DM Rah's Strange Aeons

Game Master Kobash

Roused by the Brother's wake up call, the Mariner bolts upright, grabbing the longsword like a club looking around wide-eyed, "What's going on?! Undead?! Rats?! -Cats?!"

"While you lie in your bed, crying and lamenting, just picture yourself right now being at the forge."

Cats slowly collects himself, trying to regain his cool after the attack and the sudden reemergence of memories he hoped were not true. Though he cannot recall the bad thing he did...he knows, deep inside, that it is true.

Cats shakes his head.

"Are you sure you didn't see what did this? It was a man. A man in rags. I think they were yellow...but none of you saw him? He knew things!" He looks from face to face, hoping for one look of recognition.

"OH OH i remember a dream i had a few days ago it said beware the yellow walker or something like that. You should proolly stay away from him"

The Twin looks about for any sign of trouble, but finds nothing out of the ordinary.

Brother Butterfly ponders Cats words, but if the phrase has significance or a "source" he can't fathom it.

When Cats begins talking about the subject of his night terrors, the "man in rags", Denman makes some urgent whispers to York, who finally allows the young man to tell his tale.

"Many believe that the Tatterman is just a local ghost story. Some say he was a patient that tried to escape in a storm and was dashed upon the rocks of the island. Others say he is a servant of the Briarstone Witch. His name has carried on and spread through the patients like an illness. Some claim to have seen or felt his presence. I saw him, and not just in nightmares, but for real." Denman wipes at sweat heading on his brow with a trembling hand.

"The night before the riots, I was up in my room when I heard something. Like someone dragging something outside my door. I rose from bed and cracked it open to look out and that's when I saw Him at the end of the hall, half-hidden in mists. He was clothed in torn and tattered yellow rags with one covering his eyes, like a bandage for the blind. His hands were like claws."

"It turned to look my way, and I quickly closed the door and locked it, then hid under my bed until morning."

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Does it look like Denman is lying or keeping anything from us? Omitting a portion of the story?

York, Do you have anything you want to add to stories you've heard about the Tatterman? Or maybe you know the story of the Briarstone Witch? If this THING was a servant - it's a good idea to know what the Witch stood for or had a purpose for.

"Yeah! That was him! That's the cat!" Cats says when Denman finally speaks up. Cats gets to his feet, gathering his stuff and readying to move to the Chapel.

"I'm no historian." York replies. "I doubt I could tell more then anyone else about the witch. She's a local legend from the early days of Thrushmoor. Some say she was responsible for the Thrushmoor Vanishing."

"It is said that none survived the Thrushmoor Vanishing." Loic, who had been listening from the back of the group, adds his storyteller voice to the tale. As those nearby turn toward him he hugs the viol the Watchmen gave to him close. "Around 700 years ago all the residents of the Thrushmoor disappeared. None can say what one day caused every living thing in town to simply vanish. In the centuries since, those who resettled the land have seen much and learned to be suspicious. An evil haunts the tales and memory of Thrushmoor, and the people know it as the Briarstone Witch."

"Though none can claim to have actually seen the Witch since the Vanishing, the reputation for evil persisted in these parts. About a century ago the church of Pharasma was called upon to perform an exorcism upon Briarstone Isle — the source of so many strange tales. Afterwards, the local lord vociferously declared the island cleansed of evil, and soon after that the construction of Briarstone Asylum was begun on the foundations of an old, half-built fort that once existed here."

"By the gods man! As if these people weren't scared enough already. Now we have to tell ghost stories! We have shapeshifters out there, we have shapeshifters in here, Glowing eyed rats, ratmen who command the rats and a damned crying Walleye. We have no room for witches... " His hands visibly shake from some sort of fragmented memory in his mind. He doesn't feel scared but yet something is making him shake.

"They build this place on some sort of burial ground or pet cemetery for rats?" Fearless leaps to his feet and realizes he is still a bit injured. he walks over to Lady Winter. "Think you might be able to spare a bit to stitch us up before we head out there again?"

Taking in all the stories and storing the information in his adroit mind. He smiles as he now feels he has more information about The Tatterman. Nothing useful - except maybe the creature is physical and can ultimately be killed by his bezerking piked seaman.

