CARRION CROWN CAMPAIGN (CLOSED) - GAMEPLAY (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

You can see that the door has been nailed shut, beyond though the house appears neat and tidy, made up of a dining room and kitchen downstairs.

"Maybe there is window we can go in." Timona checks to see if any windows near the door open.

Zephra guards the others while they search for means of entry, keeping an eye out for danger or signs of restless spirits.

There is a bedroom window on the second floor, about 15 feet above the ground. The window is unmarked in any way and appears to be shut from inside with a stout latch. The slatted walls of the house would be difficult to climb and show no marks of any kind.

Hm. I doubt we'll be getting inside unless we're incorpeal. The village's children were slain by a ghost,which lairs upon a hill. And it sent the children it had killed to slay the other younglings.

Ortensia paced,pondering.1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7Know Local
The villagers must have locked yp tight,thinking sheer walls and sealed doors would keep their charges safe. And they also may have hoped to return. Hence the bear trap; should the Beast return, it would only find emptied homes and traps.A sensible exit strategy. Like leaving caltrops to slow down pursuers.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17Know Arcana

Now...what sort of undead are we dealing with? And exactly how did it go about killing the children? Moreso,why only them?

"Well, we should probably avoid breaking and entering if we can. Do you think anyone is at home? We could call out to them."

Creeden examines the outside of the house carefully for signs of current habitation.

"Worse comes to worst, I can toss a grapple through that window, but that seems a bit extreme."

Jenn steps up to one side of the door. She knocks, loudly. "Hello! Is anyone in there? I promise, I'm not a ghost. I'd just like to talk, and help if I can."

There is no response from inside the house. You remember from the Beast's indictment that it is accused of dragging the children out of their beds

"Where do you suppose it would drag the children to."

Timona will begin playing her banjo as she looks for any tracks leading away from these houses.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

There are no tracks leading from the house, closer to the centre of the village there seems to be what looks like a scarecrow

Cast Psychic Significance

Frowning,Ortensia closed her eyes and tapped her gloved forefingers to her brow as she sent out a burst of mental energies.

Ortensia, in the area around the bedroom window you can detect that something ethereal/undead went up to the window and lead a human child out of the house towards the hill in the distance.

Zephra points at the scarecrow. "That figure seems very ominous. But uh, we should watch out, there might be more bear traps around here!"

Is the other building up on the hill?

"Oh these things? They are just ment to scare crows." She starts to play her banjo and sings a song about a crow in the field one day was lonely and met a scarecrow. She walks up to it. If nothing happens :) she continues her tale.

For those who are new, she's not very good at being quiet.

The hill is bare, apart from what looks like a hole/cave in the side

The ghost lured the children out here to its lair. Ortensia murmured,brow furrowed.

When Timona began to approach the figure that seemed to be a scarecrow,she called,Timona,please be more cautious! The villagers left behind traps. They can be anywhere. And it might be an undead pretending to be a scarecrow.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24Perception

Scanning the area suspiciously,Ortensia retrieved a scroll. It was one that would reveal the unnatural, evil auras of undead.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24Use Magic Device. Cast Detect Undead

Although this was her first attempt at using a scroll, she found it to be a task she performed with ease. The script on the unfurled parchment glowed before vanishing with a flicker.

What at first appears to be a fallen scarecrow lies at the side of the bones, bones jutting from its tattered rags.

On closer examination Ortensia can tell that this appears to be the body of a thief, his leg caught in a bear trap. Detect undead reveals that there are undead coming from the area of the hill

Loot: One turquoise worth 100gp
12gp
22sp
silver pocket knife worth 25gp
Masterwork thieves' tools

Jenn gives the place a casual glance, flipping her dagger idly in her hand. Eyes darting about, looking for trouble, she murmurs, "You know... if I was planning an ambush, this'd be about where I'd do it. For what it's worth."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Jenn, you spot some more bear traps near some of the houses

"Starved while caught in a bear trap. Not the way I'd want to go. Glad you're here to spot these traps, Jenn."

"Speaking of those..." she says, grinning. She points out the other traps to the group.

The hill is the source. Prepare yourselves--we've ghosts to slay.

"I've never punched a ghost before, but I'm game to try it out."

Creeden cracks his scarred knuckles and strides toward the hill.

A rotting scarecrow leans on a scythe at the top of this low hill. Its pumpkin face is carved with a leer and a sheep's jaw hangs flaccidly below. There is a cave here that leads into darkness

It is a little hard to see but the hill/cave is the group of contour lines at the bottom left of the map

Does Zephra know enough about ghosts to be able to suggest everyone needs a magical weapon? We fought the Lopper and The Splatter Man and they were both incorporeal.

Zephra will cast defending bone and false life on herself. If we can spare 15m and it will help, she will prepare magic weapon in her empty 1st level slot to cast on one of her allies' weapons.

Yeah that's fine, you have enough experience to suggest that

"Ghosts are incorporeal, right? Oh dear. They are hard to harm without enchanted weapons. Mr. Creeden sir? Do you have a weapon I could make magical for a short while? Maybe that blade?"

She begins praying to Pharasma to grant her a blessing.

Jenn flips Zacharias around idly in her hand as they walk towards the cave mouth. Her eyes are in near-constant motion as she looks for dangers.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 4 = 20

"The barkeep back at the Painted Muskrat always said I had magic fists, so I think can take care of myself if you want to save your blessings."

