Descending down the stairs, you all enter a circular chamber with three passageways leading from it.
In the center is a small stone pedestal.
The sound of dripping water can be heard coming from the eastern passageway, while the stench of rot emanates from the west.
Initiative:
Alaric:
Damvorak:
Ramli:
Sad Rock:
Ugnoth:
Zombies:
Kneeling and searching for tracks uncovers little additional insight beyond what appears to be humanoid sized creatures, perhaps skeletal, leaving the area and ascending the stairs, and perhaps something dragged down the stairs and to the west.
As Alaric bravely leads the group to the west, he soon realizes that the corridor opens up into a winding catacomb. The walls are skillfully carved with deep recesses where bodies might have once lain. All that remains now are cobwebs, dust, and the tattered remains of ancient clothing.
The stench of rotting flesh is overpowering here and soon the source becomes evident.
Stepping out from around the corners are several humanoid figures, each bearing large bulbous growths that seem to hum and pulse with each of their labored steps. They groan, and arms outstretched, advanced towards Alaric and Ramli (who had wisely taken a few steps to look down another passage and prevent the party's flanking).
Round 1
24 Alaric :
18 Sad Rock :
13 Zombies :
10 Ugnoth :
6 Ramli :
5 Damvorak :
Click to see what these lovely creatures look like
These are plague zombies. You vaguely recall the they carry disease, and something about those bulbous growths being bad...
You recall that when a plague zombie dies, it explodes in a burst of rotting, infected flesh. All creatures adjacent to the plague zombie are exposed to its plague (just as if they had been struck by its slam attack) and must make a Fortitude save or contract zombie rot.
Now Up: Alaric, Sad Rock
for
for
for
Round 1
24 Alaric : Drinks potion, 5ft to north
18 Sad Rock : Doubles back to H2 and swings for 10 damage
13 Zombie #1 : Slams Alaric for 6 damage
13 Zombie #2 : Misses Alaric
13 Zombie #3 : Slams Sad Rock for 7 damage
13 Zombie #4 : Hangs out and dreams about puppy dogs
10 Ugnoth :
6 Ramli :
5 Damvorak :
Round 2
24 Alaric :
18 Sad Rock :
Alaric quickly drinks a potion as a brilliant holy light illuminates his person. As he advances, the zombie groans and attempts to shield its eyes against the bright light, swinging a meaty arm against the knight that causes several of the pus-filled sacs to burst onto Alaric covering his face in a white goo.
Sad Rock, gripping his club with both hands, doubles back and pushes past Ramli and brings his weapon down into another creature lurking there. It smashed into the zombie's chest, who swings back at the oread while another massive bulbous sac explodes onto Sad.
A fourth zombie appears somewhere behind the one Alaric is facing, and looks upward with a wistful look in its eyes.
Now Up: Everyone!
|
Round 1, Initiative 5, Location: G4
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = None
Hand of the Acolyte = 3/6
Resistant Touch = 6/6
Channel Energy = 2/3
Ferocity (Act 1 round at below 0hp)(1/1)
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First Level DC 14: Identify, Command, Remove Fear
Unable to get to an opponent, Damvorak delays waiting for an opportunity to open up. He twirls his staff in the air and waits.
As Alaric brings his flail down, the zombie literally explodes, covering the knight head to toe in greenish-white fluid.
for
for
for
for
for
Round 1 Con't
10 Ugnoth : Attempts to tumble past Z2, fails, misses
6 Ramli : Misses due to Sad Rock
5 Damvorak : Delays
Round 2
24 Alaric : Crushes Z1
18 Sad Rock : Slams Z3 for 10 damage, drops it, moves to Z4
13 Zombie #2 : Misses Ugnoth
13 Zombie #4 : Slams Alaric for 10 damage (Alaric down to 3hp?)
10 Ugnoth :
6 Ramli :
5 Damvorak :
Round 3
24 Alaric :
18 Sad Rock :
The heroes swing their weapons at the zombies. Sad's is crushed into a goo of its own and Alaric's goo-flinging flail finds purchase in neck of his opposing foe. Sadly, another zombie steps forward to take his place and slams directly into the knight .
The other zombies, not wanting to make the Pathfinder's misses look bad, simply shamble forward and moan about Nirmathi tax rates, or something vaguely similar like that. The one in front of Sad Rock seems to be making a "Mo-" shape with his withered, rotting lips.
