GM SpiderBeard's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

With the questions of the group satisfied there remains the matter of checking in with Judge Daramid.

Lena travels outside, and with a display of her rapidly growing magical power, destroys the Bondslave Thrall, forever granting the Beast free will. The Beast stands, towering over the tiny halfling, his face crunched up, crying tears he cannot make.

Once back inside, the Count looks to the Beast.

"I have lost everything. Your reward will be in town. Please leave. I will make a better life and honour my wife's memory in a better way."

The Beast turns to the Count.

"Master. These are my friends. They treat me good when no-one else do. Ellsa give me name, Bigguns. But I like the name Brodur better. I stay here with you, where it's safe. I show you how to treat people good, you show me how to be smart like you."

Count Caromarc pats his gigantic "son" on the arm.

"I think I'd like that, Brodur."

You are all swept up into a tremendous embrace, which just manages to not crush your ribs as Brodur's huge body shakes with sobs. The Schloss Caromarc, what remains of it, will forever be a safe haven to you. Promising to follow the clues towards the Whispering Way, you return to Lepidstadt.

The meeting with Embreth Daramid is a good one as you explain the Whispering Way's strange theft and the incredible series of events their malice set off. With the news that you have resolved to track them down, Embreth authorizes a second, incredible payment to you, granting each of you an additional three thousand gold. Whatever the Whispering Way have been up to with the theft of the warden's soul, and now the Seasage Effigy, it is not good, and it falls to you to stop them. Your travels now take you to the east, into the legendary Shudderwood and the Ascanor Lodge.

End of Chapter 2

Congratulations once more! You all gain an additional 3,000 gold each. Feel free to roleplay your actions during the 'wrapping up'. I will begin Chapter 3 next Monday at the latest. Earlier if people are ready by then.

Eldon looks incredibly smug when Brodur decides on his name. Later, back in Lepidstadt, he still looks smug and says, "Figures he likes the name Brodur best. I came up with it, after all."

Yay! :)

I'll by the way update Eldon in the weekend!

book 2 down. Well done all

Wren, taking her leave momentarily of the group for some private time, goes shopping for supplies she'll need for the trip ahead. Purchases in OOC.

She gathers herself and is ready to continue on, but not before hunting about town for information on the Ascanor Lodge and any word of trouble in the woods.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8 Diplomacy - gather info

Chapter 3, Broken Moon

When last we left our heroes...

The aftermath of Brodur's trial has been a pleasant one, where you have stayed on Judge Embreth Daramid's coin at one of the better inns in town. A message from Schloss Caromarc written in an enormous, crude hand indicates that Brodur is well, and misses his friends, but he and his father are rebuilding together. For the past weeks you have spent time sourcing and upgrading your equipment, getting to know the town, and asking questions about the Shudderwood.

Information is sparse. Lepidstadt is relatively close to the Shudderwood, which is the size of a county into itself. It is entirely uncivilized, and famous for the dangerous creatures which call it home. The Ascanor Lodge is the only bastion of civilization in the entire wood, and is only known as a posh, invite-only hunting lodge.

Before you depart, Judge Daramid presses a note into your hands.

"Hold this, and keep it safe. This is your invitation to the Ascanor Lodge. The Whispering Way have caused pain and chaos everywhere they have gone, and we must find out what their purpose is, and stop them before they hurt others. I'm counting on you, for Petros' sake."

Now fully equipped, you bid fare well to your friends, and to Lepidstadt. The silent trail actually begins a short distance from Schloss Caromarc, where you are able to visit your friend Brodur once more, where he is busy rebuilding the alchemy shop. You all get a tearful hug before you continue on your way.

It is several days of hard travel out of the Dippelmere Swamp, and out of the county of Vieland. You cross the Troll's Tail River and enter the Palatine of Lozeri. Ahead, a dark shadow rises on the horizon, which soon grows into a massive forest of towering conifers.

Standing at the edge of the Shudderwood is almost like staring into another world. Ominous, towering pine trees blot out the sunlight, allowing only occasional splinters of light to pierce through. Within this dimness, broken branches and occasional shrubs growing up through fallen trees create shadowy illusions both wondrous and haunting. Apart from pallid lichens, colorful fungi, feathermoss, and wintergreen, little else grows in the forest. The Shudderwood possesses an eerie stillness only occasionally lifted by the sounds of passing birds and small animals scurrying across the dry pine needles littering the forest floor.

