Raichel says, "Lost my appetite."

Timothius pats Rai's shoulder and looks at the others. "So we're going to Tu'narath. Right?"

May says, "Thanks to mister useful here, yeah. Any objections?"

"Certainly not your appetite for justice," Mits asserts, clenching her fist.

finding Tu’nArATh
encounter Level 19 (12,000 XP)
Setup
To secure a route to the githyanki city, the PCs must
negotiate Citadel Mercane for leads. You should
run this skill challenge as the adventurers explore
and investigate the Bazaar. This skill challenge is
unusual in that even failed checks can reveal routes to
Tu’narath. These options are more dangerous and risk
much, but they are as viable as geting a victory with
the skill challenge. Many failures, as shown below,
include links to side-treks. If characters follow-up on
these, turn to the indicated page for details on what
happens.

Defeating the goristro demons
gives the PCs an edge when trying to enter the city.
Destroying them counts as one victory

(( Nitpick note:  Victory?  Not success?  I guess we don't have to do the skill challenge, then.  :p ))

Finding Tu’narath Level 19
Skill Challenge XP 12,000
The air hums with conversation, and in the crowds you see any
number of useful types who might aid you in your mission.
The PCs listen and interact with locals to discover possible
routes to Tu’narath. This skill challenge takes at least 6
hours.
Complexity
5 (12 successes before 3 failures).
Primary Skills
Bluff, Diplomacy, Endurance, History, Insight, Intimidate.
Other Skills
Streetwise.

Special
If the PCs rescued and befriended Mayhem, they gain a +2
bonus to all skill checks related to the skill challenge.

Bluff DC 22
The PCs adopt cover stories and use them to find a way to the
githyanki city.
Requires a successful Streetwise check.
The first failure turns up a name for someone who might
help: Scaramandar. The failed check opens up the advanced
Streetwise 1 option. The PCs cannot make any more Bluff
checks until they succeed on another Streetwise check.

Diplomacy DC 22
The adventurers negotiate for passage, hinting at their mission
and seeking sympathizers.
The PCs cannot make any more Diplomacy checks until
they get another success with Streetwise.

Endurance DC 22 (4 successes maximum; see below)
The PCs spend time carousing in the hopes loose lips might
reveal a clue.
On a failed check, a nearby barfly suggests the characters
should just steal a ship. The failed check opens up the
advanced Streetwise 2 check.

History DC 27
The PCs recall and mention a particularly bloodthirsty
githyanki raid so that they can attempt to weaken bonds of
loyalty or foment feelings of vengeance in people around them.
A successful check can negate one failure instead of
granting a success.

Intimidate DC 22
The PCs use threats to pressure locals to cough up a way to
the city.
If failed, in addition to counting as a failure, the first failed
check reveals a name of someone who might help. Taikus,
a githzerai black marketer, sometimes smuggles goods into
Tu’narath. This failure opens up advanced Streetwise 3. The
PCs cannot make any more Intimidate checks until they
succeed on another Streetwise check.

Streetwise DC 22
The PCs explore the Citadel, listening to rumors, asking
questions, and generally feeling the pulse of the city.
Characters can cooperate to aid a lead character using this
skill. In addition to counting as a success, a successful check
opens up the Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate skills.

advanced Streetwise 1 DC 27 (0 successes or failures)
The PCs ask around about Scaramandar and learn he is a
fixer and problem-solver. He has a dubious reputation and is
a known double-crosser, but he might aid them in reaching
Tu’narath. If the characters follow this lead, they get an
audience. Go to “Dealing with the Devil” on page 34.
Characters can cooperate to aid a lead character using this
skill.

advanced Streetwise 2 DC 22 (0 successes or failures)
A little investigation into suitable vehicles to steal comes up
with the name Merciless. If the characters follow this lead, they
find the vessel with little trouble. See “Merciless” on page 36.
Characters can cooperate to aid a lead character using this
skill.

advanced Streetwise 3 DC 22 (0 successes or failures)
The PCs learn Taikus is still in the city and he might be willing
to help. If the characters follow this lead, they find directions to
his warehouse. Proceed with “Shortcuts through the Void” on
page 36.
Characters can cooperate to aid a lead character using this
skill.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:22, Sun 06 Mar 2016.

