DM Dr Evil's Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

"There is no need to apologize for the honored elder. His grief allows his wisdom to shine all the greater." Crux takes his share of the payment and secrets it away in his robes.

"I have a request that I am able to speak on the lady's behalf ather trial," the Paladin interjects.

Marnos nods his approval at the paladin's words, and goes back to watching, his hands resting on his bow.

Graxton nods to the Shoanti and then Croft as he enters the room. He slams his fist to his chest and does a half bow before the elderly Shoanti leaves, as he says with passion, "We will find your grandson's body, for both our nations!"

"I would like to be at the trial, and a chance to say something if Gorum inspires me. I also would request additional guards to keep her secure." He says with confidence.

Graxton allows the others to carry his share of the gold, leaving it in the coffer given to them.

"Any suggestions on how to get into the Dead Warrens, at least the safest way?" He quires.

Croft answers the questions as they were asked: "Rolth has long been a thorn in my side. A failed Acadamae student, Rolth's a monster of a man who was expelled after the true nature of his experiments were revealed. He was butchering vagrants, stray animals, and anything else he could get his hands on to try to build some sort of golem from their collected parts. The Acadamae didn't press charges because it didn't want to cause a scene -- it just quietly expelled him and the man's been trouble ever since."

"We suspect he's responsible for nearly a dozen slayings, each involving mutilation to the body, but to date we haven't been able to find him or locate his lair. He might or might not be in the Dead Warrens, but anything you can find there that could lead us to his arrest would be greatly appreciated."

To Kalvin's request to speak at Trinia's trial: "I will inquire, but there is almost no way that happens. Depending on who hears the case, it will be quick and the evidence will focus on the killing of the king not the arrest. If we are lucky, the Seneshcal of Castle Korvosa will claim jurisdiction since the killing happened in his seat of power, he will be fair and has no love for Ileosa. But if the case falls to one of the normal judiciary, which are appointed by and serve at the will of The Crimson Throne, then anything could happen. Either way I don't see testimony from you lot as being relevant to her guilt or innocence."

To Graxton's question about the Dead Warrens:"We have the man who sold Gaekhen's body to Rolth in custody: a simpleton names Elkaris. He spilled everything when we told him what was going on and how much trouble he was in --in any event, Elkaris says he delivered the body to a partially collapsed mausoleum deep in Potter's Ward near the southern edge of the Gray District. A toppled and headless statue of a sword-wielding gargoyle lay in the dirt near the entrance -- he was told to leave the body behind the gargoyle. This location matches where Thousand Bones believes the Shoanti burial grounds called the Dead Warrens used to be located, so that's the best place to start the search."

"Any other questions?"

I have added the 1000gp to the Loot tracker. You have some time to gear up before you go, even to rest and reset spells if necessary. Let me know what you plan to do.

Crux renews his spells and is ready.

Graxton nods at Crofts words seeing the logic there.

He does not have any other questions and once they are alone he offers up a plan as they walk, "Perhaps we put Crux behind that gargoyle and sees who comes. Then snatch them. I know Crux playing to your better side." He scoffs hoping the disfigured man will roll with it. In a more serious note he says, "Though seriously, I think one of us, I would offer could be bait. It would be better if we left in the morning but I understand if we want to rush to find this body. Any ideas on wands or scrolls we should get with some of our new earned cash. Shield of faith would be nice to help protect us better, Doom would hinder our foes, Protection from Evil might be nice, suggestions? I hope we get some down time soon, then again with all this turmoil my pockets are being lined nicely."

Seeing as there appear to be no more questions, Croft rises "One last thing. It appears you've gone and run off another team member. We found one to add to your group. He should be a bit handy around town, knows a bit about things here and there. Should fit in well...Meet Nyramel. He's been briefed and should be ready to join you when you leave for the Warrens."

She opens the door revealing the newest member of the group.

The bandaged wizard and his pseudodragon ally studies the newcomer for a moment. "Let us do the introductions enroute."

Marnos nods at the newcomer.

Korvosa's vast graveyard is a place known as the Gray District. It is a mournful place by day, quiet and calm in midst of civil unrest that is unraveling most of the city. Yet this calm is an unnatural stillness, almost as if the graveyard were preparing itself for a vast influx of new dead. Certainly, this ominous feeling is nowhere more noticeable than in Potter's Ward, the final resting place of Korvosa's poor and homeless.

Mounds of unmarked graves stretch far and wide while crumbling mausoleums, now abandoned by their families, dot the landscape, forgotten and empty. Mourners do not visit here, for the dead buried in Potter's Ward leave behind few who regret their passing.

