"I don't know what would happen if you caught or destroyed one of The Three," Mayor Ploth said as she helped usher guests and servants out of the room. "Nobody has ever manged to do that before. At least not that I am aware of. We do have a trap of sorts in place, bit it is untested..." She paused in her explanation to ask a few of the guests to help protect the servants in the servant quarters, then began to lead those who remained to her office. When she returned her attention back to giving the adventurers more information about The Three, her expression was one of stoney seriousness.

"The Three are said to be citizens of the arcane cities that once stood in this desert. They are three powerful sorcerers who chose the path of undeath when their homeland was reduced to ruins. They are the creators and leaders of the reaper horde. They each ride an undead mount when they make an appearance. One atop a manticore, one atop a chimera, and one atop a Sphinx. They are smart. They are powerful. And they should be feared as one might fear a full grown dragon. Do not underestimate them or you will die by their hand.

Mayor Ploth opened the door to her office just as a clamor could be heard in the banquet room down the hall that you had come from. The sounds of several reapers screeching and flitting around the room incited extra haste within several who were present. "Quickly. Through my office to the armory. We can hole up in there, or use the back exit if need be," Ploth said.

What do you do?

---

Mayor Ploth is leading the adventurers and a couple others through her office to the armory. You can hear reapers in the room you just came from. What will your plan be from here?

Sierpinski
I didn't think of any good ideas for your spell drawback that felt satisfactory, so I skipped the drawback.

If no one else asks about the untested "trap of sorts," then Uri does.

Sierpinski finds and touches Harlin as his telepathy spell takes effect. Harlin therefore hears a slight echo as the wizard finishes his invisibility spell and says aloud: "Uh, I may have miscalculated my invisibility formulae just now," a pause, "Yes, I appear to be stuck like this at the moment. Useful, one might think, but it blocks my spellcasting. I'll see if I can fix it, but in the meantime I'll try to put it to good use. I'm in contact with Harlin and I'll try to scout the situation."

Sierpinski heads back towards the banquet room, apparently depending on his invisibility to keep him safe.

---

Remember if you come to Sierpinski for advice (which I'm hoping his scouting will enable him to offer authentically) you get +1 forward when following it and can mark experience.

Gania grimaced at the description of their foes. Facing a dragon-power creature wasn't something she wished to do just yet. But they might not have a say in that. She followed the major and asked "Tell us of the trap. We might be able to check it and put it to use." Not her, but one of the others might. She paused at the doorway and observed the office, looking for anything to use to slow down the creatures.

21:21, Today: Gania Flamekeeper rolled 12 using 2d6+1.  Discern realities - escape route.

What here is useful or valuable to me?
What here is not what it appears to be?
What should I be on the lookout for?

Sierpinski

As Sierpinski made his way back to the banquet hall and peeked into the doorway, He saw several reapers floating around the room. Two were examining the remains of their brethren, two were searching under tables and behind furniture for anyone who might be hiding, and a fifth one flew in through the window to join the others. One slammed through the door to the kitchen and banged around inside before returning to the banquet hall empty-handed. The group of five reapers seemed about ready to expand their search to the hall where Sierpinski was. And they seemed ready to scan the entire house for any living bodies that may have destroyed their kin.

What do you do?

---

Everyone Else

"The trap?" the mayor asked, apparently surprised that you were considering using it. "Oh, it is a section of the under-city designed to break away. We would essentially drop a building on one of them. I have the blueprints in my desk here..." Mayor Ploth rushed over to her desk and began searching in a drawer. With a hand wave without looking up, she said to her guests, "Go through that door, to the armory. Grab whatever would be useful to you. I'll catch up in a moment."

The high priest opened a door at the back of Ploth's office, revealing a dark room beyond. He entered and lit a candle hanging against the wall, then did the same for several other candles. The adventurers could see a room lined with weapon and armor stands. Most of the armor was leather, but there were a couple more sturdy suits of bone. And most of the weapons were polearms, but there were also swords and axes and even a few hammers. An entire weapon rack was dedicated to bows and slings. There was anything one might need to fight off a horde of reapers. It was obvious that the reaper threat had been a staple of Trevisi for quite some time.

Among the gear, Gania saw that there was another door at the back of the room between two armor racks. Escape was certainly an option. Donning some of this gear and facing their opponents was also an option, especially if they threw together a defensible position somehow. The gear itself wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but a wall of spears was always a good thing to have between yourself and the enemy.

