Red March Mistress ICC

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

I point to the nearby house: "That house has an open back door, we can step inside and see how the townsfolk are living, and observe them from the house."

I head toward the house and wave over my allies, stopping by the door to see if anyone is coming/let people join me before going in.

[Elendyr]

Elendyr motions the rest of the group to follow Malaswyn. "I'll keep an eye out to see if we've been spotted."

Perception roll (if necessary) (note also that Elendyr is remembering to look up for anything in the air):

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

[Mordecai Rand]

Following Malaswyn's lead I head over to the abandoned building. As I I move I pick up a fist sized rock and by he time I get to the building it is glowing in my hand.

I do not wait for Malaswyn, but head inside holding the rock to see by and also ready to throw if needs be.

Cast Light on the rock

[ulgulanoth]

Elendyr

Spoiler:

you are sure you aren't being followed, though you did notice the smell of something extremely foul coming from the centre of Scarlet Hope at one point, though when you try to find out what it is, it was gone

Mordecai

Spoiler:

as you enter the house someone throws you a rag, it startles you enough for them to run up the stairs of the building, which is in a state as bad as the hunting lodge in the forest

[Mordecai Rand]

Mordecai gasps out loud and staggers back.

There is someone in there! he whispers to Malaswyn.

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

I whisper back I thought I saw a child but I did not... I did not trust my eyes."
I shake my head and peer into the house: We must tread carefully, she may be as scared as us, or she may be a foe."

I cast light on my holy symbol and hold it before me as I enter the house.

[Gharkka]

Gharkka nods to Elendyr.
"If possible, I'd like to avoid to use my glaive on these poor villagers."

Then she points a finger towards an ally, where there is one villager sleeping on some crates, the other villagers don't seem to be near him.

"We could take him in the house that the others are ispectioning and try to question him." then she is distracted by what is happening at Malaswyn. "But first, I should help Malaswyn inside there" She joins Malaswyn, entering the house.

[ulgulanoth]

As you enter the house you notice that it is in a bad state, about as bad as the hunting lodge in the forest, there is a set of stairs next to the door, and a set of foot prints going up them from a small humanoid, maybe a child

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

I speak softly again: "I'm not that good with human children. Would someone else check upstairs, I'm going to look around down here."

I look around the downstairs.
perception, if needed1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

[ulgulanoth]

Malaswyn

Spoiler:

you can tell from the foot-prints all over the floor that there a total of 7 different people staying here, 6 are small and bare footed, the other is a full grown, with shoes, they seem to stay largely upstairs

[Mordecai Rand]

Mordecai blushes at being spooked by a child.

I will go check on the little one. he says with a grin.

Mordecai goes up the steps singing a nursery rhyme softly as he goes.

[ulgulanoth]

Mordecai

Spoiler:

when you reach the top of the stairs you notice how clean it is compared to the floor below, there are 3 rooms, all of which have no doors, to the left there is a little room with a crib, something is in it but you can’t see what. The room in front of you is empty, save for a single bed roll, to the right there is a room with a very large closet, there are muddy footprints leading to the closet

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

I begin to head up the stairs behind Mordecai: "We should not linger here for too long, it seems that many people make this place home."

[ulgulanoth]

Malaswyn

Spoiler:

when you reach the top of the stairs you notice how clean it is compared to the floor below, there are 3 rooms, all of which have no doors, to the left there is a little room with a crib, something is in it but you can’t see what. The room in front of you is empty, save for a single bed roll, to the right there is a room with a very large closet, there are muddy footprints leading to the closet

[Miriel Larusiel]

Electing to stay outside with Elendyr and keep watch, Miriel takes a moment to pull out her crossbow, which she keeps on a side strap of her backpack, and quickly set a bolt into the extended slot. Distracted by this as she is, she doesn't notice the events inside the house until after Malaswyn and Mordecai have begun to head upstairs. Seeing they probably have things under control she turns to Elendyr.

