A few days had gone by since Lem and Valeros had taken down crime syndicate headed by Jubrayl. The townsfolk had barely noticed, but Lem still felt a certain sense of satisfaction in the work they had done. His partner from out of town had proven to be nothing if not capable, and he liked to buy Lem as much grog as he could drink down at the inn, so that was a plus.
Lem Starting Deck
Bracers of Protection
Amulet of Life
Sling
Aid
Lightning touch
Inflict
Cure
Archer
Burglar
Sage
BoG x4
BoIomedae
Lem wished he had some of that grog now, as he climbed the short steps to the Sheriff's office. They were getting a new assignment this morning, and considering how the last one went, well, Lem wanted one more good drink before he died. As he opened the door, he saw Valeros already inside, standing at ease in front of the Sheriff's desk.
"Ah, good, you're here. It's about time." The sheriff announced, an open tone of annoyance in his voice. "You should take an example from Valeros here, always on time and ready. That's how every officer should be." Lem thought he saw Valeros roll his eyes at that remark, but the Sheriff failed to notice. "I'm sending you two to investigate rumors of a drug-smuggling ring that have started circulating amongst the villagers. Start at the General Store and see what you can find out. Dismissed."
Valeros Starting Deck
Crowbar
Spyglass
Crow
Sheriff Hemlock
Chainmail x2
Magic Leather Armor
Longsword x2
Warhammer
Longbow
Longspear
Bog x3
They didn't say a word to each other as they walked the short distance to the store. There really wasn't much to say. Lem was curious as to what kind of drugs might be moving into Sandpoint, though. He hoped they were good ones.
As he entered the store, the shopkeeper was nowhere in sight. Figured. That guy was usually more interested in trying to keep his unruly daughters in his sight than he was in earning a living. Lem wondered how the store managed to stay open. It was then that something caught his eye; something shiny! He walked over to a gleaming longbow on a rack. Well, he *would* have been more than happy to pay for it, if the shopkeeper was anywhere to be found.
Turn 1
Lem – BoTorag
General Store
Shock Longbow +1 – Cast Aid+Dex+Bog = D8+D6+D8 = 13 = success
Recharge fails
Meanwhile, Valeros stood over the counter, perusing several gleaming stones sitting under a glass case. He gently opened the case, and pulled out stone glowing with a red, pulsating light. Interesting. He wondered if it could be used to kill something. Holding onto it, he picked up another from the case that appeared to be made of some sort of obsidian. As he gazed at it, the red stone began to slip from his grasp.
"Ah, shi--"SMASH, the stone shattered on the floor, gas spilling out from it in all directions.
Lem and Valeros ran as quickly as possible from the shop, coughing and gagging on the street as they struggled to catch their breath.
"What in the nine hells was that?!" Lem said, spittle still falling from his mouth in disgust.
Valeros shrugged, shook his head, and began to move out into the town square. Time to find this shopkeeper.
Turn 2
Valeros – BoG
Poison trap – Dex+Bog = 2d8 = 11 = success
Banish chainmail to close
5 items rolled for shop – Blast stone auto-acquired
Lem chased after him, still bleary-eyed from the gas. As he did so, he ran into a young man sitting on the sidewalk.
"Whoah there, little dude, you OK?" He said, as he sipped from a flask. Lem coughed in response and the man held out the flask to him.
"Here, have some of this, looks like you could use it!"
As Lem took a gulp he was surprised to find that it was simply water. Water? Is this what kids were into these days? He sighed and kept walking after Valeros.
"Hey! Hey dude! I need that flask back!" The man yelled, as he chased after Lem.
Turn 3
Lem – BoSarenrae
Town Square
Standard bearer – auto-acquired due to scenario bonus to ally checks
Discard standard bearer to explore
Holy Water – Divine = D10+1 = 9 = success
Discard sage explore
Detect Evil – Divine = D10+1 = 10 = success
Cast Detect Evil – Reveal Force Missile
Recharge fails
Valeros continued to push his way through the crowd. This was a pretty small village, and there seemed to be more people than there were places to hold them. What were all these people doing here? His musing was cut short by a sudden commotion in a nearby crowd. People were running away from something in terror. Valeros unsheathed his sword in preparation for whatever horror this was, but the screaming crowd engulfed him before he was ready. His sword was lost somewhere in the fleeing bodies, and someone had managed to take his warhammer as well. Oh man, these people were asking for it. No one touched his weapons.