And speaking of spears, Gania spotted a pair of discarded leather boots tucked unceremoniously behind one of the spear racks. They weren't much to look at, but Gania caught sight of an insignia pressed into the sole of the boots that suggested they might hold some power within them. And by her estimate, the boots seemed to be exactly her friend Istvan's size.

What do you do?

---

Sierpinski
There are five reapers that have entered the building. They are about to head in your direction and search down the hall. There is a chance they could run into you if you stay put without doing anything.

Gania
What here is useful or valuable to me?
Weapons and armor galore!

What here is not what it appears to be?
A pair of boots. They look like they have magical properties. And like they would be exactly Istvan's size.

What should I be on the lookout for?
The reapers will surely catch up soon, so Gania should look out for ways to face them or evade them. There is another exit, as well as plenty of material to set up a barricade somewhere.

The invisible wizard sticks to the wall lest one of the reapers brush against him. He sends his thoughts to Harlin "There are five of the things in the building. They seem intent on finding anyone still alive. If they look like they're going to head your way, I'll try to distract them. Is there anything I should know?"

"Uri, help the Major look for the plans." Gania instructed as she took in the scene. She hurried over to the equipment and threw the boots to Istvan "Try them on or carry them for later. Could be magical." The barbarian clearly took the invitation to help herself to things to heat. She chose a longbow and a quiver for herself.

Finally, she started to test the racks and other furniture, looking for the best option to build a barricade that could also hold weapons and ammo in place.

Taking a bow (hunters?)
Is setting up a barricade Defy danger to make it in time?
Did Mozerat manage to crawl over with us?

Istvan looked at the boots that had fallen right in front of his feet. "Before anything else, I have to try to answer one question," he muttered to himself, eyeing the boots. "What are thoooooooose...?!"

(Istvan attempts to Spout Lore about these boots.

10:41, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 8 using 2d6+2 ((5,1)).)

On the way through the armory, Harlin looks for a rapier--an elegant weapon, not as clumsy or random as a broadsword. He also hopes to replenish his supply of arrows after having left half of his with the troll.

"Sierpinski says there are five more, probably coming this way soo."

Sierpinski, we're in an armory. Try to find us fast--five is too many, and we're setting up a barricade..

Dueling rapier, if they have one!. Also second set of arrows.

Sierpinski abandons his scouting effort and makes his way back to the others. There, he helps as much as he can with the barricade and then stays out of the way, not wanting to wind up on the receiving end of someone's practice swing.

"How are we going to know when it's safe to leave?" he asks during one of the moments when several of his comrades know he's present.

Sierpinski wasn't more than halfway down the hall before three of the reapers emerged into the hall behind him. They spiraled around the wall and ceiling, searching for any signs of inhabitants while toppling items in their path. Bone statuary crashed to the floor and beautiful leather etchings were ripped from the walls. One of the reapers stopped at a doorway and attempted to bash it down as the other two continues searching the hall.

When the wizard emerged in the office, Mayor Ploth and Uri finally found what they were looking for. A large roll of leather with schematics etched onto its surface.

The others were busy setting up barricades and arming themselves for the inevitable onslaught of undead. Gania had found a sleek bow made of dark, curved, and polished tarrasque horn. Harlin had a new rapier made of flexible claw material. They both had found a handful of bone arrows that seemed to be fletched with aven feathers. Istvan seemed to be studying an interesting pair of boots. Even Mozerat, the high priest, and the scoutmaster were grabbing an extra dagger or shield to arm themselves in preparation.

Nearly immediately after Sierpinski asked, "How are we going to know when it's safe to leave?" there was a screech in the hall. The sound of a rushing enemy clattering against the wall as it moved was unmistakable. A moment later a reaper poked its head around the door frame and attempted to enter the barricaded office. It seemed to hardly take note that there were defenses in place as it barreled forward through the air toward the adventurers.

What do you do?

---

Gania
Taking a bow (hunters?)
That is fine. Add it to your inventory. A standard bundle of arrows too. Make sure they don't put you over your weight limit.

