The Wicked DM's page

Crew,

Unfortunately, I need to put this game on the shelf, at least for the time being. Having gone through a few cycles at work, I've come to realize some things.

First, you guys are a blast to play with. Seriously! I couldn't ask for a group that understands the mood of this adventure better, or who puts more thought and effort into their posts, or who keeps me on my toes and the edge of my seat (both are possible, I'm testing it right now!). I'm lucky to be able to GM for you.

Second, GMing takes time. Lots of time. At least, to do it in a way that satisfies me. It means constantly checking the thread for updates in order to answer questions, looking up unfamiliar rules and effects and double-checking familiar ones, doubling back when I make my mistakes, updating maps and graphics, reviewing the source material and previous game posts to maintain consistency in story and talking points, maintaining familiarity with the PCs and their mechanics and backstories, reading ahead in the adventure, and reviewing other GM reviews and stories of this content in an effort to minimize shortcomings in the original. All of this needs to be done at least four days a week to maintain a workable pace. And this doesn't even account for the most time-consuming thing, which is actually writing the GM posts. Even with my template posts, I still spent 1-2 hours on each round of Embattled Dwarves. All of this isn't to complain (heck, I love this game and GMing), only to try to help explain why I've decided to halt the game.

Third, the thinner I spread myself, the weaker the content of individual posts. More than ever, I cringe as I read my posts and spot typos, summarized descriptions, and hand-waved interactions, all in the name of "just getting a post up". If my goal were purely to GM as many games as I can, this wouldn't be much of a concern, but the quality of the experience (for me and the players) is one of my top priorities. Despite my best intentions in slowing the pace of all my games and scheduling times to post, I can't deny that the quality of my GMing has dropped. And that is a gross feeling.

Fourth, my schedule is not steady enough to justify GMing three games. It's true that there are times when I can post in all my games every day, but just as often, as we've recently seen, I'm so overburdened by work and personal matters that I just can't make time to post, and that leads to inconsistency in the game (see point Third).

So in sum, I've really enjoyed Tsar. And I've really loved the opportunity to play with you all. I know how much work you've put into your characters (EJC just built a new one!) and I feel really bad that I'm dropping the bottom out of this one so abruptly. But I've had a Come-To-Cayden moment this week, and I feel this is the best decision.

how many days travel to Bard's Gate?

I'm not aware that this has been established as canon, but I've seen the distance described between Tsar and Bard's Gate as 300 miles.

The Usurer’s mouth twitches in a barely-perceptible smile, then spreads his hands, palms outward. ”Have you found what you’re looking for?” he asks Konstiantina. ”Surely such an esteemed visitor to our humble Camp has better things to do than investigate a smith?” Tag Konstiantina?

"Gold, between your exchange rates and the local prices these iron bits seem to do little but squeeze wealth from our coins. I can't see the benefit... nor am I entirely convinced this settlement will still stand in a moons turn no matter how many it has survived before. I'd rather not be caught out with large quantities of twisted bits of iron instead of gold."

”The economics are simple but effective; a necessary protection of our fragile economy. Iron bits are the only accepted currency inside our Camp. Non-locals receive a 5-to-1 conversion of gold pieces into iron. Locals, however, may exchange iron bits on a 1-to-1 ratio. Perhaps, after your adventuring days are done, you may choose to settle permanently here and enjoy the preferred conversion rates. Enjoy your newfound wealth. Is there anything else I can do for you? Do you require smithing?”

Tag? Where to?

I wonder if a better exchange rate can be negotiated for iron bits?

It couldn't hurt to ask!

The Usurer smiles. "Konstiantina, a pleasure. Word travels fast in the Camp. Speaking of, I understand you have something for me..."

Assuming you present the phylactery, as there was no mention of hiding it or misleading the Usurer..

His pleasantness melts. "A crumbled bit of iron? What am I to with this?" The Usurer selects the remains of Kroma's phylactery with a soot-stained hand, bringing it close to his face and sniffing it. He produces a tarnished brass loupe, screwing it over his eye and squinting fiercely to hold it in place. He raises the iron core in the light, turning it this way and that. Then he fumbles in the breast pocket of his heavy smithing apron, retrieving a pinch of something, and utters an indecipherable phrase.

He pauses for a long moment, saying nothing, not even breathing. Nearly a minute passes before he blinks and inhales sharply through his nose.

