The Shattered City: Chapter Five

Nerit · Post by **Nerit** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:30 am

Fluff later, am dead.
Move: AJ32?
Minor: Chaotic Defense - Gain a +2 Power bonus to all defenses until the end of the encounter.
Standard: Uhh, a little help?

Kaitou Kage · Post by **Kaitou Kage** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:53 pm

Rex quietly stepped through the opera house. He gave Athenne a brief glance, then stepped into the main room.

Nobody noticed his passage as he slipped through the shadows and crouched by the back. He watched, waiting to see what those around his quarry would do.

His heart raced, but he grinned inwardly. This was like old days. Old days from a couple years ago. He was enjoying getting into this again.

The pharmacist never thought he'd enjoy getting back into this kind of work. But this was the theft of a lifetime.

His only hope was that he wouldn't have to leave town again. Moving all his goods would be difficult.

Rex sneaks to J15. I think he can make it there if he uses his minor action to shift 2 squares. Then he chills and keeps an eye around the corner to see what's going on.

Cronax · Post by **Cronax** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:08 pm

Agale flinched as rubbed his eyes as the shadowstuff enveloped them. "He should know better than to summon something beyond his means. Leave him to his fate and lets move before they can reinforce" he barked with a rasp. Stumbling only momentarily, he follows the sound of Celeste's voice and heads out into the corridor.

Moving to AC33

yalenusveler · Post by **yalenusveler** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:14 pm

Kerrian bit back a snarl, trying to rub the obscuration from his eyes as he made his way to follow the sound of Celeste's voice. Considering her gift for loquaciousness, it shouldn't be too terribly difficult, except for that whole government usurping mages trying to kill them all bit.

OOC:Not much time for fluff at the moment. Minor action:None, Move to move to AD34. Standard will be to go defensive

NeoTiamat · Post by **NeoTiamat** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:27 pm

Le Palais de Justice, Quartier-Publique, Nightfall of June 8th, 770
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PC Actions
Lia tosses an Icy Grasp at FW7, misses, scurries up north a bit.
Nicolas slides FW7 back several squares and deals 9 damage to him.
Celeste deals 12 damage to FW7
Agale moves.
Nerit moves, turns on Chaotic Defense for a +2 to all defenses for the rest of the combat.
Kerrian moves.
Mercator moves.
Tomas does not move.
Rex is sneaky.

Recharges:
Thierri does not recharge Dazzling Lights.

It was at this point that you learned two things. One is that Katja, despite her many other skills as a combatant, was not a very good shot with a crossbow, at least not when blinded by shadow-snakes and operating under a depth-perception deficit to begin with. Richard, however, was.

The runaway mage dropped, and the shadowy terror found itself temporarily without any targets. But it was now that a new force appeared onto the scene, and this one would be more difficult to destroy than a lone mage.

Lord Balfour de Casteele was an old man, in his nineties easily, and his health was not all that it could be even now, never recovered from events of the previous decade. But he still moved under his own power, and he radiated a certain metaphysical power, even if the tailcoat he wore had last been fashionable some decades ago. He turned his head, gazing down the side-corridor to regard the lot of you coldly. “How unfortunate.”

At his gesture, more black-clad mages appeared. Matters were about to go sharply downhill.

Andre pretty much gives up on subtlety (there’s a giant dominated shadow-monster pounding on an FoS wizard in the main hall) and uses a Frightful Force, tossing off two Sound Lances versus reflex at the FoS Wizard and at the Horror (attacking a dominated creature does not break the Domination, not when Cerise is doing it at any rate). With Combat Advantage he hits both with ease, dealing 14 Thunder damage to the FoS Wizard and 21 to the Horror. He then scoots back around the corner.

Cerise moves to be able to see her new pet.

Thierri uses Hermes Fire on Tomas, granting him 9 Temp HP, then sticks close to Celeste.

Katja shoots at the FoS Wizard 7, rolls a 3 and misses completely (apparently, having only one eye does not do anything good for your aiming skills).

Richard uses his rifle to shoot the FoS Wizard #7, hits with a 26, dealing 13 damage and finishing off FoS Wizard #7 quite thoroughly.

