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

[Neurotic]

Edmond Deathwish

Beaten to Lamm by seconds, Edmond joins restraining attempt by removing Lamm's ability to fight touching him with yellow glowing hand and then helping Thorson restrain old man.

OOC: touch of fatigue. then joining Thorson in holding Lamm being careful to neutralize any casting or vocalizations (by grabbing one hand and holding his throat).

"You're going down, old one. Your henchmen and beasts are already defeated. There is no one who will help you this time."

 

[Oni]

When she saw that her spell had worked a small voice cried out in triumph in the back of her mind. They were really going to do it! She was jolted from the thought as the large form of Thorson rushed past her. Even as Lynn instinctually drew out his way as he passed her blood ran cold, what if the berserker killed him!

She ran after the hulking form, ungracefully catching herself on the doorjam as she skidded to a halt at the entry way to the room. Lynn was almost weak kneed with relief when she saw the two warriors trying to pin the old villian to the ground, rather than an execution. Spying the dropped dagger on the ground she reached to quickly snap it up lest the old crook come to his senses and try to make a grab for it.

 

[Dr Simon]

Stunned by Lynn's spell, Lamm still retains some primoridal instict for self-preservation. He staggers and weaves as Thorson approaches, but is unable to avoid the grasp of the big half-orc.

Then, as Thorson has hold of Lamm, Dj'hân blasts the two of them with a gust of searing hot air. Thorson feels the air draft, and some warmth, but Lamm's flesh seems to dessicate, his hair shrivels aways and his clothes char from the sudden blast. Edmond arrives and plants a glowing hand on Lamm's shoulder, and the old villain sags in Thorson's grip. He seems to be recovering his senses as he writhes ineffectually to try to escape from the half-orc, and has to content himself with spitting in his face.

The burning wind continues to swirl about Thorson, Edmond and Lamm as the three struggle, the two strong warriors having surprising trouble with the wiry but enfeebled old man. Finally, Edmond gets a grip on Lamm's throat and the old crook goes limp.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Several points - I think Dj'hân's "Endure Exposure" incantation gives those touched immunity to his "breath" weapon, which as far as I recall includes Thorson and Edmond. Also without checking, Entangling Exhalation continues to deliver damage for another round, without reduction in damage.

Grapple in Pathfinder works not with opposed checks but with A CMB check vs 15 + opponents CMB, making it a little harder to produce effects. There's nothing in the "stunned" state that implies Lamm can't resist being grappled (he's not "helpless"), but he can't grapple back. I decided to let Thorson have a touch attack to grab hold, with impunity.

Thorson Touch Attack to initiate grapple 4 +5 =9, success.
Dj'hân's 'breath' weapon 1d6 damage = 6.
Lamm fails Reflex save.
Edmond touch attack on Lamm 16+5 =21, success.
Lamm fails Fortitude save. (now grappled, stunned *and* fatigued)

As you'd given me two rounds worth of actions, I continued.

Lamm fails grapple check to escape Thorson
Thorson attempts to pin, grapple check 2 +5 =7, fail.
Edmond attempt to grapple Lamm 16+5 =21, success.
Second round of Dj'hân's 'breath' weapon 1d6=4.

Lamm now at -1 hit points.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Valthosian]

Thorson

The half-orc wipes Lamm's spittle off his face and stands as the rage clears from his mind leaving only a sense of a purpose unfulfilled. As an opponent the old man really was quite lacking and that thought that his criminal empire had had such an effect was to the barbarian, in some way blasphemous to his own philosophies. With the confirmation that it was Giggles who had killed Kayla, Thorson's feelings towards Lamm were still angry, but not overpowering.

I have no skill with healing, but here is some rope to tie him up so that when he is revived he can do nothing, get whatever you need from him Lynn, if you need him threatened to cooperate, I will help you, but for now I will look for our objective here and be alone with my thoughts.

Thorson then pulls a coil of rope out of his kit and drops it to the ground next to Lamm and walks over to the halfling, Thorson goes down to one knee in front of the boy and looks at him for a few long seconds, then seemingly satisfied with whatever he's found, he speaks. I don't know what exactly you just did, but I felt the same thing back in the fortune teller's home so I know it was you. Well done! I was right, you have your own strength already, you would not be here otherwise. I also have not thanked you for your help with Hookshanks, I know you must have locked the door he tried to use for his escape, it could only have been you. Your efforts have been, and will be recognized, perhaps one day you will find yourself a great unlikely hero, always be cautious, that is one of your strengths, but never be gripped by fear. Finished speaking, he walks over to examine Lamm's room for the Harrow deck and any other goodies that may be found, before searching the three tables of loot once he's finished. All the while thoughts of happier times with a now dead, but still beautiful girl flit through his mind amidst images of a horribly scarred half orc's head bouncing from its shoulders like a jack in the box.

