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Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul.

Posted by Belor HemlockFor group 0
Belor Hemlock
NPC, 20 posts
Sandpoint's Sheriff
Is Probably Scowling
Thu 20 Aug 2015
at 08:19
  • msg #1

Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Sheriff Hemlock couldn’t have looked any more astonished when Liseth responded to his question by wailing and fleeing The Rusty Dragon's public room for her private quarters.  He raised his hand in protest as she escaped, wincing as she fell on the steps, before allowing it to fall to his side as he turned back towards the remaining members of the group.

“Wait,” the sheriff said upon Pisca’s invitation to join her planned rescue.  “Scarnetti Manor?  That’s where Kerr is?!?”  The concern in his voice was evident.  “We need to go retrieve him.  Immediately.”

Without waiting for a response, the sheriff nearly ran out the door, not looking behind to see who if anyone followed.  He dashed down to the Goblin Squash stables to retrieve his horse, rode it across the town's southern bridge over the Turandurok, then down Schooner Gulch Road towards the estates of Sandpoint’s wealthier families.*

The scene that confronted him when he arrived at Scarnetti Manor was far from the honey trap Liseth had feared.  Sheriff Hemlock barged past the Scarnettis’ doorman, immediately heading downstairs as if he knew exactly where to go.  Heading down the hallway and kicking open the second door on the left, he found Titus Scarnetti standing in a basement room facing a roughed-up looking Kerr Mollin.  Two Scarnetti thugs stood next to the young paladin, and it was hard to miss that one of them had very bruised knuckles.

“I told you, I don’t know anything about that!”  Kerr’s voice contained a pleading note that quickly changed to hope when he saw the cavalry arrive.  “Sherriff Hemlock!”

Titus Scarnetti turned slowly, only a hint of a scowl on his face.  “Go away, Belor.”  His voice was calm.  “I am taking the steps you refuse to.  The safety of Sandpoint and the sanctity of my business are at stake!”

“You are blind, Titus."  The Scarnetti patriarch’s face hardened at the Shoanti’s too-familiar use of his first name.  “And as much as you might wish otherwise you are not the law in Sandpoint.  I am.  This young man isn’t responsible for what happened.  If anything, he might be the key to uncovering who is.  Beating him senseless isn’t going to help anything.”

Titus Scarnetti looked as if he might object, then simply waved his hand with a frustrated exhalation of breath.  “Fine.  Take him.  But if he does turn out to have been involved somehow, we will have a reckoning.  Sheriff.”

“And if he was not, the Council will hear about your . . . indiscretions this evening.  Titus.”

The sheriff quickly helped Kerr out of the chair and half-assisted, half-carried him back to the horses.  They rode gingerly back to The Rusty Dragon, where those of the group who hadn’t followed were shocked at their friend’s condition.  His mussed hair, bruises and contusions definitely made it look as if he’d had the worse of things.

They helped Kerr up to Liseth’s room, where they made him as comfortable as they could.  Once everyone was situated, the Sheriff began to answer the question on everyone’s mind:  what was going on?

The sheriff sat heavily on one of the room's two chairs, exhaled, and began his tale.  “Two days ago, a deranged man assaulted one of our patrols along the Lost Coast Road near one of the Scarnettis’ warehouses on Cougar Creek.”  He nodded to Kellan.  “You know the one.  According to the guards, this man was obviously sick and insane—with his fevered flesh, wild eyes, frothing mouth, and clothes caked with blood, he apparently looked like something straight out of a nightmare.”

“The guards subdued him, but when they checked inside the warehouse they found the mutilated bodies of three men.”  The Shoanti looked uncomfortable.  “The bodies were far too disfigured to identify, but we did find this on one of them.”  At this, the sheriff pulled a bloodstained parchment from his vest, opening it so that all could read its contents:

MESSRS. MORTWELL, HASK, AND TABE –

A deal has come about that I need capital for.  It involves property and gold, and although I am not at liberty to tell you the exact details, it will make us all rich.  Come to the Scarnetti warehouse at Cougar Creek tonight.  We can meet there to discuss our futures.

-Your Lordship


“If this letter correctly identifies the men, that would make them Tarch Mortwell, Lener Hask, and Gedwin Tabe.  Each man is a notorious troublemaker—“con men” and “swindlers” would be a very polite term for them.  In fact,” he raised his eyebrows suggestively, “I have long suspected, but of course cannot prove, that each of these men had ties to the Scarnettis, and that they have done some very underhanded things for that family.”

“But believe it or not, that wasn’t the strangest thing about the scene.  Each man had a strange, seven-pointed star carved into his chest.”  His face crinkled in puzzlement.  “I’m not sure what it means, but I figured you might.”

“We also,” the sheriff looked even more uncomfortable, “found this envelope hanging from a nail in the wall.”  He produced the envelope, much less bloodstained than its companion, but upon which could be read a name:  KERR MOLLIN.

“What?”  Protested Kerr, still woozy from his treatment at the hands of the Scarnetti thugs.  “An envelope with my name on it?  At the Scarnetti warehouse?  After the killings?”  The young paladin looked completely befuddled.

“Yes.”  The sheriff responded succinctly.  “And I hope you don’t mind that I opened it to see if it might give us a clue to whoever committed these murders.”  Kerr shook his head mutely as Belor removed yet another parchment and unfolded it for all to see:

I do as you command, Master!

-Your Lordship


Kerr paled.  “What does that mean?”  He asked in a quiet voice.

“I was hoping you could tell me,” the sheriff responded, not unkindly.  “It seems like whoever was behind this has something of a vendetta against Kerr, since it certainly seems as if they are trying to pin responsibility for those murders on him.  Of course, I don’t believe it for a second,” he patted the beaten acolyte comfortingly on the shoulder, “but as you can see from the Scarnettis’ response, not everyone will see things that way.  So we should try to get this resolved as soon as we can.”

“The bodies are currently in a room in the Garrison’s basement, cared for by Clif Buxton.  The room is cool, so the bodies should not start decaying for another day or two.  I was hoping that I could convince you to look into these murders and find out who the real perpetrator was.  Because I think we all know it’s not Kerr.”

*Scarnetti Manor is Building 48 on the map of Sandpoint




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2539 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 20 Aug 2015
at 13:37
  • msg #2

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

It's easy to tell when people have been crying.  Rheumy eyes.  Blotchy skin.  What's more difficult to understand is why people try to hide it.  Even gnomes.  Sometimes you just have to cry.  And then you feel much better after.  Mostly.

At least it wasn't Cerlynne.  That was the first thing that Pisca found herself wanting to say to Lysa by way of cheer or comfort.  Now that they were all together.  But, then it occurred to the gnome that this was not only very plainly evident, but it was also, for the most part, fairly useless comfort-wise.

"Lysa," she said instead, "it isn't always a good idea to pay heed to what other people think of you.  Or, at the very least, take it very seriously.  Every person sees things a little bit differently.  Sometimes a lot bit differently.  We both see a chair.  We can agree about the shape and the color and the material.  But you see a sitting thing and I see a climbing thing."

"It's alright to see things differently.  But you have to decide which way is right for you.  And if you worry too much about the way other people see things, then you lose who you are yourself.  Gnomes learn this lesson early on.  That's because gnomes who lose themselves in the feelings and opinions of others usually Bleach young."

"Yes, we're paying attention."  Pisca stood from her advice to Lysa and turned her full attention to the murders and the letters and the Important Matters At Hand™.  Well, mostly.

"Think about it, Lys.  I don't know whether humans can manage this sort of thing.  You all live so awfully close together.  But, it's one of the sixteen major life lessons for a gnome."  And she punctuated her final words with a shrug.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1124 posts
Miniboss
Thu 20 Aug 2015
at 17:31
  • msg #3

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

First a full scale goblin invasion led by one of Sandpoints own, and now a string of murders by somebody with enough foresight to try and frame Kerr Mollin of all people for the crime. It's not as if Kellan had harbored any disillusion about resting on their laurels for rest of his career, but what were the odds of something like this happening so soon after the invasion?

Given the symbology involved, he decided chance probably did not have a lot to do with it.

The Scarnettis had decided to make things personal, and Sandpoint was not the sort of place associated with things of this nature. A place where you ambush a good man after inviting him into your home for dinner. Kellan had almost hoped that they would resist the Sheriffs intrusion with force, but sadly they had been too smart for that.

"We'll take a look...what ever became of the man the other guards found on the road? The filthy madman?" Kellan asked as he helped brush Kerr down and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder..
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2543 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 20 Aug 2015
at 18:02
  • msg #4

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"So ... madman found at scene of crime.  Check," said the gnome,  following on the heels of Stomper's question.  She paced back and forth as she enumerated each of the facts.  "Three murdered miscreants.  Check.  A mysterious letter.  No, strike that.  Two mysterious letters."

"Oh, and the mysterious seven pointed scars."  This thought gave the gnome pause.  "Nualia had a medallion inscribed with a stylized, seven-pointed star.  And we also saw one like it in the ruins off the tunnels from the Glassworks.  Seven," she said, fishing the card from her pouch and holding it aloft.  "And there were seven Runelords, weren't there, Cato?"  For the gnome, the seven pointed star drew a direct line to the One-Eyed Mask.  But, she said no more about this, leaving it for Stomper, Cato, Lysa and Kerr Mollin to draw their own conclusions.  They all knew of these things too.

"Did you check the wounds on the murdered men, Sheriff?" Pisca asked.  "And match them to the weapons that the madman had on his person?  Doesn't seem likely to me that this man was the murderer.  Or, at least, the only murderer.  It would have been three against one for starters.  Hard to see how this lone madman could have killed all three of them so quickly that at least one would not be able to escape, fleeing for his life."

"And we have two people here.  We have one that calls himself 'Your Lordship' and another who Your Lordship calls 'Master'.  And in an envelope addressed to Kerr Mollin, this Your Lordship declares his fealty to this Master.  Which might be interpreted as Your Lordship referring to Kerr Mollin to whom the envelope seems to be addressed as Master."

Pisca frowned at her analysis in a dissatisfied manner.

"The thing that confuses me the most in all of this," she continued, expressing her dissatisfaction, "is why this letter writer would call himself 'Your Lordship'.  Can you imagine the confusion?"

"What's your name?" squeaked one of Pisca's hands, both of which she now held aloft in the manner of puppets.

"I'm Your Lordship," said the hand that held the black card with the golden seven.  It spoke in a deeper voice.

"You're my lordship?"

"No, you fool!  I'm Your Lordship."

"But that's what I said.  You're my lordship."

"Nonono!  I'm Your Lordship!!!"

"What?"

The gnome sighed.  "You see the problem?"
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2312 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 20 Aug 2015
at 22:49
  • msg #5

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth had eventually transferred herself from the floor to the bed; laying on her stomach with her face buried in the pillows.  It was difficult to keep track of the passage of time, and in truth the girl didn't really try.

She was brought back to the world by activity outside her room.  Activity followed by everyone bursting in on her in her misery.  A split second saw her undecided whether she should cover her head with a pillow and hide, but the crestfallen acolyte glanced up at the intruders.

Only to see her battered, beaten, bloody, and bruised beau being brought in.  Practically carried by Sheriff Hemlock and Kellan.  The girl sat bolt upright with a horrified scream.  "Kerr!"

Her own misery was forgotten as Liseth bounded off the bed and rushed to Kerr's side, "What happened?!  What did they do to you?!"  She helped the others usher him onto her recently vacated bed and made Kerr lie down.  Before there was a chance for response, the small acolyte began to channel intense positive energy.

"Gods, heal the bruises and mend the flesh of your faithful servant!  Restore the health and vigor to this battered body!"  Her hands were laid atop Kerr and moved slowly up and down his body, healing injuries as they came across them.  There were so many!

Liseth listened closely to the Sheriff's story as she tended to Kerr; the situation had suddenly become very personal to her.  Her hands never left Kerr, gripping his arm as though her boyfriend might vanish otherwise.

"How could they think Kerr is involved in any of this?  He's been training so hard with Ser Klerris that he's barely had time to go to dinner, let alone..." she swallowed and looked Kerr in the face.  "There's no way!  Kerr is a paladin and a hero; if Mr Scarnetti thinks that Kerr could be a part of that, then he doesn't know anything at all!"  Liseth sounded uncharacteristically vehement.

"Thank you Pisca."  Liseth finally responded to her gnome friend's words, "I know everyone is different...but, it's just...well..."  She faltered, then sighed, "I don't want to think about Shayliss...or Katrine, or Elsbet or any of the other girls right now."  The blonde frowned.

The frown became a grimace as Liseth thought about what the Sheriff said concerning the mutilated bodies.  "Has anyone examined them yet?  Who knows a lot about injuries and anatomy?"  She absolutely did not want to get close to a bunch of horrible corpses right now, but if it would help Kerr...

"I could...I could look at them.  To see if I can find anything that might be important."

The way that Pisca spoke with her puppet hands about the letter did give Liseth a final thought, "The letter could have Kerr's name on it for any number of wicked reasons.  The Master that Your Lordship talks about could be someone else entirely, maybe an evil deity or demon..."  Not too far of a stretch considering the events with the goblins before.

"Maybe Kerr's name is on it because the killer wants to taunt him specifically into investigating?  Like in a mystery story, where the killer always leaves clues for the hero to find?  You've heard stories like that, right Pisca?"

OOC: Casting Cure Moderate Wounds and Lesser Restoration
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:47, Fri 21 Aug 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2545 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 21 Aug 2015
at 12:48
  • msg #6

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"There are stories ... "  Pisca mulled the question put to her by her very worried human friend.  "But ... most of the time the clues are more clever and less ... obtuse."

"This seems less a clue than a declaration of fealty by a madman.  And it's addressed to Kerr Mollin.  Nailed to a wall.  Specifically placed there to be found ... "  The gnome hmm'ed for a bit before continuing.  "If we discount the idea that Kerr Mollin is not secretly an evil mastermind who controls a cadre of fanatically devoted madmen, then I'd say that the most likely scenario is that someone out there wants us (or everyone, actually) to *think* that Kerr Mollin is secretly an evil mastermind who controls a cadre of fanatically devoted madmen."

"Sort of a clumsy way to go about it, though.  And ... "  Pisca gives The Boyfriend a long and appraising look.  "Not ... very ... likely."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1096 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 21 Aug 2015
at 15:34
  • msg #7

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato merely watched in surprise as Sheriff Hemlock dashed out of the room, trying to decide the ideal course of action for dealing with everything that was happening.  The return of the sheriff, with the beaten Kerr, put a different spin on everything that had just happened.

Cato rushed forward, but then took a few steps back, trusting Liseth to care for the injured paladin better than he would be able to.  Once she had, Cato began to think about what Hemlock had said.

"Wait, a crazed man butchers three people and leaves a note?  That doesn't even make any sense.  How could an insane person do that?"

Cato considered further, and nodded to Pisca.  "Yes, a seven-pointed star.  We saw several such things.  If it's the same one we saw down in the tunnels below Sandpoint, it's called a Sihedron rune, and was the symbol of the Thassilonian Empire.  If someone is carving runes into murder victims, I suspect the Sheriff was right to see us.  We definitely need to see the bodies."

Cato shook his head.  "It seemed as though there was...something in Thistletop trying to work its will on the goblins that Nualia was trying to aid.  Maybe that...something found a way to influence someone.  Or the tunnels.  Sheriff, you're still guarding them?  Nothing strange has happened there?  And why would some ancient being from Thassilon care about Kerr?  Unless they have a vendetta against the god he represents?"

Cato shook his head again.  "So many strange questions."
Belor Hemlock
NPC, 21 posts
Sandpoint's Sheriff
Is Probably Scowling
Fri 21 Aug 2015
at 22:12
  • msg #8

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Sheriff Hemlock waited patiently while everyone reacted to his startling news, smiling slightly at Pisca’s short, one-gnome play.  Once things had settled down, he continued.  “The man who attacked our guards was clearly sick and insane, Kellan.”  He shrugged.  “We don’t think he had the wherewithal,” he nodded in agreement with Pisca, “to take down all three men.  He wasn’t armed.”  He said in answer to the gnome’s question.  “Or at least, he wasn’t when the Guardsmen found him.”

“We’ve identified him as Grayst Sevilla.  As far as I know, he’s one of Jubrayl’s low-level thugs.  We don’t know why he was in the area, why he wasn’t killed along with the other three, or even what’s wrong with him.  We couldn’t get anything out of him—he’s a bit off his rocker, if you want my honest opinion.  I sent him down to Erin Habe’s sanitorium south of town to see if the good doctor might be able to help him.  You know the place, Kerr?”  Kerr nodded.  “Good.”

“I don’t think anyone who knows Kerr would believe he was involved in this.  But there are some in town who don’t know him well, and fear can cause people to turn on each other for,” he held up the letter, “lesser reasons than this.”  He looked at Kellan and Kerr.  “You boys remember the Late Unpleasantness?”  The nodded mutely.  “Well, the atmosphere in town was poisonous.  Everyone was looking for the Chopper, and some saw him in the unlikeliest of places.  So I think it’s better for everyone if we keep this as quiet as possible and find whoever did this as soon as possible.”

“You’re free to examine the bodies, Liseth, although I think going in the morning might cause less talk.”  He gave her a meaningful look.  “To tell you the truth, I’m not that surprised to find these three particular men dead.  They weren’t shy about making enemies.  But this seven-pointed star and these notes, especially this one,” he tapped the missive addressed to Kerr, “make this a more-thorny case than I would have originally thought.  It sounds like—from what you’re saying,” he glanced at Cato, “this seven-pointed star might be important, and possibly related to the events of the Swallowtail Festival.  That makes me even more certain that involving you now was the right decision.  If anyone has the experience to delve into this sort of thing,” another look at Cato, “it’s you.  I’m not ashamed to say that this sort of thing is a bit out of my depth.”

“I don’t know why he left this letter.  But I agree, Pisca.  This ‘Your Lordship,’ whoever he is, seems to have killed three men and possibly driven another insane.  That’s not someone I want running free in this area.”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2546 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 21 Aug 2015
at 22:59
  • msg #9

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Well," mused the gnome, "the theme of madness might suggest that Your Lordship could possibly have picked Kerr Mollin at random.  And even though it's still a distinct possibility, I think we should rule it out.  It's not a road that takes us anywhere."

"That being the case, Your Lordship would have to be someone who knows you."  And Pisca turned then to address Kerr directly.  "Someone who probably has you on their mind.  So, very possibly someone who you've run into in the last week or two.  And, given that we've been pretty busy, that narrows the field of players down a bit."

"I also think that we can safely say that this is a he somebody.  After all, he did refer to himself as a 'Lord' and not a 'Lady'."

"'Lord', so possibly aristocratic.  And has at least as much knowledge of the underbelly of crime as you do, Sheriff Hemlock.  He seemed to know just who to pick to poke the Scarnetti hive and stir up the bees.  He knew that the three were associated.  And, he knew just what to put in that letter to draw them to the Scarnetti warehouse.  In fact, it's likely that he knew that choosing the Scarnetti warehouse would put them off their guard as they would see it as a safe place."

"Hmmph," the gnome hmmphed.  "I like that.  I should write that down.  I'll call it ... I'll call it ... a profile.  What do you think?"  So impressed was the gnome at her new invention, that she forgot the most important part: Matching the profile to a likely person.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Sun 23 Aug 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2313 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sun 23 Aug 2015
at 22:26
  • msg #10

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"You think that it has to do with the ruins?  And that man who was helping Nualia?"  Liseth was still gripping Kerr's arm while she replied to some of the things put forth.  "That man belonged to a group...his allies probably know who we are...the Sandpoint Saviors."  The girl frowned worriedly, "Maybe Kerr's name was put there to attack us; not just him."

"Remember what Mayor Deverin said?  How just seeing us around town made people feel safer?  Someone could be planning something evil again...and they want to discredit us as part of it."  Liseth looked at Kerr, "Look what mean Mr Scarnetti did, just because they put Kerr's name on a letter at their crime scene."

"I'll examine the...the bodies tomorrow, Sheriff Hemlock"  The acolyte nodded to the sheriff.  Even though that sounded like an awful way to start a day.  "But I might need some help."  Liseth looked between Pisca and Cato, "I don't know so much about the Runelords, or seven-pointed stars..."

"And we'll have to talk to the survivor too...the one who went...mad."  The small blonde swallowed; three people murdered brutally and the only one to witness it had been driven mad; who could have done such a thing?  "He might be able to prove that Kerr had nothing to do with it."  She added afterward, "And tell us who did."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1125 posts
Miniboss
Mon 24 Aug 2015
at 23:54
  • msg #11

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Grayst?" Kellan seemed as surprised as anybody, perhaps more so.Had it not been coming directly from Sheriff Hemlock himself he almost would have doubted it. "That doesn't make any sense"

The guardsman could not help but recall the ocasional run in with Grayst, mostly at fat mans with the reek of sour ale on the the mans breath. He was a thug, certainly, and while he was reported by some of the girls over at the Pixies Kitten to get rough at times, he certainly did not seem the sort who would snap and kill...but then again...who really knew?

"Yeah, if there is anything to be had of him, we'll have it." he agreed with Liseth and turned towards Kerr with a shake of his head "Sorry that you've been caught up in all this, but I suppose if your serious about becoming a Paladin, you would have dealt with something like this sooner or later. Might as well be now."

He turned and considered going after Shayliss, but it was too late...and he would need his sleep for tomorrow. Better to let her cool off for the time being...duty called after all.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1097 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 25 Aug 2015
at 19:47
  • msg #12

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded to the sheriff.  "I'm glad to help out Sandpoint, especially if this is related to the events of the Swallowtail Festival or anything else we've gone through."  He looked over to Liseth.  "I agree, though, that examining dead bodies for clues is not my idea way of starting the day, we should do that tomorrow.  As for this Grayst at the Sanatorium: do you suspect him of being another victim or the perpetrator?  When I first heard your description of the even, I assumed it was the latter.  That he had snapped and killed three people before being caught by the guard.  But it actually seems to be the former.  Is there any evidence that supports either view?"

Cato was quiet for a moment more before speaking.  When he continued, his voice was pitched low, and a deep edge of concern entered it: "I'm worried by the sign-off of that letter.  If there's an actual 'Lord' involved, Sandpoint doesn't have too many noble families...and even less Lords with the demise of Lonjiku.  Scarnetti himself, maybe trying to throw off suspicion for some reason?  Foxglove?  How about the Deverins?  Is there a lord in that family?  Maybe someone mad that Kendra's a mayor and looking to oust her?"  Cato shook his head.  "Of course, it could be someone calling themselves a lord without actually being a lord.  Someone disturbed enough to carve Sihedron runes in their victims probably isn't even human.  Or at least influenced by something non-human.  Which brings me back again to Thistletop, and whatever's trapped underneath there."

Cato shook his head again.  "But we need to find out what's on as fast as we can."
Belor Hemlock
NPC, 22 posts
Sandpoint's Sheriff
Is Probably Scowling
Wed 26 Aug 2015
at 07:28
  • msg #13

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“That’s why I want you five on this case,” said the Sheriff.  “Look, I think the Sandpoint Guard is well-trained, and they are one of the most professional forces you’re going to find in a town of this size.  But we’re simply not prepared to deal with ritual murders, much less ones committed by crazed psychopaths who are trying to set up either Kerr, the nobility, or both.”

Sheriff Hemlock turned to Liseth.  “But if you know of a group who you think might be behind these murders, I want you to look into it as closely as you can.  One demented person acting alone is bad enough.  But a whole group, operating in the shadows, dedicated to this kind of evil?”  He shook his head.  “That’s bad news for Sandpoint.”

“Examining the bodies is an excellent idea.  I’ll let Clif know you’re coming.”  He turned to Kellan.  “I was as surprised as anyone.  We’ve crossed swords with Grayst more than once but this doesn’t sound anything like him.”  He glanced at Cato.  “And no, I don’t think Grayst was the one who committed these murders.  He didn’t have any weapons, and he was in no state to be writing up the notes we found at the warehouse.”  He paused.  “I’m not even sure the man’s literate.  But you might want to talk to Jubrayl about it, assuming you can get anything out of him.”  Jubrayl Vhiski was notably tight-lipped with the Guard.

The sheriff looked at his deputies.  “I don’t have to tell you that we need to keep as much of this quiet from the town as possible.”  He studiously did not look at Pisca.  “So please be as discreet as you can with your inquiries.  If there’s nothing else?”

When no more questions were forthcoming, he nodded.  “I need to get back to the Garrison.  If I’m not there in the morning I’ll make sure instructions are left to give you access to the bodies.  And if there’s anything else you need from me, just let me know.  But again,” this time he did look at Pisca, “be discreet about it.”

With that, Sheriff Hemlock left the room, leaving the Sandpoint Saviors to confront the mystery of these murders by themselves.




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2548 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 27 Aug 2015
at 14:39
  • msg #14

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Discreet," parroted the gnome.  Though the implied agreement was belied by the broad grin of extreme delight that stretched nearly from ear to ear across her gnomish face.

"Ritual murders!" said the gnome to her friends.  "Crazed psychopaths!"  She let loose with a chuckle of delight.  "And they called on us!!!  They called on use to solve this.  You!  And Me!!!"

"I'll wander down to the Fatman this evening and find out how much the *general public* already know about this.  Maybe talk to Jubrayl."  Pisca's mien grew pensive at the name.  "I ... "  She paused here and sighed in a deep sigh before continuing, "haven't been to see him since we left for Thistletop.  I should at least make a social call.  Say hello.  Make sure he's been well."

"He's not a bad person, you know?"  This she said to her friends.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1127 posts
Miniboss
Thu 27 Aug 2015
at 16:13
  • msg #15

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"No, I'm pretty sure he is" Kellan disagreed with Pisca, punctuated by a shake of his head "He may be polite, intelligent, and even loyal to his own...but, that still doesn't excuse the choices he's made in my eyes"

Kellan scratched his head as he considered his next course of action. "If he gives you any trouble...well...just let me know I suppose." Kellan really wanted to just march down there with a file of guards and kick Jubrayls door down, then to haul him away in shackles until he spilled whatever he knew about Grayst...and any other details of the criminal enterprises the man was sure to be involved in. That was not exactly "discreet" however.

"I think we should all head to bed, then hit this like a nine pound hammer at first light" he suggested.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2315 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 27 Aug 2015
at 16:27
  • msg #16

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Goodbye Sheriff Hemlock, thank you for rescuing Kerr!"  Liseth called as the Sheriff left, leaving the five of them alone with the murderous mystery.

Pisca's reaction drew a frown from the worn acolyte.  "This isn't a good thing Pisca.  This is a bad mystery; I just hope that we can solve it before anyone else is hurt or killed."

"It probably wasn't done by anyone who lives in Sandpoint," the girl speculated afterwards.  "Mr Scarnetti is reacting without thinking; he only thinks this as an attack against him."  She thought a moment; Liseth hadn't lived in Sandpoint for long, but she had picked up a few things.  "There are people who don't like him, and think bad things of him and his family..."  Even Ser Klerris had said so much, and this situation with Kerr had the young acolyte ready to believe anything bad about the Scarnetti family.  "But I don't think anyone in Sandpoint would go as far as murder, and then frame Kerr too of all people."  The little blonde kissed Kerr's cheek reassuringly.

Liseth merely nodded when Pisca mentioned Jubrayl.  Her experience with the Fatman was one best left in the past; she wasn't about to go back!

"Oh!"  Liseth bounced to her feet.  "With everything happening, I almost forgot!"  She looked at all of her friends, already gathered together.  It wasn't exactly the way She pictured it, but this would do.  "Everyone wait here!"  The small acolyte commanded before exiting the room.

Minutes later, she reappeared carrying a platter upon which rested a round, pink cake with sliced strawberries in the frosting.  And a wedge already missing.

"I made a strawberry cake, with strawberry frosting!"  She glanced at Kerr, "For everyone." The girl giggled.

"I wanted to serve this in the dining room but this will have to do."  A frown crossed her face as she cut into the cake, "And it might be best to share it before we get into this...murder investigation."

"Oh, Kellan...I'm sorry about Shayliss.  I'll save an extra slice so that you can bring it to her later; to say I'm sorry for making such a scene downstairs."
The Raconteur
GM, 2195 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 28 Aug 2015
at 20:47
  • msg #17

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Everyone greatly enjoyed the strawberry cake, although Kerr struck a particularly-miserable pose in a quixotic effort to ensure that Liseth saved at least a portion of the delectable dessert for his own personal consumption.  Even so, the party’s attitude was more subdued than normal, given the circumstances.  The same thoughts were on everyone’s mind.  Who could have committed these murders?  And why?

Before long each person had finished the last crumbs of their strawberry cake.  The group bid each other good night, promising to reunite in the morning in the Rusty Dragon’s taproom for breakfast.  Pisca left the inn on her way to the Fatman, only to find the establishment closed for what the two burly doormen described as a “private function.”  Despite her best efforts the gnome could not obtain entrance, and she left disappointed.

The next morning broke on a pleasant late-spring day in Sandpoint, the beautiful weather marred only by the knowledge of the dark deeds done by the mysterious criminal they were to investigate.  As promised, the group met for breakfast, each thinking about what they might do to help solve the crime as quickly and quietly as possible.

Surprisingly, the already-somber meal was interrupted by a sullen and grim-faced Sheriff Hemlock, who entered the inn’s public room as if he was going to a loved one’s wake.  Without speaking, he caught the eyes of the group and motioned them back into the room where they had conferenced just hours before.  Once everyone was settled, the town’s senior lawman checked the corridor, then closed the door and faced his deputies, demeanor grave and serious.

“Let me get right down to it.  I have bad news.  We have another murder.  Or murders.”  He corrected himself.  “Last night, at the sawmill.  There are two victims and they’re . . . they’re in pretty gruesome shape.  Ibor Thorn, you know him,” he nodded at Kellan and Kerr, “one of the partners running the mill, found the bodies.  Unfortunately, by the time the Guard arrived on the scene we already had a crowd of curious gawkers.  I’ve got men there now, keeping the place locked down.”

“The thing that bothers me isn’t just the fact that we have two dead bodies inside the mill.  It’s that we’ve had two sets of multiple murders in the last few days, and all of the victims save one had that seven-pointed star carved into them.  And both murder scenes had one of these.”  Sheriff Hemlock pulled another envelope out of his vest pocket.  Across the front was again scrawled the name KERR MOLLIN.

Sheriff Hemlock handed the envelope to Kerr, who gingerly removed the letter with no small amount of trepidation.  Inside was another message from the mysterious murderer.

We have spoken of this before, my Master.  Your will is my command!

-Your Lordship


“We found this pinned to the sleeve of Banny Harker’s corpse,” Sheriff Hemlock informed them.  He paused, seeing the incomprehension on Liseth and Cato’s face, “Ibor’s partner at the mill.  Of course, I still don’t believe Kerr had anything to do with this, especially given the beating Titus gave him.  I am almost certain whoever this is wants to throw suspicion upon the group of you and discredit you in the eyes of the townsfolk.”

“I’m going to have my hands full keeping this from becoming a full-on panic like the one we had during the Late Unpleasantness.  Like I said last night, you have experience with this sort of thing and have proven both your discretion and your loyalty to Sandpoint.  I would like you to take your own look at what happened at the mill and see if you can you figure out who might be behind these murders.  And Ibor is down at the Garrison, so you can talk to him yourselves to see if he can shed any more light on what happened.  Again, we want to keep this as quiet as possible.  Right now this is just a single tragedy.  If Sandpoint finds out we have a serial ritual murderer on our hands . . . you can imagine the panic.”

Sheriff Hemlock sighed.  “The one thing I haven’t told you yet is the identity of the other victim.”  He studiously did not look at Kellan.  “It’s Katrine Vinder.  I don’t know for sure why she was visiting Banny in the middle of the night but,” he shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably, “it’s not hard to make an educated guess.”

“That means Ven is currently our number-one suspect.  I don’t think the man had anything to do with it but Tiller was first on the scene and he’s pretty convinced Ven is guilty.  Everyone knows Ven has a temper, and the easy story is that he finally found out who Katrine was seeing and lost it, then added the ritualistic touches to cover up his crime.”  The sheriff grimaced.  “Torv hauled him down to the Garrison this morning.”

“So you might want to question Ven and maybe talk to Torv about his suspicions.”  This time he did glance at Kellan.  “You know how he can be when he gets the bit between his teeth.  He thinks Ven somehow found about about the warehouse murders and is trying to deflect suspicion by making these seem to be the work of the same person.”

Sheriff Hemlock looked down at the floor, as if trying to determine if he’s shared everything with the group, then looked back up.  “I think that’s everything.  You all have a lot on your plate, so I won’t take up any more of your time.  If anyone gives you any problems let them know you have my full support and authorization for your investigation.  You still have your badges, don’t you?”  Everyone nodded.  “Good.  Use them.  But again, try not to make a commotion.  Widespread fear and panic won’t help anything.  Any questions?”




This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Fri 28 Aug 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1099 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 02:46
  • msg #18

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato silently shook his head, too shocked to formulate any thoughts for the moment, although it seemed as though a score of half formed ideas were flying around the inside of his head. Cato closed his eyes, saying s silent prayer to Desna, something he hadn't done recently...which, considering the sorts of things that led to him saying prayers, was probably a positive thing.

It was the death of Katrine that drove everything home for him. The other victims had no doubt been just as deserving as life (despite any connections to an unsavory character) but Cato didn't feel as though he knew anything about them. Katrine, though, he had met. Seen Pisca and Ven come to blows over. And now she was gone, wiped out by a sadistic murderer who carved runes into his victims' chests and tried to frame them.

In trying to come up with a possible suspect, Cato immediately went to his ever-present worry of his own past. But nothing about this indicated Hellknights. Although his old commander certainly enjoyed the kind of psychic torment such actions would have caused Cato by framing his friend Kerr, this fell too far outside the legalistic framework they set up for themselves. Hellknights might, with good enough reason, bend the law fairly far to accomplish their objectives, but murdering people like this was probably beyond them, especially when they could just drag them in for a show trial and then imprison or execute them, after getting them to publicly admit to any number of crimes after...Cato involuntarily shivered, not wanting to remember the details of everything he had seen in service to the Hellknights.

But then, who?  Cato looked up, suddenly aware he had been lost in his thoughts for far too long. He remembered hearing about some of the details of 'the late unpleasantness' in Sandpoint not long after he had first arrived, and wondering, in a detached way, what the people of Ssndpoint had felt at the time. Now, going through something similar, he suspected he didn't need to feel that anymore, just put a stop as quickly as possible.

He cleared his throat. "We need to start. Let's see the first ones. Maybe something we see will help us. I'm sure there's something significant about carving the runes. I just can't out my finger on it. Seeing them in person might just help. And then we need to question the witnesses. We need to do something, and stop this from happening."

 Cato shook his head and looked to his friends, especially Kerr, who must be doing worst of all. Cato just hoped word didn't get out to more people to whom the letters on the victims had been addressed. The last thing they needed was an angry lynch mob on their hands. Cato looked to Kellan, wondering if the guardsman would know, or at least guess, how the town might react if more people found out, but afraid to ask the question and actually learn.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2549 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 14:33
  • msg #19

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The gnome became very still at the news of Katrine Vinder's death.  All of the enthusiasm with which she had awoken this morning was suddenly gone - vanished in a snap, cloaked and gone.  What replaced it was a very stubborn and determined look.  It was the kind of look with which a gnome might strongly disagree, pushing back against any who might come against her.

"They're wrong," Pisca said.  "They are so very wrong."  Her words were obstinate and insistent in their truth.  "Ven Vinder would never do a thing like that."

Despite the brief and, some would say, rocky nature of her relationship with the owner of the General Store, the gnome seemed quite sure of herself.  "I know he wouldn't," she adds.

Then, "I'd like to go to the Saw Mill first, Cato," said the gnome.  "I'd like to see things while they're still fresh.  Before things are all trampled and moved about."

"But, I think we need to do something first.  Kerr Mollin, give me that letter."  The gnome held out her hand for the letter that the Sheriff had given to the young acolyte of the church.  When it came to her, she put it to close scrutiny before carefully tearing a page from her journal.  "How many people have seen this letter, Sheriff?  Many might have seen the envelope with Kerr Mollin's name on it.  But how many the letter itself?  Even then, how many remember the contents exactly?"

"I think I can take some suspicion off of us for a while."  From her magic bag the gnome fished a pen and ink, and on the new pristine page from her journal, she began to rewrite the message, copying the handwriting from the original as closely as possible.  When she finished, the new message read:

We have spoken of this before, Kerr Mollin.  Catch me if you can!

-Your Lordship


"That will make our Kerr Mollin out more the victim than the perpetrator, don't you think?"  She folded it in the manner of the first, stuck her copy back into the envelope and handed both to the Sheriff.  You can hand that about and we'll see what happens.  If we're lucky, Your Lordship may even hear about it, and it may bring him to us."

Linguistics for Forgery.  Checks made, I believe, in secret at the time of reading.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:32, Mon 31 Aug 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2317 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 22:23
  • msg #20

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

As terrible as the news that there had been another murder was, Liseth was prepared for it when the Sheriff met them in the morning.  Or so she thought, right up until the identity of the second victim was revealed.

It was a good thing that Liseth was already sitting; she would have fallen for sure otherwise.  She was too shocked to say anything.  Katrine Vinder, murdered!  The same girl whose life she had saved during the Swallowtail Festival.  Who she had tried so hard to be friends with, tried to get to trust her enough to share about her secret boyfriend...

Everyone knew that secret now.  Liseth had even told Katrine that keeping her boyfriend a secret would end badly.  But this is not what she had expected at all!  The young acolyte couldn't stop thinking that had she been more persistent, had she tried harder with Katrine, then the Vinder girl would not have been at the mill last night for a secret meeting with her beau.

Only to end up the latest victim of a maddened murderer...

She found that her hand was firmly gripped in Kerr's.  And there was another letter, placed to implicate Kerr into this terrible affair.  Why Kerr?

"No!"  Liseth finally shouted, "Ven Vinder did not do this!"  It was a thing too horrible to even suggest.  The little blonde had seen how much he loved his daughters, he cared for them so much.  His anger made him too protective of them, but Katrine had said that he had never struck either of his daughters, no matter how angry he had been.

At some point she had begun crying again, tears of frustration and sadness over what had happened.  "I can't even imagine how Mr Vinder must feel right now...told his daughter is dead and then arrested as the prime suspect.  And Shayliss!"  She just thought about the younger Vinder girl, "They're telling her that her father killed her sister!  That's awful!"

"Yes..."  Liseth reluctantly agreed with Cato while Pisca was making a modified letter.  "We should...we should go to the mill to investigate."  She frowned; Liseth had seen mutilated bodies before and she could never get used to it.  Memories of retching in the glassworks came back to her; and she hadn't even known any of those victims!

