The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh (SW)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

Is Detect Magic/Identify even a spell? Otherwise what would we roll? Notice? Common Knowledge?

Yes, there is a "detect magic" power, it's called Detect/Conceal Arcana, and someone in the party has it.

As Allysen and Lord Belros check the door to the north, Wolfram moves his wide frame out of the way and goes to check the door which appears to lead outside.

The door that appears to lead outside indeed leads outside into the garden. The small, overgrown pond you noticed when you entered is less than 10 feet from this door.

The door to the north leads to what must have once been the house's kitchen. It is dirty and damp, with patches of grey mould and a few cobwebs on the floor, walls and ceiling. In the corner to your left is some iron cooking equipment with a chimney above. Next to it, under the window, is a cracked and discoloured stone sink.

To the right of the sink a small, closed wooden cupboard is fixed to the wall about 5' above floor level.

Against the far wall a flight of wooden stairs leads upwards from left to right; even from the door it is obvious that the woodwork is decayed and a few of the treads are missing.

The room also has a single exit: a closed door heading east.

Isagoras is dismissive of MWG's suggestion. "It is well known that any item with a dwoemer must give off light in a 5-foot radius. As no such illumination is present, I do not council this thing to be of such puissance."

That done, he follows Belros' and Allysen's trail of exploration. "Hmmm. Did I not know better, beseemes this party hath become split. Certainly that is always a good idea," he muses.

How intact is the iron cookware? Is there enough to sell for scrap or salvage?

Wondering what could be in the cupboard, Allysen goes to see about it.

Notice: 1d4 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 4 Finally!

"What if it's enchanted with shadow magic," Allysen asks Isagoras as she makes her way across the kitchen.

Before advancing slowly into the ruined kitchen, Belros says:

"Let me look at the ring once this room is secure. Pelor may grant me insight into arcane power, should it contain any."

He moves in, keeping his eyes sharp.

Notice: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Then one might theorize that it would cast a darkness a torch might cast light. As this does neither we do not see credence to such.

Very well, Belros. I would not deprive one of a chance to practice The Art if you think it might be helpful."

Isagoras pulls out the ring and wait for Sunwalker's pleasure.

Lord Belros speaks his prayer and looks at the ring, which lights up in various swirling colors indicating that it is indeed enchanted.

Discovering the power of the ring will take some Occult skill checks and at least an hour of intense study, fyi. You could also put it on and see if you feel any different or try doing things to see if they are easier, although you should be aware that you have heard that certain magical items are cursed.

How intact is the iron cookware? Is there enough to sell for scrap or salvage?

It's trash.

Wondering what could be in the cupboard, Allysen goes to see about it.

Like Old Mother Hubbard, Allysen sadly finds that the cupboard is bare.

However, as she closes the cupboard, she hears a rustling noise coming from under the sink. Seconds later, five enormous centipedes (or millipedes, you don't take the time to count) come racing out from a small hole in the floorboards, their mandibles clacking hungrily and launch themselves at the nearest warm bodies.

COMBAT!!

NOTICE ROLLS
Allysen: N: 1d4 ⇒ 4,WD: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Belros Sunwalker: N: 1d4 ⇒ 3, WD: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Isagoras: N: 1d6 ⇒ 4,WD: 1d6 ⇒ 3
MWG: N: 1d6 ⇒ 6,WD: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wolfram N: 1d4 ⇒ 3,WD: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Wolfram fails the Notice check and will not be able to act this round. I will deal him into the initiative so that he can jump right in next turn (and in case he got a Joker).

Initiative

Isagoras: 10 of Spades
Wolfram: 8 of Diamonds (doesn't act Round 1)
Giant Centipedes: 7 of Spades
Allysen: 5 of Hearts
Belros Sunwalker: 5 of Clubs
MWG: 3 of Diamonds

So Isagoras, then the centipedes, then everyone else.

"Hrmmm. Vermin. I am not surprised. Tradition calls for Magic Missiles for such occasions, but I refuse to spend good mana on minor creatures," Isagoras, unsurprised by their appearance, states as he fires his sling at one of them.

Shoot!: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Shoot ACE!!: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Shoot ACE ACE!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Far away, a small chunk of iron breaks off from a comet that circles this planet only once every 1,743 years. The tiny meteorite falls falls falls down and strikes the centipede squarely in the head. Isagoras' shot has missed.: 1d6 ⇒ 4 = eleventy billion

WILD Shoot!: 1d6 ⇒ 2

DAMAGE! Raise!: 2d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 4) + (2) = 7
DAMAGE ACE!!: 1d4 ⇒ 1 = 8

Oh lordy! That's some insane exploding dice action there.

Allysen barely has time to recoil from the giant creepy-crawlies when they come at her. She has even less time to get her arms up to shield her eyes from the spray of ichor from the one Isagoras targets.

A small chunk of metal or stone comes hurtling through the ceiling and strikes the centipede closest to Isagoras in the head, nearly knocking it unconscious. (Centipede is shaken and green.)

