** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[Chris1234]

{OOC: @Spike - Going to need to clarify/understand a few things here before I know what is appropriate for Karlane. List format is probably easiest:
Finished editing.
1) Does Karlane know the name of the man who first came out of the list (that Idrys Backstabbed)? No
2) Does Karlane know the name of the man clad as a mage that has just arrived out of the elevator? No
3) has Karlane heard of Lord Altradeaus ?
4) The leader clearly wasn't expecting Idrys's backstab, so wasn't there a possibility of surprise (DMG p63)? (needed 1)
5) When the leader '...runs frantically toward a pillar...' certainly sounds like fleeing away from Idrys, if so the latter would be allowed an additional full set of attacks, (DMG p70). Avoided said opportunistic attacks for a specific reason
6) What's the visibility distance in the 'thick, obscuring mist'? 3 radius
7) When the leader bursts out of the mist he seems to know exactly where the usually silent Idrys is. While the leader has run off, pressed a button, pulled out a trident and operated it, has Idrys really not moved? Idrys is silent, but not invisible. While moving silently, which takes longer than ordinary walking boss-man is able to position himself since he's not stealthy and just moving ordinarily. He moved behind the second middle of the chamber pillar.
After the leader fired his trident and impaled Irys in both hands (remarkably accurately), Idrys didn't get to act. I suggest that counts against the 5 rounds of being held. called shot and rolled a natural 20...Agreed, so 4 rounds of being held unless he finds a way to free himself.
9 ) Leader says 4 sentences, removes teeth and throws them. Sounds like at least another round off Idrys's 5 rounds of being held (and probably 2 rounds, if I'm honest). Tracking it
10) '...Lucien drew Karlene's attention toward himself...' and thereafter Lucien attempts and fails to make (multiple) attack attempts on the leader (during which time the leader '...unfasten[s] his trident...twist[s] one part...into a spear-blade) has got to be two more rounds. This should go off Idrys's 5 rounds of being held, shouldn't it? Idrys str check: 18, he needed a 9 or less to break
11) Doesn't Karlane get any actions between when Lucien drew her attention and when the leader has finished producing the spear blade?
12) The leader stares at Karlane... that's quite a trick through 'thick, obscuring mist' and as she's wearing Cloak and Boots of Elvenkind. Doesn't she get a chance to surprise him? Or to act in some manner, for at least 1 round?
13) After ]staring at Karlane, the leader talks. A lot. 67 words. That's at least 5 segments. Can Karlane act while he talks? Any impact on Idrys's 5 rounds of being held?
14) 'Sarancen and Azonia came up behind the boss...' who '...turned and sneered at the two fighters...' Can Karlane act (being behind him) while he talks?
15) Initially '...The elevator comes to a screeching halt...' but there was no mention of it rising, someone entering, and descending again.

[spike]

1. No
2. No
3. check vs. surprise: not surprised (needed 1)
4. True, but he avoided said opportunistic attacks for a specific reason (hint: it's a special ability e.g. back protection + magic item worn stacked together)
5. 3 radius
6. Idrys is silent, but not invisible. While moving silently, which takes longer than ordinary walking boss-man is able to position himself since he's not stealthy and just moving ordinarily. He moved behind the second middle of the chamber pillar.
7. yep, he made a called shot and rolled a natural 20. Fortunately they were only darts, and not the full trident itself which causes MASSIVE damage if he were to have thrown that weapon. Agreed, so 4 rounds of being held unless he finds a way to free himself.
8. I'm keeping track of the rounds, so no need. I've already reduced the time spent being held by the dart-net while boss-man's been monologing.
9. Idrys str check: 18, he needed a 9 or less to break free of the binding net. This binding is extremely tight, think the movie predator and the predator's net caster, then you get the gist of the weapon.

[Chris1234]

3) has Karlane heard of Lord Altradeaus ? YES, he worked on a team for the queen before, or so you heard rumors, and he was a thief but later a mage. That's all you know, the team was disbanded when the queen had been corrupted and turned to evil by way of a cursed magic item. The team was the queens secret service, but was too high level for you to become privy to.

