Hobbes Wednesday October 16th, 2002 12:53:55 PM
Hobbes sleaks in from behind not making a sound. He had been following at a slight distance behind the group as to watch for any traps or ambush situations. (He's getting mighty tired of those.) The strange thing is, his heavy armor does not make a sound as he travels, nor does the sound of breath come from him. The radiant glow of magic encompasses his holy symbol which has a Silence spell cast upon it which goes out ten feet. His disguise of the elf now drops as he realizes that this situation is quite important. He makes his way into the middle of the group to keep everyone nice and quiet as they make their way down the tunnel.
Suddenly..! (DM Donna) d20=5 d20=17 d20=3 d20=11 d20=4 d20=14 d20=13 Wednesday October 16th, 2002 7:01:18 PM
The Hamleteers enter the passageway and begin to stealthily make their way down its length. The light of the sunrod shows nothing out of the ordinary for a tunnel hewn from rock--but the sudden, ominous CLICK of...something immediately tips everyone off that you all must have missed something.
As though to underscore the atmosphere of ill luck, a sort of rumbling sounds begins to gain volume from far, far in front of Bill. The flying halfling estimates that it is the rumble of something big rolling towards the party...and that the party has maybe 20 seconds tops (three rounds) to do something about it.
Barco (Bill) (Fly 90' 48 min., Prot fr Elements (fire) (60 pts) 47 min., Invisible, Blinking, Verve 2 rnds, Elfsight 3 rnds, Det. ps/magic 9 min., HP 55+1. AC 26, 50% chance opponent's otherwise successful attacks against him will fail) Wednesday October 16th, 2002 10:28:49 PM 'Something big, and round, this way comes!' Bill broadcasts to all via William. 'Ideas?'
[will say a bit more later, but have to head out...]
Renik Thursday October 17th, 2002 4:22:31 AM
"Somebody cast Web across the tunnel! And any other blocking magics you have!" yells the rogue, turning and sprinting back down the passage, buying himself as much time as possible. Bill should be all right, he thinks; that Blinking ring of his should see him safely through. But if the rest of them can't stop, destroy or alter the object rolling towards them, they may not be so lucky...
...oops...almost forgot..! (DM Donna) Thursday October 17th, 2002 6:02:58 AM
Oh, yeah--that clicking sound presaged not only something big and heavy rolling your way...but also the door into the passageway closing and locking behind you...with no accessible openings into the lock of the door--and no doorknob on this side, either.
One round down...two to go...
Rond Thursday October 17th, 2002 2:13:16 PM
"Can we make any kind of pit, or other side stop that we could disappear into?"
"Barco, do you think any of your bags might be able to attempt to slow this down, since you are flying?"
Draax d20+1=19 Thursday October 17th, 2002 4:45:59 PM
Draax looks for any grooves or openings in the floor, walls, or ceiling (search check 19). He relays to Bill through William "How high is the thing, is there any room between it and the ceiling?"
Feng Thursday October 17th, 2002 5:32:34 PM
"It might be risky, but what about using the ring of the ram when the boulder comes into view? I'm pretty sure that the walls are sturdy enough. By the time we could make a big enough hole the boulder would be upon us."
Barco (Bill) (Fly 90' 48 min., Prot fr Elements (fire) (60 pts) 47 min., Invisible, Blinking, Verve 1 rnd, Elfsight 2 rnds, My light 80 min., Det. ps/mag 9 min., HP 55+1. AC 26, 50% chance opponents' attacks will fail) d20+4=17 Friday October 18th, 2002 2:21:36 AM
Since he detected no magic in his forward flight down - or, should one say, up (as a large object will hardly roll on an upwards incline) - the hallway, Bill figures the click was the result of tripping a mechanical device, rather than magical. He glances to see if there are grooves in the floor or indentations in the walls to indicate any prior passage of that which this way comes.
Bill activates what he calls my light, and twin points of light now fly through the air, marking the location of the otherwise invisible halfling (well, he would look like a gnome, if visible), and expanding the reach of his sight, as swiftly he flies toward the oncoming object. He reaches into his backpack and withdraws a large folded bundle, to which some short ropes are tied at the edges. He pulls out of his pants a sack containing two four pound tanglefoot bags, which he clasps in his teeth by the fabric at the top. He opens a few flaps of the folded bundle (a 15'x20' tarp when fully opened), then places within it a good-sized wooden spool, with 300' of silk rope wrapped about it. He flips the tarp flaps back over the rope, and lowers the sack to rest on the top.
Bill judges by sound the proximity of the approaching object, and reverses the course of his flight, so as to stay slightly ahead of the sphere, but allow it to gain on him, and only match pace when it is quite close. As he flies ahead of it, he carefully upends the sack so the two tanglefoot bags rest on top (Dex check 17). He then drops the tarp-covered spool of rope with the tanglefoot bags on the top, so that the massive object will roll on top of it, crushing and releasing the contents of the tanglefoot bags, and causing the whole mess to stick to the globe, and halt or slow its momentous passage.
