Well done! You guys are the A-team of mansion heists and intelligent weapon capture missions.

The sword barely has a chance to begin its speech before Logan jumps forward and grabs it with the leather. The sword tries to wriggle and shake itself free, but the rogue is far too quick for it.

"What?! No! What are you doing? You will regret thiz you little gutter-rat! And az for you blondie! I zill remember you. I'll kill zour mama. I'll kill zour papa..." The weapon seems to be very surprised that neither of you succumbed to its hypnotism power, and its accent grows stronger and stronger as it starts to panic. Logan continues to wrap it in layer upon layer of leather, being carefully to never make skin contact.

"I'll kill zour brother. I'll kill zour sister... I'll kill... MMMM.. mmmmm... mmmm..." its voice slowly becomes muffled and hidden as Logan finishes the wrapping. The sword continues to shake and wriggle in the giant leather sheath, but there is no way it is going to get free.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Wed 11 Feb 2015.

Despite Celene trying her best to recognise the incantation and apparatus used for the spell, she is unable to say what the spell is and what would have been summoned. She knows at least that it is something well above her current capabilities to cast.

"Good going Logan! We've got it! But it worries me greatly that the information we got beforehand was inacurate - it wasn't supposed to affect us other than by touch. What else may our 'patron' have misunderstood - or directly lied about?"

"Before we go, should we search this room for other items of interest? What has been going on here is without a doubt unlawful, and we may stem further crimes by removing anything aiding in these activities."

"Also, I would have liked to leave a clear warning to mr. Aubreck, that he ceases all his illicit activities. He should understand that we are giving him a second chance here, by not killing him outright. Of course we understand that he has been under the spell of the rapier, so he is in a way unaccountable, and the thoughts of what he has done is certainly going to haunt him, being more than enough punishment. Well, maybe he will understand this well enough himself."

Logan looked around the small chamber, and shivered as his gaze passed over the mysterious stone.  Slowly, he nodded.  "Uh, of course.  We should search the room.  And then get the frak out of here, as quickly as possible.  What's Vorsh doing?  Did he want to get us killed?!  This isn't any kind of simple heist.  Never mind the undead that tried to eat me.  That rapier tried to control us!  I felt it meddling around in my brain.  What if that had worked?  We'd be chained to its will, just like Aubreck was?  D'ya suppose it was the rapier that made him build this?  Maybe that thing," Logan points to the ruby obelisk, "was buried under here this entire time, and the rapier knew it."  Logan shivers again.  "This whole thing gives me the creeps.  I'm halfway tempted to just hire a boat and drop this rapier into the ocean a mile offshore.  I'm worried about anyone who has control of this thing."  Logan shakes his head.  "But I can't do that.  I've got too much.  If I do this, she'll be..."  Logan trails off, and turns from Celene, wiping a tear from his eye when he thinks she can't see him.  Then he clears his throat, his face a stoic mask again.  Turning back to Celene, he nods.  He starts, but his voice cracks and he has to clear his throat again.  "Okay.  Let's finish up here as fast as we can.  I never want to see this place again."

Perception check, please.  Looking around for anything unusual.  Else unusual, I guess.

Both Logan and Celene take a careful look around the room but don't find anything else of interest. It looks like it is time to head back to the surface...

Your intro adventure is done... You might have the chance to meet Hans Aubreck another day and ask him how this all happened, but until then it is back to the main storyline.

[Private to GM: 21:02, Today: Secret Roll: Dungeon Master rolled 19 using 1d20+3. Celene Perception.
21:03, Today: Secret Roll: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Logan Perception.
]

Whew, alright!

So no afterplay, handing over the rapier, etc.? Afraid we'd dump it in the sea after all? :-)

Celene would have wanted to try and question the rapier about it's abilities, by goading it, saying "oh, your powers were impressive, I am a bit tempted, what else can you do...?" kind of thing. Would that get any respone?

Yes, there is that part of it still to go! So what are your intentions with the weapon? If you drop it in the habor then you don't get the reward!