Please take this moment to roleplay any conversations and get to know one another, reflections on the last adventure, or plans for the current one. This is also your last opportunity to ask questions in town or buy things.

Going to get started on my wild enchant for my armor by making it a +1.

Kawrock looks around at the forest that lay ahead. "Hopefully most of the foliage is to damp to burn. Would hate to burn down half of it on accident."

you know, that lat adventure was quite hard in many ways, with the trial, and trolls, and golems. A nice walk in the forest is just what we need. Forests are lovely places.

Later in the forest. wow, it got dim quick. Where are the chirpy birds and happy squirrels It is obvious she has never been in a real forest.

Arval slowly walks along with the others in silence, enjoying the view. After a while his look intensifies and he grabs the horrid charm around his neck.
"Bad place... Looks even worse than the previous place, almost evil."

-Posted with Wayfinder

No, it's really quite beautiful.
The party stares at her.
Yes, the greenery and the trees, and the insects, and the trees, and the dim light and...and the trees.
She flushes.
Yeah I don't know where I was going with that. I agree, it's a horrible place. I could fireball it?

"Ain't nothin' wrong wit' trees a good axe an' bonfire cannae cure!" groused Whiskeyjack. During his time in mercenary companies there had been far too many ambushes out of woods, and far too little marching through caves of solid stone.

shh, whiskyjack. I think the trees are listening. lena whispers.

wow, it got dim quick. Where are the chirpy birds and happy squirrels

Wren smiles as she thinks about her favorite thing in the world: chirpy birds. Birds who were free to chirp whatever their heart desired, describing the joys of life. Wren had always admired that.

"I remember this one time I was in a forest unlike this one...blahblah...two girls, one holding a cup...blahblah...talking like birds...blahblah...feathers in the strangest places...blahblah...and I said, 'Which one of you wants a birdy ride?'...blahblah...unclothed, which made it awkward...blahblah...and so the chaffing wasn't too bad."

Arval's eyes widen at the mention of a fireball and an axe.
"Shhhhh! SSSHH! I think they are listening..."
He looks surprised at Lena as she says the same at the same moment. He shifts his focus and looks from tree to tree to make sure one of them doesn't attack them suddenly. He makes a throaty sound as he nearly jumps out of his skin as something next to his foot in the underbrush moved.
"Ju.. Ju... Just a sqqqqquirel..."

Kawrock watches the jumpy Arval for a moment. "You don't really get out of the city much do you."

Although the incredible canopy and relative lack of underbrush gives the forest a strange, empty feel, it is nonetheless teeming with wildlife. You travel for days down the silent trail in the gloom.

The forest around the path thins, and a brisk crosswind scatters
concealing drifts of pine needles across the trail. If not for the shallow grooves left behind by the wheels of traveling wagons, following the path would be nearly impossible.

Kawrock's keen eyes scan the forest ahead, and he spies something up ahead on the narrow trail. He sees two creatures in the trees up ahead, hiding in the upper branches.

This hideous purple creature walks upright like a man, but its face is that of a spider, and its hands are sickle-shaped claws.

The ettercaps spot the group as the group spots them, and rather than engaging, they turn, scurrying and leaping from ancient trees as they withdraw. As they turn to run, something falls to the ground.

Wren, Kawrock, and Eldon are up! The ettercaps are apparently fleeing, and have dropped something. Map is updated.

Round 1, Init 20

Wren draws her new wand but doesn't go anywhere. Much like a bird, she freezes when she sees a threat from afar, waiting to see if they approach or flee.

She does not recognize the critters.

"Well they seem to be running. I wonder what they dropped." Kawrock says as he moves forward to get a closer look.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Knowledge (Engineering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Be careful! They are ettercaps, creatures famous for their traps! It's also incredibly rare to see a pair, because they're solitary creatures!"

Eldon runs straight forward, up to the object the creatures dropped. However, he makes sure to not touch it as he looks at it.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Dungeoneering you doof. But you're a bard so hell, why not. You know a great deal about the physics involved in ettercap traps.

You approach the item, and discover it to be a half-chewed teddy bear. The ettercaps stop as you look at the item. As they look at you, you hear what sounds like a child's scream from not too far down the trail.

Are Arval and W'Jack up? Or all of us? Are we still in initiative?

