Dread's Carrion Crown

Game Master Dread

Briar Rose, with scimitar and shield in hand, doesn't hesitate to move up to protect the curious ranger from... whatever these are. "Don't worry, Jack! Sarenrae stands with us!" She's not the most scholastic of paladins, but these are clearly undead.

Seeing the flaming skulls rise to meet them, "I sure hope so, Rose!"

"You know, it never pays to look down into a deep, dark, ominous-looking pit. There is always something that's gonna crawl out of it." Drawing his kukri, Jack slices at the floating skull.

Draw blade(move); Attack

Fav. Enemy(Undead)
Kukri: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 HOOO!
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Crit confirm
Kukri: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

11 nasty damage! Lol! (So pathetic). :P

Slicing the skull right through its... well... skull, "HA! Take that, bonehead!"

AC 15; Hp's 11/11

Carla sees the man quickly slice off one of the skulls and is impressed at the man's ferocity with such a small strange weapon. She targets another skull and casts a spell at it. She opens her mouth as if she is about to scream and expel her lungs in the process. She does apply the force on her scream, but no sound comes from her.

Casting Ear-piercing Scream on skull with the green circle.

Sonic damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Not sure if undead are immune to daze effects, but if not, it'd be nice.

Skull Fort save DC 15: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

The skull is able to withstand most of the scream's damage.

2 lousy damage only.

She then moves behind Balurk taking Lawrence in her pocket.

What Barek does largely depends on if the skulls come to him or not. Either way, there will be an attack, but if the skulls move to him it will be followed by a 5 ft step out, otherwise he'll move up to it.

Barek lunges out at the skull ahead of him.

Stab!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Barek hits the skull with a hollow THUNK, then pulls his blade back, not wanting it to get stuck in the undead.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Nope!

Round 1

Quincey, whod been silent for quite some time, moved along the wall and then came to stand next to Barek, and touching the Holy Symbol of Pharasma, he intoned a few words and the entire group felt the blesings of the Lady of Graves

Carla pulled forth the ability to emit a sonic scream at one of the flaming skulls, The waves of sound buffeted against it, but ducked beneath the waves, not taking it head on. Then she moved behind The Big Orc for protection.

Lawrence ducked into a big pocket on her coat and peaked out.

Briar Rose moved up next to Jack, and scimitar out took a swing at the skull floating near him. it hovered back out of her range briefly...

Before it came back at her. She thrust her shield up and it bounced against it.

One hovered towards Balurk trying to slam into him like some burning fruit, but he easily avoided it.

One flew towards Jack trying to head butt him. The Trapper nimble dodged it.

A second one flew over near Briar Rose and attacked her Once again she ably defended against it.

The last skull flew right at the Big Orc this one slammed into his chest, setting alight his tunic, the flames burning the orc.

Balurk swung a meaty fist at it, and missed so nimble were the floating skulls.

Jack pulled his kukri and in a fluid motion split the skull in two. the bones clattering to the floor of the prisons training room.

Barek moved up next to Balurk, and seeing the one with fractured eye
sockets through the fiery visage from Carlas scream he swung his blade and finished it off.

start round 2
I hope to summarize the round by Saturday

Initiative
25 Quincey
21 Carla
21 Lawrence
20 Briar Rose
17 Flaming Skulls (x3)
15 Balurk
13 Jack
13 Barek

Durations
Bless +1 Hit. +1 save vs Fear 10R

Jack takes another slash at the next one, trying to take these things down as quickly as possible.

Attacking the one in front of Rose.

Bless, Fav Enemy
Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Landing another solid hit, "Oh yeah! We got these things right where we want them! On the verge of death! Again!"

AC 15; Hp's 11/11

Sorry Balurk, I won't heal you this round, you can take another punch and there's 50% chance of overhealing.

Carla summons her healing powers and moves to slap the skull that has hurt her new orc friend.

Healing Hex on the skull

Touch attack, bless: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Will save for half, DC 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Carla manages to caress the skull lovingly without getting burned. Her face shows pity for the spirit. The positive energy flows through her hand into the skull. It was not expecting this treatment and receives the entirety of the damage.

Barek moves around to keep a skull between himself and Balurk, then thrusts his blade toward it.

Stab+Bless+Flank!: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The skull slips back toward Balurk at the right moment and only gets a small chunk taken out of it by Barek's blade.

Balurk’s eyes flash with anger as he gets engulfed in flames. Now it’s serious.

Using 1 use of martial flexibility to gain benefits of Power Attack for 1 minute

With a roar of defiance, he tightens his fist to swing again.

