The Walking Dead of Golarion, by GM Fiendish

Game Master Fiendish Zen

Azmerai lets down his weapon and says:"No Ma´am not raiders! Survivors. Polonius, check woman, she might need your help!
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Noticing the ropes and the bag behind her Azmerai continues:"Wait Polonius. Ma´am, we can leave if only way to feel we true. But is there any other way to show we mean good?"

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Shomari steps back into the hall, away from the door and the door her ropes are connected to. He understands the fear the soft races have of hobgoblins, and also that this woman will not live for long.

"We should leave her," he whispers. "She'll die soon enough."

Satisfied that the downstairs door seems to be safe from this side at least, Lenneth turns and follows Lilith up the stairs to see what the rest of the group is doing.

Lilith pauses half way up the stairs as she hears the voice of the Inn's owner. She resists calling out that the group is friendly and puts her crossbow away as she climbs the rest of the stairs.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Meiko? I'm Turrey Butterhill," the halfling says, making a point of sheathing his daggers, "We're certainly not raiders. If you want us to leave, we will. Otherwise, we're looking for allies, and resources to share."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Meiko listens to Azmerai, suspicion still stark in her eyes, sword tip wavering in the air and still pointed at him.

When Turrey speaks though, she seems to decide something.

Diplomacy shifted attitude

Well Turrey, for lack of other options, and that you didn't charge straight at me, I'm willing to parlay rather than bring the roof down on all of us she gestures at the ropes leading away from her.

She coughs again, but when finished keeps her sword pointed downwards, but watches you intently.

Let's start with something simple then, I need medicine if you have it. In return I can tell you of some caches of supplies in town, or even some of the recent history if you're bothered.

She seems to think better and adds

and before anything else you can tell me your names and how you came to travel together

She gestures at your group

Let's be civil and share a drink.

She indicates a space to one side of the room, there are several clothing covered chairs or sideboards or something under the layers of cloth that would serve as seats for you. She props her sword within easy reach, and puts what she was holding in her other hand in to a pouch on her belt. She tosses you a bottle of wine and un corks one herself.

No glasses i'm afraid, civility still exists but it has few practical purposes

she seems to be waiting for you to speak.

Azmerai looks around and quickly introduces himself:"I´m Azmerai, and how we found together. When the groaners came, when the axe fell, it was team up and stay friendly or split and become animal. We think friendly is better. I am muscle and some are clever. Good team."

I'm away for the weekend guys, will catch up Monday

Heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Lenneth, having caught up to the rest of the group, studies the ill woman intently before speaking.

"Lenneth. As my large friend here says, we met on the road - there were more of us than this, but..." her voice trails off. She then shrugs. "So much for safety in numbers, eh?"

When Meiko tosses the bottle of wine to the group, she makes no move to touch it. "You said you needed medicine...I'm not sure how helpful we'll be able to be in that regard. Do you realize just how ill you really are?"

Lenneth's tone is not exactly kind, but not intimidating either - the words are spoken in a matter-of-fact manner.

I'm assuming she's got the zombie plague, but if she's ill with something else, then Lenneth may need to adjust her statement somewhat!

Lilith timidly looks into the room. We do hope we can be friends lady Meiko. It does sound like you have information that we need. Are you wounded? If so I can help you. But I am not sure we have any medicine. Can you describe how you are sick? If we know what is wrong it would help. She hesitates then asks Were you bitten? Do you know how to treat a bite? That could be valuable information.

Hello Azmerai, thank you for your frankness. Lenneth, I understand your concern she indicates the wine bottle, fallen to the floor but lying unbroken on a pile of sacks.

There were more here as well, in fact there were little groups all over the town. Everyone with their own mind about how best to live, survive rather

She sits down and takes a long pull from her own bottle.

As for being bitten, would you believe me if I said no? I wouldn't if it were you in my place. Not enough trust for me to submit to a search for wounds either

She sighs, and coughs again

All I can say is if it were the necroplague I'd already be in the ground and up again, haven't met anyone yet that survived it, nor anyone that treated it successfully. The priest that was here tried a number of things, maybe his notes could help but I haven't seen him in many days. No, these are the same symptoms the priest and all the others here had when the illness came. If I don't find something to help soon then I've got maybe two days before my light goes out

She stares at you for a moment

Look I hope I can trust you too, I don't have much choice really, but it sounds like you're good people so I hope my luck has finally turned. I know where the apothecary store is, it'll have been ransacked, but he always held emergency supplies in a locked basement. If I tell you where then you promise to come back and give me anything you find to help my illness, everything else you can keep. What do you say?

