JZ's Carrion Crown - (Wake of the Watcher) (Inactive)

Game Master JamZilla

Map

LOOT


5,551 to 5,600 of 7,976 << first < prev | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | next > last >>

Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Vermundr returns several minutes later. As he enters the residence, the big northerner shares a nod with his buzzing familiar.

"I have something that might help", he explains before pausing at the presence of Judge Daramid. The older woman's determined expression tells him enough - she was aware of the crisis the party was dealing with.

"The bond that Zelda and I share gives her access to certain powers outside the world of men. Through these powers she can divine pieces of information that may prove valuable, such as what's become of Kendra or what Vrood is planning next. I admit I don't know how all of it works but I trust you all feel the same way I do right now - Vrood and his cult has to be stopped."

I am happy to help in any way I can to bring swift vengeance down on my master's enemies. The Powers are cryptic at times but their information can be trusted. Zelda explains for everyone present.


NG Male Human Investigator (Psychic Detective)9 lvl 1 spells 6/7 lvl2 5/5 lvl3 4/4 Insp: 10/12 HP 48/48 Init +0, Per +16 AC 18/14/18 Frt3,Rfx6,Wll8

His voice low, Kaz answers the burly northerner and his familiar.
"We know, unfortunately, that Kendra is no longer among the living. Vala's ring made that clear. It might behoove us to know as much as we can about Aubren Vrood's plans. IF the powers are willing to vouchsafe us a glimpse of their final design, or even if just an idea of what they have planned in the Shudderwood, I'd be very grateful."


INACTIVE - GAME DIED

As the initial planning discussion goes on, Constantin is conspicuously absent.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Vermundr frowns but doesn’t reply to Kaz’s grim news except to grunt in understanding.

Suddenly aware of their absence, he looks around for signs of the missing party members. ”Vala and Constantin?”


NG Male Human Investigator (Psychic Detective)9 lvl 1 spells 6/7 lvl2 5/5 lvl3 4/4 Insp: 10/12 HP 48/48 Init +0, Per +16 AC 18/14/18 Frt3,Rfx6,Wll8

"Vala is upstairs, and still...rather upset. Constantin said he had...how did he put it.."certain sources" to consult. I don't know how long he'll be, but I hope he is not taking undue risks alone.

I think, under the circumstances, we might arrange for rooms at the same inn. I would be surprised if any of us want to stay here tonight.

And you, VermundR? Are you - well, alright is an absurd term, given circumstances, but you know what I mean."


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

”I’ll endure”, Vermundr says darkly. ”At least as long as it takes to kill Vrood. I swore my sword to Lady Kendra. That oath doesn’t end just because she’s gone.”

I guess we’ll wait on the commune.


Inactive

"Yeah, I'm not staying here," Hazel agrees, looking around with a shudder. "Not unless Vala wants to. And if she does, I can stay here with her if the rest of you want to get rooms somewhere close by. I don't think Vrood will come back here - it doesn't seem like his style," she scowls.


Let me know how many questions you can ask, what those questions are (or at least the first one if what you ask will change depending on answers) and let's go from there.

You set it up Vermundr and we'll play through.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Later:

Back at the inn, Vermundr clears several of the larger pieces of furniture in the common room per Zelda’s directions. The proprietor objects at first but a few coins in his palm quickly silences the nervous man - long enough to complete the divination ritual at least. As a last bit of preparation, Vermundr shutters most of the lanterns scattered around the space leaving the common room lit by only a handful of sputtering candles.

Satisfied, the unnaturally large wasp takes up a position near the center of the room. The moody glow from the candles reflects off the familair’s irredescent wings which, combined with her humming, gives the scene a dream-like quality.

Give voice to the questions that trouble your hearts, Zelda says in a voice that is louder and more authoritative than anything the party has heard from her before. But be warned: Knowledge is often a burden and what is known cannot be unknown.

Zelda is caster level 12 for her commune so she gets 6 questions. Let’s start with, ‘What became of Kendra Lorrimor’?


Aren't these just yes or no questions?


NG Male Human Investigator (Psychic Detective)9 lvl 1 spells 6/7 lvl2 5/5 lvl3 4/4 Insp: 10/12 HP 48/48 Init +0, Per +16 AC 18/14/18 Frt3,Rfx6,Wll8

Sometime between speaking with the judge and Zelda's divination, Kaz will make a side-trip to the weaponsmith he had contacted before, and pick up is new 'cane'.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Derp, that is correct. Someone one to formulate the first yes/no question?


