GM Elberion's Gallows of Madness (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"More then likely your stray cow has been eaten or it will find its way home. There are too many dangerous things out here in the wild to be wandering around alone. So where is your home? We will escort you there."

Verathis listens to the conversation while trying to explain to Ink that no mater how much centipede he eats he won't absorb there giantness.

"Oh, it's, um, back toward town. Really, though, I'm sure I can get back there ok. No need to trouble yourselves."

Meiri wonders about the boy, but her new companions seem to be doing fine talking to him.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Carson asks the kid his name. When he answers Carson will continue.

"Listen (insert name here). We have just spent the last week rescuing a bunch of kids your age. They had gotten way in over their heads. Some were even killed. Do you really want to stick with the lost cow story or are you going to tell us what you are really doing out here."

Grel snaps around to the line of inquiry. His interest is piqued with the potential for more information. Do tell, boy. The man asks you a question.

diplo aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"M-my name is Olaus." He looks around nervously for a moment, then continues. "To be honest, I snuck out here to take something from the old Sarini place, y'know, just to prove to my friends I wasn't chicken. I barely got in sight of the gate, though, when these things attacked me! I ran, but they caught me and, well, that's where you found me."

"Did they come from the manor, or elsewhere?',asks Verathis as he walks over holding Ink and petting him like a house cat.

Describe what attacked you. Grel turns in the direction of the manor and peers into the space in front of him.

Spirit Sense (Sp)
At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind.

"Describe them? You just killed them! It was these things" he says, gesturing at the bodies littering the ground around you. "I don't know where they came from, they just jumped out and started chasing me as I approached the manor."

The small blue corpses detect as fey. They and the centipedes also give off a hint of outsider, which you think might be tied to the purple goo. The boy detects as none of those.

ah, i read "these THINGS" not "THESE things" :)

How far is the gate, then?

"Go home, Olaus. This is not where you belong. If you tell your friends about your adventures with the monsters, they will forget all about the dare."

"Home? No. No. No. The boy needs to prove himself. He need to go with us. How will it look if he goes back without a story and a couple of trophies. Let's get him some weapons so that he can smite the evil that is investing this land. I am sure he has it in him."

Carson pulls out his short sword and thrust its in the boys hands.

"This sword has been in my family for generations. It has killed hundreds. It's name is Bloodletter. I have no heirs so I am giving it to you. Someday you will pass it on your son, along with stories of the glory that achieved. "

He puts his arm the boy and presents him to the group.

"Behold! Olaus, Evil Slayer!"

Grel squints at Carson and knocks the sword out of the boy's hands. He can't enter battle with soiled breeches. Go home, we have duties to carry out. Grel steps in the direction of the mansion.

Harada shakes his head at Carson and agrees with Grel.

"Meiri, you better make sure he get's home safe, you never know what kinda purple or blue critters he might meet out here."

Olaus looks to Carson, then down at the sword, a growing look of horror on his face. He jumps when Grel knocks it from his hand, his expression quickly giving way to poorly-hidden relief. "I'm sure I can make it home ok on my own" he protests after Harada's suggestion. Still, he doesn't put up any fight when Meiri agrees to escort him. They set off down the road back the way you came, leaving the rest of you to proceed toward the manor.

-----

The rusted, badly bent iron gate to this walled estate is dirty and hangs ajar, creaking gently in the breeze. The lawn is overgrown, and a thick tangle of vines has crept up the walls of the opulent estate building. An abandoned stable occupies the southwest corner of the grounds, and to the east, more buildings lie partly hidden behind bushes and crooked trees.

As you approach, Carson spots several creatures lurking in the bushes just inside the gates, ready to ambush you as you enter. One, in the large bush on the right, looks like one of the mites you just fought. The creature on the left, however, doesn't look like anything you've seen before.

-----

INITIATIVE:

After Olaus leaves Carson bends down, picks up his sword, and laughs.

"Did you see the look on his face when he thought he would have to go with us? Priceless. Don't worry Grel. I was never going to let him go with us but I thought it was the best way to scare him into going back home and staying out of trouble."

At the gate, "This looks like the place. Should we try the back door or just go right on in?"

kn nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Hmph. A Drochtac, fey. Keep that cold iron out, boys. Grel settles in for a fight.

At hearing Carsons true motives Verathis says,"But you made such a good point. This would have been a great point for the kid to learn some sword play and ether prove or acquire some bravery. Plus his friends really would have loved the tail. Why did you waste such a good opportunity for him by sending him home?" There is not a shred of insincerity in his voice.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

As Verathis gets within 35 feat of the Drochtac he pulls back his right hand as if to throw a stone. As he dose so a snowball appears in his hand. He then chucks it into the bush at the Drochtac.

Throw a snowball: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Vs. spell Resistance (if any): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Cold Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 3) = 9

The fence never saw it coming.

Harada acts quickly taking advantage of his fighter weapon training to move full speed into danger, quick drawing his taiaha as he moves to engages the strange purple creature.

"I got this!" Harada shouts hopefully

hammer time: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Verathis quickly conjures a ball of snow and hurls it, impacting squarely with the fence. Harada takes a more direct approach, rushing forward and striking the poorly-hidden creature. The impact of his taiaha seems diminished slightly, but he still lands a powerful blow.

The creature responds, lashing out at its assailant:

bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
bite damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

claw 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
claw 1 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

claw 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
claw 2 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Suddenly, a second, more effectively hidden mite hurls a dart at Harada from the safety of the bushes.

