GM SpiderBeard's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Chapter Five, Ashes at Dawn

When last we left our heroes...

You have finally one up on the Whispering Way - the Raven's Head is yours. This ancient, powerful warhammer is apparently a key ingredient for something called The Carrion Crown. The Whispering Way's actions to this point have begun to take shape. Whatever the Carrion Crown is, they want to build it. You recall the poem which, now that you understand the Carrion Crown is a thing to be built, has form and context.

Lena was the first to embark on this mission, and it has been a long one. What seems like years ago, the journey began in Harrowstone as firends of Professor Lorrimor were gathered to mourn his death. There, the Whispering Way's theft of the Warden of Harrowstone's soul caused chaos as the ghosts of the prison were unleashed.

Northwards to Lepidstadt, there you found the intelligent golem the innocent, childlike Beast, who had been framed for the theft of the Face of Dagon er, Seasage Effigy, er, Sausage Effigy, which you have now found and destroyed. You cleared the name of the Beast, and followed the Whispering Way eastwards into the Shudderwood.

There, the Whispering Way had stolen the heart of the Packlord, the leader of all werewolves of Shudderwood, triggering a civil war. Not only did you manage to avert further disaster and mass deaths, but you pursued the Whispering Way to your first direct confrontation with them - against Auren Vrood at Feldgrau.

You destroyed their burgeoning skeletal army and finally slew the great necromancer himself. It was here you learned their foul purpose - the stolen items were components for the Carrion Crown, whatever that may be. However, before his death Auren Vrood passed the Sausage Effigy to a dark rider, who fled to the south, to Illmarsh.

Illlmarsh was a troubled town. Your pursuit of the dark rider lead you to uncover the town had been fostering their daughters to the horrific skum - an ancient piscine people who required humans to propagate their kind. The skum had fallen to strange beings from the outer stars, the mi-go, who had conquered the skum and were preparing to summon Shub-Niggurath to this world!

You slew the skum, and defeated Shub-Niggurath's spawn. In doing so, the mighty relic the Raven's Head was recovered. This weapon is what the Whispering Way needed for the Carrion Crown, and what they intended to trade the Sausage Effigy for. The notes found on the body of the Dark Rider gave you your next destination: the capital, Caliphas.

There, your goal is quite simple. Find the Whispering Way, and stop them.

Ten days later...

A week and a half has passed as you travel to Caliphas. Lena's phantom chariot proves to be the ideal ride, if appropriately spooky. Shadowy horses thunder below you as you glide effortless across the land, scaring the s#++ out of peasants you pass by. The vast, now somewhat unsettling sight of Lake Encarthan remains reliably to your left as you follow the coastal roads.

Your journey has been safe, although the occasional Ustalavian menace arises, nothing is a significant threat and besides - you're in a ghost chariot.

Lena's chariot slows up a little bit as you approach a bridge.

The road narrows as it passes between two hillsides topped with skeletal trees looming to the east and west. Just ahead, a stone bridge spans a wide, fast-moving stream with stone sentinels in stag-antlered helms guarding each end.

A headless figure astride a dark horse with flaming hooves stands in the middle of the bridge.

Oh man, I love these recaps. +1

Wren stops the chariot as the rider comes into view, soaring out the truck and into the air. She moves slightly close to get a better look at the rider.

She examines the rider and horse, because most normal hooves aren't on fire.

1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22 Planes
1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30 Religion/Arcana/whatever

Elena stares in wonder at the land below the chariot. "This is amazing!" She calls out over the wind as he hair and hood whip backwards.

Upon seeing the rider her heart stops for a moment in her chest. "Is that one of yours too Vladlena?"

Knowledge: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Dungeoneering, Engineering, Geography, Nobility, Religion (+6)
Arcana, History, Nature, Planes (+9)
Local (+10)

k. religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Whiskeyjack spent most of the last ten days on the floor of the chariot with his flask in hand and his eyes firmly closed. Dwarves were made to be on the ground, or under it. They weren't made for swimming, or flying, or riding in a ghost chariot across the skies. Oh sure, it was all rainbows and sunshine for the new girl, and Wren was as crazy as an elf should be, but not Whiskeyjack. he could hardly wait for the trip to be over.

When Wren and Elena noticed the headless horseman, Whiskeyjack peeked over the edge of the chariot, but he head was swimming. Hard to remember anything with his head swimming like that. Maybe another drink would help.

