All-Time Grates, the

Log Info

• Title: All-Time Grates, the
• Emitter: Jinks
• Characters: Irshya, Jay, Rocky, Zofija
• Place: Alexandrian Streets
• Time: Saturday, October 29, 2022, 2:32 PM
• Summary: Adventurers are hired to supervise the cleaning of the sewers. They aren't required to enter it, unless there's a problem. There is a problem! In the streets, and a sharp-eared egalrin hears one of his friends being kidnapped. They take a break from their day job to enter hot pursuit! The kidnapper meets two decoys and they split up, with the party following one to the warehouse. Battle ensues, between a Faceless Stalker, two blood golems, and the egalrin, the goblin, the hobgoblin and the sith'makar. The Faceless stalker bargains with Jay, Cessili for the Artifice lockbox, which he agrees to. Fleeing it leaves behind a note, and then Rocky prevents it from fleeing. The note says, interferring will mean the kobold's death.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Irshya       3'0"     35 Lb      Goblin            Female    A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes.
Jay          5'9"     145 Lb     Eaglefolk         Male      A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye.
Rocky        6'8"     460 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A grey Sith in armor, bit like a statue.
Zofija       5'8"     225 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The alley running behind the TarRaCe is wide by Alexandrian standards-- but not so wide most would consider it a thoroughfare. Steam from the warm baths rolls out from building's vents to immediately be accosted and riven by the downpour of steady, chilly rain. The whole place smells of wet earth, fresh rain, and damp waste from an eatery.

The waste smell isn't helped at all by the open sewer grate nearby. A crew of gobbers in wax-treated leather waders, water-proofed coats, and fitted half-masks are at work beneath a temporary canvas awning, pleasantly chattering back and forth in gobbertalk.

One (so blue as to almost be black) kneels at the top of the grate with their supplies minding a tripod pulley and lowering down buckets of items as needed. A crate and two packs that came with the crew are half-unpacked and stacked together. Three more goblins are out-of-sight below, sloshing around and going about their work with a half-bored attitude of those who do this sort of thing every day.

It's the rainy season, after all, and an especially romantic time of year for the otyughs in the city's sewers. Alchemical admixtures and manufactured scents need be smeared and sprayed lest the impassioned creatures get too close to the surface.

Trouble isn't expected but it's better to be safe than sorry. City employees getting hurt on the job impacts coffers and looks bad on the district's leaders. So the gobbers do what they do best and a bit of light contracting with the guild assures the presence of a safety net: you.

"You know, you know," A white, black and bluy jay egalrin opines for the third time, "you wouldn't expect a posting of 'Tarrace, Bath assistant, aromatic oils' to mean going into the sewers to apply anti-stink to the drains."

"I thought I'd be oiling down wrestlers fresh out of the colosseum. It's almost false advertising." The bluejay concludes. He doesn't add that he should 'sue, sue', but he is thinking about it.

He peers in the hole, then at the proprietor, "So, do they come up? Because birds sent underground tend to die. That's what my friend Choker told me. He was canary." For a mine.

The blue-skinned proprietor of the Tarrace peers down into the sewer below, watching the Goblins at their work. Casting an eye to the grey sky above, Irshya lets out a huff of breath. As the fog of her breath floats away, she shrugs. "Irshya did not advertise, thus it is not up to her. And yes, people tend to come out of the sewers. They are not coal mines."

Rocky chuffs softly. "Your failure to understand is not the trouble of others." The greyscale lounges next to a steam vent, enjoying the warmth. Between the condensation and the rain, the sith is soaking wet, but doesn't seem bothered by it.

"It doesn't say anything about going underground. Last time I went into the sewers I got really sick. Also it ruins the oils on my feathers and then I can't fly and absorb a lot of rain." The bluejay gripes some more, "preening becomes really disgusting also."

He flaps around to another side of the hole, and stares down, "And what it something, what is it, an Otoyugh? Comes out? They're great piles of poo, right? I don't want to stick my rapier in that. I doubt it would do anything. Do we get... beater shovels?"

"We'll be done lickety-splits!" The bubbly, dark-skinned gobber assures those on guard duty as she wheels an empty bucket back up and rests it with the rope slackened atop the mostly-empty crate. "This is stop thirty-two of thirty-two and the boss wants us done and warming our toesies at home before we're into platinum-time."

She has canary-yellow hair in a pixie cut with golden highlights and the term 'zaftig' comes to mind when one considers her figure. Her (relatively) water-proofed suit has been patched more than once and her work gloves are well and truly broken in. She's been doing this awhile.

She pauses for a moment to listen to the familiar talk down below and then returns to smiling from behind her half-mask, her eyes squinting at the mercenaries. "You're not even down in the sewers, you big baby!" She laughs and teases Integrity. "And you'll be glad we're doing this. Imagine oiling up your boyfriend after he's done wrastlin' and a three-legged poo-squid interrupts your fun..!" She tsks and promises, "We'll be fine."

Irshya makes a face at the talk going on, and simply shrugs at the bubbly blue-black Gobbo. "Irshya will go down when and if trouble arises. She does not have a waterproof suit as you do, and so will use the anger from getting ... icky and take it out on the critters that dare interrupt your colleagues' jobs."

