do you think this was once the basement of a herb shop? And this Relios was the owner? The journal talks about a wife and young son. Is there any dates that would tell us when this was? I mean, Andoran is far from here, but was part of Cheliax, what, about 50 years ago? Maybe this Relios person left Andoran then, and started a business here? What if Gandros is the 'young son'?" Lisane excitedly flipped through the books, looking for some date that would prove or disprove her growing suspicions.

I think we were just lookign in this room.

[Firebeard]

Lisane's suspicions appear to be justified as she sees that the dates on the logs start about 55 years ago. The last date on the journal is some 48 years ago. Judging from the genealogy in the opening section of the private journal, that would have made the son - one Gandros Alouicious Nospatros - about 8 years old at the time.


No, you have not yet looked beyond the first room.

[stack]

Arthur shakes his head, wondering at the chain of events that lead to this apparent tragedy. His shoulders are slumped, he makes no effort to hide his disappointment, though pity shows through his face. He takes his light and enters the other room. "Let's see is there is anything else down here." His voice is flat.

[Firebeard]

Entering the next room, you can see immediately that it was once used as storage. Shelves line the walls, with various boxes and flasks in varying degrees of decomposition shoved haphazardly onto them. There are also hundreds of small bright yellow mushrooms growing in clumps on almost every surface. among the mushrooms are more of the fairy effigies.

A door sits open in the middle of the far wall. Light spilling through the door from Arthur's light spell reveals another small storage room, also with mushrooms growing on the floor. The rest of the room is out of sight, but Lisane does notice what appears to be a scroll case laying half in the light in the new room.

[Firebeard]

Entering the next room, you can see immediately that it was once used as storage. Shelves line the walls, with various boxes and flasks in varying degrees of decomposition shoved haphazardly onto them. There are also hundreds of small bright yellow mushrooms growing in clumps on almost every surface. among the mushrooms are more of the fairy effigies.

A door sits open in the middle of the far wall. Light spilling through the door from Arthur's light spell reveals another small storage room, also with mushrooms growing on the floor. The rest of the room is out of sight, but Lisane does notice what appears to be a scroll case laying half in the light in the new room.

[stack]

Arthur continues back, gingerly avoiding contact with the mushrooms. I suppose some people might consider those a 'portal' of sorts. He takes a quick look around the second storage room before picking up the scroll, handling it carefully, unsure of its integrity given its potential age.

"I suspect all these mushroom would be worth quite a bit to the right, or wrong, person, but I have no interest in that trade. I wonder, do they have any medicinal use? We could ask the almsman."

know nature [roll0] untrained

[Fuzzies]

Lisane continues to scan the area, trying to spot anything out of place or of interest. "I don't know anything about hallucinogens, but I imagine you are right about a buyer somewhere. But I too have no interest in that sort of trade."


perception [roll0] to see anything that's not obvious.

[Firebeard]

As Arthur stepped into the room, his light shone upon a disappointing sight. There on the far wall was a painted depiction of a portal, the swirling blues and whites depicting a reasonable semblance of the magical energies such a portal might display.

Picking up the scroll case, Arthur also found a blank sheet of parchment that was slightly charred on one edge. Arwen's magical senses showed a small residue of arcane energies on the piece of paper, consistent with a spell cast from a scroll.

Lisane spotted some drag marks in the dust on the floor, leading to a door on the northern side of the room. They appeared to have come from someone scuffing their feet. She also found a few splashes of blood, consistent with a struggle. She Followed them with her eyes, leading back into the other rooms. As she contemplated the blood, she head a noise from the closed oor, a sort of grunting sound.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane followed the blood spatter to the door they had just came through, and was about to say something to the others when she heard the sounds behind the closed door. She held up a hand to the others, then pointed to the door. Raising Alrathien, she gripped the door, and making sure that the others were ready, she ripped the door open.