Lena has mage armour and phantom chariot
Before: Lena says Well you can get a coach if you like, Elena. Or we can use this.
Once going, the chariot rockets along a great pace. Obstacles are simply avoided by the chariot hoping over them, with Lena saying upsy daisy and here's a big one
Now: Lena, whose chariot it brushes aside a certain elf's motions, and halts the chariot. She stares.
well, that's a thing.
She casts shield on herself.
We could go around it. Or I could blast it now,

Adder stares.

"Maybe is friendly?"

He doubts it.

Sorry, crazy day yesterday.

Although it's a little disconcerting to see something regard you without a head, he does just so. The headless horseman speaks, his voice echoing near you, despite being a little ways away.

"Come forth, I would parlay. Let us exchange names by way of introduction so we may speak as civilized folk. I am Barliss Rask."

Wren identifies both the rider and the steed as a dullahan astride a nighmare.

Terrifying reapers of souls, dullahans are created by powerful fiends from the souls of particularly cruel generals, watch-captains, or other military commanders. Sent back from the pits of Hell to sow terror and harvest new souls, dullahans return to the towns or villages they lived in as mortals. While their favored victims are evil men and women (or their living descendants) whose souls are destined for Hell, the dullahans have no qualms about adding innocents to their lists of victims. Dullahans are skilled with swordplay, and have spell resistance.

Nightmares are the flaming harbingers of death, native to Abaddon and noted steeds of the most evil of creatures. They have no particular invulnerabilities.

Well, I'm nobody and these are nix, nada, nothing, nirvana, and crazy elf. Oh, and the chicken is birdy. Speak your peace, and quickly. There is a bad smell around.

Lena watches the undead carefully.

I think we are quite ok here. So parley already

Elena smiles and waves as her name is called. She whispers to Vladlena. "He just wants to talk Lena."

Wren listens and waits, keeping herself well out of reach of the parlayers. She will listen.

Bronin sees and knows when things are just a bit outside his sphere of influence.
The evil entity is not his target, unless it is associated with The Whispering Way or those that want to target his home of Syradel.

Let FieryLena work her mojo. Should there be a need, maybe he can add a word of wisdom or two to avoid a confrontation.

Bronin has an amazing horse with horseshoes of speed . Just FYI for me? Is Lena's chariot faster? I think Patience has speed 80.

There's a moment of awkward silence, but the horseman simply remains on the bridge. "I come bearing an offer. I have bested you before, would-be heroes. It is I who delivered the Packlord's heart to my masters, and the soul of Warden Lyvran before them. And here now I wait for you, collecting heads while you tarry."

The headless horseman turns his steed slightly. There's a burst of smoke from the nightmare and as the smoke clears you see six heads tied to the saddle, their faces agape with their final screams.

"You have no hope, and your dreams will crumble like ashes in your mouth should you face my splendor. My masters have awarded my efforts with great powers. I now seek one thing." He points with his wicked longsword at Whiskeyjack. "The Raven's Head is ours by rights. Hand it over, abandon your meddling in the affairs of the Whispering Way, and return to the meaningless lives you had before you took up this fool's errand."

Lena grinned, a smile that always implied fire And destruction.
oh, really. If you have had some success, it has been because you have been running so hard from us. We have destroyed every thing flung before us, and are stronger for it. And now we are here. And so are you.
Flickers of fire leap over lena's hands and in her eyes.
How about a counter offer. You tell us everything the whispering is up to in all this, and then sit quietly while we destroy you.
She chuckles
or you could do what you do best. Run.
She stands, a rod in one hand, and the other ready to cast.
you want my name. You will find it in the heart of the flame. You want the ravens head? Come and take it.

Hearing the threats Elena leans over and shouts back. "YOUR MASTERS SENT YOU TO KILL CHILDREN!" She curses and then quickly realizes she is yelling at a flaming, headless man and ducks back into the chariot.

If within 30 feet will Misfortune DC 22. If not then Major Curse (Each turn, the target has a 50% chance to act normally; otherwise, it takes no action.) DC 21.

and so it begins

Bronin has found his quarry.
So, you are a decorated member of The Whispering Way? I blame you and your organization for my plight.
Patience and I shall ride you down. If you value yourself a capable rider, you shall find your superior in this saddle!

Bronin looks ready to joust.
Please advise when initiative,as Bronin wants to assign this thing as his Quarry.

Lena seeing the die is cast, joins in with a cast of her own, fireball

sr: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

empowered fireball: 10d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3) + 1 = 39 x1.5=58 damage, reflex dc 21 for half

"You will not have the Raven's Mace under any circumstances! In fact, we will destroy it at our first opportunity!"