"I see."

He places the phylactery gently on the worktable before him.

”Well done.” He grins, his lips sliding over too many teeth and his pale blue eyes gleaming. ”Very well done. A reward was promised, and a reward shall be delivered.” He disappears into a back room of the workshop. The sound of keys jingling issues out, followed by the creak of an old hinge. Another minute and he returns, hauling a large canvas sack, not unlike the one dragged by Jashanah Bender the day before. This one isn’t covered in dark stains. On the contrary, the clean fabric jingles merrily as the Usurer heaves it onto the worktable. ”Ten thousand gold coins, was it? Of course it was. I have a mind for these things. Will you be taking your payment in gold coins, or would you like to convert them to iron bits?”

Tag?

My work schedule is a bit cyclical, sometimes calm, sometimes demanding. The last four weeks have been calm, but I'm entering the "demanding" period for the next 4 weeks. I'll still post as often as I can, but expect a drop in my rate.

It looks like we're heading to the Usurer in the morning. Let me know how you'd like to approach the meeting.

The minutes tick by. Despite Konstiantina’s concentration, the water in her bowl reveals nothing of the Usurer.

You sense that the spell has failed.

@Konstiantina sorry I misread the spell descriptions. Arcane sight functions as detect magic, and detect magic only has a 5xcaster level % chance to function. Do you still want to proceed?

@Konstiantina: yep, arcane sight should function with scrying.

I'm enjoying the RP very much!

Eddwick has proposed going in search of the missing caravan, and Ulave has suggested exploring a bit of the Camp first. What's the consensus on this?

DM, what happens to items left in the Secure Shelter when I dismiss it? Do they return when I summon it elsewhere?

Let's make sure I understand your question. Are you asking if you dismiss one casting of the spell and cast a new version of the spell, whether items you've placed inside will persist through subsequent versions?

For that, I'd stick to the spell description, and I see no mention of items (other than the crude furnishings explicitly mentioned) "traveling with the hut". If the shelter were dismissed, it looks like anything you place inside continues to rest in the space it was dropped, even if the shelter disappears.

Will my secure shelter act as enough of a private sanctum that vampires would be unable to enter without being invited?

The answer will always be "it depends". See this post for the rule on whether tiny hut and similar spells count as "dwellings" for the purposes of vampirism. It will need to be decided on a per-cast basis. Note in that case I ruled in favor of Ammonis, primarily because he cast the spell before there was a known threat of vampires attacking. The primary factors are:

-the purpose of the hut (e.g. is it meant as a space for rest and respite, or merely as a protective measure against an imminent threat)
-the actual use of the hut, apart from its stated purpose (e.g. it is being used for residential, as opposed to combat, purposes)
-the scope of the invitation into the hut (e.g. whether more than the caster, their familiar, and their family members and personal friends are invited)

And so casting the spell before the threat is known is a good sign that the structure is intended as a dwelling. But casting it in the midst of combat suggests its use is primarily combat oriented and would be less likely to repel vampires.

Regardless, it's a cool spell, and I foresee the group getting a lot of use out of it.

Fine with me! Just let me know when you're ready to move on, and what you'd like to do.

My impression was that you did keep it.

Very nice RP going on!

After a period of rest, we just need to decide how to proceed. Do you enter the Desolation at all today, or will you wait until tomorrow? If not today, how will you spend the evening? There are still a few locations we haven't visited:

Location #3 the hermit
Location #10 the chapel
Location #13 the apothecary
Location #14 Clantock's Furious Fourteen

In addition, the Usurer would like a word...

Haha that won't happen...

We'll use level 7 starting wealth as a baseline.

Here's my first thought:

I'll need to ask the you all to keep track of the value of your equipment, and be prepared to give me your *estimated* character wealth at any given time. Then we can just set new character starting wealth at the average of those numbers.

And so the earthly remains of Rurik are put to the flame, as those who knew him last offer their respects and prayers. Above, the heavy gray clouds of the Desolation bear witness.

Back at the camp…

”Oh, you’re back...” Jashanah Bender sounds almost disappointed as he drags a lumpy canvas bag covered in dark stains through the dirt square. The corpse that hung from the bent, old gallows is nowhere to be seen. ”We figured you eaten by giant vultures. If you’d prefer a soft bed to the hard ground, our doors are always open! Oh, and the Usurer was askin' after ya...”

