[Adventure]: The Missing Professor (DM: H.M.Gimlord, Looking for a Judge)

[Luinnar]

We are trying to find a professor somebody, but our ship was attacked and we died and came back to life then we were shown around the city and then we went to a bar and tavern goers attacked us and we followed the last one down here and Dante, Dante fell into the trap and and I then we killed the last thug and found a secret passage and came here. Draglin says breathlessly.

 

[dimsdale]

After Draglin finishes the summary of events the warlord looks at the hexblade. That's about it. Our enemies are smart and strong. This task will not be easy. I'm glad to have you and the other one helping us out...that's if you are willing join us. He the takes his finger and slides it against the blade of his new axe, checking how sharp it is. He recoils as the axe draws blood. Max smiles I'm looking forward to splitting some skulls with this.

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

Why are you calling us murderer? If it is for them..." he shows the body around him. "We just arrived and those are death for a long time, probably when Blagarm Barblacken was the owner of the Crystal Mug. So tell us more about you and why you are here and what you know about this place.

"Your guess is as good as mine dogface!" the young man spits through the gag as Gloom removes it to hear the answers to his questions, "All I know is I leave for a few months and come back to find all my friends dead." he looks almost apologetically up at the shifter, "At first I thought you did it, but I guess you're just here to loot the place."

Suddenly the man's head snaps up as if he just put 2 and 2 together, "Whattyamean 'was' the owner of the Crystal Mug. Who's the owner now?" He shakes his head. Evidently fearful that the adventurers are some kind of new police force, he spills his guts, "OK, you think I'm a thief. You're right, I'm a thief, and a da#$n good one! Lars found me when I was abandoned by my family, and practically raised me. I owe the guy a lot. Long berore I got here, Smoc (that would be the dead halfling in the hallway back there)," he nods in the direction from which he came, "comes in with this fancy knife and loses it to Lars in a dice game. Lars goes bananas cause the knife has some kind of storm jewel inside it. Starts spending all his time at the University burying himself in books. He even goes all the way to Erkemhest for four years to study Avenroc history. When I finally join the group, I'm the greenie, so as some kind of initiation process, Lars hands me a letter that he swears is from Apoli, but we haven't got a temple to Apoli within a hundred leagues or Rioc Alair. Nearest one's in Efil." he takes a breath, "Anyway, he says to sail for Daunton and have it delivered to this lady," he nods at Saraphine, "She gets the letter, and sails back with me, bringing a friend along too. Next thing I know, instead of a hot meal and a pat on the back, my friends are dead, and I've got a bunch of thugs picking through their stuff!" He looks up contemptuously, "Honest. That's all I know. I guess I can't be a stool pigeon for telling you since it looks like everybody's dead." he spits the word 'dead' from his lips with so much acid in his expression that the word seams to echo down the hallway.[sblock=Draglin]Your afinity for dates and maps, as well as your bear-trap memory, serve you well.

You remember the following from your conversations with Jahred, both back in daunton and on your arrival here in Rioc Alair:

1. Avenroc is the continent on which the city of Rioc Alair is located.
2. Efil is a small, coastal mining town some 200 leagues Northeast of Rioc Alair along the rim of the bay to the north. Though Jahred did not explicitly point it out, you remember seeing it on his map, and you remember that Lars Hallmaster and the city's Master Armorer were evidently on their way there when they both disappeared.
3. This fellow, evidently, does not know of the portal through which you sailed to get here. His journey by sea seams to have taken 2-3 months each way.
4. The 'Lars' to whom this thief referrs is likely, Lars Hallmaster (same as in #2) who is accused of being the ringleader of the thieves that now lie dead in these rooms.[/sblock]

GM: Please don't interpret my silence as absence. I'm simply waiting on a couple of cues that I believed to be implicit, but for the sake of eliminating possible confusion, I will make them explicit. 1. Continue to roleplay the arrival of the new characters as you see fit. 2. The idea here is to search the area for clues as to the professor's association with these thieves. Perhaps Mr. Hallmaster (their apparent ringleader) was behind the professor's disappearance. 3. Continue to question the thief in the chair. For those of you who participated in the previous encounter, the search for clues is also the mechanism by which I am introducing magic item rewards, so your item(s) will appear when you begin searching. Though Seraphine did not technically participate, Dante did, and as such I provide his rewards to her character.