Turn 4
Valeros – BoIrori
Force Missile – Int = D6 = 5 = success
Discard longsword explore
Poison Trap – Dex = D8 = 2 = fail
Discard Warhammer
Valeros Con check – D8 = 4 = fail = 1 damage
Lem Con check – D6 = 6 = fail = no damage
As the chaos died down, Lem managed to find Valeros. Valeros looked angrier than usual, which was saying something. Valeros shot a glare at him as he approached, and plucked the longbow Lem had "acquired" right from his shoulders. Valeros continued past him without a word. Typical.
It was then that Lem saw the source of the chaos. A great ogre had wandered into the city, and was barreling straight for him. Great, now ogres as well. Didn't these guys live in swamps or something? Lem tried to channel some lightning into the thing as it approached, but it didn't even phase the monster, and Lem was knocked aside. He laid there for a moment, catching his breath as he saw the thing move deeper into the city. He wasn't too worried, though. Valeros would probably kill it.
Turn 5
Lem – BoIrori
Gives Valeros Shock Longbow +1
Ogre – Lightning Touch + Blast Stone + Valeros = D10+1+2d4+D4+D4 = 13 = fail = 1 damage
1 damage to Valeros from Ogre
Recharge fail
Cure – 5
Recharge success
Little did Lem know, however, that Valeros had found his own fun. Following the ogre into the village was a small goblin. Surely it was looking to loot whatever the ogre didn't break. Well, he picked the wrong day for that, Valeros thought to himself. Pulling out another of his longswords, Valeros turned the goblin into puree, and continued after the ogre.
Turn 6
Valeros – BoCalistria
Goblin Warrior – Reveal and recharge longsword + melee = D10+3+D8+D6 = 17 = success
Lem was hot on the trail himself, seeing that Valeros was too busy taking down some wretched creature. Hopefully not a citizen this time, Lem thought. An arrow flashed out from his peripheral and buried itself into the ogre that Lem was chasing. Risking a glance, Lem saw that it was another guard. Good, it was about time those guys earned their keep. Lem took aim with his sling and sent a stone deep into the thick forehead of the ogre, finishing it off.
Turn 7
Lem – BoG
Treasure Map – Knowledge – D6+3 = 6 = success
Reveals Ogre
Cast Detect Evil – Ogre – Recharge Archer + reveal and discard Sling + Valeros = D8+D4+D6+D4+D4= 20 = success
Recharge Success
Valeros stooped over the ogre, inspecting the body. A few other townsfolk had also come out of hiding. One turned to Valeros and said, "Excuse me, sir, do you know what this is? It looks like the ogre was holding it."
Valeros looked and saw that the man held another one of those accursed gas-stones.
"Hey! No! Put that down this instant!" Valeros yelled gruffly at the man. The man did exactly as Valeros instructed, and dropped the stone. Valeros was already running before it hit the ground, though. He could hear the gagging and coughing from the townsfolk behind him. That would teach them to interfere with a crime scene, he thought.
Turn 8
Valeros – BoTorag
Troubador – Diplomacy + Scenario = D6+4 = 10 = success
Discard longbow explore - Village Square ability
Poison Trap – Dex + Recharge Troubador = D8+D6 = 7 = success
Banish BoG to close
Lem and Valeros each recharge due to closing effect
Lem ducked into a nearby house to escape the gas, and found himself in what appeared to be a very shady hostel of some sort. As he moved into the dank lobby, a man stepped out of the shadows towards him.
"We don't like lawmen in here, runt." He wheezed.
"Well, I don't like scum in my city." Lem replied, and reached out to the man, fingertips dripping with negative energy. Unfortunately, Lem had misjudged the man's fortitude. He pushed Lem away with a toothless grin.
"Nice try, kid." He said with a cackle as he drew his blade and approached the halfling.
Turn 9
Lem – BoG
Village House
Mercenary – Inflict = D10+1+D6 = fail = 1 damage
Amulet of life
Recharge fail for Inflict
Recharge success for Amulet
Valeros looked around the village square. Where the hell had his partner gone? Well, he supposed he would just have to look for the worst possible place that the halfling could have gone, and start there.
Turn 10
Valeros – BoG
Village House
Mystic Inscription – Int + BoG + Lem BoG + Lem Aid = D6+D6+D6+D6 = 14 = success
2 spells acquired – Lightning Touch and Mending
Lem recharge success
"Look buddy, you don't want to mess with me. I'm a cop." Lem said, trying not to stammer as he backed slowly towards the doorway.
"Yeh, I know who you are, little man. You killed my employer, Jubrayl, and I don't appreciate being out of a job." The man was inches away now.
Turn 11
Lem – BoGorum
Explore – BoCalistria – Divine – D10+1 = 5 = success
Valeros stepped into the dirty hostel to see Lem backing slowly towards him. He then looked up and saw the dirty mercenary with his blade at the ready. Valeros smiled. The day was looking up.
