The Godsmouth Heresy - Team Kappa (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain", hey?

Cacumattus ceases his search and turns to his companions. "All right, but I'm not convinced this isn't another elaborate deception. We must, at least, phrase our questions very carefully."

Pretty much, yes. That was essentially what I thought of when I read this encounter ;-)

There is a pregnant pause as the disembodied voice awaits some questions...

...and the gp donations to go with them ;-)

Max thinks for a moment, then speaks up.
"What if we ask for detailed directions for the best route to take to get to where we need to go to stop those responsible for stealing the bodies from the crypt? One we know that, then we can ask more detailed questions, like how many enemies we can expect and what they are."

Hisao places one of his gold pieces on the black cloth What is the best way to get to those stealing bodies from the crypt

"Go down the corridor to the end, turn right, turn right again, pass through the Great Pit chamber, but do not tarry - it is a direct communication to the Still Place down below, and you do *not* want to attract the attention of anything from there. Continue to follow the main path as far as it will go, and you will find what you seek."

Either we ask four more questions or someone owes me eight silver Hisao mutters

Maeron steps forward and places a coin down, placing little value in the disembodied voice but hopeful of a swift resolution to this place.

"What or who is responsible for the bodies disappearing?"

"A human named Svilennius."

The elfs face turns to one of surprise and disappointment.

"A human is responsible for this? Tenderstump and Zarzuket died because of human body snatchers.."

The question isn't directed at the voice, but more of a rhetoric as Maeron thinks out loud.

Max steps forward and offers a coin.
"What kind of help does Svilennius have with him, as he could not have done all of this by himself?"

"The only help he has is from the undead that he has created; when traveling upstairs, to restock, he goes alone."

Do Cacamattus or Tyr have any questions? Hisao asks.

Cacumattus hesitantly offers one of his few gold pieces.

"Why is this Svilennius raising the dead; what is his goal, his purpose?"

"To prove that science is more powerful than magic, and that it provides a loop-hole in Pharasmin doctrine; to restore his dead girlfriend."

Using Tyr's question for him Hisao asks Where is the most valuable treasure here that we can carry out with us safely?

Sorry if I stepped on your toes Tyr but I figure 5 questions is good and then we can head straight to the boss

Silence greets Hisao's question.

You did not put down an additional coin for the answer to that question ;-)

Hisao grumbles and plunks down a coin in response to the silence.

"The single most valuable treasure that it would be relatively safe to claim is in a refuse pile at the bottom of some stairs that you will pass on your way to Svilennius."

Hisao nods satisfied and turns to the others. Let us be gone from this place and head to this Svilennius

Alright.

Leaving the room, and returning down the corridor, you pass two small doors, directly opposite one another, crafted to look like mirror images of each other.

Reaching the end of the corridor, there are a set of double doors directly in front of you, with corridors to the left, and right.

Let me know what you want to do :-)

Voice said head right

Heading down the corridor, it ends at another T-intersection, with a 10' length of the corridor to the left, ending in a door emblazoned with a strange seven-pointed star, whilst to the right, it continues for 40' before terminating in an open door (the first that you have encountered in this complex).

What now?

Well let's get agreement from everyone. Are we all good with heading where the voice said while taking 20s on perception along the way? Hisao will be on the lookout for the treasure in the trash. Also who has taken the cloak of resistance? It should be our best healer the way things are going.

I am perfectly fine with following the directions that the mysterious voice has given us. If nobody objects to Max taking the cloak than he will wear it, once he takes the time to remove the religious symbolism.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Cacumattus recognises the seven-pointed star as a Sihedron Rune, an ancient symbol representing the seven schools of Thassilonian magic. For whatever that's worth, way to blow a natural 20 ;-p

Yes, lets keep following the directions, but keeping our weapons handy in case it's a trap.

I think that's a majority consensus of what's left of us.

Moving through the open door...

A thirty-foot-diameter pit fills this circular room, its bottom lost in darkness. The ceiling arches twenty feet above the pit, which is encircled by a narrow, five-foot-wide walkway. A door stands in the opposite wall of the room, across the pit.

Now, just for clarity, this is the room you were warned against spending time in. Please let me know if you intend to do anything *other* the move through it quickly...

I vote move across quickly

Seconded

You guys dont want to dilly-dally a bit and meet some evil nasty situation? Oh fine, lets move past it.

Wisely deciding not to tarry, the party quickly traverses the room, opens the door, and exits through the other side, entering a 50' long corridor, which terminates in another room... but what a room!

