Aubrey's Rise of the Runelords campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

I'm down like 9 h.p.

"Maybe we should burn it down."

I'm kidding; couldn't resist.

I'm down like 9 h.p.

Surely Davos would have healed you before he skedaddled?

"Oh, yeah....with all this excretement, I musta forgot."

that sounds good to me...

And me.

I presume it hasn't been more than an hour or two since the previous encounter, so my spells are still in effect?

Correct.

"We just wanna knock on the front door?"

"That's more or less the plan."

There are two double sets of double doors - one set seemingly the main entrance, the other more a set of French windows. The windows are also possible ways in - in any case, they are filthy and you can't see through them.

Lo'j declares, "I shall guard the horses - shout if you need me."

Elisile nods to L’oj, then turns to Larken. “I still believe we may be walking into a trap here; do you think it wise to investigate the doors for traps and such? This key that we took from around the ghoul’s neck may be useful too.”

Waiting for Larken to do his thing.

Larken checks the doors. "I can't see any traps."

Elisile shrugs, and knocks on the door. If there is no answer or reaction after a short while, she tries the handle. If it appears to be locked, she tries the key.

The door is locked, but the key fits the lock and opens it.

Which door? There are two potential entrances.

"How about the French windows? For some reason, the front door seems too... obvious."

"Yeah. The French windows."

What is this ‘French’ you speak of?

Elisile nods and tries the key in the lock of the Taldoran windows. The lock clicks open.

The elf graciously allows one of the heavy hitters to enter the room ahead of her.

"Age before beauty,"
Hudak goes in.

This oak-panelled chamber must once have been breath-taking, but it is a sad sight now – the floorboards are warped with moisture and the panelling scratched and splotched with mould. A once-magnificent crystal chandelier lies smashed on the floor, while frescoes depicting dancing scenes have been ruined by rot and are barely recognisable. A grand piano, its surface discoloured and keys warped, leans tiredly in the southeast corner.

E'gads but she be a heap o' rotted wood an' stone waitin' ta be fallin' on our heads! I be findin' it tough fer b'lievein' that ol' Mr. Foxglove t'would be livin' in 'ere. Burn it down? Hell we could be knockin' it doon wit' a couple mean hits! Right behin' ye Hudak!
Dravite pulls out his Ogre Hook and follows on Hudak's heels looking like a short stocky shadow of the Shoanti warrior.

"Looks like Aldern Foxglove's restoration project isn't going so well." Alwyn surpresses a sarcastic smile. "Why? What's happened to him?"

Hudak looks for ways out of the room,
"anybody want to search this place? If not, I'm ready to surge forth."
Hudak's feeling all badass from cleaving all those guys.

I know that samurai had the wakizashi for fighting indoors. Is there any penalty for swinging a bastard sword in such tight quarters as this?

I know that samurai had the wakizashi for fighting indoors. Is there any penalty for swinging a bastard sword in such tight quarters as this?

These aren't tight quarters, so no.

Two exits - a door east and a door south.

One vote for south.

One vote for south.

Lead on, I be followin' ye.

Just watched the G.I. Joe The Thing on Youtube.
Now I'm scared.

"Let's go."

"Sweet Desna! How could you ever begin to restore this place? More importantly though, didn't we hear that Foxglove had hired a large crew of workmen for this place? I don't see sign one that they ever started anything here."

South it is. Been a sickly week here, sorry to fall behind. The fight scene in Eberron got my limited check-ins this week. Out of town till Monday, may check in if I have the chance.

"You thinking those all became ghouls? There might be quite a few left, then."

"People in town seemed to think they were still out here. They could have been the scarecrows back there for all I know."

"I wish my sword could give them life. Shouldn't a sword life somebody that is dead? I, no, I guess not."

The door opens into a corridor running east-west. Mould crawls up the walls and wallpaper hangs in long sheets like the faded shed skin of a giant reptile.

Four doors in total, and the corridor is about 40'. Two doors at the west end - one in the north wall, which you are currently exiting and one in the south wall immediately opposite. There is another in the east wall at that end of the corridor, and one more about two thirds of the way along in the north wall (probably into the room next door to the piano room through the door you didn't choose).

in the spirit of completeness, let's check out the one back to the piano room's neighbor so's we don't miss nothing on backtracking.
I'll open it, because I'm not expecting a trap....maybe a ghoul or something.

Listen check, DC 12:

"You guys;....(rolled an 18) there's something scratching in there. I heard it. I know I did. Something scratching on the wall or something. Some unknowable clawed thing. Would you spellgird, any among you?"

i.e. buff now, cos I'm going in heavy...

Alright, how we doin' dis? If the heavy hitters all be bustin' in an' the less martial guys be gittin' jumped from behind we could be havin' a death. Mayhap we be need someone watchin' da rear o' de party ta be makin' sure we dinnae git flanked.

"Okay. You barrel in then. I'll guard the rear."

I was more ta thinkin' that Lo'j and/or de armored priest could be holdin' down rear guard position. We still be needin' ta be hittin' hard oop front.

Lo'j is outside watching the horses.....no big deal; I know you're busy of late...

"Aye; okay.....let's do it."

Lo'j is outside watching the horses.....no big deal; I know you're busy of late...

"Aye; okay.....let's do it."

I hate how busy I have gotten...

It's all good...

"I wish my sword could give them life. Shouldn't a sword life somebody that is dead?"

"Some fates are worse than death. Think of it that way."

Alwyn listens as Hudak explains the scratching. "Kick the door in and let whatever it is in there come to us."

"Uh huh."

Kick. Door.

Str roll 11+3=14.

"Ungk."

This is a simple washroom. An ancient metal washtub stands to the west, a ring of mildew crusting its inner surface. A strange, furtive scratching comes from inside the tub. Peering over, a rat the size of a terrier is trapped inside the bath, its claws scraping on the chipped enamel surface. It is virtually hairless, its body covered in sores that weep and leave horrid smears on the inside of the white tub. Tumours errupt from its head, seemingly having destroyed its eyes. As the heroes enter, it begins to scrabble frantically, yellow incisors bared, trying to leap from the tub and attack the newcomers. It manages to haul itself over the lip and flops down to the floor, sniffing at the air and then heading for Hudak.

Its initiative is 5. It's going for Hudak, since he is the first in - if you beat its init, you can attack it first.

Initiative 9+1=10.

"Yuck! Speaking of fates worse than death..."

Init: 6+3 = 9

“Between this and the dogs, it seems that this ghoul plague can cross species.”

Init 19+2=21

Pow atk minus2h bast sword 2h
r10+10-2=18
damage r3+3+6+4=16 h.p.

"Rat! Aaaaaah! guh...."

sorry about the wait; my wife got home and I had to do stuff, and I was half expecting the initiative roll thing to play out.

Hudak virtually cuts the rat in half and its innards spill out, giving off an awful stench.

Looks around--any more?

"This is just beyond disgusting." Alwyn leans down over the rat carcass. "What the hell is wrong with this thing?"

Heal 13+4=17. What is wrong with this thing?