Tag?

What if we were to sell the gear and distribute the gold/iron? to the poor.

(:

Yea! The Bender Brothers did indicate times have been tough lately...

I think loot can be redistributed, and gear the character started with should be buried with them, in a variation of Viking burials. Rescued loot doesn't necessarily need to be handed directly over to the new character, but some form of redistribution should take place once the new PC arrives, even if the loot is just sold and the gold given to the new PC.

I'm okay with this as long as the other players are. You're distinguishing between starting gear v acquired loot, which is lingo I'll try to stick to. It would be super helpful if everyone could also make this distinction for themselves, so that upon the (unlikely) event of your death, we know exactly what's fair to salvage and what ought to be left behind.

Saying that we get it back to their family (or store it intending to) might work.

Yea. I think Rurik's player's suggestion of burying Rurik's gear (except for the adamantine breasplate) works great here. Heck, there's a freshly-dug dwarven cemetary right next door! On the other hand, Ulave's given us a fantastic funereal post.

As to EJC's new character, we're about to fast-forward back to The Camp to give you a chance regroup, recover, and rest (maybe). No one's slept for more than a few hours!

Ulave beat me to the punch! Edited at the end.

With Rurik's death, we need to talk about character wealth. The lethality of this campaign (which I want to preserve as much as possible) is due in part to limitations on resources and magical gear, at least in the beginning segments. Once you have access to teleportation magic and the city of Bard's Gate, this will change.

There is a question, then, of how to handle the equipment of fallen characters. You might keep the equipment of the characters permanently. You might hold it for a time and return it to their survivors at a later time. You might bury, burn, or otherwise destroy it. If you keep the gear, and new characters are created at starting wealth, you will quickly amass a degree of wealth inappropriate for your level. This is an issue for every campaign, not just Tsar.

Verisimilitude is important, however, and I don't want to impose unnecessary and artificial restrictions on your decisions. What I propose is, if (and only if) you decide to keep a fallen character's equipment, the appearance of future gear will decrease to a degree commensurate with the equipment you've kept. E.g. if you retain 10,000 gp worth of gear, I will delete 10,000 gp worth of gear from subsequent encounters.

What do we think?

Edit: something like the adamantine breasplate, which was recovered in Tsar and not attributable to starting wealth, would be exempt from this rule.

"There is no rest, no reprieve, no surcease from torment in this life..."

-Last words of Rurik Gorunn, Archon Caller of Muir

Effects: Blessing of Fervor
Agyen: magic vestment
Ammonis:
Fey:
Fenris:
Iyon:
Rurik:
Ulave:
Conditions:

The light in Rurik's eyes dim as his throat is torn open, blood gouting out all over the ghoul. Paralyzed, Rurik is saved the indignity of screaming as his life flees his mortal shell, and when he collapses to the ground, it is with a wry smile upon his blood flecked lips.

Ulave curses at his helplessness to save his friend. And as the dry earth eagerly consumes Rurik's life's blood, Ulave draws down upon the ghoul his second judgement. This must end! Suddenly, with the suddenness of a lightning strike, Ulave is soaked, as if he had been dunked in a tub at the county fair. And somehow he is free! Glansing to each side, he sees eroded pillars of mud and sand. Blinking the water from his eyes, Ulave wastes no time, but to destroy the ghouls utterly. He leaps toward the closest ghoul shooting several arrows into its face.

The ghoul clutches its throat as Ulave's third arrow strikes it. It's form begins to crack and dry. It disintegrates into dust! Ulave's final arrow strikes the remaining ghoul, who clutches at the wound with clawed fingers. Rurik's hound archon swings furiously, cleaving a large cleft into the ghoul's skull.

Even as Ulave is freed and resumes his slaughter, Agyen moves towards him. And his weapon, touching it lightly as he approaches. He tries not to dwell on the wet sounds that assailed his ears as the ghoul tore open Rurik's throat.

Driven by blind and foolish fury, the ghoul assaults the archon in an effort to banish it from this plane.

yellow bite @ archon: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 342d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 = 11
yellow claw 1 @ archon: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 321d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
yellow claw 2 @ archon: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 281d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

The hound, bleeding freely from ghoul-infected wounds and staggering on his feet, returns the attack with his sword:

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 252d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1) + 9 = 14

The ghoul hisses and staggers, and Ulave’s next onslaught of arrows proves to be the its undoing. It explodes in another cloud of dust.

