AVB - Skeletal Companions

[hustlertwo]

Well, let's go get to it then, Bennett. At least we know only one of our lives is on the line.

The pair enter the room.

[planswalker]

A large, circular room 100 feet across greets the two of you. A hobgoblin in blue robes stands at the far end. He says, "you ready to die so that my power may grow?"

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff says nothing out loud, but whispers to Bennett. The skeleton slowly lifts his hand clasping the flail and extends the middle finger towards their opponent.

Spoiler

Show

Rolling initiative; figure even if you aren't looking for it this post, you will be the next. Also assuming Bennett is separate from Wilstaff in acting; I've been a mage before, but never used the familiar for anything, so it never came up.

Wilstaff-(1d20+4)[22]
Bennett-(1d20+6)[16]

[planswalker]

You get to act before your rival, but Bennet reacts after.

[hustlertwo]

Bennett, maneuver 14 B!

The skeleton stands motionless.

No, not D, B! Does this look like a petting zoo or aquarium to you? B, for beat his ass to death with your flail! B, for Bennett, kill the hobbo who isn't me!

The spat settled, Wilstaff directs his attention to the matter at hand.

Sorry about this, nameless foe. But if it works, at least you won't have to see what Bennett intends to do to you.

Spoiler

Show

Wilstaff casts Blindness, DC 16. After that he moves 30 feet closer to the enemy. If the blindness succeeds, he does so with a bit of diagonal movement, so the other mage won't be as likely to guess where he ended up.

[planswalker]

The blindness failed, so you just saved time and move straight forward.

He casts a magic missile your way. Luckily, you have shield.

"I see you're prepared. That's good. I'd hate for this to be boring."

[hustlertwo]

With any luck, we can find something else for you to hate today.

Bennett double moves 50 feet towards the opponent. Wilstaff casts Haste, enveloping both him and the skeleton in the effect. He then shifts his spiked chain to a 2-handed grip and moves 60 feet straight forward.

[planswalker]

The mage casts lightning bolt, targeting you, casting defensively to deny you an attack. Make a reflex save.

[hustlertwo]

(1d20+6)[22]

It's electrifying!

Spoiler

Show

Waiting to see damage before taking my turns.

[planswalker]

It takes half of (6d6)[22] damage.

[hustlertwo]

Spoiler

Show

Current HP: 27/24, AC is as previously mentioned +1 for Haste, which has 4 rounds remaining.

Bennett moves to the upper right side of the caster and attacks him. (1d20+5)[19] (1d8+2)[6]

Bracing! Now let's see if I can make your hair stand on end too!

Seeking Ray, +3 to attack roll if opponent has metal armor or a sizable amount of metal on his person. Ignores firing into melee penalty.

(1d20+7)[21] vs. touch AC, (4d6)[15] electrical.

After all this, Wilstaff 5 foot steps to being adjacent to the enemy on the lower left side, hopefully bracketing him for flanking.

[planswalker]

Both blows land, and he is flanked.

He defensively casts expeditious retreat and moves 60 feet away, provoking an AoO from each of you.

[hustlertwo]

Here's one good suggestion for a thing you should hate more than being bored: getting violated by 10 feet of steel!

Wilstaff AoO: (1d20+5)[10] (2d4+3)[9]
Bennett: (1d20+5)[13] (1d8+2)[9]

[hustlertwo]

Spoiler

Show

Forgot +2 for flanking. Doubt it matters with those rolls.

Wilstaff takes a moment to smack himself on the head with an unspiked length of chain in frustration as he addresses Bennett.

No, you're right, you're right. I always give in to the urge to trash talk, and that's when our luck ends up turning sour. Stupid, Wilstaff, very stupid. Trash talk them after they're dead, not before.

Bennett pursues the mage with single-minded determination, whirling the flail towards him as he charges forth. (1d20+7)[14] (1d8+2)[6]

Wilstaff appears ready to talk, then looks at his comrade and clamps his jaw shut, except to summon up a Kelgore's Firebolt to hurl at the competition. (5d6)[14] fire damage, Reflex DC 15 to halve. After that, Wilstaff moves adjacent to him, swinging his chain as menacingly as possible while still trying hard not to hit himself in the face with it.

[planswalker]

Spoiler

Show

unless wilstaff has a movement speed of 60, he'll only be able to close half the distance.

Bennet misses both with the AoO and with the charge.

Your spell lands a good hit. The other mage isn't looking too hot.

He steps back away from Bennet and casts charm person on you.

"No need to kill each other, right?"

Spoiler

Show

will save. dc 15

[hustlertwo]

Spoiler

Show

He does. 30 base speed + 30 circumstance bonus from Haste. And I know there's a +5 to Charm Person saves if currently being attacked or threatened. I'm not adding it in since I don't know if it applies, though. Hopefully it won't matter.

(1d20+4)[22]

Bennett steps toward the mage and unleashes a flurry of attacks.

(1d20+5)[9] (1d8+2)[10]
(1d20+5)[25] (1d8+2)[9]

[hustlertwo]

Crit confirm for Bennett, Wilstaff might not even need his turn.

(1d20+5)[17] (1d8+2)[10]

[planswalker]

Bennet hits, but does not crit. The mage is down.

