GM Pudding's 9-18 Scourge of the Farheavens (Inactive)

Game Master Tom G

"Oh if they still live there we should definitely wait for them! What about this one?" Gillie starts moving towards the large house to the north, pausing to make sure he's not going alone.

Zailus takes her time stepping around the muddiest and heel-catching-est places but slowly moves up behind the ratfolk. "Searching the other places sounds like a much better deal than staring at some bones!"

Tanbu follows Gillie after puzzling over the bones.
"Looks as likely as the rest. Let's search it."

He follows quietly, "taking 10 for a 24. Stealth. And perceiving. Gm roll ÷8/+9"

Quietly following the group around the house, carefully making notes about what they are all finding.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Eldrin will keep to the back of the group trying to be quiet and look around.

Zailus takes her time stepping around the muddiest and heel-catching-est places but slowly moves up behind the ratfolk. "Searching the other places sounds like a much better deal than staring at some bones!"

After a moment of completely out-of-character-ness for Zailus she finally moves next to the ratfolk, shaking her head. "Don't know what overcame me there. Felt like I was a different person for a second. Huh... Anyway what's over here? You find a good place to mix up some drinks if we're staying the night. I still can't believe you made that glow in the dark orange-red sunset drink last time."

Moved Tanbu up to be close to Gillie to assist in searching.

"See anything? We probably need to look for hidden compartments."

And after looking back at the bones, "And maybe something with claws."

Deciding to leave the clearly occupied house alone for the time being, the group turns their attention to the larger house in the north of the abandoned village.

Tanbu, would you re-lock the door, which would take another couple of minutes of fiddling with picks? Or leave it unlocked?

Getting closer to it, it's clear that it was once painted white, with light-blue beams and window frames. Intricate carvings wind around the vertical supports, depicting bears and humans enacting scenes that likely come from the Farheaven Clan's history.Now, many of those carvings are covered by plants, the wood in many places is rotten and water stained, and the whole place smells faintly of mildew.

Carefully moving as silently as possible, it's possible to see that despite the disrepair, the only entrances are near to the occupied house in the southeast corner, and another on the far side in the northwest corner, both preceded by short flights of rickety looking steps.

I'll assume you head inside the building to investigate

Inside you find that it smells even more strongly of mildew and dampness, and at the eastern end you can see the long-dead remains of a humanoid creature, surrounded by nine small wooden carvings, draped in moss.

I've moved you all into the house on the map, please let me know if anyone is keeping watch instead or staying outside, and if anyone would like to investigate the corpse and the carvings, move your token when you post your action

Tanbu Would re-lock the door. If he had to, he is confident he could manage the lock again.

"I am not liking the decorating theme of death." "Anyone know anything about engineering? Is it safe to walk over and take a look at the deceased?"

Tanbu will look for traps. perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

If the place looks clear, Tanbu will skirt along to wall to get over by the body to look at the carved item and the bones.

Gillie examines the body, both searching for clues and items.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

The Armenian Man approaches the tableau to investigate. "Strange scene... somebody arranged this like so." He looks, but doesn't touch.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Lyrio moves inside, towards the center of the room, and starts searching around with his companions. Radagosa moves to follow, but he taps her head and asks her to stay behind and guard.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Lyrio actually "speaks" "lion", so anyone can see their level of understanding is even deeper than the usual. Via "speak with animals (lion) at will". Radagosa doesn't know the "stay" or "guard" tricks, so she moved a little bit ahead as he spoke with her.

Waiting in the doorway to the building Eldrin rolls up his parchment and tucks it away keeping a watch on the outside while his fellows investigate the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Apologies everyone, I had the body in the wrong place. Everything remains the same, except where you went to inspect the body. Eldrin stayed outside along with Radagosa, and I've assumed Zailus came in

As the group approaches the body, but before anybody can get a really good look, The Armenian man notices something strange, a sickly yellow fog starting to form in the room from nowhere, but everyone else appears entirely ignorant to the menace.

-- Surprise Round --
Gillie (surprised)
Eldrin (surprised)
Lyrio (surprised)
Zailus (surprised)
Tanbu (surprised)
The Armenian Man
Mysterious fog
Radagosa (surprised)
-- Round 1 --

Armenian man you may take a single move or standard action in the surprise round as you (just!) pipped the haunt in the initiative

Zailus strides into the building after seeing that the other people wearing much heavier equipment have had no problems walking around the place. Her short heeled boots make a confident clipping noise as she goes. Getting closer to the body, she covers her nose with a handkerchief, [b]"Gods above and below is it dank in here. Let's finish up and get out of here. All of this terrible smell can't be good for us.

Letting the others deal with the body, Zailus moves to look at the figurines around it instead.