Turn 12
Valeros – BoDesna
Give Lem Lightning Touch and Force Missile
Force Missile – Int = D6 = 6 = Success
Lem sensed movement behind him and decided that it was now or never. He leapt towards the Mercenary, unleashing everything he had on the poor man. Waves of electricity coursed through him, and he smelled the familiar stench of ozone and burned flesh. Daring to look down, he saw the man's toothless grin was now blackened. Turning to face the new threat in the room, Lem found himself looking at Valeros. Was...was Valeros smiling?
Turn 13
Lem – BoIrori
Night Watch – Diplomacy + Scenario – auto-acquire
Discard Night Watch Explore – Mercenary = Lightning Touch + Valeros = D10+1+2D4+D4 = 10 = success
Recharge success
Valeros had to admit, the kid could do good work sometimes. He hadn't ever been very good with the magics, but he appreciated those that were. Came in handy in a pinch. As long as this kid kept his hands off the weapons, Valeros could see them getting along just fine.
Turn 14
Valeros – BoSarenrae
Give Force Missile to Lem
Archer – Diplomacy + Scenario = D6+2+2 = 5 = fail
Just then, a door burst open and a squat, fat human nearly bowled Lem over as he ran past. Lem cursed and fired force missiles after the man as he fled.
"Freeze! Police!" He yelled as the man ran into the street, and toward the city gate.
Turn 15
Lem – BoSarenrae
Pillbug – Force Missile + BoG + Valeros = D10+1+2D4+D4 = 13 = success
Recharge success
Location Closed
Valeros was one step ahead of Lem, and trained his shiny new bow on the robed human. As he fired, he could see the arrow fly like a lightning bolt towards the man, but it suddenly erupted in sparks some distance before hitting him. Valeros frowned. Was this thing broken? Maybe that's why Lem hadn't used it.
Turn 16
Valeros – BoG
City Gate
Ghost – Reveal and recharge Shock Longbow +1 = D10+3+D8+1+D10=20 = Success
Spyglass – reveals Ambush and Blast Stone
Lem ran out into the street, past Valeros. He was getting pretty good at running, he had to admit. Unfortunately, he wasn't very good at looking where he was going yet, as a gaseous cloud erupted beneath his feet. The man he was chasing must be responsible for these things! Lem held his breath as best he could, and plunged through the poison cloud.
Turn 17
Lem – BoG
Ambush – Dex + BoCalistria = 3D8 = 4 = fail
Reveal next monster = Pillbug = BoG + Sheriff Hemlock +Valeros = D4+D6+D4 = 10 = fail = 1 damage
Valeros licked his finger, and held it up to the wind. About 10 miles per hour, north, northwest, he thought. He unsheathed his longspear, and threw in the direction he had last seen the man run. A shriek sounded in the distance. Valeros smiled. He hadn't lost his touch.
Turn 18
Valeros – BoG
Blast Stone = Int = D6 = 1 = Fail
Discard Crow Explore – Enchanter – 1 damage – Reveal Longspear = D10+3+D8 = 15 = Success = 1 damage
Lem barreled out of the poison cloud and sent lightning out from his hands, directly onto the buttocks of the fleeing man. There was a short cry of pain, and the man dropped to his knees, unconscious. Lem was glad that was over, and that no one had gotten seriously hurt.
He looked over his shoulder to see Valeros calmly stride out of the poison cloud, frowning and cleaning some blood off of his longspear. Lem was glad that guy had his back. Who knows what nasty monster he had just taken down with that thing.
The Sheriff placed the man, who called himself "Pillbug" into a cell in the village jail, and looked the pair of them over.
"Looks like you boys did some good work today. It's a shame we couldn't have stopped this guy before he wrecked the General Store and killed dozens of people in the city streets, but you brought him to justice in the end. Know that you have my thanks, and the thanks of this village for that."
As they walked out of the Sheriff's office, Valeros spoke without warning.
"Grog?"
"Grog." Lem replied.
They had earned it.
Postgame Analysis
Ah, much better this time. I'm not sure whether I've just found the rhythm of the two-player game, or just got lucky with my draws in this session, but either way it worked. Unfortunately, I missed out on a sabre-toothed tiger at the city gate, but hopefully I can grab that later.
On the bright side, I managed to snag the shock longbow, as well as a new blessing, which is always nice. Not much else in the way of notable items, but I feel like these guys are getting more powerful, slowly but surely.
I'm very excited to wrap this next adventure up, and get to the Adventure Path proper!
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