What he needed now was to get more information on another topic.
York, You might not be an expert on "ghost stories" , but you are an expert on Zandalus. It is mentioned that Zandalus was a gifted painter and his paintings were sold to finance his treatment and stay here. What were some of those paintings of? Topics? Creatures?
If you are not an expert, are any survivors a good source of information?

Looking to the rest of the {Strange} Watchmen,
We'd better get prepared and start another foray into the Asylum. I noticed the food getting low, we need to venture to the kitchens.
I need to do some prayers and drawing a picture,but I am ready when the others are.

When talk turns to venturing back into the asylum, Lady Winter makes sure everyone in your group is at full health.

As she tends to your wounds Brother Butterfly finds some real art supplies scavenged by the survivors - paint, brushes, and canvas. Though he has had little practice, his artistic skills have improved quite a bit since his first attempt to render a likeness of the creature that haunted his dreams.

I have created a slide in the maps link with Butterfly's art.

York offers what he can about Zandalus.

"I can't say much about Zandalus' early life, or what events brought him to Briarstone. I've been here fifteen years and he was a patient long before I arrived. I think he even predates Doctor Losandro, who has been at the asylum almost three decades. He suffered from horrible nightmares, but was otherwise a quiet man - a poet and artist. He never talked in all the time I have been here, though I hear he's got plenty to say now. He spent a lot of time painting. Swirling skies, desolate ruins, vast cities, and other strange and disturbing things. Things normal folk would never pay gold for, but then Ustalav isn't known for normal folk. Over the years he's had wealthy patrons willing to buy his art, and it's made enough to pay for special privileges at Briarstone. He always seemed peaceful enough himself, but he's changed now."

"From what we've heard Zandalus led an uprising. It wasn’t like any riot I’ve ever seen here before, though. It was more like a religious movement. Most of the northern halls are now held by robed patients who call themselves Apostles in Orpiment and are fanatically devoted to Zandalus."

The Mariner looks over Brother's shoulders at the sketches, nods at the pictures of Zandalus. "Yea, that guy, the guy that sees, hears and now talks.", he jabs a dirty blood crusted finger at the parchment a few times. "Let's go find him,...drag him outside and beat the taste out of him" He nudges Brother for agreement, crazy look in his lazy eye.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Cats, after getting attention from Lady Winter, is ready to press on again. He's regained his composure and is trying to forget the night even happened.

He listens to what York has to say.

"Maybe we should go meet Zandalus. He shouldn't have a beef with us, right? We should be cats-in-arms, I think."

Good paintings. :) Also, moved Cats on the map to where he thinks we should go next for when others are ready.

Fearless thanks Lady Winter. He links his hand crossbow into his palm as he presses on behind Cats, still leery watching the shapeshifters out of the corner of his eye while also watching for more rats.

"You think maybe we should have asked for more vials of acid in case so many rats regroup again?" Fearless lets out a worried smile.

The Twin decides that Cats has a point and stands, summoning the Snake from the ether as harrow cards swirl around his feet, forming into the reptilian eidolon. "My friend here can eat as many as we find. Just don't die in the mean time." the Twin advises to Fearless.

After a few quick strides, he reaches Cats' side. "I'm not sure anything in here has a beef with us, yet most have tried to kill us..." he says, unsure of Cats' statement. "Except that poor, innocent door."

Brother Butterfly gives a sideways quizacle glance at Cats when

"Maybe we should go meet Zandalus. He shouldn't have a beef with us, right? We should be cats-in-arms, I think."

Then The Twins gives his two cents.

I'm sorry Cats, but what part of "Zandalus Lead a Uprising" didn't you understand? I am telling you I saw him before and he's a guy you can't trust. I'm with Mariner and completely plan on grabbing him, taking him outside and beating him like a rug on a clothesline.
I hope you and Twins will be on the same page.

Cats and Fearless, don't you want to check out the library to see if there's anything useful? You guys can do that, While I try to see what's on the otherside of this door.

Cast luck on Cats and cast luck on Fearless for their search. He then goes and uses Doorsight on the room behind the double-doors.
Cats and Fearless, you get to roll twice and take the better result.

