BPChocobo's PbP Gamethread for Cool and Attractive PCs

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

First glance, looking around at the barricades and the fact that they were the only ones in here... they were hiding. From what though?

"I can use such a wand as well, should the need arise in the future, Shi."

Anything else you wish to do in here, or heading to the other path?

Deaglan quickly checks what the darklings carry and then stands up again.

"Shall we explore the other path now? I am right behind you Shilyn"

Hearing that the battle is over, Owai rubs his eyes and leans against the wall until his vision clears. He smiles as he is healed. "I thank you." he says to Deaglan. "And I also can use one of these wands. In fact, I have one of my own as well!" he adds with a smile. "It looks like these Dark Folk were hiding from something in here. Can we glean anything from what we found in the room where it seems they were living? We are following the trail of the beast who slew the guards. Maybe it was that that frightened them?"

@Owai: Before the last dark creeper explodes in a ball of light, it can be noted that they didn't live here, but found refuge in this location. Your guess is as good as any other.

Muttering something about shifty wand salesmen, Shilyn returns both of her wands to their holder and pulls out a third. Pointing it at Owai, she utters another command and grins. "There, if the wand guy is right, this should help protect you a bit," she says as she uses it on herself. She mutters some more about feeling naked without her normal leather armor on as she returns that wand with the other two.

[ooc]mage armor[/b]

Mage armor noted!

The party heads down the other passageway after preparing some more defensive measures. It is made of a long stairwell that descends several hundred feet, passing through multiple architectural styles as you are literally moving through Carrion Hill's past.

The varying architecture is marred by foul-smelling black slime that has dried over a period of time. Water drips down the walls here or there, leaving narrow trickles that make more sense when you reach the bottom and arrive at a room made of carved stone into a natural cave.

Ancient stone pillars support the ceiling. Thick sheets of pale fungus and mold cake the surface, providing a surprisingly squishy surface to step upon. To the south, the hall has collapsed in rubble, but the north opens into a vast cavern in which eerie glowing light flickers. A thick, dry smear of black slime and strange circular prints in the mold runs from the north to the flight of stairs you descended.

Map updated!

Survival take 10: 10 + 7 = 17

"That's a long way down! Does anyone have any idea what that black smear is?"

I wonder if it is something like the Black Blood of Orv.."

"Is it the dried slime from the beast?" Owai wonders aloud. He tests the springy floor with his foot before advancing into the cavern a short way. He pauses to cast a spell on himself.

Cast Expeditious Retreat

While springy, the floor confers no special movement bonuses or penalties.

As the party moves into the chamber, you see the immense cavern sprawl up ahead, its floor an uneven jumble of loose stone and fungus. The ceiling rises like a church cathedral to a height of nearly a hundred feet above. Glowing fungus grows thick on the walls, bathing the cavern in hues of sickly purple and pale blue torch light equivalent coming from the walls. Toppled pillars and mounds of rubble dot the western half of the cave, while to the east a mound of fungus, bones, and rubble rises.

At the mound's apex squats a flat-topped altar stone, with towering barren trees rising on three sides, their leafless branches twisted and groping toward the ceiling above as if search for the sun's warmth that they shall never feel. A trickle of what appears to be sludge runs thickly and slowly from a hollow under the altar stone to gather to the northwest of the hill in a swampy pool.

Four cave passages branch off from the cavern, but only the one to the southeast has not been blocked by a series of relatively new-looking iron bars. A swath of black slime and round footprints winds from the passageway.

A pair of bodies are visible; one facedown into the pool to the north and another slumped over adjacent to the altar. Marked with X's on the map

Map updated!

Owai looks about him in apprehension. "What is this unholy place?" he whispers. He advances cautiously upon seeing the corpses. He moves towards the one in the pool. "What have we here? Who would be in this accursed cavern?"

Religion on the altar?

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Drawing her rapier, Shilyn moves off to one side then angles toward the altar. She keeps Owai in the corner of her eye, trying to keep pace with him as she attempts to navigate quietly. Her eyes scan in front of her as she goes, keeping a watch for anything that may be dangerous.

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

@Mahasi: As you approach the altar, you hear a deep, rasping breathing. Likewise, Shilyn is aware of it as a gaunt, skulking figure leaps out from the behind the altar and on top of it, dried blood flaked upon its pale, rotten face.

Immediately, it prepares to leap at Mahasi!

Init Order (Surprise Round only)

Ghoul
Shilyn
Mahasi

Before the great sorcerer can react, the ghoul darts forward and tries to bite Mahasi's neck!

Ghoul bite @ FF Mahasi: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 + 3d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (5, 3, 6) = 19
Mahasi Fort vs DC 13 Paralysis on hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Mahasi Fort vs DC 17 Ghoul fever on hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Mahasi's body sears in pain as the sharp teeth dig into him. Before he can push him away, an itchy feeling lingers on the wound, although Mahasi notes that he can still move freely.

@Shilyn: It seems to know of your presence at the ghoul snarls at everyone. "Want MY book, 'eh? I found it first!" It then pauses after the vicious attack on Mahasi. "But, you look smart. And capable. And willing to barter for food and tools, no?"