  "I'll take a look around the usual places that have people muttering where they left their treasure into their ale and such."  He looks to May.  "Want to drink interdimensional beings angels under the table and look bored when they pass out, May?"

OOC: Can't fail the Endurance check.  So we have 4 Successes as needed.

May says, "Sure! Though... I am relatively hard to bore, especially in this place." she follows.

Timothius and Raichel stay within ear shot of Kyle and May so that any team mate can come to the aid of the others at the drop of a hat. They take turns succeeding and failing to gather word on the street, but whenever they succeed, Timothius uses his silver tongue to get people to reveal everything they can. He finds several sympathizers and this ups Raichel's morale some. When the group reconvenes, Timothius gives the information he learned while listening to Kyle and May's info.

---

Tim: Diplomacy auto-success. First Streetwise success (25). Second diplomacy auto-success. // Rai: Second Streetwise success (29). // Tim: Third diplomacy auto-success. Rai and Tim secceed on third and fourth streetwises respectfully, which gives Tim a fourth and fifth auto-success on diplomancy. Nine successes total, combined with Kyle's 4 means 11. Plus goristros = 12 successes! (2 failed streetwise checks, which Kyle could probably eliminate anyway if a failed streetwise counted as a failure in the challenge)

Mayhem is frequently praising the heroes, Kada'ne stays incognito, and Mittens isn't hardly any help at all.  But there's one point where a streetwise goof-up gets low-lifes riled up, but Mits scares the living heck of them with an uncanny valley puppet and they blurt out what they know before bolting.  (( Successful intimidate ))   http://geekologie.com/2010/12/30/muppets-3.jpg

Victory
The characters arrange a meeting with Captain J’ladimir,
a Separatist sympathizer. He stands as the best and most
certain route to Tu’narath.

The Sympathizer
Characters who successfully attain a victory on the
“Finding Tu’narath” skill challenge (page 55) can
have a meeting with Captain J’ladimir, the githyanki
captain of Gith’s Memory, a powerful astral carrack.
J’ladimir was once a githyanki knight, but he resigned
when Vlaakith was murdered by adventurers. He left
his city to become a merchant, and he has sailed the
Astral Sea these past two decades. Citadel Mercane is
one his favorite ports.
J’ladimir is tall, thin, with angular features and
a short, stubby nose. He has bright blue eyes and
mottled skin. He wears chainmail armor and carries a distinctive silver longsword. Two decades as
a merchant have done nothing to soften his disposition toward nongithyanki. He harbors a deep
hatred for adventurers, blaming them, in part, for
his queen’s death. The only thing he hates more than
nongithyanki is Zetch’r’r, for J’ladimir knows the
blackguard was behind his lady’s assassination.
J’ladimir hasn’t officially joined the Separatists,
but he’s close. He resents Tiamat’s surging influence,
and his hate for the tyrant endures. Now that the Separatists claim to have Vlaakith CLVIII on their side,
he’s willing to help them.
In spite of his misgivings, he needs little convincing to help the PCs reach Tu’narath. The characters
need only mention the Separatists, and he volunteers
to ferry them to the city. If Mayhem is present, the
characters don’t even need to mention their mission. J’ladimir also supplies the adventurers with the
proper documentation to enter the Merchant District. This is the extent to which J’ladimir will help.
He offers nothing about the city, about the political
developments, or anything elsesuch is his disdain
for the adventurers. Passage on his ship is simple and
uncomfortable, but it’s passage all the same.
His ship leaves the day after the PCs meet with
him, so the characters still have time to make purchases, perform rituals, and do anything else they
need while at the Citadel.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Mon 07 Mar 2016.

  Kyle will gladly take grumblepants professional over, well, 90% of the Coalition situation.

