GM Fez's Hell' Rebels (Inactive)

Game Master Nathan Hartshorn

Veccio suspects the door, hanging partially open now, used to be hidden in a much better: Fortunately time and decay made it apparent and easy to locate, so he opens it without further trouble and finds what amounts to a sort of workroom that houses numerous old slaughterhouse tools, veterinary equipment, and woodworking tools, all of which are covered with a thick layer of dust through which strange tracks and patterns have been traced. Heavy mallets, crumbling ropes, and tools for restraining animals hang from pegs in the walls or rest atop leaning tables. To the southwest, a trap door sits ajar, propped open by a block of wood.

As the young cavalier enters the workshop he notices two things. The temperature in the room suddenly drops noticeably and the walls... start to bleed!

"Either this things knows how to trick people away, or we have a real haunt before us. If its the former, it has just denied my kind offer and killing it should solve the problem."

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Let's see if a priest is actually of any use here ;)

Aerodus considers an haunt a very real possibility. All the things he's seen are consistent with what a polthergheist could do.

"A haunt? You mean like ghosts?" Veccio asks, the hairs on his arms standing up in the sudden cold. Though he dreads what he may find, he starts looking through the room, poking through the tables and old tack before finally inspecting the trap door.

Perception if needed: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

"You're all mad? You need to get out of this room, now!" cautions Abigail as she moves well away from the door.

"Eet..eet eez not a ghost. Eet eez just grimples. We need to find zem and clear zem out, or whatever zey are doing, eet weel not stop." Meliandri pushes into the room with Veccio, helping him search it as thoroughly as possible, but her voice doesn't sound totally confident she's right and she finds herself pressing close to her friend.

Perception (aid?): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"I don't think so. This doesn't look like vomit..." Abigail replies, pointing at the blood on the walls.

"I ... suppose we could just try to ignore it should it really be ghost activity. Unless it does anything truly updessting or dangerous, it is just words on a wall." Aerodus says, not quite as confident as before.

He then tries to help Veccio as well, but he doesn't do a very good job - his eyes often veer around the room in the search for more strange signs.
Perception, aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Won't ignoring it just make it angry?" Izzy asks, eyes frantically darting around the room to try to see anything abnormal. Varro stayed at her side, hairs standing on end. He whined softly as he sought comfort from Izzy.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

aw yiss. I see the world!

"Zere eez no eet!" Meliandri finally notices the trapdoor. "Look, we need to be getting zee grimples first. Zey are a problem; whatever eez making zis bloody writing 'as not been able to 'urt us more zan zat, so we can be treating with eet later. I am going; are you coming with?" Full of false bravado, she strides over to zee trapdoor, pulls it open (knees shaking only slightly noticeably), and drops through it, rapier in hand.

Hope someone else follows soon...

"Oh dear..." Isabella trails softly as she relaxes her grip on the bow and looks down the trapdoor that Meliandri just went down.

Can I tell how far down it goes? My concern is the possibility of getting Varro down and later back up. I'd hate to have to leave him behind.

As Mel climbs down the ladder she immediately notices how the eye-watering stench of urine and feces fills the large room she landed into. Nests made of chewed crates and barrels line the walls, while rusty knives and hooks cover the tabletops. And what's worse, in the weak light filtering down from the hatch the young bard notices she's NOT alone down here! Gaunt rat like shapes circle around her in and out of the shadows... No less than three huge and apparently famished rats moving closer and closer... and probably regarding the girl as meal!!!

Izzy, the ladder is 9 ft long, also, new map is up!

Initiative check (Abigail): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Initiative check (Aerodus): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Initiative check (Isabella): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Initiative check (Meliandri): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Initiative check (Varro): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Initiative check (Veccio): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Initiative check (Dire Rats): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Initiative check (Rexus): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Round 01 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

Meliandri wrinkles her nose at the scent as she works her way down the ladder, trying not to gag on the smells of piss and shit. This isn't what I asked for when I said 'yes' to revolution...Desna preserve me!
As she reaches the bottom of the ladder, she toes the stone floor below her feet gingerly before releasing the bars and waiting for her eyes to adjust. She lets out a startled "Eep!" as the rats come into view and quickly backs up against the far wall, dropping into a defensive stance, her sword across her torso diagonally and in no position for a lunge. "'Elp! Please 'elp! Eet eez not grimples at all!"

Standard: Total Defense, Move: Get to an unflankable spot. AC is 19 until next round.

Since I don't know about the rats at the moment and to prevent metagaming.

