It was a dark and stormy night, and to make it worse, it was raining.
You are all soaked to the bone, and you have no idea about how far it is to the next inn. You curse the innkeeper at the last place you stayed and his stupid shortcuts, that has made you waste several hours finding your way back to something like a road.
You have no idea where you are, and no idea how far the next inn is or whether you should press on or make camp as best you are able.
Felicia stood there her pigtails plastered against the sides of her face. Normal very cheery and optimistic the constant downpour and the fact that it seemed they had spent hours going round in circles had erased that her voice taking on an almost bitter tone as she talks.
"Listen to the Innkeeper they said. He knows the place better than us they said. Who's bright idea was it to take his advice again?" pausing a moment to try and shake some excess rainwater out of her hair and quickly finding it impossible she turns to the rest of the group. "I really don't think were going to find an Inn tonight maybe we should find a cave or a barn or something were we can rest before we all freeze to death."
From the lights edge Gauri watches, arms drawn about her as if cold, dilated eyes flashing silver in the decrepit light. Her expression unreadable.
She might as well be a phantom for all that she has said since leaving the inn.
Mull laughs at the rain. He sloshes about some as Felicia talks, then interjects, "Look kiddoes, I don't remember whose idea it was." He points at Gauri. "Perhaps it was her's." Then he points at himself. "Maybe it was mine!" He snorts derisively, then turns back to Felicia. "Maybe it was your idea!!" He cackles. "Cursing the inkeeper won't do us a fat lot of good out here--and I could call down a curse or two on the bastard, if he were here and I thought it would do any good! But anyway," he continues, "I agree that not a whole lot is going to get done by us all mucking about out here in the wet darkness. What say we find a suitable spot and camp? I've got a tent and I've got some dry clothes. Don't know what the rest of you lot have got planned, but that's what I'm gonna do." He looks around at the group, expectantly.
Up ahead of you, you can make out a lone figure in a dark hooded cloak standing under a small tree. As you get closer, the figure waves you over and you can see that the person, like yourselves, is thouroughly drenched.
Once you get within earshot, the figure calls out to you in a pleasant alto, "I don't suppose any of you know of an Inn around here? I seem to have lost my way in this blasted storm. I'm travelling to Zerthstone, but if this forsaken weather keeps up I don't know how long it's going to take."
She pulls herself in further under the tree to make room for you all, even though it is quite obvious that you will not all fit under the minimal protection of the branches. You can see a battered backpack slung over her shoulders and suspicious bulges under the cloak where weapons would normally be carried. As she moves, the cloak parts slighty to reveal black mud spattered boots and a bright red back to the cloak, before she pulls it closed once more to attempt to ward off the rain.
"My name is Shawnee by the way. You appear to be travelling in the same direction as me. I don't suppose you want some company. It can get lonely out here on the road sometimes."
This older gentleman pulls his hat brim down across his face, trying to keep out most of the rain. He's constantly adjusting it, as a small hole in the top of it manages to betray him. In fact, most of his outfit seems to have seen better days. It's almost as if he woke up one morning, and put on someone else's clothes entirely.
In contrast to the others, Vautrin has been nothing but chatty the whole time. He seems quite knowledgeable on a number of subjects; either that, or he's a pretty good bluff. His stories are enjoyable nonetheless.
"I could sleep through anything. I've done it too. A little rain never hurt anyone. Besides, wouldn't we feel like such fools if the next inn was only a short distance away? I say we press on as far as our legs and spirit will take us."
"And we're headed that way ourselves. Won't you join us, Shawnee? I'd feel quite honoured to have a traveller such as yourself accompany us." Vautrin tips his hat to Shawnee, simultaneously draining it of it's accumulating water.
Through the darkness you glimpse a hideous, storm-tossed shape. It looks like a severed, rotting head with bat wings. Its glowing red eyes seem to be focussing on you.
Initative
"Hey uh everyone what in the hell's is that?" Slowly she begins to reach for her rapier.
Perception
"What now? My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Do you see that too?"
Initiative. (1d20+2=5)
Perception Check. (1d20+2=15)
"Uh, that can't be good..."
Shawnee reaches into her cloak with her left hand and pulls out a Rapier, edging her way to the edge of the group so as not to be hampered in a close fight.
Initiative = 2 (7-5)
Perception = 23! (20+3)
Hearing Felicia's warning, Mull turns around rather clumsily to see what all the fuss is about. Squinting into the distance, he grunts. "Oh my," he says distractedly. "Here we go!" He hefts his warhammer to the ready and positions himself behind his shield as the thing approaches.
