GM Bret’s Outpost VI: Gallows of Madness! (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

Gregor looks around at the party and he smiles with a mouthful of very sharp teeth. His eyes sparkles with the anticipation of battle.

Relgar may attempt an Arcana check with the normal range penalties to Perception if he wants to verify his suspicion.
+20 foot height would put you above most of the buildings.

Relgar will wait until he is closer to verify his suspicion about the raven. The sorcerer keeps his mount closer to the ground so as to be less visible.

@GM Bret - Is +15 feet a little less conspicuous?

Gaius looks up at the flying monster and says, "I'm sure the locals will love seeing this. We're probably going to be blamed for something sinister and that will seal the deal."

Casting Light on his armor, Gaius moves forward slowly while scanning to see what's scaring most of the birds away from that section of the graveyard.

Gaius prefers to remain 15' behind the frontliners.

Why don’t we have everyone move up to one move action. If you want to use your standard action for something else, that is fine.
Right now you don’t see anything threatening, but Gaius did point out the strangeness with the raven and the other birds.
Relgar, you are at about the height of the roofs. You probably could be seen by some townfolk, especially if there is any loud noises to attract people’s attention.
I do not believe your familiar is capable of hovering.

Furen will put up Longstrider, and follows the group, weapons out.

Relgar lands his mount but stays back.

"Fine, I get your point Gaius but if we are attacked I plan on doing something about it and if they do not like it. Too bad."

Azalmak draws his scimitar and moves forward.

Mallycorn feels at ease in the graveyard.

He takes his heavy mace in hand, just in case, and offers a small prayer to Pharasma, tracing her holy spiral over his closed eyes

Cast Detect Magic

It seems people are ready.

Sensing there may be danger here, a number of you draw melee weapons.

Suddenly, the raven cries out and flies up to the top of one of the mausoleums.

You have not seen any enemies but the raven suddenly moving like that makes you believe there is danger.
You could use a move action to try and actively detect other creatures.
Mallycorn has not detected any magic

Round 1:

Bolded may act.

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar
Cracking John
Red
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green

Gaius has Divine Favor cast.

Caught me before I finished checking that I had all the active spells.

@GM Bret - What is the light level outside? This is geared more towards people that do not have Dark Vision or Low Light Vision as we are outside.

Caught me before I finished checking that I had all the active spells.

I did, red-handed no less! Time to slap the cuffs on ya! 8)

Light level is currently sufficient where there are no penalties to normal sight. Give it about another 30 minutes and it will be dark.

Relgar is a little jumpy so he casts a quick defensive spell (Mage Armor) and then looks around. A tattoo on his body activates briefly fortifying his spell (+1 CL). The sorcerer looks around for any sign of trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Gregor strikes a defensive posture (Total Defense) and spends a moment to sniff the air around them for enemies.

Scent ability should automatically detect any enemies within 30 feet (wind conditions permitting).

Furen will Bless all allies within a 50-ft. burst centered on Furen, and fill their heart with courage.

Yes, even the gnome is included, as unfortunately this spell doesn't allow you to select individual target.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 move action to look for danger

Relgar casts a defensive spell. Although Gregor can’t detect any hostile creatures, Relgar can barely make out some noise coming from the other side of the mausoleum near where the raven was. He can’t see anything with the building in the way.

Furen also casts a spell, this one to help her allies in battle. She doesn’t perceive any enemies.

Round 1:

Bolded may act.
Bless active. +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar (Mage Armor)
Cracking John
Red
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green

With his staff in hand, John approaches the source of the noise.
Move 30 ft; move action to try and actively detect other creatures.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Cracking John moves forward, staff at the ready. He pauses to listen but doesn’t hear anything that sounds like a threat.

Just as he pauses to listen, some sort of insectile creature comes out from behind the building and rushes towards him. It just barely makes it to him.

The creature has six legs and two mandibles like an insect. It has a black exoskeleton. There is a purple purple slime covering parts of it. Even the eyes have some of the slime over them. You can’t be sure if the slime is part of the creature or not.

Double move

Round 1:

Bolded may act.
Bless active. +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects

Religion to identify the creature
Nature could tell you something about it

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar (Mage Armor)
Cracking John
Red
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green

Know Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Know Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Mallycorn spends a few seconds trying to identify the opponent. It seems to be an insect, a huge one, but the slime covering it indicates there's more to know...

GM: sorry, but I don't see myself on the map. Where am I?

Mallycorn recognizes that these were originally giant soldier ants. As such he would expect them to be able to grab people in their mandibles.

These ants have come into contact with something that changed them. Something not of this plane. He expects that they will have a resistance to cold and fire because of this change.

In the heat of the moment, that is all he can recall.

Seeing the insect charge John, Azalmak moves in with his scimitar ready to cut through its carapace.

Scimitar + Bless: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 for slashing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 2 = 21

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

I included Planes because you wrote "not of this plane" but, with that roll, I doubt Gaius knows anything.

