Bilon wants to checkout the opposition from a combat viewpoint.

There are 10 goliath warriors at the front of the gate.  Two, armed with crossbows, on top of the wall, and 8 in the gateway.  Bilon can spot another 20 or so scattered about the courtyard and a few more on the wall opposite the gate.  They remind the cleric of the goliaths in the Stone Crow tribe, only better armed and with seemingly more discipline.

Bilon - Perception 12+9 = 21

And Jett will look over the opposition from a magical standpoint. If he had to make a guess, every single one of them has a magical weapon pointed straight at the party, but his guesses have been wrong before.

The arms and armor the guards are sporting is very well made.  Jett thinks magic may have been used in its creation, but none of it appears to bear any but the most minor of enchantments.  The gate and walls have some defensive runes upon them, though.  The walls would stand up to a lot of damage and are likely protecting those within from being scryed upon.

The gnome seems as potent a magic user as before and Jett thinks Ryla's assessment is correct.  He is almost definitely a warlock, likely in some pact with one of the Masters of the Feywild. But where is that strange elemental energy coming from?  It seems more potent than Beezho should be able to wield?  Jett presses his magical sight to its limits and is able to discern the truth.  The energies come not from Beezho, but from several powerful elementals bound to the gnome, ready to be summoned at a moment's notice.     


Jett - Arcana 19+20 = 39!  critical success!

Kriv steps forward, his standard of Bahamut unfurled and blowing in the breeze, smoke wafting from the hole in his throat that stole his ability to breath fire.

"You petty, greedy and vain gnome.  You are no longer an authority in this town...No slaves in the empire...what an abomination of a claim...what do you think my people have been turned in to.  The penance is no such trial, but rather a poor front for pushing the dragonborn race into slavery under the gray dwarves.

In times of such hardship, you care not for the weak and down trodden, instead you only care for bashing in skulls until you get your 30 pieces of silver.  You carry no allegiance to anything but your precious metals that have no divine significance.  Your days as a thug under the guise of a merchant are over.  We have brought no coin, as you will be collecting no more debts, from either us or the people of this town.  You and your goons can either leave peacefully, leaving all possessions behind for the greater good of the people remaining in Scaleport, or you and your men can be taken forcefully into custody and rot in a jail cell until such time that this war is over, and you can be tried for your crimes in a proper court.

If you choose neither of these options, then you will leave us no choice but to send you to whatever vile deity you serve so as to be judged for eternity this day.

The next move is yours gnome, choose now!"

Kriv will continue to boldly walk forward as he is speaking.  When he finishes commanding the gnome to choose his course of action, Kriv will let out a vicious roar. (attempting to use dragonfear on top of an intimidation check if possible, understanding the power would not be available in our next encounter)

The gnome's jaw drops as the guards in the gateway take a few steps back.  One trips over his own feet and stumbles backwards, staring at Kriv the whole while.

A soft clicking noise comes from Beezho's throat.  After a moment, your group realizes he's trying to force himself to speak.  "K...K...Kill them all."   He turns and runs past his guardsmen.  He begins to disappear from sight, vanishing under the power of some illusion, but his voice gets louder and stronger as he fades from view.  "Kill them all!  Kill them all!" 

The goliaths, though badly shaken, make ready to obey.

Kriv -Intimidate 26+16+5 for creative power use =  47!

When combat begins, all guardsmen will be slowed and grant combat advantage for the first round of combat. 

The Gnome told us we owed him a lot of money. We are here to to organize the payment.

"Hmm.  What's your name.  I'll be more than happy to tell him that you told us not to worry about it.  Of course, it looks like you won't be around long enough for us to pay up any way.  What's up?"

One of the guards in the gateway moves to fetch his master, but is cut short as the gnome appears behind him and pushes his way past his guardsman's legs. 

"Ho ho!  Early payment," he laughs, "Were all our accounts like you, we'd save a fortune in blood and coin on debt collection!" 
 
"And yet, I see no chests, no sacks, no coffers?"  Beezho begins to pace quickly in front of his men while looking the party up and down. "Yes, you've brought me one new treasure," he says with a wink at Ryla, "but the House of Coin does not traffic in Mortal flesh.  'No slaves in the Empire!' and all that."

"So then, is the coin you owe cleverly concealed about your person?  I thought I sensed some spatial distortions about!  Bag of Holding?  Portable Hole?  No matter.  Your secrets are your business.  Just leave the funds here and we'll be on our way, not to be seen again until your little spat with the Prepotency has been satisfactorily, err, terminated."   

When the gnome finishes his monologue, you all hear Ryla's voice whisper in your ears, though she makes no move to actually speak.  She just smiles widely at the gnome.  Jett instantly realizes Ryla is using the Ghost Sound cantrip to communicate with you in near perfect silence.  "I do not believe I care for this petty little warlock.  Not one bit.  If our negotiations were to unfortunately fail, and violence were to spontaneously erupt, I would be eternally grateful if I were to be allowed to visit some gross bodily harm upon him."
 