Felicia is up.
Felicia is up.
Felicia is up.
Felicia is up.
Mull: ACP only applies to STR and DEX Based Skill Checks according to Beta Rulebook p. 108. Even though it is DEX Based, Initiative is not a Skill Check. That means you actually got 7 and so go before the Flying Skull.
On another note, you applied the wrong ACP anyway. Hide only has a -3 ACP and you've written -5.
Normally Felicia would give a more rising speech to try and inspire everyone but in her current frame of mind all she was able to come up with was a "Well don't just stand there get it"
Keeping watch in all directions, Mull spots another pair of red eyes, as an incorporeal creature of some kind is trying to sneak up on you out of the bog (in the opposite direction from the flying skull). It's now about 20 feet away.
Mull is up, then the flying skull.
Eeck!
Reviled Gauri draws her javelin and throws. . Persumably missing.
Felicia is up.
Felicia is up.
Mull: ACP only applies to STR and DEX Based Skill Checks according to Beta Rulebook p. 108. Even though it is DEX Based, Initiative is not a Skill Check. That means you actually got 7 and so go before the Flying Skull.
On another note, you applied the wrong ACP anyway. Hide only has a -3 ACP and you've written -5.
Keeping watch in all directions, Mull spots another pair of red eyes, as an incorporeal creature of some kind is trying to sneak up on you out of the bog (in the opposite direction from the flying skull). It's now about 20 feet away.
Mull is up, then the flying skull.
"Ah! Auch! Nasty disembodied eyes arise from the bog!!" shouts Mull as he wheels around, trying to keep an eye on both the flying skull and the incorporeal thing floating up out of the swamp. After a brief hesitation, he focuses his attention on the ghostly figure coming in, keeping close to Felicia and those gathered around her.
"You all watch that skull! I've got my eyes on this hellsfreak thing creeping up on us!" He pulls up his heavy shield for defense, and peers out towards the creature, trying to get a better handle on what it might be.
"You all watch that skull! I've got my eyes on this hellsfreak thing creeping up on us!" He pulls up his heavy shield for defense, and peers out towards the creature, trying to get a better handle on what it might be.
The skull shrieks, a bone-piercing, unearthly sound that assaults you like a clammy hand clutching your throat, and swoops in for the kill .
Vautrin and Shawnee are up, then Felicia.
Fort Save 11. (+1 for bardic music, making it 12. Sheesh.)
Vautrin draws the hand crossbow dangling at his side and shoots the nearest abomination.
"I hate this.", he manages to mutter to no one in particular.
save
“Remember. It.. do to me naught ...but that my mind ...allows” Gauri quietly chimes to herself. Repeating the words over and over. Until it has become a mantra, the words taking a steely tone of absolute conviction.
Although Vautrin briefly stops in his tracks, you manage to shake off the uncanny influence of the beast's shrieking. Vautrin's crossbow bolt even seems to hurt the creature, even if it does nothing to slow it down.
Shawnee and Felicia are up.
Felicia draws her rapier and takes a swing at the winged horror
To hit
Damage
Felicia draws her rapier and takes a swing at the winged horror.
Shawnee delays.
The insubstantial menace draws close and Mull stands ready to bash it with his mace. To his dismay it passes right through the spectral figure, which retaliates by extending a ghostly hand and touching Mull's forehead.
As Mull feels the chill touch, his mind is strangely clouded with nightmarish visions, marring his concentration and troubling his sanity.
The flying skull launches itself at Gauri, still shrieking even though by now you've learnt to ignore it. With vicious teeth it tears at her exposed flesh,
Shawnee, Gauri and Vautrin are up, then Felicia and Mull.
Shawnee delays.
Shawnee slashes her Rapier at the Flying Skull attacking Guari.
Attack Roll against Flying Skull. (1d20+2=19)
Damage. (1d6=5)
Ignoring the gash gauri launches a flurry of blows at the skull.
Shawnee is paralyzed from fright, while Gauri unleashes a serie of swift blows and kicks at the flying creature. As her foot thuds into the rotting flesh it falls to the ground, motionless. This sight relieves Shawnee and she can act again.
Vautrin, Shawnee, Felicia and Mull are up.
If she is able to Felicia will move and take a swing at the spectral creature.
Shawnee turns slightly as Arcane Syllables tumble from her mouth. She raises her hand and places it upon the tree behind her. Suddenly, a bright light suddenly springs forth to illuminate the area.
"Dammit!" Vautrin curses as he reloads his hand-crossbow. "I don't think we can hurt this thing. How can you take it down, if you can't crack it's skull? That's what I wanna know." Vautrin will get into a defensive position beside Shawnee and the Light.
