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Message: <blockquote data-quote="H.M.Gimlord" data-source="post: 5978729" data-attributes="member: 79440">Draglin's taunts draw the ire Vythdar and his remaining bodyguard.  "Noooo!" The bodyguard screams in rage, "You'll pay for my brother's blood with your own wyrm boy!" He lifts is voice to his comrades on the rooftops, "Halric! Adiam! Loose your quarrels on the lizard!" Bolts fly through the air, one of them striking Draglin on the back. The bodyguard smiles. He rounds on Draglin himself, cutting providing a distraction for Astrix, who swings twice. Draglin manages to duck the first blow, but the ohter catches him before he can move away.  The dragonborn is, once again, sent sprawling to the pavers, but this time a flagstone catches the side of his head oddly, knocking him out cold. With only Seraphine and Haruka left standing, Vythdar is emboldened, "Why don't you just give up. It will all end the same. You will either be dead, or in a dungeon by the end of the day." [sblock=Enemy Actions]Archer 1: Move: Standard: CrossbowTarget: DraglinAttack: <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626164/" target="_blank">1d20+21-2(Range)=31 vs. AC for 1d8+18=24 damage</a>Bullseye Bolt recharges on Archer's next turn (<a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626166/" target="_blank">1d6=5</a>)  Archer 2:Standard: Bullseye BoltTarget: DraglinAttack: <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626167/" target="_blank">1d20+21=22 vs. AC</a>MissBullseye Bolt recharges on Archer's next turn (<a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626167/" target="_blank">1d6=6</a>) Bodyguard 1:Standard: Stick & ShiftTarget: DraglinAttack: <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626177/" target="_blank">1d20+23=43 vs. AC Crit for 33 damage </a>Granted Shift: Waived  Vythdar Astrix:Free: take 24 Cold damage from Rain of Steel Move: to S5 Standard: Double AttackTarget1: DraglinAttack 1: <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3627457/" target="_blank">1d20+23+2(flanking)=30 vs. AC </a>MissGranted Push: WaivedTarget 2: DraglinAttack 2: <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3627457/" target="_blank">1d20+23+2(flanking)=31 vs. AC for 3d8+12=25 damage</a>Granted Push: to U2 and Draglin is unconscious [/sblock][sblock=Status] Gloom: R4 -3/81HP 10/11HS 1AP, Unconscious, Prone, Marked by Bodyguard 2 Haruka: W3 12thp+50/82HP 8/8HP 0AP,+2 to Defenses, (Concealed), Dazed (Save Ends), Cover from melee and ranged attacks at ground level (fence) Max: Q4 -4/85HP 4/9HS 0AP, Unconscious, Prone, Marked by Bodyguard 2 Draglin: U2-2/93HP 8/10HS 1AP, Unconscious, Marked by Bodyguard 1, +2 power bonus to defenses and +1 power bonus to attack rolls EONT Seraphine: Q2 18thp+86/97HP 13/13HS 1AP, +2 Defenses, +2 Saves TENT, Enemies have -2 to attack Seraphine TENT Seraphine  Virgil: T4 46/46HP, Marked by Bodyguard 1Serras: R3 48/48HP, Marked by Bodyguard 1  <s>Blademaster 2: -18/256HP Dead</s><s>Blademaster 3: -2/256HP Dead</s> Archer 1: M23 108/108HPArcher 2: Y18 108/108HP Bodyguard 1: S3 77/156HP, Bloodied, marked by Draglin, Vulnerable 5 Cold<s>BodyGuard 2: -20/156HP</s> DeadVythdar Astrix: S5 219/346HP 0AP Lawbreaker's Doom, Cursed by Haruka[/sblock][sblock=Map]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ApothecaryRound10.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Bodyguard] <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Bodyguard.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Archer] <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Archer.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Vythdar Astrix] <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/VythdarAstrixH.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Synopsis of story to this point (A.K.A.: A cure for insomnia)] 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: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lars Hallmaster is obsessed with finding the origins of a magic knife that channels the power of lightning and storms. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lars suspected Rioc Alair's Master Armorer, Hankel, of having information in this regard. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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.</li> </ul>Clues from the professor's office: [sblock=Documents left spread out on the professor's bed][sblock=A letter]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Schematics-2.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/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]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/AvenrocandErkemhestcopy-2.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/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:<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ForgeSchematics2-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /><img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ForgeSchematics1-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />One document lies next to these codices written in a strange script<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/History-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[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]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ThemouthoftheFluss.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Map 2]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Aleinheist-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Map 3]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/TheDeadSwampUntranslated.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][/sblock]*NEW*[sblock=Letters found by Haruka in the thieves' den under The Crystal Mug][sblock=Letter 1]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/DiscussionontheKnife3-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Letter 2]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/DiscussionontheKnife-2.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Letter 3]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/DiscussionontheKnife2-2.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Letter 4]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/DiscussionontheBox-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />        <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/DiscussionontheBox2-1.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock][sblock=Seraphine]The inscription on the bottom of the box is written in Draconic. It reads, "ihk sia deevdru Hankel", which, when translated, reads, "For my son, Hankel"[/sblock][/sblock] It appears that Vythdar Astrix is running some kind of protection racket. While attempting to purchase magic items from a smuggler, the party is attacked by Vythdar and his powerful henchmen. The apothecary, serving as a front for the illicit magic item shop, burns to the ground, taking the life of its proprietor, but not until after the group stocks up.[/sblock][GM]Let the IA's and Retcons begin! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />[/GM]</blockquote>

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