 

[Luinnar]

Mind your manners, punk! Draglin growls, picking the thief up and slamming him against the wall. Where is Lars now? Did he hoof it to Efil? What did he do to Professor Aramista? Claws pop out of his fingers and he puts it at the man's face. If you want to not have to eat out of a straw for the rest of your life I suggest you cooperate.

This is so cool! Just like what Dante would do! Draglin thinks happily.

OOC: Intimidate=32

 

[Velmont]

Gloom leave the room, climbing back the stairs and seeking the body of the leader of the thugs that attack them earlier. He throws the body in front of the tied up man. "Him, do you recognize him?"

 

[dimsdale]

Max watches the interrogation with more interest, smiling at the dragonborn's attempt to intimidate the thug. Nicely done he says under his breath with an approving tone.

As the paladin drops the body in front of the thug, the warlord looks at the thug, looking for clues (both verbal and nonverbal) on whether or not the thug is being truthful with his responses.

ooc: Insight: 1d20+7= 24

 

[Iron Sky]

Seraph looks around the room briefly for anything that might help, then steps up behind Draglin.

"Say what you know of this 'storm dagger' as well. Remember that I am Apoli's Dark Angel and bear the scales of his judgement upon my shoulders, so chose your words carefully."

[sblock=Perception, Intimidate]Perception: 1d20+12=28, Intimidate 1d20+17=21[/sblock]

[sblock=Seraph's Statblock]Seraph, Female Human Blackguard(Rogue)/Adroit Explorer 12
Passive Perception: 22, Passive Insight: 19
AC: 32, Fort:26, Reflex: 27, Will:29, Resist 6 Ongoing -- Speed:5
HP:97/97, Bloodied:48, Surge Value:24, Surges left:13/13
Initiative +8, Action Points: 1
MBA: +20 vs Ref, 1d8+14 damage. RBA: Range 5/10, +10 vs AC, 1d4+2 damage.
Powers: Virtuous Strike, Dread Smite x 2, Mocking Smite x 2, Virtue, Vice's Reward, Shroud of Shadow, Reactive Surge, Destined for Greatness, Sneak Attack, Second Wind, Majestic Halo, Glorious Charge, Servant of Vice, Astral Splendor
Items: Summoned Armor, Apoli's Sun Blessing, Madstone x2, Healing Potion x2, Potion of Cure Light Wounds x2, Symbol of Scorned Fate, Apoli's Sun Blessing, Vanguard Weapon
Notes: *Charge attacks don't provoke OAs, deal +1d6+1d8 damage, and can shift 1 after the attack *+8 damage with CA *+2 damage vs bloodied *1/round take 6 damage while have THP to deal +6 damage on next attack *+5 power bonus to next attack roll against first enemy to bloody *DR 10 TenT on AP *Save vs daze/stun at start of turn *Gain CA first round of combat

Serras, Spirit Tiger (Displacer Beast) Companion
Passive Perception: 14, Passive Insight: 14
AC: 29, Fort:23, Reflex: 27, Will:27 -- Speed:7
HP:48/48, Bloodied:24, Surge Value:12
MBA: +17 vs AC, 1d8+6 damage and gains concealment TenT.
Notes: *Allies adjacent to Serras gain +1 defenses *Enemies adjacent to Serras grant CA[/sblock]

 

[Velmont]

Gloom looks at Serpah and murmurs "Another toy of the gods..."

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

"My my, you're all so intense. I just love it." Haruka punctuates her last remark with a roll of her eyes before beginning to poke around the room.

ooc: Perception 22, or passive 25.

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

Where is Lars now? Did he hoof it to Efil?

The bound thief struggles to shake off the concussion that blugeons its way into his skull and casts his eyes around the room, "You mean he's not dead?" Relief is evident in his eyes, "I just figured you killed him until I saw that you're a little late." he nods once more at the half-decayed bodies, "Anyway, your guess is as good as mine as to where he is now."

Gloom leaves the room, climbing back the stairs and seeking the body of the leader of the thugs that attack them earlier.

As gloom is dragging the dead thug back to the thieves' den, he notices that the thug is wearing an exquisite suit of armor, and an impressive belt. They didn't do him any good, but perhaps they just didn't have the right owner.

"Him, do you recognize him?"

