Revival of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Parrying the ghoul's raking claws, Kargas grins menacingly as his scars and lights begin to glow. "Missed your chance," he taunts it as the falchion flashes in the dying light.

Rage, Power Attack, Bless
Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 2 + 1 = 26 Damage: 2d4 + 15 ⇒ (1, 2) + 15 = 18

(Hopefully} Cutting down the ghoul before him, Kargas surges into the house, trying to hem in the last ghoul between Guiness and himself.

Free from the paralysis, Colvyn takes a step back. "Ugh, I don't feel too good..." He raises his bow and sends an arrow at the fat ghoul. To his surprises, the arrow manages to find its mark.

Longbow vs Purple: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 2 - 4 = 25
Longbow vs Purple, confirm: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 2 - 4 = 20

damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 11
crit damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 17

Guiness has some difficulty a solid blow as the wily ghoul twists this way and that, but Colvyn and Kargas far much better. Kargas' falchion cleaves straight through the red ghoul. As the undead creature's torso falls to the ground, its legs continue to wander for a few moments before falling to the ground and spasming as the remaining negative energy leaves them.

Meanwhile, Colvyn's shot whips through the air above Guiness' head and strikes right into the remaining ghoul's temple. The arrowhead drives deep and bursts the creature's skull. It topples with an unearthly groan.

Combat Over!
---

With the undead threat in this house quelled, you're able to get a better look at the two non-undead corpses. The one lying on a chair in the living room is a middle aged human woman whose stiff hands still clutch at a symbol of Erastil. The one affixed to the kitchen's ceiling is a middle-aged human man whose neck has been slashed open. Both bodies are well into decay, with flies not returning to swarm around them. The man's chest has been slashed shallowly to carve in a seven pointed star.

Furthermore, a note has been pinned to his belly. Looking up and reading it, you see...

You also notice that the bulky ghoul wears a large iron key around its neck on a leather cord. The key bears a heraldic symbol of an unusual flower surrounded by thorns. Kargas, Colvyn and Flo recognize it immediately as the Foxglove family crest - something that Aldern Foxglove was keen to show off during the boar hunt he took you on.

The tallest person present, Kargas reaches up to tear the note free but crumples it up in his fist before anyone else--especially Flor--can read it.

When the key is found, Kargas' eyes narrow with suspicion. "We're being taunted, strung along. I don't like it, because it means whoever is behind all this feels confident that these ghouls we've killed won't make a difference."

”Let’s make sure the rest of the house is clear,” suggests Guiness, heading down the stairs to the cellar to check for more enemies.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Guiness has some difficulty a solid blow as the wily ghoul twists this way and that, but Colvyn and Kargas far much better. Kargas' falchion cleaves straight through the red ghoul. As the undead creature's torso falls to the ground, its legs continue to wander for a few moments before falling to the ground and spasming as the remaining negative energy leaves them.

Meanwhile, Colvyn's shot whips through the air above Guiness' head and strikes right into the remaining ghoul's temple. The arrowhead drives deep and bursts the creature's skull. It topples with an unearthly groan.

Combat Over!
---

With the undead threat in this house quelled, you're able to get a better look at the two non-undead corpses. The one lying on a chair in the living room is a middle aged human woman whose stiff hands still clutch at a symbol of Erastil. The one affixed to the kitchen's ceiling is a middle-aged human man whose neck has been slashed open. Both bodies are well into decay, with flies not returning to swarm around them. The man's chest has been slashed shallowly to carve in a seven pointed star.

Furthermore, a note has been pinned to his belly. Looking up and reading it, you see...

Detect magic first! ;) Kellek incants the words to a cantrip "Spelkrapht Taketten Yadda Yadda Yadda."

It seems to be penned by the same hand as the last note you encountered.

You also notice that the bulky ghoul wears a large iron key around its neck on a leather cord. The key bears a heraldic symbol of an unusual flower surrounded by thorns. Kargas, Colvyn and Flo recognize it immediately as the Foxglove family crest - something that Aldern Foxglove was keen to show off during the boar hunt he took you on.

Is there a second floor in addition to the basement?

Colvyn tries to find a somewhat clean spot in the house so that he can sit down and wait for the sickness feeling to pass. He looks at the wound on his arm, wondering how bad it is and if just got what the crazy human had at the sanitarium.

Kellek inspects the corpse and the rest of the ground floor with detect magic, but finds no magical auras beyond those from his allies. The large iron key on the ghoul is similarly non-magical.

