And Then a Skeleton Popped Out: subSPUF Carrion Crown

Game Master Rynjin

Well then we are pretty much f@*%ed here. Because what the hell do we do with a baby? Especially when Buffs are on and we are supposed to clear this place and find out whats going on. With the giant clearly somewhere else there must be more crap to do. And Darius would suggest giving the people outside the baby... but he doesnt trust them fully.

I'm...unclear as to how a key would help you with the baby problem.

I meant in general. The key was just if something strange/weird was required from whatever the Giant used. In general we are boned and it seems no one else has an opinion

Your option as they stand currently are: Keep the baby with you, take the baby back to his parents, or take the baby to someone else in the village or elsewhere. In order of "time out".

If only we had a PC/NPC that wasnt here/noncritical to just leave with the kid while the rest continued.

We could just kill it.

Yeah, unfortunately this is the only book so far that doesn't have a convenient party aligned NPC (though technically Duristan wasn't supposed to be around as much). I figured you'd just return the baby to its parents.

Gais? Baby, evil manor, end of the world?

I'm stuck following the party because of this damn baby.

"We should drop this baby off and come back later."

Then Darius reveals he hates children

Darius had taken quite a while to think on the matter but eventually Relented. " Then this is all we can do for today. As much as it pains me not to strike down the clear and evil sect that dwells in this place. This child will be nothing but a burden and subject to danger if we were to continue and splitting our efforts would not be wise. Alternatively doing so and coming back without rest or low on resources would be equally Suicide. Unfortunately this means the enemy will be well prepared before we return. "

He turns to Sledge, " I suppose you wont be babysitting for long then. bear with it for now. "

He starts towards the Mare's room to gather her and move outside. " We now have to figure out who the child can be left to. Remember the Cult has indoctrinated most of the citizens and roam area. We don't know who are sympathizers and who rebel, save maybe the Mayor... and he might be pressured. "

Do you leave via the front gate?

Unless something would tip us off not to.. yes...

EDIT: We could also use F5... That actually makes more sense

I meant when leaving the estate. Remember, the baby's parents are waiting for you at the gate.

The baby's parents? Didnt know that, well sure... The front gate

"You found our baby!" the mother happily cries. She rushes over and tries to take the child from Sledge.

Sledge gives it the Last Ride.

Sledge hands it back to her gingerly.

She holds her close

"Thank you so much!" she says, waves, and her and her husband begin to walk off.

"By the way, the priests are up to no good. There was a species of cannibalistic giant in there. So tell 'em to stay out."

"You and you silly stories again." the man says, and ignores you.

"What the hell, dude? Give me that baby back."

Fair warning, next one I'm taking as an actual action. =)

"Well, so long then."

Once the reunited family is gone, Jones sighs and crosses his arms. "I can hardly blame them for being skeptical. We are challenging everything they know about their little community, with no concrete evidence. I do hope that our search will yield something to back up our accusations."

Darius huffs, " An easy endeavor.. We'll drag the horrendous carcasses of their monsters back. Very little can one doubt what they see themselves. Let's not waste more time. We still have to find the giant after all. "

Darius heads back to the 'mansion'

You're back. Where to?

Are there stairs going down?

There does not appear to be any floors lower than the ground floor.

Swampy areas don't really do basements.

Then we have no leads I guess? I suppose we go whereever we havent been on the map? We inspected Where the Giant Left but our perception didnt pick up a thing

There are stairs UP, by the by.

.... Didnt we go up stairs already? If not... thats obvious where we go

You went up a short little staircase that leads you into the main part, but not up the staircase to the second floor. It doesn't appear to be properly represented on the map, but the stairs go up another level. Anywho, map is up. Your only choice is to go into F14 first due to the way the doors are arranged.

In this room a man in even more ornate robes than the ones you've seen on even the Vicars stands in a room that has survived surprisingly well. Thick, cushiony chairs dot the room, and a small fireplace with a fire burning inside makes it quite cozy.

"What are you doing here? No matter. The mere fact that you are here means you need to die." he says, and as he speaks it's hard to miss the resemblance between him and the Vicar back at the temple, just with a few decades put on.

The oppressive feeling from earlier comes back in full force as he speaks.

4d20 ⇒ (6, 8, 10, 3) = 27

1d20 ⇒ 14

Albor casts a spell and is sheathed in a dark glow, brimming with unholy might, then is hidden from sight by a thick mist.

You're up!

Grabbing blind-fight.

Sledge rampages on the priest.

3d100 ⇒ (80, 88, 77) = 245 All hit.

