GM Eddv's CORE Living God Series (Inactive)

Game Master eddv

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dot

"I am Capone, a librarian with the Dark Archives. Archiving and labeling is an important task when dealing with relics and books of knowledge. Without organization in that vast chamber, how can you ever find what you're looking for?"

"I'm actually a recent convert from Asmodeus to Sarenrae. I saw the light, but I still enjoy my job in the Dark Archives."

Capone is dressed in studded leather and carries a holy symbol of Sarenrae. He looks weak yet hardy.

Another cleric enters the room, this time a dwarf in a very well made breastplate, with a round shield on his back and a battleaxe on his side. A cigar sticks out from his full beard.
"Well met. I am Bonifacius, a devot follower of Desna. I am happy to join this task!"

Deluge is a rotund balding little man, who frequently sighs during the meeting as if put out by all this adventuring business. He takes frequent swills from this nasty smelling concoction in a wineskin (which you may or may not be able to recognize as fermented goat's milk). His breastplate is made of an intriguing substance that shimmers with a red hue (red dragonhide armor) that looks expensive, though it is mostly covered by an explorer's outfit, but, in contrast, carries a cheap looking club and sling.

He also brings a poorly trained pack goat into the meeting with which he seems to have a somewhat adversarial relationship with (not an animal companion, just a pack animal).

"Ah, yes, Dark Archives. I, too, am a member. Any new and interesting artifacts fall into our hands?"

All of you are called to the town of Kassen, as you make the long march to the town in the Nirmathi countryside.

You recall your briefing from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin who made sure to send fresh agents on this mission You are being sent to experience a local phenomenon in the small town of Kassen. They have a ritual wherein they send a group of young townsfolk to go to the tomb and retrieve the Everflame. We have made arrangements for you to be those people. This is the first time in 4 years that they have sent their young - we aren't sure what the exact details are on this, but they apparently see this as a mutually beneficial setup since there aren't many young people in Kassen of the proper age. You are to go to the town make nice, experience the ritual and report back. It is always useful to have connections, we were a little late in getting you sent on your way so hopefully you are able to make it in time.

Due to the frantic nature of your march you don't have much time to speak but you are at least vaguely familiar of each other's capabilities.

As you finish your reminiscence, the bells atop the Temple of Erastil toll their midday song, echoing throughout the quiet town of Kassen. As the peals begin to fade, the first of the townsfolk make their way into the square, dressed in black, as if attending a funeral. They slowly fill the square, moving quietly across the cold, hard ground, their eyes downcast and mournful. A!er a few moments, a murmur passes through the crowd as it slowly parts to let Mayor Uptal through. He leads the way with a tarnished silver lantern. Behind him, an old pony drags a cart laden with backpacks and supplies.

Once he reaches the center of the crowd, Mayor Uptal stops and calls out to the assembled townsfolk. “Once again the winter winds blow through the Fangwood, marking the end of another harvest. There are wolves in the woods, howling at our walls, and serpents in our shadows, waiting to strike. Just as it was one hundred and seventy-four years ago, when Kassen himself let. these walls to protect us, so it is today. Where are the heroes? Where are the brave folk that will venture out to Kassen’s tomb and retrieve the flame to keep this community safe for another winter?"

Deluge looks around at his companions, then steps forward.

"I'll go!"

Fancy me playing the hero. At least this time they are not sending us into any real danger. Crazy pathfinders. Never met a bigger bunch of loonies.

"...Report Back." A tear starts dropping in Capone's eye. "I love reporting..."

"I will go too!"

A half elf woman steps forward. "I will go as well. This must lead to amazing stories to be told far and wide, and I'm the bard to do it." Meran bows with a flourish.

Looking at his travel companions, the stout, unkept dwarf steps up as well. "Hugo go bring red flower! Why we need flame?"

Sorry I'm late - I lost track of the thread.

Dot

The Crypt of the Everflame does sound most fascinating. I would love the opportunity to join this august group and see what goodness we might be able to spread on our journey. says the half-elf

After each of you has stepped forward to introduce yourselves, the Mayor solemnly declares Very well. These young heroes will follow in Kassens footsteps and leave this town to go and retrieve the heat that will sustain this community through the long and fraught winters. Go now, survive the dangers of the woods and the horrors of the tomb and come back men and women, leaving behind your childish selves.

There are knowing smiles at the mention of the dangers of the tomb. Most wistful or nostalgic for youth - it is clear nearly every person here has participated in this ritual, but it is still treating with the solemnity of a religious ceremony, that is to say still taken very seriously.

They mayor asks for you to leave behind much of your adventuring gear- this ritual is after all meant for commoners and to properly experience it you must go as one

So no big backpacks full of tools or anything like that. Adventuring gear and perhaps one potion per person are appropriate but nothing more than that

With that, you begin your 40 mile trek towards the Tomb of Kassen.

The narrow path winds through the raking claws of the trees, now bere! of their leaves, which crunch loudly underfoot. Up ahead, a fallen tree trunk blocks the path. Suddenly a trio of snarling humanoids leaps up from behind the log, all greenish skin and fearsome tusks, bellowing vulgar challenges.

Meran
Capone
---
Orc Yellow
---
Hugo
Bonifacius
Deluge
Daeron
---
Orc Red
Orc Blue

"Do you think this is part of the ceremony? Seems a bit rough for that." She pulls out her rapier while taking a couple of steps forward, and begins to sing a song about green men and the adventurers who defeat them.

