GM Blake's Gallows of Madness Part 3 (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

"Perhaps indicative of some familial tension... a scandal, perhaps?" Faust muses. Undoubtedly a motivation for dark dealings. What better than an unwanted child to fuel their descent? "Any more information on this Luca?"

I don't blame the fish for her boredom, she looks equipped to fight, not to pour over weathered texts. If our other ventures for this town are any indication, she will certainly have the opportunity to do so. And what a time we shall have...

"Let me see," Lupia says to Faust before disappearing into the stacks. She is gone for a long moment, finally returning with a single document. She lays the old death certificate on the table. "I am afraid this is all that I could find."

The death certificate states the following: “Adolescent ward of half-Mwangi descent. Died of an accidental poisoning at the Sarini Estate in 4599 AR.”

Maria's eyes narrow, "accidental poisoning? That seems incredibly suspicious."

She packs up her notes and stands up, stretching. "We might have run this well of information dry." She thanks the archivist and prepares to leave.

Shalendra stands and stretches having sat for a long time pouring over records, "I think so." she responds to Maria's statement. " It's an interesting batch of information we've found. Until we see what we are up against, we don't have any context on how it might help us. Are we ready to head out to the ruins?"

Faust smiles broadly. "How delicious, look here Shalendra," he casually commands, pointing to a tiny scratch of ink before the word 'accidental.' "That is what hesitation looks like in the written word. The writer clearly was uncertain how to describe the death, lending credence to Maria's suspicions."

"It appears we have concluded our business here, let us not dally any longer. We have quite the trip before us," he says, still smiling. My kin has some explaining to do as well.
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I can't fail the DC 10 Linguistics.

You still have the rumormongering about town, if you desire. Standard rules for gathering intelligence.

Takumi can't fail the linguistics either.

"With such sordid and suspicious history, tt is thus of little wonder then that the estate has been filled with nefarious rumours of evil." He gives Lupia a deep bow. "We thank you for your most generous assistance in this."

Takumi doesn't have good diplomacy. For persuading people, it's fine 'cos of his student of philosophy trait, but not for gathering information. He'll focus on aiding.

diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Takumi keeps to one side as the party scour the streets for information, but his stiff and formal mannerism seems to have put the villagers off.

If we can use knowledge(local)
knowledge(local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Diplomacy only for this, and you'll need to split up if you want a chance to get them all. However, you're more than welcome to stick together and Aid.

Maria is obviously impressed with the skill of her allies at discerning falsehoods, maybe I can pick up a few tricks from them, they certainly seem to be much more focused than my prior pathfinder compatriots.

She wanders outside into the bright sun and reflexively, ”ACHOO!”

Blinking back the associated tears, she decides to go purchase a handkerchief and maybe ask a question or two.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Abyssia volunteers to split up "I'm sure people will find me interesting enough to talk to."

diplomacy gather info: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Ha! You clearly haven't been listening. These dirty peasants are just as likely to string someone like you up as they are to give their opinion on the weather. I will accompany you," he declares. Two oddities are likely to move our status from lonely target to just mildly unsettling.
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Diplomacy (Aid Another) vs Abyssia, DC 10: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Looks like Abyssia is our face! ;)

Maria: Does Maria have any Gallows of Madness chronicles? 1 or 2?

Much to Faust's amazement, Abyssia manages to find quite a few villagers willing to speak with her. She avoids the area around the Witches' End tavern either by accident or design, and it seems to lead to more open minded yokels.

"Some people say that they've seen little blue people near the estate."

"They say there's a funny smell coming from the estate, and it's the smell of rotting corpses!"

"Those evil Sarini's were hanged--they were hanged high! Ever think where the 'gallow' in Saringallow comes from?"

nope!

Shalendra heads out to speak to the locals. She tries to speak with several near the Witches' End tavern. She's careful not to mention she is a witch.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Shalendra asks around town about the Sarini estate.

"The Sarini Estate is haunted! Hungry ghouls and ghosts lurk in the shadows."

"“The Sarinis worshiped demons and devils, and they held unspeakable revels at their estate back in the day!”

Abyssia looks to Faust "Thank you for the company, hopefully we learn something useful and don't get run out of town."