Wren coos nervously, unsure what is going on from her position far away from the object.

BTW, I forgot to say Lena has cast a mount spell to get herself a pony, so she can keep up with the long shanks. She calls it Daisy. If Eldon asks her nicely, she can do one for him as well.

This smells like a trap. Let's see.

If the ettercaps are in range, and are clustered (ie two or more in a 20 foot radius), she will fireball them.

fireball: 7d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 6, 3, 6, 6) = 29 DC 19 reflex for half

If they are scattered, then she scorching rays two of them

scorching ray one: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 touch
damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 4) = 18

scorching ray two: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 touch
damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 2) = 11

That should stir them up

Arval double moves forward and grabs his sword, his shield already in hand he is ready to chop some caps.

Wren I was playing it loose since I wasn't sure if the party was attacking. The ettercaps have now moved and we're in a more proper initiative order.

The ettercaps burst into activity as the group advances bracciating through the trees at astonishing speed, and Lena watches their movements before she flings a fireball down the trail!

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

FOOOM

A fireball explodes in front of Arval as he charges in, and one of the ettercaps falls dead from the trees. Several trees immediately go up in flames, which exposes a third ettercap a little ways down the trail, barely hanging on. The group now sees one more ettercap, also fleeing. Once more, the sound of a child's scream comes from down the trail.

Eldon finds a gnawed-on teddy bear at his feet. It looks gross.

Wren, Whiskeyjack, Kawrock, and Eldon are up!

Round 2, Init 20

Wren skitters up 30', sending missiles out cross ettercap.

Casting Magic Missile,rather than wand: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 3) + 4 = 13 force damage.

Whiskeyjack ran forward as fast as his stumpy legs could move. The immensely heavy armor on his back didn't seem to slow him, though it made enough noise to wake the dead several kingdoms over.

"Tha's right...ye grungy spider lovers...run from th' dwarf. I' be yer only...chance t' ge'...away...wit' yer donkey-fluffin'...carapaces...intact!"

Whiskeyjack huffed and shouted as he ran. The plate may not slow him down but he would never have been considered a long distance runner even without the metal suit.

Double move...really? That's all 40 feet is? Wow :)

Same here :P The slow lumbering run of a fighter is far from exciting!

daisy, away and lena keeps pace with her slow companions.

Wren's magic missile slams into one of the fleeing ettercaps, blasting it off of the tree. It falls into the forest. More screams sound from down the path.

Eldon and Kawrock are up!

@GM: Dungeoneering and engineering are exactly the same thing once your knowledge is so vast it transcends everything. *cough* I guess.

@Lena: Eldon isn't bothered the least bit by the longshanks' pace. He claims it's due to his incredible stamina, but it's really 'cause the longshanks are slowed down by their armor! ;)

Eldon picks up the gross teddy with his thumb and index finger. He holds it out in front of him and makes a disgusted face.

"Bleh," he states, which is somewhat of an understatement.

With the teddy bear now in his hand, sort of, Eldon moves toward the screams.

I hope this isn't part of their trap!

Can I pinpoint the source of the screams?
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Kawrock transforms into his firebug form and takes to the air. Trying his best to pinpoint the screams or anymore of these spider creatures.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Eldon, listening carefully, is pretty sure another ettercap is further south on the trail, mimicking human screams. Kawrock turns into a phoenix and flies up into the sky, verifying this. As he heads into the air, he spots a ruined tower to the south, a short distance off the trail. It appears the ettercaps are running for the tower.

The ettercaps continue to rush southwards, flinging themselves through the upper boughs of the trees with astonishing speed.

Everyone is up. Plain ettercap has been added to the map. I've updated Kawrock's token with something more phoenixy and a border.

Whiskeyjack continued to move forward, though not nearly as quickly as before. "Seems like ... t' be an ambush...eh Eldon? Well, le's no' ... be walkin' int' i' ... wit' our eyes closed... Join up, an' le's give a unified front."

Eldon nods at Whiskeyjack. "Good to see you've caught up to me. I figured I'd stand still to allow you to do so, because going after them on my own would leave you guys vulnerable."

He looks at the others, who've fallen way behind, and motions for them to approach. "I'll wait for you to catch up to me, considering I'm way faster than any of you, but you should try to hurry up!"

Kawrock soars over Eldon while managing to squawk out "Tower....there is a tower to the south."