"We were told to make good our accounts.  What are you doing?"

"Recalibrating my bolt-thrower," shouts the burly goliath as he slowly turns a crank on his mammoth crossbow.  His fellows, seeming none too pleased with your arrival, take up a defensive position in the gateway.

"Now, again, what are you lot doing here?  Specific-like!  'tis not a good day for riddles."


Bilon -Diplomacy 20

Kadnod, did you say we made it up a level?

DM Confession:  I have not been tracking your XP since back when ghouls were trying to eat you.  I've been relying on Arkon's tally, but I do believe everybody should be level 16 now. 

Although I'm curious what's going on with the servants. Are they going somewhere in a hurry?

I have a feeling they want to get out of Dodge before the Preps show up. 

The wizard and the cleric do think the staff of the House are preparing to leave.  From the look of things, they're not loading warehoused goods into the carts, but the furnishings of the House itself.   

Jett also spots a large tapestry depicting a group of cindersoul genasi being gingerly placed in the back of one cart.  He thinks it might have been created in the rare and valuable fireweave style, an artform popular among the more civilized residents of the Elemental Chaos, which features images that flicker in the wind and generate their own heat.   

Jett- Perception 28
Bilon - Perception -21

I say we walk in and say we are here for our meeting with the gnome whose name I can't remember.

As you get closer to the entrance, a goliath guard wielding a massive crossbow catches sight of your group and whistles loudly from atop the wall.  "Hey, you lot.   State your business!" 

He seems to have caught the attention of several of his fellows, as a dozen other guards are now making their way to the front gate.  Ryla leans heavily on her ivory staff and sighs. 

What do you do?

Ryla wraps herself in a lustrous, black-fur cloak as you step out into the cold streets of Scaleport.  "Lovely snow," she says with a smirk, "I hear that inclement weather generally favors defenders in a siege.  Perhaps the Prepotency has heard the same and will decide to winter in warmer climes?"  With that, the illusion masking the gate of Fort Scale manifests once more and you continue on your way.   

You see more townsfolk making the way to the city gates as you head towards the House.  For the first time, though, you also spot some citizens going about their normal business.  A tavern, a bakery and a general goods store are all open along the route you have chosen.  Some groups of evacuees seem to be stopping to pick up food and supplies for their journey out of the city, but others look as if they're taking their purchases to their homes. 

It only takes about a quarter hour before you catch sight of the House of Coin.  Fifteen-foot high stone walls surround a large a courtyard with an elegant, three-story wooden building in the center.   The House itself looks almost out of place in Scaleport and somewhat reminds you of a larger, more elaborate version of the woodland buildings back in Misthome.

The large, brass gates to the courtyard are swung wide open as grim, heavily armored guards stare down into the streets below.  Inside, you can see frantic servants loading a half a dozen oxcarts with wooden containers of various shapes and sizes.   

What do you do?

Put about two or three hours in so far.  The gameplay is cinematic and fun, the art style is awesome and I've had a smile on my face the whole time.  A lot of the jokes fall flat, but there are just so many of them that the humor still works for me.  I'm a bit disappointed to hear I'm probably about half way through the game already, but I still don't regret buying it.  I think I'll be revisiting Lollipop for a long time to come.

And our heroes stubbornly continue to refuse to murder people in our ongoing Diplomacy and Duplicity campaign.

4000 xp each.   

The wizard Ryla has agreed to accompany the party to the House of Coin in order to further negotiate with the merchants therein.  Do you take any further preparations before you depart?

Server up at 8EST tonight, folks.

Shouldn't we get a few levels of experience from that damage alone?  If we really did all that.  

After the xp got divided between all the minotaurs and hydras and whatnot, there wasn't much left for you guys. 

[Spoiler]

"Ah wonderful, negotiation!  What can we do about this bill, what indeed?  *brashly snatches it, holding it so it can be seen by the Monk.*  Ah, well, first easy bit of business is the matter of these ships.  Highly expensive, make no mistake no one will make recompense for them, a terrible, terrible loss indeed!  So we can cross those off.  *slashes out each ship name with the point of his dagger*  And as you oh so accurately mentioned there are clearly three parties involved here, ourselves *bows deeply, smiles* the Prepotency and of course your own coffers.  So the division of the remainder is parted three ways.  Oh, but wait, wait again!  *points at the line indicating loss of manpower*  How fortunate, you have lost several troops, we have brought several more!  So there's another point of removal!  Where does that leave us... hmm, let's see..."

