'Gallows of Madness - The Festering Blot'

Game Master Shadow Dragon

Jakeric enters the mausoleum. "Why d-d-didn't anybody ask me? I am a scholar, you know!"

He takes a look at the manuscript, his face blushing from his outburst.

@GM: I'll roll a few checks below.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Profession (scholar): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Ha, that was terrible. Let's assume emotion has clouded Jakeric's intellectual ability :)

Jakeric enters the mausoleum. "Why d-d-didn't anybody ask me? I am a scholar, you know!"

He takes a look at the manuscript, his face blushing from his outburst.

@GM: I'll roll a few checks below.

[dice=Linguistics]1d20+8
[dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+7
[dice=Profession (scholar)]1d20+6

Ha, that was terrible. Let's assume emotion has clouded Jakeric's intellectual ability :)

Yikes that was terrible. :( You could've taken 10 on it if you wanted. Vreekka also has Linguistics and can decipher the journal if she chooses to do so.

Sorry, everyone, had a busy weekend and work was demanding, too... :-(

Vreekka looks at her teammates with disappointment.
How do they not know such trivial facts?
She sighs.
"Give me a minute, I will decipher this quickly..."

Linguistics, Take 10: 10 + 10 = 20

Sorry, everyone, had a busy weekend and work was demanding, too... :-(

Vreekka looks at her teammates with disappointment.
How do they not know such trivial facts?
She sighs.
"Give me a minute, I will decipher this quickly..."

Remember I didn't write this. The journal has fallen apart into three 'sections' with each requiring a separate Linguistics check. Vreekka and Jakeric can take 10 and make the DC but each check takes time. :P

UnLost in Translation 1: 1d6 ⇒ 5

UnLost in Translation 2: 1d6 ⇒ 5

UnLost in Translation 3: 1d6 ⇒ 4

After 140 minutes Vreekka and Jakeric piece together the contents of the journal's disintegrating pieces.

The journal recounts the adventures of Marcius Sarini in Sargava as a young officer. The book narrates interactions with Sargavans and bloody skirmishes with monsters. During his time abroad, Marcius befriended many locals and learned much about the traps and poisonous plants they used for hunting. He also met a brilliant woman named Eshebe, who had a son not quite a year after she and Marcius became acquainted.

The final part of the book discusses hunting trips, including a successful manticore hunt and a plan to kill a chimera, but the ending of the story is missing.

One interesting feature of the skeletal remains that attracts attention is the quite prominent chin of the boy.

Some enterprising player might want to take note of it and remind me of it later. ;)

Cannoli puts out a really entertaining five minutes stretched over an hour and a half.

Perform: Actress: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

It’s at least not thaaaat boring.

She looks at the long chin, ”Hmmm…. Reminds me of someone, but I just can’t place them.”

Hmmm...maybe he fathered that child...I wonder if he knew about them.

Where to next intrepid heroes?

I assume he fathered the child, but why did he get a longer chin installed on that meatbag? Guardian wonders.

Assuming there's nothing else to learn here...

Shall we head to the last out-building to the North? Here's hoping that one has the secret entrance to the house.

"Sounds good to me." says Lucinus who takes care to respectfully close up any of the coffins that the party had opened.

Cannoli closes up the crypt after everyone leaves and heads after the group. She adds, ”If not a secret entrance, maybe at least a publicist to help get the word out about my show.”

This wild garden is flush with colors and full of scents both sharp and sweet. A gazebo topped with a weather vane sits in the northeast corner of the garden.

Vreekka can't fail this Knowledge check either! BOO! ;)

Vreekka reveals that some of the plants have been imported from other countries, some of which are as distant as Sargava.

Lucinus, Daegon, Guardian XI, and Cannoli spot something hiding in the dense undergrowth.

Knowledge (Nature) for those PCs; Vreekka didn't hit the Perception DC so she can't help.

Untrained ok?

Ummm...what is that? Daegon points to the brush.

k. nature untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Untrained ok?

