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Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne.

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2985 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 13 Jul 2016
at 13:30
  • msg #205

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"Do you hear that?" whispered the gnome into the warm, moist stillness.  "It's stopped," she said, heedless of the lack of sense implicit in the suggestion that one might hear the cessation of a sound.  "I mean, the sobbing.  It's stopped."

As though driven toward some sacred grail or pot at the end of some mythic rainbow, Pisca continued down the hall to find the end of all things.  Caution takes hold as the plucky gnome senses the approach of an end, the nearing of a culmination of things.  With care, she creeps the few final steps to the corner and peeks the top of her head out to see what lies beyond the bend.

Peek around corner.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 25.  Perception.
Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 25.  Stealth.

Position: G7

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

The Raconteur
GM, 2536 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 13 Jul 2016
at 15:38
  • msg #206

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




Pisca padded down the passage.  As she peeked her head around the corner, she saw another corridor heading to the north with even more doors; two on the right-hand side and one on the left.  The lack of even a dim light through the window at its end indicated that night had finally fallen.

Suddenly, a woman's scream echoed through the halls, its volume and anguish all the more intense for the dead silence that had preceded it.  From the sound of it, the scream came from the behind the door at the end of the corridor on the right.  It echoed and resounded through the attic for what seemed like an eternity.  Then it stopped, replaced by a quiet sobbing that the entire party could hear.

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  WL |R S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  DC x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  xK x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  | P|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+





This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:39, Wed 13 July 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2986 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 13 Jul 2016
at 17:28
  • msg #207

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"Did you hear that!!!"  The scream had frozen the gnome in place, and it was only with the return of the sobs that free movement returned to her limbs.

"Did you *hear* that!?" she repeated.  And then she was off.  "Lets go!"  The words lingered in the air, left behind as she zipped off around the corner and down the hallway.  She skidded to a stop at the end of the hallway, her hand reaching out, poised to throw the door open with the arrival of her human friends.

"She sounds so sad!" Pisca said, the excitement in her voice odd in juxtaposition with the sorry of which she spoke.

Ready to open the right-hand door at H2 when everyone's ready.

Position: H2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2661 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 14 Jul 2016
at 06:51
  • msg #208

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

At first Liseth was in no hurry to see what was hidden upstairs.  Or anywhere else in this horrible house.  If it were at all possible, she would love to solve this mystery and fix everything without having to be in here at all.

She jumped clear into the air the moment a scream pierced the tension.  "I heard it Pisca!"  Was that a ghost?!  Earlier the ballroom ghost screamed and everyone seemed to hear it too.

"I can hear...crying too?  Is that ghost crying?  Or....maybe..."  Maybe someone else had wandered in here ahead of them?  Or was trapped?  The acolyte reluctantly followed after the sound of sobbing and Pisca to see what was in store for them next.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1293 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 14 Jul 2016
at 15:45
  • msg #209

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

Despite being behind Kellan as they tramped through the narrow hallway, Cato's flesh still tingled when the scream assaulted them, just one more reminder of the evils the house offered.  "Part of me thinks we would be better with burning down this whole mess, than sorting out what we can from the ashes.  There seems to be nothing good in here, just sadness, terror and misery."
The Raconteur
GM, 2537 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Thu 14 Jul 2016
at 19:41
  • msg #210

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




After everyone gathered near the door, Pisca carefully opened it.

Or tried to.  Again, it was locked, and this time with an even more cunning mechanism.  Once again Pisca pulled out her tools, and after a minute she was able to spring the device.  The door swung open, and as the party filed into the room they were met with yet another strange sight among the many that apparently littered Foxglove Manor.

Strangely, the room was cold and damp, completely unlike the passageway from which they had just entered.  An old armoire stood near the east wall; the ceiling sloped down to only four feet high to the northeast, leaving room for a small window.  A full-size mirror in a dark wooden frame of coiling roses leaned against these bricks, angled toward the window.

Standing in the corner and looking into the mirror was a diminutive woman.  Despite her dirty, matted blonde hair and her strangely-pale skin, she bore a surprising resemblance to Liseth.  From her appearance in the mirror, everyone could see that her clothes and face were both caked with a dark substance that looked a lot like dried blood.

The woman took no notice of her visitors.  She stood there, staring into the mirror, sobbing.

"Excuse me, ma'am?"  Kerr broke the silence, his voice betraying his discomfort.  "Ma'am, are you okay?"

