World's Most Interesting Hall of the Flesh Eaters (tier 4-5, 002) (Inactive)

Game Master Great Green God

Borox takes a healthy pull from his wineskin and wipes his mouth with his ragged sleeve which has clearly not been washed in a very long time.

"Water? Ye be amusin', laddie. Water's what the fishies swim in. It be an ingredient in booze, that's all it be good for."

He holds up his wineskin.

"That's why we be a callin' this a wineskin, laddie. Water!

He snorts derisively and takes another pull from the wineskin before he resumes digging.

Six hours later, as the final blocking stones are carefully removed, and as Garrapata peers within a pale, bestial face lunges out of the dark to snap at him! If not for the tingling of his garrapata sense™ warning him at the last possible moment of the danger, Garrapata might have been caught flat-footed.

"MEEP!"

Currently, most of the party is armed with shovels, picks, and stones, and in Borox's case, a wineskin. No shields.

Surprise Round & Round 1! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ El Garrapata
__ unearth ghoul
__ Borox
__ El Garrapata
__ Kaillum (not fatigued be cause he was 'supervising' the dig)
__ Prof. Alkarion -2 hp
__ Raynor
__ unearthed ghoul

Map updated.

Garrapata lets out a high pitched scream of warning! "GREAT GADZOOKS! A SUDDEN ROCK FACE!" Garrapata punches the sudden face, as one does!

PUNCH! Power attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 for 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 damage!

Kaillum keeps watch out just in case the blob of evil goo does something. His pistol at the ready, eyes darting about the room. When the final boulders are moved, he barely lets out a word or thought when his burly ally lets out a scream.

I thought we were done with fighting. Oh well

whenever my turn comes up. If I can get a shot within 20’ I will take it

touch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d6 ⇒ 6

"MEE-!"

Garrapata slugs the ghoul.

Aaaaand END COMBAT.

It was another ghoul, but a less degenerate one. His sailor's clothing while dusty is still mostly intact and more modern than anything else you have seen in the tomb.

The dark chamber beyond the breach smells of bad air and masonry dust. Its initial dimensions shift about for a moment before settling on roughly 15 x 20-foot room. A heap of coins and other valuables lies piled in the middle of the room. The largest item in the pile is a gem-studded copper sphere. Though completely motionless, the light cast upon on the sphere seems to flicker and fade like a tremulous Aurora Borealis.

"Well, lads, I think that there be that thingie we be lookin' fer. Now, ye dinnae suppose the blighters left some traps behind to dissuade folks like us from a strollin' in to take it, do ye?"

While strapping his armor, with Borox's help if possible, Raynor says, "Time to finish this blob, then we leave as soon as possible!"

@GM: it's the preference of Raynor to destroy the blob since it radiates evil but I don't want to drag the game any longer with this if it's plot impossible; if possible, please let us know if concerted attacks, bombs and alchemist fire would work; Raynor also has one lay on hands left which he can apply unto an attack. Since it's not moving hits are automatic yes?

While strapping his armor, with Borox's help if possible, Raynor says, "Time to finish this blob, then we leave as soon as possible!"

@GM: it's the preference of Raynor to destroy the blob since it radiates evil but I don't want to drag the game any longer with this if it's plot impossible; if possible, please let us know if concerted attacks, bombs and alchemist fire would work; Raynor also has one lay on hands left which he can apply unto an attack. Since it's not moving hits are automatic yes?

I don't think anyone will stand against you on that. The party can indeed destroy it, though laying on hands inflicts 1d6 ⇒ 2 negative energy damage to Raynor every time he tries it. "IT BURNS!". Fire seems to work well though and between that, and weapon or pickaxe and shovel damage, the party can destroy it utterly. The chunks of flesh liquefy, and then vanish from sight shortly thereafter.

What would you like to do now?

"Anyone check that pile of loot for traps yet? Let's be a gettin' that done so we can get back to the ship and back to solid land, warm women, and fresh beer."

Alkarion pats Garrapata on the back. "Well done! Remarkable reflexes! Please, take one of my cards. I'd love to have you come in so I can research your musculature and reflex pattern. If I can reproduce that in chemical form, so many Pathfinders could benefit!"

If everyone is willing to give him a minute, he whips up an infusion of Heightened Awareness. He then takes 10 for 22 Perception.

He then steps carefully into the room, checking for further traps and dangers before waving everyone in. He then checks the sphere itself, then says, "I believe that is our goal! Can anyone check for magic before we take it?"

Alkarion will happily contribute all but his last two bombs to destroying the flesh blob; he'll save the last two in case we encounter trouble on the way out.

Borox casts Detect Magic and examines the room and the items.

To Borox's magic-seeking eyes the Orb of Stars appears like the sun, blinding him to anything else. Beyond the Orb there are about three sackfuls worth of some very old coins--many of them tarnished--laying in heap. They do not seem to be trapped in any way that the Professor can determine.

Very interesting...

"Let's hurry and leave this place... now that we have the orb, we can inspect it later after we leave this place."

Raynor finishes packing, mounts his steed, and starts backtracking to the entrance.

"Yes, let us be off. Everyone grab a bag or an orb!"