Alice stays near Richard (and within line-of-sight of the Summoned Horror.

Athene moves to follow Rex.

"Intruders! Intruders! Send h-!" The thug's alarmed shouting ended abruptly, mid-sentence.

You rounded the corner after him and nearly ran straight into a pair of red-capped gendarme. One was throwing something heavy into one of the rooms along the hallway. The other, upon your approach, methodically shut the door and locked it. A black clad and gaunt figure stood nearby, watching them with milk-white eyes - M. Gauvain, le Marquis de Montmort.

There was a small pool of blood on the slick marble floor. There was, coincidentally, blood running down the Marquis' metal cane.

"Good evening." Gauvain turned to regard you with his marble, bloodless expression, running his fingers across the ravenskull cane handle with little regard for the sharpness, or the blood. His eyes finally settled on Agale, of all people. "The Master sends her regards."

Lord Balfour de Casteele arrives onto the scene, having used a double-move. He takes a long look at what’s going on, and brings up some wizards from the front to take care of this. He and his entourage are done for the round.

FoS Wizard #1 uses a Blinding Shadow vs. Reflex on the Horror, hits it with a critical, and deals 17 Necrotic damage and the Horror can’t see anything further than 3 squares away.

FoS Wizard #2 uses a Strangling Darkness vs. Fortitude on the Horror, misses with a 24.

Shadow Horror #1, still Dominated, charges the two wizards. Claw vs. AC, hits FS1, misses the other, dealing 14 damage and the Wizard is Grabbed.

Rex peered around the corner, into the vault room. There were some things there, bits of dark paraphernalia that the gendarmerie tended to collect. He could make another of the looming shadow-horrors, a vaguely humanoid shape tall enough to pick Rex up toss him. There were two wizards, senior mages from the looks of it, talking in low tones amongst themselves.

And there was the box. It was not a very large box, the size of a good book, but it was on a pedestal of its own, and no fewer than three silver chains linked it to the pedestal, each with its own lock. Tricky, but nothing that Rex couldn’t handle.

Then one of the locks snapped open silently, the chain hanging loose. The two wizards didn’t notice, but as Rex peered closer, he could just make out a tiny pair of black lockpicks, floating in the air. Athene tapped his shoulder and pointed.

There, in the depths of the shadow, concentrating furiously on the lockpicks, was a small, black cat with too-human eyes. It appeared that Rex wasn’t the only person around with larcenous ideas.

Saves!
Summoned Horror saves versus Domination: Success! Then Alice gives it a dirty look, forcing it to reroll, and it fails.

Victory Conditions:
Primary Condition
--Steal the Box of the Dead (F19) and get it either to Andre Theroux, or to one of the staging areas (and thus escaping).
Secondary Conditions
--Kill Lord Balfour de Casteele
--Kill Count Wilhelm von Lovenhorst
--Kill Simon de Casteele
--Kill Jacob de Casteele
Tertiary Conditions
--Find Remy Lessard

Lose Conditions:
--Die. (This is obvious)

Hints, Tips, and Tactics
--Enemies Respond to Stimuli: The FoS and their various servants and hirelings are not made of stone. They will gravitate towards large-scale commotions, and run away if they see the situation going poorly against them. This can be both bad (if you engage an enemy, they may receive reinforcements), and good (safe areas will become progressively less guarded as time goes on, a fact that clever players can take advantage of with distractions).

--Not All Characters are of the PCs’ Level Range: There are some very powerful NPCs in this battle, both friendly (Guy Benoit, Andre) and unfriendly (Lord Balfour de Casteele). If you confront such an antagonistic super-NPC, it is wisest to retreat, unless you either have a friendly super-NPC on your side, or can bring a truly overwhelming level of firepower to bear on them. If you try and go toe-to-toe with an Umbra, they will take you apart.

--Defeat in Detail: At the end of the day, the PCs do not have enough firepower to engage on all fronts at the same time. You are much better off focusing your attentions on one group of enemies at a time, overwhelming them before moving on. Splitting your attentions risks your groups getting overwhelmed, and long battles risk the enemy receiving reinforcements.