Guiness leads the way down to the cellar and finds the room thick with a pungent smell of ghoulish rot. As his darkvision takes over from his daytime vision, he finds the cellar consists of two rooms. One a homely bedroom with a large bloodstained bed and simple set of furniture. The other room appears to have once been a storage space for food stores over the winter. Now, the room lies in ruins - crates, clay pots, and sacks torn apart and their contents scattered all over the floor. Two ghouls lie dead on the ground here, their pungent aromas filling the space. And in the far corner of the room a young woman lies slumped against the wall, hands still clutching the handaxe she used to defend herself.

Guiness also notices a loose floorboard in the bedroom. When he moves it aside, he finds a small but stout wooden coffer.

Nope, no second floor here. The map is a little misleading.

Kellek inspects the corpse and the rest of the ground floor with detect magic, but finds no magical auras beyond those from his allies. The large iron key on the ghoul is similarly non-magical.

Now Kellek reads the note.

Upon the discovery of another group of bodies (one still living) Kellek moves to provide aid (after first making sure the would-be recipient has been disarmed first).

heal (take 10): 10 + 6 = 16

Guiness takes a moment to nod at the axe-wielding warrior in respect. Having no idea if she is still alive, he pulls gently on the axe in her hands with the back of his hammer’s head, taking care to stay out of immediate reach if she turns out to be a ghoul ( or a fierce warrior). If he succeeds in disarming her, he will step back and make way for Kellek and/or Floredana to check on her, picking up the coffer instead and examining its contents.

holy moly that interest rate! will update with a longer post later today

Kargas stabs each ghoul to ensure they're dead, then keeps half an eye on the others attempting to tend to the young woman. He doesn't get too close--no sense in bunching up like sheep--and instead looks around the cellar for anything of use.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Guiness finds the axe-wielding warrior's hands to be stiff and rigid around the weapon's handle. Nevertheless, hooking his hammer around the weapon, he's able to pull it out of her hands. Kellek steps in to inspect her, but very quickly concludes that she's dead and has been so for at least a couple of days. She bears a couple of deep ragged cuts on her arms and neck where clawed hands tore at her flesh. Strangely, she also has a thin gash on her leg - one that looks like it was delivered by a bladed weapon.

With none of the destroyed ghouls in the cellar moving, Kargas takes a look around for anything of use, but finds nothing more than has already been uncovered.

Guiness hands the coffer with its silver and note over to Kellek, asking, "Is there a way we can ensure these bodies do not rise as ghouls?

Turning to Kargas once the burly half-orc is done searching, he suggests, "Perhaps we clear the barn first, then deal with the bodies?

Still sitting on the floor of the main floor, Colvyn waits for the group to come back from exploring the basement.

Does the woman's weapon wound seem self-inflicted?

Kargas nods at Guiness. "She went bravely, these folk don't lack for courage...just training. Once the area's clear we can deal with fallen."

Clomping back up the stairs, Kargas frowns with concern at Colvyn (and presumably Flor who would likely be tending to him?.) "You okay? More corpses in the cellar. I think we're ready to check the barn when you are."

Ready to move on to the barn?

Looking up at Kargas, Colvyn takes a deep breath. "That ghoul did a number on me, but I will be better in a moment. I just need a short break." Taking support on the wall, he stands back up. "So anything of interest in the basement?"

The wound looks like it's too thin to have been done with a handaxe. So probably not self inflicted.

While the healthier members of the group finish their investigation downstairs, Colvyn (with Flo's assistance) manages to work his way past the intense nausea caused by the large ghoul's putrid stench. By the time Guiness, Kellek and Kargas return, Colvyn is feeling much better (Sickened condition has cleared. You still have the disease, but that's currently latent)

Flo takes out her wand of cure light wounds and gives Kargas and Colvyn a few taps to ensure that they're ready for another wave of ghouls.
CLW Wand Colvyn: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW Wand Colvyn: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW Wand Kargas: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
3 charges down, but everyone's at full HP

As you look out through the front door of the farmhouse, you see the long shadow cast by the barn. The sun sits on the horizon, bathing the scene in a rusty glow. There's no obvious movement from the barn, despite your fight against the ghouls inside the farmhouse.

As previously mentioned, the barn has one open back door that faces away from the farmhouse, and one closed front door that faces toward the farmhouse. If you want to approach stealthily, make sure to give me some stealth checks.

Guiness will defer to the stealthier members of the party, trailing along behind and trying to muffle the sound of his armor as best as possible.

Stealth: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (5) - 5 = 0

"You look like the villain of a mummer's play." Kellek says to the dwarf. "It is not like they wouldn't have heard us already. We might consider splitting up and attacking the building from both sides. We might be able to catch someone and get them to answer some questions."

