Carrion Crown, presented by DM Hamied - Campaign Thread

Game Master Hamied

Jaxus quickly looks around for any other sign of the missing men.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Hayashi, Iovanna and Jaxus

Jaxus concentrates, shutting out the sound of the rushing creek and the frustrated chatter of the nearby funeral party. He scans the ground and the treeline as deliberately as he can, but still, nothing catches his eye.

Except...

There is the faintest sound of music coming from town.

"Kendra. You're back. Did you manage to get everything you need?" Rosanna turns towards the woman as she comes in. "What's all the noise outside? Some type of festival?"

Hayashi

The acolyte returns with Father Grimburrow in step. His stern look has softened somewhat. "Thank you for your offer of assistance, Brother Hayashi. It seems that inn my concern for the happenings with the missing gravediggers, I have neglected the sorrow of the Moress family, Pharasma forgive me."

Iovanna and Jaxus

You walk through town, back towards Kendra's house. The music grows louder as you continue, and you find the apparent source in the town square. There are two drummers and a single piper playing in the street, though the citizens of Ravengro appear to largely ignore them.

You eventually come back to Kendra's door and you are just about to open it when you hear a scream from behind you, the direction you just came.

Hrolf and Rosanna

"He sells the pipes." Kendra says with a weary look. "Or that is his intent. I have never known anybody here to buy one. Not even my father. He said they were cheap imitations."

And then you hear the scream from outside.

Iovanna turns and rushes off in the direction of the scream.

Hayashi

You hear screaming coming from the town. Two small, flying shapes rise from the buildings in the distance, higher and higher before breaking into a dive. They are heading directly for the funeral party.

Hrolf, Iovanna, Jaxus and Rosanna

Iovanna has not taken two steps before she sees a horrible, winged creature flying in tight loops, diving at fleeing citizens. It looks like a mosquito, but is roughly the size of a house cat. It darts away nearly as quickly as it appears, heading in the direction of the town square.

"What manner of evil is this!?! RUN FOR SHELTER!!!" he yells as he draws his bow from its slot in his quiver and stringing it in one smooth motion. Steadying his mind he knocks an arrow and wait till the beast is within an ideal range to fire.

Iovanna draws her sword and runs to the town square. If any of the things swoop near her she will swing her sword at it.

attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Jaxus draws his sword with Iovanna and attacks the creatures.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Iovanna tears around a corner to find one of the creatures circling a cowering man. She feels the air fanned by its rapidly flapping wings on her face. A split second of observing the creature's movement is all she needs to place her blade thrust, and she catches the creature squarely in the middle. It dies with a hiss.

Jaxus is not far behind, and as he approaches, he finds one of the creatures attached to a screaming woman. With an elegant stroke, he halves the beast with his sword, leaving the woman unharmed.

The four remaining creatures break off their harassment of the civilians and fly together in eerie coordination towards the two who have drawn blades against their flock. Their wings beat furiously, but in a strange synchronization.

The two creatures near the Restlands descend upon the fleeing mourners, each landing on the one nearest them and eliciting screams of terror. They are both within bow range.

Now that Iovanna and Jaxus have attacked, we'll be going into initiative. Hayashi is in a separate part of town, but is part of the same initiative. Hrolf and Rosanna can spend a turn running (4x move) to the town square along with Kendra (she immediately goes out the door towards the scream).

Initiative:
Kendra: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Hayashi: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Hrolf: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Iovanna: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Jaxus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Rosanna: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Stirges (6): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Order:
Stirges (6) - 27
Hayashi - 22
Kendra - 13
Rosanna - 12
Hrolf - 11
Jaxus - 6
Iovanna - 4

The monsters attack first! The two near the Restlands each insert their proboscis into a screaming citizen. They are well within bow range now.

The four in the town square fly swiftly at Iovanna and Jaxus.

Stirge 3 attempts to attach to Iovanna.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 4 attempts to attach to Iovanna.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 5 attempts to attach to Jaxus.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 6 attempts to attach to Jaxus.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

* if the stirge is attached to its victim at the end of it's turn, it deals 1 point of Constitution damage. Victims are considered grappled and may attempt to break the grapple on their turn.

Cursing, Hrolf runs towards the commotion, axe and shield at the ready.

He would have drawn weapons having heard the scream I just haven't had the Internet to post.

"What the,.."

Rosanna gasps as she sees the creatures swooping at the town's citizens. Grabbing at her knife she hurries towards the corner Iovanna just turned. As she does so she whilstles and Aracnca tears through the doorway after her, nibly jumping and climbing her cloak to reach her shoulder.