Spoiler for Hiden:

Ships and Cargo destroyed
•The Mermaid  - 79,200 gp
•The Thunderous – 36,000 gp
•Hallowed Seas  -55,000 gp

Warehouses and Goods destroyed
•7 small – 2400 gp each – 16,800gp
•5 large- 10000 gp each-50,000gp

Weregild
•43 longshoremen – 20gp each- 860gp
•53 guardsmen – 100gp each – 5300gp
•5 merchants, Lower House – 500 gp each -2500gp
•6 merchants, Upper House – 2000 gp each -12000 gp

38 gp computation and calculation fee
44 gp scribe fee

Equitably Divided Three Ways

I like it.  If it doesn't work, Bilon might suggest (besides killing people) that we need to present our bill for compensation inflicted on the Crows, Fangs, Myst, etc. by the House of Coins through their agents the Prepotency.  As they bankrolled and supplied the invasion of our lands, we need some recompense.  Plus, of course, the loss of future earnings that we will suffer from the damage and, of course, of course, the newly inflicted costs of the new defensive measures we will have to take to secure our lands against the House of Coin's campaign of aggression and destruction performed by their proxy agents (namely the Prepotency).  I think we may also have to demand payment to cover our costs of invading the city (which apparently include their damages).  We only had to invade this city to mitigate the losses/damages being inflicted on the economy by the above mentioned Coin/Prepotency Proxy War.  Our actions clearly were intended to halt the losses to all parties and as such we should be aided financially in our endeavour.

Just a thought.

The merchant seems incensed at Winnish's creative editing of the bill and vehemently denies that the House is to be held in any way accountable for any damages or loss of life the party and their allies may have suffered.  "Why," he shouts, red-faced and eyes ablaze,  "you might as well say we all owe the bloody ghouls a corpse disposal fee if we continue with this absurd line of thought!"

He grabs the tattered invoice and begins to pace along the barricade quickly, muttering to himself.  Finally, he leaps atop it and walks briskly back towards his fellow negotiators.  Now eye-to-eye with Winnish, he looks as if he's going to begin yelling again, but instead speaks very softly.  "Very well.  Perhaps it is right I seek some recompense from the Legate?  Oh, Seven Hells, he'll surely love that.  But, worth a try, worth a try."

He leaps down and gestures to the armored goliaths.  "You and you! We're back to the House, to gather our people!  Then out of this damned city, out! 'till the killing's done.  And you lot!"  He points at the party.  "I'll be sending some lads around to the Fort at noon today, to collect our unfairly diminished due!  If I see your smiling faces again, and they be not on pikes, I'll look forward to further lively negotiations!" 

The three head into an alley to the North.  What do you do?

Winnish - Bluff = 18
Bilon - Diplomacy= 33

Kriv will ignore the discussions of petty possessions and gold and continue tending to the wounded.

They're all going to make it, provided the worst hurt aren't left to the mercies of the cold streets, but won't improve further in the short-term unless Kriv decides to call on the power of Bahamut to magically heal them.

[Spoiler]

"Perhaps we're misunderstanding the nature of these damages.  Do you mean the loss of previous clients who are leaving the city?

-Autistic Angel

The gnome hands The Monk the bill and explains the are the expenses the House of Coin has incurred as a result of the invasion.  If they are not compensated, the House will have to pay their members out of their own coffers:

Spoiler for Hiden:

Ships and Cargo destroyed

• The Mermaid  - 79,200 gp
• The Thunderous – 36,000 gp
• Hallowed Seas  -55,000 gp

Warehouses and Goods destroyed

• 7 small – 2400 gp each – 16,800gp
• 5 large- 10000 gp each-50,000gp

Weregild

• 43 longshoremen – 20gp each- 860gp
• 53 guardsmen – 100gp each – 5300gp
• 5 merchants, Lower House – 500 gp each -2500gp
• 6 merchants, Upper House – 2000 gp each -12000 gp

38 gp computation and calculation fee
44 gp scribe fee

"So, as you can see, your invasion has indeed caused us great expense!  All your talk of a glorious future has certainly not fallen on deaf ears, but surely, some compensation is in order?"

The Monk - Diplomacy 8+12 =20

"Beezho, our people and the citizens of this town will be in need of supplies very shortly.  A wise businessman with established contacts will recognize the opportunity for new profits here.  Someone less shrewd might squander this chance by chasing after the broken promises of expired contracts.  The stream you have is a preferable source of water than the river you do not.  Consider your direction carefully."

"Oh, we'd be glad to do business with you once this is all over," replies the gnome enthusiastically, "very glad indeed!  Profitable all around, I'm sure.  Unfortunately, this would all be contingent upon your holding of the city against the inevitable Prepotency counter-siege!  Though this would seem an unlikely outcome, we'd surely trade with you if you won the day!  Of course, you'd also need to negotiate some sort of truce with the greater Empire as well, else we'd be branded traitors and our business interests outside Scaleport forfeit!  Can't allow that, of course."