Yeppers! I'll wait to see what everyone else gets on their rolls.

untrained nature but probably really good: 1d20 ⇒ 18

”My natural instincts are super in tune with all sorts of… natural things and such, cause I am very catlike if you hadn’t noticed. Aaaaanyway, I am pretty sure I sense something important in those itchy weeds over there.”

I'm pretty un-natural but let's give the 'ol sniffer a go...

Knowledge (nature), untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Yup, something is hiding there.

Only Lucinus is left to make a check...

knowledge (nature) untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

How rude to talk over me! What is it now?

Vreekka looks annoyed. She doesn’t like to be interrupted while she's in the process of listening every attribute of every exotic plant in this garden.

"Where? I don't see anything. Anyway, as I was explaining, the leaves of this Rhododendron are known for..."

She continues to display her knowledge, completely unfazed by the potential invisible nonexistent threat. :-P

Daegon, Cannoli, Guardian XI, and Lucinus all agree what they've spotted is a giant frog. They also know frogs like to eat people but Cannoli is fairly certain frogs don't like fur so she's safe. Probably.

After pointing all this out Cannoli suggests a very wise course of action, ”Since I am furred and Guardian is not edible. I suggest we approach the frog to shoo it off.”

You could always sing...might drive it away... Daegon says as he prepares to duck.

The catfolk smiles, ”Great suggestion!”

She starts belting out a very loud tune while wandering towards the frog.

Perform: Sing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

The hills are alive With the sound of music
With songs they have sung For a thousand years
The hills fill my heart With the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears
My heart wants to beat like the wings of a bird
That rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
From a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls
Over stones on its way To sing through the night
Like a lark who is learning to pray
I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I heard before
My heart will be blessed
With the sound of music
And I'll sing once more

Guardian manifests his shadow weapon and is about to advance forward when Cannoli starts singing.

Uh... right. Okay, let's see if that works.

He keeps eyeing the spot where it's hiding.

The giant frog When it says 'giant' it means it; it's 6 feet long and weighs a deuce. taps one of its front feet in time with Cannoli's singing and, at the end of the song, hopes this show comes with dinner - and attacks!

@Cannoli: If she had Wild Empathy I would've taken that roll as a check. But since it's a hungry animal...

@Vreekka and anyone else with Knowledge (Nature) *trained*, please make a roll.

But it's not as fast on the draw as Vreekka and Daegon!

Round 1 - Feeling Froggy?

Vreekka
Daegon
Giant Dancing Frawg
Cannoli
Guardian XI
Jakeric
Grizzlebin
Lucinus

Vreekka and Daegon are UP! Daegon: You might want to wait for Vreekka's Knowledge (Nature) check before acting unless you're blasting from range.

yeah...i'll wait...just in case...

Vreekka raises an eyebrow.

"Huh. Where did that frog come from? Teleportation?"

Knowledge: Nature t: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30 Another 30! :-D :-P

in this order: Resistances, Immunities, Special Attacks, Special Defenses, Special Abilities

Will post actions as soon as I know more about Giant Dancing Frawg.

Vreekka knows the frog has a long tongue that it can use to grab and then pull a victim to its mouth and then swallow it - anything as big as it is.

No special defenses, etc. and it is *not* fiendish.

What's more worrisome, however, is the garden itself: The bushes are very difficult to move through and they are poisonous to touch.

Any squares with bushes (just magnify the map and if you can't tell let me know) are difficult terrain and provide concealment (20% miss chance) and will require a Fort save if you enter, cross, or remain in a square with bushes. I added a token for the frog to the map.

Daegon moves to get a better position to target the frog, and fires a crossbow bolt at it.

xbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d8 ⇒ 5
miss. low bad: 1d100 ⇒ 12

Daegon fires his crossbow at the giant dancing frawg but the undergrowth blocks his view and he misses. The frawg eyes him hungrily...

Vreekka is UP!

Is this a Giant Frog or a Goliath Frog or...?

"Be careful, this *insert name here* has a long tongue that it can use to grab and then pull a victim to its mouth and then swallow it. But there's no demon bile, so no fiendish resistances. Also, the bushes are very difficult to move through and they are poisonous to touch!"

