Hmm's Dark Archives Duology: 'Lady of the Harvest' & 'Tomorrow's Feast' [OUTPOST VI]

Game Master Hmm

Looking to the rest of the group, Tarcog asks “Does anyone object?”

Jayma was about to give the remaining creature a massive jolt of electricity but holds her hand when it starts begging for mercy. She frowns. "What do you mean by 'free me'? What are you? Who are you?"

Action 1 (◆): Recall Knowledge (Arcana +14, Occultism +14) - SECRET

If that fails, then she'll fall back on:

Action 2 (◆): Recall Knowledge ([Gossip Lore] +13) - SECRET

"Have you not heard? His name is Walter.
It has been oft repeated.
We should be kind and give this ghost
the help he has entreated. "

Meadow lowers her bow and with a whistle and a gesture calls Silence to her side.

Fortitude (M): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31 (S -> CS)

"Well, I can eat him, so..."

Jayma realizes that Walter is a poltergeist, a restless spirit killed by traumatic event -- likely a work accident while constructing the manor -- that is bound tightly to the place where he died. While the group is talking to Walter, everyone but Tarcog, Jayma and Amvolwatt see the painting Lady of the Harvest pop into existence next to the mirror, and then wink right out again. Freeing this ghost is likely going to involve solving the overall mystery of the place.

Walter sighs. "I used to build walls and frames, but I got crushed under some building materials with my best friend, Alton. My dying blood soaked into this very Manor, and Count Lorres didn't care. He kept building!"

“So what could we build that would make you happy?”

When Walter begs for mercy, Dr. Lazarus sheathes his blade and retrieves his mighty hammer. Unsure if the ghost speaks a refined language like Elven, Dr. Lazarus tries anyway. "How can we help you, my dear ghost?" And then adds, "Perhaps you can tell us about the mysterious movement of the Lady of the Harvest."

Assuming Water doesn't understand, the Doctor turns to Meadow, and continues in Elven, "As I seem to have forgotten some of my many languages, would you be so kind as to translate?"

Turiik looks intently at the place where the painting manifests and takes a step toward it before it disappears again. "I think we will need to establish the curse in order to bind the spirit."

Jayma considers. "So we believe that removing the curse from this house will free um... the poltergeist here to head to the Boneyard. If so, then I see no reason to waste a lot of time speeding up the process by violent means..." She turns to face Walter, "...as long as you promise to sit tight here and not bother us while we get on with it. How does that sound for an idea?"

TIme for a quick check of the B3 bathroom, no?

Assuming Water doesn't understand, the Doctor turns to Meadow, and continues in Elven, "As I seem to have forgotten some of my many languages, would you be so kind as to translate?"

Meadow rolls her eyes at the investigator and frowns.

"What my friend, the Professor asks
is what must we do to lay you to rest?
In addition what do you know
about the Lady of the Harvest."

Walter sighs as he answers Jayma. "Yeah, I'll stay put, but that's an easy promise. I'm bound to this very room." Then he considers as he listens to Meadow. "Lady of the Harvest keeps moving. It freaked me out when I was alive, but after I died, I looked forward to it coming here." Walter gestures out the window. "Alton couldn't bear the sunlight, but I've spent a hundred years looking out this desolate window. When the painting shows up, it reminds me of my parent's farm. The painted sky and fields look so real that I feel I could almost fall into them, you know? I guess I went from dreading its visits to wishing that I could just fall into that picture myself."

He paces, gathering his tools back within himself. "As for laying me to rest..." Walter starts fading, looking more and more incorporeal, until all that is left is his voice. "Find the traitor. Find the lost. Honor those of us who've passed, not just that corrupt Count. Tell our stories..."

Finally even Walter's words fade out.

After Meadow translates his questions, in rhyme, Dr. Lazarus nods his appreciation, "My thanks, dear lady. He then retrieves his writing pad to take down Walter's story.

As Walter is finishing and pleading that we set things right, the Doctor starts to say, in Elven, "Rest assured, dear b..." But he stops when Walter fades away. To no one in particular, he laments, "No matter, it's unlikely the lad would've understood. Pity ... when I have endless knowledge to impart."

Lazarus follows Jayma into the adjacent bathroom to investigate.

Then through the Hall of Mirrors to B4? Or does it make sense to just go clockwise or counterclockwise?

While some of the others investigate the adjacent bathroom, Turiik wanders over and looks at the blood stained curtain thoughtfully. "A rather good painting by a blood painter?" he muses. Then he turns his attention to the filigree work on the bedposts. "There must be clues to hide."