#2: What are those 'rocks/tombs' on the ground of the map just to the left of Gaius? Is any of the area difficult terrain? I'm trying to find a clear shot line. He has the 'Agile Feet' Travel domain power to bypass difficult terrain for a round as a free action.

MW Composite Longbow (+1 Str) with Point Blank Shot, Bless, Divine Favor: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 161d8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 10

Azalmak swings at the insect but isn’t able to crack its shell. The shell is as hard as steel armor!

Gaius also recognizes the creature it used to be as a giant solider ant. They tend to have a poisonous stinger. He surmises that the slime is fiendish in nature, in which case the creatures are likely resistant to spells.
SR
Just realized I had grabbed the wrong page for creature ID. We are going with Religion for this battle.

The magic guiding his shot allows it to hit and damage the creature.

Round 1:

Bolded may act.
Bless active. +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects

Religion to identify the creature.

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar (Mage Armor)
Cracking John
Red 10 damage
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green

Attack, Bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13
dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The Pharasman moves -quite slowly-and strikes, but his mace is deflected by the insect chitinous body-or the slime on it

GM: not sure if this can be relevant, but my mace is of cold iron

Mallycorn misses with their attack.

Another of the giant ants comes from around the other corner of the building. It moves next to Gaius.
Double move

Just noticed that I forgot to answer this:
What are those 'rocks/tombs' on the ground of the map just to the left of Gaius? Is any of the area difficult terrain? I'm trying to find a clear shot line. He has the 'Agile Feet' Travel domain power to bypass difficult terrain for a round as a free action.

They are tombstones. I am not treating them as difficult terrain because they do not take up that much space. You can easily step around them.

Round 2:

Bolded may act.
Bless active. +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects

Religion to identify the creature

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar (Mage Armor)
Cracking John
Red 10 damage
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green

Angered by the slime's perversion of living creatures, John brings his staff down on its head in an effort to end whatever threat it poses.
Rage
Melee (quarterstaff) w/rage v red: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18
Damage (B): 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13

If red still lives, then John stays put. Otherwise, he moves as indicated on map to confront green.

Relgar summons two bolts of mystical energy which are fortified by his varisian tattoo. They speed towards green with unerring accuracy. The gnome then steers his grounded familiar using only his knees (Ride check is auto-success) to a safer location.

Check to bypass SR if necessary:

Magic Missile, SR check-CL4, Varisian Tattoo: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16

Magic Missile, CL 4: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Gregor looks up at his Relgar and wonders why they are not flying. He grudgingly allows his master to steer him like a pack mule once he has completed his spell casting.

Red is dead, full update later

Furen will move up and swings her morningstar at Green
Mwk Cold Iron Morningstar: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Cracking John manages to crack the insect in half! It is dead.

He then strides towards the other one that has appeared.

Relgar unleashes a magic missile at the remaining creature.

Furen moves up to the remaining creature and brings her morningstar down on it. It barely survives the contact.

Round 2:

Bolded may act.
Bless active. +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects

Religion to identify the creature

Furen (Longstrider)
Relgar (Mage Armor)
Cracking John
Red 20 damage
Gaius (Divine Favor, Light)
Azalmak
Mallycorn (Detect Magic)
Green 15 damage

Azalmak moves to green and tries his luck with that one.

Scimitar + bless: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 for slashing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Azalmak strides over to green and brings his scimitar down, separating the creature’s head from it’s thorax.

Combat over

You spend a few moments checking, but no further giant ants show themselves.

The raven flies over near you and starts squawking wildly.

Linguistics or an Intelligence check. Speak with Animals would be ideal.

It is getting dark. Do you want to search around the area at all?

Relgar casually dismounts his familiar. His familiar in turn merges back with his master and is now visible only as a tattoo. The gnome advances and begins to look around. Unlike many of his kind his night vision is perfect due to his bond to the underground (Dark Vision).

"Good job everyone."

"Now, can anyone speak with animals?"

@GM Bret - How about a Handle Animal roll? Would that help?

Intelligence Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

After trying to understand/communicate with the raven, Gaius will search the area for any other insects, eggs, or remains of whatever (whomever?) they were eating.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Linguistics, untrained, Improvisation: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 2 = 15

Mallycorn tries to understand what the raven says

@Relgar Handle animal is for taming or riding animals. I don’t think you are looking to do either with the raven. On the other hand, I recall you had a theory about the raven. An Arcana check would allow you to determine if there is any sort of bond with it.

Gaius finds an area where it looks like a struggle occurred. He finds three gravestones that are partially covered in some sort of purple substance. It looks like some sort of growth.
A Knowledge Nature or Knowledge Planes check could identify it.

There is a spot clear of the growth in the middle of which lies a cold iron morningstar. It looks like it was probably thrown there.

He also finds a wand and a pouch that has two potion vials in it. When checked, they glow with magic.
Anyone using Detect Magic may attempt a Knowledge Arcana check to determine school of magic and Spellcraft to identify each of the items.