[Firebeard]

The door was stuck, and resisted Lisane's pull for a heartbeat, then pulled free. Immediately on the other side of the door was a wretched looking creature. Its bloated body was covered with open wounds and sores, its head was a lumpy mass with a maw of needle-sharp teeth, and its gnarled fingers were tipped with vicious looking claws. Beyond it, Lisane could see two more of the creatures turn towards her and begin to move towards the door. All three of the monsters had glowing red eyes that looked forward to the kill.



Round 1 initiatives...

Lisane 19
Arwen 18
Arthur 18
Kargath 17
dretches 5


Here's the map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers4a.png)

[stack]

The sudden sight of the monsters jars Arthur out of his growing depression. Time to act. What are these things? He steps next to Lisane, swinging ready to swing at the creature if it acts hostile. "Hold the door." Choke point worked well last time.

move to AX 100

ready action to attack if hostile
attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

knowledge planes [roll2]

Depending on what he knows, he may try to talk to them assuming they don't immediately attack.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane was glad she already had Alrathien at the ready when she saw the creatures behind the door. Hearing Arthur's words, she called "Got it. Any idea what these things are?" She didn't wait to find out if they would communicate - she felt quite clearly their desire for her death - but lashed out with her grandfather's blade. Elven steel whistled as she strove to lop the head from the nearest one.


attack [roll0], PA
damage [roll1]

[Airanath]

Arwen nocks an arrow, and studies the creatures, wondering what in the name of all that is holy are they. Seeing Lisane swing her blade, he shots just as she pulls her blade back for her next attack to avoid hitting her.

"Guess we found the "Demons""

Knowledge(Arcana): [roll0]
Knowledge(Dungeon): [roll1]
Knowledge(Planes):[roll2]

Attack roll: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

[Firebeard]

@Arthur

You recognize these creatures as dretches from their small size and bloated, ungainly looks. These appear to be lesser members of the already lesser demons, confused and weakened by their appearance on the mortal plane.
[spoiler]

@Arwen
[spoiler]These are outsiders, certainly, likely of the demon type. More than that eludes you at this time.


Lisane's blow is sure, taking the head off the nearest monster, sending it sailing across the room in an arterial spray. She did not get much time to gloat over the strike, however, as another of the things rushed her. It was deceptively fast, landing a pair of claw strikes before she could bring Alrathien to guard. Then, to make matters worse, it lunged with needle sharp teeth and tore a small chunk from her arm.

Lisane staggered backwards and left opening enough for Arwen to sneak an arrow past and into the chest of her attacker. Kargath tried to sneak in for an attack, but was thwarted by Arthur; the oracle reaching forward to land an ineffective blow of his own.


Lisane takes 3 hits (one of which was a crit) for a total of 8 damage.

Round 2 initiatives...

Lisane 19
Arwen 18
Arthur 18
Kargath 17
dretches 5

Here's the map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers4b.png)

[stack]

Arthur swings at the creature as it attacks Lisane, thus presenting itself as a target. The narrow opening of the door combined with the adjacent wall makes it difficult to get through.

attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

"Kargath, take my place!" He steps sideways with unaccustomed alacrity, leaving an opening for the dwarf to move in and join the fight.

5' step to AY 100

[Fuzzies]

Lisane shakes her head as the pain takes her. The claws and bites were more than she was expecting, and she knew that she didn't have the ability to take another set of hits like that. "Kargath, a distraction would be nice." she growled as she slammed the sword out at the new opponent. She let the heavy blade do most of the work, nursing her wounded arm.

attack [roll0], no PA this time
damage [roll1]

[Airanath]

Arwen keeps his bow ready, an arrow in position, ready to nock and shot at a moment notice, waiting for a chance opening to shot at the creatures, all the while, questions assail his mind. Where did those come from? Was there really a portal? Or is it some summoner who unleashed uncontrolled fiends around?

"Arthur, maybe there are left over signs on the summoning ritual or planar passage the creatures used to get here... at the very least we have a crazy summoner around it seems."

