GM_Foxy's 2nd Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Brother Varsk leads the way back.

Indeed that might be a good idea.

When back in camp he gets his bow and quiver before offering to take the first watch.

After a minute or so the light reappears and starts wandering through the trees again.

Spugnoir watches with Varsk.

Stam can't do watches. At least not if he wants to prepare spells the next morning. Maybe ask the merchant. For those who wonder: The one Jorfa organized so you can drive in a wagon instead of walking. Which became kind of superfluous after Stam bought a cart.

"What is it that wanders throught the wood there?" the anxious merchant asks.

"Some sort of magical entity, we aren't sure of what it is at the moment. I don't feel that just attacking it would be advisable, so lets as spugnoir says double the watches, I will rest now and help with the final watch."

Stam opens his bed roll and lays down to sleep.

"What watch shall I take? I guess I can't sleep anyway with that thing around." the merchant replies.

darius will take the second watch with the merchant. But keeps his eyes on the wandering light.

The night passes mostly uneventful with the light wandering through the trees and staying there. On the next day everything is packed up again for the last part of the trip to Lepidstadt. But already an hour on the road an unusual sight comes into view. Nine covered Varisian wagons - gaudily painted and depicting the show’s performers beneath the legend, “The Crooked Kin - Ustalav’s Greatest Traveling Cabinet of Curiosities!”

Various strange people are milling aimlessly around the wagons. A man, eight feet tall, two other men with three arms and one with three legs, a woman, seven feet tall with a long beard and several more. Two girls with strangely small heads are standing there crying and some boy who seems to be covered in fur from head to toe is howling inconsolably. As Ned pulls the cart along and it becomes obvious that Grergof, Darius, Spugnoir and Stam are no travelling commoners but well equipped experts an albino man with red eyes and long, white hair that hangs below his knees, who wears a tall red top hat, a long red coat with gold buckles, and striped trousers approaches them. "Good mornign dear Sirs. I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm afraid we ran into a tragedy we can't get out ourselves."

As he sees the group listens to him instead of simply pressing on as many others have before he continues. "I'm Kaleb Hesse, leader of our little group of harmless performers. One of our members the little Alice, sister of Lettie and Poppie here" - he points to the crying girls - "has wandered off into the fens as she heard some noise almost an hour ago now and hasn't come back. And we are ill prepared to go for a search. but you for sure look competent in such matter and so I dare to ask if you would help us and search for little Alice?"

Before the group is approached, Spugnoir mutters. Betcha the bearded lady is just a man in a dress.

Spugnoir looks at the others. I think we could spare some time.

Darius extends his hand and shakes the albino mans hand. "Well met Mr Hesse. These lands can be quite scary and possibly dangerous for a child. Of course we shall help you. Did anyone see which direction she went in by any chance?" Darius says as he turns and looks around.

I don't have any skill in tracking, unfortunately.

"Perhaps our new friend Stam has some kind of location spell on hand. If not, we just look around. The more eyes the better."

"She went some fifty yards back and then into the fens." Kaleb tells and points into the direction.

Survival DC 10 to find the fresh tracks.

Darius leaves his heavy backpack with their travel long merchant. Taking his sword and his armour with him of course and starts off in that direction. "Best get to it then. Times a wasting and we want to find her before dark."

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Darius pushes through the reeds and into the marsh. Cursing a little at himself for not being younger and for wearing such heavy armour and makes a note to get some lighter armour when he can afford it.

"It looks like she went this way." he calls back.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Looks like her trail ends here." He says standing looking around confused.

As you stand there you hear the screams and cries of a little girl straight forward into the reed grass some distance away.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"There! I hear her!" Darius shouts and starts forward towards the sound, then suddenly catches himself and leans in listening closer. Without a sound he draws his sword. He looks back towards the group.

"That doesn't sound right. It doesn't sound human. Be on your guard."

He edges forward cautiously.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

If you are sure, it sounds like a girl to me.... Grergof follows Darius with his flail out and detecting for evil.

What is this place, strange lights, creatures that sound like girls that are not?

Carefully going forward leads to a cramped clearing filled with dismal-looking gray flowers floating on the knee deep water. The clearing is littered with garbage among the unsettling skeletal body parts that lie around.

[dice=Perception DC17]There is a vial with a blue fluid, a magnifying glass with a gold handle, a small wooden box a walnut travelling case and a jar of pickled garlic cloves among the other stuff.[/spoiler]

[dice=Perception DC20]The body of Alice lies face down in the reed across the clearing[/spoiler]

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"Oh dear. There she is!" Darius says and points towards Alice.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

I'll try to get her, you watch my back. I have a bad feeling about this place.

