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

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Good cop, bad cop? :) Anyway, assuming not typically evil...

"Forgive my... uh over enthusiastic friend. We did not mean to intrude into your place. We were tracing the source of infection that has caused great harm to the people, fauna and flora in this region, and the trail led us here."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"I don't like you," she pouts in Faust's direction. You eventually realize that she's not quite looking in the right direction when she addresses one of you and, upon a more considered look, her eyes are clouded as though with extensive cataracts.

Anilda turns her head toward Takumi. "You're more polite, at least. I am the maid of this manor," she says, taking another couple of snips at the air with her scissors. "I keep things tidy around here. Your eyes are pretty. Can I borrow them briefly?"

Shalendra studies the small woman on the bed. "You've done an excellent job of keeping it clean, but a mite had found it's way inside. We took care of it for you. I don't have any scissors I'm afraid just this very small knife."

Go ahead Faust be the bad cop. I for one am used to his snark by now.

Lydia thinks for a moment, then goes through her things, eventually producing a small pair of scissors.

"Your opinion is of no consequence to me, peasant," Faust retorts, but leaves it be from there, suddenly more curious how Takumi will respond to her grisly request. Only one thing to do with creatures like this.

His grip tightens on his sword as he adjusts his feet to accommodate a pounce.

Takumi is so taken aback by the strange request that the usually verbose Tian can only utter an awkward, "No..." before he takes a few steps back.

"Oh," Anilda responds with a petulant sigh. She brightens when Lydia offers her a small pair of shears from her grooming kit. "Yes! Those are perfect!"

She puts down her old, dull scissors and holds her hand out for Lydia's offering. At the same time, she asks, "Have you seen my baby? Is he safe?"

"Surely you are not so far out of touch with reality that you assume we, complete strangers, know who your baby is," Faust mocks, somehow managing to lose even more faith in a diplomatic resolution. Considering everything in here has been put to the sword, we stand a fair chance of being accused for murder within the next minute...

"What did your baby look like?" she gives Faust a long look as if to say this isn't going to end well. Our luck it's going to be the mite we killed in the bedroom.

Abyssia continues to stare in complete disbelief at the suddwn strange goings on.

Maria stays quiet through the whole banter, almost as though in her own world.

Baby Update: My wife and I welcomed our son into the world Monday evening. Due to a very stressful labor we have been delayed going home but everyone is doing great. I’ll keep an eye out for any rolls needed, but my RP will be limited until we make it home. Thanks!

"Oh! She's the cutest you've ever seen," Anilda says. "You would know her for sure. She's round and smooth and jiggly." The fey mimes the shape of a sphere with her hands. "I wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm. What do you know about the people who live here? Do you know any stories?"

Faust rolls his eyes at the description. "Takumi, this is a waste of time," he notes, hoping the elf will be able to interpret what he is really saying.

A strange look crosses Lydia's eyes (not that such is an isolated occurrence).

"Is this the kind of 'baby'," Lydia asks the nukkefeen, "that you sit on until it explodes and out comes a different-looking creature that moves around a bit more?"

After a moment's consideration, she adds, "And when that happens, how many legs might you expect it to have? Might you have left it in the barn out there?"

Fomalhaut's great, terrible eye slides in Faust's direction.

"You wouldn't happen to be trying to conceal anything, would you? Evidence of yesteryear's folly? Or perhaps the revelation of burdensome obligations? Surely, if yonder winsome maid makes you feel nothing, and never could, thou art likely deader than I...." The sound of low laughter, like the rustling of Autumn leaves, can be heard again.

"Me? With that thing?" Faust responds incredulously. "Like your host, I am closer to death than most. The objects of my passion are certainly more selective as a result." Like the howls languishing agony of a lost soul who has been pulled into the material plane suddenly being shunted into the Plane of Positive Energy for starters...

Anilda appears to ignore the first questions and simply answers the last one posed. "I found her in the barn; I didn't leave her there."

Takumi catches Faust's drift but chooses to pretend he did not hear. There's a chance that everything might still explode into violence, but he would rather see how far they can take this.

"I am sorry to say that we have not come across your baby. If we do, we will certainly let you know?"

"You were asking about the people who lived here? I take it then that you have not lived here for long? I am afraid that the stories that I know of them are rather... distasteful. They were reputed to have kidnapped and murdered many of the local children, likely here in this very estate." Takumi draws back warily, waiting to see her reaction.

"Oh, dear, that's awful," Anilda comments. "Tell me more!"

Diplomacy to tell a factual--to your undestanding--tale or Bluff to just make up the gory details.