Attack roll: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Firebeard]

Lisane's sword cut down the monster before her, and the follow through spattered blood and gore on the yellow mushroom-covered walls. Arwen's arrow skipped off the wall as Kargath charged in, knocking Arthur aside as he swung one of the 'liberated' spiked chains at a third dretch hidden behind the center wall. The chain wrapped around the thing's legs, causing it to totter in place, it's return swing missing the dwarf by a good margin.

"Wait one, an' I'll be outta yer way.' called the dwarf back to Lisane and the others.


1 left, and it's entangled due to Kargath's dirty trick.

Round 3 initiatives...

Lisane 19
Arwen 18
Arthur 18
Kargath 17
dretch 5

Here's the map (http://bradgrinstead.com/Pathfinders/sewers4c.png)

[stack]

Arthur, unable to see the remaining foe, waits on Lisane, ready to move in and strike. Arwen may be right. There may be more to this than ordinary madness.

Arthur will wait till after Lisane acts. If she leaves an open space, he will move to AW 100 and attack.

attack [roll0]
damage [roll1] (I think I had my damage figured wrong before. Should be 1d8 + 2 (strength) + 1 (strength x .5 for two-handing) +1 (heavy weapon) = 1d8+4). He always two-hands it.

[Fuzzies]

Lisane, shaking from the blood loss and the adrenaline pumping through her system, called back "Well hurry up about it. We need to down this thing quickly." As soon as Kargath opened a space, she slid into it, Alrathien flashing out to take the creature in the chest.


Move to AW/101 as soon as the dwarf moves.
attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

Edit: awww....crap

[Airanath]

Arwen redraws his bow, muttering under his breath for not being able to hold the arrow in place for a clear shot before, waiting for the dwarf's sign before shoting.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Firebeard]

When Kargath moves, the space around the remaining dretch explodes in a flurry of fists and weapons. Kargath's strike is knocked aside by Lisane as the ranger rushes to put her opponent down before she loses too much blood to fight. In turn, the ranger's own strike misses, cutting a bright scar into the dirty stone wall beside the dretch.

Arthur and Arwen are more sure of their strikes, as both morningstar and arrow find their marks. As the oracle's blow staved in a few of the creature's ribs, Arwen's arrow punched through blubbery flesh to find the heart beneath. The monster quivered in place for a moment, making mewling sounds of pain and loss, before falling to the ground.


Congratulatons! 300XP to everyone, which puts you at 2017. Leveling time!

The dretches don't have anything on them, but in the wreckage scattered around the room you find

a gold necklace
a dark brown potion smelling and tasting of earth
a wand
a silver brooch
2 arrows with blue and grey fletching



The dretches are naked, except for small loincloths, but their destruction of the room they were trapped in scattered a number of useful looking items around the floor. There was a golden necklace, along with a silver and gold brooch laying visible in the center of the floor. A broken drawer held a potion and a small wand. Near the far door was a sheaf of broken arrows with blue and grey fletching. Two arrows appeared to have survived the madness of the dretches, and stood pristine among their shattered brothers.

[stack]

Leveling <sniff> I promised myself I wouldn't cry. So beautiful.

Arthur leans against the wall, morningstar lowered heavily to the floor. He pauses, assessing the health of the others. "Lisane, hold still. Let me take care of those wounds."

He carefully draws the healing wand and touches the ranger.
I'll roll 4, using charges until she gets within 3 HP of max.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3] Two charges used.


After he finished healing, he inspects the gathered items for magic.
detect magic
"Arwen, help me with this wand and potion. Haven't quite gotten the hang of what you showed me. Maybe they will give us some clue as to what happened here."

[Fuzzies]

Lisane sagged with spent adrenaline and blood loss as the dretch died. She half-turned to Arthur as he came up beside her, and the warmth of the healing energies from his wand made her smile. "Thank you, Arthur. That helps immensely. I was getting a bit worried when I missed that last attack. I am not sure I could have taken another hit."

