Treasure Hunt

Game Master FabesMinis

That is a hit Healaugh, but remember to include your -4 penalty. You're not proficient with spears.

I thought I was. Fish spears or does that not count?

You're proficient with javelins. It's... balanced differently... or something...

DM

Bizarrely, yes, you get more of a bonus. As I say, don't worry about it this round. You still hit him.

Initiative roll (1d20+2=13)

Tresmeer gets up from his place near Ynyr, surprised that he has slept so hungry. He looks about, confused by the sounds of violence and grabs his battleaxe.

"Bugger me, I thort we be safe with Brigid. Bledy womin!"

Initiative (1d20=5)

Siobhán wakes slowly with a murmur and it takes her a moment to work out what's going on and when she does she moves herself between the injured Conall and the weird scuttling man.

ROUND 1

>>>>>MAP<<<<<

Ynyr 16
Coinneach 14
Tresmeer 13
Melisana 11
Healaugh 8
Conall 8
Bran 8
Siobhán 5
Creature 4

Ynyr tries to slash at the thing, but the weight of the axe pulls him off balance and he misses. Coinneach does a fair bit of scuttling himself, away from the creature. Tresmeer, axe in hand, gets up and hears sounds of panic. Melisana wakes up with a start, a horrified expression on her face. She picks up the crossbow, and starts loading it. Healaugh steadfastly stands his ground and stabs the creature, it snarls and spits in pain. Conall cannot do much except try to move away slowly. Bran is up, axe at the ready and runs towards the fray. Siobhán moves to protect Bran.

The creature is enraged and frightened by the brave friends stood against it. It moves away from Ynyr and with a snarl snaps at the brave halfling who just stabbed it. The valiant Healaugh dodges aside, and the creature bites air.

Bite (1d20+1=12)

ROUND 2

>>>>>MAP<<<<<

Ynyr 16
Coinneach 14
Tresmeer 13
Melisana 11
Healaugh 8
Conall 8
Bran 8
Siobhán 5
Creature 4

Again, just post your actions whenever and I'll sum them up.

Healaugh will move behind Melisana and throw his second spear. Did he hang onto the one he jabbed the scuttle beast with? His attack is less negative with a ranged weapon. Indeed it might even be positive since he's +5 I think. Isn't combat strange? Can he see anything else that he can use for a weapon once the spears are gone?

You still have the one you poked our friend with. Unless you or I say otherwise, you don't lose it. So, yes if you throw it, you can't still use it. Anything else to use as a weapon? Nope. Sorry. Maybe Bran will give you a dagger perhaps. Or you can try getting a piece of burning wood from the fire. Careful with it. You might have someone's eye out.

"Bran - dagger"
gasps Healaugh as he prepares to dash across the room, clutching his spears.

Bran hands Healaugh the dagger as he gets ready to swing...

Attack, damage (1d20+5, 1d8+3=[18, 5], [3, 3])

Ynyr REALLY wants a more suitable weapon. Is there anything around that he could grab if he moves away from the fight? Otherwise he has nothing better to do than to try to swipe with the axe again.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the reply I gave some moments ago. If you picked up a bit of wood you would be just as bad as with the axe and do less damage. You can always retreat and yell encouragement.

I feel honourably referred.

Ynyr looks at the axe and shakes his head. Then realises that this is the best weapon he has. He determines to try once more and, taking a step forwards and raising the axe high above his head he prepares to bring in down on the (hopefully) hapless foe...

More axe work. (1d20-4=12)

Better... he thinks.

if that passes for a hit... Damage. (1d8=6)

Crouching behind Melisana so as not to impede her shot, Healaugh launches his first spear.

Fool pucha-scum weapon don't balance right...

attack, damage (1d20+1=12, 1d4=4)

The farmer moves into combat shouting, "Oim cummin'. Get away or me axe ull cut yer t'pieces!"

Once he is within range of the humanoid, Tresmeer swings the axe two handed, aiming to cut its legs down.

Attack on foul humanoid (1d20-2=9, 1d8+3=6)

Straight away he knows that the cut isn't going anywhere near the legs.

"Damn and blast!"

Attack (1d20+1=9)

Melisana fires the crossbow at the group's assailant.

I'll wait a few hours for Conall and Siobhan. I took the liberty of rolling for Bran this round (see the post above where he hands Healaugh the dagger (BTW, sorry Healaugh but you have a -6 penalty with a Medium dagger in melee, and a -2 penalty with it as a thrown weapon). I'm really going to have to re-consider using 3.0 weapon size rules...

Siobhán draws her dagger but does not move to the attack, instead staying close to Conall to keep him . "Get out, get safe" She tells the injured man, her eyes not leaving the strange humanoid.