1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 2 = 28
1d10 + 26 ⇒ (9) + 26 = 35

1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 = 34
1d10 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31

1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
1d10 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 33

Confrimered?: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20
1d10 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29

You can't charge without line of sight.

Sledge's attack hits, though barely. Albor grunts, but the blow seems to have been largely absorbed by a protective spell.

Jones walks through the mist and stabs the priest especially hard.

1d100 ⇒ 9
Reroll: 1d100 ⇒ 33

Rapier+insp: 1d20 + 21 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 21 + (6) + 2 = 32
1d6 + 12 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 16 = 33

Due to the furniture arrangement, there are now no extra spots available next to Albor unless you want to stand on a small desk or chair (I'd impart a -2 to-hit for unsteady footing in that case). Darius and Zin can still attack from range, but they'd have a 50% miss chance on top of the -4 to-hit from Cover from Sledge and Jones.

Edit: Actually, back up a sec. Depending on what Darius does, Sledge may not be able to get in there at all without the aforementioned furniture penalty. Depends on whether Darius wants to get close and use his longsword to negate most of the mist advantage or not, since he goes first.

Either way:

Jones shanks Albor very hard, eliciting a cry of pain from the man.

I'll get on a chair, then. I can't look at the map on my phone.

Well, order of operations matters here. Since you can't SEE how many squares are open, you probably wouldn't gimp yourself on purpose as Jones. So Sledge will be the one surfing furniture unless Darius casts a spell or something instead of attacking.

Darius simply double moves knocking over furniture to get behind the Vicar.

Do I need CMB to do this?

No CMB (though for heavier objects in the future, I'll probably require a low DC Strength check). I'll say you need a Standard to move the furniture, but you only need to single move anyway to get in there (everything is kinda cramped, as you can see on the map). Note you can move AROUND the furniture just fine, it's standing in the same space that's an issue, so you don't need to move every piece in your path.

Darius creeps through the mist and kicks a table over onto its side to make room to fight.

Now we just need Zin.

Not knowing where the priest is, Z relies on Darius to find him.

Once she is sure he has done so, she cast Burst of Radiance just outside of range of him.

Burst of Radiance positioned south of Darius to exclude him. DC20 Reflex

Damages: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 4, 4) = 14

-Posted with Wayfinder

South of Darius excludes Darius, but catches Jones and Sledge. Proceed?

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Assuming you cast the spell to move things along. Jones and Sledge, roll Reflex just in case.

Albor Ref: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Dazzled: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Casting Defensively: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

Jones or Sledge?: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Touch: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Albor sheathes his hand in a glow of negative energy and strikes Sledge with it.

Sense Motive?: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35

But Sledge slaps it out of the way.

Which is good. Another dead character would be unfortunate.

Back to the top.

Ref: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20
Dazzled: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Jones practices his stabbin'.

+1 to these if I'm not dazzled.
Rapier+in: 1d20 + 20 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 20 + (2) + 2 = 30
1d6 + 12 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 8 = 22

Rapier 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
1d6 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

4d100 ⇒ (40, 80, 31, 60) = 211

Jones' Blind Fighting heritage makes both of his attacks connect.

"Vexing little worms." Albor snarls.

Ref: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Sledge keeps the pain up on Albor and delivers three skull-crushing punches.

3d100 ⇒ (93, 46, 13) = 152
BlindFight: 1d100 ⇒ 72

First two hit.

Assuming I don't roll terribly.

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
1d10 + 26 ⇒ (2) + 26 = 28

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
1d10 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30

That's more like it.

Confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
1d10 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24

Sledge keeps up the pain by deliver one skull-rattling punch.

Darius, Zin?

Darius gives a proper whipping wotwot

Striking from the other side his whip rends along the Vicar's spellarm.

Powerful Human Bane Whipping: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 351d100 ⇒ 28
Powerful Human Bane Whipping Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 13 + (4, 1, 3, 2) = 26

Secondary Powerful Human Bane Whipping: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 201d100 ⇒ 1
Secondary Powerful Human Bane Whipping Damage: 1d3 + 13 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 13 + (4, 3, 5, 4) = 32

Darius whips Albor viciously, and he begins to scream. A high pitched whine emits from his mouth, stretching beyond the limits of human hearing as a tentacled monstrosity rips through Albor's head, destroying it utterly. His corpse staggers around for a moment, seeming like it's going to fall...when it steadies, sending out a pulse of energy, the high pitched squeal returning, ripping through the brains of everyone who can see it.

Everyone but Zin (who has been granted mercy by the Obscuring mist) make me a Will save.

And she's up BTW.