Kaillum is happy El is on his side. He helps to carry stuff topside. All the while watching for more canabalistic crazies.

"Lads, that there be wot we came for. Now, let's be a gettin' it and the loot back to the tub and back to dry land. That be a right good idea, Kaillum. Them crazy bastards may still be lurkin' up there lookin' for something to go with the meals we left them."

Garrapata looks sadly down at the ghoul. "I really DIDN'T mean to hit him so HARD. Poor fellow. TRAPPED all those YEARS. SAD, really." Garrapata sighs and helps to gather up the loot and carry it from the Tomb.

Raynor stares at El Garrapata in puzzlement. Then looks at the others to gauge their response. Maybe Raynor has been hunting pirates for too long... killing live pirates was sometimes hard, but most of the time necessary to protect the small fishing villages and communities that were the targets the lowly sea dogs, but undead? destroying undead is a glorious event in Raynor's heart, as he once met a follower of Pharasma that explained to him how things work behind the veil of reality.

"If I ever turn into any kind of undead, I want each of you to promise me you'll kill me as fast as possible. I cannot envision a worse fate. To be prisoner in your own dead body until the end of times while being forced to watch your own body eat people and kill and despoil all that is good. The longer one is forced into undeath the longer the taint on that person's eternal soul I think."

@GM: I would like the names of all PCs who make that promise to my PC recorded on my chronicle sheet, if you don't mind. Thank you!

Garrapata nods to Raynor. "So be it, if that's WHAT you WISH."

"Lads, that there be wot we came for. Now, let's be a gettin' it and the loot back to the tub and back to dry land...."

The sea chest in Rajhan-Vol's throne room?

Borox smacks his forehead with his hand!

"Raynor, did ye finish off that blinded blighter back inna the last room with that stinky bosun? We need to get that sea chest in that room or at the very least its contents."

"Oh, and by the way, laddie, ya dinnae have no fear o' me lettin' ya live or rather shall I say, "Unlive." I'll do ya the favor of puttin' ya down. I dinnae wanna suffer that fate either. I'd welcome Death's cold embrace warmly instead of being a cursed undead blighter."
Borox heads back to that room.

The sea chest next to the throne bears a coarse inscription scratched into its lid that reads “I leave you this as wages for your loyal service from now to eternity, my ambitious traitor—S.E.” Within are about 10,000 tarnished silver pieces.

Being a dwarf, Borox knows that simply by looking. ;)

Packing up, the party moves back over walls in the tree room through the room with chilling hag relief and up through the crack in the ceiling past the staring idols in their root-entangled niches, into the sweltering late afternoon.

The party, waits out a sleepless and sweltering night atop of spire before descending the next day to the shipwreck at its base, board Captain Benarry's miraculous collapsible boat and shove off.

They navigate their way out of mist and away from the Gloomspires to open water and spend another night beneath the stars feeling better for the distance between themselves and Sevenfinger's Tomb.

The next morning the Grinning Pixie comes into view and soon enough the party is taken aboard given food and a stiff drink and sent to their bunks to sleep the day away.

Sometime later there is a loud knock at the cabin door. The room is dark and the floor is moving such that you could guess that there was a storm outside.

"Enter!"

The door opens on Frau Blücher whose stern gaze illuminated by a flash of lightning and peel of thunder is enough to make a person jump. She looks about as if to see if the party is up to something in their room.

"Get drezed." She pauses to look everyone up and down. "Venture-Cabdain Benarry vill zee you now."

Time to get your report together.

Raynor finishes copying his notes from his logbook unto the vellum pages provided by the ship's office. He switches his eye patch to the other eye and steps out unto the upper deck.

Alkarion picks up his own notes and smiles at Frau Blucher. "Of course, my dear! Please, lead the way!"

Garrapata springs to his feet, nearly beaning himself on the ceiling. "I'm never NOT DRESSED!"

"Dressed? You tall people waste so much time on fripperies like clothin'."

Borox pulls on his shorts and cinches a belt with a dagger on it around his waist. He then straps his greatsword on his back and says, "There! I'm dressed enough. He then steps through the door and into the rain.

Does this complete the adventure?

Does this complete the adventure?

Almost.

The companions are shown to the Captain's room where a magnificent Shackle's style banquet has been prepared for them and a handful of other officers and senior crew.

"The heroes have arrived! Come in, come in. Leave the rain outside. Now before we gorge ourselves, I'd like to hear your report."

Raynor stiffly bows to Benarry, and hands her the vellum sheets with the notes.

