Act 1, Part 3: Into the Fire

[Kavonde]

After about ten minutes of tending to the wounded and working to identify some of the magical gear they've picked up, our heroes are finally ready to face whatever comes next. With a little team effort, they drag Jurgrindor's corpse far enough out of the way that they can open the doors leading into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall looks much different than it did hours ago during the feast. Three of the long tables have been turned on their sides and pushed against the large entry doors to the south to form a makeshift barricade. Dishes, broken goblets, and bloody stains mar the floor, while at least a dozen bodies lie against the east wall. Lady Jamandi's guards gather at the barricade and in front of the double doors leading into the west wing. These doors are sealed, and several tapestries have been torn from the walls and wedged into the gap between the floor and the door in a feeble attempt to keep smoke from flowing into the hall from an apparent fire in the manor's west wing.

The sound of the party opening the eastern doors draws concerned shouts of alarm from the guards in the hall. One of them has a face you recognize: the man who stood at the podium as you all entered the manor, taking your names and calling for you to enter once the tables were set. He is a large man with gray eyes, closely cropped black hair, bushy eyebrows, and a thin mustache. He's clearly suffered damage from the fighting; some blow sheared away his left pauldron, and that arm is now bandaged and crusted with dried blood. Still, he stands tall, clearly in command of the others, and he raises his hand to still his fellows as he recognizes you all.

"Iomedae's grace," the man says, his voice strained and weary but his expression impressed. "We heard fighting, and then... silence. We assumed the giant had claimed more victims. I'm glad to be mistaken.

"I'm afraid there's little time for pleasantries, however. We fought them here and drove them from the Great Hall, but there are two more of those damned giants, and the gods alone know how many more assassins. Lady Jamandi and some others went after them, but then some maniac started a fire in the hallway beyond these doors, cutting us off. And we've been hearing sounds of fighting from the west, through the smoke and flame. However tiring your night has been so far, I regret to inform you that it's far from over."

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by Kavonde (see edit history)

[Kistler]

Millanius the Arcane - Human Thaumaturge 1 HP: 17/17 | AC: 18 | Perception: +5 Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +5  | Conditions: None ResourcesCharacter: -Hero Points: 2/3 -Focus Points: 0/0 Items: - | Spells/ScrollsScrolls: - Cantrips:  - Level 1: - | Skills*Acrobatics: +6 *Arcana: +3 Athletics: +1 Crafting: +0 *Deception: +8 *Diplomacy1020: +8 *Esoteric Lore: +7 Intimidate: +5 Medicine: +0 *Nature: +3 *Occultism: +3 *Performance: +7 *Politics Lore: +3 *Religion: +3 Society: +0 *Stealth: +6 Survival: +0 *Thievery92225: +6 *Trained Consumables: 2x Tanglefoot Bags, 2x PoL Healing Effects: None

---

Millanius sighs. The night was going from bad to worse. Why, oh why, couldn't the brothers of that giant be in some far-off land, instead of just through some flimsy doors. He also has a sneaking suspicion he knew who the "fire-starting maniac" was.

"As easy as it is to start a magical fire, it's actually just as tricky to put one out..." he muses. 

"Good sir knight, we have enough people and creatures to start a bucket line, and there is water stream in the garden. Unless you know another source? If we hurry my fellows and I can press forward to the west with every man you can spare to stop the fire spreading. Grab helmets, buckets, pots from the kitchens...!" 

He rushes back toward the supply closet they found earlier to grab as many buckets as he can carry and start handing them to anyone who comes with him.

---

OOC/Actions Other: With 20 people in the room, I thought it may be feasible to stop the fire. (which Tartuccio clearly started, but definitely not with Produce Flame, because that would be against the rules 😄 ) Action 1:  Action 2:  Action 3:  Reaction: Recognize Spell Free:

Familiar/Other Modifiers Stitches the Monkey | 5/5HP | AC18 Per: +5/Fort: +6/Ref: +6/Will: +5 -Low-light Vision -Manual Dexterity -Valet -25' Land Speed   Effects: -15' Aura, Circ bonus to Dip/Int/Dec & +1 v. Fear -Success v Mental is crit success -+2 Damage from empowerment -Activate any Scroll