B3. Master Bathroom

Although all the appliances are in place, this bathroom seems unfinished compared to the opulence elsewhere in the house. Still, the ceiling was painted beautifully with images of clouds, sunshine and butterflies.

Everyone but Jayma notices a bloodstreak on the tub. Then a sad choir rises from the floor, its music forlorn and haunting, and its sound buffeting your bodies. The sound is rising and rising, but all of you can act before it reaches its crescendo.

Jayma realizes its a haunt, and it can be counteracted with a Performance or a Religion check.

Entering the master bathroom, Dr. Lazarus takes note of the latest streak of blood. Then he hears the eerie melody. Having read about such phenomena, he searches through his bag to find a tattered old book called, "Haunting High and Low".

From chapter VI, he reads aloud an ancient celestial script.

Religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Just to be official, Dr. Lazarus updates his previous blood streak lead to the blood painter. (Current leads are in his header.)

Jayma wonders if her memory issues are affecting her sight as she completely misses the apparently very obvious streak of blood in the bathtub. When the ghostly apparitions rise from the floor, Jayma quickly recognizes them for what they are. Informing the others of what's going on, she then uses her own voice, accompanied by Twyl's high-pitched chirping, to sing a happier tune in an attempt to counteract the rather depressing choice of music on the part of the phantasmal choir.

Action: Perform and Accompanist
Performance (Perform): 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 1 = 30

Thurston reads in celestial while Jayma sings. As her song counters the phantasmal choir, she manages to pull their voices into joining her happier song. As she does this, everyone gets the vision of three workers painstakingly painting this ceiling from a high scaffolding. As they were putting the final touches on their work, the scaffolding crashed sending them to their deaths.

One translucent and slender young woman with glasses takes a ghostly paintbrush and writes sadly in the air in a lovely cursive, We never even got to sign our names... Mati, Gertel, Danik... Remember us, please...

Tarcog notes the names. He then looks again at the painting.

As everyone is leaving the bathroom, he says “Should we grab some sheets, blankets and bed spreads and take them with us into the Hall of Mirrors?”

“Does anyone think we will be better off waiting, and if so how would it be better?”

Willing to go with whatever people agree to.

Turiik looks toward the ceiling as they leave the room. "Blankets? Yes, we should wait!" He growls softly.

Dr. Lazarus perks up when Tarcog suggests visiting the Hall of Mirrors next. In Draconic, the Doctor agrees, "An inspired choice, Tarcog my boy!" The Doctor eagerly helps collect blankets and bed sheets.

When Turiik asks about the blankets, Lazarus helpfully responds in Cyclopsian, still completely unaware that Turiik can't understand a word of it, "No doubt meant to cover the mirror's reflective glass in case of emergency. Elementary, my dear barbarian. Elementary." Lazarus thinks to himself, "The poor lad ... perhaps if he read more."

Jayma is pleased to have helped the poor painters on their merry way to their well-deserved rest in whatever afterlife awaits them. Pulling out a quill and some ink from her writing set, she carefully writes Ceiling painted by Mati, Gertel, & Danik as far up one of the walls as her little arms can reach.

When she finally leaves the bathroom, she sees everyone running around stripping down the bed and carrying everything out of the bedroom. "Is that all really necessary? I'm pretty sure we aren't here to do the laundry." A small joke occurs to her and she adds, "Not unless there are ghosts under those sheets." <tee, hee!>

As he is gathering blankets, Tarcog says to Jayma “Do you think these are the right size to cover mirrors?”

He is carrying one and has more packed in his bag. Amvolwatt is also carrying one.

Meadow bites her lip and glances apprehensively at the hall of mirrors when it is suggested. After a moment she steels herself and nods.. She draws her bow and grips it tightly.

Jayma signs the names of the three painters in the bathroom, and a sigh of relief echoes in the room as one last gentle chorus floats in the air. You all feel the lightness that exists here now.

Grabbing blankets and sheets, you proceed to the Hall of Mirrors. Between the chandeliers, the golden statuettes and the mirrors reflecting each other, the whole room sparkles. You hastily cover each mirror with a sheet or blanket. The room looks a bit dingy now, like a tent bazaar.

Blankets in place, you head to the guest bedroom.

B4. Guest Bedroom

This room's furnishings aren't as elegant as those in the master bedroom, and the water closet (area B4b) contains only a tub and sink, with no lavatory. Three ghostly workers form in the air and begin tossing all their tools at you! "We died for your luxuries!" calls one. "Down with the oppressors!" calls another.

