[Non-PFS] [3PP Class Only] Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands (Inactive)

Game Master djpika

@Nathan - please go ahead and make a diplomacy check.

Does anyone else do anything?

Gh-gh-gh-ghoooost!

"Are...you sure you should be doing that Nathan? What if he tries to eat your soul or something?"

** spoiler omitted **

@Nathan - please go ahead and make a diplomacy check.

Does anyone else do anything?

DIPLO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Calm spirit of crying child

"If we don't try to redeem the failures of goodness in the world, running around getting bitten by snakes & spiders won't be worth much really."
"If he tries to eat my soul, I will continue to tell him I am sorry the world failed him."

"I wish I knew how to contact a psychopomp", a concerned Xephkiel look on. "This soul needs to rest."

DM rel20 wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

@Nathan - please go ahead and make a diplomacy check.

Does anyone else do anything?

[dice=DIPLO]1d20 + 4 Calm spirit of crying child

"If we don't try to redeem the failures of goodness in the world, running around getting bitten by snakes & spiders won't be worth much really."
"If he tries to eat my soul, I will continue to tell him I am sorry the world failed him."

Randall shakes his head.

"It's your show, then. They don't generally call in the guard for ghosts. Or the army for that matter."

He takes another look at the spirit, and his gaze hardens.

"Dead children, though? Yeah, that's in our wheelhouse. Even if we lay his spirit to rest, there's a chance the sick bastard that did this is still out there."

Zupon, stays far far away from the ghost child and allows the others to contact and deal with the situation. Heart beating harder and faster briefly; remembering the past and holding fast against old fears of the unliving.

Not having much action~

The child continues to whimper and cry, not noticing Nathan's query. However, as he attempts to move the skeleton, his eyes start to move, alternating between moving rapid panning of the room to darting from side to side Like that eye from one of the Resident Evil villains. The child starts to make a guttural groaning sound in-between whimpers.

@Nathan - do you continue to move the skeleton?

I also need to see Chigao's actions, to be fair...

TBH, I cannot tell anything from the map right now. I would actually simply clean the skeleton first if I felt it was in range, to gauge his reaction. LMK.

Sounds like there's no need to roll for disabling upon the other two door but for completeness sake, I'll roll for the perception on the final 2 doors before rolling for perception in room #1 with the ghostly child. ;)

Perception on Door 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10.

Perception on Door 3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24.

Perception in Room #1 with the ghostly child: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14.

Since Chigao is outside the doorway while Nathan tries to calm the child ghost, she doesn't really notice the ghost child's general bloody appearance, thus she'll keep her dagger out but in a lowered position so as to not show any undue hostility to the spirit; had she made her perception roll, Chigao might've thought to sheath the dagger or sleight of hand it away somehow. ;p

Noting how the unearthly presence of the child spirit is present within the room but makes no immediate hostile actions against the party, Chigao- unnerved by the whole thing with the weeping ghost but still is able to function after a fashion, thanks to her Kunoichi Ninja training- slowly lowers her dagger down so that it's tip is pointed towards the floor but is otherwise still very much visible in her hand. If called out upon having her weapon still in hand, she'll probably put it away with an appropriate apology.

Since Nathan seems to have established some kind of tenuous rapport in speaking with the ghostly child, Chigao will loudly whisper over to the Concerned Swallowfeld Psionicist, "Nathan, could you inquire about whom the Young Spirit was when he was among the living?"

One weirdly morbid thought concerning the ghost child's appearance and that one silver dagger the party had found downstairs- does it happen to have any dried bloodstains on it? :(

I opened up the room and added some tokens.

Seeing Chigao's action...

The sheets on the bed rise up and billow, shifting about but leaving a vague humanoid depression that flails about as the shutters to the bedroom slam closed. A crimson stain starts to pool across the sheets, wicking out in all directions.

The room is now only lit by thin streams of light from outside that pierce the worn holes and gaps.

The child's head rotates mechanically, making a loud popping noise with each rachet. In a strained, irritated treble voice, "Help? Help? Where was the help? No help then... wrong help now! Together. Stay together!"

S Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
HEAL: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

:( "Well we need to do the right thing ... but now may not be the time."

So what does the group do then? Leave? Still engage in conversation?

"There isn't really a right thing to do here. Are you going to put every ghost and undeath in this place to rest one by one? It clearly doesn't mean to let you help. Its calling you the wrong help. Or at least messing with its corpse is the wrong kind of help." Zupon,whose had more than his fill of corpse parades in his short life comments from the back.
While motioning to leave or find something other than its corpse in attention.

Getting some rolls outta the way here.

Sense Motive roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17.

untrained Heal roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18.