4) The leader clearly wasn't expecting Idrys's backstab, so wasn't there a possibility of surprise (DMG p63)? (needed 1)

5) When the leader '...runs frantically toward a pillar...' certainly sounds like fleeing away from Idrys, if so the latter would be allowed an additional full set of attacks, (DMG p70). Avoided said opportunistic attacks for a specific reason
6) What's the visibility distance in the 'thick, obscuring mist'? 3 radius
7) When the leader bursts out of the mist he seems to know exactly where the usually silent Idrys is. While the leader has run off, pressed a button, pulled out a trident and operated it, has Idrys really not moved? Idrys is silent, but not invisible. While moving silently, which takes longer than ordinary walking boss-man is able to position himself since he's not stealthy and just moving ordinarily. He moved behind the second middle of the chamber pillar.
After the leader fired his trident and impaled Irys in both hands (remarkably accurately), Idrys didn't get to act. I suggest that counts against the 5 rounds of being held. called shot and rolled a natural 20...Agreed, so 4 rounds of being held unless he finds a way to free himself.
9 ) Leader says 4 sentences, removes teeth and throws them. Sounds like at least another round off Idrys's 5 rounds of being held (and probably 2 rounds, if I'm honest). Tracking it
10) '...Lucien drew Karlene's attention toward himself...' and thereafter Lucien attempts and fails to make (multiple) attack attempts on the leader (during which time the leader '...unfasten[s] his trident...twist[s] one part...into a spear-blade) has got to be two more rounds. This should go off Idrys's 5 rounds of being held, shouldn't it? Idrys str check: 18, he needed a 9 or less to break
11) Doesn't Karlane get any actions between when Lucien drew her attention and when the leader has finished producing the spear blade? Yes

12)The leader stares at Karlane... that's quite a trick through 'thick, obscuring mist' and as she's wearing Cloak and Boots of Elvenkind. NOTE: there seems to be air flow emanating from the trident leaders cloak. Also, while Karlene was busy preoccupied with hunting the bossman she hadn’t noticed the elevator which was behind her had been recalled back up (INT check 19)
13)
Doesn't she get a chance to surprise him? Or to act in some manner, for at least 1 round? He's staring AT you but seems to be speaking to Sarancen who is behind you, not at you per se.

13)After ]staring at Karlane, the leader talks. A lot. 67 words. That's at least 5 segments. Can Karlane act while he talks? Any impact on Idrys's 5 rounds of being held? He tried to break free but failed STR check, he will get another check next round at regular and be able to break free on that check.

14)'Sarancen and Azonia came up behind the boss...' who '...turned and sneered at the two fighters...' Can Karlane act (being behind him) while he talks? (yes, but she doesn’t get the surprise at all, however she can get a backstab attempt) she rolls a 16 and does -12 hp blunt damage, killing him. When she does, she notices he drops a vial of some milky white liquid he looked to be about to drink but didn't get the chance.The vial flies into the air and Karlene snatches it before it can fall and shatter on the floor (dex: succeeded)

15)Initially '...The elevator comes to a screeching halt...' but there was no mention of it rising, someone entering, and descending again.

^^ if I didn’t mention, because you didn’t notice while doing something else e.g. searching intently

[Chris1234]

{OOC1: Thanks Spike. Sorry to be a pain. Nice answers, including the lift. Uncertainties just buzz around and around in my head until they're nailed down tight. Mixed metaphor, oops.}

Karlane says, "Stiff the snake" and takes a pace forwards with a half turn (so that the recently descended mage isn't currently behind her) and gives the leader another blow to the face in case he's pretending to be dead.
{OOC2: doesn't have to be the face, that's mostly fluff. Out of interest, what is the penalty for called shot, face? Might offset by a huge bonus, +4 for prone, and, if actually dead, Dex is 3 at most, so AC reduced by -4}

