”Oh, they look hungry, don’t they?” Kast notes the hungry-for-harpers ghosts and moves outside, more concerned about whatever seems to be knocking the cabin off the cliff than a few nibbles on his toes.
”They might not want to come outside ‘Mus. I’ll get to them in a moment once I see what is what out here.”
Izomandakus and Pachemu lose their balance and fall to the floor of the cabin "Critters! What happened now?!"
"Uh! More ghosts! Yes. But I fear we will need more positive vibes to combat this ones Seamus, not just metal." the boy explains seeing also the spirits out of the walls.
Pachemu cowers on the floor, while Izomandakus tries to stand up and hold himself against something solid here.
Val throws her hands up. ”My heart goes out to these poor dwarves but I wish they would realize we are not at fault for all this.” She does not bother trying the wand this time.
A few of you succumb to the tilt-a-wheel structure and begin to identify the latest threat though no counter is attempted.
Voices can now be heard, faintly at first, but growing in strength and number until it reaches a dozen or so. In most cases you hear wordless cries of pain, but now and then snatches of sentences like “eating us…” or “don’t let him…” or “so hungry….” The hammering continues, but now the starving ghosts seem to notice you for the first time.
The ghosts swirl around you, even Kast on the porch where the storm rages making it impossible to see the world much beyond a half dozen yards or so.
New round! Still a DC 15 Acrobatics to keep your feet - will save first.
Val remains standing strong, physically and mentally.
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Will
Acrobatics (does Kast need this?)
If there is nothing outside but blizzard, Kast will move back inside where there are at least hungry ghosts willing to eat his soul.
If the haunt is still a-hauntin’, he will cast Heal.
Izomandakus manages to hold this time, but Pachemu keeps cowering in the floor, afraid to fall out of hungry "What do you want? Cookies? Just take them!"
The boy produces the pot with cinnamon cookies and offers it to the raging spirits.
Even after Rastaf’s channel, it takes a heal to quiet the throng. The positive energy reverberates through the cabin causing the shaking to subside to a mere tremble. The ghosts seem to lose ‘sight’ of you and attack each other and the cabin, aimlessly.
After a few more rounds of this (had anyone been possessed, save every round, and had the haunt continued unabated, you’d have been attacking each other). Eventually, with a shuddering stop the cabin settles. Even the storm outside seems to abate to merely a heavy snow as the wind dies down and the blizzard, which had been forming, blusters somewhere else.
In time, all the ghosts wander off and fade to nothing. Save for one.
Silas Vekker stands in your midst. It takes some concentration, but in time, he seems to almost solidify. He speaks, gold dust still flaking off his beard.
“You... you are alive? You do not hunger? Ah... that is what I sense in your blood. Greed. You seek the City of Greed.”
”You should abandon your quest, lest you end up like me. Cold. Dead. Eaten. But I suspect you cannot be swayed.”
”Know then that I know the way to Xin-Shalast. I can show you the way, but only if you bring me my brother. He died on a ledge in the mountains a mile’s walk north from this cabin. I can feel his soul out there, still hungry, still insane.”
”Bring his bones to me so that I might reconcile with him. Once he is at rest, I will show you the way and I might rest as well…”
After this brief exchange, separated by periods of silence as the ghost mustered the energy to speak, it fades once again and can no longer be seen.
The cabin grows quiet.
"Oh man, yeah, okay. This all makes sense. Greed. It's all about greed," Kast nods in understanding. "Yeah, let's go find some bones then. I hope the storm dies down some, but maybe we'll find them."
"'Mus? Val? You think you can find them bones?" Kast looks at the ground, then up again.
"Maybe-buried back ribs?"
"Chilly...maybe-buried back ribs?"
Val scratches the side of her head. ”I can get us around with my dimension hopping, but I do not have anything that can help with searching. He seems to know the exact ledge though, so hopefully it should be easy to find?”
You have a pretty good sense of where it might be. You have the ghosts description of the spot, and their ledger and maps which also show the ledge in question as it is near one of their spent mines.
