Bad to the Bones (A Rappan Athuk campaign) (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

Leaving behind the level which brought about the loos of your boon companion, you head your way up the stairs which ascend for some distance while curving around several times. After some distance the stairs end at a short landing, barred by a small door, which leads to a rough-hewn passage that winds it way southward, curving to the west, that reeks of rotting corpses. The large room beyond appears to have a smaller chamber set within it. The walls are lined with recesses containing smashed caskets. Bloody debris and rat corpses litter the room. In the flickering torchlight, the characters can see hunched human forms, a dozen of them by the looks of it.

Ranalfus immediately recognizes them as ghouls, who immediate move towards the entrance, a look of hunger mixed with curiosity...

Map Updated (Note the new slide). While this does have the potential to turn into a fight I wanted Ranalfus to take the initiative here and give him a chance to react first.

Alarmed, the shadowy man draws his swords then looks over his shoulder. Keil shoots the witch a quick look, inviting Grey to do the usual 'take control of the undead situation' move.

"My people"

Ranulfus moves forward.

"Ghouls, is there one that speaks for you?" He will toss out an arm of one of the ogres he carries.

"Fresh meat. Feast."

"This won't be good...." Brok mutters as he draws an arrow to his bow and prepares to shoot and run.

Ranalfus: I will need an Intimidate check here.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Grey moved in a bit behind Ranulfus, waiting to see if things went south.

"One way or another" starts playing faintly in the background...

As Ranalfus takes the lead here you are reminded of the way wolves establish the so-called 'Alpha male' here...which apparently applies to ravenous undead as well.

The lead ghoul seems to challenge the ghast initially, yet it does not take long for it, along with another of its kind to step aside and allow you free entrance into the room...yet you see more of them watching the display with an eager hunger at those who are NOT undead...

Ranalfus, you have Intimidated two of the ghouls to stand aside here, yet the other ghouls are still considered Unfriendly, (they never consider Ghasts as Hostile here due to their nature), so you will need to figure out what to do here. You could try Diplomacy here to get your 'allies' to help you here, or another Intimidate check, or simply attack them. It is up to you.

Grezzor prepares to blast the ghouls, in case this whole thing goes south.

Ranalfus looks to the group.

"What do you wish me to do. I have no way to control their hunger. It may be best to destroy them."

Brok is really wishing Vargrenz was in front right now.....

Roll another intimidate...

The shadowy man growls Ranalfus some encouragement, "Don't let them push your around. Show them you mean business, they may respect that."

Aid other: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11 (Ummm, you may want someone else to aid you on this :/)

I'm here - Grezzor just doesn't have much to add :P

Ranalfus steps forward and demands.

"You will stand down."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"Yeah..... what he said." Brok rasps, aiming his bow at the closest ghoul.

Intimidate(Aid Ranalfus): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

.Varg, realizing that the big man is no longer with the group as a buffer, moves in behind Ranalfus and takes a defensive position to show the ghouls that the smaller members of the party will not be easily overcome. As he does so, he lets out a low growl while flexing and cracking his knuckles.

Total Defense - in an intimidating manner

Intimidate (aid another): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10 <-- ok, not very threatening, but enough for Aid Another

Can ghouls even be intimidated? Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"That or incineration..." - Grezzor snickers.

Ranalfus steps forward in a threatening posture, followed closely by his companions. The lead ghouls who showed themselves as supportive of the cause step aside allowing the half dozen or so of the remaining ghouls to stare down at the remaining companions.

First one steps forward, jaws slavering...but then Brok answers in kind...

Then several more move to surround the companions, but Vargrenz moves closer to block the path...then Keil and Grezzor join the ghast (despite the stench) and finally Praetor steps behind the others.

The ghouls stare at you all for what seems long hours yet finally the standoff is broken...as the lead ghoul steps aside...

"You wisssshhh to stay here? Explore thisssss toooomb," the lead ghoul motions to the door leading to a room inset in the crypt.

OK you have averted combat...for the moment. The ghouls are considered Indifferent to you now, so while they will not aid you actively neither will they hinder you here. So in recognition of bypassing the combat you gain 600 XP each, which means you LEVEL up To 6th! As always this change will take effect when you rest for the evening.

"Watch them." Brok growls and then he shoulders his bow and moves forward to investigate the crypt.

perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37 (+2 for traps)

Cool, another level :))

Keil keeps his weapons drawn and moves into the room with Brok. The shadowy man's attention stays mainly on the lead ghoul, trusting the Brok's trained eyes will pick up any dangers the gaggle of ghouls have not already set off. Addressing the ghoul the fetchling asks, "What tomb is this?"

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 (+2vs.Traps)

The shadowy man eyes the lead ghoul curiously, wondering if the creature understood the question.

The ghoul stares at Keil with a look of barely constrained hunger, "We cannot enterrrr it. It resssists our pressssence."

