(Pathfinder) The Curse of the Crimson Throne IC

[Blisstake]

Aldrin lets out an exasperated sigh, "See? This is exactly why I insisted on resting first. Perhaps you'll listen next time so we don't have to go about doing everything like brutes."

Although he is a bit dismayed at having to repeatedly cast the same lowly cantrip, with nothing else to do, Aldrin attempts to daze the first man who charged through the door.

Spoiler

Show

Daze on D2. DC 15 will save or he loses a turn

[SanguinePenguin]

Atavian peered over the side of the building. He squinted, straining his eyes to make out any movement, but he saw no guards wandering about. Meanwhile, Tallox walked around in the fecal muck of the pens, searching for anything of interest. While he was not disturbed by the same things as mortals, he still did not delight in the smell.

The sudden commotion spurs both Atavian and Tallox into action (the former acting in an attempt to help his new friends and the latter acting in an attempt to alleviate the boredom he found in the smelly room). The halfling charges down the ladder while Tallox tries to open the double doors.

[RocketMan]

Jensi

Why is everyone so mean? Jensi wonders as more guards pour into the room. Hadn't they just been saying how much they wanted to help the city? So why do they want to kill us - we want to help too... Still, Jensi wasn't going to stand by as his friends were attacked.

Spoiler

Show

Guidance on Dastan, let's see if a 14 will hit...

[Leviathan]

The burly deserter parries Dastan's blade with his own, grunting. Up close, it can be seen that his hands are bloody, his armour similarly splattered with crimson. The man shrugs off Aldrin's magic with another grunt, then swings at the paladin. His sword slices Dastan across the arm, drawing blood. It may very nearly have taken the aasimar's arm off, if not for good fortune or divine intervention.

Dastan

Spoiler

Show

5 damage.

Rennard infuses his rapier with magical energy and lunges across the counter, his dark sword making contact with the deserter's chest. The man holds his ground, but is clearly injured. His own counter attack is wild, and easily dodged.

Kalinda points her pistol and fires, but the weapon hisses, sparks flying. The gunslinger barely keeps an explosion at bay, but it takes all her effort to do so.

Dastan's shield catches the blow of the deserter in the doorway. The fourth can do little from his position, and you can see him fall back into the next room.

Atavian

Spoiler

Show

Together with Tallox, you push open the heavy double doors, revealing a grim chamber strewn with blood-stained straw. The reek of slaughter is almost overpowering. The room itself is a killing floor. A metal track affixed to the ceiling dangles meat hooks here and there, allowing the hooks and their gory loads to be easily moved from the northwest, where a large hammer sits on the floor atop a permanent bloodstain. To the south, a bloodstained grill covers a wide hole in the floor. Just north of the grill sit two large vats of water - one boiling and one cold.

You see a single door at the other end of the room. It is open, and in it a chainmail clad deserter is locked in combat with Dastan. Another deserter is in the room you have entered. He is hunched over by the grate, dragging something. He looks up with panic in his eyes.

Round 2...

Spoiler

Show

[King Tius]

Kalinda
Worried about the integrity of her pistol, Kalinda holsters it as she draws her second one. She aims and fires at D1.

Spoiler

Show

Attack: (1d20+6)[25] vs Touch AC
Damage: (2d4+1)[4]

[DaedalusMkV]

Dastan grunts as he barely avoids the brutal blow. "It is not too late to surrender; you have no reason to die here today." He remains remarkably calm despite the injury he suffered as he moves to deliver another blow, this time a low attack with the edge of his blade, hoping to cripple his opponent. Even as he strikes he calls upon Iomedae to grant him the strength to overcome his wounds, which slowly begin to knit themselves together. He stands his ground, knowing that as long as he holds this position the deserters cannot effectively engage his comrades.

Spoiler

Show

Remaining in place and making a Standard attack against D2 with Power Attack, while using my Swift action to Lay on Hands myself.
Attack: (1d20+4)[22]
Damage: (1d8+5)[6]
Lay on Hands: (1d6)[1]

Summary: HP: 16/20
AC: 18, Touch 10, FF 18
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +9

[RocketMan]

Jensi

Jensi whispers a brief prayer, imbuing Rennard's new sword with the blessing of the Eternal Rose.