Inactive

According to the description you have to ask 'Yes' or 'No' questions using Commune, though it also notes that 'Unclear' is a valid answer too.


NG Male Human Investigator (Psychic Detective)9 lvl 1 spells 6/7 lvl2 5/5 lvl3 4/4 Insp: 10/12 HP 48/48 Init +0, Per +16 AC 18/14/18 Frt3,Rfx6,Wll8

What exactly do we want to know? We already know she is dead, and it is a safe bet that Vrood or his flunkies killed her. Do we want to make sure that she is not undead? Or do we want to know if her body is still in lepistadt? Or if Vrood took it with him?


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

I think the immediate concern is tracking down her remains. If we can accomplish that and still have questions left we should ask about Vrood.


Inactive

I'd say regarding Kendra we ask if she's at rest or not (dead or undead) and then whether her body is with Vrood. The rest of the questions can follow accordingly based on the answers to those first two.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

I like that.

"Is Kendra Lorrimor's spirit at rest?" Vermundr asks aloud.


I want to clarify something. Are we taking it that 'at rest' means 'not undead?' Because I will give you more than the intention of this spell by telling you that while she is not undead, her spirit is not at rest - i.e. of course she was not at peace when she passed and whether her spirit is in the Boneyard or still tethered on Golarion, (which might be a different question if we think about the Warden's Wife's spirit in Harrowstone for example) she was not ready/happy about it.

Therefore;

Answering in a voice that the group has never heard before and that Vermundr knows is not her own, Zelda buzzes hypnotically in the air and says;

No


retired

Vala gasps and her eyes begin to well up, but she clutches Hazel's hand and watches as Vermundr continues with the ritual.

She whispers in a small, fearful voice to the burly man a moment later, "Do agents of the Whispering Way have her body?"


Yes

Definitive. Unequivocal.


Inactive

Hazel tries not to flinch as Vala squeezes her hand - the older woman's grip was surprisingly strong! Instead, she offers a silent squeeze in return as they observe the ritual. Her expression darkens as they receive the answer to the next question, but there's also a look of resignation there as well.

Thought so. Desna, whatever they do to Kendra, please don't let Vala have to see it... she prays silently, remembering the horror they'd all felt when what was left of Professor Lorrimor came calling that night in Ravengro.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Hazel:

WhAt'S tHe MaTtEr HaZeL? DoN't YoU tHiNk Ms LoRrImOr CoUlD dO wItH a LiTtLe MaKeOvEr? HaHaHaHa!

The nasal, disgusting voice of The Splatterman rings in her head. She knows full well that monster is destroyed, but she wonders how long it will be before she stops hearing his voice and feeling that tingle along her spine when she does.


Inactive

GM:

Not sure what I was expecting when I clicked on that spoiler, but that certainly wasn't it O.O

Suddenly, Hazel does jump and releases her grip on Vala's hand as she looks around nervously. Her other hand instinctively reaches for her starknife but she does not draw it - yet.


retired

Vala whimpers softly, her lip quivering with barely contained emotion. She then asks, in the same small voice, "Di-did they take her body to the Shudderwood?"


No.

With just as much certainly.

3 questions remaining?


Hazel Stokes wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Suddenly, Hazel does jump and releases her grip on Vala's hand as she looks around nervously. Her other hand instinctively reaches for her starknife but she does not draw it - yet.

Hazel:

Hehe. I don't think anyone is going to get through this whole campaign without suffering pretty significant emotional/mental harm.


Male Dhampir Inquisitor 12 | AC 28, Touch 14, FF 26 | HP 69/99 | F +13, R +9, W +15 (+2 vs disease/mind-affecting, -1 vs ability score damage/drain) | Init +7 | Perc +25
Buffed Stats:
AC 32 (+ Lastwall Phalanx), Touch 17, FF 29 | HP 69/99 | F +13, R +10, W +15 (+ Lastwall Phalanx)| Init +7 | Perc +25, See Invisibility | Freedom of Movement

Zed looks at Hazel for a moment, then turns to the rest of the group with a stern frown. We have not cut out the rot of this cult, we have only sliced off a layer.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

"Will traveling to the Shudderwood put us on a path to encounter the Whispering Way again?" Vermundr adds.


YES

Louder. Stronger. More certain than anything before.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

”And will we find Kendra Lorrimor’s body if we pursue the Whispering Way?”


