Chronicles of Arcania: B/X Homebrew game.

Game Master Peet

Ferrous before going to bed walks over to the stack of books. Any of these about fighting? Looks through the stack of books and takes the copy of The Tragedy of Prince Kirinos Tragedy sounds pretty good.
reading aloud softly and slowly Prince Kirinos and entourage enter stage left...

Yes Ferrous is reading aloud all the stage direction of the plays. He is literate but not too bright. Also when he learned to read it was always out loud so he does this by habit.

Once they are settled in the room, Zynazyr gets to work trying to identify more of the spells and items. He looks annoyed by the frequent interruptions from the noisy group.

"Why did we have to bring them down here again?" he thinks to himself as he tries to concentrate. After a few hours, he is satisfied that the group is able to identify so many things.

"Yes, Ana, I think both of us learning the spell to read magic will be useful so I would appreciate you teaching it to me. As far as the continual light spell, I feel I have learned a lot through our adventures in this place and might be able to figure out how to cast that soon so I would like to wait to see if I can read it."

I'll be able to cast level 2 spells when I reach level 3 in 305 xp. Then I can copy the spell to use it.

Ana scribes read magic into her book and then spends the rest of her free time trying to identify more items.

3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1) = 12

She tries to identify the magic banner and the potion from the embalming room, but fails. However, the magic ustar she identifies as having a simple first-order enchantment.

In other words, it's an ustar +1.

10:00 AM, Day 7

Though it's a bit later than on other days, the party prepares to head out.

Most of the beetle glands are now dead and a few glow dimly. The overall effect is no brighter than a candle.

However, the party still has a good supply of torches (you have only used one so far) so they light up a torch and prepare to head out.

Ana: FYI You have used one spell in the process of preparing and teaching Zynazyr read magic. If you didn't want to do this let me know soon.

TIER 4 MAP

So what is the plan for the day?

* Go down the stairs? (D).
* Return to an unfinished area:
* * The Beetle nest? (B)
* * The trapped sarcophagus with the magic torches? (F)
* * The corridor with the haunts? (H)
* Visit the Magi or the Warrior Women on Tier 3?
* Something else?

"I'd suggest clearing out the fire beetle nest if we can think of a good way to do it. Source of food and source of light.
I am still unsure of my ability to deal with the magically trapped sarcophagus but can give it my best effort.
I did manage to withstand the terror of the haunts before, hopefully I can do so again."
Brathas is okay with any option. If he triggers the magic trap on the sarcophagus, hopefully 23 HP is enough to survive.
Brathas will also take one of the two flasks of Oil of Anointing in case there are dangerous undead.

Walia says, "I concur. Later in the day it may make sense to sell some of these books to the Magi."

"Since it is nearby, let's see if we can get by the haunts. Then we can try to come up with a plan for the beetles. We have this ring of animal control that might help and we can try to put them to sleep. As far as selling the books, maybe the magi will take them as payment to teach me some spells," Zynazyr says.

That's fine, GM. Her remaining spell is the ubiquitous sleep.

Walia says, "I think that also has merit. Maybe the book on the king and queen has some answers."

Seems like the haunts is where you want to go, so:

11:00 AM, Day 7

The party returns to the area where they saw the apparitions of the King and Queen.

As before, the King and Queen appear out of the darkness.

"Turn Back!" shouts the King. "All those who trespass will face the curse of King Alexander!"

"I am Queen Zenobia!" calls out the Queen. "If you value your souls come no further!"

The visages of the haunts become terrible and menacing, and Brathas and Zynazyr succumb to terror! The rest of the party feels their limbs shake but they manage to stand fast despite their fear.

Guys: The "haunts" don't actually do anything, but I am rolling initiative here to adjudicate the attempt to flee. When they get a chance to act, Brathas and Zynazyr will flee. This will happen in initiative order so if you want to do anything about them leaving you need to do so before they get to move, or chase them. Sadly, Wallia goes last, so even if he is casting remove fear he has to catch Brathas and Zynazyr.

I'm not going to bother with a tactical map here.

Wallia: Don't forget you have a scroll of remove fear in addition to being able to cast it.