"If you wish to gauge the reaction of these people, I could send forth an illusion of myself and see how they react to it. That would ensure we do not endanger any of the villagers at least."

[ulgulanoth]

Mordecai and Malaswyn

Spoiler:

suddenly from the closet jumps out a young Halfling and falling just behind him a purple haired female gnome, the Halfling shouts at you “You’ll have to go throw me!” holding a broom handle broken at one end to make a spear like weapon, the gnome behind him is shaking, terror etched on her face

Gharkka, Miriel and Elendyr

Spoiler:

you see a very tall and muscular man walk towards you, he wears a blood covered plate mail. He has chained to either hand a mace. His face is completely emotionless, but his eyes betray both concern and anger. He holds a mace pointing at you all, “What are you doing here?” he says coldly

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

Shocked, I take a step backward and reach for my scimitar. I stop with my hand on the pommel, gently let go of the weapon and speak in calm, quiet tones: "Hello, young halfling; I did not expect to find one of the lucky folk here."

[ulgulanoth]

The Halfling glares at you “ I won’t be fooled by such simple trick! You town folk are all the same, you act nice then start killing us!”
The gnome behind him grabs the makeshift spear “Don’t! I don’t think they’re from here!”

[Mordecai Rand]

Mordecai raises his hands in the air, palms exposed. I heard a rumor that my brother was in this town... I am only here to find him and to help others if I can.

[Elendyr]

Outside group:

Elendyr holds both hands up around shoulder level, palms facing the man with the maces, attempting to look and sound nonthreatening while he speaks to the man and tries to figure him out.

A couple of checks, if necessary.
Sense Motive check:
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Diplomacy check:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"We've been sent by the Andoran People's Council to investigate the reports from the town, and if necessary to rescue all the villagers we can. I'm called Elendyr. If I may, I'd like to talk with you about what's happened here."

[ulgulanoth]

The Halfling lowers his makeshift spear. The gnome steps forward, a little calmer than before, and says nervously ”I-I hope you find him, folks around here haven’t been the same….” she trails of for a bit, ”so you’re not from here? Did you come to rescue us? Thelman told us someone would!” she says in a much happier and excited voice

[ulgulanoth]

Outside group

Spoiler:

the man lowers his weapon, “I’m the guardian of the survivors, all who are staying up in that house, I rather not talk outside as to what happened to this place, evil can hear us all, save for that one place” he points at the second floor of the house

[Elendyr]

Outside group:

As Elendyr lowers his hands, he aims a quick sidelong questioning look at Gharkka.

The rest of this is based on the assumption that Gharkka doesn't think that the man with the maces is a demon in disguise, or something worse.

"Then we'd best go there forthwith." Elendyr will enter the house ahead of the man with the maces.

If at any time Elendyr has to turn his back on the man, he'll try to be nonchalant about how carefully and intently he's listening for the sound of someone moving rapidly in plate armor.

[ulgulanoth]

Gbarkka

Spoiler:

if/when you do sense evil on the man with the maces you find no trace of evil in him at all

Elendyr

Spoiler:

when you enter the house, listening intently you hear no such thing, the mace man doesn't seem to be acting in any agressive way at the moment

[Mordecai Rand]

Indeed, we are not from here. I am Mordecai, and this is Malaswyn. Mordecai lowers his hands and gestures toward the elf.

Please tell us everything you can, so we can help as much as possible. Oh, and also, so you are not alarmed, we have come with several others. They are outside right now.

[Elendyr]

ulgulanoth wrote:

Elendyr ** spoiler omitted **

What can I say? I'm a suspicious sort--says so right there on my character sheet.

[ulgulanoth]

Elendyr, a trait that will serve you well later on ;)

The gnome says ”it all started when the priest of the red god started sending messages to someone, she started talking about a stone under the chapel, it made her go insane. Thelman saved us from the villagers, there was something wrong with them, he prepared this place, its safe here…”

[Gharkka]

@outside group

Spoiler:

Gharkka nods affirmatively to Elendyr, then speaks to the guardian:

"Please, then, lead us to a place where we could speak.