She peers down into the hole once more, scanning from left to right. "Irshya would also like to stay near the hole here... to call down the lightning."

Rocky chuffs again. "If otyugh arrives, ask how may assist. They are intelligent. The one This One met was friendly." The warrior caste falls still for a moment. "No respect for personal space. But friendly."

Guard duty, it was always either the easiest job ever, or a terrifying concoction of panic and adrenaline, and there was very little in between.

Zofija was hoping for an easy paycheck with the former as she stood off to one side with her hammer propped on it's head. "Yeah, we're just here if we're needed, and there's reason to believe we might be." The arvek-nar grunts. "I hope we don't need to go down there either but, getting covered in crap is probably better than someone getting killed. Besides, we're right next to a bathhouse, anyways."

"I know! I don't want to imagine that. Down there or oiling up." Jay complains, "I don't think they're going to want help filing a motion. Ask any ornithologist where you find birds, and 'In sewers' doesn't show up on the list for a long, long time, if at all. At best you get Burrow Owls and Mudlarks. We're creatures of the sky!"

A sky that might shoot lightning at any moment, so he also takes a hop back from the entrance. "Diseases don't wash off you know. If you catch them you have to go through losing all your feathers before you get better."

"Intelligent? Oh, sweetie. I've seen a dog play a five-key harpsichord and a horse do maths but I wouldn't try to have a conversation with one." The gobber giggles and shakes her head. "Especially when any are in 'that' way.

"If you see one of the poo squids just try to scare it off with fire or stab it enough that it forgets its littlest tentacle and go pounding off back down below." She winks up at Irshya from where she's kneeling, then pivots to inspect the remaining supplies in their kit.

"Owls, actually. Owls seem to love a sewer, oddly." Glass tinks as she shifts things around in loosely-packed hay. "You'd be surprised how many times we have to relocate a nest. Not too deep, though... I always figured it was the rats; good eating for owls--"

The gobbers idle musings are cut off by some commotion and sounds of alarm in the streets beyond the alley's mouth.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Perception checks! Urbanity for those with terrains."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Hearing-based for those with any conditional modifiers."
GAME: Rocky rolls perception: (12)+12: 24
GAME: Irshya rolls perception: (17)+13: 30
GAME: Zofija rolls perception: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Jay rolls perception+6: (16)+15+6: 37 (+6 Urban)

There are gasps and shouts of alarm from out front of the Tarrace, with one particular voice louder than the rest. Sounds of a pushcart being overturned and goods spilling out. An accented voice of a smaller-sounding humanoid can clearly be heard saying, "let go of me!"

He sounds familiar and a little different, it's the accent. He's scared enough to not speak as clearly as he normally would.

Rocky moves. For someone who does a good job of mimicing a statue most of the time, the sith can be quick when he needs to be. Heading towards the noise, the greyscale doesn't quite dive in head first, but a half step from it.

The bluejay cocks his head, "You're right. There are mice in there. I can hear one. It sounds ill."

"Wait!" His crest pops up in alarm, he turns to face the streets. "People shouting. I think the cart turned over out front? Someone calling for help."

"That's Cessili!" An unexpected expression plasters across the avian's face. His feathers poof out even further. "Cessili? Hold on! I'm coming Cessili!"

He takes off towards the commotion.

The Gobbo cants her head slightly, listening at the voices raised in shock or anger. She squints as the Sith and Egalrin turn towards the commotion. Her eyes fall on Zofija. "Go if you must, but someone should stay here and keep an eye on the Goblins. We are tasked to do such, yes? Irshya is not leaving."

The arvek-nar starts to move, but she grunts when Rocky is off. "That big guy can keep Jay safe at least for a moment if something happens. I'll stay here in case something happens at the sewers. Just give a shout if something does happen or you need my help, and I'll be right over. I don't want the gobber getting caught on their own either."

"Irshya is not leaving, she is staying here to be able to drop into the sewer."

"Aaah... go on," the bubbly gobber urges as the corners of her grin threatens to poke out from behind her treated mask. "We'll wait until you're back!" Something she said about 'platinum-time' might be the cause of the mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Up, boys! Up, up, up!" She calls down as she rings a hand bell she'd retrieved from a pack right above the opened grate. "We're on break until the toughs get back! Safety first! Up, up, up!" <goblin-talk>

Jay and Rocky make it to the mouth of the alley unmolested but find themselves running into a wall of onlooker's backs as whatever assault continues beyond. The accented voice raised above the rest continues on in shock and alarm. "By the Guiding Star! Put me down! This is untoward! This is not! Toward!"

GAME: Rocky rolls perception: (6)+12: 18
GAME: Jay rolls perception+6: (13)+15+6: 34

The square abutting the TarRaCe's facade is a busy one at this time of day regardless of the unpleasant weather. Still, it's not so packed that a gaggle of alarmed lookie-loos completely obscures the view beyond.