"Still," Beezho continues, now seemingly speaking more to himself than The Monk, "something could be arranged, even absent a greater truce. Subsidiaries. Our friends in the City of Brass, hmm, risk would be low. They'd know, of course, but could never prove.  Yes! Aye!"  He enthusiastically returns his attention to the conversation at hand. "There is wisdom in your words, Githzeri!  But still, a mutual token of good faith would be in order.  For our part?  We would continue to keep our guardsmen inside the House until this nasty business is all sorted out.  Yes, some are calling for blood, 'death to the barbarians,' and all that.  But you have my word, they will stay put!  And on your end?  Well, there is still the small matter of damages incurred.  What would you deem fair?"

AA-diplomacy 18 + 5 situation bonus for coming up with plan appealing to the gnome =23

[325,742 gp]

Kriv will check on the bodies, to see if they are dead or alive.

Kriv finds the fallen have taken quite a bludgeoning, but have none have actually been killed.  Kriv quickly binds the worst of their wounds and is relatively confident all shall be able to stumble home soon, just slightly worse for wear.

Kriv-Heal-25 

Bilon is probably on the list?  Reward list or something?  If Kriv doesn't need help with the wounded, Bilon will listen in on the discussion and is more than happy to whack the Gnome.

Jett eyes the Gnome wearily, armed with what information he's learned via his magical sight. "What business do you mean exactly?"

As Bilon approaches, the gnome laughs, "Ho!  The gang is all here, aye?  Well, that makes things much easier."

He pulls a sheaf of paper from the thick tome and holds it up over his head, frantically shaking it at Bilon and Jett.  "Beezho, I am!  O' the Swiftriver Trading Company! Main Chair of the Scaleport House o' Coin!  And my business is thus; Your little rebellion has cost my fellows and I a great, great deal of money!  Horrible, I know!  But put your minds at ease, friends.  By this truce you've arranged, I know you are honorable, just men!  I certainly don't believe all those horrible rumors about consorting with ghouls and demonic insects! Never! And now I present you with a wonderful opportunity!  Simply pay this small invoice, and the House shall call your accounts cleared!  And not an electrum of interest shall you be charged! What say you?"

It's difficult to see the details of the writing on the paper he is shaking about, but the big, black numbers at the bottom are relatively easy to read: 325,742 gp

Two large warriors and a smaller gnome... And they think they can completely control an exit out of town? Something else must be up. Jett thinks it's magic. (He'll use his Arcana skill to detect magic around the three and pass the information onto the rest of the party.)

Jett senses strong elemental, illusion and summoning magics on the gnome.  It's likely he's either a powerful arcanist, carrying powerful enchantments, or both.  Jett also detects a fainter magical aura coming from a nearby burnt building, but can't identify the type.


Jett -Arcana 32

The gnome shivers as he falls under Jett's magical sight.   He turns and looks towards the gensai.  "Ahh, but this one, I believe he's in the book."  The gnome stands and shouts towards the wizard, "Aye, be you Jett o' Stone Crow? We've got business, you and I."

Also, is there anything else he can dredge up out of his memories about the Penance? (History check)

You know the Penance is theoretically why the Prepotency rounds up dragonborn.  The dragonborn are supposed to be making amends for not using their armies to stop the dragons from destroying old Osradin.  That's officially why they are being forced to do labor on behalf of the Prepotency.  When the Penance is complete, the dragonborn should be set free, but no one knows what completion actually entails and one of the Legionnaires you interrogated guessed that the dragonborn are in truth being sold as slave labor to the Grey Dwarves. 

Jett-History 36

Kriv will unfurl the Battle Standard, carrying it in his right hand, while wielding his shield in his left.  With his chest puffed out, he will approach the small man by the fire.

"You there, by the fire...I assume you are to blame for this roadblock, as well as these wounded.  I do not care about your petty disputes and for your attempt to collect debts, as such you will take down this barricade immediately, and let folks pass or I shall personally ensure that every single one of your possessions is donated to those in need around this city while you rot in a prison cell.  Now, you and your men are going to let me pass to check on the health and well being of these people."

The two large goliath warriors are clearly startled by the paladin's approach and clumsily draw their halberds. The smaller man, an older gnome upon closer inspection, looks up from his fire and begins to chuckle. 

"Well, then," he laughs, "you're the new magistrate, aye?  Why, man, the Senate will have a collective stroke over this!"

He then looks away and begins to warm his hands by the fire.  "Well, your magnificence, you're not in the book," he pats a large tome on a nearby table, "so we've got no quarrel.  I suggest you keep it that way." He pulls out a pipe and it half disappears beneath a ridiculously large white mustache.   "Keep on walking ... right out of town, if you've got any sense.  I've seen what the Empire does to those who dodge the Penance.  Not pretty."

Kriv -Intimidate 42

And our heroes do some research, some recon and move to intercept an impromptu collections agent.

2500 xp each. 