Spoiler

Show

Guidance on Rennard

[Blisstake]

Aldrin sighs, and releases a rather weak jolt of electricity at any remaining thug.

Spoiler

Show

Using Jolt on the closest, conscious enemy

(1d20+3)[22] touch attack
(1d3)[1] damage.

[SanguinePenguin]

Atavian spots the conflict and immediately puts a protective spell over Tallox. Recognizing Atavian's familiar incantation, Tallox delays for a few moments for the spell to be cast, but he then he rips off his mask and hood. He charges at the man who was dragging something, his wide mouth fully agape as a soft, low resonating noise comes from his throat. As the monster engages the man, Atavian tries to determine what he was dragging.

Actions:

Spoiler

Show

Atavian cast mage armor
Perception: (1d20+2)[13] (what was he dragging)

Tallox charge bite (power attack): (1d20+7)[20]
Damage: (1d6+6)[8]

Summary:

Spoiler

Show

Tallox
HP: 18/18. AC: 19 (17+4 mage armor -2 charge), 11 Touch, 20 Flatfooted.
Saves: +4 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +3 Will.

Atavian
HP: 20/20. AC: 16, 13 Touch, 14 Flatfooted.
Saves: +3 Fortitude, +3 Reflex, +4 Will.

[Leviathan]

Kalinda fires her second pistol. The shot strikes the deserter behind the counter underneath his chin, blood splattering out. Rennard - aided by Jensi's prayer - exploits this to jam his rapier deep into his enemy's chest. The former guard falls.

Dastan slashes into the deserter leading the reinforcements. The large man grunts in pain as the longsword slices across his shoulder, and as Aldrin's lightning jolts him, but is able to counter attack, though this blow is easily absorbed by the paladin's sturdy shield.

In the other room, Tallox charges, his fangs clamping down on the deserter's arm as he stands. He swings his sword at the eidolon, but there is no control behind the panicked attack, and it hits only air.

Atavian

Spoiler

Show

You can see that whatever the man is dragging is bloody and large - almost as big as him.

Round 3...

Spoiler

Show

[SanguinePenguin]

"Drop your weapon! Surrender now and you can live! Decide NOW!!!" Atavian commands. Tallox releases his jaws and takes half a step backwards, then flashes both claws. He gives the man a second to decide (as Atavian had instructed him) before attacking.

Actions:

Spoiler

Show

Intimidate: (1d20+4)[6] Edit: I bet he's not surrendering...

If the man doesn't surrender:
Power attack
Claws: (1d20+5)[15] Damage: (1d4+6)[7]
Claws: (1d20+5)[12] Damage: (1d4+6)[7]
Bite: (1d20+5)[12] Damage: (1d6+6)[9]

Summary:

Spoiler

Show

Tallox
HP: 18/18. AC: 21 (17+4 mage armor), 11 Touch, 20 Flatfooted.
Saves: +4 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +3 Will.

Atavian
HP: 20/20. AC: 16, 13 Touch, 14 Flatfooted.
Saves: +3 Fortitude, +3 Reflex, +4 Will.

[King Tius]

Kalinda
The young gunslinger quickly reloads her second pistol and fires again, this time at D2. Hopefully she'll be able to take out the deserter without hitting Dastan...

Spoiler

Show

Attack: (1d20+6)[23] vs Touch AC
Damage: (2d4+1)[7]

[RocketMan]

Jensi

Jensi traces the symbol of Shelyn in the air with his hand, blessing his allies.

Spoiler

Show

Vigor on Kalinda. +1 damage

[Blisstake]

Aldrin attempts his daze spell once more, this time targeting the one hiding somewhat behind the door.

Spoiler

Show

Daze on D3. DC 15 will save

[DaedalusMkV]

Dastan continues his battle with the enemy leader, continuing to speak to his opponents as he fights. "No reply, then? What of the rest of you, are you so willing to risk your lives?"

