Chapter 2: Voices in the Dark

May 14, 2025 1:30 am

Crow finds that the lock gives easily under his talented fingers. Beyond is a staircase going up.

May 14, 2025 1:42 am

Trig and Tarna are looking into an opulent chamber, about 45 feet deep and 25 feet wide. About halfway across the room is a curtain that forms a makeshift wall. On this side of the curtain, there is a table with eight chairs along the north wall and a bookshelf along the south wall. The shelf is not packed, but it contains several volumes of an esoteric nature. Beyond the curtain, you can see a wooden chest and a four-poster bed with silk sheets.

May 14, 2025 7:00 am

Crow props the door open and hurries up after Trig and Tarna.

Trig Shellar

spaceseeker19

May 14, 2025 7:57 pm

Trig looks at the titles of the books, wondering if there's any there she can read.
When Crow arrives, she nods toward the chest. "Would you be willing to work your magic on that (and make sure it's not trapped first)?"

May 14, 2025 9:10 pm

Crow nods and begins the process of probing the chest for tripwires and the like.

Rolls

Perception (Wis) - (1d20+4)

(20) + 4 = 24

May 14, 2025 9:10 pm

Crow nods and begins the process of probing the chest for tripwires and the like.

Rolls

Perception (Wis) - (1d20+4)

(14) + 4 = 18

Artistina

May 14, 2025 9:37 pm

Artistina

Crow's uncanny perception alerts him to the presence of someone behind the curtain just in time to avoid being surprised. A blond woman steps out from behind the curtain and growls, "I don't know how you got here, but you won't be leaving!"

OOC:

Crow and Trig are up!

INITIATIVE
Crow
Trig
Aristina
Tarna

Rolls

Crow Nomansson - Initiative - (1d20+5)

(11) + 5 = 16

Trig Shellar - Initiative - (1d20+3)

(11) + 3 = 14

Tarna - Initiative - (1d20-1)

(8) - 1 = 7

Aristina Intiative - (1d20+4)

(8) + 4 = 12

May 14, 2025 11:47 pm

"Look I have killed enough of you, surrender."
Crow rakishly lunges rapier in hand and attempts to slice his mark into Aristina.

[ +- ] Bravado’s Blade (Ex)

Rolls

Rapier - Atk/Dam - (1d20+6, 1d8+5)

1d20+6 : (13) + 6 = 19

1d8+5 : (6) + 5 = 11

Intimidate (Cha) - (1d20+13)

(3) + 13 = 16

Trig Shellar

spaceseeker19

May 15, 2025 2:13 pm

Trig cries out in surprise: "Oh! It's HER!" and then casts Daze on Aristina.

OOC:

Aristina must succeed on a DC15 WILL save or lose her actions.

Note: I'd said that Trig was already examining the bookshelf, but if that doesn't make sense for when Aristina appeared, I'll say that Trig moves forward to the bookshelf now, and then casts Daze.

FRNPCs

May 16, 2025 3:27 am

Artistina

The woman takes the blow in stride, turning aside at the last minute to turn what might have been a fatal strike into a glancing blow. "Surrender? You presume much, youngling. If you think I will spare you because you are a child, think again! I'll skewer you as easily as a fish in a barrel!"

She strikes like a snake, slashing Crow before he can move aside.

OOC:

Because of her level, the daze has no effect.

Tarna

"Bold words against a child, witch, but will you so easily skewer me?" Tarna moves to flank the woman and swings her own shining blade, missing the agile woman by a wide margin.

STATUS
Aristina: AC 17, -11 hp

Crow: AC 19, 9/20 hp
Trig: AC 14, 17/17 hp
Tarna: AC 19, 27/27 hp

Rolls

Aristina Will save - (1d20+2)

(2) + 2 = 4

Tarna attack and damage - (1d20+6, 1d8)

1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9

1d8 : (7) = 7

Aristina attack and damage - (1d20+9, 1d6+5)

1d20+9 : (16) + 9 = 25

1d6+5 : (6) + 5 = 11

May 16, 2025 4:11 am

Crow fell back as Aristina's blade cut deep into his forearm. He hissed at the cold pain. Having never been cut before it was a new experience. As muscular action staunched the bleeding the young fighter recovered, gritting his teeth he drew to flank, trying to ignore the icy pain in his arm.

"You chose wrong."

Drawing on his reserve of strength and canny with the blade Crow fell back on his training. Lunging for a precise strike to Aristana's left kidney.

OOC:

I will use a hero point for the +8

This is definitely a changing point for Crow. Mercy and fear tactics are obviously not what the Maimed God wants from him. Flanking Aristina, next time the foe isn't getting a warning.

Rolls

Rapier - Atk/Dam, Sneak Attack - (1d20+14, 1d8+5, 1d6)

1d20+14 : (11) + 14 = 25

1d8+5 : (6) + 5 = 11

1d6 : (1) = 1

Trig Shellar

spaceseeker19

May 16, 2025 2:23 pm

OOC:

Whoa! I'm hoping she's just 4th level and not even higher!

Trig moves up adjacent to Crow and touches him, using her Healing Hex.

OOC:

Sigh. Crow regains 4 HP.

Last edited May 16, 2025 2:23 pm

Rolls

Healing Hex - (1d8+2)

(2) + 2 = 4

May 16, 2025 8:38 pm

Aristina yelps as Crow's attack pierces her side! Surrounded, she briefly considers adopting a defensive stance, but instead doubles down on her attacks, striking at Tarna this time. Her blade impales the paladin right through her midsection, and Tarna stumbles backward, gasping for air. "You're next, boy!"

Even through the haze of pain, Tarna persists in her attack, this time meeting with more success and leaving a scratch across the woman's arm.

OOC:

Crow and Trig are up!

STATUS
Aristina: AC 17, -28 hp

Crow: AC 19, 13/20 hp
Trig: AC 14, 17/17 hp
Tarna: AC 19, 11/27 hp

Rolls

Aristina attack and damage - (1d20+9, 1d6+5)

1d20+9 : (19) + 9 = 28

1d6+5 : (5) + 5 = 10

Confirm crit? - (1d20+9, 1d6+5)

1d20+9 : (15) + 9 = 24

1d6+5 : (6) + 5 = 11

Tarna attack and damage - (1d20+6, 1d8)

1d20+6 : (17) + 6 = 23

1d8 : (4) = 4

May 17, 2025 1:44 am

Taunts and insults were played out. Crow didn't hurt anymore thanks to Trig's spell, but he was out of mercy. He continued to shift to the flank, just as he had been trained. Exploiting the wound in Aristina's side he aimed and attacked for the liver this time.

OOC:

Last Hero Point, as before

Rolls

Rapier - Atk/Dam, Sneak Attack - (1d20+14, 1d8+5, 1d6)

1d20+14 : (20) + 14 = 34

1d8+5 : (8) + 5 = 13

1d6 : (4) = 4

May 17, 2025 1:51 am