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

Game Master JamZilla

Hazel's own expression softens as she listens to Vala reason with the lost spirit; this was the Vala she knew...or thought she knew...best. The one who'd been kind but firm, like one might expect a grandmother to be. The one that Hazel had seen less and less of since Kendra's abduction and murder. She'd missed that Vala.

I... yes... I can do that. the spirit replies in a curious combination of pride and shame at Vala's words. Yes you will be safe here, or as safe as you can be.

There's... there's something else, other people here - a great deal of wolves in the building across the street (north). I've seen them attacking the undead but they get overwhelmed and fall back there, I don't know what they are doing.

He frets his hands a little more and chews the inside of his cheek.

One last thing. It's... it's quite a grisly thing, but you've been so kind to me that I would feel awful if I didn't at least mention it. I know you're looking for this man Vrood. I've only seen him once and he scared the life out of me... or death out of me... I don't know. But he is alive, I know that much. And the living can hide their intentions from the living but they can't hide them from the dead. If... he swallows. If you were to bring me his head.... I can see his thoughts and what he has seen. It might help you find out what his intentions were here if he isn't interested in talking.

Pleased with the spirit's newfound courage, the big northerner gives him a reassuring nod.

"I thought this pack was allied with the Way. Why would the Wolves be battling them now?" he adds. "We should try to get close and treat with their Alpha. If they could be convinced to engage that army of dead, that might give us the opening we need to break through to Vrood."

"Maybe they figured out that they're expendable," Hazel mutters darkly. "I don't think Vrood cares about anything or anyone but Vrood. He'd throw his allies to the um...well, to the wolves, if it served his purposes!"

Don't forget you know the Princes Wolves sent some people here and rhat they are sworn enemies of the Way

The Demon Wolves are the ones allied with the Way

Zed gives a nod towards the spirit. "You have helped us more than you can possibly know. This information, and your help, has given us the greatest chance of success we could hope for."

"Yes, let us visit the wolves first. Verm should you lead the diplomacy on that front?"

Vala smiles demurely at the spirit as the group turns to leave, "If there's enough of him left to recover his head, I'll keep your offer to probe his thoughts in mind." She turns to the others in the wake of Zed's question, "If it's the Princes across the street, which I suspect given their conflict with the undead, then these patches will announce us readily enough. If they're demon wolves though, then we need to be ready for a fight."

"When don't we have to be ready for a fight?" Hazel quips. "But yeah, you're right, they're probably the Princes and the ones we're looking for. Hopefully they'll be able to tell us more about what's been happening here!"

Plan? Dashing across the street?

I'm up for checking out the wolves across the street.

The spirit fades from view. You know that it cannot rest but the fact that it is no longer attempting it's perpetual suicide is at least a good sign.

Stepping out onto the street, you see the mist is still as dense as ever. It is going to be impossible to see more than a dozen feet and so, based on what the ghost said, you try to slink as carefully as you can across the street.

As you near the building directly opposite, you hear the sound of sniffing and then a low growl from behind the door.

Who goes there? the voice hisses. Rakhis, (Leader of the Prince's wolves if you don't remember) is that you?

Hazel glances around quickly and hisses, "No, but he sent us in his stead since we seem to have a mutual enemy. May we enter?"

Diplomacy (If Needed): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
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If someone else with a better bonus wants to take the lead then Hazel's roll can serve as an Aid instead.

"Allies of Rakhis, bearing his mark, and enemies of his enemies. My allies will stand away from the door so you may hear and smell the truth of my words."

Kazamir tucks his cane into the back of his belt and steps toward the door, standing away from his friends and holding his empty hands wide.

diplo: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 14 + (5) = 26

There is the sound of more sniffing inside and hushed voices. Nervously, you cast glances into the mist as the discussion goes on. There is movement very close to you, no more than a hundred feet or so away - the sounds of steps and something large shuffling about.

After another moment the door swings open.

Get in here if you want to live! the voice growls.

You cautiously enter the building, what appears to have been a warehouse at one time.

The interior is pitch dark, though when you bring your light inside you realise the voice that called you was far from alone.

A slender man, dressed in well kept light armor edges back from the door as you enter. His left hand is extended out as if warding you back and in his right is a fine silver rapier.

Two other men flank him, more burly and thick set and armed with morningstars gripped tightly in both hands.

Beyond them you can see about a dozen pairs of eyes, lamp-like in the dark and accompanied by the heavy, half growling breath of large animals and the stench of wet dog.

You have the smell of us. the man says. He seems suspicious but begins to relax a fraction. Aye, Rhakis must have sent you. But why? You are not lycans... well, not all of you entirely. he adds, sniffing at Vermundr.

Zed enters last, giving a final look outdoors before entering and closing the door behind him.

He looms in the back, seeming unperturbed by the potential hostilities.

