Castle Caldwell and Beyond: (A 5e Campaign) - The Wrecking Crew (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Niall stays by Lijan to see what the sack contains, if anything.

Klodd watches the others set about their tasks, lending a hand as needed.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 STR Check

As Victor and Magnus put their shoulders to the top side of the heavy wooden throne, Lijan gets down on the floor and places his hand next to the small amount of the leather he can see, not quite able to get a grip on it yet, but with both men shoving against the top, the bottom soon rises a few inches from the floor, and Lijan, throwing caution to the wind, and trusting the strength of his new friends, wiggles his hand under the throne to get a grip on the sack, and then he pulls.

But there is something in the sack, and it catches on the edge of the base, for a moment, and when he wrestles it free, the throne comes down, just missing his fingers by a fraction of an inch.

It is a medium sized leather sack, and it will hold about two cubic feet of goods. It is a durable, and sturdy sack if somewhat old and worn. Inside the sack, in the dim light of this dark room illuminated by a single simple light spell, Lijan can see a couple hundred small silver coins.

Dumping the sack to count the coins, you also discover there are three small cut and finished gem stones among the silver coins. One of the stones is a blood red stone about the size of the tip of a pinky finger, while the other two are larger and are a dull brown with golden traces across the surface. In all there are 500 silver pieces, and the three gems, in the sack, but there are no pears.

"Good job Lijan." Ayita winks at the rogue. "I knew you could do it.

After seeing that the sack only contains coins and gems, she immediately becomes disinterested and turns back to the door at the top of the stairs. She draws her shortsword and looks towards Perry for instruction.

"I'm ready to continue and am willing to take the lead if need be."

Perry nods toward Ayita. "Yes, time to move on," he says. "If everyone's ready, let's head up through that door at the top of the stairs."

Perry then takes out a vial of perfume, puts a little dab on a fingertip, and rubs it under his nose. He starts to put it away, then hesitates and asks, "Anyone else want a little buffer against the smell?"

"Indeed. I am sure these clothes will be ruined and I will never get the smell out of them", [b] Victor sighs and takes the perfume for a dab on his upper lip.

Victor hands the vial back to Perry with an appreciative smile, [b]"Perry, if these creatures are undead, we may want the clerics to go first no? Do they not have mystical powers against the risen dead?"

"I shall pass on the perfume, thank you. No need to waste such an expense on me."

Ayita leans against the wall making way for Klodd or Magnus to pass.

Perry nods at Victor. "Yes, this seems right up Magnus' alley, in fact. Magnus, care to take the lead on this? There may or may not be something upstairs that's trying to avoid meeting up with the crow god."

Victor unstrings his bow and draws his sword, "I will be right behind you" he states nodding to Magnus.

"Vodhan dislikes the unquiet dead - if such wait above, his will and my our blades will see them put to rest," the blond priest says, drawing his sword and mounting the wooden steps before shoving open the door with his shield.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Magnus pushes passed Ayita and shoves open the door.

Immediately a foul odor wafts out of the small room beyond the door, flowing out and into the abandoned Dining Room, where the others are counting the money from the sack

Something is unsettling, however, for there is no refuse in the chamber, no rotting corpse, or piles of garbage. The only thing that Ayita and Magnus see is a trap door in the floor near the western wall of this tower.

You recall no such trap door in the floor of the other gate tower

It was nothing
Histoff saya to Ayita

Thanks Perry
Histoff says as the perfume gets to him at his turn, and uses it modestly.

Hi Ayita, Magnus, anything suspicious ?

Histoff asks, lingering at the back from fear of what might be there, from a smell point of view (smell, a really bad smell)

"Ugh. Something definitely died down there."

Ayita moves up to the trap door and pokes it with her short sword to test its sturdiness.

Does it look like the trap door lifts up? If so, does it look like we'd be able to lift it? Like is there a pull ring or would we be able to wedge our fingers underneath?

"Yes, smells like they locked up a prisoner and forgot about him - long enough to stink but not long enough to dry out and stop. That, or it's a midden," Magnus says. "Come Victor, lend me your arm and we will see what can manner of refuse awaits us below."

Victor reluctantly sheathes his sword to assist Magnus in lifting the trap door.