Inactive

"Sorry...thought I heard something," Hazel mutters as she catches Zed giving her a funny look.


Vermundr wrote:
”And will we find Kendra Lorrimor’s body if we pursue the Whispering Way?”

Unclear comes the reply


retired

As the answer to Vermundr is given, Vala takes a steadying breath, almost as if she'd come to a decision before asking the final question of Zelda. Her voice is a little more firm and she doesn't stutter like she had with her previous inquiries. "Will defeating the Whispering Way in the Shudderwood better position us to recover Kendra's body?"


Zelda buzzes back and forth, bobbing like a lure on the surface of a lake. At once it is hypnotic and also somehow..... predatory.

Following Vala's question there is silence. It hangs disconcertingly in the space between you until, eventually the answer comes;

Unclear


Inactive

Hazel allows the silence after Zelda's final answer to linger for just a moment before shaking her head again. "Well, fat lot of good that did..." she sighs.

As she stands next to Vala she looks at the rest of the group as if to say, 'What now?' But she already knew the answer, of course. They would go to the Shudderwood, because they had no other choice - it was their best and only lead on finding the Whispering Way.


NG Male Human Investigator (Psychic Detective)9 lvl 1 spells 6/7 lvl2 5/5 lvl3 4/4 Insp: 10/12 HP 48/48 Init +0, Per +16 AC 18/14/18 Frt3,Rfx6,Wll8

"If I might suggest - 'Does Vrood have allies among the werewolves of the Shudderwood?' , if you think that answer might help us." Kaz says quietly to VermundR.


I think you've already had your six questions but I'll give you another :)

Zelda answers this final question, her eldritch voice diminishing as though answering from far away.

Yes


Inactive

"Great," Hazel responds, a slight twinge of sarcasm in her tone. "Werewolves are bad enough on their own but they're definitely in cahoots with Vrood? I guess we'd better invest in some silver weapons..."


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Vermundr grimaces at Hazel's comment but remains silent.


Earlier

Zed and Kazamir take the time to search the whole house at a moment that would not cause Vala any more stress.

They find nothing out of place on the upper floors, it doesn't appear that anything transpired there.

Justice Darramid traces her hand over the large tome on the table;

This is the Manual of our Order. It is written in the strongest code our best minds could devise - in order to keep our secrets safe, even from magic. It's content is a history of the Order, enchantments and arcane thesis, philosophies and tenets. Jon asked me to borrow this copy, I believe he was sharing some of it's content with Ms Lorrimor, possibly to introduce her to the Order. Like father like daughter I suppose. As a good standing member of the Order, and knowing her father as I did, of course I had no objections.

Finally, she takes the note from Kazamir. She reads it and then closes her eyes and slowly licks her lips, as if a cold fury were building inside her.

Everything is before you. This is written in ancient Osirion, a long dead language. Order members who subscribe to the society's philosophical beliefs benefit greatly from mental discipline, I'm sure this is something that you can appreciate.[/b] she says to Kaz and Constantin in particular. This recitation serves as one of many commonly repeated maxims, a password and a means for Order members to identify one another. I don't think they are taunting us... I think they are playing games with us. Sick...


I'll move this on to the next day

Judge Darramid arranges for Jon's body to be picked up and taken to the infirmary until such time as she can arrange passage back to Caliphas.

The party spends a restless night at a local inn, having secured Kendra's house. Vala and Hazel spend a fraught but silent night in the place.

Vala in particular finds it impossible to sleep. Every moment she thinks she is about to drop off, she hears or rather feels something close by, it's anger and sorrow even greater than her own. In the recesses of her mind and spirit, Petros rages and rails for his lost daughter.

How should we proceed? Would you like to do anything or speak to anyone else? Would you like to have some kind of memorial for Kenda which can be done on or off camera as you like or are you ready to move on to the next book?

Vala, I know this is a particularly charged situation for Vala and I understand that you need time to digest how she would react to it. As sensitively as she can though, the Judge will press upon the group that the lead you have in the Shudderwood is the only one you have and if that trail goes cold you may never catch up with Vrood again.

Not rushing anything, just laying it out as I see it :)


retired

After the ritual with Zelda, whatever strength or fortitude Vala had seemed to muster during it evaporates in an exhausted, defeated sigh. Unable to find the right words, she simply whispered a quiet, "Excuse me," before shuffling upstairs to her room.

