GM Top's Dungeon Delver's (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

"Maybe there's a catalog, with cards for each one. Still more work than we have time for now."

Maybe we aim for the more important things...might be worth it...but I'm just spitting ideas at this point... Ander says as he focuses his search.

Let's try the history section first...

Dran has not studies spellcraft but will grab both items in case they are needed later. [b]There will either be plenty of time later to catalogue this library or we will have failed anyway. Let us put this off until the grounds are more secure.[/]b] Dran recommends, obviously ready to move on.

The group sorta feels like this is theft, but also sorta feels like those things were meant for them (they definitely were put there by the scenario designer for the group to have).

And to take advantage of the monks still in their worship session, they clomp on around to look at other rooms.

They find a stable, a storage room and a pantry (A2, A3, A4). Nothing unusual or valuable in any of the rooms. And then they come to the kitchen (A5).

The temple kitchen is long abandoned and smells faintly musty. The kitchen’s massive stove and rows of cooking implements are all covered with a patina of rust and dark flecks of mold. Dangling in the center of the room, above a solid oak table, swings a halfling man on a stout cord.

I moved Dran to the doorway, but can’t move everyone on my phone. The group is in order behind Dran. To clarify if needed, the halfling is not moving and appears at first glance to be dead.

Grunigon covers his mouth and nose when he notices the smell. "No wonder the food tasted like dirt! The kitchen stinks! Where do they even prepare the meals?"

"Okay, this place is really messed up. Finger-chopping rituals, sword-wielding zombies, and now this! What's wrong with these people?

I think we should drag the worshippers in here! Let's see what Korada's got to say about hanging the chef!"

Does the corpse look old, GM? As in decaying?

The body does not look older than a day or two, with your best untrained guess from a distance.

”No wonder the food tasted so awful. Soylent green might be halfling, so to speak! Obviously the boss is an evil doer, but I wonder if most of the worshippers know about all the rest of the stuff we have discovered. Cult leaders losing their cults makes me happy,” the paladin laughs as he moves to look closer at the halfling.

Kaztor hopes valiantly that decades or even generations of brainwashing can be undone in a night. I'm sure it can!

He moves just barely into the room (I moved his piece inside the door) and takes a closer look. It appears the halfling, an adult male, climbed up onto the table, hung a rope over the rafters, stepped up on a metal pot, tightened up the rope around his neck and kicked the pot away. There doesn't seem to be any indication of foul play, at least at this point.

"Odd thing for a man so at peace to have done."

Bilos moves in and looks for clues, or at least evidence as to whether he truly did this to himself.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Anyone else think it's odd that he chose to do this here? I mean...look at this...dump. I mean...what is the meaning to doing it here? Ander says, a bit confused at the whole thing.

Dran moves in and checks the halfling's body closely for foul play.

Heal Check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Grr

Bilos heads on in up next to the body and looks everything over really closely.

He and Halali notice a sharp knife on the table wiggle seductively. As if it really really wants you to pick it up and jab it… somewhere.

HAUNT!

Initiative
Halali: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dran: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Grunigon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Bilos: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Ruya: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Ander: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Kaztor: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Haunt: 10 = 10

Surprise Round!
Bilos
Haunt
Halali

Bold may take a surprise round action. The Haunt location is the 9 squares including and around the middle table. Kaz is not in the effect.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Bilos ponders how to deactivate the haunt.

Bilos recalls that almost all haunts can be deactivated by (enough) Positive Energy, this one probably can too.

This isn’t just channeling. It also applies to Cure Spells and Disrupt Undead, but those do require an attack roll while in range of the haunt.

Welp, back to work, wand.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Clw to hit ac 10: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Bilos easily hits, and his spell discharges into the haunt. It diminishes briefly, then the evil surges again and the dwarf feels an unnatural urge to pick up the knife on the table.

Surprise Round!
Halali

Round 1: Wassgunnahappen?!?
Grunigon
Kaztor
Phantom
Bilos

Bold may act. The haunt has triggered. Positive Energy won’t do anything to stop it now.

The paladin readies an action to attack if something closes in melee with him.

”What in the world is going on here,” he asks the group.

Grunigon sees his friends stance change, obviously something is wrong. He doesn't draw a weapon since he doesn't know what is happening. "What's wrong? Did that corpse come to life? Or unlife? Whatever?"

Bilos stares at the table.

What needs blasting? Just point at it...

Halali and the Phantom move into the room to see what is up. Kaztor readies an attack! Grunigon wonders what is up.

Bilos grabs the knife starts pressing it against his own neck, pushing really hard. Definitely a bit too hard for a lark.

Rounds 1 & 2: Wassgunnahappen?!?

Round 2
Grunigon
Kaztor
Phantom
Bilos (finishing coup de grace?)

Round 1
Dran
Ander
Halali

Bold may act. The haunt has triggered. Positive Energy won’t do anything to stop it now.

Need to ask if Bilos had to move to pick up the knife and if he is in the right spot. And I want to point out that a coup de grace provoies...

