And Then a Skeleton Popped Out: subSPUF Carrion Crown

Game Master Rynjin

1d4 ⇒ 3

You reach the large clearing at the Stairs of the Moon with no further encounters, but the howls behind you suggest the Vollensag aren't far behind.

They are maybe 5 rounds away from arriving.

Ahead of you are a squad of werewolf archers, settled on the second level of the stairs and shooting anything that comes from the underbrush.

Your eyes meet across the roughly 45 feet between you, and they nock arrows.

4d20 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 2) = 12

3d20 ⇒ (9, 14, 9) = 32

1d2 ⇒ 2

The archers are currently holding their actions.

Darius is up, and I will fix up the map.

Are we in the underbrush or something?

Technically speaking you were since you started marching toward the edge of the forest, but for mechanical purposes the ground moving forward from where you are now is just normal grass, and not difficult terrain.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Can I tell why they might not have shot yet? Have they not seen the oter people in the party and think Darius is one of them?

I think they're waiting for us to get closer.

.... Why? They are archers.. Archers want you as far away as possible while still in kill range.

Minor correction, with a better look at the map now that it's on Roll20, everything with a squiggly line across the square IS difficult terrain, because it's uphill.

The archers seem to be waiting just to synchronize their volley.

And forgot Duristan again:

1d20 ⇒ 12

Duristan technically goes first, but he delays to follow Darius' lead.

Darius chugs a Shield Extract and moves forward.

" Use Defense! Zin, take out those archers when you have a chance.. then close in "

Sledge total defends and begins to close.

"Zin, a fireball is in order."

+6 AC due to ranks in acrobatics.

Duristan moves forward in tandem with Darius, shield at the ready, huddling behind it a bit.

Total Defense + Move.

The archers let loose.

"Kill the Jezeldan!" they growl as the arrows fly towards Darius' black-furred form.

3d20 ⇒ (14, 1, 19) = 34

But all of the arrows miss, deflected by the invisible shield covering Darius.

Jones does the same.

What color is their fur?

Red. They're Dorzhanevs (Broken Ones).

Quick refresher: Dorzhanevs are red, Jezeldans (Demon Wolves) are black, Mordrinacht (Silverhides) are silver-gray, Vollensag (Primals) are dark grey, and Princes' Wolves are primarily brown, with some grey.

I went back and saw you'd described your Feral Mutagen as giving you black fur, so I figured it appropriate that they'd think you were a Jezeldan.

Funny we were thinking the same thing, they Uber hate me then. Effectively my hair became fur and Darius' hair is midnight black.. so it makes sense. Thank You.

Darius knocks away the impending fire and double moves closer to the stairs

I don't see the archers on the map, where exactly are they?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Made a mark on the Side View map.

Z takes to the air again with her wings, rising twenty feet from the ground and advancing another twenty.

I assume I can catch all three archers in one blast.

Fireball DC20: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 4, 1, 3, 1, 6, 6, 3) = 38

Burning: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Four more minutes of flight left today after this usage. Two third level spells remaining.

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Ref: 3d20 ⇒ (4, 18, 2) = 24

Two of the werewolves are incinerated by the blast, though the third stands defiantly among the smoke.

Its their turn.. well the one's turn.

The wolf fires at Zin this time.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

But misses.

Darius growls " Rush to the stairs now! "

He double moves and gets 10ft up the stairs.

Man there are alot of stairs

Jones likewise makes his way toward the stairs.

When you reach the stairs, the archer ignores you.

Ignores me like isnt focused on me or like ' Damn he is on hallowed ground' ?

Like isn't concerned about you being there. It's kinda hard to see on the map but he's basically on the roof of the second floor or some such. That first set of stairs leads to inside the first floor.

He can't shoot you there, but if you want to know exact details for why his concern lapses, you'd need to ask him directly.

On my way.. basically at this point I have to move like... 3 rounds to even get up there. Stairs are annoying.

Just going to Iron Skin and Shield of Faith up while flying 60 feet per round towards Darius and the others.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sledge will sprint to Darius.

The Vollensag will be here about time we get to the top. Not that that is a problem

Going to move sort of out of Initiative now unless Zin plans to take on the archer.

As the rest of you (and Duristan) make it halfway up the stairs, you catch sight of two more of the enormous, muscular Vollensag you fought a moment ago.