"The ghouls don't seem like talkative types, but I agree with coming at them from both sides."

"Those that are light on their feet could come with me on the other side of the barn while Guiness and the rest head for the front door of the barn."

Colvyn rubs his arm where the wound was a moment ago as he speaks. Once everyone is divided in two groups, he heads toward the back of the barn as silently as he can.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

”Works for me,” replies the stout but unstealthy dwarf.

Guiness (and his stealth check of zero) gives the stealthy ones a few moments to get into place, then he heads straight to the front door of the barn, trying to keep an eye out for any undead along the way (Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19). After pausing a moment more, he opens the main door of the barn and looks in.

The the north-east side of the barn, Colvyn approaches very stealthily indeed. Through the open barn door, he can see into the dimly lit interior of the barn. The space has been turned into a charnel house. The ground is piled high with a macabre tangle of bones and partially eaten carcasses. Most appear to be cattle, hogs and other livestock, but a few look suspiciously like human bodies.

Within the shadows of the dim interior, you hear the sounds of bones being cracked open and flesh being scarfed down. (Even the unstealthy team at the SW end hear this) Thanks to his darkvision, Colvyn can see the forms of three ghouls within his line of sight, all surrounding a particularly large steer carcass.

(Thanks to the bones and bodies, the entire interior of the barn is difficult terrain. Colvyn doesn't have full line of sight from the outside to see all of the interior of the barn, so there could be more than 3 ghouls.)

When Guiness takes a hold of the barn door and starts to pull, the door's hinge lets out a loud creak. All three of the ghouls inside immediately stop their meal and perk up, their attention drawn to the south-west.
----
(Colvyn gets a surprise round, during which Guiness will be opening the front door, then we'll jump into normal rounds)

|||| INIT ||||
Colvyn (surprise round)
Kellek
Guiness
Flo
Kargas
Ghouls

Bold are up

At work, can't do nice post. Colvyn will activate his blessing to buff his bow.

Got it. I think the blessing doesn't require any vocal components, right?

As Colvyn blesses his bow, the ghouls pull upright face towards the door opening to the south-west. Guiness heaves the SW door open with a horrible squealing of hinges that haven't seen oil in years. Inside, he spots two more ghouls that Colvyn missed, on of which is almost at the SW door already!

Thankfully, with the ghouls just now roused from their meal, the party is the first to act. Flo waves her wand and blesses the SW group with a cloud of butterflies.

|||| INIT ||||
Colvyn (surprise round)
Kellek
Guiness
Kargas
Flo
Ghouls

Bold are up
Buffs: Bless on all but Colvyn

With the loud squeal of the door giving him away, Guiness draws Dragonfist and strides into the barn right up to the nearest ghoul (two squares north, one east), saying, ”Come at me, ye filthy blighters!”

Seeing the array of ghouls before him, Guiness drops into a defensive stance, ready to block claw and fang (full defense).

Striding into the barn after Guiness, Kargas twirls the falchion once and glares at the ghouls. "Come on then, you ugly wretches, and I'll put you down like the mad dogs you are." Eyes glowing, the half-orc raises a hand and draws a field of protective energy around himself.

Move Action, cast Shield for AC24 since I'm not currently raging

Colvyn aims his bow at one of the ghouls and releases one arrow. In case the creature survives, he takes a step back and uses his divine gift to increase his defense.

Longbow vs Orange: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 + (4) = 13

Use Fervor to cast Protection from Evil.
Ac now at 20.
I saw nothing that says that Blessing uses a vocal component to activate.

OK! Colvyn is your primary sneaky character, so I've put him on the NE side. Since no one else but Guiness rolled stealth, I've assumed Colvyn went alone. No one else has great stealth, as far as I can see.

That's 'caus we're so stealthy. ;)

"Zillee Stri'ng!"

Casts magic reservoir-enhanced web (DC 18) targeting the back wall, the rafters, and the stalls, and any other bit of extruded barn architecture. The object is to gum up as much of the interior as possible.

The sticky strands immediately catch the green, yellow and red ghouls, and all three of them struggle to free themselves. Only the yellow ghoul succeeds, and it similarly has good fortune to claw its way through the remaining strands without getting stuck a second time. The yellow ghoul emerges from the web next to Guiness, covered in spider webs and flailing about wildly with its hands.

The blue ghoul swings in with claws and jaw at Guiness, but the dwarf's shield intercepts all of the attacks. The ghoul pulls back looking somewhat bewildered and starts looking for an easier target.

|||| INIT ||||
Colvyn
Kellek
Guiness
Kargas
Flo
Ghouls (Red and Green entangled in web)

Bold are up
Buffs: Bless on all but Colvyn

I assume because of the difficult terrain that Kargas provokes from moving into melee? AC24 if so.