Cats and Fearless, don't you want to check out the library to see if there's anything useful? You guys can do that, While I try to see what's on the otherside of this door.

"Your mom cats the library," Cats says grumpily as Brother Butterfly dismisses his hopeful encounter with Zandalus.

Nonetheless, Cats does go to explore the library, looking for things the rats might have horded or might be useful. He readies his bow as he enters, expecting to see more ratlings again.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Perception

As Brother Butterfly prepares to see beyond the northern doors, the rest of the Watchmen are given time to look around.

Briarstone’s library boasts an impressive collection of texts covering advanced psychological theories and treatments, common medical practices, and matters of regional record. Although most bear a stamp with the Briarstone seal, some bear an obviously foreign stamp. Given time, almost any matter relating to medicine, psychology, and Briarstone or Versex history can be researched here.

Knowledge Local check available here.

Some of the books and the backs of the nearby shelves have been gnawed through. Looking into the low, darkened shelves reveals narrow tunnels (only passable by Tiny creatures) bored through the wood and stone beneath. Cats notices that one of these tunnels is particularly well used and breaks through the north wall to the right of the doors.

Meanwhile, Brother Butterfly's vision opens on the other side of the door...

I see a long hallway that continues about 40 feet before turning to the right. Three doors are to the left. One to the right.
Let's be ready for anything.

Fearless grabs ahold of one of the books and brings the stamp into the light to inspect it further. He runs his hand along the imprint.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"Hey!, Look at this stamp...." He is quickly cut off bby BB's warning and he quickly drops the book to the floor. As the book hits a small cloud of dust from the rubble rises into the air and he draws his crossbow placing his back against the wall.

His mind reacts to the warning as it reflexively shields itself.

Mage Armor

Fearless notices that some of the books in the library bear the university seal the Sincomakti School of Sciences. The Sincomakti School of Sciences was founded in Rozenport in the county of Versex, Ustalav, about 150 years ago. It has a library which is known to house some dangerous occult volumes.

"Hey, one of these tiny tunnels goes near them doors. Maybe Fearless can cat himself though them," Cat observes. Made for tiny=squeezable for small, right?

Cats thumbs through the books, looking to see if anything catches his eye.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Know (Local)

After he's finished looking, browsing, he'll join Brother Butterfly at the doors when they are opened. He'll have his bow readied.

Yes, the tunnel is squeezable for small.

Cats notes the tunnel and suggests sacrificing Fearless to the unknown.

Hilarious Sincomakti School of Sciences = Miskatonic word scramble

The Mariner looks around frowning at the close quarters and keeping alert. "We need battle axes for this sort of ship."

Fearless' curious nature takes root as g=it gets the better of him. He packs a couple of the more occult books away for later reading.

"Hey, one of these tiny tunnels goes near them doors. Maybe Fearless can cat himself though them,"

He glares up at Cats. "With the Rats?!" His head drops as his shoulders slump and he trudges to the break in the wall. Keeping his crossbow handy and pointed in front of him he makes sure that everything else is stowed or attached tightly to him as he begins to shimmy his way into the hole to see what is on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Scrambling after Fearless as the front of his body is already in the small hole. Brother Butterfly let loose a quick prayer in rapid speech to grant the suddenly "fearless" halfling some added protection. With no other easy place to apply the spell, he touches Fearless on the ass as he disappears into the bookshelved darkness.

mayyouhaveblessingandprotectioninyourendeavor.
cast Shield of faith. +2 deflection bonus. Cast at 3rd level. Duration 3 minutes.
Chance to reclaim spell 1d100 ⇒ 72 succeeds if under 20

Good catch on the word scramble Mariner! I did a google search. Very cool out of game info on Miskatonic University.

Fearless slams about in the tunnel as BB touches him. He scrapes his shoulder as he bumps his head above witha quick thrust. "SONOFA.....A RAT! A RAT IS CRAWLING ON ME!"

The Twin watches the group try to cram the halfling into the hole in the wall and he shakes his head. "What is wrong with you lot." he says as he moves to the double doors and opens them, hearing Brother already mention the hallway had only doors.

