Planescape 3.5e - Cold Black Mask

[Cage-Rattler]

Boarding House Siege - Round 5

István moves in a dizzying blur as he whips outside, tosses the maces in a shadowy corner of the building exterior, then speeds back to stand just inside the entrance of the safe house, challenging the reave with his bared crystal rapier.

Although its face is concealed by its heavy helm, the little gnome can imagine the Reave's scowl as it lets out an irritated grunt and moved to meet the challenge. "That's the way it is, little piker? I'll just borrow your shiv, then." So saying, he lunged forward, reaching for István's blade. The rapier flashed and batted away his seeking hand, but the reave managed to avoid injury by virtue of his heavy gauntlets. (Reave attempts Disarm; István's AoO AC 16 hits; Damage 3 before DR. Reave's Disarm Check 23 fails)

With an audible "poof", tiny glowing golden motes burst into existence and settle on and around the Reave. Sindr notes the Reave's rapid blinking of his unseeing eyes with satisfaction. (Reave's Will Save 11 fails; Reave blinded)

Cang continues to battle his opponent, clearly holding the upper hand. (Attack AC 18 hits, 6 damage before DR)

"Fall before justice, criminal!" With a mighty bellow, Heinrich puts his weight behind his attack. The thug barely manages to sidestep the armored warrior's attack, but the spiritual sword catches him in a final blow that nearly drives him to his knees. (Heinrich's Attack AC 13 misses. Spiritual Weapon Attack AC 17 hits; 8 damage, no DR)

The Thugs, clearly outmatched, reconsider their continued participation in this fight. The first backs warily away from Cang, his blade ready to knock aside any incoming attacks. (T1 takes five-foot step back, Full Defense). The second mistakes his companion's withdrawal for a full retreat and turns to flee from Heinrich. He doesn't get far however, as Heinrich's sword plunges deep into his left leg, and the man goes down with a loud curse. (Heinrich's AoO AC 17 hits; 8 damage before DR. T2 falls)

Over the commotion of battle, both Pierce and Sindr can dimly make out Hagen's sudden surprised cry from upstairs.
Pierce Spinecrusher, Sindr Mogh:[sblock]"Back! Get back, you foul thing!"[/sblock]

Status/Effects:
All = Bless, 35 rnds
Sindr = Mage Armor, 3 hours
Heinrich = Bull's Strength, 35 rnds; Divine Vigor, 15 rnds; Protection from Evil, 35 rnds

Thug 1 = Fighting Desperately; Seriously Wounded
Thug 2 = Disabled, Near Death (Stabilized)
Reave = Under Pressure, Blinded (4 rnds)

=======================================

I don't know anythin' about a mask though, so if they've got it, they weren't makin' a fuss over it.

The third thug, Finn, had been largely silent up to this point, but now he cut slyly in before Anthony could finish his next sentence.

"Oi, who said anything about us lookin' for a mask, now?"

 

[Zurai]

Hearing Hagen's shout, Sindr takes off for the stairs, calling behind him, "Something's upstairs attacking Hagen! The big guy's blind and the others are breaking; Pierce, come help me!
[sblock=OOC]Did Sindr's alarm ping? Regardless, Sindr is taking a double move to get into the room, placing himself between Hagen and danger if at all possible.[/sblock]

 

[Cage-Rattler]

Sindr Mogh[sblock]ooc: The Alarm never went "ping".[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: CG, did István get an AoO against the Reave in round 4? Every little bit counts.

István turns and, arcing his body backwards, sets foot upon the wall behind him to take a few quick nimble steps up towards the rafters (5 ft. step upwards). Near the ceiling, the whisper-gnome twists his body in mid-air and sweeps his crystal shard through a wide arc as he brings it to bear down on his four-armed opponent. Allowing gravity to take a hold of him, István uses his height advantage (+1 bonus to hit) and full weight to bring his flashing weapon's tip down forcefully into the gap between the blinded brute's pauldron and gorget (Melee rapier +11, 1d4-1 +1d6, as a skirmish attack). Completing his movement, the whisper-gnome then falls the few feet to alight softly upon the floor once more.