Locating the mausoleum with the headless gargoyle is a relatively simple task. No signs of Gaekhen's body are present at the site, however.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Knowledge: Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Crux waits for his more robust companions to go into the crypt.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 The gods of dice strike again!
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

For once, Marnos's ever-vigilant nature fails him and he is so focussed on the possibility of distant threats that he misses the evidence under his nose.

Are any of the others going to join us? Graxton, Kalvin, and newcomer Nyramel? Any luck?

Sorry, I'm here.

Kalvin takes a look around, before entering.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Graxton eyes Nyramel and wonders to himself, 'I wonder where Lazlo ran off to, probably off taking care of some nobles.'

He then speaks up aiming his curt words at the newcomer, "Come along we have important business and I hope you have been briefed."

Kalvin, you see the spoiler up above? You hit the number, want to read and react please?

Kelvin raises his hand to his lips to quiet the group for a moment.

He motions then for his companions to gather closer, so that he can speak quietly.

"There are two individuals in there. One humanoid, the other, not."

He then points out the tracks.

Marnos purses his lips in annoyance at failing to observe the obvious tracks. His trained eye marks out the tracks, and he tries to follow them

Survival: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13 and the gods of dice strike again

With Kalvin pointing out the tracks, Marnos is able to follow them but with some difficulty. He sees the human footprints actually seem to lead away from the mauseoleum but the four-toed humanoid prints go inside. They lead across teh dirty covered floor to a grate in the floor then disappear.

A quick look revels that the grate swings up easily, revealing a barely concealed flight of steps below. Taking the steps, the party soon finds themselves underground in a natural cavern. Patches of mold on the walls emit an eerie blue light, giving off enough light for dim illumination. The air here is damp and musty, the smell of decaying flesh is present in the background.

From the natural cavern, a hewn passage to the south descends several man-made stairs before opening into a bigger columned chamber. The large room is supported by 4 wide pillars of stone. The ceiling above arches in a dome nearly twenty feet high. The walls are lined with skeletons caked into the mud -- human bones mostly, but here and there smaller bones might be from halflings, or perhaps, children. Fifteen-foot square pits sit the east and west, each filled with a large heap of hundreds of bones. To the south, a crude hole has been gouged into the wall, providing access to a tunnel.

Ossuary - Surprise Round

26 Crux
22 White Skeleton
22 Black Skeleton
21 Blue Skeleton
16 Marnos
14 Owlbear Skeleton
13 Kalvin
12 Purple Skeleton
8 Yellow Skeleton
4 Graxton

You must make Perception roll in prior post to act during Surprise Round. Remember it is move or standard action only in that round, not both. Crux is up if he makes the perception roll.

Here is link to tactical map.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Kalvin takes in the ossuary, whispering silent prayers for the souls of the departed.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Crux is too busy contemplating esoterica to take note of anything.

Nyramel travels with the group, talking about varied topics until they reach the Graveyard. Once there he becomes quiet and contemplative. He nods quickly to Braxton, I have. He says no more. It seems his verbosity has been replaced with the efficient speech of the stoic.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Nyramel looks up at the wall of bodies, his mouth works in disgust but he seems unaware of the danger around them.

Also, I think you forgot my initiative.
Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Ossuary - Surprise Round

26 Crux (surprised)
22 White Skeleton
22 Black Skeleton
21 Blue Skeleton
16 Marnos
14 Owlbear Skeleton
13 Kalvin (surprised)
12 Purple Skeleton
12 Nyramel (surprised)
8 Yellow Skeleton
4 Graxton

Crux, busy studying the detail work of the ossuary fails to notice the skeletons advancing from the bone pits.

Several skeletons leap out of the bone pits and advance on the party surprising them.

Action is down to Marnos, who needs the DC 15 Perception to act in the surprise Round. Still need that roll from Graxton as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 Now, that's more like it
Knowledege (Religion): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22 +2 For Monster Lore. I think I've identified them as skeletons. I wonder what gave it away?

"Skeletons!" Hisses Marnos, "Use blunt weapons and smash them."

He rummages in his pack and pulls out a couple of bottles, which he then prepares to throw at the skeletons.

He will ready an action and when the owlbear skeleton moves up, he will throw one of the bottles of Holy water at it, hopefully splashing as many neighbouring skeletons as possible

ranged touch attack vs owlbear skeleton when it moves up: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage from holy water: 1d6 ⇒ 3

So technically this is a Surprise Round, and you can only have a Move Action or a Standard Action but not both. Rummaging for a holy water is a move action, but readying a standard action counts as a standard action, so you can't ready just yet. I will let you keep those die rolls when it comes to throwing it if you want, but Holy Water dmg vs undead is actually 2d4.