Logan and Celene leave the sleeping Aubreck and head back up to the surface, with the novice being careful to help Logan since he is still in a very delicate state. They reach the small enclosed garden, and see that the moon has passed down below the roof level and out of sight – they have been below ground for longer than they thought. The escape back through the house goes fine, and Logan even remembers to lock the back door to the kitchen with his copy of the key. The pair turn away from the mansion, and start down the alleyway, with Celene helping the tired thief.

A shadow peels itself off from the darkness in the alleyway and stands before them,  longsword in hand. Logan reflexively pushes away from Celene and draws his rapier and short sword.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:55, Fri 13 Feb 2015.

“Put the rapier down boy, and you get to live. Fight it! I know Czarine Valora is hard to resist – believe I know it from firsthand experience! But take back control just for a second, put the sword down and you won’t get hurt.” Vorsh blocks the way out of the alley, wrapped in a dark cloak and with his sword ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Fri 13 Feb 2015.

Logan growled angrily at Vorsh: "Vorsh!  You knew everything about the sword?  You sent us in there without frakking telling us that could happen?  Maybe we could have been prepared for it trying to worm its way into our minds.  Or the undead?  Did you know about those, too?  Could have used some warning about a zombie trying to chew on my neck!"  Logan gestures at the marks on his neck.  He tosses the wrapped sword to Vorsh.  "Well it didn't work.  Despite your best efforts, that frakking sword didn't take control of us.  Can't say the same for old Aubreck, though.  But I'm sure you don't care about that."  Logan sneers.  "I'm just surprised you didn't care about Celene as well."  Logan takes a breath, and continues in a more even voice.  It's been great doing business with you.  I trust you'll tell Fartellamous my debt is finished?  After that, our business will be done."

At first Vorsh is suspicious, but lowers his sword when he realises that Logan truly is in control of himself. Being careful to keep his eyes on Logan and Celene, he slowly unwraps the leather bundle.

"mmmmm... mmmm... I'll kill zour dog. I'll kill zour next door neighbour... I'll kill... " Czarine Valora's voice becomes clearer as it is unwrapped, but then falls silent as it realises its situation. "No! It is not possible!" says the melodic voice of the rapier.

"Oh yes old friend!" snarls Vorsh. "IT IS POSSIBLE!" He pulls the leather bindings to one side and grabs the sword by its hilt...

...but there is no obvious sign of a contest of wills. "You see Czarine Valora, my mind is now my own and mine only!" With a victorious smirk, he places the unprotesting sword back in the leathers and makes sure it is firmly tired up. Only then does he give his attention to Celene and Logan.

"Thief! Yes, I knew a lot about the sword, although not everything. Yes, I knew there as a fair chance that it would be able to control one or both of you, even without touching it. That is why I am out here tonight, to make sure that it would not have the chance to escape. As for the undead, I warned you that there may be something of that nature in there. You made it out al right - that wound will soon heal and maybe you'll get a nice scar to impress the girls."

"You left Aubreck alive? Your decision, not mine, but I really don't think it is important either way."

"Celene? Is that what the cleric is called?" he says, looking at the young novice. "I care about her just as much as I care for you Logan! Ha! But do not fear. Yes, our business is done and I will pay off your debt to Mister Fartellamous and make it clear to him that if he causes you anymore trouble then he will have to answer to me."

The man tosses two potions to Celene, and then two small bags of coins to Logan. "Cleric! Give him one of these and he'll stop complaining. Your bonus payment is in the bags as agree."

OOC: Celene, those are 2 x cure moderate wounds potions 2d8+2 hp cured. The bages contain 50gp each as agreed.

Any last words for Vorsh?

Logan watches with horror as Vorsh pulls back the leathers, and is astonished at the sword's reactions.  He stews, waiting for his promised reward, the quickly checks the bags.  "Good luck with that fracking sword, Vorsh.  I hope it sees you well and I never have to cross paths with you or that bloody sword again."

Is that 100gp for me, or 50gp for each of us?

That's 50gp each.

Celene just watches Vorsch in a mixture of contempt and pity. He has obviously been through hell. And apparently, just apparently, come back.

With her newfound insight in his past, she ponders whether he truly will destroy the sword, or whether he intends to use it in some other way. Well, maybe she'll never know - maybe she'll know sooner than she cares for.