"Veccio was it?" Isabella asks the rash young man, trying to remember his name. "Do you think you can bring Varro down for me? I'd hate to leave him up here and I don't think I can carry him down myself." She asks before taking a deep breath and moving down the ladder. Upon reaching the bottom and seeing the rats she quickly draws her bow and takes aim.

"On second thought, just get down here quick. There's a couple hungry looking rats. Varro, stay." Isabella says.

move to go down the ladder, standard to draw my weapon.

Hearing quite the commotion that emerges from the dark hole, Aerodus picks up anything that looks adequate, and casts light on it, preparing to throw it into the cellar, Fighting in the dark is for dwarves.

Hearing Mel's scream, Veccio scurries down the ladder as fast as his limbs can take him. Dropping to the floor, he immediately draws his rapier and stands in front of the half-elf, brandishing the weapon menacingly at the rats.

While Rexus looks at the others apparently not really convinced about the idea of jumping headfirst into some sort of rat den the hideous creatures circle around Veccio and strike!

Attack rat (red): 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10
Attack rat (blue): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Attack rat (green): 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

Luckily for Veccio the misshapen monstrosities fail to get past his skillful defense!

Round 01 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

Sorry for posting delays but these days work has been pretty hectic and all consuming, I hope I can do better now. Those who can, feel free to start with round 2 right after Abby posts

Abigail is startled by the scream. She fumbles with a bolt but she manages to get it in place and fires at the closest rat.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 91d8 ⇒ 4

Abigail misses while Rexus decides to make himself useful and slides down the ladder sending a couple of acid filled spheres flying towards the green striped rat! But notot before the creature bites him causing a bad looking wound on his leg!

AoO (Green Rat vs Rex): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 -> Damage roll: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Rex's Fort save (DC11): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

Ranged touch attack (Rex vs Green Rat): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5
Ranged touch attack (Rex vs Green Rat): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 - 4 = 3

Round 02 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

Acrobatics (dodge : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Meliandri spots an opportunity and rolls past the (green) rat to fall into a flanking position with Veccio. As she recovers from her leap, she extends into a somewhat sloppy lunge made a bit less embarrassing by Veccio's distracting presence.

Rapier: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14
Damage?: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Move: Move (acrobatics), Standard: Attack

Mel dances gracefully away from the rat's jaws and strikes it fair and square killing it on the spot!

Round 02 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

Aerodus throws the shining piece of junk into the hole and gets into position to shoot at the rats from above.

Izzy blinks a few times, trying to focus through the sudden bright light. She sees one of the rats and fires her bow before readying the next shot.

attack vs. red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Izzy's arrow dispatches another rat while Aerodus prepares to shoot from above...

Izzy barely managed to both hit and get a rat to 0 hp, and since she didn't mention which one I'll go with red. What does Varro do btw?

its red. I put my target in the attack line. Need me to dobit different toakebit easier?

its red. I put my target in the attack line. Need me to dobit different toakebit easier?

Nope, my fault I didn't notice

As two of the three rats die hit by the heroic actions of the would be freedom fighters Veccio stares down on the last vermin...

Round 02 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

Disappointed to see the two vermin cut down so quickly, Veccio turns his attention to the one that remains. His rapier flicks out before him, but succeeds only in trimming a couple of whiskers.

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Veccio misses the rat and the creature promptly retaliates!

Attack roll (rat vs Veccio): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 -> Damage roll: 1d4 ⇒ 2 DC11 Fort save or

Varro whines and circles the bolthole unable to climb down the ladder.

Round 02 - Bold may post

Varro
Meliandri
Rexus
Isabella
Aerodus
Veccio
--------------------------------
Dire rat (red)
Dire rat (blue)
Dire rat (green)
--------------------------------
Abigail

After Abigail posts please proceed with round 3

"Damn this filth!" curse Abigail as she reloads and fires her cross bow as quickly as she can.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 61d8 ⇒ 4

But again, hurrying is no way to get a bolt in a rat in a dark cellar, and the bolt almost clings just beside Veccio's head.

Aerodus focuses his aim and shoots at the last remaining rat and then reloads his crossbow.
Attack: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 4 = 4 -> Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7
(I assume I actually have line of sight here)

Yep, Aerodus, you do have line of sight and "only" -4 to hit due to the rat being in melee (so no cover). The token you threw down there is providing enough light for everyone in the vicinity of the fight and the hatch allows other light down into the room

Acrobatics (dodge): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Meliandri once again sidesteps past the rat, leaping and hopping in a manner she'd certainly have laughed at if she saw someone do it on the streets. As she spins, she extends her blade toward the rat and lets out a stupid-sounding battle-cry. "Die, grimple-pet!"