You have the smell of us. the man says. He seems suspicious but begins to relax a fraction. Aye, Rhakis must have sent you. But why? You are not lycans... well, not all of you entirely. he adds, sniffing at Vermundr.

"Allies against a common enemy. This Vrood must be put down, for the sake of all Ustalav, and for more...personal reasons. Rhakis commended us to you..." whatever the Way are up to it cannot be good. We Princes Wolves have not forgotten the oath we made to stand against them. It will be better for my pack to know you stand against them too," he said"

"Enemy of my enemy and all," Hazel adds with a grim smile.

The man edges forward, eyes still fixed on Kazamir and rapier poised as he sniffs at the man.

After a moment, you see his demeanor relax.

It's alright he says to the pack. There is truth to what they say.

He ushers you in as he sheathes his sword, leaning out of the door and looking quickly left and right before he eases it shut behind them.

You are here for the Way. We are enemies of the Way, that's true but there are other enemies here, the Demon Wolves.

This Vrood is working on something big here. You may have killed those skeletons out there but there are more and much worse besides. I think he's building an army and he's using the Demon Wolves to protect him whilst he does so.

We know where the Demons are, in the mill across the street, but we have dared not move against them until more of the pack arrive, but by the time that happens I think we will be too late.

We must help eachother.

Constantin frowns slightly and says, "If we must carve through the demon wolves to reach Vrood, then so be it."

"Tell us everything you know. Numbers. Weapons. Layout. Together we will silence them all."

"Right, the more we know the better a plan we can come up with," Hazel agrees. "Because that'll make the difference on whether we should try taking on the Demon Wolves all together or leaving them to you while we go after Vrood and his minions or the other way around."

Vermundr gives the slightest nod of acknowledgement when the pack leader notes his heritage.

"Has that pack always gone by the name 'Demon Wolves'?" Vermundr asks following on Zed's questions. "I've heard tales of those with the Were consorting with the Mistress of the Hungry Moon. Some say she was the first..."

So they say.... the squad leader agrees with Vermundr. I don't know if those tales are true or not. The Demon Wolves believe them and when you see them you might believe them too. I am not ashamed to say they are stronger than us.

We outnumber them four to one - there is just Ionocu and his two personal bodyguards - but Rhakis must have told you what a terrible foe he is. If there is any good in you, they will turn it to weakness and Ionocu himself is a bowman of amazing prowess. I hope your silver weapons are angelic too or you will find it difficult to harm that beast.

Even together we would stand no chance against the undead army Vrood has built though, especially with the wolves. I propose a different strategy. It is clear how you deal with my kind, if you take care of Ionocu for us, we will distract the army of skeletons for you, thus giving you a chance to reach Vrood.

We have the advantage of numbers where you do not. The pack will strike and cut and strike again against the horde. It is a tactic we are adept at and it will draw their ire I have no doubt. Especially that of the mindless undead who have no instinct other than to follow and destroy. When we do this, we will crete path for you to the tower east of town where your prey awaits.

Ionocu has the ability to smite good, is an excellent archer, has DR silver and good and has also selected to hold up in the mill because it only has one entrance - the grain door at the front

Things are quiet at the moment, but I sense they will not be for long. Vrood's army is almost complete and whatever he plans to do with it will begin. If you want to gather your strength before throwing yourself at this, you may do so here in safety. he offers.

"I should be able to assist with harming the beast. How strong are his defenses?"

"If they're strong I should be able to help with the angelic aspect, but your weapons will still need to be silver. I can also increase your defenses, and make you invisible to undead, particularly mindless undead."

"Your strategy is solid."

Zed has Weapons Against Evil with ignores the DR of evil creatures as long as its not greater than DR 5. Zed is asking if his DR seems stronger than that. If it is he also has Communal Align Weapon. He also has hide from undead which he can use on certain people so they can avoid the undead horde and go strait for the bosses.

I say we cast hide from undead on the party, making the strategy proposed by the werewolves even more viable. Zed will also spam his shield of faith spell on anybody who doesn't already have a decent deflection bonus to AC. He can also still drop a few invisibility spells if needed. He can help with the DR problem, although it mildly depends on how strong the creatures DR is. Also Zed and Verm should get into melee and put as much pressure down as possible since we're both neutral and he can't smite us.

Solid plan. We're talking DR 5/Good here

Vala remains silent as the group discusses their plans to eliminate the Demon Wolves, the earlier glimpse of her kinder self quickly receding once more behind a cold mask of promised violence. At the offer of rest and safety she finally remarks, "We broke one alpha and cowed another a few days ago. If Ionocu wishes to put himself between us and Vrood like they did, then there's worse in store for him." Flashes of electric blue spark briefly in her eyes and across her fingertips as she turns to look toward the mill. "He will burn, don't you doubt." Her voice is cool and collected as she speaks, almost as if she's saving the heat and malice for Vrood alone.