Arien Friday October 18th, 2002 4:39:27 AM
Arien stands ready to either activate his ring or the magic of his cloak should Bill's measures prove to be not enough.
Hobbes d20+8=21 Friday October 18th, 2002 5:37:39 AM
The sudden click on the floor and behind disrupts Hobbes' train of thought. "What was that?" he wonders as he forgets to finish the casting of his Silence spell. He takes a step forward and peers downat the ground.
"Strange sounds about." Then the rumbling begins. He straightens up and peers forward, then behind him. "By Gargul's Scythe!" He begins searching his memory, clutching his memory for something suitable, while the others, shouting out suggestions disrupt and confuse him momentarily. THen he gets it.
"That's it!" he shouts as he starts running back down the corridor toward the door away from the rock. "Arien! Use your ring on the door! We've got to get back out. If we can't immediately see a latch or lever, bash our way out. If the boulder comes upon us too quickly I can move two light people up to 350 pounds away from it. So follow me and grab on."
On the run, he reaches the door and looks at it and around it. [Spot 21] and immediately begins bashing at it with his scythe. "Arien I will duck if ever you blast it."
Between a Rock and... (DM Donna) Friday October 18th, 2002 6:40:56 AM
Bill's inspired use of his tanglefoot bags save the day for the Hamleteers! The big boulder comes barreling down the passageway (which the party only now belatedly realizes is, indeed, sloped) and, miraculously, sticks fast in the gloppy, gluey stuff its own weight and impetus releases from the busted bags.
So now the party finds itself in a ten-foot high, ten-foot wide, and twenty-five foot (or so) long section of tunnel--one end blocked by the boulder that is now glued in place, and the other end sealed off by the door with no doorknob.
And it's now all quiet again.
Renik Friday October 18th, 2002 9:12:19 AM
"Well done, Bill!" laughs the relieved rogue, the humour of their predicament not lost on him. "Stuck between a rock and a hard place, eh?"
He does his best to crawl past the wedged boulder (Escape Artist roll to follow).
Barco (Bill). Whew! (Fly 90' 47 min., Prot fr Elements (fire) (60 pts) 46 min., Invisible, Blinking, Elfsight 10 rnds, Det. ps/mag 8 min., HP 55. AC 26, 50% chance opponents' attacks will fail) d10=5 d6=4 Friday October 18th, 2002 7:21:45 PM
'Barco' laughs at Renik's words, also feeling a sense of relief. 'Is everyone all right? Hobbes? Arien? Draax? Feng? Rond? William? Renik?'
He flies down to Rond, placing in his hand his psicrystal, William. "I may want William back, later, for he can help me in other ways, but for now he can ride with you, okay, chief?" he speaks quietly aloud. "That okay with you, good William?"
With 2'1" clearance between the side of the stone and the corner of the hallway, Bill has no problem whatsoever getting through. Shoot, there's even more space if a body hugs the stone. More than four feet from one point on the wall, with a tangent line kissing the side of the stone, to a point equidistant along the floor, along with over two feet depth at the deepest point.
It may be a bit of a squeeze for someone as large as Rond, but not impossible - as long as he takes his backpack off first before wiggling his way through. 'I'm glad there are no centaurs in the group, at least in this situation,' Bill relays to his friends telepathically. Bill flies through the left top gap, to see if anything was following the stone. If not, then he returns to the other side, goes to the locked door, blinks through to the other side, checks briefly to make sure all is quiet in the room, opens the door, and places a sack of fertilizer in the opening, so it can't shut again. 'Anybody want to bring one of these sacks of fertilizer along? Might come in handy. If not now, then Ferrak's garden could benefit.'
If the door were five feet thick, Bill would have been pinched by an attempt to rematerialize in solid matter (d10 for blink, rolled a 5). Since it is likely only a few inches thick, he makes it through without incident [unless DM Donna can think of a blinkin' incident - in which case, Bill will have taken 4 hp damage, but still gotten through - your call]. :-)
'All right, friends, one exit is available, our passage ahead is doable, let's get going. Of course, the element of surprise may have been forfeited - unless they figure no one is going to survive the stone of death!' So,' he says as he again passes to the other side of the boulder, 'Let's keep moving - quietly, if we can. I'll scout ahead a bit more. Maybe Renik and another person check for traps along the way.'
Bill drops his my light power, so as to lose the eye-centered beacons of light, and silently flies up the hallway, to learn what he might learn, and he kicks in another minute's worth of elfsight. He silently communicates whatever he may see up ahead, still scanning for magic as he goes. About every eighty to one hundred feet, he places a lighted sunrod carefully along the edge of the passageway.
Not So Fast..! (DM Donna) Saturday October 19th, 2002 7:46:32 AM
Apparently, the descriptive text of my previous post was not clear enough:
So now the party finds itself in a ten-foot high, ten-foot wide, and twenty-five foot (or so) long section of tunnel--one end blocked by the boulder that is now glued in place, and the other end sealed off by the door with no doorknob.