Dart! vs. flat-footed Harada: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

-----

INITIATIVE:

Grel plods up to the gate and sees the mites in the bushes to the right. He spits a dart of acid at the lead mite.

acid dart, ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Ow." shouts Harada as he tries to pull the dark out of the back of his neck.

The mite drops its weapons and screams as the acid burns into its flesh! "ខ្ញុំកំពុងរលាយ! តើពិភពលោកគឺជាអ្វីដែលពិភពលោក!"

Red is down. Carson may act.

Sorry about messing up the map.

Carson pulls out his Shortsword and Cold Iron Dagger as he moves up to the remaining Mite.

Cold Iron Dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

He succeeds in trimming the hedge that the creature is hiding in but fails to strike the mite.

No worries, that's what Version History is for.

"Eep!" The mite scurries back a step as Carson approaches, drawing a dagger and poking at the approaching human.

Poke!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
Ow, I guess?: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Lol.

"EEP!"

-----

INITIATIVE:

Harada stabs the strange beast with the spiky end of his taiaha, and clubs it with the big heavy end.

hammah: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

spiky end: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Verathis walks up to the mite and stabs it with his longsword.

stab: 1d20 ⇒ 14
pierce: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

As Verathis walks forward Ink splits off from him to face the drochtac.

Sting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Poke: 1d2 - 4 ⇒ (1) - 4 = -3Minimum 1 Damage + Poison, save Fort DC 10; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect sickened for 1 round; cure 1 save.

Sting has no reach DM you get an attack of opportunity.

I suppose so, since you act before Harada.

AoO (bite): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fortitude save if hit.
bite damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

----------

Ink darts in and stings the drachtac, dodging a pathetic blow from the creature, as Verathis easily dispatches the remaining mite. I'm going to forgo the save vs. poison because...

Taking advantage of the (understandable) distraction provided by a scorpion crawling on the drochtac, Harada clubs the creature with a brutal hammer-blow, then pins it to the ground, lifeless! Out of combat.

Map updated. Where would you like to go next? The main estate lies before you. Off to the left is a stable, while another structure lies to the right and yet another past a garden to the back-right.

"The front door or around the back?"

Carson moves up to the front door and look it over.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

I'm not one for nuance. The front door for me.

Carson finds no signs of danger on the front door; in fact, it doesn't even seem to be locked.

Grel casts a spell on himself to prepare for further exploration. Heightened Senses w/ Place Magic. CL 4. 40 minutes duration.

Harada nods as he puts his weapons back ready for any danger.

Verathis brings up the rear of the group with Ink orbiting his feet.

The front door opens with a slight creak to reveal the interior of the estate. Paintings of people and landscapes adorn the walls of this once-grand entrance hall; the landscapes depict a sunset over some mountains, a garden, and a shipyard. The portraits depict two proud-looking noblemen with prominent chins and a beautiful noble lady. A few small vases, most of them cracked or broken altogether, sit on semi-circular tables set against the west wall. A faint smell of mildew hangs in the air.

Map updated. You see a small cloakroom to the immediate left. Behind that, a short hall leads to another door. You see another door to the right and double doors straight ahead. Where to next? Also, do you have any general door-opening procedures that you will do for every door?

kn geo: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
kn local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

I've seen these. The Aspodell Mountains in Isger. This is a garden in Remesiana, Cheliax. And these, these are shipyards in Eleder, Sargava. Grel points out the scenes in the paintings. The people are the Sarini family, as you might expect.

Grel will search the cloakroom and then move through the hall to the door on the west side.

perc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Going forward, happy to take lead or assist on door searches, Perc +11. Will probably stand close to the front, decent AC and perc check with pending Init help from Heightened Senses.

Assuming the rest of you follow Grel:

In the cloakroom, Grel finds a quiver with 5 cold iron arrows, a quiver with 5 cold iron bolts, and a moldy purse that contains 26 gp. There are various other garments in the cloakroom, but all are moldy and have a dank smell wafting about them, eliminating any value they once had.

Down the western wall, you find another closed door. Examination reveals no traps, and the door swings open easily, to reveal the remains of a sitting room. Once-fine furniture, now ripped and faded from neglect, adorns this chamber. Two large mirrors have been set on the north wall here, but cracks and dark stains mar their silvery surface, and many pieces are missing. A lute rests against the back of a stained red velvet sofa. Another door stands along the northern wall, while a large bay window shows the grounds to the south.

"The Prince of Law and the noble House of Thrune are getting impatient for the last report they asked for. Were is your master We must speak to him AT ONCE!", Verathis says loudly in a sneering voice.

bluff: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25 the +1 bluff to fool others is because I am "trustworthy".

Whoa, what's come over you, Verathis? Grel peers into the spirit world to uncover any hidden threats.

Spirit Sense: At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind.

Carson looks about confused. "How are you talking to?"

"O, some devil or demon wanting to know about us. Diden't get much out of him unfortunately. Also he can probably still see and hear us." ,Verathis says casually.

Harada shrugs his shoulders "This place is weird."

Grel shakes his head. Prepare for assaults on the mind. Let's be quick.

Assuming you're moving through the door and into the next room:

You open the door into what appears to to have been a library, arranged into shelf-lined alcoves. The long bookshelves in these dusty alcoves are filled with books, and the smell of mildewed paper hangs in the air. You suspect that at one time this library contained a fine collection of books, maps, and other old documents, but mildew has ruined most.

Do you want to spend time examining the books? Or move straight on to the next room?

Vreathis skims the shelves to see if there is anything of interest.

perception: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9

Carson looks through the shelves for anthing of value or interest.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"Is there any magic here?"

Grel looks over the room for anything important and magical. Detect Magic and take 20 searching with a +11 modifier on perception.