Dungeon Master S's "The Fall of Plaguestone" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

"Because it's the right thing to do, Blodgett. There's a lot that needs to be done to make this world a good place to live in, and helping others gets us all one step closer!"

Penryn stops short as Krent takes the party to a completely different house from what he’d been expecting. Wait, this doesn’t make sense! I was sure that Krent was sleeping at the manor house, where Vilree is getting up to her vile schemes with Hallod, and corpse blood, and whatever else she’s doing, and that was why he was sure he was being haunted by his old friend...why are we at this place?

He realizes his companions have been speaking, and turns his attention inward to try to recall what they might have been saying. ”Um, right. Goodwill. Right thing to do, Blodgett,“ he says, inadvertently agreeing with Jasper. Waving his hands a bit, he adds, ”And as you know, I’m sure, any investigation needs to eliminate suspects as well as identify them, so you don’t end up chasing down leads that don’t mean anything. But you don’t always know if you should be eliminating a suspect - not killing them, mind you, just taking them off the list of suspects - or investigating them further. So we’ll, um, see where this little side trip with Krent takes us, and then head on to Etran’s Hill. All part of the plan. Sound good?“

Kaleb totally zones out during Penryn's speech and eats a turnip instead.

"Uhhh, good."

Blodgett seems swayed by Penny's logic. Makes some sense, I guess, he admits. And I s'pose it is the right thing to do. 'kay then. Let's be quick about it. Gotta score to settle, when we connect Eollom to all of this.

Eollom? Is Blodgett still stuck on that theory? He'll understand how wrong he is when I prove that Krent's haunting is related to whatever Vilree's making with that corpse blood.

As the party spends time cogitating in the overgrown yard of the house, Krent passes out.

Then the front door opens of its own accord. Piles of debris litter the common room, which shows signs of occupation, although not too recently. A backpack sits in one corner with a glint of silver inside its open flap, resting next to a shattered chair and a moldy old blanket. Quite
suddenly the air seems to grow cold, and the sound of moaning fills the house.

"Right, in we go, eh?" Penny remarks a bit nervously as he considers the self-opening door. He shrugs his bow off his shoulder and waits for Blodgett to lead the way.

Krent snaps awake, clearly proximity has adled him even more. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." For a split second he seems lucid, "a fellow crusader in Lastwall Talmore was my close friend. When Lastwall fell, I left his side during a fight to hide from the undead horde. I broke. When it was over, I searched the battlefield only to find your mangled mangled body. I took your holy symbol and fled. I'm sorry."

He stares hard at Penryn before shrieking and passing back out.

"Poor soul. It sounds like if we find the holy symbol we'll have a chance to lay Talmore to rest."

Jasper grasps his own holy symbol to Erastil, then bravely strides forward and in.

...yeah, we go in. Blodgett says, hefting his axe on his shoulder and stepping over the passed out Krent into the house.

Kaleb sneaks along with the rest of the party, doing his best to remain unnoticed.

The party strides forth into the small house. The temperature drops so much that breath begins to freeze on exhale. Suddenly a terrible form materializes above a grimy and cracked holy symbol of Ioemedae.

"COWARDS! You chose cowardice over the safety of of Avistan! How many children have died because of your cowardice!" Despite its translucent nature, the sword it raises seems very, very dangerous!

This is my first incorporeal fight in 2e. I can't find anything that says normal weapons don't hurt the incorporeal. Only that you can't use str based checks against them. They simply have DR. you can specifically ID with an action and an Occultism or Religion check.

Ghost of Talmore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Kaleb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 (E)
Penryn: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 (E)
Cilik: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 (T)
Blodgett: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 (T)
Jasper: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 (T)
Elvanthain: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Round 1:
Penyrn: Go
Kaleb: Go
Elvanthain: Go
Ghost: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Jasper: TBD

Penryn mutters fiercely, "This is not where I thought we were going with this..." He considers the ghostly form a moment but is too annoyed to recall what the heck it might be - so he focuses on finding a weakness in it, and lets an arrow fly through the open door!

1: Recall info, 2: Study Suspect, 3: Strike with bow.

