Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Euan

Whoa the horses. This is what it's like to see in darkness? This is... excellent. Such an advantage if you can extinguish light sources on an enemy. Or just sitting in a dark corner, and watching.

Barael takes the gift of dark sight, and moves to the door, ready to move the door aside, once Deyanira performs her second chant. He also draws his wakizashi, and keeps it pointed down, at his side.

"Maybe you could watch the second building, in case we miss something interesting once we're inside?" Barael nods between Deyanira and the outbuilding.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Perception once through the door: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Briar looks at Barael drawing his weapon and gives him a confused look.

"Is this a combat mission already?" Briar slowly unlimbers his bow. "I think we should assume that Ruan is safe and sound the bosom of a buxom lover first, don't you think? Maybe knocking before outright breaking and entering, even if it is accomplished via magic?"

Briar nods with a slight smile to Deyanira improves his sight with magic.

"Nice. Thank you."

Fondo looks down at his chest. 'Buxom' lover? Hah. Hardly. "Poor'inedra's already observed — the manse's deserted. Let's make our entrance quietly." Fondo reflexively tries the doorknob before Deyanira casts her spell.

"The windows. Not happy we can't even get a peek. And I'm ready to threaten anyone who might be keeping Yuan against his will." Barael flicks his blade, then pulls it tight against his side again.

When have we not needed our weapons drawn already on our excursions? You're getting soft, elf.

Dandi sniffs the air, trying to smell the sickly sweet that Deyanira mentioned earlier.

perception to smell the smell: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"hmmm... I don't think I ahhh..."

The doors are locked until Deyanira steps up and raps solidly, but quietly on it. You can hear the latch turn at her magics, but the door itself does not swing open.

"It is unlocked." she whispers as she steps away from the doors.

Meanwhile Majenko flies stealthily around the building and perches on the roofline looking down into the courtyard. Other than the beautifully manicured yard with a small gazebo (very threatening) there is nothing of interest there. The upper windows are also curtained and shuttered, though there is one that seems to be letting a little interior light through, it's not enough to see any details in the room. Just the sliver of light.

He has nothing further to report and flies down to perch again on Briar's briars.

Dandilion smells Barael and little else.

"Thank you, poor'inedra. Friends, shall we?" Fondo looks to Barael and his whisper-quiet ways.

Barael eases up to the door, listens close by the door, then tries the door handle. He nods to Deyanira in respect, should the door be unlocked.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

If he hears nothing, he moves into the building.

Sorry, forgot that I already set up these checks in an earlier post

Dandi crinkles her nose at the musty smell from Barael, and steps back and drinks an extract and then her mutagen before going in, "let's go."

Briar looks around and is ready to enter.

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 Perception

Charlie will do his best to not make a nuisance of himself stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21. And get a clue. perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 As he keeps up.

Nikolay leads or follows as needed. Busy this morning.

A massacre took place here. Upon the marble floor and heaped in the corners lie more than a dozen corpses, each clad in garish outfits of sequined velvet, revealing silk, and colorful feathers. Masks of all shapes and sizes - each competing with the last in terms of elaborateness - adorn the dead. In several cases, though, these fanciful adornments have fallen away, revealing withered flesh covered in nauseating facial tumors. Most horrifyingly, upon a blood slick space cleared at the room’s center sway three couples, jerking like hellish dancers, all obviously dead.

As they very slowly sense your presence, each of them breaks off with their partners and close to attack!

No surprise round as the scene will have taken some time so sink in. This is a full round.

Majenko flies into the air and does a jig of his own trying to counter the pall in the room. +2 attack/damage/saves vs fear.

--Round 1--
Majenko - 21 Dances
Barael - 18+
Nikolay - 18
Charlie - 18-
Fondo - 17
Briar - 14
Dandilion - 5
Undead Hoard - 1

Map Round 1

Round 1, Init 14, Part A

Briar's nose also wrinkles...mostly from the sight of so many...typical varisians (in his mind at least), but these seem even more unlikable than usual.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 Know (Religion)

"This is macabre. There are times when I wish I was in the forest...it has predators to deal with meatbags like this," Briar says wistfully.

Actions will depend on what Briar learns from knowledge check.

Round 1, Init 14, Part 2

"Zombies," Briar says dejectedly, staring at his quiver full of useless pointy arrows. "Slash them. Burn them. Burn them more with Aroden's pisswater."

Briar pulls out a holy water and hurls at the lead zombie, 5' stepping back after he does so.