On waking and seeing the unnatural thing before them Conall felt his anger rise. He hated the feeling of being useless. Struggling to his feet he grimaced as pain shot through his wounds. Wait the goddess said she would grant Siobhán her gifts!

'Lady has the goddess granted you healing? I can't watch another fight.'

Ynyr tries in vain to strike the creature and Tresmeer charges in waving his axe madly. Melisana fires the crossbow but in her terror misses, the bolt slamming into the wood of the far wall. Healaugh dashes to her, taking a dagger from Bran.

The lumberjack with a mighty slice wounds the beastly humanoid. There is no spray of blood, only a dark oozing from a wound that would have felled a normal man. This thing is not alive...

Siobhán draws her dagger as Conall tries to tell her to use her gifts.

Maddened by the axe-wound, your enemy explodes in a flurry of claws and teeth. Bran bears the brunt of its fury, as it latches onto his shoulder with its jaws and then slashes him with its nails! Each time the brave logger feels a chilling feeling threaten to freeze him in place but every time he shrugs it off.

Bite, claw, claw (1d20+1, 1d20-1, 1d20-1=[14, 1], [18, -1], [17, -1])
Bite, claw, claw (damage) (1d6, 1d3, 1d3=[3], [1], [1])
Paralysis saves for Bran (1d20+5=24, 1d20+5=15, 1d20+5=14)

Bran has taken 5 damage. The creature has taken 6 damage.

ROUND 3

>>>>>MAP<<<<<

Ynyr 16
Coinneach 14
Tresmeer 13
Melisana 11
Healaugh 8
Conall 8
Bran 8
Siobhán 5
Creature 4

Finally realising the futility of his attempts and seeing people more skilled than him joining the fight, Ynyr will withdraw next to Coinneach.

When he gets there:

"Should you not be helping us now? Is there aught you can do? And you should be telling us what this thing is instead of standing there like a baby."

He admonishes shaking his axe at Coinneach.

Cursing under his breath about poor quality pucha weapons, Healaugh launches his final spear at the creature. It strikes true, but seems to do little damage.

1d20+1;1d4 ?¨ [18,1] = (19)
1d20+1;1d4 ?¨ [1] = (1)

"Tain't natural. Happen it won't be liking fire."

If the fire is still burning, Healaugh will try and find something to turn into a flaming brand to poke at the thing. If it isn't, he'll think again.

Inhaling deeply to try to steady her nerves Siobhán turns to Conall and rests her hands upon his wounds. Usually she would heal people in privacy and silence, but this was an emergency. Focusing her power through Brigid's gift she attempts to cure his wounds.

Cure Light (1d8+1=8)

After healing her companion she starts to wrack her brains trying to work out what this 'man' is.

Knowledge: Religion (1d20+4=12)
(I hope just rolling this is okay, I can roll all her other knowledges too if needs be ;) )

Conall can of course delay his turn until he's healed.

Siobhán

Oh, ok, well, have a crack at that next round if you fancy. For a -4 improvised weapon penalty. :D Yes, I am mean.

It works like this -4 for non-proficiency, -2 for being the wrong size, +1 halfling throwing bonus, +3 Dex bonus = -2 to hit with thrown Medium dagger. I'll have to find a way to post the 3.0 rules for weapon sizes and we can discuss whether to use them in future. For this combat we'll stick with 3.5.

"Surround him, he not be able to watch us all."

Tresmeer instinctively steps against the wall and slashes like a fool.

Delay until the end of the round, if necessary, to give Bran or Conall the chance to set up the flank. Then move 5ft then attack.

Attack on Unnatural Man (flanking bonus not included in attack roll) (1d20-2=2, 1d8+3=4)

"Axe is not me! Damn! Damn!" adds the shepherd in desperation.

Crossbow (1d20+1, 1d8=[18, 1], [8])

Melisana shoots her crossbow again and the bolt slams into the chest of the vile thing. It screams in agony, and falls to the ground, thrashing madly as though trying to defy its end and cling to the world. Its arms and legs slam against the floor in its death throes, until it is still and the feral light fades from its eyes. It seems the fight is over.

Melisana stands there, her breath escaping in ragged gasps. "Wha-, what was that thing?" she says finally.

End of combat

"Good lass. Take breath now and get calm."

Healaugh pats the trembling girl on the back as he goes to collect his spears. He pauses to look at the dead thing, carefully avoiding the claws.

"Sooner we get home, better I'll feel. Don't know what that was and don't want to neither. Nasty piece of un-naturalness. Bran - how bad you hurt?"

Breathing a sigh of relief as the monsterous man is slain Siobhán speaks quietly in response to Melisana's question.

"I have read that in the lands of the far south there are heathen cults who partake of human flesh. Cursed by the gods if they starve to death they are kept in that state. In the darkness between life and death."

