'Gallows of Madness - The Festering Blot'

Game Master Shadow Dragon

Cannoli shrugs as the grizzathing rushes past her and runs outside. She comments to the remaining group, ”Anyone else also need to potty before continuing?”

Ummm...no...but thanks for asking....

Cannoli wonders where the powder room is as Grizzlebin returns with the brass key.

There are other doors upstairs but which is next?

Whomever is going to Perception the door please move your token to whichever door you're Perception-ing. ;)

"Looks like that message was written in blood." points out Lucinus after inspecting the writing.

"Must be very old blood..."

Vreekka is a little embarrassed that she didn't recognize that. She quickly exits the room, walks to the door on the opposite side and inspects it.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Vreekka checks another door and declares it safe. Will anyone else join her there and open the door for her?

Seriously her 7 Str might not be enough hehehe! ;)

Guardian joins her and opens the door.

Guardian XI opens the door and hears a creaking sound coming from a rocking cradle that echoes in the room. Dolls, wooden figurines, and clockwork toys lie abandoned on a table. He's not sure what he's found since squishy organic creatures are so different to him.

New map on Slide 2. I drew a yellow circle around the cradle. Any PC entering the room please place your token where you want to be and let me know who is doing what please.

Cannoli glances in the room and comments, ”Oh look, constructs just like you, Guardian. Were you made in a place like this?”

She plans to stay outside like the last couple rooms.

"Whaddaya all standin' around for?" mutters Grizzlebin, loping easily into the room.

"Whaddaya all standin' around for?" mutters Grizzlebin, loping easily into the room.

What's he doing?

Grizzlebin lopes over towards the cradle, intrigued to see what mortal youth sleep in.

@GM: I'm getting this encounter started, that's what I'm doing. You're welcome! :)

Grizzlebin lopes over towards the cradle, intrigued to see what mortal youth sleep in.

@GM: I'm getting this encounter started, that's what I'm doing. You're welcome! :)

Cool I want to see an Agathion vs. a baby Pit Fiend! ;)

Grizzlebin checks the rocking cradle and sees there's a blanket inside with something squirming inside the blanket. But what is it???

”Oh look, constructs just like you, Guardian. Were you made in a place like this?”

Just like me? I think not, they aren't moving at all!

He follows Griz to the cradle and begins pulling away blankets until it's clear what's squirming in there.

Cold air hits infant... pees directly into Guardian's face. Yeah I've changed some diapers before...

I haven't changed any but my mother tells me I was the pee-er once upon a time...

Guardian XI opens the blankets and sees a baby giant centipede!

The PCs have seen enough fiendish templated creatures from demon bile to recognize this baby centipede is fiendish. It's also so young and small it can't do any harm to any of the PCs.

Daegon tries to not facepalm at Cannoli's comment.

Umm..not to be the wet blanket...but that thing is infected by the bile. Is it prudent to...eliminate it? If it grows up, it might spread the infestation further. he says, not relishing the thought, but seeing the cold reality.

While other members of the party check the cradle Lucinus takes a look around the rest of the room...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Lucinus begins ransacking rummaging through the items in the nursery and finds a music box that's in excellent shape.

An Appraise check? Lucinus can show it to Vreekka for her to evaluate.

Cannoli peeks in through the door, ”What thing are we talking about destroying? As your resident holy priest I should have a say… and I usually say ‘go for it!’”

Guardian holds up his cold iron greatsword pointed downward, and thrusts in into the baby centipede. He braces himself for a spray of... something.

See? Easy.

"Oh look a music box."

Lucinus looks it over and also checks it for any traps...

appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"A music box? Let me see!"

Vreekka ignores the fuss abount the cradle and moves over to Lucinus

Appraise: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 LOL.

Guardian XI kills the baby centipede and gets a bit of remains on him due to his overpowering strength. I mean he stabbed so hard his sword is now stuck in the floor...

Lucinus is certain the music box is free of traps but he doesn't know if it's valuable or not. In trying to show it to Vreekka he hits her in the eye with it! That must be why Vreekka can't 'see' how much it's worth either.

Someone had to explain those low rolls! ;) Where to next?

Lucinus takes a look inside the music box to see if he can get it to play a tune.

Lucinus takes a look inside the music box to see if he can get it to play a tune.

Lucinus opens the music box and it begins to play a tune. Cannoli starts dancing to the beat!

Any PC who succeeds at a DC 14 Knowledge (history or local) or Perform (any) check can learn more!

Lucinus also sees a folded up piece of paper inside the box. Being the curious type (or eager to receive more secret, evil instructions from his overlords to destroy the party???) he opens the paper and sees it's the sheet music for the music box's tune.
Handwritten on the back of the sheet music are the scrawled words: “play to access the secrets below.”

Perform: Any: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

The twitching tail gives way to a twitching booty, swaying to the tune of…

Cannoli knows that the melody is from a popular sea chantey still sung in Remesiana today.

Since she knows what the chantey is she would know Remesiana is a port city in southern Cheliax.

Take 10 Knowledge: any: 10 + 16 = 26 +1 if arcana or nature :-P

A musical key? Interesting...