And it's now all quiet again.
The wiggle room on either side of the boulder is less than six inches, although the room at the top of the boulder may be as tall as eight inches.
Bill just might squeeze through the space on top--IF he were stripped to his skivvies and slathered in some kind of slippery substance. (If this is the option chosen, then the Escape Artist roll would be a mere 25, otherwise you'd have to roll a 30.)
It is impossible for Renik to squeeze through at all...he's simply too big.
The door with no knob is only a few inches thick, however.
And it's still quiet.
Feng Saturday October 19th, 2002 10:00:36 AM
Feng looks at the boulder and back the other way. "If we can get rid of the glue perhaps I can push the boulder back up the hallway."
Barco (Bill) Saturday October 19th, 2002 5:01:50 PM
"Oh, Feng, you don't want to push that thing back so far, do you? Wouldn't that make you all sweaty?" Bill asks out loud.
Bill blinks through the doorway, as mentioned above, opens the door, blocks it open with a bag of fertilizer, then goes to examine more closely the large object.
"Ah - I had assumed it was a spherical object coming down the hallway. But look - it's a big, smooth, cylindrical stone! Any ideas on busting it apart? Or getting around it?" Bill asks out loud.
"I do have one idea. I have this ring that allows me to pass through solid objects - just like I did through the door back there. Well, if they are not too thick. The thickest I've made it through so far is about twenty feet, but usually it's just five or ten feet. And if I don't make it, sometimes I end up on one side of the object, and sometimes on the side I started. Oh, and it hurts when I get pushed one way or another like that. Anyway, I could blink to the other side, and we can have a loop of rope we push in the little gap between the cylinder and the wall, and pass the ring back to you all on the other side - like on a clothesline, know what I mean? Then the next person blinks through to the far side, and we loop the ring back to the next person, and so on.
"Of course, if we get on the other side, do what we came to do, then find ourselves having to come back this way to get out - well, I just hope we're not in a hurry, being chased or something. Where's a stone-shaping dwarf when you need one, that's what I'd like to know. Any other ideas? We can sculpt the cylinder into a picture of us eating dinner, I suppose."
Another thought occurs to the halfling. "Say, I wonder if, when the cylinder gets to the end of the hallway, it drops down into a pit, or something. Anyone want to check to see if there's like a trap door or something there? Where was that click sound from, anyhow?"
Draax d20+1=19 Sunday October 20th, 2002 11:51:38 AM
Draax listens to the suggestions and like Feng's suggestion to push the bolder back the way it came, but is not sure if it could be done. Not being able to think of anything himself he decides to take Bill's advice to check the floor and walls for secret compartments or doors (search check 19)
Renik Sunday October 20th, 2002 1:35:56 PM
"Hey Bill, I like that plan; I've always wondered what that blinking is like. I'll go second with it, if that's OK with you"
Once the ring has been passed back Renik puts it on, and blinks through the boulder.
Arien d20+12=30 d20+10=28 Sunday October 20th, 2002 2:01:05 PM
While Bill and Renik are carrying out Bill's plan Arien also searches the area for any disguised passages or things of that sort.
(Search: 30 and Spot: 28)
Barco (Bill) d10=7 Sunday October 20th, 2002 10:17:45 PM
Bill starts the process by taking a 50' length of silk rope, tying one end to the other into a big, 24' loop (when stretched tight), flies up to the top of the cylinder, and pushes about twelve feet of it down the far side, having Renik (or someone) holding the near side bight of rope. Then, so that he'll have a minimal thickness of the stony cylinder to transverse, he backs up, then flies toward the peak of the cylinder, the top of his backpack just an inch or two below the ceiling. The lower part of his body will consequently pass through about a three foot length of the top of the cylinder. [Need to roll d10. 1-3 means he rematerializes in the stone, and gets 'kicked' out to one side or other of the cylinder, taking 1d6 damage.] [Rolled 7 - Bill gets through okay.]
The others, crossing down below, will have to pass through a thicker section. If one crawls on his belly, keeping his height to 1'5" or less, he will pass through 7' of stone. If ducking down and staying under 3' above the floor, that is 9' of stone to pass through. If one just walks or run through, if 5' tall or taller, that is ten feet thickness.
