With the danger of the fight only increasing, the half orc chanted quick spell, running his hands along his own body, weaving together magical protections, until an armor of mystic force had formed around him. And then with a bolt in hand, he reloaded, ready for whatever else might be in the room besides the derro and skeletons.

Casting Mage Armor and then going to reload my crossbow as well.

Vaddis, Vreeg pops up like a campfire on a lonely desert plain. For some reason the image disturbs you but you push the uneasiness aside when Vreeg screams. You can hear Selvin's jaws cutting through the meat of the blue creature.

Vreeg swipes at your friend, Selvin, and you sense a small electric shock as a spark shoots out from the derro's hand (2 big pts dam for your eidolon).

One of the skelies comes apart as Tarrov's wand does it's number. The other one swings at Izzick, who manages to step back and finish his chanting. The half orc's skin seems to glow slightly in the gloom. There's a swooshing sound and another crossbow bolt hurtles by Tarrov. Another derro is skulking in the northwestern hallway, ducking back behind the skeletons. He drops his crossbow and pulls a small vial from the sleeve of his robe.

Izzick you are reloading. The last skelie is coming at you. This new derro is in the northwest corner of the room.

Selvin let out a small curse as his ally was damaged once more. It wasn't a deep wound, but Zak was still a little damaged from before, so every little bit added up.

He wasn't sure what all the new half-orc ally could take, so he decided to help him out first before worrying about the second blue creature. He charged the skeleton with a pounce to try and kill it (again) or at least take its attention from Izzick.

22:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17,9,16 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8. Charge pounce on skeleton (claw, claw, bite).
22:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,6 using d6+3,d6+3. Claw, bite damage on Skeleton.

Vaddis moves to end Vreeg, but the image in his mind distracted him enough that he missed yet again!!

06:18, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 13 using 1d20+8. to hit.

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Gods, was their no end to their opponents?  Tarrov thought to himself as he spotted this new derro.  The young man certainly had no desire to find out what might be in the bottle the newcomer had just pulled out of his sleeve.  But if he could get the derro to drop the vial at his own feet, then . . .

That would be the plan then.  Tarrov's whip snaked out yet again, attempting to cause their most-recent adversary to lose his grip on the mysterious vial . . .


OOC:

06:44, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Whip Disarm Derro.

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Selvin, you need to charge back down the hall. Your attack won't go off until next round.

The skelie swings away at you Izzick, but misses as you sidestep and pull the string taunt on your crossbow. You lay the bolt in and look up as it turns around to come at you again.

The vial derro...or vile derro if you prefer...steps aside from your lash Tarrov  and then throw the small bottle in ypur direction. It shatters about a foot from your shoulder. You wince as sharp, foul smelling droplets seat the exposed skin on your cheek and hand.

Vaddis, you don't have to roll init each round. Just roll it the first time. Go ahead and give me your actions for this round.

Tarrov, you can attempt a reflex save for half dam. Total dam is 9 pts before the save. He got you good.

Thanks.

OOC - you misread DM, I missed my attack with a roll of 13

Selvin charges back down the hall! <grin>

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 252):

So you did. Sorry Vaddis. No idea how I got 'int' out of 'to hit'

OOC - Happens to all of us some time or other, believe me! No problem at all.

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"Argh!"  Tarrov grunted in pain as the vial's contents burned his exposed skin.  He flung a hand out and uttered the eldritch words that would cause his opponent to slump to the ground in slumber . . .

OOC:

Cast Sleep at Derro

HP:  15/24

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The skeleton coming at him made for a hard target. But there were magical ways around such creatures. A wave and incantation conjured forth another set of two magical missiles that struck the creature with arcane accuracy.

5 ft step back and magic missile (accidently rolled them separately)

20:02, Today: Izzick rolled 1 using 1d4.
20:02, Today: Izzick rolled 3 using 1d4+2. magic missile.

That's 4 whole damage on a 4-10 scale. This is what I get for some good rolls in another game

Yeah, I'm having that problem myself Izzick...

The skelie wobbles as your spell slaps him Izzick, then it rights itself and sort of bares it's teeth at you in a sort of smug grin. Or maybe that's just your imagination. What you can be certainof is the way it raises it's sword...

...and then suddenly becomes a mass of glowy-elf-wolf-monster-thing. Selvin, as Zak pops the skull off the spine you dig a claw into the ribcage and pop it off. The skelie is just so much prop in a Chelixian play after that.

The vial/vile derro opens his mouth and points at you Tarrov... and then falls face first onto the ground. He snores with the gusto of a sated umberhulk. Not that you know how they snore. But it's the image that springs to mind.

Vaddis, you can't make out what Vreeg does. He seems to throw something at you. For a moment, a sort of man sized evil blips on your evil-dar. It sails through the air, over your head, and lands behind you. You hear something smash, like a small piece of furniture breaking. And then this new evil blip is gone. Just you and Vreeg, who is now cursing like a sailor.

