GM Chie's Gallows of Madness (Inactive)

Game Master Korolan

Well, we've checked where he works. Lets see if we can't scare up where he sleeps.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"Y'know, I remember that Ms. Pricknettle did seem quite fond of her apprentice. I bet she might tell us more if we could convince her that he's in trouble."

"Yeah, we should go talk to her again. Gellion and his yellow boots seem to have a central role, somehow. Maybe if we find him, we find the rest of them."

And she was actin' a mite suspicious.

Miri begins moving the party back to speak to Ms. Pricknettle, as we all seem to have decided?

Bash nods along with the others "Seems like we be needin' a fresh meetin' with the angry Gnome woman fer sure. If she don't cooperate we'll have to bring in the guards. Maybe she's in on whatever's goin on." He hefts his longhammer and starts trudging that way.

"To Ms. Pricknettle's, then!"

Sorry for the bit of Absentness. There has been a small series of issues with my Mother in Law, but they should be handled by now. On with the show!

So: For those of you that have not played before, let's do a little bit of a Recap:
1) There seems to be this Purple Goo around town, and disappearing apprentices.
2) Ms. Pricknettle seems to be very protective of her apprentice, but got really mad when you accused her of doing something.
3) The apprentices seemed to all get along together and go on adventures together.
4) Their normal hang out spots have had this purple goo.

In visiting Ms. Pricknettle, with the send off that you had before, she's going to want some pretty good proof that Gellion is is trouble. What kind of information / clues do you have that could help with that?

Glad things have improved to the point you can get back in the saddle!

My take on things: so far we've found a number of clues at the various scenes. Purple demonic goo. Most notably, a lost familiar and lost mace. The familiar was repeating "Yellow Feet! Yellow Feet!"

The apprentices were all friends. If they adventured together, they wouldn't have been easy to take down together. It would have required a team to. But we haven't seen any evidence of a team. Instead we've seen signs that the apprentices were taken by someone who knew them. There are a number of scenes which suggests that more than one apprentice was a victim. That makes it more likely that one or two people have been taking the apprentices one by one, to try to even the odds.

Given the "Find Yellow Feet" chants by the raven, and the fact that Gellion had yellow boots, it sounds like Gellion either is the person responsible or would know who is. So we've got a good idea of who to look for next, but we have no idea where he is. We need a location.

Usually we'd want to look at the living spaces of both victims and any suspects and see if any other locations are mentioned. Miri started asking to see where the apprentices lived, but didn't make any headway. I thought that was a sign that maybe that stuff wasn't in the module, but perhaps I gave up on that line of inquiry too quickly. She didn't exactly make friends with that master, and she's not terribly good at making friends to begin with. A better conversationalist might make more headway.

So to Miri, we need to go talk to Gellion's master, see if they know of any other places Gellion might have gone or might know about, and if they don't, try to see Gellion's home?

We might need to talk our way back in, though. Fizzlebottom, I know you've played this before, but you're also the party's face. Any help you could provide in diplomacizing Pricknettle, should the situation arise, would be welcome!

Well summarized!

Yup seems you've got it summed up. Yellow feet/boots, lost sap that was the kids from the Inn, the crow/raven familiar. And the goo. If all else fails we'll bring the town guard/mayor on her ass.

Well said Miri. Definitely our next move should be trying to find Gellion, or at least his boots. It's also possible that the raven was repeating words that he had heard someone else say, which really just leads us back to your theory that someone is trying to pick them off separately.

This sounds like a promising train of thought! Now, on with the how!

If you recall, she was very Protective of Gellion, and while she wasn't very talkative about that previously, could probably be turned around with some evidence. Whatcha got for me?

As you return the Ms Pricknettle's Potion shop, she is sweeping the front stoop outside. "Welcome to.. Oh. It's you all again. Come to accuse me of more?"

Miri says, "Hey, Ms. Pricknettle! Look, my friends here are really sorry about the way they talked to you earlier. They're just worried."

"We've actually found some more reasons to be worried about Gellion. We found some of the other apprentices' possessions at the places he and his friends would normally hangout--things they wouldn't normally leave lying around, like expensive maces and saps. And a trained bird was repeating something, like "Find Yellow Feet!" like it was trying to tell us to look for someone in yellow footwear. And Gellion just got new yellow boots, right?"

"We really, really need to find him. Do you know of any place that he might have or know about? An abandoned building or an old mine or something?"

"Speaking of places where he might be... where was Gellion staying? Did he have a room with you, or with his parents, or somewhere else?"

Majara's face turns from anger to worry, to genuine concern. "When he hadn't shown up for work, I really started to worry about him. If you think it would be helpful, I can give you his address to check in with his Parents. Maybe he is just sick? I would go check, but that would leave the store empty. If you see him, let him know that he can come back to work as soon as he is ready!"

Majara's directions lead to a simple two story Brick and Wood building, with plain gray shingles. Thick slatted shutters conceal the inside, while a fine oak door with a tarnished brass knockers stands off to the side.