Here is a blinking success/failure table:
Thickness . Success . Failure . Landing Side . . . . . . . Fail damage . . 1 foot . . . 2-10 . . . 1 . . . . . 1:flip coin . . . . . . . . . . . . 1d6 . . 2 feet . . . 3-10 . . . 1-2 . . . 1:start 2:far side . . . . . . . . 1d6 . . 3 feet . . . 4-10 . . . 1-3 . . . 1:start 2:flip coin 3:far side . . 1d6 . . 4 feet . . . 5-10 . . . 1-4 . . . 1-2:start 3-4:far side . . . . . . 1d6 . . 5 feet . . . 6-10 . . . 1-5 . . . 1-2:start 3:flip coin 4-5:far side . 1d6 If more than five feet, first five feet must succeed to get through the next segment of five feet or less. If the first five feet do succeed, then, if you fail on the second five feet, then you do end up on the far side, but take 1d6 points of damage for every five feet you attempted to pass through. So if you attempt 6-10 feet, and fail on the second segment, you take 2d6 damage. Thickness . Success . Failure . Landing Side . Fail damage . . 6 feet . . . 2-10 . . . 1 . . . . . Far side . . . . . . 2d6 . . 7 feet . . . 3-10 . . . 1-2 . . . Far side . . . . . . 2d6 . . 8 feet . . . 4-10 . . . 1-3 . . . Far side . . . . . . 2d6 . . 9 feet . . . 5-10 . . . 1-4 . . . Far side . . . . . . 2d6 . .10 feet . . . 6-10 . . . 1-5 . . . Far side . . . . . . 2d6
For example, Rond belly-crawls through, rolls a 6 on d10, so makes it through the first 5'. Next he rolls a 1 on d10, so fails on the last 2' section, so rolls 2d6 to determine how much damage he takes - but does end up on the far side. If he failed on the first five feet, he would take 1d6 damage, and have to try again.
[OOC: Man, if anyone can come up with a better idea than Bill's, please put it forward. A lot of us could get hurt just getting through, and may have to do the whole thing in reverse on the way back. -Kim]
Suddenly (again!) (DM Donna) Monday October 21st, 2002 6:08:03 AM
Bill goes back and opens the door--revealing to the party that the boulder was, indeed, a big rolling cylinder, obviously designed to inflict maximum damage on whoever/whatever set off the trap in the passage.
Even as the Hamleteers regroup and plan anew--there is suddenly a very disorienting feeling that washes over everyone in the group! (OOC: everyone must make a Fort save versus DC10 or feel dizzy with nausea--natural 1 means your PC loses his lunch.)
Those who are not too dizzy by the unexpected teleportation that has just occurred whip out their weapons and look suspiciously around them, because now the party finds itself in the very center of a large, cavernous chamber which starts out as rather shadowy, but then brightens up magically, although to everyone in the party, the air looks kind of... shimmery. (OOC: everyone must now make a Will Save versus DC35. Those failing the save will find that none of their magic spell effects or psionic powers are working any longer. Items that are being used [blink ring, etc.] must make separate Will saves in order to remain operational [and they don't get any Will bonuses.] Anyone making a Spellcraft check versus DC15 will realize that the party is now enclosed in a specialized Sphere that not only renders magic & psionics useless--but is also a nearly-invisible Force Field.)
The sound of two hands clapping emanates from one corner, and a rotund, elegantly-dressed figure advances with a big, wide, triumphant grin on his face.
It's Balentyne.
"Congratulations!" he says rather jovially. "I was fairly certain that you'd never get here--but you've proven me wrong!"
Barco (Bill) d20+10=17 d20+12=16 d20+16=18 d20+12=28 d20+2=8 Monday October 21st, 2002 3:20:16 PM
[Not nauseated - made Fort save: 17; failed Will save versus demagicking: 16; he recognizes the force screened sphere - Spellcraft: 18; psicrystal 'William' failed Will save: 28; blink ring failed Will save: 8]
"Hey, it's the tax-and-spend Baron!" Barco says when he sees Balentyne. "How're tricks, m'lord? Thanks for the welcome mat-maker!"
Feng d20+10=19 d20=5 d20=16 d20=15 Monday October 21st, 2002 3:44:31 PM
[fort save 19, bracers of armor +1 save 5, ring of jumping save 16, +1 double ax save 15]
"I'm glad that I finally found you Balentyne. The gods wish to speak with you."
Renik d20+7=16 d20+12=13 d20+12=22 Monday October 21st, 2002 6:24:11 PM
The rogue crouches low, gritting his teeth against the disorienting effects of the magical transportation (Fort 16).
Sizing up his surroundings swiftly the rogue looks for somewhere to hide, but he is caught cold by Balantyne's dramatic entrance.
Instead he brings his bow up to aim squarely at the gloating Baron's face. Being ill-versed in matters magical, he does not realise that they are surrounded by a near-impenetrable sphere of force, and looses his arrow wildly and harmlessly against the barrier (AC13).
Realising the impossibility of direct confrontation the rogue stands, bows, and says, "Yes, my dear Baron, we've proven you wrong. And not for the last time either, I think you'll find. Savor your 'victory' while you can."
He smiles a sinister, knowing smile, wishing he was as confident as he sounds (Bluff 22).
Barco (Bill) Monday October 21st, 2002 6:49:05 PM
"Yep, a convenient anti-magic sphere with a force field perimeter," Barco says so as to alert the rest of his friends. "Been shopping? Gnomes are usually interested in such tricks."
Rond d20+9=21 d20+4=23 d20+4=5 Monday October 21st, 2002 7:18:58 PM
Not feeling the effects of the teleportation (fort save 23), Rond turns his attention on the clapping hands. (Failed will save and so did sword.)