Gear Worn -Clothing (Winter) -Studded Leather Armor -Backpack -Belt Pouch -Thieves' Tools -Ringy Thingy* -Bandolier   Weapons -Sword Cane -Aldori Sword* -Light Mace* -Dagger -5x Darts -Scepter (Regalia)   Containers Backpack -Bedroll -Lantern, hooded -Rations (1 week) -Rope (50') -5x Sacks -5x Torches -Waterskin   Bandoliers -3x Flasks Oil -Manacles (poor) -5x Sacks -2x Tanglefoot bags* -2x Lesser PoH*   Belt/Pouch -10x Chalk -Flint and Steel -Playing Cards -Thieves' Tools -Soap -2x Candles -Ring of Keys -39gp (38gp 6sp 3cp)*

Edited February 24, 2023 by Kistler (see edit history)

[AnemoneEnemy]

  

Thomas of Nowhere | AC: 16 | HP: 19/19 | Per: +4 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +6 | Hero: 1/1 | FP: 1/1

---

Æthelflæd | AC: 18 |  Per: +4 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +7 | Will: +4

---

Thomas groans at the prospect of a bucket brigade, and waves a world-weary hand. He leans against a wall, moving his hand through an indolent, vaguely mystical gesture, as though to imply that he must conserve his strength for matters arcane. Aethelflaed--far more dutiful, in this as in everything else--obligingly goes. "This poor hall," they groan, as though seeing a relative laid out on a chirurgeon's table.

"If this be all arranged as a test fer heroes-tae-be, 'tis a mite excessive," Thomas sighs. "Twa mair! Was the slayin' of one giant nae 'nuff, like?"

OOC/mechanics

 

 

[Spektor]

Antonia Rullianus

---

 

AC: 17 | HP: 19/19 | Per: +5 | Fort: +4 | Ref: +8 | Will: +5 | Hero: 2/3 | Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven

Entering the feast hall was a reminder of the night previous and the Fencer felt a lurch in her stomach – stale wine threatening to return from her gut for an encore. She clenched her eyes shut for a moment and took a deep breath to try and overcome the nausea. The words from the Knight were sobering, however. "Do you mean to say there are more of those things? What sort of plot is this? I would not have thought Frost Giants to be behind it all but I suppose the world is big enough for more surprises." She tapped her chin as she pondered their next move. "The Lady went after them, you say? Well, that should be our next goal, then." Antonia turned back towards the others only to find Millanius gathering buckets and handing them out. With a shake of her heard she replied, "Ah yes, the fire. It would probably be best to handle that first. Don't you wizard-types know magic? Is there not a fire quenching spell you can sling about? You'd think with the amount of fires that are started with spells, there would be a way to stop them." Even as she complained, she helped Millanius with the buckets and sought a source of water.

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Spektor (see edit history)

[BlackHat]

Zakon Malheur HP: 14/14 | AC: 13 | Perception: +6 Fort: +3 | Ref: +3 | Will: +6 Hero Points: OOO | Focus Points: O

"Excellent idea," Zakon said to Millanius, before he made his way to the man who had taken charge of the room, rather than heading back for the first bucket. This was the same guard from the podium, earlier, who had made such a good impression with the Judge. Zakon was pleased to see that the man had survived the initial attack. "We've also cleared most of the rooms in that direction if you're wounded need to fall back." He produced the minor healing potion and offered it to the guard who would know best where it might be most needed. "... but otherwise, the more hands we can spare to get the fire under control, the sooner we can get to Lady Jamandi."

OOC

Zakon will use his action to Prepare to Aid another (using his Cooperative Nature) on whatever roll ends up being required to put out the fire. He's gonna be more useful helping to organize the workers than lifting things, himself, but he is not above helping move the water once we get started if that is where he is needed.

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by BlackHat (see edit history)

[PlotDevice]

Verne Greencloak | HP: 16/16 | AC: 15 | Fort: +3  Ref: +4  Will: +9 | Hero Points: 2/3

---

Shardik | HP: 16/16 | AC: 15 | Fort: +5  Ref: +5  Will: +4

 

Verne takes a place in the bucket line, and as he works, trying to think of a faster way to put out the fire with magic, but not coming up with anything.

Meanwhile, Shardik wanders around the room aimlessly, sniffing at things.

 

 

 

[Kavonde]

The Knight of the Podium nods gratefully at Zakon's words. "After we put this fire out, we may do just that, Your Honor."
 

