Rannik's Carrion Crown

Game Master Patrick Levasseur

Sorry guys.
Danica takes advantage of her new speed and slashes at the scorpion.
Attack 1, temple sword, haste, flank: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 1 + 2 = 36
Attack Confirmation, temple sword, haste, flank: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 1 + 2 = 27
Attack 2, temple sword, haste, flank: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 + 2 = 34

Damage 1, temple sword, precise damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (5) = 14
Damage Confirmation, temple sword: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 2) + 8 = 16
Damage 2, temple sword, precise damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + (4) = 15

Kimberly moves to Ananias's side and mend some of his wounds. Danica, now next to the scorpion, manages to find some gap in the giant creature's armor and inflict enough damage to lay it low. With the scorpion now dead, Anna is no longer grappled.

Battle Map

Trying to put an end to the fight Tolvan casts Glitterdust, catching only the would-be assassin. DC 19 will save or blind.

Ananias continues his furious assault on his attacker, his own vision nearly as blinded as the now-glittery man feints and tries to dodge his strikes.

With a clearer mind, Ananias might appreciate the counterpoint of his own silvery skin in a violent dance with the golden sparkles that now cover the man, but his bloodrage doesn't allow such thoughts to take root.

"Thanks! Now I'm going to go see if I can help Ananias," she tells Danica, then moves around the column of stone to get into flanking position. Her dagger aims for a soft and sensitive spot to hopefully finish him quick.

Melee, flanking, bless: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d4 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + (1, 6, 2, 2, 1) = 19
If that doesn't kill him, he's befuddled (-2 to attacks) for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds, and halved movement speed for one round (and no free 5 foot step)

Posting below action in case assassin survives attacks

Danica moves right besides Ananias and attacks the assassin taking advantage of her bestowed speed.
She misses with her attack but hits with the second.
Attack Temple Sword, Haste, Bless: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 1 + 1 = 16
Attack Temple Sword, Haste, Bless: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 1 + 1 = 30

Damage, Temple Sword: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Upon striking the assassin she says to Ananias, "Let me flank with Anna. I can find weak spots in our opponent."

Tolvan use magic to shower the man in golden the dust. Caught by surprise, the man tries to wipe the dust away and fail to defend against the bloodrager in front of him. Ananias's claws rip the man to pieces, leaving just a bloody mess on the ground. The battle now over, the group can now heal up and inspect the cavern.

Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ananias looks around for another target, his eyes still wild. When he can't find one, and he sees the others relaxing and beginning to take stock of the situation, his shoulders slump, and walks over to the nearest stalagmite, leaning against the mineral post to catch his breath.

"Whew. Battle never used to tire me like this... either." He looks at the bloody ruin of a man on the ground and shakes his head. "That was me? Pharasma's got a vengeful side, it seems."

Once he's caught his breath, he joins the others in examining the room. He crosses to the far side, examining what seems to be a mushroom garden. (Not sure if I'm remembering the description right?)

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Tolvan flies down to check on Anna Are you OK. That arachnid had you.

After he makes sure everyone is ok he casts Detect Magic and searches the bodies before beginning a search of the room. He will pay special attention to what was growing in the garden.

"Was that what it was? I thought it was a scorpion."

Anna laments the rents in her traveler's clothes and the bloodstains on her magic cloak. "Yeah, I was sloppy. I thought I had the advantage, when I should have just hung back and not gotten close. Kimberly patched me up pretty good there," she adds, giving the young Oracle a smile.

Kimberly breathes a sigh of relief that it is over, she quickly says a short prayer and suddenly her eyes glow faintly.

casts detect poison and checks everyone to see if they are poisoned

As the group recovers and goes through the usual post battle routine, Ananias inspects the garden. He is able to recognise that there is multiple different type of mushroom there, if only he knew more about plants. Once Tolvan is done surveying the gear that their foes had, he joins the big man. With a single glance, the elf can identify all the fungi. The garden is separated in three sections. The first one is the edible mushroom, the second is those that can be used in mundane healing recipes. The last one is filled with poisoned mushroom. They go for the simple one that would give you indigestion to the lethal kind.