Puts away his flail and gets out the choppers axe. Then Grergof slowly and carefully moves forward axe ready until he gets within arms reach of the body. If nothing has happened to this point he reaches out with his free hand and touches the body. If that provokes no response he flips the body over. Assuming it is dead and still nothing happens he drags the body back to the group. All the while the axe is still ready.

Darius nods and keeps an eye out for any threats while Grergof gets Alice.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Stam over looks everything but allows his magic to infuse his hand, spell ready to fly covering Grergof's back.

magic missle

Spugnoir, Darius, Grergof, Stam: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Out of nowhere appears a spider the size of a four wheeled horse carriage with a humanlike head.
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
It snaps at Grergof but misses by hair's with. And then it disappears only leaving the ripples in the water behind.

"HOLY CRAP!!" Darius yells and jumps back. "What by the nine hells was that?!" I don't have knowledge arcana sadly.

Magic Missle: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7 readied action

K. Arcana: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Know-Arcana: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

A phase spider! It moves in between the material plane and the ethereal plane! Spugnoir drinks his mutagen.

It can do WHAT?

Grergof quickly grabs the corpse, with one hand and readies to attack the spider with his axe if it appears again.

Move: grab an object: Standard: Ready action Attack if the spider appears again in reach

"Dammit! Darius says and then waves his left hand in the shape of a triangle before him and a faint shimmer appears before him that looks like a shield. Darius takes a step through the shimmering shield and suddenly the same glimmer attaches to his body as he now raises his sword and readies himself to strike out at the spider when it appears.

Oops sorry my bad. Casts Shield of Faith

Darius, you may want to give an OOC note what spell you actually cast so we are all clear.

"It teleports around, it can be anywhere. We have to kill it fast!"

Stam will pull out a tiny suit of armor, moving it from head to toe, a tangible suit of force armor encompass him. Mage Armour, burning a reservoir point to use Meta mixing and make it last 8 hours.

The giant spider waits for a time that seems like eternity.

Then it appears in front of Stam who casts his magic missile, provoking an attack of opportunity.
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Then it is hit by the magic missiles and bites again.
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 = 12
Fort DC18 poison or 1d2con dmg.

Then it disappears again.
To tell who gets to attack the spider I need an idea where you stand relative to each other.

with the size of the thing and Stam being near me, can I make an attack on it?

One other can make a melee attack if you stand all together in square formation. Lets say Stam, Darius, Spugnoir, Grergof, Stam. The one who is next in the list can attack too, if you readied an attack.

Seeing the spider attack Stam, Grergof quickly lets go of the body: moves back to the rest of the group drawing his flail as he moves.
Form up! Back to back. As one! he barks in the voice he used to use in the monastery practice yard.

Finally he takes his place and if he has time readies to attack the spider when it shows up near him.

Move/Switch weapons and if there is more then one round ready to attack the thing with the flail

fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

con dmg: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Con 13/14 HP dropped 4 points to 25 instead of 29

Darius makes a double handed stab at the spider.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Spugnoir drinks a targeted bomb admixture to help avoid hitting his friends4 rounds

The spider takes her time.
Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

Fort Save Stam: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

You or your companions might do something to interrupt this if they are able.

Spugnoir gives Stam an antitoxin +5 Fort save

Spugnoir will also grab his healing kit and try to aid the anti-toxin with a little bleeding
Heal+Healing Kit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Grergof stands guard over Spugnoir while he heals Stam.
I can heal him quickly if you need me too.

Darius covers them waiting for the tell tale signs of the creature about to reappear, sword at the ready. Ready Action

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 (If that'll help)

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Confirm Crit
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

fortitude: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 1 = 20

"I suddenly don't feel so hot, why is the world spinning? I think I want to talk to my mom, is Ned ok?

Spugnoir keeps working, letting the infected blood drip into a vial.

how many checks do I have to make?

Well the Antitoxin and Heal check means you get +9 to your saving throws.

What Spugnoir does takes some time and I'd say you make the 4th and 5th save with the bonus (2saves for cure) which leaves you with a summed up con damage of 6 (including the one you rolled at the start)

After a while the spider reappears to bite Darius but first it gets hit really hard by his sword. Also Grergof gets to swing his flail at the creature.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
But slips due to his wet hands on the grip and misses.

Attack Bite Darius: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
But the spider burrows it's fangs into the shield of divine energy.

"Ha! That's what you get for hurting a child you monster!" Darius says, grim determination on his face as he cocks his sword back and waits once again for the creature to reappear. Ready Action

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Spugnoir throws a bomb, using Precise Bombs to exclude 4 squares to avoid hitting his allies.
Bomb,touch,PBS,Melee: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 4 = 142d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10