Questioning Nathan (and co.)

Opening a new thread to question the prisoners. It'll make it a bit easier to find info later.

Miri: "This may sound like an odd question, but have you seen anyone who's been killed somehow get resurected by this place?" (If so...) "Any idea how that works?"
"We plan on killing many of the creatures in this place and escaping. Would you & your men be interested in helping us?"
"Oh, and why did Vren double cross us?"

bradly wrote:Miri: "This may sound like an odd question, but have you seen anyone who's been killed somehow get resurected by this place?" (If so...) "Any idea how that works?"
"We plan on killing many of the creatures in this place and escaping. Would you & your men be interested in helping us?"
"Oh, and why did Vren double cross us?"

Nathan:
No, haven't seen anyone raised in here.

We can hold down an area for you so you'll have a safe place to rest, but I'm not to interested in getting killed in this place.

As far as Vren, who knows his motives. We just follow orders, he's been good to us in the past.

OOC: Have some baking and cooking to do for a party at work tomorrow, I'll be back on later.

Sonya says: "I agree, interview them separately, I was never that good a judge of people but I'm a good negotiator. Candelos likely knows people's character. Is someone making sure that Ferrence doesn't regenerate, stand up and attack us? I know he's in human form now, I think we should tie him up too after we make sure he doesn't die. We'll go after those last two later, let's rest up first.

I'll search the prisoners and bodies for intelligence and useful supplies. Can anyone in your strike group (looks at Miri) detect magic? Miri, why don't you see if some of the finer pieces of equipment are enchanted and can be used to help get us out of here. Quinn, would you like to hold onto any coins we find? Who wants to help Candelos question the prisoners (looks at Kaddim)? Also need someone to stand watch...someone good with a ranged weapon might be best (smiles at Thia)."

Sonya's suggested course of action...
Move secured prisoners who are not being questioned to the center of the room away from doorways/ hallways where they can escape or hostiles might approach. Gag prisoners so that they cannot speak to each other and coordinate stories while they are waiting to be questioned. If there is a pillar near the center of the room, tie them to it. Locate a secure connecting hallway or room where two party members can quietly question one prisoner at a time. Post a sentry near the center of the room with a view down as many exits as possible. Move bodies that have been searched near exits that are unexplored to hinder potential attackers. Pile captured weapons near the center of the room but 10' away from the prisoners. After the prisoners have been questioned, have a debriefing summary to see what we learned. Redistribute captured and recovered weapons and ammunition, especially arrows, to party members first, then to prisoners if we choose to give them their weapons back. Evaluate any intelligence (maps, papers, unusual objects) that was found.

The room Ferrence was in will make a good questioning place, I will stand watch at those doors behind the crates for if the ranged watcher looking down hallways needs backup. I can question people but its not because I am good at judgeing character its because they don't like lieing to me after the first lie. For that reason I offer to be backup for watch.

So who's in charge of this group? I am willing to follow a few of you and what are we calling ourselves?

Sonya says (to Quinn): "My group was all killed, including the leader, Ticondaroga, a powerful two weapon gladiator. I was lucky to catch up to your group, it is a good thing the sisters sent more than one strike team. I thought Miri or Kaddim was your leader..."

David wrote: what are we calling ourselves?

We're here because of the Sisters of the Abbey, right? How about "Sisters Abbey's Carpet Munchers"?

Checking the bodies the party finds the following (Miri and Kaddim can evaluate):
Vren's armor: +3 Dwarven Chainmail
Ferrence's sword: +2 Acidic Bastardsword (silver)
Nathan's horn: Horn of Summons (special, only humans can hear the horn)

There's a chest in the room Ferrence was in. Nathan tells you that there are no traps and helps open it if requested. Inside is:
6 moonstones (100gp each)
1 black pearl (500gp)
1,000gp

Sonya will suggest that the six party members split up the gold and other valuable non-magic items as evenly as possible to carry. If anyone can make "good use" of one of the three magic items, then it would be acceptable if they use it for now to help us get out of here and we can decide later how to split those up.

Did we find any intelligence on the prisoners or bodies; did we learn anything from the interviews?