Iovanna will attempt to dislodge a stirge.

roll+cmb 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

My schedule was nuts today, and tomorrow will be the same. I hope it doesn't slow down my posting too badly.

I'll resolve Hayashi separately once he posts, since he's in a different area. And it's fine if Hrolf and Rosanna have weapons out, as they heard the scream the same time Iovanna and Jaxus did.

Kendra runs along next to Hrolf and Rosanna. The three reach the town square in time to see Iovanna beset by two of he mosquito-like creatures while Jaxus has one attached to his back. Another beats its bat like wings, darting in circles around the two of them.

Jaxus reaches around and tries to grab the stirge and pull it out.

CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Haven't heard from Hayashi in 24 hours, so I will move on to the next round.

New rule: I won't bot a character's actions unless 48 hours have passed since their turn in the initiative. Past that point, the risk that comes from a character not acting in combat begins to get more and more serious. For now, though, I'd like to keep more of a cushion before I take over a character for a round.

Wherever Hayashi posts will be his new position in the initiative.

Jaxus and Iovanna wrestle furiously against the creatures, but are unable to dislodge them.

Round 2

Stirges (6) - 27
Kendra - 13
Rosanna - 12
Hrolf - 11
Jaxus - 6
Iovanna - 4

Hayashi - ?

Stirges 3 and 4 spend their turn maintaining (not improving) their grapple on Iovanna. Each of them deal one more point of Constitution damage (4 points total this combat).

Stirge 5 attempts to attach to Rosanna.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 6 spends its turn maintaining (not improving) its grapple on Jaxus. It deals one more point of Constitution damage (2 points total this combat).

* if the stirge is attached to its victim at the end of it's turn, it deals 1 point of Constitution damage. Victims are considered grappled and may attempt to break the grapple on their turn.

Kendra is up next, and so I will resolve her action as well:

Kendra casts the spell acid splash, targetting Stirge 3.
Ranged touch attack - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (20) - 3 = 17
If it hits, it deals 1d3 ⇒ 3 points of acid damage.
Rolling to confirm critical - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11
No critical - it's a regular hit

Next up is Rosanna.

Sorry about that. Got caught at work the last couple of days and posting has been slow. But,here we go.

Initiative 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Seeing the beast have begun to fall upon the less fortunate and within range of hs bow, the monk lets fly hoping to drop them before any greater harm can come the stricken.

Flurry of Blows
Atk 1 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Dmg 1d8 ⇒ 4
Atk 2 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Dmg 1d8 ⇒ 2

Ancestors help me now, don't let me hit the lass...

With his brief plea for guidance made, Hrolf swung his mace at the stirge feeding off Rosanna...

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 (includes move action sacred council bonus, posting from phone so no accompanying fluff sadly)
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Gasping as the stirge's proboscis pierces her skin, Rosanna plaes as she feels the blood begin to drain. Frantically she grabs at the animal, trying to dislodge it.

CMB: 1d20 ⇒ 1

One of Hayashi's arrow plunks into the side of one of the creatures near its leftmost wing, which goes limp.

Hrolf carefully but accurately brings his mace down on the creature attached to Rosanna, but despite the resultant crack, the blow does not break it loose from its hold. Rosanna struggles again it, but cannot free herself of it.

Jaxus is up.

Jaxus feels the stirge drain him and desperately tries to pull it out.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Iovanna once again tries to dislodge a Stirge.

Jaxus is unable to break free of the stirge's hold, but Iovanna wrenches one free.

That's the end of Round 2

My saying so is overdue, but a Knowledge (Arcana) check can identify the creatures as a free action.

Round 3

Stirges (6) - 27
Hayashi - 14
Kendra - 13
Rosanna - 12
Hrolf - 11
Jaxus - 6
Iovanna - 4

A pipe begins to play at a furious pace. Glancing up, you notice that the man who had been playing the various pipes a few minutes ago is in a cowering heap, and the pipe that sounds floats freely in mid air. The creatures beat their wings to the tempo and move away from their targets simultaneously, releasing their grasp.

Hrolf, Rosanna, Iovanna and Jaxus can all make an Attack of Opportunity against the nearest stirge if they have a drawn weapon. After those are resolved, I will dictate the rest of their turn.

