Curse of the Crimson Thread: Escape from Old Korvosa [IC]

[lostsole31]

Vivino opens the door, revealing a freestanding bathtub and a toilet.

What is everyone else doing at this time?

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha advances with the group, slipping past Runa and Vivino into the sitting room and taking a look around.

[lostsole31]

Jacintha enters what must be the living room. Two large sofas face a brick fireplace. There are warm embers inside the hearth, despite the fact that the building seems to be abandoned.

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha frowns. "Someone's been here recently." She points to the embers in the fireplace. Since there aren't any doorways in this room, however, she goes back towards the others, stopping at the nearest door to the south and opening it carefully.

[lostsole31]

Jacintha is assaulted by bad smells as she opens up the door. This is the pantry, and it smells like the perishable food has gone bad.

Dane, what do you (and Linzi) do?

[Rithryn]

Dane will follow along and search the room.
"Sorry, theses short legs have a hard time keeping up."

[lostsole31]

Of course, Dane doesn't check just any room, but strolls up behind Vivino, opens the southern door, and just walks in to what appears to be Vencarlo's study. A single leather chair sits at a desk, while two tall cabinets filled with stand to the east. Linzi follows him in, and they begin a search.

As they go, they find that the two tall cabinets are filled with books about sword fighting and philosophy.

The papers on the desk are mostly accounting documents and ledgers for Vencarlo’s academy. It appears that up until the death of King Eodred II, Vencarlo’s academy was doing rather well, but then business turned bad as students failed to show and Vencarlo took an increasing number of breaks from teaching.

Linzi is sure to share what she and Dane learned with the others.

Now what?

[Moriar]

"Looks like one more door on this floor," Vivino says. "The embers in the fireplace indicate recent use but other areas so far indicate a time since it has been touched."

Vivino moves over and examines the door before opening it.

Spoiler: Last door

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Moves west 2 squares and then examines the door to the south. If safe, will open the door and if there are no are no enemies will examine the room. Will tell the others of anything he finds.

[lostsole31]

..... but realizes that is the pantry that Jacintha had opened up already.

[Moriar]

"Anyone want to check this floor further before checking these stairs?" Vivino asks.

Spoiler: stairs

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If people want to check further, vivino will help search.

If no one suggests to check this floor further, then will say "Let's try to stay close as we move to another floor." Vivino will check for traps on the stairs as they climb (hard to tell but think they are going up?)

[Dusk Raven]

Jacintha closes the door to the pantry (after making sure Vivino is out of the room, of course!). "I think we've searched all we can on this floor."

[Sienna]

"I'll head upstairs, then," Runa says, making her way over to the stairs, "Real weird that the fire was still warm, though. Maybe he was burning something he didn't want anyone to see... or maybe I've just read too many stories, ha."

[Rithryn]

Dane follows closely by Runa looking for traps along the stairs.
"Careful las, were not sure what we will find here."

[Ason]

Ernak continues to bring up the rear, keeping eyes and ears out for signs of someone returning home while the party snoops through the house.

To Runa, he'll remark with a tone of puzzlement, "Spoiled food but a warm hearth... those don't go together to me. Huh." Again making an uncomfortable face, Ernak adds with a nod toward the stairs and Dane, "But let's at least see this business through then, since we're committed already."

[lostsole31]

The party begins to ascend the stairs, and even Tesh gets into formation as otherwise he would be left alone in darkness below.

Runa, you are at the top of the stairs of the second floor as the party is in a close follow, not quite on the second floor quite yet. You hear shifting and creaking in the rafters of the house above. What do you do?

[Sienna]

Runa glances up at the ceiling, turning to the rest of the group and bringing a finger to her lips in a shhh gesture before pointing upwards to indicate that something may or may not be up there. She creeps forward as quietly as she can manage, keeping an eye out for any way up as she goes.

[lostsole31]

Surprise Round ...

S29: Runa glances up at the ceiling, turning to the rest of the group and bringing a finger to her lips in a shhh gesture before pointing upwards to indicate that something may or may not be up there. She creeps forward as quietly as she can manage, keeping an eye out for any way up as she goes, but as she steps up onto the second floor, she thinks ... she thinks she sees a man hiding up in the rafters!