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage?: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Crit?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Crit Damage?: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The blade catches the rat right between its hideous shoulders, skewering into it and poking an inch or so out the other side.

I think that concludes that?

Meliandri actually beheads the last rat and you are suddenly alone in the room. There's a door on the easter wall and not much else here, aside from some broken forniture.

What do you want to do?

Meliandri recovers from her lunge, looking around the room before kneeling to wipe her blade on a dead rat. "Well, I did tell you grimples were gross. Zey must 'ave been keeping zem as pets." She straightens up and looks at the ladder and the whining Varro. "'Ow are we going to be getting zat dog down 'ere?"

Priorities: Get Varro down here, then open the door.

"I was thinking of one of us carrying him down, but after all of this I don't think any of us have the strength to spare. Perhaps with some rope, i can fashion a harness for him and carefully lower him down. He may be part wolf, but he's anything but gracefull. Isn't that right you adorable klutz?" Izzy said, sounding more calm and playful at the end as she spoke to Varro who barked happily in return, wagging his tail.

Abigail tries not to roll her eyes.

But fails.

Then she gets down the ladder: "I don't mind waiting." she says as she has a look around the place.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Build a harness, but better do it fast. We have waisted enough time already, who knows how much of that luxury we actually have." Aerodus says while climbling down the ladder.

He then joins Abigail in searching through the refuse.

Once the dog has somehow been moved, he gestures to Veccio to open the door, crossbow ready for new victims.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Son of a b+@%!.

"Damned filthy things," Veccio mutters, kicking the corpse of the rat aside and briefly inspecting the deep fang-marks in his leg. With an irritated hiss, he straightens, watching Varro above. "A harness could work. Or you could try getting him to jump, and we'll catch him."

Abigail searches the room meticulously but it seems she can't find anything worth salvaging.
Suddenly you all hear the sound of a flute, a nice if disconcerting melody, coming from the next room...

"Well. This is slightly unexpected." Aerodus says, his crossbow aimed very intensly at the fluting room.

It took a bit for Abigail to finally wrap her head around the fact that the haunting of the room surrounding her was some kind of trick. The rats certainly drew her mind away from it!

But as the flute starts, she is reminded of the haunting upstairs. Instead of making for the door, she looks up and through the trap door to see if the room upstairs show signs of haunting still.

"Next time," Izzy said to Veccio before climbing back up the ladder for Varro. After a few minutes and some rope work, her companion was safely down into the basements with the others. No sooner had they untied Varro did she too notice the eerie music. Isabella's eyes darted towards the haunting medley and quickly draw and notch her bow. "I'm liking this less and less," She muttered to no one in particular.

Your rolls please Izzy. I can allow taking 10 on the handle animal check but not on the dex check

dex check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

oi, so how much fall damage is that?

All of it!

Isabella tries to lower Varro down on the floor below but the attempt proves clumsy and the rope slips from her hand almost immediately. The poor wolf falls and lands with a whine...

Fall from 15 feet so 2d6 lethal damage, roll a DC15 acrobatics check for Varro and he just takes one dice of damage (the second one)

Fall damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (3) = 7

I'm gonna go ahead and kinda retcon my last post with these new rolls

varro's acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

With a sharp cry, more of shock than anything, Varro lands a bit more roughly than intended into the basements. "Oh my gods," Isabella cries as she scurries back down the ladder to check on Varro. She looks the dog over frantically as he licks her face. "I'm so sorry Varro," she says before giving him a hug and began to untie him from the harness. No sooner had they untied Varro did she too notice the eerie music. Isabella's eyes darted towards the haunting medley and quickly draw and notch her bow. "I'm liking this less and less," She muttered to no one in particular. Varro stood by her side, hair stood up and teeth bared, liking the situation as much as his master.

One can almost hear Aerodus thoughts: "I am surrounded by idiots." - his facial expression tells it all.

Once everyone is down on the floor below Veccio points at the door and opens it entering the next room, rapier on the ready. Dirty salt and sawdust coat the floor of the gloomy hall. Bits of the wall masonry have been chewed or clawed away, revealing narrow, winding animal tunnels beyond. Steel rails are mounted in the ceiling, with a few lonely iron hooks dangling from them. A pile of stained pillows and motheaten blankets lies in a ten-foot-square depression in the floor to the northwest.

The light is low so you cannot be sure but you could swear you hear tiny feet moving all around the walls...