1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 4 - 2 = 10 touch attack (bard, PBS, cover, range)
2d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 + 1 = 7 damage.

Could hit, they are flat footed.

Round 1, Init 17 {>F6 or E6, depending on Barael and Nikolay}

Grateful for Majenko's inspiration and Briar's information, Fondo moves forward to meet the undead foes. He draws his new kukri as he does so.

Rapier, power attack, inspire, prayer: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 28
1d4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 12
confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 15
1d4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 10

Init 18

Charlie casts Prayer whose +1 to hit and damage I think stacks with Majenko's +2 awesomeness. Also, I think Charlie distributed his own brand of pisswater to the party and has 7 spare flasks in his pack.

Round 1, Init 5, e-4 or 5 or f4 or 5 depending on what's open

Dandi pulls a bomb, and throws it over the heads of her companions, "Heads up, err, down!"

bomb on Z5, -4 for cover, precise bombs for 3 of her companions if they are too close: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 4 = 221d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 , splash=8

Come on, I want to blow something up at least once, before it's all melee. Holy water next time, I swear.

Round 1, Init 18+

Undead?! Why did it have to be undead again?

Barael tumbles through the bloody mess, to dance with Z3.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31 Move to H-8, Ki point to quicken feet, +20'

Black Tooth, inspired: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Barael, one more Acrobatics check to avoid slipping in the blood and gore in the middle of the room and falling at the feet of the zombies.

Twister, Hand on Yellow: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35

"Aroden's Blood! The floor! Keep your feet under you on that blood!"

Round 1, Init 18 F-3 --> F-5

What the hell is he doing?!?
--Probably dying if we don't get up there. He's brave at least.
Maybe next time he'll wait for the flank.

Nikolay can't resist the temptation of everything clumped together and steps up to F-5 while drawing his sword. He then casts an empowered burning hands, catching all but Z-6.

DC 14 REF for half
damage: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 3, 2) = 12 + empower = 18

Majenko flies and dances (+2 attack/damage/saves vs fear). Barael tumbles behind the zombies and stabs at Z3 successfully. Nikoley steps a little way into the room and burns the bulk of the zombies extra crispy, but most remain standing. NICE Burning hands! Charlie casts prayer (+1 attack/damage for you -1 attack/damage for Zombies). Fondo moves up to Z1 and strikes it critically killing it! Briar takes out and throws a flask of holy water damaging Z2 killing it. Dandilion kills the remaining zombies, excepting Z4 and Z6.

Z1 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4 or take 18hp fire damage
Z2 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2 or take 18hp fire damage
Z3 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2 or take 18hp fire damage
Z4 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14 or take 18hp fire damage
Z5 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4 or take 18hp fire damage

Z4 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17 or take 8hp splash damage
Z6 reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4 or take 8hp splash damage
Dandilion, please remember to note your splash DC in the attack so I don't have to keep looking it up. Thanks!

As most of the zombies die, they explode covering Fondo and Barael with gore - and disease. Please make Fortitude saves vs Blood Plague (only DC 11 in this form).

The remaining undead swarm the party. Uh, actually they step up on Barael and swing.
Z4 Slam on Barael: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 1 = 17 damage: 1d6 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 1 = 4
Z6 Slam on Barael: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 1 = 11 damage: 1d6 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 1 = 7

Majenko continues his jig, but otherwise stays out of the way of combat (he doesn't like undead zombies).

All the bloody squares require a DC 15 Actobatics to move more than half movement. Failure means you drop prone in the blood and gore of the room.

Fondo sees three other zombies, in the northern alcove apparently having a tea party. When they see him they close, but only one gets to attack (charge).
Z7 Slam on Barael: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

--Round 1--
Undead Hoard - 1
Z1 (dead)
Z2 (dead)
Z3 (dead)
Z4 (-13hp) attacks Barael
Z5 (dead)
Z6 (-8hp) attacks Barael
Z7 attacks Fondo
Z8 moves toward Fondo
Z9 moves into room
--Round 2--
Majenko - 21 Continues to Dance
Barael - 18+
Nikolay - 18
Charlie - 18-
Fondo - 17
Briar - 14
Dandilion - 5

Map Round 1-2

Round 2, Init 18+

Barael spits on the floor, hoping to clear any spatter. "That... is... disgusting."
Fortitude v Gore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

He then tries to strike down Z4, and move out of the blast zone if it explodes again.
Black Tooth Slash, Inspired, Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 30 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10
Confirm Crit, Inspired, Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 25 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 12

Acrobatics, Move to G-10: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Round 2, Init 18 F-5 --> F-7

Nikolay moves foward carefully on the bloody ground (half speed), gripping his sword in two hands, and trying to take out the new zombie with one swing. He holds his breath expecting an explosion of disesased guts to cover him.