S23: Downstairs, someone who was hiding under the stairs pops out and beheads Tesh!

S9: The figure that Runa sees charges her by jumping down at her. Runa's sharp senses saved her from a more harrowing strike, but the strange blade still rips into her left shoulder for 14.

Begin Round One ...

R1T29: Runa, what do you do? You are being attacked by a guy in a bug costume, and since Dane is still significantly down the stairs, you are in dim lighting.

[Sienna]

"...Is that a guy in a bug cost-" Runa starts before she's interrupted by said guy in a bug costume stabbing her. Not having any time to really process the absurdity of the situation, she steps out of the way of her party and attempts to defend herself...!

Spoiler

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Runa will 5-foot step to the south, or to the southwest if that's not possible.
Swift: Assume Snake Style; will use it to attempt a dodge if she's attacked again
FRA: Flurry bug-man, using Spin Kick on the first attack to (hopefully) go for FFAC.
(1d20+14)[29] for (1d6+6)[11] damage
(1d20+14)[32] for (1d6+6)[12] damage
(1d20+9)[24] for (1d6+6)[11] damage

[lostsole31]

R1T29: "...Is that a guy in a bug cost-" Runa starts before she's interrupted by said guy in a bug costume stabbing her. Not having any time to really process the absurdity of the situation, she steps out of the way of her party and attempts to defend herself! She makes a skin kick that catches the assailant in the jaw for 11. The man defensively goes into a low crouch, but run throws a knee into his right shoulder for 12, and finally a left kick to his torso for 11.

R1T23: Downstairs, the bug-man takes out something and throws it at the embers in the fireplace. The entire area around the fireplace downstairs lights up and is now on fire!

R1T20: Linzi, right smack in the middle of the stairs, here's something happening. She casts CLW on Dane for 8 healing. "Boss, what do you need me to do?"

R1T17: Ernak, you didn't see the beheading, but you turn around to find Tesh's headless body on the ground. Because of the stairwell, you have a moderately good look at whomever is down there, but they are one square west of Tesh's body and have cover. You heard the "FWOOMP!" of an accelerant lighting up, and now there is a massive orange glow coming from the east as well. What do you do?

[Ason]

Ernak whirls around in surprise at the death of the party's slightly-deranged, newfound friend. The Shoanti warrior sizes up Tesh's murderer before yelping aloud to the party, "Cayden's codpiece! Red Mantis Assassins! Fight for our lives!"

He then hefts out his earthbreaker, slips into a flowing defensive posture, and shifts south to engage this new foe.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Start of Turn Free Action: Tactical Flanker immediately south of Ernak's square where Tesh's corpse is (made irrelevant by move action)
Standard Action: bardic Lore Master knowledge check on the bug-themed ambusher who killed Tesh
Swift Action: adopt Circular Stance
Move Action: five-foot step south into square with Tesh's corpse, draw earthbreaker hammer

[lostsole31]

R1T17: Ernak whirls around in surprise at the death of the party's slightly-deranged, newfound friend. The Shoanti warrior sizes up Tesh's murderer before yelping aloud to the party, "Cayden's codpiece! Red Mantis Assassins! Fight for our lives!"

He then hefts out his earthbreaker, slips into a flowing defensive posture, and shifts south to engage this new foe.

Spoiler: Ernak

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Perhaps it was because your Lore Master tapped into something, you aren't sure, but now that battle is engaged with these strange foes, your mind has an incredible clarity, something to do somehow with your power card from the Harrow deck and The Snakebite.

R1T14: Dane, what do you do? You can't see the enemy on the floor above, but you can sense they are 5' back from the stairs and even briefly saw something drop down from the ceiling. Also, Linzi is waiting for guidance.

[Rithryn]

"Linzi support us from the rear, im going in."
Dane moves towards the enemy.

Spoiler

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Moving to the nearest enemy he can reach and vital striking with risky strike, if unable to reach them he will move as close as he can get. (1d20+13)[22] (4d6+17)[32]

[lostsole31]

R1T14: "Linzi, support us from the rear; I'm going in," Dane says as moves towards the enemy upstairs and coming face-to-face with a Red Mantis assassin. His earthbreaker comes in to smash the assassin in the hip for 32.