"..but that's just my opinion.." She adds with a weak smile before refocusing her attention on Conall, wanting to check his wounds have healed well.

Everybody receives 93 XP. Melisana receives 43 XP.

Everyone but Ynyr gets 200 XP story award for getting to the temple. Ynyr, Siobhan, Healaugh and Tresmeer receive 50 XP for cleaning the statue.

Tresmeer swings and misses as the body falls.

"You be a mite good dere, Melisana. Thanks fur nailin' it."

He listens to Siobhan's words. "So dis 'ere cult, it be more an' one loike? Connitch - you forget ter mention dis. What else is we missing?"

Looking down at the ghul with a look of disgust Siobhán waits a moment, not trusting it. A man betwixt life and death, there was a chance he'd get up again.

After a while she leans down and grabs one of the thing's legs and attempts to silently drag it out of the temple. Whilst Brigid plans to be rid of all on the island she still feels it wrong for the unnatural thing's body to be in the goddess' hall.

The healing energies passed through him taking away the pain and knitting flesh. As thankfull as he was the huntsman was slightly annoyed that once again he'd been unable to help. Nodding his thanks to the crossbow weilding lady, she really was good with that thing, Conall turned to the woman that had saved him with the goddess' gifts.

Helping take the corpse outside Conall made sure he did most of the work. After they were done he smiled softly at the young woman. Taking one knee he gently took Siobhán's hand. "Thank you lady.. You're gifts and the Goddess have made me whole again.. Hopefully i'll be in a fit state to help defend you all this time."

"You have nothing to thank me for, it's the goddess that healed you and if you want to defend anyone defend yourself, brave sir." Siobhán replies quietly, obviously a little uncomfortable at Conall taking one knee before her. More used to being treated as different she'd often dreamt of being treated as someone 'normal' but better than normal was a bit beyond her.

Smiling weakly she relaims her hand and shakes her head a little at her own thoughts. "And if not yourself then the others. Especially the younger ones.. I mean Tresmeer alone has his whole life ahead of him.." Clasping her hands together behind her back she gives another smile and a weak blush creeps into her cheeks. "But let's get back inside now that this.. thing.. isn't bespoiling Brigid's home further."

She gives the ghul's body one last glance before heading back into the temple.

"Outside is good. Happen Brigid-lass can fry th'unnaturalness when she looks this way. Good to see you back ont' feet lad."

This last is directed at Conall as Healaugh carefully cleans his spears of ghul goo.

"Reckon tes time Coinneach told us more about this boat we're going to be needing right soon."

The night time chill reaches you, and all is still darkness. it can't have been long after the goddess visited you that the undead thing appeared. There's still some hours of sleep until sun up. Coinneach grumbles about 'young 'uns' and makes to go back to sleep. Swiftly he falls back into a slumber.

Melisana says, "We better rest while we can. I'll stand guard. I can't sleep after seeing that... creature."

Settling down near the altar Siobhán wraps her arms around herself in an attempt to warm up again after heading out into the chill outside. Slowly rubbing her hands over her goosebumped arms she curls up and attempts to get back to sleep.

"That's foolishness Melisana. Ye need rest much as any of us. Best wake me in an hour or so. Fisherfolk rise early."

Healaugh fixes her with a firm stare. "Mind ye do that now."

Then he pulls his cloak over his head and falls back to sleep.

Healaugh awakes and relieves Melisana of duty; the rest of the early morning passes without incident. When everyone awakens they feel refreshed, as if there sleep had not been interrupted at all. The sun rises, peeping through the slats of the shutters at the windows. Hardly any light reaches the hall of the goddess.

It is early morning now. "So, we've got until sunset then." Melisana says with a mixture of determination and nervousness to no-one in particular.

Coinneach wakes up as well, "Eh, well, ye look in fine fettle, ye do, all o' yehs. The Lady musta looked after ye well. Och, is to the manor ye'll be wantin' to go now? Or mebbe look round this ol' place?"

Everyone naturally heals 1 HP, one last gift from the goddess (granting you a good night's sleep despite interruptions.)

Ynyr approaches Coinneach trying to look him in the eye.

"Well, and how is you don't even mention last night's horror? If you are to be our guide, we would need full information from you no? You say you know where the treasure is, do you not? Is there anything here we need? Are there weapons to be found? Haven't you lived here for how long? Shouldn't you tell us you know?"

For some inexplicable reason, Ynyr does not like the man they need to rely on for guidance. Maybe it is the state of the windows.

Coinneach bristles in the way only an elderly former servant can, and harrumphs, "No need tae be talkin' aboot such unpleasantness, 'ti done; yon lass took care o' that. I hadnae seen tha beastie prowling aroond there before. I said I'll take ye tae the manor, and so I shall. Show ye the treasures, aye."