It also appears I failed to roll initiative for Red Skeleton. Red Skeleton: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Ossuary - Surprise Round - continued

Seeing the skeletons move around in the oils of bones, Marnos reaches for his holy water, thinking to obliterate the undead with a dose of the good stuff.

To the east, a ossified owlbear climbs out of the pit roaring silently its anger at being disturbed. While the other heroes look on, surprised, more skeletons emerge from the west side.

The action is down to Graxton. Need your perception to see if you act in surprise round.

Graxton may be the last one to act, but as the skeletons advance he hears them coming! "Ho folks, we got undead to tangle with!" He quickly says and channels raising his hand with his main hand with no weapon in it yet. "Gorum let your power be known!"

channel positive energy to harm undead: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

Channels: X X _ _ _ _ of 2d6, Will DC 12 for half.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Docey doo... I was using the perception you posted for me... Well with a Perception of a 9... He will do that at the end of Round 1. Your un-ninjaing has now screwed me up... oh well.

You finish, I am un-ninjaing you now...Just remember you can only act if you in the Surprise Round if you see the skeletons by making the perception check.

EDIT: Sorry for the confusion. I was just about to DM-PC Graxton...

Ossuary - Surprise Round - concluded

His mind on other matters, Graxton fails to see the oncoming skeletal horde until it is too late, but he has a plan and begins grasping for his holy symbol.

End of Surprise Round

Ossuary - Round 1

26 Crux
22 White Skeleton
22 Black Skeleton
21 Blue Skeleton
16 Marnos
14 Owlbear Skeleton
13 Kalvin
12 Purple Skeleton
12 Nyramel
8 Yellow Skeleton
4 Graxton

Crux the wise and powerful is up for the heroes first in Round 1. Then a whole host of skeletons get to attack.

From the safety of the second rank, Crux speaks words of arcane power and targets the skeletal owlbear with a ray of energy that will hamper the power of the negative energy that animates it.

Disrupt Undead: RTouch
to hit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 damage 1d6 ⇒ 6

Ossuary - Round 1 - continued

Firing from the rear, Crux lets loose with a ray of positive energy meant to disrupt any undead creature it strikes. His aim is true and the ray blasts the owlbear skeleton as it approaches the front rank.

White Skeleton heartily chops at Kalvin with is rusty and notched scimitar. The big blow glances off the armor of Kalvin, just missing his vital organs, and leaving only a small scratch.

Black Skeleton advances also swinging his scimitar in long curving arcs around his head before striking also at the paladin. Not expecting this attack, and slow to react, Kalvin cannot parry this blow, and it strikes him in an unprotected area around his shoulder for 6hp.

Blue Skeleton thrusts his curved blade at Graxton, trying to get inside his guard also. The strike is a limited success drawing a small well of blood, but mostly just angering the battle cleric.

Marnos throws his holy water vial at the owlbear skeleton, splashing the blessed liquid all over the undead beast which screams in silent agony.

Red Skeleton thrusts his curved blade at Kalvin, but the young paladin easily blocks the weapon with his shield.

The massive owlbear skeleton 5' steps forward and assaults Graxton with its ossified beak and both claws. One claw grabs the cleric of Gorum embracing him in a bony bear hug and slicing him for 5 dmg.

White scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Crit Confirm: 1d20 ⇒ 5 FAIL
Dmg Kalvin: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Black Scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Dmg Kalvin: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Blue Scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Crit Confirm: 1d20 ⇒ 4 FAIL
Dmg, Graxton: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Red scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Owlbear Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Owlbear Claw 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Owlbear Claw 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Owlbear Grab vs Graxton CMD 15: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Claw Dmg, Graxton: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Kalvin now up for the heroes. Assuming you guys healed fully at the Citadel before leaving on this misadventure, I show the paladin at 21/28 hp. I have Graxton at 14/21 hp and grappled by the owlbear.

Yeah, sorry meant to have his health up to date.

Kalvin grips his sword tightly in both hands and swings at the black skeleton, hoping to hew a path toward the owlbear and his friend.

Power Attack/Slashing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Unkind rolls

And that's my turn.

Ossuary - Round 1 - continued

Purple Skeleton readies an action as does Yellow Skeleton.

Nyramel is up for the hero types.

Nyramel curses in frustration. I can't do much from back here. Despite his words, he does pull out a vial with a greenish liquid. He throws it through the air at the purple skeleton.