Anyone with Sense Motive +1 or more can tell she seems to be telling the truth

Lilith looks to the others in her group. I want to help her. she says.

Azmerai nods and says:"I too. We have to help the living before the unliving!"

"All we can do is try," Lenneth says. "Do you know if there's anyone else still out there somewhere that might need help or could help us? Or what the source of that fire outside might be?"

She stares at you a moment, weighing options

OK here's a few bits to whet your whistle, the rest I'll trade for whatever magic or mundane aid you can find at the apothecary

She takes another swig of wine

When the plague hit, Sandpoint's sleepy little town image went straight to hell. There were a dozen different groups all holed up wherever they could find a bit of shelter. I lost track of who was where and what group held what. The wisdom I took away from that time was that trust is a fragile thing, more than one group fell to infighting, focusing on themselves instead of where the undead were coming from, and paid for it with their lives.

She stares in to the distance for a moment

The priest started off in the grand cathedral, but couldn't keep everyone together. Too difficult to defend anyway. Then he started moving from group to group, trying to keep everyone talking and co-operating. That worked fine until food started to run out, people got real selfish real quick.

She looks wistful, but hard edged.

Last I knew there were only a few groups left, this is a couple of months ago, just before this coughing illness came. The priest had left us to stay with Finas' family in his shop, and I took myself and some of the Dragon's group out in to the countryside to see what was what and try and scavenge some food. I returned a few days back to find the town on fire and everyone that was left here dead.

She experiences another bout of coughing, it takes a full minute to subside and allow her to continue talking. She swills wine around her mouth and spits it out on the floor.

Let's keep the rest short. There was a group in the glassworks, but that's where the fire was, in the middle of town. So they're either dead or moved. The fire caught and spread to other buildings, it seems to have a hunger for this town, even after last night's rain I can still smell it burning. There was a group living in the lighthouse, another in the garrison. I think maybe one in the theater too. I'm vague because I've been away, and sick when I got back. I haven't been out much to find out you know?

She empties her wine bottle, then places it carefully next to her.

So that's your lot until you get back, if I don't get better soon I won't be able to say more anyway. The shop you're after is in the north of the town, you'll want to skirt the fire in the middle so follow the river to the east til you hit Cathedral, then head back west along the street till you see the alchemy sign. It's got a blue door. Mind the traps on your way out, best avoid the back rooms if you came in from the front...

Allright, still doesn´t solve our food problem.
Azmerai looks around and then says"We go, thanks for hint. Also medicine good for all. But any idea where to get more food?

She's slurring slightly from the wine now

I don' know, hungry meself, busy bein' ill not gettin' fed

she manages to hold your gaze a moment

Mebbe try ligh'hous or 'nother place I said

She stares at you for a moment, then her head goes back and she appears to be have passed out, likely due to the illness plus tiredness, though the alcohol won't have helped.

She looks ashen

Those who passed their heal checks earlier will be aware that if she doesn't get treatment soon, she is likely to die, probably within the next day.

Azmerai slowly goes down. "Medicine we need. Lets go there. Also this is her local turf."

Looking into the room Lilith casts Detect Magic. I want to help her and certainly do not intend to rob her, but she might have something we can use to help us succeed. she explains as she examines the lady's equipment and the rest of the room from the relative safety of the hall. Also, perhaps we should make up some cloth bandanas to breath through. That might help us against the coughing disease she seems to have. Thoughts?

As the lady slips into unconsciousness, Polonius nods solemnly.

I was waiting for that, she's in a bad way.

Now that she's unconscious can I take 20 on a heal check to examine her for a total of 25. This is to determine the nature of the illness and if theres anything to be done to slow it's progression aside from the medicine

One thing is for certain, she won't last long. But I don't want to take her back to the armory. Eventhough there's none to watch over her here, Turrey could reset the traps on our way out. Whatever she has is clearly deadly and I don't want to risk any of us getting it through prolonged exposure. I know leaving her here unconscious might seem harsh, but I think it's the best way to protect ourselves.

Turrey nods in agreement at Polonius' suggestion. "I think I can re-arm the traps...and be well prepared to disarm them again, when we next need to.

"In the mean time, I don't think she has much time to live. Is everyone agreed about heading to that apothecary."

One thing I was going to ask Meiko for was if she had any lockpicks to get into the locked storeroom at the apothecary. If there was time to ask that before she nodded off, let me know. Otherwise...Turrey will (ambivalently) start poking about, looking for thieve's tools (since she seems like the sort who might have'm).