The archon kneels in the dirt beside Rurik, placing his paw on the aasimar's chest as he fades away...

___________________________

Dust to Dust Combat Over!

Soon the paralysis affecting the wizard and warrior fades, though Ammonis finds himself rather far removed from his companions...

Tag? What now? What do we do with Rurik's remains?

The yellow ghoul clutches its throat as Ulave's third arrow strikes it. It's form begins to crack and dry. It disintegrates into dust!

Ulave's final arrow strikes the remaining ghoul, who clutches at the wound with clawed fingers.

Rurik's hound archon swings furiously, cleaving a large cleft into the ghoul's skull.

hound power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 242d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1) + 9 = 14 hit!

Agyen is up to close out this round. I'll plan to update tomorrow.

Two wizards, an undead scourge paladin, a trigger happy gnome, an oracle who always goes first, and a tank fighter... The Desolation is about to host another war. This is going to be a chaotic, violent, glorious campaign...

*rubs temples*

I'm sorry Rurik! It just seemed so evil and underhanded and, well, exactly what a denizen of Tsar would do :(.

And man, that roll...

Let's be very careful here. Let me know if I missed anything.

Effects: Blessing of Fervor
Agyen: magic vestment
Ammonis:
Fey:
Fenris:
Iyon:
Rurik:
Ulave:
Conditions:

Rurik mentally summons the aid of his hound archon, who appears in a pulse of light beside its master, greatsword poised to strike. Instead, his eyes moist with tears, he reaches out a paw to touch Rurik on the shoulder. Aid on Rurik, +1 saves

The ghoul snarls and tries to claw at the hound’s jugular, but its attack merely scratches the divinely reinforced flesh of the archon.

dust ghoul AoO v hound: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 241d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 hit, subject to DR

Agyen shouts: "The dust creatures only hold, not harm! And water destroys them."

With a minor rumble and a flash of lightning, a miniature thunderhead roils into existence above Ulave. A torrent of water crashes down upon all three figures, dissolving the dust creatures in an instant. Both destroyed!

Ulave spits, blood mixed with saliva, and readies himself for a hopeless attempt to free himself from the grapple. Suddenly, Ulave's eyes roll up inside his head. His hands go slack, and he speaks a word, as if some higher being had taken command of his tongue. The word was power, but he forgot it as soon as heard it. But he finds words of his own. ”Fight me! Because I will destroy you!”

Will DC 19, aura of menace: 1d20 + 10 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 4 - 2 = 23 pass, half dmg

One (yellow) ghoul leaps forward at Agyen, clawing at his eyes and tearing at his throat!

yellow bite @ Agyen: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 262d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 = 11
yellow claw 1 @ Agyen: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 171d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
yellow claw 2 @ Agyen: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 221d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 11 dmg to Agyen

The other (purple) turns its eyes to the paralyzed creature before it. It would make a fine meal indeed. Its fangs exposed, it dives for Rurik’s neck. His hound archon howls in anguish, swinging his greatsword in a strong arc....

hound archon AoO v purple, power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 202d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 = 20 miss

...but the ghoul darts to the side before diving at Rurik and burying its fangs in his throat.

coup de grace @ Rurik, bite: 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 4) + 12 = 25

Rurik is subject to a coup de grace and must make a Fort save DC 10 + damage = 35. You have +1 from Aid and +2 from magic circle against evil. A 20 is a success. Failing the save, he dies...

___________________________

Dust to Dust initiative (bold may act):
PCs
enemy

And near max damage on the channel. Great moment.

Agyen, I assume you meant to 5ft step back to avoid provoking an AoO when casting.

I may not be able to update until the weekend. Sit tight.

Fey will need to make two will saves, as there were two screams. Unless she somehow avoided one of them.

I'm also looking at a busy Thur and Fri before the weekend, but will update asap once we hear from Agyen.

would be a good time for a certain bomb throwing gnome to happen to wander by

Maybe! But I don't know if Eddwick wants to walk into this mess. The odds are low he'd even be near.

I dropped the archon in between you and Iyon, but you also have control of the token. If he casts where he is, he provokes an AoO, but he's also blocking a 5ft step to Iyon (and we'll say the square north of the hound is difficult terrain). That could matter, since coup de grace is a full round action. Of course, purple ghoul is also standing right beside Rurik...