Unarmed Strike, Bless + Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 15
Damage, Power Attack: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11

No idea if that hit or not

Briar Rose gets her feet under her and hits one of the monsters.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 1 = 19
s damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

round 2

Quincey moved up adjacent to Balurk and once more said a few words. and a gallon of water fell on the Orcs burning tunic, dousing the flames.

Carla called up the healing power that was her innate power and reached out to apply it to already dead flaming spirits. The skull cracked and start to fall apart from the flow of positive energy...yet still it was animated.

Lawrence looked out chittering faintly.

Briar Rose slashed to her front and side with her scimitar, slicing right through one of the skulls. It fell as quickly as her slash had been crumbling to bone fragments before it hit the floor.

The skull that Carla had touched tried to gain a form of vengeance on her and ram its burning brow into her body. She jerked back avoiding it. Lawrence squealed.

The other tried to attack Briar Rose, but such was her defense that it almost ran aground after bouncing off her shield.

Balurk balled up a fist and slugged the skull trying to attack Carla so hard, its fragments stuck in the prison wall.

Jack slashed out with his curved dagger and scored the skulls side heavily.

Barek was considering getting into a flanking position with Balurk to help, but since there was only one remaining moved to flank with Jack. His attack barely scratched it but it was still worse off than before.

start rd 3. If Carla or Briar Rose (or Quincey?) do 2 points to it, that will end combat, otherwise it will get another attack

[ooc]Im hoping to wrap this combat up tomorrow ...sunday.[/oo]

Initiative
25 Quincey
21 Carla
21 Lawrence
20 Briar Rose
17 Flaming Skull
15 Balurk
13 Jack
13 Barek

Durations
Bless +1 Hit. +1 save vs Fear 9R

Just in case...

Jack strikes once again at the flying, flaming skull.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13 +2 for flank
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

There's something poetic to punching a flaming skull. Who said orcs were uncultured?

Carla moves to the last skull and summons her healing powers again.

Healing Hex, touch, bless: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Will save for half, DC 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Carla manages to touch the skull, her healing powers finishing off the curse of undeath from it.

The last flaming skull fell at Carla's touch that imbued positive energy and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The group felt powerful, confident, like theyd learned from their endeavors. It was a good feeling.

The party has enough experience to go to 2nd level. For this to occur, a nights rest and a couple hours of practicing after the rest. You may continue exploring or head back to town and spend some time researching before you rest. your choice.

Barek exhales slowly and lets the tip of his blade drop. He goes over to the hole and looks down into the depths. "What are the chances a stairwell somewhere survived the fire and we won't have to drop into this hole on a rope?"

We've barely scratched the surface of the delve, I'm fine for moving forward.

Narratively, the group should proceed, feeling confident and on a roll. Mechanically, it makes much more sense to level up. HP relative difference is the largest of all level ups, all characters that don't multiclass at this level gain BAB and strong saves. Low level casters are desperate for spell slots, not to mention specific class mechanics. I get a hex, ranger gets a feat, paladin gets divine grace. All NPC class characters get a PC class level. I mean, this encounter could have been much harder depending on dice rolls. Also, we have little information about the dungeon bosses (the 5 inmates). I think a TPK is a very possible outcome. I vote to go back, if that wasn't clear.

Carla looks saddened for the spirits of the dead. She says "I hope they find their way to Pharasma now." She looks at the group and decides to heal Balurk so that he is healthier.

Healing Hex on Balurk: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

I vote on going back, leveling up can make us more prepared for whatever is waiting for us. Also how ironic that the Jawbreaker’s first combat would be against flying skulls.

Balurk sighs in relief before seeing that someone is tending to his wounds. He turns to see Carla using some magic on him, and he smile, “Thank you for magic, Carla.” He stretches, cracking his knuckles while chuckling, “Now do you believe why Balurk is called Jawbreaker?”

Barek exhales slowly and lets the tip of his blade drop. He goes over to the hole and looks down into the depths. "What are the chances a stairwell somewhere survived the fire and we won't have to drop into this hole on a rope?"

"I'm gonna go with slim to none on that one, Barek. Sorry." He shrugs, grinning.

Can't disagree. Leveling up would obviously be perfect for everyone. But as far as Jack is concerned, I'd have to go with "keep going". Because if I were to choose going back to rest and leveling up, I'd be doing it because I'd want to so we could level up, not because it's what Jack would choose. That's the reason I have to go with keep going.

Ok since Quincey has been having difficulties getting in to post and Briar Rose is sporadic and we still have a tie. Where do you want to go from here. Down? Bwahahahaha. The door to the north? Into the water? Back to the entrance and through another door?

I didn't even consider going into the water as an option...but we'll save that as a last resort.

Barek pulls back and looks over the rest of the room. "Well, there's always hoping. I say we keep exploring this upper level before we delve too deep. We might find some more clues as to whether or not the Way has been here..."