This room is a charnel house of blood, bones, and scraps of rotten flesh. Strange runes have been sloppily drawn on the walls using some dark brown pigment. A moss-covered stone monolith stands in the center of the room, wreathed in gossamer wisps of gray mist that seem to congeal around the crumbling stone.

The room, however, is not unoccupied - two hairless, malformed corpses with gray-green, pustule-covered skin and oversized jaws that make them seem more beast-like than humanoid occupy the room! They snarl, turning sightless, dead eyes upon you, and lick their lips hungrily with far-too-long tongues, before moving to attack!

They both rush forward, one attempting to bite Tyr...

Bite: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 2 = 16, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.

...however, its bite is turned aside by his armor.

The other attempts to take a chunk out of Hisao...

Bite: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 2 = 17, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

...taking him by surprise, and ripping out a chunk of flesh, which actually causes it to seem healthier!

It then tries to trip Hisao...

Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Vs CMD 14.

...knocking the poor Ninja prone!

Round 1: F, Hisao, Tyr, Cacumattus, Maxwell, Maeron

Party is up.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Cacumattus fires a crossbow bolt at the creature facing Hisao.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 19 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Threat confirm: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 4 = 12 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Medic! Hisao bites back an oath as he struggles up knowing that the unnatural beast will try to attack him again. He then slashes at his assailant.

blade: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

@Hisao: Just making sure that you are aware: Standing up from prone provokes...

Yeah, I figure it doesn't matter if I get healed after the aoo or before. Hopefully the thing doesn't crit. The way things are going though..

Hisao stands up...

AoO #1: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 4 = 17, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

AoO #2: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 4 = 7, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.

...and is bitten by the *other* one, although he manages to avoid the snapping jaws of the one that bit him before.

He then tries to stab one of them, but skids on some gore, almost falling over again.

Cacumattus lines-up a shot, which punches straight through the shoulder of the one worrying Hisao, but does not drop it.

That was a confirmed critical, because they charged :-)

Round 1: F, Hisao, Tyr, Cacumattus, Maxwell, Maeron

Oh well didn't account for two... One hp from death.

1hp from unconsciousness, not death...

Maeron steps forward, channelling druidic magic and placing his hands on his ninja ally.

"Nobody else is dying down here!"

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

What are those things?
Taking in the sight of the disturbing decorations in the room, Max decides that he definitely does not want to become a part of the design.
He raises his crossbow and lets fly at the monster that is tormenting Hisao
crossbow: 1d20 ⇒ 20 damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7
threat confirm?: 1d20 ⇒ 6 crit damage?: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Tyr fires two arrows, point-blank, into the creature in front of him...

Arrow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 25, for 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 8 damage.

Arrow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 21, for 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 8 damage.

...both arrows strike home, one in each eye socket, and the creature falls to the ground, inert.

Maxwell wonders what the creatures are, but nonetheless raises his crossbow, and fires a bolt which slams into the remaining creature's chest, rocking it back on its heels, but not quite dropping it.

Feel free to give me Knowledge(Religion) checks, since you specifically wondered about them :-)

Maeron steps forward, and channels healing energy into Hisao.

The remaining creature snarls, and continues to harry Hisao!

Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.

Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage.

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

However, the spry ninja manages to dodge every single one of the creature's frenzied attacks.

Round 2: F, Hisao, Tyr, Cacumattus, Maxwell, Maeron

Party is up.

Cacumattus reloads and fires a second bolt at the remaining creature.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

blade: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Hisao slashes angrily at the foul creature.

Hisao slashes angrily at the remaining creature, opening its throat.

As he does so, he accidentally sprays himself with foul, diseased pus.

Give me a Fort save (DC 12), or be Sickened for 1d6 rounds.

Combat over.

What next?

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 161d6 ⇒ 2

Wiping off the goop with a disgusted look Hisao drinks the potion of cure light wounds he got at the start of the assignment and says Let us go straight forward

clw: 1d8 ⇒ 2

I now regret checking this thread over lunch...

"Agreed, I don't like the look of that mist"

The passage continues for about 90', before terminating in a short set of stairs, which go down 10' to a small platform. Branching off to the right is a *longer* set of stairs going downward, but directly in front of you is another short set of stairs, going back up 10' again, to the continuation of the corridor.

Let me know if you wish to continue following the main corridor, or go via the branch. FWIW, this is the branch that was indicated for the 'greatest remaining easily accessible' treasure.

So the treasure is ahead or to the right?

Where you need to go to find the body-snatcher is straight ahead; the treasure is to the right.

I vote ahead to get the main quest done, based on how we are we can then explore later afterwards. Best option would be for Hisao to scout ahead stealthily with Perception 20 as long as everyone else is close behind. What do you guys think?