GM SpiderBeard's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

As a note, sometimes it is unclear to me how people are using their actions. So if your actions are complicated or vague, please let me know what you're doing with your move and standard action. For example, I'm unsure if Arval double-moved, or did a single move and held his standard action. ;)

I did a move action and during the move action I pulled my shield. I discovered a bit too late now that I could also have done a double-move and pulled both my weapon and shield.

Yep! +1 base attack = draw weapon for free while moving. Also, I tend to assume that if you're expecting a fight, your weapons will be out. I'll only assume your weapon (and shield) are sheathed in clearly peaceful situations. Either way, you can take the double move.

Then I will adjust the move and also take out my sword, and move forward a bit more.

hmmm, can't we move our own counters. If not could you move vladlena 4 squares straight accoss5

I'm on a plane about to take off soncant view the map but you should be able to move your own counters. If you can't lemme know.

Eldon moves after Arval, drawing his rapier in the process. He continues to concentrate on the image of the huge snake while moving.

It works as planned! Now, once we're all in range, we can easily take these mindless creatures down!

As the party approaches, the panicked screams of the people in the house get even louder, after all, a snake the size of several cows just appeared on their farm. A zombie and skeleton, having seen their companion's hands slash through the snake, gain a moment of self-reflection.

Skeleton Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Zombie Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The zombie, true to its mindless nature decides the snake needs more attacking and swings out clumsily at it to no effect. The skeleton seems to be somewhat wiser, and charges straight through the illusionary serpent to engage with Arval! Although the doughty warrior is well-armed and brings his shield to bear, the fury of the skeleton's assault surprises him as it pulls aside his shield to slash at his neck.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Arval takes 3 damage. Lena, Norna, and Burlee are up!

are we on the suprise round or round one, I'm a little confused. Map seems to be working.

Round one
Lena continues to move to get a clear shot, then launches a fire bolt at the undead beast. advance three squares then firebolt. Targeting the yellow skeleton on arval, or if it is dead the nearest other undead

firebolt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 touch attack

damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Lena chants her spell, and extends her tiny hand. A bolt of flame nails the skeleton in the midsection, blowing out its spine. The skeleton collapses in a pile of bones.

Norna is up! And you're in round one, you took your surprise round action to move 20'. Check the combat tracker if unsure.

Norna breaks from her hustle into a run, making it to the first building, "No, Eldon, not the rapier!" she advises as she clatters by.

The last zombie sees its companions attacking the snake in vain and the danger presented by the group. It suffers a moment of cognitive dissonance and then starts lumbering towards Norna.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Noticing its friend walk straight through the snake, the green skeleton suffers another moment of doubt, which quickly passes. The skeleton keeps mindlessly attacking the snake.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Arval and Eldon are up!

I take a move and standard action.
Arval moves towards the zombie which is attacking Norna.
He attacks the zombie with a downward slash upon arriving.
I will use power attack
attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage roll: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Eat that!"

Arval stalks in, shield in place. The zombie begins clawing at Norna's armour but the doughty fighter makes quick work of it, his sword cleaving down brutally through the collarbone. A rancid stench fills the air as the decayed corpse collapses to the ground, twitching.

Eldon is up!

"It's only in case they get close, dear Norna!" Eldon continues to concentrate on the image of the huge snake. In front of the green skeleton, the snake's body creates a three feet high arch. Arval and Norna should now be able to see the position of the skeleton on the other side of the snake, as its lower body becomes visible.

Eldon takes a fully defensive stance while manipulating the snake's image. (Unless that'd complicate the movements of the snake, because then Eldon will only manipulate the snake.)

Alas, no. Concentration is a standard action and so is total defense. Giving the undead a +4 bonus now as it's become very obvious the snake is not a threat.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 4 = 17

The northernmost zombie finally understands that it's attacking a fake snake, and starts lurching southwards towards Arval.

"Mhhhhhhh..."

Lena and Norna are up!

Lena advances north 15 feet and firebolts the yellow skeleton.

firebolt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

you know I don't think mindless undead are affected by illusions. Might be worth checking on.

Channel Energy (harm undead), DC 12 for half: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Norna grasps her holy symbol of Desna and positive energy bursts out of her and around the undead abominations like swarms of luminescent butterflies.

Skeleton Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Zombie Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

A burst of holy magic flows out of Norna, just as a skeleton takes a fire bolt in the face. It shudders for a moment and explodes. The zombie groans, the holy energy ripping at its skin but it continues its approach.

Arval and Eldon are up!

I will only perform a power attack
Arval turns around to face the zombie, he makes a horizontal slash towards the head of the zombie.
"Will you just stop bothering me!"
attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
critical hit confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
damage roll: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
damage critical hit: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

I think I might have chopped his head off :D

Lean stares in amazement at Arval's strike.