Carla shrugs and follows.

"We only just got here!" Briar Rose says. "We can't just leave, especially if we suspect there's bad actors about... they'll know we've been here."

The explorers of Harrowstone Prison, began to move forward to the doorway going out the north wall. Baruk moved up to the door and looked around. the others followed. Balurk rubbed his sore arm where the flames had burned.

Look at that! Rats have scent!

Carla takes Lawrence and has him sniff the door.

Lawrence untrained Track with Scent: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Briar Rose tries the next door. "I'm sure there will be more than a few opportunities for you to prove the provenance of you name, Balurk, dear."

After Briar Rose opens the next door, Barek looks, then steps through. "This room is completely blown out. Looks like we can head completely around the prison because so many walls are down." He keeps his weapon out, expecting more nastiness to jump out at them...

Carla moved forward next to Barek and has Lawrence smell the air. Carla can feel the scents in the air like pictures in her mind. *Ash* *Mold* *stagnant water* *death*

Briar Rose steps up, tries the door, finding it unlocked and opens it.

Barek steps through and looks around the room standing beside the lake. A huge stone furnace dominates this room, large enough for a child to climb inside. An ancient fire has burned away the entire east wall the room, providing a panoramic, if eerie, view of the lake beyond. That same lake has gradually expanded into the room, flooding its eastern half. The late morning light is shining in from outside the walls. The Group could climb over the fallen stones to leave the prison if they wish, it would be difficult though. Barek glances at the lake and he swears for a second there he can see faces looking back at him, ...for a moment. then they are gone and all there is, are algae covered rocks going down into the lake's depths.

The room seems to bend around a little further up, but from his vantage point Barek cannot discern what might be there.

Jack moves ahead of the others, "Yeah, this place is pretty much done. Wow. Well, which way now, do you think?" he asks, looking all around and wondering.

Carla agrees and says "Let's not entertain faces in the water." She walks a bit into the room and says "Oh look, there's a door here!"

"Hmm. It's not so bad, really. A few potted plants. New roof. Take out some of these walls for a more open floorplan aaaaaaaaaand.... Shiplap. Shiplap everywhere! We could flip this place in two, three weeks top." Lady Briar Rose tries to keep the mood light. "Balurk, sweetheart, stay away from that water. Who knows what kind of gross eels and leeches live in there." She follows Carla's lead to the next door.

Barek gives a slight shiver, thinking only, This place is getting worse by the minute.

"It might be a harder sell than you think if there are nosy neighbors," says Barek, nodding towards the lake. "Not to mention the mold from being exposed to so much water, I've yet to find a spell that truly gets rid of it all..." he finishes with a weak chuckle.

He follows Carla and Briar Rose to the door situated in the western side of the room. "Jack, you think this door looks good to open?"

note- this a very serious encounter

Jack moved in a little and looked around, but it took Carla walking further into the room and bringing her lights around the corner to see the door.

Briar Rose started towards her, as Did Barek moving out further...

with a glance, they saw the old stove start to heat up. and then they saw something horrific. The door to the oven opened and eyes appeared on it, and the bones within started moving and a skeleton of a man crawled out of it...on fire.

Then The Oven roared and sparks and flames shot out its mouth

Note theres still a few rounds of the Bless spell going

Initiative

23 Briar Rose
21 Benjen Ereska
20 Quincey
17 Carla
17 Lawrence
13 Balurk
9 Old Ember Maw
8 Barek
4 Jack

Durations
Bless +1 Hit. +1 save vs Fear 3R

I'm a bit lost. Where are the baddies?

at the moment Briar Rose is around the slight corner in the room from them. The first is a burning Skelton. The 2nd is the Haunted furnace

As a devout follower of Sarenrae, Briar Rose fears neither flame nor undead. She swiftly ducks around the corner, shield raised against the heat of the furnace, and like a whirling Dervish she cuts down the undead. "Back to the furnace with you!"

Oh I'm stupid. Not used to dynamic lighting lol. But i do appreciate it! Move 20, attack.
Scimitar: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 1 = 23
S Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
Crit Conf: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 1 = 18
Crit Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
So with DR I think that's 12 Damage.

More suddenly appearing fire startles Barek and slow his reactions. Seeing how handily Briar Rose takes care of the man on fire, he reaches for a vial of holy water, hoping it will work on the demonic stove.

All this fire is really bad for Barek's mental health. Move, then standard to pull out a flask of holy water.

Sorry for the silence. DM, due to Clara's healing hex, I believe Balurk should be back to full health. Would Balurk's martial flexibility still be active? I'm rolling as if not, but if it is I will add roll results with modifiers on the side.

Balurk is starting to hate this place, so much so that when he sees the flaming skeleton, he throws all caution to the wind and storms over to punch the undead.

