Gm Fanguar's AoW (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

Feeling kinds shaken by the spirit Sandra collectes her thought...

The ghost looks a little sheepish,

"My folks were always giving me a hard time, so I thought I would run away. Not permanent like, but I figured I'd camp out in the hills for a couple of days and give them some time to miss me before heading back. Well I found this place and figured that it would really show them if I came back with some treasure. Made my way to this room and fell afoul of that trap." He points in the general direction of the trap trigger that Ratchet disarmed.

"Those stupid balls shoot out of the walls at you, if you try to cross the centre of the walkway. I got hit and fell off. Landed on my head and that was that. Been stuck here ever since.

"Ye still ain't said where." Ratchet grumbles pointedly. Now that he'd gotten used to the spirit's presence he was as pragmatic about the notion of talking with a ghost as he was about pretty much everything else. "Ye gotta have a better idea than 'down there', right? I need t' know where t' drop mah rope."

Erethyn lowered his holy symbol as the ghost began to explain itself to the group. After hearing the boys unfortunate fate, the Elf shook his head.

Well that's just embarrassing, he was trying to be helpful. And here I was threatening him... and yet... He thought to himself.

"Forgive my earlier rudeness... and that of my companion." He shot a quick glance at Robillard. "I am not used to spirits behaving in such a manner as you have just demonstrated. You have put my mind more at ease knowing you wish to return yourself to a peaceful rest."

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"I do happen to know the location of your home; and would be happy to help lay you to rest."

Maybe it was the story the ghost told them, or the fact that the Land farm had been abandoned for some time, or maybe it was just his own sense of paranoia mixing with what he had learned about the undead, but Erethyn couldn't shake the feeling that the ghost might be hiding something.

"Alastor, do you have any idea how long you've been here?"
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

His mind was beginning to race now. Erethyn was trying to recall anything he had heard about ghosts and whether they would act as Alastor was to the living.
Even if he isn't tricking us, would his spirit simply depart before he was able to aid us as he promised?
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"My bones have been mussed about a bit by that worm that got in there a little while ago, just climb down there there and I'll help you find them. As for how long I've been down here, it's hard to say. There's nothing much to gauge the passing of time by. 50 years? A hundred maybe?"

@Erethyn: You think that Allastor is being honest and, as he doesn't seem to be malevolent, there is no reason to think he wont keep his end of the bargain.

"There's a worm down there too? Oh, aye, this should be a barrel o' laughs. Ratchet, do ye have any more o' them fancy bolts or a piton? Or would ye lot prefer we do this the ol' fashion'd way an one o' us simply hold a rope fer th' others ta climb down?"

Ulfak checks for a rope and shrugs away the thought of not helping down below. He has no rope but looks around to see who has.

"Knot it round the walkway and then we can all do things."

Meanwhile the shaman leaves his scythe ready to follow someone down with scimitar and shield.

not a bad idea Ulfak

It's fairly easy to affix and drop down a rope. The floor is only 10ft below the walkway, so a DC15 acrobatics check would allow you to drop down no problem.

"Ratchet, do ye have any more o' them fancy bolts or a piton? "

"A' course. Gimme a bit."

Ratchet makes his way back to firm ground and makes an anchor point with a piton and a hammer. Then he firmly attaches another rope and tosses it over the side.

"Who's goin' first?"

not i, i am perfectly fine staying up here. after all we need only 1 or 2 people down to gather the bones and pass them along to me up here.

The shaman frowns at the obvious lack of courage and hand over hand he drops down off the walkway. He moves to one side so that others can join him.

"I look alone or is all of you scared like puppies?" The wolf nomad starts to look around underneath.

nay its not that Ulfak its just that i see better from up here.

Well if no one is going to chime in,

The balls shift beneath Ulfak's feet. Off to one side of the room there is a rustling, as a pallid, slimy, worm-like creature is the size of a human, its mouth a sickening tangle of tentacles and hooked jaws, emerges from the ball pit.

Round 1
16 Enemy
13 Sandra
11 Ratchet
10 Ulfak
8 Travigan
7 Erethyn

Going mapless for this one
Round 1 Init 16

The horrid worm slithers to attack Ulfak

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 (miss)

you are all up

The nomad shaman frowns at this unknown monster and defends himself as best he can. But the creature is tough and rubbery, so the scimitar he angles to pierce deep into the mouth. Meanwhile he rips at a flailing tentacle when it gets too close to those savage teeth.

