The_Ninja_DM's Carrion Crown

Game Master Spiral_Ninja

"Do we have any siphons left?"
Wood remembers panicking and using his on a ghost with some embarassment.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Channel(harm undead): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

I think my post making note of my Discovery Torch may have been eaten. Everyone in the light shed by it, bright light within 20', gets +2 perception and sense motive, and +2 to identify monsters.
Tough bugger, this, Vertielle points out.
will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Unsure whether to use her holy water or potion of cure on the wall, Vertielle instead gets ready to read her scroll of protection, should anyone start acting strange.
Eva, now would be a good time to use a more direct positive energy effect.
Her god must not like her much, either.

@Eva: You're good, so far.

Initiative order:
Rova = holy water (-4)
Vertielle = holy water (-5)
Gkirkhan ?
Evangline = channel (-3)

part_1

Zhiden = holy water (-6)
Wood = cast/failed

Waiting for Gkirkhan's round 1; meanwhile -just in case- Will saves for round 2, please.

"Dem, sumthink beeg must've been sqvished for de valls to be bleedink like dot."

INT 7, unless he can hit it, he ain't going to be doing much.

Unfortunately for the rest of the party, the big half-orc is a little lacking in the brains department, while this is good against zombies, it's not so good against haunts. He pulls his new axe from it's place on the belt and starts looking for trouble.

perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
Will (Round 2): 1d20 ⇒ 14

@Gkirkhan: Ouch. -2 Wisdom.

Regardless of save, all of you see the blood form the first letter of your name.

Those who fail the save [dc16] take -2 Wisdom.

But if you fail, you do know what to do about all this. Those letters are stealing your soul! Smash them!

Wood is in trouble then, and Zhiden would soon follow.

Wonder what splatter's gonna do.

Kill the ones this part doesn't.

Will 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 1 = 7
a 1 & two 3s

WIS 6, owie. Also going to have to get used to Gkirkhan being big.

Gkirkhan strikes out at the wall without warning, his enlarged physique allowing him to do significantly more damage to the wall despite just clipping it with his hammer.

"So wenig Geist, fürchten Sie Pharasma das Urteil so viel Sie zu den Ketten des Untodes klammern? Fürchten Sie den Kuss von meinem Hammer und mein Schwert? Glauben Sie, dass destorying meinem Kopf werden Sie von meinen Zorn zu retten? Glaubst du, ich will euch fürchten? Haha, ich fürchte niemanden. Ich bin Gkirkhan, Slayer von Geistern und toten Dingen. Ich bin Gkirkhan den Sohn des mächtigen Krieger. Ich bin Gkirkhan, Ihre Doom."

Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 3) + 9 = 13

As Gkirkhan gets ready to swing wildly at the wall, Vertielle casts protection from evil from her scroll, and hopefully snapping him from his shenanigans before they start.
Gkirkhan, reroll with a +2.

Well, well...

If Gkirkhan fails his reroll:

Pretty handy readied action, if I may say so.

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Made it.

Rova steps back from the teetering wall like it was a drunk buddy looking for somewhere to barf.

"Dat wasn' much. So much fer th' easy - now comes da hard."

Rova will look around for the next (and final) part - the painter of those letters...

Wood attempts to summon 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 shiny dogs.
Will 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Zhiden looked around, wondering what that had been all about. It wasn't over yet though, that much was clear, if only in the way the others checked their weapons, and made preperations for the next wave. "Is everyone all right?" He called out, more for his own peace of mind than because he could do much to help if anyone needed it. The fear in his voice was unmistakable.

He kept both swords sheathed, but a shaking hand was kept nearby, so he could be ready to draw it as soon as a target presented itself. In his other hand, he gripped the book in a white knuckled hand.

Because I'm sure it will come up soon, here is a perception roll

Wood's disembodied voice speaks quietly, "Rova, may need to oil up that weapon."
A dimensional portal forms as Wood finally wins his struggle to cast magic despite his weakened willpower from the bloody script.
Big Gkirkan is on my side.
"Gkirkan, your wish is about to happen. THE BAD BOOK is about to be ripped. Rova, Zhiden, keep splashing the holy water until the bloody letters stop."