"Hrumph" is about all Rond feels like saying as the initial introductions are given.
Draax d20+7=20 d20+2=15 Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 12:06:03 AM
Draax looks up at the source of the clapping and does not show the slightest bit of surprise at seeing Balentyne. The group seems to make a habit of playing right into their enemies' hands. He hopes that this trap has the same results as the other traps they stumbled into. He pulls his sword and points it into the ground using it a something to lean on as he waits to see what happens.
Insert Gladiator Salute Here (DM Donna) Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 8:02:40 AM
The expensively-dressed noble only grins at the sheer bravado of the Hamleteers "under glass".
"But you don't understand...I am genuinely glad to see you." he says insistently. "Although...I can't say the same for my employer, exactly..."
"What are you all DOING in there???" hollers a familiar voice. "Do you realize that you should be DEAD after waltzing right into this trap???" Another figure comes forward.
It's Marcus!
Renik d20+7=25 Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 12:12:58 PM
Renik somehow manages to keep his astonishment from his face at this turn of events (Bluff 25!).
"Ah, there you are, old fellow," he says calmly to Marcus, preening his goatee beard. "About time. Deactivate this thing will you? It makes me feel like a goldfish."
Inside, however, the rogue is bug-eyed with astonishmnet. How? Why? Where? Who? What? When? Balentyne and Marcus? But are they working with Prelate Marshall and Amelie the dwarf? Or against them? Is Balentyne a double agent? He desperately tries to arrange all the pieces of the puzzle in his head, all the while looking cool as a cucumber.
Barco (Bill) Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 12:35:24 PM
"Why, have we been an inconvenience to someone?" 'Barco' asks. "Unfinished business? So, you've been scamming us? Or, have we here an imposter?" he continues, with irony and a wink. As he talks, he approaches the edge of the sphere, reaching out and probing the force field. "And how did you all manage to teleport us into an area of antimagic, since such an area would be resistant to receiving teleportees? And contained it within a force sphere? Such awesome power. For little 'ol us? Why put forth such power to move us around, rather than kill us more directly, if it is our deaths you desire?" If he is able to get his hand through it, he'll try to step through. If not, he takes a silver piece from out his pouch, and sees what happens when he tosses it in an arc towards the outside of the shimmering field. "Oh, and I'm glad to see you in good health, sir, if you are the man you appear to be. We were worried. Say, since we are talking, could you relieve us of our excess tax burden, without relieving us of something too dear to us?"
Wh-wh-whaaaaaaaaaaaat..? (DM Donna) Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 6:03:46 PM
"Shut this damn thing off!" snaps Marcus to Balentyne, who waddles off to a corner and--a few seconds later--the force field is no more. All magic items and such return to normal, though all the protective spells that had been cast are now completely expended. The spymaster scowls at the entire party...and yet, you can all tell that he's more relieved at the sight of you than truly angry.
"Honestly--only the greenest of recruits would have fallen for that trap! I would have thought you knew better by now!" Marcus huffs.
And it IS Marcus. Yes, it truly is Marcus, hale, hearty and...under the protection of Balentyne, whom you all thought was an enemy of Plateau City.
"Balentyne is another double operative, much as I asked Bill, there, to be." Marcus explains brusquely. "It was on a need-to-know basis...I assigned you guys to give him a hard time so that the blasted Prelate for Marteaus would think Balentyne all the more genuine."
"It worked like a charm, I tell you!" the portly noble adds eagerly, an enthusiastic--nigh worshipping--look on his face as he beams at each of the Hamleteers. "Especially after you guys snuck into the house that first time! Prelate Marshall wouldn't let me into the Inner Sanctum of his horrid temple until after he confirmed that you all had ransacked my personal cache! Oh, the credibility that stunt brought me!"
"Fine, great--don't swoon over the theatrics, all right?" Marcus tells the man, then turns to the Hamleteers once more. "Balentyne's men discovered--too late--that Tezo walked into an ambush. How is he?"
Feng Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 6:53:27 PM
Feng stayed back and let the others attract all the attention. It was best that way. This situation didn't sit well with him. Concentrating, Feng searches for any evil in the area [detect evil]. Marcus could be scamming them still. Deception in the name of good still feels wrong to the Paladin. It's only a matter of time before you start deceiving yourself.
Draax Tuesday October 22nd, 2002 8:42:50 PM
Draax begins to openly laugh at the turn of events. Although he is not happy with Marcus at the moment, he cannot help but see how funny the situation is. He has been manipulated by the bad guys, manipulated by the good guys, manipulated by the bad guys that he thought were good and now manipulated by the good guys that he thought were bad. This life as an adventurer is not turning out to be everything he thought it would.
When he finally gets himself under control he answers Marcus' question, "Tezo was poisoned and is currently in a coma and is being looked after at Black Cathedral."
Barco / Bill Wednesday October 23rd, 2002 12:19:49 AM
"Hey, this is our first Crushing Cylinder encounter, sir!"
