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Her words seem genuine, if not frantic.
From further below you hear the bellow of an angry bugbear and its goblin horde coming up close!
Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-0,Fine)
Popole(-0,Fine)
Anthelea(-3,Fine)
Nixa(-0,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-0,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Fine)
Goblin Dog(-0,Fine)
Reginald(-0,Fine)
Red Goblin(-0,Fine)
Blue Goblin(-0,Fine)
Green Goblin(-0,Fine)
Mezodarath(-0,Fine)
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The rider, dog, and red goblin seem to be affected by the bane.
Nixa moves into melee with the green goblin and swings her blade at it.
She cleanly slices it across the chest, and the goblin drops.
Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-0,Fine)
Popole(-0,Delay)
Anthelea(-3,Fine)
Nixa(-0,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-0,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-0,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Fine)
Red Goblin(-0,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-0,Fine)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-0,Fine)
The goblin rider smites Nixa, and swings at her with his heavy mace.
The goblin dog also bites at Nixa.
Nixa deftly deflects all the incoming attacks!
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Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-0,Fine)
Popole(-0,Delay)
Anthelea(-3,Fine)
Nixa(-0,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-0,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-0,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Fine)
Red Goblin(-0,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-0,Fine)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-0,Evil Eye, -2 Ability Score)
The goblins begin a counter attack!
The goblins miss their targets.
Mezodarath channels negative energy, deselecting the Goblin Rider.
The red goblin appears to take the brunt of negative energy and isn't doing well.
The dog and blue goblin appear to be better off.
Nixa takes full damage.
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Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-0,Will DC 10)
Popole(-0,Will DC 10)
Anthelea(-3,Will DC 10)
Nixa(-5,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-0,Will DC 10)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-2,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Will DC 10)
Red Goblin(-5,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-2,Fine)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-0,Evil Eye, -2 Ability Score)
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The warpriestess will again call upon her goddess and cast murderous command on the bugbear
dc 13 will save
You give the target a mental urge to kill its nearest ally, which it obeys to the best of its ability. The target attacks its nearest ally on its next turn with a melee weapon or natural weapon. If necessary, it moves to or charges to the nearest ally in order to make this attack. If it is unable to reach its closest ally on its next turn, the target uses its turn to get as close as possible to the ally.
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Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-2,Fine)
Popole(-2,Fine)
Anthelea(-5,Fine)
Nixa(-5,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-5,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-2,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Will DC 10)
Red Goblin(-5,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-4,Fine)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-18,Evil Eye, -2 Ability Score, Will Save DC13)
The Goblin Rider and his Dog continue attacking Nixa!
Again, both miss Nixa as she deftly dodges their attacks.
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Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-2,Fine)
Popole(-2,Fine)
Anthelea(-5,Fine)
Nixa(-5,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-5,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-2,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Will DC 10)
Red Goblin(-5,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-4,Fine)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-18,Evil Eye, -2 Ability Score)
The red and blue goblin launch an attack against Marrowtusk and Aaftaab!
Their attacks fail to connect!
Suddenly, Mezodarath swings his large weapon...
But misses from slicing the goblin rider!
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Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Aaftab(-2,Fine)
Popole(-2,Fine)
Anthelea(-5,Fine)
Nixa(-5,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-5,Fine)
Goblin Rider(-0,Bane)
Goblin Dog(-2,Bane)
Reginald(-0,Will DC 10)
Red Goblin(-5,Bane)
Blue Goblin(-10,Dead)
Green Goblin(-8,Dead)
Mezodarath(-25,Evil Eye, -2 Ability Score)
Nixa swings at the goblin rider!
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Marrowtusk slices into Mezodarath, and suddenly the bugbear explodes! Blood and guts rain everywhere!
Anthelea whips the red goblin into submission, and it dies.
Once the bugbear cleric Mezodarath is defeated, the goblin threat to the wilderness surrounding Saringallow is ended. Any goblins still present in the camp flee once it becomes clear that their big, scary chief is dead; they want no part of any punishment that might await them should the scary adventurers get their hands on them.
