Chaul Drammarson's page

Irori being LN is the kicker for me. I wasn't sure all the priests followed him, but figured it likely, thus the check. Guess I'll go back to the defeating an undead box.

Many thank.s I'll echo my thoughts from before. I think you did a great job. High level scenarios in particular can be tricky, but you kept the story going at a nice pace. This felt really good.

For Faction Journal Card purposes, would this could as rescuing a named NPC who is a divine spell caster with a good aligned deity?

boon: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Nice. Thanks.

And she busy trying to collect items that were made from the wood of the forest that had been cut down?

How did she locate the manuscript? And was it the agile monks who broke it to retrieve it?

I really liked this one. A mystery with a protagonist that even the rabidly anti-undead Chaul could find some sympathy toward.

I assume we worked out what happened correctly? The only real mystery is about the timing. Was it just coincidence about the last tree being felled? And was it a dominated monk that broke into get the book?

"I do. It would be a generous act to re-plant the whole island, and then sustainably harvest the trees, planting more as you do so. Such an act would also give the monastery in good time, an ongoing supply of paper, and thus be in your long term interests." agrees Chaul.

"If the pinecone has many viable seeds, then we can plant several trees. Perhaps a copse in one place and a few isolated ones. With the ghost now gone - at least for the moment, let us talk with the Master again and get his ascent."

Chaul heads over toward the tied up master and loosens his gag to explain and discuss the situation.

"Then let us do just that, and see if we can finally put this tortured soul to rest." says Chaul.

"Perhaps then we will be able to find the last part of the book."

"My friend, to fall is our nature. Forgiveness is the gift of Saeraen, and my pleasure to bestow. The light of the Dawnflower grows brighter with every soul redeemed, and seeking forgiveness is the first step of that."

"I guess we had best start digging." says Chaul.

He looks worriedly at Pradnyana, wondering if she was now under the ghosts influence.
Surely not, it will take time to reform after that.

fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Chaul stands firm against the corrupting touch, although he is seriously weakened. Faced with twin threats of ghost and dominated Grim, he withdraws from the combat.

Sorry, difficulty of PBP and ordering of initiative. I think I have got Chaul more than a double move at half speed from Grim, but my screen is a little small, if this isn't right, he'll instead go out the main gates and try to draw the warrior away from that battle.

As Grim attacks before Chaul takes his action, I think Chaul would do a withdrawl to behind the other pathfinders rather than ready a channel

Go for the sword. Chaul is going to withdraw and move behind the others. That will mean he can only close each round but not get a strike in. Not ideal, but will buy time. I suspect so long as the ghost is in the wall there is no way to hurt her. I just hope there is a limit to the number of people she can dominate. This is at least the third she has used today.

If it was murderous command, it is only one round.

No worries. Saves pass, saves fail. Chaul has had a bit of a checkered career at the best of times :-)

No worries. Improved Iron will is your friend!

Ahh, no., Sorry, I didn't realise the ghost was behind a wall. Chaul would step back away from the wall and encourage all the others to do so, and then ready an action to channel when it came out of the wall.

Chaul continues to push forward, heaving as if against great invisible doors that threaten to slam shut.

"Sarenrae help this poor dead spirit realise eternal rest." he cries out. The withering blast of holy energy that comes through the doors seems somehow less keen on redemption and more on retribution.

channel will DC22 for half, no CR: 6d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 6, 4, 5) + 8 = 38

Sarenrae grants Chaul the Sun domain which adds his level to his channel damage and means undead don't get channel resistance.

But with a +18 will save. Ouch.

"Jathyl, stop this at once. We want to help you and reforest the land, not hurt you."

Still, when facing an angry ghost, Chaul knows what to do. Pushing his arms forward he shoves as if pushing open a mighty gate. With a great heave a flood of holy energy spills out. The pathfinders are untouched, but the energy seems drawn toward the dead fey, twisting and twirling around her as if trying to convince her to return to her natural, dead state.

channel energy, no Channel Resistance, will DC 22 for half: 6d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 6, 2, 4) + 8 = 24

Chaul joins the general exodus heading towards the main temple.

Moved a double move on the map

"Hmm... perhaps we should follow our friend and see what he is up to."

He looks at the other two priests. "I think he is being controlled by the ghost, as the others were. Can you keep an eye on him for us and let us know what he is up to. Try to avoid being seen. I'd go myself, but Dr Strange's spell will not last long."

Chaul looks a little suspiciously at the monk who leaves..
sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
"More important than saving his fellow monks and putting to rest a spirit that has been denied its rest for hundreds, or thousands of years?"

He joins the good doctor, searching for the wand, and hopefully the seed.

"Let us see if your theory about the seed is correct." says Chaul, thwarted in his attempt to find the seed using normal mechanisms.

"If we see the ghost again, I will put the suggestion to her. It maybe that the offer is acceptable. And surely if the wand is near where she fell, her spirit will want to accost us again."

"Maybe we should try to restore Kamal and see if he can shed any light on this mystery. And check he really is as affected as the other priests.." suggests Chaul.

To the helpful monk he says "I would ask that all trees on the island be protected and the island be allowed to be reforested once again. Surely this is the action that the ghostly dryad is after, and if the trees were only cut down to make paper, rather than to provide grazing or land for buildings... that should not be an issue. You could probably even make an agreement around limited logging so long as each felled tree was replaced."

To Dr Strange he adds "The seed didn't need to be with her. It could just as easily be the last seed from the last adult tree to be felled."

He turns to the monk once agan. "Do you know where the last tree felled stood before it was cut down?"

"So we have our primary mission..the text. But I cannot help but feel it will vanish again unless we put this ghost to rest. And while I could just open the gates of heaven to burn it with celestial fire... I don't think that would keep it at rest for long. We need to find this seed, plant it, and ensure that it will be looked after."