"Bill? Bill? Who's this Bill?" Barco asks. Then he laughs, and claps. "Well done, well done. Remind me never to play poker with you, sir. And oh, Baron Balentyne, we truly despised you. Well played, indeed! Now, about those taxes, m'lord..." he says with mock seriousness.
When Marcus asks after Tezo, and Draax answers, Bill nods his head, more somber now. "Who sent those incompetents after us, then? Sixteen men died trying to take Tezo - whom they thought was you, sir, I believe - and us. The only thing they did really 'right', from their perspective, was tagging the poor man with a poisoned crossbow bolt. We managed to neutralize the poison, somewhat, but he was unconscious by that time, and we have not been able to pull him out of it. The priests of more potent power are off somewhere, so could not treat him. Any ideas? I suggest we get to him as soon as possible, if you can think of some way to bring him around, sir, or know someone who might.
"Oh, and what's the Prelate Marshall up to these days?"
Renik Wednesday October 23rd, 2002 4:35:43 AM
"Not to mention his his charming dwarven companion Amelie. I must say, M, it's good to see you safe and well. So, now the enemy think you dead, or captured? What's the next step?"
The rogue saunters out of the well lit center of the chamber, unconciously gravitating towards the shadows.
All the Lingering Details (DM Donna) Wednesday October 23rd, 2002 7:02:00 AM
Yes, indeed--it IS rather odd to come to realize that the "evil" Baron Balentyne is actually one of the good guys. You have to admit that the man plays his role well. Feng, especially, as his ability to pinpoint evil turns up absolutely nothing in the area.
"I, myself, can do nothing about your specific tax situation," Balentyne tells Bill, "Not without blowing my cover."
"But I can--and will." adds Marcus. "I will get in touch with Mechina...excuse me for a moment..." The spymaster withdraws to a corner, pulls out a medallion and begins to have a conversation.
"And so the stalwart Marcus will be blamed by the evil powers for interfering with my dastardly plans for Plateau City once again." Balentyne muses, then turns his twinkling eyes towards the Hamleteers. "For the better part of two years have I been cultivating my 'scheming Baron' routine...and for all that time, Prelate Marshall still hasn't been caught doing anything that our laws can prosecute the man for. Often were the times that I wished that I was more of a fighter-type of spy, rather than a lowly mole--at least I could have dispatched the man." The chubby man sighs. "However...I'm NOT very physical. That's one of the reasons I'm glad that there is a group like you to watch my back. You get things done and provide me with extra cover so that--one of these days--we'll be able to stop Marshall and his sneaky, evil cult." Balentyne looks over at where Marcus is still talking with his medallion.
"I, personally, suspect that Mechina may have a mole of her own to worry about, though." the noble says soberly. "I was having dinner with the Prelate tonight when he was gloating about how he had his own personal rat in what was left of Marcus' office...then, when he went on to assure me that Marcus wouldn't live out the night, I almost choked on dessert! I had to risk blowing my cover to get Marcus out of danger. My men were too late to stop Tezo from making the rendezvous, but we did get Marcus over here before any of the Prelate's assassins could trace Tezo back to the boarding house. THAT was a close thing, I tell you..!"
Rond Wednesday October 23rd, 2002 1:07:54 PM
Caught a little dumbfounded by the recent relevations, Rond quickly adjusts to the new situation. Rond applauds Marcus in his head for having a neat way to hide without anyone really knowing the wiser.
Thinking about recent events Rond pipes up, "If there is another source of information for this Prelate, then should we not get out of the way, and allow you to establish the sphere again, just in case? Or is that particular trap now completely sprung and unavailable to be recast?"
Draax Thursday October 24th, 2002 12:48:08 AM
Draax waits for Rond's question to be answered before asking one of his own. He smiles while looking at Balentyne, "I am happy to see Marcus alive and well, but ya know I was really looking forward to killing you and it is a real disappointment to me to find out that you are one of the good guys. OK, so what do we do now?"
Arien Thursday October 24th, 2002 12:58:00 AM
It takes a moment for Arien to adjust to the fact that Balentyne was on their side. But once he does another thought comes to mind. "You say Mechina has a mole? Well perhaps we can use this to our advantage. We can arrange a trap of our own here. Make it look like you got away and that you are planning to meet us somewhere at a certain time. Then, we go this place and wait to see what happens. We can hope that once the person who sent those commoners after Tezo, whom they thought was you, failed, that this person will send some better minions; ones that know more about what's going on here."
Renik Thursday October 24th, 2002 4:54:31 AM
The rogue thinks on Arien's plan for a moment. "Yes, that might work... but then Marshall might twig that we know he knows, when we spring our trap, and the trail might lead back to Balantyne. Well, what are our instructions, M?"
Barco / Bill Thursday October 24th, 2002 5:24:14 AM
For once, Bill has nothing in particular to say. Mainly because he engages the power of clairaudience to listen in on Marcus' conversation with Mechina.
