(#1-03) "Escaping the Grave" (Inactive)

Game Master rainzax

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"I might be able to fix the cart, but I don't have any tools. I'll see what I can do without them..."

Thievery: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

As Darg heads to the Tavern and Brayka and Ryiah tend to the Horse and Cart, Nenyath makes their way to the Chapel. "I agree, let us clear the village first then head to the College - I will search the Church for signs of our Allies in case they holed up there beseeching the deity's protections." They inform their group, agreeing with Darg's assessment.

The Once Prosperous Village (Part VII)

Unspooked, the party decides to leave no stone unturned in their investigation of the small town. While Brayka and Ryiah hang back to feed the horse and repair the cart, Darg slinks over to the "Flaming Wheel" Tavern while Nenyath strides along to the Goldenflame Chapel...

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Darg, Nenyath and Ryiah are Up!

Ryiah frowns. "If only I had some tools to work with, this would be so much easier. What can I do but keep trying? Everyone else seems busy anyway."

Thievery: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Well, that's not good.

An Ankh, hmm could be someone we're looking for but none seem to fit, mayhaps the others have an idea- a fierce fire here, I hope you found peace upon your arrival to the River friend. Nenyath takes a moment to pray over the dead before reverently picking up the body and taking them outside for better light and to remove some of the Ash.

"Found this one surrounded by abominations - fierce fighting and a fire that followed near gutted the place, any ideas?" he Enquires of his allies.

"Well, I suppose it could be the cleric...any signs of what kind of chapel it was? I don't know what to make of the Ankh, though."

Bardic lore on the church and ankh to see if it gives her any clues as to who this might be.

Bardic lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Why are my roles always terrible?!

Darg pockets the small peice of armor with the symbol on it. He ties the sign to the back of his backpack then looks at the bar and then down at the corpse on the floor. "Have a look behind the bar you say? But I have a quest and others that depend on me." Darg stares intently at the corpse for a few seconds then shrugs, "I suppose a little peak behind the bar wouldnt hurt." Darg will take a quick peek behind the bar and around the room to see if a bottle missed the final showdown.

Then he will drag the body outside for the others to look at. He will also show them the small peice of plate witht he symbol.

Not sure if you do the perception check or not

The Once Prosperous Village (Part VIII)

Darg returns with a sign, a half-empty bottle of spirits (sniff: still good), and dragging a corpse with him. Nenyath too returns with a corpse - but cradled in their arms instead. Both arrive just in time to see the Horse "Desert Wind" preening at being fed in Brayka's competent care and Ryiah cursing at herself fussing with the Broken Cart unable to make any meaningful progress...

...Nenyath and Ryiah immediately begin trying to figure out just exactly who these people once were, while Brayka and Darg figure out how to help next...

Darg and Nenyath, please each roll respective Athletics checks to Drag / Carry the bodies quickly back to the group - this isn't rolling "if" you succeed but "how quickly"...

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GM is interested to know how much longer the party will take exploring the Village - imagine each "Round" to approximate "10 minutes"...

The Party is Up!

athletics check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Darg pulls out the small peice of armor with the emblem on it and hands it to Ryiah. "I found this on the body, perhaps it was part of his armor, there is a symbol on it. Darg looks down at the body, "Poor bastard, went out swinging, and in a bar at that, I suppose as places for a last stand there could be worse."

Darg will go over and look into the fountain seeing if there are any loose coins laying around. He takes a swig of the spirits and offers the bottle to Brayka.

search fountain

I think we just need to look at the fountain. Doesnt look like we are going to get the wagon rolling and its getting late. My suggestion is take a stab at identifying the bodies, then head for the college before it gets dark.

"What exactly did you see earlier, Darg? Someone walking away from the village? Just walking, not hurrying? Did they look undead? Could it have been one of the Pathfinders? It seems odd that anyone would be out and about here. Are you sure it was an enemy? If the undead know we are here, then I think we should find somewhere safer. If nothing comes, great - we can try to figure out who these...people...were. If someone does come, at least we'll be safer than we would be here. And with any luck, they won't know where we went.

