GM SpiderBeard's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

"But with you freed and not going to Gallowspire doesn't that stop the ceremony for the elixir?" Elena asks.

"I don't know," he says. "Adrissant seemed pretty sure of himself. Maybe he's found something else to do with it. Or he'll come after me again! You can't let that happen!"

"You can't let that happen!"

Wren ponders this assertion, trying to clarify what the man means in its entirety...and thinking about 'Lena's disintigrates.

"Are you saying that you want us to unmake you, so that you can never be used for this foul purpose? Or something else?" Wren asks. "Why don't you let us try to kill them all first, end the threat from that side before we go down that path. It is noble of you to offer that option, however. Let us hope we don't need to take you up on that."

Lena stamps her foot in exasperation
Wren, you feather-headed ninny! He wants protection, not destruction. The best way to do that is to go to Gallowspire and end them.

LOL.

Galdana looks at Wren in horror, like she's completely fit-shaced at a party again, but even worse this time.

"Yes, what she said!" he adds after Lena's comment.

"Yes, what she said!" he adds after Lena's comment.

Wren nods understanding now, a smile showing her yellow cracked teeth.

”Well, that explains things. I though you wanted to be noble and just, but this is an okay idea as well, though might not be quite as certain,” Wren agrees.

”If that’s the case, we should rest up and be on our way to the bad place tomorrow. But we should also sell our gear and buy things that might help us.”

Bronin shakes his head. The way these people treat nobles. He understands Galdana's plight.
He stays quiet. He's been their target for too long.

Adder nods along.

"Baba Wren is right though, killing him would prevent them from using him." He shrugs. "Death is almost never permanent most of the time if you do it right anyway. Unless you want to be dead forever, there are ways. We would cut off your head, then boil your brains and stuff the corpse with garlic, rosemary, and scorpion peppers. Nothing would bother you."

He waits to see if the noble is willing to be noble.

Elena looks grim. "Are we really going to head to Gallowspire? Shouldn't we be going with an army of Lastwall Knights or something?"

See comments on Discussion Thread.

Wren ponders stuff.

One does not simply walk into Gallowspire. We will fly instead.

Sorry I couldn't resist

"Ye be havin' any idea how hard i' be t' ge' th' likes o' an army on the move? Be a half year a' best afore they be on th' way. In th' meantime, th' cult ain't gonna jest be kickin' back and relaxin'. They be raising th' Tyrant, an army o' undead, and a big ol' fuss afore tha' could e'en happen. Aye, we should be lettin' th' authorities know afore we head ou', bu' this be our only chance to sneak in an' handle stuff afore i' gets outta control!"

Galdana looks horrified by the conversation.

"I thought you were heroes, but ... you may be just as bad as the cult!"

Bronin shakes his head. He is dense, and even he got that sense motive.

He keeps his mouth shut. Evaluating his options.
He sees the plans of this party going to Gallowspire.
VestalLena, do you think it's wise to go to Gallowspire without an army?
I think WhiskeyJack's right and said it spot on. We can't give the cult time to further their plans. I only *wish* there was an army or more support to be had. Is that what you are saying too?

Desna preserve me! Settle down.
Hands-on her hips she says First, Galdana we are not going to kill you. Not even a little bit.

First, Galdana we are not going to kill you. Not even a little bit.

”Yes, that is very true. We could also imprison him in a secretive demiplane that the W’Way would never find, so your body could never be used as a vehicle for rebirth for the Whispering Tyrant…see? See? It doesn’t have to be complete and total disintegration. We have options,” Wren readily agrees that there is no need to kill Galdana at all.

She smiles very reasonably. Because she is very sane and reasonable.

Oooh boy, we better get the the loot sold quick before this conversation takes a turn.

Hush wren, that is not what I meant. We are not going to kill, maim, imprison, enspell or anything else you Galdana. Just stay here, and we will deal with the undead problem.

Lena waves the crazed elf away

We should settle our affairs here and leave swiftly. An army would only get in the way. Yes, we should let the authorities know (if they believe us) before we go. But really what are they going to do?

Lena flies up a little on her broom

I have been on this quest since the beginning. I have fought spirit, golem, werewolf, eldritch horror, vampire and other sundry undead. And I have seen friends leave and arrive. Put up with egotistical bard and utterly insane, bird obsessed elf. I even put up with Aristocrats! True I fried a lot of them, no loss as they are a waste of space and deserved it, sorry off on a tangent there. Every since professor Lorimar's funeral we have sought to bring those who killed him to justice. We are in the last stretch. Let's finish this cult.

She settles a bit.

But before we do that, let's sell out loot and stock up. This next fight is going to be big.

This next fight is going to be big.

Well, I'm ready for the next stage. I bought some great stuff. Who knew magic shops had such high end stuff?!

Bronin is rather unique in how he handles two weapons so adeptly.

With your preparations complete, you realize the time has come to beard Adivion Adrissant in his lair. Gallowspire lies in the middle of the blasted ruins of Adorak, some 50 miles northeast of Renchurch over rough highlands and across the headwaters of the Orphield River.