Vreekka seems to be happy to get to use her bombs against a foe that's not resistant for once. She quickly assembles the chemicals while reciting the facts and throws the mix at the Giant Dancing Frawg... (see map)

Bomb, PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16 (vs FF(?) touch AC)
miss. low bad: 1d100 ⇒ 9 :-/
misdirection: 1d8 ⇒ 7 :-O :-(
6 splash fire damage (Reflex DC 16 for half splash damage)

Unfortunately, this bad misdirection roll means that Daegon and Guardian get splashed, too. Please roll Reflex for half. GM, does it at least burn the bushes down?

"Sorry, guys, it did ricochet off a branch!", the alchemist yells while moving back a few steps.

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Hah I accidentally erased when I typed what it is! It is a Giant Frog in this case a Giant Dancing Frawg since it was entertained by the Cannoli the Crooner. The bushes are green so they don't burn as in create an open space or start a fire in the garden.

Vreekka's toss goes awry and she cooks not just the giant dancing frawg but Guardian XI and Daegon as well - oops!

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

The frawg dances away from Vreekka's bomb and then targets its desired meal:

Cannoli, Guardian XI, Daegon (1-3): 1d3 ⇒ 1

It thinks Cannoli's singing is so sweet she must be too!

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

But it misjudges and ends up with only a bit of fur to show for its efforts.

Round 1 - Feeling Froggy?

Vreekka
Daegon [-3 or -6 HP]
Giant Dancing Frawg [-3 HP]
Cannoli
Guardian XI [-6 HP]
Jakeric
Grizzlebin
Lucinus

Cannoli, Guardian XI, Jakeric, and Grizzlebin are UP!

Oh, it’s right there…

A shimmering blade forms, extending outward from his clasped hands.

[move] create shadow weapon

He attempts to cut the frog head off clean.

[standard] attack
shadow weapon attack (furious focus), slashing damage (furious focus): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 252d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 7 + 2 = 16

Cannoli moves around the music tamed groggy frog and draws her weapon, swinging away.

”Don’t worry about me, I’m not allergic to poison ivy or whatever this is.”

Acrobatics - ACP avoid AoO: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2
Fort v Plants: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

And swing away!

MW CI Morningstar + Flank: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12 for CI/P and B: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Oh, it’s right there…

A shimmering blade forms, extending outward from his clasped hands.

[move] create shadow weapon

He attempts to cut the frog head off clean.

[standard] attack

Guardian XI makes sure the only thing croaking today is the giant dancing frawg as he cuts its head off - yikes!

All seems quiet until a second frog appears and leaps to attack Jakeric!

If Jakeric or Lucinus has something that grants Combat Reflexes they'd be able to take an AoO on it since it has to enter Jakeric's square to attack. Identifying this frog will take a different (and trained) Knowledge (Nature) check.

Bitey: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

And this frog bites Jakeric!

Jakeric takes 1 HP of damage and I need a Fort save please.

Round 1 - Feeling Froggy?

Vreekka
Daegon [-3 or -6 HP]
Cannoli
Guardian XI [-6 HP]
Jakeric
Grizzlebin
Another Frog???
Lucinus

Since Guardian XI annihilated the frog I'll let Cannoli take her action since there was no first frog to attack. Yes everyone failed the Perception DC (even Lucinus' +2 extra for surprise round encounters) to spot the 2nd frog. I'm going to consider everyone else in the Initiative order as having been on delay so Cannoli, Jakeric, Grizzlebin, and Lucinus are UP! It's a tiny frog and the icon is currently sitting on Jakeric's head.

Cannoli instead moves over and swings at the little frog, ”Hold still Jake, you got a little evil frog that wasn’t even singing along with my song up on your head!”

Presuming this round’s swing result of 10 misses the little frog…

”STOP MOVING SO I CAN HIT IT!!!”

Cannoli instead moves over and swings at the little frog, ”Hold still Jake, you got a little evil frog that wasn’t even singing along with my song up on your head!”

Presuming this round’s swing result of 10 misses the little frog…

”STOP MOVING SO I CAN HIT IT!!!”

