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

Game Master WhtKnt

Possibly... very briefly... if the net was fireproof for the application of the fire melted reageant

"So like, a net made out of wire?" Lorant suggests.

"Something to experiment with later I guess," Judah said. "I have all kinds of questions, but they should wait. Since Dylan can hit ghosts with his hands, I vote the alchemical ghost stuff goeson Lorant's sword."

"Or the bardiche I'm borrowing," Lorant says. "Right, we've gabbed enough, let's continue investigating."

He starts taking in their environs, letting his eyes adjust to the light and sniffing the air.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Fair enough... save it for that one time you need to help Dylan, or if there is a leader ghost.

A sniff of the air reveals nothing, but a look about reveals that the road forks here, going in generally southerly and westerly directions, and a large hillock looms in the distance at the very western edge of the town. Along the western road, you can see a chapel in the distance.

"Let's check the chapel first," Lorant suggests.

"A whole abandoned town to loo- er- investigate, and you pick the creepiest looking place," Judah muttered. In spite of his protests, he hefted his pack and headed that dirtection, scanning for more bear traps and other hazards.

Taking 10 for 20 on Trapfinding as we go

Its not the worst strategy. Rip off the scariest things face first, and its henchmen will bugger off. I dont actually mean this of course because I clearly am an archer and cant rip off faces. Not at all.

Dylan, in a display of what would seem like peak tactical idiocy, has his longbow out as he leads.

The small, whitewashed timber building stands in the middle of the village, surrounded by gravestones. It is dilapidated, but the doors are open.

"A whole abandoned town to loo- er- investigate, and you pick the creepiest looking place," Judah muttered. In spite of his protests, he hefted his pack and headed that dirtection, scanning for more bear traps and other hazards.

"Knight of Ozem instinct," Lorant replies with a smirk.

He keeps to the front with Dylan and looks through the open door, his eyes piercing the darkness. He looks about for any signs of motion or disturbance in the room...and possibly any rats scurrying or bats roosting he might question.

Yay darkvision!

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

see in darkness perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Dylan gives it a look as well.

Within, the simple chapel is falling victim to rot, its pews are already overgrown, and some of its windows are smashed. Mice nest in the altar, the holy water in the font is turning green, and the once-beautiful frescoes depicting Desna and the heavens have begun to flake. Suddenly, from the shadows, a small, shadowy figure comes directly at Lorant!

Lorant is up!

INITIATIVE
Lorant
Figure
Dylan
Mathus
Judah

Lorant Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Dylan Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Judah Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Mathus Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Figure Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Will drink my Crypt Breaker's Draught in my round (Su) Rather than develop mutagens that increase their natural armor and physical abilities at the expense of their minds, crypt breakers focus on the creation of special draughts that can enhance their senses. When a crypt breaker drinks one of these draughts he gains a +4 bonus on all Perception checks and gains one of the following special senses: darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, or scent. While under the effects of a crypt breaker’s draught, the alchemist also gains light blindness. Taking Darkvison.

Lorant?

Sorry, work had been running me ragged after getting back from vacation! I'm here!

Lorant raises the bardiche to draw the monster's attention.

"Ready, Dylan?" he asks. He didn't want to waste the blanch just yet, so he figured acting as a distraction again was his best bet.

For violence? Always! The large man grins.

The lithe figure, a mere shadow in the deeper shadows of the building, moves towards Dylan, seemingly recognizing the man's threat to its existence. Its incorporeal hand passes through his armor as if it did not even exist, to brush his flesh ever so slightly. It is enough, however. Dylan feels his flesh burn at its touch. Unless you have some kind of prevention from incorporeal touch.

The party is up!

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 negative energy and1d2 ⇒ 2 Con drain

Nope, and 17 easily hits my touch. There is often a fort save vs drain effects to half it or negate it, but in character I dont know if it applies here, it would not mechanically alter things currently

Lorant, flank it! Hoping to get a flanking bonus from the rest of the party in some way

Dylan flies into a rage snarling a hearty
F~*~ YOU at the shadowy figure
Bloodrage for +4 STR
--2 claws
to hit+3BAB+5STR+1ench-1pa: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
damage+5STR +2 PA: 1d6 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13

to hit+3BAB+5STR+1ench-1pa: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage+5STR +2 PA: 1d6 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13
--1 bite
to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12

He lashes out with 2 claws going for the whatever it is center of mass, one claw likely strikes true, the other may be quite off.

22/32 HP, including dex drain (-4) its 18/28. Currently raging for Str

fortsave if relevant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

I can make you a potion of healing, will do so after this

He waits to see if the ghost is still there... if so, he throws a holy water

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 for 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7

Lorant nods and follows Dylan's instructions.

Dylan's rage catches the figure off guard and he tears into its incorporeal body. Ectoplasm flies everywhere as he literally rips the thing limb from limb. Within seconds, the last vestiges of the wraith have faded from existence and Dylan stands, panting.

Combat over!

Is the Con Drain a thing? Normally these things allow fort saves because drain is incredibly hard to fix at low levels.

CUKA BLYAD He snarls in what is probably abyssal

Только суккубы могут сливать мне энергию, и только если они платят! He says some additional relatively rude things as he is kicking some of the Ectoplasm.