You have collected as much information for this phase as you can. Use that to prepare, if desired, and then let me know when you're ready to head for the estate. It is currently 1 PM. For those of you who played Part 1, you know about Demon Bile, for those who played Part 2, you know about Demon Bile and the kidnapped cousin of the ranger you rescued.

"I wouldn't call what we learned useful, but I do think we have gathered all that we can from this wretched place. I am ready to depart at your earliest convenience," Faust declares. The sooner the better, just because they haven't run us out of town yet doesn't mean they won't in the future.
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As far as combat, I have a cold iron dagger, a silver morningstar, and a +1 scimitar. Since the scimitar is magic, I can use one of my abilities to give it any +1 enhancement so I can't imagine what other preparations I can take at this point. Unless someone has a suggestion, I have no more preparations to make.

If a discussion among the group is made about what they may face, Maria will purchase a single flask of holy water (25g).

Once the provisioning is complete, you head toward the Sarini Estate, ten miles north of Saringallow proper. During your discussions with the townsfolk, you know that the route is part of a series of trails colloquially referred to as the Conerica Paths. However, the specific trail that you are on is known as Noble's Folly.

After three hours of foot-and-fin travel, you come across a commotion. A pair of small, blue creatures with greasy, purple growths are attacking a local youth. Some sixty feet ahead on the road, a villager is lying curled on the ground, his hands shielding his face from two ugly, blue-skinned creatures with oversized, wrinkly heads. A pair of centipedes as big as large men hiss menacingly at the desperate, shaking villager, its mandibles oozing with venom. The monsters are covered in a greasy, purplish goo that seems to be growing from their very skin.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act. Map is open at the top of the campaign.

You may 'Handle NPC' with a standard action (Diplomacy DC 10) to issue commands to the young man being attacked. After the first successful Diplomacy check, you no longer need to roll to issue commands, but it still takes a standard action as he is frightened and confused and requires a lot of guidance.

Takumi
Abyssia
Mites (red, blue)
Lydia
Faust
Young Man
Maria
Shalendra
Centipedes (red, blue)

I buy 2 flasks of alchemist's fire before we leave town.

Flashback to some time within the first hour of travel:

Once well enough outside city limits, Lydia turns to the others (particularly Faust) and states. "Alright, one final introduction is in order:"

The muting of ambient hues that seems to follow Lydia everywhere she goes now intensifies and spreads, and even the sky seems to darken as she begins an occult incantation:

"Though I seek the manor vaunted,
Well I know all things are haunted,
Watchful elder, I let out
Fomalhaut,
FOMALHAUT,
FOMALHAUT!!!"

The color and light return to the room, but now, Lydia's shadow is gone from behind her...and standing next to her, is a twisted, utterly-black wraith whose features continuously shift and writhe, the only constant a single, terrible eye...and a dashing, expensive-looking hat.

The entity drifts straight up to Faust and grips his hand in a surprisingly firm handshake that feels like wet ice.

"Nice to meet you in the...nice to meet you in pe-...hmm...nice to meet you at laaa-no...well. Nice to meet you," Says the entity in a hollow, yet rich voice, like the crunching of damp Autumn leaves. He(?) shifts - more like twists - in place to include the others in his gaze as well as Faust. "You might say that I'm Lydia's surrogate sense of fun and adventure! Now if there aren't any questions, let's go see about that 'haunted mansion' - if that can really be said to be what it is. It is difficult to imagine a town like this could sustain more than a '2-and-a-half-stars' establishment, at most...."

/flashback

Takumi would have been activating wand of mage armor on himself so that's 3 charges?

knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 I don't there is that much to know about giant centipedes, so whatever you have to give.

"Those small humanoids are mites, and serving them are giant centipedes," Takumi intones distractedly, his attention solely on the creatures.

While he rushes forward, he whips out a piece of a squarish cream-colored paper from his pouch and folds it rapidly into the shape of an eagle. Once down, he flings it into the air. Along the way, the origami eagle grows and morphs into the form of a silvery real-life one. It dives down at the (blue) centipede.

bite vs blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
crit?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Takumi glances at Faust with some trepidation.

