GM Bret’s What Lurks in the Woods (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

Make sure we heal John fully before continuing. If he doesn't have a CLW wand Gaius can use his.

Jack insists he is just fine as he cleans the head of his mace.
But won't turn down any healing offered.

He tightens his grip on the cold iron weapon and again makes his way to the stable door, this time following his fellow half-orc.

Jack insists he is just fine as he cleans the head of his mace.

But won't turn down any healing offered.

He tightens his grip on the cold iron weapon and again makes his way to the stable door, this time following his fellow half-orc.

Gaius heals John of his minor wound.

Since he was down only 2 no need to roll!

John opens the door.

Bones litter the bare stone floor of this stable. The reek of decay hangs heavy in the air. Soon after opening the door, you hear chittering from the back of the stables. It does not sound friendly.

Nature or Sense Motive check please.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Upon hearing the sounds, John grips his mace and strides forward.

The chittering is just noise to John.

From his current position he can just barely make out the shapes in the stall through where the gates used to be. He can also see the parts of the stable back wall over the walls of the stalls.

@GM: Gaius will take 10 on his Knowledge (Nature) for an 18.

Cara closely follow John to see about the commotion.

sense: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Cara just hears chittering.

Gaius needs to move up a little closer in order to detect exactly what is happening. Once he does, he realizes that the giant fiendish centipedes are trying to protect their eggs. If your group stays far enough away and doesn’t attack the giant centipedes or their eggs, they probably will not attack.

On the other hand, leaving Demon Bile in place can cause all sorts of problems.

I'll say we should take those out quickly... unless you want to search the place first and come back later for them.

Know Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Can I tell how close for hatching the eggs can be?

If Evelyn gets a little closer she could get an idea how long before the eggs hatch. Right now from outside and over 30’ away it is difficult to even see the eggs. Right behind John should be close enough.

"If the creatures or their young are already tainted by demon bile, then they should be dealt with sooner, rather than later." John speaks grimly. "Cold iron kills, but does not cure. And we know of no cure that exists. We would not want these young to hatch and escape while we are elsewhere in the estate."

"That which should be done, is best done quickly." The half-orc raises his mace.

"If the creatures or their young are already tainted by demon bile, then they should be dealt with sooner, rather than later." John speaks grimly. "Cold iron kills, but does not cure. And we know of no cure that exists. We would not want these young to hatch and escape while we are elsewhere in the estate."

"That which should be done, is best done quickly." The half-orc raises his mace.

"Agreed. Perhaps you'd like to toss an Alchemist's Fire back there to get them out?

I moved Gaius closer in case John (or someone else) wants to throw one of Gaius's Alchemist's Fire flasks.

would a burning hands do the trick? or the flame jet domain ability?

would a burning hands do the trick? or the flame jet domain ability?

It would have to be Burning Hands since the domain ability would require a target.

John looks at the offered flask, looks at his mace, then looks back at the flask. Finally, he looks up at Gaius. "You may wish to ask someone else to throw it, My Friend."

He waves the mace. "Once they do, though, I will be ready!"

I can throw it if you want.

I can throw it if you want.

"Be my guest, it's right here indicates with his jaw in my bandolier. I'll cover you in case the beasts emerge."

Evelyn takes the vial, gets in range, and throws the alchemic fire toward the critters

Thrown vial: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Potential damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Updated Evelyn’s position on the map.

Evelyn tosses the flask of alchemist’s fire at the red centipede. It misses them, smashing against the top of the stall wall. Cover Although it gets splashed by the alchemist’s fire, the centipede is not injured by it. Resist Fire

It is however enough to urge the two centipedes into action,

Round 1:

Gaius
Azalmak
Yellow Centipede
Red Centipede
Cara
John
Evelyn

Well..that wasn't the plan...

Really? I thought it was the plan...we just totally forgot these insect, overcome and tainted by Hell power, don't feel fire like us.

Azalmak approaches Red and tries to cut it in half with his scimitar.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 for slashing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Crit damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Azalmak moves forward and with a single slash of his scimitar kills the red centipede.

Round 1:

Gaius
Azalmak
Yellow Centipede
Red Centipede 13 damage
Cara
John
Evelyn

"They feel blades well enough."

Gaius prepares his bow to fire at the remaining centipede.

@GM: If possible I'd like him to ready when it comes within 30' so he can utilize his PBS.

MW Composite Longbow (+1 Str) with Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 201d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Sorry everyone for the Alchemist's Fire; that's a case where the PC would've known better but the player forgot.

Gaius gets into position and waits for the remaining centipede to come out. He doesn’t have to wait long, it comes out and heads directly for John. Fortunately his shot hits and manages to kill the creature.

You spend some time destroying the bile and the infected eggs. There doesn’t appear to be anything else of interest here.

While destroying the eggs, Evelyn looks them over and estimates they would have hatched another of the centipedes.

Where to now?

"Is the plan to search all of the outbuildings before we go to the manor? If so then we should continue with that small structure due east in the corner of the property. And scout the area perhaps? We'd do well to avoid more surprises."

"Is the plan to search all of the outbuildings before we go to the manor? If so then we should continue with that small structure due east in the corner of the property. And scout the area perhaps? We'd do well to avoid more surprises."

"Seems as good a plan as any!" chimes John. "Are you volunteering to scout?"