So vial derro saves with a 2. And Vreeg throws a skeleton more or less at Vaddis and fumbles. Badly fumbles. My best roll tonight was a 7. I hate you all. Let's end this thing. Go Vaddis.

06:37, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d8+3. damage.
06:37, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20+8. to hit.

The sword cuts into Vreeg. The little blue man makes a strangled sort of cry and flops over. He is still breathing, but the cut is deep enough to start him bleeding out.

Vaddis let's him bleed out. He comes to the door way to see what is going on outside of the room.

Selvin grinned and let out a small noise. "Well that was fun! Is that everyone?" Then his face fell a bit. "Do we gotta go make sure didn't miss anythin'? Includin'...the stirges?

Let's search the bodies, get the head, and then get the torso and get out of here for now. We can always clear the place tomorrow."

"Collecting bodies now?" Izzick asked as he looked once more as the grizzly looking remains. "So what were you folks even doing down here before you found me? Is there a reason I was about to be turned into Otyugh chum?" The sorcerer could only begin to wonder the reasons. He was sure there was probably a black market for ritual components of spells he'd never learn.

"We were sent in here to recover the body of a tattooed man for his family. It had been stolen."

Selvin opened his mouth but Vaddis beat him to it. He nodded towards Vaddis to answer Izzick's question. "What he said." He began searching the room and adjoining rooms for the rest of the body they were sent to collect.

Cressedia Kroft, Marshall of the City Guard, gives Izzick the hairy eyeball. "You're new..." she mutters than turns around and looks at Selvin, Tarrov, and Vaddis. "What happened to the skinny one with the nervous look? I hope he didn't die."

She sighs and gestures for you all to take a seat around the table she has met with you at several times before. There wasn't much else moving in the necromancer's lair after Vreeg. You did find the rest of the barbarian's body in what you think was Vreeg's chamber. What he had been doing with the remains...well. Best not to think on it. You crawled out of the Dead Warrens in time to see the sun setting. Wearily, you dragged the carcass and the booty you had found across town to your employer's base. Croft must have been asleep. She is wearing a nightcoat instead of her usual uniform. Even her hair is messy.

She inspects the wheelbarrow you placed the body in and examines it. Then walks over to a cabinet and brings out a small chest. She places it on the table between you. "Nice work. Payment as agreed." That's nice. You hadn't found much coin among the dead derro. But there were some items of interest. They fill up a second wheelbarrow set just inside the doorway of the room where you can all see it. The books you found can be sold. But you'll need to have someone look at the other interesting goods. A small copper ring with odd etchings on it. A wand of bone with strands of dried leather...at least you hope it's leather...tied through a hole on one end. Some bluish powder in little packets. Really. For necromantic blue dwarves they were sort of on the cheap side of things.

Kroft brings over some wine bottkes and sits down, gesturing for someone to pour. "I'll summon the Northlanders to come get their kin. I thank you. This will hopefully at least solve one of our problems." She takes the goblet passed to her and drinks from it. She sighs. "Trinia's trial has been scheduled. For tomorrow. I hope she will get a fair trial." She doesn't sound very confident on that fact. "But that's out of our hands now. I would like you all to attend. You too," she tells Izzick, "Since I guess you're part of the team now."

She sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "I don't have any other errands at the moment. But I would like you all to stay where I can find you. I have a feeling I'll have more work for you soon. We have ghost ships now."

She leans back in her chair. "Last night an unmanned ship came floating in from the sea. It was flying the red and yellow flag. That means there was sickness aboard. But no one responded when called. It seems to have been deserted. Or everyone was dead. In any event, our illustrious harbor watch decided to sink her. " Kroft shrugs. "I don't know. Perhaps it is nothing. But...I just have a bad feeling. I think the bad days that have come to this city are just starting."

I'll break here to allow for questions.

Treasure: Just to save us some time, you will have the following items identified. A wand of ghoul touch. A ring of protection +1. The dust is some kind of knockout powder. Probably what was used on Izzick. It can be applied to weapons and will act as a sleep spell level 5 caster. There are five doses. The books are mostly on macabre subjects. You'll get 500 gp for the lot. There are some spellbooks in there. But since none of you use spells, you can pawn them to some academy stooge f you wish. 750 gp for that portion. If I recall, you're getting paid 2000 gp by Kroft for the mission. Divy the treasure up as you see fit.

I will be posting a description of Trinia's trial tomorrow. As well as the first thread for the second book.

Get your PCs leveld up. Let me know if there's questions or anything you want your PCs to do. You will have a couple of days of downtime in game.

Thanks.

You all retire to an Inn. Kroft has agreed to cover the tab for a week, perhaps longer. She seems very intent on keeping you all where she can call on you easily.