Condition=invisible and -2 Wisdom

I'd pay good money to see Wood try and beat that wall into submission. Please note that everything Gkirkhan posted above about hitting the wall, and everything in response to that, is Retconned by my very clever use of Protection From Evil.
It's not over yet. Eva, perhaps a cure spell might relieve us of this spirit?

Is Splatter still alive?

Yes, Splatter's still alive. That is a haunt. And if Gkirkhan didn't hit it, it's still active.

Saving was bad for Gkirkhan. The wall saved and wouldn't have collapsed.

Who's up next?

Splatter doesn't show til the haunt is destroyed.

"With all that is good, be purified of evil."

Channel(Harm Undead): 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

Evangline Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Gkirkhan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Rova Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Vertielle Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Wood Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Zhiden Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Splatter Man Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

As everyone relaxes after the odd expeience with the bloody writing, (and recovers any wisdom loss) you hear a voice from the room.

"Well, well, the brave defenders. Welcome to your doom. With you gone, I shall destroy the Hawkran woman and we will all be free!"

A ghostly form is rising from the oubliette, it's image twisiting between an idealized version of himself in life to the burned and twisted wreck that mush have been him in death.

Round 1/part 2:
Rova
Vertielle
Evangline
Zhiden
Wood
Gkirkhan
Splatter Man

Ah, hello professor. I do believe my little friend has something to show you, Vertielle says with disproportionate calm. While the ghostly figure goes on about how doomed everyone is going to be, Vertielle watches closely to identify the ghastly creature.
KnReligion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Deciding quickly which arrow to use, she nocks and fires in a fluid motion.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
or 8 damage if he's corporeal

Rova quickly pops the cap off his magic oil, and applies it to his nodachi. (standard action)

He then rises to the front of his feet (enters dragon stance - swift action), and snorts.

"Gettin' sick o' dese ghosties. World'll be better off widout dis one."

He then moves adjacent to the phantom. (Move action)

He'll open with a summons. Hopefully Wood can dispel that, but if not, I'll have to protect the softer targets with my other scroll. He might follow up with magic missiles- I don't think Wood has a mage shield prepared, but he may be able to dispel a few of those, as well, before we'll be fighting off his attacks without defenses.
She pats her quiver, immediately knowing what armament she has left.
He'll be immune to the wand, of course, but the destruction of his book may give him pause.
Vertielle looks uncertainly at the trembling halfling, her expression hardening into a mask of determination.
I will have to protect him, at any cost.
With that thought in her mind, she turned her gaze unbidden to Gkirkhan, his armor useless against this foe, all his strength of arms for naught, and hardened her heart.
At any cost.

Wood sticks with his plan to summon the shiny dogs to preserve invisibility.

Just so you know, ALL counterspells maintain invisibility.

Plan? Gkirkhan needs no plan! Gkirkhan just hits it until it's dead. Okay seriously, if Gkirkhan is charmed, or somehow rendered hostile, either kill him or run.

After the ghost finishes his little speech of doom, a soft laughter comes from Gkirkhan. After a moment, it has grown into a roaring, drunken laughter of someone who is quite used to enjoying themselves.

"Sie frei sein? Ein Mann, der nicht einmal lassen konnte seine eigenen Ketten und Fesseln aus dem Leben befreit ihn in den Tod? Ich danke Ihnen für den Witz es zu lange, da hatte ich ein Lachen gewesen."

Then as suddenly as the laughter came, his demeanor changes. It isn't anything overt, just a feeling of being, off. His nice words are icy cold.

"Haff hyu forgotten fear? Hy am hyur doom."

With a sudden explosion of power, the enlarged half-orc launches himself with all the fury of a horde of orcs, but instead of a snarl, there is laughter. Instead of a sneer, there is a grin. Instead of hatred, there is defiance. Defiance against the law, against expectation, and against enemy who believes victory is his.

Swift: Rage
Move: get within reach if necessary.
Attack Hammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage Hammer: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13

Attack Axe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage Axe: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Since he's flat-footed the axe hits. He is, however, incorporeal. Unfortunately the axe no longer functions as a ghost-touch weapon.