Inspire Courage

Move Action
Capone strides forward to get in range.

Standard Action
"Halt!"
He casts Command at the enemy. Will Save DC 15 or do nothing next round, Targeting Yellow.

Orcs he announces as he grabs his morning star.

"Only three of them? Boy are they in for a surprise!"

Deluge snaps off a storm burst at blue

to hit ranged touch: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4; non-lethal and -2 to attack rolls

doubtful THAT hit. I assume the Inspire courage is a +1/+1 bonus.

The Orc Capone is aiming at comes to a halt like he expects him to, but he also notices something sort of jerky about the orc's movements that he recognizes from a life of living as a gnome.

This orc is a fake.

They all are.

Capone see through the 3 orcs as they are rendered to little more than lights to him.

"They aren't real! Illusions! Take it from a gnome: I know."

I'm assuming the Inspire Courage round and Command spell were used, but the others can change their action based on the new information?

"Illusions!? Heh, that's a good one. I guess this is part of their ceremony then. Nice touch."

Illusions are better than fighting the real things he commenbts as he puts his morning star back.,

"Should Hugo smash anyway?"

Hugo holds up a greatclub with a big grin.

"Go ahead and practice, Hugo. Get into the spirit of the thing. "

In fact Deluge unlimbers his club and joins in the festivities, taking a few swipes himself.

Meran laughs. "A waste of a perfectly good song. I'll have to work on a better line for the next set of "orcs" we see." Are we ready to move on down the road?

As Hugo and Deluge have a good time whacking away at the illusory orcs, they soon disappear.

Searches for the source of the illusions turn out to be fruitless but the ceremony does seem to be moving along swimmingly.

Eventually you do need to bed down for the evening off the road somewhat as the 40 mile journey is too far to take in a single go.

What watch order would you like to set?

Watch order? Whatever for. Can't a fellow get a goods night rest?

Deluge doesn't speak, hoping the silly talk about watch orders peters out with no result.

Usually casters take first and last watches due to regaining spells and abilities and the martials take middle watch.

"I'll take last watch."

I can take either first or last. My elven sight is of advantage in the dark he comments.

Keeping a watch is something Hugo understands, and he makes it clear he can take any watch, so should probably have the middle one.

"I can take the second watch as long as you let me sleep in. A girl needs her beauty sleep."

Bard needs 8 hours as well, but only 15 minutes of singing to get my spells back.

"Very well. I'll take first watch and get it over with."

As the watch begins, a howling can be heard off in the distance indicating the presence of wolves in the area.

Over the course of the next hour, Deluge and Daeron get that off feeling like they are being watched.

Both Deluge and Daeron spot a wolf a little ways off stalking closer to the camp site.

It is a lean looking creature.

Kn Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Really? Some druid. Let's try something else.

"The poor thing looks hungry. Let's see if we can help it out."

Deluge pulls out some jerky and tosses it to the beast adding a little druidic know-how.

[dice=Wild Empathy]1d20+2+2[/dice]

The sorcerer adds to the food throwing some of his rations to the wolf.

Deluge seems to have calmed the wolf, who collects the meat scraps from the trail rations and runs off.

The rest of the evening passes without incident, Deluge seeming to have driven off the wolves peacefully.

The party continues on its way, making it way along the lake shore which they are to follow until they reach the Tomb.

Along the way however, they come across an unusual site - body sprawled on the shore laying face down.

-

"Careful everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if it animates. Too many undead in this world, if you ask me. I'm tempted to lob a stick at it or something just to make sure!"

As Deluge pokes the corpse he sees that is a humanoid with a plain mask on his bloated corpse.

He is,however, quite dead.

Meran takes a deep breath holds it and goes through the pockets and packs on the dead man. She removes his mas carefully. Rushing back and exhaling when she gets far enough away.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

In his pack you find around 98 gold, a masterwork short sword and a potion of cure light wounds.

Capone inspects the body.

Any way to tell how recently?

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 - Nevermind

Deluge looks for tracks or any other sign of what might have happened or who the fellow is.

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

He will aid the druid in the heal check
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Know Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Meran waits for the others to finish their examinations. She tucks away the gold and potion of cure light, and fiddles with the sword waiting to see if anyone wants to use it.

"Why man wear mask? Is he witch-doctor?"

Having no real sense of religion or reverence, Hugo plays with the mask and tries it on.

"Booga-booga-booga! Ha ha ha!"

Deluge casts a detect magic and a detect poison to check out the body, mask and anything else he was carrying.. In fact, in times like this please assume that a Detect Magic and Detect Poison will be cast.

"Keep that mask will you? it may be a clue about what happened to this guy. Someone is bound to ask. Shall we bury him? Anyone have a shovel - or anytool?"

No particular magic or poison. It seems he was simply killed - slashed by some sort of slashing weapon.

Deluge finds a path that leads to small encampment thats been abandoned for a little while and then finds more tracks which actually lead to the entrance of the tomb.

"I wonder what he was doing here? I think we found our tomb""

Does he look dressed like a local?

"Looks like whoever this person was with had his colleagues, or enemies perhaps, enter the crypt. Shall we check the encampment before entering the tomb?" Capone motions ahead with one hand behind and another open palm towards the tomb, much like a butler.

"Good idea."

Though he says this he makes no move to be the first one to enter the camp.