"Then after we learn what we can at the mill...we have to go to the Garrison.  I'm sure we'll find something that will make Sergeant Tiller realize that Mr Vinder could not be responsible..."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1129 posts
Miniboss
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 03:42
  • msg #21

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan tried to maintain his composure, he really did. He wanted to be the stoic guardsman, inured to death and suffering, able to take such things in stride. But this was Katherine Vinder, a girl he had practically grown up with, Venns daughter, Shays sister...Kat.

Part of it was that he had, ironically, been caught off guard. The Sheriff was so professional in his delivery that Kellan had not detected any notes of sorrow, nothing to soften the impact. All the energy seemed to leech from him, like he was deflating before their very eyes, almost seeming to shrink within his clothes to become a younger, more vulnerable version of the young man that they all knew.

"What?"

It was the kind of response one might expect, disbelief, the inability to comprehend. She had just been right there. Right. There. He could still see her in his minds eye, still hear her voice if he tried, and yet already she was becoming somewhat intangible, her vitality replaced with ghoulish images drug up by the guardsmans prior encounters with the deceased.

Did Shay know? Venn certainly did, so Shay must. First this incident at the Dragon and then finding out about her own sisters death? It must be the worst night of her life, and the girl herself must be a ruin over it. Yet here he was, unable to go to her, to comfort her, to somehow try and make amends.

Part of him, the younger more impulsive part wanted to just storm out of the Dragon and find her, and yet he stayed, with his gut in a knot and the blood draining from his face. He looked around to the others, looking for something, he didn't even know what, anything. Some direction, something to do, someplace to be that was not filled with onlookers and inquisitive locals.

"I...uh..." his voice quavered a bit "I'm gonna need a minute" he took a step right into a chair and caught it before it toppled over with a jerking motion, then bumped into a table causing the glasses and silverware to shift noisily as he moved towards the door and caught hold of the frame as he stepped out into the night.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 149 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 21:06
  • msg #22

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr was just as shocked by Sherriff Hemlock’s news as anyone—he had probably known Banny better than any of the others, though they’d drifted apart once he had became an acolyte and Banny took his apprenticeship at the mill.  Banny had always been a dreamer, with aspirations for so much more than what he’d been born into at Sandpoint.  Always telling the younger boys stories of what he’d be and where he’d end up, stars in his eyes.  And Katrine . . . well, Katrine was Katrine.  Or had been.  Now the vivacious brunette with the ready smile was gone, never to return.  It was so easy to forget how fragile life could be.

As others in the party protested Ven Vinder’s innocence, Kerr felt himself begin to shake.  He was not sure if it was from rage, sorrow, or some other reason—he felt curiously, clinically detached from the whole process, as if his body was physically reacting to the news and his consciousness was just along for the ride.  It was almost like he saw rather than felt his breath begin to come in heaves, or how he clutched Liseth as if she was his only salvation from this quicksand of misery.

And misery it was.  The news about Banny and Kat had temporarily driven from his mind the fact that he was being framed for murders, but that knowledge suddenly flooded back as he calmed himself from whatever-that-had-been, nearly knocking him to the floor with its force as Pisca picked the new letter from his unresponsive fingers.  Why would someone do something like this to him?  What could they hope to gain?  It wasn’t like he was some prominent member of the community whose ruination would change the course of Sandpoint, much less anywhere else.  He was just Kerr.

Then, for just a split-second, Kerr saw Belor Hemlock’s stoic façade crack, revealing the man’s inner turmoil as he watched Kellan respond to his news.  For a brief moment, Kerr could see the doubt, the anger, and the misery of a man coming to terms with the murder of people for whom he felt responsibility; he had been tasked to protect them, and he had failed.  Kerr didn’t think the sheriff was being fair with himself, but he thought he understood.  And it reminded him that there were others out there affected by these crimes far more than he was.

He had to pull himself together.

The conversation around Kerr seemed to float to him in waves, muted by the tidebreak of his own thoughts and emotions.  But he did catch the proposition that the group move to the mill.  He couldn’t think of anything he’d rather do than start moving and doing rather than just sitting here wallowing in the awfulness of what was happening.

“Yeah,” he agreed, voice husky with emotion.  “The mill.”




This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Mon 31 Aug 2015.
The Raconteur
GM, 2197 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 21:42
  • msg #23

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Before long, the group gathered itself and departed for the scene of this latest crime.  They took a left after a short walk down Market Street, heading up River Street towards the mill, skirting the shores of the Turandurok.  Shortly they saw their destination; a well-built wooden structure with very thick walls.  Thick wooden shingles adorned the roof, and the doors were of simple but well-hewn pine.

As the mill came into sight, they saw a small crowd of people standing around it, watching its exterior with varying degrees of interest.  They managed to shoulder their way past the onloookers to the front door, where Santo Flitworth and Quint Plinsman stood guard.

For the first time anyone could remember, neither of the normally-jovial guardsman cracked a joke, or even a smile.  They silently nodded, as if they had expected the party’s arrival, and opened the door.  The crowd murmured as the five slipped inside accompanied by one hushed, solitary word from Guardsman Flitworth.

“Upstairs.”

The mill’s normally-noisy machinery sat quiet as the group walked past, standing silent watch over the death of the man who had thought to use it to make his fortune in the world.  The group found a narrow staircase leading upwards.  They took it, and entered a nightmare.

The mill's upstairs room was coated in sawdust strewn with footprints and blood.  So much blood.  A lingering scent of decay permeated the air, and splashes of blood were everywhere.  The body of Banny Harker, horribly desecrated, hung affixed to the wall by several hooks that in more-normal times would be used for the hanging of machinery.  Gruesomely, his face had been carved away and his lower jaw was missing entirely; his bare chest was carved with seven-pointed star.

Katrine’s mangled remains had fallen to the mill’s lower floor.  Someone had shoved her through the log splitter, which was powered by the waterwheel and consisted of a chute in the floor with rotating saw blades that cut logs—or in this case a body—as they are fed in.  The thought of Katrine being fed alive into the splitter was nausea-inducing; her death must have been as horrible as it was cruelly efficient.

A handaxe lay embedded in the floor near the splitter as if it had been dropped there, its handle covered with bloody fingerprints.  An uncomfortable-looking Jamis Needlehome stood guard in the corner of the room, looking like he would rather be anywhere else.  “Are you . . . are you guys relieving me?”  He asked hopefully.




This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Mon 31 Aug 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2555 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 23:38
  • msg #24

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Relieve you?" the gnome asked with a quizzical look on her face.  "How long have you been here?" she asked, holding up her shiny golden deputy's badge as a sign that she had the authority to be asking questions of guards.  "You should have gone before you came on duty here," she added, and then moved on before the young human guardsman had the time to form an answer.

The gnome made her way to the handaxe, studiously avoiding the sawdust prints.  "Who's been up here besides you, Guardsman?" she fired back over her shoulder, obviously not yet done with the man.  "And tell us where they've been walking."

"Lysa, we need to know how many men Your Lordship had with him.  These footprints might help us do just that.  Katrine's will be smaller, so we can rule those out.  Can you do that?"

"Blood."  Squatting next to the weapon, Pisca eyed the bloody prints, comparing the size to her own hand.

"Bostisch," she rose as she spoke the magic word and stabbed a finger at each of the Sandpoint Saviors before squatting again and returning to the handaxe.

"I didn't tell you before, about that letter addressed to Kerr?"  This time, the gnome's words came through the privacy of her Whisper Magic.  "It was written in blood.  I asked the Sheriff whether he had noticed this and how many other people knew.  Wasn't many.  When he asked me whether this was important or not, I said not really.  I used ink.  He used blood.  I don't think many people will be in a situation to know the difference.  The idea is to keep people from thinking that Kerr Mollin is working *with* this mad human.  Better that they think Your Lordship is taunting him.  We'll be able to work more freely without a mob screaming for Kerr Mollin's blood."

"Sheriff Balor agreed to go along with it.  Wasn't too happy about the deception, though.  He won't say anything against it.  But he won't go showing the letter around either.  Who do you think would be the best person in town that we could *accidentally* have read it?  Maybe we should get the original letter from the Sheriff and hold it ourselves for safe keeping?"

Perception Check, Please.  This time only for the hatchet.  Trying to find out anything about the person who was using it through the size of the hand that was holding it.  Also, looking at the head to see whether the axe had actually struck a person.

More perception checks will come later for the rest of the room.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2321 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 01:42
  • msg #25

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Arriving at the sawmill to see the crowd of people, along with the very grim guards, filled Liseth with an intense level of apprehension.  She knew that no matter what she did or thought, she could never prepare herself for what they were about to walk into.  But it had to be done.

Slowly and reluctantly, the acolyte followed her friends up into the mill; holding fast to Kerr's arm all the while.  Once at the scene, all of the blood drained from her to leave the young blonde pale white.  Eyes fixed first on Banny Harker, prominently displayed as though the killer were proud of his work.  How could anyone mistake Kerr as being responsible for this!?  Even with a letter!

The she saw what remained of Katrine and Liseth's hands shot to her mouth as she gasped.  She knew what she was going to find here, but actually seeing just how terrible it was proved too much.  The way Katrine had been killed was awful...the older girl's last, terrified minutes kept running though Liseth's head.

Turning from the bloody and mangled scene, the petite girl walked a few steps to brace herself against a wall before vomiting.

"Okay...okay Pisca."  Catching her breath, Liseth turned from the wall.  Keeping her eyes fixed to the ground in order to search for clues sounded a lot better than staring at the grisly bodies.  Especially of the girl who she had saved just months ago; with whom she had tried so hard to be friends...

"Pisca, about the letter..."  Liseth asked while in an attempt to think about anything else, "'Your Lordship' keeps referring to  a 'Master,' even though the letter is addressed to Kerr.  But he doesn't say that Kerr is supposed to be this 'Master' anywhere, right?"  Something wasn't making sense to her about the letter itself.

"Why would he address the letter to Kerr if Kerr was supposed to be his 'Master?'  He would just address it to 'The Master' if that's who was supposed to read it, because only the 'Master' would know who he was talking about anyway.  Right?"  She sounded like she was talking in circles, but hopefully Pisca and the others would pick up on what she was trying to say.  "If Kerr really was 'Master', then he wouldn't need his name on the letter at all!"

It made sense to her.  The situation was tragic enough already, Liseth thought, without people turning against Kerr too, just because of the ramblings of a madman!

OOC: Survival to check the footprints on the floor.  Trying to determine if there was more than one attacker, and if possible recreate some of the events that transpired based on the footprint patterns.

I'll also be doing a Heal Check to examine the bodies later, depending on how far ahead we move in the next update.

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1132 posts
Miniboss
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 01:55
  • msg #26

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

On the walk over to the mill Kellan looked absolutely crushed, but at the sight of the other guardsman his expression hardened into a mask of professionalism, only offset by the glossy sheen of his eyes. He nodded curtly to Santo And Quint then plodded up the stairs with the others. He smelled it long before he saw it, and nothing he had seen could prepare him for what awaited them there.

At first it was, mercifully, too much to really comprehend. There was blood, flesh, bodies, nothing he had not encountered before. But the longer the young man stood on the landing the sharper and more gruesome the details became, and the more dread flooded the mind of Kellan Storval.

This person could be anywhere, and they were more likely then not planning to strike again with the day. Entire lifetimes worth of relationships, generations, neighbors, friends, smiling faces and playing children...all potential targets. They needed to act fast, and he needed to just...put all of this away for now. He would deal with it, in time, in his own time.

"Banny was no slouch" he began, his voice a little loud for the interior of the mill "Strong guy...mill worker...and Kat, well...she had spirit...they would not have just lied down for this...they had to have fought back, unless there was something like magic involved" he glanced to Cato, remembering all too well how helpless he had found himself while under the powers of the Quasit.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2557 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 12:30
  • msg #27

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Mmm ... "  It was an mmm of contemplation, a soothing sort of massage for the mind.  "So ... you noticed that, did you, Lys?"  The gnome poked one of her pale white fingers at the blood on the handle of the axe and lifted it into the air as if to examine the color, the texture, the bloodness of the blood.

"There are two possible reasons for that, Lysa.  First, the person who wrote the envelope was not the same person who wrote the letter.  Two separate writers with two separate motives.  Second, there is only one person, and that person is deliberately trying to paint Kerr Mollin as the prime mover behind these killings.  He is The Master for whom his mad minions kill and slay.  This reason shows some imagination on the part of the letter writer, and it's the reason that I tend to favor."

"The third possible reason ...  Sorry, there are three possible reasons.  Three.  The third possible reason is that the letter writer is mad, and that there is no motivate behind the letters and envelopes.  None comprehensible reason at all.  All we can truly say is that the letter writer is, in some mad fashion, very very very attracted to Kerr Mollin."

"Mmm ... " the gnome mmm'ed again, and briefly contemplated poking out her tongue to find out whether a taste of the blood might not yield greater insight.  Caution, however, at least in this case, won out over curiosity.  Though she did reach out her nose and take a sniff.

BTW, all applicable Knowledge Checks, please.  Pisca the Forensic Detective will Take 10 in them all.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1102 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 13:46
  • msg #28

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato surveyed the scene in front of him, trying to divorce the memory of the Katrine from the carnage in front of him.  The wizard closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths, and reopened them, seeing not the remains of an acquaintance any more, but simply clues to a murderer he'd have to stop, lest anyone else he knew end up slaughtered in a similar fashion.

Cato turned first to Banny, examining the terribly desecrated body with a clinical eye, still marveling at the Sihedron carved into his chest.  His hands reached out, though stopped short of actually touching the star, and he shook his head.

"I have no idea why someone would carve this into a murder victim.  It has to be the result of a madman.  It's the symbol of Thassilonian magic, but there's no reason to carve it into a murder victim.  Or no reason to murder someone at all.  We've tangled with leftovers from that ancient empire.  My best guess is that another of those survivors is still out there.  Maybe some mortals have met them, and been driven insane?  And this is how they're reacting?"

Cato pondered Pisca's question for a bit.  "Read the doctored letter to spread false information?  The only one who really suspects him right now is Jubrayl, right?  Anything false would have to start with his thugs.  Maybe one of them?  But maybe spreading false rumors and engaging in this kind of counter-planning isn't what we want to be doing right now.  We should concentrate on finding and ending this threat as quickly as possible, I think.  Nothing will exonerate Kerr faster than finding who's truly to blame and seeing them face justice."

Cato closed his eyes, whispered a word, performed a brief gesture with his fingers, and opened them, along with his arcane sight.  He studied the body of Banny and the Sihedron, looking carefully for signs of arcane influence.  When that observation was finished, he turned to the other victim, trying to ignore the identity of Katrine as he looked for clues.

"You might be right, Kellan.  Unless the killer was someone they both knew, who took them by surprise.  Or just took them by surprise?  If there's magic here, I'll see it.  The problem is how long they've been here, though.  Unless there's very powerful magic at work, or still at work, I can only detect traces of it for maybe an hour, at the very most.  And by powerful, I mean stronger than almost anything I'd ever heard of.  Like direct intervention by a deity.  The most powerful mortal spells could have done anything at midnight, and I wouldn't be able to detect any trace of it."

Cato shook his head, his survey complete.

Cast Detect Magic
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2558 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 14:51
  • msg #29

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I disagree, Cato," Pisca said, now wishing that she had sampled the blood with a handy stick rather than her finger.  "The star is more than a symbol of Thassilonian magic.  When it comes down to things, it's a star with seven points.  Remember Mister Maskie and his ... your know ... his thing?"

The gnome gave the lone guard a look over her shoulder before casting about for something with which to wipe off her finger.

"I still think that there's a connection there.  There's always a connection.  There are connections everywhere," said the gnome.  "Even if you can't see them."
The Raconteur
GM, 2199 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 3 Sep 2015
at 17:00
  • msg #30

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Jamis looked to be mired in the confusion that seemed to accompany Sandpoint’s most-inscrutable gnome like a cloud.  “Um,” he ventured, seizing on to a question he understood, “Ibor Thorn found the body, ma’am.  So he was up here.  He went and got Sheriff Hemlock, who was up here along with Sergeant Tiller.  I think Quint came up here as well, but I’m not sure about that.”  He paused, then flushed.  “And of course me.  I don’t think any of the mill workers made it up here, the sheriff closed the building before they arrived.”
He waved a hand around the room.  “I’m pretty sure they inspected everything you all are inspecting, so I don’t know if there’s any particular place they hadn’t gone.”  He shrugged, somewhat shamefacedly.  “I wasn’t here the whole time.”

As the Guardsman went on, Pisca leaned in to inspect the hatchet.  After only a few seconds she staggered back, retching for no discernible reason.  For her part, Liseth closely examined the ground, trying to determine exactly what might have happened during that fateful fight in the wee hours of the previous night.

The cry of gulls outside the mill provided a discordant counterpoint to the disturbing scene inside the mill.  The hunting birds went about their daily business, blissfully unaware of the horror only yards from their hunting grounds.  A low murmur from the crowd outside could just barely be heard inside the room.  Only the gods knew what the crowds might be thinking, or how this latest murder might play out in Sandpoint . . . .




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2560 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 4 Sep 2015
at 00:57
  • msg #31

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Khak!"

"Kha!"

Painful retching!  And the sounds that came with it too.  Tears welled from those violet eyes as the gnome struggled to drag herself away from the source of that awful smell.

"Smell that," rasped the gnome after the final dry heave.  "It's awful."

Pisca sat in the sawdust, wane and whacked.  Slump shouldered and not at all herself.  "On second thought, don't smell that.  It's awful."

"But ... but I think I found something."

Whatever it was, the gnome was not yet ready to reveal it.  She sat, panting on the floor, gathering the gnomish strength or the gnomish wherewithal.  Finally, when her breaths became less heave-ish and her eyes somewhat, a bit more clear-ish, Pisca struggled first to her knees and then to her feet, where she stood wobbling, but, at least up.

"Bad news, I think someone here was dead," she said through her Whisper Magic.  Pisca smiled weakly at the guard, as though in apology for speaking in such a way that the human wouldn't overhear and spread panicky rumors throughout Sandpoint.  "I mean walking dead.  Particularly stinky, rotting flesh sort of walking dead.  I ... I think Katrine might have gotten a chop at it with the axe.  Those are her finger prints on it.  Undead flesh is on the blade."

"Either Your Lordship can raise the dead ... or ... he is one.  Have you sorted the tracks yet ... Lysa?"

"Anyone have a hammock I can lie in?" groaned the gnome.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1103 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 4 Sep 2015
at 01:46
  • msg #32

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded, replying through the whisper magic: "Hmm...an undead.  Well, that certainly would direct suspicion off Kerr.  As I thought, I didn't detect any signs of magical auras.  Which just means that there's nothing active right now.  And no undead are currently here, I suppose.  But like I said, anything could have happened here a few hours ago, and I wouldn't be able to tell as long as none of the spells were still active."

The mage goes quiet, turning his thoughts inward again to ignore the horrible scene around him.  "I was so sure about the Sihedron and the connection to whatever was in Thistletop.  This still could be linked.  Whatever's down there could be undead itself.  Or have a ritual for making undead.  So perhaps this Lordship is controlling them."

He looked over at the gnome.  "I wonder, perhaps, if we'd be able to tell if something similar was responsible for the other murders.  At least it would give us a definite link.  But then we have to find this undead thing.  And there's the survivor, too?  The man in the sanatorium?  Maybe he could provide some more clues, if we could break through whatever ails his mind."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 17:11, Tue 08 Sept 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2325 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 4 Sep 2015
at 16:29
  • msg #33

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth looked up from her examination of the footprints crisscrossing the room when Pisca started retching.  Having just finished a bout of retching and vomiting herself, this caused the feeling to come back all over again.  She closed her eyes and paused for a few moments, processing the news about undead.

"I think you're right."  The acolyte answered, "There's more than just death here.  Even these...bloody prints."  Liseth opened her eyes and gestured at the floor, "They reek of decay and rot.  No living thing...or even something recently killed, would smell like that..."

Getting back to her examination of the floor, Liseth called out what she could read in the details.  "It's obvious that there was a desperate struggle here last night..."  She tried her best to not think about Katrine and her boyfriend in an attempt to keep her examination clinical.  It was a less than successful attempt, "I don't know for certain how many attackers there were; but I think it was only one."

She pointed out some bloody prints, "These prints are bare-foot; the only ones here which are bare-foot."  Her nose wrinkled, "And they smell like rot and decay.  Like the undead."  She frowned.

"An undead wouldn't care about shoes...but this must be an intelligent undead if it left a note, and cares about keeping itself hidden."  Her frown deepened, "And if it would take time to desecrate the bodies..."

"But intelligent undead don't usually follow a 'Master.'  Unless they are stronger undead or especially powerful evil wizards or priests."  The acolyte nodded at Cato's mention of Thistletop.  "Or demons."

"Maybe..."   The little blonde thought a moment, "Sarenrae, grant me your power of sight, that I might sense the presence of the foul undead."  Saying a prayer and gripping Sarenrae's symbol, Liseth slowly examined the area once again.

"I might be able to see the marks left behind by the undead.  It's blood or anything else left behind during the struggle."  She swallowed, "Or see it if it's still hiding here someplace..."

OOC: Casting Detect Undead

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1133 posts
Miniboss
Tue 8 Sep 2015
at 03:57
  • msg #34

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Yeah, they sure didn't go quietly" Kellan agreed with a morose tinge to his voice as Liseth pointed out signs of the struggle. He stepped forward and rested his forearms on his weapon belt and it's various pouches as he surveyed the room. The smell alone was nearly unbearable, and the knowledge that this would all come back to haunt him was some how even worse then actually being there, but he carried on.

"So we have..." he paused, not wanting to say the names aloud "this young couple, in the mill, after hours. Some how whoever did this had to have known that they would be here...that they would be alone, vulnerable, and the killer comes in and finds them..."

He plays out the scenario in his mind, the surprise, the awkwardness, the fear of being caught by Venn, of Venn being told...then the realization that the truth was far worse than they had ever feared. Worse, in truth, than their wildest nightmares.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 150 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 8 Sep 2015
at 21:45
  • msg #35

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr didn’t know what to make of the scene in the mill’s upstairs room.  He had never seen anything like it before, and was very thankful he hadn’t.  And how could anyone possibly think that he could be responsible for something like this?  He almost chuckled at the absurdity of it, before realizing that doing so would be extremely inappropriate in this situation.

“Undead?  Are you sure?”  Both Pisca and Liseth seemed to confirm it.  First goblins, now the living dead.  It seemed hard to credit.  What had Sandpoint done to deserve plagues of this nature?  Kerr glanced over at Banny’s desecrated body.  “This is awful,” he agreed.   Actually, awful seemed to be woefully inadequate to describe what they were seeing.  “But why would an undead do . . . do that?”  He’d studied undead with Father Zantus as part of his clerical training, of course, but this didn’t seem to be normal behavior for them.  “What could cause one to do something like that?”

“Do you guys think the killer targeted Banny and Katrine?”  He wondered aloud.  “Or were they just targets of opportunity?”  Kerr felt bad, treating the situation so clinically.  They had to, didn’t they?  They’d been tasked with finding this killer, so it didn’t benefit anyone for them to be overcome with emotion.  But it seemed as if he should still be having an emotional reaction to the murders, and he wasn’t.  It was like he didn’t feel anything now but a calm determination to find and punish the person or people responsible for this crime.

He wondered what that meant—what it said about him as a person.  He had been wracked with emotion earlier but now, when confronted with this horror, nothing.  He glanced around at the others.  Were they feeling something similar?

The new-minted paladin waited while Liseth cast about for signs that the undead might still be present.  It seemed like they might have learned everything there was to learn from this murder scene.  “Is there anything else we need to do here at the mill,” he asked, thinking one of the others might still have some investigative ideas.  “Or should we head somewhere else to continue looking into this?”




This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Tue 08 Sept 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2332 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Wed 9 Sep 2015
at 11:29
  • msg #36

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Nothing...."  Liseth sounded one part relieved and one part disappointed.  "Nothing shows an undead aura; I guess blood removed from an undead doesn't stay...well..undead.  But at least that means there is no undead in here with us."

"I don't think that Katrine and Banny were targetted specifically."  She answered Kellan and Kerr.  "There isn't any reason to...to do this to them over anyone else.  It probably saw them at night...coming here."  The girl frowned, "And decided that they would be easy targets...all alone in here..."

It was supposed to have been a night of clandestine fun...

"I should examine the...the victims."  There was nothing about the situation that Liseth enjoyed.  "To see if I can tell what kind of weapon was used on them.  It might help us find the killer."  She thought a moment, "Or if there was no weapon, that would tell us a lot too.  Since many undead don't bother with human weapons."  The frown deepened on the acolyte's face.

"Then..." The small girl was examining Banny's body, "maybe I can follow the trail of the killer.  If it was barefoot...and with how it smells so strongly...I might be able to see where it went after it left the scene."

OOC: Heal (or whatever is applicable) to examine the bodies, looking specifically for what weapons might have been used on them.  Or whether it was undead claws.

Also Survival in an attempt to follow the trail left behind by the killer as it left the scene of the murders.

This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Wed 09 Sept 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2567 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 9 Sep 2015
at 12:56
  • msg #37

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Ook."  The gnome groaned again, her tummy still feeling tender and unwell.  "I ... I think I know now ... how one lone attacker can kill three not completely brave or committed henchmen before one escapes."

"Erg."

"That smell is enough to bring anyone to their knees."

Pisca walked as carefully as a sick and wobbly gnome can, through the landscape of tracks and other evidence to a place where the wall might be press-ganged into holding her up.  "That's a good idea, Lys.  Not many people walk through a sawmill in bare feet.  Not many people walk around town in bare feet.  Shouldn't be difficult to pick Your Lordship's tracks out from all of the rest."

And then through her Whisper Magic, the gnome added, "There is one thread that connects these murders with the one's before.  This mill, I believe, is run by the Scarnetti's.  Sounds like Your Lordship may have something against the Scarnetti's.  Something you have in common with them, Kerr Mollin."

"And I think we should see to the bodies ourselves," she added, but this time aloud.  "Especially seeing as Katrine Vinder is involved."  Pisca braced her back against the wall and slid down to a squat.  "Other investigations have waited till now.  I think they can wait a few more hours.  As strong as Vin Vender is," she said in an uncharacteristically sympathetic and hum-passionate way, "I think he could use support from people who care right now.  Especially those who might someday be family."

"Don't you think?"  And the gnome turned a weak and weary, but still gnomishly optimistic look up at Kellan.

"Uh, Guardsman.  What's your name?  You," she said, addressing the young guard who had been stationed to watch the floor.  "Could you fetch us some tasteful shrouds for the bodies, please?  Thank you ever so much."
The Raconteur
GM, 2203 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 9 Sep 2015
at 18:14
  • msg #38

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Pisca’s request caused the guardsman to turn from where he’d been looking out the window, trying hard not to pay too close attention to the gory details of the murder scene before him.  “Jamis, ma’am,” he said, looking unsure as to the proper honorific for a deputized gnome, “Jamis Needlehome is my name.”  He looked abashed.  “I can’t leave the room, ma’am, Sherriff Hemlock’s orders.”

“But,” a flash of inspiration lit up his face as he walked over to the staircase.  “QUINT!!”  He yelled.  “QUINT, WE NEED YOU!!”

In seconds there was a pounding of booted feet on the stairs as Quint Plinsman burst into the room, polearm at the ready.  He looked around in confusion, his gaze settling on his fellow guardsman.  “What is it, Jay?”

“The deputies need shrouds.  For the bodies.”  Jamis gestured at the corpses as if Quint might have been confused about which bodies he meant.  “I can’t leave, so I figured you could get some?”

“Desna, Jay,” Quint swore, exhaling.  “Fine, I’ll take care of it.  But next time just send someone down, all right?”  He departed down the staircase, muttering something quietly to himself about a heart attack.

Quiet reigned as everyone tried to stay out of Liseth’s way while she examined the murder scene and the tracks on the floor.  Before long, the pounding of Quint’s boots signaled his return.  “Here you go,” he said, holding up two very large black sacks, “this is all I could find on short notice.”  He very obviously was not looking at either of the bodies.  “Who should I . . .?”  Jamis pointed to Pisca, and Quint tossed her the sacks.  “I need to get back down there.  Crowd’s getting restless.”  And with that, he departed.




Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2334 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Wed 9 Sep 2015
at 19:51
  • msg #39

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Her investigation took a momentary pause as Liseth jumped in response to the sudden shout from the guard stationed at the scene.  She looked around quickly, reassuring herself that there wasn't an undead rampaging at them; before taking a deep breath and setting back into her examination.

"It looks as though..." the girl caught herself as the stench of rot and death assailed her as she came too close to the wounds on Banny.  "Some of these wounds on Banny look like they were made by...made by being gouged by a hand."  She pointed out one particular gash, with five marks in a line, "This is the same kinds of injury you would see from...from the bony fingers of an undead.  Slashing into its victim."

"But there are other wounds on him too...deeper ones that might have been caused by a weapon."  She stood back from the body of Katrine's boyfriend, "Katrine doesn't seem to have any small injuries on her...she was...just forced into the machinery..."

That wasn't a topic worth dwelling on.  Katrine was bigger and stronger than Liseth herself was.  And this undead killer murdered her in such a brutal manner.

Instead Liseth moved from an examination of the bodies to the trail of the killer.  But after several minutes she shook her head for the others, looking bewildered.  "I can't find any trail...anything at all that shows where the killer might have gone.  Or even how it entered the building.  I don't know...it's as though the monster just appeared inside here, did all this..." the acolyte gestured at the scene, "and then vanished.  I don't know how there could be nothing to follow."

"Should we go and find the Sheriff?"  Being quit of the grisly mill was something to look forward to.  "If we tell him that the killer must have been an undead, they'll have to release Mr Vinder."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2569 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 9 Sep 2015
at 20:30
  • msg #40

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The queasy gnome reached out to catch the flying shrouds and wound up wearing them instead.  She took one look at the very plain and very black sacks and shouted down the stairs, "I said TASTEFUL!"

"Well, these will have to do."

"No, Lys.  I think we should go where we're needed most.  Sheriff Balor won't move against Vin Vendor without more evidence.  And, even if he does, we'll be there to stop him.  I think they're the ones who need us most right now.  Everything else can wait until later."

"Stomper?"  The gnome trudged through the sawdust with the bulky material of a sack over each shoulder.  "Could you get this man down off his hooks for me, please?"  Pisca undid the fastenings on the bag and prepared it for the body.

"We'll have to go downstairs for Katrine."  The gnome sighed.  Bad news.  Bad news all around.  "In the meantime, look around," she said, and proceeded to do just that.  "I don't think Your Lordship came up the stairs or left that way either.  We didn't smell his smell until we entered this room.  So ... where else might a basically hummie sized, dead and moldering royal enter a room in a mill?  Climb?  Fly?  Jump?  Crawl?"

Looking for all possible entrances to this room.  Windows.  Skylights.  Even vents.  No matter how unconventional.  Pisca is all about unconventional.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1135 posts
Miniboss
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 05:09
  • msg #41

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan felt that there was little he could contribute here, the girls were picking up on things faster than he could follow, and was easy to see that the young man excelled at the more athletic aspects of his trade rather than the investigative. Still, in his time with the guard there had been little call for this sort of work. The fatmans and their ilk required a strong arm and a steady gaze, not knowledge of the undead.

"Yeah, one moment" Kellan walked up and rolled his shoulder before he attempted to dislodge Banny from his tragic resting place.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2570 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 12:16
  • msg #42

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

While holding the bag (so to speak) and aiding Stomper to guide the body of Katrine Vinder's Ex-Secret Boyfriend, Pisca's gaze kept drifting back to the log-splitter.

"You know ... " the gnome offered, "it might be possible to scramble up the log-splitter mechanism and into this room.  And ... now that I think of it ... the mill sits on the Turandurok.  Logs float here down the river.  And it's the Turandurok that powers the waterwheel, right?  So, if this gnome were a shoeless and therefore very possibly naked and very smelly undead Ex-Lord, I would want to enter from the side of the building where there would be the least chance of being seen.  Or smelled.  And that means the river side."

Pisca face takes on a grim cast as her eyes fall upon the intentionally mutilated body of the mill operator.  No such attention to the body of Katrine Vinder.  "When we go down for Katrine, I think we need to take a look at the floor below too.  I remember seeing a pier out back.  If I'm not wrong, I think, Lysa, you may find the tracks that you're looking for out there."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1104 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 18:26
  • msg #43

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

As Stomper and Pisca attended to their gruesome business, Cato prowled the room, taking Pisca's advice to heart as he scanned for any clues to the undead assailant's entry.  In a way, the knowledge that these crimes were being committed by an actual monster instead of a deranged human was reassuring to the young wizard.  It meant that none of Sandpoint's residents could have done it - unless they were the undead in questions, of course.  But then, they'd have become monsters anyway.

Cato cleared his throat.  "Liseth, undead are not one of my strongpoints.  I've heard that vampires or such things can create more of themselves; is that something we have to worry about in this case as well?"

Perception check to see if Cato can add any more insights/spot an ingress point
The Raconteur
GM, 2205 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 19:28
  • msg #44

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




With some struggle and an assist from Kerr, Kellan was able to gently remove Banny Harker’s body from the hooks on which it hung, and the two placed it as reverently as possible into the makeshift shroud Quint had provided.

The group then headed downstairs to perform the same service for Katrine.  No struggle was necessary for Kat’s body; the log-splitter had gruesomely hacked it into pieces small enough that even Pisca and Liseth would have no trouble placing them into a sack.  The close-up sight of the bloody, torn pieces of Katrine’s remains made the transient, fragile nature of life all too clear.  Only yesterday she had been a young lady in love, with all the problems, passions, and pleasures that entailed.

She’d been a friend.

And now she was dead.

Things became even worse when Kerr discovered Kat’s decapitated head.  Her face was frozen in a heartbreaking rictus of anguish, anger, and agony.  It was painfully obvious that she had died consumed by terror and pain.  Kerr soberly placed the head into the sack, then immediately went to hold Liseth—they were both struggling with Katrine’s death.

Once they were finished with Kat’s body, the group headed out to the pier to see if they could find any clues to how Banny and Katrine’s mysterious assailant had entered the mill.  The pier was laid out in a “C” shape, with top part of the C running in front of the mill while the middle and bottom parts jutted out into the Turandarok, where they functioned as a sort of wooden net for logs floating down the river from upsteam lumber sites.  A good number of logs floated within that net, moving gently back-and-forth as they caught the river’s current, waiting patiently for the mill’s workers to return.

It was immediately apparent that the murderer had used the pier to approach the mill.  Muddy, bare footprints indicated that whomever—or whatever—it was had clambered out of the Turandarok onto the pier, then walked towards the mill.  The muddy tracks became progressively fainter as they approached the mill, finally disappearing just as they reached the portion of the pier fronting the building.

“Good call, Pisca,” said Kerr, kneeling down to look at the footprints even though he knew nothing about tracking except what Liseth had showed him that afternoon when she had merrily tried to teach him how to track a deer.  That experience left him hesitant to venture guesses about such matters.  “Is this important somehow?  I mean, knowing how he got to the building?”




Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1136 posts
Miniboss
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 19:48
  • msg #45

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

To the Storvals, late fall had been a time to bask in the glow of the harvest, to sleep in, to prepare the last of the firewood and to use some of the newly available free time to supplement the crops with some fresh game. While Kellan had always enjoyed hunting, he had not been able to really indulge in it for a few years due to the demands of his post. Some skills however, you never really forget.

"Got something here" he called to the others as he followed the obvious tracks to where they petered off into no more than faint indentations, little disturbances in the grass that he followed over to the base of the mill. From there he looked up, then brushed at what appeared to be a little scuff mark. "Well that aint natural" he stated decisively as he scratched his head and followed the marks up.

"See where'he climbed up there to the window...just shimmied right on up the side" he pointed to the regular intervals where the wall had been faintly marred. "No more than...twelve hours maybe, at the most, given as how that woods still dry next to the river here." he glanced over his shoulder as the body of water then over to the others.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2571 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 20:02
  • msg #46

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Not so much, Kerr Mollin."  A grim gnome stood on the peer looking out over the waters of the Turandurok.  "Not so much for what it says Your Lordship did than for what it says that he didn't do," she added.  "He *didn't* fly into the mill through one of the two large windows up there.  He *didn't* pop into thin air by magic.  He *did* cross the river and clamber up onto this pier, whereupon he ascended to the second floor by climbing the wall."  She waved a small white hand in the direction of the wall by which Stomper now stood.

"As horrible as this is, I don't think we need to imagine flying, popping, grossly smelly undead lordships ... "

"Wait ... "  An I'm-Having-An-Idea look dropped down over Pisca's face and she ran to the edge of the pier at the place where the muddy prints of Your Lordship emerged from the river.  She looked upstream and then downstream, but mostly for effect.  "If this gnome was a horrendously odorous undead thing that didn't want to be detected by casually passing humans, she might hide her scent by swimming underwater.  The dead don't need to breath, do they, Lys?  Or, better yet, by walking along the bottom of the river!  Weighted down with stones.  Yes!"  A gnomish fist smacked into a gnomish palm.  That's it.  I can't wait to find out where that Scarnetti warehouse is.  I bet it's near water."

"Maybe later we can search the river banks to see where he came back out."  Pisca let out a sigh that signaled a segue.  "Let's go rescue Vin Vender."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Fri 11 Sept 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1105 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 10 Sep 2015
at 20:22
  • msg #47

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato watched as Pisca, Kerr and Kellan uncovered the path the undead murder had taken toward the mill and nodded.  "Well, it certainly helps to know that we're facing something with mostly mundane traveling abilities.  Do you suppose it got out the same way it came in?  Or via the river, in any case?"

Cato examined the trail, but not having much skill or experience in tracking game in the wild, shrugged his shoulders.  "I'll have to take your word for it."

He looked at the Turandurok, his gaze slowly scanning along the expanse, and sighed.  "I suppose that's a big of a dead end, then.  Whatever it was could have been in the river for...well, miles, I guess, if it didn't need to breathe."

The wizard looked back towards town, shaking his head again.  "I don't think Ven will take this well.  If his temper is any indication, I certainly don't want to be the one giving him the bad news."  Cato chuckled once, but it quickly trailed off as the wizard realized the inappropriateness of laughing.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2340 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 11 Sep 2015
at 03:43
  • msg #48

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth did not have the stomach to help with Katrine.  She had been dismembered...shredded into bloody pieces.  When Katrine's head was found she had to turn away.  There was no way she could look into that frozen face; a image of horror and pain.  The small blonde began to shiver, leaning into Kerr when he came to hold her.

She recovered in leaving the mill for the fresh air out by the river.  But the investigation was far from finished.  "No, undead don't breathe."  She answered Pisca, looking at the muddy prints on the pier.  "It could easily walk along the bottom of the river and climb out.  It would have had to, if that mud is from the bottom of the riverbed."

