DM Panic's Silverhex Chronicles Classic Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master wakedown

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"Hmmmf. Doesn't look like they've got a taxidermist around here to take care of things properly?"

Shardra will keep an eye out as the rest of the party does their poking about, giving Kolo pats on the head every so often as she considers the area as a possible trap... or perhaps that heavily worn down...

Perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
That is a sad excuse for a trophy if I ever saw one. Killing cubs is bad enough but putting their heads on the wall...

The inn's common room feels like a cave, its sagging rafters clogged with yarn, shabby ribbons, and odd miniature knick-knacks that reinforce its claustrophobic atmosphere.

The inn's only visible occupant is its hostess, a spindly widowng who seems to be just barely avoiding death's door.

She smiles a row of crooked and missing teeth and brushes back the handful of wisps of hair that remain on her head and she flexes her long bony fingers.

"Oh dear me! Visitors! How I just love visitors!"

With each word, she whistles slightly.

"Oh dear me, my manners. I'm Birdy! And this is the Restless Bear!"

She gestures to all the shelves, so full of knick-knacks they sag with the weight.

"Lodgin' for the night will cost ya five coppers each! That includes a home-cooked supper."

She gives a nod at this last statement.

"And don't be tryin' to swindle ol' Birdy! I know a real copper when I sees it!"

Wiped out from the long trek, Enora offers to test of softness of the inn's bed.

Zadim looks at the woman and after a few seconds he says with a curt bow "Good evening. I'm Zadim. We'll accept with great pleasure the meal and beds for the price you stated."
Later, he'll try to question the woman on the goal of their quest "By the way, do you know a place called "Cannibal's Grove"?"

Kyra nods quietly. "I assure you there won't be any swindling, ma'am. We would be grateful for a meal and a warm bed."

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Shardra nods an affirmation. Though the fact that the woman immediately thinks that there's folks coming in to cheat her is not a good sign. Is that an indication that a Certain Someone Else that they're doing all this fetching for might have tried to pull it off?

Amiri nods to the old women and pays her fee, slowly counting five copper coins with some difficulty and putting them on top of the table.

@Amiri: Does your pre-gen come equipped with copper pieces? It's not exactly like Birdy has 95 coppers to hand back in change...

@Shardra: You don't get the idea she's been cheated so much as this place is very remote, and you're surprised if poor Birdy has seen as much as a silver piece in some time.

At the mention of the grove, Birdy shakes her head and gestures with her hands.

"I'm not keen ta put my own soul in peril, speakin' to yas or steering yas to such unhallowed spots!"

You'll need some smooth talking and an accompanying Diplomacy check to convince Birdy to talk to you about Cannibal's Grove.

My pregen has 5 silver pieces so she only needs to have 5 copper as change for my one silver.

Could you point its direction us?

"Of course we wouldn't like to put you in peril, good woman. We'd just like some information, that's all. Surely that's not something innkeepers such as yourself are unaccustomed to?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"More importantly, if there's something threatening you, wouldn't you rather have the peace of mind knowing it has been dealt with, so you don't have to worry about it?"

Diplomacy Assist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Enora snore loudly from a corner near the fire.

Birdy accepts Amiri's silver coin, gives it a bite with her teeth, and begins to distractedly search the premises for five coppers to dispense as change.

She seems to find one in a pocket of her apron, one on a shelf behind the counter... and is contining to look.

She smiles as Kyra and Shardra press their case for directions.

"Such sweet ladies, you remind me of my second and third daughters..."

She pulls up an old rotten shoe, turns it over and a third copper falls out and Birdy seems to celebrate.

"That, that... grove. Twas where the old Famished Shaman worked his blasphemies!"

Birdy pauses to nod and bat at the air with a free hand like she has no wish to be part of any blasphemy.

"Ol' Birdy knows where it is, but she also knows it's dangerous and you'd best stay away! Take your vacation from city life here at the Restless Bear!"

No more Diplomacy required, she's helpful now. You can ask her further questions if desired, or she'll reluctantly indicate the grove's location on your map.