"Let's go. Stop messing around, Fearless." he says as the crazed man rants about rats.

"Good luck, Fearless," Cats says. "And don't you worry, we won't let any rats eat your toes. I'll be catting a good eye on them."

"Why don't we cat the door while we wait?" Cats nods at others to open the door while he keeps watch with his bow.

Squeezing through the tunnel Fearless pokes his head out from behind a cabinet of medical supplies and looks into the asylum's infirmary. The earthquake has left the room in shambles and created a sizable crack that split the asylum’s foundation's near the northern wall. Beds for sick or injured patients stand in a row along the western wall, and a messy desk sits against the east, next to a door. In the center of the room is a large bloodstained operating table. Secured to a ring bolted to the sturdy wood is a length of chain, a bloody manacle dangling from the table at its end.

A faint scratching sound can be heard in the room.

***

Meanwhile, The Twin opens the doors to the still and quiet hall.

Fearless grunts as he shimmy's the remainder of the way through the hole. His shirt snags on a jagged corner in the crack and gives a decent sized tear.

Finally squeezing his way through to the opening he uses the cabinet to help himself out of the hole so he doesn't fall flat on his face. Keeping his eyes and ears out for the scratching noise Fearless slowly moves to the western door and opens it, only to scream, "AAAAHHGGG!" As he wasn't expecting the Twin's ugly mug to be so close.

The Mariner shimmies in next to the Twin, polearm at the ready. When the side door suddenly opens, he rears back on the brain cleaner ready to bring down the bill of the blade. "AAAAHHGGG!" -oh it's you. Move over lemme in..."

30' move, Ready Action, bill: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 >>dam: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Cats moves up to join Fearless in the room of certain doom. His bow is still knocked as he looks around.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Perception

"Is there anything here? What the cat do you think happened here?" Cats asks Fearless.

He waits a minute, then, if nothing crazy happens, he pads over to the desk to examine it.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Perception

Fearless quickly moves to the side as the mariner rushes into the room. "Whoa! Calm down you damned pirate."

"Is there anything here? "

"Heard some faint scratching coming from somewhere in here."

What the cat do you think happened here?

"It's a room full of nightmares. How should I know. You guys just had me climb through a small hole into a room full of nightmares...."

Fearless pushes Mariner further in. "Go take that hook thing and find out what is scratching. Probably just a Wall-eyed demon rat that calls out more of it's kind. Something messed up so you won't be able to sleep tonight after you see it."

As the group begins to scout the room they are met by swarms of rats pouring out of fissures in the floor, from under beds, and even dropping from the ceiling. Its almost as if they just appeared out of nowhere! Before you can act they've surged forth into the doorway and out into the hall as well.

Meanwhile, from behind the operating table, two giant rats scurry forth as well!

Swarm Damage vs Fearless: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Swarm Damage vs Mariner: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Swarm Damage vs Butterfly: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Note: Those damaged by swarms need to make a DC 12 fortitude save vs distraction!

The swarms act on a surprise round. The Dire rats act on the first normal round.

INITIATIVE
Fearless
Cats
Brother Butterfly
Dire Rats
The Twin
Pinkie
The Mariner
Swarms

save distraction: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Here come the terrible rolls again. I rolled two crits when in dialogue mode.

BB moves away from the swarm of rats. They nip at him, andall he can think is "Get close to the rat slurping snake!"
move 30 feet

Oh man and I even mention picking up those flasks too. Hahaha

Fort save vs Distraction DC 12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Get 'em off! Get 'em off!" Fearless swats rats off himself as he runs from the room.

Round 1, Init 18

Cats fires wildly at the big orange dire rat and moves out of way of the swarm.

1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 5 to hit; (-cover)
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 damage;

"Gah! More rats! We could use some cats in here!"

Pinkie moves to the tunnel to see iif he can squeeze himself to the other side quietly

Fearless, Cats, and Brother Butterfly scatter, fleeing the swarms of rats. Cats keeps his cool long enough to fire an arrow, but the gods know what he was aiming for, because it doesn't fly anywhere near a rat.