The young rogue shakes his head stiffly on account of his bonds, still a little woozie from the blow dealt him by the dragonborn, "Never seen him bef-Woah! That's one of Vythdar's guys! See the steel dragon on his shirt?" he expains as he nods, referring to the gray leather insignia in the shape of a dragon.[sblock=Draglin]It suddenly dawns on you that Vythdar Astrix can be re-arranged as 'Vyth Darastrix', or 'Steel Dragon' in Draconic.[/sblock]"Vythdar's always been threatening to run a protection racket," he looks up at Draglin, "We'll I can't say weather or not he's in Efil, but I'll bet Lars is definitely out of town, or dead, 'cause Vythdar wouldn't dare lauch this unless he was sure Lars was out of the picture."[sblock=Max]You remember from your conversations with Jahred that Lars left with Hankel (the master armorer) before these thieves were discovered and killed). You are also aware that there is a price on Lars Hallmaster's head if or when he returns. Vythdar Astrix's role in organized crime, however, is news to you.[/sblock]

What did he do to Professor Aramista?

The thief laughs, "I think you got it backwards scaly! The question should be, 'What did the prof do with Lars'. Ever since I can remember, Lars has been that stodger's whipping boy. The prof is the one who sent him to Erkemhest," he thinks for a minute, "Just wondering, but why do you ask? Did something happen to the prof?"

As the paladin drops the body in front of the thug, the warlord looks at the thug, looking for clues (both verbal and nonverbal) on whether or not the thug is being truthful with his responses.

[sblock=Max]As far as you can tell, the thief is telling the truth. He evidently has no reason to lie, since his new-found friends are all dead and his mentor is missing and perhaps dead as well.[/sblock]

Seraph looks around the room briefly for anything that might help.

Seraphine sees something in a room to the south and goes to inspect it while the others interrogate the thief[sblock=Seraphine]Seraphine doesn't see anything that can help with the interrogation, necessarily, but her eyes do gaze through a doorway that stands open, revealing a rather elaborately decorated sleeping chamber. It stands in stark contrast with the shabbiness of the rest of the room. On a small hopechest, at the foot of a large four-poster bed, is a moderately sized strongbox. She walks over to the box and realizes that someone, at one time, attempted to prize it open. Scorchmarks pepper the box's exterrior sugggesting that the attempt, evidently, triggered a trap which must have seriously distracted the would-be thief because whoever it was missed an extremely brilliant sapphire set in a platinum ring. Upon close inspection, the blue gem in the ring pulsates with white, cloudlike apparitions within as if a storm is brewing behind each facet of the stone.[/sblock]

"Say what you know of this 'storm dagger' as well. Remember that I am Apoli's Dark Angel and bear the scales of his judgement upon my shoulders, so chose your words carefully."

The bound rogue looks at Seraphine as she walks back into the room, "The dagger was all angular with a thick hilt. The way the story goes is that Lars comes in after pilfering a knife from Hankel's shop, and Smoc goes crazy 'cause he's got a knife that looks just like it, except Smoc's knife is magic. It can cut through metal and channel lightning," he looks up expecting them to disbelieve, "Honest. It did. I've seen the knife. It should be around here somewhere if Lars didn't take it with him." he shrugs, "Anyway, the knife Lars brought in isn't magical like Smoc's, but it the knives look the same, 'cept Smoc's knife has some crazy writing on the pommel. Lars bets Smoc for the knife in a game of dice and wins, so Smoc gives Lars the knife. Old Bradon (he was the leader of the gang back then), gets this idea that maybe old Hankel knows where this thing came from, so he goes over there at night to see if he can look for it. Hankel and his dad, Bard, wake up, and Bradon get's scared. Bradon kills Hankel's dad, and Hankel kills Bradon." he thinks for a few seconds, "I guess Bradon and Lars thought that since the knives looked the same, that old Hankel would know something about the magic one. Lars told me it had some kind of blue gem inside the handle, but I've never seen that."

GM: Max's Treasure: Flesh Grinder Greataxe +3 and Gloves of Missile Deflection Seraphine's Treasure: Ring of the Radiant Storm Gloom's Treasure: Verve Armor +3 and Survivor's Belt

[sblock=Synopsis of story to this point - New stuff is in green]

You are currently located just outside of a cliffside port city named Rioc Alair. The cellar in which they are now belongs to a harbor-side tavern and inn called The Crystal Mug.