  "Thank you for the assistance, J'ladimir."

Raichel was sure to high-five Mittens on her use of Kermit's southern hippy crack-addict cousin.

Timothius sees through J'ladimir, though (Insight 41), and uses this to his advantage, slipping in subtle suggestions of possible admiration for Vlaakith, clear hatred for Zetch'r'r, and hints at how they intend to give Zetch'r'r over to githyanki justice, perhaps even to J'ladimir. He is careful to be subtle in his manipulation of J'ladimir's emotions, not lying, and not making any indication that he knows J'ladimir hates him and his allies.

He does not mention J'ladimir's opinion at all until he knows the man will not hear from the group again for a long time.

May just does her best to not staaaaare at J'ladimir's sword.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:06, Mon 07 Mar 2016.

Adventurers who do everything right at Citadel Mercane gain passage on Gith’s Memory and need only
wait for the ship to arrive at Tu’narath.

pArT TWo: Tu’nArATh
Having crossed the Astral Sea’s expanse by portal or
by vessel, the adventurers find Tu’narath, the ancient
githyanki city, lying before them. Never a welcoming place, Tu’narath is made even more uninviting by
Tiamat’s occupying force and its crushing, totalitarian
regime. How the adventurers find the city depends on
the methods used to reach it.

By Ship
Characters approaching Tu’narath must contend with
the sentinels if they want to reach the city intact.
If the adventurers reach the city by way of a
planar vessel, read:

Your vessel breaks through the shimmering astral essence
and there, amid the sea of sparkling lights, floats Tu’narath.
Citadels drift around the city, each a cluster of spurs,
towers, and chains connecting these floating fortresses
to smaller roosts. Dragons with riders soar through the
firmament as massive astral warships perform training
maneuvers over the city.

Beyond the traffic, and beyond the strongholds’ net, is
the city. Although bristling with towers and strongholds,
wormed with roads, and spewing black plumes of smoke,
its foundation is clear. The city grows like tumors all over
a dead creature’s petrified remains. What’s clearly a head
stands at one end. From its shoulders stretch six arms,
each ending at steel docking towers crowded with ships.
Structures armor the being’s torso, extending down to what
would have been its abdomen but is now a crumbling region
dimpled with dark caverns and littered with debris.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocooki...st?cb=20140119214535

http://vignette2.wikia.nocooki...st?cb=20140630115209

"Now there's a sight I never imagined I'd see in this lifetime," Mits comments, "So what was the name of the god that this city is founded on?"

"The One in the Void," Kada'ne answers.

  Kyle hopes that Tiamat is at least, slightly smaller.

  "The void is a big place.  I expect somewhere is the Second in the void."

Timothius frowns some. "I remember hearing about a god whose killer was so thorough in his or her destruction that the killer made sure their name was forgotten, removed from history, and never to be recovered. Don't suppose this would be that god. Or do you know?"

Raichel is a bit creeped out. Timothius is creeped out too, but composed enough to get his question out clearly.

May is staring with her jaw agape.

Kada'ne head-shakes.  "No.  From what I've heard, this god-isle was long adrift in the Astral Sea when the first Githyanki settled here, and they had nothing to go on to know its history."

Mits shrugs.  "Maybe someday we can ask Ioun."

The Cordon
The githyanki are not about to let a band of adventurers enter the city. Not long after Tu’narath comes into
view, a wing of dragonknights surrounds the vessel to
inspect the cargo and ensure the ship has the trade
exemption needed to dock at the stations. (Use the
“Githyanki Raiders” encounter on page 37.)

Characters on board Gith’s Memory have nothing to
fear. Captain J’ladimir has documentation and presents it to the dragonknight when she comes aboard.
J’ladimir is feared and respected enough that the
githyanki don’t search the vessel and, in fact, escort it
the rest of the way to the docking stations.

Mits looks impressed with the outcome.  Kada'ne is careful not to speak a word lest one of them recognize his voice.

  Not simply attacking anyways?  Perhaps the Githyanki need to actually worry more about their reputation on the Astral Plane, compared to during their invasions.