In response to Lilith's spell, a ring on Meiko's finger glows blue, as does one of the cloaks in a pile to the side.

Turrey, she's out cold I'm afraid. If you want to search around the bric a brac you'll need a perception check please

Polonius stands with a grim look on his face.

None of us possess the magic to cure this or even halt it's progression. How are we doing for resources? I know it's been a long day but I think we should get to that shop as soon as possible, she'll only last a day or two at this rate.

Azmerai looks at Polonius."We manage. We must!"

Okay, we're decided then. he starts gathering his things.

Yes, let us go as soon as we can be ready. The cloak there in the pile of clothes, the one line in red. It is magic. It may be we need it to succeed. Also the ring she wears radiates magic. I would take the cloak in case we need it. She will study each to try to identify them.

Spellcraft cloak: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Spellcraft Ring: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Rats. I really wanted to ask her about the creature that attacked Lilith.

Polonius leads the others back down the stairs and into the main bar.

I think we should search the rest of this place, see if there's anything here to help us whilst we have the opportunity. If she turns whilst we're away we might not get the chance again.

He then proceeds to carefully search the downstairs rooms, always mindful of the traps that criss-cross the area like a spider web.

Taking 20 on perception for 25

If Lilith can get someone to retrieve the cloak she will clean it with Prestidigitation before letting anyone in the party wear it. She will also write a quick note on the back of a parchment that already has drawings on it that says "We borrowed your cloak in hopes of it being useful in retrieving the medicines to help you. We have every intention of returning it to you. - Lilith. "

Turrey ties a hankerchief around his mouth and -- keeping his distance from Meiko herself -- scans the room for places he might tuck thieves' tools if this were his room.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Yee-HAW!

"Damn...my dreams have recently revealed knowledge to me of a divination that aids in the diagnosis and possible treatment of diseases, but I'll need time to rest and commune with the spirits before I could work such magic - and that's time that she may not have. If we're going to attempt to investigate this apothecary shop, we'd better get moving before it gets dark."

After getting Ameiko to a more comfortable resting place, Azmerai leads the survivors with a tiny stop at their base in direction of the apothecary, always ready to defend them. He looks at Shomari and says:"There is a axe in our base, do you prefer a stickweapon, then you can have the halbrd or th´axe. Booth should make you arms swing harder."

The cloak's enchantment seems to escape Lilith's understanding for the moment, she's sure if she thinks about it overnight she might have better luck tomorrow. The ring however is a different matter, she can tell from its appearance alone, elaborately decorated and crafted with the design of a fierce dragon wrapped greedily around a shining gemstone, that it is a

Turrey spends a few moments hunting around the room before his eyes somehow catch a mostly buried leather case that draws his attention, popping it open he finds a punching dagger, a vial marked 'acid' and a set of rusty-looking but serviceable thieve's tools -2 on DD checks, but at least you aren't suffering the +10 DC for not having any at all ;). You may have just found one of Meiko's bug out bags.

Lilith, Polonius and Turrey, please make a DC 14 fortitude check due to your proximity to Meiko. Turrey receives a +2 bonus due to wearing the makeshift mask and not taking 20, Lilith can have +1 for prestidigitating the cloak as she handled it and not taking 20 on her spellcraft checks. Sorry Polo, no bonus as you took your time examining her, I know you were just trying to help :(

Polonius spends a couple of minutes thoroughly examining the door next to the stairs, and initially agrees with Lenneth's assessment, it looks fine. Pushing the door open however, he just hears a click in time to move himself back before a recessed guillotine blade drops down from a hidden pocket in the top of the doorframe and murderously scythes through the space he just occupied.

There but for the grace of 1 DC, went a scythe trap...Atk +15 melee (large scythe; 2d6+4/×4)...

Polonius brings his breathing under control enough to note that its an equal opportunity trap, it would have hit anyone coming in from either side of the door. How...efficient...

Exploring the rest of the ground floor, through the scythe door is the kitchen, it looks ransacked, cupboards torn off hinges and rubbish everywhere. Careful attention reveals caltrops scattered all over the floor, and a fragile looking box (likely another trap) hanging over the other door out of the kitchen, which leads out back to the street behind the inn.

The door behind the bar is not trapped, and leads to a small cloakroom of sorts with a couple of doors leading off to the privies, and stairs down to the cellar. You can see the door has been barred shut with a large beam, and the stairwell is choked with broken furniture.