She cleaned Alrathien on a scrap of cloth, murmuring to the sword her thanks for its service as she sheathed the heavy blade. Then, she joined the others in looking around the room for items of interest.


Perception take 20 for a total of 27, or [roll0] if needed.


Arthur's words sparked something in her memory. "Wait, wasn't there a scroll in the outer room? Could that have brought these demons here? I get the feeling that Gandros was more than a little insane. Perhaps some parts of his story were true, while others were hallucinations brought on by these mushrooms?"

[Firebeard]

Looking at the items with his magically enhanced sight, Arthur can see that the wand and potion glow with arcane energy, of course, but so do the arrows and the brooch.

[stack]

Arthur pauses from his inspection of the items. "Wait...I can see it! Arwen, I think I've got it! The potion...it will cause anyone who drinks it to grow larger for a short while."

He wears a grin of child-like glee, which fades as he looks at the other items. "I...no, can't tell about the others. I can sense the auras, but beyond that nothing. I think I could weave a spell to slow things down, make the signs easier to read, but I'm too drained from all our fighting today."

He still looks pleased with his small success. "Perhaps Lisane or Kargath should carry this. Bigger weapons hit harder. Any luck with the other items?"

[Airanath]

"I am sorry Kargath, Lisanne, I need more practice with my bow, as the drillmaster keeps complaining, I miss too often, and almost hit the closest target to the one I was aiming too often." the elf apologizes meekly, "I wonder how those things got here thought... there must be some signs of the summoning or of the planar passage they used."

Noticing his friends not worried about this right now, he gives himself a rest too, and sits close to Arthur, focusing his spell so he too could see the arcane weaving, he allows the oracle to try identifying the items first, nodding at what he gets right, and pointing out how to proper catch the right signs among the fast running spell matrix.

"Pretty good for a first try since we jumped out of the books.", he smiles reassuringly to Arthur. Before finishing up with the items.
Spellcraft checks:
wand:[roll0]
brooch: [roll1]
arrows: [roll2]

[Firebeard]

@Arwen

Thinking about the possibilities of the source of the dretches, you recall the empty scroll in the room with the hand-drawn portal. Perhaps it was the source of the dretches?

As for the items, you have no idea what the brooch is, but you recognize the properties of the arrows as Screaming Arrows (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons#TOC-Screaming-Bolt). The wand was easier, presenting itself as a Wand of Shocking Grasp.

[Airanath]

"For the wand, you probably missed it because of the way it holds spells, the trickiest part is learning how trigger from the arcane matrix." he points out a few more specific details on the wand, and shows how to distinguish the weavings for the spell trigger activation.
"As for the arrows, you just overlooked the details, probably it was the frustration of not seeing the other items you tried to piling on you." he points out a few weavings he thinks are pretty obvious, forgetting he didn't go much on weapon weavings with the oracle due to their limited time.
"That said, we have screaming arrows, and a wand of shocking grasp, I let my mind wander on how the creatures got here when examining the brooch, and the matrix turned it into a chaosfor me, untill I can clear my mind it might be better not to try reading it again, the feedback from the matrix could bring some harmfull arcane overload and burn me and you." He apologizes while sprouting some techinical language.
"I would like to study the other room a bit, to figure if I can locate any clues as to how the summoning was made, hopefully it was just a scroll into a not well trained hand, worst case, we might have to chase some crazy summoner sometime. But gosh, this was a full day wasn't it?"

[stack]

"Hmm, I don't think I can use the wand. It would be chancy to try to activate it without understanding the spell. And we all know that mixing me and bows would be a bad idea. I would like to try the brooch again tomorrow, look at it with fresh eyes and try my idea. You are right, we should see if we can figure anything else out down here. Then we can go topside and tell the guards about the wyverns and get some rest." He looks a little disappointed that he couldn't use the wand and the arrows just reminding him of his clumsiness. Still, they are good finds. And the brooch...could be anything.