Knowledge (religion) DC 16, fey obedience: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 = 12
Shirt reroll: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 = 16

"Magdh, what is this mysterious fog; why do you vex us with such?" The Armenian Man begins backing away, grabbing at a wand at his belt. "Beware the fog; 'tis some kind of haunt. Positive energy will calm it! The Armenian Man has an ill feeling!"

Move: 20' drawing wand of cure light wounds

As if in answer, the sickly fog congeals quickly after The Armenian man speaks, seeming to seep from the walls and the ceiling. It engulfs the pathfinders, and parts of it twist and condense into bear paws that lash out at all of you, save Eldrin who watches from the edge.

Your sight is limited to only a few feet around you by the thick mist, but still you see images of humans being slain by a large bear with a feather cloak. The images appear briefly before vanishing, then appearing somewhere else again.

Could everyone in the area (i.e everyone except Eldrin) please make a will save against a mind-affecting fear and illusion effect. Once you have done so and are happy with the result, have a look at what you might have won!

-- Round 1 --
Gillie
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus
Tanbu
The Armenian Man
Mysterious fog
Radagosa (surprised)

Everybody save Radagosa is up! To use a touch spell like cure light wounds against the haunt you'll need a melee touch attack against AC 10

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Lyrio shakes his head, trying to focus on what's real and what's the effect from the suffering souls around. The druid then finally opens his eyes and moves, trying to get out of the zone of the haunt. He moves towards where Radagosa was when he last saw her, and can feel the mane of the lioness as he passes by her.

Finally feeling out of it, he turns around and touches her, muttering magical words of divine nature. The animal takes the shape of a diminutive lion figurine that the druid holds safely by his hands.

Casting "carry companion". I'll pocket her if possible, otherwise will just protect in my hands for now.

Focusing on the outside of the building Eldrin doesn't notice what is going on until Lyrio hastens out of the building to retrieve Radagosa. Turning to look inside, he spots the strange mist and immediately begins reciting an incantation; causing a shimmering barrier of force to form around him.

"What is going on? What is that?"

Casting Magic Armour on himself, should last for three hours from now.

"This is not normal..."
will save vs haunt: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11
Oh dear...

Gillie lets out a cry like an animal caught in a trap, scared but full of rage. He bares his teeth and wildly slashes at the fog before fleeing to safety outside the building.

My weakest save, Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Zailus glances up at the call of warning, and finds the mist surrounding her. She seems unfazed through most of it, but as the bear comes and attacks her, she snaps her fingers and stands her ground. "Oh, heaven and hell no! I've handled much worse bears than you in bed, you don't scare me one lick. Now get your sorry dead mist face outta mine before I find a way to toss you to Asmodeus himself!"

When the mist doesn't clear, she gives a click of her tongue and frowns. "Alright, haunt we do this the hard way!" She then releases a fan of flames her hands over where the main body of the mist seems to be. "They don't call me a flaming queen for nothing!"

Burning hands: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5
DC 15 reflex for half. Not expecting much from this but swinging a weapon is about her only other option right now. She'll get a level in bard one of these days but it's not today.

Don't forget to take your turn Tanbu, and Gille could you move your token on the map to where you moved to? The link should be at the top of this page. I can move it for you if you'd prefer / can't use the slides, just let me know

Zailus blasts a burning hot cone of flames through the mist ... but it reforms and congeals as thick as before, even the wood of the house failing to kindle at the flames as the thick damp fogs smothers it

You could take a move as well Zailus if you wished

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 +2 vs illusion; +2 vs death effects
I assume The Armenian Man failed, but if its vs illusion or death, please let me know and ignore the shaken modifiers, below.

The Armenian Man recoils from the bear strikes coming out of the fog. He strikes at the fog with his wand, driving positive energy into the mist.

It is an illusion effect, so you just made it and and just made the strike, nice. For reference if you'd missed with the attack you'd have used the wand charge but have been "holding the charge", so you could attempt to deliver it again without using another charge from the wand on your next turn

The Armenian Man strikes out with his wand ... and the tendrils of strange smoke seem to recoil from it, parts of it being burned away by the holy energy.

-- Round 1 --
Gillie (2 WIS damage)
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus
Tanbu (2 WIS damage, shaken)
The Armenian Man
Mysterious fog (-7)
Radagosa (Will save pending, statue, carried)
-- Round 2 --

We're just waiting for Tanbu to take the rest of his turn I think. Lyrio you'll need a move action to put Radagosa away next turn, unless you want to drop her as a free action. She still needs a will save as she was in the area and not-yet in statue form when it triggered. Unfortunately it extends just outside the door and caught her but not Eldrin due to luck of positioning

Having trouble with the slides, i am on my phone and really can't see the tokens. Anyway, Tanbu will strike out at the bear/mist and move towards the door to get away. Movement help please.

sword swing: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Zailus sees her flames disappear into the mists and frowns. "Okay what ever b**** left this here wasn't playing."
She gives a snap or slap at any apparition that gets too close to her, but stands her ground.