A rather unassuming figure in unremarkable clothes stands at the center of everyone's attention with a peach-colored kobold hoisted up by its collar. There's a older Acanian man tumbled down amongst the wares of his spilt cart, dazed and holding his head.

Something happens and the kobold vanishes from sight-- drawing further gasps from the crowd-- before the unassuming and unremarkable figure blurs away.

Cesseli gets really small and stuffed into a metal ring. Then the guy dashes off extremely fast.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, you guys will need a Diplomacy or Intimidate check to move through the crowd in pursuit."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Jay can circumvent this because he can fly."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Jay can give everyone a +2 assist with a Perception check he can't fail for assisting."
<OOC> Jinks says, "If you want to give the +2, Jay, just pose hollering down directions, yeah?"

The sanitation workers and engineers crawl out and wait in the alley. Overtime sounds pretty great to them!

Jay bursts out of the alleyway in time to witness the commotion. A glint draws his avian eye, always attracted to shineys and circlets. "He shrunk Cessili down and put him through a ring!"

As the unremarable figure takes flight, so does the bluejay. He launches off a nearby crate, wings spread and flapping hard. He soars barely over the heads of the crowds and crows, "Out of the way! Way! It's a crime. Allegedly. Kidnapping! Koboldnapping!"

"Follow me! He's going west! Towards Goblintown by backway of the Colosseum! To the Iron-brew!" The bird is aloft.

GAME: Irshya rolls Intimidate+2: (12)+1+2: 15
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright! Between Jay cawing overhead and Irshya being 'persuasive' you can follow after the kidnapper!"
<OOC> Jinks says, "He's not in sight but you're on the trail!"

As the Gobbo sewer crew begin to climb out of the hole, Irshya sighs. "Fine." She turns and begins to lope along with a noticeable limp, and a bit of jingling. When she encounters the crowd, Irshya straightens, and brandishes her staff before her. "Make way!", she growls as she moves forward at a run. "Make way!"

<OOC> Rocky says, "Head after the unassuming figure, try not to damage the crowd in the way too much"
GAME: Rocky rolls intimidate+2: (17)+9+2: 28
<OOC> Jinks says, "You're slow to start but manage to pull ahead of Irshya in spite of that."
<OOC> Jinks says, "The scaled juggernaut is apparently something people are happy to get out of the way from."

"MOVE PLEASE." There's a quarter ton of armored lizard on the move. He's GOING to get through. The only question is if you move out of the way, or are *moved* out of the way. He does -try- to be polite about it.

<OOC> Zofija says, "guess I'll be trying to run after them"
<OOC> Jinks nods. "Diplomacy or Intimidate?"
GAME: Zofija rolls intimidate +2: (11)+6+2: 19 (+2 from Jay's assist)
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright! You're apace with Irshya, close behind Rocky. Please gimme a pose!"

Well, it seemed her services were no longer needed to guard the sewer crew for the time being. The cavalier grunts and hefts their hammer, shoving their way down the crowded street. "ALRIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO GAWK, JUST DO IT OUT OF MY WAY." The arvek-nar shouts over the commotion, clearing the way so she could continue running after where she heard the cart topple, and saw the others running to.

Shocked, the crowd still manages to part of the barked mercenary voices and make way with only the slightest of delays. The dazed merchant just shields his head and curls into a tighter ball to avoid being trampled on. His breads are further smushed and scattered.

It's likely someone will take the time to look after him once the initial confusion wears off; small-time merchants have to stick together!

With the egalrin taken to the air, it's fairly easy to keep the retreating assailant in sight. The human man wears a grey woolen riding cloak over rather common-cut attire and his hair and ears are hidden by a skullcap. His stride is remarkable; almost assuredly enhanced by magics or ascetic training.

The man only starts out west, though, and quickly turns south into a short and darkened alley. Out the other side, he doubles-back, south and east on a cross-cutting side-street. Integrity's guidance helps the other three keep up by using more direct routes while the cad zig-zags in an attempt to shake the tail.

Unwilling to quit his retreat, he pauses briefly at a communal well in a residential block between the Colosseum and Western Trades districts-- meeting two similar-looking figures who step from shadows...

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+15: (15)+15: 30

The three convene only briefly before running off-- each taking a different direction!

<OOC> Jay says, "so what to tell which is the original, and if I some something passed?"
<OOC> Jinks says, "ooc Sense Motive or Perception, Jay, your call. Sense Motive is an easier check."
GAME: Jay rolls sense motive: (18)+11: 29 (vs DC30 - Fail)

Jay has to fly higher, to get a proper bird's eye view of the streets as the Cad dashes zig-zags throughout them. It does resemble a rat in a maze from the high perspective, an aspect that makes it all the more appealing to the corvid. Especially when two more rats enter the race.

"It's the three shells game!" Jay caws excitedly, "cup and balls! There are three of them now. One goes to the trades, one to the theaters, the one with the ring goes to the Warehouse."

He swoops, shouting, "I'm following to the warehouse! They all look like they want to be caught." Which, might be a good idea, or might not, "Be careful if you split up!"