Now Up: Everyone!
|
|
Round 2, Initiative 5, Location: G4->G3
Weapon Equipped = Staff, Wand
Conditions = None
Hand of the Acolyte = 3/6
Resistant Touch = 6/6
Channel Energy = 2/3
Ferocity (Act 1 round at below 0hp)(1/1)
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First Level DC 14: Identify, Command, Remove Fear
Damvorak watches Avery get hit, hard, and wonders when he’ll crumble. Hopefully not for a while. He worries a little about the others, but still sees no way to engage the enemy, so he waits. He thinks about his spells, and plans a cure light - or a stabilize - should anyone fall.
He takes out the curing wand he found, and touches himself with it trying to top off his own health.
He then steps into the room (to G3, 5' step).
The zombie struck by Ugnoth, zapped earlier by Ramli, explodes in a mess of rotten-smelling goo onto the barbarian. Alaric's softened by Sad earlier, explodes in near harmony as the knight swings his flail up and into it.
Although the zombies carry nothing of value, a recess in the southeast corner of the room contains a pack that apparently belonged to one of them recently.
Sitting atop a large bloodstain, this pack holds some rotten rations, a map , a potion , a pouch with 13 gp, and a small handbill
Although faded, the handbill clearly reads as a noticeof employment, telling all those interested to meet at "The Ranger’s Lament."
The handbill does not mention a time, date, or who the employer might be.
|
|
"Sad Rock, share that water around. Ugnoth, it might not be as bad as that goat's milk, but wow are you guys ripe."
Damvorak helps heal the group with his spare curing wand.
"I don't know how a handful of kids was supposed to survive this. This town is either one of the tougher places I've ever been, or they're really vicious to their children."
After lining up and opening the southern door, you all enter a room containing a shallow reflecting pool that divides this long chamber, running from one end to the other.
The water looks cloudy and stagnant. What must have once been marvelous murals covering both walls are now scorched and ruined, the original subject lost in the destruction.
At the far end, a lowered portcullis separates this room from another apparent crypt.
"See? Sad not monster."
As Sad gazes down into his reflection, he sees himself looking back up, his eyes twinkling with innocence. Sad also recognizes Damnvrock and Rum-knee's reflections beside his own, smiling at him like the good Packminder friends they are.
Sad thinks to himself what a perfect image that he should remember forever.
But then, Sad's reflection shimmers briefly and smiles back at him, a big toothy grin. Sad leans closer and thinks to himself, but I don't have pointy teeth...
The pointy-teeth Sad nods as if sharing some deep inner thought with Sad Rock and his eyes grow deeper, darker and more sullen and he hoists his river-drake skull club up high as he turns and looks at Rumknee and Damnvrock, both standing with affectionate looks towards Sad.
The reflected Sad Monster then stands and brings his club down into the skull of Damnvrock, crushing brain from it. He swings it around into Rumknee's back before the man can respond and howls in joy as he hears the cracking of spine and the song of death.
Sad Rock watches as reflections of Alaric and Ugnoth leap at him to tackle him and stop him. The Sad Monster casually grips both men by their necks and lifts them high before crushing them against each other like mere stones. Finally, in triumph, the reflected Sad Monster uses his stony hand and breaks through the chest of his two fallen warrior friends, tearing out their hearts and feasting upon them.
Alaric and Ugnoth, guarding the front of the party, spare no glance at the pool, advancing to the portcullis beyond and watching for evil.
|
|
Damvorak glances into the pool casually, without thought.
What he sees there though frightens him, and he brings his staff to bear on the still water, smashing it a few times to break up the image within.
He looks to the rest of the party, sweating - though not from exertion - and grows quiet again.
"Sorry. Thought I saw something."
He backs away from the pool and follows the rest quickly out of the room, almost pushing from his position in the rear...
|
|
Ramli shudders as he sees Sad turn into a monster and has to put him down. His voice echoes through the water as he call on dark magics, power flooding through him. The huge wizard wants to weep as he sees himself lose control of the spell, and it claims the half-orc who's been a faithful companion and friend.
"By the gods," his whispers, "it's monstrous!"
Initiative:
Alaric:
Damvorak:
Ramli:
Sad Rock:
Ugnoth:
Swarms:
As Alaric and Ugnoth gaze through the bars at the crypts beyond, the others brush off the fearful waters. While the pool radiates a necromantic aura, Ramli figures that at least the three who glanced in it wouldn't be affected by it again this day.
Alaric and Ugnoth both detect something of a fluttering sound, like thousands of tiny wings flapping from the room beyond. As they hold up their light source , they recognize the forms of thousands of bats advancing from the room beyond into the room with the pool.
Round 1
23 Alaric :
22 Ramli :
16 Ugnoth :
15 Sad Rock :
13 Damvorak :
7 Bat Swarms :
Now Up: Everyone!