Feng Thursday October 24th, 2002 6:37:34 AM
All this deception doesn't sit well with Feng. Now more so than ever. "Misleading the enemy with false information is a sound tactical move but what is our specific goal? The Prelate's defeat, destruction, or annihilation?"
More Mole Discoveries (DM Donna) Thursday October 24th, 2002 8:23:16 AM
"Welllll..." Balentyne says thoughtfully, rubbing his double chin, "I waited until I'd seen the Prelate off before ordering my men to Tezo's...so I'm pretty sure that the cleric is still unaware of my double-spy status. I won't know for certain until the next time he wants to see me--the only way I can be sure that Prelate Marshall doesn't suspect that I'm a mole is that if I leave our meetings alive." The noble shrugs at Draax's follow-up question, grinning ruefully.
"I know--my public persona is just awful, isn't it?" the undercover operative admits. "Just about everyone I know is sucking up to me because they don't want taxes levied on their property or they're after some other favor. Anybody who's decent, however, simply wants to kill me." Balentyne sounds strangely proud of that fact--but then, again, you can understand that having people perceive what he's wishing for them to perceive means that he is very successfully pulling off his role.
Even as Bill begins to focus on Marcus' conversation over the medallion, the spymaster signs off and comes back over to the group.
"Mechina's caught one of her own assistants trying to retrieve a stuffed rat from her office." Marcus says. "Turns out that the thing is actually enchanted to be an audial scrying device...which is how those assassins got the info to set up the ambush in the park, I'll bet." The man takes up a cloak and dons it. "Let's go--I want to question this guy before something happens to him."
Balentyne shows you all to a secret exit--a tunnel that leads to the sewers, and from there the group treks to the area of the City that has The Motley Lot Import/Export Shop, where the tanned gnome female lets you all into the darkened place of business and leads you through the shop area to the office in back...
...where there are now about a dozen or so people. Two of them--burly fighters, to judge by their builds--stand guard over a slender half-elf sitting dejectedly between them. The other ten people look to be casting spells and using scrolls and other devices to scan the room. Mechina holds up her hand to the new arrivals, signalling for them to remain quiet and in the shadows for a moment.
"All clear, Mechina." one female elf says as she removes a pair of rhinestone-encrusted spectacles from her face. "No more unauthorized magic items in the vicinity."
"Thank you, then." the gnome replies. "You can all go home." The searchers nod and/or bow to Mechina and exit the building...leaving the two guards and the slightly-frightened half-elf.
"This is Davenport." Mechina introduces the seated male. "He was one of my own assistants. He was caught trying to retrieve a decoy rat that turned out to have the ability to eavesdrop on all things said in my office. I think he'd benefit from having to answer to the people he tried to have killed." The brunette nods at the party, giving the Hamleteers tacit permission to question the mole. Marcus also nods (should any of you look at him), confirming that the Hamleteers can ask what they wish of Davenport.
Renik d20+2=10 d20+2=15 d20+12=29 Thursday October 24th, 2002 12:10:22 PM
"So, you've been keeping tabs on us have you, Davenport? Passing information back to your blackhearted handlers, eh? Why'd you do it? What do they have on you? What threats did they use? Or were you just ensnared by the lure of easy money? Is that it Davenport? Was it greed, pure and simple?" (intimidate 10)
The rogue's flurry of opening questions are designed to get the half elf on the back foot, defensive. His target (hopefully) rattled, the spy-turned-interrogator turns to threats and fear tactics;
"It's going to go hard for you, Davenport. I'm sure you're aware of the penalty for what you've done. Alone, quietly, out of the public eye. You're going to die alone, unmourned, unloved. Do you have any family, Davenport? Do you have anyone who will wonder where you are? You'll simply vanish, and that will be the end of you, your dismembered body left to rot in an unmarked grave. Is that what you want, Davenport?" By the end he is leaning in close, yelling into the half-elf's face. (Intimidate 15)
He pauses. Having laid it on with the stick he switches to the carrot. Standing he says "Well, here and now you have a single, final chance. All is not yet lost. You can still save yourself. You answer my questions and those of my companions, and you will be treated leniently. Defy us and your end will be swift and painful. Not all of my companions are as nice as I am." (Bluff 29!)
He turns his back on the prisoner, trying to make eye contact with Feng. From what he knows of the half orc he will not like this one little bit. He tries to subtly signal "Wait! Let this play it's course!" before turning back and counting off on his fingers;
"First; who were you working for? All details, where you met, when, your contacts, how often you met, the time of your next planned meeting.
Second; any names you heard. Any snippet of conversation you remember. References to plans, people, dates, anything you remember.
Third; any passwords or methods of contacting your handlers. Codes used to indicate trouble, all clear, etc.
Now remember, Davenport, we can tell if you're lying. So you have two choices; tell us what you know and spare yourself, or die horribly, protecting men who care nothing for you or your "sacrifice". Trust me, Davenport, you would do well to talk."
