The_Ninja_DM's Carrion Crown

Game Master Spiral_Ninja

Wood joins the trek to the church.

"Eva, Vert. You were magnificent at the trial. I hope to find the real killer, but I think you can really keep the idiot barrister from botching this defense."

"Hm, Yez Hy guess de church vould haff dot schtoff."

Gkirkhan takes his place at the front of the line, with his hammer swinging in his hand.

As you head down the main street, you see that these bulidings are two-story, while the rest of the buildings in town have only one.

As you pass the town square, you hear childish singing from building #4.

Examining this building shows it to be in better shape than most of the others, and securely barred shut, while it's slatted timber walls seem unmarked.

Zhiden's skin crawled at the sound of children singing. He couldn't help it, try as he might, the restless dead seemed to inspire some previously unknown terror in him. He looked around at the others, and then said, "So, anyone want to pretend we didn't hear that and continue on?" He didn't really expect anyone to take him up on his request, but it was worth a shot. . .

"No."

Gkirkhan marches up to the house, his eyes appearing as angry red stars under the shadow of his hat.

"Yea, b'fore we go chasin' down spooks, 'm gonna need m' blade whammied. Ain't got enuf ta get it enchanted yet, an' th' town made me give back tha' mace."

Rova draws the huge steel blade, and holds it forth.

"I got oil o' enchantin', but I'd like ta save'em fer when no-one's around who *can* cast on it."

Why thank you, Wood. I fear it was the evidence more than the presentation, however, so we'd best be thorough and expeditious if we wish to prevail tomorrow...
Vertielle looks at Rova apologetically.
I've nothing of the sort, actually. Although I could make it a little easier to see, which might be useful... she touches the tip of the sword with glowing palm, causing it to shed light as if it were the sun itself. Though the light is bright and effusive, it holds a slightly greenish hue. All within the glow feel their senses sharpen.
Discovery Torch

Imrijka responds to Rova's request.

"Can 'whammy' weapon. Last 4 minutes, but can only do 4. Will cast now for you, hope not need rest."

Imrijka casts Magic Weapon for Rova.

"If others have, good idea to help."

Vertielle shakes her head.
I'll use the bow, but my sword is magical already. Let's get moving before it wears off.

"Let's go. Sorry, but magicking weapons was not something I learned Rova."

Wood retrieves his wand of protection from evil.
"Whoever is going in first can gain some protection."

"Rova ken go. My veapons already hurt ghosties."

Gkirkhan pats the axe still in his belt.

Imrijka frowns, studying the building. "Maybe this home of last child? Is two story. Check building after check on singer. Also, why think child ghost threat? Sisters not say ghost attack others. Perhaps just lost, not know how to go on. My job show. We ask child what happen, then I free soul."

She looks at the rest of you. "Of course, not hurt be safe, just in case. Who open door?"

"If Hy thought ve vould be in trouble, I vould have veapons in both hands."

Gkirkhan mutters something else under his breath.

Gkirkhan takes his place behind Rova.

"I've always had a healthy suspicion of the intentions of anyone that would stick around here rather than going on to the afterlife. From what I understand, hanging around doesn't leave you with too many options that don't include insanity and violence, but I'm not any kind of expert." As he spoke, Zhiden slowed a bit, allowing himself to fall to the back of the group, though hopefully without being obvious about it. "Then again, I figure things will start looking up for me on the other side. You know, wine, women and song," He glanced at Gkirkhan, who likely understood, and then Vertielle, for reasons he wasn't sure, as he said that, "Rather than toil, thievery and fear."

You know, she responds with a wink, if the wine is really that good, I think I could get used to the women.

Wood was about to reply to Zhiden, then chokes on his words and turns red. Recovering he adds, "I could too."

That did not come out right.

I'm not sure how to handle that one.

Eva has a "What the ..." face on
from Vertielle's words

Vertielle grins at Eva's expression and Wood's obvious fluster, pushes Gkirkhan's jaw back closed, and hops forward merrily.

"Why'd I assume it'd jump me soon as we spot it? 'Cuz ever'thin' in *&%^ Ustalav *has*. Why'd kid ghosts be any diff'ent?"

Rova has been unarmored on this trip, figuring plate isn't going to stop phantoms anyhow.

"Dey are kidz. Dey probably don't knows better."

Between Gkirkhan and Rova, you manage to break down the front door and enter.

You are in a small foyer with a door to the west and a door to the south as you enter.

The room to the west leads to what appears to be some sort of meeting hall.

Going through the door to the south brings you to a longer hallway with a door to the east, leading to some sort of study or records room.

The hallway opens into a large toom, split between a sitting room and a dining area.

There is an archway to the south, through which you can see stairs leading up to the second floor.

The singing stops briefly, but then resumes.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 2 = 33
Sounds like that's coming from upstairs. We'd better go ahead up and check it.

Reaching the upper floor you see a door and an open hallway.

I know it shows doors, but ignore them.

The door leads to a large bedroom with a second door opposite.

Both the hallway and the door lead to another hallway with two doors on the north wall and a door on the west wall.

The singing seems to be coming from the western door on the north wall.

As you open the door the singing stops. Before you is a little girl's bedroom, and seated on the floor next to the bed is a dark, childish shape with glowing red eyes.

Evangline Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Gkirkhan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Rova Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Vertielle Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Wood Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Zhiden Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Karin Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Imrijka Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Target: 1d7 ⇒ 7 Of course!

Round 1:
Evangline
Vertielle
Wood

Karin touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
neg_energy_damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
con_drain: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Gkirkhan
Zhiden
Imrijka
Rova

KN(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

with a displeased look on her face
"Oh heck, It's a wraith spawn."

No, this is good news, Vertielle says cheerily. The beast can't create these.
KnReligion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Shortbow attack with ghost touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d6 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + (1, 1) + 3 = 9
confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 242d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9 18 total damage.