Bakerson gives the group directions to the roadblock and you speed your way south along the city wall.  The southern portions of the city still smell of smoke from the minotaurs' rampage and the light snow that began earlier in the day starts to gain in intensity. After a twenty minute run, you catch sight of the unorthodox blockade.  From the wall, you can see a point about 5 blocks into the city where the main thoroughfare to the Southgate narrows. There, in between some charred buildings and what appear to be huge metallic vats, a low, long wooden palisade blocks the street.   On the side of the roadblock closer to the city wall lurk two hulking armored warriors, while a much smaller man warms himself by a large campfire.  On the opposite side of the palisade, several bodies litter the street.  Some appear to be crawling away, but others are disturbingly still.

What do you do?

I may be a bit late for our session tomorrow.  The purchase of the company I work for, by IBM, finally went through, as such there is a day long event tomorrow, that won't wrap up until after dinner, around 7PM eastern, so I am guessing I will be 20-30 minutes late for our session.

No problem.  Asmodeus isn't due to make an appearance until around 9ish, anyway. 

We should probably ask Lorna for advice on how to calm the population.  She's been around long enough to know the most influential voices in the community, and our best play is convincing local leaders to help put people at ease.

I don't know who has the best Diplomacy score, but my character will make helper rolls on any attempt to persuade people that we've come to help.

-Autistic Angel

Bilon will help with diplomacy as well.  I agree that Lorna seems to be the big cheese for now.  Maybe she can let us know the names of other community leaders that will help calm the city.

After discussing matters with the priestess, Lorna will not agree to directly betray the Prepotency, but will assist the party in ways that may lessen the loss of life during your occupation.  She will allow the group access to the temple library if they wish to research the Living Gate, but will remove any books relating to the Prepotency.  She also tells you that you may have luck negotiating some sort of agreement with the merchants at the House of Coin.  They are lead by Beezho of the Swiftriver Trading Company.  Lorna believes you may have some luck buying his loyalty, "but don't try appealing to his better nature.  The old gnome doesn't have one!"  Beyond that, she has no recommendations on people the party could talk to in order to barter some sort of peace or calm the populace.  "You mayhap could've negotiated with Magistrate Vulpis, but I hear you knocked him off his magic horse then threw him off Fort Scale!  Too bad, too.  He was always such a polite lad. A little boring, truth be told, but very respectful. "


AA - Diplomacy 17  (aid another successful)
Bilon - Diplomacy 28 +2 from AA = 30

[46!]

Kriv will approach Lorna at an angle to which the crowd will be able to clearly see him.

"Lorna, is there a problem here?"

Kriv will be ready to intimidate the crowd into standing down if needed.

Jett will keep his distance and let Kriv do all the talking. The big hulking Dragonborn is far more menacing and capable of controlling crowds than Jett is.

As Kriv gets closer, he hears some of the complaints from the crowd more clearly.

"They'll never honor the truce!"
"Those damn bulls are probably waiting right outside the gates!  They'll butcher us all!"
"You've betrayed the Empire, Priestess!"

"Lorna," asks the paladin, "is there a problem here?"

Like a group of chastised children, the mob quickly goes silent as they catch sight of the plate-clad warrior.  It seems they are unused to seeing a heavily armed dragonborn in the midst.  One angry young woman, somewhat less cowed startled than her compatriots, shouts "Wymrling!" and makes to lob a rock at Kriv.   A low growl from the paladin stops her in her tracks.  Her stone drops at her feet, and as it strikes the ground, the mob breaks.  Screaming, they flee in random, erratic directions as fast as they are able.  

"Well," shouts Lorna over their screams, "that's certainly a hell of a way to end a meeting!"  

The priestess cackles so loudly, so violently at her jest, the small blue stone circling her head appears as if it may fly loose from its orbit.  

Kriv- Intimidate 46!  Critical success!

What does the group do?

Then it's time we figure out what's going on. The last thing we need is some sort of riot (no matter how small).

Does the group approach the mob in any particular way or is it just a casual wander on over to the commotion?

I think we need to know how distant shardminds are able to physically possess some people, even kill them outright, but apparently not others.  Without that information, we're basically in The Matrix where anyone could be subverted into an enemy agent at a moment's notice.

Maybe Jett and Bilon can examine the bodies of the prisoners for any sort of brand, tattoo, or implant that would explain it.  Assuming we can figure it out, we'll need to start screening everyone in the city immediately...including Bilon, who has previously been off on extended adventures by himself, and Arkon's dragonborn who we just met.

(assuming Jett and Bilon have no objection to the investigation...)

Jett and Bilon are unable to locate any sort of rune on the two dead prisoner's bodies.  Jett continues to detect slight, but now rapidly fading, psionic energies on the body of Victus.  He does not feel these energies are remnants of the legionnaire's possession, though.   It is likely Victus himself possessed some sort of psionic abilities.

Bilon also recalls that, according to obscure Avandrian scripture, psionic abilities only began appearing in the Mortal World after some foolish god forced his way into the Realm of Nightmare.  Bilon always thought this proverb was just a metaphor for the carelessness of the other gods, but if it described a real sequence of events that the shardmind were mixed up in, perhaps they have the ability to empower Mortals with psionic abilities?