Tolvan will take 10 on spellcraft to identify each item for a 30. He points out the mushrooms and what each might be used for.

Danica will assist in looking around. She goes to the darkened areas where she will use her Darkvision while her friends perform other tasks.

any info from the detect poison?

I think I made my save, and haven't been asked to make another one. So I must've fought it off.

Anna pays the most attention to the collection of magical gear, but having no real ability to tell what anything does she lets Tolvan and Danica do the identifying.

She's not very interested in the mushrooms, so watches and listens to Danica as she inspects the darkest corners of the cave.

I think I made my save, and haven't been asked to make another one. So I must've fought it off.

Exactly.

Danica and Anna inspect the cave. Aside from all the required mundane items to allow two people to live here, they find only one object that stand out. It is a white ceramic egg about the size of a fist. Looking it over, they find a hidden seam. Carefully they are able to open it and discover a small carving of a gagged human skull. There is also a small scroll with writing in a weird language on it.

Anna had been a little unsure of the rush to combat by her companions -- usually they were a little more talkative before the weapons were drawn. But the discovery of the gagged skull alleviated all doubts.

"It's the Whisperers, all right," she announces. She lends her help in deciphering the writing, though she knew Tolvan would likely be the one to crack it.

Linguistics (assist): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"So, anything good in the loot? I've got my eye on that dagger, just so you know."

That ring of Mind Shielding seems to have Anna's name all over it. Anna, did you open the egg then? And I am betting that Ring Defection +2 is actually a Ring Protection +2

I can't imagine why you'd think Anna would want to be immune from lie detectors! And that was my guess too, unless the ring confers a bonus to attempts to join the other side?

"The gagged skull; that's a symbol of the Whispering Way?" He looks over Tolvan's shoulder with interest as he and Anna try to decipher the note.

"What does it say?"

Tolvan speaks Abyssal, Aklo, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Ignan, Infernal, Kellish, Orc, Skald, Sylvan, Terran, Thassalonian. And his take 10 for linguistics is a 28.

While Tolvan reorganizes some character from the Aklo alphabet, he is unable to decipher the text in front of him.

Unsure if I can roll linguistics after taking 10?

Anna adds Varisian in the language mix and a +2 assist.

Danica looks over the scroll hoping to be able to identify some of the characters. Elven and Celestrial. let's not forget the common language. lol

Linguistics, unskilled: 1d20 ⇒ 11 I highly doubt she can make anything of it.

Danica then tries to use some of her divine influence by casting detect magic on the scoll. If magic is detected then she will cast Read Magic hoping that it may help.

Is anyone taking the +2 Ring of Protection?

Kimberly takes time to tend to the wounded. she seemed a little distressed at what happened here, but the discovery of the egg, eased her up a little.

linguistics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

I just hope we made the right choice. she says nervously.

I could upgrade my ring from +1 to +2

Ananias can add Azlanti to the mix, but no Linguistics to aid.

I think anyone can use it, but since I want the dagger (and maybe the other ring, but I've got two already), you should get it. Ananias or Kimberly may want the chain shirt, so that leaves the belt to Tolvan?

Anna picks up the new fancy dagger and spins it in her hand with a flourish. She compares it to her mithril one, and weighs them both in her hands.

"Nice. This one in case we ever meet another werewolf, and this one for the day-to-day work, what do you think?"

Anna now has a +1 dagger to spare, but she wants to keep her +1 mithril dagger.

The belt is nice, but Tolvan has a belt of Dex. Should he switch? More con + 3 re-rolls on poison and disease could mean wizard lives longer... How about Danica gets the ring upgrade, Tolvan takes the Plague Rat Belt, and Kimberly takes Tolvan's Belt of Dex +2. That way Kimberly gets the same AC bonus plus range to hit bonuses and skill bumps too? And Danica gets another point of touch AC as well.

