OK, there's one skull for each of you! Sterling is up, then the foes, then the rest of you.
This week is lighter than last week so I should be able to keep this combat pretty fast moving!
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Harrowstone Prison Zek heads west and immediately finds the portcullis down and locked. He check the room to the north of the hall and finds that it is a guard room, decorated similarly to the others, with a table, a few chairs, and a pair of cots. Luckily, this winch affixed to the western wall that raises and lowers the portcullis is operable. Zek releases the lock and raises the portcullis with ease. The noise of doing both is quite loud. As the gate begins to rise, the entire Party hears a ghastly screaming. From the room to the south, several severed heads exit the room at high speed racing towards you all! Initiative:
Zyblina Sterling Starshadow Kenzo Hagetora Cole Burns Sergei the Haunted Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich Zek Teofila Agarici Beheaded (8) Round 1 - Oh My Aching Heads!
Teo sent me a PM to return to the game but still hasn't posted. For now, I'll have her PC hover at the entrance of the next section of the prison while the rest of you begin to move forward...
Harrowstone Prison "I cannot speak to what way to serve last rites is the best way to a man that was more monster than human in life. However, I think we need to stay as much as some of you need to leave. What if I ask the Church to send an acolyte with some healing and restorations back here and I'll spend the day investigating what I think might be worth investigating".
Looks like there's a Party split, some want to stay, some want to go, what if Teo goes back and sends a Cleric, the Council wanted to send a Cleric anyway, to assist in healing some wounds, restorations and then you all keep going sans Teo?
LMAO, Cole has certainly got a one track mind!
I thought the PCs buried the Lopper's remains. Search function on Paizo hasn't been working lately so I cannot confirm.
Harrowstone Prison Sergei brings up whatever is on the bottom of the murky water and unfortunately it consists only of the water bloated corpse of the Splatter Man... Teo frowns, "I'd say drop it back but we might want to consider burying his remains on consecrated grounds as well. I hate to cut out in the middle of this delve, but I am going to. I am ok to go alone, it's the middle of the day and town is close by".
Harrowstone Prison "Well, they are all certainly criminally psychopaths, which is why they were in the worst prison that Ustalav had to offer. Now if maybe only one of them had blurted out a name that way I would chalk it up to some sort of madness, but two of them? Now granted both the Piper and Father Charlatan no such interactions took place, but their haunts seemed to be less powerful than what were the actual undead manifestations of the Lopper and Splatter Man. I think that we should follow that thread by seeing what information about those names are in the village records, if nothing comes up, a letter to the Crown or at least to the Library of Van Richten's University makes sense...." She pauses, "Or what about in Van Richten's own writings? I have been contemplating this, why us? I mean granted we all have displayed courage and talent but we are by no means the most powerful individuals he has met nor are we people who he had the longest relationships with. What if this, all of this, is linked to something more than the Cult?"
Zyblina identifies the longsword, dagger and ring as all magical!
Harrowstone Prison Teo sighs in relief still holding the moldy spellbook, "Something more happens here. What did the first ghost point at you and call you Sergei? The name of your new spirit or another name? Dilisnya right? The Splatter Man, another non-mere haunt called me a name as well, what was it? Boritsi? That name means nothing to me, but Hean Boritsi was the Splatter Man's name. Is there some sort of connection here?" She appears troubled. After a few moments of silence, Bastion returns to the Party, blade in hand, ready to fight, though he finds nor further fight. At least, not yet!
Harrowstone Prison Despite fumbling a bit Zek is able to prevent the ring from falling into the murky water!
Now that Splatter Man has been dealt with, I will be removing Teo to DMPC status, no posting from the Player for 2 months and I don't like having to carry around and act for PCs for too long, I have enough to do running the game! I'll introduce that scene once the PCs get their bearings post fight win.
Meant to update over the weekend, between the kids and work I just didn't get the time....
Harrowstone Prison Despite Teo's best efforts, Bastion cannot recover from the fear place within his heart by the foe! The half orc, having recovered, generates fire to burn this foe but Cole's blast goes wide. Kenzo's arrows likewise miss their intended target. Zyblina's healing provides some relief for Sergei, though not as much as he would have liked! Teo turns to grab at the book and rip out more pages but before she can do so, Sergei's, well actually Van Richten's blade cuts deeply into the form of the Splatter Man. "No no that's not possible...." he cries out as his form winks in and out of sight, the "body" flies backwards and slams into the bars before it breaks apart and disappears from sight. The weapons that struck at Kenzo stops floating and a ring falls from the Ghost's ectoplasmic form. Just as suddenly as he appeared, he disappears.
Harrowstone Prison Bastion and Cole flee backwards away from the hideous visage of the Splatter Man!
Sergei's new form strikes deep at the heart of the Splatter Man, his mouth opens in a silent scream and you can see that he is cut deep!