And here you have a pitched battle with three poltergeists, all of whom died while working on building this floor. As the last poltergeist could not even touch you, your GM refuses to do this fight. Instead, I invite you each to narrate one cool thing that you do or say to defeat / calm the poltergeists, and we will hand-waive this encounter away.

“Do you really think throwing stuff at the living is your best option for reaching peace?” Tarcog exclaims.

As he narrowly dodges a flying bucket, he says “What are your names and what were you working on?”

He continues to pepper them with questions, trying to get them to think about something other than what to throw at him next.

Meanwhile Amvolwatt provides a flanking position for Dr. Lazarus. Everyone has seen how effective his blade is against such creatures.

Meadow does her best to talk the poltergeists down and allow the team to help them.

"No! Wait! We're friends!
There's no need to panic.
We've already helped
Mati, Gertel and Danik.

So please allow us
to do what is best
to quell all your fears
and lay you to rest."

A song rises up to answer Meadow's verse.

♫ The poor are worth no more than mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones...
The labor that built that cruel Harrowstone

Renovate 16 rooms, what do you get?
Eigen's gotten richer and your soul is to-let
Pharasma, don't you call us 'cause we can't go
Our souls are here, our bodies below... ♫

"It's rather a shame, the design was inspired," Turiik mutters as they cover the mirrors and ruin the beautiful effect of the room temporarily.

When the poltergeists manifest, Turiik transforms into his bestial form and roars as he is pelted by random object after random object. "Since I can't bite any of you," he growls in frustration before gripping tub and yanking it off of the floor with straining muscles. "Take this!"

He flings the tub at the flying, ephemeral apparitions before returning to swatting at the random missiles zipping around the room.

When the poltergeists mention dying for their luxuries, Jayma ducks a flying hammer and looks around the room unimpressed. "You call this luxury? Clearly you have no idea of what true luxury is." You note a certain wistfulness in her voice as she voices the last part. "Even the servants' quarters in Brastlewark Castle were better furnished than this." She sighs as she recalls the life of opulence she had to give up when she escaped from Cheliax. "At least I'm still alive to remember, so it's not all bad."

Dodging what looks like a mortice gauge, Jayma snaps out of her reverie and puts on her patented Do-NOT-Mess-With-Me™ face. "Now stop that immediately you three. We're here to help you. All you need to do is sit here quietly while we track down and remove the curse on this manor to set you free. Do we have a deal, or do we have to do this the hard way?"

Activity: Coerce vs poltergeists
Intimidation (Coerce): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

As the group covers the mirrors, Dr. Lazarus laments aloud, in Elven, "Tis a shame to cover up such a famed and renowned corridor. When it's safe, we simply must have a proper look." He heads into the bedroom.

When the spirits appear, Lazarus immediately stows his hammer to draw his curve blade. He's about to consider an attack plan when the others try communicating. He nods in support and adds, in Elven, "My colleagues speak the truth. We're here to help." Frowning that they don't understand, the Doctor snaps his fingers as he gets another idea.

Rummaging in his book bag, he finds just the manual: "Poltergeists: This House is Clean". He flips through the illustrated guide to find a picture that looks a lot like these spirits. He animatedly points out a chapter about brave occult investigators, not unlike himself, setting things right and allowing spirits to rest.

Whether it is the fierce talking to from Jayma and Turiik, or the more gentler approaches elsewhere in the party, the poltergeists calm down for now. You head off to the next room.

B5. STUDY

This mildewed study features a gorgeous mahogany desk with a few sparse furnishings. Heavy maroon curtains block out most light from the lone window.

Everyone but Turiik and Jayma notices Lady of the Harvest hanging next to the desk, and the painting blinks out of existence.

In addition Tarcog notices a set of keys hanging discreetly on a hook just inside the desk's study carrel.

"The extravagance of this room is breathtaking," Turiik says in a tone that belies his true feelings followed by a growl under his voice.

When the painting disappears again, right before his eyes, Dr. Lazarus grumbles in elven, "Blast! Stay put, so we can put an end to this curse."

With the Lady of the Harvest gone, Lazarus notices the mahogany desk for the first time. He nears it excitedly and explains to no one in particular, in Elven, "Desks are often vessels of knowledge. Much like myself." He checks for cubbyholes, drawers, and searches for any secret compartments.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Tarcog goes over and retrieves the set of keys. He jingles them in front of Dr. Lazarus and says “Would these be of use?”

With the Lady of the Harvest gone, Lazarus notices the mahogany desk for the first time. He nears it excitedly and explains to no one in particular, in Elven, "Desks are often vessels of knowledge. Much like myself." He checks for cubbyholes, drawers, and searches for any secret compartments.