Nixa Volsetti survives the battle with the bugbear, and she expresses her profound gratitude, explaining that she was able to seize the opportunity to break free thanks to your timely intervention and Mezodarath’s subsequent distraction. Since you inquire as to her presence in the goblin cave, she explains that she was abducted along with her cousin from Saringallow and taken to a strange place that she cannot completely identify, but about which she could provide general details. She was later given to the goblins, who brought her to Highfort and hoped to learn about the town’s defenses before enacting some sort of heinous plan to turn her against the townsfolk. The goblins and Mezodarath have kept her locked up in the cave ever since, waiting for her to break.
Upon returning to Saringallow, you collect the bounties they’re owed by providing proof of the goblins’ death, describing the scene at Highfort, and generally explaining the situation to Mayor Sandra Trinelli.
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GALLOWS OF MADNESS 3:
The Return of the King
THE FESTERING BLOT
In short time, the mayor, Sandra Trinelli, calls you all back to the Saringallow Town Hall.
Although it’s covered in a layer of files and paperwork that indicate its official nature, this office is also eminently comfortable, with its plush carpet, velvet-lined oaken furniture, and ornate serving carts bearing colorful fruit and fine drinks. The soothing smell of sage and apple blossoms floats on a warm breeze wafting through the large, open picture window.
At the center of the room, behind a solid and polished wooden desk, sits Mayor Sandra Trinelli, her long fingers folded together in thought. Her face is solemn as she surveys her visitors. “Thank you for your quick attention to my request,” she begins, motioning to the oversized chairs in front of her. “As you can imagine, it involves a delicate task that promises results of great significance to our beleaguered population. Let me explain."
“The history of this town, I’m afraid, is written in blood. More than a century ago, the family that founded Saringallow committed heinous crimes against the hard-working folks who toiled on their behalf. When all was said and done, these nobles—the Sarinis—kidnapped and murdered many local children. They were hanged for their crimes, but the bodies of the youths were never found, and our families still suffer those tragic memories today. After all of these years, they’ve never had closure, and our town has never been the same."
“However, not long ago, while I was searching the town archives, I discovered a few old letters that seem to indicate that these evil nobles kept records of their victims and diabolical rituals. Finding these documents would go a long way toward healing the deep wounds the Sarinis inflicted on our poor people."
“Unfortunately, the evidence is presumably stored in the Sarinis old, walled estate, which is located some distance from Saringallow proper. Around here, superstitions regarding the Sarini family still run deep, and the good men and women of our town watch—bless their hearts—are reluctant to help."
"There’s no proof, however, that any of the rumors about the Sarini Estate are real, so I’d like to hire you help me solve this matter. Please, if you will, bring me any records of these terrible crimes that exist. Once you do, I believe our town will finally begin to heal. I trust that you are capable, and I hope that a reward of will be enough to persuade you to help.”
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You try to find all the information you can about the Sarini estate and family. The town archives has a fair amount of information...
Topic: Hangings
No official records of the Sarini hangings exist in the library.
Chelish laws would have required a considerable amount of paperwork if trials had been held. There are, however, allusions to the town abruptly coming under control of the mayor, rather than nobles.
Topic: Luca Sarini
A death certificate says the following: “Adolescent ward of half-Mwangi descent. Died of an accidental poisoning at the Sarini Estate in 4599 ar.”
The handwriting of the word “accidental” shows hesitation, as if writer didn’t believe that the poisoning was accidental.
Topic: Marcius Sarini
A deployment letter dated 4585 ar indicates that Marcius Sarini volunteered to serve in the Chelish army and trained to lead a special engineering unit.
You deduce that his training involved building traps and sabotage, among other things.
A letter from a servant dated after Marcius’s return also indicates that the rising baron brought a young ward by the name of Luca back to his family’s estate in Saringallow.
The word “ward” is written messily, with no further accompanying explanation, as if the writer were uncomfortable lingering on the topic for long.