Valerie, Linzi, Harrim, and Amiri (to the best of her ability, given her broken leg) join the bucket line, as do most of the guards. Two others work to pull the tapestries and tablecloths out from under the western doors; smoke immediately begins leaking into the Great Hall, and only redoubles as they pull the doors open. It's difficult to tell from here, but there doesn't seem to be any fire in the actual hallway itself--which, Antonia, Lerris, and Zakon recall, makes sense, given that the hallway beyond those doors had no carpets or flammable decorations. The smoke must be coming from some other source... or sources.
 

[Spektor]

Antonia Rullianus

---

 

AC: 17 | HP: 19/19 | Per: +5 | Fort: +4 | Ref: +8 | Will: +5 | Hero: 2/3 | Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven

The survivors all lined up and prepared to put out the fire with a bit of teamwork. However, once the doors opened, Antonia scorffed, seeing no actual flames, just more smoke. "Keep the line steady. I am going to scout ahead and see if I can figure out where the source of the fire is." She looked to the nearest ally, which turned out to be one of the surviving guards, and walked towards him with determination. "Good sir, I hope you do not mind providing the necessary tools to ensure our survival. After all, I'm taking the risk here." She gripped the sleeve of his garment and pulled out a small knife, preparing to cut the cloth free. "You don't mind, do you?" She gave him a smile and blinked her eyes innocently. Before he could respond she began cutting at the seams of the sleeve and tore away the loose cloth. "Your contribution to the Lady's salvation will be written in the annals of history, my dear."

Antonia moved towards the smoke filled hallway and pulled her filled waterskin from her pack. She had filled it just the day before, which probably meant it would have a strange taste, its purity tainted by the leather of the vessel. But it suited just fine for her purposes. The fencer poured the liquid over the torn cloth and wrapped it around the lower part of her face. With a muffled voice, she spoke before entering the hazardous hall, "Watch my back, hmm? I don't expect you to come running into the smoke filled hall, but at least call out to me if you see something that wants to cause me any sort of harm." With that, she unsheathed her rapier and began searching the hallway, keeping as low to the ground as she was able to avoid the eye-watering smoke. She made sure to tap each door handle before opening it to ensure the metal had not been heated by a hidden fire within.

 

[Kistler]

Millanius the Arcane - Human Thaumaturge 1 HP: 17/17 | AC: 18 | Perception: +5 Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +5  | Conditions: None ResourcesCharacter: -Hero Points: 2/3 -Focus Points: 0/0 Items: - | Spells/ScrollsScrolls: - Cantrips:  - Level 1: - | Skills*Acrobatics: +6 *Arcana: +3 Athletics: +1 Crafting: +0 *Deception: +8 *Diplomacy1020: +8 *Esoteric Lore: +7 Intimidate: +5 Medicine: +0 *Nature: +3 *Occultism: +3 *Performance: +7 *Politics Lore: +3 *Religion: +3 Society: +0 *Stealth: +6 Survival: +0 *Thievery92225: +6 *Trained Consumables: 2x Tanglefoot Bags, 2x PoL Healing Effects: Hold Breath (6rnds remaining)

---

At the fore of the bucket line, Millanius is surprised when the doors open to reveal nothing burning in sight. He grabs a discarded tablecloth, drapes it over his head, and has a nearby guard douse him with her bucket. Then he exhales fully, then inhales fully, then again. And again. Until finally he draws in as much air as he can hold, as he would for many of his death-defying stage illusions, and holds his breath as he travels down the hall, checking the side opposite Antonia. He carries his full bucket in one hand, opening doors with the other.

---

OOC/Actions Other: Hold Breath  Action 1: Move 15' Action 2: Open Action 3: Move 20' Reaction: Recognize Spell Free:

Familiar/Other Modifiers Stitches the Monkey | 5/5HP | AC18 Per: +5/Fort: +6/Ref: +6/Will: +5 -Low-light Vision -Manual Dexterity -Valet -25' Land Speed   Effects: -15' Aura, Circ bonus to Dip/Int/Dec & +1 v. Fear -Success v Mental is crit success -+2 Damage from empowerment -Activate any Scroll

