JZ's Carrion Crown - COMPLETE! (Inactive)

Game Master JamZilla

"I make no commitment in that regard lady."

Sitting in the entrance to the dimensional area, that he created for shelter, the slight wizard look down on the rest around the camp fire having a heating argument taking out some of his rations he tucks into the dried beef as the group debate over Kendra and Adivion "This is when feelings and irrational thinking take over instead of reason and logic" he thinks to himself.

Interjecting into the conversion from high up "When we make our trip to Gallowspire we would need to keep Kendra safe somewhere, what about the Order of the Palatine Eye in Ustalav?"

"Kendra... You're really making this hard. You really haven't given us a reason for any of this. What one reason can you give us to not kill that evil retch of a man?" He says pacing back and forth.

Markus you're not listening to anything I'm saying. she says, throwing her hands up in frustration. You don't understand what it was like to see my father diminish before my eyes when my mother was ill and to feel something growing in you like a shadow that you knew was there, but that no one can do anything about.

Adivion cured me when no one else could. I genuinely believe he loved my father and that his death hurt him almost as much as I.

He explained that he kept me in that... place because the Whispering Way thought I would be the incarnate of Tar Baphon returned but it was just because he thought that people wouldn't accept what I have... become. And seeing how some of you are looking at me now I wonder if he was right...

I'm just saying that if his intentions aren't as he describes then he should answer for that, otherwise all his knowledge dies with him. Look none of us know what will happen one way or another, you've already said that, don't you at least want to talk to him about it rather than just destroy him out of hand?

The Markus I knew in Lepistadt wouldn't have done that... the Sebastian certianly wouldn't...

When Davos interrupts she wheels on him, looking up into his inter-dimensional portal.

Davos! Please don't talk about me as if I weren't here. And why are you just sitting up there? If you go to Gallowspire, I intend to come and find out my place in all this.

Erek smiles sadly at Kendra ad says "I understand your feeling of displacement. We all need to find our place in the world. I also understand your feelings about Adivion. Yes, he helped you avoid death but I am certain there is more at play than some altruistic rebellion against the gods."

He pauses then says "Come if you must but do not hinder us when the time comes and Adivion's true nature is revealed."

Markus lets out a long sigh, a dull pounding picks up in his head. After everything, all he wanted was things to back to the way they were. But he changed it all.

"Kendra. We've all changed, I've heard all he's had to say when he was taunting us for so long. Apparently, we would destroy you the instant we saw you another lie of his. The Kendra I knew would be defending someone like Adivion, you say this is for the greater good, you say he wants to save the world but it isn't his choice." He starts to rub his temples now. "He doesn't get to make that decision for everyone. 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions' He is too insane to see what he thinks is right."

Kendra nods solemnly as if to say 'so be it.' She sits heavily by the fire, the last few minutes a kaleidoscope of emotions from joy at her freedom to fear of her nature to solemnity at what the future might hold.

He is at Gallowspire. Whatever he means to do, he means to do it at that awful place.

Thank you. I mean it, I had no desire to stay there any longer. But I fear what happens next for me. First I need to see this through, one way or another.

At this point do you have any more questions for Kendra or just want to RP any more about this reunion?

Jon moves to sit beside Kendra and puts his arm around her slight form and hugs her.
Kendra we have been through so much to find you...faced horrors I hope you can’t imagine, there was nothing that would stop us from finding you . Jon says with genuine emotion in his voice we all love you greatly and if you insist on accompanying us then we wil go to Gallowspire together .
But as much as I love you Kendra I hate Adivion, he has played games with us for months, put us literally through hell.
He has no right to decide the fate of millions of people, to tear their faith from them. Because that is what we are talking about here. If he can achieve what he plans to do it could destroy thousands of people. Take Markus for example, what would become of him if his connection to Desna were suddenly severed? And what about all the clerics and paladins holding back the demons at the world wound? Would they just suddenly stop? Without their faith would they even care?
What he plans cannot be allowed, it’s just wrong. Anyway you dress it up it is wrong Jon says gravely
we have no choice, he forces our hand

Kendra takes Jon's hand and rests her head on his shoulder.

I don't deserve everything you have done Jon, I really don't. I just want al this to mean something.