The Players

VIEW CONTENT:

Allies

VIEW CONTENT:

The Montmort Tunnel

VIEW CONTENT:

The Front Gate

VIEW CONTENT:

The Grand Hall

VIEW CONTENT:

The Back Gate

VIEW CONTENT:

Others

VIEW CONTENT:

Rock of the Fraternity · Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:19 pm

"Monsieur Gauvain," Lia says as she moves into the next room, speaking loud enough for those still blinded to follow her. It is difficult to talk while simultaneously manipulating a magical construct of ice with your mind, but the Mage manages it. 'Heel!' she thinks, and feels the large hand obey.

"You did say once that you would like a chance at the Fraternity," Lia says to the Marquis of Montmort. She raises an eyebrow. "Dare I hope we are on the same side?" 'Heel, I said! Heel!'

(OOC: Lia trades her standard action for a second move action.
Move action #1: Lia moves to AD32.
Move action #2: Bigby's Icy Grasp moves to AG29.
Minor action: Sustain Bigby's Icy Grasp.
Talky action: Shoots off her mouth at Gauvain.)

Cronax · Post by **Cronax** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:04 pm

Finally clearing the mystical soot from his eyes, Mr. Agale met the Marquis de Montmort's gaze unexpectedly. Puzzlement led to understanding led to trepidation as he put the pieces together. "I.. I see." He visibly paled and his mouth hung slightly open for a moment as the full ramifications of Gauvin's declaration crossed his mind.

Her boy!?
Was is all an act? To command such a dangerous agent certainly required more than simply an accident of birth.
For that matter is this facade endemic to all Dementliuese nobility?

He turned an incredulous eye toward Celeste, sizing up the young woman. It was not by any means something that could be mistaken for a leer, but rather the look one might give a feral tiger in close proximity.

She certainly commands some kind of power despite the ceaseless frippery.

He nodded to Ms Mourneswaithe's in response to her question.

"Your presence at this juncture is an unexpected surprise Commander. Might I suggest that we circle round the rear to cut off any retreat by these ne'er do wells. After you."

The Borcan then proceeds down the corridor after Gauvin responds.

Move: go to W32
Move: go to P31
(If I uncover enemies I wasn't aware of during one of the moves, can I change what I'm doing with the other action?)

The Whistler · Post by **The Whistler** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:15 pm

Celeste's eyes flicked back and forth between Agale, Lia and the Marquis--clearly, she was aware that there was a metric ton of subtext flying about somewhere, but she had no particular need to determine what it was at present.

"...Good evening, M. Gauvain!"

M. Agale wrote:"Your presence at this juncture is an unexpected surprise Commander. Might I suggest that we circle round the rear to cut off any retreat by these ne'er do wells. After you."

"A most cunning ploy, M. Agale! We of the Chateau are accustomed to valuing dear Agale's penetrating tactical insights, M. Gauvain; really quite extraordinary... I shall follow you directly, M. Agale!"

Celeste scurried off behind the lawyer, conveniently ignoring what Lia had just been implying.

Double move to P32!

Nathan of the FoS · Post by **Nathan of the FoS** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:31 pm

The cobweb of shadows around Mercator's face disappears--almost, it seems, drawn into the aching holes which serve him as eyes. Shaking himself slighly, he sets off down the hall, nodding briefly to Gauvain as he passes him.

Double move to U31. Mercator's got himself some new boots of striding and springing, so base move is 7.

lostboy · Post by **lostboy** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:04 am

"Good shot mon ami" Nicolas exclaims clapping Richard on the shoulder, probably knocking his aim off in the process.

"Now it looks like time to retreat, still nothing like a little anarchy to cover our tracks eh cherie?" He says with a wink at Cerise "And if you wouldn't mind when you have moment could you send our lumbering friend out of the way? I have a cunning plan." And that was said with air of someone who didn't have a plan, cunning or otherwise, who in fact was making it up on the spot, just with a touch of panache....

Waving the sword in a humming arc, he calls across the hall to the black clad wizard. "Monsieur, have you ever considered that there might be traitors amongst your ranks? They might look and act like you but secretly they plot your doom. Take that fellow in front of you for instance, he has a traitorous look about him, and I'm certain I saw him with some Hazlani wizards. I say take no chances, kill him now! Oh and that fellow in the funny hat looks suspicious too!"