Strength 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Klodd stands nearby in case assistance is needed, peeking over with his crossbow at the ready.

Day 1, Wednesday approximate time of day, 3:20 pm (turn 93). Location: Caldwell Castle, Harrispania. The party has entered the West Gatehouse tower, the lighting is Dim Light, from daylight coming into the second floor of the tower through arrow loops.

Holding her hand against her nose, Ayita examines the trap door. She sees no handle, no iron ring, but it is clear that the door does not fight tightly to the hole it covers, and the heavy metal hinges on one side make it clear that the door does swing up. When she indicates the gaps along the sides to Victor and Magnus, the two men sheath their weapons and lend her a hand, each of the three of them taking a side of the door, except the side with the hinges of course, and they try to lift, just as Klodd comes into the small tower room and tries to peer over their shoulders as they stoop to try and open the door.

The door budges, a bit, but then an ominous, and ethereal female voice floats up from below the door

A moan, more of a pitiful lament than a frightening cry, is followed by a warning

OoooOOOooooohhhh, Go away!

And then from the floor near the trap door a ghostly tentacle rises up through the wood. It is pale blue in color, long and thin, and looks as if it was, in life, covered in a bumpy, leathery hide.

The tentacle writhes and grows longer and longer as it rises, and then the ghostly flesh begins to drip away from the spiny bones, revealing a horrifying image

Magnus, Ayita, and Victor must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom Save, or be frightened for 1 minute. If the save fails by 5+, the character ages by 1d4 x 10 years

Wisdom Save 1d20 ⇒ 15

Whew...

Victor maintains his grip on the trap door.

His knuckles go white and his mouth taught but he keeps his composure outside of these telling signs.

"We seek to aid your family in recovering this place from the ravages of time. Please help us help your ancestors".

Wisdom save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Leave off, spirit, and return to the darkness!" Magnus says, advancing to the edge of the pit to get a better look at the creature below. His shield in one hand, he draws out the iron crow pendant that serves as his holy symbol, ready to call on his god to rebuke the unnatural creature.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
I'm going to prepare to Turn Undead, but I want to hold off until I get a good look at the thing below.

Histoff hearing the ghost.
Asks rather loudly.
Anyone knows what or who, are we dealing with ?

Histoff tries to look at the thing but keeps his distance

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

No, don't look at me! the girls voice cries out from below

Klodd, I forgot to mention that you must make the Wisdom Save as well! Lijan - if you rush u0p the stairs to get a "look" at the ghost before the trap door is fully opened, you to must roll a Wisdom Save

It was my father's doing. He sent me to this castle to fulfill a pledge made by one of our ancestors. Now, the voice begins to sob Now I am nothing but a ghost who must haunt this place forever. Unless, unless, no, I am too hideous now. If one of you would place my bones in the fountain, and ask the Goddesses Ophallela to hear my lament. I may be restored to my former life

"I do not know your Goddess but I would gladly aid you if you would discontinue hindering our duties. Appearances are not always what they seem so I care naught for what you look like oh tormented spirit..."

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Wisdom Save... and spending my inspiration 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 I Die

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Religion

Klodd steps to the edge of the door and looks in. He pales and clutches his throat, and his eyes bulge. Then he laughs at the panicked looks on his companions faces. "Just kidding... ha, ha, ha"!

"Ophallela... Never heard of it".

Wisdom Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Religion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Ayita freezes in fear. Her knees become weak and her sword clatters to the ground.

"M-m-miss Marcus? W-w-we are here to help. Y-y-your spirit is not at rest. I do not know this Goddess Ophallela, b-b-but we will do what we can to bring you peace."

Ayita stares wide-eyed at the hole.

"I don't mind going in the muck, b-b-but my feet seem to failing me. I'll need a minute to gather my courage." She puts a hand against the wall to steady herself.

She then closes her eyes and whispers to herself in Elvish, "Mielikki give me strength. This lost soul needs me but my will is weak. The hero Rowtag never backed down in fear. I look to him for inspiration now."

Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"If you'd rather seek life again instead of joining the gods, we will carry your bones to the water," Magnus says. Seeing Ayita's fright, he sighs and begins climbing down into the oubliette to retrieve the bones.

wisdom: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
badluck: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Histoff ages by 10 years, he is horrified by what he sees gigling down on the floor and also crying endlessly as if being going crazy.

Hope the response to being frightened is legit, different people have different ways to cope with things

Lijan comes bounding up the stairs just before the ghost is relieved of her distress, and as he sees the rotting ghost tentacle, he feels the life draining from his blood. And the hair on his head turns white near the edges.

When Ayita tries to talk to the ghost, there is a pause in the ghostly sound of the girl’s crying

Stifling a sob, the voice seems surprised for a moment, and then speaks again

Marcus, no I am not Miss Marcus. My name is Amber, Amber Agulicangar. I did not know the Marcus family. I only worked for them, well, I was supposed to serve them for five years, but something terrible went wrong.

When Magnus agrees to help the ghost, she gives out a deep sigh of reliefOh, thank you noble hero. I shall ask you to explain my situation to the spirit of the fountain, and make a request on my behalf. If the Goddess is willing I may be restored to my former life, as I overheard many men here long ago, when the castle was occupied, that the fountain will often grant a wish, if the cause is noble and pure, and the request is made to the right face.

To reach the bottom of the oubliette, Magnus will need a rope, or risk a dangerous climb. The bottom, only eight feet square, is fifteen feet below the trap door and the walls slope outward from the door to the floor below making them almost impossible to climb themselves. But the walls are made of fitted stones of different shapes and sizes, so it is possible that a foot hold and a hand hold might be found here and there.

The Climb down the walls, without a rope, is an Athletic Skill Check, with a DC of 16+. With a rope, success is automatic.

Magnus ties off his roll of hemp rope and climbs down into the cell, where he gathers up the woman's bones in his bedroll and ascends back to the group.

Medicine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Klodd attends the rope as Magnus descends, prepared to bring up the bundle separately i necessary. "Looks like things have been 'dying' to get down there". Ha! Ha! Ha!

Victor rolls his eyes at Klodd's jest and manages to just stifle a laugh.

He turns towards the ghost, "Know you which face is the right face Amber? Can you tell us more of what happened to you. That fountain certainly attracted my eye, perhaps its mystical powers are the reason why".

Wisdom Save : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Niall looks down into the oubliette with keen interest watching Magnus pick at the bones. " Would you like some help Magnus? "

"D-d-does anyone know anything about this Goddess Ophallela? Perhaps some insight on the deity's nature will provide a clue as to the face we need to address."

Ayita picks up her sword and sheaths it then slowly backs out of the room. She breathes a sigh of relief when the apparition is out of sight but gags on the overpowering putrescence of the air. She covers her mouth and puts her head between her knees as she sits on one of the stairs, her face filled with both fear and nausea.

"Excuse me. I just need another moment."

About the ghost – the only thing that any of you have “seen” is a ghostly tentacle, which is now gone, the voice seems to be coming from the pit, and the intense smell of rot and decay is gradually lifting – no one else, who has not already made a save versus fear, will see the ghost or be required to make saves, at this time

Klodd helps Magnus back up out of the pit, with the big man managing a roll of bed cloth wrapped around a collection of bones

When Victor asks the ghost to elaborate on the details of her demise, there is a long wail of sadness, and then she speaks

I was forgotten, and could not escape this place, and eventually I died. All I remember about my death was growing weaker and weaker until I fell into a deep sleep, and then after some time I remember standing next to my body and for the longest time I watched as it decayed until there was nothing left but my bones. I’ve chased away many creatures that tried to disturb my remains, but you are the first of your kind to be brave enough to speak to me, and who are kind enough to want to help me.

I do not know much about the goddess, as she is not a goddess my family raised me to know. I believe she has many incarnations, and represents the passing of time, and the fate of all living things. Her face that represents the darkest time of the night, between sunset and dawn, is said to be connected with the death and passing of all good people, so maybe that is the face you must speak to.

Magnus opens up the blanket containing the bones when he reaches the top of the cell, spreading it open for all to see.

"Tell me, spirit, what manner of creature were you in life? These bones do not appear entirely human ... and where is your skull?" he says, gesturing to the headless skeleton and strange bones he recovered.

