GM Chie's Gallows of Madness (Inactive)

Game Master Korolan

Very Perceptive Miri!

Miri seems to almost be able to dislodge the spoon, before it slips in her grip. Thankfully, she had a tight enough hold on the fork to prevent it from going flying. Wanna give it another shot?

Just a case of Big Round Number syndrome, that's all.

Miri gives it another go! "C'mon... I seeeeee you, little wire..."

Disable Device... rolling this time: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Don't know if Dusty can cut in here or not, but if it's kosher

Mind if I take a look at that? I'm a fair hand with suddenly triggered projectiles

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

As Miri continues to poke and prod at the bend spoon, she dislodges it from the frame, springing the fork into Miri's arm!

Fork Attack!: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28 Fork Damage!: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

By Iomedae are these forks lethal! Good think Fizzle isn't trying to pop the traps...

I'm ok with that! We'll say you get a chance after that first one? It's better than getting Forked to death.

After unjamming the fork, opening the door is relatively easy, although a powerful stench wafts from inside. Rotting food and Stagnant water rises from the filth in this small kitchen, mixing sickeningly with the strong, coppery scent of fresh blood. Broken jugs, upturned trays, and scraps
of food litter the room. In the sink, a large bowl filled with chewed and spat-out food floats in thick, bloody water in the sink. An open door to the south reveals a ransacked pantry.

Miri and Dusty, if I could get a Fortitude save from you? DC 12 or be Sickened.

"Oh, nice work, Dus--" as she suddenly holds her nose over her mouth. "What on Golarion happened in here?!"

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Dusty wraps his scarf around his face to ward off as much of the stench as possible.

Dunno, but I reckon some of it happened recent. He points out a patch of fresh blood.

"Ugh, you're right, Dusty. Wasn't this guy living with family? Parents or something?" She blanches, and then does a cursory search of the room.

No way Miri is taking 20 here, so... perception roll it is!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Getting a quick look around the kitchen, it looks absolutely disgusting, and it doesn't look like anything is really salvageable. On the other hand, you hear very faint rustling coming from upstairs...

Hush: I used the two charges off my wand, thanks for activating.

After seeing, and smelling... the kitchen, Bash quickly changes his mind "I'm hearing stuff upstairs, you guys can double check the kitchen after!" He carefully starts up the stairs. Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

As Bash heads up the stairs revealed on the Map Slide the tiny bloody footprints stick to the bottoms of his boots, making a gross shluck shlock shluck as he proceeds up the stairs. Groooooooss! The hallways here are filled with more bloody footprints, including the additional ones that Bash is tracking through the place. The walls are scratched, gouged at about knee height and below, and defaced with goodness knows what. Three doors are spread along two hallways, One at the far end of the hall on the left, and one on either side of a branching hallway to the right.

Feel free to continue exploring the house! What could possibly go wrong?

Don't ever be an adventurer if you like nice-smelling rooms; you won't come across them very often.

Hush gags and tries not to vomit as they make their way up the stairs. Will try to open the door to the left of the stairs.

The door opens easily, as a fork clatters to the floor from a broken spoon hinge. Behind the door is a small storeroom, but anything that was stored in it has been destroyed to say the least. The shelves in this storeroom have been ripped off the wall and lie in a heap on the floor, along with their now-wrecked former contents—bloody linens, a broken broom, and other ruined household supplies. Past the storeroom is a pristine washroom that appears remarkably unscathed from the chaos that is the rest of the house.

As Bash makes his way up the stairs he chuckles at the gore on his boots "Ahh, just like when ya stomp a gobbie skull in! That brain goo is real sticky, hard gettin' it outta the soles of yer boots." He leans his head and its thick helmet around the corner to check out the storeroom and washroom.

"Nothin' jumpin' out from there, lets check down the halls, these must be bedrooms." He moves along to the next closet door, taking a quick look before tossing it open. Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Dusty steps forward to examine the door on the left. They seem to be mighty keen on trappin' up the place

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Miri steels herself and silently follows her allies up the stairs.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Not really for any mechanical benefit, she's just being careful in the ways she knows how.

Fizzlebottom follows the others up the stairs. "Yikes, what a mess they've made! I hope they've run out of forks by now... But what about that washroom? Whatever was in here - that little bugger who stabbed me I reckon? - why did it leave the washroom alone?" Fizzlebottom enters the washroom to see if he can determine why it has been left unscathed.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

As Fizzlebottom walks through the Destroyed storeroom, he doesn't seem to see anything that stands out in particular. after stepping into the washroom, a loud CRASH and shattering of glass echoes through the hallway.

Fizzlebottom, startled by the sudden falling of the mirror, can read a message scrawled in a Childlike handwriting in Rusty brown ink You know nothing! You ruined everything! Your friends hate you! I HATE YOU!

