Once she and Akihiro are both disembarked, Sammiya and her dog tried to descend the stairs behind Talis for the opening of the door.

  Talis sweats as he opens the lock on the door muttering under his breath, "This is one tough lock for a simple lumber mill, I think we are on the right track."  After he gets it unlocked, he readies his spear and motions for Tanrov to open the door.

Ok, I would say the approximate order is;

Cat/Murphis (gives the end of the party some cover and mounted Cat has mobility to move forward is needed)
Zer
----stairs---
Logalog
Miriam
Jan (he likes to get into the thick of combat)
Sam/Akhiro
Talis
Tanrov
---door---



Tanrov opens the door.  This is a place of mist and noise. Four immense  waterwheels churn steadily in the northern part of this large room, while to the south, whirring belts of leather, gears, pulleys, and thick ropes spin and churn,
using the eternal motion of the river below to power pistons that rumble along the southern wall.  The gears and pulleys and such are whirling around and look dangerous to be near (treat as difficult terrain; 1/2 movement and no charging; possible other hazards as well).  Only a 5' wide area around the outside appears safe to move in.

There are 3 workers tending the machines.  They don't appear to be armed with weapons (though they do have tools which could probably be used as weapons) and they are wearing heavy leather work clothes (which could act as leather armor in a pinch).  The worker ahead and to Tanrov's left is looking your way when the door opens, and his eyes widen as a heavily armed and armoured Tanrov appears in the door.

You have surprise; what do you want to do?  You have 1 action (so most people can only move).

Just imagine yourselves in positin relative to Tanrov.

Once Tanrov opens the door he will move into the large room all the while readying his scimitar and shield.   Tanrov will move to the right side of the door in order that the others within the party can move in as well, he will also go forward 10' if possible away from the gears and such.   Since T/G is noticed, he will ready an action to fight said worker if he should charge Tanrov in a murderous rage.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Thu 01 Dec 2011.

Not really able to see what's going on, Miriam will concentrate on moving up the steps as quickly as those in front of her will allow.

 Logalog can tell from the people standing in front of him on the stairs that "locals" have been spotted. Quietly as he can relate the message, he'll ask the party not to attack right away and give him a chance to diplomatically handle the situation with by "charming" them (use Charm Person).

Following Logalog's advice, Talis will move into the room and try to look intimidating.  But he doesn't attack, yet.

Once it is her turn to go through the door, Sammiya went in and turned left to go around the walkway along the southern way toward the enemy workers that way. Along the way she drew her katana to attack.

With several armed people walking/riding in through a supposedly locked door the worker's eyes get bigger and bigger.  Once Logalog gets to the door he casts charm person - which does not appear to work (sorry Log, he rolled a 20).  By this time the other workers have noticed the entrance of Tanrov, Talis, Sam/Akihiro, Miriam and Logalog.  Jan seems to be distracted and Zer and Cat can be just outside the door if they want.

The workers seem taken back.  The worker in the gears looks at the tool in his hand, looks at the weapons the party has out, and drops the tool.  The worker to the left of the door (near Sam) seems to be in charge and put's up his empty hands and says loudly "Look, if you're robbers, we're just poor working stiffs and we don't have any money.  If you're looking for lumber, you need to check with the manager.  Who are you?"

[Private to Miriam: They are way too composed for the situation.  They should probably be surrendering or running, but they aren't.

I think I forgot to mention, the death cultists are rogue/clerics (death and trickery).  I'm not saying these are cultist, just that you should know these facts.  They use magic masks and war razors as weapons.]
[Private to Talis Revain: They are way too composed for the situation.  They should probably be surrendering or running, but they aren't.]
[Private to Sammiya Koi: They are way too composed for the situation.  They should probably be surrendering or running, but they aren't.]

While they are now aware of the party, everyone got initiative on them, so the ball is still in your court.  Are you going to let the talkers talk, or are the fighters going to fight?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:41, Sat 03 Dec 2011.

Cat really isn’t an early, early morning person. Sunrise is her “special” time of day. She eats the breakfast quietly, try to prop her eyes open. Once done, she affixes the potion device on her wrist but decides not to buy a potion yet. She needs to think about it and right now, she’s not thinking her best.