As Ryiah walks over to the corpse, Brayka walks over to the wagon. “Cayden, a little luck here would be appreciated. I have a feeling we’ll need this cart, and poor Desert Wind won’t be able to carry what we are finding.”

Brayka spits on his hands and sets to work with a certain desperate haste.
Crafting(u): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Darg looks in the direction the person was running, "They were fleeing, no need to flee from us if your living. Too fast to chase as they were heading back the way we came." Darg runs his hands through the fountain water, looking more intently, hoping to find a coin or two.

"I agree, we must leave this place, head to the college. It is not safe here and there is not enough drink left in the bar for a second last stand."

search the fountain
perception check fountain: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Seeing Brayka start working on the cart, Ryiah decides to give it one last try before they leave. Maybe between the two of them, she and Brayka can get it fixed! Darg is busy searching the fountain anyway, so she figures she has time without causing any additional delay.

Thievery: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Woot! Finally! Hopefully that will do it!

The Once Prosperous Village (Part IX)

Darg quickly and expertly drags the body back (a bit unceremoniously) and slumps it into the other pile of inspected corpses, then immediately jumps into the Fountain and scours it for loose change - the murky and rank water soaking his clothes and beard as he manages to grab a fistful of coins from the center of the deep, returning to the party once more non-emptyhanded!

Darg recovers 1 Treasure Bundle, as well as an additional corpse the party may endeavor to identify...

Meanwhile, Brayka and Ryiah, after another good go, manage to partially repair the cart so that it runs - but with a difficult rickety-ness that threatens at all times to spill over if overloaded - perhaps to "safely" carry about half it's typical load.

We'll say half of it's typical 20 Bulk load or 10 Bulk with each corpse accounting for 1 or 2 Bulk...

Finally, Nenyath is able to determine the preacher-corpse's cause of death as magical fire, and that the Ankh is affiliated with the goddess Sarenrae, even though it is partially melted.

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Continue Investigation of Village or Hike up the Hill to Goldenflame?

The Party is Up!

"Let's load up the cart and get to the college! If we can't take them all, we can come back later?"

Brayka looks at the morbid puzzle of steeds, vehicles and corpses.

“I suspect I’m driving the wagon. Let’s put a couple of the unfortunates in sacks and strap them to Plum, hitch Plum to the wagon and I can drive the wagon with the rest of the bodies? I suspect some of these heroes are not Pathfinders ... I’m guessing we should give them rites in accordance to their faiths and immolate them when we get the chance. No more zombies.”

Brayka visibly droops thinking through this.

Darg will help load the bodies. He mumbles and grumbles under his breath as we works. As he loads in his final body he stops and looks at one then grumbles to himself "Dead, yes that is bad. But at least you get to ride in the cart."

Nenyath?

If folks are ready to move on please include a Trained Perception, Scouting Lore, or Undead Lore check as we travel up the hill to Goldenflame!

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"Hmm, Sarenrae - the Ankh just looked off due to it being half-melted. Clearly there was magically conjured fire used in the battle at the Chapel, rather than the inhabitants burning it down as we had seen before. Nenyath muses as the gingerly lay the body in the back of the cart, saying a prayer over the other - manhandled- body placed in their by the uncouth Darg. "May the Lady look kindly upon your deeds and you find your true place within the afterlife."

As Darg dives into the fountain, Nenyath looks back at the Chapel. "I think you are correct, we should check the College next, depending how long it takes us there we can return to the village, but I would not want to tarry too long - due to my mistakes we have been espied by the enemy and they may be on their way, the Tyrant has spies everywhere."

"Sarenrae...wasn't the goblin a follower of Sarenrae?"

Ryiah makes no move to help with the bodies, but does help to hitch up the cart. She is quiet and looks badly shaken by this ordeal.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Earlier
Brayka, seeing Darg rolling up his sleeves for the macabre work of corpse loading, grimaces. "Darg, I'll help out, but first, I'll take you up on that earlier offer of a drink. A quick toast to the fallen, and also to fortify my nerves. Cheers."

Wiping his mouth, Brayka scans the lineup of the bodies they've found. "I suggest we place the ones we need to ponder in the wagon, we can think on them while we move. 'Clement' will go on Plum in a sack."