Wren watches as the carnage ensues. She will act as well if the dummyhand and flightscare survive the initial onslaught.

Rask and his mount both leap out of the worst of the fireball as he shrugs off Elena's curse. however, he is still slow to act!

Wren, Bronin, and Adder have surprise round actions!

Bronin spies his Quarry and determines that he is a major figure within the Whispering Way. He grits his teeth and readies to show this fool what he is made of.
He puts his heels into patience spurring the mount into position.

Bronin gets an action and the horse gets an action - right? If so, Patience will move into position marked on the map.

Activate Quarry, as I am assuming it or the nightmare are undead or an outsider. Plus Disgraced Noble Trait.
With Quarry, DN, and Favored Enemy: +8 to hit - +6 Damage. Crits always confirm. keep in mind Long Sword is Keen, and crits on 17-20.

Round of Surprise

Wren casts Greater Invisibility on herself, still floating 15' above the ground.

Adder moves into position while studying his foe.

A long, low howl sounds out through the region and enormous undead wolves assemble themselves around the wagon before they burst from the bushes, charging in! Barliss kicks his nightmare and the steed charges straight for Bronin, his flail extending to an extraordinarily long length and bursting into flame.

The flail hammers into Bronin with incredible force, cracking ribs and burning him horribly!

Bronin is critted for 53 points of damage! Everyone is up. A bunch of dire ghoul wolves are on the map.

Whiskeyjack gets a surprise round, and then a full round action 'cause he's all sexy.

Bronin takes the hit. It rocks him in the saddle, but he's able to stay there and he does the same to Barliss--- charge straight forward!

attack charge: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
damage doubled: 2d8 + 32 ⇒ (5, 8) + 32 = 45 double due to spirited charge

Showing his skill as a Horse Lord, Bronin opens up Patience to attack by the Wolf/ghast, but makes the horse kanter left at just the right time to avoid the enemy.
Wolves. I hate wolves. Almost as much as I hate The Whispering Way.
No way shall I have a repeat of FireSeeds at the hands of this lot.

Bronin and Patience fly past Barliss, exacting pain and turning around at the end of the bridge. Bronin pulling out his short sword in his off hand.

Whiskeyjack, seeing how things were going, quickly augmented himself with the favor of his god, then cast a protection charm on all of his nearby companions. Leaping to a defensive posture, he raised his shield to ward off attacks from the wolves.

"Ye be wantin' th' hammer? Then ye be comin' t' take i' if'n ye can, ye half-witted camel fluffer! Know when ye're beat an' slink off int' th' woods t' die afore I be cuttin' of yer arms and stuffin' them up your poop chute to' join yer head!"

Casting Divine favor on myself as surprise round action, then communal protection against evil for everyone (the subject gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves. Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures. the spell also prevents bodily contact by evil summoned creatures.) SS +2 is up!

Round 1

”Oh dearie! There sure are a lot of ugly dogs in this town.”

Invisible (greatly so), Wren takes in Bronin’s wound with a grimace. She flaps another 10’ up and casts Fire Snake at the two backside wolves.

11d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 6, 4, 5, 1, 5, 5, 1, 1) = 34 fire damage, DC 23 reflex for half

Concentration DC 23: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

The darkness lends to Elena's strength as she stumbles back away from the wolf, grabbing ahold of Potpie in the process as she falls from magical chariot.

The shadows cling and grab ahold of nearby stream. Tendrils pull at it until it holds onto a dark roiling orb of water that torrents towards the wolf next to Elena. The water quickly erodes away the ground leaving a jagged pit beneath the wolf closest to her.

Cast Shadow Conjuration to create a spiked pit. DC 19 Will save to disbelieve. Failure of Will save means the spiked pit is 50 feet deep and deals 5d6 falling damage along with 2d6 piercing damage. Pass of Will save means that it is only 20% real. So 10 foot pit with 1d6 falling damage.

Half-witted camel fluffer is g~&$$!n amazing.

There is a thunderous crash as Bronin and Barliss Rask crash into each other, both inflicting grievous blows on the other as their steeds scream into the Ustalavian fog. One of the dire wolves snaps at Bronin's horse as he rides by, but Bronin wheels his mount out of the way at the last moment.

Spooky invisible Wren babbles as she lights the wolves on fire, one of them avoiding the worst of the blast. Elena weaves the strange, powerful magic which possess her and there's a yelp as a wolf drops out of sight into a pseudo-real pit.