Is setting up a barricade Defy danger to make it in time?
Yes, give me a Defy Danger (Str, Dex, or Int) to get something up in time that is effective. The Danger being that the reapers arrive before you are ready. 10+ your defenses are well-placed when the reaper enters. It takes 1d10 damage and the party gets to make a free attack on it. 7-9 The party only gets to make a free attack on it as the barricades slow it down. 6- no free attacks and something bad happens.

Did Mozerat manage to crawl over with us?
Yes Mozerat is present. His hovering seems to be on the verge of returning, although he does still scrape against the floor as he moves about. You no longer need to carry him though.

Istvan
The soles of the boots bear the insignia of the Fire-Flea Marauders. A group of nomadic criminals who use magical hit and run tactics to steal from people and settlements they come across. Last you had heard, they had entered the tapestry looking for riches, but never emerged again. You can tell that the boots will only work for someone who has magic in their veins, such as yourself. Which is probably why they were not currently in use. Most of the inhabitants of Trevisi do not seem to be magical themselves. Even the high priest merely channels the magic of his deity.

Where have you heard of the Fire-Flea Marauders?  Their boots definitely have magical properties and should be safe to wear, but you are uncertain what exactly they can do. But there is just enough time to lace them up if you would like to. They add 1 weight if you keep your other boots too. If you discard your old boots, their weight is 0.

Harlin
Dueling rapier, if they have one!. Also second set of arrows.
You find both among the weaponry. Add them to your inventory. Make sure they don't put you over weight.

Uri
You can add "Trap Blueprints" to your inventory. 0 weight.

Gania waited for everyone to enter the armory before pushing a rack in front of the door. With the limited time, she didn't have time to prepare blades to meet the charge, but it was better than nothing. When the first creature slammed into the shelf, Gania pushed her glaive through the slots, motioning for others to join her. "It won't hold for long!"

20:20, Today: Gania Flamekeeper rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Strongarm a barricade.
20:23, Today: Gania Flamekeeper rolled 12 using 2d6+2.  Hack the reaper.
20:23, Today: Gania Flamekeeper rolled 4 using 1d10+1.  Glaive damage.
(+2 from Mozerat if he has anything with reach)

Harlin starts directing arrows at the thing that slipped through, relying on Quickclaw to help divert it from dodging effectively.

Volley 8. Mark off 1 use ammunition. Damage 9 non-magical.

14:43, Today: Harlin Greenarrow rolled 9 using 1d8+2.  Damage (non-magical).
14:43, Today: Harlin Greenarrow rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Volley.

Istvan and Gania's desert tribe fought the Fire-Flea Marauders to a draw about five years ago, driving the survivors (which was most of them) off, forcing them to retreat. Istvan heard more details about the Fire-Flea Marauders from the head of a merchant caravan that he and Gania traveled with last year.




Istvan decides it's time to get his boots on. He puts the new boots on, quickly.

For now, he keeps the old boots, just in case...

Uri doesn't have time to ready his lute or a good song, so instead he draws his rapier and joins in the counterattack at the barrier.  Although it turns out he wasn't as ready for this as he thought, either, and he ends up just getting in everyone's way more than doing anything useful to defend the room.

Uri rolled 3 using 2d6.  Hack and Slash.  Ouch.

By the way, with the trap blueprints, did I also learn anything about where this trap is located?  I assume I would have asked the mayor while we were searching.

The reaper howled in pain as blades bit into it and arrows lodged themselves into its undead hide. "Oh yeah. Take that!" Mozerat exclaimed with flashing blades. Even the mayor and some of her people got in on the action. However, by the time Uri decided to get in on the action, the reaper had had just about enough. When Uri lunged with his blade, the reaper caught the bard's arm by the wrist. Its rotten jerky-like hand caused Uri's skin to blacken and wither at its touch. With surprising strength, the reaper pulled on Uri's arm through the barricade, causing the bard and the barrier to go flying into the wall behind it. As Uri crashed and fell to the floor in a pile of broken shelving, the reaper let out a horrendous howl of pain and victory. A call of blood-lust and warning to its fellow reapers in the hall.

As the reaper's voice rang out, Istvan finished lacing up his new boots. He felt a sudden surge of fiery magical energy fill his legs. Like harnessed energy just waiting to be unleashed. His legs were like catapults ready to spring.

What do you do?

---

The reaper is severely injured, but still floating threateningly in the room. It is reveling in its minor victory after throwing Uri and destroying the barricade. The other four reapers are going to show up in mere moments now that they hear the sounds of battle.