Trudging through the snow is hazardous as you may imagine. It’s deep up here in winter, so you could collapse and find yourself in a snowy-sinkhole, or even start an avalanche on the mountain - any number of problems. Thankfully cold is not one of them, for it is quite frigid!
Luckily the Wind Walk from breakfast to get you this far is still going (they last forever!). So you’re able to become wind, quick as you can, and fly off to the north! Let me know if you have any special preparations and you can depart.
"You know the way?" Izomandakus asks impressed himself he is talking with a dead dwarf.
"Why don't we just wind walk to explore the area? There should not be that many ledge a mile away to the north" he will put his knowledge to the task.
If it's only a mile away, Kast might forgo the wind-walking and just do a normal air limp over that distance. Not sure how many huge mountains could be in the way if it's only 1 or so miles away.
"What do you say, Izo? That way? Sure." Kast begins to limp over.
Val makes no special preparations, expecting not much resistance, perhaps naively. ”Let’s walk that wind!”
Given the speed of your journey, the relatively short distance involved, but also the likelihood of getting lost at those speeds, it’ll take you about another ten minutes or so to reach the ledge in question (for ongoing spell durations). That’s if you wind walk. If you air walk as Kast suggests (though I don’t know that everyone can), it’ll take three times that, or about a half an hour, as there are twisty bits and quite a bit of vertical.
Let me know your choice as you close in on the spot.
You find the occasional ladder lashed to the cliff face where the brothers climbed to their local mine as you fly/walk in. The ledge in question is near the mountain’s peak just above and the snow is still falling heavily. Trailing to a five foot wide shelf to the northwest and southeast, the ledge deepens into a large flat area in the middle where an oft-used fire pit and a few lean-to type structures have been built.
The ground here is rough and uneven, covered with rubble and rocks and counting as difficult terrain for those of you not flying/air walking. Further, a layer of thick fog obscures the ground to a depth of 1-2 feet. This fog extends out over the cliff and down 30 feet from the edge, so that a character unable to see through the fog who moves through a square adjacent to the edge could easily fall some 2,000’ to the crevasse below.
Near the eastern end of the ledge, a small number of gravestones protrude from the mist.
Karivek’s body lies near a long-dead fire pit in that eastern portion of the ledge, frozen solid and preserved by the cold mountain air. The corpse still wears its padded armor, but is itself in frightful shape. Not only is it broken and mangled, as if it had fallen from a great height, but the body’s legs end in charred, blackened stumps where the feet had been burnt off.
You’ll need, at the very least, to solidify I think. So please place yourselves on the map (eastern side of the map we’ve been on) where you want to become whole once again.
When others are solidified, Kast will air limp closer to the camp site heading towards the corpse.
Izomandakus prefers to wind walk as the extra height will help locate the ledge faster.
After finding a possible match to the search, he and Pachemu descend into the fog and only approach once on the snow "Think it must be here... this fog is eerie..."
Trying to orientate himself, he casts detect magic and scans the ledge, while Pachemu scents the air.
Val materializes near the body with the others. She has her sword out and ready in case something threatening appears.
”Well this seems easy enough so far.”
As you solidify you’ll see the gravestones are each marked with dwarven names (including that of Silas Vekker). From a brief look though there are no bodies buried here. Just hasty markers for their deaths.
A whispered command, in dwarven, is caught by the wind and scattered before you can make it out, but the results are clear enough. An enormous worm bursts out of the snow near the ledge and roars into the storm!
This immense icy-white worm has a single circular eye in the center of its head. Wisps of frosted fog waft up from between its mandibles as it leers at you through the snow.
Kast looks at the icy wurm, wondering what kind of icy wurm it might be.
Know (arcana)
- - -
Cold (Su) A frost worm’s body generates intense cold, allowing it to deal an additional 4d6 cold damage with its bite attack. Any creature that attacks a frost worm with an unarmed strike or a natural weapon takes 1d6 points of cold damage per successful hit. A creature that grapples or is grappled by a frost worm takes 4d6 points of cold damage per round the grapple is maintained.