Your original party was employed by a gentleman named Jahred who is the leader of the primary constabulary group of Rioc Alair called The Night Watch, to determine the whereabouts of "Professor Aramista" who has gone missing now for several weeks.

Your group have inspected the professors office and found the following documents and curiosities (see clues below) In their investigation, the group has also discovered that a previous group of adventurers were instrumental in ratting out a den of thieves being given sanctuary in this cellar hideout. The proprietor of this establishment at the time, a man named Blagarm Barblacken, was arrested and exiled, while all but one of the tieves were hunted down and executed (most of them as a result of the skirmish the aftermath of which you see here).

The band of thieves was evidently led by a well-to-do member of society named Lars Hallmaster who left town with the city's Master Armorer, a dwarf named Hankel Mast, some time before the hideout was exposed.

The preivous group of adventurers that dispatched the thieves continued to pursue Lord Hallmaster in hopes of rescuing Hankel, believing him to be a lost heir to some kind of fortune.

Upon learning of the hideout from Jahred, your party expressed a desire to investigate, and were given a document signed by the Governor of Rioc Alair, Lord Ekton, giving you privilege to use whatever means necessary to complete your mission.

While talking with Jahred, they also met a man named Vythdar Astrix, a representative of the people of Rioc Alair to Lord Ekton's court. He, too, expressed an interest in seeing the professor found, and returned to Rioc Alair.

Upon arriving at The Crystal Mug, the group was set upon by a band of rough thugs. As the battle wound down, the last of the thugs made a dash for the cellar, in which Dante was killed in a trap, most likely a remnant of the thieves' devices. The poor thug, however executed poor judgement in his escape attempt, by attempting to flee through a locked cellar door. Cornered by Gloom and Draglin, the fellow fell hard.

Upon the thug's chest (as well as others as some of you remember), is an ensignia of polished, gray leather in the shape of a dragon.

Aaron, evidently a junior member of the original gang of thieves who resided under the Crystal mug, shows up having returned from a quest to drum up help in the form of Seraphine and Haruka.

When he returns, he is surprised to find his comrades dead, and his mentor and leader (Lars Hallmaster) missing.

He relates the following information:

• The thugs that Max, Mab, Dante, Draglin, and Gloom were fighting belonged to a ring of organized crime being led by Vythdar Astrix. He points out that the gray, leather dragon insignia represents Vythdar's mob.
• Lars Hallmaster is obsessed with finding the origins of a magic knife that channels the power of lightning and storms.
• Professor Aramista encouraged (and perhaps even directed) Lars' research into the knife's origin so much that he sent Lars to a far-off land, called Erkemhest, to study the history of their continent.
• Lars suspected Rioc Alair's Master Armorer, Hankel, of having information in this regard.
• Hankel's father, Bard, was killed in a burglary carried out by the former leader of the thieves (a man named Bradon) in order to find more information about the magic weapon. Bradon panicked when he was discovered, and slew Bard. Hankel then slew Bradon.

Clues from the professor's office: [sblock=Documents left spread out on the professor's bed][sblock=A letter]

[/sblock]This is a map that you recognized as the same map that Jahred showed you back at the Hanged Man in Daunton.[sblock=Map]

[/sblock]The letter appears to be a draft that was not completed. It is not clear if a completed copy was sent or if Professor Aramista left before he had the chance.[/sblock][sblock=Items on the desk]Several codices are open to pages depicting machinery for smelting metals:

One document lies next to these codices written in a strange script

[sblock=History DC 25]It is a form of dwarven script. If you can read dwarven you can ask the DM for a translation.[/sblock][/sblock][sblock= Documents found on the professor's reading table]Three maps:[sblock=Map 1]

[/sblock][sblock=Map 2]

[/sblock][sblock=Map 3]

[/sblock][/sblock][/sblock]

GM: This is some good RP! Sorry this took so long to put together. The backstory to your situation is somewhat (and intentionally complex), so I am going to keep a running synopsis of the adventure in my updates. New items will be highligted in green to save you time. Be aware that I edited my last post. There were some historical errors in it. The orange text is the new version of things. BTW: I'm still waiting for Draglin. [MENTION=82251]TwoHeadsBarking[/MENTION]: Give me till tomorrow to show Haruka the results of her search.