As he finishes searching, the sun sets.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Survival: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24

Gaius attempts to learn more about the substance and how many creatures were struggling in the area. He'll also pass along the items to the other spellcasters to identify.

Gaius, when I give a skill as one or the other please only roll one check.

Gaius recognizes the substance as Demon Bile. Demon Bile is biological in nature and will grow if left unchecked. It is an abyssal disease that corrupts creatures that ingest it, slowly eroding their minds while causing hallucinations and madness.

It can be destroyed by touching it with cold iron, a good aligned weapon, or any positive energy such as a healing spell or channeling.

He knows that it attracts vermin of all kinds and often causes them to grow gigantic. Fortunately it seems these ants did not return to their hive and lead the other ants to the infection.

Searching the area, Gaius thinks there were probably only two people involved in the struggle. It looks like the winner carried the other off judging by the depth of the footprints. Unfortunately once they get on the path, it becomes impossible to follow them.

"That is extremely useful information Gaius. Well done."

Relgar examines both potions and the wand with his Detect Magic spell.

17 Knowledge Arcana on a take 10 for both potions and the wand to determine the school of magic.

Spellcraft: Wand: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Spellcraft: Potion 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Spellcraft: Potion 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Relgar examines the bird carefully. He is quite bookish in terms of magical theory (for a sorcerer) and remembers reading about ravens
making excellent familiars and even sometimes being able to talk.

17 Knowledge Arcana on a take 10.

"Hello, Blackfeather?"

The gnome looks for the raven to respond to its name.

"That is extremely useful information that you discovered about the Demon Bile, Gaius. Well done."

Relgar examines both potions and the wand with his Detect Magic spell.

17 Knowledge Arcana on a take 10 for both potions and the wand to determine the school of magic.

[dice=Spellcraft: Wand]d20+5

[dice=Spellcraft: Potion 1]d20+5

[dice=Spellcraft: Potions 2]d20+5

Relgar examines the bird carefully. He is quite bookish in terms of magical theory (for a sorcerer) and remembers reading about ravens
making excellent familiars and even sometimes being able to talk.

17 Knowledge-Arcana on a take 10.

"Hello?"

"The raven is saying something about 'Yellow-foot, get Yellow-foot' if that helps. It doesn't seem like any of the names of missing apprentices would rhyme with 'Yellow-foot'. There is a missing cobbler's apprentice; could be that's the connection?"

Gaius, when I give a skill as one or the other please only roll one check.

Gaius recognizes the substance as Demon Bile. Demon Bile is biological in nature and will grow if left unchecked. It is an abyssal disease that corrupts creatures that ingest it, slowly eroding their minds while causing hallucinations and madness.

It can be destroyed by touching it with cold iron, a good aligned weapon, or any positive energy such as a healing spell or channeling.

He knows that it attracts vermin of all kinds and often causes them to grow gigantic. Fortunately it seems these ants did not return to their hive and lead the other ants to the infection.

Searching the area, Gaius thinks there were probably only two people involved in the struggle. It looks like the winner carried the other off judging by the depth of the footprints. Unfortunately once they get on the path, it becomes impossible to follow them.

@GM: Will do!

As Gaius relays the information to the rest of the group he asks Furen to strike the Demon Bile with her cold iron morningstar.

When examining the magical items items, Relgar detects faint Transmutation magic from the wand and Divination from one of the two vials.

When he examines them more carefully, he is able to determine that the wand has ten charges of Bless Weapon while the first potion is an Elixir of Vision and the other an Elixir of Hiding.

The raven does seem to respond to the name Blackfeather, repeating the phrase “Blackfeather is a pretty bird!” back. It is a little easier to recognize this phrase, evidently the bird uses it quite a bit. Relgar is not able to determine if there is any mystical bond or not.

Cold Iron vs Demon Bile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Furen swings at the demon bile with her cold iron morningstar

Wisdom: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Furen realizes that since it only requires contact with cold iron to destroy the Demon Bile, it is better to just slowly lower the head of her morningstar into the bile and then slowly move it around. When the bile comes in contact with the cold iron, it boils away as if destroyed by acid.

As she is doing this, she calls for a light so that she can make sure she gets all of it. Although she can see just fine in the dark, it would be much easier if she could see in color.

Since you are out of combat, no need for attack or damage rolls.

Do you want to destroy all three patches of the bile?

Relgar will hold on to the wand for now. His strong force of personality has often been able to convince magical items to work for him.

No one has Bless Weapon on their spell list but at least Relgar has identified it and has a solid UMD score so he does not have to use it blindly. ;)

"Well if we plan on doing any scouting these elixirs will come in handy."

The gnome illuminates the area with a Light spell. He touches his fey enchanted chestnut which burps bubbles of soap. He then asks the party a question.

"Do you think it might be helpful to have the alchemist look at this bile before we destroy it all?"

Before anyone can answer the gnome turns to the raven.

"Blackfeather. Where is Yellow-foot?"

"Good idea. We should investigate and document our finding before we remove them"
Furen will wait till her teammates are done looking at them before destory the rest of the bile.