Except he'd want it to attack the cloud of dust, not the undead :/

You can use SLA's while paralyzed, as Ammonis has done; however, communicating with the summons poses an issue since you can't talk, unless your summons can communicate through telepathy (and speaks a shared language).

Edit: But, I think summoning a water elemental next to a dust creature and hoping it attacks that creature could work.

10+BAB+Str mod + Dex mod = 10+8+0+5 + additional modifiers from buffs, etc. So I estimated it to be 23.

So yea, this could go badly..

Effects: Blessing of Fervor
Agyen: magic vestment
Ammonis:
Fey:
Fenris:
Iyon:
Rurik:
Ulave:
Conditions:

Rurik feels the piercing cry right down to his bones, the sensation as grating and shudder-inducing as hearing nails screech down a chalk board - and then his body seized up as if in protest, and finds himself immobile, uneven to even blink. The dire bats fare no better; their wings furl and then collapse to the ground, plummeting to crash into the rocky dirt. Though badly wounded, none of them perish from the fall.

Likewise, Iyon stands completely still.

”to da to di.” With that Ammonis abruptly disappears. ”Hrmph.” Crossing his eyes he phase shifts 20 feet south of the hill, and then hustles 10 feet further.

His power restored with the dawn, Agyen is irked that yet more creatures threaten the group. As Agyen shrouds himself in a fearsome aura, he intones: "Dust ghouls. Undead, flesh-eating creatures composed of dust and earth, risen from the bodies of humanoids who die on the parched expanse of the Dead Fields." Unflinching, he continues to speak, this time words channeling his power outwards to his allies.

”No rest, no reprieve, no surcease from torment in this life…” The inquisitor's whisper tosses through the air like a leaf in autumn. ”No rest, no reprieve, no surcease from torment in this life…” This time, in his Lady's voice, orotund like the notes of the cello. These words she had spoke to him when she had declared his penance. Ulave shakes off the final clinging strands of his sleepy befuddlement, and grasps his bow and quiver. ”Dust in my eye, I bid thee begone.” With that, Ulave calls upon the wrath of his Lady, to extinguish this evil from the earth. Move and shoot, using first attack and dmg roll, which hits. Also I’ll assume you take +2 attack, Ref saves, and dodge bonus to AC for this round since you couldn’t full attack.

The yellow ghoul screams, glaring at Ulave with the promise of retribution, then dives into the mound of bones, disappearing from view before clawing its way up out of the dirt just before Agyen Agen you may make an AoO as it emerges.. A mound of dust erupts on the western edge of the camp, where the second ghoul emerges from the ground. It extends its maw wide and shrieks, the same shrill scream emitted by its companion.

Everyone (except Ulave) is subject to a second shriek and must succeed on another DC 19 Will save or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting, fear and sonic effect.

The ghoul beside Agyen snarls and twists its clawed hand. Up from the dirt around Ulave rise two shambling and ghostly clouds of dust. Both reach out with unformed appendges to ensnare the paladin in their grasp!

dust creature grapple at Ulave DC 23, flank: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 = 29
dust creature grapple at Ulave DC 23, flank: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 = 29 Ulave, your CMD should be higher than 13. These attempts still succeed.

Ulave is grappled!

Rolls in roll20 establish that the first shriek paralyzed for 5 rounds, the second shriek for 3 rounds. Rurik and Iyon are paralyzed four more rounds, anyone failing this turn is paralyzed three rounds.

___________________________

Dust to Dust initiative (bold may act):
PCs
enemy

Good stuff! Just finished tweaking my gameplay post. First time I saw blessing of fervour was when Anneka used it in RotR, so I feel a slight sense of irony cracking it out now. :)

Hehe sweet!

Ulave you don't currently have line of sight to the ghoul, as it's moved to the base of the hill and you're in the center. Do you want to move to the edge and shoot?

Huzzah!

I ended up at a lecture unexpectedly before running a f2f game,hence the radio silence.

Agyen hp up to 51 btw.

Right, I've updated current/max hps for my next post!

