Dungeon Master S's "Shadows at Sundown" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Sadlark rolls his eyes. I think not.

He looks over these "clerics" to see if they have any tell-tale signs of corruption. Perception to see if they look like the other undead? Fiend lore?

Sadlark thinks these priests are legit... and ensorcelled.

Esme is also not impressed by these priests. Abandoning companions in need is anathema to her and Iomedae. "You cannot possibly believe that your cowardice should be rewarded."

She then sighs and looks to Tully. "If they are ensorcelled, do you have any magicks prepared that might counteract it?"

"It's not cowardice, it's obedience to authority. It is what is asked of us."

I can try a dispel, Black Dhougal offers, though my store of magickal power is growing thin at this point.

"Break them free, Dhougal."

Sadlark recites some old Pharasmin verse to distract them while the sorcerer does his thing. In this poem, Pharasma sits upon her throne in the Boneyard, watching a fiend flying from Hell toward Golarion on a mission to corrupt her clergy. She knows faith and humility can save her followers, and empower them to stand against their fiendish enemy.

Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will,
Yet not of will in him, but grace in Me
Freely voutsaft; once more I will renew
His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd
By sin to foul exorbitant desires;
Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe
By me upheld, that he may know how frail
His fall'n condition is.

Sadlark's Performance (M): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31

As Sadlark begins his recitation, Black Dhougal eyes the cleric posse and looks for one who might be more of a leader, or at least the eldest among them.

Counteract: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

Black Dhougal can feel the dominating magic, but fails to break through. The priests stay docile though...

Sadlark picks out whomever he deems to be the leader.

Tell us what happened here. A foreign agent named Yniesse has disappeared in your "house of worship." The King will know what you've done soon enough.

Sadlark's Intimidation (T): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

Sadlark feels like that SHOULD have elicited a response, but he gets nothing. The priests are just too bamboozled.

Sadlark shrugs.Let us leave these fools to cower in their cells. Doesn't look like there's a closet or anything in these rooms to stash a missing person. He moves on to the next door. Marked on map

Sadlark frustratingly leaves them alone. He moves to the door and opens it with a bit of projected anger. A single bed sits against the far wall of this plain bedroom, further decorated by a functional armoire, a simple writing desk, and a small shrine to Pharasma.

He waits for his friends before inspecting this room, which seems a little nicer than the other priests' cells.

When we're gathered, Investigate.

Indeed, it does look nicer. Once the party turns their attention to investigating the room, the priests go back to their cells and shut the doors...

After a few minutes, the party walks away with nothing of note.

Down the stairs we go?

She then sighs and looks to Tully. "If they are ensorcelled, do you have any magicks prepared that might counteract it?"

My apologies for being totally asleep at this wheel. I can't access the online rules from work (my phone can't reach the internet from the basement I'm in!); can I try Dispel Magic as Black Dougal did, with the "counteract" action?

Down the stairs we go?

Nakapan is ready to move on.

His usual smile is a little more faint than normal. The monk has some inner turmoil over the enchanted priests. He had a strong urge to deliver some hard slaps. It could help them to shake out of it. They also deserve it for failing in their duty.

Nakapan thought back to some of his most respected masters. At times they were the absolute definition of calm and tranquility. And at other times they handed out hard slaps with speed and precision. It was difficult to know which road to follow at times. The monk would meditate on it later.

"Downstairs is as good as any, this lot isn't going to be much help." He jerks a thumb back at the bamboozled clergy. "Just make sure they don't hurt each other in the process."

Before they go, Tully tries to dispel the enchantment...

Dispel: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

he frowns. I've prepared Dispel a second time...shall I try again?

Up to you.

I think not, Black Dhougal replies. Neither of us has managed to shake this ensorcellment, and I think our energies may be better served removing the source rather than treating the symptom.

The half-orc looks to the stairs. I suspect answers we seek will be down there.

Frustrated, the party heads to the spiral stairs that descend deep under the cathedral. This unlit room is clean and unadorned. The sturdy walls
of this rectangular room are well maintained, but recent gouges and brownish-red stains mar the dark stone of the floor. Rounded archways in the north and west walls house double doors engraved with broad spirals. The door to the north hangs partially open, and a faint, cool draft carries the scent of earth and dust.

Location: The Cathedral Catacombs Tracker
Party Conditions: Nakapan: Cold Fe/Ag, Crowley: Resist Slash 3
Terrain: Stairs difficult terrain. Closed doors are opened with an Interact Action, UNLIT
Tactical Map

Crowley puts a finger to his lips and points to the northern door. Once everyone is ready he puts his shouder into it to slowly creak it open to see what is in the basement.

The monk takes a moment to pull his night vision goggles out and put them on. He then takes a spot next to Crowley, ready to pounce.

Sadlark uses his Pescient Planner ability to produce a Moderate Darkvision elixir and drink it down. Takes 10 min. Dv 1 hour. Prescient planner used for the day.

Saying that Sadlark does that as soon as the party goes downstairs, before Crowley checks the door.

