Initiative as below.

20:45, Today: Kassius rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  initiative.
20:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Logan Initiative.
20:46, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20.  Celene Initiative.
20:19, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Fartellamous Initiative.
20:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Agnati Initiative.
20:46, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Alohan Initiative.

Logan stares up at the treacherous man.  "Farty!  This is low even by your standards!  You know I'm going to get out of here!  And when I do..."  Logan broke off, obviously surprised by Kassius's sudden actions.  Not that I hadn't dreamed of doing the same thing to him more than a few times myself...

With a quick motion, Logan had drawn his own bow and sent an arrow on its way as well.  "And if I don't, at least you'll have that to remember me by!  Or at least that you slip and get all covered in that parrot guano!  You deserve that treacherous waist of space!  Especially given how much space you actually waste!  Ugh!  How can someone from Shadowshore get so fat?  It doesn't even make sense.  You're probably the reason children are starving in the streets there!"  Logan trails off into incoherence, shouting random syllables in frustration.


14:47, Today: Logan rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
14:48, Today: Logan rolled 1 using 1d6.  Damage.
14:48, Today: Logan rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Short Bow Attack.

*Edit.  Strangers crossing in the night!  At least I won initiative either way!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

Kassius moves with impressive speed, but less impressive effectiveness, his arrow careening off to the side. "Frak! That was a warning shot, my next one will go through your heart." Kassius shouts, rather unconvincingly.

Kibeti gets to his feat and hisses angrily out at the man who had shoved him down into the hole.

14:45, Today: Kassius rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  initiative.
14:46, Today: Kassius rolled 8,6 using 1d20+6,1d6.  bow attack, damage (assuming not point blank).
14:48, Today: Kassius rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  bluff.
When my turn comes, whenever that is, my actions are:
Move Action: Draw Bow
Standard Action: Attack
Free/Swift Action: Talk

---

HP: 16/16  AC 18 (22), Saves+4/+8/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 3/3

---

Kibeti

---

HP: 19/19 AC 15, Saves+4/+7/+3
Current Animal Focus: Tiger (+2 dex)
Move Action: Stand from prone
Standard Action: total defense
Free/Swift Action: yowl angrily

Celene realizes with dread how the two brutes are on the werge of scaring off their captor. The only outcome would be their escape being covered over more quickly. Her mind races for better alternatives. With a bit of talking, her best bet would have been to charm him, but now aggression is imminent. Instead she quickly calls forth a new and quick spell from her goddess, before Farty has the chance to move back from the whizzing arrows. Death threats and curses drowning out her quick prayer, the only word loud enough to suddenly register with the scoundrel bending over the rim of the hole to see them is "Fall!"

Celene casts Command, with the word 'Fall', DC 14. Misfortune if needed and possible, please. Fingers crossed...

Fartellamous steps back in alarm as Kassius’ arrow shoots out of the hole and past his head, but just laughs when Logan’s shot careens off the side of the shaft. “Oh ho ho! You aren’t going to do anything but rot down there boy! Oh, and don’t worry about your old Mom. I will figure out which insane asylum you have stashed her away in and I’ll pay a visit. Yeah, I think I have a little ‘package’ that will wake even her up from her catatonic state if I ‘deliver’ it right.” The fat man capers on the rim of the hole. “Oh, I’m sure Mrs Farty won’t mind this one time, it being for a good cause and all. Ha ha ha!”



Fartellamous pauses in his mockery and a confused look appears on his face as his right foot starts to move of its own accord and lifts out into the space above the 30’ drop. Suddenly he is grabbed from behind and yanked back from the edge, and he disappears from view although everyone in the party hears him cry out in a gargling scream of pain. A second later he reappears, but this time falling back first down the hole (like Kibeti did actually) and sailing down until he hits the ground – the back of his head makes contact first – at the feet of the party. Even if the terrible landing hadn’t been enough to kill him, the dagger wedged into his throat would have definitely done the job. The dagger has a very prominent coat of arms on the hilt -  an eight armed star…

*clap*... *clap*... *clap*...

A slow mocking clap starts from somewhere far above them. Then another head appears over the rim.

A handsome young man with an impeccably well groomed beard grins down at them, he is apparently on all fours as his head is only just peeking above the edge of the shaft. “I say chaps,” he states in a cultured Noble district accent. “Are you alright down there? I can throw you a rope if you need one?”

That voice. And that face, even with the beard, there is no doubt it is him. And he now looks just like on the wall in lavinias dining room.

All color drains from Celenes head, she hardly even registers Fartys gruesome end. She can just shy away in terror, staring,  as unwelcome memories come flooding in.

Logan looks up in surprise as Farty is pulled back from his own fall, the rogue's incoherent ramblings quieting as he listens to the unseen events up top.  When Farty's lifeless body hits the wet sand at their feet and the new man looks over the edge, Logan looks up, first in confusion, and then, finally registering what's happening, in understanding.