There comes a scrambling from up above, and the sound of multiple claws scraping on stone. A moment later a volley of arrows slam into the charging Primals from above, from what seems to be 4 archers this time, though the arrows don't do much more than annoy the more powerfully built werewolves.

You make it to the top, and inside the Stairs of the Moon at the same time the Vollensag arrive at the base, though they don't ascend the stairs, instead deciding to leap as high as they can, grab on, and climb the stone sides up to where the archers are using their claws to dig out handholds in the rock.

As you turn the corner, you find yourself in a cavernous ampitheater of crumbling stone, lined with pillars.

The rough dirt floor is strewn with bones, and the skeletons of deer and other larger game animals hang from several of the columns, all of which are painted with crude symbols and marred with scratch marks.

The southern portion of the room contains an elevated dais, connected to the earthen floor of the amphitheater by short stairs on either side. To the rear of the dais, an open archway leads deeper into the ruins.

"So, what is this place, you wonder?" Duristan says.

"Sure, pal. Tell us."

There's a question mark there for a reason. He's just making conversation.

Everyone roll me a Perception check and Initiative real quick while you're talking.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

-Posted with Wayfinder

" Likely a meeting place of some form. Whatever is going on the clans are warring and likely the issue is at the top, we have no time to sit here and wonder "

Darius casts See invisibility expecting to deal with Mathus and any wiles he may think of at the top.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Scent may also be applicable.. either way Darius is rushing towards whatever is considered the next floor.

Perc: 1d20 + 17 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 17 + (1) + 1 = 30
Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"It was once a Desnan temple and observatory. During its construction, according to our research, the pieces of a relic known as the Dusk Moth were incorporated into the stonework."

1d20 ⇒ 16

Duristan Will: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Jones, Sledge, and Zin sense an invisible presence in this room.

Darius sees it...just as it enters Duristan. He catches a glimpse of a swirling mass of air, with a mouth full of teeth and six inch claws.

A moment later, you hear Duristan's fingers crack, and claws shoot out of them, forcing his sword and shield out of his hands. His face splits and a muzzle forces its way out, filling with vicious fangs.

He looks at you withe death in his eyes and growls.

Jones' Sense Motive is high enough to recognize Duristan is no longer in control of himself. Kn. Religion to identify this thing.

Jones, then Darius.

...Don't Me and Jones already know what this is.. simply from me seeing it and researching it?

...Don't Me and Jones already know what this is.. simply from me seeing it and researching it?

I don't remember you researching this at all, or ever seeing it before.

Page 70.. I also got a look at it.. also the way he transformed.. I believe its name started with a V

Ah, right. Forgot I gave you the Knowledge check when it was mentoned in the books. Yes, this is a Vilkacis, and it has possessed Duristan.

Darius growls at the man-beast. " A Vilkacis! We knew they existed but to think it would be here! Try not to kill Duristan, he is possessed. Knock him out! "

Yeah, all we know is that it possesses people, is an undead and makes them angry or something. I wanted to shout this before Jones stabbed him.

Does the Vilkacis' influence make him immune to Fort saves like an undead?

No. He is still a living creature, though he is possessed by an undead.

Jones drinks Vomit Swarm and sends a wasp swarm at Duristan.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

Daius whips at Duristan's face, going for a non-lethal strike that won't leave a mark.

Powerful Non-Lethal Mutagen Grimoire Whipping: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Powerful Non-Lethal Mutagen Grimoire Whipping Damage: 1d3 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"I'm not so great at not killing things, besides, if we knock him out won't the ghost just take someone else over?"

"Probably should just pin him down and tie him up."

-Posted with Wayfinder

" That is where you show your Naivety.. we WANT the ghost to come out.. and nothing prevents it from simply choosing to leave. "

Fort Save (Distraction: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Fort Save (Poison): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Swarm Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

The Vilkacis-possessed Duristan shrugs off the distracting bites of the swarm and their venemous stings, but staggeres under the weight of Darius' blow and the pain inflicted on Duristan's body.

Note the swarm does lethal damage.

WUB WUB WUB

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Perc: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36

Sledge bops Duristan on the head.

Pummeling Attack, Nonlethal
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
1d8 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
1d8 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
1d8 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

My 1d8 rolls suck.

Also, I think I'm caught in the swarm. If so...

Dist: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Poison: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

No, it's only in Duristan's space.