"...like I said, we need to f#+#ing beard that a&~$~##, put a f~%*ing beard on his f#*~ing face, and then use a...blahblahblah...to penetrate the shell, much like any embryo...blahblahblah...using the shaft end of a...blahblahblah...longest spear...blahblahblah...gunna define that beard, like those fancy ladies who have shaved...blahblahblah...beards! Like dwarves...blahblahblah..." Wren hurls invectives on the night before the party decides to assault the Gallowspire. She pauses to wipe white flecked spittle from her own face, then Bronin's, then launches again into a diatribe against beards and the Whispering Way.

"...and that's how you do a mustache ride! I know what I'm talking...blahblahblah...not enough eggs and flour! That's the thing!"

She's mostly drunk off of a double wine spritzer, and still very enraged. She really hates beards, and will take only be mostly hungover tomorrow when the party flies/rides/teleports to Gallowspire.

Once ready with Lena's chariot Elena opens a split in the shadows so that they can travel undisturbed and quickly using the shadow realm. "We can be there in a few hours at best."

Lena casts Mage armour, false life falselife: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12, then the phantom chariot, and we are off.

Preparations made, you travel through the Shadow Plane to the ruins of Adorak, home of Gallowspire. As you emerge, you're at first unsure you have actually returned to the Material Plane, as it seems even worse than the shadow realm.

Little more than crumbling facades and foundations remain of the city. The streets are interspersed with skull-cobbled roads, lich-tainted estates, impaling gardens, and massive sinkholes leaking sulfurous fumes. Above, strange supernatural lightning flickers from bruise-colored clouds rumbling like damned souls. Tempest winds seem to scream vengeance against anyone who would join them, and an acidic sleet that reeks of embalming fluid falls and burns the skin. You'll take 1 hp of acid damage per minute without some protection.

Campaign maps has been updated.

Just to be clear, we're on the Adorak map? There isn't much detail, nor much, idunno number or things that we might use to make a decision about things.

Wren takes a moment to look around and ponder the situation.

"Let's move back out of the acidic air. Might be that we need to come back on the morrow with better protections," Wren suggests, not wanting her beautiful feathered armor to be eaten by acid, or moths. Or acidic moths.

Wren doesn't have much magical protections vs. acid, and will cast some spells if we're going in today, or returning another day.

Yeah. And, yes, this is pretty free-form. Basically, you want to head to Gallowspire in the center of it. There doesn't really seem to be anywhere to get out of the storm here, though you could try going in one of the buildings. They definitely don't look very stable, though.

"Looks like we be in fer a rough time. So, le's be gettin' t' i'. Th' spire be in th' middle, aye? Push righ' in an' we destroy anythin' tha' moves. I ken be healin' th' rain damage ever' ten minutes or so, easy enough."

Yes, let us move forward. This is the kind of welcome I expected. Inhospitable, with a big screaming yell for us to," GO AWAY".

Bronin preps a spell and places it on his horse patience.

Elena's cloak sizzles and pops as the acidic rain burns right through it. "Do we have any way to protect us from this burning air. We won't ever make it close to Gallowspire if we have to go through it."

At 1 damage per minute? We can use CLW wands and mending and walk right through it

Clothing could be damaged

Oh Elana, don't be so dramatic. I'm more concerned with far more dangerous things here

Wren magics up and is ready to move on.

”Let’s approach from the north. An quickly,” Wren suggests. ”Though I think it would have been smarter to return to town and get adequate defense against this acidic mist.”

Let’s push people.

Elena nods. "Let's use the chariot and go to town." Elena says nervously, wrapping her cloak tight around her clothes not wanting them to be melted off.

what would defend against it?

Resist Energy scrolls.

Elena only has one shadow walk prepared, so I'm going to say you can't get back to town today. If you want to shelter in one of the crumbling buildings overnight, you can, and prepare it again the next day.

With few options, you begin making your way to the tower, the rain causing a burning where each drop hits your flesh. It seems a minor annoyance, but you've dealt with far worse, a thought that seems to presage exactly that! You've been traveling for 5 minutes, so 5 acid damage to everyone.

Suddenly the ground collapses beneath your feet, a 30-foot-around sinkhole threatening to swallow you all, look some ominous maw! DC 23 Reflex save, or fall in, taking 8 damage from falling. The sudden subsidence catches part of a nearby building, which seems to topple in slow motion right into the sinkhole 28 bludgeoning damage to anyone who failed the save above; plus anyone in the sinkhole is trapped without air as if they were in the bury zone of an avalanche. You immediately notice a foul, sulfurous smell radiating from the broken ground. It radiates 60 feet from the sinkhole's perimeter; you can hold your breath to avoid inhaling it, but if you choose note to, please make a Fort save (if no one fails their Reflex save, we can handwave the fumes, as you won't have any reason to stay nearby to deal with it).

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'll be AFK on Thursday, but then back for Friday and posting as usual (or hopefully slightly more often).

Lena casts featherfall on as many as she can who need it

She habitually flies on her broom, so no need for a save?

Wren, already flying with Overland Flight, avoid her poor little birdies as they try to fly without wings. Normally, she would suggest having magic or feathers (or both preferably) before trying such a stunt, but is ever supportive of her little chickadees and their attempts to emulate her.

