** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[Chris1234]

"That didn't go as planned," says Karlane {OOC: See comments in the 'OOC' thread'; in passing, Karlane's now has AC2 (includes Dex)} and shrugs, carrying on with the proceedings.
She casts Cure Light Wounds on herself and then turns to Lucien, "I thought we'd found all the secrets, doors and so forth, in this place, but it appears not. So what is behind the door where they came from? How did they get there? And what other hidey holes are there in this place?"

She proceeds to pat the two fallen down, looking for keys, paperwork (maps, orders etc) as well as weaponry & valuables.

After listening to Lucien's response she turns to Idrys, "Happy to explore beyond the door they came through?"

If nothing significant turns up from the exploration beyond the door where the intruders came from, she continues {OOC: as previously intended}
firstly with Sarancen, "Please tell me again, with more detail, about how to get to and approach your employer, the dwarf."

A short while later, Karlane catches her brother's attention and shares (with him alone) what she discovered in the documents. {OOC: Last post on p27, dated Thrus 6 Dec @ 3.31 am}.
She asks Idrys quietly, "Does this give you sufficiently more that you can further stir up the relationship between Delzoz & Lomag? With help from Erodan, I mean."

She says to all, "Tomorrow we hit the road. Enjoy what rest and quiet you can here. It may be a while before we see such again."

Finally, Karlane turns to Lucien, "I want you to start showing me the kill technique. Starting now. Idrys? Interested?"

[spike]

Lucien: "As did I, child. That, my dear is an entirely new construct and not of the original design of this secret base. My guess is that these masked ones are trying to move into this place as their hideout' he paused and nodded affirmatively 'aye, you will be trained hence forth' he floated across the room toward her 'study your target with intensity, it is required to study a target for a time before launching an attack, of which must always be dealt in stealth and hiding. If they are aware of your presence the attack can be avoided" he paused, 'if successful, either your target dies instantly or is paralyzed completely from the severity of your blow' he then adds 'If you fail to launch the attack after sufficient time of study of your target, you must expend the required time of study all anew less your attack is rendered useless'

[Chris1234]

if not already done, Karlane casts Cure Light Wounds on herself and then responds to Lucien, "Fine, got that. So, Lucien, you can move through walls, yes?" as she proceeds to pat the two fallen down, looking for keys, paperwork (maps, orders etc) as well as weaponry & valuables.

After listening to any reply from Lucien, she throws over her shoulder, "By the way, thanks Azonia. You, too, Idrys," and flashes them both a smile.

When the examination of the fallen is done, including looking at their faces and for forearm tattoos, Karane prompts, "Idrys? Are you happy to explore beyond the door they came through?" and heads off to do just that.

[spike]

Lucien: Aye, indeed I can.

The two had daggers and leather drawstring purses with 5 silver each. No tattoos or markings, and look fairly common, muscular though.

Beyond the secret door is a tight girthed secret passage which is carved out of limestone, illuminated by torches in the walls. It extends some ways before ending in an ante chamber.

[TristenC]

Idrys cleans his blade and nods, Stick close to Azonia and Lucien he says to the forger (Erodan?). Taking the lead in the tunnel and moving as stealthily as he is able, keeping his senses sharp.

[Ooc: I still need to go back and reread the post about the letters and documents. Might be a bit before he gets back to her on that]

[spike]

Stealthily the party crept along, after some while you make it to the antechamber which held a cistern in the centre, and in it a pool of crystal green water about 10 ft below through a hole in the floor which is covered by an iron railing. There is a door in the north wall that is slightly ajar.

You can hear some lewd laughter and bantering, cheering, and reverie beyond the door.

There are other masked trident men in a large chamber beyond. Two of them are clad in crimson red, while the others (20 give or take) are clad entirely in black.

The ones in red made a gesture to some nearby statues, pressed a secret button in the wall when the mid-section of a statue flew open to reveal the fleshy belly of a man trapped inside. The head also came off and there was a horrified face of the man trapped within.

Similarly, a second statue did the same exact thing when the red clad leader pressed the button yet again. He issued a throaty, echoing laugh that was muffled by his mask.