The insubstantial menace draws close and Mull stands ready to bash it with his mace. To his dismay it passes right through the spectral figure, which retaliates by extending a ghostly hand and touching Mull's forehead.
As Mull feels the chill touch, his mind is strangely clouded with nightmarish visions, marring his concentration and troubling his sanity.
After a brief fit of gibbering and howling, making sounds of awful anguish, Mull shakes it off. He wheezes horrible laughter. "Oh!!" he yells. "Oh!! The horror! The horror!!" He grins malevolently as he advances on the incorporeal fiend. Having thrown down his warhammer, he pushes forward, thrusting forth a wooden symbol of wheels and spirals hanging from around his neck. He grimaces and spits out strange syllables and guttural words as he moves forward with force and will, attempting to drive the ghostly thing back into the night.
Shawnee's light highlights the translucent creature. Its indeterminate features look more like a mask than a face and express madness and horror, especially as Mull's holy symbol flashes bright and the light sears through it. More surprised than hurt it nevertheless briefly retreats.
This is your cue and you make haste away from that accursed place. Anywhere else must be better.
Running in the dark, with only the occasional Light spell to guide you, you cross a wooden bridge. But just as you leave it you hear a crash behind you and see the bridge collapsing.
There is nothing to it than to continue. Soon you stand before an impressive building which looks as if it grew out of the bleak hillside. Age-old moss clings desperately to its massive walls. The sprawling building contains three floors.
As you knock on the massive doors, hoping for shelter, a servant opens, looking unsurprised to see you and motions for you to come in. While you are being ushered into a waiting room, you cannot but notice that the paintings are somewhat dulled and that the manor generally seems to be sagging under its age.
You hear a commotion in the distance as you wait. After a short while a scowling impeccably dressed middle-aged man appears and introduces himself as Cranmar, first servant (stressing the "first"). "You must be the adventurers sent for to deal with the monster, I understand", he says, mirthlessly. "I am afraid you have come at a most inauspicious hour. Master Stephen seems to have had a deplorable accident and lord Uther is much to distraught to receive you at the moment. However I will do my best to see that you are properly lodged and to answer all of your questions."
Looking back at the collapsed bridge, Vautrin idly examines it. "Too many rolls at dinner, I s'pose." he quietly comments.
--
Vautrin does his best to acknowledge everything Cranmar has to say. "Yes, yes. The monster. Hopefully there is only one left. We had a run-in with it on the way here. You should've heard it's wail. Terrible I say. I'd like a room with a fireplace. A lit one, preferably. I don't think it's possible to be more thoroughly soaked through."
Looking back at the collapsed bridge, Vautrin idly examines it. "Too many rolls at dinner, I s'pose." he quietly comments.
--
Vautrin does his best to acknowledge everything Cranmar has to say. "Yes, yes. The monster. Hopefully there is only one left. We had a run-in with it on the way here. You should've heard it's wail. Terrible I say. I'd like a room with a fireplace. A lit one, preferably. I don't think it's possible to be more thoroughly soaked through."
Mull boggles at Vautrin's racing monologue. He steps forward.
"Hold on a moment," he says, looking at the first servant. "Now what's this about us being sent for? I don't recall having received any kind of summons, but we sure as hells ran into a couple of really nutty horrors out there near the marshes! What is going on here? I'll not take a room until I find out more about what's happening."
With this, he looks around the front chamber. "But that bit about a fireplace," he adds, looking back at Vautrin, "now that's a sensible notion."
Perception check
Perception Check. (1d20+2=3)
Intent on getting as far away from the creature as possible, Shawnee doedn't even notice that the bridge has collapsed behind her.
She slows as the building appears through the rain, motioning for the others to do the same. Any kind of respite from the storm and dangers is a welcome one, but she has a bad feeling about this.
"I am Shawnee Allegressa, formerly of Seasteadholm and travelling to Zerthstone. I do believe you may have us mixed up with another group, but as I myself am an Investigator of sorts, I would be delighted to help in any way I can."
She follows listens to what Cranmar has to say and then follows him wherever he may lead.
Cranmar looks a tad distressed. "I don't suppose that two of you would consider sharing a room. We were only expecting four adventurers, and with the latest unpleasantness... I must confess I am a little distracted..." He shows you upstairs to four nice but somewhat musty rooms, one of which has two beds.
"There's a sitting room right here where you can wait for a minute until lord Uther can see you. I hope you will be comfortable. Now if you will excuse me..."
He bows stiffly and makes ready to leave.