I wish I had your faith and conviction that what he is doing is wrong. But after talking to him, after feeling what he has been able to do, to heal me.... I just can't be sure any more. I can't be sure of anything.

She looks at him seriously though and says, not unkindly; But I trust and love each and every one of you.

Markus turns away, unable to say anything else. Unsure what else can be said. It's all gone wrong and he can only see Adivian at the end of it all, Kendra was his end but that monster that insane man has ruined it all.

I'm done, I think we want to walk out of here go to Lepistad stock up and then to Gallowspire. Question ! How far away is it from where we are currently?

Gallowspire sits in the ruined city of Adorak some 60 miles away across the Hungry Mountains. You have no idea how many with gates may be in the area though, making teleportation risky at best.

You can't really fail knowledge checks at this point

Kendra takes Jon's hand and rests her head on his shoulder.

I don't deserve everything you have done Jon, I really don't. I just want al this to mean something.

I wish I had your faith and conviction that what he is doing is wrong. But after talking to him, after feeling what he has been able to do, to heal me.... I just can't be sure any more. I can't be sure of anything.

She looks at him seriously though and says, not unkindly; But I trust and love each and every one of you.

"You deserve it and much more Kendra" - Caradwen smiles widely - "You cannot put a price tag on Friendship... Nor Love. They are worth everything" - she squeezes her friend's hand again - "Your trust and love are not misplaced" - then turns to the others - "Different perspectives are one thing. Right! But we are still friends! I need a hug! We all do! Get over here!" - and waits for the needed group hug.

The stern inquisitor watches the group hug from where he sits. He has no connection to the woman but understands the others do so he waits patiently for them to conclude their reunion and then says. "So we are set. We head for Gallowspire to bring an end to this."

I'd tell everyone what I knew about Adorak.

Markus is another that doesn't move in with the group for a hug, he feels the pull the need to comfort but he just can't. He just can't.
"We head for Lepistad first, we restock and then we head for Gallowspire. I have a few things I need to attend to and then we put an end to all this." He says coldly.

I suppose people want to/need to buy? If we can get there ok, we'll walk as much as we can - I do have DD x2. We then head to Gallowspire.

JZ - Any chance I can try and research where these gates might be so we can plan around them?

They aren't documented anywhere so you wouldn't know. The Whispering Way pass this kind of information in actual whispers so the knowledge of where they are died with the last cultist.

As the others gather round in a group hug, Jon can see Markus standing stiffly,unable or unwilling to join them and he can’t help but feel sadness at the priests self imposed exile from the group .

Markus, get your ass over here, we are all the family Kendra has left.
We are together in this and now more than ever we need each other, we may not all come back from gallowspire
Jon pulses a thought to the Desnan, speaking directly to him with his telepathic abilities and he waits to see if he will join then.

Next day ...........
After a troubled sleep and a frugal breakfast Jon readies himself to leave.
Strapping his blade into place he looks around at the others and says
it looks like we are walking a lot of the way, until we clear these damn gates we can’t teleport.
if everyone is ready we should get going, we have lingered here too long as it is

so I guess we are walking until we clear the gates. Though we don’t know where they are do we? How far is it?

Davos finishes prepping himself for the days journey and packs his things away.

"Indeed will be bit of a long march ahead of us, just not sure how big the radius theses witch gates have or where they are located" he says as the group so some last adjusting of their gear before the walk

Well you know that in the worst case Gallowspire is 60 miles in one direction. You have no idea how far the other witchgates are surrounding the area so you'd have to decide how far to go before attempting to teleport.

The day is as grim as the landscape around you. Kendra stays extremely close to the group, practically hand in hand with each of you - save Erek - for the majority of the day. When she does her pale, cold skin gives you the tiniest electric shock, belying her strangeness and now otherwordly nature.

The featureless tracks of low hills out of the Hungry Mountains seem to go on forever and by the afternoon you would be hard pressed to know that you had travelled at all if it weren't for the weariness in your limbs.

This is true whether you head toward Gallowspire or away from it, but I still need to know if you are going straight there or not

Lepistad first

I did a big post but im editing it.

I have wind walk - I'd like to get us all to Lepistad shop and then to gallow in one day if we can.