"It could be anywhere now...it could even stay under the water right next to Sandpoint all day, just waiting until night to attack someone else."  She looked up and down the river, "It could attack almost anywhere in Sandpoint and retreat to the river...or the ocean.  And no one would be able to follow after it."

The river was just behind the Cathedral graveyard too; the undead didn't seem to have any trouble climbing up things...

"We need to go to the garrison.  I don't think that there is anything else here for us to find."  Liseth glanced at the river, as though it were just waiting to strike.  "And this is enough evidence to say that Ven Vinder is innocent.  We have to get them to let him out so that he can grieve..."
The Raconteur
GM, 2209 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 11 Sep 2015
at 19:10
  • msg #49

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




The group didn’t even need to carry the bodies out themselves—Sherriff Hemlock had dispatched Nyk Duggan, the Sandpoint Guard’s newest recruit, with a horse and cart to pick up the remains and transport them to the Cathedral and Father Zantus.  Kerr, Cato, Kellan helped Nyk move Banny and Kat’s bodies into the cart as respectfully as possible.  A loud murmur ran through the gathered crowd; they had expected something terrible, but the two corpses confirmed their worst suspicions.

“Who is it?”  Yelled one anonymous person in the crowd.

“Who did it?”  Called another.

“Are we safe?”  A chorus of echoes followed this sentiment.  Nyk looked like he would rather be anywhere else.

Quint Plinsman stepped forward.  “Sherriff Hemlock will be answering questions at sixth bell in front of the Garrison.  Right now we’re still investigating what happened.  But yes, you are safe.  And right now I need you to return to your homes and workplaces.  There’s nothing to see here.”

Murmured disagreement accompanied Quint’s pronouncement.  As he and Santo continued to try and disperse the crowd, the group made its way out behind Nyk’s impromptu hearse.  A couple of people followed, hoping to determine the identities of those killed, but most of them stayed to question Quint.

The group left Nyk to his task a little before Northchurch Square, heading down Tower Street to the Garrison.  Its strong stone edifice stood undisturbed, a bulwark against any evil that might seek to strike at the town.

The group entered and—after they flashed their deputy’s badges, and with Torv Tiller apparently out—Caul Thatcher directed them downstairs, past the armory to Sandpoint’s subterranean jail.  The cells were not often put to use for anything more than a place for drunks to sleep off their intoxication, but today the nearest cell held Ven Vinder.

The most dramatic thing about the man was the notable absence of his presence.  Ven normally filled whatever room he was in, his bulk and personality calling attention from even those in the smallest corners.  But this morning that presence was gone; he sat alone in his cell, face slack, staring at the wall.  Diminished.

Ven didn’t even turn to greet them as they stopped outside his cell; he just kept staring at the wall, feet drawn up onto the cot that served as the cell’s bed, arms wrapped around his knees.  He looked like the world’s largest child, completely bereft.

“Is it true?”  The normally booming voice came out in a raspy whisper.  It seemed drained of all emotion.  “Is it true about Kat?”




This message was last edited by the GM at 20:59, Fri 11 Sept 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2576 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 11 Sep 2015
at 19:23
  • msg #50

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Pisca had been particularly quiet on the short trip from the mill to the garrison.  Even her stride was subdued, pensive, weighted by the gravity of events.  She had been very much not her usual self.

Now, standing outside the cells, the grim faced gnome simply said, "Open this door, please."  And she pointed a finger at the door that kept a blameless man incarcerated.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1106 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 11 Sep 2015
at 20:33
  • msg #51

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Faced with Ven, the man's emotions evident for all to see, Cato felt his own emotions surge through him.  Fright, for one.  If such a thing could happen to Scarnetti thugs and sneak upon lovers off for a tryst, was anyone in this town safe?  Sudden understanding.  What did family think, when Cato had fled from the Hellknights?  Even his father, Cato had come to realize, probably felt something about that.  However stern the old man had been - though never as open about it public as Cato had seen Ven - the wizard knew that his entire family cared in some way for him.  His father's emotions were tied up with complex bonds of family and noble obligation, which is why Cato knew he disappointed him so much, but he still cared.

Yet the mage fought to keep his face clean, not wanting to be the one to confirm the news to Ven that he already obviously knew.

Listening to the shattered voice of Ven from the prison cell gave Cato another surge of emotion, and he brought his face up once more.  Determination.  Goblins, an evil priestess and some foul presence from Thassilon couldn't destroy Sandpoint, and neither would this threat.  They'd chase it down, somehow, and ensure this senseless slaughter stop.

But still, Cato couldn't face Ven.  He looked to Kellan, figuring if anyone should break the news, it should be the guardsman.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2341 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sat 12 Sep 2015
at 04:44
  • msg #52

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

It was a quiet and solemn walk from the mill.  All of the people were so concerned, and rightly so.  Liseth wished she could say something to reassure them but she couldn't find the words.  She didn't even feel assured of her own safety; not with an undead killer ambushing people right inside town!

But if it was really an undead, it couldn't get into the Cathedral.  Right?

Knowing what they had to do once they reached the garrison was completely different than actually being there to do it.  Liseth had not had much interaction with Mr Vinder, and most of it had involved a lot of passion on part of the very large man.  Seeing him now, it was almost as though it couldn't be the same man.

As horrible as it felt to be carrying the information they had to tell him, it must be infinitely worse for him waiting to be told.

"Mister Vinder..."  Liseth began then stopped as her voice caught.  She looked at her friends when Pisca asked for the cell to be opened; it seemed to her as though nobody wanted to be the one to voice what had happened to Katrine.  Especially to her despondent father.

The girl was reminded of having to tell Ms Kaijitsu what had happened to her father.  This though; this was worse.  Having to tell a father the fate of his daughter.  "You know that we were asked to...to investigate what had happened at the sawmill last night.  By Sheriff Hemlock."  The small acolyte had to work her way around to telling him somehow.

"It's because what happened is so far from what the militia normally has to deal with.  And we already have experience with this sort of thing; after what happened with the goblins."  After the cell door was finally opened, Liseth carefully stepped inside to approach Katrine's father.

"We found..."  Liseth laid a small hand on Ven Vinder's large arm, looking up into his depressed face.  "We found evidence that they fought back very hard after being taken by surprise.  Katrine and...and..." Liseth wasn't sure exactly how to put this, "and the...boy she was with.  But..."  She couldn't keep herself from frowning.  Everything about this was miserable.

"I'm so sorry, Mister Vinder."  Tears began to well up from the young blonde, "I should have tried harder to be Katrine's friend.  I told her it would be better for her if she didn't work so hard to keep her secret from everybody.  So she wouldn't have to sneak around at night.  But she just got angry with me and I was too scared to keep trying..."

"They...she's already been transported to the Cathedral, where Father Zantus will be taking care of...of everything."  A weight had sunk down into Liseth's stomach.  She took hold of Sarenrae's Symbol, "If you want...I could...ask Sarenrae to make it hurt less.  It won't fix anything...but you won't feel as terrible."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1138 posts
Miniboss
Sat 12 Sep 2015
at 04:59
  • msg #53

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Alergast had once imparted upon Kellan the importance of a guardsmans role as a keeper of secrets. Here they were walking into houses, into businesses, down alleyways and into the lives of the people they had sworn to protect. They saw people at their worst, sloppy drunk and asleep in their own filth, fighting their loved ones tooth and nail over some perceived slight or the way dinner had been prepared. Births, deaths and tragedy.

Kellan did not want to see Ven like this, he wanted to remember him as strong, indomitable, bold as brass. A staunch protector of his family and reputation. But the man who sat before him was broken, lost, scared, and it reflected Kellans own insecurities and weaknesses. If Ven Vinder could be reduced to this...what did it say about the rest of them?

"Yes" Kellan was no orator, he did not have Liseths skill with words or her delicate, innocent touch. He did have the truth, as plain as he could tell it. "Her and Banny both"

He took a deep breath and steeled himself before he continued. "They were ambushed in the mill...and, well, they didn't go quietly."

Kellan shifted his weight, feeling very young again. "Something about it's not natural, but were gonna find out what did it, and then were gonna make it pay. Or die trying" he added, unsure if that last bit had helped or hurt to make Ven feel more at ease, vindicated or assured.
Ven Vinder
NPC, 13 posts
Proprietor
Sandpoint General Store
Tue 15 Sep 2015
at 21:40
  • msg #54

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Pisca’s order regarding the door echoed down an empty hallway—apparently the Sandpoint Guard felt the Garrison’s security was already sufficient, that Ven was not a threat to flee, or simply that it had more important things to do with its manpower.  Whatever the reason, no one answered.  They were alone with Ven.

The big man shifted his dull gaze to Liseth as she began to explain what had happened over the last few hours.  When the small blonde acolyte said Katrine’s name--that she was dead--a noise began in the back of Ven’s throat, building and finally erupting as a wailing keen.  When Kellan confirmed Liseth's account, Ven rolled off the bed, still making that awful sound, and, bent over at his knees, began methodically pounding his fists into the floor.  There was no anger behind the action.  Just slow, heavy blows that quickly began to bloody his fists.

Ven did not seem to care.

“I.”  After a minute, Ven’s voice broke through his rhythmic assault on the stone tiles.  “Just wanted.”  The pounding picked up in intensity.  “To keep her SAFE!!”  This last came out in a rush, the final word as a yell.  He sat back on his haunches, staring at the ceiling.  “Our last words were angry, because I wanted to keep her SAFE!!”  He looked around wildly, as if unsure what to do or where to let out the tide of emotion that was consuming him.  “Everything I did was to keep her SAFE!!  And she’s dead!!  My Kat is DEAD!!!”  He wailed the last word as he grabbed the bars of the prison, staring at them wildly, tears streaming down his bearded face.  He began shaking the bars.  “How could this happen?  How could this happen?  Desna, HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!?!?!”

The group heard a pounding down the sharp, narrow stairs, heralding the arrival of Torv Tiller and Alergast Barett.  Ven took no notice of their arrival.  “SHE’S GONE!!!”  He howled, unending pain and anger and emptiness somehow communicated through that one word.  “MY KAT IS GONE!!!!!!”  He gave the bars one final, mighty shake, dislodging dust from the ceiling, then collapsed in the corner, curled up and moaning.  “Gone.”  He repeated the one word like a mantra.  “Gone.”

Alergast looked shocked.  Torv turned to him.  “It’s like I said, Barett.”  He gestured to the shaking, moaning behemoth of a man.  “He stumbled on them, and he cracked.  Went crazy.  That’s the simplest explanation.”  He turned back to the cell, a stern sort of pity on his face.  "Maybe Habe will know what to do with him."




This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Tue 15 Sept 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2578 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 16 Sep 2015
at 00:25
  • msg #55

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The gnome's shoulders were tight, and they took on a tremor.  On her face, a deep welling misery began to break through what might have been a veneer of stoic thought, possibly stony indifference, or more likely, shocked paralysis.  And when Pisca spoke, the tremor entered her voice as well.  "You know nothing, Torv Tiller," she said.  And, as though the quaver in her own voice had been enough to break the gnome open, the rest came out in a sob.

"He's innocent!" she cried.  "And we can prove it."

"I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry."  Pisca threw herself at the bars, clutching them as though she might wring forgiveness from the cold steel.  "I'm sorry.  We tried!" she wailed.  But there was no forgiveness to be had.  She slid down the unyielding bars, her voice growing fainter the lower she sank.  Tears fell to spot the floor below.

"We did.  But if only we'd tried harder.  We could've done it.  We could've found the boyfriend.  And she wouldn't've been there.  And she'd be alive.  She'd be alive now."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2342 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Wed 16 Sep 2015
at 22:42
  • msg #56

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Her hands clasped at her chest and Liseth couldn't stop from stepping back from the bars during Mr Vinder's intensely emotional display.  It was terrifying; but the acolyte felt only sympathy.  Sympathy mixed with grief, and regret.

There was nothing that anybody could say to him, not while Mr Vinder was in this state.  Nothing which might help him at all.  The man was beyond devastated.

"Pisca is right."  The small blonde said to Sergeant Tiller and Lieutenant Barret.  She looked accusingly at Sergeant Tiller, tears in her own eyes, "How could you say that?  We just came from the mill, we saw what had happened.  Katrine was..." Liseth didn't want to say the details, not here.  "And you think that her father did that to her?!"

"We know that it could not have been Mr Vinder.  Everything we found points to...to something else."  She looked back towards the behemoth of a man, now curled up in the corner like a child.  "You can't keep him in there at a time like this...he needs to be with his other daughter."  Liseth frowned suddenly, "Does...does Shayliss know what has happened yet?"

"I...I think I can help.  A little."  Her eyes were still on Mr Vinder as she moved her hands to clutch the divine focus at her neck.  She had to try to do something for him; there was no way she could leave him in such a mess.  "Sarenrae," The young acolyte beseeched, "soothe the grief and calm the raging emotions that consume this poor man.  Grant a moment's respite from his terrible loss."

OOC: Casting Calm Emotions to target Ven Vinder.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1107 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 17 Sep 2015
at 03:27
  • msg #57

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stared in mute shock at Ven's display. Obviously, the man was in a great deal of pain. And though Cato didn't know him as well as he presumed Alergast, Torv or Kellan knew him, the wizard couldn't believe for a second that Ven would have done that to Kat.  Especially not with the evidence we found at the mill, Cato thought to himself. But how could anyone believe that of Ven?  Not that Cato didn't believe that some people in Sandpoint were capable of those sorts of things. He had to look no further than the Lonjiku clan, or Nualia to see that. But Ven wasn't one of those people. And even if he came upon Kat in an illicit tryst and lost his temper, how could they think he'd stoop to desecrating the body, much less feeding Kat into the...Cato shook his head and tried to stop the grim direction his thoughts had taken.

He watched Liseth's spell and clenched his own fists in helplessness. It wasn't often that the Mage felt stymied like this, but now was such a time. Obviously the gods had granted Liseth much greater abilities to help her fellows in times of need. Cato resolved to do what he could, saving up his anger for whatever monstrous evil they eventually found and forced to justice for this act. Because Cato knew he could help with that and eagerly looked forward to it, more than he had to taking on Nualia. That woman had tried to do terrible things to Sandpoint in the name of her terrible God, but this wanton slaughter felt entirely more personal to Cato, the way Kerr had been caught up as well.

Finally, Cato broke the silence. "Ven needs to grieve, Sheriff. Maybe isolation until he calms down, but what he does need is family. And we need to find out who's behind this. It's obviously not Ven, or Kerr. We need to find out who, and quickly. Habe's, though. Maybe we need to question the other survivor. It's the only lead we have right now.  I don't think I know where it is, though Kellan might."  Cato looked to the guardsman.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1140 posts
Miniboss
Sat 19 Sep 2015
at 01:07
  • msg #58

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

What could he say? that he understood? No...no, even with the loss of his fellow guardsman and the other towns folk, he knew that he could not come close to knowing this kind of grief. Hopefully he never would.

Nothing Kellan could do or say could fix this, and truth be told with what they had seen at the mill, he was not even sure if they would be able to bring this thing to justice even if they found it. Why in all the world, with all the sick, twisted, broken souls out there, had Kat and Banny been the ones to fall? Wasn't there enough to worry about? With the harvest? With the thugs and degenerates? with the goblins? and now this? A wave of emotion came over him, he wanted to cry, but he managed to hold back.

As much as he wanted to try and do what he could for Ven, in the back of his mind he knew that this thing was still out there. Did the dead even sleep? were they ever idle? what did they exist for? What could it have gotten out of this situation? They would need to move quick before other were killed, and in a small town like this every death sent a shockwave through the community.

"They're right" Kellan agreed somberly "From what we've seen there is no way Ven is the one who did this. There is something else at work here, something unnatural" Kellan felt tired, it would be a long, long night, and it was just getting started.

"I think your right" the guardsman agreed with Cato "It's our best, and probably our only chance at the moment"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2581 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 20 Sep 2015
at 13:12
  • msg #59

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Remorse.  Guilt.  True and heart-rending.  These ... were new things.  And, even as the gnome lay, half-prone against the bars, there was an aspect of herself that stood apart.  That gnome, that Pisca Neep the Not-So-Freemish, squatted nearby, observing herself, consumed by feelings entirely different.  This Pisca watched herself with great interest and great curiosity and tremendous wonderment.

There was a passionate sadness here that she'd never seen in herself before.  And this Other-Pisca, this detached Pisca, she reached out with experimenting fingers to pluck and play at the regret, to poke this particular recrimination, and to jiggle certain poignant memories.  She cataloged which would bring deeper sobs and which would trigger a fresh bout of sobbing.

This was a new thing.  And it was very very interesting.
Alergast Barett
NPC, 32 posts
Sandpoint Guard
Lieutenant
Mon 21 Sep 2015
at 17:18
  • msg #60

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Alergast’s face softened as he watched Pisca on the floor next to the bars, trying to comfort Ven.  And maybe trying to comfort herself as well.  He gave Liseth a brief nod as she tried to explain Ven’s innocence.

“That’s how it seems to me too, Torv.”  The big guard officer crossed his arms and looked uncomfortably at Ven wailing in the corner of his cell.  “I just can’t see Ven doing . . . that.  And you really don’t have any cause to believe that he did it, do you?”  He raised an eyebrow at the sergeant.  “Other than your suspicions?”

Torv opened his mouth to speak, but Kerr cut in first.  “Like everyone’s saying, we found evidence at the mill that he didn’t do it, Lieutenant Barett,” he interjected.  “Liseth’s right!  From what we can tell, there was some sort of creature involved.  It couldn’t have been Mister Vinder.”

Everyone watched as the blonde-haired acolyte reached towards the sobbing merchant and prayed to Sarenrae.  Immediately a sense of calm flooded the room—everyone felt noticeably less tense, as if Liseth’s prayer simply washed away their anxiety, anger, or sorrow.  Ven, no longer weeping, simply crumpled into the corner, as if he had no energy left to power his enormous frame.

Strangely, Sergeant Tiller also experienced a noticeable change.  He seemed to look at Ven with new eyes, rather than the gimlet gaze he’d been using to this point.  “That,” said Sandpoint’s most-feared sergeant, “that changes things.”  His shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, slightly marring his ramrod-straight posture.

“A creature, you say?”  Alergast asked, giving Kerr a measured look that promised further conversation on this topic before turning to Torv.  “I think it does,” he agreed.  The edge of his mouth quirked slightly upward as Cato spoke.  “Thank you for the promotion, Cato, but I’m still just a lieutenant.”  He gave the group a curt nod.  “Based on your testimony, and the lack of evidence against him, I think we can release Ven.”  He glanced at Tiller.  “Don’t you think, Torv?”  The bald-headed sergeant nodded his assent.  “Then it’s agreed.”

The lieutenant reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a key ring.  He quickly ran through the keys with his fingers before settling on one of the larger ones.  He inserted it into the door of Ven’s cell, quickly unlocking, then opening it.

“You’re free to go, Ven.”  Alergast said, not unkindly.  “And I know this doesn’t do anything right now, but I’m very sorry for your loss.”  Ven continued to huddle in the corner, giving no sign that he’d heard anything.  Alergast looked at the group.  “I can make sure he gets home, unless you’d prefer to take him?”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2582 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 21 Sep 2015
at 17:42
  • msg #61

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

She thought she could make it now, the pain had gone.
All of the bad feelings had disappeared.
She rose from the floor and walked into the cell ...

"It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright sunshiny day," the gnome whispered to herself.  "Thanks, Lys.  I feel much better."

She put her small gnomish hand into the infinitely larger human one.  "Come on," she tugged, "You need to go home.  You've got a daughter left who still needs you."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1142 posts
Miniboss
Tue 22 Sep 2015
at 04:15
  • msg #62

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"No, no...as much as I want to, we should get going." Kellan responded to Alergast with a slight shake of his head. "Whatever did this is still out there, and gods willing I hope to find it before any more harm is done"

The newly promoted sergeant turned to his friends. "Habes is just a few miles south of here, down on the Ashen Rise. If we saddle up the horses we should be able to make it down there pretty quick. With a little luck... Grayst still might have enough sense in his head to tell us something useful"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1108 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 22 Sep 2015
at 18:53
  • msg #63

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato blushed.  "Of course, Sergeant, of course.  Caught up in all the excitement."

Cato nodded to Kellan.  "Sounds good.  We should get there quick.  I'd hate to see anyone else hurt by that...thing."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2349 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 22 Sep 2015
at 20:26
  • msg #64

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The moment her prayer finished everything felt better.  At the least, Ven Vinder stopped sobbing.  And Liseth's own feelings guilt and sorrow disappeared.  Sarenrae's blessing had removed the sadness from an awful situation and everyone could think more clearly.  It was just too bad that the young acolyte knew the effects would last only a short time.

"You're welcome Pisca."  Liseth answered.  The blonde girl watched Pisca go and take Ven Vinder's hand.  Then she turned to Kellan, "We should examine the other bodies, here at the garrison.  Before going all that way to speak with the survivor."  It was a lot easier to speak of their investigation while under Sarenrae's calming influence, "We need to make sure that the bodies have matching wounds to what we saw in the mill.  And we could learn something else useful before speaking to the survivor."

"Kellan..."  Liseth looked about at everyone, "I think that Cato, Kerr and I can handle the examination.  If you think that you and Pisca could escort Mr Vinder home?"  She tried not to be obvious about it, but the suggestion was there.  That Kellan should be there when Shayliss heard the news, and saw her father in his state.

"Our examination shouldn't take too long.  You and Pisca can meet us at the Stables when you're done."

"And..."  The girl stepped closer to Alergast Barret, "We should tell you what we found at the mill."  After a glance back at Mr Vinder, she finished, "But I don't think here is a good place."
The Raconteur
GM, 2218 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 09:00
  • msg #65

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Alergast looked from Liseth, to Ven, to Pisca, then back to Liseth.  “No.”  He said, studiously not looking at Sergeant Tiller.  “Probably not.”  He paused for a second, thinking.  “Why don’t you all take Ven back to the General Store?  I’ll be in my office for the rest of the morning, so you can come find me there if we need to talk.”  He favored Liseth with a sober expression.  “And it sounds like we do.”

He turned to his companion.  “Come on, Torv, we need to get the guard schedule straightened out.”  Alergast put his arm around the sergeant, turning him back toward the stairway.  “The current one’s gone straight to the Abyss,” he said, walking down the hallway, voice fading as the pair went up the stairs.  “I’m pretty sure Quint and Santo have been on duty for 16 hours now, and I don’t think anyone’s relieved poor Jamis since the bodies were found . . . .”

Once the more-senior guards had departed, there was the matter of actually getting Ven back to his home—the enormous man would certainly be no picnic to carry.  But with some help from Kellan he managed to make it to his feet, and seemed willing enough to let Pisca take him by the hand and guide him out of the cell, down the hallway, and up the stairs to the Garrison’s entrance.

Ven wasn’t riven by grief as he had been, but neither had he recovered the gruff brand of personal interaction everyone was used to.  He simply stared at the stone floor, face slack, putting one foot in front of the other as he allowed a gnome who had previously punched him to direct him back to what remained of his family.

The group had no problems leaving the garrison—apparently Alergast had already given the all-clear.  The entourage received some strange looks from passersby as they helped Ven back to the general store; the news regarding the murders clearly hadn’t made its way into the public consciousness just quite yet.  After only a few minutes, Kellan and Kerr were assisting Ven up on to the porch of the General Store and helping him inside, leading him toward the rooms in the rear where he lived with his daughters.

“DADDY!!”  A crimson-maned flash ran through the General Store’s well-kept aisles.  Shayliss crashed into her father like a wave against a tidebreak, throwing both arms around him as she buried her head in his chest.  “What happened?!?  What’s going on?”  Her voice held more than a tremor of fear and trepidation.

“She’s gone, Shay.”  Ven broke his silence, his voice catching and scraping as if it had not been used for years.  He sounded as if he was on the verge of another breakdown.  “Kat’s gone.  Oh Shay.”  He mourned, sinking to the floor with his remaining daughter, stroking her hair, holding her in his arms as if she were the greatest treasure in the world.  “She’s gone.”

Shay began keening, as if her greatest fears had been confirmed, collapsing against her father as she did so.  “I’m sorry,” Ven choked, his sobs bursting through again as Shayliss wept uncontrollably in his arms.  “Shay, I’m so sorry.”  His tears fell freely.  “So sorry.”




This message was last edited by the GM at 09:02, Wed 23 Sept 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2588 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 13:43
  • msg #66

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Tears.  And hugs.  And sadness.  Terrible sadness.  Tremendous grief.  It tugged at the gnome.  Ven and Shayliss Vinder.  On the floor.  Sobbing.  Holding each other.  They drew Pisca in.  Just as surely as a stray astral body succumbs to gravity.  She wanted to join.  To hug and to cry.

But none of the others did.

And the puzzlement at just why this might be broke the moment.  Then the moment was gone.  The pull was gone.  She was no longer one with the humans and their grief.  Quietly, unobtrusively, she scrutinized the faces of her friends.  What had held them back?  Were they not humans too?  In this room full of tragedy, she could see from their faces that they were not unaffected.  So, what was it?  Why?

Sometimes, humans were a puzzlement.

She put a commiserating hand upon Stomper's hip, looking up at him with great sympathetic eyes.  Then she went to Lysa.  "Do you think they'll be alright alone?" she asked.  And then, "We should stop by the Rusty Dragon and see that someone sends food.  They should eat, and I don't think they'll be in much of a state to cook for themselves."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2351 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 24 Sep 2015
at 01:37
  • msg #67

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

It was terribly awkward.  Being an outside party to the Vinders' grief.  Not that Liseth wasn't still feeling the effects of the tragedy herself, but nothing could match exactly what they were going through.

She couldn't be with them, nothing she could do to console them.  The girl was an outsider; she wasn't even sure Katrine had liked her, and Shayliss had been less than excited about her just last night.  So Liseth watched them shed their tears of grief together while she more quietly shed her own.

The blonde girl hugged Pisca tightly when the gnome asked whether the two would be alright.  She sniffed, "They will, they have each other.  They'll be better in time.  Father Garrick says that these are the sorts of wounds that only time and love can heal."

Liseth released Pisca then and turned to Kellan.  Of all of them, he knew the Vinders best.  And he was Shayliss' boyfriend too.  "Kellan," she looked towards Shayliss, "say something to her."  The slender acolyte all but shoved the towering guardsmen towards his grief-stricken girlfriend, "go on."

"Maybe you're right, Pisca."  Liseth answered once again to the gnome.  "But I'm sure they won't at all feel like eating, whether food is there or not."  She frowned and then went to find Kerr, taking a hold of his arm while watching the father cry with his daughter.  "And we have so much more that still needs to be done..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:38, Thu 24 Sept 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1145 posts
Miniboss
Thu 24 Sep 2015
at 05:43
  • msg #68

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan hated this whole bloody mess. He hated having their little village life invaded by things like this, he hated whatever hat killed Kat, he hated having to see Ven like this, he hated being at the center of it all. He wanted to solve it, to solve all of this and some how, some way, get things back to the way they had been. They way he felt that they were supposed to be.

But there was no solving this, not for Ven, and as the guardsman helped the huge man to his feet he felt his anger turn into sorrow and frustration. He was supposed to protect people from things like this, and yet here they were running around half blind while some...thing killed their friends and neighbors at will.

The trip down to the general store was silent for Kellan, there was nothing he could say, and as he entered the familiar structure himself and was confronted by Shay, he felt the emotions from earlier in the night rush back to the fore. He could not imagine what the girl must be feeling, between their earlier fight and finding her father like this. He had been a bright spot in her life and now was the bearer of the worst sort of news.

"I'm sorry Shay" he managed "We're gonna find who did it, just...give us a little time" he sighed and glanced to Liseth. Had that been sufficient? What was he supposed to do here exactly? Her sister had just been horrifically murdered. Nothing he could do could salve that kind of wound.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2589 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 24 Sep 2015
at 13:16
  • msg #69

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I'm sorry for your loss."  She'd given Lysa's hands a little squeeze just before the human girl had returned to her boyfriend.  The hug had been good.  The hug had helped.  Now that she'd had time to feel and watch and learn from her friends, she could almost feel the human separateness - the way that they divided themselves by who had the strongest bonds to Katrine Vinder by virtue of human family groupings.  She herself could now feel it, and it stood as a ghost image, imposed over her own feeling to be a part of the grief - a grief which she shared some responsibility for.

"I wish I could have ... I should have pushed harder ... "

Wisdom would suggest that you leave things as they are ...   The words rung in Pisca's head, spoken in the voice of Jubrayl Vishki.  Words that she now knew that she should have ignored.

"I'm sorry ... "  This human feeling, it even provided for a respectful distance from which she should stand.  It was a very helpful feeling in this, and other, respects.  "I can't turn back time that far.  I wish I could.  But Stomper's right.  We'll find who did this."  The eyes of the gnome visited the face of each of her friends, finding common bond in a shared look.  "There will be a reckoning."

"In the meantime, we'll have someone from the Rusty Dragon send food.  You just care for yourselves.  We'll leave you be now.  Once again, I'm sorry."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1109 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 24 Sep 2015
at 18:25
  • msg #70

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stood quietly, watching mostly, as Pisca escorted Ven back to his store.  And the appearance of Shayliss and the awkward reveal of the events did little to settle the wizard.  He knew that Ven and his daughter needed comforting, for their suffering was just beginning as the loss of Kat was driving home.  But Cato's feelings of awkwardness and impotence only served to impress in his mind a need for great urgency, which fought the need to comfort Ven and Shayliss.  So, the wizard stood mute and still, trying to bring his scattered thoughts to order.  Sheriff?  Sergeant?  I can't even get Alergast's rank right.  What use am I going to be if Sandpoint depends on me right now?

Deep in thought, trying to control his emotions, Cato stood quiet, watching the pain unfold in front of him and unable to think of anything to help.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 151 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 25 Sep 2015
at 03:43
  • msg #71

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr looked away from the pair of huddled Vinders—their grief was too raw, too immediate to bear.  It was as if he was looking at someone’s painful, open wound but helpless to heal it.  The erstwhile acolyte looked toward the General Store’s doors, feeling suddenly infused with energy.  He couldn’t do anything to help Katrine or her grieving family now, but he sure as Erastil could go out and work on bringing them justice.  It would be cold comfort, but hopefully the closure would help the healing.

Kerr caught the others’ eyes and jerked his head toward the door.  There seemed to be nothing more to do here; Ven and Shayliss were caught up in their private grief, and it seemed somehow intrusive to stay.  The group stumbled out of the general store feeling like they’d just left a sepulcher.  The light and sunny breeze of a Sandpoint noon contrasted harshly with the General Store’s stark, cool stillness.

It took only moments for the group to gather itself and head back up the street to the Garrison.  Caul Thatcher looked like he knew exactly why they had returned.

“The bodies are downstairs, in the storage room just past the armory,” he informed them.  “Alergast’s in his office if you want to talk to him after.”  Caul’s thumb helpfully indicated the hallway down which the office could be found.

“Great, thanks Caul,” Kerr responded, only to find that the others had already begun descending the staircase.  Everyone seemed to have their own reasons for wanting to bring Katrine’s murderer to justice as quickly as possible.

Or maybe everyone had the same reason.

Once downstairs, the five of them crowded their way into the makeshift morgue, the three dead men interred there already pressed it for space.  Their bodies lay motionless on three wooden tables, but the most-notable thing about them was the look of stark, raving terror etched indelibly on their stiffened faces.




This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Fri 25 Sept 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1112 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 25 Sep 2015
at 20:43
  • msg #72

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stared at the dead bodies, at the victims of this undead menace plaguing Sandpoint that he had so far proven useless in stopping.  With a sigh of resignation, Cato whispered a few words, moved his fingers in familiar patterns, and studied the bodies for traces of any arcane magic, knowing that such a thing was probably doomed, but not knowing anything else to try.

Cast Detect Magic
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2354 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sat 26 Sep 2015
at 02:27
  • msg #73

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"These bodies all have the same sort of marks that we found on Banny."  Liseth didn't want to waste any time and went straight into examining the bodies.  She went straight to them once they had arrived in the morgue and began her examination.  "Each one of them was slashed by claws from a...humanoid hand."

The acolyte pointed at the claw marks on the skin of the deceased, "marks from five fingers, about the size of a human hand.  But no person would be able to have their fingers leave marks like that; they dig in to the flesh too far."

"They look like many of the wounds were inflicted in a fight."  Liseth sighed, "These men didn't do any better than the...what happened in the mill.  And they each have the same symbol carved into them as was on Banny.  They must have all been killed by the same...creature.  But why?"

A few more moments were spent pointedly not looking at the faces frozen in terror, even though it was obvious Liseth was thinking of exactly that.  "I don't know whether there's more to find here; these men obviously died in horror."  And the three of them together were helpless against their attacker too.  "Although maybe I can still learn something..."

Liseth finally looked into the face of one of the bodies.  Examining the eyes first, then the mouth and finally the claw marked injuries.  Looking for any evidence that the men had been afflicted by poison or disease.  Or other debilitations that might provide clues towards the monster they were seeking.

OOC: Heal maybe?  Or Knowledge (Nature) to determine that the men were afflicted by some kind of poison or disease.  Not sure whether Knowledge (religion) would cover anything, except maybe undead special attacks.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1146 posts
Miniboss
Sat 26 Sep 2015
at 04:38
  • msg #74

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Claws?" Kellan asked aloud as Liseth looked over the bodies, prodding a portion of the rent flesh with one finger. "Like a big predator...but, not" he leaned back against the wall in thought. "I think the Quasit thing had claws? didnt she?" he looked about "Could it be something like her? Something that was down in the ruins and got disturbed?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2592 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 26 Sep 2015
at 11:44
  • msg #75

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Up, please."  The gnome held her arms out to Kerr Mollin to be lifted onto one of the outer tables.  Whereupon, after having been deposited there, she went about a detailed search of the bodies.

"I don't ... think ... that's likely, Stomper."  Pisca's voice came filtered through the attention paid to her search, with a word or two to spare between the scrutiny of the cold fingers on a dead hand or a few sentences delivered while hopping from one table to the next.  "That doesn't fit the things that we know so far.  First, the killer knows Sandpoint.  He ... and I'm thinking this is a 'he' now ... knew to lure these men to the Scarnetti's warehouse.  He knew about the warehouse.  And he must also have known about their connection to the Scarnettis."

"No.  I think our best clue lies in the things that Your Lordship has already said about himself through his own words and actions."

"Lordship ... Knows Sandpoint ... Knows Kerr Mollin ... "  The gnome paused in her search to contemplate the facts.  "That must be a pretty narrow circle of people."

Perception: 36 (Taking 20) to search the bodies for any details that the guard might have missed.
Also, Knowledge Local: 29 (Also Taking 20 per Lore Master/A Standard Action) to recall any persons of royalty or who might claim lordship, and who might have a familiarity with Sandpoint, especially those who know Kerr.

Lore Master Used

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2356 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 28 Sep 2015
at 11:32
  • msg #76

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"They aren't claws like on an animal."  Liseth explained to Kellan while Pisca postulated about the identity of 'Your Lordship.'  "Undead have hands like normal people, but their fingers are rotten."  The girl pointed at Kellan's hand, then formed her own small hand into a 'claw' shape

"They slash you because their bones stick through, and they can't feel pain.  Some smarter undead will even sharpen the bones of their fingers so that they can really cut deep when they attack a victim."  The acolyte looked closer at the wound on the body, as though noticing something for the first time.

"And look here,"  she pointed at the injury, "see this discoloration on the wound?  It looks almost like bruising, but I don't think that it is.  Lots of undead carry diseases, or have evil abilities that can paralyze their victims.  The diseases are usually because they are slashing at you with rotten fingers and flesh."

"I think this undead might have a disease that it's carrying, or something else."  Liseth frowned, "if it is something else, it' probably really bad.  But..."  The young blonde looked around at the bodies again, "these men didn't survive long enough to feel the effects, whatever they might be."

"I think we're done here."  She sighed.  "We might find more from the survivor.  Maybe if he was wounded by the creature, it can tell us more about the undead."  Her eyes opened up suddenly, "Or maybe...maybe his madness is the effect of being attacked by the creature."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1113 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 28 Sep 2015
at 12:58
  • msg #77

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato shook his head as he observed the magic in the room. "As before, there is no active magic at work here."  He nodded at Liseth's suggestion. "I don't think we can find anything new here."  His face paled at her ruminations.  "You think the survivors's insanity might be as a result of fighting off a disease contracted from the attacker?"  The wizard shivered.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2595 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 29 Sep 2015
at 13:33
  • msg #78

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

" ... or so you'd think."  The comment burbled up from out of the well of Pisca's thoughts to emerge as a translucent, many-hued thing before ending its existence with a soft pop and a spray of gentle mist.  "Why is it that humans put such stock in nobility?  You all know, right?"

This last question brought her up from the search of the bodies to confront the others in the room: humans all of them.  "That nobility doesn't really exist?  That it only holds true as long as other people are willing to acknowledge it?"  The gnome shrugged and hopped down off the table without waiting for a reply.

"Nothing more to be found here."  She brushed her hands together, ridding them of the invisible dust of her recent efforts.  "I need to speak to your Lieutenant, Stomper.  I still think all this may be part of a vendetta against the Scarnetti's.  I'm sure he knows scores of people who might hold a grudge against them, but that field may narrow when limited to people who might claim the rights of a Lord."
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 152 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 29 Sep 2015
at 22:44
  • msg #79

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr looked over Liseth’s shoulder.  “I don’t know what happened to these men,” he said, gazing down at the horrified visage of Gedwin Tabe before looking up, an earnest expression on his face, “but we need to stop it from happening to anyone else. “  He paused.  “Ever.”

“If this is a real lord that we’re talking about,” the paladin-in-training continued Pisca’s line of thought, “how is it that no one has noticed that he’s turned into a horrifying undead creature?  It seems like most lords would have retinues, or servants, or something along those lines, right?  How has he managed to keep this story from getting out?”  Kerr scratched his head.  “Seems like his servants would have run screaming.  Or that he would have killed them all.  Either way, you’d think someone would have noticed.  Wouldn’t you?”

Everyone seemed to have learned from what they could from the bodies of the Scarnetti stooges.  It was a somber group that headed upstairs, past Caul Thatcher’s desk to Alergast’s office.  Kellan rapped smartly on the door.

“Enter!”  Alergast’s unmistakable baritone invited them inside.  His careworn features brightened as he recognized his visitors.  “Welcome back,” he stood and gestured to the various chairs around the room, “make yourselves comfortable.  Did you get Venn back to Shayliss?”  Once everyone had entered, he walked over to the door and stuck his head outside.

“Caul, I’m in a meeting.  No disturbances until we’re done.”  He called down the hallway.

“Yes, sir.”  The desk officer’s muted voice responded.