Bash knocks down the door to a large bedroom, full of upturned furniture and decorations knocked from the shelves and walls. Every painting has been smashed from its frame and torn to pieces. Sitting on the otherwise-undisturbed master bed is a single journal.

Miri peeks over Bash's head. "Do you... see anybody?"

"Ah shit, nothin' in here but some oozing rusty book on the bed. If that don't say bad things dunno what does." He backs out of the room and waves Miri inside to investigate further.

Miri will carefully search the room, taking 20.

Perception: 20 - 1 = 19
+1 vs. traps.

Fizzlebottom will also carefully check for traps, taking 20.

Perception: 20 + 2 = 22

Once he is satisfied that there are no traps, he will examine the journal, using Psychometry to see if he can gain any glimpses of its previous owner.

Taking 10 for a total of 15 if allowed, or if not: Appraise, DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

While Miri and Fizzlebottom search the room, Dusty will keep a weather eye on their flank, in case of sneaky foes.

Bash taps his foot impatiently as the two set up an archeological dig in the bed room around the book. "If ya gonna take the day to look around, maybe we should check out the other room first!" He says with his usual grace and tactfulness.

As Fizzlebottom opens up the book, it doesn't take Psychometry to see what it is. The daily journal of Beldonna Vazarro is plain at first glance, detailing day to day activities. After a few pages of expenditures, household chores and projects being started, Fizzle sees the rusty 'ink' at the edge of the next page. After turning the page, a crude hand scrawled Our Son is an Awful Disappointment over the other information. Flipping through more and more pages, it seems to be written over every single entry.

It will probably take a bit of time to go through the entire book. Maybe finish sweeping the house first? Bash seems to be getting Anxious ;D

Heh. Thinking about what I would feel like waiting for someone to take that much time searching a room and transferring that to Bash... ya he'd get annoyed quickly with a possible hostile room right down the hall.

"Someone was pretty pissy in here, take a look at that mirror." He says as he paces around, in and out of the room waiting.

Miri and Fizz were searching the room, for anything interesting (Miri) and for traps (Fizzlebottom). Did that turn anything up?

Fizzlebottom examines the book with a perplexed expression. "Someone has defaced this journal in a very strange way. Could it have anything to do with our missing apprentices?"

There aren't any fork traps in here, and the only thing of value / interest that hasn't been destroyed in the room is the Blood-Stained journal.

Bash finally has had enough waiting around "Well I'm gonna go check out that last room while the rest of ya stand around gawkin' at that book n the spider webs in the corners!"

He grabs up his longhammer and heads down the hall, takes a peek at the door then gives it a frustrated smash with the hammer, his favorite way to open a door.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Longhammah + Power Attack: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 + 3 = 15 "We're comin' in, give up ya little varmits!"

Miri wipes her hands on her trousers and says "Sure, let's go check out another--"

BANG

"--okay, whatever room Bash just opened."

Woof, Convention planning has been kicking my butt. Sorry about the slacking guys!

With a loud CRACK the hinges break off the door, which slams to the ground with a loud THUD. A quick look over the room shows a simple bed, covered in thick webs. Two person-sized bundles of webbing wriggle slightly, as an arachnid the size of a wolf gleefully bites into one of the bundles. Taking an instant to glance over at the Wanton destruction, it slips it's finger-long fangs out of the bundle, and hisses at the waiting Bash

Initiative! Bold may go!
Miri Laishramn
Dusty Bligh
Bash Steeltoe
Fizzlebottom
SPIDER!!!
Hush

Bash smiles as he looks up from his 'carpentry skills' "AHA! Big ole spider folks, time to squish that thing!" He roars, continuing his onslaught he moves in and tries to do just that!

Longhammer + Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 1 = 92d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 6 + 3 = 18

"Fackin' webs!" He groans as his hammer sticks for a moment in the room's webbing.

Miri hears Bash start cursing, and rushes to where he is. "What's going--oh." With her bow drawn, she takes a shot at the strange spider-like thing.

Move action to move to behind Bash; +1 bab lets Miri draw while moving
Free to ID spider
Standard to fire an arrow from the top-left corner of her square, but the bed probably provides cover.

Knowledge (nature) to identify the spider?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Longbow attack, point-blank: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Gah! I can't get a good look or a clear shot!"

With his slow speed all Fizzlebottom is able to do is move into the corridor and draw his cross bow.

I haven't been keeping Dusty's pawn up to date while exploring (mea culpa), so I just started him from the back of the line

Dusty hustles forward, snapping off a shot vaguely in the direction of the grotesque spider through the doorway.