Watching Vorsh go, she goes to Logan. "Ok, it seems these potions may cure your wounds. But let's get you safe first. I don't want to have you die here, poisoned by a devious scoundrel. Where do you live?"

Is a sense motive on Vorsh' earlier statement, that he will destroy the rapier, possible?

OOC: A retrospective sense motive? He didn't say anything about what was going to do with it during this last encounter, so I guess you are trying to think back to last time you meet - and you did try a sense motive back then. You found him impossible to read at that point (his bluff was about 15 points ahead of your sense motive).



<Red>Are you going to walk him back through town with 1hp? It is quite far away, although if you could get a gondola from the high market that would save a lot of walking.

I should just add that you shouldn't feel obliged to follow him back home just for the storyline. We all know that Logan pretty much lives at the Skinned Man anyway...
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:01, Sun 15 Feb 2015.

Fair enough, the second best thing, if we are not keen on trusting Vorsh not to poison us, is to attempt to identy the potion through the use of spellcraft (with a detect magic) or perception (as I just read in the skill description). The last may probably still be dangerous if it is poison, so Celene will try spellcraft first, then Logan can try tasting it (perception).

Celene takes a good long look at the potions, sniffing the odour, and generally investigates them thoroughly, before casting her detect magic to aid her in identifying it.

22:25, Sun 15 Feb 2015: Celene rolled 23 using 1d20+7 ((16)).

Do I need to roll two separat rolls?

Edit: of course *I* know what they are, but Celene wouldn't trust Vorsh as far as she could throw him - which incidentially is not very far! So of course she will check the potions before using them.


This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Mon 16 Feb 2015.

Logan gives a weary smile to Celene as they start back towards Shadowshore.  He jingles his bag of gold.  "I think we have enough money to afford the gondola, anyway."  He takes a few weary steps, then stumbles, holding onto a building for support.  "Maybe we should wait until we can use that potion.  I'm starting to feel the events of the day.  I'm sure a good drink and I'll feel right, though."

OOC: This is a little out of order, but here are a few last words from Vorsh.

Vorsh turns to leave, but pauses to make one last comment. "Thank you to both of you. I know that my actions seem harsh, but I am fighting for the SOUL of this city so it is worth making a few sacrifices to reach my goal."

He stares at Celene. "And one last thing cleric. Be careful around Magus Eseriel and Nylaria Absalee. They are not good people, and do not have your best interests at heart."

Then he turns and is swallowed up by the night.

And the potions each heal 2d8+3 hp, not 2d8+2 like I said before.

Celene shudders. "Brr, that man gives me the shivers. On one side he seems genuinely sacrificing himself, his own conscience and soul, for this city and its' people - but who knows, he may be leading us all on. And even if he is not, who knows when 'the end justifies the means' no longer holds out - when his own cruel nature and actions become the greater evil?"

"As for my superiors he mentioned, it's hardly a surprise that they have their own agendas. The order of Wee Jas is well known for being full of selfcentered egomaniacs. I won't succumb to that, but he's of course right, I shouldn't be blind to it."

"Whatever, we can't do more now, although I think our futures will cross again. For the moment, these potions are in fact what he's promised. One of them will have you up and running again instantly. If you need it? And I think you do, your neighborhood is not trivial."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Tue 17 Feb 2015.

Logan nods to Celene and accepts the potion.  "Thanks for your help.  I would have been zombie chow in there.  If..."  Logan laughs.  "Well, if there's ever anything you  need, if you're lookin' for anyone in Shadowshore, let me know.  You've been to my favorite bar.  I'm sure you can find me there, or the 'keep will know where I am."

Celene tilts her head slightly to the side, looking at Logan. "Thank YOU Logan! Without you taking the brunt of the attacks, I'd have no chance to survive it mylself - let alone help you finish them off." With a smile she adds, "we make a good team."

Lowering her eyes, her mind going over this nights events, she mumbles "making it through a night like this is not just another days work for me. What we've been through won't just go away. You can count on me looking you up later - when we've gotten some rest - to have a drink and tell tall tales about it." Remembering the potion in Logans hand, she points at it, "now, bottoms up, although i'm sure you'd have liked something stronger to flush it down. Let me know how it tastes."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Thu 19 Feb 2015.