Asking questions can be done by anyone and outside of surprise round actions. No Skill check worthy actions, though, until your initiative.

Init Order (Surprise Round, standard action + swift/free actions only))

Ghoul
Shilyn
Mahasi (19 damage, diseased)

Map updated!

Uh, I the squishy sorcerer was looking from far, far away at the altar I would hope. But anyways...

Mahasi, being naturally startled, wounded and having just contracted a horrible disease, doesn't bother with questions. He simply steps back and retaliates in kind.

point blank: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18
cold: 5d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3, 6, 6, 4) + 1 = 24 DC 17 fort or be staggered.

@Mahasi: you know well enough that undead are immune to any effect that requires a Fort save unless it also works on objects. Do you still want to snowball?

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Just as the ghoul sinks its teeth in Mahasi Deaglan shouts:

"Careful it is more dangerous than the average ghoul! This one is obviously a capable backstabber!"

When the ghoul starts speaking
"There is only one way out for you: an eternal rest!"

"Then I shall hunger on your flesh, dwarfling!", the ghoul shouts back!

Looking over at the ghoul, Shilyn taps her lip with her finger. "A trade you say? she asks, "So.. you have a book and are willing to trade?"

Her eyes take on a slight sparkle as she continues, "So, is this book a romance story? Oh wait, probably not knowing you. Probably an adventure story. So, given that it's an adventure story, I don't see where that would be of much value although, I'm willing to take it off your hands and keep you from having to lug that book all over."

With but a very slight pause to take a breath, she proceeds to smoothtalk the ghoul. "Now, I think that's more than a fair trade don't you? You do? Great. So just hand me the book and I'll be the one having to lug that worthless adventure around. You do know however, that you should really be paying me to take it off your hands, because truth be told, I'm really not into adventures. So.. where's my book that you just agreed on giving me?"

bluff + mulberry ioun stone: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20

"No! NOOOO!", the ghouls yells. "I, Yarresh, hunger, for flesh and revenge! Was cast out by my clan, then I found this pretty!", pointing to the now visible tome on the altar. "Will read it, use it to get revenge on them! But, if you can give that which I can use to destroy my kind, I can part with the pretty book... or flesh. Living flesh to gnaw and savor. That human good, but tastes old and unrefined. Young flesh, tender flesh... give me some and I can see parting with pretty book!"

Going to full initiative

Init Order (bold = up)

Owai
Deaglan
Varian
Yarresh (24 damage if Mahasi keeps snowball)
Shilyn
Mahasi

Deaglan moves to the flank of the ghoul while drawing his longhammer. He then bends his arms and brings the hammer forward in a sideway swing that is so slow that the ghoul can easily jump over it.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 1 = 9

"Mmmmm, muscular... could be good eatin'", Yarresh quips, tilting his head as he drools over the dwarf's armored haunches.

Sure, I'll still take the hit and oh-well for the fort save effect.

Sounds good! Mahasi's ball surprises the ghoul, more so when the chilling cold cracks and freezeburns its flesh. "Mmm... I see, rebellious flesh..."

@Shilyn: You can try Diplomacy, still, but you'll have to have a GREAT roll to salvage this!

Init Order (bold = up)

Owai
Deaglan
Varian
Yarresh (24 damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi (19 damage, diseased)

Deaglan has already acted (and missed, ramping up for the next crit)

Varian holds out his hand and a lucerne hammer appears in it (swift action), and then he charges forward with it.

to hit: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
dmg if hits: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Forgot to remove you Deaglan, thanks for the honesty!

@Varian: While not your hardest blow, your strike does land upon the ghoul!

Init Order (bold = up)

Owai
Deaglan
Varian
Yarresh (30 damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi (19 damage, diseased)

Owai, raises his scimitar and darts forward to confront the Ghoul. "I am familiar with your kind and your appetites. We will consign none to that unhallowed fate." he says as he lashes out at the Undead.

Swift to engage Crane Style, move to get up to him, Attack defensively
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Current AC 28, 32 vs first attack against him.

"Well, so much for diplomacy," Shilyn mutters softly as she hops up onto a piece of pillar so she'd have a better view, drawing one of her wands as she does so. "Time to pull them out of trouble.. again. Should have just given me the book."

Pointing the tip at the ghoul, she utters a command word..

ranged touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
acid arrow damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

I'll get that for your nex action after the ghoul's Shilyn. Will update tomorrow!

No worries.. had to post while I could as I won't be able to from work and don't want to hold up the scene :)

"You hurt me dwarf... now I hurts you back!", shrieks Yarresh as he steps inside Deaglan's hammer range to bite him!

Yarresh bite @ Deaglan: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Deaglan Fort save vs paralysis on hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Deaglan Fort save vs DC 17 disease on hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Yarresh claw @ Deaglan: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Deaglan Fort save vs paralysis on hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Yarresh claw @ Deaglan: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Deaglan Fort save vs paralysis on hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Deaglan weathers the attacks, with only a single claw piercing the steel. The dwarf still feels limber, however.