Leader: “so, you fools thought you could escape us, hmmmm? Dorian, you actually thought your brother had escaped us?! You deluded fool!’ he hurled his trident which pierced the man he named as Dorian in the abdomen. The second man cried out in impotent rage, tears welling in his eyes. He turned indignant and rage filled him as he cried out ‘I swear I will have my revenge upon you!’

The leader laughed, and all of his men hurled tridents into the second doomed mans body jeering at him in mockery. Then some of his men, with goblets in hand filled their cups with blood of the dying men and began drinking it one by one.

The leader said ‘good, drink up, the blood of your enemies is powerful indeed. The master encourages such of his little helpers. Soon, men, we will be filthy rich. The Lord and the princess alone are enough to keep the ransom monies flowing into the coffers for ages! Now, first thing tomorrow eve there’s a new shipment on the highway east of here. Weapons and ammunition from Jez’zur, the boss wants it all. And we get to keep any women and booze we find, or anything else for that matter!’

[Chris1234]

{OOC: @Spike - Does Karlane know anthything about Jez’zur? How far away is it? And would one take a north easterly road from current location to get there?}

While the foes are still occupied and before anyone has retrieved their tridents, Karlane takes full advantage of wearing the Boots & Cloak of Elvenkind, and tries to Stealth Cast 1.Charm on a black-clad man, about half way across the group, that she has the clearest view of and that is at least partially facing in her direction so that he will be well disposed towards her and will try to protect her once she becomes visible.
Stealth Cast TN18 [1d20] = 9 {OOC: Success!}

Slowly and silently as she can, Karlane then draws out her mace and advances stealthily, skirting the left-hand wall, and tries to back-stab - {OOC: they really should have called that 'sneak attack' but PHB says BS can be done with a club, so mace should be fine} - the nearest (non-Charmed) foe with his back to her. {+6 to hit, 1d6+4 dam which is hopefully is doubled by a backstab}

In any remaining segments of surprise, Karlane finishes off her initial target (if still alive) and then proceeds to the next nearest (non-Charmed) foe whilst still skirting the left hand wall. {OOC: #Att = 3/2}

[spike]

here's the map, your characters are in the cistern room. In the centre of this room you can see a circular railed hole in the floor that looks down to a cistern about 10 ft below, seemingly illuminated by continual light.

[spike]

Karlene knows that Jez'zur is a large, significant power southeast of Nyr. Culturally it is identical to medieval France, and the people there are a bit conceited and snobby but have a strong sense of romance about them.

You would have to cut through the black forest kingdom of the elves to reach Jez'zur which five days march by foot. The elves offer an escort service through their territory, and sometimes swift transport. At times they have been known to arrest trespassers they suspect of being spies (widely known). However they are especially kind to Nyrians (you and Idrys fall into this camp).

Erodan nodded in confirmation to Idrys, 'nevermind me, boy. I worked for the assassins guild prior, I'm not that defenseless'

One of the men seated himself on a guard stool next to the door when you charmed him in secret. He is under your power.

*CLUNK* Karlene sinks her mace into the back of a masked trident, he collapsed in a heap as you shattered his spinal chord and heard it crack.

The other masked men do not notice one of their own collapsed, immersed in the fun they're now participating in. The two in red saunter off through a pair of double doors to the far left of the rectangular chamber.

Lucien said 'evil doers, you and Idrys ought feed on their life blood it is far sweeter'

[Chris1234]

Karlane moves on to try and sneak attack out the next nearest back towards her along the left hand wall.
She blends invisibly against the wall, with a good strike to the foe's rear {OOC: AC3, 7 + sneak 2 = 9 dam}

If Karlane's noticed {OOC: surprise has ended, but att# = 3/2), Karlane follows up on her next target, preferably rear.
She blends invisibly against the wall, but with a poor strike {OOC: misses unless rear attack on a surprised foe, i.e. sneak, for AC9, 6 + 3 sneak = 9 dam}

======
torchlight, so 95% chance to be invisible (cloak)
+6 to hit, 1d6+4 dam which is hopefully is doubled by a backstab:
HS TN95% [1d100] = 93, THAC0 14 [1d20] = 11, dam [1d6+4] = 3+4 = 7
Sneak attack (base mace dam) [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

Follow up attack:
HS TN95% [1d100] = 33, THAC018 [1d20] = 5, dam [1d6+4] = 2+4 = 6
Sneak attack (base mace dam) [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

There are 20 odd foes here, so happy if you guys want to do several rounds of combat. I can catch up a couple of rounds in the morning.