[ulgulanoth]

Alright, the outside party is taken upstairs and meet up with Malaswyn, Mordencai, the halfling and the gnome. The man with the maces is introduced as Thelman.

[Mordecai Rand]

What is wrong with the villagers? Mordecai asks the halfling, the gnome and Thelman.

As soon as Mordecai meets Thelman he is suspicious. Rana's story started with a tale of a man with 2 maces!

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

"Hello, Thelman, your friends were just filling us in. Something about the cleric of the red god, is that Asmodeus? They also said something about a stone?"
I look back and forth between the man and his smaller friends: "We just want to understand what happened here so that we can help."

[ulgulanoth]

Thelman shakes his head, “no-one knows, it looks like a curse, it looks like a disease; it could be either or something else entirely. All I know is that certain warding spells keep them at bay, also they shun holy items.”[b]

[b]"Yes, she was talking of Asmodeus, when I came I had a vision of a stone, that fell from the sky. It oozed darkness and engulfed the town. I've tried to reach it, but it is impossible, for a foul tar has engulfed that chapel"

[Elendyr]

"Thelman, please pardon me if I seem rude, or otherwise out-of-sorts--we stayed out in the forest last night, and I got very little sleep because of...well, I'm not sure what was haunting us.

"I'll start by introducing us. As I said outside, we were sent by the People's Council when word of the madness infecting the villagers reached Piren's Bluff. By training I'm a--an investigator, Gharkka is a paladin of Shelyn, Malaswyn is a priest of Sarenrae, Mordecai is a sorcerer, and Miriel is a wizard.

"Now, our knowledge of the village has been limited so far. Are all of you from this place...ah, that's right--Thelman, you spoke of having a vision of the stone when you came here. When was that? And when did the curse start affecting villagers?

"One other question for you, Thelman. Do you recognize this symbol?" Elendyr produces the sketch of the star tattoo that Rana drew.

[Mordecai Rand]

Mordecai watches Thelman answer.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

He also looks to see if he can notice any tattoos like the star Rana mentioned.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

[ulgulanoth]

[b] “The villagers were already affected when I came here, they killed a little girl by the bridge and would have killed the rest if I hadn’t intervened. The stone is under the chapel to Asmodeus. As for the symbol”[b] he takes his armour and shirt of, and turns round, tattooed on his back is the exact same symbol
Mordecai

Spoiler:

you can tell he is being truthful, and hasn’t dodge or ignored anything he knows

[Miriel Larusiel]

Miriel steps inside behind Elendyr, pulling out one of her small notebooks and an ink pen from her backpack. Her habit of taking notes an almost reactionary thing now. Her mind spins around for a moment as a flurry of information is accompanied by the near silent scrapping of her ink pen to paper. Looking up as the man begins to take off his armor and shirt, she takes note of the tattoo on his back and the talk of Asmodeus and reaches back with her ink pen hand to pull up her robes over her shoulders a bit higher, as if she were worried of something being seen there.

How could one of Asmodeus' faithful fall so low. To allow yourself to be controlled by a stone, such weakness Such thoughts run through her head as she speaks up for the first time to Thelman.

"Thelman, if what you say is true, then what of the villagers? Are they hostile? And what of the chapel itself? You mean to say tar has spread over the entire building? And what of the tattoo? I know that it stands for the symbol of an old order of paladins but I thought they had been defunct for centuries now. Are you truly of that order?"

Her voice spilling out of her throat at almost the same rapid fire pace of an excited gnome as she asks her questions. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looks over Thelman curiously.

[ulgulanoth]

“They are too far gone; whatever afflicts them has driven them to violence, murder and worse things. They are rather hostile; though insane might be a better word for their condition. As for what lays on my back I have promised not to speak about it, I can’t say more than that. “

[Elendyr]

Elendyr nods sharply, apparently satisfied. "That sketch came from the woman who sent word of what was happening here to Piren's Bluff--her story seemed to indicate that the troubles started shortly after you came to Scarlet Hope, but from what you've said your coming was a response, not a cause.