Behind Dr. Lazarus's back Meadow rolls her eyes and makes gagging noises before stepping over to the desk and searching as well.

perception +16 (+17 vision)

Hearing Meadow choking nearby, Dr. Lazarus asks her in elven, "Okay there, dear lady? Do you require any medical assistance?" He stops searching the desk momentarily to make sure she's okay.

The jingle of the keys snaps Lazarus back to focus. Turning to Tarcog, he responds in draconic, "Excellent my dear dragon, excellent. Let's see, shall we?" If Dr. Lazarus finds any locked compartments, he steps back to let Tarcog do the honors.

When everyone else seems to see the painting appear and then disappear, Jayma looks around wildly. "Where, where?" She stomps her little foot in frustration. "Why do I keep missing these things?"

You decide to move past the sad sheet-covered Hall of Mirrors into the Solarium.

B6. SOLARIUM

The wall-to-wall windows, panes separated by delicate lines of lead, mark this wide room as a solarium. Numerous gardening pots fill this room, though they now contain only dry, cracked dirt. A writing desk sits in one corner while a few chairs and small tables are arranged in the room's center. Despite the layer of weathering on the glass, the room still glows in the daylight.

This bright, abandoned space has drawn the attention of three light, winged creatures that lair here. The creatures giggle as you come in. "Oh look, bedraggled trash coming from the shadows..."

"Ewww..." One sticks out his tongue. "They're so ugly, no wonder they covered the mirrors!"

"We should spare them the burden of seeing themselves... or ANYTHING, really..."

"DIE, BIG UGGLIES!" they all call together as they bear their needlie-sharp claws.

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

In anticipation of Dr. Lazarus's RK check

The good doctor knows that these are Lurkers in Light, small evil fey with a weakness to Cold iron.

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

Dr. Lazarus
Red
Green
Blue
Turiik
Tarcog + Amvolwatt
Jayma
Meadow + Silence

Entering the solarium, Dr. Lazarus starts to head for the desk (vessels of knowledge and all that) when he spies the three small fey. He shakes his head, muttering in elven, "Alas, I was just here for the desk. Now you've likely upset my colleagues, who will bombard you with countless questions, poetry, and lies. I pity you." The Doctor studies the battlefield and prepares an attack against the southern fey.

Devise a Stratagem w/ Known Weakness vs Green: 1d20 ⇒ 6 (Roll is used for subsequent attack roll.)

Wanting to share as much information as possible, he quickly announces, in four languages (elven, draconic, osiriani, and cyclopsian): "Fey -- weak to cold iron!" He then hurls his cold iron hammer twice in succession.

+1 Striking Returning Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) vs Green: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Bludgeoning Damage + Strategic Strike: 2d6 + 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 6) + (6, 5) + 5 = 25

+1 Striking Returning Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer +MAP vs Green: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 4 = 16
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 6) + 5 = 13

◈ Devise, ◇ RK, ◈◈ Strike x2

Not my turn yet but I'm going to get this part out of the way now for ease of posting later. Meadow will do a recall knowledge as her first action on her turn. Nature +12, dubious knowledge. She is particularly interested in the languages these fey speak.

The desk with the key was in the study at B5. But you're welcome to check out the coffee table here.

Alas, the hammer misses the Green Lurker-in-Light twice. The agile little fey ducks out of the way easily, but screeches, "That was cold iron! Get him!"

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

It's the Lurkers-in-Light's turn.

◈ Blue flies out of range of Turiik's teeth.

◈◈ Then Blue casts Blindness on Turiik!

◈ Green throws a mote at the evil wielder of cold iron.

Mote: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Force Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11

Ooh, he really did not like that cold iron hammer!

◈◈ Then Green casts Blindness on Dr. Lazarus!

"You can't throw if you can't see!"

Then Red tosses a mote at Dr. Lazarus as well.

Mote: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Force Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10

◈◈ Then Red casts Blindness on Amvolwatt!

Meadow knows that these creatures speak Aklo, Sylvan and Common, and that their spells mostly involve light and trickery.

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

Dr. Lazarus (-32, DC 24 Fortitude and Will Save)
Red
Green
Blue
Turiik (DC 24 Fortitude Save)
Tarcog + Amvolwatt (DC 24 Fortitude Save)
Jayma
Meadow + Silence

Amvolwatt's Fortitude (E): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Amvolwatt is blinded by their light!

Will do the rest of the post tomorrow…

Surprised to see what appears to be fey lurking in the scary haunted mansion, Meadow tries to figure out what sort of fey they are.