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff looks to the skeleton and his bloodied bludgeon inquisitively. So, safe to taunt him now, right?

No response.

Wilstaff kicks the prone caster and shouts in his face. How about unconsciousness, huh? Do you hate that? I'm feeling pretty bored myself, you children's birthday party reject. Go pull a rabbit out of the hole in your head!

Wilstaff straightens up and prepares to leave.

All right, I'm good. So, do we finish him off? I don't love killing per se, but I don't like to leave anyone alive who recently tried to forcibly penetrate the moist crevasse of my mind with the throbbing might of his enchantment. Like 'magic' beans, they have a bad tendency to come back on you when you least expect it.

He then looks at Bennett with derision.

Oh, grow up. I don't know how you maintain such a rosy outlook on the world when you're a soulless husk bound into a hideous parody of life by a perversion of magical forces.

The skeleton does not move.

Oh, fine. Storm off. I guess the discussion is over now because you say it is.

As ordered, Bennett storms off, and Wilstaff follows, bickering with him all the way.

[planswalker]

When you return to your waiting room, the same blue-tattoed mage is waiting for you. "You have won. Very good. You have been chosen to join us. Let the initiation commence!"

A half-dozen more mages with the same facial tattoos as the first appear out of thin air and charge you, holding you down as the speaker pulls out a needle. "Accept the mark of the Blue Hand Clan."

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff relaxes in their grip, not struggling against the needle.

Very forceful HR department you have here. You do know that we wanted this to happen, right? I just hope you brought a very sharp needle. My skin is...resistant to such things. Slight mishap, which is why I say steer clear of bargain basement clerics. You always get what you pay for. Just make sure not to forget Bennett over there. He earned it just as much as I did, if not more.

The skeleton looks on.

Definitely more? What do you mean by that?

[planswalker]

About an hour later of a rather thorough probing with an inked needle, you sport a fresh Blue Hand Clan tattoo across your face. They then give you a pail of blue paint and say, "You may mark your minion with the badge of honor yourself. We mark you, and you mark those who are yours. Thus is the circle."

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff looks at the paint, and then at Bennett.

Oh, this probably won't end well.

Several minutes later the skeleton carries a mark along his polished skull that could be either a blue hand, or possibly a child's representation of an octopus.

Hush up, you big baby. It makes you look distinguished.

Wilstaff then claps his hands together and looks at his new brethren.

We're looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish as part of your order. Although we only came seeking a bit of coin and a haven from Aldhaven and its vicious stereotypes, I like to think we have found a home. Or at least a place to hide when we need a couple stars off our wanted level. But I know this was not just for my benefit. Tell us what the Khan would have us do, and we shall set upon the task with as much tenacity as we can muster. Just so long as it starts tomorrow.

[planswalker]

"To tell the truth, the Cabal is at war. By the way, most of us just put our hand in the paint and press it on our servants. Makes the mark identifiable on all your servants."

[hustlertwo]

Oh. Well, this is close enough for anti-government work. Bennett tends not to stray too far from me. Probably because he knows I'm the brains of this duo.

The blue-faced skeleton stares.

Well, yeah, and because he is bound in eternal servitude. I don't know why you dwell on that, B. Now what's this about a war? I want to get back into the city, but I'm not sure I want to do it with siege weapons and catapults. I've no love for their breed, but they have a nasty tendency to get somewhat genocide-y when our people rise up against them.

[planswalker]

"Not against the town, but against the Skulks in the Docks. They're massing for an incredibly large attack against another gang, and when they do, they will be exposed on their flank. We have always had a rivalry with their blood mages, and this is a chance to get ahead."

[hustlertwo]

This announcement brings Wilstaff to a point dangerously close to actual lucidity.

Even in the slums, would such large-scale conflict be tolerated? And while it might be above my pay grade, I'm curious to know the resources at our disposal, as well as your best estimate of those from these Skulks, whatever they might be, and the gang they are attacking.

[planswalker]

"The Skulks must have a deal with the Watch. The two just never cross each other. I suspect though that if we remove them, we could gain some pull with the city to get some concessions. Especially if we can prove that the Watch did make a shady deal with the Skulks."

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff jumps up and down, raising his hand. At his order, Bennett does the same, albeit in a robotic fashion and without saying "Oooo, ooo, pick me!"

Hey, howzabout me and Benny here see about uncovering evidence of that connection? It'd be a nice little piece of payback to bust the Watch for our initial humiliation. Plus, if we get that kind of sway we might be able to see to an end for persecution of the living impaired.

Wilstaff then sobers up suddenly.

Although, finding evidence probably means talking to people. And Bennett's the one with the people skills. For whatever reason, people tend not to take me seriously. So if y'all would prefer I be used as an instrument of destruction in an epic battle, that's also good. There will be war if Khan wills it. But do we even have a choice in the matter, or do we simply do as we're told and try not to ask too many questions? Trying to pin down the clubhouse rules so Bennet and I don't say the wrong thing and get whacked off.

[planswalker]

"The Khan heeds our advice, but his word is final. He has declared that we will strike against the Skulks in four days time, so strike we must. If you would like to personally find evidence of such a link, we will give you items to disguise yourself to further your aims. Succeed, and you may keep them. Sound acceptable?"