Gallows of Madness (Inactive)

Game Master GM Mindriot

Killiss and Peter both move away from the swarm. Once in postion, Killiss takes aim at the Hookfly.

Longbow Attack (Point Blank & IC): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17

Longbow Damage (Point Blank & IC): 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Debra is too far away to make an effective attack on the swarm, so she pulls a potion from her belt and drinks it.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

No more bleed!

Ogar after landing a chance attack against the hookfly, moves in to strike the hookfly once more.

Attack (Scimitar): 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

The Hookfly swarm, after finally taking some damage, flys down 20 feet and attacks Peter dealing 6 damage.

The hookfly lets go of Morrinvar and turns his attention to Ogar. He lashes out with a bite that makes it pass Ogars armor dealing 1 damage. It then latches on with it's stinger and being draining blood from Ogar. He takes another 1 Con damage.

ROUND 9

Killiss (5 Damage, Bleeding)
Peter (14 damage, Bleeding)
Greg (7 damage, Bleeding)
Debra (5 Damage)
Ogar (1 Damage, Grappled)
Gellion (unconscious)
Creature
Swarm

@GM: Debra healed 4 hp. She's at 9/10.

Also, the swarm should have taken 1d6 fire damage on Killiss's last turn.

"Killiss! Have Peter move so I don't hurt him!" Debra is holding until Peter is out of the way.

Exhausted and increasingly desperate, Greg hefts the big sword up--which feels significantly heavier after going hard for so long at these creatures--and tries to murder the hookfly eating Ogar's blood.

"Get.. away... from him... you... jerk...!" he huffs, and swings the sword. It's beginning to feel more like a tree trunk than a weapon.

Did my math wrong. Last round of fatigue, huzzah! No PA again, just regular hit with Inspire Courage.

Greatsword vs Big Bug Sucka: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8

WHY GREG

Killiss and Peter get the hell away from the swarm. Once in position, Killiss takes aim at the Hookfly again.

Long Bow Attack (PB & IC): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 18
Long Bow Dmg (PB & IC): 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

for those keeping score... that's two turns in a row that I've rolled a 1 for damage...

Debra moves closer to the swarm and tosses her acid flask at it.

Ranged touch (vs. touch AC): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

That might actually hit touch AC, but that f@&!ing damage :sob:

Ogar struggles with the hookfly gripping him, and strikes with his scimitar

attack (Scimitar): 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 7
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I'm going to say that's a miss.

The swarm ignites in flame 6 damage from last turn rolled in Discord the fire killing off most of the nasty ass bugs. Debra throws a flash of acid at the creatures and it coats the rest of the remaining swarm. There is not left but ash and pool of sizzling acid on the ground YAY! You killed the swarm!

The Hookfly continues to keep Ogar in it's grasp and drains another 1 point of Con damage. Its belly swells more and looks as if it is about to burst open.

I HIGHLY SUGGEST you guys kill this thing this turn...

Round 9 Summary

-Debra throws a flask of acid and is able to burn the rest of the swarm away.
-Killiss's arrow flies true and hits the hookfly for 3 damage.
-Peter bleeds out and is now lying unconscious on the floor.
-Greg does not have his groove back
-Ogar's face is still being hugged by a gross hookfly.
-The hookfly continues to make babies with Ogar, and Morrinvar, being the father's

ROUND 10!

Killiss (6 Damage, Bleeding)
Peter (15 damage, Bleeding)
Greg (8 damage, Bleeding)
Debra (5 Damage)
Ogar (1 Damage, Grappled, 2 Con DMG)
Gellion (unconscious)
Creature
Swarm

Seeing how close Peter is to death, and knowing that she has very little chance of hitting a small flying creature surrounded by her allies, Debra rushes to Peter's side. She pulls out a potion and prepares to pour it down his throat.

Last round of Inspire Courage. Make it count!

Ogar eyes open widely at the swelling stomach of the hookfly, knowing his blood is likely in there, and that's where the last swarm came from. Forgoing attacking it and tries to purify the contents of its belly.

Ogar casts purify food and water on the swollen stomach of the hookfly

Feeling reinvigorated, Greg lashes out one more time against the hookfly, hoping to kill it before it breeds another cloud of awful swarming bugs.

No Power Attack. I desperately want to hit this thing. I feel like I can probably kill it if I can just hit.

Greatsword vs Dat Sucka: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 + 1 = 17

OH SNAP

Greg sees the belly of the hookfly begin to writhe and swell, pulsing sickeningly as it drains Ogar of blood. Horrified, Greg hacks straight downward, cleaving the thing in half and leaving its blood-dripping proboscis still dangling from the wound in Ogar's chest. A mass of hookfly larvae spill out onto the floor of the warehouse, wriggling desperately in a pile of putrid ichor before finally reduced to occasional spastic twitches and, finally, stillness.