Pausing briefly to recollect what the team have found out so far, Takumi takes a deep breadth and shares his recount. "It seems the owners of the Sarini Estate at that time were the Baron Marcius Sarini and Baroness Sadira Sarini, who acquired joint ownership of the property in 4593 AR. Both had their origins in the devil-worshipping kingdom of Cheliax, and it would be likely that they continued their practices here - hence the kidnapping of children to practice their diabolical acts on. Thankfully, the locals caught on eventually and they were hanged for their heinous deeds. However, the bodies of the slain children were never found, leaving it a mystery to this very day." He studies carefully the reaction of the fey, to see if she is delighted or disgusted by the story.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Uh, aid anyone?
sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Ooh. So that must be the people in the paintings," she says. "Do you know how they died?"

As far as Takumi can tell, she just seems pleased to have someone with whom to converse.

Abyssia begins to tap her tail impatiently but does her best to smile and aid Takumi with a few details.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"We think there might be a ghost. Would you know anything about that?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

"Ooh. So that must be the people in the paintings," she says. "Do you know how they died?"

Gaining confidence that she seemed not tied to the Sarinis, Takumi adds on, "Well, when the locals discovered that they were responsible for the children's disappearance, they were hanged for their crimes."

The fey nods sagely in response to Takumi's answer. She looks toward Shalendra and answers, "There's a voice that sometimes talks to me. He's very needy. He might be a ghost. I wonder if he's a ghost of one of those children that were murdered."

"He might be. Do you know where he stays?" she looks at Takumi to see if this lines up with the voice he hears.

"No. I've never seen the ghost," Anilda clarifies. "I hear him in random rooms, but I've never gone into the basement or in the room on the other side of the balcony. It's locked. This place is infested with mites, did you know that?" It does not seem to matter to her that you were the one to mention the mites first.

"Thank you. We'll go look for your baby and the ghost now.[b] She gives the others a look. [b]"Let's try the locked room first."

The locked room was the laboratory/taxadermy workshop that you busted into.

Abyssia asks one last question "I know you don't go into the basement, but where's the stairs down?"

"The kitchen, of course," Anilda says with a giddy chuckle. "Where do you keep your cellar? If you're going to be making a ruckus, make sure that you don't wake my baby. She's sleeping next door."

Faust raises an eyebrow. Next door? We've been everywhere but the cellar. This thing bores me. With another location to cleanse, he turns on his heel and heads for the stairs. While his companions conclude their conversation, he seats himself on the grand staircase and waits.

Growing frustrated with the fey woman's obtuse manner of conversation, you leave her to her 'mending' and return downstairs. The blue print obtained from the baron's laboratory allows you to head directly to the kitchen. You pass through a dusty and otherwise mundane breakfast nook and pantry.

Two large tables flank an oven built into the west wall of this kitchen. Jars of different sizes sit on the two tables in uneven rows. A narrow set of stairs leads down to a dark, musty basement.

If you want to search through the dirty jars, barrels, and other miscellaneous cast offs in the kitchen, tell me how many minutes you're willing to devote to searching.

Looking down the stairs, you can see that the cellar is flooded. The water will likely rise to your chest or neck.

Flooded cellar counts as a Deep Bog: A square that is part of a deep bog has roughly 4 feet of standing water. It costs Medium or larger creatures 4 squares of movement to move into a square with a deep bog, or characters can swim if they wish. Small or smaller creatures must swim to move through a deep bog. Tumbling is impossible in a deep bog.

The water in a deep bog provides cover for Medium or larger creatures. Smaller creatures gain improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves). Medium or larger creatures can crouch as a move action to gain this improved cover. Creatures with this improved cover take a –10 penalty on attacks against creatures that aren't underwater.

"Uggghhhh," Faust groans loudly as the cellar door is opened. This will take forever to drain and then dry for use. The joys of homeownership. "This does not bode well for us," he comments as he sends Dumont in first once the rest of his companions are ready.
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I'd spend no more than five minutes personally searching the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Takumi summons his arcane sight to see magical aura, only stopping long enough to sift through whatever might be revealed to be magical. Otherwise, it is rather too dusty for him to get his hands dirty.

Only for the flooded cellar to greet him. "Sigh..." He looks down on his robes.

GM, I'm assuming the summoned eagle would have disappeared by now. I'm sure it's been more than 3 min since we encountered the mite.

Abyssia volunteers to take point as she sticks her head in the water to look around.

The eagle had 5 rounds left when you reached the kitchen, so it does not last the search. Correct.

A thorough search of the kitchen reveals mostly refuse and trash, but there is one well sealed barrel of salt. 5 lbs of salt, 25 gp

Dumont enters the flooded cellar. The water ripples at the middle of his rib cage as he wades through the murk. Nothing untoward seems to happen to the skeleton.