He received no response.  The woman continued to ignore the party and stare at the mirror, consumed by whatever misery assailed her.

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D L|P |SWx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x C|R |K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  W  |  S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  D  x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

SW = Strange Woman

M = Mirror





Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1294 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 14 Jul 2016
at 20:06
  • msg #211

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

When he viewed the woman inside the room, Cato instantly regretted his earlier comment.  Am I that willing to risk the death of potential innocent to save myself from some unpleasant experiences?  Nothing in this house has actually tried to harm us so far...

Cato tried to ignore that "so far" as he focused on the situation on front of him.  It seemed unbelievable that someone could actually be alive in this ramshackle old house, locked in the attic.  Then again, maybe she was locked up here for her own safety.  Maybe even by someone as he descended into the grips of undead-fueled hunger?  Grayst's transformation had seemed too sudden to involve such long-term planning, but based on the necromancer's notes, there were notable differences between the undead found.  Perhaps whomever was responsible for this woman's imprisonment had a more protracted decline into undeath.

Cato shivered again, and moved in to examine the woman, still hoping fervently that she was.  "Liseth, " the scholar sent through Pisca's whisper magic, "Can you tell if she's actually...alive?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2987 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 15 Jul 2016
at 14:51
  • msg #212

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

Pisca's gaze roamed from the small, oddly fixated human woman to Liseth.  It went back to the woman, and then returned to Liseth.  "Um ... Lysa," whispered the gnome after relaying Cato's words through her magic.  "I think you might have hit your head."

"But ... um ... " she continued in a normal voice, "at least you don't look dangerous, Lys.  But ... "  And the gnome craned her neck to get a closer look at whatever lingered in the mirror and seemed to so captivate this Other Liseth.  " ... you sure do seem to like your mirror."

Whatever check you might need to determine what might be holding the woman's gaze in the mirror.  Perception?  Knowledge check of some kind?

Position: I2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

Kerr Mollin
NPC, 167 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 15 Jul 2016
at 16:39
  • msg #213

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




The mirror that so fascinated the woman was very ornate and clearly expensive, but other than that there seemed no particular reason for her attention to be so fixed on its reflection.  Pisca’s gimlet-eyed gaze searched the mirror’s mahogany frame, but even she was unable to pick out anything about the mirror that might so enthrall an observer.

“Um.”  Kerr’s voice broke in to the communal inspection of the glass and its observer.  “She’s, uh,” he seemed to be searching for the right words, “not good.  Evil,  I mean.  Or at least I’m getting that sense.  I think.”  He still wasn’t completely comfortable with his newfound abilities.  “Definitely evil.  Although,” he shifted his weight from one foot to another uncomfortably, “she doesn’t seem evil, you know?”  He threw a confused hand out toward the sobbing woman.  “Just . . . sad.”




Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2662 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sun 17 Jul 2016
at 04:32
  • msg #214

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"She's..."  Liseth watched, fully unnerved by the girl before them.  "She's not me Pisca.  Don't say that..."  Even as she said it, Liseth was struck by the uncanny resemblance that this other girl had to her...except for how dirty she was.  And how she was covered in...what seemed to be blood.

Kerr was right about one thing though; she didn't seem evil.  But if he saw her with an evil aura, it could mean only one thing.  Liseth clutched Sarenrae's symbol with a slightly shaking hand.  The young acolyte wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to the question everyone seemed to be asking.

"Sarenrae, please grant me your divine sight in this...unholy place."  In spite of herself, Liseth gasped and took a step backward as her eyes began to see teh aura's of undeath.

"She's undead.  Kerr, she's undead."  Liseth shivered.  "She...she...she...looks like...an undead...me."  Was this what...Foxglove wanted with her?  To make her undead?  Was this girl supposed to be a vision or was she just an unfortunate victim and their similar appearance a coincidence?

Liseth mustered her courage and stepped closer, holding her holy symbol aloft.  Sarenrae's divine light bathed the sobbing girl so that everyne could get a better look at her.  "Do you...recognize this symbol?"  Liseth asked of the undead girl, indicating Sarenrae's holy symbol.  "What's your name?"

OOC: Cast Detect Undead; Cast Light
The Raconteur
GM, 2539 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 17 Jul 2016
at 17:33
  • msg #215

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




The sobbing woman completely ignored Liseth as she stepped closer, still completely absorbed in her own reflection as she wept.