"Vanthus!  You came with Fartellamous to tie up loose ends?  I just want to know how far back all this goes.  Did you hear we were on your trail before or after 'It Still Floats?'  Or was it actually Farty who ratted us out?  What's your plan for all this?  You've obviously got us trapped here, or you wouldn't be pausing to gloat and murdering this old excuse for a thief in front of us."

Alohan had been so focused on the front that the Native was unaware of what was occurring behind. He assumed the jungle cat's mewing had been normal. 'Maybe he be having detachment issues,' Alohan thought to himself. The subsequent yelling had drawn his attention but it it took Fatty's gruesome end to make Alohan come running.  Now convinced something nefarious was afoot, Alohan gave the western tunnels one last look before sprinting back to his comrades.

---

Meta: I love how ridiculously meta this thread has gotten. I honestly have no clue anymore what is part of the adventure path and what isn't. Great job GM.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:53, Fri 28 Aug 2015.

Kassius reaches back reflectively, as if thinking of drawing another arrow before thinking better of it, at least for now. Best to stay silent for now, and see if Vanthus would say more. They were tasked with finding the man and returning him, not killing him. Instead, Kassius walked over to Kibeti, and pet the cat, soothing his injuries with nature magic.

Kibeti responds by quieting, and purrs gratefully as his wounds knit up.

Kassius moves to Kibeti, and casts Cure Light Wounds on the cat.
12:18, Today: Kassius rolled 7 using 1d8+2.  CLW (on Kibeti).

---

Kassius<Orange>

---

HP: 16/16  AC 18, Saves+4/+8/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/3

---

Kibeti

---

HP: 19/19 AC 15, Saves+4/+7/+3
Current Animal Focus: Tiger (+2 dex)

"Oh dear me, you are the chatty one, aren't you. No, I didn't come with Fartellamous... I heard on the grapevine that my sister had hired some bozo's to try and track me down, so I put the word out on the street that I would provide a substantial reward to whomever let me find you buffoons first, and dear Farellamous was clever enough to claim that reward..." The young man strokes his beard - a difficult action to make since he is still on all fours with just his head poking over the edge.

"...fortunately the fat little frakker wasn't TOO clever, and therefore accepted a proposal to lure you here. Now, of course, I couldn't just pay him what I owed him - I'll never get rich THAT way. So I thought it better to tie up all the loose ends on this shitty little island instead." The man cocks his head to one side. "Clever, huh?"

"Anyhoo... I am not an unreasonable man. I understand that none of you knew what you were getting yourselves into - I mean, taking on a man of my talents was a foolishness of first rate proportions. So... if one of you apologies on behalf of the group, whole heartily and sincerely for taking advantage of my poor little sister in her time of need and emotional turmoil, then I will throw down a rope and we will be done with this whole messy business. Otherwise... Well, let's just say that I was down there myself about a week ago and it is not a safe place - I was the only one to survive from a group of ten! But the decision is yours in the end." The man smiles down calmly from 30' above.

OOC: Heh heh. Well you can thank John/Logan for that. When I saw how he reverse engineered the location of the next encounter from the thread title I realised I needed to up my game a little.

Angati spoke up "Well I thought you were not such an amiable man, but I am glad to be shown wrong in this matter. Of course we were completely convinced by the frailty of the situation your sister was in, as she described it to us" she paused a bit "Of course, not having your input at hand to show us wrong we couldn't but fall for her arguments and in the process try to take advantage of your sister... in our defense I will say that we have done our best to try to learn first hand from you what was going on, but it has been impossible for several reasons".

"Now, I hope you will accept my sincere apollogies that I offer in the name of us all, and care to show us to the reality of this situation so that we may be of better help to you... what is more, I think this may even please your sister".

OOC: Okay, so Beni, does Angati really mean that? Or is she bluffing? Because if she is lying I need a diplomacy roll thanks...

OOC: huh? Isn't bluffing a Bluff skill check....? Here I thought I was almost getting the hang of these rules... ;-)

Huh? Oh yeah, I mean bluff.

OOC: I think Beni has much more important things to do right now, so I'm gunna roll for him.

19:28, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 27 using 1d20+9.  Angati bluff check.

OOC: Wow. That is one hell of a bluff check...

Vanthus pauses for a second after Angati speaks, taking in her words. Then he says. "Thank you. That was a heartfelt and humble apology and... look, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to accept that apology in the spirit in which it was given, and therefore as agreed I will..." his words become muffled as he reaches back behind himself to grab something "...throw down a rope."

The young noble lobs a coil of rope down the shaft - it is not tied on at the top so it just falls uselessly to the floor of the cavern. He also angles it so it hits Kibeti in the head.