Topic: Missing Persons
Between the years 4600–4604 ar, many missing persons were reported.
The average age of the missing persons was 12–20, and many of them were female.
Reports written by a watch captain of the time indicate that the bodies of a few missing people were found.
Details in the reports suggest the persons were killed in witch or diabolist rituals.
In all cases, from the death descriptions listed, the cause of death was complete exsanguination as opposed to simple blood loss.
Topic: Sadira Sarini
Documents indicate that the baroness was originally from Remesiana in Cheliax.
Sadira was a member of House Dioso, an influential Chelish family
Topic: Saringallow
The first records about settlers moving into this area date back to 4425 ar. However, all the documents from that time refer to the community as “Sarini’s Hollow.”
Somewhere between 4600 ar and 4610 ar, the town’s name seems to have changed to Sarini Gallows, and gradually, that name was corrupted into Saringallow.
Topic: Sarini Estate
An invoice for construction materials reveals that the construction of the main estate building began in 4426 ar, and a later bill indicates that a wall was built around the grounds in 4600 ar.
The amount of construction materials ordered was too large for the wall’s size. The text has been tampered with to obscure some details. Another individual document indicates that the last legal owners of the Sarini Estate were the Baron Marcius Sarini and Baroness Sadira Sarini, who acquired joint ownership of the property in 4593 ar.
Topic: Sarinis' Diabolism
There are no documents that even mention the word diabolism or any other outward indicators of the subject; however, Lupia is a skilled archivist and has dug up some letters from Marcius Sarini to an unnamed priest of Asmodeus in Egorian. The letters contain vague and cryptic language, but they do mention the existence of gifts for a nebulous patron, and that these gifts were carefully recorded somewhere in a secure location on the estate known only to Marcius and Sadira knew.
This is a reference to diabolic sacrifices and the records the mayor seeks.
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"Fascinating, absolutely fascinating!" Reginald says with a grin after several hours delving through dusty bookshelves. "There's no mention of any trials for the Sarini family, but it seems the mayor was put in charge of the town rather quickly. Perhaps the noble family all ran away? Most peculiar. Anyway, Marcus Sarini was part of a special operative unit in the Chelish army that employed traps and other such devices. Perhaps we'll see some of his handiwork at the estate! Regarding the missing townsfolk: most of them were young women, and the few that were recovered all were described as having every drop of blood removed from their bodies. Perhaps there were vampires in the area? Anyway, the baroness was from an family of Cheliax. Wonder why she came here? And did you know the town used to be called 'Sarini's Hallow' before abruptly changing to 'Sarini Gallows'? The local name today comes from a linguistic slurring of the two words - a contraction, if you will! Oh, right, the Sarini's - the last family to own the estate, Marcus and Sadira, apparently built an external wall. Apparently they ordered more materials than needed for that length though - perhaps they lost some and didn't want to admit their mistake? But this document," he brandishes a moldy piece of parchment, "mentions the very records we are searching for. So let's be off!"
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You all make your way to the Sarini Estate, located 10 miles northeast from Saringallow porper.
It will take 3 hours to reach the estate by foot.
About 2 hours into the trip...
Some sixty feet ahead on the road, a villager is lying curled on the ground, his hands shielding his face from two ugly, blue-skinned creatures with oversized, wrinkly heads. A centipede as big as a large man hisses menacingly at the desperate, shaking villager, its mandibles oozing with venom. The monsters are covered in a greasy, purplish goo that seems to be growing from their very skin.
Battlefield Conditions: Normal Light
Aaftab(-2,Fine)
Green Centipede(-0,Fine)
Red Centipede(-0,Fine)
Red Mite(-0,Fine)
Popole(-2,Fine)
Anthelea(-5,Fine)
Reginald(-0,Fine)
Green Mite(-0,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-5,Fine)
Fiendish Mite. This squat humanoid seems to be nearly all head—an unfortunatecircumstance, considering how ugly its puffy blue face is.