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The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination.
The five figures chant in the Sunless Grove, and their chants sounds more like mad man screams at each passing second. Then a flash of darkness emanates from the altar and makes it buckle under the weight of something huge, but unseen. One of the figures breaks in a hysterical laugh, while other pukes and s$&&s over himself, incapable of control. But the leader of the five figures holds his ground, and screams towards the figure:
"પરંતુ નાશપતીનો રાત સર્જનાત્મક વિચારો માટે થશે નહીં"The answer, coming from the altar, makes the walls of the huge cave shudder, as if the rock itself recoils away from the aberrant and evil voice!
One of the five figures is then pluck from his feet as by an invisible force and destroyed as a human would crumple a piece of paper, and as such is then toss aside. Other three of the humans scream and cry and run towards the exit, while the laughter of their now mad companion keeps ringing in their ears.
The spawn has been let loose on the unsuspecting town of Carrion Hill.
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Your characters arrive at Carrion Hill an hour before dusk, on a mission for the Pathfinder Society, of obtaining a book from one Arlend Hyve, a scholar of big renown in Ustalav. The book, called "The Necronomicon" is to be stored in a locked chest and transported to the Havenguard Lunatic Asylum Lodge in Caliphas as fast as possible. And you have strict instructions not to read the book under no circumstances, and to destroy it before losing it.
Just a minute after entering the city you hear criers and the city’s watch (a group known as the Crows) alike give cry, calling for adventurers to report to the town hall as follows:
"Carrion Hill needs heroes! Men of stout heart and bravery are asked to come to Crown Manor with all haste, there to receive a task worthy of their skill and talents and a reward of suitable magnificence. Make haste to Crown Manor! Make haste!"
You decide go to the ton hall, and notice that despite how densely packed the buildings are and how well worn the streets might be, the city seems all but deserted — even the crows so often seen perching atop eaves and gables have taken wing and circle in the air above calling out in fear. The skies are dark and overcast, and rain starts to fall as you near Crown Manor. Shops are closed and even the beggars seem to be hiding while the rain-drenched streets and the rivers of water that run down the central gutters in the roads throughout the city starts to form.
As you approach Crown Manor, two Crows, guardsmen dressed in black leather armor and chains wielding bows and longswords, stand guard. When they see you approach, their somber expressions flicker with hope and they wave for you to enter the manor and follow them, dripping and wet, into the central hall. Upon your arrival, you soon discover why the guards are so thankful — the events that have unfolded so far have sent the vast majority of Carrion Hill’s self-styled “adventurers” into hiding.
In the great hall, several members of the Crows stand guard while the mayor, a distracted and worried man named Vanton Heggry, sits in a tall-backed chair; apart from you, there appear to be no other adventurers present. When Heggry sees you enter, he straightens up and says, as he gestures for towards you:
"At least we’ve got a few backbones still upright in this place. I thank you for attending in our hour of need — Carrion Hill has a long history of battle, yet always before its enemies have attacked from outside our walls. We are fortified to defend against such attacks, but now we face an entirely different threat. Our enemy is already here, dwelling in the tunnels and catacombs below and surfacing to strike without warning. The first of these attacks occurred early this very morning, when something huge came up from below in a part of the Tangles called Slipper Market. It partially destroyed a building and killed a half dozen locals before retreating into the ruined structure. The Crows were swift to reply, led by our own Commander Garus, but when they arrived, they were slaughtered to the last. Since then, the thing has moved on, surfacing no less than three times in different parts of the city, crushing buildings from below and slaying anyone it finds inside. I’ve got the entire force of the city watch in reserve, and with each new event they respond quickly, but the damage is always done by the time they arrive. Already there is talk of war and invasion, but I still believe that what we face is a single horror. If we can only figure out what it is, we might be able to defeat it. And this is where your group comes in — the horror has moved on from its initial point of entrance, but if you can explore the ruins in Slipper Market, perhaps you can find some sort of clue to tell us what it is we face. I cannot spare any of my Crows to aid you, for they are needed in keeping order in the streets, but if indeed you can find something... anything... about this monster from below, I will pay you handsomely: 1,500 gold for solid information, and twice again that amount for aiding in defeating the horror. Will you help us? Do you have more questions for me?"