You really are good with that hunk of steel

Eldon stops concentrating and the huge snake disappears. He moves over to Arval and the zombie in front of him, or what's left of it. "You're making a bloody mess here, I daresay."

Just to make sure the zombie's dead, Eldon pokes it with his rapier. "Take that!"

Poke: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Lena walks up to the house. Hello in there. It's safe to come out now, they are all...er...destroyed.
Lena looks at Eldon Eldon, stop poking the Zombie. It is already dead, I mean destroyed

"Most likely, they are all people that were once known to them," Norna says thoughtfully, melancholy over the results of their victory. "We shall have to notify the Pharasmin priests."

Arval steps up and with a single sweep of his blade sends the zombie's head flying. The giant snake disappears and you hear a groan of relief from within the farmhouse.

END OF COMBAT

An man rushes out of the house, looking in horror at the undead.

"That's me maw! And me paps! And... oh Gods save us." He rushes over to the body of a younger man. He weeps bitterly. A young woman steps out of the farmhouse, white-faced and shaking.

"T-thank ya strangers. We... we dunno what we'd be doing otherwise. My brother he... he ain't gonna be like them, will he?"

"I'd wrap them up tightly before burrying them," Eldon replies. "Dark powers are at work here. Until we've defeated them, anything could happen. You can just wrap them tightly in clothes by the way. There's no reason to treat the corpses without respect. Just make sure they won't be able to move, if they decide to try it."

Taking 10 for a total of 21 Diplomacy.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Norna tries to think hard about all of her experience with zombies and skeletons and whether one who is killed by one will rise as one themselves - "No, Maurit was a ghoul ... Wait, who was Maurit?" - but she advises the family, "You will really need to contact the Pharasmin priest, Father Grimburrow, since this is their specialty. (Mine is gnomish traveler's hats, shoes, and sticks, in case you have a particular need for advice in one of those matters.) (Oh, and I am very interested in the knowledge and opinions of animals - not just the burrowing ones, although badgers and I do go back a long way.)"

"Is anyone else injured?"

Later, Norna advises the group discreetly: "They did know their attackers, as if the undead were coming home. We may need to warn Ms. Lorrimar."

From the sounds of the farmer and his wife, it appears that the zombies and skeletons were from their family plot and dug themselves up before murdering the farmer's son. The family barricaded themselves in the house after that.

The farmer's daughter nods sadly. "We'll speak to t'Grimburrow. Looks like our family plot just... dug itself up. Can't thank ya enough strangers, we'll make sure the town knows of yer good deeds. Should go see to m'brother."

The family go to crowd over the corpse of their murdered son. You hear the father saying that they'll wrap the body up and stay at the temple tonight. Either way, they seem to have the situation in hand as much as they are capable.

Arval nods to the daughter and turns to the group to adress them.
"We should head back before it is too late. We still have a lot of business we must do. And maybe now you guys understand what I mean by that this place is dangerous. Something like this happened years before to me too, that's when I first met the professor."
He turns to walk back to the shack they just came from.

Lena follows arval. That's still not a reason not to guard the memorial. I agree it will be dangerous, but it will likely give us answers. We need information. Not having that would be more dangerous.

"Let's go back to the mansion first. I do think Norna raised a good point; we need to inform Kendra of the situation. Imagine if the professor..." Eldon shivers at the thought of his good friend and mentor turning into an undead.

Arval turns his head to the talking halfling.
"Hmmmm, yes that's a good point. let's head there then."
He turns towards the mansion and keeps walking.

The group make their way back to Lorrimor Place. They arrive to find Kendra unmolested, peacefully reading a book on the porch. Burlee, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, speaks up from the back of the group.

"Oi lads, I'mmae hafta part wit'ye. Too manneh walkin' deed an' not'nuff drink fer'mah! Better fights elsewhar."

Kendra carefully marks her book and closes it.

"I'll be sad to see you go Burlee, please take care of yourself. Come and visit."

Without waiting for goodbyes, Burlee stomps into the house to gather his things. Kendra looks at the rest of the party.

"I've received letter of two more late arrivals. His will named over twenty people but as you can see most did not get the notice. I didn't receive names but I hope they will be here by tomorrow. Have you found anything in your research?"

"Yes, I think we should guard the memorial, Lena. Watch and wait, since it could be very helpful to know the next letter: is it Vengeance or Versorianna or something else. If Gibs comes, then we will know it is him and we can have the sheriff take him into custody afterwards."

"Yes, we discovered something disturbing about Gibs..." Eldon sums up the events of the entire day to Kendra. He, of course, exaggerates how the rude tracker fled after admitting he was scared of ghosts and the dark. For soem reason Eldon's version of the story also involves the rude tracker admitting Eldon's way more courageous. Several times.