I have no idea if you're supposed to keep the roll or not. My general rule is pics or it didn't happen if the action did not take place neither did the roll. So I say roll again but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It is 100% GM call. I just default to reusing rolls if put in similar situations. I shall reroll as requested, mighty Master of Games! No Acro or fort necessary this round so just the smackity smack.

MW CI Morningstar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 for CI/P and B: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Ball don’t lie!

It is 100% GM call. I just default to reusing rolls if put in similar situations. I shall reroll as requested, mighty Master of Games! No Acro or fort necessary this round so just the smackity smack.

[dice=MW CI Morningstar]1d20+5 for [dice=CI/P and B]1d8+2

Ball don’t lie!

Cannoli is so upset the second frog didn't dance for her that she swings and misses the little booger!

Jakeric twitching around didn't help either but he was just bitten by a frog.

"Oww! It b-b-bit me!" shouts Jakeric, trying to fend off the frog with his walking stick.

I'll make an attack roll with my quarterstaff.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

I'm hoping the save isn't a death effect :) But if it is, I get a power-gaming cheeze-weasling +1 bonus to that save.

Quarterstaff Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

"Calm down kid, ya ain't dyin' or nuthin!" growls Grizzlebin. He tromps into the bushes to swat the thing off Jakeric's face.

Grizzlebin is moving into the bushes and attack once with a claw.

Fort save vs bushes!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 (extra +4 vs poison or petrification)

Claw Attack w/ magic fang: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
damage w/ magic fang: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8

Jakeric tries to strike the frog with his walking stick but misses. Thankfully he doesn't hit himself in the face...

Grizzlebin, reckless as ever, strides through the poisonous bushes to engage the frog in Mortal Kombat!, swings his glowing claw he named 'Painmaker', and slices the frog in two! It's like he took notes from Guardian XI on how to utterly dispatch frogs in one hit...

With the frog/frawg menace subdued Vreekka can report to the group that not only is this vegetation vicious it's also valuable. How valuable? She can harvest rare specimens worth 125 gold!

After testing if catmint has any effect on Cannoli the group turns its sights on the interior of the garden and the gazebo. It would offer a lovely view of the estate if it weren't overgrown and unkempt. Still one can imagine a band playing music while servants brought food and drink for guests during a garden party - swanky stuff!

Where to next intrepid heroes?

I suppose we've now run out of reasons to avoid entering the main house.

Cannoli, who is currently up in a tree mesmerized by her own twitching tail, snaps out of it briefly, ”Wut? Where are we again?”

She squints down at the group.

Be ready for anything...no telling what we will encounter in there... Daegon says as he moves to the door, his eyes glowing purple as he tries to find any magical auras.

can someone move me pls? on my tablet..ty

"I'm so sorry for burning you! That wasn’t my intention at all." Vreekka says while harvesting the rare plant species. "At least we'll get some gold for these so the healing you need will be paid for..."

@Daegon: I moved your token near the door. Also, you still need to attempt a DC 16 Reflex Save to see how much you got burned by the bomb.

"What are you doing up there? We need you down here, Cannoli!"

Vreekka shakes her head, then remembers her thoughts about the fight in the stables.

"Also, I wanted to ask you: Are you going to try and kill everything that stands in your way? Even if it's by accident or for a very good reason? Those Giant Centipedes in the stables were not inherently evil, they were just guarding their eggs. Yes, they were infected with demon bile and needed to be dealt with, but you couldn't have known that before looking at them."

The alchemist sighs.

"I don't want you to blindly Ha! :-P Leeroy Jenkins drag us into a fight that we can't win - or that might even not be necessary at all."

It's not (only) about morality, it's about survival! ;-)

Cannoli climbs down the tree and eyes Vreeka intently, ”YOU gave me the catmint, so don’t even ask why I was acting all weird. As for being cautious about going into battle, that ain’t me. Ain’t never gonna be me. But I recall all I did was urge you to attack, and you did. So while I really appreciate you listening to me, most people don’t. So probably just make your own call next time. I am far from a smart battlecat nor a moral example, or at least that’s what my parents always say.”

The cat battle priest prepares to follow guardian into the side door, ”Any traps?”

Lucinus takes a look at the door to see if he can spot any potential traps...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26