Summoned Eagle: AC:14 T:13 FF:12 | HP: 7/7 | Resist Acid, Cold, and Electricity 5

Takumi would have been activating wand of mage armor on himself so that's 3 charges?

It would help me. Shall I assume I get one?

[Flashback]
Faust is visibly relieved when the shadow reveals itself, although he cringes a little when it touches him. Why must everything presume it may touch me? "A pleasure, yes. You are admittedly less than I feared, which bodes well for you two. I'll trust that you can carry your own on this journey," he says before continuing on his way.
[/flashback]

A predatory smile crosses Faust's lips and an animalistic strain grips his eyes as he draws his sword and heads for the fray. "The harbinger of your doom is at hand worms, see already how it rends your flesh! Come my avian friend, we shall spill the blood of lesser beasts once more!" he cries, bordering on hysteria.
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Double move (drawing sword on move), 20ft move speed hurts the soul </3

Flashback
Maria is fascinated by the summoning. Her eyes focus intently on Fomalhaut, "hello Mr... er... Mrs? 'sense of adventure'. Is there something we should call you other than that? Also... what are you? Where did you come from? Are you the same thing I heard chatting with Lydia earlier?"

She realizes her questions are a bit intense, "oh no, I'm sorry about all those questions, I'm just intensely curious as to these matters. I don't think I've ever met someone like you. I'm Maria, good to make your aquaintance." She offers her hand to the shadow creature, I wonder what it will feel like?
End Flashback

_________________________________________________________________

K: Nature DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

K: Nature DC 5: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Do they happen to be Evil Corrupted Centipedes?

Maria shouts out, "oh no! Those poor centipedes aren't supposed to attack like that! And what are those... things with them! Mites you say? Are you sure? I've never seen one in person. Well let's stop this fight then and figure out what is going on."

Abyssai shouts at the young man, her booming yell almost echoing through the woods "Protect your head and watch yer fee, we're comin!"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Would like his to total defense for now.

Abyssia also moves forward as fast as her tail will carry her.

Maria: Fiendish

The silver eagle tears at the fiendish centipede's head with its razor sharp beak, staggering the vermin.

Whether due to Abyssia's commands or not, the boy does his best to fend off the little blue fey's attacks. Unfortunately, his best efforts are not enough and the mites bloody him with their tiny daggers.

Mites (red, blue)
Lydia
Faust
Young Man (-2 hp; total defense)
Maria
Shalendra
Centipedes (red, blue -5 hp)

Maria darts forward, recognizing the familiar taint upon the centipedes and knowing just where to strike them. She looses an arrow and yells, hoping to distract them from the young man, "HEY! YOU STUPID PURPLE THINGS!!!"

Shalendra moves closer to the action. "More demon bile. Don't forget about the Cold Iron."

Double Move

Flashback
Fomalhaut gives Maria the same 2-appendaged handshake he gave Faust: Surprisingly firm, and feels like wet ice.

"Did my threshold yonder not already speak - perhaps even melodramatically shout - my name 3 times in succession? If not, 'Mr. Sense-Of-Adventure' has a definite ring to it."

"As for what I am, you might say that I'm what you get when a powerful soul spends too long trapped in the howling eddies of the void at the nadir of the multiverse - most would cease to be, but *I* am a survivor - nay, moreso, a BON VIVANTE!"
End Flashback

_________________________________________________________________

"Fight for your life, dear boy!" Fomalhaut calls out. "You are too young, and insufficiently beautiful, to die just yet!"

Handle NPC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

While she's never been very good at it, Lydia's always had a curious instinct for frightening the weak-willed. It's certainly helped her a time or two. She tries it now against the slightly-nearer mite.

Doom racial power, DC 10, vs cyan mite.

The wounded centipede defends itself and manages to scratch the eagle with its venomous mandibles. The effort, however, proves too much for the wounded vermin, and it collapses to the ground.

Eagle: -1 hp, Fort DC 13 vs. 3 points of Dexterity damage.