Shilyn aims an acid bolt at the ghoul who narrowly dodges the bolt due to the half-elf trying not to melt Owai or Deaglan.

Init Order (bold = up)
Owai
Deaglan (9 damage)
Varian
Yarresh (37 damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi (19 damage, diseased)

"Owai, step in to his other side!"

Deaglan waits until Owai is in a flanking position and then uses the provided distraction

Readied Power Attack, Flank: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 5 + 3 = 19

Owai obliges the Dwarf and steps behind the Ghoul. As he does so, his stance continues to evolve, incorporating a spin that adds to the ferocity of his attack, but seems to detract from its accuracy.

Free to 5ft step, move to activate Battle Dance, Swift to activate Snake Style, attack defensively
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
AC now 28, 32 against the first attack against Owai.

The sorcerer embraces his anger, unleashing another ball of ice

touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
cold: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 3, 5) = 21

Mahasi throws another snowball at the ghoul, causing ribs to crack with utter cold. Owai swings and misses, but provides Deaglan with enough of a distraction for the Truddite that his swing smashes Yarresh's head in with a slam followed with gut-wrenching sounds as decayed brain matter splashes onto the dwarf's armor.

Combat over!

Without the ghoul harassing the party, a more thorough examination of the altar can be done. A book, bound in darkwood with insect-like clasps, rests on the altar. The clasps are locked, preventing access to its contents (without an Intelligence check or Disable Device). A large inset crystal glows with a pale purple light that waxes and wanes with intensity.

While there are no markings on the altar to give you any clues, the nearby trees catch some attention: necromantically raised, they are not natural However, they have nearly fossilized, their bark as hard as iron as the branch tips dig into the ceiling like clawed fingers scrawling on a coffin. Several fetishes and bones line the trees as some sort of decoration, but for what purpose is unknown to you currently.

The two bodies still rest in their locations, one near the pool and the other next to the altar.

Any other searching or examinations?

Deaglan first heals himself with his wand

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Shilyn, please be careful with that book. I don't trust it. I will check those bodies and recommend their souls to their deities."

Deaglan moves to the body near the pool and tries to determine how long it has been dead, what caused the death and if there is anything noteworthy. He then moves to the next one.

Taking 20 on heal and perception for Heal 30 and Perception 23

@Deaglan: Both bodies have been dead for perhaps a day or two. They are in terrible state that makes it harder to accurately figure it out. The one near the water, hunchbacked and with his head twisted in a complete circle, bears a pair of rings, one brass and the other made of seastone. You also know a blade glowing faintly in the water as well. Some bite marks line the man's legs, the flesh eaten after death.

The corpse at the altar also bears similar bite marks, but much more numerous as his arms have been severed, ripped apart by clawed hands. but much more numerous. However, this man died from having his chest crushed in, and moving the body at all produces strange collapsing sound as his internal organs all shift into different positions. You spot a slender rod nearby and can find a pair of bracers on each of the dismembered arms.

Both bodies are completely drained of blood.

The ghoul corpse is naked aside from a single gold ring.

Minor retcon

The book at the altar lies open, beckoning your eyes to read its pages...

Deaglan stoically ignores the book and respectfully lays the bodies in a more natural position while saying a short prayer to Magrim and Pharasma to accept and pass on the souls of the deceased.

He then gathers the rings, blade, rod and bracers and casts detect magic. Invoking Trudd's aid for guidance he tries to identify the items.

In the following order: brass ring, seastone ring, blade, rod, bracers
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

@Deaglan: You get an uncomfortable feeling as you wade into the dark sludge...

However, you retrieve the blade, a scimitar, and make your way back to the dry ground.

You can only identify the seastone ring and the blade. The seastone ring is a ring of swimming and a +1 scimitar.

Varian casts detect magic as well and observes the items without any comprehension as to their magical purpose (no spellcraft skill, sadly). He turns his attention to the odd tree and the fetishes on it, examining them for perhaps any religious significance.

know religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

@Varian: Unfortunately, you cannot think of what dark ritual would require such ornaments, although you can imagine that whatever deity or powers it would be for should not be worshipped.

Mahasi uses a wand of infernal healing twice. Still angry, he comes over to Deaglan and takes a look at the gear.

"Bah, let me see those." he rudely intones. He would appear to still be shaken up over his wound - one of the more grievous he has ever received

On the remaining 3
spellcraft brass ring: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
spellcraft rod: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
spellcraft bracers: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

*cough* there is also a gold ring on the ghoul *cough*

The brass ring is a ring of protection +1, the rod is a wand of chill touch with 15 charges remaining, and the bracers are bracers of armor +1

Owai ducks back as Deaglan pulverizes the Ghoul, avoiding the worst of the splatter. "Filth and evil." he says and spits on the Ghoul's remains.

Looking up at the tree and the altar, he muses on what little he knows, which as it happens is very little indeed.

Knowledge: Religion 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

He also has a look at the Ghoul's ring.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

spellcraft ring: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Mahasi fears no book. He moves up to it and peers into its pages.

religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Preemptive will save? I'm getting a things man was not meant to know vibe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Lots of details... tomorrow!