Greg throws his hands up victoriously and opens his mouth to cheer, but instead projectile vomits straight forward.

Combat Over (Obviously)

The party looks once more around the room to make sure there are no more threats. They use the Cold Iron Scimitar on any remaining Demons Bile, only trace amounts remain...nothing that could have spawned anything...but it would have grown exponentially if left alone.

Gellion remains tied up on the floor, he is conscious now, and is rambling on about "Demon Worms" and bringing them "home"

All of the apprentices managed to survive. They are weak, Morvinarr and Pavolus look the worst off and will require medical attention soon if they are to live.

What...do you do...

Ogar looks at the worst of the wounded of the party, and starts casting healing out.

Ogar Casts Cure light wounds on Peter: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Ogar Casts Cure light wounds on Greg: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ogar then goes over to Killiss to start working on helping him with his bleeding.

Heal (First Aid): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

He also goes to Morvinarr and Pavolus and casts Rebuke Death

Rebuke Death Morvinarr: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Rebuke Death Pavolus: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Debra, satisfied that Ogar is taking care of patching everyone up, walks over to Gellion and sits down next to him, cross-legged. She looks at him with pity. "Hello, Gellion. This is quite a mess you've gotten yourself into, isn't it? Your parents are worried sick about you, and from what I can see, they have good reason to be. And you've gotten your friends mixed up in all this too! Shame. The good news is that we were not too late and my friend Ogar here is nursing everyone back to health. None of your friends has died, and you are young. We have been commissioned by the mayor herself to look into the mess you've created, so I am in a good position to argue on your behalf for leniency." She pauses. "But that depends on what you do right now. You must tell me everything and you must not leave anything out."

"So let's start with what you were just mumbling about. What are the 'demon worms' and what is their 'home'?"

She has other questions but I want to see where this goes first. Everyone else feel free to chip in with questions too.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

----------

I also want to spellcraft the two potions we have that are unidentified before I forget. I believe we found them in the graveyard so it's definitely been at least a day since I tried last.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

:sob:

Greg rests a hand on Gellion's shoulder. "Listen to my sister, man. She's really smart."

When he moves his hand away, there is a large, wet bug-guts imprint on Gellion's shoulder.

Diplomacy Check (aid another), DC 10: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Gellion does not even seem to notice anyone talking to him. He just continues on his ramblings.

"Demon worms will come home. Mother says so... he stares of into nothingness and continues with So hungry...hungry... this continues on with other ramblings about experiments with the demons bile but non of it really makes any sense.

Morvinarr and Pavolus are still unconscious but thanks to Ogar's actions they seem to be stabilized and will likely make a full recovery with some proper healing. The other apprentices seems to be waking up a little but are still in very bad shape.

Debra attempts to identify the potions that they found in Gellions house but is still unable to figure out what they are.

"Well I'm all out. I think we should get Father Ildris and see if he can lend a hand, maybe see if he has something that will help Gellion. Not sure if he's possessed, or just addled."

Debra looks up at Greg, shakes her head, and stands up. ”We need to get one of these others conscious so we can get some answers.” She goes from apprentice to apprentice, trying to determine which one looks closest to consciousness.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Bah.

”Ogar, would you help me? I’m going to give a potion to one of these other apprentices but I can’t tell which one is the best bet.”

Assuming Ogar picks one…

Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

BOOM BABY

Greg looks at Debra and Ogar tending to people's wounds, then looks down at his huge, clumsy hands, and sighs, plopping down despondently next to Gellion. "Sometimes I hate being so big," he says to the blubbering, vapid young man, who is likely not even listening. "I just... I wanted to be an apothecary when I was little. All those weird, stinky vials, being able to heal people all smart-like..." He shrugs, looking morose. "Dad said that's not what Iomedae has in store for me. I guess She would know better than me. I'm not very smart, ya know? I just..." He trails off, watching Deb and Ogar work, trying his best to hide the pang of jealousy at his sister's skills.

Ogar tries to find the best one.
heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Casts his last three rebuke deaths to get them as close to consciousness as as possible.

Rebuke Death: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Rebuke Death: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Rebuke Death: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Ogar looks at all the apprentices and notices that Nolaria is probably the one closest to being conscious. He and Debra work together to get waken her and heal her well enough for her to be alert.

Nolaria snaps awake and looks at everyone in utter horror, "NO! Gellion! Stop! Your hurting...us...don..t...do..." she trails off after a moment when she realizes that she is not in danger anymore.