"Ha ha ha!" he laughs mockingly. "What a bunch of bozos! My sister is never going to get anywhere hiring clowns like you guys..." He crawls away from the rim of the shaft and out of site, but keeps talking. "...oh, but while you're down there. Do me a favour will ya?" The party hear him start to slide the trap door over the top of the entranceway. "Say hello to Penkus' ghost for me! Ha ha ha! Ya bunch of frackers!"

The man slides the big stone in place, and for a few more minutes the party hear the sound of additional rocks being rolled and dropped on top of the trap door. Then the noises cease and then they are alone in the slimy foul smelling room, with just the glowing pebble in Alohan's hand to shed light.

Then the spell's duration expires and the light winks out, so they are standing in complete darkness.

Scenes of doors slammed shut, sealing her in, while flames roared about her, flashed through Celenes head. And all through, that face reappeared. Now again...

What...? He just wanted an apology, to talk about it? Maybe he would let them up? Maybe this time would not be the same? Maybe... Then the rope fell.

Stunned, Celene heard the lid close. At the thud from the stone, something closed in her, and something else opened. As the stones were heard piled, a new sensation started roiling in her. As the last sounds faded above, the rage had found her again, but it was a colder, seething rage, brought on by an unfamiliar emotion.

Simply grabbing a torch from her bag, she wrapped her hand around it, and with a word, flames erupted within her palm, instantly igniting the wood. The flickering light illuminated her clenched, cold face, and those around her. "Come, let us find a way out. Afterwards... he is mine!" Beckoning Logan or Alohan up front to scout, Celene turned down the corridor.

Revenge. She would have hers eventually.
This message was last updated by the player at 21:33, Sat 29 Aug 2015.

As it becomes obvious that the apology is not going to be "accepted" Kassius reaches for another arrow, but he is to slow. Instead, he curses under his breath as the rock covers up the entrance and any natural light source.

Kassius grits his teeth at the treachery. So it seems Lavinia's optimism about her brother's character was far to hopeful. Somehow, Kassius wasn't surprised. She seemed nice enough but flightly and quite naive. Now if they were going to warn her, they'd have to survive long enough to get out of this trap.

Grabbing his bow with one hand and holding Kibeti with the other, the pair stalk down the corridor alongside Celene.

All he could do was shake his head in disbelief. He felt like something nefarious was going to happen. Sure enough, it did. Had they left immediately perhaps they would have gotten here before Vanthus and Fartellmous. Then again, perhaps not. Alas, it was done and Alohan forced himself to focus at the task at hand -leading them out of the cave.

"Koa pumehana," he says, addressing Celene. "Give de fire to Logan. I be needin' de light and me hands free." When ready, Alohan leads them to the west, rounding the corners until he is once again at the furthest junction.

"Dis be as far as I gotten. Come, lets move silently," he ordered, leading them towards the unknown corner.

As much as the situation was dire, Angati laughed out loud as she saw her sister actually sticking out her tongue at Vanthus... surprisingly clearly despite the lack of light "That's my sister right on... not much we can do about it dear".

Celene light the torch and made Angati blink a couple of times to re-adjust her eyes. After that, she concentrated casting a light spell on her morning star, and held it on her hand... "There is bound to be something down here if what Vanthus said is true... better be ready".

OOC: So one light source, the torch? And it is centred on Logan. OK, noted.

Ron, how do you do that trick in GIMP to show which areas only have dim lighting?


Being unwilling to stoop to rifling through the pockets of a dead man, the party leave Fartellamous' body untouched and move off down the only exit. Alohan and Logan quickly reach the last turning that the barbarian had spied out, but when they go round it they see that it is the end of the corridor.

The tunnel of decaying red brick ends in a thick but rotting wooden door. The small rivulet of water that drains the first room and had been zig-zagging across the sandy floor also ends at the door, where it forms a small puddle about half an inch deep and then slowly drains under the door.

Logan does his usual thing and states that he doesn't think the door is trapped and doesn't hear any noise on the other side.


The part is squished into the three squares 'upstream' of the door. Alohan & Logan in the first, Celene and Angati in the second and Kassius and Kibeti in the third. They would need to spread out a bit to fight effectively.

OOC: Here comes our first dungeon...

The foul smell is stronger here.

OOC: Ehh, hehe, well, you see, i kind of forgot that. Any chance of turning back time for that? :-) I seem to at least remember something about a ring...

Logan sniffs the air, then looks back to Celene.  "I'm worried about that smell...it's reminding me of something before, something I encountered with Celene.  Some sort of undead, zombies, I guess?"

Logan eyes the dungeon around him.  "But undead or not, this is likely our only way out.  So I'll open this door, and Alohan can run through, then I'll go next.  If there are undead, we'll have to figure it out.  Celene and I managed last time we fought them, barely."

Logan looked back into the darkness, where the body of Fartellamous lay and swore again.  "Frak that man.  Never anything but trouble."