Whoever is travelling with windwalk can get to the area that you met the paladins within about 2 hours. Another 2 hours should see you out of the range of the Witchgate that drew you there.

From there you can teleport back to Lepistadt but any teleportation within the Hungry Mountains - such as toward Gallowspire, will draw you back to the Witchgates

That being the case, who is going to Lepistadt and who is staying?

Sorry to bog this down but it could be relevant

I am going to lepistadt, I need a headband of charisma and 24 hours for it to activate

Lepistadt for some gear upgrades on Morbar and Cara. Shouldn't take longer than a day.

For the first 24 hours it is treated as a temporary bonus Jon, but it effectively works straight away

Ok so I need to be 100% clear about this - someone is travelling to Lepistadt, doing the shopping and then coming back and the group is going to travel and reach Gallowspire this day? Yes?

I'm not sure anymore Jon has kind throw my idea out the window. I was just trying to get us moving.

Ok unless I hear otherwise I will go with what I posted above and move on to Gallowspire tonight, I don't want to remain bogged down in this any longer when we are so close to the end.

I would say Yes - keep group together, but still get some gear upgrades. Markus doesn't need them because he is already a priest, and thus in God mode :D

Having gathered what supplies they can for what must be the final encounter, the group grimly makes it's way to the ruined city of Adorak.

By the time the party reaches the city, the supernatural storms so common to Virlych are raging, centred on Gallowspire. The black tower sits in the centre of the city though now it is completely obscured by black clouds and slashing rains.

The wind rips at your clothes and feels as though it will pull your hair out at the roots and you are forced to land near the gates of the city.

The buildings are like ash and seem as though they will collapse at the merest touch. The streets are full of wandering undead, visible from the air but the vein-like streets might afford enough cover to sneak through.

My God this place is Hell... Kendra whispers, afraid.

The city is built in a concentric circle, spiralling out from a central point - that point being the tower of Gallowspire itself.

The city is bing ravaged by a terrible storm that checks medium sized flying creatures and blows away small sized flying creatures

so would we be able to rest before heading to gallowspire? I want to know if I will have access to my level 7 spells or not

You can do whatever you need to, Jon. It is worth bearing in mind that Adivion would definitely know that you assaulted the Monastery by now.

So any more time you take is risking him at best preparing more thoroughly for your arrival since he clearly can't persuade you otherwise or at worst actually risk giving him the time to enact his plan.

I just want you to be fully aware of the stakes

I don't want to rest we rested before going to town and I didn't want to waste all the time doing that.

Markus stares off into the large city, the Mortuary Tempest adding to its horror.

"This is a damned place." He steps forward and places a hand on Kendras shoulder. "The end is at the top of that Spire." He points and then lows he head and whispers to Kendra. "Stand with us, please. He will die today." He pulls away then stepping ahead of the group.

"Flying is out of the options, and I won't risk teleporting. We move together, I don't want anything risking themselves. We stop it now, there won't be any second chances."

I'll tell everyone about the storm. I have protection from evil learned 3 times I'll cast it before we go in.

You can't see the tower, remember that. Though it is obviously at the centre of the city. You stand at the outer gates of a large, though mostly destroyed city, so keep that in mind when you are preparing buffs and so on.

You'll have your level 7 spells Jon, as we have rested
There an image of the city J?

Staring at the city before them, with a fasinated look on his face watching as an unnatural storm above the city lashing out as forks of lightning crackles across the sky.

"Such an horrendous place to be, but we are here nearly at the journeys end"

I'll do my spells tonight

The black tower sits in the centre of the city though now it is completely obscured by black clouds and slashing rains. - I assumed we had seen it and now as we got closer it was covered my bad

That's fine protect for everyone and I have death ward learned 3 times so i can spread that out when it's clear we're in danger.

The wind means that you cannot make any forward progress while airborne unless you make a DC 10 strength check in that round or a DC 20 Fly check, either taking a -8 penalty.

So what's the plan? How are you entering the city?

Jon pulls his cloak tighter about him as the savage wind tears all around them. Looking out at the grim city he sees the mammoth task before them.
this place is going to be a nightmare, it is full of undead and god knows what else.
Don t suppose we have any way to hide ourselves from the dead? Jon asks and suspectingbthe answer is no he sighs and curses silently
Drawing upon his powers he cloaks himself in his demon skin and draws his blade.
I guess we move in through the main gate, we need to try and keep off the main streets, hopefully we can sneak through somehow. he says as he moves toward the city gates

casting protection against evil, and bull str on myself j are the gates the only way in? Are they even open?

