DeepBlue's Vagabond - Act 1

[Deepblue706]

The guard doesn't seem pleased with Harold's remark. "You leave the damn people here alone! Whatever you think you're doing, you're not helping them!"

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold nods to himself slowly.
"That's actually quite encouraging, because it suggests someone might think they need help, whereas hitherto all we really had to go on was a bad odor and questionable fashion-sense. Why might someone think the people here need help, do you think, sir?"

[Deepblue706]

The guard quickly hushes up. "I said nothin'. What the blazes do you want from me, anyway? Huh?!"

Titus calls out to those by the guard. "Are you people daft!? We're trying to storm a keep, not have a tea party! He's purposely stalling us! Delay any longer, and we very well could find ourselves in chains, or worse! Onward!" The knight booms, his sword and shield drawn and ready. He approaches the doors, and slams them open.

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
The minstrel brushes an invisible speck of dust off his sleeve.
"So quickly to the punch of things? Well, I guess that's typical. Let me lay things out for you in a straightforward fashion, my anonymous friend;"
He gestures to Flare.
"Exhibit 'A.' Flare. A decent man in a fight, but he has a way of treating strangers like No Person of Consequence. He's also very keen on freedom, which means he objects on principle to anything that's put people into a state wherein someone might think they need helping."
Harold scratches the back of his head.
"He's been known to take it out on just about any authority figure that presents itself."
He gestures to Len.
"Exhibit B: Len. A lovely woman, and good company. However she could pretty easily break your arm in three places in about two seconds, if she felt she had to.
Exhibit C: His lordship, Sir Titus. He's of the opinion that something truly loathsome is going on around here, and he, believe it or not, can be even more direct that you."
The minstrel turns back to the guard.
"And then there's me, who is holding no sword in his hand, but is offering to hear why this entire business isn't your fault. I'd like to believe that you're going to tell me the story of a man trapped in a tight spot with no good options."

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Not really sure which is appropriate here, so I'll give both
Diplomacy - (1d20+11)[23]
Intimidate - (1d20+4)[10]
...Hey, does Harold look like the kind of person who's used to intimidating people?

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Deciding to leave the matter of the stubborn guard to Harold, Flare spins to Titus, eyes still glowing. Stop it! It's time that I made myself clear. You aren't going with us Titus. We will proceed when we are prepared, and your role will be to remain here and cover us. Are we understood?

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold rubs an eyebrow.
"See," he says, half to the guard and half to the universe at large, "That's what I'm talking about, right there."

[amanodel]

Shimar

For the first time, the barbarian is comfortable with the straightforward actions of the paladin. He follows Titus, and ordering Whisper to his side, he prepares for any sudden attacks, helpding his polearm in one hand, and his throwing axe in another.

[Proven_Paradox]

The shirtless orc simply stands and watches. He keeps both keen eye and ear out. He mutters, audibly to anyone who might notice him, "This is all wrong..."

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Spot/Listen: (1d20+7=13, 1d20+7=18)

[Deepblue706]

Titus seems appalled by Flare's remarks. "Pardon, sirrah?" He nearly hisses the word, his voice filled with contempt. "You are here to aid me - not the other way around. I'm moving forward, with or without you." He turns to the door. "And I'll be sure to let lord Claudius know of your conduct!"

He enters.

The guard stays silent until Titus has left. "I've got nothin' to say to you. Get that fool knight-errant, get back on your horses, don't try barging into anyone else's homes, and get outta here. What you're doing is illegal, and don't think it'll be overlooked if you go any further. Magistrate Thaddeus is a powerful man. Doesn't matter none that you break my bones, or what-have-you. He'll just do the same to you, in the end - maybe worse, if it fits his mood."

Drahlo hears nothing, sees nothing out of the ordinary from where he stands. Moving to where the portcolis would be held, he can spot a few of the hooded figures that Harold noticed earlier - they've come a bit closer, but remain a fair distance off, still.

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Flare murmurs an enchantment and casts a spell after the departing Titus.

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Sleep on the @sshole, Will save DC 15.

[Deepblue706]

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Ho ho! Now things begin to get ever-so-interesting...

After setting only a foot or two inside the keep, Titus is struck into a deep slumber, and collapses onto the floor, face-first. His sword slides across the floor, deeper inside the dark and mysterious hall, a room of which you can see little of from the outside. Some torches do appear to be lit within, but they only seem to illuminate small pockets of the room.

