GM WhtKnt's Darkness Within: A Carrion Crown Adventure Path

Game Master WhtKnt

I'm not seeing the Lopper on the map?

Ella nods grimly at Judah's prognosis, and isn't surprised when the abomination rises - though she does wince as it slices into Cassiel. "I think we can all guess who this might be..." she says grimly. Furrowing her brow and taking a step back, she focuses on Edmund...

Full-round action to shift Ed to incorporeal form!

"Put her body on the bed, take a knife and lop her head," Lorant quotes. "The axe! Who's carrying the axe?!"

"I got it!" Judah said. He was carrying all the weird serial killer relics.

He drew the axe and swung it at the ghost with all his panicked might.

Lopper's Axe: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

His swing was all panic, and not much might.

Cassiel winces and presses a piece of Iomedae's divine might to himself.

LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

He stanches the bleeding before looking over at Judah. "The axe! Give me the axe!"

While he waits for the axe, he prepares to dodge the next blow.

Total Defence.

Lorant lifts up his shield, knowing it wouldn't help much against the Lopper, but knowing unless he or Cas got the axe, neither of them were going to damage the ghost, and Cassiel WAS the more adept warrior.

Total Defense as well.

Cassiel and Lorant both go full defensive as Judah flails helplessly at the figure. The Lopper visibly recoils before the ax, however. The spirit swings at Lorant, hitting despite the target's efforts to avoid the blow! (Lorant takes 6 points of negative energy damage and 6 bleed!)

The party is up!

Lopper vs. Lorant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus 1d6 ⇒ 6 bleed

How much of that damage do I actually take? While Life-Dominant Soul allows me to be healed by positive energy, it doesn't reverse negative energy's effects on me. Would I just take the bleed damage?

Judah had a strong desire to keep the axe. He didn't know where it came from. He didn't even really like it, but he wanted to have it.

Luckily for him, he wanted to not die even more. He slapped the handle of the axe into Cassiel's hand. As he did the strange runes that faintly crawled on his skin surged to Cassiel and began to spread quickly.

"W͉̜̮̰͚̱h̼͇̖̟ͅa̞̘̙̮t ̟͚̯̺̠̳͇t̶̮͚͚h̞̖͝e̤̤ நரகம்?" Judah muttered, looking at his hand in confusion. Without any time to really think about it, he scrambled back away from teh murderous ghost.

Casting mage armor on Cas and giving him the axe. Then backing up 5 feet.

Mage Armor probably won't do much for Cas, unfortunately, since he's already wearing armor - the spell gives you an armor bonus, it doesn't enhance the bonus of armor you're already wearing. :(

Ella scrambles back out of the melee, hoping to avoid both the Lopper and Judah, armed with an ax he doesn't know how to use. When she sees Lorant start bleeding, she cries out. "Lorant!" Grasping his hand, she focuses her energies on him in an attempt to keep him alive a little longer.

Casting virtue on Lorant, giving you 1 temp hp. (I'm not sure this will actually help with the bleeding...but it'll weaken his next attack, at least.)

Edmund continues to howl in rage, and the two incorporeal forms swirl together. "He's mine! He's mine! THEY'RE ALL MINE!!"

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Mage armor is a Force effect, so it's effective against incorporeal attacks. His regular armor isn't.

Derp, of course! Brilliant move, and silly me!

Cassiel snatches up the axe and moves to smack the Lopper with it!

Power Attack (Axe): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage...?: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Uhm, yes, Lorant. Let's go with just the bleed damage.

Judah, unfortunately, the quarters are too tight and there is no place to retreat save straight up!

Edmund punches at the incorporeal figure, managing to hit it once for minimal effect. Cas swings wildly, nearly taking Judah's head off, but completely misses the ghostly figure. The ghost swings again at Cass, managing a deep cut that bleeds profusely. Cass takes 2 points of negative energy damage and bleeds for 5 points. Lorant bleeds for 1 point.

Cassiel grits his teeth and swings again!

Power Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

This time, his swing is considerably more accurate!

Then he invokes more of Iomedae's power to heal himself!

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Gain 4 back and bleeding stops.