Glancing back toward the others he looks at Kendra and says
Kendra , I don’t know what Adivion has done to you but we need to keep you safe. Stay close to Markus we have no idea what we will face here he says as he continues to move forward toward the gates.

Yes the gates are open. In fact there are no gates as such. The city is an absolute ruin.

I'm going to push this on

The storm rages terribly. Rain lashing down around you and wind ripping at your clothing. On more than one occasion you see bolts of lightning explode from the sky and decimate one of the already ruined buildings below. Where the lightning hits, several crackling forms coalesce into being - lightning elementals that rage with nothing but primal emotion. Hordes of skeletons and zombies engage the elementals on the outskirts of the city.

In the flashes of lightning you realise there must be tens of thousands of undead in the streets though the storm is proving to be something of a boon for they are preoccupied with the elementals.

1d100 ⇒ 89
1d100 ⇒ 31
1d100 ⇒ 2
1d100 ⇒ 64
1d100 ⇒ 85
1d100 ⇒ 93
1d100 ⇒ 55

As you look on a bolt of lightning rips down out of the sky and blasts Davos, once again reinforcing how deadly this place is.

Electricity damage: 10d8 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 1, 2, 7, 6, 3, 8, 5) = 40

I'll assume you are going to heal Davos and continue moving

2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

The group moves cautiously through the sidestreets. Kendra is visibly terrified but does nothing to voice her concerns, pressing on despite the horrors of this place which is all the more admirable.

After a few minutes (7 in fact) the group comes across a broad avenue, 50 feet wide
and 400 feet long. It is made from thousands of skulls taken from slain crusaders and cobbled face-up into the pavement.

Crouching down Jon like old out along the street of skulls and curses under his breath
we need to cross this quickly and get back into the side streets Jon says quietly it is too open here, I’ll go first then I’ll signal for you to follow

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Glancing around he moves out across the street.

Every step Jon takes is met with chewing and biting at his ankles from the skulls that suddenly animate as he walks across them.

Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) = 11

Every 5 feet you move causes 1d4 damage. I moved you 15ft.

Markus steps forward looking down at the fowl skills reacting to Jon biting at him. He takes out his holy symbol and unleashes a large blast of holy energy, attempting to silence the unholy energy animating them.

Channel: 7d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 7, 7, 7, 2, 3) = 33

"We need to be careful, but we need to get in somewhere this storm will be attached to us and Davos won't be the first to be hit."

Markus turns to Kendra, seeing her he still can't believe she there. He takes out a ring and offers it to her. "Like before... If you take it off I'll know. Just in case we get split up or you need my help and don't want to say it. I'm so immensely happy your back with us, don't forget that. After this is done it can all go back to normal. We'll all be happy like before." He holds her hand and smiles.

The burst of positive energy washes over the skull-cobbled avenue and though the skulls seem to cry out, they still continue to chew on Jon's feet.

The Haunt is still active

With a loud crack in the sky a bolt of lighting strikes Davos causing immense pain throughout his body "Arghhhh!" with a painful scream he kneels into the floor.

Recovered from the wounds from the wand Markus wields he gets to his feet and pushes on. "I'd worried take shelter in these ruined buildings if they took a hit from the lighting we could be out under rubble"

Look down the avenue and the at the skulls lining the whole entire path ahead showing the many horrors Tar-Baphon’s no doubt has done in the city. "Shall we try to navigate between the alleyways between buildings instead of taking this route?"

Jons tough demon hide stops the animated skulls from tearing into him and he angrily stamps down onto the street.
these bastards aren’t letting up ! he says as he looks back at the others
I can carry you across, or you could try blasting them again but this place...maybe the haunts can’t be stopped

I if they do 1d4 each bite them my damage reduction of 5 should prevent them hurting me, I can carry Kendra across at least and anyone else who doesn’t want to get bitten. Will just take time

"Can't we just go around?" - Caradwen pipes in, not eager step inot such a dastardly road.