Alergast closed the door, then walked back to his desk.  “So,” he took a chair, leaning forward, arms on the desk in front of him.  “It sounds like you have something important to tell me.  Something that we might not want getting out to the wider public.  What have you found?”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2596 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 29 Sep 2015
at 23:18
  • msg #80

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"That's BRILLIANT!"  The smile that lit the gnome's beamish brow  was every bit as bright as whatever it might have been that Kerr had just said to warrant her words.

"Lysa, your boyfriend is brilliant.  Just brilliant."  And the gnome gave Kerr's bottom a smack to show her appreciation.

"Now all we need to do is look for a lord who's missing or absent."  So pleased was Pisca with her new Kerr Mollin inspired thought, that she left it to the others to describe what they'd found at the mill.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Thu 01 Oct 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2360 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 14:42
  • msg #81

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Of course he is Pisca."  Liseth had to confirm Kerr's new brilliant status.  "But that's not the only reason to keep him around."  It seemed so easy for Pisca to bounce back from being glum, and even lighten the mood for everyone else.

"Yes we did, Lieutenant Barret."  Liseth answered once they were in the garrison office to give their report.  "Mister Vinder and Shayliss will need a lot of time, but it will be better for them to be together."

The girl looked around the office after the door had closed, into the faces of all her friends.  It looked like everyone was hesitant to share what they had learned.  Which wasn't surprising, it was not as though they came here to give any good news!

"Well..."  The acolyte started.  "What we found at the mill...and confirmed here with the other bodies, is that it wasn't just a mad killer who did all this.  We're almost certain that the killer is an undead."  She paused a moment to let the pronouncement sink in.

"Outside the mill, on the pier, we found muddy footprints where someone had climbed out of the water.  That's how it got into the mill and how it got away, it must have walked along the bottom of the river in order to leave prints like that.  Because an undead doesn't need to breathe."

"And I examined all of the bodies, the ones here and at the mill.  They all showed signs of having tried to fight back, but their wounds looked like slash marks.  From a five fingered hand.  A person's hand.  A person wouldn't leave deep gouges like that with just their fingers.  But an undead would; it's finger bones are able to leave wounds like what I saw."

"Also, we found an axe at the mill.  We believe that it was used by Katrine during the struggle to chop the killer.  We found blood on it that was rotten, and bits of skin that were rotten too.  It shouldn't have been decomposed like that if the attack was only hours ago.  It had to have been from an undead.  The blood was...was dead."

"This is why we didn't want to tell everyone right away, Lieutenant Barret.  If they knew an undead killer was striking, and could come out of the water at any time to murder someone...there would be a panic!"  If the citizens of Sandpoint felt the same as she did about the prospect of being ambushed at any time by an undead killer, there would definitely be a panic!
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1147 posts
Miniboss
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 15:21
  • msg #82

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Pretty much what she said" Kellan chimed in with a dour look "From everything we are seeing here it sounds like it's just as much a matter for the temples as for us. Something that doesn't eat, sleep, or breath but is still smart and strong enough to climb a vertical wall and sneak around at night"

Kellan ran a thumb against the edge of his pole axe as if wondering what effect the blade might have on undead flesh. "Looking for a lord is a good start I suppose, not many lordly types around these parts anyway. To be honest I don't know much about these things in any way...don't know if we are looking for a priest, a mage or if these things just come about on their own."

He glanced briefly between Liseth and Cato before resuming. "Far as letting the people know...well, most of the militia members are pretty fresh, and I'm always in favor of being honest where we can, but I'll leave that up to the Sheriff and the Mayor"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1114 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 2 Oct 2015
at 02:35
  • msg #83

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nods to confirm Liseth's story.  "Nothing I saw at the scene contradicts that explanation.  I don't think there's a better thing for us to do then be proactive, trace down the leads we still have, like Grayst down at the Sanitorium.  Maybe we can get something out of him, enough to further identify this undead killer."  Cato shook his head.  "Because what I learned from the trouble at Thistletop was that being proactive is what's really needed to help in this situation.  We can't just sit back and wait for trouble to come to us.  Because it'll strike and there's nothing to do but clean up the mess.  We can't watch all the rivers and alleys of Sandpoint waiting for someone else to fall victim."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2599 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 2 Oct 2015
at 14:51
  • msg #84

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"It's a good start."  The gnome nodded her head in agreement.  "Looking for a lord.  From there lets add a lord who's been missing for a bit."

"His idea," Pisca added and pointed in the direction the Boyfriend.  "If we knew the sort of undead thing we were dealing with, that might tell us how a lord might become an undead, and this might tell us how long this lord would most likely have been missing for.  Yes?"  Pisca the Master of Deductive Reasoning looked into the faces of her friends to ensure that they were following her trail of metaphorical bread crumbs.

"Help me out here, Lysa.  What do we know of this undead lord?  I know from personal experience that Your Lordship is possessed of a sickening stench.  You've already mentioned the ability to paralyze his victims.  Disease.  And Your Lordship is clearly intelligent.  What brand of undead would you say that fits, Lys?"

"And lets not forget that there may be a connection with the Scarnetti's.  Your Lordship knew that the first three victims were Scarnetti associates.  He must have.  He knew to lure then to a Scarnetti warehouse.  The mill was a Scarnetti concern.  So it's possible that we're dealing with a lord that has criminal ties."

"Then there's the Sihedron which is connected to the Runelord ruins.  Coincidently, it's a star with Seven points.  Seven, which, equally coincidently is the same number on the card we found on Mister Maskie.  And, if there is anyone who ever struck me as criminally inclined, it would be this shadowy Mister Maskie."

The gnome tipped her head up again to check in with her friends.

"Don't you think?"

Knowledge Religion check 20 (Taking 10 per Lore Master and using Archaeologist's Luck) for what sort of undead we may be dealing with here given the facts that we know.  Stench.  Intelligence.  Paralysis.  Disease.

Also looking for help from Liseth on this.

AL: 7/9

Lore Master Used for the Day

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2363 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 01:04
  • msg #85

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Umm, well..."  Liseth began to answer Pisca.  "I'm not certain that this undead can paralyze its victims.  In fact, it looks like its victims all died fighting.  Which might point that it can't paralyze them."

"But there are all sorts of terrible things undead can do.  Some can even drain your life right out of you, just by a touch."  The petite blonde shivered, "or claw.  We'll probably learn more when we interview the survivor.  I hope."

"It is intelligent though, that much is for sure."  The acolyte looked up in thought, "Those undead at the graveyard, when we rode through to Thistletop, had a leader.  Maybe it has something to do with this?"  That was speculation, but by this point they didn't have much.  "I think those undead were ghouls and ghasts, which can paralyze.  And the lead one used armor and weapons, remember?  Maybe it's the noble one in charge?"

"If its an undead that can drain people's life, we might be dealing with a wight.  Or a vampire, but I don't think a vampire would attack in this style."  Just talking about these things sent a shiver down the girl's spine.  "A vampire wants to bite it's victims."

"A wight though...they are very dangerous.  Clever enough to use tricks against its victims, instead of just attacking like a ghoul would.  I think we're dealing with a wight, but that still doesn't help us determine its motives, or if it's acting alone."  She looked at Kerr and squeezed his arm, "or why it is interested in Kerr."

"I don't know much about nobles in the Sandpoint area though.  The founding families might have some members who would think of themselves as a Lord."  Certainly the Scarnettis.  Liseth suddenly frowned, "You don't think somebody might have stolen Lonjiku Kaijitsu's body and made him into an undead?"

"What other nobles frequent Sandpoint?"  The girl looked around at the more local of her friends, and Alergast Barrett.  "There's Mister Foxglove..." she shook her head, "but it couldn't be him.  Right?  I mean, he's Father Zantus's friend!"

OOC: Out of curiosity, has  Foxglove been to Sandpoint since the events after the festival?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Tue 06 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2601 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 23:19
  • msg #86

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Aldern?"  The gnome slipped on an overly exaggerated look of incredulity.  She followed it with a, "Piffle.  Unthinkable.  Aldern went to Magnimar on business.  Remember?"  And then she pooh-poohed the very notion with a dismissive wiggle of her fingers.  Still, when all of the pooh-poohing and the finger wiggling was done, what remained was a concerned looking gnome who might just be entertaining an unthinkable thought.

"Could be Lonjiku.  But, then why Kerr, as you say?  Why not Tsuto?"

"A wight then.  That's the real question, Lysa.  How does one become a wight and how long does that process take?  If it takes a long time, then Aldern couldn't possibly be Your Lordship.  We just saw him ... wasn't it a short while ago?"

"No.  Wait.  We really haven't seen him for months then.  Have we?  At any rate, so how long does it take to turn to wight-dom?  Or is that wight-ness?  How long is the wight-celeration process?"

"That should help us narrow down the field of candidates, I would think."
Alergast Barett
NPC, 33 posts
Sandpoint Guard
Lieutenant
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 06:46
  • msg #87

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“Good.”  Alergast nodded curtly at the news of the Vinders' reunion--then his mouth fell open as he heard the evidence the group had found regarding the mill murderer.  “A . . . what . . . undead you say?”  For the first time anyone could remember, the lieutenant looked out of his depth.  He silently mouthed the word “undead” as Liseth continued to speak.

“Holy Desna,” he said when she’d finished, having gone several shades paler.  “An undead assassin stalking the streets of Sandpoint at night, rising from the Turandarok like some sort of monster from . . . from a children’s tale?”  His eyes flicked to the door, then back to the group.  “This . . . well, this is disturbing news.”  He seemed to be recovering from his shock.  “And you’re right, Liseth, I can only imagine the panic in town should word get out.  Honestly is important, Kellan, but we don’t always need to tell people everything.  And this is one of those things we should keep between us.  Nobody else except Mayor Deverin and Sherriff Hemlock needs to know about this, and I’ll report to them myself.  We’ll tell people to keep their doors and windows locked, just as a precaution.”  He sighed.  “That’s going to cause enough panic right there.”

Alergast sat back in his chair as he mulled over Kellan’s tactical analysis of the situation.  “This isn’t an opponent the Guard is trained to fight.”  He steepled his fingers under his chin, thinking.  “Right.”  He said, as if he’d made a decision.  “I’m going to add an extra man to every night patrol, so that we’ll have groups of three rather than two.  Hopefully that will be enough to beat whatever this is into submission should a patrol run across it.  Although from what you’ve said it sounds crafty enough to avoid the patrols.”  He paused, thinking.  “Do we have any idea what it is doing here?  Was there any evidence what it wanted?  Why Sandpoint?  Why now?”  He spread his hands helplessly.  “It’s hard to predict the moves of an enemy you know next to nothing about.”

“That sounds like a good plan, Cato,” the lieutenant agreed.  “I think you should be proactive.  What we need to do is find out as much about this thing as we possibly can.  It sounds like Grayst actually saw it, so maybe he can give you some sort of information about it that you don’t already have.  Ideally, of course, I’d like you to track down its lair and kill it.  But if it’s walking underneath the Turandarok,” the guard officer’s voice was still slightly incredulous, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was saying, “that’s going to be easier said than done.  Is there anything else we know about it?”




This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Wed 07 Oct 2015.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 153 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 06:54
  • msg #88

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"I can think of three possibilities," Kerr offered.  "It could be a wight, like Liseth said, especially if it is a newer wight.  Like Lise said, wights definitely have the intelligence to do something like this, and they also reputedly have the ability to drain the life from their victims--that could seem like paralysis.  But wights don't spread disease, and from what I've read anyone killed by a wight becomes a wight pretty quickly, and none of the three men killed at the mill, Banny, or Katrine have shown any inclination to become a wight."  He coughed nervously.  "Um, yet."

"From what I've studied ghouls also fit a lot of these particulars.  Stench, disease, and paralysis are all things attributed to ghouls.  The only outlier is the intelligence.  This creature seems smarter than the ghouls I read about.  I mean, I know ghouls are intelligent--they're not animals--but they've never been reputed to be THAT intelligent.  Also, ghouls generally hang around graveyards and eat the flesh of corpses.  Slipping into town to kill to people, and then carving a symbol into them rather than just eating them, is definitely not ghoul-like behavior."

"I also know that mummies spread disease and would probably leave rotten flesh if attacked.  But mummies generally only guard tombs or treasures, right?"  He looked to Liseth for support.  "But if these dead folks had been involved in say, a grave robbery, however, or had handled goods from such a robbery," he paused, giving everyone a meaningful look, "who knows to what lengths a mummy might go to retrieve it?"  He looked triumphant; then his face fell.  "But that doesn't explain the note for me or the symbol carving either."  He thought for a second.  "Actually, that's not something we would really expect from any of them.  What is going on here?"




This message was last edited by the player at 05:20, Thu 08 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2603 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 13:39
  • msg #89

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Hello?"  Pisca gave the Lieutenant of the guard a look of annoyance.  "Has no one been listening to the gnome?"  She gave a polite cough into her hand, a prelude to a re-recitation of her deductive reasons.

"Underworld connections.  This undead has connections to criminals and their network of intelligence.  How else would he know about these Scarnetti footmen?" she said, and waved a hand to indicate the bodies.  "The Scarnetti's.  The connection between these men, the warehouse, and the mill may be coincidental, they are both connected to the Scarnetti's.  We can't rule out the possibility that this is some sort of attack on them."

"Then there's the Sihedron.  It is connected to the One-Eyed Maskies that we encountered in Thistletop, and they seemed suspiciously criminal to me.  It may be helpful to speak to Titus Scarnetti and see if he recognizes either our card or the mask."

Then Pisca grinned up at Lieutenant Alergast Barett and gave the human a perky wink.
Alergast Barett
NPC, 34 posts
Sandpoint Guard
Lieutenant
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 15:23
  • msg #90

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Mummies, wights, and ghouls," Alergast said wonderingly.  He let out a breath.  "I'll be happy when we get to the other side of this.  And I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the Scarnettis are somehow involved."  He shared a look with Kellan.  "Let's just say that there are a long line of people who feel wronged by that family."

"But if we are dealing with underworld connections you should probably talk to Jubrayl."  He favored Pisca with a wry expression.  "I hear you have . . . something of a relationship with the man.  He's a villain, of course, but I imagine his relationship with the Scarnettis is just as rocky as everyone else's."  The big man shrugged.  "Or maybe it isn't.  Either way, it can't hurt to talk to him.  The man's got his fingers in most of the criminal enterprises in the area."  Alergast looked as if he'd swallowed something sour.  "Even if we've never been able to prove it."




This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:25, Wed 07 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2604 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 16:16
  • msg #91

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I've been thinking of paying Jubrayl a visit."  The gnome nodded.  Quietly, though, as if involved in other thoughts.  "Last time I paid a visit to the Fatman, they were closed for a wedding ... or a funeral ... or maybe a convention of dwarves."

"I think I'll go see how Jubrayl is after we return from the sanatorium."  Pisca rose from her thoughts, a smile drawing across her peach cream face as she did.  "If for no other reason than to compliment him on the quality of his recent villainy."  And the gnome tossed a wink at the guard lieutenant.

"Shall we go?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1115 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 19:49
  • msg #92

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato listened to the speculations of Pisca, Kerr and Liseth with attention.  The scholar felt out of his depth with nothing to add to the conversation, but remembered the gist of it for later.  Mummy, ghoul, wight, or perhaps something else?  At least it's something to start with...

Finally, the wizard nodded to Pisca.  "Ready here.  Anything we can find has got to be better than endless speculation."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1148 posts
Miniboss
Thu 8 Oct 2015
at 05:05
  • msg #93

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan shared Alergasts look and let out a small sigh. It was easy to forget about the more mundane elements of their job these days, and the Scarnettis certainly personified the idea of an organized force working against the kind of society they worked to uphold and protect.

"Yeah, we should propably get on our way." he agreed and turned to Alergast "Thanks, for everything. We'll let you know as soon as we find anything that might shed some light on this. Be safe" the last words were added with a seriousness that hammered home Kellans sincere wishes to see his Lieutenant and his family pass through these dark days unscathed.
The Raconteur
GM, 2229 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 01:51
  • msg #94

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“That’s settled, then.”  Alergast selected a parchment from a stack on his desk and began writing.  “This,” he informed them as he carefully dipped his quill in an ink jar that sat not far away, “is a letter of introduction to Habe.  The man can be . . . particular about people showing up unannounced at his facility.”

Alergast sighed as he wrote.  “There were a couple of incidents when he first opened a couple of years ago.  Farmboys thinking it would be good fun to torment a home full of crazy people.  Bandits unaware that such people don’t, as a rule, have much gold.”  He paused, reading the note, then nodded and scribbled a signature at the bottom.  “We put a stop to that in short order, partially because of Habe’s precautions, and partially because of, well . . . .”  The lieutenant held the paper up, eying his handiwork critically.  “He trusts me, though, after I helped him out,” he thrust the letter towards Kellan, “so this should smooth things over with him at the beginning.  Still, the man can be prickly, so,” he looked at Pisca, “please at least try to be on your best behavior.”

Shortly thereafter, the group found itself ahorse, cantering their way out of Sandpoint towards Habe’s Sanatorium.  It was a pleasant few miles trotting through the mid-afternoon sun; the shady trees weren’t quite dense enough to block a cool, frolicsome breeze.  The conversation and the company made it easy to forget the horrible threat besetting Sandpoint.

Before long, with some guidance from Kellan, the group arrived at their destination.  The sanatorium—from the outside, at least—looked like an ideal location for the mentally ill to deal with their problems.  A soft, green carpet of grass led up to a squat, stone building.  It was three stories tall, with a stout, stone-flagged roof, located just in the lee of the limestone escarpment known as the Ashen Rise.  It had solid, well-made oaken doors and narrow windows, no more than 4 inches wide, large enough to permit air circulation but far too small to allow access inside.

The building itself—if observed from the north—resembled nothing so much as the letter “F.”  Stairs on  the structure’s indented northwest side led up to a homey-looking veranda, equipped with several comfortable-looking chairs facing out towards the normally sun-dappled woods.  The veranda itself stretched ten feet out in front of the Sanatorium’s front door, located in the southernmost side of the bottom of the “F” shape.  The porch ran around the entirety of the northwest side of the building.

There didn’t seem to be any outside activity at the moment, but that could have been because the weather was turning cooler and the sky threatening rain.  Billows of gray crowded the heavens, their dusty-charcoal wisps touching down on Ashen Rise until it was difficult to tell where the one ended and the other began.  A chill wind picked up, carrying a sharp, tangy smell that hinted at incipient precipitation.

A simple horizontal pole for the tethering of horses sat to north of the sanatorium, on the very bottom of the “F” shape.  The pole was supported by two thick wooden posts.  It currently had no occupants.

“So,” said Kerr, sliding off his horse with very little difficulty.  Well, not much difficulty.  He smiled at Liseth; her horsemanship lessons seemed to be taking.  “Here we are.”  He looked at his longbow with some consternation.  “Um, given what Lieutenant Barett said, should we take our weapons in or not?”




This message was last edited by the GM at 01:57, Fri 09 Oct 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1118 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 15:12
  • msg #95

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato dismounted and tied his horse to the pole, examining the sanatorium in front of them.  Finally, he turned to Kerr.

"Hmmm...a good question.  Alergast said Habe'd be a bit touchy, right?  Probably best to leave anything threatening behind.  Besides, we're just questioning the one man, right?  If Habe's as competent as we've heard, everything should be under control in there.  And anyway...the only thing I really need to be threatening are these."

The wizard held up his hands, performing a few quick finger-loosening exercises.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2606 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 15:20
  • msg #96

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

No reply came from the gnome.  It was, in fact, unclear whether she even heard Kerr Mollin's question, so involved was she in cooing over her beloved pony.  After looping her reins loosely around the long hitching post, she stroked the soft nose of her most loved equine friend.

"*Yom*Yom*Yom*," said the gnome in the Secret Language of Mystic Ponies.  "That's right.  We'll be right back.  *Yom*Yom*Yomity*Yom*."

Finally, however, Pisca turned from Annette Hannigan Pickleberry Cloud Manners to face the ostensibly pleasant facade of Habe's Sanatorium.  "Where are all of the lawn bowlers?" she asked no one in particular.  "There should be lawn bowling here."  And then the gnome dismissed her own question with a shrug and proceeded across the well manicured lawn and up onto the veranda.  After turning to take in the view from the front porch, she headed for the big oaken doors where, instead of knocking or attempting to open the doors as one might expect from someone after having had approached big oaken doors, she proceeded to poke and eye the lock, establishing a first impression of the entire building through an examination of this single feature thereof.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2369 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 15:50
  • msg #97

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Riding Heily made it was easy to forget all of the terrible things happening.  Going on a ride with Kerr and all of her friends was a great tonic.  A picnic was out of the question today, unfortunately; a thing made all the more clear when Habe's sanitarium came into view.

"You're getting a lot better in the saddle Kerr."  Liseth managed a little giggle, "you didn't fall out of the saddle once!"

The girl slid off of Heily with a bit of help, Heily was very tall after all.  Them patted her white mare before hitching her to the post.  "I don't think we'll take long Heily." She looked around, "this looks like a safe place."  Liseth looked back up At Heily, "Make sure everyone stays out of trouble while we're gone!  We don't want to give Mr Have any bad impressions."

"I don't think we'll need weapons inside.  Its basically a hospital."  Liseth shrugged, then thought, "but we should be safe.  We don't know what that undead did to the man we're here to see.  I'll ask if its okay before we're let in."

At the door, Liseth looked down at Pisca with a little puzzlement as the gnome seemed to examine the door itself.  But then the girl simply took hold of the door knocker and let it ring against the heavy door.
The Raconteur
GM, 2231 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 16:52
  • msg #98

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Leaving their weapons behind, the party walked up the broad wooden stairs to the sanatorium’s main doors, the veranda’s boards creaking loudly as they adjusted to the group’s unaccustomed weight.   As they drew close to the building, everyone could see that it was painted regularly; there were no flakes, mars, or gouges on the exterior walls.

The large brass knocker hit the oak door with a dull thud.

After a moment, the door opened halfway, revealing a dark-skinned man dressed in neat, white clothing.  Although fit and well-muscled, he was small—shorter than Liseth but larger than Pisca.  The taller members of the party could see two ugly scars marring an otherwise lustrous mane of thick black hair that fell to his shoulders.  But his most-notable feature was a pair of striking orange eyes.  Those eyes narrowed slightly as the man inspected the party with an air of suspicion.

Behind the man the group could see a room, 15 feet long by ten feet wide, with a desk located almost exactly in the middle.  There were three of the same comfortable-looking chairs in this room, two in front of the desk, facing the opposite wall, and one behind the desk, scooted back and facing the south.

The orange eyes traveled quickly over the group, relaxing slightly when they found no obvious threat.  “How can I help you?”  Asked the man, a tinge of skepticism still present in his voice.  It seemed rich and smooth, designed to calm and soothe any anxieties that might be afflicting his listeners.




This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Fri 09 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2610 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 18:48
  • msg #99

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"You're not Erin Habe."  The skepticism in the gnome's voice mirrored that in the voice of the man who'd just answered the door.  "Or, at least, if you are Erin Habe, you're not very much as I'd imagined Erin Habe to be," she added.

"Actually, I'm surprised that you don't know us."  Pisca reached into her pouch and produced her Deputy's Batch.  "We're quite famous.  And we have badges.  But, then again, maybe you haven't been to Sandpoint for a while."

Under cover of her inane chatter, the gnome scrutinized the Answerer of the Door, examining his face and mannerisms and comparing them with the things she'd heard about the Sanatorium and the people associated with it.  Curious eyes.  He had very curious and interesting eyes.  Not very human-ish.  Or human-like.  Or human-ity.

Appropriate Knowledge Check to identify the race of this person.
And ... lets also try a Knowledge Local check to see if we can't identify this person by name, shall we?

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2611 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 19:38
  • msg #100

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

A spark struck in Pisca's head.  It flared, magnesium bright, bringing an Ah-Ha Moment that spread across her face.  "Of course you don't know us," she said.  "You're one of the tieflings from Cheliax, right?  Newly arrived."

"Well, I'm Pisca Neep Freemish.  This is Liseth Thoradin," she said.  "This is Cato Crispin.  Kellan Storval," Pisca continued, indicating each with her hand as she went.  "And this is Liseth's boyfriend.  We're the Sandpoint Saviors."

"We've been deputized by the Sandpoint Guard and have come on Guard business.  Uh ... we have a letter somewhere.  Who has the letter?"
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1151 posts
Miniboss
Fri 9 Oct 2015
at 21:39
  • msg #101

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan retrieved the letter from his belt pouch and gently unfolded it, offering it to the man after wiping his boots. In Kellans mind his guard tabbard was far more convincing than a scrap of parchment, but he supposed that every bit helped.

"Good to meet you" Kellan offered as he glanced around the place, taking in what details he could while he could. There were few local places that he had never been, but this was one of them, and he was sure that with his luck it would not be the last.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2374 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 00:07
  • msg #102

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Oh, hello."  Liseth was immediately put off by the strange little man answered the door.  She took a step back and had no problem letting Pisca speak first.

"His name is Kerr."  The girl clarified after Pisca introduced them.  Liseth tried to not stare at the little man.  A teifling?  Liseth had never met a teifling before; weren't they supposed to have...evil blood?

She knew that it wasn't fair to judge anyone just because of their heritage.  The acolyte tried to not let her discomfort show.

"Umm...we're here because we need to interview a man that was brought here recently.  After being attacked.  We were supposed to meet with Mister Habe?"
The Raconteur
GM, 2237 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 02:38
  • msg #103

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




The urbane tiefling, if tiefling he was, looked impossibly diminutive next to Kellan.  But the smaller man showed no sign of intimidation or obsequiousness as he took Lieutenant Barett’s letter, opened it, read it, then folded it back up without saying a word.

“Hmm,” he said, still holding the letter as he craned his neck to look up at the giant guardsman.  “I apologize if I was standoffish.  We do not receive a great many unscheduled visitors—and certainly not in such large numbers.”  He gave Pisca a look that could have been apologetic; it was hard to tell with the orange eyes.  “Sadly, I was unaware of your fame.  But that is not surprising, as Dr. Habe is unconcerned with such things.”

“And yes, I am originally from Cheliax, although,” a shadow passed over his face, “I prefer not to speak of it.  Dr. Habe took my brother and me in when no one else would.  He looked past our appearance and our heritage to give us a home.  He is,” the tiefling said with the utmost sincerity, “a great man.”

“My name is Gurnak,” the tiefling introduced himself as he held up the letter.  “Fortunately for you, Alergast Barett’s name goes a long way around here.”  He gave them a small smile.  “But I suspect you knew that.  Please, make yourself comfortable.  I will summon the doctor.”

Gurnak turned away from the group, leaving the door open for them to follow him into the room.  He went to what looked like a bell pull located on the wall behind the desk, giving it three quick tugs.  The white corded rope ran up to the ceiling, where a camouflaged pulley allowed two other strands to leave the room through small openings just below the ceiling in the eastern corners of the room, one to the north, one to the south.

Three chiming bells answered Gurnak’s efforts.  He returned to his seat, gesturing to the chairs.  “Please, sit,” he invited the party, “Dr. Habe may be a few moments.  As I said, we do not often receive unscheduled visitors.  May I offer you refreshments?  We have wine and a bit of brandy, if either of those sound refreshing to you.”

Before long, the door to the north opened, revealing a slender man of middle age and unassuming height.  His nondescript features and the severe cut of his short dark hair somehow served to emphasize his slightly overlarge ears.  He was dressed in the fashion of Magnimarian physicians, wearing a loose crimson smock over a pristine white shirt and relaxed white pants.

The man’s eyes, though, sparkled with intelligence.  “Greetings.”  He addressed them with a slight bow.  “I am Dr. Erin Habe.”  He glanced at his assistant.  “Gurnak?”  The tiefling handed Dr. Habe Alergast’s letter.  He quickly perused the missive.

“You’re here to observe Mr. Sevila, are you?”  He shook his head sadly.  “I’m sorry, and I would love nothing more than to do Alergast a favor, but Grayst's medical condition is extremely precarious.  It would be a very poor idea to introduce any further variables into his treatment program.”  The physician tapped his graying temple with the letter.  “But I would be happy to tell you anything I have learned from treating him.  What would you like to know?”




This message was last edited by the GM at 06:20, Tue 13 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2614 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 13:44
  • msg #104

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The gnome sat when invited to, squirming up into the clearly human-sized chair.  But she hopped down to the floor once again with the entry the man introducing himself as Doctor Erin Habe.

"Firstly, could you give us an idea of Mister Sevilla's condition, please.  We do have some small knowledge of things medical and clinical.  In fact, Lysa's understanding can be positively quizzical."

"We'd also like to know your opinion of what it was that induced this medical condition in the first place.  I think that will do well as a place to start."

The questions were simple.  And they were harmless.  Questions you might expect to have asked of someone who'd recently been attacked by an underwater walking undead.  And the gnome paced as she asked them, walking a beat before her four human friends as though on parade.  Her hands weaved and gesticulated, pointing up certain words and tossing out others.  Beneath this pose of normality, however, Pisca's large violet eyes observed.  They watched the face and manner of Doctor Erin Habe.  Because there was something far far too evasive in a 'precarious medical condition'.  Especially when, by all description, Grayst Sevilla had been hale enough to attack a city guard last they'd heard.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 16.  Sense Motive.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1121 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 18:28
  • msg #105

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato froze as the tiefling entered the room, and his world narrowed to several exhaustive options as the mage's mind went to panic.  Tieflings...Cheliax...Hellknights!  Frozen, the wizard calmed himself, though he missed part of the ensuing conversation, finally shaking his head and bringing himself back to the present, away from his momentary bout of panic.

"Doctor Habe, I think the entire safety of Sandpoint might be at stake here.  If there's any chance that Mr. Sevilla could help us in any way, I think it's worth the risk.  He might have some clue as the nature of...whatever happened to him.  And that could assist us all greatly.  You know Alergast wouldn't send us here over nothing."
Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 1 post
His business
is the mind
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 18:38
  • msg #106

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Quizzical."  Dr. Habe raised a single eyebrow at Pisca's description of Liseth's medical competence.  "Yes, well, Mr. Sevila appears to have contracted some sort of . . . disease.  Of course I cannot be sure, but I suspect that it happened during his conflict with the person who murdered those three other fellows."  Apparently Habe had been briefed on what had happened at the warehouse.  "He was bitten on the shoulder, and it looks as if that is where the infection began."

The doctor walked back and forth behind the desk, hands clasped behind his back, speaking as if he was addressing a classroom of clinicians.  "As far as his symptoms?  His skin has gone pale, dry, and almost," he shrugged uncertainly, "gangrenous.  His eyes have gone milky white.  He is feverish and given to wild, sometimes violent ravings."

"I already have dispatched to Magnimar for a specialist in the area; I am hoping he will arrive shortly.  Mr. Sevila's life may depend on such assistance.  So yes," he looked at Pisca, seeming to sense her misgivings, "precarious."

"Sadly, sir," he shook his head at Cato's request, "I do not think such a meeting would benefit anyone.  The man is by turns incoherent, comatose, and threatening.  And I fear," he brought his hands up, as if to ward off danger, "that he might pose a danger to anyone with whom he comes into close contact.  So as much as I like and respect Lieutenant Barett--I consider him a friend--I cannot in good conscience allow you to see Mr. Sevila."




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2615 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 19:53
  • msg #107

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Yes.  That's right."  The gnome's pacing slowed.  Her body turned.  And the attention that she paid to the man grew several fold.  The assessing eye on the Pisca's face said a great deal about the nervousness that she'd spotted in the manner of Doctor Erin Habe. " ... Quizzical.  I said quizzical."

"I say quizzical because we may already know a great deal about the disease that plagues Mister Sevilla, even though we haven't even seen him yet, and this is largely due to the expertise held by my friend Liseth Thoradin here.  That bite was delivered by an undead, and the disease is the result."  The gnome turned and resumed her pacing.  "This we know for certain.  What is yet unknown is whether or not Mister Sevilla can still be saved.  We won't know this until we see him.  You have your expert here, Sir.  Can you afford not to avail yourself of her skill and wisdom?"

"Furthermore, the biter is still at large.  Mister Sevilla's condition may be precarious.  We may yet be able to save him.  We may not.  But imagine all of the others out there that may also be bitten if we do not catch this biter!"  Pisca took great and determined gnomish strides to Liseth's side and grabbed hold of her hand, pulling her along to present her to the Doctor.

"But Lysa needs to examine Sevilla before we can do this.  We need to confirm the disease.  We need to question the man.  His raving may contain clues to the identity of this disease ridden biter."

"Talk to her, Doctor Habe.  You'll see for yourself.  There's no need to wait for this person from Magnimar.  Your expert is already here."

Aid Another for Liseth.  Heal?  Diplomacy?
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1122 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 20:28
  • msg #108

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato shook his head at Habe's response, intending to reply quickly before Pisca started in, and Cato found himself nodding along to the gnome's rebuttal.

"That's right, Dr. Habe.  Perhaps Mr. Sevila's ravings might give us some clue that could help us prevent any more attacks from occurring."

Cato paused, trying to figure out what the best avenue would be to persuade the man.  He didn't seem likely to succumb to raw emotion, so any appeal would have to side more with logic and facts than with intangible, emotional pleadings.

"Based on the history of attacks so far, which you know about, I think there's a strong possibility that the attacks might continue.  I've read extensively on the history of mental illness, and in many of the case histories, there is ample evidence that patients not in possession of their mental faculties may - despite their very disability - sometimes utter surprising truths or observations.  I was reading the case history of a Mr. Stone, who was suffering from acute aphasia, and unable to relate to his doctors a key piece of information that might explain his condition: a recent visit to the Mwangi Expanse that had been kept secret from his family, where he had contracted a plasmodial parasite - malaria.  Some of his ravings were correctly interpreted by one of the doctors, which led to the introduction of the essence a bitter bark - quinine, to the man's water, that reversed his symptoms and returned him to health."

Cato took a breath.  "All we're asking is the chance to observe your patient, not interfere with him in any way.  Whatever minuscule chance of harm this may present to Mr. Sevila, you'll have to agree that it is outweighed by the chance we might find out anything about his attacker, and prevent any number of deaths in Sandpoint."

I don't know what kind of check you want me to make there for that.  It's mostly facts, though Bluff certainly wouldn't be out of order.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Tue 13 Oct 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1152 posts
Miniboss
Tue 13 Oct 2015
at 21:51
  • msg #109

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Also..." Kellan added as he looked around the structure appeasing sort of way. "Given what we have seen so far, it would probably be in the towns best interests to make sure that he can't get out. While I'm sure you know far more than I about mental illness than us, from what we have seen of the thing that probably caused this...it goes beyond what could be considered natural. If he got out, or spread this sickness..." Kellan trailed off.

"The guard, and the mayor need to be certain that we are not going to have any kind of plague on our hands, here, or anywhere else should he break out." the guardsman crossed his arms and glanced back to Liseth.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2376 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Wed 14 Oct 2015
at 15:37
  • msg #110

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Like a newborn fawn, Liseth remained quiet while the doctor showed up and everyone spoke.  It was like a defense reflex; this situation had her on edge and not drawing attention to herself seemed like a good thing.

Until Pisca kept mentioning her and her expertise.  The acolyte listened closely to Doctor Habe's description of the symptons and tried to imagine what else it could be.  Other than an undead infection.

She didn't get far before Pisca pulled her next to the doctor.  Thrust (or tugged) into the spotlight and with all eyes on her, the young blonde looked nervously up at the doctor.

"Um...hello Doctor Habe."  She shouldn't feel so unnerved inside this place.  "I'm Liseth Thoradin, an acolyte from the Cathedral.  What everyone said is true,  we need to examine your patient.  Because we believe that what he was attacked by was an undead."

"I know a lot about the undead, Doctor Habe.  Because...they scare me."  Liseth fidgeted nervously, "And I also a lot about medicine, and natural diseases.  I've helped in hospitals before, so I know my way around patients."

"But first, I am also an acolyte of the gods, Doctor Habe.  That might be what you need most right now.  Your patient was bitten by a psychotic undead murderer.  We need to see him, because we need to gather as much information as we can so That we can stop this killer.  Its already killed 5 people that we know of."

"Do you have a place where the patient can be...observed?  Where we can see him?  His seeing us might not be needed at first.  But I can use the power of the gods to see if the infection is as bad as I think.  To see whether it has...made him into an undead too."

OOC: Diplomacy, convincing the doctor to help us
Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 2 posts
His business
is the mind
Wed 14 Oct 2015
at 17:09
  • msg #111

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Dr. Habe ran his hand nervously through his graying hair.  “Undead, you say?”  He seemed to be teetering on the edge of a momentous decision.  “Well, that would explain . . .”  His voice trailed off as he looked from Kellan, to Pisca, to Cato, to Kerr, and finally to Liseth, this time paying particular attention to the two acolytes’ holy symbols.

He crossed his arms, shaking his head as he looked down at the floor.  Finally, he sighed heavily.  “Gurnak,” he directed, looking at the smaller man, “would you please find your brother and bring Mr. Sevila down to the dining hall?  I don’t want to disrupt the other patients’ schedules any more than we must.  Full restraint protocol, please.”

“I still have reservations about this,” he informed the party, “but if you are correct, and he is in the grip of some sort of necromantic illness, perhaps your connection with the gods will allow you to bless away what medicine cannot.”

He reached into a pants pocket and pulled out a ring of keys, selecting one and inserting it into the lock of the room’s southern door.  He opened it for Gurnak, who immediately headed through to retrieve the patient, then indicated that the party should enter as well.

On the other side of the door, the group found a large room that looked like a mess hall.  It was 20 feet wide and stretched 45 feet to a wall on its southern side.  Another solid wood door faced the party from the extreme eastern side of the southern wall.  Gurnak headed toward this door and disappeared through it.

Three additional doors graced the western wall, the first in the very northern corner, then again at 10-foot intervals to the south.  The wall ended after 35 feet, opening into what looked like a 10-foot wide corridor heading to the west.

Three large tables sat in the middle of the room, each surrounded by chairs.  Dr. Habe gestured to the chairs, indicating that his guests should make themselves comfortable while they waited.  The doctor himself stood, fidgeting as he waited for his orderlies to return with his most troubling patient.

After a few minutes of waiting, Gurnak returned through the door in the south accompanied by two others.  The first was another small man who looked almost as if he could be Gurnak’s twin—if the two men were not actual twins there was at the very least a clear family resemblance.  This second man was dressed in exactly the same kind of outfit as Gurnak.  In fact, it was actually difficult to tell which of the men was actually Gurnak and which was not.

But it was the third man who drew the party’s full attention.  The orderlies had secured the tall, broad man—he was of a size with Kellan—in a straightjacket.  His hair was wild and his eyes nearly colorless; his pale skin, on the other hand, had a greenish tinge.  He whipped his head from side to side, moaning and gibbering.  His two guardians assisted him into a seat near the third table, looking slightly discomfited by the experience.

