WotW: A Knot of Thorns The First Parchment
Game Master Xzaral

Tatya Ayresleigh wrote:

"A secret door in the room with the stairs?" Tatya asks those remaining after Timeon and Bostarg have left. "Do you think he refers to the room with the false pendant, or the room by which we entered, where we found the secret doors? The snakes we have met, and a fungus, and the mist that feared light, but walking dead we have not yet encountered."

"The room with the pendant, most assuredly."

Tatya frowns. "Either way, we have missed a door somewhere. We cannot afford to be careless, not with the White Ravens in the picture."

Bostarg does not allow the flicker of recognition to make it's way unto his face at Timeon's overwrought rejection of his suggestion. Conspiratory tone and body position suggesting that he was a friend to Timeon, Bostarg turned the screws "Look at it from their perspective. All they will know is that a knight of the realm left with a squire... and did not return. People would whisper in the streets, finger you as a murderer and frown at how the house of Iomedae harbors a criminal in its midst... no they would not like that at all. I know all too well the justness and fairness of Talingarde's laws."

"You would be tried in public and then they would kill you, and there would be nothing you could do to stop it... unless..." leaving the tail of salvation hanging just within Timeon's reach... if only he would extend a hand to grasp it.

Feel free to roll Bluffs +15 for me whenever you see fit King Mark

"What is taking them so long?" Tatya fumes. "You don't suppose the boy made a run for the stairs and the trap killed the gnome as well, do you? Perhaps we should go after them."

Morthos looks to Tatya with a grin. "For one, Bostarg is far too intelligent to be killed by a mere trap that he's aware of. Also, he does not strike me as one who would actually go after some pathetic fool; knowing that this boy hasn't the slightest chance of surviving on his own. They'll be back soon, have no worry, lovely Tatya." He turns and looks toward the entrance of where the two will return. "And then we shall investigate the room of the walking dead." He eyes gleam at the thought.

I'm assuming that Bostarg is walking with Timeon back to you as we speak ;)

"That.....that can't be how it would go. I'm ...loyal." Timeon begins to quiet as the two of you approach, the conflict on his face obvious. As you make it to the doorway, he halts for a moment and stutters out, "What are they, you, going to do with me now? Does it even matter if I worry?" He doesn't look at you as he speaks, waiting only a moment before starting back in.

Bostarg would walk with Timeon back to the others and wait for their confirmation on what their plans are for Timeon before speaking to him any more.

Tatya turns with relief as the pair re-enter the room with the rack. "Here you are," she says impatiently, glancing at Alazandaru to see what he will do with the boy now.

The young squire stands in the doorway, his head towards the floor, before he speaks gaze still averted. "I-I have the pendant. W-what now?" He doesn't move from the doorway, except a small sideways shuffle to allow Bostarg through if needed.

"Well done, boy. Hand it over, let's see what you've got." Bea makes no movement to approach him, expecting he'll hand it over to someone else who actually cares about it.

You have done well. Many would have still run for the stairs. Continue to serve well and you will earn more than just your life.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Appraise on Pendant

I'm a little tied for posting time at the moment, so i'd appreciate if if someone stepped in IC to interact with the squire. Assuming a 20 or 22 is sufficient to successfully appraise the necklaces worth, beating the DC by 5 means Alazandaru's also aware if the necklace is magical. If so he would point it out. Back to normal posting in a couple of days.

Bostarg's plan for the squire was to attempt to send him back to the world at large with stories to slander the good name of Sir Eldon and Sir Balin.
If anyone would prefer to try and retain the boy as a squire or similar... then I'm happy to assist in persuading him to remain and work for us, etc.
Other than that - let's forge on to the purported secret door!

Bostarg's plan for the squire was to attempt to send him back to the world at large with stories to slander the good name of Sir Eldon and Sir Balin.

Now THAT'S an idea that Morthos would be all for. Like the sound of that, honestly. Especially since Morthos takes him for worthless anyway.

Tatya's not convinced that Timeon's fate is ours to decide; he's (presumably) the Cardinal's prisoner, not our own. Plus, she's a little leery about just letting him go when he's seen all of us wanted fugitives and can identify us. But that can wait until we've completed the task at hand.

I think that we're essentially waiting on knowing if Alazandaru wants to keep the boy?