Spoiler

Show

Power Attacking again.
Attack: (1d20+4)[7]
Damage: (1d8+5)[9]

Summary:
HP: 16/20
AC: 18, Touch 10, FF 18
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +9

[Leviathan]

"I'd rather die clean than be tortured then killed! You aren't taking me alive!" the deserter yells, parrying Dastan's attack. Then Kalinda's shot ensures that he will never, ever be taken alive. Or do anything else alive, for that matter.

Aldrin and Atavian

Spoiler

Show

Torture followed by death is the harshest penalty under Korvosan law.

Aldrin's magic blasts into the other deserter, leaving the man glossy-eyed and immobile.

In the next room, Tallox's furious assault is absorbed by his foe's armour. The nervous deserter's blade fails to penetrate the eidolon's defences, however. The man does not reply to the halfling's ultimatum, except to offer up an almost bestial roar of defiance.

Round 4...

Spoiler

Show

I'm not going to post a new map, since nothing has happened except D2 dying. D3 remains in place. In Atavian's room, everything remains the same.

[SanguinePenguin]

"Fine, you've made your choice!" Atavian says with anger. With his focus, a phrase and a gesture, he drives the power of the arcane magic into the man's mind, attempting to stun him.

Tallox is glad that Atavian's predilections, for holding back and showing mercy, seem to have passed. He shows no mercy as he sets into the man: left claw raking at a weaker spot in his armor, right claw going for the spot his jaw occupied seconds before, and his gaping maw snaps at a spot momentarily exposed on the man's neck.

Actions:

Spoiler

Show

Atavian casts Daze, DC 14
Power attack
L Claws: (1d20+5)[23] Damage: (1d4+6)[8]
R Claws: (1d20+5)[7] Damage: (1d4+6)[7]
Bite: (1d20+5)[23] Damage: (1d6+6)[11]

Summary:

Spoiler

Show

Tallox
HP: 18/18. AC: 21 (17+4 mage armor), 11 Touch, 20 Flatfooted.
Saves: +4 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +3 Will.

Atavian
HP: 20/20. AC: 16, 13 Touch, 14 Flatfooted.
Saves: +3 Fortitude, +3 Reflex, +4 Will.

[King Tius]

Kalinda quickly reloads and levels her pistol at the remaining deserter. With his allies lying dying around him, perhaps this one will be more...cooperative. She readies herself to fire at him should he not surrender.

"Come on now, then, give it up! Do you really want a bullet in the brainpan like your friends? Maybe you can skip out on the torture parts..."

Spoiler

Show

Attack: (1d20+6)[25] vs touch AC
Damage: (2d4+1)[8]

[DaedalusMkV]

Dastan winces slightly and ducks as Kalinda's pistol fires and the bullet wizzes by him, though he realizes fairly quickly that she is taking care not to risk hitting him and doesn't speak up, even as his first foe falls. Seeing the third deserter fall under the sway of Aldrin's spell, he steps forwards and tries to take advantage of the distraction to disarm the man's weapon.

Spoiler

Show

Stepping into the square D2 was in and making a Disarm check, which would provoke an AOO if the enemy wasn't Dazed. If I succeed, I'll drop his weapon behind me.
Touch Attack: (1d20+5)[20]
Combat Maneuver Check: (1d20+5)[13]

Summary:
HP: 16/20
AC: 18, Touch 10, FF 18
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +3, Will +9

[Leviathan]

The remaining deserter casts a fearful look over his opposition, then, with a hint of resignation in his voice, says: "Gods damn it!" He starts to lower his weapon, then, in a sudden movement, leaps towards the door to the street. He dies almost instantly as Kalinda fires, and his blade is battered out of his lifeless hand by Dastan.

Atavian

Spoiler

Show

Tallox quite literally tears the man to shreds with razor sharp teeth and long claws.

All is quiet now, except for the sounds of bubbling water from the boiling vat, and a dripping sound of something trickling down the drain...