Dr. Habe looked at Mr. Sevila with concern.  “As you can see,” he said, motioning towards his patient, “the man is not well, either physically or mentally.  But you may examine him if you feel that would help you to find whoever did this to him.”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2619 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 14 Oct 2015
at 20:39
  • msg #112

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Twin tieflings, noted the gnome.  She'd heard there were two.

"Take a look, Lys."  Pisca sidled right with wary steps, her nose questing like a cat.  "I'll take a sniff."  After having received a sickeningly healthy whiff of the undead killer through the axe at the mill, she was fairly certain that she could identify the smell again.  Closing in from the side, the gnome sought to catch the scent of Grayst Sevilla.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 24.  Perception (The Sniff Test.).  I took -5 from the base for this because the Eyes of the Eagle don't have much to do with the sense of smell.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1153 posts
Miniboss
Thu 15 Oct 2015
at 02:17
  • msg #113

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan looked over the restrained man with a somewhat grim expression. For yet another time in far too short a span he felt like he might be in over his head, as whatever could do this with a simple bite also seemed to be able to run amok at will and be intelligent enough to remain out of sight. He was reminded of Catos recent illness, yet another unnatural thing that seemed able to cause misery out of proportion with it's size and presence.

"What kind of room is he normally kept in?" Kellan asked with an obvious mind towards preventing an escape.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2382 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 15 Oct 2015
at 06:55
  • msg #114

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Thank you Doctor Habe."  Liseth gave a little bow and released a breath.  Their investigation wouldn't get far if they weren't allowed to see the victim from the attack!  The short acolyte took a seat at the doctor's table and anxiously awaited the arrival of his patient.

"Oh...my..."  Her examination began the moment that the victim was brought into the dining room.  Liseth noted immediately that Mister Sevilla was in very bad shape.  "I don't...I don't think that help from Magnimar will be able to get here in time to do any good."

"I don't know what disease might be afflicting your patient, Doctor Habe."  Liseth tried to calm herself and breathe slowly.  "But if the attacker was an undead, like we suspect, it has to be something terrible."

"Wait Pisca!  Don't get too close to him yet," the girl warned her friend.  "We don't want to agitate him more than we have to."

After clearing her throat, the girl took hold of her holy symbol, "Sarenrae, grant me the power to see the taint of undeath."  She cast her gaze loosely around the dining hall, taking in all of her surroundings first before focusing on the bound patient.  She hoped that this turned out negative.

"Doctor Habe, has he attempted to...bite or claw anyone?  Or..."  Inspiration struck while Liseth examined the man through her divine sight, "Has he mentioned anything about a 'Lordship?'  Or 'Master?'  Or...or even a seven-pointed star?"

OOC: Casting Detect Undead, to scan the area for the presence or absence of auras before focusing on Grayst Sevilla.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1128 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 15 Oct 2015
at 12:51
  • msg #115

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stood back and studied the man, leaving the bulk of the investigation to Pisca and especially Liseth.  Undead were not his area of specialty.  Still, even to his untrained eye, the man looked to be in bad shape.  Cato listened, hoping that the man would reveal something of use to their investigation.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2625 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 15 Oct 2015
at 13:27
  • msg #116

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Hmmm ... " the gnome hmmm'ed.  She gave the gray and very diseased man a very studied look of study.  Then, as Liseth cast her spell, Pisca too wove her fingers in the an intricate pattern and spoke a word of power.  It was, for all the world as if part of the examination.  But it was not.

"Bostisch."

After pointing a finger at each of her friends, the gnome whispered her findings across the currents of her magic.  "He doesn't smell the same as the smell in the mill," she said.  "Of course, that could be because he's not in an advanced stage of undeadedness."

And then Lysa, as though reading her mind, began part two of the examination, throwing out two of the names she'd planned on testing the undeadified Grayst's reaction to.  Master.  And Lordship.  Two down.  Pisca followed the man's reaction as each word was spoken, ready to present her own after.

Cast Message on all.  Bluff if needed to hide the casting.
Perception or Sense Motive to observe Grayst's reaction to the words Liseth is using.

The Raconteur
GM, 2241 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 16 Oct 2015
at 01:19
  • msg #117

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“We keep him in our highest security room.”  Dr. Habe responded absentmindedly to Kellan—his concentration was almost completely on his patient.  He shifted his weight nervously as Liseth inspected Grayst.  “Please don’t get too close, Miss.  He has not attacked anyone, but his mental state is deteriorating.  I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’m not sure this . . . this examination is helping.  So please be careful . . . .”

The moment Liseth said the word “Lordship,” everything changed.  Grayst immediately stopped his moaning and raving to look directly at her.  “You!”  He said incredulously, as if seeing her for the first time.  He looked wildly around the room, gaze finally resting upon Kerr, who to this point had been standing in the back of the room, looking concerned and uncomfortable.  “And YOU!”  His voice rose to a screech as he strained against his jacket, forcing the tieflings to struggle mightily to keep him seated.  Dr. Habe took a concerned step toward his patient.

Grayst’s eyes bulged as he spoke to Kerr and Liseth.  “He said.  He said you would visit me.  His Lordship.  The one that unmade me said so.  He has a place for you.  A precious place.”  His face contorted in sorrow.  “I’m so jealous.  So jealous.  It’s not fair.”  He continued to fight against the confining jacket as his words rose into a shriek.  “Not fair!”

The man calmed himself as his two anxious attendants looked towards Dr. Habe for direction.  “Oh, he has a message for you!  He made me remember it.  I hope I haven’t forgotten.  The master wouldn’t approve if I forgot.  Oh, he would be quite angry!  Let me see.  Let . . . me . . . see.  Oh yes!”  Grayst cackled gleefully.  “He said you should come to the Misgivings soon, to meet the Pack.  They have something . . . wonderful to show you.”

With this, his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed to the floor, moaning incoherently.  Dr. Habe rushed forward, concern and anger written across his face.  “I told you this was a terrible idea,” he snapped at the group.  “Get him back upstairs immediately!”  He instructed the tieflings.  As the two orderlies began to struggle with their groaning charge, Habe turned on the party.  “I am sorry, but I must ask you to leave.  I must ask you to leave right now!”




This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Fri 16 Oct 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2383 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 16 Oct 2015
at 06:56
  • msg #118

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Already she had seen more than she wanted to see.  Liseth jumped, visibly starting when Grayst Sevilla, victim of the undead killer, suddenly shouted at her.  As though he knew and had been expecting her.

"Me?" The girl paled, "Why me?"  A precious place for her.  Liseth quivered; why would a deranged undead killer be suddenly so interested in her?  It was enough to terrify anybody!  "No..."  She took a step backwards.

But her eyes, granted the gods' divine sight, took notice of things even as the diminutive blonde quaked.  A miasma, evil and tainted was in this room.  "Undead...Doctor Habe, wait!"  Liseth shouted as the doctor told them to leave.

"There IS undead here.  I can feel it!  It must be Mr Sevilla...please just give me a few more moments and I can be certain."

She was terrified, but Liseth had a purpose here.  She had to determine without a doubt that this poor man was in fact undead.  And whether or not he happened to be the only one in the vicinity.

OOC: Continue to concentrate in the direction of Grayst to determine the number and strength of undead auras, and then again to determine their exact location.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2626 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 16 Oct 2015
at 13:20
  • msg #119

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"AND ME!" Pisca cried out, though more from a reflexive desire to be included than for any better reason.  In truth, her thoughts were elsewhere.  Her mind had pounced upon an unlucky set of facts that had foolishly poked their heads above the horizon of her awareness, allowing her to slap them down and draw them in.  She gnawed and worried, taking in meaning, and even truth itself, through the flavor.  And in the end, the gnome found herself utterly convinced.

Kerr Mollin was one thing.  It was curious and perplexing.  But Kerr Mollin and Lysa, that pointed to only one person.

Pisca circled around, placing herself between the trio of Patient and Orderlies and the south door through which they'd just come.  With her small body, she blocked their way.  "Stomper?  Could you please lend me a hand here?"

"My friend needs a few more moments, Doctor Habe.  Not even minutes.  Just moments."  The gnome's voice is calm, though quite insistent.  "Surely you wouldn't interrupt an important examination, breaking it off half way, now, would  you?"

"And as for you, Grayst Sevilla, if you see him again, tell Aldren that he's been a terribly good friend, but that we just simply cannot allow him to do these things anymore."

Why don't we try Pisca's own Diplomacy attempt here to try and calm Habe down.  Couldn't hurt.  Please?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Fri 16 Oct 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1129 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 16 Oct 2015
at 13:32
  • msg #120

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato took an involuntary step backwards at Grayst's outburst, but inside breathed a sigh of relief.  It had worked!  He had said something!  Now if only they could determine what it meant...

While the tieflings moved forward to grab Grayst, Cato started to ponder the words.  Misgivings...an event?  Or a place?  And the Pack...it sounded as though the Lordship had been making a lot of undead, which didn't bode well for their group if they managed to figure out what Grayst had said.  Especially not if it was a pack of creatures, one of which could murder multiple people like in the mill.

Cato broke his silence through Pisca's whisper magic: "I guess we got what we came for.  Kellan, does Misgivings ring any bells?  You've been in Sandpoint the longest of all of us.  Is there anything in the history of the town that relates to that?"

Cato swallowed when Pisca mentioned Aldern, then suddenly nodded.  "I was just about to suggest the same thing.  Didn't Foxglove mention his mansion was being repaired?"

Cato's using all his knowledge to try and figure out "Misgivings": Arcana, History, Local, and Nature are probably the best bets.
The Raconteur
GM, 2242 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 19 Oct 2015
at 05:55
  • msg #121

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Get out of the way," one of the tieflings grated to the gnome who'd just stepped in front of him.  Neither orderly looked too pleased at Pisca's impromptu blockade.  "Or I'll move you myself."

Erin Habe turned from Liseth to look at Pisca, a reprimand on his lips.  But before he could do more than open his mouth, a commotion broke out.

“Razors!”  Grayst yelled, struggling manically against his jacket.  “Too many teeth!”  He moaned.

The moan rose to a shriek.

“THE SKINSAW MAN IS COMING!!!!!’

The afflicted man lurched upwards, tearing free of both his straitjacket and his surprised tiefling handlers, throwing one to either side.  Habe stumbled back, displeased thoughts fleeing before the terror that consumed him.

But Grayst paid no attention to the physician.  He had eyes for one person only.

“You.”  He cackled to Liseth, as if he’d just made a very funny joke.  “You first.”

OOC:  Roll for initiative.  If you score a 15 or higher, you may act.  Liseth, if you want to continue focusing on your spell, you're going to need to make a DC 15 concentration check. 

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xR |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |K |C |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |L |  |H x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |O1|G |O2W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |P x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

H = Habe
O = Orderly

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1130 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 19 Oct 2015
at 18:01
  • msg #122

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato froze, the frightening transformation of Grayst catching him completely by surprise.

14:00, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Inititiave.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1154 posts
Miniboss
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 02:26
  • msg #123

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan seemed so intent on intervening on behalf of Pisca, that he was caught even more off guard than Cato. The guardsman was shocked into inaction for the first few moments while he tried to process what was occurring in front of him.

19:24, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2630 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 13:42
  • msg #124

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The gnome frowned as Grayst Sevilla burst from within the restraining jacket like nothing less than a big gray moth emerging from its cocoon.  "Can you say, 'in over your head'?" she muttered, and the comment would have been more directly directed at Erin Habe were things not so frantic and dire.  Instead she reached for her trusty, and highly-pointed ...

Ook!

They'd left their weapons outside!  Why had they left their weapons outside?

"WHY?" cried the gnome, and this time Pisca more directly addressed the Director of the Sanatorium, delivering not only the single inexplicable word, but a face-full of accusatory incredulity as well.  Her expression placed the as-of-yet-undescribed blame squarely on the finicky human.

But, if it could be said that a gnome doesn't necessarily think in straight lines, the same cannot be said about not thinking quickly.  With the speed that was imparted to thought, Pisca reached to her new Magic Bag and it gave her ... a coil of rope.

"You've developed some of Aldren's bad habits, Grayst Sevilla."  The silk rope in her hand swung around in a lazy arc.  It built speed quickly and then lashed out, thumping against the disease stricken hummie with just enough force to distract.  "Stay away from the young girls."

Rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
Rolled 10 using 1d20-1.  Aide Another (+3BaseMelee -4ImprovisedWeapon*).
*Using Silk Rope as a Flail.

MA: Take Silk Rope from Handy Haversack (No AoO per HH.)
SA: Aide Another Give Liseth +2AC.

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 7/9
Lore Master Used Today

The Raconteur
GM, 2245 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 19:54
  • msg #125

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




The previously-sedate dining hall descended into chaos.

Grayst emitted an awful stench as he ripped his straightjacket apart--as if he had wallowed in decaying flesh and then failed to bathe for weeks.  The two orderlies, covering their mouths and coughing, immediately moved to spirit the nearly-catatonic Doctor Habe away from his patient.  They moved up the eastern side of the room, and by the time they'd reached the door Habe had recovered enough to open it, looking fearfully over his shoulder at the monster now loose in his sanatorium.

But the former thug had no interest in the comings and goings of the orderlies or his physician; he was focused completely on Liseth.  Almost wonderingly, he raised and stared at one hand, which looked as if it had deformed while restrained within the straightjacket; his fingernails were now more like five sharpened claws.  He gave Liseth a feral grin and leapt to the attack, not seeming to care about or even notice Pisca's attempt to interfere.

Grayst slashed Sarenrae's chosen acolyte with one of his claws, slicing through the padded armor on her left arm.  He sunk his teeth deep into her shoulder, then raised his bloodstained mouth to the heavens, howling "you see, Master?!?  DO YOU SEE!?!?  I am more worthy than them!  More worthy!!!!!!"

"Nooooooooooooooo!"  Kerr's response echoed through the room as he saw Grayst ravage Liseth.  "Iomedae, bless me!!!"  He screamed as he leaped on top of the table, delivering exactly the kind of side kick Liseth had seen him practice endlessly in the yard with Sir Klerris directly to the man's head.  Grayst rocked back, nearly stunned by the divine force behind the kick.

Kerr was angrier than anyone had ever seen him.  "Get your bloody claws off her!!"  He roared, dropping into an offensive stance and gearing up for another attack.

OOC:

NPC TURNS

Habe 

Double move - To J15, Open Door

Orderly 1 

Double move - to J16

Orderly 2

Double move - to I15.

Grayst Sevila

Free Action - 5' Step to I21

Full-round Action - Full attack on Liseth

12:04, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  Claw Attack on Liseth.
12:03, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  Claw Attack on Liseth.
12:03, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Bite Attack on Liseth.

12:07, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 9 using 1d6+3.  Claw Damage to Liseth.
12:07, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 9 using 1d6+3.  Bite Damage to Liseth.

Result:  Liseth takes 18 points of damage.  She must make two DC 15 Fortitude saves or become paralyzed.  If not paralyzed, must make a DC 28 concentration check to maintain her Detect Undead spell.

ALL PLAYERS MUST MAKE A DC 15 FORT CHECK TO AVOID BEING SICKENED BY THE STENCH.


PC TURN

Kerr Mollin

12:21, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  Fort save vs. Stench.

Swift Action - Smite Evil v. Grayst Sevila

Move Action - Climb atop table at H20

Standard Action - Lay on Hands v. Grayst Sevila

12:26, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Kerr Mollin, rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  Lay on Hands v. Grayst Sevila (Touch Attack, Higher Ground).
12:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 20 using 2d6+9.

Lay on Hands:  4/5

Result:  Grayst Sevila takes 20 points of damage.



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |O2|H x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|O1W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |K |C |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TR|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |L |G |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |P x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

H = Habe
O = Orderly

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 20:26, Tue 20 Oct 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1136 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 20:34
  • msg #126

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato merely stared for a moment longer as Grayst ripped out from his straightjacket, caught up in the stench.  Coughing and eyes watering, Cato reached into his spell component pouch with one hand, holding the other outstretched towards the thug.  [Language unknown: "Inroha!"] the wizard yelled, and the ground underneath the thug-undead suddenly bloomed with slippery grease.

Cast Grease on squares occupied by Grayst but not Liseth: I21:J22
16:29, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Fort Save.

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2389 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/36
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 22:14
  • msg #127

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

There was barely enough time to fully register what was happening.  Liseth was shocked into inactivity when Grayst Sevilla tore out of his straightjacket; staring wide-eyed and fearful.

Bolt!  Get away!  This went through her head immediately, but only the very beginnings of a scream could be heard from her before the creature, no longer a man, was upon the small acolyte.

Then her muscles wouldn't work, her limbs couldn't respond.  Liseth felt the pain intensely but could do nothing, not even scream.  She was paralyzed!  The paralyzed prey of an undead maniac.

Only her eyes could follow the movements of the monster as it readied to continue it's attack.  But her ears, at least, registered the response from her friends rallying to her defense.

The girl had never before felt so helpless and terrified.

Conditions:
Paralyzed (Helpless; AC 8 (4 vs melee))
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

14:57, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Fort vs Sickened.
14:43, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Concentration DC 28.
14:35, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 5,5 using d20+2,d20+2.  Fortitude Saves.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2640 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 20 Oct 2015
at 23:15
  • msg #128

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Maybe she was just used to the smell by now.  But probably not.  It was more likely that she'd simply happen to avoid as stiff a whiff of the smell than she'd gotten the last time.  The gnome, however, preferred to think that she was now immune - something that had yet to be seen.

"Don't worry, Lys.  We'll make sure that this stinking molester doesn't bother you anymore."

"First, let me send you back outside by the horses, Lysa."  She wove her hands around an empty space, humming a single flat note that ended with a sudden abruptness, and when Pisca Neep Freemish stepped next to her friend and touched her frozen and motionless arm, the small blond human girl vanished.

"There," said the gnome with some satisfaction.  She rounded on the smelly, diseased and clearly quite evil human, swinging the length of rope before her in a menacing manner.  "Unless you can fight your way out the front door, she's safe from you."

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 22.  Fortitude.

SA: Cast Invisibility
MA: Move to G22 and Touch Liseth

Please roll Bluff for me if you need, in order to make Grayst think the Invisibility spell was some sort of teleportation.

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 7/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1160 posts
Miniboss
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 01:15
  • msg #129

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan watched in horror as Grayst savaged Liseth and Kerr jumped into action, and it was all the guardsman could do to keep track of exactly what was going on. He managed to catch what Cato was doing, but just barely and rounded the dining room table in the opposite direction to avoid it.

He rounded Liseth and despite the stench closed with Grast, barreling into the man, wrapping him up, and sending a kick towards his ankle in an attempt to sweep his legs from beneath him and throw him to the ground. It was the kind of thing one might expect to use against a belligerent drunk and not a raving psychopath, but without his weapon it was the best he had.

Move to H22
Standard: Trip Attempt
18:13, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Fort Save vs Sickened.
18:08, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Unarmed Trip Attempt: Grayst.

The Raconteur
GM, 2252 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 04:40
  • msg #130

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Grayst was briefly distracted by the slamming of the northern door.  Apparently Habe and his orderlies wanted nothing to do with this combat, and were getting as far away from it as possible.  That suited Grayst just fine.  He had no interest in the doctor--the ones in which he was interested were right here.

A slick filmy substance appeared under Grayst's feet, but he managed to keep his balance as he brought a claw back to slash the blonde woman again.  She looked hurt, and now she was paralyzed; surely one more attack would finish her off.

But then, suddenly, she was gone.

Grayst looked around in confusion, snarling at the gnome who had caused his prey to disappear into thin air.  But before he could do anything about it, he was knocked from his feet by the full-body tackle dispensed by a large, armored human.

Grayst lay on his back, looking up at a different young man, the one whom his master so cherished.  The one who would take the place that was rightfully his!  A rictus of rage exposed two rows of bloodied teeth, and Grayst attempted to claw and bite the hated human from his position on the ground.

But it was all for naught.  His claws and teeth met nothing but air.  Before Grayst knew it the dark-haired human, who had rage-filled eyes of his own, was jumping in the air, one hand glowing, before bringing that hand down into the center of Grayst's unprotected chest.

It burned.  Oh how it burned!  Grayst had never experienced any pain like this before, and as a Sczarni enforcer he had endured his share of it.  The burning seemed to fountain through his body--it felt like it was liquefying his innards.  Grayst growled one last epithet of defiance against the hated human before the agonizing, fiery burning reached his head.

Then he knew no more.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

20:51, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Reflex Save vs. Grease.

Results - Sevila saves, but is tripped by Kellan's attack and is now prone in I21.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened.  Liseth is invisible for the next 4+ minutes.

NPC TURNS

Orderly 1, Orderly 2, and Habe

The orderlies usher Habe through the open door at I14/I15 and close it behind them.

Grayst Sevila

21:09, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Perception Check to Realize Liseth Still in H21 (DC 20).

Result - Grayst turns his attentions elsewhere.

Full-round Action - Full attack on Kerr (-4 from prone position)

21:11, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Claw Attack on Kerr.
21:11, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Claw Attack on Kerr.
21:11, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Grayst Sevila, rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Bite Attack on Kerr.

Result: Miss


PC TURN

Kerr Mollin

Swift Action - None

Move Action - None

Standard Action - Lay on Hands v. Grayst Sevila

21:16, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 19 using 2d6+9.  Lay on Hands Damage v. Grayst Sevila.

Lay on Hands:  3/5

Smite Evil:  1/2

Result:  Grayst Sevila is unconscious and dying.

PARTY STATUS:

Liseth and Cato are both sickened.  Liseth is invisible for the next 4+ minutes.  Liseth is paralyzed in square H21.  Liseth has taken 18 points of damage.



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |C |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TR|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |L |Gg|g x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  | P|K | g|g W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch
g = Greased Area (4+ mins remaining)

H = Habe
O = Orderly

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Wed 21 Oct 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1163 posts
Miniboss
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 04:58
  • msg #131

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan wasted no time after Kerrs hand burned a hole right in the middle of Graysts rotting body. Acting mostly out of habit he reached back and pulled out his guard issued manacles from where they had been wrapped around his belt by the chain.

He knelt to flip the torpid Grayst over and to shackle his wrists while they had the chance. Alive, dying, dead or somewhere in the middle he felt better with the man restrained while they figured this all out.

Move: Draw MW Manacles
Standard: Apply them

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2642 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 14:25
  • msg #132

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Nicely done, Team!"  The gnome strolls casually back up the hall, for all the world as if they'd not just been set upon by a DUTE (Decidedly Undead Thing of Evil.)  "How did you do that thing?  With the light?"  Pisca mimicked the motions made just moments before by Kerr Mollin, but no Undead Destroying Light appeared and she shrugged.

"Oh, and I suppose you want her back.  Alright."  She paused in her return to the door through which they'd entered.  With her hands she made a few mystical (and thoroughly unnecessary) passes in the air.  Her mouth made a crackling sound as of arcing electricity.

And Liseth reappeared.

SA: Dismiss Invisibility
MA: Move to G18

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 7/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1138 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 17:00
  • msg #133

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato was mostly concentrated on trying to bear the smells coming off from Grayst.  "Well, at least we'll have warning if another one of these things tries to attack us."  He waves his hands and the grease underneath Grayst evaporates.

He looks to Pisca, Liseth and Kerr.  "Now that you've faced one, any idea what that was?"

Dismiss Grease
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2644 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 17:31
  • msg #134

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"It's a DUTE," the gnome replied without hesitation.  And then, quite curiously, she affected a lazy, brainless sort of drawl and added, "This aggression will not stand, man."

Knowledge Religion to identify the type of undead that Grayst is.  Taking 10 with Lore Master gives 18.  That should be enough to identify an undead of CR3 and down.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2395 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 18/36
Wed 21 Oct 2015
at 19:59
  • msg #135

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth had no idea what Pisca did, her focus was entirely upon the horrid undead monster getting ready to shred her apart.  But she saw it quit, like it couldn't see her anymore.  Then Kellan and Kerr were there.

It was a strange feeling, being able to think and see but not to move or talk.  Liseth watched Kellan throw the monster to the ground, then Kerr fell upon it with all of his divine fury.

It seemed like, as violent as it was, the battle was over.  But Liseth still couldn't move; she was stuck.  Trapped by the evil powers of the undead.

It was supposed to wear off, wasn't it?  The girl was sure that if she could be right now, she would be shivering.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 154 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 22 Oct 2015
at 01:14
  • msg #136

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"I'm afraid I can't help you there, Pisca."  Kerr said, anger cooling as he looked down at the undead monstrosity Grayst had become.  "It's not really anything I've studied.  It seems a lot like a ghoul," he continued, motioning to Liseth, "what with the stench and the paralysis, but different than any ghoul I've ever read about."

Kerr stood and laid a gentle hand on Liseth's shoulder, giving her a concerned examination as he did so.  "Iomedae, please heal her," he prayed, bowing his head slightly in the process.  Once again, the young archer's hand glowed, but this time with a light that restored and sustained.  While Liseth didn't regain any movement, she felt an invigorating warmth spreading through her body; her pain eased.

"It's the power of Iomedae," Kerr explained to the gnome, looking ever-so-slightly pale from his efforts.  "She grants me the power to heal the living and the power to harm undead.  Sir Klerris has been teaching me how to channel it.  But I've never really used it before," he said wonderingly, motioning to the still form of what had been Grayst Sevila.  "Not like this.  I knew I could channel Iomedae's wrath, but it was," he shook his head wonderingly, "a lot more power than I expected.  It's a lot different from the way Father Zantus taught us to channel divine energy."  He paused, thinking.  "Or maybe it's not so different after all.  Now that I've actually done it I'll have to think . . ."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your sojourn theological," a dry, musty voice interrupted.  "But I'm afraid I can't let you leave just quite yet."

OOC:

Standard Action - Lay on Hands

17:34, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  Lay Hands on Liseth.

17:45, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Knowledge (Religion) Check to identify Grayst.

Result:  Liseth healed for five points of damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Thu 22 Oct 2015.
The Raconteur
GM, 2260 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 22 Oct 2015
at 01:11
  • msg #137

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




The party looked up in shock to see four rotting corpses shambling toward them, arms outstretched.  They wore only a few soiled rags, their flesh rotting off their bones as they stumbled forward in eerie quiet.

Behind them was an older man, dressed in a neat white tunic, tan pants, with a brown belt and nice-looking sable boots.  Or rather, there were four older men.  Four copies of the man stood together, each moving and talking as if they were one person.  It was impossible to tell which copy was real.

The man's close-cropped gray hair seemed not to have receded one bit.  He was tall and looked fit for someone of his age, as if he took care of himself physically.  He did not wear spectacles or anything else you might normally associate with a scholar, if scholar he was.  But he certainly seemed to be commanding the staggering corpses in front of him, a circumstance that suggested only one word to describe him, a word that immediately and concurrently leaped into the mind of every party member:

Necromancer.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

Liseth healed five points of damage.  Grease dispelled.  Invisibility dispelled.

NPC TURNS

PARTY STATUS:

Liseth and Cato are both sickened.  Liseth is paralyzed in square H21.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage. 

</b>

ROLL FOR INITIATIVE.  If you beat a 9 you may act.


   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x P|TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |C |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TR|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |L |G |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |K |  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  WU |U |U |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |N4|U D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

N = Necromancer
U = Undead Minion

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Thu 22 Oct 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1145 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 22 Oct 2015
at 13:55
  • msg #138

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato carefully moved forward, eyeing the walls of Habe's sanitarium as he did so.  They looked sturdy enough, and the wizard hoped they would stand up to what he was planning.  When he had advanced past the unconscious (dead?) form of Grayst, or whatever undead monstrosity Grayst had become, Cato stopped, and reached into spell component pouch, drawing forth a new acquisition: a tiny ball of bat guano mixed with sulphur.  With his other hand, he gestured a spoke a simple phrase: [Language unknown: "Antantthu iech contedingver!"], and a tiny, pea-sized speck flew out from his hand, detonating on the wall into a spectacular blast behind the wall of undead.

Move: I22
Standard: Cast Fireball to C24.  Blast should hit all zombies and Necromancer but miss Pisca
21 damage, Reflex Save DC 17 for half.

09:50, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 3d6.  Fireball Damage.
15:04, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 6 using 2d6.  Added Fireball Damage.
22:19, Yesterday: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Init.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Thu 22 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2648 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 22 Oct 2015
at 15:21
  • msg #139

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"What did you say?"  Pisca turned at the sound of the voice to find ...

"Erin Habe?  But you ...  Didn't you just ... "  She glanced at the far door to which she'd just been headed, then back at the man surrounded by animated corpses, then back again to the far door.

"You can't be Erin Habe.  You just ... "  It took the gnome a moment to pick out the differences.  This human seemed maybe a bit older.  He, possibly, was dressed a bit differently.

Humans can be hard to tell apart at times.  Or so, Pisca thought to herself.  And it was in the midst of such thoughts that the end of the room was suddenly engulfed in flame.

"Ooo ... " Orange fire momentarily lit the gnome's large violet eyes.  "Ahhh ... Cato, did you just do that?"

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7.  Initiative.

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 7/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1165 posts
Miniboss
Fri 23 Oct 2015
at 00:29
  • msg #140

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan looked on from where he knelt with his knee firmly planted on Graysts head, the manacles snapping in a satisfying way over his wrists. The guardsman let out a breath and was about to congratulate the others when all of a sudden he caught sight of what just came trough the door.

"Really?" He asked nobody in particular in an exasperated way, motioning to the doctor with an open palm.

He stood from where he was and overturned a table, attempting to snap off a leg to use as an impromptu club as he muttered something about Sandpoint

17:24, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
Move: To nearest table
Standard: Attempt to procure a club

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2409 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Fri 23 Oct 2015
at 01:20
  • msg #141

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

What was happening!?  Who just said that?  Why couldn't they leave yet?  All that Liseth could do was stare ahead as her eyes frantically tried to find the source of that new voice.  This wasn't going to be good...

Hopefully Grayst Sevilla was out of the battle.  The girl watched the recently changed undead closely for any signs that it was moving.  What else could she do?

Initiative: 6
Conditions:
Paralyzed (Helpless; AC 8 (4 vs melee))
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

18:58, Yesterday: Liseth Thoradin rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  initiative.

The Raconteur
GM, 2273 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 05:54
  • msg #142

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Cato stepped forward, making precise motions with his hands and uttering words of eldritch power.  The four necromancers blanched, but could only stare impotently as the scholar hurled a flaming ball across the room.

"FWAH . . . . " everyone could feel Cato's spell consume the air in the room, "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!"

The concussive force of the blast nearly knocked everyone present off their feet.  The necromancer's undead minions literally melted under the arcane onslaught, each of them falling to the floor in a jumble of singed flesh and burned bones.

The necromancer himself managed to avoid the worst of the blast, but the smoke rising from his now ash-smeared garments indicated that he had not completely escaped its effects.  Anger creased his face as he briefly pondered the no-longer-animate bodies of his erstwhile servants; he then looked up at Cato, eyes flashing.

The wizard made his own precise gesture.  "[Language unknown: Artughdin ain]," he intoned, and suddenly a bank of greenish, stomach-churning vapors billowed out from where Liseth stood immobile, almost entirely filling the room.  Everyone could feel the mist invading their lungs, causing an intense desire to do nothing but retch in an attempt to clear the poison from their respiratory systems.

"Come on!"  Kerr yelled, though whether it was an exhortation or a complaint was hard to say.  The young paladin dashed through the thickening fog towards where he'd last seen the necromancer, stumbling out of the fetid mist right next to the man just in time to see him preparing yet another spell . . .

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

Cato casts Fireball:

14:54, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Necromancer, rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  Reflex Save v. Cato Fireball.
14:53, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Undead Minion 4, rolled 7 using 1d20.  Reflex Save v. Cato Fireball.
14:52, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Undead Minion 3, rolled 4 using 1d20.  Reflex Save v. Cato Fireball.
14:52, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Undead Minion 2, rolled 4 using 1d20.  Reflex Save v. Cato Fireball.
14:52, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Undead Minion 1, rolled 13 using 1d20.  Reflex Save v. Cato Fireball.

RESULT:  All four minions perish.  Necromancer takes 10 points of damage.

NPC TURNS

Necromancer

Standard Action - Targets H21 with Stinking Cloud

Result - Kellan, Pisca, Liseth, and Cato must make DC 17 Fortitude save or be nauseated.

15:02, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Fortitude Save v. Stinking Cloud.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move Action - D23

Standard Action - Double Move


PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Kerr is unaffected by the cloud this turn.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened.  Liseth is paralyzed in square H21.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xPs|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ls|Gs|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ks|Cs|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |R |ss|ss|ss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |N4|ssD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2666 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 14:50
  • msg #143

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Keh.  Kehke."  The gnome coughed into the back of her hand.  "Holy Desna's stars," she said as stumbled along the wall in the direction of Kerr Mollin's voice.  "That is the most horrible ...  What in Urgotha's womb do you eat?"

"Keh."  She coughed again just before the wall ended and she made her way out across empty floor.  It wasn't long, however, before a corner loomed up ahead.  Pisca rounded the corner ... and came face to face with the human who was Not Erin Habe.

"You ... keho-huh," she said, confronting the man.  "That is some extremely nasty cheese."

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 23.  Fortitude/Pass.

MA and SA: Double Move 35ft to E24

Position: E24

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 7/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1170 posts
Miniboss
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 19:56
  • msg #144

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan coughed and gagged as he dashed for the obscured figure on the edge of the cloud, instinctively covering his mouth with his off hand as he moved. Thankfully the boots that Lord Foxglove had given him provided ample traction on the floor of the dining hall, and he found himself with enough energy to try for the last few feet to clear the cloud.

The smell was terrible of course, but having dealt with bodies in the course of his duties and mucked many a stable in his time, he was able to keep his breakfast down.

As he neared the man who had caused all this trouble, he got low and rushed at him, hoping to knock the man off his feet and to keep him from trying any more tricks

Swift: Activate Foxgloves Boots to move 30'
Move: to C24
Standard: Trip Attempt vs Necromancer
12:50, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Trip Attempt vs Necromancer.
23:11, Yesterday: Kellan Storval rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  Fort Save DC 17 vs Stinking Cloud.
18:10, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 1 using 1d20.  20% Miss Chance (1-4 Miss).

This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Thu 29 Oct 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2421 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 00:11
  • msg #145

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Ack!  Now what was happening!?  Liseth wanted to scream, or cry, or run, or anything.  Thick, horrible gas was suddenly everywhere!  She couldn't even cover her mouth or eyes.

It smelled horrible.  The fumes burned her eyes and she wanted to vomit.  But she was stuck!  To the point where she couldn't even gag.  Bile started crawling up her throat.  Things were going to get really bad.

Conditions:
Paralyzed (Helpless; AC 8 (4 vs melee))
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
Nauseated (Unable to act beyond a single move)

08:43, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Fortitude vs DC 17.

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1157 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 01:29
  • msg #146

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato coughed as the necromancer's spell rolled over him.  He fought for breath, barely able to take comfort in the fact that his spell had eliminated all of the zombies facing them.  The only thing he could do was stagger across the room, hoping to find freedom from the cloud.  He chose to move towards the necromancer, praying the man would be as bad at melee attacks as Cato was, especially with Kerr charging towards him, if the sounds around him were any judge.  And Cato bet the man wouldn't want to include himself in his own spell.

Move to C22
Cato is Nauseated and Sickened.
21:26, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Fort Save.

The Raconteur
GM, 2277 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 07:44
  • msg #147

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Cato stumbled, coughing and heaving, through the thick, greenish cloud towards where he judged the necromancer to have been.  A higher-pitched choking and retching emanated from somewhere . . . maybe to his right?  It seemed that the poisonous fog had also overcome Liseth, but that her ghoul-inspired paralysis was no more.

Cato burst out of the haze to find a heretofore unseen door in the northwest corner of the alcove.  As he moved towards it, he saw Kellan and Kerr move carefully to encircle the malevolent mage.  From the corner of his eye, he also spied Pisca's small, obscured form moving through the mist.

But he was completely unprepared for what happened next.

A silvery gleam flashed in the Necromancer's palm.  A dagger!  The spellcaster shifted his weight, inexpertly slashing at Pisca's petite form while sweeping a leg around to take her feet out from under her.

But what he hadn't counted on was the gnome's readied rope.  She flung the end up at his face, causing him to shy back in terror--until he realized that her weapon wasn't exactly suited to its purpose.  But his smirk of victory lasted only a moment as the rope coiled around his foot, nearly sending him to the ground himself.  He involuntarily jerked his leg, crashing the gnome, who had been sporting a victorious grin of her own, face-first into the polished wooden floor of the sanatorium with an audible grunt.

Kellan used the distraction to try and take the mage down, but to his dismay he found that the man he had attempted to trip was merely a figment that vanished as soon as his shoulder touched it.  The other three turned to him, chuckling.  Three hands raised and pointed at him, and three mouths uttered arcane words of power.

"[Language unknown: Ndevhameek Linrutard!]"  The very utterance itself seemed steeped in an ancient evil.  Kellan felt the magic wash over him, making movement difficult.  A cold shock of recognition hit him; he had felt this same sort of magic once before, when facing the quasit in the temple below Sandpoint.  As he saw Kerr's fist destroy yet another of their opponent's accursed images, Kellan's only question was whether he now had the will to fend the spell off, or whether he would once again succumb to its siren-song of lethargy . . . .

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

Necromancer attempts to trip Pisca as AoO as she begins to move from E23 to E24.  Pisca receives a return AoO on account of the trip attempt.

23:02, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 15 using 1d20-1.  AoO on Necromancer.
00:21, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 49 using 1d100.  Concealment Miss Chance (1-20 misses).
23:04, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 1 using 1d4.  Mirror Image Check ("1" hits Necromancer, 2-4 hit image).
22:59, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Necromancer, rolled 16 using 1d20.  AoO Trip Attack on Pisca.
00:21, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Necromancer, rolled 37 using 1d100.  Concealment Miss Chance (1-20 misses).

00:27, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 4 using 1d4.  Mirror Image Check ("1" hits Necromancer, 2-4 hit image).

RESULT:  Kellan's attack misses but destroys an image.  Necromancer takes one point of damage.  Necromancer has 11 points of total damage.  Pisca is tripped and prone in E23.  Both Pisca and the Necromancer are caught up in the rope, and will require a move action to get free or suffer a -1 penalty to hit and/or a DC10 + spell level concentration check to cast spells until they do.

NPC TURNS

Necromancer

Move Action - Untangle from Rope

Standard Action - Cast Hold Person Defensively, targeting Kellan (DC 21)

23:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Necromancer, rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Concentration Check - Casting Defensively.

Result - Kellan must make DC 17 Will save or be immobilized.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Standard Action - Unarmed attack on Necromancer

00:02, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Unarmed Strike on Necromancer.

Result - Miss, but another figment destroyed.

PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened and nauseated.  Liseth is no longer paralyzed.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.  Pisca must make another Fortitude save against DC 17 or become nauseated.  Kellan must make a DC 17 Will save or be immobilized.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
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4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ls|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  xC |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |R |Ps|ss|ss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  xK |N2|ssD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Thu 29 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2673 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 14:13
  • msg #148

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Wah!"  The floor came up fast through the horrible cloud of stench and there was a thump that was Pisca, wrapped in a tangle of her own rope.

"Ow," said the gnome, who was, expression of pain notwithstanding, unhurt.  She lifted her head, which might have been just the right mistake - if a mistake can be said to be in any way right - and got a big whiff of the Mystery Man's smelly fart.  Immediately she began to feel terribly sickish.  Very much in the vein of the Sniffing the Axe Back At The Mill sort of sickish.  A gnome could get tired of this sort of thing.

A door, a door, I do confess!  Through the cloud of farty miasma the rectangulish outlines of a door came to the gnome's teary eye.  It whispered to her of a promise of clear air, and so, dragging her rope behind her, Pisca crawled, with painful cramping stomach, in the direction of the door handle.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 14.  Fortitude w/+2AL/Fail

Conditions: Nauseated

MA: Crawl to E24 Provoking AoO.

Position: E24

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Fri 30 Oct 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1158 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 15:43
  • msg #149

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato clung to wall as his stomach roiled again, trying to will himself to get over the effects of the Stinking Cloud.  He brought his hands up, preparing for another spell, but a coughing fit disrupted his attention too badly to continue.

11:40, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 4 using 1d3+1.  Nausea duration.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2426 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Fri 30 Oct 2015
at 03:16
  • msg #150

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth started to heave and nearly fell over.  Good news, she could move again!  That realization led immediately to just one thought: she needed to get out of this horrible cloud!

Except that she couldn't see, and could barely even walk.  Every step caused the girl to heave and cough and choke.  She could only hear the sounds of fighting and Liseth's instincts told her to head in the opposite direction.

She almost fell over the table next to her and staggered into the wall to her left.  Now at least she had something to support her and give her some way to navigate this cloud!

The acolyte practically dragged herself along the wall; hoping that it would lead her free of the noxious cloud.  It was the only thing she could focus on.  Then she saw the cloud begin to thin; and descended into a heaving fit.  Almost out...

Move Action: Stagger to G 17

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
Nauseated (Unable to act beyond a single move)

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1174 posts
Miniboss
Fri 30 Oct 2015
at 04:37
  • msg #151

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan seems eager to lay into the offending mage with his chair leg, his ire stoked as a result of being fooled by the illusion. He cocks back with the stick and then...he stops. Much as in the fight with the quasit his eyes glaze over before the energy slowly seems to drain from his armored form leaving him placid, vulnerable, unable to react.

Inwardly he is raging, cursing whoever invented such devilry. Cato was of course an exception but it was hard to focus on anything but trying to break out of whatever had befuddled his mind.

07:23, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  DC 17 Will Save.
The Raconteur
GM, 2282 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sat 31 Oct 2015
at 01:36
  • msg #152

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Liseth stumbled to the edge of the haze, retching, only to find her way blocked by a grinning Gurnak.  "I'm sorry, miss," the orderly apologized, emphasizing his statement with a wave of the short sword he'd apparently obtained from somewhere, "but I can't allow you to leave this way."

With that, he feinted forward, causing her to stumble backwards into the poisonous gas, but without doing any real harm.

The necromancer, meanwhile, glanced around at the situation, then suddenly bolted into the fog, disappearing from sight.  Kerr, taken by surprise, lunged out to knock the older man back against the wall, but the surprisingly nimble necromancer dodged his blow, running into the toxic haze he'd summoned as if it were a light mist in the morning.

He appeared next to a startled Liseth, darting around her as he headed for the door in the north.

"Everything's taken care of, boss."  Gurnak informed the wizard, as his brother nodded.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

Necromancer AoO on Pisca

18:31, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Necromancer, rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Dagger AoO on Pisca.

RESULT:  Miss


NPC TURNS

Necromancer

Move Action - To G20

Standard Action - Double Move to G15.

Orderly 1

Standard Action - Attack Liseth

18:23, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Orderly 1, rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Short Sword Attack on Liseth.

Result - Miss

PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened and nauseated.  Pisca is nauseated.  Kellan is paralyzed.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.  Kellan may make a full-round action attempting to resist the Hold Person--if he does so but fails to make a DC 17 Will save he will continue to be paralyzed.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
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12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |N2|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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17|  |  |  p  W  |  DsL|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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18|  |  |  p  x  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  xC |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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24|  |  xK |  |PsD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

ss = Stinking Cloud

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 01:36, Sat 31 Oct 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2682 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 31 Oct 2015
at 13:19
  • msg #153

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Hey, come back here!" cried the gnome on the floor as the Evil Necromancer darted off in a direction that was utterly inconceivable to anyone who was not, him-or-herself, an Evil Necromancer.

Giving a pitiful dry-heavish sort of sound, the very ill-feeling gnome dragged her Right-Sized body the few remaining feet into gloriously clear and un-farty air.

"Coward!  Come ... back ...  And face ... me," she croaked, and then gave yet another in what promised to be a series of future dry heaves.

Ooooook.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 4.  Nausea Duration.

MA: Crawl to D24.

Conditions: Nauseated 4/4 rounds; Prone

Position: D24

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 157 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sun 1 Nov 2015
at 06:23
  • msg #154

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Desna!" Kerr swore as the necromancer disappeared into the fog.  A quick look around showed that the rest of the group was not doing very well.  A hacking Pisca crawled toward the southern door while Cato slouched in the other corner, seemingly about to cough up a lung.  Kellan appeared caught in the grip of the necromancer's foul magic, unable to move at all.  And Liseth . . .

Liseth!  Anxiety clenched Kerr's stomach.  Where had she gone?  She'd been paralyzed by the ghoul, but what had happened afterwards?  Was she still paralyzed?  Was she caught in the fog?

Without a second thought, Kerr dashed into the fog.  "Liseth!"  He yelled, seemingly immune from the noxious vapors aside from a slight burning on his skin.  "Liseth!"  Reaching the place she'd been paralyzed, Kerr found her gone.  "Liseth!!!!"  He yelled, not quite in a panic, moving quickly up the west side of the room.

The acolyte's small form materialized out of the mist, but any relief Kerr might have felt was quickly squelched by his realization that the previously-urbane Gurnak had apparently reconsidered his position regarding what constituted appropriate hospitality.  Wishing he had his bow, or his sword, or any weapon other than his fists, Kerr ran up to the table between the two tiefling brothers and their foul master.

"Come on!" he yelled, trying to divert their attention from the small blonde acolyte. "Come and get me, you bastards!  And you!"  He pointed at the necromancer, who quailed slightly as he reached for the door.  "I'm coming for you!"

OOC:

Double Move to H17
Swift Action - Smite Evil on Necromancer





This message was last edited by the player at 06:10, Mon 02 Nov 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2437 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Mon 2 Nov 2015
at 16:43
  • msg #155

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Almost free of the noxious fog, the last thing Liseth expected was to be confronted by a sword-wielding orderly!  She had been wary of the teiflings the moment they were met at the door; but now wasn't the time to think about that!

The girl practically fell back into the poison fog in order to get away from the swinging sword.  "No..." Liseth moaned and then hacked.  She needed to get out of the fog, but they wouldn't let her!

"Kerr!"  The acolyte called back when she heard him shouting for her.  She heaved and nearly vomited from the effort; Liseth couldn't remember ever feeling this sick!  "He...sword!"

Feeling the wall to her left, Liseth realized suddenly that this was a door; one of the many leading into the dining room they were within.  She had to get away!  Through the door...away from the gas...away from that sword!  But she could barely think clearly, and her stomach was twisted up to the point where she could barely move.  Let alone defend herself.

Pulling the door open, Liseth stumbled through; almost falling over in her haste to get away.  They wouldn't follow, right?

Move Action: Open door from G17 to F17
Free Action: Five-Foot Step to F17

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
Nauseated (Unable to act beyond a single move)

This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Mon 02 Nov 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1166 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 2 Nov 2015
at 17:41
  • msg #156

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato clutched his stomach, trying to make sense of the situation.  The tieflings had returned?  Well that certainly answers my question of whether Habe was in on in the whole time...

Nausea: 3 rounds left
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Tue 03 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1177 posts
Miniboss
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 06:14
  • msg #157

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan felt the frustration bubble up inside himself, as once again he was rendered helpless by a mere flick of a wrist. He tried to remember how he had managed last time but could not recall just what trick it was that eventually freed him from the Quasits control.

As the seconds passed the guardsman took a moment to calm himself, then searched through his memories for something, anything, that might help. To his surprise he remembered this sensation, like a limb that was not quite there, and gently began to flex it. With more and more focus he began to will himself to move before suddenly he lurched forward like out of a bad dream, blinking in surprise.

22:10, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  DC 17 Will Save.
The Raconteur
GM, 2288 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 08:02
  • msg #158

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Liseth opened the side door and stumbled into what looked like a small bedroom.  The bed itself was neatly made--a small wooden chest sat at its foot.  Something that looked like a dresser sat at the corner of the room, and a colorful throw rug decorated the floor.  Fortunately the toxic vapors that had afflicted her to this point did not follow her inside, and she was able to begin coughing them out of her respiratory system.

Back in the main room, the necromancer grimaced at Kerr.  "Maybe next time," he demurred, heading for the door to the sanatorium's lobby, "and you can be sure that there will be a next time!  I won't forget this!"  He called over his shoulder.  The two tieflings looked at each other, shrugged, and followed through the same door, slamming it shut behind them.

Kerr was right on their heels, reaching for the door handle, but it refused to open.  He struggled with it for a second before realizing the issue.  "It's locked!"  He called back through the room.  "Pisca, can you help?"

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

Kellan overcomes Hold Person and is able to act normally.

NPC TURNS

Necromancer

Move Action - Through door at I14.

Orderly 1

Move Action - Through door at I14.

Orderly 2

Move Action - Through door at I14.

Move Action - Close door at I14.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

23:51, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 19 using 1d20+13.  Fortitude Save v. Stinking Cloud.

Move:  To I15

Move:  Open Door (locked).


PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened and nauseated.  Pisca is nauseated.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |R |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  | LDss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  xC |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |ss|ss|ss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  xK |P |ssD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

ss = Stinking Cloud

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2687 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 14:35
  • msg #159

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Help?"  The gnome lifted her head from where it rested on the floor.  "Help?"

The two words, that began their lives as questions in response to yet a third question, rose from the gnome on the floor and drifted into the cloud of noxious farty gas.  Therein they found themselves lost and as confused as little bits of sound can be.  They bounced from first one wall and then another.  But, finally, making their way across, they arrived in the ear of the original question asker.  By this time, however, they were in much less the state in which they had originally begun.  Mere shadows of their original question-like selves, they sounded more like pitiful sickly pleas for the Help in question.

Meanwhile, back on the other side of the cloud, a very poorly gnome staggered to her feet.  "Yes, I'm coming, Kerr Mollin," she called out in a voice that was none too hale and hearty.

"Are you alright, Cato?" she added as she began the long trudge to the far side of the room.  Then, all of the sudden, as if from nowhere, "Sure.  Brave talk from an Evil Necromancer who's *running* *away*.  COME BACK HERE AND LET US KILL YOU!"

MA: Stand.
Free: 5ft step to D23

Conditions: Nauseated 3/4 rounds; Wrapped in Rope

Position: D23

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Wed 04 Nov 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2439 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Thu 5 Nov 2015
at 06:00
  • msg #160

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Out of the gas and (hopefully) away from danger, Liseth shut the door she had come through; closing herself in the small bedroom.  She had to keep that gas out!  And anyone else who might follow after her with a sword.

She could breathe again!  But still found herself gagging terribly.  Liseth supported herself by leaning against the door as her small body shook and heaved in an attempt to rid itself of that horrible gas.

Move Action: Close Door

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
Nauseated (Unable to act beyond a single move); 2 Rounds

21:39, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Nauseated Duration.

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1167 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 5 Nov 2015
at 14:40
  • msg #161

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded at the gnome's inquiry.  "I'll be fine, just need to get over this..."  Cato retched.  "Just need to get this stuff out of my lungs."  The wizard looked down, suddenly glad his breakfast had been relatively light.

He looked toward the north-east, where the Necromancer and the orderlies had moved.  The mage shook his head, not wanting to brave the stinking cloud again so soon.  "That cloud shouldn't last too long.  Another score of seconds, maybe?"

Nausea: 2 rounds left
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1179 posts
Miniboss
Thu 5 Nov 2015
at 18:47
  • msg #162

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan looked about at the billowing cloud and his companions struggling to overcome the toxic effects of the magic, the entire scene seeming to have jumped ahead while he had been struggling to break out of whatever enchantment had bound him.

He moved to Cato first, patting the mage on the back before he tried the door near him.

"Not too much longer, already looks like its starting to thin out...rotten eggs, burning flesh and the undead...dont think I'll be able to forget that smell"

Move: to C22
Standard: Try door and go through if possible.

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 158 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 14:13
  • msg #163

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr grunted with frustration as he attempted to open the door.  Pisca's shouting from the other side of the room seemed to indicate that the gnome wouldn't be coming to help anytime soon.  The young paladin looked back at the necromancer's poison mist--it seemed to be thinning a little, but wasn't gone yet.

Getting through the door was up to him.

And he needed to get through it soon; every moment was one in which the necromancer was getting away.  Kerr stepped back from the door and looked at the latch.  He'd seen a door kicked in once, when the lock mechanism had busted at Maver Kesk's jewelry shop.  Of course, some thought that the lock's issues were more a result of some enterprising thief who had unsuccessfully tried to pick the jeweler's lock during the night.  Kerr suspected that story came from Jinnit Ranzi, the town locksmith, who didn't want people to think his locks would simply fail without notice.

Either way, Kerr had been present when Lieutenant Barett had arrived and solved Maver's shop-access problem with a forceful kick.  It hadn't seemed so hard.  Kerr leaned back, cocked his leg, and . . . nearly knocked the wind out of himself as his kick, rather than opening the door, propelled him into the table behind him.  That didn't go so well, he thought ruefully, glad that no one had been present to see whatever that had been.  There's got to be a trick to this, he determined, trying to remember exactly how Alergast had done it as he wound up for another go . . . .

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  None

Standard Action:  Kick down door.

00:13, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Strength Check to Break Down Door.

Result - Failure

PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened and nauseated.  Pisca is nauseated.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |R |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  | LDss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  xC |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  WK |P |ss|ss|ss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  xK |  |ssD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

ss = Stinking Cloud

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2691 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 15:11
  • msg #164

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

*THUMP*  *shuffle*shuffle*kthup*

Pisca raised a pale, wan-ish and tender-tummy face at the sounds from across the room.

"I think Kerr Mollin is trying to kick down a wall."  That's what she said after a brief moment spent in consideration of just what the thumps and bumps from across the Farty Cloud had been trying to tell her.

"Lysa!  Are you alright?"

The gnome sighed.  She raised her arms and favored the treacherously unweaponable rope from which they now hung with a wry look.  She gave a second sigh, and then proceeded to extricate herself from the various drapes and tangles in which she now found herself.

MA: Untangle from Rope.

Conditions: Nauseated 2/4 rounds

Position: D23

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1168 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 15:58
  • msg #165

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato looked up from his coughing to see himself surrounded by his friends.  Then he realized he was standing in front of one of the few accessible doors.  "Sorry...can't open."

He staggered to the side, letting Kerr and Kellan have better access.

Move D24
Nausea: 1 rounds left

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2441 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 23/36
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 22:12
  • msg #166

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Safe!  Maybe.  For the moment.  Nothing was in here with her at least.  Liseth turned from the door to quickly look over the little bedroom again.  Why was there a bedroom here, next to the dining room?

Her stomach told her to focus on other, more immediate concerns.  That gas cloud was still out there so she was trapped for now.  But she could hear someone calling for her from outside; it sounded like Pisca.

"I'm..." The girl called back but the shouting caused her to suddenly retch and double over with her arms across her stomach.  "I need...I'm going to lie down."  She didn't know whether any of her friends heard her or not, but the bed in here with her looked suddenly attractive.

Liseth stumbled a few steps and fell onto the bed.  Maybe lying down would help settle her stomach from the awful experiences of the last few minutes?

Move Action: Fall on bed

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
Nauseated (Unable to act beyond a single move); 1 Round

This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Fri 06 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1180 posts
Miniboss
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 22:20
  • msg #167

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Damn it" Kellan thumped against the door before stepping back and looking around once more. "If they touch Hakon..." the guardsman threatened, pacing while the cloud continued to dissipate and biding his time.

Full Round: Full Defense
The Raconteur
GM, 2294 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 9 Nov 2015
at 19:16
  • msg #168

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Liseth fell onto the neatly-made bed, trying not to throw up all over it.  The tidy bedroom's cleanliness left little visible evidence regarding exactly whose room it might be, although the mattress itself--now that the young acolyte had collapsed upon it--seemed to be of very high quality.

Outside, an angry Kerr continued his fruitless attempt to kick down the door.  After his second failure, he realized that it was probably designed to resist such attacks.  After all, he reasoned, the facility's administrators wouldn't want their stronger patients to be able to bull their way out by brute force during some sort of episode.  And Kerr, although he was certainly fit, and his months-long training with Ser Klerris had developed his musculature, still didn't have the strength of an Alergast or a Kellan.

He stopped, panting slightly, and took stock of the situation.  He looked back towards the mist, which seemed to be thinning. "Where are you guys?"  He called plaintively, hoping that the rest of the group hadn't run into even more trouble.

Encouragingly, Pisca's surprisingly-strong voice echoed back through the haze.  "She's fine!"  Kerr responded.  "Just sick, is all!  But the door here is locked, and I don't think I can break it down!  Can you help?"

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  None

Standard Action:  Kick down door.

10:57, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Strength Check to Break Down Door.

Result - Failure

PARTY STATUS:

Stinking Cloud in effect.  Liseth and Cato are both sickened and nauseated.  Pisca is nauseated.  Liseth has taken 13 points of damage.

The fog-shrouded squares are marked "ss" on the map.  The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |R |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  | LDss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  Dss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|Ts|Ts|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  xss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  xK |ss|ss|ss|ss|Ts|Ts|ssW  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |P |ss|ss|ss|ss|ss|ssx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  xC |  |ssD  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

ss = Stinking Cloud

N = Necromancer

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2701 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 9 Nov 2015
at 20:41
  • msg #169

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"See.  I told you," said the gnome upon receiving confirmation that Kerr Mollin had indeed been trying to break something down.  (Albeit a more reasonable door instead of an extremely challenging wall.)

"I ... " the gnome began somewhat weakly, and then mustered the fortitude to shout out through the smelly cloud.  "I think I'm starting to feel a bit better.  But there's this cloud of Necromancer Farts in the way, and I don't think it would be a very good idea to risk another whiff of it."

The gnome wished to her magic bag for the kit of tools that had once been gifted to her by the person who had, from all appearances, now become a murdering undead thing, and it was delivered to her hand forthwith.  Such was the tremendous power and convenience of magic that even a gnome with a queasy tummy might pick out the right thing the first time from a bag completely stuffed with junk.

"Cato says it'll clear up soon.  (Though I don't see how.)  I'll be over then."

MA: Take out Thieves' Tools

Conditions: Nauseated 1/4 rounds

Position: D23

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Tue 10 Nov 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2448 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 00:13
  • msg #170

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

She was feeling a little better.  Liseth laid on the bed for a few moments while her churning stomach slowed.  She turned over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, wondering who might use this room regularly.

Pain in her shoulder brought her to focus and Liseth recalled the attack just a few sparse moments before.  Feeling the wound with her hand, the acolyte closed her eyes and said a prayer; the sickness had ebbed to the point where she could concentrate again.

Healing light entered the injury as the girl let a relieved sigh escape.  She would have to find out what happened after Grayst  pounced on her later.  But right now she felt like she was alright.

At least that's what Liseth thought moments before realization, and then panic started to set in.

Standard: Cast Cure Light Wounds on Self (Cure for 12)

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

15:50, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 12 using 1d8+6.  Cure Light Wounds.

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1170 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 10 Nov 2015
at 15:13
  • msg #171

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato leaned back against the wall and concentrated on his breathing, watching Kellan and Pisca.  He coughed weakly, though the worst of the fit seemed to have passed.

"Kerr, hopefully we can be there soon.  I can magically enhance your strength, or perhaps Kellan can have a try at the door.  Once I've recovered, I can cast spells again!"

Nausea ends this round
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Tue 10 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1181 posts
Miniboss
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 17:47
  • msg #172

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan" he leaned over and patted Catos shoulder in a comforting fashion. "Just hope the horses are ok...and our weapons..." he adds somewhat to himself as he looks around at the others.

"Hell, I might be able to give this a shot without the magic..." he decides, then steps back to get a good approach before putting his boot to the thing, right near the lock.

09:46, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Sunder Check, Door.
The Raconteur
GM, 2299 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 11 Nov 2015
at 19:02
  • msg #173

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kellan's powerful kick shook the door, but failed to budge it.

Kerr looked back at the sound, only to discover that the poisonous haze had vanished, just like it had never been there at all.  He sighed in relief, only to be seized by a sudden terror.  Where was Liseth?

"Liseth!"  He called, wondering what could have happened to her.  "Liseth, where are you?!?"

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  None

Standard Action:  None.

10:57, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Strength Check to Break Down Door.

Result - Failure

PARTY STATUS:

Liseth and Cato are sickened.  Pisca is nauseated.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |R |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  | LD  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  xK |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |P |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  xC |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2455 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Thu 12 Nov 2015
at 04:24
  • msg #174

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Aaaaah!"  A shriek of sudden terror and horror exploded out of Liseth and she sat up on the bed.  She had been bitten by undead Grayst!  With the same sort of bite he had received from the undead Lordship killer!

Not every undead transferred its curse through a bite; but if Lordship did then any of his spawn would likely do the same thing.  Which meant...

"Noooo!"  The girl shrieked again.  How could she tell if she had been infected?  Look what it had done to Grayst!  Would it take days to find out?  Hours?  Would she get sick first?

The thought of becoming an undead made Liseth into a wreck.  She couldn't think of anything to do beyond sobbing into her hands.

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Thu 12 Nov 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2707 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 12 Nov 2015
at 14:48
  • msg #175

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

A much recovered Pisca looked up from the soft and shiny leather of her tool kit, her head tipping to one side to catch some soft sound upon the air.  "You were right, Cato.  The Farty Cloud is gone."

"Wait.  Do you hear that?  That ... " she then began tentatively, before nodding her head and finishing with much more conviction, " ... was definitely an 'Aaaaah!'  And it sounded to me as though it might be a Lysa sort of 'Aaaaah!'  Don't you think?"

Then, despite having ended with a question, the gnome eschewed any answers, dashing off instead around the corner in quest of the previously heard 'Aaaaah!' sound.

"Lysa?"

Following the wall up the communal dining hall, Pisca waved the toolkit in the direction of a seemingly panicked Kerr Mollin who no longer appeared interested in kicking things down.

"I think she's in here, Boyfriend," she then added, after Liseth-like sounds stopped her at the second door along the wall.

Double Move

Conditions: Not Nauseated 0/4 rounds

Position: G17

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 6/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 2/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1172 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 13 Nov 2015
at 13:55
  • msg #176

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded and followed Pisca around to the door.  "Come on, Kellan.  We should probably all stay together here.  I think that necromancer and the tieflings made their exit, but we don't want to be caught by surprise again."

Cato watched as Pisca examined the door, keeping an eye out for any threats.

Double move to H17
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1183 posts
Miniboss
Sun 15 Nov 2015
at 05:02
  • msg #177

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Yeah, probably a good idea" Kellan agreed as he gave one last look at the door before he turned and followed Cato. He kept his club handy and looked after the mage protectively as Pisca scouted the way and Kerr began calling to Liseth.

"Liseth?!, you alright?" Kellan bellowed, bringing one hand up to cup around his mouth to help the sound carry.

Move: to I17
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 159 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Sun 15 Nov 2015
at 21:20
  • msg #178

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Pisca!"  Kerr said with relief as the gnome scampered up to the middle door in the room's western wall.  "I'm having trouble with this one," he informed her, indicating the door through which they'd entered the room.  "It's locked, and I can't seem to kick it down."  He sighed.  "I'm no Alergast."

Kerr nodded at Kellan and Cato as they ran up.  "In there?" he confirmed with Pisca, running to the door and flinging it open to find Liseth sobbing on a well-made bed.  "Liseth!"  Kerr called, looking very concerned, "are you all right?"

Suddenly, through the room's narrow window, everyone heard what was very clearly a set of equine screams.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To G16.

Standard Action:  Double Move.  Open door.


PARTY STATUS:

Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  xR |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |L DP |C |K |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2716 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 15 Nov 2015
at 22:07
  • msg #179

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Nettie!"  It was less the Boyfriend's exhortations, less even the thought of the Farty Necromancer and his cowardly escape, than it was the terrified scream of ponies from outside the building that spurred Pisca to the door through which she and her friends had entered.  "I'm coming, Nettie."  The gnome attacked the lock with a near frantic intensity that did more to hinder than to help.

Her over eager fingers twisted the wrench too soon and the pick slipped, nearly breaking in two and jamming the lock.

Breath.  Reset the pick and start again.

NO!  No time!  They were scaring her Nettie.  They were hurting Lysa's Heily.  They were maybe even stealing Stomper's Hakon.

In her mind, Pisca balled her pink hand into a fist and squeezed it tight, gripping the threads of reality and twisting them, tweaking them.

And the torsion wrench turned more smoothly.  Maybe this lock would open.

Move: Move to I15
Standard: Open Lock = 28, opens Average Lock.
Swift: Cast

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 28.  Disable Device to Open Lock w/AL Plus Masterwork Tools added after plus Gallant Inspiration.
Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 7.  Gallant Inspiration.

Position: I15

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 5/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2463 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Mon 16 Nov 2015
at 00:17
  • msg #180

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"He bit me, Kerr."  Liseth looked up when the door opened.  "Grayst.  Did you see him?  He was just like a ghoul already!  He bit me just like the bite he had gotten from Lordship.  That...changed him..."

She jumped up when the sound of distressed horses interuppted her.  "What's going on?!  Heily!"  The girl rushed to the window in an attempt to see what was happening outside.  "Someone is after Heily!  We have to do something!"

"Ohhh..."  At the moment she was helpless to do anything.  "I don't know what's going on!"  Liseth's hands frantically caressed a lock of her hair in distress.  "Why are they doing this?  They can't hurt Heily!"

Move Action: Stand
Free Action: Step to window; E 17
Standard Action: Look out window to see what's happening outside (perception?)

This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Mon 16 Nov 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1173 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 16 Nov 2015
at 19:03
  • msg #181

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato shook his head, sharing the concern voiced by Liseth and Pisca.  "Kellan, we've got to get out there.  Can you kick down that door?  If you need an extra boost, I can use some magic to enhance your strength."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1184 posts
Miniboss
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 06:50
  • msg #182

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan looked at the door with a skeptical eye, but remembered all too clearly the surge of strength he felt the last time Cato had worked his magic upon him.

"I can sure as hell try, let's do it, before they run off the horses"

Kellan rolled his shoulders and prepared for another kick at the door before looking at Cato and giving him a nod. "Ready"
The Raconteur
GM, 2307 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 07:42
  • msg #183

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Bit you?"  Kerr looked concerned, but Liseth had already stepped towards the narrow window.  No matter how she craned her head around, all she could see outside was the Sanatorium's porch and the well-manicured lawn to the west.  The equine screams continued for a moment, then suddenly went silent.

Meanwhile, Pisca worked at the lock but was not quite able to open it.  She almost sprang the mechanism, but right when she thought she had done it one of her tools slipped and forced her to start over.

"Breaking it down?"  Kerr gave Kellan a tight grin as the guardsman moved into position.  "Hope you have better luck then I did."  He kept a close watch on Kellan, trying to time his kick so it would land at the same time as the bigger man's.  "Hit him with your magic, Cato.  Let's do this."

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To H15.

Standard Action:  Assist Kellan with Forcing Door.

23:33, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Assist Kellan With Breaking Down Door.

Result - Failure


PARTY STATUS:

Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |R |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  WL |  D  |C |K |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1174 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 14:09
  • msg #184

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded, running his fingers through his spell component pouch until he pulled out a small sprinkling of powdered iron.  [Language unknown: "Essheriouund!"] the mage said, as he touched the guardsman and stepped back as Kellan's already sturdy frame grew, doubling in size.

Enlarge Person: 5 minutes
Kellan gains a +2 size bonus to Strength, a -2 size penalty to Dexterity (to a minimum of 1), and a -1 penalty on attack rolls and AC due to its increased size.

Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2720 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 14:48
  • msg #185

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I almost had it!  I almost had it!!!"  The gnome's voice rose in pitch along with her cresting excitement.

"Almost."

She fit pick and wrench to the lock again and worked away.  But, in the end, without the special magic that bent time and space, the magic click that signaled the opening of the door did not come.

With a sigh, Pisca stepped aside.

"Alright.  Go ahead.  Kick it open."

Move:Standard: Open Lock = 25; opens Average Lock, but not this one.
5ft Step to J15

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 25.  Disable Device to Open Lock w/AL Plus Masterwork Tools added after

Position: J15

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 4/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1185 posts
Miniboss
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 16:36
  • msg #186

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan once again feels the strength coursing through his blood, feels his skin stretch against his burgeoning size and the club feel like a twig in his hand.  He stoops against the ceiling and  braces himself against the walls and floor before he lashes out with one huge boot against the door baring their way.

08:34, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Sunder Door.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2467 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 18:02
  • msg #187

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I can't see anything!"  Liseth was in a panic.  She never imagined someone would try to attack poor Heily!  For the moment saving her beloved horse was all she could focus on.  "They stopped..." The girl didn't know what the sudden silence meant, but several terrible scenarios played through her mind.

She rushed out of the little room and found Kellan smashing at the door to get them out of the asylum.  A very large Kellan.  She needed to help too!

"The gods are with you.  You can do it Kellan!"  Liseth found that her face was still streaming tears; but right now there were important things that they needed to do!

Like saving Heily!

Move: I 17
Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to next roll)

OOC: I think I 17 is open now, since Kellan had to move forward in roder to reach the door.

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 160 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 18:47
  • msg #188

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr looked back in awe as Kellan grew and grew and grew until he was absolutely enormous.  As much as the former acolyte was used to minor divine magic, and especially healing magic, Kerr still had a healthy respect for arcane power, and Cato's abilities were--in his estimation--absolutely amazing.  It seemed like nothing would be able to stand against this Giant Kellan . . . surely not a mundane object such as a door!

Sadly, Kerr's contemplation of Kellan's newfound size caused him to miss out on assisting the guardsman with his attempt to break open the door.  Kellan's huge boot crashed into the reinforced wood, shaking it.  The door creaked, but held.  Kerr looked at the portal with consternation.  What was it going to take to get through this thing?

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  None.

Standard Action:  Assist Kellan with Forcing Door.

10:38, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Assist Kellan With Breaking Down Door.

Result - Failure


PARTY STATUS:

Kellan is at +1 to his next roll.  Kellan is enlarged.  Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |R |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TK|K W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |L | K|K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |C |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:48, Tue 17 Nov 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2723 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 17 Nov 2015
at 20:28
  • msg #189

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"BOOOOOM!"

"Ook."  The gnome shied away, reconsidering how close she was as Stomper's giant foot bashed itself against the iron-bound door.  But there was something missing here.  Boom, but no splinter-crash.  Pisca opened her partially closed eyes to find the door still pretty much a door and not so much worse for having had a giant foot bashed into it.

"One more try.  One more try, alright?"

The gnome reached out from her place at the side of the door and once again began fit pick and wrench into the keyhole of the lock.  This time, Desna looked down and bathed the gnome in her glorious smile.

*click*

It was the sound of tumblers falling into place.  The door was open.

Standard: Open Lock = 33; opens Good Lock.
Move: Put away Tools.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 33 using 1d20+13.  Open Door.  This time added Masterwork tools into original roll.

Position: J15

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat
AL: 4/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1177 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 18 Nov 2015
at 13:48
  • msg #190

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato takes a slow breath, still feeling the edge of the nausea initially brought on by Grayst's stench, and exacerbated by the stinking cloud.  The mage couldn't believe that the magically-enhanced Kellan couldn't kick down the door.  He could try other things, but the fact that a simple wooden portal would stand up to one of his magics made the young wizard ponder.  What sort of things did Habe expect this door to keep in?

As the door clicked open, Cato eyed Kellan's expanded frame, and the door.  "Ah, let me know if you can't make it through that doorway, Kellan.  I can dismiss the spell, but it might be useful if we end up fighting more outside."

Conditions: Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Thu 19 Nov 2015.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2469 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Thu 19 Nov 2015
at 07:05
  • msg #191

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Hurry!"  Liseth moved around the table and got behind Kerr.  Now that the door was bypassed everyone was going to need to push through, she didn't need to be in the way.  "We have to save Heily and the horses!"

"Gods grant you divine guidance," the acolyte said upon touching her hand to Kerr.  She didn't know what was waiting for them, or even most of what had just happened in the last few minutes.  But they needed to be prepared.

Move: G 15
Standard: Cast Guidance on Kerr (+1 to next roll)

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1186 posts
Miniboss
Thu 19 Nov 2015
at 19:15
  • msg #192

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan was through the door the moment Pisca managed to open the door a fraction. He squeezed his way through the suddenly much too small frame into the next room in hopes of heading off the horse thieves before they made off with the animals, and their weapons to boot!

<Blue>Move: to I+J 13/14
Standard: Try door to the north.
/Blue>
The Raconteur
GM, 2312 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 11:16
  • msg #193

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




With a click, the door mechanism sprung.  Kellan was first through, heading to the portal in the north wall of the lobby.  He jiggled the latch, but it too was locked.  At that point, Kellan noticed two separate but equally-interesting things.  The first was that the jamb of the door contained a small amount of glistening red blood.  The second was that, as soon as he jiggled the lock, something began moving around inside the room, making audible but indecipherable noises.

Kerr was second into the lobby, skirting around Kellan's impressive bulk as he ran through the room to open the door through which they'd entered the building.  This door, thankfully, was not locked, at least from the inside.  Kerr peered outdoors, wary of an ambush, but didn't see anything aside from the porch, the well-manicured lawn and what looked like a rocking chair that was still gently rocking, although because of the wind or a recent encounter with one of their assailants was impossible to tell.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To H14.

Double Move:  Open Door.

PARTY STATUS:

Kerr is at +1 to his next roll.  Kellan is enlarged.  Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  | K|K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  xR | K|K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D L|  |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |C |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2725 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 15:29
  • msg #194

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Unlike Kerr Mollin, Pisca charged out the door without heed.  With a little heed, actually.  But not a lot.  Well, maybe she had her head down, ready for a possible attack.

"YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY PONY!" she shouted to the porch, to the well-manicured lawn, and to the greater open landscape of Varisia itself.

Only after shouting this unnecessary command to generally undesignated individuals, did she think to look around for signs of the horrible men who might actually be hurting their horses.  Common sense might have dictated the reverse.

Move: Move
Standard: Total Defense

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 23.  Perception.

Position: F13

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat (TD 24/19/14)
AL: 4/9
L1: 5/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Fri 20 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1187 posts
Miniboss
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 18:42
  • msg #195

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan pressed against the door and practically used his momentum rebounding off it to make his way out of the door Kerr had tried instead. Brandishing his club he rushed out behind Pisca, looking about for any signs of their enemies.

Move: to D/E 13&14
Standard: None

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1179 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 19:50
  • msg #196

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato followed Pisca and Kellan through the door into the outdoors, eyes scanning for danger.

Double move to F14
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2471 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 20:57
  • msg #197

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Through the door.  Liseth watched as first Kellan squeezed his magically enhanced self through the seemingly tiny opening; to be followed by Kerr and then Pisca.  Liseth was next.  Her slow gait saw her entering behind the others as they all rushed to get outside and chase down the villains who were after their horses.

But just as she was going to follow, she heard those noises coming from the next room.  Like a person.  For an instant the acolyte was torn between what to do, but those sounds seemed like they came from a person.  Possibly injured; another victim of those wicked teifling orderlies or the ghouls or anything!

She was ready to believe anything terrible about this place.

"Can you hear me?"  The girl asked through the door.  "Are you hurt?  Can you open the door?"  There was blood on the doorjamb, whoever was in there must have been attacked!

Or...it was another undead monster or evil person, getting ready to strike.  Liseth paused before grabbing her holy symbol.  If this was another ambush, she planned on being ready this time.

Move: J 13
Standard: Ready Sanctuary (To be cast on self if something attacks)

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

The Raconteur
GM, 2314 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 22:22
  • msg #198

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Liseth stumbled up to the northern door, called through it, and listened.  She was rewarded a "Mmmph!  Mmmph!  Mmmmph!" along with several banging and thumping noises, but the door itself did not open.

The scene greeting the rest of the party as they stepped outside was an ugly one.  To the north, where they had tethered their horses, Kerr's horse and Cato's horse, Frolic, lay dead, slashed to ribbons by the tieflings' shortswords, their bridles still tied to the post.  The great-hearted Hakon had apparently put up a fight as well.  He too lie dead in the grass, throat cut.

They could see the necromancer and the tieflings rapidly disappearing in the distance, riding off at speed on Nettie and Heily, the tieflings riding double on Liseth's good-natured mare.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To F11

Standard Action:  None.

PARTY STATUS:

Kerr is at +1 to his next roll.  Kellan is enlarged.  Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |R |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p  |  p  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |P | K|K x  |  |L x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |C | K|K x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2729 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 20 Nov 2015
at 23:20
  • msg #199

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Go," Pisca urged her friends.  "They have a head start," said the gnome.  And then her voice turned cold before she added, "But they don't know that we won't stop until we've found them."

"You can track them, can't you, Lys?  Go.  I'll catch up."

With that, she walked back into the Sanitarium of Doctor Habe and to the door behind which the muffled calls had been coming from.  Once again using the gift from a mad, undead ex-friend, Pisca picked the lock on the door.

"Doctor Habe, I presume," she said, and then opened the door.

Move: Move
Standard: Open Locked door.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 29 using 1d20+13.  Open Lock.  If necessary, use Timely Inspiration to +1 and hit 30.

Position: I13

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat (TD 24/19/14)
AL: 4/9
L1: 5/5?
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2475 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 35/36
Mon 23 Nov 2015
at 17:07
  • msg #200

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth looked back at the door and then towards Pisca before moving away to let the gnome work it open.  "I'm sure I can track them...but they have such a head start..."  The girl made it out the door to see for the first time exactly what had happened.