Death Throes (Su) When killed, a frost worm explodes in a 100-foot-radius burst that deals 12d6 cold damage and 8d6 piercing damage (DC 23 Reflex half).
- - -
Val inflicts the worm with her stare before diving in close, trying to avoid letting it take an opening.
She finishes her roll by turning it into a lunge, stabbing right for the creature.
HP: 131/131
AC: 38/21/30
Saves: F15/R20/W19 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Immune: Poison
Hypnotic Stare:
Painful Stare:
Active Implanted Tricks 2/7 used): Mesmeric Mirror (Seamus, unused), Mask Misery (herself, unused)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions: freedom of movement, apport object precast, telepathic bond, mirror image (5)
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 0/7 used (Vanishx0, Psychic Readingx0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex0, Invigoratex0, Remove Fearx0, Eldritch Weaponx0, Martial Esotericax0)
2: 1/6 used (Mirror Imagex0, Placebo Effectx0, Lesser Restorationx0, Tonguesx0, Apport Objectx1)
3: 1/5 used (Sendingx1, Displacementx0, Major Imagex0, Invisibility Spherex0, Step Through Realityx0)
4: 2/4 used (Dimension Doorx0, Freedom of Movementx1, Telepathic Bondx1, Tough Crowdx0)
[ dice]1d20+24[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+12[/dice] damage.
Valena tumbles in unsuccessfully, but she does land a solid blow on the beast. Seamus closes a bit but it does not approach him so no readied attack.
(cold)
It swings hard, and threatens a crit, but all it catches is an image.
The worm takes a 5’ step back to get Valena in the cone, and breathes, affecting everyone except Seamus in the blast.
Reflex DC 23 for half
Meanwhile a ghostly mournful cry erupts from the fog and you can see a dwarven ghost rise up out of said fog. The ghost looks very much like the dead body beside you hovering above the fog (10’ up). The ghost’s moan affects some of you more deeply than others. Everyone except Kast, please make a DC 22 Will save (fear) or be panicked 2d4 rounds.
- - -
Round 1, Init 6
Reflex (Resist Cold 30)
Kast sidesteps the cold, and responds to the ghostly relationship with a columned blast of holy fire. He will then air limp and try to get into position.
holy/fire vs. DC22 for half
hp: 121/121
AC: 36/29/20 (always on shield, Barkskin included) +1 with MCaE +2 BoF + 8 smite
Saves: F10/R15/W12* +7 vs. mind affecting
Furious Focus, GWM=+3, SoF = +4
Aroden's Verve: 0/0 used
GlitterBomb: 0/0 used
Extend GammaRadiation: 0/0 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 left
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Think Really Hard: 7/7 left
1: 6/8 left
2: 6/8 left
3: 5/8 left
4: 6/8 left
5: 5/7 left
6: 6/7 left
7: 5/5 left
[spoiler=Kast's Pre Exploration Magics][ /spoiler]
[spoiler=Perfect Soul]Facing an evil outsider, a perfect entity imbues Kast with some sweet evil slaying cheese:
A +2 sacred bonus to AC
A +4 sacred bonus to Strength
Resistance 5 to acid and fire
A +5 sacred bonus on all Intimidate checks made against evil creatures
Fast healing 2
Any critical threat roll made against an evil creature with a weapon you wield is automatically confirmed.
[ /spoiler]
to hit; (GMW)
magic cold iron damage
to hit; (GMW)
magic cold iron damage
[spoiler=Perfect Blessing Round 1/15] [ /spoiler]
vs DC 22
vs DC 22
...but vulnerable to fire, and half the attack is fire, so 30 +25% = 37 to both.
Val’s recent purchase of a new ring proves its worth as she completely evades the ice breath.
A few months ago, Val might have gasped at the appearance of the apparition, but she is well-prepared this time. She has an important job to finish, and she will not let some unquiet spirt stand in her way. Especially when she knows nobody can fight it better than her.
She concentrates on making the protection of her armor and the bite of her rapier reach into the astral.
Even while she prepares to fight the spirit, she continues focusing on downing the great frost worm, launching a flurry of attacks.