The other centipede takes note of the noisy, fleshy prey and charges towards her. She feels the chitinous carapace slide across her leg as she just narrow dodges its bite.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Takumi
Abyssia
Mites (red, blue [doom])
Lydia
Faust
Young Man (total defense)
Maria
Shalendra
Centipedes (red [-2 AC], blue -6 hp [dead/dying])

Abyssia runs forward as fast as she can.

eagle fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
The eagle's celestial fortitude burns away the poison with ease. It circles around, coming from behind the two cyans over the head of the fallen boy, diving towards the cyan-garbed one.

bite vs cyan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Meanwhile, Takumi continues pushing forward (although possibly giving Faust a wide berth). Along the way, he pulls out his wand and sends of bolt of arcane energy to smash into the same mite.

wand of MM vs cyan: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Summoned Eagle: AC:14 T:13 FF:12 | HP: 6/7 | Resist Acid, Cold, and Electricity 5

The celestial eagle dives at the mite, but it rolls away just in time to escape the talons. Then Takumi obliterates it with a bolt of arcane force.

The remaining mite stabs at the frightened farm boy, carving another gash on the youth's leg. The boy continues to cover his vulnerable spots as best he can.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Takumi
Abyssia
Mites (red, blue -5 [dying])
Lydia
Faust
Young Man (-4 hp; total defense)
Maria
Shalendra
Centipedes (red [-2 AC], blue -6 hp [dead/dying])

The predator/prey having conveniently made its way to her, Lydia is ready with her impressive scythe, swinging with unnatural might!

masterwork scythe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Maria’s actions are contingent upon the fate of the centipede. She is waiting for he Lydia’s and Fomalhaut’s actions to resolve.

Eager to join the festivities, Faust continues to drive towards the the blue wretch. "Bask in the futility of your actions, your time has come!" he sneers at the remaining mite.
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Nice job guys! Double move, hopefully I'll get a swing in haha

Failing to notice the threat that Lydia poses in its hunger for fresh prey, the librarian cuts it through.

Something in Fomalhaut's voice finally carries through to the boy, and it carefully moves away from the fey stabbing him in the legs.

Fomalhaut no longer needs to make Diplomacy checks to direct the boy. He just needs to issue the command as a Standard Action.

Combat! Round 2/3. Bold may act.

Takumi
Abyssia
Mites (red, blue -5 [dying])
Lydia
Faust
Young Man (-4 hp)
Maria
Shalendra

Abyssia charges the remaining Mite, having finally made it up to combat.

cold Iron Gladius: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Abyssia lunges down the path and slams her fist into the remaining mite. The cold iron burns its flesh where it strikes, and the small, blue fey falls to the ground. Purple ooze slowly drains out of its ears and the side of its mouth.

Combat Over

The farm boy stares agape at a real, live mermaid for several long moments. Finally, he comes somewhat back to his senses and thanks you for saving him. "Oh, thank you! Thank you so much! I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come along. I was out here looking for a lost calf when those goblins attacked me."

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"This one is pleased that you are not seriously injured," Takumi says as he helps the young boy onto his feet. "Those creatures are not goblins, which are usual green in colour. These are mites, and are not related."

The bloodthirsty energy coursing through Faust fades and he sheathes his sword, approaching the boy. "Allow me to illuminate your apparent inability to predict an obvious future: you would have perished and your body would have been their food as well as their play thing," he explains as he moves uncomfortably close to him. His eyes narrow as he moves his face closer to his. "Do not presume to lie to me, peasant, why were you in these woods?" he demands.
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Sense Motive, DC 10: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Intimidate, DC 10: 1d20 ⇒ 16

"Ah!" the boy shrieks as Faust leans in. "I'm sorry! I'm not supposed to go there! I didn't want to get in trouble with my pa! But my friends called me a coward."

He sniffs. "I was going to prove them wrong by taking something from the big ruined mansion, but those things attacked me at the gate and chased me here."

Faust can tell that he's too intimidated to lie, now.

Faust doesn't move away, but he does pull his face back. These must be the blue men Abyssia was informed about... and means Demon Bile may be coming from that area too. "Don't die a fool," he growls back.

"Before you are dismissed, tell us what you know of the grounds of the mansion," he demands.

Abyssia stands back in shock at Faust's rough treatment of the boy I suppose this'll let us know why he was here at least.

"Um, uh, uh," the boy stammers. "Um, there's a wall around the grounds, gate's busted open, and the yards overgrown. Uh, that's all I remember."