May and the twins keep their mouths shut also. Until they are at their destination and far from prying enemy ears, they have no reason to blurt anything.

Kada'ne fills the group in on what he knows about the city.  http://i59.tinypic.com/10r49e1.jpg

City Overview
Tu’narath is a sprawling metropolis built atop the petrified remains of a dead god known only as the One
in the Void. Much of Tu’narath remains as it always
has, but it has not emerged from the tumultuous last
decades unscathed.

Vlaakith’s mad rituals sent shockwaves through the
city, destroying Susurrus, the Palace of Whispers, and
reducing the necropolis and the statue of Gith to rubble.
Damage from this event can still be seen in adjoining
military districts and the city has worked to rebuild.

The Merchant District, however, is more or less
intact. Although overrun by Tiamat’s agents and soldiers, the githyanki still do not allow nongithyanki
who have no affiliation with the war effort to venture
farther than the commercial quarter, and those who
push into the neighboring districts find themselves
beset by overwhelming numbers.

Tu’naRaTH
Under Tiamat’s heel, the former center of githyanki
culture has now become a bastion of the Dark Lady’s
strength.
Population: 120,000; Githyanki are still the dominant
people in Tu’narath, but they now share the city with
Tiamat’s legions. Unprecedented numbers of devils,
dragonborn, dragonspawn, and other creatures have
free rein to go where they please. Outside of these
forces, visitors are still confined to the Merchant District, where a diverse population thrives.
Government: After foreigners assassinated Vlaakith
CLVII, Emperor Zetch’r’r came to power. He rules by
Tiamat’s consent and is little more than a puppet. If he
displeases Tiamat, his reign would come to an abrupt
end.
Defenses: Most githyanki serve in the military with
allegiance to a society found in the military districts.
Military societies raise armies consisting of warriors,
gish, and warlocks. Foremost of these warriors are the
githyanki knights who ride dragons into battle. Numerous floating fortresses are arranged around the city, and
each has a full company and two to four pact dragons
to intercept foreign vessels coming too close to the city.
In addition, Tiamat keeps four legions in the city to
ensure her continued control. These mercenary forces
are made up of dragonborn, humans, devils, abishai,
and other creatures loyal to the Dark Lady. As powerful
as they are, Tiamat knows they are only as strong as the
dragons supporting them, and if the dragons quit the
city, Tiamat’s forces would surely follow.
Inns: The Morningstar Inn; Iron House; The Dragon’s
Den; others. The Morningstar Inn is the most expensive but most popular establishment in the Merchant
District.
Taverns: The Winesink; Filthy Dredges; Nectar House;
others.
Supplies: The Merchant District is the commercial
center in the city and one can find just about anything
they could want. Merchants sell from established
shops, open-air markets, or carts along the streets. Businesses cluster together along streets set aside for trade.
Kyndl Street, for example, offers alchemical supplies,
poisons, and ritual ingredients.
Temples: For as long as Tu’narath has stood, it has
never housed an official temple. With Zetch’r’r’s reign,
the city now has a grotesque temple dedicated to
Tiamat that also serves as the emperor’s palace.

Kada'ne crits his streetwise, but has to feign ignorance on a few known points to cover up who he is.  With a little help from the kitty twins, he learns all there is to learn of recent events.

Rumors in Tu’narath
The characters can learn more about current events
in the city by making Streetwise checks.
DC Information
28 Emperor Zetch’r’r rules the city, and the
githyanki of Tu’narath fight on Tiamat’s behalf.
30 Zetch’r’r came to power after foreigners
assassinated the lich-Queen Vlaakith, and he has
ruled for 25 years.
35 Many believe Zetch’r’r had a hand in Vlaakith’s
death and point to his close ties to Tiamat as
further proof of his treachery. not all are so
willing to fight for Tiamat.
40 Vlaakith has returned and is allied with the
Separatists. However, the emperor’s warriors
captured her and hold her someplace out of
the city. If she were freed, she could rally the
githyanki against Zetch’r’r’s tyranny.