Phew, good thing I got that heirloom of mine. You guys have anything to fix me up a bit?
His claws retract, the fangs and darkvision stays.

Most incorporeal undead don't allow saves on thier stat damage.

The fight was over beforee Judah had a chance to overcome his initial shock. "I f$!~ing hate ghosts."

Still shaking, he started moving around the delapdated church, lookng for anything interesting, useful, or dangerous.

Take 10 for 19 on search. 20 if it's trap related.

Depends... if you are feeling scratched up? I got you. Feeling drained? Lesser restoration? It MIGHT work... it's not that strong a curative for that sort of them BUT it might serve.

As a Doktor alchemist I can share my infusions for healing etc but not sure if lesser fixes drain... it's been a looooong time since I seriously played PF

Sorry, thought that it posted. Yes, the drain had a Fort save of 15. That will teach me to read the creature description and not just the Drained condition. So Dylan did save and is not drained.

I think it didnt quite get me with the drain. The mercenary pauses

Interesting, I fought shadows before, where it didnt feel like my constitution mattered, here it seemingly did He thinks

Probably some big brain reason for that.

10 seconds pass

Ready to continue the man says, his breath normal again.

Lets do this.

"Let's take a closer look around," Lorant says, beginning to look around the building, and taking note if there are any rats or bats nesting in the building he might talk to...

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

A look around the chapel reveals that little of value remains. There are, however, some mice nesting within. You also note that the font retains some holy water, slightly green, but no less potent (you would assume).

I would assume mice do not count for my vampiric speech. ;)

"Fate is kind this eve," Lorant says. "It seems the sanctity of the holy water here has stood the test of time."

He says a brief prayer and then turns to Mathus.

"Spare a vial or two? We can use this against the things lurking here."

Scanning for magic Dylan quite calmly informs the party as his eyes glow blue.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Oh Lord and Lady, I thank thee for this victory, may darkness beguile my foes and may my claws tear them apart He offers a silent prayer.

I would rule that mice and rats are close to one another, so feel free. Dylan detects no magic.

Letting Mathus handle the holy water, Lorant crouches down by the mice and fishes some rations out from his pack, offering it out to them.

"Rest easy, little ones. I'm not going to hurt you. Here is some food. I would like to ask you some questions," he says gently.

The mice approach warily but come to your hand to take the food.

He can speak with mice? Or he is loosing it? Hmm, ill move 30 feet away because a bipedal cat with fangs probably traumatizes them.

Mathus moves to collect the holy water, using some spare flasks he routinely carried as part of his alchemist supplies.

How much can I harvest?

5 flasks of holy water are in the font.

"That's right...enjoy...you deserve a full belly for being so brave," Lorant says.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Assuming they allow it, he gently pats one on the head.

"May I ask you some questions about what you've seen in this place?"

The mice nod their agreement as they eat.

Mathus has talked to mice before too... normally before dissecting them, but there was that ONE time where he experimented with some various mushrooms extracts...

I talked to mice, more like, an effing rat king. I mostly insulted the hell out of it to have it cease attacking Lady Amberly.
Yikes, it took me ages to get that taste out. I could have sworn that she was willing to kiss me in gratitude, but I had dire rat in my mouth. The perils of bite attacks, why does this not affect vampires?

Dylan reminisces about his love life, or lack thereoff.

"How long has that scary thing that haunted this place been here?" Lorant asks.

Judah raised an eyebrow, but shrugged after a moment and walked over to guard the door. They weren't being haunted or attacked at the moment, so he wasn't inclined to care much. Talking to mice wasn't the weirdest thing he'd seen recently. It wasn't even the weirdest thing he'd seen Lorant do this week.

So Judah, what have you been up to recently? I did personal security, which, while harder then what I did before, paid a bit better and left that weird feeling of doing good in me. Well paid too, but then it turned out that Psychopomps are expensive dates.
Dylan engages in some conversation

Is the Lorant guy Psychopomp related? I know people who can speak with any raven, or with spiders.
He adds

One of the mice squeaks something in its tongue.

"Did it come here before the humans left, driving them away, or did it come here after they left, claiming the space they abandoned?"

"Did you hear the humans talk about them?"

So Judah, what have you been up to recently? I did personal security, which, while harder then what I did before, paid a bit better and left that weird feeling of doing good in me. Well paid too, but then it turned out that Psychopomps are expensive dates.

Dylan engages in some conversation

Is the Lorant guy Psychopomp related? I know people who can speak with any raven, or with spiders.
He adds

"Uh..." Judah mumbled hesitantly, not sure where to begin, or what to admit. "I did the same stuff I was doing when we first met, up until I found this thing," he said, hefting the ornate brass pyramid that hung from his belt by a chain. "After that, things kinda fell apart for a while. Trying to get my life unf&*&ed was what led me to meet Lorant and the Doc. I'm... not sure if it's been very successful. At least things are f%&@ed in a different way now." Judah shrugged.

"As for him," he said gesturing to Lorant. "Dunno what a psychopomp is. Pretty sure he's a little bit vampire."