Lucian seems a bit upset. "Did you have to do that?" He asks, as he briskly passes and makes his way to the sleeping knight. He glances around for immediate threats, but things seem clear.

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Apparently yes, says Flare coldly as he follows the others into the door. We're going to find out what's going on here, and we're going to do it without an egotistical knight getting in the way because he wants to play out the fairy tales in his head. I think it's time to go people.

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold nods, solemnly.
"Yes, because we wouldn't want to be following the lead of a self-righteous impulsive trouble-maker. Nope. Wouldn't want that to happen."
A pause.
Harold tilts his head towards the captive guard.
"What about him? He knows more than he's saying, and if you're serious about investigating...well, we can't just leave him."
He tilts his head again, now towards the recumbant knight.
"And what about him? I know that spell; he'll be awake in a few minutes, and none-the-more affable for a bit of sleep, I'd guess."

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Flare keeps walking.

[amanodel]

Shimar

The barbarian casts silent dispell magic on the paladin, requiring only somatic components.

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Kick Titus.

[Ya Ta Hey!]

Len, finally having accepted the aborted charge, finally dismounts with a ridiculous clatter from her arsenal. After entrusting her arrows and daggers to Lucian, she watches as the party begins to file inside and handily solves the bound-guard-situation by picking him up and lumbering inside with him ("_{I can only think of two places to break an arm, for the record.}").

In front of her, Flare enforces his objections to Titus' plans of forced entry by silencing the knight with an elegant weave of magic. And then continues said forced entry himself. Whatever, she just keeps walking, intent on getting everything and everyone indoors so they can lock those ...dead outside.

Then Shimar kicks Titus back awake. Oh boy.

[Deepblue706]

Titus stirs as Shimar kicks him, eventually waking with some disorientation. "What? What happened?" he asks, looking around. "Sir Titus!" Lucian quickly makes his way beside the Knight, who sits dumbfounded on the floor. "You fell! Are you alright?" Titus nods and Lucian takes his hand to help him up. "You ought to be more careful, my lord!" Titus nods again, and glances about for his sword.

It lays halfway to the opposite side of the room - a large hall, perhaps reaching two-hundred paces to the other wall, with smaller dimensions from side-to-side. There are stone pillars that stand every few feet at either side - each about five times a man's girth in circumference - every-other-one set with a low-lit torch that seems to carry a heatless flame. Nonetheless, the room is of a warm temperature - a bit muggy, perhaps, and filled with a stale air. The stench found outside lingers a bit, here. The stone floor beneath you is black and hard to actually see beyond a few feet from torchlight.

The walls themselves are mostly bare, but there are a few tapestries that depict the keep holding against seiges in glorious battles, and a few that mark the coat of arms of the house - a simple design of three silver chalices laid over a black background (which some might know in Medician culture to represent fortune and wealth). Some seem to be collecting a bit of dust.

While the hall is large, there is little else here. It appears to be a foyer, of sorts, likely designed to impress than serve any other purpose. There is one door to your immediate left, and three more on the opposite end of the room. The two on the left side (one at the near and one at the far end), and the one on the right at the far side are all plain, single wooden doors. Directly opposite from the entrance is a fourth exit, a pair of double doors that match the ones you just entered through.

[Ya Ta Hey!]

Spoiler

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Ha! The generator part of my wind generator works. Now I just need to make the blades and find some wind.

Len gently lowers the guard off her shoulders and places him against a pillar ("_{...sit tight}"), and then forms a salient with Titus and the other muscleheads.

[amanodel]

Shimar

The barbarian doesn't really knows what to do right now, so he just stays idle. But he does that rather self-consciously.

[Proven_Paradox]

Much like Shimar, Drahlo seems completely out of his element here, awkwardly following along and keeping his eyes open and his ears alert. Guha remains in her satchel, as she has for quite a while now, apparently too frightened to come out.

[Deepblue706]

There is a scurrying in one of the corners of the room. A small creature, from the sound of it. "Rats." The vermin eludes your sight, hiding in the shadows, continuing to move about. "No doubt, the taint of unholy filth draws them near." says Titus, as he reclaims his sword. "It is customary for strange wizards to keep dark beasts as minions. Keep alert."

Not a moment later, the twin doors before you swing open. From the unknown beyond, a massive figure steps through, shrouded in an unnatural darkness. When its foot connects with the floor, the ground beneath you vibrates. This foot, the only visible part of the creature, is nothing more than a large, black stone block.