 

[Dire Lemming]

Anthony looks slightly surprised at the question. "You're not after a mask?" he shrugs, "Well I just figured. If you weren't really after them, you'd be after a mask. That's what the baatezu worshiper asked about, they told him they didn't have it, but considering that he sent spies after them I'm guessing he didn't take their word for it."

He pauses for a moment before asking, "You are working for the Baatezu aren't you?"

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Heinrich makes a swift decision, deciding that Istvan can probably handle the blind four-armed creature at least for the moment, and bolts up the stairs after Sindr, ready to take the fight to whatever foul creatures might be upstairs.

[sblock=OOC]Double move upstairs to get back to where Hagen was.[/sblock]

 

[Cage-Rattler]

Boarding House Siege - Round 5

Whirling like a dervish, István's blade flashed toward the reave and crashed against the heavy gorget with a sharp clang. The attack scored the armor deeply. (AC 21 hits; 9 damage before DR)

The Tiefling Proprietor, seizing the opportunity, rushed across the room, past the reave and gnome, and out the boarding house's front door, calling for the Harmonium as she went. (Double-move takes her out of the building)

Stumbling blindly, the Reave groped for the harrying gnome but widely missed his mark. (Reave attacks unoccupied squares)

Sindr rushed to Hagen's aid, flying up the stairs and bursting into the room where they had been lodged. The wooden shutters were wide open, and Hagen stood near the window, involved in a desperate tug-of-war over the iron mask with a small, horned and bat-winged humanoid -- an imp.
The little creature snarled as its wings beat furiously, trying to wrest the mask from the archivist's grasp. "It's ours! Give it to us!" (Double-move, Sindr ends round in 2nd-floor K5)

Cang Lao called out to István as he directed another attack at his foe. "Hold on, little brother; I'll be there in a moment!" (Attacks T1; AC 27 hits. 8 damage before DR)

Heinrich stomped up the stairs, divine favor allowing him to move faster than his armor should allow. He burst into the room a moment after Sindr. (Double-move, Heinrich ends round in 2nd-floor J5)

The one human Thug still on his feet kept his dagger between himself and Cang as he took a step or two back -- then turned on his heel and made a break for the front door. (Withdraws from combat with Cang.) Seeing the ferocious gnome guarding the only exit, the thug hesitated for a moment, then made a clumsy attack that missed by a mile. (T1 moves to A4, attacks István; Natural 1 misses.)

With the Reave temprarily ineffectual, Pierce turned and followed her employer back up the stairs. Entering into the boarding room, she recognized the older human male struggling with an angry-looking imp over the Acheronian mask. (Double-move, Pierce ends round in 2nd-floor J6)

Status/Effects:
All = Bless, 34 rnds
Sindr = Mage Armor, 3 hours
Heinrich = Bull's Strength, 34 rnds; Divine Vigor, 14 rnds; Protection from Evil, 34 rnds


Thug 1 = Fighting Desperately; Near Death
Thug 2 = Disabled, Near Death (Stabilized)
Reave = Under Pressure, Blinded (3 rnds)

=======================================

"You are working for the Baatezu aren't you?"

Anthony spoke casually and easily, and the two suspicious thugs seemed to relax slightly. (Diplomacy Check 22).

The half-elf, Vezi, smirked slightly at Anthony's question. "We work with anyone, so long as long as they keep the jink flowing, aye?"

"'Sides," Finn added,"You don't just turn down the soddin' baatezu when they want something; 'specially not when Trash owes --"

"Stitch it, Finny," the shadowswyft cut in suddenly. He turned to Anthony and gave the aasimar a faint smile. "At any rate, we've got a decent amount of jink coming in. If you know where these primes are, I'm sure it wouldn't be any big thing to give you a cut -- a finde's fee, as it were."

 

[Dire Lemming]

Anthony smiles and shakes his head. "Alright, I'll tell ye, an' I won't even take any jink. All I ask is that ye try ta keep the scraggin o' my customers down a bit, an if ye hear tell o' trouble, I'd be grateful if ye'd let me know." He pauses expectantly for their agreement.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

OOC: Cage-Rattler, did you remember Divine Vigor means I have speed 30 in my heavy armor (+10ft to move speed)?

 

[Cage-Rattler]

ooc: I DID remember to take Divine Vigor into account when I was plotting the whole map...then, for some reason, I ignored myself. Blah. Fixed now.