He's not quite saying 'don't leave me alone', but he also kind of is.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, you three will need Acrobatics or Athletics for this phase. The +2 from the birb will continue."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Failure will require a Fort save."
GAME: Irshya rolls acrobatics: (8)+1: 9 (Fail)
<OOC> Jay says, "Jay seems to think he knows which one has the ring, and that guy is going ot the warehouse"
GAME: Irshya rolls fortitude: (4)+6: 10
<OOC> Jinks says, "Stupid dice! But it's not a huge deal. You follow Jay but trip, stumble, and bump into a few walls along the way. By the time you guys get where you're going you'll be Fatigued (A fatigued character can neither run nor charge and takes a -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. Doing anything that would normally cause fatigue causes the fatigued character to become exhausted. After 8 hours of complete rest, fatigued characters are no longer fatigued.)"

Irshya does her best to keep up, following Jay's directions. Directions which lack critical pieces of information like obstacles that might be in the way, which the Gobbo blunders into several times. But she does make it to the warehouse, at least!

<OOC> Rocky says, "follow the Jay. Athletics roll?"
GAME: Rocky rolls athletics+2: (6)+8+2: 16
GAME: Rocky rolls fort: (18)+9: 27
<OOC> Jinks says, "Crushed it. You start to feel a little tired along the way but catch your second wind. No fatigued."

Rocky rushes along, attention switching between the blue feathers above and the street before him. Maybe a little too much on Jay, as the sith clips a few corners along the way, his iron hide taking the brunt of the punishment.

"This One has seen this game. Not which cup the ball is under, not under any. Ball is in dealer's hand. Where is the dealers hand in this play? But This One is not playing. Grab the hand, break a finger, smash the cups."

<OOC> Zofija says, "I'm going to trust Jay on this"
GAME: Zofija rolls athletics +2: (14)+9+2: 25
<OOC> Zofija looks to see if there's any arvek-nar clerics to show off to

"That bastard didn't pass the ring off to someone else to throw us off, did they?" Zofija asks when she catches up to the rest of them. "Trusting you on this, I don't want to chase down some kidnappers later."

The Arvek-nar sprints down some of the other streets, cutting down a few side streets until she's a bit closer behind the fleeing figure. "You can give up now and explain yourself, It'll be a hell of a lot less pleasant if we have to smash the explanation out of you, you know."

The pursuit continues, drawing no small amount of curious looks from those you pass in the wet streets of a rainy Alexandria. Two simply-dressed villains go unpursued and disappear into hoi polloi as the mercenaries make the wise decision not to divide their efforts.

The airborne egalrin keeps the other three informed as well as anyone can expect given the frantic nature of the pursuit-- but there are still unavoidable obstacles and collisions with the inert and ambulatory.

The wet earth smell of a fresh rain turns salty as you near the warehouses and docks beyond. The buildings get larger after turning small for a few blocks. They also push closer together as the streets get wider. Masts and sails peek up from the waterways that feed the district's commerce.

Finally, the cad crosses over a short bridge over one such inlet into a row of haphazzardly-placed buildings and slows his pace to catch his breath...

<OOC> Jinks says, "19,13, then?"
<OOC> Jay says, "so, say things, do the bluff-feint"
<OOC> Jay says, "DC is target's 10+bab+wis, or 10+sense motive"
GAME: Jay rolls bluff: (15)+8: 23
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. You succeed! So he'll be flat-footed against your next attack."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Is that your standard or do you have Improved?"

"The rings come in pairs! The dealer has the other one! I'm almost certain this guy still has his." The bluejays squawks a reply, as the pursuit leads in the to wet areas of the docks. Sensing a constriction, a narrowing of the ways and a good confrontation point, he swoops lower, drops and lands.

There's little in common between the various buildings in the row. Most, however, appear to be made of wood and treated to withstand the damp. Several buildings are partially or completely stonework. Fogged windows and shuttered slatwork blinds offer limited, shadowy insight into some of the interiors.

At least one of the structures appears to be housing for the locals, with little fenced-off gardens and closely-spaced and numbered entrances.

Crates and other debris are pushed into corners in the street against the buildings and into alleyways.

Jay lands with estoc drawn in a strong fencing pose, point forward, hand on the hip, tail-feathers flared. He fixes the Man with a fierce gaze. "I am Integrity C Truefeather, the 'C' is for crusader, and you have my companion. Prepare to die."

A wing flicks, as he teases an attack. A flirtatious feint.

Two rather unremarkable clay pots flanking a nearby window burble, crack, and shatter! The liquid within doesn't spill, however, but keeps its general shape before convulsing and morphing into a small, lumbering humanoid shape.

There's a thick, glassy finish or 'skin' to the creatures and dark blood roils around some arcane piece of half-hidden technology...

GAME: Irshya rolls knowledge/arcana: (10)+13: 23

The Gobbo is struggling by the time the group gets to the warehouse. Upon seeing Jay land, Irshya moves towards him, panting heavily. The golems smashing their way out of clay pots gives her some pause. "Blood golems? So small, too."