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A bedraggled-looking Mwangi man in stained, ill-fitting robes pokes his head out from behind one of his taller companions. He looks like he's been sleeping rough for many a week now and still seems inebriated from last night's binging. He raises a hesitant hand and asks (his breath causing those nearby to visibly shrink away from him): "Erm, excuse me, your honor. You say that there is a thing that came up out of the earth and is swallowing buildings?"
"I know you're desperate," he states, gesturing around at the lack of other volunteers, "but how dim do you think we are? Do we look like a group that could take on something that demolishes whole buildings?"
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A man of mocha complexion enters into the room brisk-fully. The light shines off of his bald head and his amber eyes glow. His athletic build displays that he works his body as hard as he works his mind. He wears long robes of Scarlet and Gold. On his hip is scimitar and he carries a staff with the dawnflower's symbol carved into the head. On his left shoulder perches a small Alert rat.
"I didn' know tey bree cowar on my moter's side" he barbs while giving Eris a distasteful look. After saying it he walks over to Eris and puts his hand on Eris' shoulder, "Sorry, tha was unkin mon, Sarenrae will guide us on this pa, trus in er and will be ire."
He turns to the Mayor, "Wat tis monster look like?"
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The mayor doesn't seem to take the interruption nicely.
"So the drunk speak for you? If you aren't capable or willing to investigate, be gone, and don't me lose more time. Off with you, out to help my city or to get away from it. We don't know how the enemy looks like, that's why we ask you to investigate."
With that he gives orders to one of the guards to get you to the alley where the first building was destroyed or to the gates of town. He doesn't "negotiate" any more nor answers more questions. Obviously he didn't like Eris. At all.
When the PCs arrive at Slipper Market, under the rain, you find the place in a state of disorder. Normally a bustling market, it is abandoned save for two dozen milling Crows. The PCs’ Crow escort leads you through this throng of guards to a side street that has been roped off; one guard lifts a soaking, dripping rope barrier to let you through and indicates that both the partially ruined building and the house crossing the street, are where the first attack occurred. Wide-eyed faces watch the market from upper floor windows, but no one speaks — the only sound is the constant onrush of the driving and maddening rain.
The guards have set up benches under a barely functioning open tent in the market near the roped-off street entrance. Under the tent lie the remains of three bodies — all the guards have been able to recover from the site so far. Garus (The Crow's leader) is not among the dead. The first two bodies are a pair of homeless thugs who lived in the alley (area A2). The first has been flattened by a single crushing attack to the chest, while the second has had his back broken. The third body is one of the Crows, a man whose body has been twisted twice around at the waist like a knotted rag and whose arms are broken in so many places that they flop like tentacles. His chain shirt and sword are twisted like the rest of his body — whatever did this to the man was huge and incredibly strong.
The Crows stationed there and the residents are abuzz with nervous conversation and not little anxiety. The only people that wants and seems to have something to say is a wild eyed man named Tarrig, who lives across the street from the house where the mayhem occurred, and whose own house got damaged; he alerted the guards, and has taken it upon himself to be the primary teller of the grisly tale among Slipper Market’s inhabitants.
"As every morning, the Slipper Market was awake early. The merchants set up stalls in the two hours before dawn and prepare their wares, and that was when a terrible something came crashing out of Marshan's house. There were an awful lot of screams, and the entire house shook as if some great invisible hand had taken hold of it and was trying to push it into the ground or crumple it in its fist. I ran for the watch, but by the time we’d come back, it was all quiet. Wasn't more than a few heartbeats after the guards entered Marshan's home that the shaking and the screaming began again. Some of the guards ran back into the street only to be lifted into the air by something unseen and crushed most horrifically; it left behind only a few bodies, whatever it was. The house has been quiet ever since, but that doesn't mean that the monster’s gone! I mean "Old Man Marshan", was a recluse, but he sure didn't deserve to die!"
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Obviously it wasn't some kind of explosion, as there are not scorch marks not the structure blow out. It seems more likely it collapsed "inwards", as of a structural failure, or an implosion. About the dead, something with huge strength should have done it, but mysteriously no one says it saw anything. Maybe the ground gave up... maybe... but something killed those men...
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Somber looking, with death white pale skin, a dark haired youth in black leathers and a cloak walks towards the building, trying to step cautiously in case there are more cave ins or loose flooring. Stopping at what was the doorway, between the door and the alleyway. Peers in the door, moves over quietly, his features blending in with the shadows, and peers down the alleyway.
we're here. We may as well begin looking around. he says, still facing the alley but clearly talking to the drunks and holy men behind him.