Eldon continues to tell about the farm, and how the family was attacked by their own dead relatives. "I hope... I hope you realize where I'm going with this, Kendra... Your father's resting, but if you happen to see him anywhere... run."

Kendra listens intently to the group and their plan, she smirks at Eldon's self-aggrandizement.

"This is very disturbing news. I'll make sure to bar the door - the thought of father..." she trails off with a shudder. "If you believe Gibs is behind the vandalism at the memorial then do what you think is best. Please try to spare his life. Too many questions to answer, and although never our friend, he has always been a good man."

Lena frowns at kendra's comment. you are much more generous that I would be, kendra. I saw what he tried to do at the funeral. If he yields, so be it. But if he is violent about it, also so be it.

Norna considers Lena's point, and nods, but adds, "Still he may be 'under the influence', as we studiers of the stars would say." Then, speaking in her best scholarly voice, "'Influence' being 'an ethereal fluid held to flow from the stars and to affect the actions of mortal folk.'"

"We should also think about what question to ask the spirits with the planchette and board. Like, 'What is your favorite color?' ... Or, perhaps something we will know soon, such as whether the word being formed is 'Versorianna' or not, which would tell us a little about whether it can see the future and if it is reliable. (Spirits do tend to be, well, flighty.) We should also have everyone there, since there was a disturbing force about when I did it alone. My favorite color is brown... No, wait! Green!"

Obligatory Monty Python reference.

"I sincerely hope that won't be the case Kendra. But some extra precaution won't hurt."

Arval thinks back on the hut and the weapon stored there.
"We'll try and chain him if needs be, if it's not possible then some wounds might be necessary. And maybe he doesn't struggle at all! We'll see, but I will keep your request in mind."

He turns to Norna.
"What? You want to ask spirits their favorite color? Why do you tell us your favorite color? You are not making any sense at all!"

Norna looks a bit indignant at Arval's confusion. "I am making perfect sense! But it just so happens that I happen to be talking to a humanoid, and believe me, while humans are not the most humanoid of the humanoids (that would probably be dwarves), they come in close behind!" Her face then softens and saddens a bit, and she continues, more empathetically, "Not that there is anything necessarily wrong with that, and, besides, you were born that way."

Turning serious, "But you are probably right as rain, though, and the really important matters should be left for later, when we know who we can trust. Back to the whole undead thing it is, then."

No! Yellow! AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Kendra looks at the group in confusion for a moment and then winces as a loud crash is heard, followed by a pop.

"I think Burlee found the wine, I should go make sure he's okay. Poor soul. I'll be vigilant for any walking dead. Good luck."

If I read the group's intention correctly, you intend to guard the monument overnight?

Lena taps her head as she looks at Arval Gnome! She then turns to Norna and says I think there are more focused questions we could ask, Norna. Like who or what is vandalizing the monument. We could do that tonight while watching it. But know, let us study the prof's notes and see if there is anything useful. That means you and norna, eldon, since you both know lots of stuff. Arval, why don't you nap so you will be fresh tonight, and I...will have a snack. And get one for everyone else of course. Let's get to it!

Lena suddenly looks at everyone staring at her and says Er...please.

"Hmmm. A nap doesn't sound wrong, I assume I'll have first watch then? "

After a bit of conversatie Arval moves to a secluded corner sits down on the ground and closes his eyes.

"Yes, let's take a look at these notes. Where are they, in the professor's study?" Eldon gets up and searches for the notes.

"Norna, will you get the board ready so we can ask it questions? I'd first like to study the notes though."

Link to Handout: Circled Entries in the Professor's Journal

The Professor kept a journal which you've had a look at previously. Most of it is mundane, however several entries are circled regarding his research into "the Way". He also has his collection of books, which may assist in research into topics relating to cults.

The party produces the planchette and board.

"So, perhaps what will be the next letter (or if feasible for such a device, conceivably what the whole name will be), or mayhap who it is (or was) the person that the - Whispering Way - was interested in at the prison, or perchance it would know if they had succeeded in their goal there or not ('lest haply thou wert' too late, Professor), as there be peradventure as to the goal of our adventure here, percase to indicate what would be the case at this date."

Norna pauses to place the brass scarab planchette on the board.

"... it is also possible that someone else would be best to ask or suggest the exact question."

assuming no one is talking to Arval anymore.

Arval turns in his nap looking restless. He mumbles in his sleep whilst turning.

"huhm... What color Hmmms... The goldfish?"

"'What color is the goldfish?'? ... What color is the goldfish? ... What color is the goldfish? ... What color is the goldfish?"
A 'kōan'? Is he, too, a Iori master? If 'still waters run deep', perhaps the greatest waves also top the deepest seas?"

What is the sound of one hand clapping? Who's buried in Grant's tomb? ;-)

what colour is Caesars white horse? Trick question.