Death was probably coming,but at least Nicolas was putting on a show.

Free Action: Virtue of Valor on Richard for 3 temp hp for downing the wizard
Move Action: Move to Af28
Standard: Chord of Discord on FoS Wizard 2
Hits with 33 vs Will
Target is dominated until end of Nicolas next turn and is required to put the boot into FoS Wizard 1 this turn with his at-will

yalenusveler · Post by **yalenusveler** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:25 pm

Kerrian was feeling slightly less suicidal right now than one would imagine someone taking on a brotherhood of exceedingly powerful morally objectionable magi. So he resorted to the most useful tactic in situations like this. Namely, avoiding the magi and heading right for the objective. Though one question did cross his mind..and lips. Namely "Where's Remy?"

OOC:Taking a double move action to go to X32 for move

Nerit · Post by **Nerit** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:42 pm

Nerit stepped down the stairs one at a time, her robe a green pool about her feet. Despite the pain of the enemy's magic, her expression had not changed.

The little rat at her shoulder chittered and crunched its teeth together. She said something, but it was not the King's language, or even Azalin's.

With a finger pointed to the next room, a chill wind rippled through the nun's locks and swept toward the wizard in the summoned creature's grasp.

Move: AG28 - Sorry, but I can't do anything without moving forward for range 10. Unless we all decide to go with Gauvain, I'm helping Nicolas.
Standard: Dragonfrost on Wiz1: 28 vs 18FORT (overkill much?)
15 cold dmg + target pushed 1 square

Kaitou Kage · Post by **Kaitou Kage** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:12 pm

Rex peered around the corner, into the vault room. There were some things there, bits of dark paraphernalia that the gendarmerie tended to collect. He could make another of the looming shadow-horrors, a vaguely humanoid shape tall enough to pick Rex up toss him. There were two wizards, senior mages from the looks of it, talking in low tones amongst themselves.

And there was the box. It was not a very large box, the size of a good book, but it was on a pedestal of its own, and no fewer than three silver chains linked it to the pedestal, each with its own lock. Tricky, but nothing that Rex couldn’t handle.

Then one of the locks snapped open silently, the chain hanging loose. The two wizards didn’t notice, but as Rex peered closer, he could just make out a tiny pair of black lockpicks, floating in the air. Athene tapped his shoulder and pointed.

There, in the depths of the shadow, concentrating furiously on the lockpicks, was a small, black cat with too-human eyes. It appeared that Rex wasn’t the only person around with larcenous ideas.

Rex smiled and gave Athene a knowing look.

He'd stolen from this cat before and he'd be able to do it again. And if Sodalis wanted to save him most of the legwork, he wouldn't mind. He'd just steal the box from right under the cat's nose.

The pharmacist (because that's what he was, really) glided forward, around the giant horror-beast, and up to the pedestal.

Rex stealths up to E18 and prepares to snatch the box.

NeoTiamat · Post by **NeoTiamat** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:49 pm

Le Palais de Justice, Quartier-Publique, Nightfall of June 8th, 770
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PC Actions
Lia moves.
Agale moves.
Celeste moves.
Mercator moves.
Nicolas gives Richard 3 temp HP, Dominate FW2 for a round.
Kerrian moves.
Nerit deals 15 cold damage to FW1, pushes him a square.
Rex stealth-moves over.
Tomas will be guarding the way out until further notice.

Recharges:
Thierri recharges Dazzling Lights
Andres does not recharge Frightful Force
FW2 recharges Strangling Darkness

Kerrian wrote:Though one question did cross his mind..and lips. Namely "Where's Remy?"

No sooner had the words entered the aether than they were answered in the most direct way possible. Rounding a corner, Agale and Celeste saw Prof. Lessard, dressed much like the other mages of the Fraternity of Shadows, talking to another wizard. They both turned to look at you, the other mage opening his mouth to say something, Lessard raising his thin, blond brows.

Then he raised a hand and cast a freezing wind right into the other man’s face. Lessard glanced at you. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re here, should I?”

Andre, Thierri, Alice, and Richard all scurry on up after the rest of you.