Sonya frowns at Miri's suggestion for a team name. Sonya says: "Miri, and I thought you a little more witty than that. I was expecting Miri's Mauraders, or The Slayer Six from the Sisters, or something like that. You know Miri, you're kind of a frail little thing. Once you escape the prison that would make you a Small Medium at Large !" (Sonya smiles)

Regarding the horn, what if you're half human (like Sonya), can I still hear it?

Teramotos wrote:Sonya will suggest that the six party members split up the gold and other valuable non-magic items as evenly as possible to carry.

Miri: "Or, I can convert them all to residuum when we rest next. That way no one has anything to carry and I've materials to craft items."

Teramotos wrote:Sonya frowns at Miri's suggestion for a team name. Sonya says: "Miri, and I thought you a little more witty than that. I was expecting Miri's Mauraders, or The Slayer Six from the Sisters, or something like that. You know Miri, you're kind of a frail little thing. Once you escape the prison that would make you a Small Medium at Large !" (Sonya smiles)

Miri, who's 5'7", says, "...And you say I'M not witty?? Pot... Kettle..." (gives little kissy face to Sonya & smiles)

Teramotos wrote:
Regarding the horn, what if you're half human (like Sonya), can I still hear it?

Miri: "Let's see!" (grabs horn & blows)

Thia will stand watch.

I like the plan of them keeping watch over an area for us. Gives us a chance to create a stronghold in the prison and somewhere we can retreat to. Not sure how we can trust them though, they might double cross us at the first chance.

I would also suggest a 5 minute rest real fast so we can heal up and get some powers back.

Teramotos wrote:Did we find any intelligence on the prisoners or bodies; did we learn anything from the interviews?

Not much new information.
You learn that the men following Vren have been following him for serveral years. They usually hire out to merchants or other wealthy individuals to guard, patrol, or even hunt down creatures/items.

Vren was captured during one op and sent to prison, it was more of a political sentencing (he took something from the wrong person and it finally caught up with him).

Both prisoners tell you that they haven't ventrued far in this place. They took their time slowly moving through the lizardmen areas.

They both tell you they've been in hear for almost a year, which you find kind of odd since Vren just escaped from prison a few days ago.

They also tell you that resting in this place can be difficult at times. Sometimes they get visions of a tiefling wizard and terrible headaches. Afterwards they received no benefits from the rest.

Miri wrote:
Miri: "Let's see!" (grabs horn & blows)

Quinn and Miri hear a loud horn blast. Sonya hears a low humm, just like when Vren appeared...


After a while Ferrence starts to regain consciousness. What does the party do with him?

Hmmm...
Well, if Ferrance seems at all cognative, we'll attempt to question him. Although the party could make a very strong case for the mercenary prisoners to join up with us, (e.g. they've seen how powerful we are and they would know that we're they're best chance to get out of here, also, the majority of their former cohorts are dead and they should realize that we don't have anything personal against them...) if they did join us, it would throw off the DC of all the remaining encounters. I know this is meta-game thinking...

We'll confirm with the prisoners and with Nathan that they all would really like to get out of here.

Definately take a 5 min rest.

Wait to see what else the prisoners say and if we learn anything from Ferrance.

This area is set up for defense already. I say we use this as a base of operations until we find a way out. Then once we find a path we can setup a new base closer to what we think might be an exit.

I don't know why the prisoners wouldn't join us. They are just trying to survive.

I will stand watch over Ferrance and if he tries to break his bonds I will strike him to put him unconcious again.

The party takes a 5 min rest.

Afterwards Ferrence is awake and tells you the following...

I've known I was a lycanthrope for a couple of months before arriving here. You gotta be real careful who you pick up in some of the small town brothels on Millennium. I met up with a girl who said she should show me a really wild time. Boy did I get more than I bargained for...

I've only had one change (to werewolf) before coming here and it wasn't too bad. It happened at night under the full moon. Once I got here things changed. It seems that when ever I get hit I get really angry and change. When these changes happen, I have no control and just attack anyone near.

As far as Vren, I just wanted to get out of that room. I know he locked me in there after I killed a few of his men. But you can only stay locked up for so long before you start to go mad.

David wrote:I will stand watch over Ferrance and if he tries to break his bonds I will strike him to put him unconcious again.

After five minutes, it looks like Ferrence is almost fully healed.

He's not putting up a fight and seems to be genuinely sorry for attacking the party.