"Undead?"  Kerr repeated.  "That's . . . that's horrible."  His eyes hardened.  "She does not look like someone involved in dark magicks."  Then he sighed.  "But then again, what does appearance really tell you?  Lord Foxglove seemed like a decent guy, and apparently he's mixed up in all of this too."




Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1299 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Sun 17 Jul 2016
at 18:26
  • msg #216

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

Slowly, the downright creepy events in the house were turning mundane to Cato.  Here was something in any other circumstance that would have been instantly worthy of their full attention: some form of undead, possibly intelligent, but, compared to the rest of the dangers and the dire threats they had already faced, it urged on the mundane.

Cato stepped closer.  "What should we do?  I mean, it's an undead, right?  Can it make more of itself?  Should we...should we kill her?  She doesn't seem to be of much danger to anyone."  Cato waved a hand in front of her face, testing for any kind of reaction.  "I don't even know if she knows that we're here."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2990 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 17 Jul 2016
at 21:25
  • msg #217

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"I'm ... I'm sorry, Lysa."  There was something in the human girl's voice.  Something that was profoundly upset that she had been compared, mistaken even, to this wretched thing that was glued to the mirror.  That something in Liseth's voice seemed to shake the gnome, and she became still - silent and contemplative.  For a moment.  And when she spoke again, her voice was full of thought and very serious.

"Have you ever wondered, Lys, why Aldern seemed so ... taken by you?  I think we have the reason right here.  I don't know what happened to her, but I think it is very much connected with whatever is happening to him right now."

Pisca, even as she spoke, began edging around the undead woman, reaching a hand for the frame of the mirror.  "Whatever it might be, we'll never know unless she stops looking at herself in the mirror.  Releasing her from the mirror might be dangerous.  But we'll never find out unless we do.  Alright?"  Her small hand gripped the frame in preparation for angling the silvery surface in a different direction.  "I'm going to move the mirror.  Be ready for anything," said the gnome.  "One, two ... "

Push the mirror so that the woman is no longer looking into it.

Knowledge Local check, please.  For a woman very close to Aldern Foxglove and whether she might have been short and blonde.

Position: I2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

The Raconteur
GM, 2540 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 05:46
  • msg #218

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




The woman's sobbing subsided into a weak series of snuffles, but still she stared into the mirror with a passionate intensity, as if she could burn through it with her gaze.  She completely ignored Cato's hand as it passed back and forth in front of her face, too caught up in whatever it was she saw in the reflection to do so much as spare him a sidelong glance.

Then Pisca moved the mirror.

The strange woman's sobbing immediately stopped.  After having her wails in the background for so long, the sudden silence was almost stunning.

The woman's chin dropped to her chest, her dirty, matted hair obscuring her face.

She took in a long, ragged breath.

Then she looked up at her new visitors, as if seeing them for the first time.  The intensity returned to her eyes, but this time--instead of sorrow--they were full of madness and rage.

"You," she whispered, her bloody face contorted with anger as she pointed an accusing finger towards Pisca.  "You did this to me.  Look what you did to me!"  Her eyes grew wilder.  "LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!!!!!!!"

With her wail still echoing through the small room that had served as her prison, she sprung towards the gnome as if she would tear her limb from limb with her bare hands.

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D L|P |SWx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x K|C |K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  W  |  S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  D  x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

SW = Strange Woman

M = Mirror

OOC:

Strange Woman

22:31, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Initiative.

Party

Roll for Initiative.  You may post an action if your initiative is 18 or higher.






This message was last edited by the GM at 07:06, Mon 18 July 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2992 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 13:29
  • msg #219

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"What?  No!"  Pisca's head snapped around to meet the snarling face of the Undead Not Liseth, drawn where it should have been in the first place and not the shiny surface of the mirror from which she's just turned.

"No!  Not me," the gnome complained, pleading her innocence.  "I didn't do it.  It wasn't me!"

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 12.  Initiative.

Position: J2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

This message was last edited by the player at 14:38, Mon 18 July 2016.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1301 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 14:24
  • msg #220

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

Cato gasped, surprised at the undead woman's sudden activity.  And yet...something didn't seem right.  She hadn't actually attacked.  Was she angry at them?  Or was she angry at whomever had done this to her?

Forgoing Pisca's whisper magic, Cato yelled out:"Everyone...can we defend ourselves?  I think she's just angry, but might not actually attack!"
10:14, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Mon 18 July 2016.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2664 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 17:27
  • msg #221

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

The suddenness with which this strange, undead girl changed from sobbing to pouncing caused Liseth to nearly fall backward in surprise.  Was it possible that whatever happened had also consumed this girl's mind with madness?