"Nooooo!"  She screamed and rushed towards the fallen horses.  "No no no no..."  Liseth looked towards the figures retreating atop her Heily and Pisca's Nettie.  Full blown tears were rolling down her face again, "What did you do!  Come back!"  She stumbled and braced herself against the wall of the building, "Bring back my Heily!"

[Language unknown: "Eeomre, mieeec ek ndngfi eiomca loil lar erec eenll reayinday hisherwas reai nd!"] Panicking among the butchered horses, the acolyte took a hold of her holy symbol and burst outward with bright, healing energy.  Was she already too late?

Move: G 12
Standard: Channel Energy in attempt to save fallen horses; Heal for 11

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

09:05, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 11 using 3d6+1.  Channel Energy.

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1182 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 23 Nov 2015
at 20:10
  • msg #201

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato looked into the distance, at the retreating necromancer atop the horses, but his attention was soon drawn closer, to the dying and dead horses.  He shook his head sadly as he watched Liseth approach the animals.  "Is it too late?"  Despite his burgeoning magical abilities, Cato still felt woefully underprepared.  He knew there were spells - maybe scores of spells - that could be used to end this chase, or make this easier, but he hadn't wasted his time preparing them.  He could blast zombies back to death with a fireball, but couldn't catch a pair of fleeing horses.  Sometimes the limits of his powers weren't obvious until faced with a situation when it became very obvious exactly what those limits were.  "I'm sorry, Liseth," the mage began.  "I could have been faster, gotten us out of there before they did this."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1188 posts
Miniboss
Mon 23 Nov 2015
at 22:13
  • msg #202

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan rushed out only to see Hakon, his prize thoroughbred, the one given to him personally by Dav dead at the hands of a bunch of cowardly degenerates.

His reaction was more subdued, perhaps his early years on the farm, where animals died to predators, in child birth, any just due to bad luck had somewhat hardened him. Perhaps he was just emotionally exhausted.

He let out a sigh and rubbed his face, his eyes screwed tight against the grisly scene as he tried to work out their next move. "Damn it..."

"Alright...let's see what they left us...if anything" he said somewhat to himself, the anger giving his voice an edge as he approached the bodies.
The Raconteur
GM, 2316 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 24 Nov 2015
at 04:37
  • msg #203

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




As Liseth clutched her holy symbol and bowed her head, a flash of positive energy flowed over both her companions and the fallen horses.  But the tieflings and their foul master had done their bloody work too well--the steeds were dead, and a far more-powerful divine intervention than a simple summoning of positive energy would be required to bring them back.

Kerr moved next to Liseth, putting his arms around her, trying unsuccessfully to shield her from the heartbreak and sorrow wracking her small body.  He looked sadly down at the piebald that had faithfully carried him into the depths of the Nettlewood and back.  So much trust, and his horse had died while tied to a hitching post, his rider nowhere to be seen.  Kerr buried his face in Liseth's hair.  He was no expert horseman, but he had been learning.  But they would learn together no more.

The only saving grace, the young paladin thought, was that Heily hadn't also been killed.  "It's okay, Cato," he said, lifting his head to look at the mage before following the killers as they disappeared into the forest.  "It's not your fault.  It's theirs."

As the blonde acolyte sobbed, Kellan's huge form lumbered next to Hakon, his giant hand smoothing the mane, mourning the loss of his valiant friend with not a small bit of smoldering anger.  As Kellan looked around, he saw that the saddles and gear on all three dead horses were seemingly untouched.  Not only that, but the saddlebags from Nettie and Heily also laid on the ground, their straps neatly cut.

Apparently their opponents had counted speed more important than whatever the contents of their bags might have been.

Meanwhile, back inside, Pisca found the lock to the northern room just as difficult as the one she'd just overcome to the south.  It nearly defeated her, before a sudden rush of insight allowed her to place her pick just like this, and it gave yet another satisfying click, bowing to the irresistable force of gnomish ingenuity.

She opened the door to find a small study that looked as if it had a split personality.  Parts of the study, including about half of the desk, were immaculate, clean, and well-organized.  The rest of it reeked of chaos, with documents, knick-knacks, and other accoutrements of the good doctor's trade were scattered haphazardly about like a painting from the new school of artists that was all the rage in Magnimar these days.

A figure who was unmistakably Doctor Habe writhed frantically on the floor.  His wrists and ankles were shackled, and he was blindfolded and gagged.  Blood trickled from what looked to be a newly-made cut on his forehead.

"Mmmph!"  The good doctor was definitely trying to make himself heard.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To G11.

Standard Action:  None.

PARTY STATUS:

Pisca expended her Timely Inspiration to pick the lock.  Kerr is at +1 to his next roll.  Kellan is enlarged.  Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  | K|K |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  | K|K |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  | Rx  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p C|  p Lx  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 04:38, Tue 24 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1189 posts
Miniboss
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 06:22
  • msg #204

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

What was going on in the world? When did it become unwise to even consider going unarmed? Or to even hitch your horse unattended? At a hospital of all locations? If this was the work of the dark gods and their servants, turning places like Sandpoint into hotbeds of violence, suspicion, and horror than they all had their work cut out for them.

Kellan was just starting to suspect how much work that might entail.

"Sorry boy...should have been here..." Should have had my weapon He chastised himself inwardly as he knelt down and took stock of their supplies.

"It's all here" he called to the others and hefted his poleaxe, relishing the weight in his hands.

"We just about ready ready to go after them?" He asked as he looked around, just before he realized that Pisca was no longer right beside them.

"Pisca?" he asked as he looked around. "Where'd she run off to?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1183 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 15:14
  • msg #205

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stepped toward the giant-sized Kellan, staring mournfully at the guard's horse.

"I'm ready to go after them.  I think Pisca heard something else inside."

Cato glanced back at the Sanitorium.

"I hope Doctor Habe is in there and wasn't allied with the tieflings or the necromancer.  It would probably be best for Sandpoint if this place wasn't left undefended."

The wizard was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"Though I find it hard to believe that Habe wasn't aware something was strange, with the undead lurking and his traitorous helpers.  Either he's dangerously incompetent or simply dangerous.  Still, I don't see a better option right now."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2731 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 15:21
  • msg #206

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Stomper's voice drifted in from outside and made its way to Pisca's delicate gnomish ears.  Though, why he would say something about being able to hear all was any gnome's guess.

"Looks like I caught you at a time when you're all tied up, Doctor Habe."  Pisca entered the small study with a dire mien, as though completely oblivious to her jocular play on words.  "Did you know that you had an evil necromancer in you dinning hall?"

With a savage step she straddled the human's head and sat heavily onto his shoulders, pinning him to the ground.  "Don't move, please.  Your necromancer has just made off with my beloved pony.  And when he's done running her to death, I'm certain that he intends to eat her."

As she spoke, the gnome's small hands worked away at the human's gag.

"I am, quite naturally, upset, and I fully expect you to do everything in your power to help us catch up to them and save the animals of which we are overly fond."

"Hmm.  Did you know that your office is a mess?  I wonder what they were looking for?"

Are we still in Combat Rounds?  You're still posting maps which tells me, Yes.

Move: Enter room.
Standard: Untie Habe.

Position: I12

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat (TD 24/19/14)
AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2478 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 26 Nov 2015
at 07:21
  • msg #207

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

She could only watch as Heily disappeared into the distance with her abductors.  There was nothing that could be done!  They wouldn't be able to catch them on foot; and there was no telling what might happen to Heily and Nettie once those villains thought they weren't needed anymore!

Everything was spiraling out of control far too quickly.

"I don't..."  Liseth started, then looked up, "What are we going to do Kerr?"  The girl was overwhelmed and demoralized.

"After them?"  She looked in the direction that the horse-murderers had fled; Cato and Kellan were already prepared to follow them.  "Yes.  Yes, we have to go after them.  That's what Pisca said; she'll follow after us once she's finished here."

Liseth gathered Heily's saddlebag and glanced inside; all of the important things were in there.  "At least we have our food."  As much as she didn't like the idea of having to carry the cookware herself, there was little choice anymore.

Feeling her shoulder where she had received her recent bite, Liseth cringed slightly.  She had no idea what was going to happen to her, if anything.  But she had a good idea what might happen to Heily and Nettie if they didn't rescue them!

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

The Raconteur
GM, 2318 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 29 Nov 2015
at 07:45
  • msg #208

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr hugged Liseth close as she asked him what they could do.  And what can we do, he wondered miserably.  What could anyone do?  Certainly nothing for the horses.  And who knew what mischief the necromancers and the tieflings might be planning?  It seemed like no sooner had they made progress in one area than they were dealt a devastating setback in another.

It was disheartening.

As Liseth left to inspect the saddlebags, Kerr glumly shrugged at Kellan’s question, then suddenly whipped his head around to inspect the area for Pisca.  Where was she?  He thought she’d left the building with them.  Had she gone back in?

“I think she’s still inside,” he agreed with Cato.  “Where else would she be?”  As soon as he uttered it, Kerr realized that this was a not-very-comforting question for those who knew the gnome.  “Um, let me check,” he extemporized as he began moving for the sanatorium’s main door.  Leaving Pisca alone was a recipe for . . . well, it certainly wasn’t the best course of action, to Kerr’s mind.  He picked up his pace as he headed back inside . . .

. . . Meanwhile . . .

Habe sagged in relief as Pisca began untying him, but tensed again at the words “your necromancer.”

“He’s not my necromancer!”  The doctor protested as soon as Pisca removed the gag from his mouth.  “I’m as much a victim here as you were!  If not more so!”  The man was clearly very worked up.  “You dealt with him for what, a few minutes?  He was using my sanatorium . . . my sanatorium! . . . as a refuge for his . . . his unnatural experiments!  For over a year!!!”  Habe was nearly frothing with resentment and anger.  “And there was nothing I could do about it!  He was holding my patients hostage!  Him and those infernal tieflings of his!”

OOC:  We are no longer in combat rounds.




This message was last edited by the GM at 07:46, Sun 29 Nov 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2733 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 29 Nov 2015
at 16:57
  • msg #209

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Well, if that's the case, you'll have no objection to telling us everything you know about him.  And help us catch him.  Rescue our ponies."

Pisca paused at the ropes that bound the esteemed Doctor Habe.  She considered the implausibility of one necromancer and two tieflings holding an entire sanatorium of patients hostage.  It was a place that would die anyway without staff and supplies.  The odds against word getting out and rescue to follow were not stacked in the favor of the necromancer and his hench-minions.  But, with uncharacteristic wisdom, she said nothing of this.  Time was of the essence and there was nothing to gain from letting on that she suspected his complicity.

Instead, she went on to work on the Good Doctor's bonds.  "Start with his name.  What's the necromancer's name?  How and when did he show up?  Did he happen to mention where he came from before here?  And ... did he happen to mention the name of Lord Aldren Foxglove?  Or, maybe Your Lordship."  Maybe Aldren Foxglove was no more.  Maybe all that was left of their generous friend was Your Lordship.

"Oh, and do you keep any horses here?  Anything to get you to town and back faster than a walk?"

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:50
  • msg #210

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Help you . . .," Habe spread his hands helplessly, "what kind of doctor do you think I am?"  He shook his head, as if chasing stolen horses was some herculean task.  "But I'd be happy to tell you all I know about the man.  Augustus Ziren is his name.  He's Magnimarian, I believe.  He became a silent partner in the sanatorium when I ran low on funds."  Habe grimaced into the middle distance, as if remembering a particularly unsavory moment.  "He said all he wanted was a quiet place to study, and was 'happy to be supporting such a noble cause.'"

The doctor nudged one of the displaced documents with his toe.  "You can see how that turned out."

"He lived in the basement.  I wasn't allowed down there.  But he . . . took anyone who died here at the facility, if they didn't have close family monitoring their condition."  Habe looked disgusted, perhaps with Ziren, perhaps with himself.  "For experimentation.  He was particularly interested in Grayst, since the man was clearly on his last legs."

"He turned the tieflings against me.  So there I was, with a hospital full of patients, and I was the only one who really cared about their well-being.  Ziren said he'd let his . . . things loose in the wards if he ever thought I'd been talking to anyone.  So I didn't."  As if suddenly realizing that Ziren was no longer his problem, Habe slumped into the nearby chair in relief.  "But now he's gone!"  He smiled for the first time that Pisca could recall.  "Really gone!"

"Aldern Foxglove?  The merchant noble?"  Habe scratched his head.  "I don't think Ziren mentioned him.  But then again, he didn't talk to me much."  The doctor looked at the floor, as if thinking, but then looked up.  "But Foxglove did make a generous contribution to the sanatorium when I was initially seeking funding."  He shrugged.  "I don't know if that makes any difference or not.  I haven't seen him since."

"And no, we don't have any horses.  I have neither time for their upkeep nor the funds to hire someone to care for them."




This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2734 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 30 Nov 2015
at 14:16
  • msg #211

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"You're not free yet," said the gnome, her voice distracted by the thoughts, festooned with dark flowers, that danced in her head.  "Remember, you've still got a basement full of ... *things*.

"Tell me, Doctor Habe, when exactly was it that Auggie the Evil Necromancer became your silent partner?  And when was it that Aldren Foxglove made his generous contribution to the sanatorium?"  And then, with a voice that virtually dripped with implications, she said, "One wonders where an evil necromancer comes up with the funds to support a sanatorium."

"Maybe ... Maybe that's what it comes down to.  Money.  I heard a saying when I was in Korvosa, 'Follow the Golden Sails.'  Have you seen any of these," said the gnome then, bursting into a flurry of activity.  She brought out the Card of the Golden Seven, the One Eyed Mask, and a piece of chalk.  With the chalk she drew the seven pointed Sidehedron on the floor amid the clutter.

"These.  In your association with Auggie the Evil En, have you ever seen one or more of these?"

And it was then that it came to Pisca Neep Freemish that she had a terrible decision to make.  To pursue Auggie the Evil En and rescue her beloved pony.  Or, to ransack the basement, where surely clues awaited.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2481 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 01:02
  • msg #212

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Pisca was opening the door into Doctor Habe's office."  Liseth said as she secured Heily's saddlebag to her knapsack; she wasn't about to leave it behind.  "She said that she would catch up with us..."  The girl paused; separating didn't seem like a good idea now that she thought about it.  There could be any number of more surprises waiting to ambush them here!

But they couldn't just leave Heily and Nettie either.  What was the right thing to do?

"If we follow them too quickly they might push Heily and Nettie too hard..."  Liseth looked off into the distance where the villains had run.  "And we wouldn't catch them.  They're too fast."  She sighed and her shoulders sagged as reality set in, "They are going to get wherever they're going before we do."

"I can follow the trail easily enough."  The young acolyte looked at the kicked up turf where the horse hooves had pounded, "But I think..."  She sighed again, "I think it would be best for us to search the Sanitarium.  Maybe we can still find something helpful..."

"We'll have to do it quickly though."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1186 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 14:49
  • msg #213

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded, and  helped secure their belongings from the ground.  "Perhaps we can find more clues as to the relationship between Aldern and this necromancer.  If we have Habe's assistance, searching this place shouldn't take too long, although he seemed anxious about us intruding on his study of Grayst before.  I wonder if that was his natural impulse to protect his patients, his worry that we would discover the necromancer, or something else?"
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1191 posts
Miniboss
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 18:53
  • msg #214

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Probably just scared" Kellan suggested as he moved alongside Cato. "Can't really expect a small town doctor to stand up to those types I guess, unless he was on the take...but, I doubt it." Kellan looked back at where the tieflings had retreated and made a promise to himself that he would never go unarmed again if it could be helped.

"Yeah...yeah we better toss the place real quick, then we can hoof it on back to town and see what we can do another...well, more horses."
The Raconteur
GM, 2321 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 20:09
  • msg #215

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr entered what was apparently Dr. Habe’s study just in time to see the man cringe away from Pisca, eyes widened in fear.  “Do you think . . . do you think there are more of them down there?"  A tremor entered his voice.  "I saw them . . . he made me watch while those monstrosities killed a patient.  Once.  Once was all it took.  Could you and your . . . your friends go down there and check?  I don’t have the,” he waved a hand in the air defensively, “the skills to deal with those creatures.”

The doctor made a visible effort to pull himself together.  He stood, sloughing off what remained of his bonds, then set his desk chair upright, straightened his tunic, and sat down.  “Aldern offered his donation when I was initially raising funds for the sanatorium.  He’s well known for his generous gifts to charity, you know.  Quite the philanthropist, really, if his reputation is to be believed, and I certainly have no reason to think it ill-deserved.”  His eyes flitted questioningly from the gnome to the paladin, as if wondering what the noble had to do with the sanatorium’s troubles.  But apparently he was too polite—or perhaps too scared—to ask.

“Ziren came later.  Running this facility was costlier than I anticipated, and the endowment I had arranged wasn’t quite making the returns I’d been promised.”  He frowned.  “I put out some feelers through my contacts in Magnimar seeking further funding, and that’s when I met him.”  Habe put a hand to his head, then looked in horror at the blood when he returned it to his lap.  “My goodness, am I bleeding?  How bad is it?”

“I thought Ziren was an answer to prayer, really.  A paying, scholarly tenant who just wanted peace and quiet for his studies?  That seemed perfect.  Sadly, the reality was much different than I expected.”  He sighed.  “Terribly different.”

Habe looked through Pisca’s various items.  “I don’t think I’m familiar with any of these,” he said.  “Although I think that’s some sort of religious symbol,” he speculated, pointing at the Sihedron rune, “but that’s really just a guess.  I can’t tell you why I think that."

He looked back at the other items, then picked up the Card of the Golden Seven, studying it closely.  “You know,” he ventured, voice slightly subdued, as if thinking, “I think I might have seen this symbol somewhere before.  Back in Magnimar.  But I can’t recall where, or with what it might have been associated.”  He shrugged.  “I just feel like I’ve seen it before.  Again, I can’t really tell you why.”

“Do you have a key to Ziren’s apartment downstairs?”  Kerr interjected.  He figured that the necromancer might have left some answers behind, given his quick exit.

Habe shook his head.  “I haven’t had access to the basement area since Ziren moved in.  He was very . . . particular about his privacy.”




This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 20:13, Tue 01 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2736 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 20:59
  • msg #216

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I thought you'd all gone off after our ponies," said the gnome to Kerr Mollin, casting an frown in his general direction.  She sighed.

"Here, let me see your head, Doctor Habe.  Yes you're bleeding," said the gnome after little more than a casual glance.  "But, if you can ask that question, then you'll be fine."

What to do?

Pisca gathered up the clues, stowing them back where they belonged.  In the process, she got an idea.

"Doctor Habe ... "  The airy and melodic tone in which Pisca called out the doctor's name was a sure sign that she was about to suggest something that he would most likely not like.  "How long do you think it would take you to run into town at your highest and most desperate speed?  If you were to run into town for us, and speak with Lieutenant Barett ...  If you were to tell him that we need a posse mounted to chase down Auggie the Evil En and rescue our beautiful and beloved ponies ... If you were to do this thing for us, then we might be willing to rid your basement of your patient eating things."

"What do you think?" said the gnome, putting on a wheedling grin.  "Fair trade?"

Realistically, how long would it take for an out of shape middle-aged human to run back to Sandpoint from here?

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:49
  • msg #217

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"What?  Me?"  Habe looked completely taken aback by Pisca's suggestion.  "Sandpoint?  I . . . I can't!  Who would care for my patients?"  He threw his hands wide in protest, looking to Kerr for help, as if the young man might show a gnome the light of reason.  "That is not a fair trade!  None of you have the training!  You don't know their schedules, or their medications, or . . . or anything!"

Outside the study window, the late afternoon sun shone through the trees, dappling the northern lawn with a latticework of light and shadow.  A light wind ruffled the grass, but nowhere near as violently as Pisca's suggestion had just ruffled Habe.

The doctor took a moment to compose himself, then ventured his own proposal.  "If you're unwilling to deal with whatever might be in the basement yourselves, you can go back to Sandpoint and ask Lieutenant Barett to send a squadron of guards to help clear it out.  But I can't leave the Sanatorium."  He heaved out a deep breath, crumpling slightly as he did so.  "Especially not now."




This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2743 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 3 Dec 2015
at 22:25
  • msg #218

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Sometime times humans fail to think things through.

"Listen," said the gnome, letting some of her ire show through her very Hands-On-Hips stance, "I don't think that you're thinking this through.  If we open the basement door, we can't guarantee that whatever is down there won't come through us and up here with you.  If you want to risk that, then fine.  But this gnome doesn't want to hear that she didn't warn you ahead of time.  Alright?"

"On the other hand, it isn't that far back to town.  You could make it there in around an hour.  If someone lends you a horse, you could be back with help in less time than that," explained the gnome.  "You could be back before nightfall.  Before meals or medications or anything become necessary."

"You understand this.  Right?  I want you to nod your head to show that you understand."  Pisca rolled her eyes.  And they let hummies like this be in charge of things?  "I don't mean to be short with you, but this really is the best course for you.  You'll be of little help here, and in the meantime, Auggie gets further and further away with our ponies."

"I'm going to go unlock the basement, Kerr Mollin," said the gnome, shaking her head.  "Point the way, Doctor Habe.  Lets see what sorts of Patient-Eating *things* your necromancer was keeping in your basement."

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2490 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 07:21
  • msg #219

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth returned inside following after Kerr, a some clanging cookware from Heily's saddlebag announcing her arrival.  "Pisca, they got away.  We can't catch Heily and Nettie on foot."  The girl had adopted a clinical tone as an attempt to distance herself from the horrible happening.

With a quick glance around the split office, Liseth's eyes settled on the injured Doctor.  He didn't look like he was a willing accomplice to what had just happened; Liseth had heard the word necromancer mentioned and it sent a chill down her spine.

"The Doctor is right."  She said to the gnome, "We can't ask him to leave his hospital now; after this happened."  The girl looked to Kerr, he seemed to have a similar idea to her, "And we have to see if there is anything to find here."  She frowned, "Even if there isn't, we have to make sure there isn't any more dangerous undead.  There can't be undead roaming a hospital!"

The young acolyte approached the Doctor and looked up at the blood on his head, "Doctor Habe, you need to sit down."  Liseth led him to his office chair, "Do you have any bandages in here?  I should dress this wound for you before we go."  The girl gently touched the Doctor's injury and summoned a sprinkle of water to clean the blood off.

"Pisca, make sure to wait for Kellan and Cato before you go into the basement.  Kerr and I will be right there as soon as we're done here."  She didn't look away from her patient, "If you could help me Kerr?"

"So Doctor Habe..."  Liseth began as she dressed his injury for him, "Do you know much about the undead?  That's what happened to your patient Grayst.  He was attacked by an undead murderer in Sandpoint.  And the attack drove him mad somehow..."  The girl gained a worried frown as she considered her next words, "As well as changing him into an undead..."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:56, Sat 05 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2744 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 15:33
  • msg #220

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Of course we can't catch them on foot, Lysa!"  The gnome turned at the doorway and threw up her hands in exasperation.  Loosing her Beloved Pony seemed to have placed her into something of a bad mood.  "That's why we need someone to run into town to get help!  And who's going to be up here doing nothing while we're in the basement fighting Auggie's *THINGS*?  Doctor I'm-Too-Important-To-Leave-The-Hospital here, that's who."

"He could be back here with new horses by the time we're done, Lysa.  Sandpoint is not that far away.  We could write him a note that will rouse the guard.  But instead, he's going to stay here and ... and ... and clean his office!"

"Say, you never answered my question, Erin."  Pisca turned to the human with suspicion in her eyes.  "They were looking for something here.  They were.  And you were here too.  What were the looking for?"

Sense Motive check, please.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1188 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 15:44
  • msg #221

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato gestured, and Kellan returned to normal size.  "That might make it easier to re-enter Habe's place.  We should go see what everyone else is doing."

Cato followed the conversation to Habe's office and nodded once he was caught up on everything.  "Can't blame the man for wanting to stay, I suppose, and we should clear out whatever might be down below.  Who knows?  We might even find more clues.  And I think we'll be able to track the horses just as well after that, and thi way, we wont have more undead, or some other nasty surprise under our feet or at our backs."
Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:49
  • msg #222

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

“But . . . but . . . ,” Habe spluttered in response to Pisca’s lecture.  It didn’t seem to be having much of an effect on the good doctor, aside from agitating him.  He gave Liseth a beseeching look when she entered the room, then a grateful smile as she began to tend to his wound.  He pointed her toward a small cabinet in the corner of the room containing bandages and ointment sufficient for the care of small injuries.

“Exactly my point!”  Habe agreed with the small acolyte as she retrieved the medicinal aids, as if her comments sealed the matter.  “I can’t leave the hospital!”

"But I . . . I don't know much about the undead."  The physician admitted in response to Liseth's question.  "They were always just stories to me.  I mean, I'd heard the priests talk, and I guess I believed them, but I'd never seen any undead, or any evidence of undead, or heard of anyone who'd encountered undead."  He waved his hand through the air.  "They were easy to ignore."  He chuckled ruefully.  "Until they weren't."

"I knew Ziren was a necromancer, obviously."  Habe went on quietly.  "He . . . he showed me that.  I saw his . . . his zombies?  Saw them at work."  He shifted uncomfortably.  "So I had what you might call a shift in my sensibilities.  And I thought whatever was wrong with Grayst was . . . supernatural.  Ziren's interest only confirmed it."

“And Ziren wasn’t looking for something here,” the doctor contradicted the gnome, “he lived here!  In the basement!  And had for more than a year!”  He calmed down a bit.  “But as I said, he was very interested in Grayst.  He normally could not care less about my patients, but Grayst was apparently different.  He demanded to talk to the man in private.”  Habe shrugged his shoulders helplessly.  “I don’t know what about, or what information Grayst might have given him.  If any.”

"But . . .," Habe continued as Pisca gave him a you-didn't-answer-my-question glare.  He wilted slightly.  "Um . . .," he looked around, then a light went off.  "Oh, you mean were they searching for something in here?"  He waved his arm, indicating the office.  "I don't think so.  The mess is simply from their," he coughed, "rather ungentlemanly efforts to subdue me."  A tinge of whining entered his voice.  "They didn't treat me very well."

The doctor set his shoulders once Liseth was done with her care.  “But I’d be happy to show you the way to the basement."  He said as if he hoped his willingness would appease Pisca.  "Follow me.”  He walked out of his office and back into the large room where they’d so recently fought with Ziren and the tieflings.  Walking over to the area on the right, he pointed to a door facing the western portion of the room.

Habe looked a little shocked as he pointed.  “The door,” he said, paling slightly.  “It’s . . . it’s open.  I’ve never seen it open.”

And so it was.  About two inches’ worth.  When opened further, it revealed a dark staircase plunging down into the depths below the sanatorium.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1193 posts
Miniboss
Sat 5 Dec 2015
at 03:29
  • msg #223

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Damn it" Kellan cursed under his breath, still obviously bothered by the death of his horse, with the door adding one more thing to worry about in all this. "We should clear it out...last thing we need to do is to backtrack or have to run some of these things down if they get loose into the countryside. It'll slow us down, but better now while we are here and they are contained than potentially later when they are all scattered to hell and gone."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2748 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 14:15
  • msg #224

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"WAIT!"  The gnome strode with great purpose.  With a characteristic Hands-Upon-Hips stance of disapproval, she stared down into the dark basement.

Then she slammed the door shut with a bang.  "Something's not right here," Pisca declared.  "Very un-right."

"And you," she rounded on the good doctor, with the Finger of Accusation™ "you only get the benefit of the doubt because Lieutenant Barett has vouched for you."

"How did this door come to be open?  It wasn't open when we were in here just now.  Could someone have doubled back on us?" she speculated.  "Could Auggie's escape have been ... and illusion designed to fool us?"

"Wait here, please."  Her eyes carefully examined her the dining hall as Pisca slowly made her way back toward the doctor's office.  Was anything else different?  The windows were too small.  Where else might someone have come in from?

"Please detain Doctor Habe here for a moment.  I'm going to give his office a good once over.  Maybe I can figure out why it looks half ransacked."

"They've had their way with our ponies already.  Nothing we can do about that.  No reason for us to rush into things without taking a very ... careful ... look first."

Perception: 36 (Taking 20) to spot other anomalies.  Especially other doors that might lead to the outside.

If you'd like to move things forward, use the same Perception 36 for the search of the office.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2491 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 15:37
  • msg #225

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Sorry Pisca," Liseth paused at her patient and looked down, "I didn't mean...I'm sorry."  It wasn't as though she didn't want to go after Heily and Nettie.  But what could they do?  It would take hours for someone to get help from Sandpoint.  And either way they wouldn't be able to catch up without knowing to where those villains fled.

"Do you mean that the necromancer...Ziren...he didn't seem to know anything about Grayst when your patient showed up here?"  The young acolyte asked later, while Doctor Habe was speaking about undead and the necromancer who lived in his hospital.  How could he have been so desperate for money that the doctor could allow someone like a necromancer have free range of his hospital?  At least without trying to let somebody know?

"How long did you say Ziren lived here in your hospital, Doctor Habe?"  They still couldn't assume that this was a mere coincidence.  An evil necromancer so close to Sandpoint; and now they're being attacked by an undead murderer in the night?  Ziren had to know something.

Her heart rate picked up as the basement door was opened.  The doctor's reaction to seeing it open did not do much to help any.  "You must have been down in the basement before though, right?  Before the necromancer moved in?"  Liseth looked from the dark stairs back to the doctor.  "Anything you can tell us about what it looks like down there will help."  Now wasn't the time to mention how she felt about entering a dark basement supposedly packed with the undead.

"Let the goodness of our cause shine as a torch to light the way."  The blonde acolyte whispered before touching her hand to the back of Kellan's breastplate.  "We're right behind you Kellan.  Remember that zombies are easy to cut and...and skeletons are easy to break.  But other weapons don't affect them much."

Liseth jumped as Pisca shouted to wait, "Wait...what's going on?"  She had to admit that she never had much of a good look around the room.  "Wouldn't it have just been opened from the necromancer coming upstairs?  He probably just...just didn't expect to flee.  So didn't lock it back up."

"Right?"  She paused and looked at the doctor, "What might they have wanted out of your office?"

OOC: Cast Light on Kellan.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2750 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 17:17
  • msg #226

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Lysa," the gnome turned back.  Half way to the far side of the room she turned back and pointed to the Ex-open door.  "I was there.  I was standing right next to that door.  No.  I was mostly lying on the floor at the time.  But, I was there.  I was looking right at it, and the door was *not* open."

"I would remember if it had been open," she said with a typical overconfidence that might have been augmented somewhat by an irritation at the fact that her beloved pony was about to be eaten by an evil necromancer.  And she continued on to the office, unconvinced that the mess had been made by a struggle - unconvinced, in fact, that Erin Habe would have put up a struggle at all.

Same Perception checks apply.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 17:58
  • msg #227

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Erin Habe looked as if he was completely out of his depth.  “I don’t . . .,” he said, watching Pisca head toward his office.  He looked to Kerr for support, but the paladin just shrugged with a what-are-you-gonna-do half-smile on his face that seemed to comfort the doctor to some extent.

“I don’t know exactly what he knew about Grayst,” Habe informed Liseth.  “I know that he was very interested when the guard brought Grayst here.  But whether that was because of Grayst’s condition or because he had some prior knowledge regarding the man, I can’t say.  He lived here for over a year,” the doctor forged on, “and yes, of course, I was down there before.  The stairs descend into one large room.  There are two smaller rooms off the main chamber, once directly across from the staircase,” he pointed directly ahead, “and one that is essentially next to it.”  He jostled the imaginary room with his right elbow.  “I do not know to what purposes he’s put any of them, though.”

“I have no idea what they might have wanted from my office.  I guess they might have gone through it after they tied me up, but they didn’t have much time . . . they were in a hurry.  Maybe they were looking for a patient file?"  He spread his hands, as if to demonstrate his lack of knowledge.  "I just don’t know.”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2753 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 19:20
  • msg #228

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

A minute passed.  Then another.  Finally, the gnome emerged through the door across the long stretch of dining hallway.

"Do you know what this is?" the gnome called as she approached.  She waved the small and thin object in question above her head as she made her way back across the room for the fifth time today.

"It is a pencil."  She crossed the room, making a beeline for the doctor.  And, upon reaching him, the gnome reached up and tucked the writing instrument into one of his pockets before passing on to the basement door.

"I found it under one of the cushions of your chairs.  That's all.  Nothing more."  And then Pisca Neep Freemish opened the door.  Without another word.  Without looking back.  She stepped quietly onto the stairs and began her descent.  Quiet and watchful, wondering how an evil necromancer and his two tiefling minions could make it back so quickly, let alone sneak past the way they had.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 23.  Perception for signs of movement or other danger ahead.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1189 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 19:22
  • msg #229

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato watched as Pisca prepared to brave the basement, ready to fall into position behind Kerr and Kellan as they ventured into the Necromancer's dwelling.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1194 posts
Miniboss
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 02:04
  • msg #230

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"There she goes..." Kellan muttered to Cato and Liseth as he hustled to catch up to their intrepid gnome, intent on taking up position right behind her, as usual.
The Raconteur
GM, 2332 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:07
  • msg #231

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"I . . . thank you," acknowledged a discomfited Habe as he accepted his pencil from Pisca.  He again looked to Kerr for help; the paladin gave him a companionable shrug.  The doctor was still staring at the pencil as his visitors descended the dark staircase into the basement.

The stairs ended in a cavern-like room, 20 feet wide by 25 feet long.  A door faced them from the southernmost part of the western wall; another graced the middle of the eastern wall.  The large chamber combined the features of a wizard’s laboratory and a catacomb—several tables bearing bodies covered by drapes dominated the room, while tools ranging from shovels to dissection implements sat on shelves against the wall.  Four torches in wall sconces illuminated the area.

Two of the three well-preserved cadavers were seemingly undisturbed; the third had clearly been the subject of some examination--the body bore various cuts and incisions.  Lidded jars containing various organs and other internal body parts sat neatly on a cunningly-crafted ledge pulled out of the table itself for precisely that purpose.

A huge map of the Sandpoint hinterlands dominated the room’s southern wall.  Various black, white and gray tabs—about 25 all told—were pinned to it, but there was no evidence legend explaining their purpose.  Upon closer inspection, it appeared that the pins were more numerous in the area of the southern farmlands and around the Foxglove River.

A desk sat in the northwest corner of the room; it contained inkwells, sheets of paper, and books.  A review of its contents revealed copious notes regarding Ziren’s experiments; apparently he had been trying to more-fully understand the development and effects of ghoul fever as it passed through various generations.

An earlier entry:

. . . unless I miss my guess, the subject in question—found wandering in Lews Tors (possibly from Pauper’s Graves?  Investigate)—was at least fifteenth generation, but I believe its age confounded my formula (there must be a way to control for this!  Needs additional research).  From my confrontation and subsequent study of its cranium, I believe it to be more susceptible to domination than the tenth-generation subject recovered two weeks ago.  But I need more subjects, and those closer to the Source!  If only I can discover the Key!  Unfortunate that infecting Habe’s patients won’t provide the answers I need . . .

A later entry:

. . . Pauper’s Graves is a gold mine!  I am both thwarted and emboldened by a discovery—I cannot say for certain, but I believe it to be ruled by the Lich-King of Celwynvian!  An amazing find, if I can confirm it.  Fortunately for me, the King himself seems bound to the area, probably by the magic of the ancient elves.  Would like to investigate further, but danger too great.  Barely escaped with my . . .

A few months ago:

. . . my suspicions are confirmed.  Subject retrieved from Bleaklow Moor is indeed first generation, and further supports theory that the recent attacks in the outlying farmsteads are work of a new Ghoulish Source!!  But how?  And from where?  If only I could apprehend the Source itself, it could be the Key I have been searching for . . .

Yesterday:

. . . finally may have some answers to the questions that have plagued me.  I am sure that this new patient of Habe’s has been infected directly by the Source.  I must question the patient before he expires to determine what I can about its attack.  And I must observe the Transformation itself!  An amazing opportunity . . .



This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Thu 10 Dec 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1191 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 19:57
  • msg #232

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato looked at the contents of the laboratory, feelings of disgust and curiosity competing in his mind.  He nodded at the corpses and the jars.

"Definitely belongs to a necromancer.  And look at these notes!"

Cato gestured to the pages laid out, and pointed to the map.

"I think it's entirely possible that our necromancer has nothing to do with these ghouls.  He's been studying them, and it was purely coincidence that one of the ghouls ended up here for him to study."

Cato shakes his head.

"I still find that almost too amazing to consider, but I suppose the bigger coincidence is that Habe let a necromancer into the basement of his sanatorium.  The fact that someone suffering from ghoul fever would end up here is probably expected."

He pointed to the tabs on the map.  "I suspect this is all the ghouls he's located.  If we didn't already have our next avenue of inquiry picked out as Foxglove, this might have given us something else to go on.  Though the sheer number of reports is troubling.  It seems that the Sandpoint hinterlands are experiencing quite an infestation - and these are probably only the ones that the resident necromancer has heard about, or maybe even personally encountered!  How many ghouls are out there?  We definitely need to be cautious in our investigation."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2756 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 22:03
  • msg #233

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"It certainly does look as though Auggie and we have both been looking for the same thing.  Different reasons, of course."  The gnome sat on the edge of the desk, kicking her legs in lazy quarter arcs.  She reached casually over and picked an inkwell up off the desk and held it up to the light.  Once assured that it was clean and well sealed, she tucked it under one flap of her pack where it disappeared, pending the needs of its new mistress.

She gathered up the papers too.  And the books.  "Too bad we can't take the desk with us," Pisca opined.  "And I want that map too!  Maps!  Nice."

"Pauper's Graves, huh?"  The gnome kicked off of the edge of the desk and landed on the floor with a soft *pat*tat* of her soft-soled boots.

"So, lets see what's behind these two doors and then hurry back to Sandpoint.  We can get fresh ponies and then track Auggie down."  Without showing a great deal of concern, Pisca strolled to the door in the southwest and put her hear to it.  "What do you say?  Is that a good plan?"

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 19.  Checking South Western Door.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2495 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 23:54
  • msg #234

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The bodies laid out within the basement held Liseth's attention as the party entered.  Were they dead?  Something else?  She didn't want to let them get the drop on her and her friends if it happened that they were more minions of the horse-murdering necromancer.

Until the notes left by the necromancer were found.  Notes detailing a disease he described as Ghoul Fever.  "Does he say how the undead spread their disease?  He thinks that Grayst must have been second generation...and he's found something that was as late as fifteenth?"  The acolyte poured over the notes to find anything she could about the Ghoul Fever.

"How is it treated?  He must have something about how to treat it..."  Even an evil necromancer would want to have some way of making sure he didn't become infected with such a horrible contagion.  She gathered up every note she could find on the Ghoul Fever.  "How is it passed...how long does it incubate...how is it treated..."  Liseth spoke softly to herself as she went through the necromancer's notes.

