Chat log started at 7.1.2021 / 09:51:49

Conan Ruleset v1.73.3312 for Fantasy Grounds Copyright 2020 Modiphius Entertainment, Ltd.
Core RPG ruleset v3.3.12A for Fantasy Grounds Copyright 2019 Smiteworks USA, LLC
When we last left our intrepid heroes, Volmalric had left the building following the appearance of the strange Meltam-crow on his shoulder. The shopkeeper, Democles, seems very nervous, but relaxes a little after Volmalric and the large, ungainly crow, leaves the building.
Rhotinia ponders Democlese words for a time
Rhotinia: From what Volmalric told me, these Giant-kings and Serpent-people are no friends to human-kind
Democles: Yes, they were responsible for enslaving humanity in parts of the pre-Cataclysmic world, and prior to the Thurian Age, controlled the planet with a few other species known as the "Elder Races".
Rhotinia: I am still concerned with her interest in this symbol, from my own research I am worried she may be trying to either come back from the dead or raise some other horrible spectre...
Rhotinia shows Democles the symbol
Rhotinia: I fear she may be using Meltam, and intends to consume his life energy
Rhotinia: He seems... slow... I am concerned for him
Democles: Well, that symbol can be used for a number of things, from my limited understanding of sorcery. It would depend on what it is combined with. Taken alone, it could be a very bad thing though.
Volmalric used a Fortune point to add a Natural 1 to their dice pool
Volmalric rolls an Observation test:
Target: 9 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.14+1d20.15 = 29]
You did succeed!
Rhotinia: You mention Rhiveth may be buried in Argos, do you have any idea where?
Meltam rolls an Observation test:
Target: 12 Focus: 3 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 4 Momentum: 3 [2d20.1 = 2]
You succeeded and generated momentum!
Democles: I would assume somewhere in the Acheronian cemetery.
Volmalric steps back into the building, approaching the table
Volmalric: Speaking of being in a cemetery, would you care to go for a walk? Because I think we should go for a walk
Volmalric: Probably all three of us
Volmalric: A very hasty walk
Volmalric: Is there a back entrance?
Rhotinia: That doesn't sound ominous at all
Rhotinia rolls an Observation test:
Target: 9 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 0 Momentum: 0 [1d20.13+1d20.18 = 31]
You did not succeed.
Volmalric: Crows are always a bad sign
Volmalric used a Fortune point to add a Natural 1 to their dice pool
Volmalric rolls a Persuade test:
Target: 12 Focus: 2 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 3 Momentum: 2 [1d20.11+1d20.15 = 26]
You succeeded and generated momentum!
Volmalric hands Democles some coin as well
Volmalric: For your time, good sir, to talk and walk?
Democles: Is it the fault of that crazy man who was in here earlier trying to bring the Inquisition down on me? Cilissa has already threatened my existence!
Democles: Yes, let's get out of here, I'm sure this is all the fault of that Bossonian guy!
Democles opens trap door.
Volmalric: Oh, then you'll definitely want to go quickly, because she's about to come into the front door
Rhotinia: I hope not...
Rhotinia follows Democles through the trap door
Volmalric ducks down into the trap door as well
Democles: Quick, we can take the sewers from here. Don't mind the smell. Here have some nose plugs.
Rhotinia accepts the nose plugs
Democles hands nose plugs to you as he pulls a cord to lower the top trap door and open a second one.
Democles gets out a torch wrapped in a blue gauze, strikes it with a flint, and it creates a smokeless blue flame that creates strange shadows.
Democles: They cannot follow us with these, they mask our scent if you stay within a couple meters of it.
Volmalric puts the plug on, no questions asked
Rhotinia: Very well, lead the way
Volmalric: They have hunting hounds, I presume?
Meltam rolls a Craft test:
Target: 9 Focus: 1 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.19+1d20.7 = 26]
You did succeed!
Democles: Did you actually see Cilissa? If she is there, they don't need hounds.
Rhotinia: Yeah, we need to have a talk with Meltam if we survive this. Making an enemy of Cilissa is very bad for business...
Volmalric: Yup, defintiely saw her
Volmalric: Or someone wearing her same outfit, there are some things that one should not look directly upon
Democles stops next to a small cubby hole and pulls out a loose brick.