Uri
The reaper grabbed you in its withering grasp and threw you (and the barricade shelving) across the room. Take 1d8 damage. Armor counts.

As for the map, yes, you know where the trap is. It is on the tarrasques stomach, in the inverted colosseum with the net flooring. Or rather, the trap IS the inverted colosseum with the net flooring.

Istvan
Your new boots make your legs want to launch yourself with great power! Like a flea might.

Sierpinski
Are you taking advantage of your invisibility in any way?

Seeing the barricade go down, Harlin rushes to help occupy the reaper in melee so Uri can get to safety.

Hack and Slash with dueling rapier and companion: 10 for 8 non-magical damage (1 piercing)

12:22, Today: Harlin Greenarrow rolled 8 using 1d8+2.  Nomagical damage (1 piercing).
12:21, Today: Harlin Greenarrow rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Attack injured reaper.

Harlin, your attack was enough to finish off the reaper. What does it look like when you deliver the killing strike?

Harlin's new weapon takes the reaper in its spectral throat. Its mouth opens in a silent scream, and the reaper slowly fades from side, beginning at the extremities, with the fading accelerating until it reaches the wound.

"Well done." Gania said to Harlin and Mozerat, raising her fist in victory. "Are you well?" she asked Uri, looking into the hallway. Finally, she turned to the major and asked "Do we wait for the rest or do we leave while we can?" not wanting to decide on a course of action that the Travisians would hold against her.

Uri groans and pulls himself up.  He's surprised to notice that he doesn't hurt as much as he thought he would.  A couple of coughs and then he's more or less back to normal.  "The trap is on the Terrasque's belly," he tells the others.  Turning to the other locals in the room, he asks "What's the quickest way to get there?"

Uri rolled 1 using 1d8.  damage.
-Armor nullifies that, so that's something nice at least

"You adventurers can do as you please," Mayor Ploth said, even as she and the Scout Master and the High Priest all made their way toward the back of the armory. "Whether you decide to stay and fight, or leave with us, we need to go. Something is amiss. This is no normal reaper attack. We need to get outside and figure out how to handle this situation."

The high priest opened the doors at the back of the armory revealing a small room with a ladder. The scoutmaster began climbing up, followed by the high priest. As the mayor waited for her turn, she turned back for the briefest moment to answer Uri's question. "The quickest way down, sans flying or falling, is the rappel ropes near the tarrasque's left head horn. They are set up for emergencies, but are quite risky for those untrained." She began climbing. "Or take Leeward Way, if you prefer a street with a lot of switchbacks!" And with that, the mayor, high priest, and scoutmaster had climbed up out of the armory, leaving the adventurers to their own devices.

The sound of the reapers were coming from just around the corner now and would burst into view in mere seconds. "Boss?" Mozzerat asked Gania, looking for guidance. Was the plan to stay, or to go?

What do you do?

---

The mayor, scout master, and high priest went out the back exit to go find out what exactly was going on with this reaper invasion. You can go too if you wish, but roll a Defy Danger to see if you can escape the reapers perusing you. Of course you can stay and fight too. However, you only have mere seconds to decide.

Also note, Sierpinski's player has decided to leave the game. This is probably a good spot for him to get separated from the group. So whether you stay or go, Sierpinski will do the opposite.

"I think those... folks... are right," said Istvan-- "--Best to find out the nature of this attack. The rest of you coming--?" But he didn't leave yet-- he waited to see how many of the others would follow him...

(If everyone else (but Sierpinski) wants to stay and fight, Istvan will literally leap into battle alongside them. But...)

"Yes, let's go," Harlin agreed. "Fighting them two or three at a time may win a couple of battles but will lose the war." He nimbly crosses the remnants of the barricade.

Defy Danger (Dex) 13.


14:48, Today: Harlin Greenarrow rolled 13 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger (Dex)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Fri 30 Aug 2019.

"We'll go out with you. We'll decide on the way to the belly later." Gania agreed with others. She looked for the largest piece of furniture that was still movable. "Go!" She instructed the others, including Mozzerat, as she struggled to get the new barricade in place, her muscles straining at the load. She hoped it meant it would stop the pursuing reapers.

19:41, Today: Gania Flamekeeper rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Defy danger - another barricade.