She’s glad the trip is uneventful. She’s even more grateful for the sunrise. Pausing briefly, she says a quick, quiet prayer, feeling herself renew and spells recharge. Now, she’s good to go. She pulls her spear out, balances it, the gets a two handed grip.

Once at the bottom if the steps, she take up a position right at the end of the hall, ready to go in, but still guarding the hall.

I'm keeping the same spells.
I had never had a chance to do that aspect of her being a druid. Thanks.
Where in town is the sawmill?

DM: The island marked 18 (Kyver's Islet).
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Sat 03 Dec 2011.

Seeing the utter failure of his spell, Logalog resorts to what any type of Orcs do best: scaring the living daylights out of humans. He musters the gnarliest, ugliest, brute-iest face he can, stares at the workers, and simply says,
   "You may carry on."


OOC

13:46, Today: Logalog rolled 26 using 1d20+15. on an Intimidate check, if able

[Private to Logalog: Logalog, Intimidation to influence attitude takes 1 min of conversation.  To demoralize is done against 1 target at a time.  Which are you trying?  And let's see if the rest of the group will give you time to work your intimidating mojo.]
[Private to GM: Trying to intimidate...I'm trying to avoid a fight and I thought the action worked with the scene...it's fine to scrap it, though]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:23, Sat 03 Dec 2011.

Zer-wedula waits outside the door, one ear cocked for the sounds and screams of combat while keeping a lookout all around the outer environs.

Miriam isn't entirely sure what to make of the situation, but she is aware from a long, adversarial relationship with the cult that trickery is among the foremost of their tools, and she isn't convinced the workers' reactions are genuine.  Nor is she willing to take the chance.  "Talis, Tanrov, Jan, take them out.  Non-lethally, unless they fight back, but we can't assume their innocence in this place, nor can we leave potential hostiles behind us."

When the worker surrendered Sammiya held off her attack. She would not strike down a defenseless person who'd surrendered. Keeping her sword out and ready, Sammiya glanced back at the others, hoping for guidance. "Something is strange about them," Sammiya told her companions. "They seem too calm."

Tanrov agrees with both Sam and Miriam's assessment of the situation and will approach one of them none threateningly but will have my scimitar at the ready to take him down non lethally preferably if possible but the other way is fine too.   As he approaches the worker, he says, "The jig is up, for you Death Cultist Scum."  I will wait for them to attack me first.

   Moving forward to behind Sam, with a snarl on his face, Tallis will swing his long spear for a nonlethal atack. "They're obviously lying, so put them down.  Gently if you want to!  We're Not here to play padycake, we're breaking and entering."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:38, Mon 05 Dec 2011.

[Private to Catessa Fallowfield: I was looking over the spell lists, 0 level spells are done differently than the other levels.  You can cast them over and over again.  So you don't have to memorize flare twice.

quote:

Orisons (Sp)
Druids can prepare a number of orisons, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Druid under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.

]

As people start attacking, the workers concentrate for a moment and activate a power, and now there are 6 (2 of each worker - 1 real, 1 illusion) and then they attack with a touch, causing sword sized wounds that bleed profusely. Trickery and Death domain powers, this confirms that they are cultists and that cultists are clerics.  But outnumbered and outgunned they are no match for the group.

The first 2 go down after only 1 attack, hitting Tanrov for 7 damage.  In a strange tone full of devotion and longing the leader says, "Blood, so much blood..."  The last cultist manages to put on his mask, a hideous thing made of human skin that resembles a patchwork deformed face, with one bulbous eye, a grimacing mouth of long teeth, and no noticeable nose.  For Miriam it conjures up horrible memories of the last few years spent fighting these things.  [Private to Miriam: Miriam also knows they are magic.  They allow the wearer to smell fear and see the blood as it circulates in the body.  ie: +? to perception and damage]  He tries to make use of the machinery, but there are too many spellcasters in the group for that to be an effective strategy.  To avoid damaging anything, Zer and Logalog send a barrage of magic missles at him (Zer and Logalog need to use 1 charge from their wands of Magic Missles), and he drops like a rock into the river, vanishing under the water wheels, dead.

