Dr. Si's Curse of the Crimson Throne - Beta Group

Hookshanks licks his lips nervously.

"Tell you what, miss," he says to Lynn (but his eyes fall more on Thorson and Edmond). "Tell you what, you call off your boys there, let me get to the door." he gestures with his head to the door by the barrels. "And this little one goes free." He nods at the little girl. Looking at Edmond, the gnome continues in a smooth tone, "Edmooond, old mate, old buddy. I was always good to you, wasn't I? You'll let me go, for old times sake, won't you?"

[SBLOCK=OOC]
You count 26 children in total.
[/SBLOCK]

Hmm, misunderstanding

[sblock=OOC]I imagined the thing like this:Edmond jumps down and chops at Hookshanks thanks to True Strike there is no concelment from the girl and penalty from expertise would be irrelevant for +20...but now I'll adjust
[/sblock]

You were good to me because you saw new liutenant in me. Not out of some goodness. Besides, you weren't as good to many of my friends and that is same as if you did things to me.

I may let you go now, but only because of her. Or you can come voluntary with us and take chances with the guards. I'll even testify on your behalf. Otherwise, you just postpone unevitable as I'll find you and won't be as lenient next time.

We are here for Lamm, his organisation is at an end and I offer you best chance to avoid harsher punishment or death. If you help us, I'll help you, otherwise you're going down with him, now or later.

Edmond follows Hookshanks as he moves toward the door. Keeping he distance at some 15' far enough for gnome not to feel threatened, close enough for some Deathwail action when he releases her.

OOC:
If he releases the girl at the door, Edmond will try and step and trip him. He asked only to be let to the door. And Edmond has no intention of letting him go. He didn't promise and he said he'll be unharmed, but no mention of letting him go...and we are still not group close enough that he feels obligated by words of others...

Thorson says nothing but shares a look with Edmond as Edmond explains Hookshank's options for fleeing.

[sblock=ooc]If Hookshanks moves to the door, Thorson will shadow Edmond and wait for the opportunity to kill the gnome once the girl is free or Edmond attacks.[/sblock]

Seeing which way Hookshanks intends to go, the capricious halfling once more discreetly backtracks into the upper vat room. Heading over to the large double doors that lead out to the enclosed loading dock, the diminutive Dj'hân sets about the task of unbarring them so that he can open one a crack. That done, the guttersnipe pads quietly over to the doorway to listen in on the ongoing negotiations happening down below.

OOC: I'm assuming that the doors can be opened easily enough from the inside. Please let me know if I'm mistaken Doc.

Lynn studied the gnome a moment, her mind working furiously to find another way out of this situation. She didn't want to let the little cretin go, but the girl's life was much more important. With a glance at her companions she spoke in a measured tone as she prayed inwardly that this did not go poorly.

Let him go.

Her voice took on a harder edge as she addressed the gnome.

Though perhaps you should consider Edmond's words, I think he will find you again. Either way, any more harm befalls that child and I will boil your insides.

Lynn emphasized the last with a snap of her fingers that produced a flicker of green fire. She wasn't exactly sure how she would accomplish that, but she hoped it sounded convincing.

Although Hookshanks isn't anywhere near as big as either Giggles or Yargin, to Dj'hân he's still over twice his own size and even more frightening due to the sadistic torment he'd visited upon the boy in the past. Shivering, the young urchin ducks back behind the doorjamb and tries to force down his trepidation. Swallowing hard, Dj'hân hefts Yargin's staff-like wand and pads silently back to the double doors along the left-hand wall to peek through the gap. Gotta be strong like a bear. Gotta be strong like Mr Giant...

Edmond Deathwish

Edmond silently follows the gnome toward the door, not realy expecting an answer. He holds Deathwail wide on the side in one hand thus appearing non threatening and non-ready for action. However, the shaft of the weapon lies along his forearm and simple bend of his elbow will bring it swishing forward while other hand snaps up giving it strength.

Hopefuly, Hookshanks didn't have many polearm fighters to fight in the open to know this trick. C'mon old terror, surrender, don't harm her, don't make it harder on yourself. C'mon, C'mon...

OOC: I'm not really familiar with polearms, but I have some experience with quarterstaff. This is handy trick and not to hard to execute. It is used for tripping or attacking/disarming depending on whether weapon goes horizontaly or verticaly. For difference in weight I count Edmond superior strength to give guisarme great enough initial speed.

"Lamm may be finished, but I'll take my chances on the streets," says Hookshanks as he edges closer to the door. Sweat drips from him forehead, his eyes dart between Thorson, Edmond and Lynn. Edmond and Dj'hân can almost smell the fear coming from their old tormentor.

As he reaches the lower door, the gnome suddenly throws the girl at Thorson, and she bounces into the burly half-orc. At the same time he turns to open the door, only to find it locked. The gnome rattles the door, gives out a feeble wail and turns like a cornered rat, kukri in hand.

Edmond is faster. He snaps Deathwail round and sweeps the legs from under the gnome. Hook shanks indeed. The gnome falls prone, panicked, he scrabbles to his feet again.

[SBLOCK=OOC]

Initiative
Edmond 18
Hookshanks 7
Lynn 7 (lower Dex)
Thorson 6
Dj'hân 5

Edmond Trip attack 15 + CMB 5 + bonded item 1 + feat 2 = 23. Success.

Dj'hân has no problem unbarring the upper doors.
I've taken the liberty of already taking Edmond's attack, based upon what Neurotic said earlier. Hookshanks is taking his round to stand from prone. Edmond can get an opportunity attack on him if desired. Thorson needs to spend a standard action to disentangle himself of small girl. Lynn is next up. Dj'hân is in the other room - he can hear a commotion but not see anything.
[/SBLOCK]

Edmond Deathwish

Edmond follows up trip with an attack smacking the gnome with flat of his blade and repeating it as he tries to stand up.

OOC: non-lethal damage -4 to attack nullified by +4 for attacking prone. Free attack thanks to improved trip and then opportunity attack if needed. He is no more defensive (no penalty for Expertise)

You are fool to come to blows with us. You might have gotten easier time with the guards, maybe even buy some form of freedom. Now you go down.

This might be less freightening to gnome if Edmond showed any emotion in his voice. As is, it was completely level as Edmond pushes his hurt deep inside and controls himself to be steady in combat. He feels his anger rising and knows he will use his magic to release this pent up emotion if Hookshanks doesn't surrender.

Neurotic said:

OOC: non-lethal damage -4 to attack nullified by +4 for attacking prone. Free attack thanks to improved trip and then opportunity attack if needed. He is no more defensive (no penalty for Expertise)

Click to expand...

The free attack is no longer the case in Pathfinder. Compare:

Pathfinder:
Improved Trip (Combat)
You are skilled at sending your opponents to the ground.
Prerequisite: Int 13, Combat Expertise.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity
when performing a trip combat maneuver. In addition, you
receive a +2 bonus on checks made to trip a foe. In addition,
increase the DC of performing a trip combat maneuver
against you by +2.
Normal: You provoke an attack of opportunity when
performing a trip combat maneuver.


SRD:
Improved Trip [General]
Prerequisites:Int 13, Combat Expertise.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when you attempt to trip an opponent while you are unarmed. You also gain a +4 bonus on your Strength check to trip your opponent.
If you trip an opponent in melee combat, you immediately get a melee attack against that opponent as if you hadn’t used your attack for the trip attempt.
Normal: Without this feat, you provoke an attack of opportunity when you attempt to trip an opponent while you are unarmed.

Use the rules for the first one. Edmond still gets his AoO.