Wood launches two bolts of force at the creature.
damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Channel energy(Harm Undead): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

I have to make a correction here. Sorry to waste that maginficent natural 20, but wraiths and wraith spawn are incorporeal. They can't be critted.

Karin tags Imrijka before she can respond.

She strikes back with her morningstar, just missing the child-like undead.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Unless subject to ghost touch property, as my arrow was.

Sigh...I hate having to correct my own corrections.

The child wraith is still there, though.

Gkirkhan looks unnerved, right until the thing attacks.

Then he just looked mad.

"Hokay, hyu die now."

Attack Hammer 2H: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Gkirkhan takes the hammer that was swinging easily in his hand and brings it down like a lightning strike.

Unfortunately, the blow was just a tad off.

Vertielle unwinds space, ever so slightly, with a shift in her weight and a light whistle.
Gallant Inspiration: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5
Cast Gallant Inspiration, raising Gkirkhan to-hit to a 19.
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

I'm completely unsure who got attacked, you never stated in the post

Rova stabs at the creature, dragging the edge of the sword through its phantom form, and flicks the blade upwards and across..

"Narrow hall ain't leavin' me room ta swing."

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
2d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 5) + 8 = 14

Half damage for 7 total..

"Wep, tha' work'd anyhoo.."

Between Vertielle's magic and the blows from the remaining party the child-wraith falls. As she does you briefly see, instead of the black shadowy wrath, a young, innocent 6 year old who smiles at you before vanishing.

In the silence that follows you hear Imrijka reciting a prayer to ease the passage of the poor child's soul.

Wood looks at Vertielle, "Nice shooting. Must have the blood of elven rangers in you."

Wood casts and searches for magic auras.

Detect magic.

"Hang 'bout, wazzit the last 'ne dead like 2 days aft'r th' beast was 'driven out'? 'Cuz iffn I'm not mistaken, we jus' smashed in th' door ta get in 'ere. Tha' means th' beast wasn't ever in 'ere, unless they repaired it after dis kid got..umm..killed (Iffn tha's the right word). Not sure which kid this'n was."

Where's the body?
Vertielle beams at Wood's praise.

"T'ink they said they buried 'em all. Prolly up a' th' church. Wid our luck, it's prolly crawlin' wid zombie pets or sumthin'."

"Dot beastie dey haff locked op is de vrong vun. Dot vas more like de ghosties in Horror-stone."

Zhiden had time to get a vial of holy water from his pack and get ready to throw it when he noticed the fight was over. He looked a little sheepish for a moment, and then replaced the vial.

"For the record, this is why I don't trust ghosts. Anyway, does anyone know the addresses of the addresses of the kids? That would make it easy to determine if we have found something good or not."

After searching the place you can move on. You can determine that this was the home of the town headman, who's daughter Karin was the last child to die.

Heading to the church, you can find more records. The town boneyard is to the rear of the small chapel, once dedicated to Desna and now let to rot. Mice nest in thealtar, the pews are already overgorwn, and some of the windows are smashed. The once beautiful frescos are starting to flake and the water in the font is starting to turn green.

As you review the information, you hear a tiny voice. "The father left. There's only Brother Swarm. He says I can play with you!"

You look up in the fading dusk to see a small child's form entering the main area of the chapel from the old priest quarters.

Evangline Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Gkirkhan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Rova Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Vertielle Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Wood Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Zhiden Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Imrijka Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Rachel Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Victim: 1d7 ⇒ 5 Going for Wood.

Incorporeal_touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage_Neg_energy: 1d4 ⇒ 1
con-drain: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Round 1:
Rachel: attacks Wood
Gkirkhan
Zhiden
Rova
Wood
Vertielle
Imrijka

"Sure, letz 'play.'"

Gkirkhan takes his hammer in both hands and swings.

Hammer 2H PA: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage 2H PA: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 2X STR: 10 + 50% PA: 2 + Enhancement Bonus: 1 = 13

I'm a little unclear on the timeline so I'm just going to spam perception in the order you asked for them.
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 201d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 201d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 261d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
KnReligion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Well that about freaking covers it.
This window is barred from the inside, see? It has been for some time. I don't remember any marks on the outside of the house, either, I don't think the Beast could have gotten here without powerful magic. Magic it doesn't have. FINESSE it doesn't have.
Vertielle goes over the documents strewn about.
Well, at least we have some idea of what happened. It looks like Martin, Allen, Rachel, and Gaard disappeared first. Then this girl Ellsa, that the Beast returned to town with his misunderstood tears, then Karin, the girl we just put to rest, deceased afterwards.
She brushes her hair out of her face, focusing her keen vibrantly green eyes on another sheet of paper.
Fascinating, it would appear that all the children are interred on premisise. We should pay a visit to Ellsa's grave, and exhume the body if possible. She might have a lot to say in death about the Beast's culpability.

Vertielle looks mildly surprised that a wraith spawn has attacked so soon, but actually takes the time to finish reading a page out of the text before she even considers responding. Her unflappability is by now truly astounding, even to a fault.

Vertielle rolls her eyes at Gkirkhan's wild swing. I'm getting very tired of correcting your swings with magic, darling. You'll have to learn to hit something on your own, someday, she teases, still reading her scrolls.

My bad on the phrasing. Only Ellsa and Karin are buried here. The other children's bodies were never found.

perception(outside): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
perception(inside): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Know(religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

I agree with you on this, Vertielle.

Channel(Harm undead): 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

Round 1: [sorry, Eva, didn't mean to leave you off the list]
Rachel: attacks Wood
Gkirkhan: swings and misses
Zhiden
Rova
Wood
Vertielle
Imrijka
Evangline: channels to harm