I think Kaddim should hold the horn. No sense one of the Humans or half Huimans hold it and he's most likely to be up front & need to call us.
Does anyone wear chain? If not I say we convert it to residuum even though it's pretty nice. Dwarven gives a daily of a free healing surge (free action) so would be pretty nice for our healing light party if someone can wear it.
If any of the boys can upgrade with the sword, they should hold that, otherwise (assuming LS), Miri will want to hold it, since she can use it and in a few levels will be getting rid of her staff anyway.
Anything no one can use we should convert to residuum, and Miri can hold it until someone wants an item crafted.

I don't think Ken's going to give us an extended rest right now so I say 5 min rest, healing surge up as best we can, leave the Humans & Ferrence untied & gaurding our stronghold, and explore a neighboring room. Hopefully not as tough as this encounter!
(btw, the only daily I have left is dimension door...)

I am ready to call it a day and I think Ferrence is the new person in charge if he wants the position. We want to use this area as a fallback whenever we want and as long as the others don't see an issue with that lets get a good rest and continue on. I am out of dailys and close to no healing surges I do not want toleave the stronghold and think this can be a good time to play some cards with the other humans and show them we are all friends now.

bradly wrote:I don't think Ken's going to give us an extended rest right now so I say 5 min rest, healing surge up as best we can, leave the Humans & Ferrence untied & gaurding our stronghold, and explore a neighboring room. Hopefully not as tough as this encounter!
(btw, the only daily I have left is dimension door...)

I'm going to leave resting up to the party (mostly...). If you feel it is save enough and won't be disturbed, go for it.

Note from DM...
Since I'm tying item creation to extended rest periods I will limit multiple or too frequent rests just to create items.

I say attempt an extended rest. I think we are good here. We shouldn't let Ferrence be too close to any front lines. Last thing we need is for him to hulk out on us. Maybe he should hang out in one of the back rooms, and he could charge forward if defenses aren't holding.

Yes, we should attempt an extended rest. That one (long) encounter drained more than a fifth of our party's healing surges and more than its share of our dailys. Getting a few additional Miri made items would be good to (am I the only one that's posted in the other thread Ken started?).

As far as the Dwarven Chain, it doesn't have to be a person that wears chain, it only has to be a person that can use it and the Dwarven Chain is at least slightly better than the armor they have on now.

Sonya will see if there is a captured bow and some arrows in the weapons pile that Ferrance can use, then he can actively support the defense without being in melee. If there isn't a good captured bow, then look for knives, daggers and other weapons that can be thrown.

Privately with the party only Quinn will say this. "You all might think I don't have any morals but something is grateing on me. We are saying we want to be allies but then we take all their good stuff. I consider this nothing better then a common theif by the way it has been protrayed. If we want to dictate to them and be their rulers and then take all their stuff thats fine with me but saying we are friends and willing to work together then steal all their stuff just seems wrong by how it looks."

OOC: There's really no good "in game" reason I can think of why the humans wouldn't want to cooperate fully with us if they really want to get out of here, especially if we give them back the items that are thiers. If the items are only being taken from the dead, that's one thing but if the items are being taken from prisoners and it is thier personal property that's another.

From a game balance standpoint, allowing the humans to reinforce our party would make all the remaining encounters "too easy" unless additional monsters were added to balance out. Also 4.0 makes the (sometimes unsaid) point of having the spotlight as much on the PC's as possible. Detailed rules that govern hirelings, followers, henchmen, and cohorts are all absent from 4.0 thus far and I don't expect to see such detailed rules anytime soon. I'm of the position that we give the humans back any personal possesions and a fair share of coinage if they will join our team. I can't imagine any of them wanting to remain in this prison for the rest of thier lives and we have got to be the very best opportunity they have ever seen for getting out.

It would take a whole additional thread for me to detail how I might handle this if I were the DM...

In Game: Sonya says: "I agree with Quinn."

Currently the party is talking to Ferrence, Nathan, Joe. Nathan and Joe are both crossbowmen and tell you that there are two other members of their group a footman and a newbie (can't think of a better description for the minion).

Nathan tells the party that he can talk to the others and can get them to assist the party by holding down areas that you've already cleared to give the party a safe place to rest and to give warning if monsters come from behind. They're not really intersted in actually engaging the unknown monsters (which is why it took them almost a year to clear roughly five rooms). Nathen tells you he'd like to keep the horn as it's been in his family for a long time (which you're not too sure about...). He'd also like he and "his men" to keep their equipment and some gold for helping.