Scimitar 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21, damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6, bite 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6, damage 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The taste in Ulfak's mouth is awful.

Round 1

Without saying a word a bolt of pure magical energy comes out of sandra's hand and hits the creature

Eldritch bolt: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 4 = 171d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 vs touch AC

I have no idea what that thing is.

Erethyn had learned of many things in his years but the monsters of the deep were not one of them. He had no idea what that... worm thing was below. It was something terrifying and that was all he needed.

Erethyn is casting Bless. +1 morale bonus to attack and saves against fear effects.

Knowledge Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

"Ugh. Crawlers. Careful, their bite's acidic."

Pretty sure it's a carrion crawler anyway. :)

"Vecna's boney arse, but that thing's ugly! Hold on a moment there laddae, ol' Travigan's on 'is way ta help!" Travigan hustles down the rope after Ulfak and maneuvers behind the creature, then punches out with his cestus.

Cestus (flanking): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21for: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Well what ever it really we are going to kill it quickly at this rate.

As per the spoiler, it's a Grick. As in DR 10/magic, Grick.

Your attacks fail to pierce the creature's tough hide, though Sandra's magical blast causes the beast to rear up in pain.

Ratchet do you want to do anything else on your turn?

"Wait no, that ain't a crawler, that's a grick. That's worse. Ah... use magic. Lots o' magic." Ratchet says, with a worried expression.

"Ulfak, ye might wanna grab tha' rope an' let us haul ye back up..."

Readied Action: once Ulfak isn't ajacent, Ratchet will toss a bomb down on the Grick. What's the range?

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Acid damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

@Ratchet; Range wont be an issue in this room.

Round
16 Enemy
13 Sandra
11 Ratchet
10 Ulfak
8 Travigan
7 Erethyn

Round 2 Init 16
1=Ulfak, 2=Tavigan 1d2 ⇒ 1

The worm focuses its attacks on Ulfak:
Full attack
Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Tentacle 1: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Tentacle 2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16
Tentacle 3: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Tentacle 4: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

But the creature can't find away past his defences.

You gys are up.

my bolt seemed to work tough previously ratchet.

"Aye. More o' that." Ratchet says waiting for a time to drop his bomb.

I'll keep the same action. I don't want to hit Ulfak though.

Erethyn looked down at the monster and paled a little more than he already had. He did not want to be near that thing and he did not want his friends to be anywhere close to it. He pulled out his bow and took aim, shouting to his companions.

"Ulfak, Tavigan, I can't get a clear shot! Once you strike, back away from it so I can hit it."

Erethyn will hold an attack to hit the worm once the warriors have cleared away.
@ Ratchet: Don't forget, you have Bless, High-ground, and the Throw Anything feat increasing your attack bonuses for Acid flasks and the like.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17
Critical Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 7) + 2 = 17

my aim isn't that great when there are people in melee combat, but i'll do my best

"Bah! I'm down here too, Ratchet! If'n yer eyes are failin' ye tha' badly I dinnae think ye should be tossin' them crazy bottles o' yours about. And if'n yer eyes are sharp, well then, I guess I'm glad ta know ye care." Rolling his eyes at the dwarf up above, Travigan draws his axe and brings it crashing down in an overhead chop on the grick.

Move Action: draw battleaxe
Standard Action: chop grick
Free Action: 5 ft step away

Battleaxe (two-handed, flank): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20for: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Ulfak grins up at Ratchet and simply backs away 10 foot from the grick provokes AoO and takes up a fully defensive stance. This monster is beyond his knowledge.

@Sandra: You can delay your spell until the melee guys move out of the way, but as Erethyn's super murder arrow took care of it, the point is moot.

Death rains down from the walkway as Ratchet's alchemical concoction sizzles into the grick's flesh, but it's Erethyn's arrow that puts the beast down for good. The keen eyed elf perfectly placed shot flies down the beast's gullet, causing terrible damage to the sensitive organs held within. With a shudder, the grick collapses and does not rise.

Alastor cackles with glee at the grick's demise, "Ha! That's the best entertainment I've had in decades. Now on to more important things, let's find where I left that corpse of mine."