Bash is getting ready to pull that writ and find some local guards when Majara finally comes around to their being there to help. "Well... good. We will." See? GNOMES. All over the place.

He looks to Miri to point them in the direction of the parent's place.

Miri thanks the helpful herbalist and moves onto Gellion's parents' home.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16 Add 1 to this if there's a trap?

Miri knocks on the front door. And then she notices something, and points it out with a whisper. "That looks like demon's bile! That can't be good!"

She grabs her bow with one hand and waits a minute to see if anyone answers the door--and for her friends to get ready?--and then she'll probably try the door to see if it's unlocked.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Hush doesn't notice the bile until Miri points it out, but once she does, he draws his cold iron sword and one of his trusty old ones. Can't be good at all.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
(Listening for any kind of sounds from inside the house.)

Before he even knows what's going on he's in front of a house "What the hell? How'd we get here so fast?"

Perception, DC15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Perception, DC20: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Bash quickly grabs up his cold iron warhammer as he too sees the purplish oozing. "Looks like we're late to a part-tay." He heads to the door but stops as Miri starts working on the lock.

"I'll lead the way Lady, don't get no ideas!"

"It's all yours, Bash!" whispers Miri.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

The bile ain't all. Dusty points to a small brownish stain on the door knocker, That's blood. And not fresh. Might be we're too late to save 'em, but lets see what we can find.

Dusty slots a cold iron bolt into Betsy.

Let's get a move on.

Miri grimaces at the news.

Map's up, align yourselves as convenient! We'll start the house... TOMORROW!~

Sorry for the delay in posting - been traveling a lot - things should be returning to normal now.

It seems like Fizzlebottom wasn't needed as party face, but just in case: Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Fizzlebottom is so busy yawning and wondering when he can get a coffee, that he completely overlooks the the bile and the blood until it is pointed out to him. Once he does see it, he shivers uncomfortably. "I've got a bad feeling about this. Maybe we should just go find an espresso place and tell the mayor that the kids are gone for good?" When his companions look unsympathetic to this suggestion, he sighs and pulls out his crossbow and makes sure that it is properly loaded.

As the door opens (Thanks Miri!) you hear a soft 'click' followed by a Squish and spray of red from the crack in the door. Bash and Hush are sprayer with this line of burning blood, scorching and covering both of them. Burning Blood DC18 Reflex for Half: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Scratches and dark stains cover nearly every surface in this spacious living room. To the east, paintings and other once fine objects give fuel to a fire roaring in the hearth. Bent, broken, and bloody cutlery juts at odd angles from the table in the center of the room. Books lie scattered in heaps next to broken shelves, and shards of shattered dishes spill forth from their cabinets. An open door to the west looks into the filthy kitchen, and stairs to the southwest lead up to the next floor. Tiny bloody footprints cover the stairs, heading in both directions.

Reflex DC18: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"WHAT THE CHRIST!" Bellows Bash as he walks face first into a spray of hot liquid in the face. He reaches up and touches his fingers to the oozy liquid "Is this f*#~in' blood? That ain't good!"

His first instinct is to check on the kitchen to make sure that fire isn't getting out of control. He draws out his longhammer and moves in slowly and cautiously. "Tiny feet everywhere in here!" Too small fer gobbies he thinks to himself as he takes a look. Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Noooo, so close...

Hush hears the soft click of the door, and the sound of rushing liquid. A heartbeat lasts an hour as he pushes himself out of the way-- a split-second too late. Boiling blood covers him, and he cries out in pain.

When the heat subsides, he discovers that despite the pain, his skin sustained only minor burns. I'll deal with that later, he thinks with gritted teeth. Let's move.

Dusty's unflappable response to the sudden spray of blood is helped by the fact that it didn't get all over him.

Looking around the living room, he squints at the hearth, It ain't that cold out. Seems like somethin's got a hankerin' for a little mayhem.

"Oh crap oh crap oh crap! I'm sorry I should have checked! I'm sorry!"

Miri points her bow into the room, and moves in after Bash. She looks around carefully.

Survival, trying to get a sense of the scene: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 (add 1 to this to track, if tracking is necessary)

"That... is a lot of blood. Wow."

Fizzlebottom draws his crossbow and enters the room. "This doesn't look good! I wonder what made those tiny footprints? And who set that boiling blood trap?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Kiddir senses some movement from under the table in the shadow. with barely enough time to react, the shape flings a bloody Cleaver at Fizzlebottom, cutting into his Ribs! Kiddir, you actually go before it in the Surprise round, so if you have something to do to react, it can apply first!
Cleaver (thrown): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Damage!: 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The little beast under the table is made of misshapen purple flesh, with bulging eyes and a bandolier of makeshift knives strapped across it's chest.

Initiative! Bold may Go!
Surprise Round!
Kiddir

Round 1!
Miri
Bash
Hush
Kiddir
Fizzlebottom -2
Dusty
Garlmak

"There it is, bastard thing's throwin' kitchen knives!" Bash clomps around to the other side of the table before swinging his long handled hammer in a low, clearing swing under the table.