Bilon-religion 28
Jett-arcana 30

Also, we should find out how to help calm the situation around Lorna and find out what's happening.

-Autistic Angel

Some of those in the crowd are starting to disperse, but it looks like the angriest members of the mob are getting even angrier...

And our heroes wander down into their own personal dungeon, interrogate some prisoners, followed by random acts of stabbing, neck snapping and psychic possession.

2000 XP each.

When you head back to the Temple of Ioun & Erathis, you spot Lorna, flanked by several temple guards, speaking to a group of about 30 townsfolk.  A few of the townsfolk are shouting as the elderly priestess leans heavily on her ivory staff and motions for them to calm down. 

What do you do?

I had to LOL at some of the other versions of Monopoly they have:  The Godfather?

It's not an official Monopoly game, but I just backed The Doom that Came to Atlantic City on Kickstarter.  Looks like Cthullopoly.

That's a good point: we should have small scouting parties advancing outside the city to provide some advance warning of an enemy counter attack.  We'll also want to create an escort for any Prepotency troops who will be leaving the city peacefully, for our protection and for theirs.  Hopefully Ryla can help us put together a task force of soldiers who can be trusted not to provoke a confrontation, and we'll want to keep the exit route as clear as possible to avoid making a big scene.  No riots.

Once they're gone, we'll need to ensure a steady supply of food and water to everyone in the city and start shoring up all the points of ingress that we identified on the way in.  Polling the citizenry might turn up more, especially if we can establish that we're here to help.

-Autistic Angel

AA I like the idea of an escort for the Prepotency troops a lot.  And I think our group might be one of the best for "least likely to cause a provocation."  While Winnish has no love lost for the Prepotency, fighting along side a bandit prince has certainly made our group familiar with shifting alliances and the need for temporary cease fires and strange bedfellows.  Heck, we almost went into negotiations with the Prepotency at one point - and while we're nowhere near doing that, I do think it means we have the best temperament for the escort.  Even if maybe we are #1 on the Prepotency's most wanted.

*edit* And rereading your post, I just noticed that if we escort it'll kill two birds with one stone - we can get a good look at the surrounding fields and maybe even scout any force that will be coming to rejoin the fight or just cover the troops' retreat.  Hopefully our new "friend" in the Temple is doing a good job of healing the wounded and keeping the city out of squalor.

Suhvob, overhearing your plans as he finally seems to get the hang of the fire belcher, comments, "Ha!  Let all them fleeing see that the infamous Giantslayers really are here!  And not murdering them! Should put just the right mix of fear and respect into the cowardly bastards!"

Under the terms of your agreement with Lorna, refugees may start leaving the city at dawn by either land or sea.  That means you've got about 16 hours before any exodus begins, should the choose to keep (and be able to enforce) her end of the bargain.  Are there any other preparations you would like to make?

We should probably check in with the teams we sent out to sweep the neighborhoods.  We can't let any Prepotency remnants get the populace organized against us, and the sooner we communicate our intentions, the less reason the citizenry would have to join in.  The only people better acquainted with Scaleport's strategic resources than the Prepotency will be the people who live there, so our fastest way to secure the city is by securing their trust.

-Autistic Angel

The Monk discusses the situation with Barger and Kiln, both who have troops patrolling different parts of Scaleport.  Neither is aware of any overt attempt on behalf of the Prepotency to rally the populace, but several groups of townsfolk have been spotted making their way to Kraken Hall.

The first thing we need to do is let Ryla know of what happened with our little trip, and how we've made a sort of cease-fire agreement with the Prepotency for a short time. This needs to be honored, as the last thing we want to do is piss off an elderly priestess who no doubt can kick our asses in if we break this.

Jett, having seen how the firebelchers work first hand (and I think still carrying one somehow), will help out Suhvob best he can in passing on his knowledge.

Ryla is a bit suspicious of Prepotency betrayal, but agrees to honor the cease-fire.

*flashes a nervous smile at Suhvob* Ah, er... ahem, m'boy!  *a bit of a grimace*  Perhaps I might suggest Jett here give aid in the operation of that bit of artifice.

As Jett and Winnish approach, Suhvob reluctantly stops smacking the mobile artillery piece with blunt weaponry.  "Bah!  I could have figured it out," bellows the minotaur. "You two should go help those other bookworms up in the keep.  They're downright aroused by all the new toys in this place.  Ha!"

[Spoiler]

And our heroes negotiate their way through the session, making friends with an elderly priestess of Ioun and totally bypassing the awesome combat encounter their poor DM spent hours slaving over a hot computer designing. 