Effects:
Agyen: magic vestment
Ammonis:
Fey:
Fenris:
Iyon:
Rurik:
Ulave:
Conditions:

Rurik rolls out of his bedroll with a groan, so tired that he doesn't even feel fear, rising to his aching legs to sight up at the sky and stare dull-eyed at the ghastly monsters. "There is no rest, no reprieve, no surcease from torment in this life..." The words are but a whisper, and quickly replaced by a more vigorous incantation as he draws from his reservoir of power to summon allies to their aid. The sky above the new menace darkens with great furred beasts whose leathery wing spans are easily four yards wide; they screech as they dive down to impact the ghoul to the north west. The ghoul spins about, barely avoiding the bats all miss.

Botting Agyen
Agyen embues himself with a powerful aura that shimmers even in the pale morning light. casting Archon’s Aura

Iyon draws a Chakram and hurls it at the flying ghouls things... "How do I kill them effectively?" His question is answered as the chakram strikes the ghoul, eliciting a sharp screech of pain. hit!

The ghoul attacked by the bats maneuvers to evade their bite, but is snagged by one of them.

bat aoo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
bat aoo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
bat aoo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 hit
confirm?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 no

The ghoul then hurtles straight down toward the ground with alarming velocity. The impact is astonishing, yet when the dust settles there is no indication that the ghoul was ever there. The other screams, though whether it is a cry of warning, anger, or exultation isn’t clear. Regardless, the sound carries an unmistakable menace. The ghoul then flies down to the base of the mound and out of your immediate line of sight.

Everyone (except Ulave) is subject to the shriek and must succeed on a DC 19 Will save or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting, fear and sonic effect.

___________________________

Dust to Dust initiative (bold may act):
PCs
enemy

@Agyen, Your suggestion sounds fine. Proceed!

It's been 3 hours since rest started, so that depends on each PCs requirements. E.g. Agyen only requires two hours of rest. It is morning, normal light, though overcast.

Gorrak spends the remainder of his blessings for the day to tend to Bereg, the most wounded of the dwarves. They collect their essentials, weapons, rations, water, and gear, and depart the mound, bound for the Camp and then on to the Stoneheart Mountains.

Now alone atop the isolated hill, surrounded by the brittle bones and the barren Fields of the Dead, the group settles down for an extended rest to recoup their energies and magics...

Three hours later

Screams fill the air as two monsters appear in the sky overhead, soaring without wings. They are dust-covered creatures with decaying flesh pulled tight over humanoid frames. Their teeth are pointed fangs and their hands end in wicked, dirt-covered claws. Trails of bone dust follow in their wake as they circle about above their newfound meal…

Effects:
Agyen: magic vestment
Ammonis:
Fey:
Fenris:
Iyon:
Rurik:
Ulave:
Conditions:

___________________________

Dust to Dust Round 1 initiative (bold may act):
Rurik
Agyen
Iyon
enemy
Ammonis
Ulave

Roll20 updated. The ghouls are forty feet above the camp. You may position yourselves on the map.

I think the dwarves will probably head out immediately rather than camp another day. They will be anxious to return home now that their mission is complete. Gorrak the cleric no doubt has a few heals up his sleeve...

Update tomorrow!

This is my last post tracking hp (I think). You can take Agyen's heals into account also.

It might be meta, but it might also be worth heading back to camp to rendezvous with Eddwick.

Sounds good. Just need to know how long we plan to spend at the campsite?

Iyon’s tetsubo cracks repeatedly against the solid iron core of Kroma’s phylactery. On the fifth strike it breaks, and the body is immediately immolated by a holy fire the color of mithral. The searing flames burn away the centuries-old corruption that has consumed the old dwarf, leaving only his equipment and gleaming smooth bones with a gray-bearded skull.

The flail glistens like new, having been purified by the flames. The weapon has transformed into a +2 holy wounding heavy flail.

Fenris and his dwarves offer you the remaining items for your help in destroying the evil that imprisoned Kroma, claiming only the bones and crown. These they bind reverently in silken wraps to bear them home for interment.

”Ye hae dain us reit.” says Fenris. ”Th' dwarves ay Stoneheart Ment will ne'er forgit th' heroes fa helped us brin' Kroma haem.”

Tag? It is close to dawn and our resources are depleted. Do we strike out onto the Dead Plains? Do we remain here and rest? If so, how long? Loot updated.

Okay so it looks like we have a majority vote to destroy the phylactery, rather than return it to the Usurer whole? And the unholy flail as well?