The two centipedes closest to Allysen close on her, but she dodges their rather clumsy attacks. Centipede attacks Allysen: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Second centipede attacks Allysen: 1d6 ⇒ 3

A third rushes forward at Isagoras but is similarly unlucky, while a fourth scurries toward Belros and comes up with nothing. Centipede attacks Isagoras: 1d6 ⇒ 1, Centipede attacks Belros: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Man, the dice really like you!

Shaken centipede makes a Spirit roll to recover: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Everyone except for Isagoras and Wolfram is up!

Um, shouldn't that d6 Ace? Also, I think that 6 hits Allysen.

Okay, I'm obviously in need of more sleep, or caffeine, or alcohol.

Attack Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Damage: 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5
Ace damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2= 7 points of damage

Allysen is now shaken, and must make a Vigor roll -2 or become fatigued due to the centipede's poison. Fatigue means you take a -1 on all Trait rolls.

Vigor(Rolled with -2, Result: 3 Failed): 1d6 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 2 Oh fun!

Allysen kicks at the centipedes as she tries to back up, but one manages to bite her leg just above the top of her ragged boot. Memories of the recent fight against the goblins begin to come up and Allysen begins to panic as the venom saps her strength.

Spirit(Rolled at -1, Result: 4 Success): 1d6 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 5

Fear is burned away by something hot and angry as she pulls out her staff and does her best to kill the creepy bugs.

Fighting(Rolled at -1, Result: 16 Success!): 1d6 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 6 Or at least I hope so!
Ace!: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Ace!: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Damage(+1d6 bonus from likely raise): 1d6 + 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (3) + (5) = 13

And probably succeeds.

MWG takes advantage of the stunned centipede, and attacks it with her sword :

Fighting & Wild: 1d8 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 6
Wild ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 1 = 7

Doing

Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (5) = 10
In case of a very unlikely Raise on the attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2

If she Shakens it again, it takes a Wound.

Combat Round 1 cont.

Allysen decimates the centipede in front of her with her staff, while Moves with Grace finishes off the wounded one with her sword.

Botting Belros: Lord Belros strikes at the centipede in front of him, but is not able to cut in down with a single swing of his blade. Belros SS attack: 1d6 ⇒ 3, WD: 1d6 ⇒ 6, WD Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5 = 11, hit!

Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (4) = 8, Centipede is shaken and green.

Combat Round 2

Belros Sunwalker: King of Hearts
Isagoras: Queen of Spades
Allysen: 9 if Diamonds
MWG: 7 of Diamonds
Giant Centipedes: 7 of Clubs
Wolfram: 3 of Spades

Initiative is Belros, Isagoras, Allysen, MWG, then Centipedes, then Wolfram (sorry W!).

Combat Round 2 cont.

Botting Belros again: Belros swings at the stunned centipede in front of him, but even in its weakened condition, the creature has some fight left in it, and the attack fails.

Belros SS attack: 1d6 ⇒ 3, WD: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Isagoras, Allysen, MWG are up!

Okay, little unclear on the enemies that are still up.

Allysen snarls and tries to crush another of the bugs.

Fighting(Rolled at -1, Result: 1 Failure): 1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 2

And only manages to make noise as she cracks her staff into the floor.

Okay, little unclear on the enemies that are still up.

The map in the link at the top of the page is up-to-date.

Good to know. I was just a little confused. Allysen's trying to whack the one in front of her then.

"Hrm, so its to be fisticuffs, is it?" Isagoras spits at the attacking vermin as he drops his sling and draws his STEEL. "You'l find a Wizard of the Order of the White Angel to be no soft book-scholar!" he states as he ATTACKS!

High atop the mountain, with hammers in the wind!: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Lusting for blood and death again!: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Fight = 7!

In a flash of lightning strike now the house of death invites you: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Body and soul to come within!: 1d6 ⇒ 5 WILD Fight = 11 Raise!

I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide: 2d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 3) + (6) = 13
I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb!: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5 Damage = 18!!

Sorry, Isagoras, I'm a little confused (although very impressed by the metal), are you making two attacks? If so, you'd get a -2 on all actions, no?

GM BrOp - no, he just rolled his Fighting and Wild die separately.

MWG attacks the centipede nearest her :

Fighting & Wild, +2 Gang-up: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 41d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Wild ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 1 = 9

Doing
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7
In the unlikely chance that a 9 Fighting is a Raise: 1d6 ⇒ 3

And her sword strikes true.

That is correct! I thought it was obvious since I rolled the ACED d4 together, and then rolled the ACED wild die together right after, and then included an end total. Well, there _was_ a lot of METAL going on, so that may have been a factor. ^_^

D'oh! I don't know how I saw that. And there can never be too much metal.

MWG and Isagoras obliterate the centipedes in front of them, turning their bodies into a fine pulp. MWG: A 9 is a raise.

Being largely mindless creatures, the remaining centipede continues struggling to devour you. It strikes at him, but he is too quick for it. Centipede fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 5

I'm calling the fight as the single centipede that's left will not be able to do much.

COMBAT OVER!

Allysen leans against the wall as the adrenaline starts to wear off.