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, swift action to drop its disguise. Then it will full attack Jay."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8+2: (6)+8+2: 16 (miss)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+2+2: (20)+2+2: 24 (hit)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+2+2: (17)+2+2: 21 (hit)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2: (1)+2: 3
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11: (7)+11: 18, "Grab on slam."
GAME: Jinks damaged you for 11 points. 31 HP remaining.
GAME: Jinks damaged your Constitution for 1 points. 1 total damage.
<OOC> Jinks says, "Little damage, little grapple, little drain."

Maybe more than a little stunned at the egalrin's alacrity, the cad is far from out of the fight! The arrival of the grim golems bolsters his resolve and he turns to square off with Integrity.

Then... something happens..!

Jay is no longer looking into the eyes of a painfully unremarkable Alexandrian-born human. The skin ripples, boils, and swirls, twisting into a rather unpleasantly-wrinkled pucker. The darkened, flared recess hisses wetly.

"Wrong choice for you... best for me."

Then it stabs, missing, but it shoulders roughly into Jay and a hand slaps the birdman's beak. It drags across like sandpaper, sucking, and it suddenly has hold of the duelist's collar! <kulthian>

<OOC> Rocky says, "like to move to 20-10, middle of things, double move"

Rocky surges down the alley towards the battle, not quite so fleet of foot as he may wish for the moment. His massive blade is held high. but lacks the length to swat at a foe

<OOC> Zofija says, "I think I need to run to 22,12"

"Ah crap." Zofija grunts when the golems appear, and the Arvek-nar shakes their head before sprinting into the fray, hammer held high. "Just hang on a second, we'll get you out of there!" She shouts to the egalrin.

<OOC> Jinks says, "You can attack with a 1h weapon but you're -2 as you're grappled (he is still flat-footed against this)."
GAME: Jay rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (11)+11: 22
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2-2: (11)+8+-2: 17
GAME: Jay rolls damage2+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3d6: (5)+1+(11): 17

"Mmmrmmrggmbll!" The bluejay struggles to be comprehensible, as the sandpaper slap still has his beak. Squirming, his well positioned rapier remained on point, and he manages to shove it into the creature. A substantial hit, allowing him to pull his face free enough to speak.

"It's a faceless stalker! An Aberration! It's resistance to blunt force, you have to stab or slash it!" More feathery flapping, "also. Help!"

<OOC> Jinks says, "BG1 5' and two slams on tanky the tank."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26
<OOC> Jinks says, "BG2 10' and one slam on Zofi"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (7): 7
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12, "Grapple fails."

The golems lumber away from the wall, crunching across the shattered forms of the clay pots, stooped forward and menacing. The first sidles up to Rocky, gripping and slamming at the armored Makari warrior without managing to find purchase.

The second steps towards Zofija. It hammers at her hip, the thick outer-shell cracking and dragging across her flesh like glass. The wound hurts and the hot liquid rolling down her leg indicates its bleeding copiously. The smaller golem fails to grab hold of her, however.

<OOC> Irshya says, "She's going to to use spiritual weapon to help out Jay."
GAME: Irshya casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16
GAME: Irshya rolls weapon1+4: (1)+6+4: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Irshya says, "Can you move her one square back? So she's out of Rocky's way?"

Irshya pants and wheezes for a moment, while taking stock of the evolving situation. Straightening, she holds for her holy symbol, which begins to glow as she whispers an incantation. A ghostly copy of her trident appears, and after a moment, the Gobbo gestures. The holy trident races forward to stab at twisted creature that Jay struggles against, missing everything.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. He will attempt to pin Jay. He gets a +5 since Jay didn't attempt to break the grapple."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11+2+5: (4)+11+2+5: 22
<OOC> Jinks says, "Jay is pinned in spite of a turd roll."
GAME: Jinks damaged your Constitution for 1 points. 2 total damage.

Jay's assailant seems unconcerned as the other three push down into the street, trusting the golems to interfere. The faceless stalker jerks the egalrin close, wrapping one arm full around him as the other hand takes a choke-hold beneath the beak. The stink of the breath from its dark, recessed eye-mouth is an unwelcome thing.

"Integrity C Truefeather," it chirrups. "The cylinder lockbox. The legion desires it. A trade for the clerk..."

Jay can feel more blood being drained from his person.

<OOC> Irshya says, "Is easy. "Rocky crushes both golems by smacking their heads together. The end." xD"
<OOC> Jinks says, "He does not get to one-shot my monsters AND have a dumb AC for his level. :P"
<OOC> Irshya giggles!
<OOC> Jinks says, "OK. He's delaying."
<OOC> Zofija says, "guess I eat an aoo so I can charge the aberration thing"
<OOC> Jinks says, "Well, real quick Zofi. It tried to grab you off the first slam. So you're risking a grapple off an AoO."
<OOC> Zofija says, "guess I'm staying in place and attacking it then"
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+8-2+1: (18)+8+-2+1: 25
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d12+6+6: (4)+6+6: 16
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6: (6): 6

"How about you leave whoever you took alone and piss off?" The arvek-nar snarls at the aberration in question while they continued to bleed profusely from their side. "If you like your head where it currently is, anyways."

The cavalier raises their hammer, and brings it down hard on one of the golems, smashing through some of the glass, but not all of it. "Need to finish these things fast before I bleed to death, then it's not just Jay in trouble." The cavalier grunts.