Kenzo's first arrow hits but the damage is lessened by the incorporeal nature of the foe, but he is further damaged nonetheless. Zek holds, awaiting an opportunity to strike. Zyblina Blesses her allies. Teo is shocked by her allies fleeing, she catches up with Bastion and casts a spell upon him! The Splatter Man's eyes widen as he unleashes magic upon Sergei instead of what you all would have considered his primary foe, Teo... "Die foul spirit!" Sergei is blasted by four separate magic missiles! The dagger and longsword floating near him are released at Kenzo, the dagger misses but the longsword strikes true. DM ONLY:
Empowered Magic Missile +7
HP = 24/62 Keen Longsword @ Kenzo - - Mithril Dagger @ Kenzo - Sterling backtracks and slaps Cole on the back for emphasis with his Protection from Evil spell! [ooc]Go ahead and re-roll that Fear check Cole! Round 1 - Bastion & Cole - Re-Roll Fear Checks
Round 2 -
In the Fear Rules in the Campaign Tab, it states that Fear effects last 5d6 Rounds. That is for Ravenloft specifically, we're not there... yet.
Harrowstone Prison
DM ONLY:
Fear Effects:
Zyblina Minor Failure - Teo Minor Failure - Zek Minor Failure - Bastian - Moderate Failure - Sergei - Minor Failure - Cole - Major Failure -
------- ROUND 1
Harrowstone Prison Zek refocuses his energy to Detect Undead, as he does so an explosion ushers forth from the water filled pit! Hovering above you all is the Ghost of the Splatter Man, no mere haunt this foe!
His robes are black as night but glow with the ghastly light of an undead foe, his face is obscured by his hood, but his eyes glow red with hate. Surrounding him are two weapons which are corporeal and a ring is on his hand also corporeal. Zyblina can see that these items are indeed magical. He points at Teofila, "Boritsi Traitor, you die first!" Initiative:
Zyblina Sterling Starshadow Kenzo Hagetora Cole Burns Sergei the Haunted Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich Zek Teofila Agarici The Splatter Man
Ability Score Damage: Diseases, poisons, spells, and other abilities can all deal damage directly to your ability scores. This damage does not actually reduce an ability, but it does apply a penalty to the skills and statistics that are based on that ability.[/ooc]
For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability. If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score. The only exception to this is your Constitution score. If the damage to your Constitution is equal to or greater than your Constitution score, you die. Unless otherwise noted, damage to your ability scores is healed at the rate of 1 per day to each ability score that has been damaged. Ability damage can be healed through the use of spells, such as lesser restoration. Some spells and abilities cause you to take an ability penalty for a limited amount of time. While in effect, these penalties function just like ability damage, but they cannot cause you to fall unconscious or die. In essence, penalties cannot decrease your ability score to less than 1. Wisdom: Damage to your Wisdom score causes you to take penalties on Wisdom-based skill checks and Will saving throws. This penalty also applies to any spell DCs based on Wisdom.
Harrowstone Prison
Cole's fire burns off another letter. Bastion blade just reaches Zyblina's name and takes down another two letters, as does one of Kenzo's arrows, the first though just misses. Once more, the same voice that shrieked begins to laugh and whisper sinister garbled speech.
This time, the cleric resists the laughter. Zek attacks his own name on the wall, scratching off Z, E, and K. Suddenly, the feeling of the Splatter Man being present ceases altogether!
Harrowstone Prison
Bastion is able to reach the writing of Zyblina's name and scratch off the Z and the Y with his attack. Kenzo's arrows erase both the K and the E from his own name. Zyblina blasts the wall with fire erasing the B, L, and I from it.
Teo rips yet another page out causing further howling from the cellblock! DM ONLY:
Page Damage - HP - 7/27
Teo hasn't posted in about 2 months, I'll continue to bot her while she's in the Prison, if you exit prior to completing this level for a rest, I'll place her in the background support role like our Gunslinger.
Harrowstone Prison DM ONLY: HP = 16/27
[dice=Will]1d20 + 1
Harrowstone Prison Zek's water works do not seem to have any effect on his name being spelled on the wall as the letters are still present! Sterling exits the priosn and Blesses the book being held by Teo, once more, the voice holws in pain and frustration. Sergei yells out, "Attack the writing, any physical or spell damage will work, sword and bow even! He's attempting to attack our minds through this scrawl, it's the same tactic he used on his victims when alive, but empowered by the evil of this place and the vitriol of his damned soul! Attacking the book will also do wonders my friends!" Round 1 - Bastion , Kenzo , Zyblina - GO --- Round 2 - Teo, Bastion, Kenzo, Cole - GO
NO worries Rags, if you cannot post any thoughts I'll bot you in your absence :-)
Harrowstone Prison Teo opens the spellbook shrugs and says, "I bet this won't be something our foe will appreciate!" She rips a page from the book. A shriek rises echoes from the haunt! Cole blasts fire at the wall nearest to him, the letters Viggo Br evaporate. Bastion calls out an idea as he has no true action to take, yet. Kenzo holds his bow in his hand watching as his name is scrawled in blood, but not quite sure how to stop it from continuing. DM ONLY:
Haunt HP = 17/27
Page Damage The same voice that shrieked begins to laugh and whisper sinister garbled speech.