If the MW silver dagger is in relatively intact and good condition, chances are that it wasn't used against the child back then, which is a good thing. OOC, I suspect that there won't be much to be done about the ghost child unless we check out the other 2 rooms- presuming a puzzle-like element is somehow involved. ;)

Finally getting an unobstructed view of the nearby skeletal remains upon the ground- presumably belonging to that of the child spirit since their size is about almost about the same between them plus the general proximity of the skeleton itself to the ghost within the room- during the whole visually disturbing interactions within the haunted room, Chigao grimly notes the telltale signs of how the ghost child might have met his demise from this mortal existence and quietly sheathes her openly-held dagger before gently reaching out to lay a comforting hand upon Nathan's shoulder.

"Zupon's right in that there's nothing that we could for this child as things currently stand, Nathan.", Chigao softly whispers behind him [but done in such a way that she could still be heard though, even with all the ghostly occurrences happening] before adding in with, "I fear that in such a state that we've found him in, the child will not be able to take comfort with what you've said."

The Young Kunoichi will attempt to gently guide/nudge Nate back through the open doorway, away from the ghostly child, if possible- and if the Young Half-Elven Psionicist from Swallowfeld will allow her to do so, as well.

Perception to spot anything else noticeable from within the first room besides either the ghost or the skeleton: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20.

"Perhaps you are right."

"Gods Willing, we shall mete out Justice to the one who did this to that child", Xephkiel said with determination.

Chigao doesn't notice anything more.

At this point the party just slowly backs out of the room then?

The group can go ahead and look at Door #2 and 3, in that order, if you plan to search the rest of the upper floor. Otherwise where to?

Chigao doesn't notice anything more.

At this point the party just slowly backs out of the room then?

The group can go ahead and look at Door #2 and 3, in that order, if you plan to search the rest of the upper floor. Otherwise where to?

YES please :)

DM rel20 wrote:

Chigao doesn't notice anything more.

At this point the party just slowly backs out of the room then?

The group can go ahead and look at Door #2 and 3, in that order, if you plan to search the rest of the upper floor. Otherwise where to?

YES please :)

Sounds like the child ghost is letting us depart without incident, so I'll second the motion to search the other rooms then. For the sake of simplicity, the 2nd room seems like a viable choice to explore before going to the 3rd room. ;)

Once the door to Room # 1 is vacated-and its' door being closed up once again, Chigao will inform the rest of the party about what she's discovered about the apparent injuries left upon the skeleton of the ghostly child.

"It appeared that whomever caused the ghostly child's demise used some kind of jagged edged weapon; that much I could tell from the state of his skeletal remains. If the child does eventually calm himself down, perhaps sheathing our weapons within his presence might help to mollify him if we should ever have to return to his room."

Turning to Nathan, the Young Kunoichi adds in with, "My apologies for not putting away my dagger before the child saw us, Nathan; it was far too late when I was finally able to see the condition that his skeleton was in at the time."

Pursing her lips in thought for a moment, Chigao then looks to Xephkiel and asks the Astral Deva Caydenite, "Xef, perhaps you may know of some words of holy wisdom that Cayden Cailean might offer to help calm the ghost child should we encounter him again?"

Moved Nathan out of Room #1 and placed Chigao in Room #2.

Looking towards the rest of the group, Chigao then asks everyone- after a bit of deliberation and once they're ready to venture forth to exploring the rest of the upper floors, "Shall we head off to see to those other rooms then?"

With her sharpened dagger drawn openly once more, the Young Kunoichi steps quietly into Room #2 to see what could be discovered inside there with the intention of leaving enough open space so that the others may freely enter inside if they wish to do so.

Stealth into Room #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9.

Perception inside Room #2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24.

Light from the window pours through at an angle, highlighting dust as it floats through it.

Neither Chigao nor Xephkiel hear anything beyond the rest of the party moving up the stairs.

** spoiler omitted ** All the doors are wooden, appear to be unlocked, and don't hint at what lies beyond.

If we start with the top eastern door as door #1 and work counter clockwise:

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

As a reminder, I put the descriptions for the other 2 rooms up awhile ago... although it looks like the spoiler's don't get copied back in a reply.

Entering Room 2 beyond the description already posted:

Xephkiel looks around the room. "Wonder what happened in here?"
The astral deva has neither Heal or Knowledge (local).

HEAL: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 Examine scene
KNOW (local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Examine scene

"Appears the lady here was attacked by goblins as well as an orc; if my guess is correct, she was able to catch them with burning hands or another type of magical fire."

Zupon is thankful to have left the area with the ghost. Ghosts are not enjoyable past times.

Entering the new area, Zupon investigates as a good distraction.
heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
knowledges: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"Well, certainly was a brawl to the death here. Though I find it a bit odd that both sides' corpses are left behind. I imagine both sides would collect the dead to some extent. Although maybe in the orc goblin cases to eat? I don't know much of their ecology yet... but I just find it a bit odd to leave so much behind." Zupon discusses the situation.