Loot and XP

Spoiler for Hiden:

2500 XP each. 

Platinum Dragon Rampant Battle Standard -  counts as Battle Standard of the Fiery Legion
Level 16 Uncommon, Wondrous Item        45,000 gp
Power (Fire, Zone) Encounter (Standard Action)
-When you plant the battle standard in your space or an adjacent square, it creates a zone in a close burst 10. You and each ally in the zone gain resist 10 fire and can choose to have any attack you make deal fire damage instead of its normal damage type. This effect lasts until the end of the encounter or until the battle standard is removed from the ground. Any character in or adjacent to a battle standard's square can remove it from the ground as a standard action.

Upon the group's return to Fort Scale, things appear to be in relative order.  It looks as if your own troops have raided the Fort's armory in your absence.  You see many of your allies garbed in random pieces of Legionnaire armor under heavy woolen cloaks.   Several minotaur are gathered around a fellow bull wearing a portable Prepotency firebelcher cannon.  It does not appear that they're having much luck figuring out how to operate the device. A frustrated Suhvob taps the fuel tank several times in rapid succession with a large brass mace, then presses an ear against the tank's side.

What do you do?

Lead designer bails!  Difference of opinions! Cats and dogs, gaming together!

Server up at 8 EST!  Rust Monster invasion at 9 EST!

"I am sure that my opinion is somewhat biased, but I would like to investigate the Temple of Bahamut and make sure that it has not been defiled."

"Somewhat biased indeed, but making sure that the Temples of this city are in working order would be a morale booster for those citizens that still remain, among other things."

Jett agrees with Suhvob - making sure that we don't get ambushed from reinforcements entering the city from the outside seems to be the sound plan. Odds are good there's still plenty of opponents inside the city gates - but outside, who knows at this point.

Jett also offers his magical skills in any wards or defenses that Ryla may have set up or is in the process of getting ready, but only for so long - he (along with the rest of the party) are in dire need of rest.

Barger agrees with Jett and Suhvob.  He leaves the meeting and sends his halflings out to scout the city walls and to keep an eye out for anyone approaching the city. 

Ryla and Jett then begin work to improve Ft. Scale's arcane defenses.   Jett offers Ryla several suggestions on how to improve her illusions and to fortify them the power of fire and storm.  The pair are confident the Fort should be nearly impervious to scrying.  The mages are also able to prepare a nasty surprise for any enemies who may try to strike from the air.  If all has gone according to plan, anyone approaching Fort Scale from the skies with hostile intent should find themselves suddenly lost inside a storm of thunder, darkness and flame. 

Bilon supports checking out the temple, but feels a long rest is in order as he is magically spent.

After their labors are done, the party is able to sleep for the rest of the evening.  They awake to a cold and clear winter morning. 

"I am sure that my opinion is somewhat biased, but I would like to investigate the Temple of Bahamut and make sure that it has not been defiled."

"That may be a wise choice," replies Ryla.  "If you can persuade those within to join us, it could go far in securing the loyalty of the people of Scaleport."
"But don't be surprised if the Prepotency has gone and messed about with it," interrupts Barger.  "I hear worship of the ol' scaly gods is a hanging offense in the Empire.  Can't imagine they'd leave a temple to the Platinum Dragon in one piece."
"So don't be afraid to stab a few priests if you have to!  Ha!" Suhvob laughs a bit too long at his jest, seemingly oblivious to the scowls of Ryla and Barger.  The minotaur then slaps Bilon roughly on the shoulder.  "Aint that right, tiny?"

And our heroes bash the flying horror back to Miskatonic U and get to healing up some dragonborns.

2500 XP each.

"Ryla, on our way back here to the fort we encountered a vile monstrosity that has escaped from the Hippodrome.  It may be wise for us to gather intelligence on what else may be running loose, in addition to gathering intelligence on any remaining pockets of Prepotency resistance."

"Yes, we should definitely learn what we can.  Please, lets all discuss what we know so far..."

After comparing notes with Ryla, Suhvob and Barger, the party learns the following:

• Nearly all the minotaurs have left the city.  Suhbov persuaded 15 bulls to remain loyal to Ryla, but over 200 left after their Queen's defeat at the Temple.
• You now have approximately 400 troops to hold the Fort and the City, made up primarily of Grey Mist warriors with Barger's halflings, a few dragonborn hoplites who have abandoned the Five Fangs and Suhvob's kin providing support.
• Much of Scaleport is abandoned, but Barger estimates there are at least 5,000 Prepotency citizens still living in the city, hiding in their homes.
• Armored warriors have been seen at the House of Coin, Kraken Hall and the Temple of Bahamut.
• Ft. Scale's artillery is damaged beyond the ability of Ryla or her apprentices to repair.
• The Mist have captured about 20 prisoners, mostly servants employed at the castle, and imprisoned them in the cells beneath the Fort.

Barger offers to send his lads out to do more reconnaissance, but wants advice on where they should concentrate their efforts.  Ryla suggests they learn what they can about Kraken Hall near the city center, but Suhvob insists they would be better used outside the city, on the lookout for any Prepotency reinforcements.  They all seem interested in the party's opinion on this matter.