<OOC> Rocky says, "Smack the closest golem, slashing, cold iron, +1"
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9-5: (19)+11+-5: 25 (THREAT)
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9-5: (1)+11+-5: 7 (EPIC FAIL) (Not Confirmed)
GAME: Rocky rolls damage9: aliased to 1d10+5: (4)+5: 9

Rocky waffles, unsure if he should try to cut the blood golem before him, or smack it with the flat of his blade. The strike he does land is solid, but not so firm as it could be. Stepping further into the melee, the well armored sith presents himself as a target.

<OOC> Jay says, "Well I would like to use Sleight of Hand to steal the ring from this thing,"
<OOC> Jay says, "Checking... the rules don't seem to allow that use in this pinned circumstance."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Yeah. It's a fantastic idea but I think your choices are escaping or escaping at this point."
GAME: Jay rolls CMB: (8)+4: 12
<OOC> Jinks says, "You can talk if you'd like, in your pose. The creature seems to be in a bargaining mood."
GAME: Jay rolls bluff: (4)+8: 12

It was an excellent plan, let the creature get close to him, grab him, steal the ring while it was distracted. Except the plan wasn't going according to plan. The bluejay is feeling weaker by the second and the faceless stalker is a lot stronger than he was expecting.

As well, that face, that sucker of a hole for a face, that's very unsettling.

Struggling to escape seems to be his only option. He struggles, wings beating, but the bird in the hand is definitely feeling bushed. He's too weak.

Is it time to bargain? It wants the cylinder. Is that why the kids have been targeted? Is this all his fault?

Where do Integrity's values truly lie?

"I want my friend! I don't care about the thing. I don't have it on me."

<OOC> Jinks says, "BG1 5', FA Rocky from flank."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9+2: (17)+9+2: 28
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9+2: (5)+9+2: 16
<OOC> Jinks says, "Literally need a 19 to hit you flanking. :P"
<OOC> Jinks says, "BG2 5' to try and block Zofi. Then FA."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (3): 3 (Bleeding)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 , "Grappled."

The golems continue their implacable advance. One plods to the opposite side of the steel-swaddled sith-makar and batters against the armored plating ineffectively.

The second, more-damaged construct steps back in between Zofija and the faceless creature. Its attacks are clumsy but effective, cracking a second blow into the same hip and finding purchase this time. Jagged glass-like shell digs in to hold the arvek nar fast.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Spiritual weapon gets to attack for free! Then your actions, yee."
<OOC> Irshya says, "Gonna try stabbing the uh faceless thingamabob trying to steal Jay's face and blood."
GAME: Irshya rolls weapon1+4: (15)+6+4: 25
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d8+2: (2)+2: 4
<OOC> Jinks says, "So if you go 22,9 to 22,10 you're in threat. Then if you go to 21,10 you'd provoke an AoO."
<OOC> Irshya says, "She'll risk it, she wants to go to 21,11."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25 (Grapple - Success)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (7): 7
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6: (3): 3
<OOC> Jinks says, "You get to 22,10 and it snags you. Pose it, please!"
<OOC> Jinks says, "A single move got you there. So, sure, you can take a standard if you'd like"
<OOC> Irshya says, "She was going to try healing Zof, but can't reach her now. Bless instead."
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19 (Vs DC21)

Irshya eyes the two golems as they attack her companions, and then looks to Jay's struggle. The looking trident stabs down at the faceless horror again, and this time scores a solid stab. With an eye on the two golems, she starts moving in Jay's direction, trying to stay out of the way of the fighting. But just as she thought she was out of danger, a golem reaches for her and pulls her close.

"Get your paws off me!", she squeaks, struggling with the creature.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+14: (2)+14: 16
<OOC> Jinks says, "Though that'd beat Jay's CMD since he's pinned. OK."

The stalker holds Jay tightly with one arm, tiny, starfish mouths all along its palm pulsing, probing, and digging as it does. The other hand releases the egalrin's throat and searches through his pockets instead. Finally, it pulls a key from his vest pocket and pushes him away.

There's a metallic clinking as an elaborate, cog-like ring of artifice bounces across the cobbles of the street. The faceless stalker backpedals.

"We'll take what you've bargained away... find someplace else to be," and then he starts to run...

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6: (6): 6
<OOC> Zofija says, "I guess I'll just try to hit without power attack"
<OOC> Jinks says, "You are grappled. So a trip to the maul is out."
<OOC> Zofija says, "draw longsword and slash the golem then"
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20 +8 -4: (9)+8+-4: 13
<OOC> Jinks says, "That will miss, sadly."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Dice are being bastards. :\"

The arvek-nar, bloodied and bleeding profusely, now being dragged around by an open wound. they draw the longsword from their other hip, but the blade slides harmlessly off of the glass body.

"We aren't bargaining shit, unless it's what you think your life's worth after I get done here. Only place you'll be is on the floor." The cavalier snarls, but with much less energy than before as the hobgoblin was growing significantly paler.