It's dark outside now, and aside from the omnipresent flickering orange sky from the fire, there is no light, not even the moon is showing itself tonight. Those without special vision will need some form of lightsource. Will you follow Meiko's instructions to head up by the river? Alternatively recalling Kaiya's map you might swing through the town that way, or maybe something else?

Fort: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 25 Hah! I think that means the germs get infected by Turrey, right? ;-)

I'm inclined to head up along the river...though traveling with torches sounds like a way to attract all kinds of bad attention. Do we have any knowledge of if light/heat attracts groaners? How long til dawn? And does Polo have a sense of how big a risk to Meiko's life we'd be taking if we waited until just before dawn to leave?

"Aaaaand it's dark. Well. Unless we want to risk lighting a torch or using a cantrip to create some light, I'm going to need someone to help guide me along as we move. I should've brought Indigo, but I try not to put him in danger if I can help it."

And I didn't want to leave Kaiya completely alone again, either...

Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 This just keeps getting better and better. :)

I think apart frim Lenneth all of us can see in the dark, and the fire is also illuminating a bit. We should be able to guide her and find our way pretty fast. Also, there might be danger from other sources too. And no matter how potent the medicine, usually it is the faster the better! But Azmerai and I guess Turrey can guide any way.

As per the rules on light and vision it is completely dark outside so anyone without darkvision is essentially blinded. The firelight provides mood/atmospheric lighting only at the moment! If you have a source of light then those with low-light vision will be able to see twice as far as those without

Despite his proximity to the plague-ridden air of Meiko's room, Turrey somehow feels better than ever. Whatever was on that cloth he wore across his mouth seems to have done the trick! Ha ha at the plague being infected by Turrey ;)

You know for sure that groaners are attracted to light, and to movement. A torchbearer moving around at night would be the equivalent of holding a haunch of meat and going for a stroll across the lion enclosure at the zoo...It's about 9 o'clock at night. Polo thinks she might last another 24 hours. Might...

As Lenneth thinks of Indigo, she feels the comforting warmth of his thoughts, he's half dozing on a top shelf somewhere in the shop.

Ah Lilith, how bad could failing the save be? ;p

I'd move you guys on for pacing purposes, but it's a big decision whether to go, which way to go, whether to carry light etc, so the ball is firmly in your court. Once we get a consensus we'll move ahead!

Its seldom completely dark outside. Characters with low light vision should be fine under any open sky, unless its very overcast. Any reasonable amount of starlight is enough to see by.

"If the soft one cannot see at night, will you guide her?" Shomari says to Azmerai. He takes the halberd and nods. "This will improve matters."

"We go by the river. We go quietly. I have the softest feet, so I will scout ahead." Not that it has to be this way, but Shomari announces his opinion as a statement. It's a hobgoblin thing.

"Areas of dim light include outside at night with a moon in the sky, bright starlight, and the area between 20 and 40 feet from a torch." "Areas of darkness include an unlit dungeon chamber, most caverns, and outside on a cloudy, moonless night." So it's probably a cloudy, moonless night. Otherwise, it would be dim light instead of dark.

It's dark outside now, and aside from the omnipresent flickering orange sky from the fire, there is no light, not even the moon is showing itself tonight. Those without special vision will need some form of lightsource

From a life-experience perspective, I know I personally do pretty well navigating in the woods, even on a cloudy moonless night. From a game perspective though it seems pretty clear that there's not enough light even for the low-light vision folks (partly because of the smoke from the fire). As an aside, Turrey lacks low-light vision too...a tragic flaw that has plagued halfling thieves and scouts since the dawn of time (with the exception of a portion of our primitive 1st edition AD&D ancestors (the Stout Halfling sub-species) who had infravision). But I digress...

We can (a) travel by torch. I suspect that's suicide. We can (b) travel blind, with Polo, Azmerai, and Shomari leading the rest of us. I suspect that's almost as bad: we’ll make a ton of noise, attract some groaners, and then have to either fight blind or light a torch and summon the neighborhood. We can (c) go home, sleep and leave a bit before dawn (say 5am). We lose 8 hours but we replenish our switch up spells/extracts and we don't either blind ourselves or carry a zombie beacon.

Thinking a bit more, we could also (d) have Shomari (Stealth +12), Polo (Stealth +11) and Turrey (Stealth +13) scout alone, all taking 10 for 21+ to be seen/heard. (Fiendish would have to tell us if Turrey can still take 10 on Stealth while being led, but I suspect he could, especially if he's just two feet behind Polo, watching the gnome's steps.) We might actually be able to sneak past everything and get There And Back Again, as it were. If we see a force we can’t safely fight, we can retreat. Of course, if our stealth ever fails us or we get cornered...we may be down three PCs.