Democles: Here, you will need these.
Democles grabs a pair of necklaces from the cubby hole, and shoves the brick back.
Volmalric takes it
Rhotinia: I take it you have had prior troubles with Cilissa, or do you always stock your escape tunnel when you open up shop?
Democles: They are protective wards.
Rhotinia accepts the necklace
Democles: Let's just say, I have seen what happens to those who cross her and are caught, and I resolved not to be one of them.
Volmalric: Given what she did to her own guard squad, having them run off and die in the distance, I'd agree
Democles: Frankly, I'd prefer a quick death over eating my own entrails while professing my crimes against humanity. But I guess it makes for placating a mob of angry plebians seeking vengeance.
Democles shudders.
Democles opens a door and you find yourselves looking at a wide, flowing river of effluent.
Rhotinia: If it comes to that, I give you my word I won't let them take you alive
Volmalric: I'd rather not let them take us dead either, I don't trust what they'd do to our bodies
Democles: Any idea where to go? I usually pick the quickest route out of town to lie low for a while. But then, I have never actually been hunted by Cilissa, usually just people who are angry the item I sold them did not do what they thought it would, even when I told them it would not.
Democles: I mean, seriously, how many times do I have to tell a nobleman that an Acheronian Elephant Statue will not cure the burning sensation when he urinates? Who ever starts rumors like that?
Rhotinia: Many Ophiri have an interest in Lemuria and its history, if we can get out of the city alive I can write you a letter of safe conduct on behalf of my brother
Democles: Oh, I would love to visit Ophir! That would be awesome.
Volmalric: Cemetary, I think
Democles: Cemetery is this way!
Democles leads you through the sewers in a north-north-east direction.
Volmalric: Long term, I think skipping town is probably safest. This town is much more dangerous than I'd originally thought
Rhotinia: Well if Cilissa hasn't siezed it, I do still have a river barge full of boiled leather moored in the harbor
Democles: Oh, Messantia is actually a wonderful place, full of nice and exciting people. Plus, the cute barmaid at the Whisper Wood, Bridgit, has so many fascinating stories about Acheron and Thuria. The way she tells it, you would almost think she was there. One of my favorite people to talk to. And Adolphus and Angus, plus Branah and Ctespihir at the docks.
Rhotinia: But that is a big if...
Democles looks at Rhotinia.
Democles: Not sure why she would impound a barge, but I do not question what Cilissa wants, I find it best to imagine a world without her.
Volmalric: I actually know half of those people
Volmalric: We've ran aground of Cilissa before, though...have you met her, Rhotinia?
Meltam rolls an Observation test:
Target: 12 Focus: 3 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 2 Momentum: 1 [1d20.10+1d20.8 = 18]
You succeeded and generated momentum!
Rhotinia: I have not dealt with her in person, but if you do business in Messantia you know OF Cilissa
Rhotinia: You know to stay away, and not do business with anyone that gets on her bad side
Rhotinia: If she doesn't know of my involvement with you lot though, then my barge might still be safe
Volmalric: She might not have before, but she probably does by now. The shop was being watched
Volmalric: She may or may not know who you are, though
Rhotinia: Well if we can get there, we can take it up river and away from the city
Democles: Well, the cemetery and the docks are not really in the same direction.
Rhotinia: Why are we going to the cemetary? Did you arrange to meet Meltam there?
Volmalric: He left a message and wishes to meet out there, but I'm contemplating whether we wish to go there the long way. Take the barge out of town, then loop back
Volmalric: On the other hand, I'm sure they'll seek to recapture the barge after we've left, and it's hard to hide one of those
Volmalric: I think your barge may be safer where it is until Cilissa has verified your involvement
Rhotinia: That gives me an idea Volmalric... You head to the cemetary and meet up with Meltam, I'll join you soon
Volmalric: Oh, right, splitting up is a thing
Rhotinia: And be careful out there
Democles, Rhotinia, and Volmalric suddenly hear loud clanging noises and the sounds of combat ahead of them, from the direction of the cemetery. In the streets above you, it sounds like alarm bells are clanging and lots of shouting above you.