Adder is up!

I thought you'd like that. /bows

In my RL game last week, my fighter told someone that if they didn't back down, he'd smash out their teeth so'd they be good for nothing but a part-time camel fluffer in a Qadiran fethish bordello. Rolled a '2' on the intimidate die, but the Gm loved it so much he gave me a +10 bonus to the roll :)

Adder steps forward and swings at the horseman.

Attack: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 3) + 21 = 28

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (1, 4) + 21 = 26

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 3) + 21 = 28

Attack 1 Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
Crit Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (2, 4) + 21 = 27

Attack 2 Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Crit Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (2, 2) + 21 = 25

Sweet Jesus that's some crits there.

Adder leaps into the air, laddering up onto the nightmare with his falchion and swinging the sword with deadly accuracy. He cleaves right through the black plate mail protecting Rask again and again, almost outright killing the black rider. He roars in response, bringing his flail down again and again while the nightmare twists to kick Adder.

The wolves howl again as they move in for the kill. Once races across the bridge to attack Bronin while another moves underneath Wren to go for Whiskeyjack. Both are wounded, and Whiskeyjack is pulled to the ground! As well, the fangs of the wolves carry a horrifying numbing sensation, which both of you manage to fight off. The wolf in the pit just whines a lot.

Finally, the nightmare lets out a jet of black smoke which blasts Adder in the face. The smoke is disgusting, clingy, and nauseating but Adder manages to fight off a wave of sickness. However, it's a little harder to see the horseman.

Adder takes 43 damage. Bronin takes 20 damage. Whiskeyjack takes 21 damage and is prone!

Everyone is up! Also some very useful fort saves made.

whiskeyjack!
Lena, seeing her boon companion fall magic missiles the wolf that did it.

empowered magic missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 2, 2) + 5 = 16 x1.5=24

Elena scampers and crawls through the mud away from the wolf and ever growing pit around her. As she draws close to the headless horseman her amulet begins to grow hot with a dark hot burning sensation. Grabbing ahold of it she tears her hands away in pain, though she isn't burned. Looking at them she shakes in fright, not sure what is happening. As her palms raise towards the horseman dark red hellfire bursts free at him.

Hellfire Ray vs Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 11d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 1, 1, 4) = 41

If killed by the ray then need a DC 21 Will save or his soul will be damned to hell as he bursts into brimstone.

"Ge' off me, ye flea-bitten excuses fer a demon's lapdog!" Whiskeyjack aimed a blow at the underside of the dire wolf's jaw.

attack,pa,df,prone: 1d20 + 12 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 3 - 2 - 4 = 27
1d10 + 6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + 3 = 19

attack,pa,df,prone: 1d20 + 7 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 3 - 2 - 4 = 7
1d10 + 6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 4 + 3 = 23

Round 2

Wren invisibly offers a fireball to the back two wolves, careful to avoid her companions.

10d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 5, 1, 1, 2, 5, 5, 5) = 34 fire damage, DC 21 reflex for half

The haughty horseman is an easy target as Elena draws upon the thing within her. The battlefield falls silent for a moment as she stares at her amulet before dark red fire engulfs the horseman. His scream is pure agony as he consumed by the flame.

He collapses from the nightmare, writhing around wildly on the ground and as he does so, hands burst forth from the earth.

"NO! NO! THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS PROMISE! NOOOOOO!!!!!!"

The hands grip him fiercely, but pass through his armour, instead hooking onto something within. His scream shakes the trees as his soul is wrenched from his undead body and dragged into the earth to Hell for eternity.

The silence suddenly breaks as Whiskeyjack swings up mightily from the ground. Raven's Head cracks into the dire wolf's ribs, flinging it off of him. Lena's magic missile catches the wolf in mid-air, killing it as well.

Bronin, Adder, and Wren are up!

With the rider gone Adder studies and attacks the horse.

"You have made mistake, attacking us."

Attack: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 2) + 21 = 27

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 3) + 21 = 28

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (2, 2) + 21 = 25

Unbeknownst to the wolf, Bronin hates wolves. He has a personal vendetta against all wolf kind.
and here is an Omega-version of a wolf.

You shall die! You are a plague upon the land of Golorian!
He unloads with swings from his swords - sitting atop Patience.

attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

SS attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

SS attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Third Long Sword attack! Say Hello to 11th level!
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

I don't have my character, so I am guessing on the above. I am underguessing my bonuses as I am crazed at work this week.