Brayka heaves a sigh. "I don't know how we're going to identify them all, by the time we've found out who they are, we'll all have been added to the ranks of the Whispering Tyrant."

Brayka gets out his rope. He hitches Plum to the wagon and places "Clement" on him. Brayka's brows furrow and he pets Plum a bit until he settles. "Sorry, boy, I should have seen this coming.". He nods to Ryiah as she harnesses Desert Wind.

While Darg describes the symbol on the armor plate
"That iconography sounds familiar ... "
Religion(t)/Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

While Brayka is working
As Ryiah and Nenyath discuss the symbol of Sarenrae, Brayka's ear perks up. "Gibb Potsmasher, she was an adherent of Sarenrae. And the body is small, maybe it's a goblin."

Ready to go time, 1 corpse on Plum, 4 (5?) in the wagon
Brayka gets in the drover's seat of the wagon and glances around, ready to start out ...
Scouting Lore(t): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"Hmmm, I believe you are correct - I thought it might be our Goblin companion, but the soot made it difficult to discern." Nenyath agrees as they reverently load up the cart and Plum with bodies. "That is an interesting symbol, I wonder what it could mean?"

religion on the Armour: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Darg looks at the symbol on the small bit of armor. "One of our missing Pathfinders was a gladiator, perhaps this symbol could be his calling card or house. I have met many of these people in my travels. Darg looks longingly at the cart, "It is always harder to think and walk but I guess we do what we must."

Darg will try to think if he has ever seen or heard of that symbol in his times in the the gladitorial arena.
Gladitorial Lore Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Top of the Hill

Earlier

Nenyath deftly carries the priest's corpse back to the "camp" and is able to determine a few details about it's life. Moving on, they join Brayka in trying to do the same with the bar corpse, but inconclusively, before Darg shuffles over and easily declares that the armor pieces - once arranging them back together like a jigsaw - signify the Knights of Ozem - and smiling at them, gets back to work securing corpses to the party's found-and-"repaired" rickety cart. Nenyath and Brayka exchange a glance, and the goblin turns to hitch his trusty steed Plum to the cart, ready to head Up the Hill...

Now

...After a short hike (One "Round"), the party reaches the top, towing their cart of corpses, with the College of Goldenflame just before them, and obtaining a new vantage point over the land, witness the horrible sight of yet more figures in the distance!...

The College of Goldenflame is a two-story building about 100 or so feet wide, and viewing it from the front, has a double stairway that leads up to paired ground-level balconies, each with two doors of entrance into the building. Although run down, the building still bears signs of its once-beautiful architecture: dirty and ivy-wrapped columns, majestic archways, and a partially intact stained-glass window portraying Iomedae herself.

PCs are welcome to make a Trained Society check to identify the architectural style...

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At the Village

Looks like Darg, Nenyath, and Ryiah could each squeeze in one last "Investigate" check before heading up...

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Top of the Hill

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1) What is the plan?
2) Does anyone (non-fatigued) want to alter their Exploration Mode?
3) If you could all declare your rough Marching Order too, that would be helpful.

Ryiah points at the figure in the distance. "That must be who you saw earlier, Darg! We should get inside as quickly as possible and try to secure a defensible position."

Are we bringing the corpses inside? Ryiah would rather spend her time getting inside than continuing to investigate.

Darg nods, "yes, the spy will no doubt tell them of our presensce." Darg looks back at the building, "We must get inside. Ryiah is right, we need a defensible position." Dargs face darkens, "Though I fear we may find peril within as well."

Darg will continue to use stealth

Darg begins walking up the steps slowly, crouched like a slinking cat his flail in hand and shield at the ready.

"The cart is not rolling up those steps," Brayka darkly assesses. "I say we unhitch Plum and Desert Wind. I don't think we can leave the bodies out here regardless, they could be animated against us. Clement and Gibbs at least must return with us. Darg, check if there is a place to secure the animals and leave the bodies just inside? Maybe we can bar the doors once we're in."

Brayka moves with what haste he can to unhitch the animals and prepare them to move.

I'd suggest the order going from closest to the doors is Darg, Ryiah, Brayka and Nenyath as rearguard.