[DaedalusMkV]

Dastan looks down at the fallen deserters and pulls a rag from one of his pockets to wipe down his blade. "This is not how I had hoped this would end... What were they hiding, that they were so afraid?" When he's satisfied that his sword is properly cared for he sheathes it again, then says, "We should investigate this place." and walks to the back room, trying to find whatever it was they were doing there.

[SanguinePenguin]

Once all is quiet, Atavian rushes to Tallox's side to examine what the man, who is now in pieces, was dragging. As he gets closer, the horror of the scattered body parts finally gets past his adrenaline and anger to sink into his brain. He looks up in horror at Tallox, who is grinning and shaking the blood from his enormous claws. Atavian swallows hard, forces his fears aside and closely examines what the man was dragging.

[Leviathan]

To Atavian, and Dastan (who approaches behind the halfling), the horror of Tallox's gruesome kill is shocking, but so is what lies beside the grate, down which blood trickles. It is the body of what is clearly a humanoid: more than this is difficult to tell, for it has been skinned, and chunks of it cut off. More sickening still is that a trail of blood runs from the corpse to the nearby butcher's block, upon which sits several slabs of meat.

[King Tius]

Kalinda reloads her pistol and holsters it. She then immediately draws out her other pistol and begins to inspect it, being more concerned with its condition than that of the scene around her.

[SanguinePenguin]

"This looks like a person..." Atavian mutters. He is horrified, though, he has feared this was the case all along. "Tallox, help me search!" he asks the beyonder, who gruffly consents with a nod.

Spoiler

Show

Searching the room
Atavian Perception: (1d20+2)[5]
Tallox Perception: (1d20+5)[6]
Edit: Oh great... I'll be lucky if they even know they are in a room!

Also, someone in the other room might want to check for survivors... that is not the sort of thing with which Atavian would concern himself.

[RocketMan]

Jensi

Jensi manages not to throw up - barely. It's not pretty growing up in the slums of Korvosa, but this was, well, unholy. He could feel his goddess's revulsion welling up inside him as well. Still looking sick, he stumbles across to the butchers block and says a quite prayer.

"I'm really sorry it happened like this. Rose find your soul."

The boy turns back to his companions. "Do you think there might be someone else alive in here? Or did they..." his voice catches in his throat. "You don't - did they kill everyone?" Before anyone can stop him, he calls out loudly, more than a little frantically.

"Hello? Anybody? We're here to help you, if you're captured or... hurt!"

[Blisstake]

"Tch," Aldrin starts, looking at the nearby carnage. "Sloppy. If any of the guards were still alive, we could take them in for questioning. Oh well, naught much else we can do but press on."

His tone is non-chalant and a bit condescending, indicating that he isn't distrubed by the bodies nearly as much as he probably should be. Aldrin glances at Jensi, and advises, "Save your prayers for someone who deserves it."

[DaedalusMkV]

Dastan grimaces at the sight of the butchered person on the cutting floor, silently saying his own prayer to Iomedae along with Jensi's more overt one. When Aldrin makes his comments, the Paladin turns to him with anger in his face, and says, "Oh, you think this person deserved to be killed, cut to pieces and served to the poor as meals? Perhaps we should have waited, then, for these people to do more of this... Butchery?" With some degree of effort he turns away from Aldrin, looking to Atavian. "I agree, we should find whatever evidence we can, although this corpse is as damning evidence as I can imagine. No wonder they were so desperate, with this to prove their guilt..." He moves to make his own search of the room, in case the Halfling misses anything.

Spoiler

Show

Yeah, Blisstake, I realize you probably misread Leviathan's post. Oh well.

Rolling Perception for the searching: (1d20+5)[23]

[SanguinePenguin]

"Damning, yes, but we still have no idea why - or who this even is!" The thought then occurs to the halfling to look in the vat.

Spoiler

Show

I just want to know how many bodies, where they were being dragged, any evidence of who or why (I also presume the guards were feeding the humanoid flesh to the beggars - EEK!)

[Leviathan]

The vats are both empty, and Atavian's search of the room reveals no other bodies, except those of the men you've killed. All the meat in the shop, save the cuts on the butcher's block, appear to be beef.