My bad - rolling now for Radagosa. Please feel free to roll for her in the future if I forget (or even before I post).

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

No worries Tanbu, done. A single move action won't quite get you out of the mist this round

Zailus and the Armenian man stand their ground in the strange misty apparitions, both unfazed by the peculiar spirits assaulting their mind. Gillie, Lyrio and Tanbu try to escape it, while Eldrin summons some magical armor in preparation. As he moves, Tanbu draws his sword and strikes at one of the images, but it simply floats around his sword and reforms instantly. On escaping the mists, Gillie starts to feel a little better, but the pain of the psychic assault remains.

Gillie you are no longer shaken, but your wisdom damage remains.

The images of a people being slain remain, coming in and out of view in unpredictable ways. Disembodied screams come from behind, then in front, while the roar of a distressed enormous bear is accompanied by the sounds of rending flesh.

The Armenian Man, Tanbu and Zailus all need to make another will save against mind-effecting illusion effects. DC 16 or take Wisdom Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2 and be shaken. If Tanbu fails he'll be frightened

-- Round 2 --
Gillie (2 WIS damage)
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus (Will save pending)
Tanbu (2 WIS damage, shaken, will save pending)
The Armenian Man (Will save pending)
Mysterious fog (-7)
-- Round 3 --

"Stop this unholy madness! What do you want from us?" The Armenian Man strikes out again with his wand, sending more positive energy into the mist.

Is there a way to find out how to put the haunt to rest permanently?

Not in general, but typically laying the spirits to rest or resolving whatever is causing them to hang around will do it

I was mistaken when I originally posted that there were no mechanical effects this round, I've updated the post above to reflect that another will save is required for those inside

The Armenian man channels another blast of shining positive energy into the fog and it seems to burn a large part of it away, but the parts that remain seem to redouble their spectral assaults

-- Round 2 --
Gillie (2 WIS damage)
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus (Will save pending)
Tanbu (2 WIS damage, shaken, will save pending)
The Armenian Man (Will save pending)
Mysterious fog (-14)
-- Round 3 --

Will DC 16, illusion resistance: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16

Eldrin really doesn't have much he can do to help out here. He'll move if he is in anyones way.

Digging in his backpack for a large leather bound book Eldrin starts frantically flicking through the pages in a vein search for some useful magic.

Not having much more to do, Lyrio tries to stay out of the way of his companions, and limits himself to yell.

Come towards my voice, guys. Get out of there, come!

He stays ready to attack in case something else threatens them.

Tanbu is not all that wise to begin with.
will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
"Let me out of here."

Seeing the Armenian Man's efforts Gillie will follow suit. Drawing a wand of cure light wounds he casts the spell and holds the charge, ready to run in and deliver it.

Seeing the Armenian Man's efforts Gillie will follow suit. Drawing a wand of cure light wounds he casts the spell and holds the charge, ready to run in and deliver it.

Tanbu will get out of the mist and see if he can find something to help with the weird mist that gives him a headache. He comes out with a vial of water.

"Gillie, why are you waving a stick around in the mist?" "What the heck will that do?"

GM Pudding, will pouring holy water in/on the mist hurt it? Tanbu could throw it at the body and have it splash the mist instead. I was thinking he could just reach in and pour.

Dang, this happens every turn? Last time was a dang fluke, I tell you, a fluke of a will save!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Zailus gives a small eep as the fog bears down on her. She feels the world around her shrink as her fied of view narrows. She turns tail and heads for the door, quivering in her boots some, but takes it slowly as if to give an air of complete confidence. "Humph this is boring and toxic. I'll take my leave now. And find something with a healthier mindset, not stuck in past traumas thank-you very much!"

She stands outside and starts cleaning her nails trying to look bored, as she surreptitiously breathes deep breaths and tries to quell her fear.

GM Pudding, will pouring holy water in/on the mist hurt it? Tanbu could throw it at the body and have it splash the mist instead. I was thinking he could just reach in and pour.

Yes you can either pour it into the mist or throw it into the mist, either one is a ranged touch attack. Pouring doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity (but requires you to be adjacent), and throwing would give you 1 point of splash damage in addition to the 2d4

Zailus has had enough of the aggrivating mists and leaves with a flourish, while Tanbu and Gillie both come up ready with strategies to put these unquiet spirits to rest. Lyrio and Eldrin on the other hand, stay safe outside the edge and poised to help if they can.

Meanwhile though, the spirits aren't quite ready to give up their grip on the world of the living. Though clearly thinning, the visions take on a more frenzied tone, as the screams become more shrill, and the bear growls angrier. The Armenian man becomes the sole focus of their rage, as he experiences yet another mental assault.

Another DC 16 Will save for the Armenian Man or take Wisdom Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2 and be shaken. Can he remain unscathed? Can I continue to roll max damage?