Occultism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Study Suspect, Perception vs Target's Will DC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Shortbow attack, cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 20+1 from Study Suspect bonus only applies if Study succeeded
Shortbow damage, Studied Strike: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (6) = 12 +1d6 from Study Suspect bonus only applies if Study succeeded

Penryn is too shocked to recall anything, but instinct and training keeps his weapon hands moving. The arrow mostly passes through the thing, but enough essence swirls that it's clear that some harmed it.

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Go
Elvanthain: Go
Ghost: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Jasper: TBD

Elvanthain tries to see if he knows anything about these kinds of creatures.

recall knowledge occultism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

He then pulls out and fires his crossbow.

crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

If he hit...

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Elvanthain's shot connects, but not close enough to the spirit's core. It passes through without harming it.

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Go
Elvanthain: Under DR
Ghost: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Jasper: TBD

Kaleb draws the silver rapier and stabs the ghost after moving to the foot of the bed.

the stabbening: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
damage + SA: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (2) = 11

Kaleb's stab is a bit off target. The horror in front of him isn't overly quick, but his aim was below average.

The spirit before you gives out a frightful moan. "AAAAAARRRRGH Lastwall! Betrayed!" The agony and horror of the voice chills you to the bones. Will Save DC 19 or become Frightened 2 It then slashes its long sword at Kaleb. ATK!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 for DMG: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 That's a crit, and dang lucky on the damage dice!

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Under DR
Ghost: ATK
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Jasper: Go

DC 19 Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Fail but not crit failure. Still, status of 2 is nasty.

Blodgett is frightened and angry about it. He then charges suddenly at the Ghost of Lastwall Past, the maniacal smile unnerving and drooling acid on his axe blade.

Sudden Charge: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 4 is acid dmg

Rage, Sudden Charge. Down to Frightened 1 at end of turn.

will save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Kaleb shakes off the ghost's scream.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"I've heard worse screams...you should have heard Jasper when I rolled away with his cart."

Blodgett's mighty swing just barely misses!

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Under DR Will Save
Ghost: ATK
Blodgett: Miss
Cilik: Go + Will Save
Jasper: Go + Will Save

Frightened 2:

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Not Frightened:
Kaleb
Penryn

will save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Cilik cocks his head to the right. "odd sound, but my roommate in school used to snore in the oddest of ways..."

know occult: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Cilik find knowing about this undead fairly simple. it as covered in Occultism 101 when he was in school.

Cilik spends a moment to remember what he knows.

action recall what he knows
what he remembers will guide his next actions

Will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
"You took my livelihood! How did you expect me to respond?!" Jasper shouts, distracted momentarily from the frightening howl.
My actions will also depend on what Cilik reveals

Neither Cilik nor Jasper let the wail get to them.

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Under DR Will Save
Ghost: ATK
Blodgett: Miss
Cilik: Two Actions
Jasper: Go

Frightened 2:

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Not Frightened:
Kaleb
Penryn
Cilik

Read Cilik's spoiler with the assumption that he'll tell me what's what

Jasper quickly begins to pray. "Erastil, help me to smite the dead before me. Grant me just a little of your divine power so that I may banish this ghost!"

Heal (V/S, DC 17 Basic Fort save): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 The ghost fights back, but it's unable to resist the Divine Hunter's Will. The ghost's form is noticeably more transparent now.

Round 1:
Penyrn: Hit
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Under DR Will Save
Ghost: ATK
Blodgett: Miss
Cilik: Two Actions
Jasper: Positive!

Frightened 2:

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Not Frightened:
Kaleb
Penryn
Cilik

Cilik goes with the old standby as two magic darts flies towards the ghost.

damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The magic does the trick! They slam into the ghost, not passing through at all!

Round 2:
Penyrn: Go
Kaleb: Go
Elvanthain: Go + Will Save
Ghost: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Jasper: TBD

Frightened 2:

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Not Frightened:
Kaleb
Penryn
Cilik

Kaleb covers his eyes and stabs blindly with the silvered rapier at their spectral foe.

stabbing: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

the stabbening part 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Kaleb then tumbles out of the way.
stab,stab,step

will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Elvantain doesn't think he has much he can do against this thing, but he takes a risk and makes an acid flask and throws it.

acid flask: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Elvanthain's old soul stands against the wail. He then hits the ghost with an acid flask, which doesn't seem to do much, but it does do some.