Katja moves forward and fires a crossbow at FW1, dealing 13 damage.

Cerise attempts something, rolls a natural 1, fails completely.

Remy (remember him?) gets the drop on the FoS he was talking with by means of a Seeking Wind vs. Will. Hits, dealing 15 cold and thunder damage and knocking the FoS Wizard prone.

Gauvain responded to none of the salutations. His cloak billowed behind him like raven's wings. His thin body darted through the air, flying above you like a bird of prey. Heat seemed to follow him, in a searing wave. The wizard on the ground cried out in pain as he dropped his wand, clutching at a seared and blackened hand. The Marquis was upon him in a flash, bringing his lethal cane down with lethal precision.

M. Gauvain flies over next to the FoS and uses Scything Slash, making two Ravenskull Scythe vs. AC attacks upon the down FoS Wizard #13. Hits easily with both, dealing a total of 28 damage and Ongoing 10 Fire damage. He then uses a minor action Heat Metal vs. Reflex to hit and inflict a further 12 damage, and the following effect: if the target moves more than 1 square on its turn it takes 10 fire damage, and if the target makes an attack on its turn it takes 10 fire damage (save ends both). This Bloodies the FoS Wizard #13.

Balfour sends a Mage back, and then goes to do something very explosive and dramatic out front, wiping out a great many minions. He and Guy Benoit engage.

FoS Wizard #1 is no longer Grabbed. He uses a Strangling Shadow vs. Fortitude on the Summoned Horror, misses.

FoS Wizard #2 is Dominated, and attacks FW1 twice with its Shadowy Touch vs. Reflex, missing once. This deals 11 Necrotic damage, and FW1 can not see FW2 till the end of FW2’s next turn.

FoS Wizard #3 uses a Strangling Shadow vs. Fortitude on the Summoned Horror, misses.

FoS Wizard #4 decides to learn from experience, fires off a Blinding Shadows vs. Reflex, dealing 13 Necrotic damage and the Horror can’t see further than 3 squares. The Horror is now Bloodied.

FoS Wizard #10 decides to do something about the group in the back and drops a Devouring Dark vs. Reflex on Katja, Nerit, and Nicolas.

FoS Wizard #13 takes 10 fire damage, and is in pain, and tosses a Devouring Dark versus Remy, Gauvain, Agale, and Celeste. Hits Agale with a 33 and Celeste with a 24 on the dot, misses the other two. Gauvain and Remy take 7 damage, Agale and Celeste take 15 Necrotic and are Blinded for a turn.

Summoned Horror #1 is Dominated, and attacks FW2. Hits twice, including one critical, dealing 17+12 damage and grabbing FW2.

Another chain fell away, and then a third. For just a split second, a single, hanging moment, the Dead Box was free for the taking. The only question was now, who’d be doing the taking? Rex Alistair Prescott or Sodalis?

Thievery DC 30 to snatch the box

Saves!
Summoned Horror saves versus Domination: Success!
FW13’s saves versus Ongoing 10 Fire Damage: Failure
FW13’s saves versus Heat Metal: Failure

Victory Conditions:
Primary Condition
--Steal the Box of the Dead (F19) and get it either to Andre Theroux, or to one of the staging areas (and thus escaping).
Secondary Conditions
--Kill Lord Balfour de Casteele
--Kill Count Wilhelm von Lovenhorst
--Kill Simon de Casteele
--Kill Jacob de Casteele
Tertiary Conditions
--Find Remy Lessard

Lose Conditions:
--Die. (This is obvious)

The Players

VIEW CONTENT:

Allies

VIEW CONTENT:

You better hope he’s an Ally

VIEW CONTENT:

Presently Relevant Enemies (North Group)

VIEW CONTENT:

Presently Relevant Enemies (South Group)

VIEW CONTENT:

The Front Gate

VIEW CONTENT:

The Grand Hall

VIEW CONTENT:

The Back Gate

VIEW CONTENT:

Others

VIEW CONTENT:

Nerit · Post by **Nerit** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:40 am

"Good show," Nerit muttered darkly to Nicolas and Katja, and waved them back toward the hall with the others.

Doublemove to W32. I hope this is a good idea.

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

The Shattered City: Chapter Five

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