Oooh no ye don't! Hrolf yelled in the midst of his battle rage, swinging his mace with far greater force than he had dared to apply at the risk of hitting Rosanna.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Iovanna swings her blade at the retreating Stirge.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Confirm 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Added Damage if Confirmed 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 total 13

Rosanna gasps as the stirge detatches itself and brings her dagger upwards in an arc as it flaps into the air...

AOO: (dagger) To Hit: 1d20 ⇒ 16, damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Hrolf catches the retreating stirge in the arc of his mace and drives its broken body into Rosanna's waiting dagger. The limp form of the creature slides of the blade and falls to the ground. Iovanna's slash hews another stirge in two.

Two remain in the town square. They bob and weave in a perverse rhythmn, all the while keeping time with the playing of the pipe. They move to attack again.

Stirge 4 attempts to attach to Kendra.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 6 attempts to attach to Hrolf.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

* if the stirge is attached to its victim at the end of its turn, it deals 1 point of Constitution damage. Victims are considered grappled and may attempt to break the grapple on their turn.

The stirges at the Restlands do not exhibit this odd behavior and instead stay attached to the townsfolk they have been feeding on.

I will go ahead and do Kendra's turn as well.
CMB: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Kendra twists and shoves the beast off of her, but not before it takes a long drink of her blood.

Looking down at the strige's shattered body, Rosanna shudders, stepping back to avoid a trickle of the drained blood staining the cobbles of the street. Looking up she sees Iovanna being swooped at by two of the flapping shapes. Quickly she moves over and concentrating, she uses her Healing Hex on the woman.

Healing Hex: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Jaxus makes a quick swipe at one of the flying stirges.

Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Rosanna feels the soothing energy go forth from her hands, but Iovanna remains weakened from the blood drained.

Jaxus' action is noted, but I'm waiting on Hrolf before I move on to that.

I'm sorry, I should have moved past Hrolf and Hayashi in the order yesterday, but my day was eaten by a giant, sentient pile of work. It's been 48 hours and, so I will take their actions for them.

Hayashi takes two shots in quick succession, targetting Stirge 1 first, and Stirge 2 if the first one does the trick. I'll work in Point Blank Shot as well, as he is near the funeral party that is being attacked.

Flurry of Blows:
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8, if it hits - 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21, if it hits - 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Hrolf attempts to rip the attached stirge from his chest.
CMB - 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Hayashi's second arrow plunks into the head of one of the creatures. It falls from its victim, legs twitching.

Hrolf tears the stirge from his chest.

Jaxus swings his sword at the stirge that had been upon Rosanna, but the creature evades him.

Iovanna is up.

Sorry its not posted in the OOC thread but I only have a few minutes of net access left DM. In the OOC thread the player of Hayashi has dropped out. I'm definitely still committed to the game, just circumstances have taken yet another turn for the worse Internet access-wise. Please bot Hrolf for now and we'll catch Alazandaru up asap on the 12th/13th.

Thanks for letting me know, AK. I try to check the discussion thread every few days, but I totally missed that. I'm glad to hear that you're still committed. I'm hoping the other three of you are as well? I know games can lose steam once a player departs, but I'm planning to sally forth. The pace of the game has slowed, certainly, but that's okay by me.

Rosanna (when its her turn) focuses her gaze on one of the stirges swooping at Iovanna. As she does so her eyes usual purple colour seems to shift to a blood red.

(Evil Eye: -2 to target's Attack Rolls for 7 rounds)

I'm glad to hear that you're still committed. I'm hoping the other three of you are as well?

absolutely still commited. Sorry to see Hyashi leave - damn stirges scared him off probably!

Still in.
And did you resolve my post where I think I crit/confirm one of them? I can't tell.

Iovanna will swing at yet another Stirge.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Still in the game

Jaxus growls in frustration as he misses again.

Glad to have you all still on board.

I did resolve your AoO, Iovanna, but I only gave it a brief sentence of flavor. You sliced a stirge in half.

Will save for Stirge 4 against Evil Eye - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Iovanna swings her sword at one of the creatures, but the stirge maneuvers out of the way over her blade.

Round 4

Stirges (2) - 27
Kendra - 13
Rosanna - 12
Hrolf - 11
Jaxus - 6
Iovanna - 4

The pipe begins to play more and more quickly. The two stirges circle each other and seek new targets. This will provoke attacks of opportunity again. Everybody is eligible to make one (I'll handle Hrolf's).

Hrolf's AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5, if it hits 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

If they don't hit, the following happens:

Stirge 4 attempts to attach to Jaxus.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

Stirge 6 attempts to attach to Rosanna.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

* if the stirge is attached to its victim at the end of its turn, it deals 1 point of Constitution damage. Victims are considered grappled and may attempt to break the grapple on their turn.