"For your records, Captain. Thank you for having us. As requested we traveled to the Gloomspires, identified the proper one that had the wreck at the bottom. I put a note on your nautical charts in case you need to find it again. From there we ascended the spire via a set of stairs, which led to the very top. At the top there is a jungle, and we encountered some starving cannibals. One of them was inhabited by some evil spirit or dark conscience from beyond our world. Due to their hostile nature we had to put them out of their misery. Nearby we found a crack in the roof of the spire. We climbed down the opening, and got bonked on the head by some clever falling statue trap. At the bottom we found a square shaped room with a door leading out into a corridor, which opened into another room with a giant face carved in it. That creepy face had eyes that could follow our movements, and some dark curse activated and... ahem... tried to control our dear Professor into eating some dead stiff in the corner of the room. Thankfully we prevented our good Professor from doing that. The next room had a giant tree poking into it, and half of it was flooded and swimming with leeches. Our riding geckos clung to the wall and allowed us to bypass these bloodsuckers, and it anyone ever goes back that way, I recommend the room be drained or the water salted to get rid of these things. The next room was packed full with ghouls and some giant blob. We defeated the ghouls and got rid of that blob so it won't be a problem in the future. That same room contains a secret door that leads to stairs that go down to the next level, but upon further investigation, we... ahem... concluded that this was probably a story for another time. We found the orb in another side room whose corridor had been collapsed. Finally, door leading out of that room led to a self-styled ghoul king named Rajhan-Vol, who I believe had been betrayed by Sevenfingers, but I'm not clear on that seeing that I was focusing on impaling the thing to liberate his poor soul from undeath. Another colleague here can fill you in Captain, but I think that's the short of it."

Borox hops into a chair and piles a plate high with food. He also pours himself a large goblet of sangria.

Holding a chicken leg he says, "Raynor's got it. We killed undead blighters and found that orb." He takes a big bite from the leg.

"Hmm, I see. Anyone else have anything to contribute?"

"You gonna eat that?"

Garrapata smiles. "Rajan-Vol seemed to be a piratical sort. He tried to parley, but when his TERMS included eating ONE OF US, the negotiations FAILED. ALSO there is a staircase LEADING DOWN that lead into a room with a BIG DOOR that LOOKED INTERESTING. There's still a LOT to SEE!"

Alkarion nods as Raynor relates the events. "I would only add that the compulsion to eat the flesh of another sentient was quite strange ... I plan to do some research to see what specific nourishment that might have provided, and see if there is a way to synthesize it alchemically. While digging out the buried chamber, I did have a number of thoughts that might lead to improvements in the physical labor industry, but that might be a discussion best suited for another time. In terms of our mission, I believe that covers it."

I assume we've already given her the sphere, since that was our specific goal.

"I think I'm done after all." Agirran pushes his plate away.

Raynor stiffly bows to Benarry, and hands her the vellum sheets with the notes.

"For your records, Captain. Thank you for having us. As requested we traveled to the Gloomspires, identified the proper one that had the wreck at the bottom. I put a note on your nautical charts in case you need to find it again...."

"There wouldn't be a map of all this would there? Unlike many in my profession, I am more visually orientated." the captain says looking at an officer with a patch over his eye.

"There wouldn't be a map of all this would there? Unlike many in my profession, I am more visually orientated." the captain says looking at an officer with a patch over his eye.

"I already annotated your ship's office nautical chart with a big X showing the location, Captain. At the back I made a sketch of the rooms we encountered. It is not hard to remember as the layout was in essence a series of squares or rectangles linked by 5-foot wide passageways. Let me go get the map."

Raynor steps out to get the map and returns, showing his handiwork.

Profession Sailor for the Nautical Chart and Dungeon Sketch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

"That's what I'm talking about! As lovely as your signature is on my charts, it'll be useless after sundown when the Spires commence their infernal shell game again. Even when we figure out how to use the orb-" And at this point she lays a hand upon the artifact sitting on her desk like an priceless paperweight. "-there's no guarantee that the game will play out the same way. But this map is something I can pin to my cold pantry door! Next stop secret stairway! Haha!"

Hall of the Flesh Eater's Group Report Card

Primary Goal: Retrieving the Orb of Stars. Check. +1 prestige point.

Secondary Goal (must complete three):
PCs provide written notes (or, at the GM’s discretion, give the venture-captain a spoken report) that describe at least five important features of Sevenfingers’s tomb. Check.

the PCs should provide a map of the Hall of the Flesh Eaters, which they fulfill so long as at least one player draws a representative map of the site. Check.

The PCs should discover the secret door that leads to the second level of the tomb. Check.

The PCs should either destroy Rajhan-Vol or successfully negotiate safe passage for future expeditions (any report should include notes on the terms of such an arrangement, if made). Check. +1 more prestige point.

“Well lads, you have done a great service for me and the Society. The recovery of the Orb of Stars paves the way for future expeditions (Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts tier 3-7). Soon, perhaps, we’ll learn more about the Gloomspires’ mysterious makers, unravel their arcane secrets, and perhaps even delve deeper into old Sevenfingers’s tomb to liberate his ill-gotten wealth. Considering what you’ve seen, you lads are now among the foremost authorities on the Gloomspires. I hope that I may call upon all of you again should the Society decide to fund another expedition.” *wink* She raises her cup in a toast. "To ill-gotten wealth!"

Fin

*cheer* Well done, folks!

It was a pleasure playing with you all!

"Cheers!" Garrapata joins in the toasting!

Fun game, y'all. Thanks for a good time!

"Another mission almost done! Still gotta get back to dry land. But we can start the party now!" He raises his goblet and then drains it.

Really had a great time playing with everyone. I would love to play the next one in the cycle if anyone wanted to.