"I see." With no sign of traps the fetchling blindly opens the door and peers inside.
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 (+2vs.Traps)

The fetchling sees a room inset here which is empty, but includes an unlocked secret door set in the floor, beyond which is a ladder set into the wall leading down to what appears to be a tomb of some kind. This tomb contains frescoes depicting a young elf maiden battling the forces of the Goat Prince. At the end of the room is a stone table on top of which is the corpse of an elf warrior maiden in a suit of elvish chainmail holding a finely crafted longsword laid across her body. Aside from these items on the body, there appears to be nothing of interest in the room.

As you spend time in this place you feel an odd sensation, which takes a moment to realize it is one of contentment.

Grezzor uses a simple spell to look for magical auras in the room.

Detect Magic.

Ninja'd...

The shadowy man takes in the frescoes and the body of the maiden, contemplating the meaning this room might have. His thoughts gathered Keil returns to upper room and waves the party forward, "There's a tomb. Elf maiden. Seems, " the fetchling searches for the right wording, "untainted. A magical appraisal is called for." Keil leads the magicians down to where the maiden lays then crouches down, perhaps to watch the two work, yet the shadowy man's eyes don't leave her body.

While the goblin wizard does not find any magical auras upon the items here, he does detect a moderate aura here that appears to be abjuration by nature.

Brok will clamber down into the tomb to search for mundane treasure.

perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31 (+2 for traps)

Feeling content in the place, Ranalfus hunger seems to fade a bit as well.

"This place. I feel. I remember parts or who I was before death. What is this place?"

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"A shrine, I believe." Grey said, moving in after Brok to take a closer look at the tomb.

Praetor feels this place is indeed a shrine, yet he does not recognize the person to whom the shrine was dedicated to. Still the witch doctor can easily sense the inherent goodness that permeates the area.

If we need to rest, this may be the place.

"Closing the upper door may provide a place free of intrusion." The look of contentment upon the shadowy man's face is, unsettling.

"A moment of respite..." - are Grezzor's only words.

Knowledge (Religion) Aid Grey: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 - aid another

Varg also looks about the peaceful room seeing if he can discern anything about the woman and who or what she was.

As the rest of you file your way into the tomb you discover Ranalfus is barred from entering the place, though he is able to enter the inset room without difficulty.

Despite your best guesses the identity of the elf maiden remains a mystery to you.

"I can't enter. Must be holy place. I will wait out here."

"As much as I am loath to acknowledge the usefulness of a divinity who likely opposes my own, I am glad for a place to rest. We should leave this place as is. Having a protected place to retreat to is valuable beyond measure here."

"Brok doesn't want to lock himself in tomb surrounded by ghoulies to spend the night."

"Don't know who will be waiting for us when we open door in the morning."

Deciding to take your chances you decide to rest here in the tomb without disturbing its resident...with Ranalfus staying in the entry room.

Due to this arrangement watches are not necessary as the undead ghast is untiring, and the evening passes uneventfully. Soon you all awake feeling refreshed and more experienced than before. Truly the dungeons of Rappan Athuk are a crucible of fire. Survive the dangers and your skills grow exponentially. Still you all realize you are here to find the Oracle which may hold the key to unearthing the location of the blade Demonbane!

Did Brok's search of the tomb turn up anything of value?

Brok pokes his head out of the tomb after the group has rested to see if Ranalfus has still got the ghoul pack under control.

If everything seems fine, he will move to check the other passage exiting the room.

perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33 (+3 for traps)

Brok the only items of value in the tomb were the elvish chain and the longsword. Also you do get a Hero point, I will update the Status.

The goblin heads down the passage all the while keeping an eye on the ghouls. The passage heads a short distance before ending at a door on the other side of an empty chamber. The heavy stone door refuses to budge here despite the fact there appears to be no lock.

"Door stuck." Brok reports to the others.

Grey, any chance for a Lesser Restoration? I still have taken 4 poins of STR damage...

Sadly not on the Witch spell list. I can help with the Heal skill though. What is the Strength damage from?

Brok looks to Vargrenz and gestures to the stuck door.

"A little help over here?" the little goblin asks.

Varg looks at the tiny goblin and then at the door and nods before moving over to assist.

Strength (open door): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Unfortunately the mighty door is more than a match for the grey dwarf.

Sadly not on the Witch spell list. I can help with the Heal skill though. What is the Strength damage from?

I admit I can't remember exactly, but I think it was from hits from the black skeletons?

I admit I can't remember exactly, but I think it was from hits from the black skeletons?

Correct.

"Door not have lock. Door just seems stuck?" Brok tells the others.

"Maybe we not able to go this way."

"Maybe Ranalfus ask ghoulies if they know how to open door."

(Any ideas?)

"I will ask, maybe enough of us can pull it open."

Ranulfus will approach and ask the ghouls if they have never opened the door he will try and rally them to come help him open it.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26