Initiative:
Block 1: Ana
Block 2: Zynazyr
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep
Block 4: Brathas
Block 5: Wallia

I think I go at the same time as Brathas because I now have a +1 for DEX

I think I go at the same time as Brathas because I now have a +1 for DEX

I believe initiative is INT-based.

I believe initiative is INT-based.

Brathas is correct. I use INT to determine how "alert" you are.

We are waiting for Ana. I will bot her in a few hours if she hasn't posted by then, and I will assume she plans to try and keep Zynazyr from running, unless I hear otherwise.

AnaBot grabs at Zynazyr, attempting to prevent him from fleeing.

Grab (standard attack): 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (10) = 9

Zynazyr ducks under Ana's clumsy swing and flees down the hall in panic.

Initiative:
Block 1: Ana
Block 2: Zynazyr
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep
Block 4: Brathas
Block 5: Wallia

Ferrous & Fistep are up. FYI trying to grab someone is the same as making a normal attack.

Attempts to grab Brathas...

grab: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (19) = 0

Ferrous seeing that Brathas was caught by Fistep talks a step towards the haunts.

Walia not being particularly fast in his chain mail, tries to see if he can turn the haunts 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7, 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 6) + 3 = 12 but has the scroll ready when both Brathas and Zyn are in range.

Fistep grabs Brathas, and Ferrous walks right through the image of King Alexander.

Walia not being particularly fast in his chain mail, tries to see if he can turn the haunts 2d6+3, 2d6+3 but has the scroll ready when both Brathas and Zyn are in range.

Wallia: You already have determined that the haunts are not actually creatures, so you know that this won't do anything. The haunts are like a psychic "imprint" on a place and indicates that spirits are not at rest, but they are not the spirits themselves. You do know that a bless spell might get rid of the haunts.

Guys? Know what? We really didn't need to do this in initiative since the frightened characters only have to flee until the haunts are out of sight and you can just follow them. So it was kinda silly of me to try to do a blow-by-blow. It just comes down to whether you are willing to blow spells to remove fear from both Brathas and Zynazyr.

Each remove fear spell dispels fear on one person.

So I just need confirmation. Will you:

* Use the scroll and one spell slot to remove fear from Brathas and Zynazyr?
* Use two spell slots (and save the scroll) to remove fear from Brathas and Zynazyr?
* Leave Brathas and Zynazyr behind and explore ahead without them? (What? Split the Party?!?!)
* Turn back and come again later after the fear has worn off, hoping that you will get better saves next time? (for the record you did fairly good this time around)
* * If so, what will you do in the mean time?
* Something else?

I think we can wait here until it wears off and they come back, I would hate to waste two spells on this. What do you guys think?

FYI they will just have to save again.

How about drag them through and wait for the fear to wear off? That way we aren't passing the haunt a second time and don't have to risk someone else failing.
If that would be too traumatic for the frightened PCs, then I'd say one spell slot and the scroll.

We could drag them through I guess.Hopefully it won't come to that.

Sleep might work.

Having grabbed Brathas, he starts to pull the struggling man forward as he tries to bypass the haunt. Be brave... you can do it, trust in your companions

I wouldn't waste Wallia's spells although Brathas' idea of a sleep spell has some merit if it's possible to do. See if you can drag Brathas through then send someone after me so I'm not solo. Ferrous would probably be the best choice since he can see in the dark. Leave Ana with group in case you need spells.

Zynazyr continues to run down the hallway away from the spirits.

"AAAAHHH! NOOOO! We came back and now they're angry!!"

Fistep drags Brathas forward, while Brathas tries to struggle.

Fistep's Hold: 15 - 1d20 ⇒ 15 - (3) = 12
Brathas Breaking Free: 17 - 1d20 ⇒ 17 - (20) = -3

Brathas breaks loose! He begins to flee, but others grab at him while he runs past.

Ferrous' Hold: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (6) = 13
Ana's Hold: 20 - 1d20 ⇒ 20 - (10) = 10

Brathas slips by Ana and Ferrous and runs down the hall.

Re: using sleep: If they save against the sleep spell, you will have wasted a spell. And if one saves and the other falls asleep, you still need to deal with the one person that doesn't. You won't be able to 'voluntarily' fail your save as you are panicked and know what the others intend (you aren't stupid).

Tying the people up would be another way to do it, though they couldn't do anything while they are being "led" that way.