Please don’t be waiting on the ninja, Wren, for she has already gone.

Wren preens her feathers invisibly, worried that someone might see her.

Sorry, life got life-y. Back!

I love how Bronin secretly hates wolves.

With the headless horseman falling, the fight quickly turns. A series of vicious attacks on the lone wolf in the fight and the nightmare turns from a sure defeat into a rout. The nightmare lets out another blast of smoke before there's a pop sound and it vanishes from his plane of existence. The undead dire wolf facing off with Bronin seems to crumble as the horseman is gone, and a few quick blows finish it off. The last wolf whines pitifully in the pit, trapped and desperate to flee.

End of Combat

The body of the dark rider has a variety of valuable gear on it:

- +2 full plate, made of black and orange armour
- +1 flail
- +1 amulet of natural armour
- +1 ring of protection
- a strange amulet - the decoration on the front appears to be a skull with two ioun stones for eyes, which are currently glowing red

Wren examines the items, trying to describe them to others. She holds the strange amulet with her wand of Magic Missile, hoping that there is nothing dangerous about it as she delves into its magics.

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 2 = 38 Spellcraft

So, everyone should dip a level into Ranger and get a pack of wolves?

Elena gasps down at the amulet around her neck. Her mouth agape as she looks to the others in surprise and excitement. She leaps up and down. "Did you see that!? He was all NO, plans... and then all those hands grabbed him."

Lena shakes her head.
Pharasma claims her own. This one learned that lesson hard.

"No better'n th' jackanapes deserved, wha' wit' th' deals 'e made an' all. Them evil types ne'er seem t' understand tha' when ye make deals wit' dark forces, ye always be holdin' th' stinky end o' th' stick when th' deal comes due."

"Bronin, lad. Ye be pickin' up tha' rign an' amulet so's ye ken stop gettin' bea' up so bad in these fights an' I ken no' be burnin' trough me wands so fast. Speakin' o' which, ever'one gather abou'"

Whiskeyjack channeled healing power a few times, then set about poking people with his healing stick.

3 channel energies: 9d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 6, 6, 2, 3, 6, 5) = 35

If you are still injured after that, use the wand and tell me how many charges to take off

Adder flicks the smoking blood off his blade.

"Wonder who sent this one?"

Wren cautiously holds the amulet with her wand, realizing that this was probably a good idea. As the group settles in, the pit spell expires and the remaining wolf is quickly dispatched. When it is destroyed, the amulet stops glowing.

With her growing knowledge of the Whispering Way, Wren identifies this amulet as a moribund key.

Greater agents of the Whispering Way use these silver medallions as keys to their sanctuaries. Each moribund key bears an engraved skull with two gray, burned-out ioun stones for eyes. Small openings line the coin’s outer edge. By turning the skull’s head, an inner plate marked with runic symbols lines up with these openings to establish different combinations.

Each setting matches symbols inscribed on objects of great importance to the cult, such as statues, paintings, and doors. The proper arrangement of these runes activates stored spell effects in such objects, including
powerful wards, programmed images, or the release of arcane locks.

The bearer of a moribund key can cast message at will, and spectral hand and vampiric touch 3 times per day. In addition, the skull’s eyes glow
when undead approach within 60 feet.

A moribund key bestows one negative level on any good creature carrying it. The negative level remains as long as the medallion is carried and cannot be overcome in any way while the medallion is in that creature’s possession.

I was on the other side of the bridge when it looked like the death rider got killed rekilled.
when Elena mentioned:

"Did you see that!? He was all NO, plans... and then all those hands grabbed him."

Again, sorry, I did not. The stonework got into my line of sight. But, you seem estatic.

Bronin pats Patience on the bridle and speaks words of encouragement to his horse.

Very interesting amulet, though that negative level would be painful.

"And what does a moribund key unlock?" Elena asks curiously as most of the world outside of her village interested her as she had never traveled outside of it before.

Wren explains the amulet, thinking who might be the best to carry it, if it should not be destroyed.

”Elena, would your chicken be able to wear it? Or would he peck at it constantly and be distracted by it?” Wren asks curiously. ”I cannot use it for my love of birds shows my love of almost all things.” Wren smiles her yellow toothed and cracked smile to all, trying to show some forced love.

”Shall we continue on my dearies? Might be we can sell the amulet and recoup some of our travel expenses inside the town?”

Unless others have other things to do, Wren will proceed and look for a nice tavern that seems full of gossip.