"Well if we can't manage to find the separatist leader, we should at least look into that," Mits figures.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Tue 08 Mar 2016.

  "Hmm, not much of an assassination if your target it still around.  Though I suppose that matters little to them with the current results."  Man, contracts for killing people who respawn must have a lot of fine print.

Timothius looks over to Kyle. "Tell that to the resurrection ritual. Someone that important was likely granted permission to come back by the Raven Queen, if just to mess with Tiamat. But then again, what do I know from divine politics? I can barely grasp the Coalition." (He isn't being sarcastic, on that note. He honestly thinks worldly politics are tough enough and divine politics must be more of a headache)

Raichel says, "Without more info, it's only speculation. I'm with Mitts; we need to do more investigating."

May asks Kada'ne, "You OK?"

Kada'ne looks confused by May.  "Why would I be?"

"Heads up!" Mits warns.

The crowds thin until you are alone in a walled square.
Two empty bridges crisscross overhead, and an impressive
statue depicting a githyanki warrior riding a red dragon
dominates the square’s center. The eerie stillness is broken
when a hulking humanoid, some strange cross between
giant and blue dragon, enters the square. Joining it are
several winged angels whose torsos give way to wispy
nothingness.

"Oooh!  This should be fun!"

The enemies attack!  http://vignette2.wikia.nocooki...st?cb=20100421222917

No tiamat specific angels i could find, but figured this a good stand-in: http://cache.desktopnexus.com/...474-bigthumbnail.jpg

  "I admit I am somewhat more concerned about the Dragonspawn than the Angels.  Which just goes to show what this job does to you when 'Oh, we have to stab an Angel' is just expected"  Not that he's expecting the Angels to be pushovers either.

May says in a hushed tone, "I'd be more impressed with the dragonspawn if we hadn't curbstomped every dragon we come across, including exarchs. Angels, we have yet to fight."

Timothius says, "Fun? You consider this fun?"

Raichel says, "Have you met our sister?"

Timothius sighs. "I had a feeling we would need our heavier hitting stuff eventually, today. But let's not throw everything at them right away."

Raichel does her usual start-of-combat thing by going feral, dropping the scythe, and then shooting a lightning bolt that gets dodged by the dragonspawn. Her ears duck in light annoyance, but due to looking feral, it just looks like she wants to rip the dragonspawn's head off.

---

Minor: Blood Fury weapon
Minor: Razorclaw Shifting
Standard: Furious Bolts v Bluespawn. Miss(24)

<Supernal>"For Tiamat!"

An angel charges and slashes Timothius with its flaming greatsword!

"For the Heroes of the Prime Material!"  Kadane moves to the statue and zaps at the dragonspawn with the familiar burning lightning of his.

A second angel charges Kyle!

May charges up to the bluespawn and CLANG! Hits to find no purchase. "Huh. 'nother toughy, this one!" The dragon feels itself injured nonetheless.

---

Weapon Mayster's Strike v Bluespawn. Miss(29)
 dmg: 5

Bluespawn HP: 510 - 5 = 505
This message was last edited by the player at 05:33, Tue 08 Mar 2016.

An angel attacks Kada'ne and another attacks May!  The dragonspawn growls.

<draconic>"Fee Fie Foe Fum.  I smell the blood of a dragonborn!"

It takes a swing at May, then snarls when it fails to do any damage.

Timothius points his staff at the bluespawn. "I will show you your future." Whatever the dragonspawn's spite levels may be, it sees the future where it will lose. It also sees the group having stomped Chillreaver.

---

Break the Spirit v Bluespawn. CRIT(41)!
 dmg: 44
 Bluespawn takes -5 to attacks.
 Tim gains a spare use of healing word.

Bluespawn HP: 505 - 44 = 461

Ker-glow!  Mits manages to burn through the radiant resistance of all but one of the angels, dropping them!

"Wow.  These guys are dropping like flies.  I was expecting more from angels."