Meltam rolls an Observation test:
Target: 12 Focus: 3 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.13+1d20.7 = 20]
You did succeed!
Tack:
[1d20.7 = 7]
Rhotinia: On second thought, it sounds like time may be of the essence
Democles: I'm not used to hearing combat sounds in the sewers.
Volmalric: It's a first for me too, and I've seen quite a bit
Democles: In fact, I'm more of a lover, not a fighter.
Rhotinia: I too prefer to avoid bloodshed, but today there may be no choice
Democles: So the cemetery is in the direction of the fighting, what do you two want to do? I pretty much care about being able to breathe tomorrow.
Meltam rolls a Stealth test:
Target: 14 Focus: 3 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 1 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.20+1d20.4 = 24]
You did succeed!
Rhotinia: Up to you Volmalric, I don't know your friend Meltam very well, but if you are worried for him I will gladly aid in the effort to save him
Volmalric: I don't want to fight either, but on the other hand I want to see what's going on. I think Meltam is waiting for us at the cemetary
Volmalric: But who else would be fighting in the sewers?
Volmalric: Is there a way around?
Democles: Okay, I can lead you to the cemetery, but if there is any fighting going on, I reserve the right to save my skin.
Volmalric: Are there multiple paths to the cemetary?
Democles: Sure, we can backtrack around and try to find other ones.
Volmalric rolls an Observation test:
Target: 9 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 1 Successes: 0 Momentum: 0 [1d20.16+1d20.20 = 36]
You did not succeed.
Rhotinia: Very well, I hope Meltam is able to make it. It sounds like all hell is breaking loose up there
Volmalric: Whatever's over there, I don't think it's on our side. Let's go around
Rhotinia: Let's head for the harbor then, if Cilissa has identified my barge we can use it to create a diversion and draw their attention away
Rhotinia: And if not, it provides an escape route
Democles: Okay, back to the docks sounds like a great plan! This way!
Democles turns around and heads off at a significantly increased rate of speed.
Rhotinia follows with her bow drawn
Volmalric follows after, keeping his alchemical gear at the ready
Meltam used a Fortune point to add a Natural 1 to their dice pool
Meltam rolls a Sorcery test:
Target: 14 Focus: 2 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 1 Successes: 3 Momentum: 2 [1d20.20+1d20.6 = 26]
You succeeded and generated momentum!
Tack (Meltam): pulling the Deus ex machina from the jaws of victory....
The three of you reach an intersection of several spots leading to a wider "flow" towards the city docks. There is a flare of bright light that stuns your eyes for a second, and you realize that from a side tunnel, and several characters emerge, pause a second, and look quite happy to see you.
Asgrim holds up his sword.
Asgrim: By Freya's Giant Nipples, you are a sight for sore eyes!
Volmalric: What's going on?
Angus is carrying an unconscious Bridgit.
Volmalric: Oh, hey, Democles. It's Bridgit!
Angus: Well, do you want to start with the "fires raging out of control" or the "army of undead creatures" or the "ancient sorcerer just blew several wholes in the city walls"? explanation.
Volmalric: Let's start with the ancient sorcerer, I think the others roll naturally from there
Sophie runs past the group.
Rhotinia: Let's go with "Getting the hell out of here"
Sophie: I dealt with those, but more are this way, I can smell them. I'll take the leaders, stay behind me. Asgrim, cut down any that get past me.
Rhotinia: I'm right behind you dear
Asgrim: As long as you don't splatter me with more blood ma'am, I'll do whatever you say.
Rhotinia draws her bow
Adolphus: Angus, I should carry Bridgit so you can put that hammer of yours to good use.
Angus: Okay, I'll take the rear, need space to swing the hammer.
Democles: So... is this a normal day for you two?
Democles addresses the question to Volmalric and Rhotinia as he tries to sneak into the middle of the pack for maximum safety.
Rhotinia: Certainly not, this is very exhilerating for me
Volmalric: Delightfully mundane for me
Rhotinia: I haven't been in this much peril since the war
Volmalric: Mine was last Saturday, though I'm not sure how many Saturdays that was
There is a rumble in the sewers, as in "earthquake" style rumble.