Zadim smiles softly "I may have been a bit harsh. Sorry for that. So before anything else, here's a silver coin. I'll for the young woman there as well." he says, nodding in Enora's direction.

Birdy points out the location on your map while stirring a large pot near a small fireplace in the common room.

She gives you all a nod.

"Soup'll be ready in an hour or so."

Glancing outside, you realize you have a few hours before the sun sets, and that the area that Birdy indicated is only about a ten minute hike from the Restless Bear.

"We could check it out now and be back before the meal." suggests Kyra.

-Posted with Wayfinder

That's enough for me to nudge this forward. :)

Armed with directions, the Pathfinders thank old Birdy for her help and head out on the mile or so trek to Cannibal's Grove.

**

One mile southwest of the inn, a clearing encircled by stones marks Cannibal's Grove. While it's still only mid-afternoon, thick tendrils of mist rise from the ground.

(aka: concealment to all creatures beyond 5 feet)

Unsettling noises permeate the clearing seeming to originate from a stream to the east - blurb blurb glurb blurb...

Crimson thistles have overtaken this clearing, punctuated by a ring of mossy standing stones. In the center, a neglected stone slab bears ancient stains and gouges.

Map link should be available at the top of the page, feel free to move your minis and keep in mind the concealment. You'd need to move inside the ring to investigate the altar.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Hey, Enora? 'nora? Could y' wake up there? We're gonna go on a brief hike while Birdy makes soup for dinner."

The dwarven shaman is not crazy enough to go and touch the arcanist herself, given how hair-trigger her reactions were at the mausoleum. Instead, she lets Kolo attempt to clamber all over the halfling to get her to wake up.

Shardra will be distracted with those efforts, and will be a bit apologetic once the diminutive scholar is awake.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

When the troop leaves the inn, Zadim takes a look over his shoulder and freezes. "Have you noticed? The mangy bear head in front has disappeared! Kind of freaky, isn't it?"

Enora wakes up, thanking Sharda, and shares Zadim's news with Birdie. Pressing a gold coin into Birdie's hand, the halfling asks, "Does your bear head often disappear?"

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Birdy looks up at Enora, a bit confused at first.

"Huh? Someone stole my bear head? Can't say that's ever happened! Well if it's gone, I say good riddance to that mangy thing!"

The map was updated to the forest where Ulisha's lantern is supposedly stashed. You are all currently standing in the fog next to the ring of stones noted in the earlier post. If this is moving you guys along too fast, just let me know. :)

Amiri checks the ground for tracks before advancing into the grove.
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Eleanor tries to keep her distance, in an attempt to avoid ruining and possible tracks, while trying to aid Amiri.
Aid Other: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Shardra will follow Enora's lead and attempt to avoid disrupting the area too much.

Aid Other: 1d20 ⇒ 19

I grant a +4, Sharda a +2, for a total of 15 on the Survival Check by Amiri

The Pathfinders detect no real indication of tracks within the circle, leading them to believe it hasn't been disturbed for years, or possibly even longer.

Amiri slowly enters the circle watching out for any danger.
Perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Kyra approaches cautiously, but doesn't dare move into the circle yet, remaining on its outskirts.

Zadim follows Amiri and enters the cicle.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Shardra will move to cover Kyra, in case there's an attack from nearby.

Enora casts 'Detect Magic' and studies the circle. If there is anything amiss, she attempts to follow her friends, otherwise she joins them while attempting to see any auras/

As the Amiri and Zadim advance deeper through the fog towards the ancient alter, a chill wind stirs and they can recognize their breath in the air as they exhale.

Whispers reach their ears - rhythmic chanting from a long forgotten era.

And suddenly both Amiri and Zadim feel hunger - for something... something meaty, something fleshy... human flesh.

Anyone with ranks in Knowledge Religion recognize this as a haunt.