Can't really do anything about letting him go or not while we're down here looking for the pendant, right? Just need to decide if we're taking him with us while we continue or leaving him behind until we're done.

"Let's examine the room where the dead walk. We'll decide what to do with this one when we have finished. It's not as if he managed his way in here on his own." Turning his attention to Timeon, "If you are still alive when we return--you never know what you may run into down here if you attempt to escape--we may can find some use for you. Odds are though, you far too much a fool to sit still." Morthos then leans in a bit, speaking just slightly above a whisper. "Know that I will not be the one to clean whatever's left of you if you decide to escape, boy. This dungeon, I fear, has a fantastic way of finding ways to destroy those that are weak. And do not even begin to think you are more than that."

Intimidate 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Turning to the others, "Let us move and examine the final room; if indeed it is the final room."

"Wherever it is," Tatya puts in. "We haven't yet located it. This one," she turns narrowed eyes suspiciously toward Timeon, "claims it was opposite the stairs. Did you see any sign of it when he retrieved the pendant, Bostarg?"

Bostarg shakes his head "Apologies Tatya, I was distracted by the plight of the poor squire." giving a short bow and beckoning Tatya to come with him "Shall we return to look again?"

King Mark - I assume we take 20 to try and find the door.

Alazandaru had been thinking for some time and finally spoke up.

If one of you does not wish to squire him, we'll have to decide what to do with him later. We don't know how much of this place he has seen, but the knowledge he already has could lead Talingarde to this little outpost and ruin all of our plans. He has, thus far, done all we asked of him. I will not reward loyalty with death.

Waiting on result of Appraise check too, including whether it is magical.

Tatya shrugs a little reluctantly. "We are to 'reward those who serve us well,'" she admits, quoting the Lesson over the door. "If he continues to serve," she glares at Timeon, "we will have little choice in the matter."

An appraisal of the necklace determines that it is nearly worthless, a mere 5gp for the materials used in it's creation. The pendant is silver, but the eyes are colored glass, not sapphire.

An extended search of the room where the pedastel was located reveals a secret passage to the west of the stairwell. The passage beyond goes south and wraps around to the east, traveling to a doorway below the room with a pedastel. The inscription above the doorway reads...

"Secrecy is our greatest ally. Exposure brings death."

Out of order on posts, this one should be before last one.

Timeon stands resolutely, though out of dread waiting for his fate rather than resolve against his captors. As you all speak, and the words pierce the squires fallen hopes, he begins to see he may yet survive this encounter. "I h-have completed your task. I...I won't r-run. I will wait here until you return." He attempts to put up a good cover, but this is an act of desperation, clear to all.

Retcon-

Alazandaru tossed the necklace to Timeon.

Here is your first reward, beyond your own life Timeon. Let us hope that it is the first of many.

The Map Link for this page. Is the door in the south wall or the west wall?

Morthos stops as he notices something just before they move eastward. "Hold a moment. It looks as if there's another door here." He moves toward it, attempting to find a way to open it.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Before the group moves away and deeper Bostarg gives Timeon a reassuring pat on the shoulder by means of solidarity. Once out of earshot though, he turns to Alazandaru "Assuming that our hosts have no objection to his continued life... do you plan to keep him Alazandaru?"

When the secret door is entered, Bostarg keeps to his position near to the back of the group and following.

Alazandaru replied to Bostarg-

I had no intention of doing so. I had hoped one of you might adopt him. I'm sure he has promise but I have no interest in a squire, i'd rather a street urchin or a cutpurse... I just don't feel we can let him leave now. He may already know too much. That, and the devastating effect seeing him serving our side could have on his master, cannot be underestimated...

Bostarg smiles "That is as may be, though I am sure that our hosts might have a say in that matter. At any rate, we should preserve to task rather than presume we will survive this trial no?"

"Alazandaru speaks wisely," Tatya points out. "If both he and Timeon are publicly known to have been turned, who will ever trust a follower of the revered witch-hunter again? How great a hero can Sir Balin be to have sheltered such wickedness or overlooked such heresy in his own household?" She stays to the rear of the group with the gnome, content to let one of the warriors take the brunt of whatever they might be facing.

Map has been updated. I've included a few markings on it to clarify things. Let me know if anything is still unclear.

The secret doorway in the passage is opened to reveal another passage. This ends in a door that is clear on this end, but probably covered on the other. An inscription rests upon this door as well.