Kaleb's approach is more about his sanity than victory. The halfling at least tumbles to safety.

Round 2:
Penyrn: Go
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Hit
Ghost: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Jasper: TBD

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Penryn moves into the cramped house, considers his target a moment, and shoots an arrow into the far wall!

1: Stride, 2: Study Suspect, 3: Strike with bow.

Study Suspect, Perception vs Target's Will DC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Shortbow attack, cover: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 8 +1 from Study Suspect bonus only applies if Study succeeded
Shortbow damage, Studied Strike: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8 +1d6 from Study Suspect bonus only applies if Study succeeded

Penryn struggles to combat the ghost.

The ghost reaches out toward Blodgette! Ghostly touch: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 for DMG: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

Round 2:
Penyrn: Miss
Kaleb: Miss
Elvanthain: Hit
Ghost: ATK
Blodgett: Go (Frightened 1)
Cilik: Go
Jasper: Go

Frightened 1:
Blodgett

Thrusting out a hand that glows with a holy white light, Jasper cries, "Find your final rest, soul of Lastwall! Your home beyond awaits!"

Positive energy washes over the ghost once more.
Heal (V/S, DC 17 Basic Fort save): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Jasper then draws out a small, light mace. The cleric silently prays he'll not need to use it.

FORT: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Jasper's power is too much for the ghost. It melts into nonexistence! The whole area goes silent, save for the sobs of Krent outside. A gentle drizzle seems to have started as well.

For defeating the wronged ghost of Talmore, each hero earns 120 XP.

"Is... Is it gone?"

"Aye, It's gone for the moment at least. spirits are hard to predict. some continue to haunt an area unless cleansed through a religious ritual."

Penryn begins to search inside the house - hoping against hope that there's a vial of corpse blood or some other tie to the mystery of Bort's murder - and answers absent-mindedly, "Yeah, Krent, seems like I...I mean it, is gone. Why were you sleeping in here?"

Krent immediately vomits. It's almost like a symbolic release, "Ugh... I don't know. I felt I deserved the guilt. I'm still a failure and a coward. Here, come here."

He walks, head bowed, into the house and pulls a package out from under his moldy cot. "Take them. You not only have earned them, you deserve them."

Inside are items of a Crusader, now yours:

Kaleb helps Krent out "Always feels better once it's out now don't here. Now let's go have a seat outside an' get some fresh air."

Kaleb will take a healing potion.

Blodgett will take (and drink) the other healing potion, because being at 4 hp sucks.
healz: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Being at 8 hp sucks too, but not as badly as being at 4 hp.

To Krent, Blodgett says, Glad you missed my boots with that, then follows Kaleb outside.

Kaleb hands his healer's tools to some combination of Jasper and Blodgett in hopes they can work it out themselves while he sneaks a turnip and further comforts Krent.

"Hold still, Blodgett. I should be able to deal with those wounds."
Medicine, DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Crit Heal: 4d8 ⇒ (7, 1, 2, 7) = 17

"There you are, good as new!" Jasper beams at his handiwork.

It's getting dark out...

"Right, now that we've solved this part of the mystery..." Penryn says, still trying to make the pieces fit together in his mind, "Let's make our way to Etran's Hill, and find Vilree. Or have something completely different and unexpected happen."

Kaleb nods to Penryn

I'm almost out of turnips too, I should have snagged some more at the inn.

"Hold still, Blodgett. I should be able to deal with those wounds."

"There you are, good as new!" Jasper beams at his handiwork.

Blodgett looks down and notes the bandages Jasper has put into place. Nice work, he says with genuine appreciation. Never learned to do that. Cause 'em, but can't fix 'em.

With a nod, he follows after Pennryn with a grumble. Hope this makes more sense than our last wild ghost chase...

The party squeezes what they can out of the last light. Before long the titular "house" is just a short hike up the hill.

The small hill is covered in old stones and bits of burned debris. This site was once the home of the town’s founder, Etran Bolmere, and his family. There's very little here that stands out these days though.