Longsword Power Attack 2-handed: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 29 buffs x2
Longsword damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 20 STR, +2, power, scabbard, buffs x2
FORT save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Barael kills Z4 and wins another DC 11 Fortitude save as it covers him in gore! He picks part of an eyeball off his shoulder as he tumbles away into a hopeful flank with the next target.

Though truly a deadly swing, Z9 remains standing after Nikolays cleave! (that's a LOT of damage!)

Round 2, Init 14

Briar smiles big as Nikolay expends some of his arcane power, the following fiery lightshow, and pleasing explosions of defeated foes.

Briar gives him a nod.

That's good stuff.

Briar draws another holy water (charlie'spisswater) as he moves to E5 (or F6 if main targets are gone) and throws at Z6.

1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 29 touch, to hit; (bard, prayer, PBS, range) + (-4 if cover)
2d4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 8 damage.

Edit, possible crit:
1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 16 touch, to hit; (bard, prayer, PBS, range) + (-4 if cover)
2d4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 9 damage

Round 2, Init 5, move to E-5

Dandi whispers a spell to herself, dreaming up a little help to make the place presentable, and hopefully less dangerous. "what a mess, what a day, please clean it up and clear our way."

Dandi casts unseen servant and sets it to cleaning up the gore on the floor in hopes that they'll be less treacherous

Round 2, Init 17

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Gagging a bit and almost getting gore in his eye, Fondo turns to his new opponents and tries to create more pops. "Pharasma claim you! For I shan't."

Kukri, power, inspire, prayer: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 20
power, inspire, prayer: 1d4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 11

He then steps to the side and almost provokes an attack from Z9, just enough to create an opening for Nikolay's next strike.

Aid, power, inspire, prayer: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 18

Fortitude v Gore, take 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Of course
Harrow Point reroll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Do we know that the disease these things are bearing is, in fact, Blood Veil?

Prayer also gives a +1 to saves and skill checks.

Charlie casts Sound Burst into E09/F10. Fort DC16 1d8 ⇒ 1 And 5' steps into F03.

Majenko flies a little into the hall so as to be visible by Barael and our of reach of any zombies as he continues to dance. Barael finishes a zombie off and tumbles around the next one. Nikoley steps up mightily cleaving into a fresh (well, not fresh) zombie but cannot quite take it down. Charlie moves up into the room a little and and casts sound burst catching Z9 in the radius. Fondo hits Z7 and moves away to confuse Z9 a little. Briar critically hits another zombie with holy water and it explodes all over Barael. Dandilion creates an unseen servant who begins to clean up the worst of the gore. Deyanira closes the outer doors and you barely hear her cast a spell, but you do not know what it was.

Z7 Slam on Fondo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Z7 follows Fondo into the room and presses his attack upon him connecting. Fondo please make a DC 11 Fortitude save vs Disease. Z8 enters the room, but cannot quite attack anyone as it does so (staggered).

As Z9 explodes I need Fortitude saves from Fondo (so a total of two from Fondo) and Nikolay. As Z6 explodes I need a Fortitude save from Barael. All DC 11. You do not know for sure if it is against the Blood Veil, but the zombies, aside from being flesh dropping undead, also exhibit all the signs of the disease. And yes, Prayer gives you a +1 on the save.

Majenko continues his jig (+2 attack/damage/saves vs fear), and looks around the room carefully Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19. A part of this room is open to the room above, but he neither sees nor hears anything new at this time over the sounds of combat.

All the bloody squares require a DC 15 Actobatics to move more than half movement. Failure means you drop prone in the blood and gore of the room.

--Round 2--
Undead Hoard - 1
Z4 (deader)
Z6 (deader)
Z7 (-11hp)
Z8
Z9 (deader)
--Round 3--
Majenko - 21 Continues to Dance and peer around
Barael - 18+
Nikolay - 18
Charlie - 18-
Fondo (-9hp) - 17
Briar - 14
Dandilion - 5

Map Round 2-3

Round 3, Init 17

Fort: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12
Fort: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19

Fondo narrowly avoids getting the zombie's ichor in his blood stream. He lashes out at Z7 (if Nikolay hasn't killed it) or moves over to dispatch Z8 from flank (if Barael hasn't killed it).