Gear Worn -Clothing (Winter) -Studded Leather Armor -Backpack -Belt Pouch -Thieves' Tools -Ringy Thingy* -Bandolier   Weapons -Sword Cane -Light Mace* -Dagger -5x Darts -Scepter (Regalia)   Containers Backpack -Bedroll -Lantern, hooded -Rations (1 week) -Rope (50') -5x Sacks -5x Torches -Waterskin   Bandoliers -3x Flasks Oil -Manacles (poor) -5x Sacks -2x Tanglefoot bags* -2x Lesser PoH*   Belt/Pouch -10x Chalk -Flint and Steel -Playing Cards -Thieves' Tools -Soap -2x Candles -Ring of Keys -39gp (38gp 6sp 3cp)*

Edited March 1, 2023 by Kistler (see edit history)

[Kavonde]

Antonia and Millanius, their faces covered with damp cloth, are able to make their way down the hall, each checking opposite sides of the corridor. They're soon able to find the source of the smoke: the furniture in several of the rooms on either side have been piled together and set ablaze. The smoke from these makeshift bonfires is flowing out through open doors into the hall, and the mansion's air currents are driving the black cloud towards the Great Hall.

All except for one room, which, despite its open door, seems to be warding off the smoke somehow. Through the haze, they can see a marble statue at the far end of the room; perhaps it's some sort of shrine? But they'll need to get closer to examine it properly.

[AnemoneEnemy]

  

Thomas of Nowhere | AC: 16 | HP: 19/19 | Per: +4 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +6 | Hero: 1/1 | FP: 1/1

---

Æthelflæd | AC: 18 |  Per: +4 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +7 | Will: +4

---

Thomas, too, wets a cloth and follows, with his fae servant at his side.
"Awful organized for a chance attack. An' awful messy fer an assassination, like," Thomas notes. Æthelflæd produces a particularly large kerchief and flaps it, trying futilely to clear the air, as Thomas wanders in to examine the shrine--and get some fresh air.

OOC/mechanics

 

 

[Kistler]

Millanius the Arcane - Human Thaumaturge 1 HP: 17/17 | AC: 18 | Perception: +5 Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +5  | Conditions: None ResourcesCharacter: -Hero Points: 2/3 -Focus Points: 0/0 Items: - | Spells/ScrollsScrolls: - Cantrips:  - Level 1: - | Skills*Acrobatics: +6 *Arcana: +3 Athletics: +1 Crafting: +0 *Deception: +8 *Diplomacy1020: +8 *Esoteric Lore: +7 Intimidate: +5 Medicine: +0 *Nature: +3 *Occultism: +3 *Performance: +7 *Politics Lore: +3 *Religion: +3 Society: +0 *Stealth: +6 Survival: +0 *Thievery92225: +6 *Trained Consumables: 2x Tanglefoot Bags, 2x PoL Healing Effects:

---

A hero, upon finding the spurce of the fire, would bravely go in and pit himself against it, straining muscle and mond, fighting through pain and amoke and heat, to overcome the odds. Luckily Millanius is no hero and he knows it. He sets his bucket down and rushes back into the hall, gasping a new breath of fresher air. He calls to nearby guards, anyone with a polearm, and grabs two more pails of water. "We found the source of the smoke! Quickly! Grab those draperies! And bring your spears!" Taking another full breath, he goes back through the doors, leading two guards to the fire to break the pile apart with their spears, then smother the flames with water-soaked drapes. 

---

OOC/Actions Other:  Action 1:  Action 2:  Action 3:  Reaction: Recognize Spell Free:

Familiar/Other Modifiers Stitches the Monkey | 5/5HP | AC18 Per: +5/Fort: +6/Ref: +6/Will: +5 -Low-light Vision -Manual Dexterity -Valet -25' Land Speed   Effects: -15' Aura, Circ bonus to Dip/Int/Dec & +1 v. Fear -Success v Mental is crit success -+2 Damage from empowerment -Activate any Scroll

Gear Worn -Clothing (Winter) -Studded Leather Armor -Backpack -Belt Pouch -Thieves' Tools -Ringy Thingy* -Bandolier   Weapons -Sword Cane -Light Mace* -Dagger -5x Darts -Scepter (Regalia)   Containers Backpack -Bedroll -Lantern, hooded -Rations (1 week) -Rope (50') -5x Sacks -5x Torches -Waterskin   Bandoliers -3x Flasks Oil -Manacles (poor) -5x Sacks -2x Tanglefoot bags* -2x Lesser PoH*   Belt/Pouch -10x Chalk -Flint and Steel -Playing Cards -Thieves' Tools -Soap -2x Candles -Ring of Keys -39gp (38gp 6sp 3cp)*