The merfolk slithers down the stairs and lowers her head into the water, attempting to peer through the cloudy and gloomy water. Just as she decides that the waters are safe, a dark form springs into view and strikes at her face. She feels knives sink into her neck and heavy ropes wrap around her body.

From the kitchen above, those near the stairs can see a black, fleshy blanket wrap partially around Abyssia. Those further away only hear the splashing.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Abyssia (-6 hp; -1 STR & CON; grappled)
Maria
Faust
Takumi
Leech (grappling)
Shalendra
Lydia

There is only one square adjacent to Abyssia on the stairs and the square behind that on the kitchen level. Dumont is already in the cellar.

Abyssia gurgles as the slimy toothy creature latchces onto her.

As quickly as she can Abyssia retaliates her short pair of swords.

gladius: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 - 2 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

gladius2: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 2 = 7
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Hearing the sounds of a watery struggle, Faust hustles to and down the stairs. "Dumont, rip it to pieces!" he snarls.

Dumont dutifully moves over and begins to claw at the creature, but the murky water causes his swing to miss entirely.
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Dumont
Claw vs Foe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Nature is the MVP skill for this module! Double move for Faust.

Maria follows down, hears the commotion and jumps into action. Vaulting over the stair rail she splashes down next to the creature. Grabbing a tentacle, she attempts to pull it off Abyssia.

Move down the stairs and hopping over the railing into the water below. She would have flanked with Dumont on his attack, but I doubt 8 hits either. Standard to "Aid Another" for Abyssia's next attack roll.

Acrobatics to hop over the railing? If not allowed, then to avoid an AoO going the longer way: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Improved Unarmed + Flank to Aid Another AC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

K: Nature DC 13: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

K: Nature DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Remembering what they found in the kitchen, she yells out, "SALT IS LETHAL TO THIS KIND OF CRITTER! IT BURNS IT LIKE ACID!"

Remember that movement in the water is at 4x cost (or swim with the appropriate check and move at half-speed).

While the leech wrapped around Abyssia is not difficult to strike, its rubbery flesh proves difficult to pierce. Dumont's claws come away with only slime, and the merfolk's blades simply refuse to penetrate. Maria jumps into the water with a splash and begins trying to hinder the monstrous creature.

The leech heaves Abyssia fully into the water and drags her under--a perilous situation for most, perhaps not as much for the merfolk.

Dumont, Maria, and Faust (vs. partial cover) get AOOs.
Abyssia and the leech are now fully under the water. Takumi's first action can target the original positioning. Although if he has liberating command, I might need to retcon this push.

Combat! Round 1/2. Bold may act.

Abyssia (-12 hp; -2 STR & CON; grappled; aided attacks [+2])
Maria
Faust
----------
Takumi (1st round & then second round)
Leech (grappling)
Shalendra
Lydia

Maria takes the opportunity to try to slap the creature upside the head and maybe it will drop its prey.

AoO Unarmed Strike + Flank: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 for Bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 3 and maybe +2 weapon damage vs. demons, evil fey and plants/animals corrupted by evil

The decaying duo both try to dig their armaments into the terror as it drags their ally away.
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Dumont
Claw (Flank) vs Foe: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 251d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Faust
+1 Scimitar vs Foe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 161d6 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

The leech's instincts prove fatal to itself as its retreat leaves it open to a barrage of attacks. The creature releases Abyssia as it sinks to the bottom of the cellar, leaving her drained but alive.

There appear to be no exits from the cellar, but thanks to the blue prints, you know better.

End of Combat

Status

Abyssia (-12 hp; -2 STR & CON)

"Here let me help you Alyssia" Shalendra moves into the staganet water and uses her wand of cure light wounds several on the merfolk. "I'm afraid I have nothing to help with the other damage. I'm sorry."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Sorry, was away from my desk the whole day today, and when I came back, found a combat started and ended. Cool...

The action was fast and furious and before Takumi managed to get a good look at the threshing creature in the water, it was already dead. Seeing Abyssia drained, he pulls out a scroll from his pouch. "My humble apologies for not reacting fast enough to aid. Perhaps this can help?"

Scroll of lesser restoration with 5 uses. Could use 2 to get rid of the str and con damage. Who can use it though?

The strength damage is not a big deal, the con damage would be nice to heal although I'm not sure we have anybody to read it.

"Thanks Shalendra" Abyssia says as the Elf heals her.

I've got a wand of CLW and you're more than welcome to usue charges off of mine if you'd prefer.

"I'm afraid I can't read that scroll." Shalendra responds to Takumi.