The two dire rats split off, one heading for the Mariner, the second rounding the table and jumping onto a bed near Cats.

Dire rat vs Mariner Flat AC 14: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Dire rat vs Cats AC 16: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Fort save vs disease!
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The Mariner avoids injury by luck, but Cats is bitten on the arm.

Pinkie looks at the tunnel used by Fearless and knows he won't be able to squeeze through. Pinkie may be young, but he's still considered medium size - too big.

INITIATIVE
Fearless (14/16)
Cats (16/17)
Brother Butterfly (15/19)
Dire Rats
The Twin (17/17) Eidolon (11/11)
Pinkie (17/17)
The Mariner (23/27)
Swarms

Everyone - please roll a Fort save please!

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 Fort - rat

Cats wonders at the luck of the rat.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 Fort - generic

fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

NOT AGAIN!, the Mariner starts sweeping the floor with the bill, mostly from not knowing what else to do.

Bill: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
dam: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

-Posted with Wayfinder

Twin sees happen in slow motion as he seems to have pretty poor reflexes. The rats swarming reminds him of the fight yesterday which was terrible for him, but he doesn't quite wish to be the recipient of the multitude of rat bites.

"Please eat to your heart's content." Twin says to the Snake as the creature lunges with its jaw distended.

Bite @ Red Swarm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Twin slashes with his magical dagger, trying to kill a few as well as he retreats away, hoping to build some distance as the Snake follows.

Dagger: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage | Arcane Strike: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Setting up for an AoO for Snake since he has reach.

With a yell, Twin calls out to those in the far room. "Are you guys dead in there? We got rats out here too!" he yells in response to Cats. "Last a few more seconds and we can come help!"

---

Fort-Twin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Fort-Snake: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Unsure what these are for, but I bet Twin's fails! Hope it doesn't negate my turn!

I already acted, so this is just the fortitude save until next round.
fortitude save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

fort save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

The Mariner flails about with his polearm, but isn't able to hit any rats. The Twin has no better luck with his dagger, but his Serpent manages to snatch a few and crush them in its jaws.

One group of rats swarms around the door, biting at the Mariner. A second group splits off and chases Brother Butterfly and the Twin's Serpent into the library.

Swarm Damage on Mariner: 1d6 ⇒ 6 And Fort save vs DC 12 or suffer distraction.
Swarm Damage on Butterfly: 1d6 ⇒ 4 And Fort save vs DC 12 or suffer distraction.
Swarm Damage on Snake: 1d6 ⇒ 4 And Fort save vs DC 12 or suffer distraction.

Mariner, roll a second Fort save please.

INITIATIVE
Fearless (14/16)
Cats (16/17)
Brother Butterfly (11/19)
Dire Rats
The Twin (17/17) Snake (7/11)
Pinkie (17/17)
The Mariner (17/27)
Swarms (red -2)

Round 2, Init 18

Cats dances away from the rat gnawing on his catty bits...

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Acrobatics...and then fires at the orange rat.

"Haha! This cat has claws!"

1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20 to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage.

Can't edit map atm, but moving up 1 square and 3 to the right.

Don't forget your AoO's

"Why did it have to be more rats...." Fearless shudders as he has never seen more rats in his life.

Barely aiming his crossbow he takes a meager pot shot down the hall.

Hand Crossbow; melee penalty; PBS: 1d20 + 5 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 4 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

As the rat swarm rushes over the Snake, he lashes out with his mouth once more, trying to scoop up some of the red-furred rats.

Bite @ Red Swarm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Fortitude Save-Snake: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Snake is Nauseated in the next round.

AAO: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

regular attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

save distraciton: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

The mace is blunt damage which seems to do well against the rate swarms

Seeing that the swarm of rats are once again attracted to him, he swings his mace back and forth and back and forth. The first pass through the tangled mass of fangs and tails seems to catch a bulk of rats, but the heave of the mace stops as BB cocks back with his arm and bludgeons some books on the bookshelves instead of rats. He moves back a bit to try and get away from the swarm.

Watchmen! Fall back and get to open areas inside the library. If we spread out and fight them in here, we have the advantage. Desna can also heal those that are wounded if we are all in the same room.