Any other plans to suggest? Of the ones I can picture, I think (c) and (d) are the only ones worth considering. I was leaning toward (c) at first but now I think (d) might be useful even if it’s unlikely to be more than a scouting mission. Perhaps the three of us go out and scout one way, and then (if that looks bad) the other, with the expectation that the real raid will happen in the morning with the full party...but that if things go smashingly maybe we’ll get in and out at night.

Lilith stand feet apart with hands on her hips. If some of the group goes tonight I intent to go as well. I have agreed to get that lady meds and I intend to do so. Plus its likely that some of us will need them sooner than latter. I'll simply not be left behind. I can move quietly enough and believe you will need my knowledge and abilities.

Turrey stifles a snicker when the wizard says she can move quietly enough. "We do need your knowledge and abilities -- I thank Desna that I met you -- but you're kidding yourself if you think you're quiet. I've seen armored dwarfs quieter than you.

At this point I think we should all go get a few hours of sleep...but if Polo and Shomari go out for a bit of cautious reconnaissance I sincerely hope you don't let an inflated sense of your ability to move quietly endanger your life and those of our friends."

Pausing and realizing that the tension is clearly getting to him, he takes a breath and says, "I hope you don't take this the wrong way...I just...we're going to have to take risks--big ones sometimes, like tomorrow--but please don't take foolish ones. And you going out at tonight is just foolish."

Lilith, to be clear, your stealth in light is +2 and in the dark is -2, correct?

Sorry guys been away with work

Polo stands and listens to the exchanges quietly.

Turrey is right, Lillith. Our best chance of doing this is to avoid detection all together, unless we all go in force. We have to do one or the other, but no half measures with either.

Turrey, I'm not as skilled with locks as yourself but I've had to do repairs in my alchemy lab enough that I have at least a passing knowledge of mechanics. Disable Device +5

I don't have many bombs left if we do get cornered and no extracts of healing. I coukd do with a couple of hours to mix up some medicine of my own. I say we play it smart and all go after we've had a few hours rest. Let's not forget that it's not just shambling Groaners out there, but that person in the mask.

Welcome back Polo, all good :) Whilst you're catching up, you might want to make a fort save dc 14 please!

It's all still up in the air, but for the sake of pace I'll suggest moving forward with the following unless anyone stridently objects:

Shomari scouting ahead, with Azmerai following and guiding Lilith and Lenneth.

Turrey and Polonius return to the shop to rest and stand guard.

Scout team:
Please advise whether you are taking your packs with all the useful gear, or choosing to go unencumbered and risk not having something you might need.

Please pick a direction, up the river north then west, or up the road then curving round east.

Guard team:
Please advise what you're up to for the next little while, you'll have time to craft something, talk to someone, explore or even try and crack a safe...

Azmerai would stand back and help fortifying the base. I think with his belt he can easely haul huge, bulky items and then help get them into place. He would also check for the weapons they have inherited and help cooking.

If we go with Fiendish's suggestion....

Yep +2 if she can see. I really believe the Low Light will let me see well enough most of the time to avoid the -2. It would have to be completely overcast to make her blind. She can see in moonlight as well as humans do in sunlight.

You are not listening. I am going. We HAVE to have medicine! She actually stamps her foot and is obviously growing agitated. She actually looks close to tears.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

I had to go back and read what this was for!

No, Lillith - you're not listening. You can't keep running off on you're own. You did it in the alleyway and then again in the barn - and look how that turned out. I'm not saying this to be unkind but you're putting yourself and us in danger.

His face is soft and his tone gentle, almost like he is talking to a child.

The world is different now. All we have is eachother. I know you want to help, but we aren't all suited to all tasks. We are stronger when we work as a team and sometimes that means letting someone else do the hard work.

Shomari and I can go, I'm only going on light encumbrance anyway

Looking hard at the gnome and trying to show a stern face, quite out of character, the wizard says You will have to subdue me to leave me behind, and I am ready to fight you if you try. She places a hand onto her crossbow and swallows the lump forming in her throat. A single tear rolls down her cheek. She looks more scared than you have seen her yet.

Putting a hand on Liliths arm, Azmerai shows a rare sign of compassion."You very clever. Is it clever now going in dark? I will guard you, but is it clever?"