 

[Neurotic]

Edmond Deathwish

Dissapointing ending to expected revenge.

Thorson, please, look for signet ring with triangular sails blowing in different directions somewhat like letter O.

Lynn, tie Gaedren up and keep him alive if you can, I'm going to bring Hookshanks here just in case.

Turning to Dj'ahn:
You see little one, there was always more to you then you cared to admit even to yourself.

 

[Ambrus]

Dj'hân's grime-covered brow wrinkles in confusion at the two males' unwarranted praise. The urchin opens his mouth and blinks confusedly before stammering out a response. "It. It's Yargin's magic stick that did that to Lamm." The young halfling holds out the eldritch wand for his companions' to examine. "A-all I did was point it at him. You saw..."

Feeling silly having to explain the obvious to a couple of adults, the young halfling dismisses the issue with a shrug and approaches the desiccated form of the jaundiced old crook. Seeing the unconscious wretch's slack face, runny eyes and the spittle dribbling from his open mouth, Dj'hân searches his curiously calm heart. Without any familiar feelings of fear to fall back on the boy isn't certain what, if anything, he should be feel for his old abusive tormentor. Choosing to busy himself instead, the guttersnipe sets to work helping the beautiful half-elf by disarming and searching Lamm's prone body. Surviving always comes first.

 

[Oni]

It was all over so quickly, it hardly seemed real. Edmond and Thorson's voiced sounded far away as they spoke to her. Keep him alive if you can....Lynn felt a small rising panic that spurred her into action. As she knelt by Lamm , for the first time she really looked at his wounds, Dj'hân had done this.... Lynn shot a quizzical glance at the diminuative halfling. Is he like me? No, she told herself, there was no time to think about that now. Her attention fully on the miserable old villain once more, she felt her panic beginning to rise again, she didn't know anything about tending to this sort of injury. She found herself whispering under her breath to the pathetic purveyor of torment, don't die, don't die, don't die, while she did what little she could to help him hang onto life. She wasn't going to let him take another man's life to the grave with him.

 

[Dr Simon]

Apart from his filthy clothing, the only things Lamm has on his person are his dagger and his hand crossbow (both well-made and thus probably stolen), and a ring of keys of various sizes. Lynn attempts to stabilise the old man, but the wizened criminal seems to be escaping them after all, as his breathing becomes more and more shallow.

As Edmond goes to fetch Hookshanks, Thorson examines Lamm's room. The place is a roach-infested hole with old food crusts, a brimming chamber pot and bed linen crawling with lice. The only items of interest that he finds are a large wooden hatbox and a small wooden chest (locked).

The stuff on the tables is junk. Broken china, a broken shield, the odd dented helm, badly rusted metalware, crushed and dented pewter mugs and jugs, nothing worth more than a few copper pinch, at best.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Untrained Heal check for Lynn, 14+0 =14, 8+0 =8. Two failures, Lamm continues to fade. Let me know if you wish to carry on. One roll might make the DC of 15.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Ambrus]

Dj'hân sets the old crook's small crossbow and bolts aside and drops the ring of keys into his red cap. Seeing how frantic Lynn is becoming, the small urchin turns his attention towards helping her efforts to save his old abuser, though he'd be at a loss to explain why except that she's his friend.

OOC: Dj'hân will likewise attempt healing checks on Lamm until he stabilizes.

 

[Neurotic]

Edmond Deathwish

He wouldn't grieve for old despicable, but leaving him to his death violates sense of decency in Edmond.

After retreiving Hookshanks he will aid Lynn in stabilizing the wretch. He is in no way gentle with Hookshanks and resistance will not be tolerated. He is not deliberately cruel however.

OOC: assuming he can collect the gnome in under a minute and that Lamm doesn't stabilize by himself.

After returning:
It seems strange that they would live in this squalor. I think something pushed them out of their usual niche on the docks and they hit a patch of hard times.


To Dj'ahn little bit later:
Dj'ahn, I believe that wand shoots acid globs, but this scorching came after you approached and became agitated. And also, I remember that indoor wind when you were treated kindly in Zellara's house. That may be some kind of inner magic that you are not aware of. My magic comes from inside and I came to realize it as I came of age. Maybe something like that is happening to you too.