Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

"Leave the body here," instructs the warden, nodding to a patch of earth scorched from previous bonfires. "I'll get some wood later and burn it." She heads for the door of the hut.

"Uh-huh." Janosz turns to Gil as the priestess enters the tower. "Search the pouch. I'll take the body. And get one of those magic-detection hexes going."

Perception 11+23=34 for a quick once-over of the dead guy. I then go inside.

"Leave the body and his belongings. Are you a graverobber too?" she snaps.

Janosz:

"What can you tell us about Gath?"

"Gath's very existence is an abomination to the Flame. A powerful undead leading a coterie of necromancers" - she eyes Ezreal suspiciously again - "who defile the sanctity of the dead, stealing parts for their vile rituals or raising them to suit their dark whims. Gath may not seem to affect the people of Sharn but his evil attracts the likeminded like flies to a corpse. I have dedicated my life to thwarting his schemes. Whenever I find one of his followers - like the man outside - I do my utmost to destroy them." She scowls darkly.

"Gath is normally in the place called his Mausoleum, in Halden's Tomb. It is no resting place for the dead a temple filled with his acolytes and spawn. It looks deserted from the outside but there are levels and layers beneath that serve as his training grounds. I have..." - she pauses, and gulps - "I have only faced Gath the once. We were young knights, filled with the zeal of the crusaders. Only I survived."

Her voice dies to a whisper. "I don't know why he didn't kill me." She looks earnestly into Rodergo's face, searching for an answer.

"Dead guy had this fetish around his neck." Janosz tosses the bone sigil to Rod as he walks in. "Know it? I don't."

"What made you different from the others? Were you the only female? The only priest? The youngest one?"

"Dead guy had this fetish around his neck." Janosz tosses the bone sigil to Rod as he walks in. "Know it? I don't."

"What made you different from the others? Were you the only female? The only priest? The youngest one?"

Rod:

Gaia sees the symbol and snarls, "I told you to leave the body alone. You defile this holy place bringing such a thing in here." She stands up. "Get out! All of you! Do your treasure hunting somewhere else!"

"I,.....I'm sorry, Warden Sotharr. Of course we'll leave.
We meant no disrespect.......what he had shewn me would be considered by us involved in this quest as a potential clue or evidence, rather than a loverly bauble or representation of material wealth......
He isn't thoroughly versed in the symbolism that this action would represent. That is my fault as the spiritual center of this cadre.
Um, we're in the field, ranging far and wide, yea even into the very depths of that horrid place the Mournlands itsself on this quest.
We didn't mean to traipse into the house with mud on our boots, as it were. Forgive our rudeness, I take full responsibility for this offence.
We'll leave now."

Rod'll make like to bail up outta the chapel.

diplomacy
1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

to see if I can, like, salvage anything atall....

"No! No, forgive me. Please stay. I receive few visitors, and most of those I meet are Gath's minions. Your cause is just. I simply ask that this place remain unsullied by his pollution." The last is delivered with a glare in Janosz's direction.

"I do not know why Gath chose to spare me. We were in his Mausoleum, the others about me were slain, and I was at his mercy. Instead, he simply walked away. I escaped back to the surface... And here I am." She looks into the Flame in the centre of the chamber. "I expect they are still there now, undead slaves to the lich."

"How did it, ah, come about? Were you whittled down by traps and hordes of shuffling minions, or did the lich himself show up and slay you all?"

"If he kept them around,....what kind of powers did they have? We may have to face their wights at this point.

Hmmm; maybe he has a small inkling of nobility to him; to leave a fair damsel unscathed? Or he may have some other lengthy machination in mind?

I wonder...."

"Yes, that is rather ponderous. Have you any means to communicate with him rather than face-to-face? Are you on speaking terms?"

Gil remains quiet, listening to the discourse. Seeing the woman's reaction to Janosz' instructions, she didn't investigate the satchel further.

Sorry, it's been a bit difficult to do more than peek in on the threads. I don't know that I have had much to say, but you can assume she will be trying to aid Rodergo with his Diplomacy checks.