R1T13: Jacintha, you have your mithral kukri in hand. You can look up and see that Dane is engaging someone one square to the west of the top of the stairs where Dane is, though you don't know anything else about the layout of upstairs. And then there's a ruckus below, but a lot more bodies. What do you do?

[Dusk Raven]

Knowing that danger is at hand, Jacintha calls upon her psionic powers to produce another kukri, switching the material kukri to her off-hand. Then, she heads further upstairs, doing her best to make her way past allies and towards the enemy.

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard action to conjure a psionic kukri.

Move action to head upstairs as best I can, to try and see what's there, then move into position next to a hostile enemy, if possible. A reminder that I have 60 feet of Darkvision thanks to the Dimdweller alternate racial trait.

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Knowing that danger is at hand, Jacintha calls upon her psionic powers to produce another kukri, switching the material kukri to her off-hand. Then, she heads further upstairs, doing her best to make her way past allies and towards the enemy. The farthest she manages to get is on the last bit of stairs right behind Dane, but she sees the enemy now.

R1T11: Vivino, what do you do?

Blue RMA (Red Mantis Assassin) on deck, Runa in the hole ....

[Moriar]

Vivino shifts the down the stairs and swings around the corner at red twice with his mace with one hand.

Spoiler: die bugs

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Moves 5' south. Then while keeping hold of his scythe in one hand, swings the mace twice in the other hand.

To hit 1: (1d20+12)[25] and damage (1d8+5)[11]

To hit 2: (1d20+7)[25] and damage [/roll]1d8+5[/roll]

[Moriar]

Spoiler: 2nd damage roll

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Messed up the typing for damage on 2nd roll. Do if it matters here is is

(1d8+5)[7]

[lostsole31]

R1T11: Vivino shifts the down the stairs, takes out his mace and sings it over the banister at the assassin, with his mace being deflected by the rounded bug-shaped form of the costume/ outfit/ armor.

R1T9: Blue reaches for something on his belt. Dane swings Drinking Companion, the earthbreaker clipping off of a gauntlet as Runa kicks the man in the left forearm for 11. The man takes out a large flask filled with a semi-cloudy liquid and lifts his arm as if to throw it with his right hand. Dane tries to make him drop it by hitting the man in the right elbow for 20, though Rune fails to hurt him with a foot stomp. He continues his action and throws the flask, he was going to throw it into the fire, but Dane's hit to his arm knocks his aim off course and it hits the rug in front of the fire instead. Even with that, though, what turns out to be alchemist fire lights way too readily and quickly in Dane's experience.

End of Round: The fires on both floors begin to spread ... which includes spreading too quickly and readily into Runa's space. She takes 4 fire + catches fire!

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T29: Runa, you have caught fire and are burning AND are standing in the middle of fire! What do you do?

Red on deck, Linzi in the hole ...

[Sienna]

"So do all y'all dress like bugs or is this just a you thing," Runa asks, shortly before everything goes up in flames around - and including - her. Things... have become rather difficult! She steps back, and starts casting a spell to hopefully douse the flames before things get too out of control.

Spoiler

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5 foot step south, then she'll cast Create Water to try to snuff the fire before it burns her and the house down.

[lostsole31]

R2T29: Runa takes 4 fire from the burning, and another 6 fire from standing ... in the burning spot of the rug. "So do all y'all dress like bugs or is this just a 'you' thing?" Runa asks, shortly before everything goes up in flames around - and including - her. Things... have become rather difficult! She steps back, and starts casting a spell to hopefully douse the flames before things get too out of control. She casts create water, intoning the spell properly and properly making the gesture, but nothing happens.

R2T23: Red quick draws a mate to the blade they hold in their off-hand. They cross their swords together and using more finesse than brute strength, moves their blades around while in contact with Ernak's blocking earthbreaker to reposition Ernak 5' to the east while following into that spot themselves, now astride Tesh's body.

R2T20: Linzi moves down the stairs behind Vivino, takes a good look at the bug silhouette outlined by the first floor fire. She fires, but Vivino 's bulk throws off her aim so she only glances the armor.

R2T17: Ernak, what do you do?

Dane on deck, Jacintha in the hole ...