You will have to give her credit: she does no skimp when it comes to offering incentive to stick around. The Inn is a decent place. The beds are remarkably comfortable, the cook believes everything that can be covered in gravy should be covered in gravy, and...perhaps best of all...there are baths with hot water.

The trial of Tiana begins the next day. It is...as you feared...a farce. Triana's advocate seems to have been chosen for his incompetence. The witnesses are scarcely credible. And the Queen sits behind the Judges, laeving no doubt that the verdict will be handed down by her. Unsuprisingly, Trinia is found guilty.

You note Kroft spduring the proceedings. As the 'trial' progresses her face shades more to the red spectrum than is usual. By the end she is openly grinding her teeth. She does not seem pleased by what she has seen. As you leave the courthouse you spy her on the otherside of the square. She is arguing with someone. It is Vencarlo Orisini, the famous dueling instructor you met in her office days ago. By the time you push your way through the crowd thoug, they are both gone.

Kroft seems preoccupied. She does not send for you nor does she respond to any requests for a meeting other than to say she will send for you when she can. She does send you invitations for the execution though.

Trinia's Execution is a grand affair. Anyone who is anyone within Korvosa turns up, wearing their very finest. There are enough jewels on display to sate a thieves guild for life. There is little crime however. The guard is posted thick around the square outside the castle. You note that outside of Kroft's guards, there are a number of female soldiers in uniform you have not seen before. These maidens all wear a helm with mask, which they keep down despite the heat of the day. They wear red as their color, though their mail is so grey it seems to be almost a second color in their heraldry. You notice Kroft's guards don't interact much with these...grey maidens. The name sort of seems to fit them.

Queen Ilesoa herself arrives, walking out of the Palace in a dress of green and grey silks that probably costs more than the jewels the crowd has displayed. Her champion, Sabina, walks by her side. You notice Sabina wears mail like the female soldiers you have seen, though she wears no helm.

The Queen steps forward to address the crowd. It is a pretty speech. As much a euology for her dead husband as it is a plea for the city to find it's strength and rise above it's recent trouble. The charm of it ends though when she motions and Trinia is brought out. "Here is the one," cries Ileosa, "who has brought these tragadies down upon us! Her schemes knew no pity! Neither on my beloved husband, our king, or upon the city itself! Well. She has earned her reward! And that reward is Justice! Executioner!" She looks across the square towards the large burly man wiearing a hood and carrying an axe. "OFF WITH HER HEAD!!!"

Trinia is dragged towards the chopping block. You can see tears on her cheek but the pretty bard shows no other signs of fear. Whqtever your feelings about her guilt, all you can do now is watch her final moments and perhaps pray for her soul. There are simply too many guards about. Only a maniac would make a move now.

And so one does.

The Executioner reaches down to grab Trinia's bound hands as she mounts the steps to her gallows. He suddenly jumps back, shrieking. A dagger has found it's way into the back of his large hair hand. A second dagger flips through the air and into his arm. The crowd is shocked into silence until someone yells, "IT'S BLACKJACK!!!"

Blackjack?

Yes Blackjack. Wherever scoundrels will ransom the blood of the innocent, Blackjack will be there. Wherever truth kneels in anguish, Blackjack will be there. Who is this masked crusader for justice? No one knows! But wherever the oppressed cry out in torment...He. Will. Be. There!

As you all stare, a man in a hooded jacket and black leathers, bearing a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other somehow gains the killing platform. He slashes twice. Once to drive the Executioner further back and once to cut Trinia's bonds. He quickly flips back his hood to reveal a mask of black leather and pivots, thrusting his rapier in the direction of the Queen. "I agree! Those who scheme without pity will indeed reap Justice! Take care O Queen! Your own schemes will come back to you ten fold! DOWN WITH ILEOSA!"

The crowd suddenly erupts. Some are shouting for the guard to capture this Blackjack imposter. Some are echoing his words. But in general, chaos erupts. As the guard moves in, many attempt to flee the scene. 'Blackjack' and Trinia disappear from the platform. And Queen Ileosa disappears back into the palace.

It seems the execution has been postponed,

Okay. Had to get all that out there so we can move on. I'll have the new thread up tomorrow night. Let me know if there's any questions or anything anyone wishes to do during this 'downtime' before we move on. Thanks.

Selvin looked angry. He several times started to summon his friend, but stopped himself. He knew he wasn't good enough by himself. The farce of a trial and the about-to-happen execution made him almost mirror the teeth-grinding of Kroft. To Tarrov and Vaddis he muttered, "I think I am done working for Kroft. And...that...queen."

And then....Blackjack appeared to save the day. Calling it a surprise would be like saying a solar eclipse didn't happen often...an understatement. Selvin stared with wide eyes and dropped open mouth at the proceedings. He numbly looked at his allies. "What...That was insane! Who the hell is Blackjack?"

"Whoever it is, we owe them a debt of gratitude, I'll not serve the queen anymore either."