"The greatest magic of all shall be magical cleanliness, once we've laid these poor souls to rest."

Kukri, power, prayer, inspire: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 29
1d4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 11
confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 27
1d4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 13

More fort saves, no doubt: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18
More fort saves, no doubt: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 17

Round 3, Init 18 E-7

Disappointed, but not demoralized by his last failure to take down the zombie with a single swing, Nikolay tries to finish off the one between him and Briar. He then fires a ray over at the one by Barael (taking a 5' step to E-8 away from Z-7 if necessary).

Longsword Power Attack 1-handed spell combat: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 14 buffs x2 (no flank because I don't see Briar with a weapon)
Longsword damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 1 = 20 STR, +2, power, buffs x2
Disrupt Undead spell combat: 1d20 + 6 - 2 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 2 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 11 -4 melee, buffs x2
damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
already made the FORT save last post, but here's one for this round
FORT save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Round 3, Init 18+

Barael tries to muster the stomach to work over Z8.
Black Tooth: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 16 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 9

He stands his ground apprehensively, knowing another pustule is about to go off at his side. This is worse than the sewers.
Fortitude v Gore, take 3: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22

Charlie will hold his action until Z7 goes down. He will then do a half move and heal Fondo with the wand. CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Round 3, Init 14

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Fort Save

Draws and lowers his bow as Z7 explodes in a rain of plagued gore.

Lovely. Thank you, Fondo.

Flicking off a big piece of varisian plague plasm, Briar double moves (1/2 speed through gore) to E10.

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 Perception, looking around for more

And the fight is over. It looks like everyone made their saves, but most of you are covered with body parts: blood, pus, and viscera.

The room is quiet for a moment, the dancers no longer dancing and the tea party abruptly ended. It is clear that there was a costume party here, but something went horribly wrong. Many of the party goers are in the advanced stages of the plague.

The brightness of the costumes clashes with the brightness of the blood upon them. Most of the bodies seem to have been decomposing for a couple of days so the smell is quite ripe and strong.

An unseen servant continues to clean up the worst of the mess in the middle of the room. You hear some repetitive shuffling coming from upstairs, but it does not seem to be getting closer.

Fondo begins to magically clean off himself and his friends. "Tis truly a wretched business. Urgathoa's been here in spades." Once he's finished, Fondo signals upward and quietly begins looking for stairs.

"Halfblood. I need more of the holy water. Mind?" Briar moves along to take a pair of holy waters from Charlie's backpack and place them for easy drawing.

"Thank you," Briar says as he ties the backpack shut with a pat.

"There are doors this way, and sounds above. Might as well be logical and check things cleanly, yes?"

Briar, bow drawn, opens the door in B5/6.

Barael nods. "Let's not have things at our backs. First floor, then second, don't you think?" Moving over to be close to the door opening, Barael follows Briar. Should nothing interesting present itself to Briar, Barael opens the door at B10/11.

"Majenko. Keep us aware of things coming down the stairs, would you?"

Majenko looks up the stairwell and settles on the bannister.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

B5/6 opens to a small room which also has the door at D/E4. In it is a table surrounded by four chairs. Seated in the chairs are dead (and not undead) partygoers. They are propped up playing cards. The gentleman dresses as a joker is winning. There are two bodies propped up against the wall watching both with odd grins on their faces.

The room is otherwise empty.

Nikolay prestidigates himself and his sword clean of the zombie guts. He then does it again just to be sure.

"This was one party I'm glad I missed."

Nikolay joins the others at the next door.

Nikolay casts detect magic and looks around the room.

Nikolay: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Sword: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Nikolay perceives no magic in any of the rooms so far - other than what the party has with them.

Fondo moves to the double doors. Once everyone has gathered, he opens them.

Briar follows Fondo the double doors and takes a position well behind him, but still within shooting range.

No more stupid zombies.

"Why didn't they get up, the posed ones? Isn't this whole house likely to be touched by zombie plague?" Barael moves across to the door at B10/11, listens, then opens it to make sure there is no trouble, before joining the rest at the double doors.

Listen: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Perception in the room: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Dandi calls her unseen servant to follow then follows the others. She moves next to Charlie, "If you won't take care for yourself, then I will." casts remove sickness on Charlie.