John looks at his mace, realizing that he never had a chance to use it on the bugs. He shrugs and then takes up a postion of some cover while the others scout the outbuilding.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Gaius moves slowly over towards the building, arrow at the ready, searching for any signs of danger.

Please indicate on the map where you are going. It looks like John might be following at a distance. If you pick a distance, I am fine with people following.
If you are trying to sneak, include 2-3 stealth checks.

Please indicate on the map where you are going. It looks like John might be following at a distance. If you pick a distance, I am fine with people following.

If you are trying to sneak, include 2-3 stealth checks.

@GM: I hope the line and curve are clear and visible; it's my first time trying this. Basically in a line through open ground around the trees/shrubs, away from the manor, and to the front of the structure. Gaius has a Stealth of +8 after his APC so I'll take 10 for an 18.

Gaius moves across the grounds, using the brush as cover to sneak as he goes. He checks that there is nothing hidden in the brush as well.

Hidden amid a copse of gnarled trees sits a large mausoleum of polished granite. Statues of weeping angels of green-tinged bronze flank the closed entrance. A tarnished silver doorplate on the black steel door reads, “Sarini.”

Gaius doesn’t find any hidden dangers. The doors are closed.

Are the doors simply closed or locked?

Evelyn looks around, coming near Gaius, watching for traps or hidden foes

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

The place as some character, I must admit.

Evelyn tests the door's handle, and if the door is locked (or if she spots a trap) starts to work on it with her finest tools

Disable device, Msw tools: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

Are the doors simply closed or locked?

Evelyn looks around, coming near Gaius, watching for traps or hidden foes

[dice=Perception]1d20+6

The place as some character, I must admit.

Evelyn tests the door's handle, and if the door is locked (or if she spots a trap) starts to work on it with her finest tools

[dice=Disable device, Msw tools]1d20+7+2

In the future if you want Evelyn to use these skills, please wait so Gaius can cast Guidance on her for an additional +1.

Gaius waits 10' back with bow at the ready.

Gaius makes room for Evelyn so she can inspect the doors and potentially open them herself.

Evelyn carefully checks for traps and not finding any tries to open the door. As soon as she pulls on the door handle, the angel statues on either side of her unfurl their wings, slicing at the pirate.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Crit 19-20
Slashing damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

It doesn’t look like the trap resets, the wings stay extended. There are a few drops of blood on the wings from cutting Evelyn.

Then Evelyn realizes the door is looked. Evelyn isn’t able to open it on her first attempt.

See? I found the trap on first try... Now lets work on that lock

Evelyn litteraly licks the blood out of her wound, getting her lips a brilliant red, before trying to jam open that lock, maybe with some divine help from Gaius

DD, Msw tools: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 20 +1 For guidance maybe

Evelyn is just barely able to get the rusted old door lock open.

Inside the mausoleum, two stone coffins stand on a dais, and several more coffins lie on shelves built into the walls.

Hearing the slashing of the wings, John comes running through the bushes. He is relieved to see that it was simply a trap and that his ally is not too badly injured. Gripping his mace, he offers to lead the way into the mausoleum, stepping inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Azalmak approaches cautiously, viewing the coffins with suspicion.

"Be careful what you touch in there, John."

John checks, the lids are all in place on the coffins and there is no signs of anything lurking in the mausoleum. The only disturbances in the dust are those made by him.

The only light is from the open door and whatever lights you bring with you.

@GM: Gaius will take 10 on Perception for an 18 and cast Detect Magic after healing Evelyn. Gaius has the light from his Wayfinder; not sure how much that will illuminate the room.

Gaius retrieves his healing wand and uses it on Evelyn.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

my post got eaten again...i swear my account is haunted...

Cara casts a light cantrip on her shield and looks around, then scans for magic.

light and then detect magic...

Neither Gaius nor Cara detect anything of interest in the mausoleum. Although there is no signs of magic, Cara knows that many coffins use a liner to block such divinations.

"I'm not keen on disturbing the deceased but if we think there may be clues inside the coffins..."

"As long as the deceased stay deceased, I'm fine with it." Azalmak moves into the mausoleum with John. "Give me a hand with one of these lids, John."

Cara watches over the others as they lift the lids.

Be careful guys... she warns

"As long as the deceased stay deceased, I'm fine with it." Azalmak moves into the mausoleum with John. "Give me a hand with one of these lids, John."

"Certainly," replies John, taking up the position at one end of a lid. "Though, I am wondering just what it is that you expect to find?"

The two coffins on the dais are empty. As expected, they have a thin layer of metal lining to prevent divination. It appears these coffins were never used.

One of the other coffins contains the bones of an adolescent boy. The corpse is still clutching an old journal, whose dedication reads “to Luca.” Moisture has rendered the journal nearly illegible, likely taking hours to read.

You may attempt a Linguistics check. Success reduces the time required, but even then it will take quite a bit of time to work your way through the journal.

Making the check means your character is busy working on decoding the journal.

The coffin also contains a palm-sized golden disk with a winged eye carved onto it. The disk looks valuable.

A knowledge religion or history to recognize the symbol.

@GM: Detect Magic and the Knowledge check on the disk:

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

@Players: Unless someone has a really high Linguistics maybe we should keep the journal and decode it later? I'm torn whether it might provide info *for* the manor and we should check it first...