GM_Foxy's 2nd Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Please imagine a torn bloodstained invitation. Now Imagine you handing that over at the lodge. Maybe also wearing the torn and blood soaked clothes of the guy? Interesting :P

Well we can't use this unless we can clean it up with magic. Maybe someone was waiting for him and we cna inform them of his death.

That was more of what I was thinking Mr. Spugnoir. Use the tragity as a way in and then you two impress them with your skills.

Stam walks up to the letter and the clothing, using his magic to clean the clothes up to near perfection and the blood from the letter.

"There, I don't want to impersonate the man but we can at least return his things."

Should we head down the hole and gather those coins?

Assuming the others agree, Grergof sheds his backpack and pulls out his rope of climbing and chain shirt.
He slowly changes into his chain shirt, then commands the rope to attach itself to the door and heads down into the pit.

It is no pleasure to join the maggot down there. Even more so as you have to push it around to get access to the good hidden in the burrow. But it is worth the hassle. You find a potion, a ring and 721gp in assorted coins. Also you find that you lack a bath afterwards.

Climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Grergof attempts to climb back up, but finds he can't get a grip with his hands covered in maggot slime.

So he tries again after wiping his hands on the walls of the burrow.
Climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Then he proceeds to climb back up.

Ugg. That was most unpleasant. Mr. Stam, is there any chance you can clean me up like you did with the blood?

He holds his hands out in front of himself after unloading the stuff he recovered for the group to inspect.

Spugnoir examines the potion using his ability to hold the potion and identify it.

Stam will use his magic to clean Grergof up to a shiny new himself.

"There you are, not just a moment." Stam will offer to clean everyone.

"Now lets see that ring? Maybe I can unlock the mystery."

Detect Magic on it, Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Potion of Heroism, good for Darius or Varsk

"Perhaps Grergof could use it best effect. My spells will assist me just the same."

"The ring help if you fall from great heights, it will make you light as a feather and prevent dying in fall." Stam will try it on then take it back off.

"So are we heading to Ascanor Lodge, to return this invitation and tell them off the death of this man?"

Sounds like a good plan.

Your turn to tell when you leave the tower, if you have some beef with the ettercaps and to find the way back to the path. I'll move you on from there.

Let us not tangle with the ettercaps and continue on, we should try to get shelter as soon as possible.

Geregof accepts the potions, and although he won't ask for it, he would take the ring if offered. After all in his head, he does most of the climbing in this group.

As they leave the tower he points in the direction of the cut webbing.
The path is that way. Not too far past the webs that Mr. Stam rescued me from, we should find a path where I dragged my feet to clear up the fallen needles. That should lead us back to the path we were following.

With Grergof's preparation it is easy to find back to the path. As you travel further into the Shudderwood you some upon something interesting. The pale corpse of a naked man hangs from a large yellow pine, bound to the trunk with rough cords. His mouth is stuffed with large, pale purple flowers, and his wrists and ankles are swollen and dark with bruises marking where his bindings cut into his skin, but the large silver hunting knife embedded deep in his heart seems the most likely cause of death.

"By Iomedae. Seem's like we move from one nightmare to the next." Darius says as he looks upon the man.

"I think we should cut him down. That is grotesque. But... with that silver dagger... do you think? It was mentioned that these parts may have werewolves?"

Spugnoir helps cut down the body and examines the flowers.

What would I use for werewolf lore? To check that if I remove the dagger will he start healing up again like a vampire with a stake?

As Spugnoir approaches the body to cut it loose he stumbles over the tripwire. A volley of silver bolts come from a nearby tree.

Bolts: 5d8 ⇒ (8, 7, 5, 4, 7) = 31
Reflex save DC20 for half damage for Spugs and Darius

Checking on the man shows that his mouth is stuffed with some flowers.

Crap, I don't have Knowledge Nature.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 This is gonna hurt

Darius in his armour, coupled with hit advanced age is just too slow to avoid the bolts.

"AARGH!!"

Grergof moves over to the tree where the bolts came from to see if there are any more traps. He watches carefully where he is walking to ensure he does not hit anything as he moves.
He will take 10 in looking if possible for a 17, but if not possible: Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Following the tripwire is pretty easy. There is an array of light crossbows mounted in the tree that was triggered by Spugnoir. It is a single use trap.

You might become the owner of a dozen crossbows and half the silver bolts that miss.

Grergof gathers up the silver bolts and looks carefully on the other side to see if there is another trap guarding the opposite side of the body.