Ferrence doesn't mind accompaning the party, but tells you he can't be held responsible if he changes and begins attacking the party. One area or ranged attack at the wrong time could really turn a bad situation worse. Ferrence would like to keep his sword or at least his share of the gold.

There were only two crossbowmen in the encounter and both lived. Most of the men who died were "newbies" who used makeshift clubs. One footmen did die and their is a halberd on the ground (non-magical).

If you're going to take an extended rest, I'll need to know what items Miri will try to make before you rest.

Something doesn't add up. They keep telling us a year and Vren has only been here for several days. If we can talk to Ferrance way from Nathan and the other archer, I will ask him about when he got here and when Vren got here.

Krystoff wrote:Something doesn't add up. They keep telling us a year and Vren has only been here for several days. If we can talk to Ferrance way from Nathan and the other archer, I will ask him about when he got here and when Vren got here.

Their stories are pretty much the same. Ferrence, Vren, and his men arrived her shortly after helping Vren escape from prison. They tell you they ran past the lizardmen in the water room and headed north. They secured the large room with the pilars and surrounding rooms, then barricaded the doors. It was several weeks before they made their way south, and even longer before they took the "trap" room.

Miri and Kaddim whom have studied arcana say that this place could have different time attributes than the outside world.

David wrote: ...but saying we are friends and willing to work together then steal all their stuff just seems wrong by how it looks."

Miri: "We are NOT saying we are friends... We are saying we wish to make them allies. There's a difference. They did double cross us (by Vren's orders) the first time we offered a truce, and attempting to kill us means they should know the score. We gave them back their lives, their freedom (didn't tie them up), and are sharing their stronghold. We are even offering to help them escape with us when by all rights they should be dead from our battle. Or, at the very least, trying to take new turf from the Lizardmen et. al.
That's not common theivery. We're giving them another second chance, and that comes with a price. We're getting out of this prison, and if they want to offer us more than a sword & some gold to help us out, I'm all for it, otherwise, to the victor goes the spoils I say."
"On that note, I couldn't really give a crap about Nathan's horn..."

I am ok with being the dictators in this relationship but lets make sure they know it. This is one reason why I rather kill then save, so much easier on knowing who is the winner.

The party takes an extended rest and was not interrupted. Everyone is back to full health and all encounter/daily powers have been restored.

Notes:
Quinn, Sonya, and Candelos developed a fever during their rest and had a difficult time resting.
After the rest Sonya feels fine. Quinn and Candelos are currently -2 to Will defense.


Miri created two items, a circlet for Sonya and a set of bracers for herself.

What will the party do next...

Here is a link to a picture showing the recent things we have been through.

https://nwgamers.forumotion.com/online-role-play-gaming-f14/ferrence-and-vren-t223-30.htm

It looks like we can head north out of this room or head to the other locked door down south that Vren wanted us to open.

Oh and I guess one last question for Nathan et al; where have they been getting food for the last year or is that part of the magic of this place as well?

Dwarmaj wrote:What will the party do next...

Level up?... :-)
Miri will ask Ferrence is he noticed any symptoms before he changed... such as a fever that affected will defense.
Miri: "I say we hunt down an Ettin. Last we saw he was heading South, right?
Unless someone suggests otherwise, Miri will hold Ferrence's sword (if it's a longsword), Kaddim will hold Nathan's horn, and if someone can use the chain mail, they should wear it, otherwise, I say we convert it & all the gold to residuum. Soldier on South!
Post Script: the magic of this place negates the need to eat... we've slept here 2 nights already & haven't eaten anything.

Here's a map of where the PCs have been:



Sorry, no level up yet, the party has only gone through 6 encounters. Getting close though...

Ferrence's sword is a bastardsword.

Ferrence says he feels fine.

Dwarmaj wrote:

Sorry, no level up yet...

Ferrence's sword is a bastardsword.

Darn & darn! Unless somebody wants something we've found, Miri suggests converting everything to residuum and taking the other Southern passage from the water room... I think that's where the Ettin went.
Miri will also keep her same spells

Nathan says that there is one room that his group was never able to get into. The room is down the hallway his friends fled through and just past the talking statues.