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Kuraishimo is not particularly happy with being thrown out of the Mayor's house but recovers his composure quickly.
"Explore, report, cooperate. That's what Ollysta Zadrian keeps telling me at least. While I would love to find Arlend Hyve, collect the book and be gone this town needs our help and I suspect we'll not find much traction or help in this town 'till we deal with their problem."
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Slipper Market Map
As you approach the house under the rain you see the side of a single-story wooden house has collapsed outward into this ten-foot-wide alley, adding to the clutter and refuse. The roofs provide some shelter from the rain, leaving swaths of blood and gore on walls here and there. The hideous smell wafting out of the ruined building is as implacable as it is stomach-turning. Perhaps the strangest is the huge spiral-shaped smear of blood and gore on the wall opposite the partially collapsed building — sheltered by the rain, this ominous rune rises high on the side of the building, as if something enormous had used a broken and bleeding body as a brush to paint its mark.
Illustration
Sorin steps cautiously into the destroyed house . Looking up he quickly realizes all what remains of the construction can come crashing down with another jolt. He also notices that not all the house has fell. Towards the south he sees the walls and ceilings are still standing... barely.
But then the smell overpowers him, and only his fortitude and presence of mind prevents him from getting sick. The smell is hideous. This living room is in a complete state of disarray. Doors are smashed open and the northern wall has exploded outward. The furniture is in shambles, and rain leaking in from multiple fresh holes in the roof has done little to wash away the thick layer of sticky black slime that seems to coat every surface — slime that exudes a horrific stench something like an open grave, burnt decay, the air before a thunderstorm, wet and diseased fur, and worse. Scattered on the floor between rubble are small irregular objects, all completely covered by the slime.
Merisiel looks for a way down, but only sees doorways to the east and south east.
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Eris has smelled worse than the stench emanating from the house. In fact, HE'S smelled worse, so his stomach is hardly bothered by it.
Eris takes a look at the strange, squiggly symbol, tugging on one of his greasy beard strands as he is thinking.
He reaches into his thread-bare robes and pulls out a small ivory-inlaid wand with a number of Osirian symbols on it. He absent-mindedly mutters "احمني من أعدائي" under his breath before putting it back in his pocket. ()
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Octavius feel a cold shiver run over his spine. He feels fear. Eris gets sober in a second, just to wish to drink until oblivion the next second, as they both recognize the symbol.
There are legends of entities before the gods themselves. Of old, powerful and malevolent beings existing since before sky and the stars, living behind the black tapestry of the night. Of mad gods dancing in the center of the darkness, devouring and hating and bidding their time until all the creation is destroyed and they return to where they once lived.
The Old Gods.
And that symbol is an abomination, it is something that shouldn't exist.
That is the symbol that will bring the Old Gods back to destroy the universe.
The symbol of Yog-Sothoth, the key and the door.
You know you have to destroy that symbol as soon as you are able.
And you know that somebody really mad is living in Carrion Hill, and wants to bring the Old Gods back. He has to be stopped.
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Eris turns to the others and points at the symbol, "Hmm, this is very bad. Seems that someone thinks that the Universe needs an overhaul ... like a complete overhaul where it's razed down to the foundations. Very bad. I might need a drink." He pulls out a flask from a pocket and takes a long pull, offering it to the others as well.
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Octavius takes out a wayfinder in the shape of the Silver Crusade's symbol and utters a prayer to Sarenrae; bringing forth light.
" tis be no goo at all. Te wors sor of oodoo. Ma people aroun ere.
He regains his composer, picks up a cloth and begins to whipe away the symbol.
Tere be two doors, Merisiel, your in the business of finding and opening tings, make sure tey there are no traps. Ge a breat of fres air wile you are at"
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New Slipper Market Map
While Octavious cleans the symbol he feels as if the darkness in the alley recedes, and the smell gets less profound. But the gore tainting him feels like is contaminating him... but he raises a prayer and presses on, sure that he is doing what is needed.
They all enter after Sorin, and Merisiel quickly detects something in the slime covered objects around in the floor. He picks up one, round and almost spherical, and after cleaning it up a little discovers it's an human eyeball. He drops it and quickly turns into a corner, sick.
In fact all over the floor pieces of men are about. None bigger than a book. And you imagine from more than one body. And Sorin realizes there is no blood. Whatever destroyed those men did it without spilling their blood.