Ayita eventually gathers her wits and whispers to those furthest from the pit so that the ghost does not hear.

"I don't know much about ghosts but are they able to alter their forms? Can we be sure we are helping a murdered maid and not a deceiving aberration? The last thing we need right now is to release a tentacled beast in the central fountain. Now don't mistake my intentions. If it is truly a wronged girl in need of our assistance, I wish to help her. But something just feels...wrong. On the other hand, I may still be reeling from her frightful visage. Also, are we sure resurrection is the correct course of action? Mielikki teaches to respect the circle of life. To deny death is to break the proper cycle of nature. Perhaps there is another way to let the spirit find peace and pass on to her god's domain in the afterlife."

Creature? the voice moans, Yes, I am a creature, unlike you or the others here. My people call ourselves the Habbaridia, but your kind call us by another name

There is a long silence and a chill wind blows through the chamber as if it were conjured from out of nowhere

Otyugh

When I turned twenty years old, a time in our culture when a Girl should leave her family and find a suitable husband, my father brought me here to serve a human man named Julian Marcus. You see, Julian had saved my father’s life, and to repay the debt my father promised that I would serve the caste for a period of five years. Then something happened. I don’t what, but the castle was abandoned by the Marcus family, and I was forgotten.

"A travesty indeed, friend," Perry says in response to the otyugh's tale. "Let's see about getting you some peace, shall we? Magnus, let's get her remains to that fountain."

Please note this edit, as I thought better of what I wanted to say, but the site went down before I could change the post

Amber the Ghost, says

When I turned twenty years old, a time in our culture when a girl should leave her family and find a place of her own in the world, my father brought me here to serve a human man named Julian Marcus. You see, Julian had saved my father’s life, and to repay the debt my father promised that I would serve the castle for a period of five years. Then something happened. I don’t know what, but the castle was abandoned by the Marcus family, and I was forgotten.

"I never realized otyughs had a culture. In all the stories I've read they've been portrayed as mindless beasts. There's so much I still don't know about this world."

Is there something I can roll to see what Niall knows of Otyughs? Arcana?

"Perhaps we should place her where the face of the fountain sits between sunset and dawn? Though that time does change every day with the passing of the seasons.

Tell me Amber, do you believe that the abandonment of the castle is what took place? With no source of food you were trapped and perished that way?"

Niall can roll a basic Intelligence Ability check, and on a roll of 10+ he knows the usual information most often repeated about these creatures (that they are “bizarre” creatures that can be dangerous if provoked, and that they “feed” off of offal and garbage. If, however, he rolls an 18+ he might know some not often well known information about these creatures

The castle and the country of Harrispania, lie at latitude of about 46 degrees north, not that any player character would know that, Intelligence Ability Check, DC 20+, but this means that through the year (and we will assume the world has an axial tilt similar to Earths) the sun rises and sets in the southern sky (rising in the south east, and setting in the south west). At this latitude, summer days will be long, and winter days will be short. All that any of you have noticed, so far, is that the fountain in the center of the courtyard, is comprised of four female figures, each facing one of the cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west) and their backs form a close square, though the statue’s backs do not touch. More can be learned by examining the statues in close proximity

Histoff continues on with being frightened ....

Int : 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14 Just the basics then :)

Niall checks the courtyard for movement, making sure to check any windows he can see as well before moving out to have a look at the female statues up close.

Perception : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Intelligence: 1d20 ⇒ 16

"I'll not judge you, creature, but leave that for your goddess," Magnus says, gathering the bones again and heading toward the fountain once the others are ready.

Ayita suddenly realizes Lijan's plight and rushes to his side.

"Lijan! Are you okay?! You look terrible...almost as if you've aged ten years." She slings his arm over her shoulder and starts leading him down the stairs. "Let's get you out of here. Some fresh air will do you good. I'll take care of you."

"Well, this job got complicated in a hurry. Lijan, are you alright?"

Thank you Ayita
Histoff says as she begins helping him and he relaxes a bit from what he saw.

Yes Perry I am alright but I feel much more older as if something was taken from me.

Histoff says and then looks as if thinking on something while Ayita helps him with the stairs