Recall knowledge Nature +12, dubious knowledge

"ನೀವು ಕೀಟಗಳ ರೆಕ್ಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅಸಹ್ಯ ಉಗುರುಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದೀರಿ,
ಮತ್ತು ಕಿಡಿಗೇಡಿತನವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಾರಣವೆಂದು ತೋರುತ್ತದೆ.
ನೀವು ಗಲಾಟೆಗೆ ತಲೆಕೆಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೀರಿ.
ನೀವು ಬಹುಶಃ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತುಂಟತನವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದೀರಾ?"

Hunted Shot-shortbow vs blue nonlethal: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 - 2 = 18
piercing: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6
deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Hunted Shot-shortbow vs blue nonlethal: 1d20 + 16 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 5 - 2 = 26
piercing: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 2 = 13
deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 5

precision: 1d8 ⇒ 7 extra damage on the first hit.

◆ Recall knowledge, ◆ Hunt prey, ◆ Hunted Shot

Everyone feel free to peek at the spoiler even if your character doesn't speak Aklo. I just wanted a chance for Meadow to speak Aklo or Undercommon.

Fortitude DC 24: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Will DC 24: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Yikes! Not good...

Like Amvolwatt, Dr. Lazarus is struck blind. Even though he doesn't expect the fey to understand an advanced tongue like elven, he calls out, "My sight may be gone, but I still have these keen elven ears, my dear glowing friend." Remembering where the green fey was when it blinded him, the Doctor attempts to come up with a plan.

Devise a Stratagem vs Green: 1d20 ⇒ 10 (Roll is used for subsequent attack roll.)

Targeting the same area where he last saw (and heard) the fey, the Doctor flings his hammer.

Hidden Flat Check DC 11: 1d20 ⇒ 12
+1 Striking Returning Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem) vs Green: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26
Bludgeoning Damage + Strategic Strike: 2d6 + 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4) + (4, 4) + 5 = 20

Rather than attempt a second blind throw, the Doctor performs some in-battle healing.

Battle Medicine (expert) DC 20: 2d8 + 10 + 7 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 + 7 = 26
Assurance => 23, Forensics Investigator +lvl

◈ Devise, ◈ Strike, ◈ Battle Med

Jayma cringes slightly as Thurston gets the stuffing beaten out of him by the vengeful creatures before being struck blind. She turns on the nearest one and in a stern voice, says, "Leave him alone you diminutive delinquent or you'll have me to answer to."

Action 1 (◆): Demoralize with Intimidating Glare vs Green
Intimidation (Demoralize): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19 vs Green Will DC

Having (probably not) softened it up with her cutting remark, she says, "flying flowers for fickle fey," and with a flick of her wrist sends a small flowerpot flying at the fey creature.

Actions 2 & 3 (◆◆): Cast a Spell: Telekinetic Projectile [L4] vs Green

Telekinetic Projectile Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Telekinetic Projectile Damage: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 4) + 4 = 15 bludgeoning damage

If a crit, you deal double damage.

Amvolwatt and Tarcog each move, Amvolwatt moving towards where Green was as Tarcog enters the room.

“So if electrified, do your motes become e-motes?”
Then he tests the theory by sending an arc of electricity at blue and green.
Electric Arc DC 23 basic Reflex: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 4) + 4 = 17

Amvolwatt strikes at where he last saw Green.
Concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 17
striking claw: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35 (deadly d8, finesse, magical),
Slashing damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13
Deadly: 1d8 ⇒ 7

“Who were you calling ugly?”

The Lurkers giggle with delight as they blind two of you.

Fortunately, the spell has the incapacitate trait, so you are only blinded for single round.

Meadow says a spiffy poem in aklo and then fires off two shots. Only the second shot hits the dodgy little fey. Meanwhile Dr. Lazarus fails a will save and starts to glow! He's surrounded by a nimbus of bright light. Dr. Lazarus throws his hammer at the Green fey, who shrieks.

"It burns! It burns!"

Jayma will want to reposition so she can see the room. I think you can barely see Blue, so I am targeting Blue in lieu of Green for your last post.

Jayma attempts to demoralize Blue, but she looks more pouty than fierce. Blue giggles. "That just makes you uglier!"

Than Jayma's rock hits Blue. "Oof!"

Then Tarcog does a shocking pun, and electrifies both Green and Blue!

Green's Reflex: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Amvolwatt crits Green, slashing fiercely at the creature who is still up.

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

Dr. Lazarus (-32, Blinded for 1 round, lit up)
Red
Green (-75)
Blue (-35)
Turiik (DC 24 Fortitude Save)
Tarcog + Amvolwatt (Blinded for 1 round)
Jayma
Meadow + Silence