You investigate the other two rooms, the first of them (A4) was once a cluttered but cozy parlor, but now the couches, bookshelves, tables, and other comforts are in complete disarray. The eastern wall is partially collapsed, including what once may have been a fireplace to the northwest and two doors leading into other rooms of the building to the southwest. A hideous smell wafts through these holes. The front door is here, locked. the books are about the history of Carrion Hill and the immediate surroundings. A large number of books about astronomy are present as well. None are outstanding in their rarity, and most are rather damaged by rain leaking in through the new holes in the roof.
The other room (A5) appears to have once been a library and bedroom is now in a shambles. Furniture is splintered, shelves and books smashed and torn, and everything is coated with a thick, stinking layer of tar-like sludge. These books seem to have been more valuable and more focused on strange monstrous forms and sinister cults. One of them is open and drawing is partially visible. It seems to represent a completely dark figure, humanoid but with horns and wings, standing over a couple of eviscerated women or children. A door to the South West is unhinged but mostly covering the next room.
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Leastrie shrinks back as he nears the door. Gods! The smell is awful behind there and it is pitch black. He kneels down and studies the ground for a moment. Look here! See how this black slime came from the door into the house, but doesn't go back out? Leastrie walks toward the back of the room, motioning to the party. Be wary! I think the source of the slime is behind that door! Ready yourselves! He says in a harsh whisper as he draws his curve blade.
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Updated Slipper Market Map
Sorin opens the door quickly, and something small jumps, squealing, into the room. A lone rat, dark grey and dirty, running away towards the street.
After the shock, Sorin peeks into the stairs, his eyes piercing the dark. But even him, used to the pitch blackness of the absence of light, feels like something else, some shadow, lingers in this place. But there is nothing, only a flight of slime-smeared stone steps leading downward into the putrid bowels of Carrion Hill, and that foul putrid smell emanating from there.
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Sunless Grove Map
Sorin is quick to notice that in the stairwell itself, the slime is dry and less foul smelling. Or is it that you are growing accustomed to the smell?
After the first turn in the stairway's descent, traces of dust and debris indicate that the stairs may have once been clogged with rubble but were recently cleared; by the second turn in their descent, the architectural style changes to an older one involving stone arches and brick-lined walls.
Soon after you reach a big chamber. This chamber's brick-lined walls are supported by fifteen foot high stone arches. Between each arch, circular alcoves have been cut into the wall, each containing a stone sarcophagus. One sarcophagus on the southern wall has toppled over, spilling its long-dead occupant partially out on the brick floor. The corpse looks like it died in great agony, an agony that have lasted eons.
A dry swath of black sludge nearly ten feet wide runs down the center of the room, connecting the west and northeast stairs. The far end of the hall seems to have collapsed long ago. The smell of the black tar here is much more bearable-the stuff is mostly dry.
Merisiel starts to feel better.
The door to the south is closed, and seems barricaded from the other side, as it doesn't bulge under light pressure.
The northeast stair goes down 15 feet before turning right. Nor light, breeze or sound seem to come from that direction, but you can the black substance, dried now, covering the stair walls, ceiling and floor.
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"It was a dark and rainy day in Ustalav, but is there really any other kind? The Mayor wanted us to investigate some invsible creature that was attacking the city, demolishing buildings and wreaking havoc. Given the state of the city, I'd say this thing was doing him a favor.
On a lead, we went to the Slipper market. Seems that the creature went after this Marshan's house. Makes one wonder what he did to deserve it. Makes me wonder what I did to deserve being in Ustalav. Not a place I really wanted to be in again. Not after what happened last time.
Stepping into the demolished house, I was instantly taken aback. The smell was horrid. It reminded me of my ex-wife. No time to worry about that, though. Something's rotten in Ustalav, and it's time to get to the bottom of it.", thought Isaac.
Once inside the building, I'm going to take 10 on a Perception check. It's good to search for clues, and who knows, we might just find something.
"Here, let me take a crack at that...", said Isaac as he pulled out a set of thieves' tools. "Even on my side of the law, it still helps to be able to jimmy a lock every now and then."
OOC: Sorry again about being late! I've updated my bookmark accordingly.
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Leastrie, if you or issac help me we can get this door open
Sorin looks around to gauge whether the others want to open the door or go down the tarred hallway.
no tar from this door eh? So whatever came through here came from the stairs around the corner. Still curious what's behind here that barricaded the door. Maybe some of the guards survived?