Attack vs Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Acid Damage on Direct hit: 1d6 ⇒ 3
1 acid damage to all creatures within 5 feet.

Graxton channels, see above, also he has Gorum's symbol on his hands so he does not need to grasp at the symbol around his neck.

Ossuary - Round 1 - concluded

Nyramel throws his acid flask over the ranks of the fighting skeletons trying to drop it on Purple, but the skeleton's cover keeps him from being directly hit, instead the acid lands in an empty area, but splashes several of the skeletons burning them slightly, not seeming to affect them much.

Yellow Skeleton flails around the back, looking for an opening to get to the fleshy intruders.

Finally, Graxton, even from his grappled position, invokes the name of his great god of war and channels positive energy in a radius around him. The energy field is so great that all the humanoid skeletons crumble to dust where they stand. The grappling and grasping owlbear suffers from the energy, but does not fall.

End of Round 1

Splash miss: 1d8 ⇒ 3
Owlbear skely DC 12 Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Ossuary - Round 2

26 Crux
16 Marnos
14 Owlbear Skeleton (grappled, 15 hp dmg)
13 Kalvin
12 Nyramel
4 Graxton (grappled)

With the small army of skeletons disrupted, only the owlbear is left. Crux and Marnos, who hit it last time, are up again.

Crux targets the monstrous skeleton again.
Disrupt Unded: RTouch, fire into melee
to hit 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 4 = 13 damage 1d6 ⇒ 1

Marnos, seeing his flask break ineffectually against the large undead, grimaces and pulls another out of his backpack.
"last one." he mutters and throws it at the undead owlbear again.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Damage if hits: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Ossuary - Round 2 - continued

After the channel from Graxton clears most of the skeletons from the battlefield, only the owlbear remains. Blasting him with a ray of positive energy is the wizard, Crux. The ray only partially wings the owlbear, causing minimal damage.

Marnos throws his last vial of blessed holy water at the undead behemoth, splashing it all over the creature. The water sizzles and burns, damaging the skeleton, but not finishing it.

Still grabbing the cleric of Gorum, the owlbear skeleton bites him forcefully.

Owlbear Skel, grapple bonus vs Graxton CMD 13: 1d20 + 5 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 14 = 32
Owlbear Bite: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The rest of the group is up. I show Graxton now at 4hp and still in the grappled condition.

Kelvin steps up and swings with all he has.

power attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

If that hits.

1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Nyramel, Graxton you guys still out there? Time to make a move if so. I will DM-PC them this evening, if no moves are made in between. Crux and Marnos, you guys can post actions for the next round as you like.

Crux continues to target the undead. He takes a step back to allow his allies more room to fight.

Disrupt Undead: RTouch, fire into melee
to hit 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 - 4 = 7 damage 1d6 ⇒ 6

Rummaging in his backpack once more, Marnos pulls out his wand of cure light wounds.
if he can, he will use it on the skeleton, otherwise he will wait until next turn

Hmmm, wonder what happened to Nyramel and Graxton?

Ossuary - Round 2 - concluded

With no bludgeoning weapons, and not wanting to expose the grappled Graxton to a bomb or other incendiary, Nyramel feints in and out with his rapier, trying to aid Kalvin's next attack on the owlbear skeleton.

Graxton, desperate to survive the hug of the owlbear, channels energy again, trying to heal himself and all others within 30' radius.

End of Round 2

Nyramel, Aid another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 success
GRaxton Channel: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Kalvin gains back 5 hp, everyone else was at full by my reckoning. Kalvin also gets +2 on his next attack against the owlbear.

Ossuary - Round 3

26 Crux
16 Marnos
14 Owlbear Skeleton (grappled, 20 hp dmg)
13 Kalvin (gets +2 attack roll)
12 Nyramel
4 Graxton (grappled)

Crux's ray of positive energy fails to hit the large target this time.

Dropping his pack and looking through the contents, Marnos finds his Wand of Cure Light Wounds. Smiling grimly, he advances toward the owlbear with the intention of damaging the creature with his wand.

Marnos, it's a move action to dig for the wand, and since you aren't adjacent to the owlbear, and there's no 5' step available to get close, it's a move action to get adjacent. You'll have to activate the wand next time around.

Roaring with displeasure, the owlbear continues to rip and squeeze Graxton, clawing the cleric of Gorum for 6 hp more.

Owlbear grapple, win grapple bonus: 1d20 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 5 = 28
Owlbear Claw dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Kalvin, with the +2 bonus, Nyramel, and Graxton are all up again. Graxton lost a HP in the exchange and now stands at 3 hp remaining.