With a little aid from the ghost, you find the boy's desiccated corpse. During your searching, you also come across a pile of bones stuffed into a suit of MWK banded mail a rusted longsword. A nearby pouch contains 50gp worth of mixed coins.

"Off you go now. Remember, lay those bones right next to my kin and I'll open the way for you." Alastor fades from view, a look of cautious optimism on his face.

You can head strait to the Land Famstead, or back to town if you so wish.

Not having to use her power as the beast falls over: Dam good shot, that went surprisingly well. So where to now as i have no personal preference ?

"Aye, Ah saw ye. Ye weren't th' one usin' yerself as bait though. B'sides, ye look like ye'd taste bad." Ratchet shrugs.

"Glad ye dinnae git et." Ratchet calls down to Ulfak. "You two keep doin' what yer doin, an' we'll cover ye from up 'ere."

Indeed

Shaking his head and casting a rueful look Ratchet's way, Travigan turns to Ulfak. "Well, that there could'a been a mess. Blasted thing's hide jus' turned everythin' I had aside."

The blacksmith then helps Ulfak gather up everything and climb back up to the others. "Found this fella' down there too. Must'a fallen ta th' same trap tha' caught Alastor." He shakes his head sadly, "This place in'nt like any tomb 'er crypt I ever heard of. Can't say I'm liking it all that much neither."

Being one of the fresher people to join, I'm fine with heading straight to the Land homestead. If you veterans need to swing back to town though, that's fine by me.

Erethyn was relieved when he saw the beast fall. He had never been the best archer but he supposed when he was divinely inspired to fire his arrows he could do what was needed. A small smile on his face, he quickly slung his bow on his back and called down to the rest of his companions.
"If everyone is alright down there, then I suggest we hurry along and lay Alastor to rest then. Please be gentle with his remains, after all, we don't want to have to come back a second time. I think after we return from the farm, we may be heading deeper than our compatriots from around town have gotten. "

works for me replied sandra

Ulfak pulls free the elven arrow from the grick and throws it back up to Erethyn. "Good arrow."

He helps collect the armour, rusty sword, Alastor body and the pouch of coins (50gp). "Thank you Travigan. I do not forget you standing with me."

If no one objects, we'll just leave the cairn and head to the farmstead.

[Scene Change]

A copse of immense deklo trees shades a small, quiet clearing just where Alastor said it would be. Crumbling walls and an abandoned farmhouse stand vigil atop a small bluff overlooking the clearing, the sad ruins of what must once have been Alastor's home. Five grave markers stand in the clearing, each with a different name: Anders, Bemissa, Coldaran, Gertie and Alastor. All the markers save Alastor's are marked with a ornate flower. Open pits yawn from before all five headstones. Piles of fresh dirt and a pair of abandoned shovels suggest that the excavation took place recently, certainly within the week.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
K. Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Erethyn surveyed the scene with a dismayed look. "It looks as though Alastor's family died from Firebloom. The question is..." He followed the tracks away from the graves. "Why would anyone dig up graves of a family who died of a plague? A group of them, five at first and then only four returning at a hurried pace." He looked back at the rest of his companions, a worried expression clear on his face. "I suggest we look into this before we begin the burial rites."

"Well, aye, we're gonna haf to, lad. Alastor dinnae ask ta be buried on his family's land, but next to 'is kin. An' his kin are'na here no more, are they? Black-balled soulless grave-robbin' devils! Les' find 'em and return Alastor an' 'is family ta rest."

Sure, Maybe it has to do with undead spreading deadly plague unto the living. replied sandra

"Maybe they camp at the farm? Or other signs."

"Regardless, wherever they've gone to, we will follow." At that Erethyn drew his bow and began following the tracks.

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

You easily follow the tracks up the hill. The dilapidated Land farmstead consists of a crumbling wall and a sagging, unsafe house with broken windows. The tracks head straight for the house.

it looks like you are leading us to that house erethyn

Ulfak travels up the slope, his scimitar at the ready and he listens out for any grave diggers.

Perception check 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"I hear cat crying in there. It is faint like a baby."

I like cats very much. replied sandra heading in that direction

"Whatever it is mewlin' up ahead, I jus' hope we'll find ah lead that'll point us ta' Alastor's family's remains."