It steps through the doorway, hunched over until entirely through. The figure stands easily over nine feet once upright. It appears to be entirely made of stone, in the form of a human, with two hands reaching towards the Knight, its closest target.

"SIEZE...TRESPASSERS..."

Map:

Spoiler

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Welcome to You're "Doom" (bonus points to anyone who knows the show)


I think you get the idea of what everything is. Not going to bother with concealment here - it's dark but not that dark.

Rolls thems initiatives. Ands whats yous guys is doings.

[amanodel]

Shimar

Behind the pillars, where it can't fit in! - shouts the barbarian, but waits for the others to move first. The thing is massive, and it would be a disadvantage to fight it at the open. He orders Whipser to back away from the moving statue. He

Initiative - (1d20+3)[16]

(May add some actions tomorrow, depeinding on inititaves, and others' action)

[Ya Ta Hey!]

"Ohhhh...that sucks." Len laments, shifting along with Shimar and D at the sight of the hulking menace. After a longing glance toward the shelter of the pillars, she runs up to Titus before he can get all paladinny and suicidal.

"Sir, this way! Faraham gave us more brains than brawn for a reason" she says breathlessly, tugging on his elbow.

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Initiative: (1d20+3)[18]

Actions: *move 2 squares north*
*if Titus goes along with Len, lead paladin as far behind northwestern pillars as possible*
*if Titus acts like obstinate jerk, stay behind him and ready glaive attack

Atck: (1d20+5)[13]
Dmg: [roll][1d10+4]*

[Deepblue706]

"I tend to agree, my lady." Titus quickly says as he takes a few steps back. He glances to those behind him and begins barking out "What are you waiting for? Get moving, dammit!" He turns back to the golem, holding his sword low and his shield high, continuing to inch his way back as the massive stone creature calls out to you.

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS YOU HAVE THREE SECONDS TO COMPLY."

[Proven_Paradox]

Drahlo calmly shifts back to wolf form and moves behind a pillar.

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Initiative: (1d20=9)

Shifting to wolf form, then moving one south, four west, one north

[Deepblue706]

Initiative Rolls

Flare: (1d20+2)[21] <--Don't have access to sheet, the link I saved doesn't work (error message). Had to guess.

Harold: (1d20+2)[17] <--As with Flare

Titus: (1d20+1)[4]

Lucian (1d20+3)[12]

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
the slim musician blanches as the solid block of stone confronts them, but with marvelous poise, Harold suppresses the gut-wrenching dread threatening to paralyze him.
Forcing a smile, Harold spreads his hands wide.
"No weapons in hand, good doorkeeper! But we come here on a grave errand; we've been following a group of assassins headed even now for your master, hiding under a cloak of invisibility! The trespassers are somewhere in the keep, but they can't have gotten far!"
Although the lie is bold, Harold has to do very little to put the necessary desperation into his voice.

[Deepblue706]

Spoiler

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Just so you know, this outcome had a 1 in 61 chance of actually occurring

Flare quickly takes a few steps back as the hulking creature marches forward. He seems ready to unleash his arcane power upon it, but hesitates, as he is trying to time his attack.

Meanwhile, Len retreats to the side, and Titus continues to step back. "Move, I said! Move!" he commands, keeping a watchful eye on the stone juggernaut.

Most of the party hesitates, unable to think clearly, paralyzed by fear. However, a stout-hearted Harold steps forward, and attempts the impossible.

It halts.

Taking a moment to scan its surroundings, the stone giant seems to be considering his words.

It stands silently.

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold inwardly experiences the sour, half-sick taste of relief in his mouth, and he presses on,
"Look," he says, pulling out a tiny mirror on a string and a small hammer from somewhere about his person,
"I'll prove it! This spell will counteract their invisibility for just a moment. Here,"
Garbling the words a little, Harold recites a few words and flicks the edge of the mirror with one finger, sending it spinning around by its string. abruptly, he strikes the mirror with the hammer, sending small shards of glass scattering!

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Casting silent image to create the effect described below.

Abruptly, at the Eastern doorway there appears a group of black-clad men, a dwarf among them. The oily black sheen of leather sheathes fairly bristle on their backs, and soft boots cover their feet. Shock registers on the mostly-obscured face of one of them, and they silently dash through the doorway. One pauses and waves his hand, and a brick wall appears where the door had stood!

[Deepblue706]

The golem continues to stand silently.