He'll share the spoilers so ya'll can read

"Maybe the ghosts showed up pretty quick and scared off people from both sides?"

"I'd believe that. Ghosts are worse kind of undead..Well excluding the big ones anyway." shaking his head up and down to himself.

Since there was another intact skeleton present in the room [along with a few humanoid skeletal remains], Chigao waited with baited breath for yet another ghost to make an appearance as the Young Kunoichi pointedly sheathed her dagger... once it was obvious that no immediate dangers were forthcoming inside this second room.

When nothing of the sort has yet to be manifested, Chigao adds in to the other's observations with, "It is somewhat odd that there are no spirits to be found here despite the presence of so many skeletal remains- human and... otherwise. Do any of you think that there might be some sort of familial connection between the lady's skeletal remains and that of the child's in the first room?"

Presumably there's nothing else of note inside this room apart from the skeletons? I distinctly recalled that there was mention of another heavily damaged skeleton downstairs in the table-hall- if it had any connections to either the child and/or the lady skeletons.

The details in "room 2" provide a little more backdrop to what fell the keep. There are some small/obscure(?) lines of play that may provide more information - so I didn't want to dismiss it completely. But otherwise, to answer Chigao's question, there isn't much more of note without further party instigated action.

Assuming folks go back and read door 3/enter...

Other than that, this covers the upper area, requiring the group to decide where to go next.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 This is a dice expression.

Not helping ...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 (sigh)
Despite his angelic perception, Xephkiel notices nothing out of the ordinary about the round tabled room.

Perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Zupon continues to glance around and back, warry of ghost boys and other intangible threats. They're the type he isn't well fought against.

With any luck, mebbe some of the perception rolls over ten that were made might be counted as assistance rolls? ;p

Perception for Room #3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24.

Hopefully we'll find some important papers atop the table and desk [possibly even the floor and drawers]- presuming that time and the elements aren't too much a factor inside the room...

Venturing forth into the accompanying room adjacent to the previous room with the skeletons of the lady and burnt humanoid remains, Chigao was half expecting to find yet more skeletal corpses when, in fact, the third and final room upstairs had but only a table to draw attention to it's relatively sparse interior.

Would this room be haunted by yet another wayward spirit?, the Young Kunoichi morbidly thought to herself as she noticed something a bit off with one of the intact table's legs. With a bit of some more careful examination, that very table leg yielded a hidden compartment containing a Masterwork Dagger. Hope the dagger isn't jagged edged for the sake of that boy's ghost in the first room... :(

Perception for traps in the compartment: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16.

If disarming is necessary, otherwise disregard: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22.

Go ahead and look at the previous 2 perception DC's - the 24 is close enough that the others can be assists. That will largely clear the upper floor - leaving for the party to explore further. The stairs in D4 is the obvious path left...

The astral deva guards the stairs, waiting for the full group to be ready to descend.

Ahead the smashed remains of a door lie across the corridor. Beyond a staircase disappears into subterranean darkness. Crude red circular symbols decorate the wall on either side of the stair.

[Illumination] Darkness

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
"These steps have seen a lot of traffic", Xephkiel comments.

Kn. Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"Hm. Blood Moons are here. Local goblin tribe. And...something else. Bigger than a goblin, man-sized. They seem to be together."

How recent are the tracks?

The newest tracks are a few days old, consisting of the smaller ones.

knowledge all and any!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"Bigger is rarely good when it comes to these sort of things. We should settle how we handle this.... If we find them. Do we fight or avoid? If we fight-I assume a small band of goblins and whatever that other one is. Should we assign priorities, or just do what we feel is best?" Zupon broaches the subject of tactics now that they've spent a day of combat together having grasp each others better.

Zupon reaffirms his armamaents and tosses a healing Elixir to Chigao, for security "You're fast and agile Chigao, take this in case." otherwise preparing his new tricks and weaponry.

"Honestly, I hope they moved on and away."

"Maybe. It's been a few days here, and we've seen no other sign of them. But then that begs the question of why they were here at all."

Go ahead and look at the previous 2 perception DC's - the 24 is close enough that the others can be assists. That will largely clear the upper floor - leaving for the party to explore further.

Good to hear, DM rel20; looks like we can add another MW dagger, a pouch with 25 gp, and an unknown vial (full of some unidentified substance) to the party fund/loot then. :)

Perception roll down Staircase D4: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18.

Assist with an untrained Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20.

Catching the tossed healing elixir into her hand with a quick nod over towards Zupon, the Young Kunoichi gives a brief utterance of thanks to the Youthful Scholar as she stows the elixir into a cloaked pocket.