Surprise Round
19 Amiri :
18 Zadim :
16 Enora :

Round 1
19 Amiri :
18 Zadim :
17 Shardra :
16 Enora :
10 Haunt :
5 Kyra :

Now Up: Amiri, Zadim, Shardra, Enora

Reminder: Amiri, Zadim and Enora get an extra standard or move action as they also act in the surprise round.

The map's been updated. To affect the haunt with a melee/touch attack effect, you'll want to be targeting the general area around the altar within the circle.

Enora will use her Standard action to shoot some acid at the altar:
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Enora will spend her full action studying the altar:
K.Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 If anything learned, I will prompt share with the group
before again trying to shoot some acid at the altar:
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Surprise Round:

Save Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Zadim, very surprised, strikes at the altar with his kukri.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 for Slashing: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Round 1, if Zadim is capable of doing what he wants:

Zadim studies the altar, aiming for little cracks.

Studying the target: +1 to skills/hit/dmg etc.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18 for Slashing: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Following her friends example Amiri attacks the altar

Attk: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 = 6
Dmg: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14

Edit: Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Zadim and Enora both would know that a haunt can only be harmed with positive energy with those checks, if that changes what they'd want to do (as they would know hacking at the stone altar would be moot).

Enora opts to save her can't rip and shares her findings with the group.

After Enora's warning Amiri moves out of the altar area back to her friends.
Hmmggrrr, so what do we do?! She shouts frustrated.

Wait for Shardra to solo it?

Still Up: Shardra

Shardra glances to Kyra after Enora makes her brief description of what is going on and how to deal with it. She's run into haunts before in the great underground...

"Call on the Dawnflower. Bring her blessing to this place!"

Apparently I haven't succeeded on my Perception check, which means that I won't be able to affect it unless it isn't a normal haunt. A normal haunt acts on count 10 in the surprise round and can only be affected when it manifests, so you have to win initiative over it and ready to apply positive energy to destroy it the moment it manifests.

Well, dang. I got *nothing* other than suggesting that.

No changes to Zadim's actions, he'll hack the stone in rage that he can't do anything.

Zadim, so hungry and famished for human flesh, begins to gnaw at his own arm, tearing large bits of skin and meat from it and gulping it down.

Sweating with each bite and chew, he begins to vomit up some of the flesh, in utter shock at what he's doing to himself.

Zadim takes 1d4 ⇒ 2 damage and is sickened.

Supride Round
19 Amiri : Hacks at altar
18 Zadim : Hacks at altar
16 Enora : Warns the others

Round 1
19 Amiri : Backs out of circle
18 Zadim : Hacks at altar
17 Shardra : Calls to Kyra
16 Enora : No action
10 Haunt : Effect triggers
5 Kyra :

Round 2
19 Amiri :
18 Zadim : Chews own arm for 2 damage, sickened
17 Shardra :
16 Enora :

Now Up: Everyone (except sadly for Zadim, who is eating himself alive)!

"ZADIM! What ARE you DOING?? Take a moment to THINK, man!"

Daze on Zadim, DC 13 Will save negates, otherwise target loses its next turn.

Hopefully with that someone who is much better equipped than her can handle him.

*If* no one else steps up, then next round she'll move in to pull Zadim out, barring other situations.

ewww! so gross!

Save will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Thanks!

Kyra channels positive energy, trying to banish the haunt when it manifests again.
Channel : 1d6 ⇒ 2

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Using her rope Amiri tries to lasso Zadin to drag him out of the profane circle.

CMB?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Shardra, thinking quickly, dazes Zadim while the others work to pull him from the stone ring or banish the haunt that seems to be driving him to consume his own flesh.

Round 1 Con't
5 Kyra : Channels for 2 damage

Round 2
19 Amiri : Tries to lasso Zadim but fails
18 Zadim : Chews own arm for 2 damage, sickened
17 Shardra : Dazes Zadim
16 Enora :
5 Kyra :

Round 3
19 Amiri :
18 Zadim : Dazed
17 Shardra :
16 Enora :

The Daze buys you another round before Zadim continues.

Now Up: Everyone (except Zadim), and Enora twice.