"She also spoke of being rescued from her husband by the ghost of the little girl you mentioned. We saw the ghost as well, but did not approach it too closely. Unfortunately, the woman--Rana was her name--was herself slain shortly after we met her. A demon...what did you call it, Malaswyn? A babau? appeared as if from nowhere and killed her, then vanished.

"What was odd, though, now that I think on it, is that according to her the chapel of the red god burned to the ground not long after you came, and the priestess hung herself after that. Rana told us she saw the body when it was being prepared for burial, and it was covered with a black ooze of some sort. Have any of you seen what's left of the chapel?

"Finally, the stone you speak of. I heard a story, in Piren's Bluff, that this town was built where a star fell long ago. And Rana had a ring with her, inscribed with the line 'By the star on earth will the scarlet people have hope'. Does that sound familiar to any of you?"

[ulgulanoth]

“Some people are more resistant to its effects than others, those who weren’t affected to begin with didn’t realise what was happening. That black ooze she spoke about, that’s the tar, well I have no idea what it is, it’s vile and dangerous. As for the stone, it might be the same but I don’t know the history of Scarlet Hope well enough”

[Mordecai Rand]

I believe he is telling the truth. Mordecai offers.

The direct path seems to be burning the church and whatever hellspawn is in it. What surprises me is that these people so willingly tolerated a chapel to Asmodeus in thier midst.

[Elendyr]

"Malaswyn, didn't you say that the infection in Rana's arm was something you couldn't cure? Perhaps she was one of the luckier ones...though that still doesn't explain why a demon would appear and kill her."

Elendyr stands up and paces back and forth, looking down and running both hands through his hair. He then stops and straightens up. "All right. Thelman, what are your plans? You were able to create this sanctuary, which has thus far served you and your companions well. Have any of you tried to leave the village?"

[ulgulanoth]

[b] “we can’t, there are a few injured here, I can carry one, but I would be unable to defend them, so there is nothing I can do other than to wait for their injuries to heal” [b]

[Malaswyn Tyddewi]

"I think we have a duty to ensure that there are no other survivors, then we can escort them to safety."
I look around the small room: "How did you protect this place from the corruption?"

[ulgulanoth]

“I was given some scrolls with warding magic; I know not the spells that were used”

[Mordecai Rand]

Who gave you the scrolls?

[ulgulanoth]

"I promised them I would never tell"

[Elendyr]

At this, Elendyr returns to his pacing. "Surely you can see, Thelman, that--however honorable you and your benefactors may be--this sounds suspicious? Because of your actions in saving these other people, I'm inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt, but it doesn't help that Rana told us she'd seen you performing ritual magic. To our arcanists and the priest her description sounded like a summoning of some sort, and a peasant woman isn't likely to know of such things. Then after her death at the hands of a demon...well."

He stops suddenly. "Wait a moment. Malaswyn, Miriel--something I think you said about Rana's death--that there was no sign of a struggle, and none of you actually saw the demon kill her. And her face was gone, melted away. Now I am wondering if we saw what we think we saw....

"Here, this is what Rana looked like:"

Elendyr describes Rana as best he can remember, then looks to the others. "Is there anything you want to add?"

He gestures to Thelman, the gnome, and the halfling. "Now, do any of you recognize her?"

[ulgulanoth]

Thelman shakes his head, but the Halfling jumps up to her description “I know here, she was the sister of the mayor, she was married to the wealthiest merchant of Scarlet Hope”

[Mordecai Rand]

Thelman, who is here, and what is thier condition? Also, do you know of anyone else who is holed up in any other part of town?

[Elendyr]

Elendyr looks more than a bit chagrined at Mordecai's question. "My apologies, Mordecai--I forgot about your personal interest here." He turns back to Thelman, the gnome, and the halfling. "If you would, please, answer his questions first, and then we can return to the larger problem at hand."