Once all of the dragonborn have been attended to, Kriv will look for opportunities to assist in fortifying the fort.

The dragonborn have been made comfortable and a few may even be able to fight after a few days of rest.   Kriv thinks the Fort's primary weakness is the shattered gate and lends his efforts to repair it. 

Server will be up at 8est.

I'll try to have a map up on the board in advance of next session so you can get a better idea of your surroundings prior to facing the Lovecraftian horror.  (Everyone roll SAN checks! Whoops, wrong game!)

Sorry, guys.  Ran out of time to put this map together in advance of the game due to minor RL emergency.  I think we are still good to play tomorrow night, though.  Should have it ready by then!

Since you told us to go ahead and try and figure out what we are fighting, I am pretty sure I found it, and I think Kriv is in for a world of hurt.

I changed up its stats a bit . . . or did I?   

And our heroes take a prisoner, rescue some others, and nearly make it home before they're ambushed in the darkness by a giant, invisible bat-winged tentacle monster.

1500 xp each.
29 rescued dragonborn prisoners
1 subdued and recently de-perforated Centurion

I'll try to have a map up on the board in advance of next session so you can get a better idea of your surroundings prior to facing the Lovecraftian horror.  (Everyone roll SAN checks! Whoops, wrong game!)


As Victus retreats into the tannery with the terrified dragonborn, he shouts in a quavering voice, "It's, It's MAKING you not see it!  Strike where you know it must be!" 

I will continue to attend to the injured man.  Does he have any markings or identification on him?  Does he appear to be prepotency?

As their Dragonborn teammate was part of a prisoner convoy, he's curious if there's a listing somewhere of where they might've been going.

These questions and more answered tonight!  8EST!

Kriv pulls the barbed spear through the man and Bilon catches him as he falls free.  Blood begins to gush from the wound, but Kriv quickly uses his divine abilities to close up the gaping hole as Bilon lowers the warrior to the floor.  He begins to cough and convulse, but only for a moment before settling down and lying quietly on the floor.  He appears to be out of immediate danger, but remains unconscious.

As the dwarf and the dragonborn tend to their charge, Jett inspects the room behind the door from which the man hung.  Detailed sea charts hang on the wall, though most have been slashed to threads.  A large desk lies overturned and scrolls and books are scattered everywhere.  Jett doesn't sense that any of these writings are magical, but finds a few items of interest.  One is a large book listing the ships that have come and gone to the city in the past 6 months.  Jett also finds a pile of wanted posters, and is surprised to find a crude etching of himself staring back at him.

"WANTED - THE GIANTKILLERS - FOR DESTRUCTION OF IMPERIAL PROPERTY, MURDER OF IMPERIAL OFFICERS AND LEGIONNAIRES, INTERFERING WITH THE HOLY PENANCE AND BLASPHEMY MOST FOUL-TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED PIECES OF PUREST GOLD FOR EACH BROUGHT BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE, DEAD OR ALIVE"

Beneath the description of the bounty are somewhat accurate portraits of WINNISH-BRIGAND, JETT-WARLOCK, BILON-ARCH HERETIC, RANGRIM-ABBERANT, THE GITH-ASSASIN, SERSHA-THIEF and ADARA-WITCH. 

Jett - Perception 23
Jett - Arcana 27

Kriv and Bilon think they could pull the spear out from the other side of the door and, with the help of some minor healing magics, save the man's life.   As a grim alternative, they also are relatively certain they could awaken him while he is still impaled.  Upon closer inspection, it looks as if someone attempted to use healing magics on the warrior after he was impaled, making it likely that he would survive such rough treatment.

Jett can't pin down exactly what sort of magics were used on the man, but he does sense some psionic power emanating from him.

Bilon - Heal 38
Kriv - Heal 34
Jett - Arcana 27

"So much devastation...why exactly where the minotaur considered your allies again?  We need to look for survivors, and put out the fires before more of the docks burn."

Kriv will check the barracks first for survivors.

Kriv finds nearly twenty people slain in the barracks.  Legionnaires, most killed before they could don their armor, along with a few servants and two minotaur.  A gray-haired warrior, impaled by a spear against a door, shows some faint signs of life.  Judinging by the severity and age of his wounds, though, you're not sure how he could live at all.  

Perception 20
Healing 21

Have you read any classic sci-fi, like say, anything by Arthur C. Clarke? If you're familiar with the kind of stuff that happens in those stories you might not have any issues with the ME3 ending, but if you're a a sci-fi virgin (Star Wars doesn't count) the end may feel a bit... random.

I liked it, but I can see why others wouldn't.

I think this is a key part of the problem with the endings.  They're a really big shift in tone.  The whole series is this hard-nosed, military sci-fi thing, with a bits of interesting, but ignorable, philosophy thrown in.   Then all of the sudden at the end you're in "2001" territory.  I totally get why this rubbed lots of folks the wrong way.