Galahad's Carrion Crown (Team Brain) (Inactive)

Game Master Galahad0430

I thought the professor's journal said he was hoping to copy some symbols or runes on the wall - can we see what he might have been looking for?

Another perception check if needed1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Anyone who investigates the building finds something curious. The ivy and grass have been cleared along the edge where the foundation meets the ground, and along this edge a series of sinuous runes has been etched and then smeared with blood. The runes go around the entire building’s foundation save for the northeast corner, where part of the building has flooded and the foundation has crumbled away. The runes themselves are written in Varisian, and among numerous magical incantations, repeat the name Lyvar Hawkran dozens of times.

Shol'a'saul looks at the runes, noting the name etched in the foundation.

Lyvar Hawkran? The name meant nothing to her.

"It seens we have discovered another piece of the puzzle." She comments to no one in particular.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Do I know anything about the name "Lyvar Hawkran"

Ricven looks at the writing around the building with a bit of surprise.

"That's just damn peculiar."

Anyone else can aid Ad'ifaah's knowledge roll with either religion or arcana.

Without aid, Ad'ifaah is able to determine that they seem to have been part of a larger ritual that involved both abjuration and necromantic magic. Also, because of your several visits to the monument, you recognize the name as that of the Warden of Harrowstone who died in the fire.

Knowledge(religion) assist roll 1d20 ⇒ 6
Knowledge(arcana) assist roll 1d20 ⇒ 19

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Knowledge Arcane: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Knowledge Arcane:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

excellent, 3 assists, just what she needed for DC30

After consulting each other you are able to come to the very disturbing conclusion that the runes were used to capture and imprison Warden Hawkran’s ghost. What use this may be for is unclear, but it is very old and evil magic.

Aerys' eyebrows raise on learning this. "My first impulse would be to discover a way to free the warden. This, of course, assumes he was a good and innocent man in life. However, I fear these events are too convoluted to make any assumptions. I wonder if this might be a good line of questioning for the spirit planchette? This, however, might not be a good place to try..."

"The magic may be old. Can anyone skilled in stone work tell if the runes themselves are old, or more recent? And any chance ruining this evil magic will be as simple as wiping out some of them?"

Aerys' eyebrows raise on learning this. "My first impulse would be to discover a way to free the warden. This, of course, assumes he was a good and innocent man in life. However, I fear these events are too convoluted to make any assumptions. I wonder if this might be a good line of questioning for the spirit planchette? This, however, might not be a good place to try..."

"I agree with you about the warden. We know little of what motivated him, but if his ghost is indeed trapped...we may be able to contact him directly, as ghosts can usually manifest where their bodies met their end." She points to the old prison building, "Somewhere inside..."

These are very old runes. In addition, some undead are not necessarily evil, but rather driven to revenge their deaths. Perhaps the warden was trapped here to keep him from taking revenge on the one who caused him to bring his wife here to her death? Or the one who tricked the warden into meeting his demise.

The runes and blood themselves are only a few weeks old at best. The type of runes are old. As for the Warden, so far all accounts have been of how good he was. He ran the prison well and when the escape attempt happened, he sacrificed himself to save the town.

should we decide to attempt to release the warden, would we know how to undo the effects of the runes - i.e. just erasing some to break the circle or something?

Knowledge arcana check, if needed 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

No, whatever ritual was performed has passed. Whoever did this has already taken the Warden's ghost and trapped it (it would be in some sort of container). You would need to find this container to release his spirit.

Interesting, new runes to keep a long dead ghost trapped. Sounds like someone is doing something that will enrage the dead, and wants to keep the Warden's ghost trapped. If that is not evil, I do not know what is.

We need to enter this place and be prepared, but we should be very careful as there may be undead with desires for vengeance that will not be directed toward us. If we can find and talk to the Warden, then perhaps this will enable us to gain great insight into what occurred in the prison all those years ago.

Shol'a'saul nods in agreement. "Yes, we know the spirits are restless here yet we must find the Warden's spirit and reelease it from whatever prison is holding him. Then we will have our answers."

So, there is the front door and a set of stairs leading to the balcony on the upper left side of the building. Which way?

Sorry all, but were we going to check the small building in front of the main structure?

Sounds like the best idea. Outbuilding first.

I would vote outbuilding first as well

Ricven did want to secure the outbuilding first before going in.

Corey begins to walk slowly towards the small building.