-- Round 3 --
Gillie (2 WIS damage)
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus (2 WIS damage)
Tanbu (2 WIS damage, shaken)
The Armenian Man (Will save pending)
Mysterious fog (-14)
-- Round 4 --

Everybody is up!

Gillie steels himself and then dives into the fog and attempts to deliver the touch attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Will Save if necessary: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Oh dear... I hope that wasn't needed...

Armenian Man will save: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 = 25

Gillie bravely rushes into the mists once more, hand shining with positive energy. The mists seem to flow away from it, but Gillie gracefully reaches and grabs hold of the mist-form of a middle-aged human man with a glowing rune on his chest, visible despite his cloudy manifestation.

As Gillie touches him, all the mists suddenly fade away, and a quiet voice can be heard croaking "Thaaaank yoouuuuuu..."

Combat Over! Your will save wasn't need Gillie :)

Summary
Gillie (2 WIS damage)
Eldrin
Lyrio
Zailus (2 WIS damage)
Tanbu (2 WIS damage)
The Armenian Man

The house is quiet once again, and the Armenian Man knows that haunts dispelled with positive energy will continue to come back after a period of time (usually measured in hours or days but sometimes minutes) until the issues that are keeping them here are resolved.

A closer look at the body shows clearly that the claws of a large beast killed them, and the wooden carvings are each around 1 foot tall carvings of a standing bear.

What would you like to do?

"Don't we need a carving like this for the ritual?" Tanbu prompts the group. "Shouldn't we take one of these ... respectfully for course."

Tanbu waits for the group to decide.

Knowledge (nature) DC 15: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Craft (carpentry) DC 15: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

Note to all: Craft checks may be made untrained

The Armenian Man joins the others in examining the carvings, but comes up with no ideas. "The Armenian Man isn't sure which one to take. Would any be good? Maybe we should take them all?"

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Lyrio examines, slowly, and turn to his companions.

This carving here is lighter than the others... Because it's actually made of darkwood. - after a short pause, he continues - And yes, we should probably take one of them... This one, specifically.

The druid then puts on the floor a different figurine - that of a lioness - and pronounces magic words that sound more like a caring lullaby. The statue grows considerably until it takes back the shape of Radagosa, which starts breathing and licks the half-orc.

Radagosa took WIS damage as well, which affects her Will save and skills.

If this adventure doesn't spam beyond a day, please consider Lyrio woke up on the next day and memorized Lesser Restoration to take care of Radagosa.

Zailus stays outside for a bit longer, clearly not quite ready to go back inside and watches the sky. After a bit she traipses back into the building. "Take it the thing isn't going to bother us again? Or for a while at least? Good. Now, anything else of note in here?"

Lyrio notes that one of the carvings appears to be made of darkwood, and that Nelket's instructions for the ritual to summon Dolok Darkfur required such a carving. He can however see that the other carvings are fine work made from exotic lumber and would fetch a good price.

Looking around the rest of the ruined building reveals little more than soft rotten wood and moss, but you do spot one thing of interest, a crude map drawn on tanned leather an accompanied by minor notations written in a language you don't understand. It appears to be leading into the forest, but without being able to read the writing it's hard to tell.

What next? There are three as-yet unexplored buildings: north-east, south-east and south-west

Zailus looks out the back of the broken walls and sees the tiny almost storage like house. "Hrmm I wonder what could be in there. Shall we go check it out, ladies and gents?"

Tanbu, in his less-than-fully wise state, quickly moves to look in the smaller side building just East of the currently unhaunted, haunted building with the carvings.

As he starts out, he mumbles, "The wood carvings are valuable but do they come with a daily surprise showing of 'Horrors in the Mist'?" "If not, someone should grab them. Leaving them here to rot is a crime." "But I'm not touching them."

He looks in the open doorway if possible and tries to determine if the group would rather walk all the way back here or just search it now? Looking at the group. He points and says, "What about this one?", just loud enough to be heard the 20 or so feet to the group.

I think with the Armenian man's insight into the haunt it would be clear that it's attached to the body not the carvings

Tanbu and Zailus both turn their attention to the smaller building to the east of the haunted one, finding it somewhat more broken down. In fact it's little more than a pile of debris surrounded by the stubs of walls.

For anyone who would like to have a search through the ruins here, please roll a perception check. You can aid each other, and it's not necessary to declare who is aiding whom; the highest roll will be aided by any lower ones that beat 10. The better you do the less time it takes

The Armenian Man begins gathering the rest of the carvings. "The Armenian Man thinks someone tried to place these carvings to calm the haunt. Didn't work, Magdh bless, of course. But still, the haunt is surely connected to the body." He stuffs the last on into his bag. "You need not worry over these delightful little bears, Tanbu."

He begins picking over the ruins of this small building.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29