Reacting quickly to Talises plea to, "Save one, we need information", Miriam uses her heal skill or rebuke death ability to save one.  With some intimidation from Logalog (I'm going to use his earlier roll) the guy will talk...what do you want to know?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Mon 05 Dec 2011.

Undoubtedly there is more, but these are the questions Sam really wants to know.

1. What connection do they have to the halfling druid from the inn (Shushiro)?
2. Where is he?
3. Do they know anything about the fountain?
4. Who gave them orders, like who to kill?

Where is the girl, and where is/are the leader(s)?

In reply to Talis Revain (msg #29):

"You mean we're committing a crime here Talis", Tanrov will say to no one in particular.   "I'm sorry Sarenrae", but I thought it was a public service to kill that scum especially after he attacked and hurt me,"Tanrov says after the battle.   "I could use some healing, Miriam."

Miriam is not in the least surprised when the mill workers prove to be rather more sinister than they might have otherwise appeared.  The appearance of the cult masks gives her a bit more of a shake.  "That mask he put on was magical.", she says, as she moves toward the chosen cultist to rescue their potential information source from an untimely demise.  "They allow the wearer to smell fear and see the flow of blood in the body.", she says as she uses her abilities to return the cultist to consciousness and then moves to heal Tanrov.

OOC:
14:08, Today: Miriam rolled 10 using 1d8+5. CLW - Tanrov.

Miriam will either inquire or ask whoever's asking the questions about the girl and where she's being held and whether they have any other prisoners.  She'll also ask about what traps or defenses they might find as they venture into the rest of the sawmill.

The captured cultist breaks down, "It doesn't matter anyway, you cannot defeat my master, he speaks directly with Farher Skinsaw and cannot be defeated.  And my brother Skinsaw's are all more powerful than me.  We were given the job of watching the machines because we were all new and have never done a solo kill, so my master deemed us unworthy to take part in the special ceremony this morning.  They are going to sacrifice the girl, even though she isn't going to have the new rune.  I don't really know what that's all about.  Some of the guys are saying the master is acting werid, and maybe these new killings aren't from Father Skinsaw.  Me, I just do as I'm told.

That's where everybody is now, on the top floor enacting the ritual."
[Private to Miriam: Off hand you can't think of a standard cult ritual that would be performed at this time of day.  It must be very specific, and it makes you wonder about Rynshinn Povalli.  What's so special about her?]

When asked about the halfling, "Rats?  He is new, some sort of druid.  He's not involved with the ceremony either, he's out watching the road.  I don't know where he lives.  He better watch out though.  The Manager used to be the Masters favorite until Rats came along."

When asked about the fountain he looks confused, "Fountain?  Do you mean Seerspring garden?"

Summary;
-The halfling is going by the name Rats and is out watching the road
-All the rest of the cult is on the top floor sacrificing the girl in a special morning ceremony
-floorplan is(top to bottom)
(Top floor)Workshop and the Masters office, doubles as their sacrifical room
Logsplitters and Managers office
Lumber Storage
Loading Dock
(Bottom)Undermill/water wheels
-only the outside and 2 office doors lock and he knows of no traps
-Leaders are the Master(leader) and the Manager(second in command)


This message was last edited by the GM at 13:44, Tue 06 Dec 2011.

"This seems a very odd time for a ceremony, so I do wonder just what's so special about this girl, but nonetheless, if they're engaged in it right now, then we need to get moving before they complete it.  Knock him out, tie him up or whatever, and let us get to the top floor as quickly as possible.", Miriam suggests.

"I agree, we need to go, get there as fast as possible." Saying that, Sammiya slid her sword, scabbard and all, out of her sash. Then, with the blade still in its sheath, she struck the man over the head to knock him unconscious.

OOC: Should I roll?

DM: Don't worry, you knock him out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Fri 09 Dec 2011.

"Let us head up to the Manager's office, then, and then to the ceremony," Zer-wedula suggests.