Location: The Cathedral Catacombs Tracker
Party Conditions: Nakapan: Cold Fe/Ag, Crowley: Resist Slash 3
Terrain: Stairs difficult terrain. Closed doors are opened with an Interact Action, UNLIT
Tactical Map

Crowley, in the moment before he opens the door, spots that there are trapped runes on the door! He pulls his shoulder back in the nick of time...

Black Dhougal sees what Crowley points out and cracks his knuckles. Won't be a moment. Step back, though, just in case they're trickier than they look.

Thievery (E): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42 huzzah!

It turns out that the runes are, in fact, not trickier than they look.

It turns out that the runes are, in fact, not trickier than they look.

but YOU are!!

The monk gives Black Dhougal a serene smile of approval for his skillful deed. However, with his goggles on, he just looks like a deranged bug.

Nak holds his short blade underhand with the flat edge against his forearm. He his clearly ready to go through the door

Black Dhougal easily foils the rune trap, making the door safe! And earning everyone 16 XP.

Nakapan opens the door and interrupts a conversation in hushed Necril amongst a quartet of ghoulish undead! This ten-foot-high corridor smells of damp, earthy air.
Alcoves stacked three high along the walls once held stone sarcophagi, each carved with reliefs of whip-poor-wills, spirals, hourglasses, bones, and other Pharasmin motifs. These houses of the dead are smashed and defiled. Blocks of broken sarcophagi have been stacked here and there to form crude chairs or dining tables, their tops strewn with gnawed fragments of bone and scraps of leathery flesh.

One turns to the monk, and with a sibilant lilt speaks, "A you're not priestsss.... hmmm.... curioussss. No need for violenccccceeeee if that is your aim."

There can be no compromise with Evil. Violence is needed.

"Wait! Trade! Will give knowledge for peace!"

Sadlark holds up a hand, interest piqued. "We will listen, at least. Have you seen Yniesse?"

"Maybe? This person is alive, yesssssss? ssssssomme living folk fled into hiding in there. They’re too alive to be tassssssty, but maybe you would like to sssssave them?”

"Can you explain what is going on here?" Crowley asks about the undead and demons within the cemetery and cathedral. "We have missing people in town as well."

"We don't know.... jusssssst a lot more bodies for feeding. Good ones too they are. Succulent meat. We've got a ssssecret we can share, but only if you sssssave them."

"We don't know.... jusssssst a lot more bodies for feeding. Good ones too they are. Succulent meat. We've got a ssssecret we can share, but only if you sssssave them. We know nothing offff your problemsssssss."

You...WANT us to save them?? That seems drastically out of character.

"Hard to argue with that." Crowley stows his blade. "Which way are they?"

Esme measures the words of the ghouls, trying to get a sense for whether they are being deceptive.
I would like to Sense Motive. Perception is +21

"Yesssss. Save them. They are beyond and behind the Impossible Door. Ssssssave them, and bring us the skulls of the dead so we may have desssssert. Promise and we will tell you."

While its hard to tell from looking at him, the monk is not comfortable making deals with ghouls. Though he will hold off throwing hands for the moment.

The idea of delivering humanoid bodies to the ghouls so they can feed may be abhorrent to some in this party — not to mention our pride.

"We are not errand-runners to serve you food, but we will make our way to save them. What happens after is up to you, though we have a secret for you as well. We are willing trade a secret for a secret."

Sadlark's Diplomacy (M) to negotiate: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (17) + 24 = 41

I would like to roll Fellowship of the Upturned Cup lore just to know how severely our king and his advisors would react to knowing ghouls are living in their pharasmin catacombs eating the dead. I assume with severity and violence that eradicates them all. I plan on using any of that knowledge as the "secret" to trade with the ghouls.

Sadlark knows the king would NOT approve (nor would most of the party.)

Sadlark knows his words are perfectly delivered, but the undead here seem set on their conditions...

Sadlark shakes his head at the ghouls, disappointed at their illogical compulsion to satiate their craving as soon as possible - even if there's a better deal to be had later on.

"Fools like you will always die hungry. You kill the calf before it leaves the womb."

Sadlark's eyes flash and his voice resonates with supernatural force as his muse empowers his words. Inspiring courage. Assume this will kick off combat and mechanically, he will Inspire + Linger as his first action on his turn.

No one is surprised when the talking devolves into combat! The quartet of long-tongued undead hiss as they move to attack.

Round 1:
Tully: Go
Black Dhougal: Go
Crowley: Go
Esme: Go
Nakapan: Go
UNDEAD: TBD
Sadlark: TBD

Recalling how hard these things hit, Tully makes an incantation, steps over behind Nakapan, and slaps him solidly on the shoulder. The monk's skin takes on a grey tint and hardens.

Cast Stoneskin.
Resistance 5 vs physical. Duration 20 minutes. Duration decreases by 1 minute for each physical strike on you.

Black Dhougal shakes his head, like Sadlark disappointed in the ghouls' lack of vision. Your funeral. Er, your funeral again, I suppose... Cast fireball, DC 31 Refl.

fire: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1, 5, 4, 3) = 25

Step, verbal & somatic components to Cast a Spell.