[Rider Z]

Lerris Ninthborne

---

HP: 19/20 | AC: 17 |  Per: + 4 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +3 | Will: +7 | Hero: 0 | Languages: Common (Taldane), Hallit, Skald

---

Hearing that the fire had finally been found, Lerris gave an immediate nod towards Millanius and turned back towards the soldiers. "You heard the man! Unless you want those giant's to get a fresh cooked meal grab a spear or bucket and follow along."

Sheathing his sword and attaching the sword to his back, ripped off a sleeve of his undershirt and quickly tied it around his face. Then, he used a bucket to drench both himself and the rag in cool water. Finally he grabbed two heavy pails of water in each hand and rushed along behind Millanius so he could be led to where the fires were currently burning.

[Kavonde]

The knight nods in agreement with Thomas' words. "Judging from the tattoos each of the 'assassins' bore, they're the Black Tears--a gang of drug-addled killers who normally operate in northern Brevoy. 'Messy' is their modus operandi, but I've never heard of them committing to such a large-scale assault, not to mention hiring monstrous mercenaries. My guess is that someone with a very deep purse is funding this operation. Someone who doesn't want the Stolen Lands tamedFeel free to roll Society or an appropriate Lore to draw your own conclusions.."

Of course, well before he finishes speaking, Thomas and Æthelflæd have pushed through the smoke-filled hallway and into the oddly unpolluted little shrine. This room has plain stone walls and a polished floor. At the far end of the room, atop a stone dais, stands a marble statue of an armored half-elf woman. One of her hands clutches a heavy shield, while the other is clenched into a fist over her heart. Surprisingly, Thomas recognizes the figure: it's a statue of Milani the Everbloom, a martyred servant of Aroden and a patron saint of freedom fighters and rebellions against unjust authorities. He also notices that being near this statue fills him with an incongruent feeling of hope and the energy to take on the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group, working together with the guards and taking measures to protect themselves from smoke inhalation, are gradually able to tear apart and extinguish the bonfires. The smoke begins to dissipate into the Great Hall, staining the ceiling, but the same air circulation that pushed it all into the hall is soon spreading it thin enough to only be an unpleasant irritant instead of a potentially dangerous hazard.

The rooms that had been set alight had clearly been additional guest bedrooms, and though there are signs of battle and a few charred bodies scattered among them, the people resting here clearly weren't murdered in their sleep like those in the eastern wing. A quick look indicates that anything that may have been of value in these rooms was destroyed or damaged beyond usefulness by the flames.

Another set of double doors stand closed at the northwestern end of this hallway, blackened by the smoke but sturdy and intact. You can distantly hear more sounds of battle coming from somewhere beyond them.

Edited March 2, 2023 by Kavonde (see edit history)

[Spektor]

Antonia Rullianus

---

 

AC: 17 | HP: 19/19 | Per: +5 | Fort: +4 | Ref: +8 | Will: +5 | Hero: 2/3 | Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven

Once the fires were extinguished, Antonia made her way back out into the main hall and removed the soot-stained cloth from around her mouth and nose. She tossed it to the side and brushed away the perspiration gathered across her cheeks and forehead, but only managed to spread streaking marks of soot across her cheeks and brow. She went to speak, but immediately broke down into a fit of coughing and put a finger up as if to say 'just one moment while I handle this'. A few throat clears later, she went to speak once more, "Well, now that that is handled, I believe I heard more fighting up ahead. Which means there are potential allies in danger of becoming dead allies. If what this fair Knight says is true, they will certainly be targeting Lady Aldori for death – as that is the surest way to see that this whole matter of settling the Stolen Lands is put to rest. We certainly do not want that. Let us not dally, hmm? Glory awaits." She unsheathed her rapier and waited for the others to join her before she continued towards the double set of doors. "Sir Knight, if you have any fighting spirit left within you or your men, we would always welcome more blades." The implication that the knight had given was that someone in Brevoy wanted the Stolen Lands to remain untamed. She sorted through her memories of the wealthy individuals who might want to fund such a venture...