Vreekka confirms Cannoli's information about the tune without resorting to the infamous 'Jones Rumpshaker.'

Where to next?

"Play to access the secrets below." muses Lucinus looking at the scrawled note "I wonder where you need to play it?".

The catfolk’s ear twitches, ”presumably below, but whether that is ‘directly below’ or merely on a lower level, I couldn’t guess. But let’s check the rest of up here first. Always explore all of one level before heading to the next. Or so wiser people than me say.”

I hope the bug I just stabbed didn't make the perfect note that it expects.

Following Cannoli's suggestion Lucinus heads back out of the room and checks the next door along the balcony...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

That would be a hilarious, yet unfortunate coincidence... Daegon says as he ponders XI's thought. He follows Lucinus.

Cannoli grins, ”Ah, good question. But, as long as you all don’t let me die off, I can caterwaul any note you need.”

She follows the group.

Lucinus remains silent (or is he silently plotting?) and checks the next door which he claims is safe.

Guardian XI is struck with a moment of remorse? From an android??? Nothing about this whole situation makes sense!

Daegon finds some dark humor in the situation and goes to cover Lucinus. (Or maybe he suspects Lucinus is possessed by dark powers and is just waiting for them to manifest?)

Grizzlebin has been opening doors but I don't want to bot him for that.

Guardian XI is struck with a moment of remorse? From an android??? Nothing about this whole situation makes sense!

Remorse is strong. Conditional regret is closer. Conditions not met.

Guardian has been opening some doors too. Guardian opens this door after his exhilarating escape from minor regret.

Guardian XI resets his moral compass I'm teasing him! ;) and opens the door to the next room.

This dormitory-style bedroom looks tidier than other rooms in the building. A hunched figure wearing a maid’s uniform is sitting on a small bed in the northwest corner of the room.

This eerie creature resembles a human with oddly segmented limbs, waxen skin, and doll-like eyes.

A trained Knowledge (Nature) check could reveal more information...

She looks up at Guardian XI and asks, “I don’t know you. Why are you here?”

I'm teasing him! ;)

Hehe I know. I tend to lean into it.

--------------------

Guardian gives the... maid a curious look and responds briefly

Oh, just looking around. Say, I have friends back here who might like to talk to you as well!

He backs up and gestures for others to enter.

Nature ppl represent

Vreekka follows Guardian's gesture. When she sees the creature she tries to recall what she knows...

Take 10 Knowledge: nature: 10 + 17 = 27

Vreekka follows Guardian's gesture. When she sees the creature she tries to recall what she knows...

[dice=Take 10 Knowledge: nature]10+17

Vreekka can tell the others what they have found is a nukkefeen - a type of fey creature. Nukkefeens have a peculiar sense of morality. For example, most of them loathe weapons and violence, but think that harming unpleasant people or animals with scissors or similar objects is a way to “fix” them. They are not inherently malicious, though they are obsessed with old, abandoned buildings where great tragedies have occurred. They are likely to settle in abandoned homes, which they take care of in their own peculiar way.

Vreekka can receive two pieces of information for the nukkefeen; what would you like to know?

Resistances and Immunities, please.

Still outside, Vreekka quietly shares her knowledge with the others.

Resistances and Immunities, please.

Still outside, Vreekka quietly shares her knowledge with the others.

Like many fey she takes less damage from weapons NOT made from cold iron (DR 2/cold iron). They don't have any immunity or resistances so you can ask about one other item.

@Everyone: Guardian XI called for a diplomancer to speak with the nukkefeen. Who is going to do the talking for the group?

Jakeric limps into the room. "Oh! Hi there. I'm J-Jakeric, and these are my friends. We're P-Pathfinders! That means we explore and help solve p-p-problems. What's your name?"

Like many fey she takes less damage from weapons NOT made from cold iron (DR 2/cold iron). They don't have any immunity or resistances so you can ask about one other item.

Ok, then Special Attacks, please.

Jakeric limps into the room. "Oh! Hi there. I'm J-Jakeric, and these are my friends. We're P-Pathfinders! That means we explore and help solve p-p-problems. What's your name?"

You might want to add a Diplomacy roll if Jakeric is going to be the 'face' of the party. And perhaps some aids from the others? ;)

GM Shadow Dragon wrote:

Like many fey she takes less damage from weapons NOT made from cold iron (DR 2/cold iron). They don't have any immunity or resistances so you can ask about one other item.

Ok, then Special Attacks, please.

Vreekka remembers a disturbing detail about nukkefeen: they can 'steal' another creature's eyesight! Although not permanent the effect is obviously debilitating during the duration.

Cannoli peeks in, her fur and tail raise in concern and she ducks back around the corner whispering, ”I can barely see already, ain’t messing around with that.”

BUT

She does hollar from the hall, ”Yup, totally nice explorers. That’s what we are.”

Can’t fail to Aid on Diplomacy with her +9 mod.

If Jakeric doesn't roll a Diplomacy check by tomorrow morning my time I'll bot a roll and just use what Jakeric said as his icebreaker. Although maybe keep Cannoli on standby!