[TristenC]

Idrys realizes he is falling behind and there seems too late to stopp his sister, so he joins her. Sneaking up behind another, he prepares his swords to assassinate one without disturbing the others.

[spike]

Karlene came upon a door sentry who was knelt over tying the laces of his shoes, a goblet of blood next to him. He grumbled 'I always get the shitty tasks!' when her mace struck him so hard it shattered his spinal chord and killed him in an instant (backstab). The others paid no heed since they were busy shouting and laughing, counting coins given them by the two in red.

Idrys came upon another and sunk his invisible sword through the small of the nearest masked trident's back, and that caught their attention then. Lacking their primary weapons, many swarmed toward the statues in desperation and leaving themselves exposed for opportunities of attack.

One of the masked trident's roared 'assassins! raise the alarm!' when another broke toward a lever near the double doors.

Lucien quickly intercepted him, lifted the man easily with a ghostly hand the man shriveled like a dried up husk as his life force was siphoned into the spectral assassin who drank of it greedily.

Two of the masked tridents whip out daggers and intercept Idrys, the first summersaults over the dhampir assassin to nimbly land before Karlene. He says to her 'time for some fun' waving his dagger in front of him as if trying to intimidate her.

Azonia prepares to throw her flying sword at the second masked trident, and Sarancen beat her to it 'not this time, Elsmyrian!' the black guardsman ripped out his longsword and was in front of Karlene protectively, telling Idrys 'go, kill the ones going for their tridents!'

masked trident #1 swung his dagger and scratched Idrys across his elbow (-1 hp damage) laughing which is dampened by the mask he wears, 'bet that felt good, boy, gonna gut you like a filthy pig!'

The charmed trident rushed to engage with this dagger wielding cohort of his, saying 'that's my friend, you little shiteater!' and luckily he was armed with his unspent trident. He moved in front of Idrys protectively, his trident shot forth and the dagger wielder parried the blow with his dag 'you bloody traitor!' he shot out angrily.

What do you do?

Status: Sarancen fighting the masked one near Karlene
Azonia targeting the mob of unarmed masked ones
Lucien near the door, guarding it.
Erodan chants 'xiombarg noquar enunia' and turns invisible.
Charmed masked trident: fighting against the second dagger wielding masked trident.

[Chris1234]

Karlane tries to bash the foe fighting the one she Charmed.

======
{OOC: @Spike1 - is that 4 down so far? 2 sneak attacked by Karlane, and 1 sneaked by Idrys, 1 drained by Lucien? Plus one Charmed would make 5?}
{OOC: @Spike1 -does this count as an even round? i.e. karlane gets 2 attacks?}

[spike]

1: correct
2: no, Karlene moves her full movement rate next to the dagger wielding masked trident and bludgeons him with her mace (-6 hp dmg) he falls to the ground and drops his dagger 'quarter!' he says to her, clutching the area where her mace had struck him hard.

since there's a mob of 15 scrambling to retrieve their thrown tridents, you each get to attack them since they are unarmed, unarmored and surprised.

[TristenC]

Using the position of the charmed man to block the man attacking him, Idrys charges after those scrambling for their weapons with a bloodthirsty cry, Come! Give up your souls to the already damned! Let now your own blood slake my thirst!!! Idrys lets his fangs descend as the red haze of hunger falls over his eyes. He lays into the backs of the scrambling mob trying to drive them into a tighter bunch against the wall so they have no room to employ their long weapons. He will also try to herd them so those on the outside block those beyond who are reaching weapons from turning to face him.

===
Ooc: mostly trying to intimidate them with the yelling