------- Round 1 - Sergei, Zyblina, Sterling. Zek - GO --- Round 2 - Teo, Bastion, Kenzo, Cole - GO
Splatter Man, real name - Hean Boritsi, --- I have the day off, I'll be posting in a few once I get my expenses submitted to work.
Harrowstone Prison Knowledge Religion DC 15:
Based on prior experience with theses unorthodox haunts, if this is his only manifestation, in all likelihood you will need to attack these writings. As Cole raises his sword, he can see that the word being written is his own name! And it is the same for each of you within the prison block, those outside the block, see no such manifestations.
OK, finally freaking caught up!
Harrowstone Prison The Party cautiously moves into the cell block where the Splatter Man was held. DM ONLY:
Zyblina Sterling Starshadow Kenzo Hagetora Cole Burns Zek Cole's coin splashes in the murky water and its light is significantly dimmed as it sinks to the bottom. As the others begin to slowly enter the cells block, Zek's power alerst him to the presence of the Undead, it appears that you have awoken whatever was here! While Zek sense its presence, he cannot see it. Initiative:
Zyblina Sterling Starshadow Kenzo Hagetora Cole Burns Sergei the Haunted Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich Zek Teofila Agarici FOE
Cole: As the others inspect as carefully as possible, you notice that the walls are beginning to ooze some sort of substance forming letters!
Harrowstone Prison The Party attempts to secure the doorway by bringing in rubble and wood beams though the wood beams appear a bit compromised due to the fire damage. DM ONLY:
% Chance of Collapse, over 70% collapse within rounds. Otherwise holds for hours. Zek scouts and finds several iron doors lining the walls of this partially ruined cellblock—the doors themselves hang askew on their hinges, revealing empty cells beyond. Partially burnt wooden support timbers still function to the north, while to the south they’ve collapsed and caused cell walls to crumble as well. Rivulets of water drip down the southwestern wall to create a shallow pool in this ruined portion of the room, with overflow filling an oubliette hole in the middle of the room nearly to the rim.
Harrowstone Prison Bastion heads down the southern hallway first, the walls are soot filled, clearly the fire swept through here in a significant way. As he gets closer to the door to his left, he sees that that room is severely fire damaged, he can also see that the portcullis allowing entry to the Splatter Man's prison is down barring entry. He tests it, and its not going to budge. A quick search of that room reveals that he winch controls are also, severely damaged. To reach the Splatter Man this way would require that portcullis to be broken down, no easy feet, or the controls to be repaired, likely a task beyond you all. Luckily, based on the maps, you know that you can still reach that area through the secret passage to the west.
Ravengro to Harrowstone Prison Kendra's question lingers as there is no answer that anyone can provide. It stands to reason that speculating won't do any good so no one does. Dinner is eaten, plans are made, healing is completed and rest is obtained. The next day early in the morning the Party once again sets out for the prison. The guardsmen posted overnight nod to you all as you pass through the gates once more. As you enter through the front door once more, the Haunts are active again, by now it is more annoying than frightening and you bypass their now minor threat. You retrieve the cursed items from the vault . Ropes are dropped down into the hole that is the only way down now into the basement level of the prison known as Hell's Basement. You check to the area where the Bonegnasher's Prison room was located. You indeed confirm that the rubble is far too thick to reach that without actual numbers assisting you in excavating a path through. It seems that this spirit will have to be addressed last. You then return to the chamber where the stairwell is located. To the north is where the Lopper was located, that leaves the south, where the map indicates that the Splatter Man was held. The balance of the Eight were all housed to the west.
Well it's PbP so we won't be done tomorrow, it'll take some time to chew through our 5 remaining baddies!
Ravengro - Kendra's House She takes a ragged series of breaths and calms down, "I am not sure if I feel better or worse now knowing the truth. I wish the Cultists were still here but simultaneously dread them still being here..." She sobs a bit and goes quiet, lost in contemplation.
Ravengro - Kendra's House Kendra's eyes well up but she does not cry, "so it's true then, my father was murdered". She sits in quiet contemplation for some time, "But then they brought his body here to make it seem as if he died in his sleep and disturbed nothing. So strange..." She pauses again, "Then his body disappeared!" She begins to cry for a short while then she calms down, "Did this spirit know why they stole his body thereafter?"
Ravengro - Kendra's House
As you all arrive at her home in the late afternoon, Kendra looks a bit concerned, "Oh no, are Sterling and Zek alright?!"
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