Six From Gate Pass - A War of the Burning Sky Campaign (3.5)

[Adjuntive]

Alric speaks in a low voice to Torrent, so his voice doesn't carry down the hall. "Blast, the gnome is cracked. Torrent, do you know this password? Without it I doubt we could masquerade as Peppin, yet convincing this gnome of the situation may become tiring and difficult."

OOC: Sorry for being AWOL for so long. Here's my response to the earlier situation of looting:

"I'm with Torrent. Our mission could preserve this entire city, collecting resources to that end, regardless of the method of procurement is vital. Though I am also with Arnir that we will have to accept that we cannot save everyone. I am glad we saved a fair lass, though I am anxious that we have wasted time in doing so. Take what you feel is useful Lars. Hrimr, turn a blind eye if you can't stomach our methods - some of us need good steel and can't work with furs and rocks."

 

[Gregor]

Torrent responds in a whisper: "I know nothing of a password...and why by Istishia's might, is he referring to Hrimr as Peppin? Rivereye knows Peppin personally..."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr leans in close to Torrent and whispers

"Was Peppin a Dwarf? If so then this may not be Rivereye and just a Gnome awaiting a Dwarf. This could be a trap."

Hrimr calls up to the Gnome
"Sorry friend, the siege has left me a little shaken and suspicious. I brought some friends for protection. One of them is injured, could you come down here and give us a hand?"

 

[Gregor]

"No problem Peppin, this siege has been scaring poor ol' Rivereye a little too. I've been all cooped up in this dark old tower for hours, listening to loud bangs and booms ... though my coughing and sneezing muffled most of it!" The gnome lets out a chipper little laugh and comes down the stairs to stand before you. Up close you can see where he gets his surname from.

"So what's the problem?" The gnome asks with a sniffle. "You all look fine to me. Lets stop wasting time and head upstairs. I need that password Peppin."

[sblock="Arnir, Lars and Kirio"]As the gnome approaches, you feel a strong desire to believe that you're seeing an ugly little gnome with a runny nose. However, your willpower resists the urge and after blinking a few times you suddenly see something much different. The apparent disguise melts away and you see a short elf, hunching over in character. Without his disguise, this elf is short and wiry, his blond hair and pale skin mostly hidden by black clothing. A small pouch slung over his shoulder has slots for scroll cases and potion vials, and a rapier sits sheathed at his hip. He notices your realization and stands there, hesitating and wide eyed.

If anything related to combat is to be initiated, just indicate your plans and I'll roll initiative for the group.[/sblock]

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio's eyes widen slightly as he realizes he is looking at fellow elf and not the disgusting little gnome from a moment earlier... "well.. that at least is an improvement, really cannot abide gnomes, revolting little things"

Kirio raises his arms, begins to hum and his eyes seem to glow bright green for a brief moment as he motions towards the impostor.

OOC: Casting Daze, let me know if we need roll initiative first

 

[digimattic]

Arnir smiles slightly as he sees through the cunning disguise and his eyes immediately dart to the scroll pouch on the mage's belt. "That's an impressive illusion...I'm not sure if everyone else can see this or not, but it appears someone else got to Rivereye before us. This man is not Rivereye, though I'm sure Bannock here would be able to convince him to tell us what has become of him..."

 

[Bannock]

Shakedown!

Already feeling slightly claustrophopic and impatient, this is all Bannock needed to hear. Marching forward wordlessly but with a scowl, he attempts to grab the little gnome, or elf, or whatever he is, and trap him in a headlock.

"Ok, Riverface, we won't be going anywhere!"

OOC: Greg, not sure how you want to play this, since we aren't in combat, but I'm basically grappling him, following Kirio's daze spell. If this causes initiative to start, let me know. Here's a basic strength roll that you can do whatever with. If I succeed in pinning him, I'll have some more words for him.

 

[Gregor]

Seeing that his cover has been blown, he cries out in elven: "Caer! caer!", cancels his spell, and attempts to run up the stairs. To Alric, Bannock, Torrent and Hrimr, you now see the gnome disappear only to be replaced by a short elf dressed in black.

[sblock="if you speak elven"]Help! help![/sblock]

GM: I indicated in my last post that if someone was triggering a combat related event (e.g. casting a spell), then we are starting initiative. All of the contextual stuff (people talking) takes place, but initiative is being rolled as of Kirio's attempt to cast a spell. Thus, Kirio's spell casting and Bannock's attempt to grapple do not take place until their respective turns on the initiative count.

*******************
Round 1 - Initiative Order
*******************
1. DM #1 (elf)
2. Kirio
3. Arnir
4. Bannock
5. Alric (higher dex)
6. DM #2 (unknown)
7. Hrimr
8. Lars
9. Torrent

*******************

GM: Some detail on the tower layout and combat modifiers: Floors, walls and ceiling are made from stone and the ceiling is about 20 feet above the floor. The lockers are all made from metal and stand about 6 feet in height. The stone stairway is more like a ramp than an actual staircase and the banister running along the ramp is about waist height (on a human) granting cover to those behind it. The only light is what you're carrying (and the elf as well) so don't forget to take that into account This likely wont come up given the size of the tower, but your lanterns provide 30-foot radius of light and provides shadowy illumination in a 60-foot radius. If anyone is within the shadowy illumination (and not canceled out by another local light source such as another lantern) that person has concealment relative to its attackers. Concealment in this situation results in his or her attackers suffering a 20% miss chance to hit the person. If you have dark vision, this doesn't apply. If you have low light vision, make sure to modify the distances you can see in.

Depository Tower - Round 1

 

[Gregor]

The elf, still holding his lantern, moves up the stairs calling out again in elven: "Odael!". As soon as the words exit his mouth, you hear a heavy wooden door swing open upstairs.

When he reaches the top of the stairs, he grabs a vial from his pouch, bites out the cork and drinks the contents in one quick gulp. Then with unusually quick hands, he draws a well-made rapier from the scabbard on his belt.

[sblock="if you speak elven"]Open![/sblock]

 

[digimattic]

Arnir growls "why must everything be so difficult!?"

He notices that Kirio has been readying a spell and he delays slightly so that he will try and daze the elf if Kirio fails, otherwise, he will shoot him with his bow (Which is already in his hand)