<OOC> Rocky says, "faceless wonder gave up the kidnapping ring?"
<OOC> Jinks says, "There is A ring on the ground."
<OOC> Rocky says, "...no trust. Double move to 14:11 to keep pressure on? Will take two AoO"
<OOC> Zofija says, "it did just say they were taking their bargain away, makes sense"
<OOC> Irshya says, "Or you could kill the golems that have people grappled."
<OOC> Rocky says, "golems arent running away, I can kill them later. Faceless wonder stole a small lizard."
<OOC> Jinks says, "You could charge and attack, Rocky, or double move, or stay and help."
<OOC> Rocky says, "charge."
<OOC> Jinks says, "OK. The golems cannot AoO because they have the grappled condition while grappling."
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+2: (14)+11+2: 27
GAME: Rocky rolls damage9: aliased to 1d10+5: (2)+5: 7

Rocky hesitates only a moment, then roars and takes off after the faceless man, massive blade crashing down. Kidnappers are a pet peeve of the greyscale. Most sith, really. Stolen kobolds aren't quite the same as stolen hatchlings, but hit a lot of the same instincts.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Releasing Irshya as a free action. 5' SW. Full attack grappled Zofi"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (6)+9: 15
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11
<OOC> Jinks says, "One hit with the -4 to Dex from Grappled."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (8): 8
<OOC> Jinks says, "Release grapple. 5' W. FA Jay."
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (8)+9: 17
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25, "Grab attempt" Success!
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (3): 3
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: Jinks damaged you for 4 points. 22 HP remaining.
<OOC> Jinks says, "Jay's grappled."

The golems seem content to move onto new targets after the armored makar vacates the melee. The split, relinquishing their holds to find new prey. Zofija's state draws the attention of one, it moves in to put the arvak nar down for good, only bludgeoning her further.

Jay looks up from his prize just in time to take a raking attack down his shoulder. He's held once more as the blood-construct tightens its jagged grip.

<OOC> Jay says, "Grab the ring and see if I can activate it, and reach through to see if Cessili hops in my hand"
GAME: Jay rolls use magic device: (6)+8: 14

Jay flops on the ground and is immediately grabbed again. His head whips to follow the sound of the ring, and then he's scrambling after it. He catches the artifice device, breathing hard, turning it over in his hands. There are bumps and sliding knobs, he manipulates them.

Something seems to happen.

He reaches in, deep, feeling around. His arm vanishes at the division, up to the elbow. It feels like the inside of a haversack. Hopefully Cessilli will recognize his dark feathered hand. The egalrin isn't feeling anything.

No wait...

He pulls out a note, "this isn't him! Is this a trick?"

GAME: Irshya rolls weapon1+4: (17)+6+4: 27
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d8+2: (6)+2: 8
<OOC> Jinks says, "You can cast, 5' and deliver without provoking the AoO"
GAME: Irshya casts Cure Serious Wounds. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17
GAME: Irshya rolls 3d8+6: (7)+6: 13

Irshya grunts as she is unceremoniously let go, the golem seeking other prey to hug. Standing, she whispers a quiet prayer, and then moves to Zofija's side, laying her hands on the more serious wounds.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Stalker will warn that if he dies, you'll never find the kobold."
<OOC> Jinks says, "He will then attempt to flee down the alley."
<OOC> Jinks says, "You can attempt an AoO if you like, Rocky."
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9: (15)+11: 26
GAME: Rocky rolls damage9: aliased to 1d10+5: (2)+5: 7
<OOC> Jinks says, "KOed!"

"If I die you'll never see the little clerk again..." the dilating sphincter warns at the center of the aberration's face. It still holds the blade but the point has drooped and it's bloodied in more than one place.

It attempts to dash into the alley only to be cut down by the sith-makar. The longsword clatters away as the stalker crumples heavily and splashes into a pool of mud and murky rainwater.

<OOC> Jinks says, "You aren't bleeding!"
<OOC> Zofija says, "I'll drop the longsword, challenge the golem near me and smack it"
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+9-2: (12)+9+-2: 19

Now freed of the broken glass in her side, the arvek-nar drops their longsword to get a better grip on their hammer gain, though the swing goes too wild, instead smashing into the road next to the creature.

<OOC> Rocky says, "Is binding the stalkers wounds an option? Ideally be able to question it later"
<OOC> Jinks says, "You should be able to stabilize with a heal check. You take a penalty if you don't have a healer's kit"
<OOC> Jinks says, "Yeah, DC15 for First Aid to saving a dying character."
<OOC> Rocky has some rags that might not be infected with typhoid
<OOC> Jinks says, "Looks like the kit is just a bonus. You don't need it. So DC15 Heal."
GAME: Rocky rolls heal: (5)+1: 6
<OOC> Rocky says, "...yes. Head bach towards the closer golem"

Rocky hesitates as the Stalker drops. After a moment, the sith grabs a rag from his pouch and wraps it around the largest bleeding wound. It doesn't help much, but he's a fighter, not a healer. The stalker as stable as he's likely to get, the sith heads the finish off the golems.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Everyone can take an AoO. Both golems are retreating"
GAME: Irshya rolls weapon1: (12)+6: 18 (miss)
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9: (15)+11: 26
GAME: Rocky rolls damage9: aliased to 1d10+5: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12 (miss)
<OOC> Zofija blames the blood loss
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. They both double move up to the bridge and just flop into the water."