We still have 9 charges in a wand of cure moderate wounds if anyone is still down some hp. Zed, I can actually heal you a bunch of times (1d4+4 x 7) thanks to taking the Bones spirit. Additionally, I have an extended bull's strength prepared for either Verm or Zed, whomever would prefer it more. I'll cast it ahead of time as we begin to approach the mill.

For this to work we need to attack simultaneously. When he hear battle joined at the mill we will attack the horde. We can draw them away and leave a hole for you to approach the tower. If not, they will send many to investigate the mill and you will have no chance on two fronts.

You will only have minutes to recover or else the cultists will draw the undead back and you will once again have no chance

Basically you are going to have to go up against the wolves and then the tower straight after. If you want to rest in knowing that, then you can do so

Otherwise, just give them the signal

Noted on healing. Zed has a belt of giant strength +2. Verm will benefit from bull's strength more.

Should we rest first? Zed hasn't spent too much resources, he should be fine.

Sounds good Zed. Hazel should definitely keep her distance if this guy can smite good.

Vermundr could use a couple hits off the wand. He's down 28 hp. I don't know that resting is a great idea right now. It sounds like whatever the Way is up to is nearly complete.

"We'll send a signal once we've broken through so you and your men can withdraw. Fall back to the inn across the way. The spirit haunting it believes he can protect us from the dead. You can patch up your wounded under his roof", Vermundr explains as the party prepares.

I'm getting pumped for this. Everything is culminating here :)

While I see that Hazel wouldn't be the only one at risk of being smote, she'd probably be one of the most likely targets due to her armor and such!

Hazel grips her starknife and nods in agreement as Zed and Verm help to cook up a plan of attack. "I have some means of protecting myself, even in the middle of a fight. And...well...let's just say that Desna is ever with me. I can channel her goodness through my starknife," she smiles.
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In regards to DR/good, Hazel's Improved Weapon of the Chosen feat will allow her to give her starknife the 'good' quality to punch through it; it takes her swift action to use it though so she'll be happy to accept Zed's magic to star off so she can use her swift action for other spells and such. She's also basically gtg on resources aside from being down a couple of HP and maybe one spell.

Kaz is good to go.

You have decided then? Once you enter the mill we will begin engaging the undead. Vrood will not leave himself exposed so you should be prepared for him having support. I don't know where he is but we should be able to buy you enough time in facing only minimal resistance before you get to him.

The mill is the building across the street, the mist should still cover you but once battle is joined, the horde will now and that is when we will strike.

Just for some interesting background info, these wolves really are enemies of the Way. But they are still Neutral Evil hunting machines. I just like this dynamic that allies you encounter aren't all holier-than-thou types. One thing I will say is there really is a small army of undead out there but you ate free to go about this whichever way you want

Let me know your plan we'll go

Zed isn't opposed to using the morally questionable to get rid of worse evils. Just look at him.

I will remember those words, Zed :)

Anyone want to do something other than hit the Demon Wolves in the mill?

Hazel's good to go and it sounds like we don't really have much choice but to tackle the Demon Wolves right away lest we get overrun.

Let's do it.

The wolves watch on as you gather yourselves and leave the warehouse and continue in the direction you were told until you see a large grain mill loom out of the mist.

It is a wood and stone construction with a main building and a large grain hopper on top.

A set of double doors indicates the only entrance you can see.

Map incoming, will let you know when it is done

Pre buffs? Kaz will throw a Spectral hand, and wouldn't say no to an alignment buff on his sword-cane.

spectral hand hp: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Map Updated

Gee, a creaking windmill in a were-wolf and undead infested abandoned town in the fog at night...what could posibly go wrong?

I'm not saying I'd build a holiday home here but some of the trees are quite lovely... wait, we already did that joke didn't we? :/

Zed will cast Weapons Against Evil right before the party goes in. Prior to that he will cast hide from undead on the entire party. Zed will also spam his shield of faith spell on anybody who doesn't already have a decent deflection bonus to AC. He can also still drop a few invisibility spells if we think somebody should have it.

Please let me know if you would like to benefit from shield of faith.

Vermundr conjures a ward as the party closes on the windmill.

Shield.

Vermundr is also the beneficiary of an extended bull's strength. +4 Strength for nigh unto 20 minutes, good sir! Update those numbers! =)

Vala offers softly at the door, in a whisper cold and hard as iron, "This Ionocu and whatever retinue he may have are all that lies between us and that snake Vrood. Let's end him quickly and get to the prize, hmm?"

Zed, I'm also giving you a bone ward for 1 minute. You get to enjoy a +3 deflection bonus to AC.

Kaz has a +1 deflection: If you've got better, Zed, I'll take it with gratitidue.

Zed will hand out a +3 deflection bonus to anybody that has less than that.

Once you've all buffed could you ensure your status is up to date, either in the line or in a post. Just so I can determine what hits, saves etc