Judah tried to use a vial of holy water to hurt the angry ghost, but in his fumbling panic he mostly just poured it on himself.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Edmund continued to pummel the other ghost.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ella sees Judah’s fumble and is inspired. “Good idea, Judah!” Yanking our her own flask of holy water, she attempts to douse the ghost.

Ranged touch (into melee): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 5 for 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

...maybe he’ll take splash damage?

Lorant flashes a fanged grin as the Lopper's strike cuts, but does not corrupt.

"Doesn't work on me, Lopper!"

Knowing he wasn't equipped to strike back, and the others seem to have the Lopper well in hand, he instead sees to himself.

Do I have one of the healing droughts we bought?

I assume that you do. I really don't know.

Eleanora attempts to splash the ghost with holy water but is largely unsuccessful, however, a few drops do fall upon the spirit, which lets out a threatening hiss. Lorant looks to heal himself, searching for one of the healing draughts. Judah also tries to splash the spirit with holy water but fumbles with the bottle, managing to cover himself and only a few drops hit the spirit, again eliciting a reaction. Cassiel gets a solid hit on the ghost and is rewarded by a screeching howl as the ax bites into the incorporeal form! (If you wish, you can add an additional d6 every time you hit the Lopper with his ax.)

Angered, the spirit now attacks Cassiel in earnest, but the swing is blocked by the invisible armor that Judah put on Cass. Lorant bleeds for 5 unless he heals.

The party is up!

"͎̗̞͕̜"̰D͕͔̝͉á͚͔̗m̩̟̘̤̘m̭̀i̦̣̫͙̪͉̗͝t̤͈̠̜ͅͅͅ..̣̻̕.̘̰͝ ̠̞͓̹̳͇̯͢f̤̞̻͟ụ̡͉͚c̵̜̜͔̺͓k̤i̺̲̝̗͓̺͞n͚̦̟̪̬̱͚͘g̥̦̹̺͔̜͔ ̻̼̣d̠̳͈͈a͏m̡̪m̗̦̦i̢t̤̞̙͖.̴͈̫̫͇͉̺͍..̩͞"̰͠ͅ"̼͘ Judah muttered, his voice dripping with inhuman energies and very human panic. He tried another vial of holy water.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Edmund continues to pummel away.

"Gettin' - real - sick - of this!" he grunts. He moves to flank the spirit with Cassiel or Lorant, if possible. Not totally sure from the map if that is - he seems to be above us!

Punch 1!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Punch 2!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Add +2 to the attack rolls if he can be flanked.

Ella moves up to Lorant. "Lorant! Do you need the wand to stop the bleeding?"

Move and draw the wand of CLW. I'm out of holy water. :(

"Yes, please!" Lorant replies. "I apologize for my less-than-usefulness in this fight..."

Cassiel swings the axe again.

Power Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage?: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13

Since I can move and draw the wand as one action, if the GM allows...

Ella waves the wand over Lorant, muttering. Some of his wounds start to close up.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Lorant breathes a sigh of relief as the healing energy washes over him.

"Thank the Three and thank you!" he says.

I'm realizing Life-Dominant Soul isn't worded very well. By RAW, it appears that it only applies to channeled energy, and not to cure spells, which most likely would mean that I'd take damage from the wand but be healed by the Lopper's strikes. What should we do?

Hmm. I agree with your assessment. The Lopper's strikes should definitely heal you, as they are negative energy. But it states that both positive and negative energy [u]used to heal[/u] affects you at half-strength. So the wand should heal half as much as normal. It will, however, stop the bleeding.

Actually, given the closeness of the quarters, everyone should have flanking.

Cassiel lashes out again with the ax, the spirit visibly disrupted and yowling in pain. Ella uses the wand to stop bleeding on Lorant. Ed also manages to hit with one of his strikes. The Lopper, however, keeps coming, slashing again at Cassiel and connecting through the spiritual armor. Cassiel takes 6 points of damage!

The party is up!

So, are we going to rule that it affects positive and negative energy from all sources so the Lopper's strikes do half-healing as well as the positive ones? That seems fair, but I want to make sure I'm interpreting it right, since the text itself only calls out channeled energy, which the Lopper isn't using.

Cassiel hacks at the ghost again!

Power Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage?: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 13

"Healing, please!" He says with a glance at Ella.