She also has Feather Fall should it be needed.

Wren flies away from the oppressive odor while she waits for others to climb out of the pit.

If and when others are safe, Wren will cast Mass Fly on the group in the hopes of avoiding other, similar miss-flying adventures.

150 minutes of flying, peeps.

Yeah, if you're flying previously, no need for a save (vs. the pit, at least; if anyone falls in, you'll still need to be wary of the fumes.

Elena is caught completely off guard. She screams as she falls into the pit, with bits of the building falling all around her.

Elena Reflex DC 23: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Fort Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Elana, remember the feather fall cast on you. Stops the fall damage, anyway

reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
The drops of acid on him and his clothes are an annoyance, but it seems to remind Bronin of just how dangerous this place is. Bronin senses the ground start to give way before it does. He takes a running dive at VestalLena to knock her to safety- his only thoughts are for her survival and preserve the brightest flower in this accursed land.

@gm, with a nat 20, any chance I can save Elena and Bronin drop into the pit instead of her?

Sure, on a natural 20, I'll allow that.

As he sees Elena start to fall, Bronin leaps forward and shoves him back, falling himself into the pit. He's saved from harm by Lena's spell, descending slowly as he sees Adder start to fall past him -- only to be saved by Wren's spell. Unfortunately, neither's magic is strong enough to save them from the falling building, which slams into them and buries them under rubble. So 28 bludgeoning to both, plus both are buried

The foul, sulfurous smell radiating from the broken ground starts to clog everyone's nose and mouth. It radiates 60 feet from the sinkhole's perimeter; you can hold your breath to avoid inhaling it, but if you choose note to, please make a Fort save (if no one fails their Reflex save, we can handwave the fumes, as you won't have any reason to stay nearby to deal with it).

Adder save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Whiskey save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Adder, are you still with us? It's been a month since your last post.

We'll go into rounds now, as there's a bit of a clock in terms of damage and effects. In addition to the poisonous gas, characters take 1d6 points of nonlethal damage per minute while buried. If such a character falls unconscious, he must make a DC 15 Constitution check each minute. If it fails, he takes 1d6 points of lethal damage each minute until freed or dead. Characters who aren't buried can dig out their friends. In 1 minute, using only her hands, a character can clear rocks and debris equal to five times her heavy load limit. The amount of loose stone that fills a 5-foot-by-5-foot area weighs 1 ton (2,000 pounds). Armed with an appropriate tool, such as a pick, crowbar, or shovel, a digger can clear loose stone twice as quickly as by hand. A buried character can attempt to free himself with a DC 25 Strength check. Obviously you all have magic that can possibly help here too.

@Players posting the appropriate spoiler.
Bronin body blocks Vestallena with a strength born of his belt, she flies 20 feet to more solid ground. He mouths the words "live my l---" before falling below the ground level. With magics quickly taking effect on his body, his decent slows, but the rocks and ground pelt him with such force as to render his armor useless.

Bronin lands with an "OOOHHHFFF". Breathing in the toxin.
save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 Toxin DC unknown.
Bronin tries to work some divine magics to aid his situation.
Cast Freedom of Movement. @Gm, please advise if I can use V,S,M in this situation. Plus, does this spell even help?

STR DC 25: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Adder holds his breath and begins to move the building off of himself, unsuccessfully.

CON DC 15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Then he passes out.

I don't think you're unconscious, unless there's something I'm missing. You have to hold your breath, but you can do that for a number of turns equal to your Con, at least (minus rounds for activity, etc.).

Ah, if I fall unconscious then I make the check, I read it wrong.

Wren flutters around, uncertain what to do. She clearly lacks the strength to move rocks, but can disintegrate them out of the way, but that’s dangerous.

1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 17 + 2 = 21 Perception

Can we any part of the buried people (for targeting purposes)? Also need to know if FoMove helps.

Whiskeyjack clanked and clambered to his feet, as surprised as the rest that he hadn't managed to fall in. Coughing at the foul stench, he started to swear at Wren and her abysmal hygiene before he realized it wasn't coming from the elf. He held his breath, looking around for the others. Spotting the ladies, he looked into the sinkhole to see if he could see any part of Adder or Bronin. His instinct said both were likely alive, if buried down there.

Whiskeyjack leaped into the pit with a crowbar in hand and began levering up the masonry and smaller stones, flinging them up and behind him as he began to dig his companions out. His held breath left him in a gasp at the first armload, and he coughed again at the acrid stench

Armed with a crowbar, determination, and a bit of whiskey Whiskeyjack can move 4600 pounds/minute

fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Elena skids to the ground as Bronin shoves her out of the way. She holds her hand outstretched to try and grab ahold of him. "Bronin no!" She scrambles to the side of the pit. "What have you done?" SHe look around. "Help me get them out of there. I can't lift it alone..."

I'm going to say they're completely buried, so you can't see them. It looks like FoM should work, but you'd need to be able to touch them. That said, Whiskey might be able to unbury them pretty quickly it looks like; I need to doublecheck how long that will take and what saves/other effects you may need to deal with, which I can do in the a.m.