"Eat HAMMER ya little bastard!" He hollers in a bloody war cry as he tries to lay waste to anything under the table, be it live, chair, or table leg.

Longhammer, Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 1 = 82d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 + 3 = 17

The little monster ducks Bash's longhammer swing, causing it to mainly take out table legs. The table promptly falls, making a sort of barrier between Bash and the little beastie.

Initiative! Bold may Go!
Surprise Round!
Kiddir

Round 1!
Miri
Bash
Hush
Kiddir
Fizzlebottom -2
Dusty
Garlmak

Miri nocks an arrow as she moves to get a clear shot. "I don't know who you are, but stop trying to kill Fizz, you twerp!"

Longbow, point-blank shot: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14
Longbow, regular arrow, piercing damage, point-blank: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Dusty leans around the doorframe, snaps off a quick shot, curses, and secures another quarrel.

[dice="Elizabeth" (PBS)]d20+7+1[/dice]
Cold Iron Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Eeeks! That thing... it stung me! No, no, it bit me! Or knifed me! Whatever it was, I hope it wasn't rusty. Or poisoned! Little rat - how dare you!"

Fizzlebottom steps back and gives the little creature a vicious stare, followed by another, more soporific, gaze.

Five foot step, swift action hypnotic stare (mind-affecting, imposes a -2 penalty on Will saves), standard action to use 2 daily uses of mesmerist tricks to hit the creature with the slumber hex (DC 15 Will save or fall asleep for 1 round).

Hush moves in and slashes with his new weapon.

Cold iron shortsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Bash roars as his hammer lays waste to the furniture, but his fervor quickly grows to anger as his aim appears to have helped the little bastard vs hurt him. "Oh, gonna play some hide n seek eh? I got time!" He says as he tries to put eyes on the creature.

Hmm. I think I'm just going to write Kiddir off and move on? Reasonable enough?

Taking Miri's arrow to the chest, the Gremlin? slaps his hand on the bottom of the table, causing a inconspicuously placed fork on a bent spoon spring to spring off the table toward Bash's shins Table Trap!: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 Fork Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 and sinks deep between the plates of Bash's armor, lodging into his knee. As Fizzlebottom stares at the little pest, it glares back, sticking it's tongue out while grabbing a sharpened butter knife from the bandolier across its chest. The things small stature enables it to scramble away from Hush's attack as tries to tumble around the junk on the floor. Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Tripping over silverware, it isn't exactly the most nimble beast though. Probably has something to do with the Arrow about twice as tall as he is sticking out of his chest.

Unaffected by Fizzle's stare/hex, Everything else misses! Fortunately, it provokes from Bash and Hush as it scrambles out from under the table!

Initiative! Bold may Go!

Round 2!
Miri
Bash -8 from Danger Fork!
Hush
Fizzlebottom -2
Dusty
Garlmak

Wow, he hadn't posted since Jan. 19! I hadn't noticed.. Funny how it's easy to overlook something like that in PbP.

Dusty hustles into the room, snapping off a precisely aimed shot at the fleeing gremlin!

[dice= "Elizabeth" (PBS)]d20+7+1[/dice]
Cold Iron Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
Extra Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Crossbow's unloaded

Well, Let's not worry about those AoOs anymore!
Dusty's bolt pierces the creature perpendicular to Miri's arrow, pinning the little beastie to the ground.

Looking at the thing's feet, this is most likely the cause of your Tiny Footprints.
Where to next? We've got an Upstairs and a nasty kitchen!

That... fork... looks mighty nasty. You need any doctorin' 'fore we mosey on?

"Son of a motherf+#@in snotling that hurts!" Roars Bash as he grabs the fork and pulls it, and a bit of meat, out of his knee. He throws it down into the floor boards after leaning his hammer up against the crippled table.

He reaches into his belt and pulls out a slender wooden wand in the shape of a hammer (go figure). "Anyone use one of these healin sticks? Fix this knee up quick before we get back to work!"

Wand o CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Wand o CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

After a little bit of medical attention Bash is ready to continue on. I vote downstairs, so kitchen?

And here I thought Hush was playing the strong silent type!

"Bash, you all right?"

After Bash is taken care of, Miri is going to learn from her mistake and check the door to the kitchen to the north of the map--very carefully. Taking 20?

Perception, taking 20 to check the door for traps: 20 + 0 = 20

Good Call Miri!

Miri takes a look, and plays it safe taking 10: "Hey, there's another one of these... silverware traps? Stand back, guys..."

disable device: 10 + 9 = 19

This is probably DC 20, isn't it? Ah well. We'll see if Miri needs to roll for it. I don't suppose anyone has Guidance, eh?

Unfortunately not... I really should start preparing that.

Hush draws his "healing stick" and touches it to Bash's injured knee, speaking the command word twice to mend the wound. Be healed, he prays, and let beauty return. Then he returns it to his pack.

Keeping both swords drawn.