Asgrim: Oh shit.
Asgrim: Literally, we are in the sewers, and...
Meltam rolls a Resistance test:
Target: 10 Focus: 1 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 0 Momentum: 0 [1d20.11+1d20.13 = 24]
You did not succeed.
Asgrim gestures to what looks like a mound of sentient shit coming down a side passage.
Volmalric: There are times when one must move faster
Volmalric: This is one of those times
Rhotinia rolls a Society test:
Target: 16 Focus: 5 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 0 Momentum: 0 [1d20.18+1d20.19 = 37]
You did not succeed.
Adolphus cradles Bridgit closer.
Adolphus: Yes, faster is good.
Sophie runs back towards the group, she is drenched in yellowish ichor and bloody entrails. Half the daggers are missing from her bandolier, the ones she is carrying now look like reflective black glass.
Sophie: I can smell wraiths coming. They will eat your souls if you don't run faster. Now is not the time to be prissy about getting crap on your boots.
Volmalric: I'm glad you're awake again, it's like music to my ears
Democles: Okay, it will take about ten more minutes to get to the docks. This way.
Democles gestures with his blue torch in the direction Sophie just ran from.
Adolphus: Sophie, do be nicer to the people who cannot run at your speed.
Sophie: I'll laugh at your corpse if you don't move faster, does that help?
Volmalric follows after Democles and Sophie
Rhotinia tries to go faster
Rhotinia rolls an Athletics test:
Target: 10 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 0 Momentum: 0 [1d20.12+1d20.14 = 26]
You did not succeed.
Volmalric rolls an Athletics test:
Target: 9 Focus: 1 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.13+1d20.6 = 19]
You did succeed!
GM: [2]
GM rolls a test:
Target: 2 Focus: 1 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.13+1d20.2 = 15]
You did succeed!
Rhotinia tries to run faster and slips and falls into the river of sewage. Angus and Asgrim pull her out before she has to decide whether she wants to keep her armor and submerge or lose her armor to not sink into the muck.
Meltam rolls a Discipline test:
Target: 10 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.13+1d20.2 = 15]
You did succeed!
Meltam used a Fortune point to add a Natural 1 to their dice pool
Meltam rolls a Sorcery test:
Target: 14 Focus: 2 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 4 Momentum: 3 [1d20.3+1d20.9 = 12]
You succeeded and generated momentum!
Tack (Meltam): Exit Stage Left.
The group manages to get to the barge after several tense minutes while Sophie, Asgrim, and Angus fight off ghouls and skeletal undead. When you get to the surface, you find sections of Messantia are ablaze and hundreds of undead and ghouls are locked in battles with town guards as people run through the streets in a panic.
Volmalric: I am glad we are here, and not in the cemetary
Rhotinia: I picked a bad week to come to Messantia...
It looks like the walls near the cemetary and most of that part of town is on fire.
Sailor: Oi! Look at that!
Volmalric: Or a good week
Volmalric: We appreciate you being here
Volmalric pats Rhotinia on the shoulder
Volmalric: I will say, Slumbara picked a very good week to leave town
Sailor hands Rhotinia a spyglass focused on a hill near the cemetary.
Rhotinia: From what you have told me I think he would have probably loved this
Rhotinia rolls an Observation test:
Target: 9 Focus: 0 Difficulty: 1 Complications: 0 Successes: 1 Momentum: 0 [1d20.16+1d20.3 = 19]
You did succeed!
Rhotinia peers through the glass
Rhotinia sees what looks like the crumbled remains of an Acheronian statue lying on the ground next to Meltam (who is currently doubled over in pain) and Cilissa, who is holding a blue-steel spear.
Meltam collapses to the ground and his head explodes like an overripe melon.
Volmalric: What do you see?
The sparkling blue form of Rhiveth appears, she looks at Cilissa and raises an arm.
Volmalric squints
Volmalric: Is that Rhiveth out there?
Tack (Meltam): FWIW, as long as one Meltam of the many that existed actually did a good in the world, I consider him redeemed.