Initiative: 10
Position: I 2

Active Effects: Detect Undead (Concentration), Light (50 Minutes)

10:11, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Initiaive.

The Raconteur
GM, 2543 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 19:06
  • msg #222

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




"What should I do?"  Kerr already had an arrow nocked but he couldn't decide if he should start shooting at the woman or if she was the real victim here.  His voice betrayed an anxious indecision.  "Do I shoot?"

While Kerr waited, the strange woman, her face a rictus of rage, paused in front of Pisca, staring at the gnome as if she were the only thing in the world.  Her gaze full of fury, the woman--or whatever she had become--was seemingly unaware of the calumny she was perpetrating.

She took in a deep breath.

And then she screamed directly into Pisca's face.

The shriek echoed through the room, through the manor, through the bones and perhaps the very souls of its hearers.  A heartbreaking, outraged cry filled with loneliness, anger and loss, wrath and vituperation.  As if the strange woman's entire being and whatever wrongs had been perpetrated upon her were expelled in one long anguished howl of despair and hate.

"Sweet Lady of Valor!"  Kellan moaned, eyes wide, nearly falling to one knee as he made the holy sign of Iomedae every child of Sandpoint believed would ward off evil.  "Save us!"

The feathers of an arrow tickled Kerr's cheek.  Despite her piercing cry, the issue of whether the woman was attacking them still didn't seem decided.  Never taking his eyes from the woman, he felt rather than saw Kellan fall back into the wall, muttering half-remembered prayers.  The young paladin felt stretched to the breaking point, the scream and the tension of the situation nearly overwhelming him.

"What should I do?"

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D L|P |SWx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x K|C |K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  W  |  S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  D  x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

SW = Strange Woman

M = Mirror

OOC:

INITIATIVE

11:34, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
07:32, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

COMBAT

Kerr Mollin

Delay initiative.

Strange Woman

Standard Action:  Shriek (DC 18 Will save or cower in fear)

11:39, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  DC 18 Will Save vs. Fear.
11:36, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  DC 18 Will Save vs. Fear.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MUST MAKE A DC 18 WILL SAVE OR COWER IN FEAR, UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT DEFEND THEMSELVES.  DON'T FORGET TO SUBTRACT FOR ANY WISDOM DAMAGE YOU HAVE TAKEN.  ANY PARTY MEMBERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY SAVE MAY TAKE THEIR COMBAT ACTIONS.





This message was last edited by the GM at 19:37, Mon 18 July 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2996 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 19:34
  • msg #223

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."  The words spilled from the gnome, falling over themselves as Pisca cowered behind her hands.

"I'm sorry.  But, it wasn't me!  IT WASN'T MEEEEEEE!"

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 11.  Will Save.

Position: J2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Mon 18 July 2016.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1302 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 21:14
  • msg #224

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

Still affected by the earlier attacks against his psyche, Cato could do nothing but cower from the terrible shriek, his mind frozen in panic.

17:14, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Will Save.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2668 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 18 Jul 2016
at 23:20
  • msg #225

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"She's str..." Liseth's words were lost in the horrible, heart-rending shriek that the undead girl released.  Just before the scream Liseth saw the power in the undead aura that coalesced around the form of this other small woman.  It was strong; she was not just any undead.

She was dangerous.  Something punctuated by the terrible, mind-quivering shriek of dismay.

Liseth maintained a white-knuckle grip on her divine focus, even as she let her undead-sight fade away.  "She's strong Kerr!"

"[Language unknown: Evepro'icasta, it chur uninic as enus!  Ad utsa out ure ekngst sttrsawi st ssast leho etwach-wees etutst riwiin o osvor ichsomlat!]"  Liseth channeled holy, golden-white energy to course through her body and gather in her symbol; releasing a massive surge of holy energy directly at the undead girl.

Will Save vs Shriek: 25
Standard Action: Channel Energy to Turn Undead (DC 21)
Free: Add +1 to DC modifier through Hannah's Challenge Perk

14:52, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  will save.

The Raconteur
GM, 2547 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 19 Jul 2016
at 02:54
  • msg #226

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




A bright flash of gold-white energy bathed the room in a fountain of divine energy.  For the first time since Pisca moved the mirror, the pale woman's gaze left the gnome--it shifted to Liseth, now full of terror rather than rage.  The woman put her hands up as if to shield herself from the brightness of the young acolyte's presence, whimpering and pressing herself into the western wall, as if she hoped to somehow meld through it and flee the avatar of holiness with which she was confronted.