"What is it with mages and bugs," she asks no one in particular. "Everytime you see a ruined lair for a wizard, there's a bunch of oversized creepy-crawlies somewhere in the place."

"What's all the ruckus in here?" charges Wolfram, having completely missed the latest engagement. "I dare say you've made enough noise emptying the cabinets to wake the dead!"

Belros turns to face Wolfram, while wiping ichor from his blade.

"Large centipedes. I suspect that this room is now clear."

"Insects thrive anywhere, given a lack of tidiness. That giant insects live in giantly-un-tidy places, should be of no surprise. Some even cultivate their presence to keep other untidyness in check, even incorporating disgusting creatures to consume offal."

Isagoras wipes his blade on a corpse before replacing it and taking up his sling. "Father Argyle, you can see that we stand victorious on a field of battle! Don ot fear, I promise to leave some alive for you next time.

Probably."

That done, Isagoras continues to make sure this room is thoroughly searched.

Notice!: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Notice ACE!!: 1d6 ⇒ 5

WILD Notice!: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Allysen, you'll remain Fatigued for at least an hour unless you get some healing

Right-o! By the way, how fresh is the bread? Allysen might be able to tell since she grew up on the streets before certain other events in her life.

Allysen tries to help, but finds her body aching and her breath hard to come by. After an embarrassingly short while, she sits next to the door they'd come in through and tries to catch her breath.

"Do... Do those things have poison? I'm feeling a little light-headed."

Right-o! By the way, how fresh is the bread? Allysen might be able to tell since she grew up on the streets before certain other events in her life.

The bread is not the freshest and could easily be used to hammer nails into a plank.

Wolfram steps quickly to where Allysen has taken a seat. He sees she is shaken from the encounter, but not wounded. Gritting his teeth, he makes the difficult choice not to use one of his healing spells at this time. Instead he says a short prayer to Procan.

He looks at Allysen and shrugs. "You'll feel better in a short time. Take a drink of water now and rest for a minute."

"We can wait Allysen. Foes appear to be in no hurry to come to us."

Allysen looks form Wolfram to Lord Belros and feels her cheeks heating. She looks away and curls up as she pulls out the waterskin hanging from her pack and drinks from it.

"Sorry, I'm... I'm not used to people being kind to me," tells them.

Having cleared the room and found a few trinkets to take with them, the group has three options: investigate the room directly to the east of them, head up the rickety stairs, or return to the hallway and explore the rooms in the building's western wing.

"Let us, like Kasier Wilhelm, finish in the East before attacking the West," ISagoras cryptically states before heading into the East room.

MWG follows Isagoras, checking the room out :

Notice & Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 6
Wild ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 4 = 10

What does she notice?

Belros advances, aiming to place himself between the others and any danger in the east. While aiming to spot it first.

Notice: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Wild Die ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 2 8

Allysen follows the others, keeping her eyes and ears open for trouble. She still felt winded, but she didn't want to hold the others back.

Notice (Fatigued, Success 7): 1d4 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 6
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Wolfram guards the stairs. Hmm... "Anyone know where these stairs go?"

They go up! replies the voice in his head. Without a second thought, Wolfram ascends the stairs.

As Wolfram begins to climb the stairs, Allysen calls out to him.

"Sh-shouldn't we stick together?"

Wolfram walks up the stairs and out of sight as the others search the room to the east of what once was the kitchen.

The room to the east has suffered the effects of damp and decay more than most in the house. Mold grows in patches on the floor, walls and ceiling; there are many cobwebs, though even these appear to be decaying. A large copper boiler, dented, split, discolored and empty, stands under the window; a small heap of crockery shards is on the floor beside it. Stairs lead down into the darkness of what is presumably a cellar.

Moves with Grace, Lord Belros, and Allysen move in to search the room, and as Belros moves toward the stairs, loud screaming breaks the silence, clearly coming from up the stairs. These are hideous screams, as if a person is in true torment that eminate from the cellar.

I love all the great Notice checks, but it would be better to let me know what in particular you are searching. After all, different locations may have different outcomes.

It was just a quick look around for anything that looked like trouble, basically listening for enemies or signs of others in the area and not at anything in particular.

Wolfram turns at the sound of screaming and shouts down the stair, "What's happening down there?" He rushes back down to see what's the matter.

At the sound of screaming, Belros turns and makes for the stairs.

I care not if it may be a deception. I will not stand idly by!

GM BrOp, I'm very confused. You said "loud screaming breaks the silence, clearly coming from up the stairs" but also said "as if a person is in true torment that eminate from the cellar". Wolfram also clearly thinks the sounds are coming from below him. So where are the sounds coming from, above us or below us? Thanks!

"Ah, there you are Wolfram. I had assumed you were splitting the party, as was thy habit. 'Twould appear we have some kerfuffle or somesuch from that direction, tho it does not involve any of us. Lord Belros has already sojourned off to rescue what is do doubt fair maiden caught in throes of monster most dire.

Shall we lend aid?"

Isagoras follows Lord Belros.

I'm going with the 'the longest answer is the right one' principle. Since the GM actually spelled out 'cellar' I'm tending to think that's right and 'up' was just a typo.