Double move 120 feet. Thank you for the new token GM. I like it!

Round 3, Init 20

Wren double moves to keep up.

"This is very strange. I don't like those critters at all...they seem very tricksy!"

Will move on map when I get back to computer.

The ettercaps haven't attacked you in any way, but seem very insistent that you come to the tower Kawrock spotted.

You may act freely since the ettercaps aren't attacking and just fleeing - no need for combat rounds unless you're still blowing them up.

Arval lumbers after Whiskey but stops halfway.
"I ain't that stupid. That is just a trap!"
He looks to the others if they want to keep going.

Kawrock will circle above the tower and look for anything unusual.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Not sure where the tower is on the map. Finally updated my profiles for lvl 7.

We still should get rid of them if we can. They are obviously a menace.

Lena trots her pony at the pace of the armoured turtles. She casts shield, expecting a fight.

Despite Arval's protests, the group continue cautiously following the ettercaps. The ettercaps turn down a trail, rushing towards the tower.

The group suddenly see Kawrock cease his cautious circling of the tower, and start descending more directly.

I'll allow everyone to post reactions, and we'll re-enter combat as the group will arrive at the tower the round after Kawrock does at their current pace. Map is updated, but not active yet.

uh, what's Kawrock doing? We better hurry. Lena kicks up the pace.

Arval lumbers on after the others and talks to Whiskey.
"Can't they see it's a trap? Why are we doing this?!"
Sword and shield ready he runs into the area where Kawrock is.

What are you worried about. A trap you know about is not a trap. besides, you have all that iron on you. You may as well use it Lena's voice yells back.

"Dear Arval," Eldon says in his usual know-it-all manner, "We are going to defeat these creatures, ensuring that other people won't fall prey to them in the future."

Wren hustles along with the group, angrily squawking about this and that. She doesn't like to rush and seeing Kawrock hasten ahead makes her ornery.

She moves along with the group.

"This one time, at Band Camp...blahblahblah...two tubas, both for defecation...blahblahblah...unknown flu symptoms...blahblahblah...and lots of bleeding. Last time I tried that!"

As a tuba player I am mortified. Not as mortified I am by actually admitting I play tuba.

The group break into a run as they try to get to the tower and find out what Kawrock is up to while the ettercaps chitter joyfully as they lead you towards it. As you get closer, you hear a strange, beautiful song which sounds like it is being played by a thousand infinitely delicate violins.

The ettercaps arrive at the tower and begin dancing in front of it. The song has an incredible, alluring pull on you. While you manage to resist it, Arval suddenly goes glassy-eyed and despite his protests against going here at all, begins to move in a strange, robotic fashion towards the tower!

The song suddenly ceases, and Kawrock is no longer visible. However, Arval still appears fascinated.

Arval is fascinated! He is mindlessly going towards the tower now. Kawrock is no longer in sight. You have roughly a round of actions and I'll move things on.

Lena hops off her conjured pony and dismisses it. (Mv action)

Then she moves up 20ft.
eldon, that song is stealing your thunder, and your audience she points at arval. you better rectify that
Can you countersong eldon?
Thats a fuĺl round

Eldon turns his head toward Lena and quietly stares at her.

I can't sing...

"Uhm, yes, I, uhhh..." he utters, but quickly falls quiet again.

Eldon's eyes light up as an idea pops up in his head. He drops the stuffed animal, mutters a couple of words, and flicks his fingers. Out of nowhere a saxophone appears in Eldon's hands, which he starts playing with a show of epic skill.

Countersong; Perform (Wind): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

It doesn't take long for Eldon to start dancing to his epic tune.

Perform (Dance): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Summon Instrument (Standard Action)
Countersong (Move Action)
Dance (Sh!t & Giggles)

It's not a tuba! It's a sousaphone, more properly known as a bass. And I humped one int eh Texas heat for 6 years.

Whiskeyjack hurried along with the rest, saving his breath for moving along, and less for Wren and Eldon's nonsense. Althrough he did sapre the breath to tell the young man that a nest of ettercaps this close to the road would be a hazard for travelers and should be dealt with no matter that is was an obvious trap. And like Vladlena said, a trap you know about isn't as much of a trap.

Wren keeps up, not taking action unless there are foes to blast. She seems intrigued that Eldon might actually do something useful, and looks/listens on eagerly.