HP: 131/131
AC: 38/21(32 vs incorporeal)/30
Saves: F15/R20(evasion)/W19 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Immune: Poison
Hypnotic Stare: Worm
Painful Stare: Worm
Active Implanted Tricks 2/7 used): Mesmeric Mirror (Seamus, unused), Mask Misery (herself, unused)
Hero Points: 1
Spells/Conditions: freedom of movement, apport object precast, telepathic bond, mirror image (4), Phantom’s Armory
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 0/7 used (Vanishx0, Psychic Readingx0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex0, Invigoratex0, Remove Fearx0, Eldritch Weaponx0, Martial Esotericax0)
2: 3/6 used (Mirror Imagex1, Placebo Effectx0, Lesser Restorationx0, Tonguesx0, Apport Objectx1, Phantom’s Armoryx1)
3: 1/5 used (Sendingx1, Displacementx0, Major Imagex0, Invisibility Spherex0, Step Through Realityx0)
4: 2/4 used (Dimension Doorx0, Freedom of Movementx1, Telepathic Bondx1, Tough Crowdx0)
[ dice]1d20+24[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+12[/dice] damage.
Izomandakus is nearly frozen alive as the worm vomits cold over the group, but Pachemu covers behind a lucky rock.
The view of the ghost plays in a completely other way, the pig running away at the scary sight of the spirit.
"Critters! That thing has a frozen heart" and he joins the fire blasting, creating a thin layer of molten glass where he thinks is the ground, trying to roast and entangle the worm, for the ghost if flying.
+2 if within circle vs evil
+0 if within circle vs evil
Rastaf cooks a little further...
vs DC 20 for 64
vs DC 20 for 32
Izomandakus cooks further still...
vs DC 24 for 48
vs DC 24 for 48
I've got some math to do, and likely the worm is down, but Seamus is up!
As the worm falls to Valena's critical, it explodes!!
Everyone on the ledge (or above it) suffers... Pachemu would still be in range, having only fled for one round so far (remember everything is difficult terrain too for the non floaters).
plus DC 25 reflex for half
The ghost takes a little twinge of damage from the explosion, but very little (7hp).
The explosion takes both Izomandakus and Pachemu by surprise. The boy in particular is nearly transformed into an ice statue as the worm splinters rain over him "Ouch!"
+2 if within circle vs evil
+0 if within circle vs evil
Kast calls down fire and holy strength to damage both opponents - and look, they’re vulnerable to fire! Izomandakus brings down his favorite tarry spell burning both. Rastaf summons forth a powerful fireball to do even more damage! Valena drops the worm with a mighty critical blow after the waves of fire! Seamus switches weapons, readying for a ranged encounter.
The ghost, his beady red eyes glowing (image) growls at … Izomandakus, before descending 5’ and closing for a bite!
plus 1d8 bleed on your initiative
But in his slathering excitement, he can't manage it! Still, as he menaces Izomandakus, he also heals (fast healing!).
Val charges for the ghost, hoping a powerful enough blow will draw its ire.
HP: 131/131
AC: 36/19(30 vs incorporeal)/28
Saves: F15/R20(evasion)/W19 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Immune: Poison
Hypnotic Stare:
Painful Stare:
Active Implanted Tricks 2/7 used): Mesmeric Mirror (Seamus, unused), Mask Misery (herself, unused)
Hero Points: 1
Spells/Conditions: freedom of movement, apport object precast, telepathic bond, mirror image (4), Phantom’s Armory, charge
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 0/7 used (Vanishx0, Psychic Readingx0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex0, Invigoratex0, Remove Fearx0, Eldritch Weaponx0, Martial Esotericax0)
2: 3/6 used (Mirror Imagex1, Placebo Effectx0, Lesser Restorationx0, Tonguesx0, Apport Objectx1, Phantom’s Armoryx1)
3: 1/5 used (Sendingx1, Displacementx0, Major Imagex0, Invisibility Spherex0, Step Through Realityx0)
4: 2/4 used (Dimension Doorx0, Freedom of Movementx1, Telepathic Bondx1, Tough Crowdx0)
[ dice]1d20+24[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+12[/dice] damage.