Rond Thursday October 24th, 2002 2:24:13 PM
Not wanting to interrupt Renik's little performance, Rond gingerly walks over to Bill and gets his attention. Keeping his voice pitched low so that only Bill can hear, "Can a certain crystal help or add to this confusion?!" Smiling a little bit at Bill.
Bill Troublefinder d20+18=30 Thursday October 24th, 2002 7:40:27 PM
Bill changes out of his disguise after leaving Balentyne's, and before meeting the fellow who ratted on them.
As the group is introduced to Davenport, Bill pulls out a little portable writing desk, dips a pen in a bottle of ink (disappearing - will fade in about one hour), and begins writing. He thinks that Renik is doing a fine job, so he uses autohypnosis (Memorize DC 30) to focus on Davenport's responses to Renik's queries. He also draws a couple of quick sketches of the half elf - full face and profile.
'I'll see what I can do,' he sends to Rond.
Davenport telepathically 'hears' the following. 'I'm sorry we didn't know each other before this, Davenport. Just want you to know I'll be paying attention to your answers in more way than one. Truth is best, Davenport.' Bill's eyes glow with a silver light as he looks straight at the interrogee's chest, about where his heart should be. His eyes are glowing due to his activating clairvoyance - to watch the fellow from varying points of view.
Draax Friday October 25th, 2002 12:04:59 AM
Draax find a spot in the corner takes a seat and listens to the interrogation.
Feng Friday October 25th, 2002 12:35:59 AM
Feng shakes his head and leaves the room. If he stays, no doubt he will have to stop the others. He was all for justice, but this was far from it. Sadistic threats, carried out or not blur the line between good and evil. There are better ways to get the information but the road has been chosen. In the other room Feng uses the time to clean up. Traveling through the sewers leaves behind a noticable stench and grime. Utterly disgusting. He has no idea how the others can stand it.
Sing a Song of Sixpence (DM Donna) d20=1 d20=4 Friday October 25th, 2002 7:49:40 AM
Davenport, it turns out, has all the spinal strength of cooked noodles. The half-elf immediately starts blubbering about how he couldn't help it...the offer of money was just too tempting to refuse...it's not like Marcus actually cares about his operatives...
By the time Davenport is finished with his explanations (all of which are the truth from his rather warped perspective), the operatives left in the office hear a sob story about how a short person dressed in black (whose face always seemed to remain hidden) would always initiate contact with him, and pay him money, and even be concerned enough with Davenport to present the half-elf with a valuable medallion, see..?
Davenport holds up a silvery pendant--which immediately begins to chuckle rather evilly.
"This battle goes to you, spymaster...but the war isn't won just yet..." says a familiar voice that Bill recognizes as Prelate Marshall's. There is a flash of light--
--and Davenport is gone.
"MECHINA SPROCKET!" bellows Marcus. "You had ten people in here scanning for unauthorized magic items and you missed a Teleport charm???"
"I'm sorry, sir," the crestfallen gnome replies, "We detected that the rat was magic--but he'd been clutching it to his chest at the time, so we missed the necklace." Mechina obviously feels both ashamed and angry, because it was a stupid mistake to make.
"Well, I'm back now," Marcus says firmly, "So security slip-ups will be a thing of the past--right, Mechina..?"
"Yes, sir!" the gnome agrees fiercely.
+++++
The spymaster's return to his network heralds a special certificate that voids the tax due on The Motley Lot. The Hamleteers receive an identical certificate that applies to their two residential properties as well.
"You'll still be needing to pay the regular property tax on them, though," Marcus points out, "But that isn't levied until the end of the year." (And the two properties are taxed only 100gp altogether for THAT particular levy.)
Bill Troublefinder Sunday October 27th, 2002 6:31:55 AM
"Phooey!" exclaims Bill as Davenport disappears.
"What a relief," he says when Marcus informs the group of the tax situation.
Then he sits down, and writes out what has happened in the past day, in detail, as is his custom. Of course, it's in his own code so, aside from any sketches he includes, it's going to be pretty hard for anyone else to read.
Draax Sunday October 27th, 2002 9:27:32 AM
Draax shakes his head at the disappearance of Davenport, he thought Marcus' people were more competent than that. Then he smiles to himself as he remembers that his group is also considered to be Marcus' people. He would suspect that Davenport is probably dead since his benefit to his employer has ended, but with everyone playing these dual roles his real identity could be anything. He sighs and mentally adds Davenport to the list of people that he wants to kill, ironically he puts Davenport in the spot that was just vacated by Baron Balentyne.
Renik Sunday October 27th, 2002 6:00:41 PM
Renik spits a curse as Davenport vanishes, somewhat more colorful than Bill's.
"So, Marcus. It would seem we have a target. Unfortunately a dangerous and clever one who knows we are coming for him. Any suggestions would be welcome."
He smooths his hair, and tries to calm down. The adrenaline rush of the interrogation leaves him struggling to control his anger at their captive's escape and their enemy's brazen show of power.
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