Nelaria gathers her self for a moment and then, in a still shaken tone of voice say's, "Who...who are you? What happened" She then looks around and see's her friends unconscious on the ground "Oh. Oh no...did he...did he kill them?" and then in slightly more panicked voice "Are my friends dead!?" she tries to stand but is still a bit too weak to do so. She looks back at Ogar with a worried look, "Please! You must do something! Help them!!" she screams at Ogar.

Ogar tries to help calm her down, as likely she's in shock.

heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"Shhh, calm down. Your friends are alive but unconscious. And Gellion is tied up and subdued. Tell us what happened. How did you all get inside here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Greg double-checks the ropes on Gellion before standing up and heading to the door of the warehouse. "I'm gonna go get the mayor and some help. We can't carry them all out ourselves."

He hustles down the street, eyes out for a guard.

Time to get the constabulary, and the priest we talked to earlier, now that I think about it.

Nolaria shutters and has to hold back the tears that are welling up in her eyes. She takes a bit of time to steal herself and then responds to Ogar.

"He tricked us all into coming with him...or at least...her tricked me. I assume he did the same to the others. Him and I fought in the graveyard. He bested me and then drug me here. I know not what his intentions are. He just kept babbling on about some Worms...or something...I did not understand anything he said." She finally finds the strength to stand up. You can see that her wits are slowing coming back to you and she stands with more confidence than you would have thought a few moments ago. Nolaria continues speaking I cannot tell you why he was doing this but...I think we were part of some experiment that he was doing with the purple stuff. The bit's and pieces I could get from him over the time I've been held captive..I think he believes the purple stuff... she looks around to gesture at it but then realizes that it is gone ...that...was here...needed to feed on us. I suppose we are lucky he was wrong about that. she gives a nervous laugh "All I ever saw it do was grow more and more with passing time and make big creatures out of little ones."

After about 15 or 20 minutes, Greg returns with a pretty decent entourage. The mayor, Ildris, and a couple of Guards follow him in to the warehouse.

Ildris begins working on the apprentices without even saying anything to anyone else.

The guards stand idle and survey the scene for any danger.

Mayor Trinelli looks around with a look of shock on her face What in the world happened here? she asks to noone in Particular.

Greg clears his throat and addresses the mayor.

"So, uh. Gellion went crazy and thought the purple stuff--oh yeah, you never saw the purple stuff, huh? Well there was this purple stuff and if bugs ate it they got craaaazy big, and we fought 'em and killed 'em so they're dead now. And then we came to the warehouse and found Gellion and like, lots and lots of the purple stuff making hookflies into giant hookflies that pooped swarms of hookfly babies and we had to kill them with fire. And then I knocked out Gellion and one of the hookflies drank from Ogar and I killed it. It was super gross! And then Ogar destroyed the rest of the purple stuff with his cool mace, and then we woke up the apprentices and tried to ask Gellion what the flipping heck he was thinking but clearly he's not thinking 'cause he's just babbling over in the corner there" he waves a hand dismissively in the apprentice's direction "and then I came and got you and then we got here and now here we are."

Greg then puts his hands on his sides and tries to catch his breath.

Killiss has been stuck in a state of shock at the sight of seeing his companion lying on the floor unconscious. As he stares at Peter he is flooded with memories from their past, he can't help but be haunted by thoughts of, "what if Peter didn't survive this battle." But then he reminds himself, that in this line of work, you always have to be prepared for that eventuality. "Besides that's why we have healers!" Upon coming back to reality, he realizes that he really hasn't been paying attention to any of the commotion going on around him. In attempt to pass it off as though he has been totally present and not lost in his thoughts, he pats Greg on the back and says, "Well said, Greg, I think that about sums it up."

Quality save. XD

Father Ildris wordlessly works on the apprentices and soon they are all awake and recovering from their harrowing experience.

The Mayor listens to Greg's story with genuine interest, something Greg does not always get form people who usually think him a simpleton. When he finishes, and nearly passes out, Trinelli nods at him and address the rest of the group.

You have all done very well. Father Ildris will take Gellion back with him and start working on getting him back to normal. I will send town guards off to tell the apprentices family and mentors about what has happened here and that their loved ones are safe and sound. On behalf of all of Saringallows I thank you for everything you have done. She reaches into her robes and pulls out 4 leather sacks.

The payment, as promised. 50 GP for completing the task and an additional 100 GP for each Apprentice you have saved. Thank you again for everything. Now, please, go get some much needed rest. I will have someone come and fetch you once Gellion is back to his normal self. with that, she says one more thank you, gestures to one of the guards to take Gellion with them, and then leaves the warehouse.