Rhotinia: Looks like
Cilissa charges at Rhiveth, and the spectral figure grabs the spear out of the air, flips it and Cilissa through the air, and flings her into the distance. Suddenly a black spectral form coalesces above Meltam's corpse. Rhiveth tightens her grip on the spear.
Volmalric: Is that Meltam standing beside her?
Volmalric: Wait, can they fly?
Tack (Meltam): It would be a real shame if you two were traumatized by these events. Really.
Volmalric is trying to see without the benefit of the spyglass
Rhotinia: I believe Meltam has hastened events that Rhiveth was hoping to delay until she could acquire that scroll
Volmalric: Ooooh. That doesn't sound good
Rhotinia: I am not even sure which side we should be cheering for
Some words are spoken, and then Rhiveth drives her spear into Meltam's twitching corpse. The black spectral creature howls in rage and lashes at her with claws and talons. She shrugs off the blows, mostly, but her form gets wispy and more shadowed. Then the ghostly form dissipates into nothingness, leaving a howling angry wind swirling over the area.
Volmalric shivers at the howling in the distance
Rhotinia turns to the sailors
Rhotinia: Get us moving, fastest path out of the city
Abruptly Cilissa runs back into the fray, this time carrying a pair of blue steel daggers. She chops through the remains of the spectral creature as it claws at the air, as well as several ghouls and undead who were rushing toward Rhiveth. Cilissa leaps at the Lemurian princess, who gives Cilissa a slight bow and vanishes from view. The Inquisitor stops, looking around for a new target to vent her anger on.
Volmalric: Out we go
Sailor: Already moving, ma'am! Heading in a "anywhere but here" direction!
Bridgit mumbles something in her sleep.
Adolphus: Well Angus, old friend, I think our shops have burned down.
Angus: Meh, it's never too late to start an adventure.
Asgrim: I just hope wherever this barge takes us, it has ale and opponents I can punch.
Volmalric: That tends to be the case for any city
Democles: I think there was a mention of Ophir, or honestly, anywhere but here would be good.
Volmalric: Rhotinia? Did you happen to see Meltam out near the cemetary?
Rhotinia: Yes, it was not pretty
Volmalric: Will he be in need of assistance?
Rhotinia: Not from us, perhaps from an undertaker
Volmalric: I'm not sure if it's a shame or not, given his expertise, but I wish he'd have gotten a retirement like Slumbara's
Democles: If that really was Princess Rhiveth out there, it would have been so amazingly cool to meet her.
Rhotinia: And as much as I would love to sail right back to Ophir and forget all about this, I don't think having Messantia overrun with undead and on fire will be good for my business
Rhotinia: Well, if you want to meet Rhiveth, I have some thoughts on that
Rhotinia: I doubt Cilissa will let bygones be bygones on this one, and she seems to be an enemy of Rhiveth
Rhotinia: I am not convinced I trust Rhiveth, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend...
Volmalric: She seems to have been an enemy of many
Adolphus: Which one? Cilissa or Rhiveth? The former, definitely an enemy of many.
Adolphus: Or at least, very dedicated to some goal she does not share with others.
Volmalric: Tell me, Democles, have you heard of the Tome of Skelos?
Democles: I have! A full copy of the Tome of Skelos is considered the rarest thing a sorcerer could find. Supposedly there are some hiding in private libraries.... which may or may not be on fire or being looted as we speak.
Rhotinia: That symbol I showed you earlier Democlese, Rhiveth was looking for an Acheronian scroll bearing that symbol.
Democles looks at Rhotinia.
Democles: Yes, and we would really need to see what else is on the scroll to make a good indication of what she wants it for.
Bridgit mumbles in her sleep.
Rhotinia: If I am right, our best option to fix this mess is to find that scroll and bring it to Rhiveth's tomb in Argos
Volmalric claps his hands
Rhotinia: Rhiveth seemed to think it would be here in Messantia, so as much I hat to say it, we may have to get back in there
Volmalric: And if we have the resources to look it over first and help discern its purpose, we'll be able to help avoid any accidental worst-case scenarios
Volmalric: Are you suggesting we should go in now?
Volmalric: I imagine a lot of books will be looted together, so it may be easier to track them down after the fact
Rhotinia: If possible, it would probably be better to wait until the city is no longer on fire