With a glance at the recently descended mage, she inquires, "Have you come to give us trouble too?" as she tucks away the vial of white liquid for later inspection.
{OOC3: I know that might give her position away if he's hostile, but it's deliberate to try and pull attention away from Idrys, to give him a chance to break free. If it kicks off again with the mage, (while I'm asleep) and further stalling isn't an option, Karlane will try her mace's special 'netting' ability to incapacitate the mage. if he proves non-hostile, then Karlane will empty her gloves of magic missile into the snake and then try to help free Idrys, followed by giving him a CLW.}

[TristenC]

Idrys [Back when he was first pinned down... what, 6 rounds ago now? Haven't had a chance to act yet. Kind of frustrating.] tries to pull the spikes in one hand out with his teeth, then pulling the other out with his now free hand. If he can't reach with the teeth or fails the check, the round after being 'pinned in the hands' he kicks using leverage against the ground to augment his strength to free himself. If that fails, he uses his tumbling and parkour skills to generate momentum and forcibly tear his hands off of the spikes (taking the small injury rather than remaining pinned)...

[spike]

IDRYS: With a burst of adrenalized fury Idrys broke out of his bonds, the mesh of the netting bore lines against his skin (damage already factored in from the dart damage) when he took notice that the wounds were slowly mending and the sinews of his broken flesh sealing themselves closed (+1 hp restored).

note: the mage is an actual PC who will be played by my friend Matt, fyi. He'll respond IC as soon as he can he's sort of down and out with a nasty cold right now, fyi.

AS the boss was thoroughly slain and finished at the end of Karlene's mace, Karlene felt a peculiar delirium was over her when she sensed that the now slain leader's soul was trying to enter her body somehow, yet all of her discipline and clerical training enabled her to resist this attempt at possession. Then Lucien came and grabbed the spirit-body of dead trident leader which was invisible and laughed triumphantly 'now I have you, my elusive prey!' the spectral assassin said with a wry grin, thrusting the spirit onto its knees before you both, and leveling his dagger at its throat 'now, what do we do with this little insignificant vermin?' he asked. 'This thief of bodies!'

The spirit of the dead leader spoke 'let me go and give me a body to inhabit, and I will share some very intriguing secrets with you. Kill me and those secrets, which could avail you all will perish with me to whatever hell awaits. Think about it friends, don't be too hasty. There, Lord Altradeaus give me his form and we have a deal. He fits my requirements!'

REACTION

[TristenC]

End his reign of bodysnatching. Sure he's sewn enough evil to fill a hundred lifetimes and letting him endure only willingly invites more. If there are secrets, Lor will reveal them to us.

[spike]

LUCIEN: as you will it, mi'lord.

The specter slits the spirit-form of the trident-leader, who cries out in a ghastly horrified look 'NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! You blithering dumbshits! I will have my revenge!!!' when he collapsed on the ground beside his physical body. You saw shadowy shapes slither and animate in the corners of the chamber and haul him away dragging him screaming through a dark crack in the ground.

Sarancen and Azonia tear the giant snake into mincemeat in very little time.

Lucien informs: there are whores, vagabonds, drifters, drunkards, orphans, and the aged down below, mostly women however. They've been ill treated and some are used as comfort women or sold into slavery on the auction blocks.

After destruction of the body thief, your wounds are instantly healed and both of you feel refreshed and renewed from within. It is as though you have bathed for a very long period of time and some of your worn equipment, tears in cloaks and garb from adventuring has mended as well (as if your clothes had regenerated). Somehow you realize that he was an important tool in Karnak's operations and without him, the mage's enterprise is severely hampered since the tridents served as a revenue stream for the magee also

JUST THEN, FROM THE OBSCURING MIST THAT HAD FLOODED THE CHAMBER strode the mage in the arcane robes, who the trident-leader had named Lord Altradeaus. He wore a bewildered expression as if disoriented and perplexed, and as Karlene fiddling with the trident leaders form probing for treasure she beheld this mage being held against his will and cajoled into servitude for use of his magic skills in whatever nefarious activities the tridents had going on in this annex.

Azonia calls a challenge to the newcommer, 'who are you?! What are you doing in this place?" she held the grip of her kuri-sword tightly.