Let me know who has what after you guys split up the treasure. I'll need to update the characters in the Character Builder. Thanks

Please send me a copy of Quinn, I honestly don't know much on him hence why I haven't spent any time asking for stuff.

David wrote:Please send me a copy of Quinn, I honestly don't know much on him hence why I haven't spent any time asking for stuff.

I sent you a PM on the messageboard requesting your email address (can't seem to find it...).


Where's the party going to head next? After the Ettin or to the room Nathan described?

I vote for the Ettin. We have a score to settle with him.

I agree. Ettin.

Sonya votes to explore the room that's south of here and a little to the east; this is the room that Nathan wanted us to look into, right? If we meet the Ettin along the way, so much the better.

Sonya is fine with letting Kaddim hold onto the horn.

Miri, since she doesn't use a shield, is still probably the best person to hold onto the sword and as long as Ferrence is alive, even if he is our "ally", someone in our group should hold onto the sword.

Sonya is fine with turning the gold and chainmail into magic dust. Sonya doesn't feel too inclined to give Nathan, Ferrence and the others anything except their non-magic weapons back if all they are going to do is sit and defend a room we can retreat to. If they were going to go with us and provide supporting missile fire (crossbowmen) and guard our backs (footmen, Ferrence) while we shouldered the brunt of the fighting, then I'd be okay with giving up some coin. They have to take a little more risk to merit getting more reward.

I'll give Nathan the horn. Tell him to blow it in case they are in trouble. I believe we have one person who can hear it.

Sonya votes to explore the room that's south of here and a little to the east; this is the room that Nathan wanted us to look into, right? If we meet the Ettin along the way, so much the better.

I'm not ready to trust Nathan. We don't know if he is sending us into a trap.

Miri, since she doesn't use a shield, is still probably the best person to hold onto the sword and as long as Ferrence is alive, even if he is our "ally", someone in our group should hold onto the sword.

Sure

Sonya is fine with letting Kaddim hold onto the horn.

Agree

Sonya is fine with turning the gold and chainmail into magic dust. Sonya doesn't feel too inclined to give Nathan, Ferrence and the others anything except their non-magic weapons back if all they are going to do is sit and defend a room we can retreat to. If they were going to go with us and provide supporting missile fire (crossbowmen) and guard our backs (footmen, Ferrence) while we shouldered the brunt of the fighting, then I'd be okay with giving up some coin. They have to take a little more risk to merit getting more reward.

Agree

Correct me if I'm wrong...

It sounds like the party is going to hunt down the Ettin. I'm assuming the party will take the doors to the west, go through the "water" room, then take the SW hallway.

Thia uses stealth and checks the "pit" room and it is pretty much as you left it. Periodically, zombies animate, climb out of the pit, then stuble around for a bit before falling back into the pit. Occassionally movement of the "bugs" can be seen. There is no sign of the Ettin.

There looks to be to hallways south. The hallway from the water room and the hall way from the "pit" room. Thia sees Ettin tracks going up and down both.

From about 30' away from the end of the hall you can see grass covering the ground. Green hedges block your view of the room. Thia see similar grass and hedges in the room south of the "pit" room.

As the party travels down the hallway south, what should be the party order?
Which room will the party check out?

Candelos will take the front left position in the colmun.
I say strainght south hallway. Anybody second the motion?

Sonya is fine with searching for the Ettin.

I say straight south also. I sense a more open area coming up. Sonya will be behind Candelos and she will sling her waraxe and her shield. She will have her loaded hand crossbow in her right hand and her magic hand axe in her left hand.

Fit me in where needed, probably towards the front, and south sounds good to me.

...Sonya steers Quinn to the front rank next to Candelos.
Kaddim next to me in the second rank, and Miri (w her high AC) and Thia (ranged attacks) in the back row.

As the party aproaches the room:
This dimly lit area is hotter and more humid than the other areas you've been in. Thick green vines grow from the ceiling down to the floor in massive clumps, forming dense curtains that block your view of the chamber. It looks like the vines have grown to form a sort of maze. The floor of this place consists of grass and soil with root braking through the ground in places.

Here's what you can see, who's going in first and where?

Ken, is it time for a new thread?

Sonya says, why don't we move to the SE, that's where I think I saw the Ettin last; I was the last one to see him. Perhaps go in pairs, with 5' between each pair to reduce the effect of area attacks...