I have brawler's strike, so my unarmed attacks count as magic. Thanks for the offer though!

Inside the cave you see the skeletal remains of four children

Seeing the skeletons, Jenn turns away and swears. "We need to find this thing, and end it, now."

As you investigate the bodies a figure appears, it is ghostly shroud of a creature with glowing red eyes. Within its form you can hear the occasional buzzing of a hornet. Together with him are half a dozen ghost like children

There isn't a cave map for this so we'll use the hill on the big map

Brother swarm initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

broken children initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Jenn initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Creeden initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Zephra initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Ortensia initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Timona initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

So initiative order is:

Block 1: Creeden

Block 2: Broken children + brother swarm

Block 3: Everyone else

So Creeden to go first

I will bypass the children and go for the creature with red eyes.

"Be gone, creature! Release these innocent spirits to find their own judgement."

Unarmed Strike, Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 for Bludgeoning/Magic: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

AC 27 this round.

When Creeden refuses the magic weapon spell, Zephra instead offers it to Ortensia, enchanting her flail.

Inside the cave, she is hyper-aware, looking around anxiously. "By Pharasma's word, I feel there is something terrible here," she murmurs, as the figure appears.

[i]You manage to hit the creature and it turns to look at you Creeden and attacks you in retaliation.

Incorporeal touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

damage-negative energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2 + Con drain: 1d6 ⇒ 1

2 of the children attack Creeden:

Incorporeal touch on Creeden: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 4+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Incorporeal touch on Creeden: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 2+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 2

The others attack everyone else

Incorporeal touch on Ortensia: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 2+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Incorporeal touch on Timona: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 3+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Incorporeal touch on Jenn: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 1+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Incorporeal touch on Zephra: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

damage-Negative energy: 1d4 ⇒ 1+damage Con: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Over to block 3

Oh, man! These ghosts are as scary as advertised. My touch AC is 22 right now.

"I can see why everyone left this town. Beware their touch!"

Nice strategy, Creeden!

Zephra stands a bit straighter as she draws her daggers and whispers a quick prayer to Pharasma. Then she steps closer to the shadow and attacks.

She activates her sacred weapon as a swift action, giving both of her daggers a +1 magic enhancement. If she is close enough to attack the shadow, she does, otherwise she attacks the child who attacked her.

Primary dagger attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 (Assuming Timona will inspire courage)
Primary dagger magic damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Secondary dagger attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Secondary dagger magic damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Knowledge (Religion) check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (Trying to identify these creatures.)

False life: 1d10 ⇒ 10 (Forgot to roll the temp hp!)

Jenn yelps and recoils as the... thing, touches her. Almost reflexively, she makes as if to dart to one side and then shoots back over to the other, dagger a blur as it seeks a target.

I assume 25 will make the Feint check, but if I am wrong, ignore the SA damage.

Feint: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
dmg: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
SA: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 7, 5) = 20

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22FLAIL
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5Dmg

Ortensia stepped forward and aimed for the shrouded figure, winding the flail and flinging it into its mass. The figure shuddered as the enchanted weapon struck it as though it was corpeal.

You'll be adding no more victims to your flock.

Both Ortensia and Zephra do significant to the large figure, Jenn strikes one of the children.

Timona, do you want to take an action?, Creeden it will then be back to you.

Timona will start up a performance to inspire courage. Sorry a whole lot of things are happening atm having hard time keeping up with game.

Heartened by the assistance from his companions, Creeden strikes out again at the dark figure, while trying to dodge its spectral touch.

Fighting defensively. AC 27, TAC 22
Flurry 1 (Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26 for Bludgeoning/Magic: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Flurry 2 (Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24 for Bludgeoning/Magic: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Edit: Forgot about Inspire Courage's bonus to damage. Should be 1 more damage on each hit.

@Timona - no worries

With a mighty blow Creeden smashes into the spectral figure and it falls, evaporating into a puff of smoke with a cry. At the same time the children that were attacking fall, their forms also evaporating.

There is no loot.

...My,my,Mr.Nash! You certainly do have magic fists. Ortensia put away her flail to applaud the impressive finishing move.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15Perception

Looking forlornly at the skeleton remains of the slain children,she sighed sadly. Shame. Poor younglings. At least we have proof the Beast was not responsible. And the true killer has been dealt with. And the children's shades released with its destruction.

Zephra sheathes her daggers and nods with respect to Creeden, as one warrior to another.

"Is the girl that the Beast was friends with here? He'll want to know if she has been laid to rest, I think."

Creeden nods acceptance and grins, a little pleased, at the acknowledgement. He'd never fought a ghost before, but it turns out the principle is the same.

Sobering, he looks at all the remains:
"This is a gruesome discovery, but not unexpected based on what you had found already. Do we have some way to prove that these children were killed by the ghost? I suppose our testimony would be pretty compelling, but it would be nice to have something concrete."

Jenn squats near the bones, doing her best to respectful of the remains as she takes a closer look. "Maybe there's something... but if so, I'm not seeing it. Anyone else?"

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Jenn, you can see that none of the children were killed by physical injury as such. It is as if energy was drained from them and they died. This is a common attack used by wraith and their spawn. It is not much of a stretch to theorise that the wraith created the child wraithspawn from the village spawn and these spawn would then have been used to bring the other children to the wraith to be killed.