Alright! What would you all like to do next? Kill all the apprentices now that you have your payment?

Burn the city to the ground ;-P

BOOZE AND HOOKERS, BABY!

Greg teeters a bit, then nods. He doesn't bother to count the gold just yet; he can barely stand upright, he's so tired. "Let's... let's go back to the inn. I need a nap."

Greg starts wobbling in the general direction of his bed.

Ogar nods. Maybe they can come back tomorrow and search the warehouse more thoroughly for treasure, or any other dark items that hide in the recesses. "A good idea Greg, to the Inn!."

So what's the total gold?

"I'll meet you guys there. I'm going to spend a few minutes looking around here first."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

F&~%ing hell. Anyone else?

You could just take 20 on the whole warehouse. It would only take 5 hours. :D

I'm mostly worried that inside one of those crates is an even larger hookfly, or something of horrible terribleness. We should rest and come back for the main boss that's going to end us once and for all. Probably the worms Gellion was ranting about. Demon worms, prefer to take them will all my spells and energy channels back.

Metagaming a bit, I doubt that's going to happen. Pretty sure this was the boss for part 1 of the adventure. The warehouse is probably safe.

Yeah, plus there’s like a whole retinue of guards here. @GM, I’ll just take 20. GIMME THE LOOT!

Ogar notices Debra not following them. Well he really did want to go back to the Inn, but he guesses one quick look around won't hurt. Looking around the warehouse he looks for any loot. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Also figuring he should be thorough he checks for any magic.

Ogar also casts detect magic

Within the supply crates the in warehouse Debra and Ogar are able to find 550GP worth of Alchemical ingredients, of which you can sell to Pricknettle for full value.

I am going to Retcon that you serached Gellion...because I am a nice dude like that...and also..I did not really give you a chance to do so.

Gellion ha=d in his possession:

2 Potions of CLW
1 Vial of Acid
2 Alchemist Fire
1 Smokesitck
1 Thunderstone
1 Chainshirt
1 MWK Heavy Mace
1 Light Crossbow w/ 25 bolts
1 Anti-Toxin

The party, after thoroughly searching the warehouse, heads back to the Inn where this whole thing started. Only this time...they are hailed as heroes. Drinks for free!! The innkeeper also decides to give you your rooms free for 1 week.

I updated the loot sheet. I'd like the chainshirt. LMK if you want to roll off for it.

@GM - what is the total gold we got from the mayor?

The warehouse thoroughly searches, Debra's shoulders slump and she sighs heavily. She looks up at Greg and gives him a half-hearted smile. "Well, that was fun, eh? Let's go get a drink and a steak, and then I'm going to sleep for a week."

Greg is not particularly interested in any of the items found in the warehouse or on Gellion, though he does take his share of the booty and enjoy a hefty meal. He remains uncharacteristically quiet during dinner and heads up to bed with a mumbled "Night."

He lies on his straw mattress for several minutes, staring at the ceiling, before he can finally settle his restless thoughts enough to fall asleep.

The party spends the next 2 days at the inn. They do some shopping and get some much needed R&R. They do not...feel...like heroes, though...at the Mayors request the whole mission was done in secrecy, or as much secrecy as could be given to it. The general population still only thinks that the team is a group of strangers. Their motivations unclear which makes distrust hang in the air around the group.

After a couple of days Father Ildris finds the group at the inn and tells them that Gellion has been healed and that they can make their way to the temple whenever the want to speak with him, if they wish. He says that Gellion will be there for an indeterminate amount of time so, the group make take their time, if they wish.

Soon after Ildris leaves, Mayor Trinelli approaches the group and requests that they meet her at her office soon. There is not much urgency in her voice but you can detect a bit of concern. She confirms this by telling you that you have a few days to get your affairs in order before seeing her, if need be.

Okay. It is up to you guys. Stuff with Gellion will basically be just tying a few loose ends up in the story. Otherwise you can go talk to the mayor now...I do not know...might lead to the next chapter...or something...

Greg shrugs while stuffing more bacon in his mouth. "Uff tuh yoo guhff. 'm gud wif wuhuhvuh." After he swallows, he adds, "Though whatever we do, I'd like to see Gellion first. See if he's okay. Whatever got to him really messed him up." He emphasizes the point by shoving even more bacon into his mouth.

If nothing else, his sour mood after the big battle seems to have vanished and Greg is back to his usual cheerfully vapid self.

I took the chain shirt off the loot sheet. If anyone wants to roll for it, lmk.

Debra attempts to identify the potions each morning.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16