When Hazel came up later, she found Vala in deep conversation with Pyth, the raven perched atop the back of a chair as Vala sat on the edge of her simple bed.

---

Morning dawns and Vala with it, but she finds no relief in a newly risen sun. The ache and emptiness within her soul abated little with a fitful night's sleep and in glancing at Hazel she sees, for the briefest flash, Kendra as a young girl, curled up beneath a scratchy blanket. Her eyes begin to briefly well as the thought pierces her already riven heart.

She heads downstairs quietly, stifling her tears, and waits for the others to rise and begin to stir. She sits patiently, idly stirring a small spoon in a cup of tea and watching her reflection ripple and bounce across the surface of the drink.


INACTIVE - GAME DIED
GM-JZ wrote:
Earlier... she says to Kaz and Constantin in particular....

I'm not there.

The next day... there's still no sign of Constantin. It's not until the second day later that he staggers back into the team, disheveled, hair mussed, clutching a crumpled scrap of paper in his hand.

"I've got something... I need a cartographer. There's a village... I think the Whispering Way has taken it over. I just need to find out where."

He slumps into whatever seat is available, muttering to himself, eyes slightly unfocused like a man with a concussion.


Constantin Ionescu wrote:
GM-JZ wrote:
Earlier... she says to Kaz and Constantin in particular....

I'm not there.

The next day... there's still no sign of Constantin. It's not until the second day later that he staggers back into the team, disheveled, hair mussed, clutching a crumpled scrap of paper in his hand.

"I've got something... I need a cartographer. There's a village... I think the Whispering Way has taken it over. I just need to find out where."

He slumps into whatever seat is available, muttering to himself, eyes slightly unfocused like a man with a concussion.

Quite right, I had lost track of where we were.


retired

For the sake of simplicity and such, can we pull some timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly, handwavium stuff out of the air and have Constantin stumble back in the morning after the ritual with Zelda? Just seems cleaner that way.


INACTIVE - GAME DIED

Sure. I figured 20 hours of scribbling + 8-10 hours of crashed-out sleep = about 2 days gone.


We'll do some weird time dilation stuff. Shall we say you have 1 day to prep for the road to account for the time Constantin was crashed?


Here is a map of Ustalav. It shows cities, towns and some larger villages. There are probably dozens of unlabelled settlements in the wilder areas of the country.

Happy for you guys to discuss and roleplay getting the map and what it means however much you like or I can move on to Book 3 proper.


Inactive

Unsure of what else she can do for her elderly companion, Hazel simply does her best to give her some space to grieve during the lonely, silent night the pair of them spend in Kendra's empty home. Though she sleeps, its uneasy and for the first time in ages she even dreams a little of home and faces she's not seen in months. When she rises the next morning, she find her thoughts drifting to her parents - still in Magnimar. Did they miss her? Or were they happy to have her gone? And then Briana...her oldest friend, one she'd not spoken to or heard from since the day she'd left the Kaddren estate. Where was she now? Still trapped the prison her family had been dutifully building for her or had she managed to escape?

What does it matter? Nothing you can do for any of them way out here. And maybe it's better that way.

She heads downstairs as the others begin filing in again from the inn and heads to the kitchen to try her hand at making breakfast.

Profession: Cook (Untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

After almost immediately dropping several eggs on the floor and then burning her hand on the stove, Hazel decides that maybe jelly sandwiches and milk would be good enough until lunchtime. She heads out to join the others and discuss what to do next - just in time to see Constantin stagger inside, looking quite the mess.

"Wait, what? How do you know that?" she gapes as he calls for a cartographer.


Male Ulfen Bloodrager 9 | 94/94 HP | AC 19 T 11 FF 19 (AC 26 currently) | Fort +10 Ref +4 Will +8 | Initiative +0 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +0
Resources:
Rage 9/23 | Spells: 1st 2/3, 2nd 1/1
Zelda | 47/47 HP (0 nonlethal) | AC: 21

Vermundr takes his jelly sandwich to go.

Leaving the others to care for the haggard Constatin, the big northerner quickly exits the inn to seek out a map of quality that might meet Constantin's needs. Zelda buzzes ahead scouting the streets for signs of a cartographer's office.

Not sure if I need to gather info to find that map.

Diplomacy: 10 + 2 = 12

5,551 to 5,600 of 7,976 << first < prev | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post / JZ's Stand Against the Darkness - Carrion Crown All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.