Zhiden pushed down his fear as best he could, and then called out to the ghost. "Hey ugly!" He shouted, holding up the book. He opened the book to a random page and ripped it out. He then proceeded to shred the page, before he looked back at the ghost to see if there had been a reaction.

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

@Zhiden: pick one of the following each time you tear pages out, once picked it's destroyed.

Comprehend languages
Dispell magic
False life
Gust of wind
Illusory script
Levitate
Mage armor
Magic missile
Summon monster IV

Note: yes, you have to tear out the whole spell.

I'm guessing he loses access to that spell when I tear it up? In that case, I'm going to have to say Mage Armor was the one he tore up this round.

And now for the slowest boss ever.

The incorporeal wizard slips backwards into the cell directly behind the oubliette and casts, summoning 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 dire rats to attack the group.

He sends each of them to attack different targets, but only connects with Rova. This round.

Rova: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 for 1d4 ⇒ 4

Gkirkhan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 for 1d4 ⇒ 4

Zhiden: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 for 1d4 ⇒ 2

Eva: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 for 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round 2
Rova
Vertielle
Evangline
Zhiden
Wood
Gkirkhan
Splatter Man

Are all the rats in a cluster at first? If so, I've got a little something for them..

Holy €&@%, he summons as a standard action?
spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Not that I know anything about it.
Vertielle curses under her breath, but manages to discharge her last scroll of protection on Zhiden.
Don't worry about the rats, slip, just keep ripping those out, she says as the ashes of the scroll flutter to her feet.
Drawing her longsword, she readies herself, then enters the fray.

Wood bides his time, waiting to counterspell the next casting of the Splatterman.
Wood has his four enhanced celestial dogs appear around the Splatterman. They make sure to Smite Evil on the Splatterman and attack in flanking pairs. If they cannot reach the Splatterman, they go for the rats.

The nevermore has five intact cells, that he'll be able to use to cast unhindered by our efforts; and one far corner with standing water he may use to slow our advance. On the other hand, there's plenty of rubble and collapsing walls for zhiden to hide behind and for wood to duck behind for some cover, should we end up needing it.

Holy €&@%, he summons as a standard action?

Actually he started casting before he showed himself by rising from the pit.

Yes the rats all start in the same square, just south of the pit.

Can I hit them (the rats) in a 15' cone without hitting any party people?

The unhinged fighter steps forward and swings both hammer and axe in mighty arcs.

"No retreat, no mercy, no surrender. Do hyu fear me now?"

Power attack: TWF
Attack Hammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage Hammer: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 4) + 10 = 16
Attack Axe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage Axe: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Rova shudders as he mouths sounds..syllables..power.. Unheard, but not unfelt.

(standard action - Dragon roar - 2 uses of stunning fist)

Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

The rats within the cone shatter into bloody splotches, then fade out of existence.

Then he moves adjecent to keep the pressure on the phantom mage.

@Wood: the curse counts for all spells until it ends or Splat-boy is destroyed.

Disturbingly, though, you can't tell what he's about to cast next.

Ohhh yeah, this is gonna hurt.

Damn, bet it's confusion.

You loose that bet, Gkirkhan.

Four maximized Magic Missiles streak from his hands, uneringly striking four different targets doing 5 points of damage each to Gkirkhan, Rova, Vertielle, and Zhiden as the ghostly wizard taunts you in that eerily familar voice. "One by one your defenders fall, last here will be my sweet Evangline Valeria Aurora, then I come for you, Vesorianna! Watch them die!"

Summon Monster IV, or dispelling the summons Wood has.
He must have spell mastery, since he hasn't had access to his book since he was imprisoned, and, since he didn't have it when he died, he doesn't have a ghost version either.
It could just be a meta'd offense spell. Which will hurt.

Yep, spell mastery.

Vertielle shudders as the bolt strikes her, but keeps her feet.
That's gonna bruise.
While she holds her sword out ahead of her, ready for the second wave of fiendish rats to attack, she grips an irregularly shaped lodestone in her other hand tightly.
Casting defensively concentration check?

Phew, that's a nasty one to pull out on low WIS and WILL fighters.