Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

As the political scene in Taldor explodes into chaos, heroes take on the mantle of agents, advocates, and saboteurs working for Princess Eutropia to help secure her claim to the Imperial throne and prevent the Empire from collapsing in on itself in civil war. Will they grow from relative nobodies to powerful politicians and spymasters in the deadliest political arena in the Inner Sea?

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:53 am

The roughed-up priest appears to be oblivious to the snide remarks and tension, too grateful at seeing friendly faces to notice anything else. "Yes, yes. I have a Brooch." He pulls his out and looks at it in amazement as he puts two and two together. "So this is what teleported us here. I was worried this might be some illusion or demon trickery, stealing our souls from their proper rest. By Abadar, this is a clever tool." He shakes his head ruefully. "How did you survive though? Poor Lord Manshum was killed almost instantly by monsters from the walls." He peeks out the door curiously, then backs away hurriedly. "They're still there!"

Dame Trant is giving dagger-eyes to Mercutio, but she holds her waspish tongue for now. Instead she politely nods to Astraea, thanking her for her kind offer. "A pleasure, Lady Clement. You do a service to the reputation of your House." The inspection shows it is a sprain. A bad one, but nothing is broken. After some linen is tightly wrapped around the wrist to stabilize it, so could probably get some use out of the thing. "Regardless of our present pleasant environs, there are still assassins loose in the Capital. I propose we not kill each other with cutting words, and work together to get out of here alive. Thoughts?"
Mercutio - Bluff Check: Successful. If I'm reading your intent here, you're insulting her, but in a way that she can't actually retaliate against without making herself look bad. If so, Mission Accomplished!

Astraea - Medicine Check: Successful. The wrist is as good as it's going to get (treat it like ability damage), but she could probably wield a weapon again, although at penalty.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Zorbeltuss » Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:35 pm

Trying to insult her without her realizing, actually.

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Wed Feb 12, 2020 3:01 am

"Agreed. I still want to know what's in that center area though," Astraea adds, pointing. "I'll bet anything it's worth checking out."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Vardaen » Wed Feb 12, 2020 5:08 pm

Theodrix nods to priest, "Right, we all teleported in. We saw those things, and managed to avoid them. They are stuck half in the walls, so if you avoid the walls, you can avoid the monsters. We are going to explore this section, you both stay here, we'll come back for you when the way is clear." He draws his blade once more, "Come on, let's circle around the area counter clockwise, check each room, then finish off the center chamber. We'll find a safe route out of here for everyone." With that he moves back to the door, "We should not tarry, as said, there are assassins in the capital and our friends could be in trouble there."
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:59 am

"Agreed." Astraea follows behind and once more draws her sword.

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Grimbold » Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:14 am

Brother Bertram looks for something to drink on his person, frowns when he finds nothing, then grips his staff and joins the others.

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by ManWithDoor » Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:56 pm

The duo is coaxed out of the room, with Dame Trant staring daggers at the thing while the cleric sticks to the edges of the walkway. The priest finally actually introduced himself as Jowuan Zubari, a cleric of Abadar. He is happy to provide healing and assistance, but only at market rates. The god of merchants demands compensation for all services provided.

The rest of the bordering rooms are open, and a few other survivors are found, mainly nobility but also a scared serving man, who was evidently hanging on to one of the Guests and was teleported along with them. The little halfling cowers at being in the presence of so many nobles, as you saw back in the Senate Building. He gravitates towards Astraea, likely because the warpriest is strong enough to protect him, and calls himself Imistos. He offers to carry her anything for her or assist her in any way, such as perhaps holding a lamp to light her way. Perhaps he was a valet?

Malphene eventually gets tired of skittering around the edges of the corridor, and picks up a broken masonry stone. As a walcofinde reaches out impotently towards her, she raises the stone high and brings it down in its arm. The stone breaks the undead's arm, although it continues reaching out anyways. Seeing how helpless they really are, the group jumps in and kills them from a distance, opening the central room.

Inside is found a long table, its surface covered in green felt, standing in the center of a rectangular chamber. Silver trays dot the table's surface, each hosting a set of crystal glassware and a tall decanter of wine, long dried out. Likely intended as a common gathering place for those who teleported out of the Senate, this chamber has seen no use since its construction. Many of you detect several overlapping circles drawn on the floor under the table with chalk, although the symbols have no magical function or known symbolism.

After finishing the search, you focus on the northern wall of the corridor, the likely progression direction to continue on. After a minute you find a secret door flush with the wall, with a somewhat rusted lock. It takes a few minutes to pick and pry open.
Moving on. You've now explored all of the C1/C2/C3 rooms.

In the center room is some loot. Fine crystal glassware and silver dining sets of good condition, valuing around 700gp (everyone add 140 gp to your character sheet). A document box on the table includes the following Scrolls (call dibs and add them to your sheets):
Scroll of Breath of Life
Scrolls of Cure Light Wounds (3)
Scroll of Invisibility
Scroll of Summon Monster II
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:03 pm

Astraea smiles at the halfling. "Don't worry, we'll keep you safe."

When the scrolls are discovered, Astraea examines them. "Let us hope these are not needed, particularly the first."
I think Astraea is the only one able to use the Breath of Life scroll without a UMD check, so I'll take that unless someone objects. She could also take one of the CLW scrolls if our party's Inquisitor wants the other two?

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Vardaen » Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:52 pm

Theodrix shatters an arm here, or a leg there of the wallconfind as they pass them to keep the growing collection of people safe. When the center room is explored he has no qualms with taking a few pieces of crystal or silver, but a search of the box he looks to Astrea, "Take them all for all I care, I'm not spellreader, I would rather you use them to save our hides than to try and sell them later for a few copper." He takes a head count of the growing company.

"Everyone takes a weapon, everyone is expected to defend themselves if things get bloody. We can do what we can, but you want to live, help yourselves." He goes about making clubs from chair legs, or daggers from broken bottles or a carving knife to someone so the group has at least some improvised weapon in their hand.

He moves to the door and the lock, "Give me a few." He sets to work on the lock, checking it for old traps first, before trying to open it, and once ready, he opens the hidden door, "On ward..."
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Zorbeltuss » Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:42 pm

"If that is so" Mercutio notes dryly "Then surely, Abadar would only find it fair that the help in getting out of this relic of history would come at market rates, too?

At times like these, he wasn't particularly picky when it comes to the Gods, but he usually couldn't stand Abadar and his followers, so sickeningly uptight from that stick shoved up their asses during intiation.

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