Stam will watch as Spugnoir trips the trap, the bolts fly faster than he can react to push the men out of the way.

"Well the was... shiny?" Stam inspects the knife "Do you think he is a werewolf?"

K. Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"That is wolfsbane, to keep away werewolfs."

"Ow! That hurt. So looks like werewolves are s erious problem here judging by these." Darius says looking at the bolts.

Then limps over to Spugnoir and heals the two of them with some channeled energy.

Channel Heal: 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) + 2 = 11
Channel Heal: 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6, 5) + 2 = 18

Once the healing's done Darius still has a couple scratches but doesn't worry about them and walks to the body.

"Well if there are werewolves this dagger will come in handy. Do you think it's okat to take it out of the body? It's not like a vampire is it? Because you've got to leave the stake in the vampire from my recollection, otherwise they come back."

"Err sorry it is used to help treat Lycanthropy, so Spugnoir could make a potion to help with combating the disease." Stam removes the flowers that are good still from the man.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Spugs isn't doing much of anything right now

Don't forget Spugs, I healed you of 29HP after getting hit by the bolts.

Seeing Spugs go down Grergof hurrys over.
Is everyone OK? If you were hurt, why didn't you say something? Mr. Redgrave and I could both help you!

Mommy? Is that you Mommy? I can't see you.

The light at the end of the tunnel flees from Spugnoir as he is grabbed at the back of his collar and pulled back into this cruel and cold world.

Mommmyyyyy! He then finds himself looking at Darius' ugly mug.

"So fast into the light my friend." Darius says then lays a warm hand on Spugnoir.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 = 13

Thanks, let us get out of this forest as soon as we can

You leave this unpleasant place and the corpse. After travelling for some more time you arrive in the late evening at Ascanor Lodge - or so you assume. The path leads to a large clearing with something like a fort on it. A ten feet high stockade surrounds an area of impressive size with the upper story of a building partly covered in ivy rises above it inside. The path leads to and past the main gate that is closed and guarded from the inside.

Before they set off again:
Mr. Spuginor, you still look weary, may I refresh you sir?

If he says ok Grergof reaches out a hand and refreshes his companion.
LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 1) = 5

Oh good gosh!!!! I guess he does it twice!
LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 6) = 19

Then as they come to the fort:
Grergof calls out to the gate:
Greetings Fine Folk. We come in the spirit of peace! May we approach the gate?

The guard looks irritated. They shortly discuss among themselves. Then one answers "We expect no guests today and this lodge is for invited guests only."

Thanks for your aid, Varsk.

At the fort, Spugnoir also calls out. We wish to deliver news that a guest of yours has fallen prey to the dangers of the forest and will not be arriving her, we have his invitation as proof. Sadly his body was not in a condition to transport.

After some more discussion one of the guards disappears. After a few minutes he comes back after a tidy, well dressed, and officious looking halfling. "I'm Belik of Courtaud, the lodges porter. How can I help you?" he asks through the gate.

So to be clear, we took how many crossbow bolts? And if everyone's cool with it I'll take the silver dagger from the corpse.

Darius nudges each of his comrades before speaking.

Darius casts Touch of Glory on everyone including himself which gives everyone a +5 on a Charisma Based check and lasts for one hour.

"Sir Belik. We are travellers and have come far. We found a man's body in the woods and narrowly avoided some traps and do not with to be stuck out in these dark woods for the evening. We are followers of Sarenrae and Iomedae and mean for no harm to befall you or those under your watch."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

"I was told you found one of our guests dead?" Belik inquires not sure what to make of what the old man tells.

"That we did. He had been stabbed and hung from a tree. It was... disturbing."

"How do you get the idea, that it is - or was - one of our guests?" Belik inquires.

Grergof says semi-quietly:
Mr. Redgrave, may I remind you that the invitation was found back by the huge creature, not on the corpse strung up on the trail. We still don't know who that man strung up was.

Then he turns to address the door.

Sir, we found an invitation on one of the bodies. That is how we knew this well dressed man was heading here.

Which reminds me, we are also carry a letter of introduction from Count Caromarc. Just give me a minute to find it.

Grergof digs in his pack and pulls out the still sealed letter from the count and holds Ioun for the man to take.

"Ah right right. My mistake." Darius nods to Grergof.

Stam remains quiet and lets the other talk as they already are, Stam will observe the man for anything magical on his person and that of the guard, then look at the gate.

"We did lay the man to rest, His name was Echtmoor Dravin."