"The goblins must be searching for something of import- they've not only took part as the cause for all the past atrocities upstairs but they've clearly returned not too long ago to give battle to the bandits that were holed up inside of the east tower."

Moved everyone's counters back down to D4. ;)

With dagger in hand, Chigao will attempt to scout ahead when the party makes their way down the staircase...

Perception for traps: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17.

If disabling is required: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29.

Stealth down the stairs: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12.

Zupon deduces that the tracks are mainly from goblins, possibly some bugbears. Good enough to know the basics about goblins; feel free to ask one feature about them or act like you know one for 1 question/per 5 on the roll...

Chigao doesn't see anything past the splintered door, debris, and the crudely painted symbols.

As she slowly steps on the remains of the wooden door, the sounds of cracking glass fill the hallway. Moments later, an explosion of flame engulfs the young ninja.

Fire Damage, Reflex DC 20 Half: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

What does everyone do?

One Reflex save coming right up: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12.

Hearing the dreadful sounds of cracking glass as soon as she started to step past the remains of the splintered open doorway, Chigao is able to cover her head with her free arm but was unable to step back fast enough before the Young Kunoichi was suddenly engulfed in burning flames.

Taking the full 8 pts of firey damage. Unfortunately, Chigao isn't able to choke back a sudden cry of pain from the fire that is billowing all around her person but is somehow able to keep her eyes closed shut and teeth tautly gritted so that none of the flames would damage her sight and tongue to any great degree.

Chigao will instinctively stagger backwards and leftwards towards the nearest wall as she vainly tries to put out any flames upon her person with just her forearms at this point in time. May possibly have Chigao drop her dagger in the process unless ruled otherwise but I figured that she might have had just enough training to keep a hold onto her weapon if she doesn't, however. ;p

Not sure if RotBM is meant to be another battle-map for the group but I'm definitely not able to access it if it is. ;)

Didn't get a notification for the last post.

"S#@&!" Randall shouts and moves forward; ripping off his standard issue cloak he wraps it around Chigao to smother the flames.

After a few moments of frantic patting, he stops.

"You okay? How bad is it?"

As Randall covers Chigao with his hastily doffed uniform cloak, the Young Kunoichi offers no resistance to his frantic attempts at patting out any remaining fires- having recognized the swift aid attempt for what it was.

After a few moments of frantic patting, he stops.

"You okay? How bad is it?"

When the patting down from the burly Sergeant has finally ceased, Chigao peeks out from under the now-smokey-scented standard issue cloak, as she replies out... well, more of a coughing out rather, of "Really...Bad... Not worse... Thanks to... You, Sergeant...", seeming quite a bit singed and looking very much worse for the wear- although the injured Kunoichi is still able to remain on her feet for now [albeit leaning against the wall for support].

Tamping down against any further pain response- or attempting to at the very least, Chigao gasps out in warning to the others, "Must've... alerted them... sorry..."

Xephkiel steps forward and casts cure light wounds on the ninja.
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
"Those fiends!"

Regaining 6 HP back, thanks to Xef. :)

"Those fiends!"

As soon as Xephkiel's Cure Light Wounds spell starts taking effect, Chigao lets out an immediate sigh of relief as her earlier feelings of burning and pain subsides away.

Giving a wan smile to the Astral Deva, Chigao says, "Thank you for that timely healing spell, Xephkiel..." as she carefully removes Sergeant Harkness' Standard Issue Uniform Cloak from her person to gratefully hand it back over to Randall, now that she's in a much better condition to stand upon her own feet- without needing any support from the nearby wall.

Unsure if the current area could be considered far enough below ground to be considered as an Underground/Cave environment but if there's any fire damage present on Randall's cloak, Chigao will try using her Mending SLA upon it to fix the damage, if possible.

"Wasn't as careful as I should've been- my apologies for this. The goblins, or worse, are bound to know that we're here seeking them out now..."

We can still send Psimon forward to do some recon ... or distract whatever is out there

Huh. Didn't see any kind of notification update till today. Weird. Wasn'ts howing from Monday's GM post

Moving forward to asses the burns Zupon is a half step behind Xeph's healing powers. Seeing it cared for Zupon eyes the passage and listens to see if he can hear any chatter or shuffling of enemies beyond, or if perhaps it was just a jar set as a makeshift trap

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

----------
If you wanna send Psimon go for it. No objections if Nathan wants to

Unsure if the current area could be considered far enough below ground to be considered as an Underground/Cave environment but if there's any fire damage present on Randall's cloak, Chigao will try using her Mending SLA upon it to fix the damage, if possible.

There shouldn't be any damage in part because I don't think Chigao was actually on fire, so it's all for RP purposes anyway. But even if it is, eh it can wait. Mending takes 10 minutes to cast.

Randall shrugs back on his lightly singed cloak.

"On the bright side, the fabric should be extra warm for a bit."