Ananias has no problem with that. The only thing that among the loot that could interest him would be the Ring +2, but he likes his Knight-Inheritor's Ring better (it was a personal gift from Iomedae during the war and all that. "What, Iomedae? Yeah I knew her, no big deal; what of it?")

That is a nice ring. If we go with my plan it actually frees up a +1 ring that Tolvan could use but will insist that Anna take. I don't think she has one, does she?

Yeah, I've already got a +1 ring. Along with my lesser ring of invisibility, I'm full up. But I can see swapping out the +1 ring for the ring of mind shielding, especially when involved in some kind of con.

I think that means that Tolvan is the only PC without a +1 ring so he will wear it then.

If Danica gets the +2 ring then she would give up her current +1 ring. +2 would help with Danica's AC as she is dependent on Tolvan's mage armor, her wisdom bonus an some other feats.

I am good either way. the belt would be goo as well.

Tolvan puts on the Plague Rat Belk and hands Kimberly the +2 Belt of Dexterity. He hands Danica the +2 rin and Anna the Ring of Mind Shielding, Dagger +2, and Scroll Longstrider.

We can worry later about a more fair split but I think this helps the group the most. Anna I think you might be able to read that scroll, no? Now what do we do with all the mushrooms?

I hope this gets us moving again.

Unsure if I can roll linguistics after taking 10?

According to the skill, you can try again. For roleplay purpose, I'd say that you should wait until you are back at the inn where Tolvan can concentrate.

We can worry later about a more fair split but I think this helps the group the most. Anna I think you might be able to read that scroll, no? Now what do we do with all the mushrooms?

Picking them up would take a while and might expose people to some spore. So would stomping them. Burning them would be a solution, but that would require some sort of fuel for the fire. Fireball and the like wouldn't be enough because of the high humidity (though 2 back to back might).

Anna grins wickedly when she's told that the magic ring will keep anyone from magically determining whether what she says is true or not. She places it in a secret pocket with a wink at everyone.

She shrugs about the mushrooms. "We can either let them alone, or we can burn them. I've got a few pints of lamp oil that could help them burn," Anna suggests.

we should leave them for now, I don't think they will cause any harm.

lets get back upstairs and see about cleaning up the rest of the shrine, ok?

"We're cleaning this shrine now? We should start a whole business," Anna comments.

"Whatever. Isn't there a tunnel that leads deeper? Should we check that out first?"

Yes, its fine I think to leave these mushrooms for now. Tolvan says as he gets out parchment and pen. Let me label them quickly though. I'd not want someone to eat the wrong ones. And some of these might be quite rare and be worth harvesting and drying.

Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Danica removes her current +1 ring and replaces it with the +2 ring. "Thanks guys. Anyone wants my old ring?" +1 Ring of Prot

"I agree with Kimberly. Let's leave the mushrooms alone. We can come back later and decide to either burn them or collect them. Let's continue with going after the Way."

Tolvan accepts the ring sheepishly saying I think I am the only one without one.

"Yes, we should continue seeking the Whispering Way." He looks at the bloody messes on the floor of the cavern. We never even had a chance to question them. I suppose there's little chance their answers would have been reliable, though, so I guess it was all for the best. Ananias gazes at his hands; the claws had faded, and he'd cleaned away the blood....

Anna crosses the cavern to the opposite side from where they came in. "Guys? I think this tunnel goes on a bit. Shouldn't we see where it goes?"

Rannik, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you said in the description of the cavern that the tunnel continued on.

Still flying, but just above the ground, Tolvan follows. His dancing lights dash ahead to light the way.

Crossing the room, Anna peers down the other tunnel leading out of the cavern. Compared to the one the group used to get here, this one looks like it sees a lot of use. Pushing his lights forward, Tolvan can see that the long corridor has been worked to make the trek easier.

many have passed this way. Tolvan notes. That does not make me feel easy.