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

Between the Webs and the commotion, not a single blow lands on the Spider, who gleefully skitters toward Bash, taking a nice bite at his knee! Spider Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 No waaaaay

The web wrapped bundles on the bed continue to wriggle, a bit more zealously now that there is other activity in the room

Initiative! Bold may go!
Hush
Miri Laishramn
Dusty Bligh
Bash Steeltoe
Fizzlebottom
SPIDER!!!

[dice= "Betsy" (PBS)] 1d20 + 7 + 1[/dice]
Cold Iron Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 = 27
Extra Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Dusty gnaws at his lip in concentration as he sights in on the spider and pulls the trigger.

Bash pulls his steeltoe'd boot away from the dripping spider maw "Wantin' at me boots are ye? Well tough titty kitty, the milk's all gone!" He takes a step back and swings his longhammer over his head making the erie whistling noise before crashing it down on the spider. "Time ta make you disappear ya skitterin' freak!"

Longhammer, Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 1 = 172d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 + 3 = 12

Someone needs to cut those things-- people?-- out. Hush calls on the power of his goddess as he moves into the room. A wave of pure beauty rushes into him, repelling ugliness. And there is a lot of ugliness.

Using my Frightening presence blessing. DC 14 Will save needed to attack me, as per the spell sanctuary .

Hush, filled with the beauty of Shelyn, slides past the spider Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 who gives him nary a thought. Dusty's arrow lands center of the spider's abdomen, just missing a vital spot. Thankfully, Bash is right there to back it up with a solid hammer swing. Purple ichor and green bug goop splats along the walls of the room, covering Bash. Hush makes it out unscathed, cutting out the two wriggling shapes.

Miri nocks another arrow and looses it at the spider!

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Longbow damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Miri's player needs to remember to hit Submit Post. Or at least, to preview again after forgetting to hit Submit Post. Oops.

Miri launches her arrow and then peers over Bash's shoulder. "Oh! Is it dead? It's dead, isn't it?" She warily levels her bow at the two wriggling shapes. "Those aren't more spider monsters, are they?"

Are we still in initiative? I don't think there's much that Fizzlebottom can do in this situation but maybe nothing more is needed?

We are out of Initiative!
Cutting the two wriggling figures out of the webbing reveals a middle aged couple. As this is Gellion's house, these two being his parents wouldn't be an entirely wild assumption.

Looking at the desk on the other side of the room, there are three arrowheads among more piled up Demon's Bile. The center arrowhead (around which there is a 1" radius ring of clear space around) is obviously cold iron, set onto the open page of a scrawled and scarred journal. Adverse reaction to cold iron. What about magic? Fire? Cold? Further trials are required. is scribbled onto the page in a sloppy handwriting. Flipping through the remainder of the journal shows the handwriting quality slowly deteriorating from Crisp Tight neat cursive to a sloppy scrawled print.

Sitting on the desk (almost untouched by the slime) is a small box, latched shut with 'Gellion' carved into the lid.

Are the parents conscious? If so...

"My word, what happened to you? Thank goodness we were here to rescue you from that awful spider thing! I am Fizzlebottom and these are my comrades and we have been asked by the mayor to find your son and the other missing apprentices."

Diplomacy (if it's even needed): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Bash looks pleased as his giant hammer, combined with an arrow, makes the overstuffed spider splatter "Now that's how ya make vermin disappear Miri!" He hoots with a broad smile, wiping the goo from his face and beard.

"You all deal with them, I'm gonna wipe out this bile here and save these notes and stuff." He holsters his longhammer and pulls out his cold iron Warhammer, searing away the bile where he can. "Take that ya creepin' bastard!"

This post has been eaten 3 times so far. Let's try again!

The middle aged couple are unconscious, but Father Ildris at the Temple of Erastil is more than willing to take them in until they wake up.

Additionally, inside the latched 'Gellion' box are a number of vials, clearly labeled in a neat clean script, totaling as follows:

• six flasks of acid
• two flasks of alchemist’s fire
• two tanglefoot bags
• potion of remove disease
• potion of lesser restoration
• three potions of cure light wounds

Unless anyone objects, Fizzlebottom will take 1 potion of CLW, 1 tanglefoot bag, 1 flask of acid, and 1 alchemist's fire (and will also take more of these splash weapons if no one else wants them - so far much of what we have run into is immune to most of his mind-affecting shenanigans).

"We should probably tell the Mayor about this!"

Bash has no splash weapons so he'll snag at least 1 of those acids, maybe the other alchemist fire?

"Yep, she's gonna wanna know about this fer sure. How 'bout we head there after we take these poor people to the Temple for some help." Bash hefts up one of the people like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder with ease.

Miri finishes reading over Fizzlebottom's shoulder. Or hair, depending.
"Let's do it." She picks up the other parent.

"Sounds like the mayor'll want to know, and after that let's check this Bravoni warehouse?"