One of the stirges lands on Rosanna, drinking deeply of her blood. Another flies for Jaxus, but he sidesteps it swiftly.

Kendra casts acid splash, targetting Stirge 6 (attached to Rosanna).
Ranged touch attack - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (6) - 3 = 3
If it hits, it deals 1d3 ⇒ 1 points of acid damage.

Kendra perhaps aims too carefully, trying to avoid hitting Rosanna. Her ball of acid sails wide.

I originally posted thinking that Rosanna used Evil Eye in Round 3, but I am seeing now that it was a Round 4 action. Sorry for any confusion. She uses that on this turn (Stirge 4's Will save is above). That means that it's actually Jaxus' turn again.

Jaxus reaches around and tries to grab the stirge.

CMB:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

AOO: (dagger) To Hit: 1d20 ⇒ 17, damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

AoO 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Iovanna misses a swing at one of the stirges when it circles the other and then takes a swing at the one on Rosanna, but in her caution to not hit the girl, she swings too wide.

attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Rosanna and Iovanna bring up their blades against the stirges. The creature deftly avoids Iovanna's sword, but it lurches right into Rosanna's stab. The stirge squeals and dies (and thus doesn't attach to Rosanna.

Jaxus pushes the last stirge off himself. Hrolf swings his mace at it (w/ guidance): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17, if it hits, it deals 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The stirge is badly wounded, but it manages to avoid Iovanna's attack.

Round 4

Stirge (1) - 27
Kendra - 13
Rosanna - 12
Hrolf - 11
Jaxus - 6
Iovanna - 4

Stirge 4 attempts to attach to Jaxus again.
Touch attack - 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
If it hits, the creature is attached and begins Blood Drain*

* if the stirge is attached to its victim at the end of its turn, it deals 1 point of Constitution damage. Victims are considered grappled and may attempt to break the grapple on their turn.

Kendra casts acid splash once again, at Stirge 4.
Ranged touch attack - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2
If it hits, it deals 1d3 ⇒ 2 points of acid damage.

Kendra's attack goes wide again, but the stirge fails to attach to Jaxus.

Rosanna's turn.

Rosanna switches her gaze to the remaining stirge, her eyes once again seeming to shift to a redder colour as she concentrates...

(Evil Eye: -2 to target's Attack Rolls for 7 rounds)

Stirge 4's Will saving throw vs. Evil Eye - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Hrolf swings his mace again (w/ guidance) - 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
If it hits - 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Hrolf smashes the stirge into the ground. It lies still.

The clay pipe that had been floating stops playing and falls to the ground, shattering. Though the immediate danger seems to have passed, Ravengro's citizens still scuttle about the streets in panic.

Staring around at the dead stirges and then shifting her gaze to the now shattered clay pipe, Iovanna asks. "Would anyone care to answer how a pipe plays by itself while floating in midair and controls a swarm of stirges?" Shaking her head slowly, "This place just keeps getting stranger and more dangerous as the days go by. Is everyone ok?"

Okay, my final tally of Constitution damage done to the party:

Iovanna - 4
Jaxus - 3
Rosanna - 1
Hrolf - 1

Does that sound in line, or did I miss something?

"I've never seen anything like that." Kendra dabs at her wound as she speaks. "But I am all right. Thank you for leading the charge, Iovanna. Your intervention has saved lives."

"It was the pipe-seller!" A broad shouldered man stands, dusting himself off. He levels his finger at the the pipe merchant, whose face is white with fear. "He called them on us with his witchcraft."

Jaxus shakes off the light headed feeling that he has and kicks one of the stirges for good measure. "You are weak without me, let me out and nothing can stop us. a voice echos in his head. Jaxus turns away from the others and stares at the ground caught up in his internal struggle. I don't need you I can handle this just fine now leave me alone. Fine but sooner or later you will need me..

Jaxus looks at the merchant and frowns, He looks as scared as anyone else here.

"The poor man doesn't look like he's called anything."

The broad-shouldered man turns and looks at Iovanna. "Beggin' no offense, miss. I appreciate you killin' the things, but it was the pipe that called them, plain as day."

Just a heads up: I'm not satisfied with the fast and loose feel of combat without a battle map. From now on, I will use Google Docs to provide rudimentary maps...nothing special, just want to be more methodical about encounters.

"Rosanna, Hrolf, can either of you detect anything magical about the pipes or the pope seller?"