"Wait...wait Pisca."  Liseth looked up from the notes she was perusing.  "This was the lair of an evil necromancer for more than a year.  He might have put up magical protections."  The little blonde touched her focus, "We should be careful."

"Gods, reveal the presence of hostile magic..."  The acolyte in white whispered before concentrating.  First on the door Pisca had approached, then on the other door.  Finally she examined the whole of the room that they were within.

OOC: Cast Detect Magic
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1195 posts
Miniboss
Wed 9 Dec 2015
at 00:40
  • msg #235

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan entered the room with his pole-axe level, and stalked around the circumference once before he relaxed a little and looked about at the various effects left behind. The map in particular seemed to catch his interest, being a local of course, and after a few moments he turned to Cato.

"There can't be that many ghouls in the Sandpoint region...could there? I mean...I had no idea what one was until just a little bit ago...if they were roaming the countryside you would think that there would be all kind of bites over the years..."

He shook his head slightly. "Grave sites maybe?" he guessed. "Guy was obviously after bodies for some reason...and the shovel there. I don't think I'll ever understand what makes a man want to spent his time on Golarion in a basement, with dead bodies, trying to...what? gain power? just to see if he can?"
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 161 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 01:22
  • msg #236

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




After taking his leave from Doctor Habe, Kerr followed the group downstairs into what could only be considered a morgue.  It had the same cool temperature as the one they'd recently visited in the Garrison, and the same still, pasty bodies lying motionless on their biers, bereft of life.

As Pisca listened at the southwestern door and Liseth cast her spell, Kerr took a closer look at the pins on the map.  "Hey, look at this!"  He exclaimed, motioning Cato and Kerr over.  "I think there's some sort of pattern."  He pointed to a black pin.  "It looks as if the only free-standing pins are black pins."  His finger traveled across the map to a group of two.  "And the only groups of two are black and grey."  He finished up by indicating one of the white pins, which stood close to both a black and grey pin.  "And the white ones are only in the groups of three."  He pursed his lips as he stepped back to look at the map.  "I don't know what it means, but it probably means something."




Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2499 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 11:44
  • msg #237

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I don't...wait."  Her magical examination didn't reveal anything placed upon the doors or lying in wait as a trap.  Nothing she could detect anyway.  But just when Liseth was about to determine there were no magical auras, she located something.

"There's something...under the table?"  The acolyte leaned down to look under the suspect table; then slowly approached one of its legs.  "Here."  The little blonde carefully touched the leg she was examining, then grasped at it.  A slender stick came out and into her hand.  "It's magical; it has a magic aura."  She looked at it closer, then showed it off, "I think that it's a magical wand?"

Standing up, she looked at the body laid upon the table which had held the hidden wand.  Were they connected somehow?  The idea gave her chills at just what kind of magic the wand was enchanted with.

But after having read the notes left by the necromancer on the Ghoul Fever, the acolyte in white couldn't stop herself from examining the body.  Was this a person who had the Ghoul Fever?  Were there signs of the infection?  Might it be someone who could stand up as an undead; if not now then soon?

There was one thing she could do in order to be sure.  "Sarenrae, grant me the sight to see the foul auras left by the presence of an undead."  Once again Liseth took hold of Sarenrae's symbol, then once again looked around the room.  She hoped that she didn't see anything stand out.

OOC: Cancel Detect Magic, cast Detect Undead.  Look everywhere for any signs of an aura first, then concentrate to focus on and locate any auras found.  It should be able to penetrate the wooden doors too unless they happen to be lined with lead or something similar.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2759 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 15:04
  • msg #238

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"It means that Auggie had different colored tabs," hissed the gnome over her shoulder to the boyfriend.  "And that he had a system of marking.  Though I can't imagine that the undead are so convenient as to only go around in groups of one two or three."

"Is there any pattern on the maps to the groups?  Do the threes cluster and then spread out into twos and ones?"  Her whisper, though terse, now held a note of curiosity.  Pisca turned to push the door open, only to pause at Lysa's request.

"Alright.  Sure."  The gnome relaxed into a stance of waiting.  Human watching.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1192 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 15:24
  • msg #239

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato came over to Kerr, looking at the map.  "Maybe there are three kinds of events?  Rumors, sightings, and attacks?  So black would be rumors of a ghoul, grey sightings, white attacks?  Or it could be different, generations of ghouls, but that wouldn't explain why only white would be found with grey and black.  Maybe even a system for counting?  Rough order of magnitude estimates, perhaps?  Black is less than 5, grey is 5-10, white is more?  But that seems an inefficient system as well.  You could just write on the tabs."

Cato shook his head, remembering what these tabs represented.  Without fully deciphering his notes or talking to him, all this might be speculation.  He looked over to Kellan.  "You're right, though.  I can't believe there are this many ghouls around Sandpoint.  You'd think there would be many, many more attacks, unless someone was directing them, marshaling their impulses."  The wizard went quiet.  "But that would mean they were keeping them a secret for some reason, and I can't think of anything good."

He gave a weak laugh.  "Maybe we had it easy when we just knew about the goblins!"

Cato turned from the map, towards Liseth, waiting for the acolyte to finish her scan for more undead.  "Would you mind if I examined the wand?"

Detect Magic and Spellcraft check to identify wand if no immediate threats in sight.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1197 posts
Miniboss
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 21:04
  • msg #240

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan peered at the map then nodded in agreement with Cato. "He seemed really focused on ghouls, and the generations in particular, I would not be surprised if they represent ghoul in some way...sightings, or attacks, or origins maybe. We can take it with us...just ink in where the pins are now...maybe the Sheriff or the Mayor will know an expert of some kind."

He turned and looked at the wand, seeming distrustful of the little stick as Cato examined it.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1193 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 10 Dec 2015
at 21:12
  • msg #241

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato turned the wand over.  "Huh.  A wand of Gentle Repose.  It preserves corpses.  Very useful for a necromancer!"

Cato tucked the wand away, and turned back to the map.  "Yes, we should probably take this with us.  Note the tabs, and maybe we'll be able to make more sense of it later as we explore this ghoul problem."

Cato looks around for something to mark the map with prior to removing it from the wall.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2500 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 11 Dec 2015
at 20:15
  • msg #242

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Gentle Repose?"  Liseth was paying only half attention to the discussion, worrying so much about undead and Ghoul Fever.  "So it...preserves bodies?  To keep them from rotting?  That isn't...so bad."  Although she could see the value of such a wand to a necromancer.

"It looks safe."  The acolyte said upon finishing her examination.  "I don't detect any undead nearby."  That didn't put her mind to an incredible amount of ease, but there was nothing left to do other than continue their search.

"Go ahead, Pisca."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2761 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 15 Dec 2015
at 02:16
  • msg #243

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Safe.  As safe as a door can be.  The gnome gave her human friend a trusting nod and then pushed the door open.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 162 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 18 Dec 2015
at 23:13
  • msg #244

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“The map doesn’t seem to have any regular pattern in the grouping of pins,” Kerr replied to Pisca, “although it seems as if the three-pin groupings become more frequent the closer they approach to Foxglove Manor.”  The young paladin put a finger on the structure’s location on the map.

“Gentle repose,” He said with mild distaste after Cato examined the wand.  “Father Zantus taught us about that.  It can be useful in certain circumstances, but can also be a gateway to necromancy.”  He glanced around the laboratory.  “Although it looks as if this guy went through that gateway with a vengeance some time ago.”

Pisca opened the door to find a relatively-stark, almost ascetic room, about 15 feet deep by 20 feet wide.  The portal opened into the southeastern corner of the chamber.  A simple, well-made bed with a rough sheet, wollen coverlet, and single pillow was pushed up against the northern wall, a study table against the western one.  A sturdy but unassuming chair sat pushed back from the desk, atop which lay a single, leather-bound tome.

The room had a faint, sickly-sweet smell, as if someone had been recently burning incense.  It seemed almost monastic, as if the person who resided there had no interest in earthly comfort at all.  There were no immediately-evident hazards.

“Safe,” Kerr nodded as he poked his head in above Pisca.  He grinned at Liseth.  “Looks like you were right!”




Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1199 posts
Miniboss
Sat 19 Dec 2015
at 13:38
  • msg #245

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan pushed in after Pisca, leading the way with the point of his weapon and looking about the room carefully, even under the bed before he straightened up and relaxed a little.

"Don't think he enjoyed error looked back" Kellan agreed with Kerr regarding their host going through the gate with a vengeance. "Still don't know who would want to live like this...alone, just down here stewing on whatever made them so bitter and mean"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2764 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 21 Dec 2015
at 19:30
  • msg #246

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Oh.  What a deadly bedroom of horrors," said the gnome in a deadpan voice.  "And I don't think it's so much bitter and mean, Stomper, as it is consumed by work.  Auggie looks to be a man who needs an avocation.  Maybe meet a nice girl.  Or a nice boy.  Or take drugs.  Maybe pinochle."

Pisca took a nonchalant stroll into the room and bent over once to take a casual peek under the bed.  "Well, let me look the place over to see what I can find," she said.  "Though I don't think there's much else to see."

Perception to search the basement for hidden things: 26 Taking 10.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2504 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 22 Dec 2015
at 02:50
  • msg #247

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

A nod answered Kerr when he confirmed that the room was safe.  Or at least, free from undead and traps.  It looked like a bedroom.

While Pisca went inside to search for clues or anything which might be important, Liseth focused on just one thing setting in the room.  She stepped inside and cautiously approached the desk, "Do you think that he would have more written in here about the Ghoul Fever?"  It could be anything.

At the desk Liseth peered suspiciously at the leather-bound tome as though it might rear up and bite her at any moment.  After spending a moment to search for a title which might hint at the tome's content, the acolyte cracked it open to see if there was anything important to read.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 164 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 28 Dec 2015
at 06:24
  • msg #248

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Consumed by work," Kerr agreed uncertainly, looking as if he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to spend time in a basement lair dealing with undead horrors.  "I don't know, maybe . . .," he responded to Liseth as she approached the large, leather-bound tome.

A brief inspection of the book revealed that--far from being a collected reference regarding the man's study of ghouls--it was a spellbook, written in the eldritch language of magic.

"Cato!" Kerr exclaimed, looking excitedly at the scholar.  "This is quite a find for you.  Isn't it?"

OOC:  The spellbook contains the spells bleed, detect magic, light, mage hand, prestidigitation, chill touch, mage armor, magic missle, obscuring mist, ray of enfeeblement, acid arrow, blindness/deafness, command undead, mirror image, displacement, stinking cloud, vampiric touch, cause fear, false life, gentle repose, ghoul touch, halt undead, and identify
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2767 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 28 Dec 2015
at 15:22
  • msg #249

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Well, that's something at least."  Pisca brushed the ever-present invisible dust from her hands as she came to the end of her nosing about.  "Nothing more to see here.  Might as well be on our way."

"At least we can tell Doctor Erin The Coward Habe that there's nothing down here and that there's no need to fear having his liver eaten by the ravening undead.  Lets hurry back to town.  How confident are you that you'll be able to pick up their trail, Lys?  Once we return with more ponies?  Shouldn't be too dark by then, I'd think.  Might be able to get a good start on Auggie and his minions.  Especially if he thinks we've given up the chase."

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1197 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 28 Dec 2015
at 15:48
  • msg #250

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded as he took the spell book, slowly flipping through the pages.  It would take him hours of study to fully internalize all the incantations scribed therein, but it represented a great deal of work on the part of the necromancer - and, more than anything else, revealed how surprised the man must have been, and how frantic his flight was.  Cato mumbled a brief assent to Kerr's question, feeling the foulness of necromancy even through the haze of the codes and magic inscriptions the necromancer had used.

"Yes, it is quite a find.  And I'm sure these might be helpful, given the right situation.  But most, almost all of these spells are necromantic in nature, and I've never studied that area of magic too intently."

Cato flipped through the pages more.  "Still, if we're to be facing ghouls and other necromantic creations, some of these might help us.  Here's one spell to Command Undead, replicating what an evil cleric could do.  Or Halt Undead.  As hard as it might be to force these patterns onto my mind, it might help us all in the end."

Cato shook his head and looked up.  "Do you think chasing the necromancer is our best hope?  It looks like Sandpoint's got quite the ghoul problem around those farms, centering on Foxglove manor.  And we're pretty sure the two aren't connected?  What's the bigger threat here?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2769 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 28 Dec 2015
at 16:29
  • msg #251

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Pisca turned at Cato's words.  Her mouth hung open in a look of dismay.  Dismay turned to a pout within which her lip quivered and trembled.

"But ... "  The greater good and the interest of self warred across the battlefield of Pisca's face.  "But, Cato ...  My pony!" she wailed.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1201 posts
Miniboss
Tue 29 Dec 2015
at 02:26
  • msg #252

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan listened to Cato and fell to silence for a few minutes in thought.

"We won't catch them on foot, and we could spend days trying depending on where they're headed." Kellan agreed softly, looking dejected.

"They are our best lead at the moment...but I think we need horses. Trekking around on foot is just going to give them more time, all these things more time to prepare and attack whenever they feel like it".
The Raconteur
GM, 2341 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 30 Dec 2015
at 16:41
  • msg #253

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




The group left the basement and returned to the sanatorium’s main floor, where Doctor Habe waited with ill-concealed anxiety.  After partially assuaging his concerns by informing him that there was no undead menace waiting to drag itself up the stairs and assault his facility, Kerr assured the physician that they would tell Sherriff Hemlock and Lieutenant Barett about the recent events and see if they could not get a guardsman or two dispatched to protect it whilst the necromancer was still at large.

They then gathered their things and began the heavily-laden trip back towards Sandpoint.  Twilight had fallen, and frequent stops were necessary given their unusual burden.  By the time they had stumbled into town night had fallen—the street lamps lit its avenues and byways with a soft, almost-eerie glow.  The fog rolling in off the ocean obscured had begun to obscure them, making it seem as if the buildings floated on a sea of mist.

A bored-looking Tal Harden stood guard at the southern bridge over the Turandurok.  But he straightened up as soon as he saw who was crossing.

 “Sergeant Storval,” he exclaimed, nearly dropping his halberd as he brought it up to salute.  “It’s good to see you!  You should go directly to the Garrison!  Your horses came back a couple of hours ago, and nobody knew what had happened!”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2776 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 30 Dec 2015
at 17:44
  • msg #254

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The trip back from the Horrible Hamper of Doctor Habe had, for Pisca Neep Freemish, been filled with may exhortations for the others to hurry on.  Not too curiously enough, this had been juxtaposed with complaints that she was tired, and that her feet hurt, along with occasional enquiries as to whether they'd arrived yet or not.  But the news upon the arrival of the Saviors Five seemed to make up for all the weary trial.

"NETTIE!"  The gnome flung herself at a no-doubt-bewildered Tal Harden and seized his leg in an inexplicable hug.  No sooner had she struck there, than she dashed off in the direction of the garrison - a ball of kinetic energy, recharged by the good news.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Wed 30 Dec 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1201 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 30 Dec 2015
at 21:00
  • msg #255

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato marched back to town in stoic silence, mind still working over their encounter with the necromancer, the recovery of the spellbook, and the his stance against necromantic magic.  For the moment, at least, that wouldn't become an issue.  He needed time to study the necromancer's spell book to learn the spells himself, and it looked as though that wouldn't be possible in their current chase.  But sometime soon, the young mage felt he might need to put to the test the claim that magic wasn't inherently ethically biased in and of itself, only the uses to which it was put.  But something like necromancy seemed infused with too many dark connotations to possibly be true.  Gentle Repose might be used to preserve the corpse of an ally for later raising...or preserving a corpse for vile experiments.

Cato's dark thoughts lifted with their return to Sandpoint, and he smiled to the Harden and followed the eager gnome to the garrison.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1202 posts
Miniboss
Thu 31 Dec 2015
at 19:13
  • msg #256

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan trudged up into town, his pole axe on his shoulder, looking weary but driven. He raised his free hand in greeting to Tal Harden as they approached then paused to take a draw from his waterskin before he spoke.

"We'll head right over...got ambushed, out at the sanitarium" he replied as he glanced off in that direction. "Habe got trussed up and some wicked sorts moved in, but he'll be fine. Keep a sharp eye out Tal, and your head on a swivel. Looks like we aint out of the woods yet" he patted the fellow guardsman in the shoulder and moved to hustle on over to the garrison to see about the surviving stock, and about getting some replacements for their more urgent needs.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2512 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 4 Jan 2016
at 16:23
  • msg #257

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The walk back to Sandpoint was especially long and exhausting.  Every moment that passed caused more worry and anxiety to build up in Liseth.  Foremost on her mind was Heily; her kind and gentle horse abducted by an evil necromancer and his minions.  After he had murdered the other horses.

And there was the evil necromancer himself!  Loose on the countryside after doing all of those terrible things in Doctor Habe's hospital.  He was studying ghouls too...ghouls like the one who had bitten her.  And the Ghoul Fever that these ghouls carried...and spread to their victims.

She had gathered every note on Ghouls Fever that she could find.  Hopefully it would help them if...anyone were to come down with it.  She had to show these to Father Zantus.  And she had to rescue Heily...and they had to stop the ghouls and that necromancer and the evil ghoul murderer who had killed Katrine.

So much...

It was dark and cold before they got back.  But the moment they were greeted by the gate guard Liseth was in a line with Pisca.  "Heily's back!?"  She started off as fast as she could go at her stumbling, awkward gait; barely managing to keep pace with the energetic gnome.
The Raconteur
GM, 2342 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 5 Jan 2016
at 07:31
  • msg #258

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Tal Harden looked on with bemusement at he received a quick gnomish embrace, but his expression quickly turned serious when he heard Kellan's report.  "Ambushed at Habe's Home?"  The guardsman asked, looking pained as he used the colloquial name for the sanatorium.  "Isn't nowhere safe anymore?  I'll keep an extra-sharp watch, Sergeant."  He saluted with his polearm as the weary group moved towards the Garrison with varying degrees of enthusiasm.  "Won't nothing get past me!"

Night had fallen, and with the crisp chill of the night breeze only those with urgent business were out on the streets of Sandpoint.  But as the party approached the Garrison, it looked as if the guard was out in force.  Alergast Barett, clad in full armor, stood on the steps of the building addressing a gathering of eight guardsman.  Sheriff Hemlock stood next to him, arms crossed as he watched his lieutenant, a serious look on his face.  Alergast's words, indistinct at first, became clearer as they approached.

"I'm sorry to have rousted you at this hour, but as the Sheriff said, time is of the essence.  Sergeant Storval and his group left for Habe's Sanatorium mid-morning, and two of their horses returned an hour ago with no bit, no bridle, and no sign of where their riders might be.  We will be moving on Habe's in force, hoping for the best but assuming that Storval and his companions have been attacked.  Dav," Alergast gestured towards the shadows at the edge of the building, where the group could now see Sandpoint's horsemaster leaning against the Garrison, somehow blending into the stone, "will be taking point, looking for any evidence that they were ambushed on the way.  As I said . . . ."

Alergast glanced toward the group, then did such an exaggerated double-take that it would have been comical in less-pressing circumstances.  His mouth fell open as his speech abruptly ended.  Then, as the rest of the guardsmen turned to see what it was that had interrupted their marching orders, the lieutenant's face burst into a smile.

"Kellan!"  He nearly yelled, jumping down the stairs and moving through the assembled guards, who scurried to get out of his way.  "Good gods man, it is good to see you!"  He took in the others.  "And you all as well.  And that you all are well, if," he now took note of their bedraggled appearance, "somewhat the worse for wear.  What in the nine hells happened to you?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2777 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 5 Jan 2016
at 15:47
  • msg #259

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"WHERE!?!?"  The single word sort of burst forth with as much bursting as a word can manage from between the panting breaths of a running gnome.  But that single fortunate word was all that escaped the lips of Pisca Neep Freemish, and the next few moments were filled with wordless pleading and the clutching at the lower garments of any human within reach - beginning with Alergast Barett.  That, and more panting and the catching of breath, until at last, Pisca managed to speak again.

"Where's my pony?  Is she alright?  I was so afraid that Auggie the Necromancer had eaten her.  Or part of her.  Or the Tiefling Twins.  They must have had their own horses.  Somewhere.  And they're on their way to meet up with Aldren.  Where the colored pins are the thickest."

Breath, and with it the power of speech returned with something of a vengeance, spewing across the gathered humans in a stream that was, unbeknownst to them, less important for what it said than it was for what it did not say.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1203 posts
Miniboss
Tue 5 Jan 2016
at 18:20
  • msg #260

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan, with the situation being what it was, raised a hand to the assembled and kept it there a few moments as he hustled up. He was not smiling, their ambush and the death of their stock was still too fresh in his mind, but neither did he look especially rattled.

"We got ambushed out at Habes" He began, loud enough for those guardsmen nearest to hear. "Looks like Erin got taken in by a wicked sort, who turned on him in short order and locked him up in his own home" He paused for another drink from his water skin, swishing it about in his mouth before he swallowed.

"The leader, who knows a fair bit of magic, brought on a couple half breeds with some hellish blood in the family, easy to spot and hard to miss. Together they started experimenting...seems obsessed with the undead, ghouls in particular and that sickness they carry."

"We fought free thankfully and got a haul of evidence, a map of some sort and a journal, but they cut up my horse and took off with the rest of the stock while we were distracted." He glanced over at Cato. "Cato here unleashed some serious spellcraft, might of saved our lives, he can probably tell it better than I can given his schooling"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1202 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 5 Jan 2016
at 19:56
  • msg #261

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato shook his head and stammered a rebuttal.  "No, it was nothing so much as that.  Just an evocation that stopped those shambling minions before they could get to us.  I just wish I could have helped against that foul cloud he conjured and stopped him from getting away."

Cato shrugged.  "But we lived, and the horses have returned.  So it's not a total loss."

The wizard had to look away from Kellan, dismissing his horse like that.  But there was nothing to be done about it now, only heading after either the necromancers or following their lead to Foxglove.  Which might both be the same, if he was following Pisca's thoughts.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2513 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 8 Jan 2016
at 02:08
  • msg #262

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Pisca...Pisca, slow down!"  Liseth couldn't keep up with the gnome; she shouldn't try.  Even when they both were so concerned.  The girl's hand went to Pisca's shoulders, "Sorry Lieutenant Barret.  Today hasn't been a good day for us."  Which she was sure the explanation from Kellan and Cato would relate.

She could put her own interpretation on it later.

"Mister Hosk..."  The acolyte steered her gnome friend towards Sandpoint's horsemaster, "Is it true that Heily and Nettie returned already?  Are they alright?  They're not hurt, right?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2778 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 8 Jan 2016
at 17:09
  • msg #263

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The gnome stilled beneath her friend's calming hands.  Her violet eyes turned upwards from even further below those of the golden-haired acolyte of many gods and goddesses.

"Yes, please."  Her hands wrung gently before her, signs of where her previous nervous energies may have gone.  "Please tell us that they're alright."
Daviren Hosk
NPC, 6 posts
Goblin Hatin' Horsemaster
Sandpoint's Finest Scout
Sat 9 Jan 2016
at 23:15
  • msg #264

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Sandpoint’s horsemaster gave Liseth and Pisca a sympathetic sort of look.  He could understand being worried about horses.  “You don’t need to worry, ladies,” he said, sketching a slight bow as Alergast began the process of dismissing the summoned guardsmen.  “Your steeds are being well cared for even as we speak.  I put them up at the Goblin Squash Stables, anticipating your return.  Only the best oats for the both of them," he smiled, "since it seemed like they’d been through quite the ordeal.”

He turned to Kerr, Cato, and Kellan.  “Sadly, only Nettie and Heily returned.  I was hoping your horses were with you, but,” his eyes hardened, “apparently not.  Tieflings.”  He spit, an edge entering his voice.  “You can’t trust ‘em.  Told Alergast that, but you know how he is.  ‘Give them a chance,’ he said.”  Dav looked over to where the lieutenant stood.  “Love the man like a brother, but sometimes he’s almost unbearably naïve.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help you, please just ask.  Horse-thieves are bad, but horse-killers are worse.”  Dav leaned back against the wall as Alergast seemed to be winding up his instructions.  “They deserve what’s coming to them.”




This message was last edited by the player at 23:25, Sat 09 Jan 2016.
Alergast Barett
NPC, 35 posts
Sandpoint Guard
Lieutenant
Sat 9 Jan 2016
at 23:16
  • msg #265

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“Thank you for coming gentlemen,” Lieutenant Alergast Barett waved to the assembled guardsman.  “You are dismissed.  Regular shifts tomorrow.”  The men dispersed in ones and twos, the pairs talking animatedly among themselves about what had just happened.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s been a good day.”  Alergast gave Liseth a sympathetic pat on the shoulder after he’d heard the group out.  “But think about poor Erin Habe.  He’s just been trying to do something good for the community, and he’s been harassed, bullied, and essentially kidnapped.  For what, a year?”  The lieutenant frowned.  “That’s disturbing.  People shouldn’t be punished for trying to do good.”

“So, there’s another threat on the loose in the Sandpoint Hinterlands.  And this one’s a powerful mage, sounds like.”  Alergast grimaced as he ran a hand through his hair.  Was there more gray than there had been?  There were certainly some noticeable strands of it.  “I think we’ll all want to take a look at that evidence you found and see if it gives us any clues to his purposes or whereabouts.  And let’s try and keep this as quiet as we can.  People are already frightened about the attack at the mill.  We don’t want that fear to spread if we can help it, and there’s absolutely nothing they can do about it anyway.”

“Sounds like you did a good job of it, Cato.”  The scholar earned a tired smile.  “I’m sure Aeren will thrill to your exploits if you want to stop by and share them.”

“Wait."  He stopped and turned to Pisca.  "You think that this necromancer is going to meet up with . . . Aldern?  Aldern Foxglove?”  Alergast’s voice was thick with skepticism.  He shot a glance at Sheriff Hemlock.  “That’s . . . hard to believe.  He’s always been a friend to Sandpoint.  He’s one of the good guys.  Didn’t he throw a dinner for you all?”

The sheriff stepped in.  “That’s a serious charge, Pisca.  If you’re going to go around accusing Lord Foxglove of something, you’d better have some evidence for it.  He’s a very popular man.  And a powerful one.”




This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sat 09 Jan 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2779 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 11 Jan 2016
at 15:00
  • msg #266

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Yes, well that's what I thought at first too, Lieutenant Barett."  The calm of relief had settled over Pisca, that, added to the exhaustion of their hurried return to Sandpoint, had turned her into a more reflective and more realistic gnome.  "But many things point toward Aldren.  He is a lord.  The map that we found show more ghouls around his mansion.  And he did know Kerr Mollin.  He might even have had reason for making think that Kerr was the murderer.  He did seem to have an eye for Lysa."

"When was the last time you saw Aldren Foxglove?"  That was the question.

"I guess, the only way to find out for sure is to go see him.  I wouldn't want it to be him.  And if it is, maybe we can help him in some way.  He struck me as a good man.  But, bad things happen to good people.  And, if it is him, and we can't help him.  Maybe we can avenge the man that he once was."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1204 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 12 Jan 2016
at 20:55
  • msg #267

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato listened to Alergast, his expression grave.

At the mention of Aeren, his expression finally changed, and the mage allowed a smile to sneak through.

"Yes, it's the exact sort of thing he'd like, I'd wager.  When we get to the bottom of this...unpleasantness, I'll have to come by and relate the story to him, and proceed with his training."

Cato sighed, aware of how often such things as were happening now interfered with everything else he'd rather be doing.  Tutoring Aeren, debating with Brodert, even relaxing in the Rusty Dragon.  At times like these, his worries about his past faded into the background, which was an...interesting change.  At least the Hellknights and his family worries didn't threaten Sandpoint.

Cato's expression snapped back to its somber state when the discussion continued to the implications of Foxglove and the attacks.

"We don't have any serious evidence that would hold up, but many pieces of telling clues that seem to link the undead activity with the Foxglove estate, if not Foxglove himself.  Investigating and proving the veracity of those leads is going to be one of our next steps.  At the very least, we'll have scratched out another possibility, though I have to admit that we don't have a good second option right now.  Unless there's been a very thorough campaign of disinformation and false planted clues, too much points to Foxglove, or at least his manor, for it to be coincidence."
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1204 posts
Miniboss
Wed 13 Jan 2016
at 21:15
  • msg #268

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan shook his head, obviously sharing some of his mentors reservations. "A suspect perhaps, sure, I agree that there is plenty here that needs looking into." he nods to Pisca a few times. "But just like we've been asking people to give Kerr the benefit of the doubt while we figure all this out, I think that Aldern at least deserves a chance to speak for himself before he go down that road."

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "But yeah...heading over to his place would be a good next step." he agreed with the pair, seeming to be a little uncomfortable with the idea. Aldern was a very well connected and generous man, and the thought of kicking in his door with the very same boots he had so generously had delivered all the was from Magnimar sat uneasily with him.

He looked back to Alergast. "Is there anything we can do for you while we are back in town? any new developments?"
Alergast Barett
NPC, 36 posts
Sandpoint Guard
Lieutenant
Thu 14 Jan 2016
at 04:10
  • msg #269

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“He’d like that a lot,” Lieutenant Barrett smiled back at Cato.  “You’re definitely one of his heroes.”

“I haven’t seen Lord Foxglove since the Swallowtail Festival,” Alergast allowed to Pisca, “but that doesn’t mean much.  He often goes many months at a time between his visits to Sandpoint.  He’s a busy guy.”  The big man let out a breath.  “I don’t want it to be him either.  I know him.  He is a good man, especially considering his wealth and power.  I’d vouch for him in the same way I’d vouch for one of you.”

“That’s what I’m thinking as well,” he agreed with Kellan.  “Whoever is behind this has already demonstrated that he likes to cast blame on,” he put a hand on Kerr’s shoulder, “innocent bystanders.  So for now, I’m not buying Lord Foxglove as an evil mastermind.  But,” he looked at Pisca, “it doesn’t sound like we can completely rule it out, either.”

“No new developments today,” the lieutenant went on.  “We haven’t had an attack since the mill.  I’m hoping that’s because our security measures have scared him off, and not simply a result of pure chance, but we can’t know that one way or the other.”  There was an audible cracking sound as he stretched his neck one way, then the other.  “But I don’t think I need your help here right now.  The best thing you can do is follow up on these clues you’ve found and figure out exactly what it is that is going on.”

“It sounds like Foxglove Manor is a good place to start,” he concurred with Cato’s conclusion.  “Maybe Lord Foxglove really is a bad guy.  Maybe he’s in a situation similar to Habe’s.  Maybe he hasn’t been back there since the Festival.  If what you’ve discovered is pointing that direction, then it sounds like that’s the direction you should go.”  He inspected the bedraggled group with a critical eye.  “But only after you’ve cleaned yourself up and gotten some rest.”




This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Thu 14 Jan 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2783 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 14 Jan 2016
at 14:42
  • msg #270

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"If Aldren isn't Your Lordship, then he's probably in trouble," Pisca added in.  "Wait till you see the map.  White tabs and black tabs and gray tabs," she said, as though the guard lieutenant should quite naturally intuit her meaning.

"Oh, do we have those notes?  I think we should leave them with the garrison.  They say some other - quite frankly - unsettling things that you should probably know about."

"Reminder to Pisca," Pisca said.  "Always gather up notes.  They could be important.  To someone."

"I'll be by tomorrow to see Nettie, Mister Hosk," she then added to the Horse Master of Sandpoint.  "I think special arrangements may be in order.  Poor Nettie."  The look on the gnome's face was pensive, contemplative, bordering on troubled.

"But, if you don't need me, I'll retire to the Dragon for a light meal, a bath and then bed.  Will you come with, Lysa?  Kerr Mollin?  I've ... well, I've been thinking.  All the long way back from the sanatorium.  I've had a thought that I find unsettling, and I was wondering ... well ... I was wondering what humans might think of it."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1207 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 14 Jan 2016
at 14:55
  • msg #271

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato looked down at his shabby clothes, which still smelled faintly (though perhaps just in his imagination) of the foul-smelling cloud the necromancer had summoned, and wearily nodded.

"As much as we need to see to this business as quickly as possibly, I think you're right, Alergast.  We'll certainly do better after a rest.

He reached his hand to tap his pack, thinking about the captured spellbook.  Maybe I have time to learn one of these tonight, the wizard thought to himself.

Waving goodbye, Cato headed back to the Rusty Dragon, planning to get a meal and settle himself into his room in privacy for some research before a night of well-earned sleep.

Cato wants to try and learn Halt Undead.  Do you want to make the rolls, Racon?
13:28, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 21 using 1d20+12.  DC 17 Spellcraft to Learn Mirror Image.
Successfully learned Mirror Image.  Added to spellbook.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sun 17 Jan 2016.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1207 posts
Miniboss
Fri 15 Jan 2016
at 03:37
  • msg #272

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Kellan was somewhat taken aback by Alergasts suggestion and his companions readiness to bed down for the night when they just seemed to be getting traction. It was not that he did not understand of course, just that he had not considered it before it had been offered. Could he even sleep right now? He felt so awake, so motivated to get back out there and end this before anybody else got hurt.

"I...well" he hesitated and looked to his friends "I'm still feelin pretty good to be honest. But you know I don't know much about magic, and I know that it can take a lot of you by the look of things." he looked mostly between Cato and Liseth. "I'll leave it up to you, whatever you decide."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2515 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sat 16 Jan 2016
at 06:12
  • msg #273

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

The affirmation of Heily's safety was a salve to Liseth's tired and worried mind.  "Thank you for looking after Heily, Mister Hosk.  I was so worried after that evil man ran off with her!"  She looked at Kellan; he was handling what had happened to Hakon very well.  Liseth didn't know what she would do if Heily had been murdered too!  "The necromancer ran off with Heily and Nettie from Habe's Hospital.  I wanted to follow them but we knew we could never catch them on foot."

"Um...do you think you could follow the trail that he left from the hospital Mister Hosk?"  Liseth asked the horsemaster.  He didn't seem too happy about Hakon's killer getting away, "I would try but there is so much that we need to do with these murders and other mysteries to solve.  But you would have to be careful; he's a very dangerous evil necromancer!"

"What?"  The acolyte turned from the stable master to Pisca, "Oh, um...okay Pisca.  I can go to the Rusty Dragon with you.  If you have something that you need to talk about."  The girl bit her lip as she considered a moment.

"But I still need to go see Father Zantus afterwards.  I have to tell him about the necromancer and show him the notes on the Ghoul Fever.  Maybe he'll know more about it than we do?"  And maybe Father Zantus will know about how to test for and treat Ghoul Fever too, "Either way, he'll need to know what to prepare for in case more people become infected; like the man we went to Habe's Hospital to see in the first palce..."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2787 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 18 Jan 2016
at 15:24
  • msg #274

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"You're ... you're not coming back to the Rusty Dragon with us?"  The gnome tips a quizzical look at her friend in the guard.  And Lysa, or so it seems, is anxious to get back to the cathedral.  Gathering humans, or so it seemed, was like herding cats into a pen.

"Alright, then," Pisca said, and waved the others to a distance out of earshot before she began.  "I ... I was so worried about Nettie.  It all turned out in the end, of course.  But ... "  She paused when she realized that she'd been wringing her hands.  She took a moment to shake them out before breathing deeply and starting up again.  "But what if it hadn't?  What if she'd been killed like your Hakon, Stomper?  I don't know how you can bear it."

"So, I've been thinking, maybe the best thing to do would be not to become attached to anything at all.  That way you're not hurt when they're hurt or die.  Like Kathrine.  I can't imagine how shocked you must have been, Lysa.  Bad things could happen at any time.  It's so terrible.  But if you don't become attached to anything in the first place, they can't hurt you.  Right?"

"But ... but ... I can't decide whether this is a good idea or a bad idea, so I thought I'd ask you.  You're my most trusted humans, and ... and well ... this seems to me to be very much a human-ish sort of feeling."
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2522 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 21 Jan 2016
at 06:08
  • msg #275

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth stopped in some shock at Pisca's pronouncement; this was an awful sort of dilemma that her friend was faced with.  And the answer couldn't be a simple one either.  Was it even something she felt qualified to answer?

"Pisca..."  What would Father Garrick or Father Zantus say?  "It's a worse thing, I think, to live never having become close to anything than it is to risk losing that thing."  The young acolyte thought some more, "As bad as it feels when you're scared of losing something, the good feelings you get from having it makes it so much better."

"I don't know what I would do if something really happened to Heily.  I think it's so terrible how Katrine was taken away..."  A frown; if she had only tried harder to fix things instead of worrying so much about making them worse...

"But I love Heily so much.  I would rather love Heily now and...and mourn if something happened later.  It's better than not ever feeling that way at all."

Liseth looked in the direction of the Cathedral, "Will you think about this Pisca?  In the morning we can talk more but I think this is a question that needs to be slept on before making a decision."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2791 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 21 Jan 2016
at 14:15
  • msg #276

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"So ... so ... so it's not an easy question, then.  I'm sort of relieved," said Pisca as she took in a sort of relieved breath and then let it out in a slow sigh of conciliation.  "I suppose that's why your parents are always hovering over you so," she added.  "Instead of leaving them with someone more properly disposed to raise them."

"I'm surprised that they don't lock you up and never let you outside.  I think I might do that with Nettie.  Next time we go out, I might leave her at home.  If we need to ride, maybe I'll find a pony that I don't love so much."

"Thank you, Lysa."  The gnome lifted a smile to all of her human friends.  "I'll think about it," she said.  "Now that I know it's a thing worth thinking about."
The Raconteur
GM, 2352 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 25 Jan 2016
at 18:54
  • msg #277

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




“If you have a map, I would definitely like to see it,” responded Alergast, looking very interested.  “We’ve been on the defensive the entire time against whoever is behind these attacks.  It would be good to at least get some intelligence on where he, or they, or it,” the big lieutenant looked slightly uncomfortable, “might strike next.”

“She’ll be there,” Dav nodded agreeably to Pisca.  “I’m sure she’ll be excited to see you.  But rest tonight is probably good for her as well.  She’s had a rough day.”  He waved a dismissive hand at Liseth, smiling.  “Please.  What kind of horseman would I be if I didn’t care for a gentle horse like Heily?  I’m just glad that the both of them are back, safe and sound.  Things could have,” his sympathetic look roamed over Kerr and Cato before finally settling upon Kellan, “been much worse.”

After arrangements had been made for the care and visitation of the horses, and the documents had been given to Alergast for review and safekeeping at the Garrison, Dav and Alergast bid the group their goodbyes—the lieutenant went back inside while Dav headed south for his stables.

“I agree with Liseth,” piped up Kerr as the five continued to talk on the steps of the Sandpoint Guard’s headquarters.  “’It is better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all.’”  He glanced towards the cathedral.  “You weren’t here when Father Alfred came through a couple of years ago, but he was a wise man.  He used to say that all the time, and I,” he put an arm around Liseth, hugging her close, “agree with him.”




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