He turns to the monks. "If we can find this seed, who would be in a position to ensure that it was looked after going forward? The master of monks in the courtyard, or one of the priests? " he asks.

"You also mentioned that one of the priests was quite new, only been here a year or so. Was that the one who also carved the "thief" statue?"

Chaul listens as the doctor works his idea. "This sounds more and more likely. While it is natural to want to use the wood of the island, in this case its overuse has riled the spirit of the dryad. And restoring it would seem wise. Stil - why she went after this particular book has not yet been solved.. perhaps it was penned here with wood from the forest that was."

"I think anything you have in here on the history of the island would be of value. " adds in Chaul.

"What was here before the temple was established?"

"I am Chaul, priest of Saeraen, Silver Crusader and Pathfinder. We came originally in search of a book that had been recently stolen. Divination pointed to it being on this island."

He pauses.

"We landed, and your master of monks set his apprentices on us. We managed to restrain them... mostly. Unfortunately one suffered fatal wounds that I was not able to treat in time. We have also found your priests who have had their will drained by what appears to be the ghost of a dryad, who may or may not realise she is dead. She is collecting paper artefacts, presumably ones she thinks were made from trees harvested from this island."

"We come in peace, and have revealed ourselves. Such distrust you show is surely not one of the 100 techniques he taught in 'Unbinding the Fetters'" notes the priest.

Chaul also enters the room, his weapon sheathed.

"We are here to talk, and to find out from you perhaps a bit more of what has transpired here in recent days. It appears your leaders have become...detached."

diplomacy(aid): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Chaul directs a glare at Grimaldus. "Language!"

"Unless it is here to warn something else..." notes the priest.

He scans the library for signs of magic.

Yes, but if I suspect ungagging him will have him attack, I will instead join the others in the library.

"Interesting that she seems to prefer to reside inside an actual body." he notes to Dr Strange and the other pathfinders.

"We are not thieves" he tells the statue.

Does the master reply to Chaul at all? If not he goes to join the others in the library.

Chaul was talking with the master before heading up to the library. Sorry, I should have made that clear.

Chaul sighs "We would talk with you. There is benefit to us working together." he says.

"You would have your seed safe, and so would we. I would be more than happy to try to help this island become a living forest again."

Chaul looks toward the courtyard. "Perhaps the master can tell us more."

He returns to the courtyard to talk with the tied up master monk.

"Are you still able to converse with me?" he asks, hopefully.

"I think we may be able to do more with words than fire.." says Chaul... a somewhat Suprising claim from a priest of the militant Dawnflower.

"She is no normal undead, they would not abide our presence. She is presumably tied to the haunt somehow as well. "

"I have never heard of a demon or an angel being undead. That seems odd. When they die, they are gone.. or returned to their homes. " says Chaul, happy to discuss theology.

"When we died, we join the river of souls.." he says this in an almost whistful tone.

"It is a beautiful place. Those who bind the dead to this world do so much more evil than they realise."

SM: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
"You scared her." sighs Chaul.

"Or maybe I did. Either way, perhaps the remaining seed is a way to help her. Presumably if it were planted, then this whole island would eventually regrow. Apart from the monastery, I can see no problems with that. Although I guess some country or local lord probably claims owership of it."

He thinks further.

"Or maybe it was given to the church of Irori.. I assume this is dedicated to him. I wonder how they would feel about practicing their disciplines and guarding a regenerating forest at the same time. It doesn't sound incompatible." he muses.

The priest ponders matters further.

"There is also the question of the priests being drained of wisdom, but not the monks, and why that happened. And how they didn't notice. I think there may be still more afoot than we have quite realised, but surely we are approaching the truth."

Turning to the others he asks "Any ideas for showing her that we would like to help her, but to do so, we need to get some of the bits of dead wood back?"

"Great guardian, the wizard war between Nex and Geb left vast tracks of land a waste. That this island survived is a miracle into itself. Nothing can bring it back unsullied. But the beauty of forest is they can grow anew. The island can become lush again, and seems to be within the taint of the land. " says the priest.

"But I have concerns for you. What you suffered in the destruction has somehow transformed you into something that should not be. Just as a forest can be regrown from a single seed, so must you also return to the first world to regrow."

Chaul gasps in horror at the sight of the dryad. "I can see you have been sorely used and abused. However not all meat is the same, and we are as horrified at what has been done to you as you are about what has happened to your forest. he exclaims.

"What you are doing though will not bring back your forest. To do that will require active help from some ... meat."

He looks at the mind-warped priests and monks. "I am wondering if these were released if they might spend some time in reseeding this island to once again contain a rich forest."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Mighty guardian of the trees, we do seek parley. And also to understand what you have done and why you have done it." starts Chaul.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

"We would ask for the return of the "meat", along with some parts of the tree that was. For all things die, even trees. To not then use it would be a waste - and nature always finds a way to reuse the dead."

Chaul listens and then looks up at the tree.

"How old is this book we are recovering? All the bits here are paper...made from wood. Could they be remnants of the forest from before the dryad died?"

"Our protections will not last long. Unless you can see our foe up there, we should press on." calls out Chaul.

"This has been purposefully damaged." notes Chaul.

"Another sign it may be of us to us. It is missing some scriptures.." he looks up at the tree.

"I hope they were not included in that."

Chaul, seeing the state of the priests moves forward to examine the phylactery. "This may be helpful, and its current owner has no use for it. I will return it before we leave."

Chaul looks up the tree "This area did not look so tall from the outside..."

How high is the ceiling here?

"Not a good sign. Their minds have been drained. I can restore them with time, and a lot of gems. But for now... we will learn nothing from them." sighs Chaul.