Aeleanor practices a mix of dancing and par cour on the broken buildings.

Dance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

The small building is evidently the Warden's residence. As you get close it is pretty obvious that it is in very bad shape and does not look too stable. If you want to search the interior (which seems to have been looted before), let me know who goes in where and how long.

If it's in too bad a shape, perhaps we should just try to look in some windows & not risk a collapse? If Abe didn't pick up anything on his detect evil, hopefully indicates there's nothing in there that's gonna sneeak in after us...

Shol can send in her centipede familiar to have a peek. Being Tiny size with a climb speed, he should not have any problems.

Sending in the familiar is a good idea, let's do that.

I'm not sure how much info you can get from the centipede. Is it only an empathetic link? If so, all you get is a sense that the only things he senses in the house are things he considers prey.

Yeah, that is true. I wanted to use him to see if there was anything lurking in there that might jump us from behind. If Ith is not capable of sensing that, then no need to risk him.

Alright, enough, I'm going in. Stay clear of the door in case I need to get out quick. Aeleanor says, approaching and peeking in the door before stepping inside if it seems safe enough.

Knowledge, Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Seems fine to me... She mutters, entering cautiously with her dagger drawn.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Take 20 for 27 on perception/looking for clues.

What I meant is that there is only small bugs and such (things the centipede would eat) in the house. Anything of value would have been looted years ago.

Aeleanor, when you enter, the floor feels very rotted and boards crack underfoot. You are not sure if it will hold your weight.

What can I see?

"Perhaps I should go in. Do we have any rope?"

If the floor won't support an elf, maybe it will a halfling.

Ricven reaches into his pack and pulls out a silk rope and grappling hook.

"Here you go."

Aeleanor, the inside is very rotted and dirty. The roof has many holes and it is obvious that the interior has been exposed to the elements for years. Also, your experience tells you that the inside has probably been looted repeatedly throughout the years. There are numerous nests and the place has many bugs.

Peering in the doorway, Venedictos says, "Aeleanor, I would suggest to you that nothing awaits us in here other than parasites and broken ankles."

"I don't think I'll need it after all. It sounds like there's nothing there. Let's enter the prison proper."

Abe hands back the rope with a nod of thanks.

"I agree, the fact this building has been looted before would indicate there are no spirits haunting the residence. Therefore our focus hould be on the prison."

I cast Detect Magic and scan the building before we leave.

Once the building is checked, Ricven resumes his position at point with his greatsword out everyone heads toward the main prison entrance.

Harrow 1

The entrance to Harrowstone is in bad repair. The balcony overhanging the entrance looks ready to collapse. The large double doors leading into the prison hang askew revealing the dim interior. This was once a wide hall flanked by a pair of waiting rooms, but the foyer to Harrowstone now lies in ruins. With little left to hold up the ceiling, the wooden beams above sag dramatically. The wall to the north contains a large pair of oaken doors. Streaks of mold stain the walls of this foyer, and the floor below is a thick, gray carpet of fungal growth. Sturdy wooden doors beckon from every wall.

As they enter the dank chamber, Aerys pauses silently for a moment, listening to his surroundings. perception check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

He then points to the single door to his right. "Shall we start with the first door?" Even though whispered, he still winces at the sound of his own voice bouncing back flatly from the mold-streaked walls.

Shol'a'saul glances around the chamber, trying to control the fear threatening to overwhelm her.

This is a place best left undisturbed...

As she sees the fungal growths and mold, she holds up her hand for everyone to stop. "We should make sure this fungal growth is harmless."

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 to determine nature of the mold/fungal growth.

btw, each square on that map is 10', not 5'

The fungal growth appears to be normal and harmless. Another thing you notice is that all the doors (except for the entrance doors) are in excellent condition.

Ricven keeps looking up at the ceiling as he walks to the far side of the room with his greatsword out, getting a look around the place

"Whoever build the doors should have made the ceilings in this place," the fighter says as he looks around for trouble.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Ricven has low-light vision. When that is not enough to continue forward, he'll ask someone to cast light on his weapon

Ricven, look at these doors, it is not that they were build better, rather they have been maintained. Someone is still using this building, and has just left the exterior in an appearance of disrepair so that nobody would come to investigate as we are now.

Bad things are afoot here.

Ricven looks at Najeeb.

"I just assumed the doors were still in good shape because the prison spent extra money to make sure they would hold against the prisoners. But maybe you're right. Let's go in and see."