Move action towards the skeleton, and unarmed strike.

Unarmed Strike w/ Bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9 if martial flexibility is still there with Power Attack, roll would be an 8
Unarmed Strike Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 if martial flexibility is still there with Power Attack, roll would be 7.

Taking stock of the situation, "Oh man, this is gonna get hot quick." Jack moves next to Balurk, looking unsure of himself. "Okay, how do we kill the fireplace? Do I chop at it or what? I really don't know."

And *I* also don't know how to kill a haunt. Totally at a loss on what to do.

Just move. That's it.

AC 15; Hp's 11/11

I can't open roll20, I'm at the office.

Carla moves in and touches the creature with her hex.

Touch attack, bless: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Healing hex: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Will save for half DC 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

The scary sight makes Carla lose her concentration and can't touch the flaming skeleton.

We basically have to throw positive energy at it before its turn comes up. We have the haunt siphons and holy water to throw. Unfortunately, I think Barek and Jack won't be able to do much before the haunt goes off (and probably fills the room with fire).

Briar Rose was quick to respond when the skeleton crawled out of the furnace and burst into flames. She rushed over and lopped his skull off with a quick slash of her scimitar.  What happened next was a bit surprising as the headless skeleton exploded in a shower of heat and ash. Briar Rose was quick enough to raise her shield and block the mst of it, though her legs got a tad bit burnt.

Quincey came into the room and laid his hand on Balurks shoulder saying Pharasma protect you *Cast Vigor* (1 Temp HP)

Carla moved forward, realizing the furnace was haunted and ran up to it laying a hand on it and calling forth healing energies. where she had touched it, it had gone cool. It wasnt enough however to shut down the necromantic energies feeding it.

As she moved towards Lawrence jumped out of the satchel she carried him in and ran to the furthest corner of the room and cowered, squeaking at her to join him.

Balurk. not knowing what a haunt was, ran forward and threw a hard punch into the side of the furnace, denting it but doing nothing else The roaring face on the front laughed.

a tongue of flame leapt out of the furnace towards Carla, who had injured it and she barely evaded it...moving to the side. It scorched the stone black where it struck.

Barek moved forward, pulling a vial of Holy Water out of his pouch.

Jack moved forward and conferred with Barek briefly. Haunt Siphons, Carla's positive energy, and holy water was all that they came up with. Though perhaps if they had anything with cold energy...

[ooc]Carla. the haunt receives no will save. its just whatever your positive energy does on the die roll. so you had done 8 to it this turn[/00c]

Initiative

23 Briar Rose
20 Quincey
17 Carla
17 Lawrence
13 Balurk
9 Old Ember Maw
8 Barek
4 Jack

Durations
Bless +1 Hit. +1 save vs Fear 2R
Vigor +1 Temp HP 9R

Naturally one puts a fire out by dumping water on it.

Free action to drop sword. Move to draw holy water. 5 foot step. Standard to pour on the mean fire.
Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Briar Rose through a vial of holy water into the maw of the furnace, and doused the flames. The Furnace went quiet...for now.

End of Combat

Carla's heart is racing from nearly being engulfed in flame from a furnace. She has some trouble moving and looks at Lawrence how he got to the corner of the room so fast.

She asks "What in the hells was that?"

Please someone have knowledge religion to identify a haunt and know how to make it rest.

She says "Let's... let's get out of here?"

"What in the hells was that?"[/quote

"Very scary," says Barek warily. He quietly stows the vial of water he pulled, and tugs the sleeves of his robes back fully over his wrists, covering the scar tissue that peeks through.

"I agree, Carla, I'm starting to think we may be better served with some more planning..."

It looks like Quincey is the only one with the right knowledge we're looking for.

Quincey, Id need more research time to discover how to destroy haunts permanently. I know each has a unique way. This furnace Haunt has me confused though.

religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"It's a furnace. We should get a bucket of water to make sure it's out!" Briar Rose says a short prayer to ward off an would-be attempts at posessions of her companions by the haunt.

so whats the plan? Keep exploring? If so...through the door in this room or back to the entrance and through a different door. Or go back? if so through the back wall? or back to the entrance?

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Boo.

Nodding in complete agreement, "I do like the bucket of water idea from Rose. That makes a lot of sense."

She says "Let's... let's get out of here?"

With a heavy sigh, "You know, as much as I don't really want to, I think we probably should. A part of me thinks this place is slightly beyond our capabilities right now. Maybe if we call it a day, we can rest up, recuperate, and come back a bit more prepared and ready tomorrow. What do y'all think?"

NOW I'm starting to think we should leave. It feels like we're somewhat outgunned currently.

Carla nods quickly at Jack's suggestion and ushers Lawrence back into her pocket.