Round 2, Init 6
Kast moves up to attack the ghost with his magic weapon.
to hit; (GMW)
magic cold iron/fire/holy damage
hp: 121/121
AC: 36/29/20 (always on shield, Barkskin included) +1 with MCaE +2 BoF + 8 smite
Saves: F10/R15/W12* +7 vs. mind affecting
Furious Focus, GWM=+3, SoF = +4
Aroden's Verve: 0/0 used
GlitterBomb: 0/0 used
Extend GammaRadiation: 0/0 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 left
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Think Really Hard: 7/7 left
1: 6/8 left
2: 6/8 left
3: 5/8 left
4: 6/8 left
5: 5/7 left
6: 6/7 left
7: 5/5 left
[spoiler=Kast's Pre Exploration Magics][ /spoiler]
[spoiler=Perfect Soul]Facing an evil outsider, a perfect entity imbues Kast with some sweet evil slaying cheese:
A +2 sacred bonus to AC
A +4 sacred bonus to Strength
Resistance 5 to acid and fire
A +5 sacred bonus on all Intimidate checks made against evil creatures
Fast healing 2
Any critical threat roll made against an evil creature with a weapon you wield is automatically confirmed.
[ /spoiler]
to hit; (GMW)
magic cold iron damage
to hit; (GMW)
magic cold iron damage
[spoiler=Perfect Blessing Round 1/15] [ /spoiler]
Izomandakus barely manages to avoid the ghost touch, fortunately the magic armor made of pure force further protects him "What's wrong with you and your brother? Did your mammy not taught you to avoid eating from strangers?" without doubting despite his terrible injuries, Izomandakus keeps the fight up, swinging his club that bursts with acid and arcane magic.
With the first attack that connects, the boy releases the spell stored in the club for full damage on the incorporeal.
Pachemu keeps running in the snow, though it accumulates in her breast as she sinks to the face, making her run an arduous one.
+2 if within circle vs evil
+0 if within circle vs evil
Reflex (Resist Cold 30)
Kast limps up and smacks the dwarf, and everything applies - though as an incorporeal the ghost takes but half damage. Izomandakus digs down and smacks the short ghost twice, swatting over his head at the apparition. Rastaf does something heroic! Valena slices the ghost, and digs deeply into the ichorous mass. Seamus pelts the ghost with arrows, hitting and critting. Sadly, the arrows just go through the apparition doing no damage.
He bites at Izomandakus again, ravenously hungry!
plus 1d8 bleed on your initiative
He reaches out to Valena hissing, ”Stay back, he’s mine!” and tries to touch her.
(2d6 cold) Fort DC 22 for half
He continues to do poorly as Desna blesses you for the second round. He does however heal a little... but will it be enough?
Val takes to the fight with all she has, ready to finish this ghost.
”None of us is yours. You are the Lady of Graves’. She misses you.”
HP: 131/131
AC: 38/21(32 vs incorporeal)/30
Saves: F15/R20(evasion)/W19 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Immune: Poison
Hypnotic Stare:
Painful Stare:
Active Implanted Tricks 2/7 used): Mesmeric Mirror (Seamus, unused), Mask Misery (herself, unused)
Hero Points: 1
Spells/Conditions: freedom of movement, apport object precast, telepathic bond, mirror image (4), Phantom’s Armory
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 0/7 used (Vanishx0, Psychic Readingx0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex0, Invigoratex0, Remove Fearx0, Eldritch Weaponx0, Martial Esotericax0)
2: 3/6 used (Mirror Imagex1, Placebo Effectx0, Lesser Restorationx0, Tonguesx0, Apport Objectx1, Phantom’s Armoryx1)
3: 1/5 used (Sendingx1, Displacementx0, Major Imagex0, Invisibility Spherex0, Step Through Realityx0)
4: 2/4 used (Dimension Doorx0, Freedom of Movementx1, Telepathic Bondx1, Tough Crowdx0)
[ dice]1d20+24[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+12[/dice] damage.