The golems have hit one contingency or another. After the fall of the faceless stalker, they turned away from their respective sparring partners and heavily jogged towards the bridge. They accept a shot from Rocky silently and then roll clumsily, one after the other, into the drink.

There's a mighty splash as their particularly dense forms break the surface... and then there's nothing else from that area.

<OOC> Irshya says, "She'll channel energy for her action."
GAME: Irshya rolls 3d6: (15): 15
<OOC> Jinks says, "Dismissing is a standard. You can recall it to idle as a move and then poof as your standard."
GAME: Jinks damaged you for -15 points. 42 HP remaining.
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+4-2: (3)+4+-2: 5 (Stabilize Roll - No)

With the golems and the creature down, Irshya calls back her glowing spiritual trident. Raising up her holy symbol, she calls upon Rada's blessing, sending forth a flash of magic while heals all those alive close by.

GAME: Zofija rolls heal +2: (2)+3+2: 7 (vs DC15 - Fail)
GAME: Zofija used a Healer's Kit.

With the golems retreating, Zofija takes another swing at the one near her, but manages to hit nothing but air as they disappear. The arvek-nar grumbles to herself, and walks over to where the ringleader was dying on the ground. "Thanks for the healing, that feels a lot better. I don't know who the hell they kidnapped, but unlike this thing, they deserve a fair shot. So please try not to bleed out on the ground. " They spit, attempting to pull out bandages and tinctures, but they fail to tie off any bandages with the tremor that was running through their hands.

<OOC> Jay says, "so hang onto the ring, run over and heal the stalker"
<OOC> Jay says, "Hmm. Well I don't know how badly he's bleeding and was kind of hoping others would handle that."
GAME: Jay rolls use magic device: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Jay used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds.
GAME: Jay rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4

A note. Just a note. Jay shoves it in his pocket and then shoves his arm deep into the ring, feeling around. Nothing. No tiny lizard. It's left him stunned, the blood drain also, makes it hard for him to focus. The bird-man is in shock.

The others rushing over to the stalker and it's dying warning spurs him into action. He holds onto the ring and launches, pulling a wand from inside his vest.

"I've got a healing thing! Don't let it die." He lands, circling the wand, repeating the words Slix told him, "ealusho tantastico!"

The runes glow. A tiny bit of improvement is imparted to the foe.

<OOC> Irshya says, "Irsh can heal him."
<OOC> Rocky says, "head over to loom above the Stalker, as lacking in proper restraints"
<OOC> Rocky double checks, is mistaken, do have rope
GAME: Rocky rolls cmb: (17)+9: 26
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+19: (3)+19: 22
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. You guys have a prisoner! Would you like to keep going or call it for now."

Rocky stares after the golems for a moment before returning to the Stalker. "This One has rope." The resulting bindings aren't pretty, but they aren't intended to be.

<OOC> Irshya says, "Irshya will heal him up further once he's tied up."

The creature seems far from pleased, roused from a near-death experience only to be pinned down and tied. It struggles valiantly. So much so that its binding requires supervision and the assistance of the other mercenaries. Its bones seem to have a plastic quality to them.

Considering the circumstances, it's doubtful that the quartet have any qualms about making the ropes especially tight and ignoring the creature's protests. Fabric tears and its produces welts and burns on its skin-- but ultimately stills when it becomes clear there's no escape.

It refuses to answer questions.

The golems are gone and the pots they'd been hiding in pulverized.

Jay does have an artificer's take on the handy haversack, however! And a note!

"Once we have Khroel's lockbox, you'll have the kobold.

Interfere and you can have him back one piece at a time."

The note is signed with a two-stroke, blocky "L."

Combatty

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
  >> 27   Himposter        1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     27   Jay              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   Irshya           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     6    Rocky            3  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Zofija           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     27   Jay              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     22   BG1              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     18   BG2              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   Irshya           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Timposter        1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 4    Zofija           1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3    Rocky            3  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 7 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     22   BG1              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     18   BG2              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   Irshya           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Timposter        1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Zofija           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 3    Jay              1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3    Rocky            3  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Irshya........|   46     |  46  |
 | Jay...........|   31     |  42  |
 | Rocky.........|   71     |  71  |
 | Zofija........|   37     |  37  |
 | (C) Screech...|   30     |  30  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Irshya........|   46     |  46  |
 | Jay...........|   26     |  37  |
 | Rocky.........|   71     |  71  |
 | Zofija........|   19     |  37  |
 | (C) Screech...|   30     |  30  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Irshya........|   36     |  46  |
 | Jay...........|   26     |  37  |
 | Rocky.........|   71     |  71  |
 | Zofija........|   13     |  37  |
 | (C) Screech...|   30     |  30  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mf80jkytsfa
Jinks says, "Jay = bird, Rocky = lizard, Zofi = griffon, Irshya = trident"