Darg will test the doors and see if he can find a way in, if not he will try to force the doors or if there are windows on the balconies, he will check those out too.

While Darg scours the site for additional (and unlocked) entrances, Brayka begins unhitching the animals from the cart and instead securing them to a nearby tree...

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Nenyath and Ryiah are Up!

Ryiah follows Darg up the steps toward the doors. "Maybe we can just bring the animals in with us?"

This would depend on how steep the stairs are, of course. If the stairs are too steep for a horse, then she won't suggest this.

Darg looks back at the group and speaks softly, Good news, the doors and windows appear to be unlocked. He looks back at the building then back at the group, "Bad news, all of the doors and windows are unlocked." He moves to open one of the doors, "I can go in, but I cannot see in the darkness, can someone create light, but only once I am inside?"

"Darg, Ryiah, if the two of you want to hitch the animals to that well, I can peer inside with my darkvision. I'm not as stealthy as you but I can see in the dark."

Brayka puts on his pack in anticipation of the answer.

"I can cast light when we are ready. We can't just leave the animals out here alone, though! I will hold them for now."

She walks down the stairs and takes the reigns for both animals, nervously shifting back and forth on her feet.

"Ryiah is right, if we are to leave the horse outside, better to kill it now lest it become one of those abominations." Darg will hang back if Brayka is going to go in first.

”Not just the spy I fear my friends - we also have a true abomination moving this way - perhaps 100s of undead fused together. I say we move fast, no need to kill the poor Horse as they are not like to approach if we are swift and then we can leave - just the way we came is no longer open to us and we may need to fund another way out.” Nenyath informs as they share their various discoveries. ”I am happy to rear-guard as before, I have a Wayfinder for light too for once we are inside.”

Nenyath awaits the others readiness before stepping inside the College.

Ryiah also awaits Brayka's report. If they get the all clear to go in, she will enter - bringing both Plum and Desert Wind with her if possible. She will also cast light as soon as they are inside so that everyone can see.

At the mention of slaughtering Desert Wind, Brayka’s eyes go momentarily flat.

“Please water Plum and Desert Wind from the well then? I’ll report back swiftly.” Brayka walks to the door and peers inside, shield and bastard sword drawn.

Players, please place your Tokens on the Map (Slide #10)!

I put Desert Wind and Plum on the map as well, since she's supposed to be holding them. I'm also going to switch her over to Scout. I wanted to do avoid notice, but I'm not sure how much sense that makes given that she is standing next to two large animals!

Ryiah quickly waters the animals at the well, then brings them to the base of the staircase, waiting tensely for Brayka to return.

Darg moves up the stairs next to the door, flail and sheild at the ready. He looks over at Brayka, "You first, if you are not killed outright, Nenyath should follow to give light so we can all see."

Darg looks back in the way of the village then back to the college, Grim behind, grim ahead."

Brayka chuckles. "You'd better plan on following then, at last count it takes four blows to fell me. Plus poison that time, so maybe six blows without? Well, we'll see I suppose."

Goldenflame College (Part One)

While Ryiah and Nenyath wait outside, Brayka and Darg walk into the Reception Hall. Up above the two, a horrid scuttling is heard, as the ceiling comes crashing down upon our brave heroes...

Brayka and Darg, please roll a Basic Reflex Save (DC 16) vs 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 5) + 3 = 13 bludgeoning damage! (No reactions readied)

...And tumbling down with the rubble skitters four horrid looking man-sized creatures with long bodies, hundreds of legs, and gnashing mandibles, which immediately begin slithering into attack!

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Players may Recall Knowledge as a single action on their turn

Nenyath and Ryiah are Up!

reflext save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Cayden's love of Brayka shines through as a chunk of masonry bounces off his helm.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Does success negate all damage?

hoping my crit success does

Hearing the ceiling come crashing down, Nenyath rushes in after their comrades, eyes widening as the large insectoids threaten their allies. Stepping deeper into the room, Nenyath raises their shield and lashes out at the red-crapaced creature with their blade.

Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 for Slashing damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Raise Shield, Stride, Attack - Will provoke if Red has an AoO