"How did it, ah, come about? Were you whittled down by traps and hordes of shuffling minions, or did the lich himself show up and slay you all?"

"We didn't penetrate far into his lair, and doubtless the guardians we encountered have been replaced with others. Gath would likely alter the defensive arrangements after this length of time. But I can sketch a map for you of what I remember."

"If he kept them around,....what kind of powers did they have? We may have to face their wights at this point."

"We were knights of the Silver Flame, with all that that entails. Whether they possess such powers now, I cannot tell. But... If you could see that they go to their rest, I would be grateful. There were three other than me: our leader, Sir Carrick - he wore the Seal of Listin in recognition for his bravery in the Last War; Holder, a man-at-arms; and our chaplain, Mother Junis."

"Yes, that is rather ponderous. Have you any means to communicate with him rather than face-to-face? Are you on speaking terms?"

"Ponderous? Why would I be on speaking terms with a monster? What sort of fool are you?"

"Even a monster can sometimes be convinced to do the right thing, though for its own selfish reasons. If it spared you intentionally, as appears to be the case, it might listen were you to try to negotiate with it. Unless we ask, we don't know. He meant no offense. We simply wish to know everything we possibly can about the creature."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

"Perhaps," she mutters. "Negotiating with such an abomination does not appear seemly."

"It never does;" then "I understand that the lich has a phylactery. Destroying it is the only way to ultimately destroy a lich.

Would you have an inkling of an idea where Gath's phylactery may lie?
If negotiations break down, we may have to fight him if we want to or not.

I don't think I'll invite him to my niece's confirmation when this is all over and done, let's just say."

Ezreal snorts, "You think a lich of that age walks around advertising his most precious of all possessions and his key to immortality to a band of knights out to eradicate him? I would bet that very few and perhaps none of his most trusted know much about that."

"I know; I was just wondering if something was revealed at all in her previous encounter.
He seems to be a rather quirky one for a lich. I could see him going into a long smug speech and revealing it as some egotistical lesson in the futility of existence. I'm Gath, and my phylactery is contained in a portrait pendant of my grandmother.....I keep it in a nightstand next to my coffin.....but you're so weak and it's all so futile that I'll tell you just where it is......because existence is absurd anyway...... I figure it's at least worth asking."

"I don't know where his phylactery might be. We didn't get to converse." She gives a harsh bark of a laugh. "He was much more business-like that you suggest."

"Nonetheless, he doesn't seem bent on world domination. At least, not in the interrim.
Mayhap he's not interested in the world's total destruction as well. Mayhap we can at least talk him into helping us save all of Eberron. If only because the status quo, as it is, would be maintained.....

Warden Sotharr, did he say anything at all, or just.....concentrate on the battle? After all, I too am puzzled by his act of sparing you.

If it becomes possible, I definitely will ask him why, and I will definitely share the information with you."

To the rest;

"Feel free if I'm overlooking anything to mention it. At this point, I really don't know what to expect from our imminent meeting with the Lich Gath, or how exactly we should proceed."

"He barely spoke at all. Sir Carrick called out to his challenge, and the lich simply said, 'Fools.' Then we joined battle and there was no more time for speaking. And as I lay on the floor, dazed and my bow broken beside me, he stood over me, as close as you are now, and then walked away into the dark without a word."

"A map sketch would be awesome. How long ago was this?"

"A year."

"OK. Now these graverobbers you keep offing, are they coming here because Gath sends them? Do they sneak in alone, or do they show up in numbers? Is he testing you, somehow?"

in response to her response

"It is ponderous that he would spare you for no apparent reason. Perhaps he is not the monster you thought him to be. I suppose I am the sort of fool who doesn't subscribe to your particular form of hatred, although the sort of fool that can understand it."

"I wouldn't make the mistake of anthropomorphizing Gath; he definitely is a monster. Although a highly intelligent one.

I'm just wondering if he has an exploitable psychological quirk."