The party regroups and finds Brathas and Zynazyr cowering out of sight around a corner.

I am going to guess that splitting the party is not an option here. So that leaves:

* Go through the Haunts now, by:
* * Using force (grappling, tying people up, or nonlethal damage) to drag people through the haunts
* * Have Ana use her sleep spell to knock Brathas and Zynazyr out (and then carry them)
* * Have Wallia use two remove fear spells to cure Brathas and Zynazyr (if Wallia uses the scroll and one of his spell slots then he has two spells left)
* OR, wait until the fear wears off (which took 2 turns last time) and try again. Everyone will have to roll a save again.

What do you think?

I would say have Walia use the scroll and one spell slot.

sure, lets do it

Perhaps we can go hunt some beetles while these two recover their courage? It is possible that some victorious combat will embolden the frightened. The dwarf suggests eyeing the two party members shaking with fear.
It seems like the fear is do to seeing these haunts. What if we blindfolded the two until we were out of sight of the haunts?

I like the blindfold idea... I feel as though if I don't have to burn one of my spell that would be better for the party for the day.

Blindfold 'em.

Why bother taking Remove Fear as a spell known if not for this?

It is a good point, I just thought we would want to conserve the spell for post fight healing later.

Why bother taking Remove Fear as a spell known if not for this?

For other things that cause fear like shrews that a blindfold won't get you past.

I think we are spending too much time trying to get everyone past the haunts. Looking at the map, the hallway will lead to a dead-end or stairs. Just have some of you go around the corner to confirm.

10:20 AM, Day 7

Okay, it sounds like people like the blindfold idea. BTW the previous time post said 11:00 but that was a typo and it should have said 10:10.

Ferrous suggests blindfolding Brathas and Zynazyr, and the others agree to try it. They lead the blindfolded characters towards the haunts...

And with the lack of clear mechanics behind the haunts, we must consult the great arbitrator to see if this works (1=Yes, 2=No):

1d2 ⇒ 1

It works! Though Brathas and Zynazyr still can hear the haunts, without the sight of them they are able to control their fear.

50 bonus XP for Ferrous for coming up with the idea.

The haunts can be walked through like mist. Once the group passes through the haunts, strangely, the haunts seem to still be facing them regardless of where the character stands.

The group continues on, checking the hallway beyond. Brathas and Zynazyr must remain blindfolded until they are out of sight of the haints and cannot help in checking for traps and hidden doors in this area.

4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 5) = 14

Once past the haunts, the passage clearly continues east. But Ferrous spots a suspicious patch of plaster in the west wall facing the eastern passage, and upon investigation this is clearly a secret door!

TIER 4 MAP UPPDATED

So what now?

* Through the secret door?
* Down the eastern hallway?
* Something else?

Walia says, "Through the secret door!

Brathas, perhaps you should make sure this secret isn't trapped?

If the blindfold is off and Brathas is able to search, he will.

The party has checked for traps, though Brathas and Zynazyr are still blindfolded, and were not able to participate. No traps were found.

If Brathas takes off the blindfold he will be in line-of-sight to the haunts, and the fear will take effect again. Same for Zynazyr.

So will you:

* Go through the door now?
* Spend another 1 turn checking for traps?

If we wait until the fear effect wears off for Brathas, do those who saved previously have to make new saves?
If so, Walia at least use the scroll on Brathas. No sense saving it for a better time.

Walia uses the scroll on Brathas.... so that he can better check for traps.

"Thank you, Walia. I stood before the haunts the last time. Don't know why I couldn't this time. They didn't change, did they?"
Brathas searches for traps.

No the haunts are the same it is you who has changed. Perhaps seeing all the undead in this place paid credence to their empty threats in your mind. Now that you have rid your body of fear perhaps you can check this wall section I believe it to be a secret door.
Ferrous says to the thief in comforting tones while pointing out the secret door. I found no traps but your eyes are keener.

Zynazyr follows along, flinching every time someone touches him, worried he is being attacked by the haunts.

"Trust me Ferrous, I have been terrified of specters and curses since I awoke in here. Well I will try to not let it happen again."

Courage is not the absence of terror but positive action despite it.
I too am on edge by the unnaturalness of this whole Pyramid.