Lunging forward through the carpet of bones covering the floor, Kargas brings his falchion to bear against the nearest ghoul with a devastating upward slash.

Power Attack vs Yellow: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 17 Damage: 2d4 + 12 ⇒ (3, 2) + 12 = 17

Guiness seizes the opportunity as well, swinging Dragonfist in a powerful sideways swipe at the blue ghoul's ribcage and following up with his trademark headbutt!

Blessed Dragonfist Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Blessed Steel Headbutt Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Headbutt Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Great, now I don, t have a clear line of sight. He walks to the edge of the web and tries to kill the other ghoul that he can see. While the shot is difficult, he still manages to get a good hit.

Longbow vs Red: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 + 1 + (4) = 12

Wow, you guys are tearing through this encounter. Kargas, since they don't have reach, you're OK to move in without provoking despite the difficult terrain.
---

Colvyn's arrow cleanly embeds itself in the red ghoul's head, but isn't quite enough to take the monster down. The red ghoul thrashes in the web to try to get at the ratfolk that injured it, but all it manages is to get itself further tangled in the web. The green ghoul fares little better, just wiggling in place as the webs hold it.

The blue ghoul turns to Kargas and claws and bites away, but its attacks meet little more than the warding magic of his shield spell.

|||| INIT ||||
Colvyn
Kellek x2
Guiness
Kargas
Flo
Ghouls (Red and Green entangled in web)

Bold are up
Buffs: Bless on all but Colvyn

Guiness launches another full attack at the blue ghoul in front of him, trying to take it down before it can strike again.

Dragonfist Attack with Bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 = 14
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Steel Headbutt Attack with Bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 = 18
Steel Headbutt Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Last round...

mwk cold iron dagger v blue (bless, v cover): 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 4 + 1 = 7 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

A familiar cold iron dagger smacks flat against Durgan's pauldron as he faces off against the ghoul. It couldn't have come from Kellek though as a quick glance would reveal the mage to be contemplating the deepening twilight sky.

Who's Durgan?!

Sorry. Guiness. All you bearded helmets look alike from up here.

Butterflies already clouding her allies, Flo steps into the barn behind Kargas, places a hand to his back so he knows she is there, and raises her hand overhead.

"Keep it up everyone, they won't even know what hit them!" Punctuating her words, she sends a surge of light from her hand that instinctively seeks out the Ghouls around her.
________
Channel Positive (Harm Undead), DC 12: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

Waiting to see it any undead are still standing.

|||| INIT ||||
Colvyn
Kellek
Guiness
Kargas
Flo
Green Ghoul (entangled in web, 3 dmg)

Bold are up
Buffs: Bless on all but Colvyn

Kargas steps up to the edge of the webbing, watching the entangled ghoul in case it gets close.

Can't move my token on my phone, could I be moved one square closer diagonally?

Readied Attack if Green Comes in Reach: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage: 4d4 + 12 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 1) + 12 = 23

Can't move my token on my phone, could I be moved one square closer diagonally?

Done.

With such an obstructing view, Colvyn just ready his bow in case the ghoul start moving toward him.

Readied Longbow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 + (1) = 10

You had 6 full rounds before it rolled high enough to escape, so I think we can call this a win :>
Combat Over!

For once, you emerge from a fight completely unscathed, the web spell having proven incredibly effective in holding back the creatures. With the last of the ghouls dead, all you're left with is the charnel-house of a barn. A mixed smell of raw meat, rot, and manure billows through the space as bones crunch underfoot.
----

A quick scout around the perimeter of the barn and farmhouse confirms that all the ghouls in this area have been dealt with.

Kellek scans the battlefield.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

He casts detect magic, and takes 10 on Spellcraft if he finds anything with an aura.

For once, you emerge from a fight completely unscathed, the web spell having proven incredibly effective in holding back the creatures. With the last of the ghouls dead, all you're left with is the charnel-house of a barn. A mixed smell of raw meat, rot, and manure billows through the space as bones crunch underfoot.

Kellek sniffs the air and makes a face. "Charming. Perhaps next time you will give me more notice that you plan on going somewhere, so that I might prepare some more effective spells for the occasion."

Lowering his falchion with a slightly disappointed expression as Colvy fills the ghoul with arrows, Kargas helps to search around. "This doesn't feel right, there should be more of them here. Was that farmer too scared to count...or did the rest of them go somewhere?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17