"I didnt mean to give you that idea, I just meant perhaps he is aware of an issue on a much longer timetable than we are. Perhaps there is knowledge to gain from him. We don't know his motives aside from that they SEEM not to include domination or destruction. There exist beings that operate on timetables even greater than those of the undead, but due to their extended "life"cycles they could come closer to understanding them than we can."

Gil nods, "Ah, I think I follow your reasoning. I have to admit I wasn't sure where you were going with your questions, but yes - one such as this might have the long view necessary to understand what is going on."

By way of explanation for their hostess, "We seem to be following a plot that is very large in scope. Our visit here is just the latest stop on this journey. We believe this plot involves entities that also take such a long view."

"I don't care what his schemes are and what period they are expected to come to fruition. His existence is an abomination before the Silver Flame and I will do what I can to thwart him.

"As for the graverobbers, I don't believe all of them necessarily come from Gath. Necromancers require materials and these graveyards are the two places in Sharn to obtain them. But I have never been subject to a massed attack," she adds, looking slightly troubled at the thought.

"Have you ever tried to conjure up the dead necromancers' spirits to make them tell you where they come from? Graverobbing is a serious offense - you could go to the City Watch with that info."

"This is not a matter for the City Watch, but for the cleansing brightness of the Flame. And I doubt the City Watch would have the resources to battle with Gath."

OK, any more questions or have you finished raking over her trauma?

I'm done. I do want that map, though.

"Warden Sotharr, I'm....I'm sorry to bring up bad memories.
I can only hope that we can make it a worthwhile gesture.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been a true honor....."

Let's bail.

The party are standing outside the Warden's Tower, considering their next move.

Plan? Assume you have the sketch map. The Mausoleum is in Halden's Tomb, a graveyard which is in a similar position above Tavick's Landing that this place is above Dura and Northedge. In order to get there (at least by walking), you will have to descend back to the city, get across to the other side and do a similar climb to the one you have just done. It is late morning now.

"Next graveyard, then? Or do any of ya need to stop along the way?"

"Oh, and Rod - did you keep that bone fetish? It might come in handy at Gath's place. If the place attracts jerks and twerps of all sorts, the guardians can't just bumrush anyone who steps through the front door. Showing the symbol might get us past some, if not all, the guards."

"Speaking of jerks and twerps - have you ever been to Halden's Tomb, Gelb?"

"I think his Flamic garb is more likely to get us 'bumrushed,' as you say," Runzyl grumbles. "If Gath and the Silver Flame have the kind of rivalry as suggested by Sotharr's statements, I would suspect Rodergo and anyone in his vicinity are probably on the 'kill on sight' list."

"That is probably true. Which is why Rod should pack away the Flamic imagery and dress like us. We can buy him a nice bland coat-of-arms while we head to he tomb."

"Now what would a nice, innocent fellow like myself be doing in the graveyard, Frogger," comes Gelb's mocking voice.

"Looking for the ghoul of your dreams maybe?...."
then;

"I'll bite; I'll slum like the rest of you. Just don't make me wear high waters and plaid socks like Rolund."

"I also had an idea or two;
Ez, you could play the part of a necromancer in front of the lich.
And, or, maybe Gil could play the Warden?....there has to be some reason he didn't kill her.
Just a thought; I don't know. Maybe he has a thing for her? I mean, he was a man at one point,...."

"Although I am not particularly fond of deceit, I must admit that sounds like a good idea."

"Meh, he's a lich."

The adventurers set off back down the path to the city. It is just after noon when they get back to begin their preparations to face the Mausoleum of Gath.

Is everyone properly prepped for undead-fighting (gear, spell selections and so on)?

have we rested since our last encounter?

You have.

Gaia's Map.

Knowledge (Religion) check. If you get 10 or more:

If you get 15 or more, you also know:

If you get 20 or more, you also know:

If you get 25 or more, you also know:

If you get 30 or more, you also know:

know religion untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

You can only get DC 10 or lower Knoweldge checks with an untrained skill, bear in mind.

Kn Religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Rodergo raises one eyebrow at Ez's knowledge.