Yes and yes. And if you want to kill him before he offs himself, I am cool with that. :P

I am not adjacent. But you can disarm as an Aoo...

Kaz tried to knock the knife out of his friend’s hand.

Attack roll/CMB roll 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Let’s resolve those AoO’s, it should bring this to a close.

Kaztor tries to carefully knock the knife away, but without any special training Bilos gets his own attack of opportunity.

The alternate Haunt action is that the affected victim attacks anyone trying to stop them from offing themselves.

Bilos vs Kaz: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Pulling the knife away from his neck to swing at Kaztor, Bilos gives the holy warrior a clean angle to swat the knife out of his hand. This jolt finally brings the spiritualist back to his own control.

Haunt is over, for now. Will it come back? Maybe? When? Who knows?!? Bilos has control again.

Inspecting the body now, there is no evidence of foul play discovered. Except for the fact the dwarves are now pretty sure the haunt here caused the suicide attempt. The body is an adult male halfling with one missing finger. The stump is still partially scabbed over.

I have heard a lot of bad stuff about haunts. There is suppose to be some way to make them go away for good. I think that it's always related to whatever caused the haunt to come into existence. Hmm.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"Maybe get that knife out of here? And any other sharp items that a haunt could use? Or could it be linked to the knife? Maybe destroy it?"

Bilos and Dran are unsure of the exact conditions to resolve the Haunt or how fast it may reset. But they do know that generally Haunts are tied to an evil action, location or person. Removing said evil from the equation usually solves it.

Maybe it's the body? I mean...the guy did...you know... Ander says, making a hanging gesture

"If it's anything like what happened to me, he wasn't in control of himself. I'd at least give him the benefit for the doubt, for what little it's worth. More evidence that something is very wrong here, to add to our generous supply."

If only the curious investigative wise pathfinders could figure out what the source of evil is in this peaceful monastery! If they can't, there is always the 'burn it all' option.

They hear a voice from the main sanctuary dismissing the worshippers there, who then slowly file out to various locations around the building.

Where too next? What next? Who next? Why next? When next?

”What is there left to do other than go forward and sock that evil cult leader in the face,” Kaz asks the others, giving away his preferred option.

"We should try to get the temple guards out of the way first. Maybe they'll see reason when confronted with what we've found: Gastidem's tricks, undead in the halls, and a haunt that caused one of their own to take his own life..."

The two dwarves seem to at least be in agreement to go after the priest, but how will they do it?

Aye...sounds like a plan...expose him for what he is...a fraud...

I have to admit to not knowing what to do next. But I will support any reasonable plan. Dran lifts his greatsword in a salute of support.

Ander thirds the idea to go after the boss but doesn’t suggest a plan of attack. Dran simply abstains from decision or plan making, though his support is strongly there.

"Attacking him won't expose him as a fraud. It'll just make us seem evil."

"I think we need to talk to some of the others. Try to reason with them away from the head priest. Show them the undead, and this haunt, and this kitchen. Where has the food been prepared? Maybe he's using some sort of mind altering poison in summoned food? We need to point it out to a couple where they can look and listen without that slimy bastard interrupting!"

”Any ideas on how to get any of his followers back here, Grungy? Other than bashing them with my hammer and dragging them back here, I mean…”

Grunigon suggests talking with the monks first.

Kaztor forgot how talking to people works, he only knows violence. To be fair, that is a large portion of what this group does.

"Maybe talk to some of the ordinary followers rather than the guards, first. Where's the guy with the spheres, from the meditation chamber? Maybe he's back there.

Come on then."

Halali leads the group - if they'll follow - back to the chamber where the lone monk showed them how to follow Korada's meditations.

"Hello?" she calls if she sees a monk present.

"We have some things we want to show you. Some new things for you to meditate on..."

if social skills are called on, someone with a positive CHA modifier should lead ;)

The old monk looks surprised, ”Oh? You are even still here? I figured the way everyone stomped off that was the end. Well, there is always an opportunity for redemption. What would you wish me to see?”

Does anyone in our group have ANY positive Diplomacy skills? Note: Not me. But, maybe?

"Yeah. We aren't exactly good at making a good impression, unless it's on the heads of evil creatures. But there's some things here that don't really make sense. Do you have a short bit of time to maybe see something and help us understand?"

Diplomacy?: 1d20 ⇒ 19 Hah! The dice giveth!

You won’t need diplomacy until you deal with the guards. Then you definitely will need it.

He looks oddly at Grunigon, ”I already told you I would look. Where and what would you like me to see?”

"Your temple is haunted. One of your fellow aspirants is dead in the kitchen thanks to one of those haunts, and on the other side of the temple you'll find the remains of several juju zombies that tried to kill us after we tidied up the garden for you.

Anyway, the kitchen is closest I think."

He frowns, ”That does not seem very peaceful. The test in the garden is one of purity, some have achieved it, some do not. It is difficult to quiet one’s soul. But let us worry of that later. Tell me while we walk, what is a Haunt?”