"Beware the fallen for they may rise once more to threaten you."

Neither door appears to be trapped at this point.

Tatya frowns when she hears the inscription on the second door read aloud. "'Beware the fallen': That must be the room of undead of which the squire warned us. Are we ready to face the risen dead, or would we rather learn the lesson of secrecy and the dangers of exposure?"

"We have nothing to fear from bones and rotting flesh. If they rise, we will put them down again."

Wow that sounded cocky...

Raising her eyebrows a little at the taller woman's confidence, Tatya gestures to the doorway with a welcoming sweep of the arm. "Then do so," she smiles, "and I will stand back and applaud ... or try to stem the bleeding if you fail."

Morthos readies himself and then moves to open the door and enter.

Barring the door blowing up and killing me, Morthos is walking on in.

Just to confirm, there are two doors. Which may I ask do you plan on entering?

The one that leads to the undead room.

Opening the door to the south reveals a room with eight coffins, two in each corner of the room. A doorway opens to the east and to the west. A strange smell of seawater can be found coming from the room, and the coffins appear to have become slightly warped.

The Map Link

Trying her best to appear confident, Bea holds her sword at the ready and steps into the room, looking around for danger.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Tatya hovers near the doorway without yet stepping through it, waiting to see might happen as the warriors enter the room.

As Beatrix enters the room, for a brief moment nothing happens. As a sigh of relief is upon her, suddenly the lid of one of the coffins erupts in a shower of splinters, exiting from the coffin a member of the walking dead, a corpse wielding a great 2-handed axe. Green flames burn where his eyes should be as he fixes his gaze upon the warrioress, hate burning strong. A strong smell of death and seawater assaults your nose as he prepares to engage.

Round 1
Bostarg
Tatya
???
Morthos
Alazandaru
Beatrix

The Map Link

Trying out the gated spoilers for knowledge checks. How do you all like this method, out of curiousity?

Knowledge (religion) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Will share info on Tatya's init when she's no longer flat-footed. :)

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Epic fail - though I very much like the gated spoilers, and use them in the games I DM alot.

Bostarg pauses at the noise, racking his brain for some recognition of the creature... but coming up short. He pauses, allowing others to act before he commits himself.

Delaying to after the ???

gated spoilers are a great way to do it. The other really good option is to just roll the checks for us and put what specific people know behind a spoiler, but that requires keeping track of everyone's skills on a spreadsheet or something. That's my method of choice on other websites where you can actually designate text that only certain players can see, but here on Paizo either one is fine.

I'll post my actual action after the ??? take their turn.

Tatya is up now. I didn't specify, but the creature's surprise action was to kool-aid out of the coffin.

"Draugr," Tatya identifies clinically. "Drowned sailors. What remains of their flesh is too waterlogged to be easily pierced; use a slashing blade or blunt force." She glances around the room at the rest of the coffins uneasily. If each of these has an occupant.... She retrieves a vial from her pack and draws a dagger with the other, stepping to the other side of the doorway to put a little more space between her and the nearest coffin.

Move action: retrieve potion; move action: draw dagger; 5-foot step to X 17

The creature steps forward, hefting it's axe as it moves, bringing it to bear upon the nearest living creature, Morthos. The weapon falls in a deadly arc, a viscious wound inflicted (Hit for 14 damage to Morthos). A bloodlust burns in the creature's eye.

As it moves, another coffin bursts open to reveal another of the creatures.

Round 1
Bostarg (Delay)
Tatya (Draw Potion, Draw Dagger, 5' shift to X17)
Draugr (D1, 5' step forward and attack Morthos, hit. D2 escapes from coffin)
Morthos
Alazandaru
Beatrix

The Map Link

Taking a nasty hit from the undead, Morthos stares at the undead creature with hatred and retaliates.

Mwk Longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Round 1: 16/16 HP, 3/3 1st level spells cast

Seeing Morthos take a thunderous blow Bostarg sidles forward to staunch his hurt. Whispering to himself "Not yet, we have work to do" as he lays a hand on Morthos' leg...

Move adjacent and CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 on Morthos.
At work, so map is not visible to me - will move my token tonight.

Seeing the foul creature strike Morthos, Beatrix steps up to enact retribution, but fails to connect her sword with it.

power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 5) + 9 = 18