Sarancen placed a hand on her shoulder, 'worry not, Elsmyrian. He's just a lord, they all know a bit of magic doesn't mean they're true mage's. This one looks harmless nuff'

[TristenC]

Seeing the snake diced up, Idrys smiles. Should have known you two wouldn't need any help. He searches the leader's body and watches the newcomer closely before speaking. Your captor is dead. Do you know what he had planned for you and how you came to be here?

[Chris1234]

"Well done with the snake. You Ok, brother? And is anyone damaged?"
{OOC1: @SPike - Kit list please from the leader and, I suppose, his fallen bodyguards}

As Altradeaus emerges from the mist, Karlane peers at the mist to see if it's clearing. She echoes on the back of Idrys's voice, "He used to be a little more than that. Care to introduce yourself, Lord Altradeaus. If the title still has meaning for you. And your intent, too. Do you, like the rest of the country, seemingly, mean us ill?"
{OOC2: @Matt - Welcome}

[spike]

Trident boss:

cloak
trident: after careful examination, the 3 pronged head is a net caster that fires a 3 spiked weighed net. The weapon also snaps into two components, the second which ejects a spring blade turning it into a half-spear. Once the net is spent, the trident reloads and can fire barbed darts (3/round) there's a loading bay in the shaft of the weapon where you can insert said darts.
purse with 50 platinum
sketch drawings of some nude females of various racial stock (e.g. elf, half-elf, half-orc, etc)
20 darts with some type of bulbous container toward the fletch, presumably to hold poison or explosive black powder
a vial of black liquid, with the telltale icon of skull and crossbones on it
a leather drawstring pouch filled with black powder

bodyguards: nothing but tridents and clothes, a few had ordinary daggers (3) one had a lock of womans hair and the other a pair of womens underclothes kept as some sort of hankerchief.

[SARRMATT]

"Take care when handling that one's body, he had several vials of a substance that could level a home. Might I take my cloak back from the scoundrel? The lift there returns to his personal room. There were papers and traps aplenty to be found there. I bear you no I'll will, I was just another slave to soon be sold." whisper bows to those present.
[Ooc] did his light snooping in the office before taking the lift return anything of value without risking anything that could have been trapped?

[Chris1234]

As there's no reply from Azonia or Sarancen, Karlane takes the cloak and approaches Idrys, "Wear this. And hold still please." She gives Idrys the fallen leader's cloak and then casts CLW on her brother if still required, otherwise asking again, if anyone needs healing..

She explains what the trident can do, the priestess then asks, "Who among us is skilled with a trident?" and waits for replies (including from the newcomer.)

[spike]

Whisper: you found several encrypted messages wrote in thieves cant, they appear to be reports of some sort but you can't make heads or tales on any of them. A stack of seven in all.

There was also this letter on his desk:

Scarn,

Your tridents have done exceedingly well in eliminating our obstacles, in reward this batch of fresh slave girls for your lackey's pleasure. Mere commoner farm girls, nobody that will be missed. Dispose of them after their usefulness has ended.

Lomag's assistance will enable us to extend the reach of our current operations. It will certainly lighten your load in managing the copper mines, his Hobgoblins can keep the child-slaves in line. Ensure the timely well executed raids continue, we cannot afford even one botched raid again. The Watcher's have eyes on the road, be weary my friend.

Together with yourself, me, and Lomag we should be quite comfortable and reap the profits in these backwater areas where none would suspect our extensive enterprise.

I shall see you at the summit at months end.

-Karnak


Azonia shrugged, 'Trident's are water bourne weaponry' and Sarancen laughed then said 'not for me, sounds like a fisherman's weapon to me heh heh. Or a bounty hunters perhaps' the black guardsman moved up to this Lord Altradeaus and greeted the mage 'well, you're free now, friend. This bucket of orcshit is very dead, and he won't be causing you any more grief thanks to Idrys there, and his lovely sister Karlene'

[Chris1234]

{OOC: Where is the desk? And Karlane plans to show these to Lucien as he might have absorbed ?Scarn's? knowledge of decoding them.}