"Coming!" Ella darts over to Cassiel and applies the wand to him as well.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

She looks worriedly at the wand as its energy ebbs. "Oh no...this thing's nearly spent!"

Ed, meanwhile, continues to pummel away!

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Take heart, Cas and Ed have him pinned, we've almost broken him!" Lorant replies.

Judah felt useless. He pulled out another flask and tried to splash it in such a way that the water rained through the ghost.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Mostly he just got wet again.

So, are we going to rule that it affects positive and negative energy from all sources so the Lopper's strikes do half-healing as well as the positive ones? That seems fair, but I want to make sure I'm interpreting it right since the text itself only calls out channeled energy, which the Lopper isn't using.

Yeah, let's go with it that way. It's probably the simplest way to interpret it. In about two rounds, it won't make a difference anyway.

Edmund and Cassiel continue to harry the ghost, as Judah wets himself once more. Ella taps Cassiel with the wound and some of his wounds close.

The ghost, angered now, strikes at Cassiel again, attempting to bloody him. It occurs to Cassiel that the more he bleeds, the stronger the spirit seems to grow! Cassiel takes another strike. (Cassiel takes 3 points of damage.)

Cassiel glares at the ghost and swings the axe again.

Power Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage?: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9

Then he uses the last of Iomedae's might on himself.

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Lorant, you could perhaps use Aid Another to boost my AC enough so the Lopper won't hit me again.

Judah held out a potion in a trembling hand, "Cas!"

Draw and had off a potion of Cure Moderate to Cas.

Can do!

Lorant joins in with Cassiel and holds his shield ready to keep the Lopper's axe at bay.

Aid Another (AC): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Just like phalanx drills at the College, right Cas?"

"I can help too!" Ella cries. She attempts to lunge in, waving the still faintly glowing wand that can dispense positive energy - ghosts don't like that, right?

Aid Another (AC): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Edmund punches the ghost in the face again.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

He pauses to look at the Lopper incredulously. "Man, this guy has stamina! Am I actually doing anything? I have to admit, sir, I'm intrigued about your potential popularity with the good-looking ladies and gentlemen of your day. Anyway..."

He hauls off and punches him again.

Attack 2!: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

EDIT: whaaaaaat?! Well I HOPE he's doing something!

Confirmation 1?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Confirmation 2?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Cass and Ed flail away at the ghost, Cass seemingly unable to duplicate his earlier success, but it is Edmund who finally takes the spirit down! The Lopper howls like a man possessed and raises his ax for a final attack on Cassiel, but before he can complete the swing, he fades into non-existence! Cassiel lays a hand upon himself, healing more of his wounds.

Combat over!

Lorant raises his sword and smiles.

"And the Lopper makes three! Now we just have to find the Mosswater Marauder and the Splatter Man."

Ella slumps back as she pulls Ed back into his ectoplasmic form. "That was...exhausting." She holds up the curative wand the party owns, which is beginning to split along its length. "And this isn't long for the world. I wonder if we know what we're doing here..."

Cassiel takes the offered potion and chugs it down.

CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 = 12

It fixes the rest of his injuries.

"Okay. That--was NOT as fun as I thought it was going to be." He cringes.

"This, uh... this might be a bad time to mention this, but I'm out of Iomedae's healing might for now. Had to spend it all just to keep myself going."

"So... back to Kendra's?" Judah asked, hoping no one noticed how completely useless he'd been in that fight.

Lorant frowns a bit.

"We ARE making progress...I just worry the Splatter Man's also making progress..."

“...I know we need to be careful, but I feel like we have to try to push a little further,” Ella says, glancing at Lorant. “As Lorant said, the Splatter Man may be making headway. We can retreat at the first sign of trouble.”

Judah looked nervous, but shrugged. "Alright."

He started scouting all the doors around the perimeter of the room.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Just checking for locks/hazards, not opening them yet.

The cells that surround the center oubliette are all open and empty, devoid of anything other than a pile of moldy and rotting straw and two buckets in each cell.

"The bars it is," Judah said, heading to the hallway and checking the barred gate.

Same. I'll take 10 for 18 on Perception.

Ella stays close behind Judah as he goes to look.