As Cato, Kellan, and Pisca continued to recover from the woman's shriek, Kerr kept his arrow nocked and bow drawn.  After the baleful, seemingly interminable cry, the snuffling and moaning of fear seemed almost inaudible.  "Wow, Liseth.  That was amazing.  Thank Sarenrae."  He could hardly believe the sudden change in their situation.  "Do I . . . do I shoot her?  Or not?"

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D L|P |SWx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x R|C |K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  W  |  S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  D  x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

SW = Strange Woman

M = Mirror

OOC:

Strange Woman

19:38, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Will Save v. Liseth's Turn Undead.

Result:  Strange Woman flees as if panicked for one minute (ten rounds).  Since she is cornered, she cowers, using the total defense action.  As intelligent undead, she receives another saving throw next round.

Kerr Mollin

Free Action - Speak

Party Status:  Cato, Pisca, and Kellan are also cowering in fear.






This message was last edited by the GM at 06:25, Tue 19 July 2016.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 3002 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 19 Jul 2016
at 03:27
  • msg #227

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"It wasn't me," sniffs the gnome, still fearful, but now less so with the abated threat of undead abuse and spittle.  "It wasn't.  Really."

Cowering in fear.

Position: J2

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2670 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 19 Jul 2016
at 19:38
  • msg #228

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne

"No, Kerr..."  With the girl now cowering away from Sarenrae's divine light they were out of immediate danger.  Or so it seemed to Liseth.  "She's scared and angry.  She knows what she is and she hates herself..."  Liseth stepped past Pisca.  "Don't you think that's how you would feel in her place?"

"It's okay Pisca, we know you didn't do anything."  The acolyte stood in front of her friend to shield her from the view of the cowering undead girl.  They didn't need anything that might trigger another bout of rage.

"Kerr, I'm going to see if I can reach out to her.  I don't know how long she'll stay passive so please stay ready..."  Liseth continued holding on to her holy symbol, holding it between herself and the undead girl as though it were an invincible ward.

"Please listen to us," The little blonde started speaking, "We don't want to hurt you.  You have to believe us, we didn't do this to you.  You must know who did; are you sure it was a gnome?"  Hopefully she was in a state where she could rationalize.

"Do you understand me?"  Liseth spoke softly and calmly, the opposite of how she felt.  "Can you tell me your name?  We only want to help you."

Move Action: Swap Places with Pisca (J2)
The Raconteur
GM, 2553 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Wed 20 Jul 2016
at 06:13
  • msg #229

Book 2, Chapter #2:  To the Manor Borne




As Liseth leaned forward to earnestly talk to the pale, bloodstained woman, the look of terror in her eyes suddenly returned to one of violent hatred.

"LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!!!"  She screamed, her wail beating down on the already-cringing figures of Kellan, Pisca, and Cato.  The woman clawed Liseth, but more to get her out of the way than anything else.  It was clear that her focus was once again fixed on Pisca; she was yelling unintelligible but clearly unfriendly things in the gnome's direction.  But the claw attack was not without damage; it sliced deeply into Liseth's quilted dress and drew a thin line of blood from her unprotected neck.

"No!!!!!!!!"  Kerr cried out as he immediately released the arrow he'd been holding.  His anxiety over Liseth caused the arrow to bury itself harmlessly in the room's back wall, but his second arrow struck true, right into the woman's shoulder.  But she didn't seem to even notice it; her attention was completely on Pisca, shifting to Liseth only when she realized that the young acolyte didn't seem to be getting out of her way.

   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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  D P| L|SWx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x R|C |K x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--x--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  W  |  S  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xxxx--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  D  x  |  |  |  x  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--x--+--+--+--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--xDDxxxxDDxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

SW = Strange Woman

M = Mirror

OOC:

Strange Woman

13:43, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Turn 2 Will Save vs. Liseth's Turn Undead.

Full-round action:  Full attack on Liseth

13:47, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 16 using 1d20+14.  Claw Attack No. 2 on Liseth.
13:47, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 28 using 1d20+14.  Claw Attack No. 1 on Liseth.
13:49, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Strange Woman, rolled 13 using 1d8+7.  Claw Attack Damage.

Result:  13 damage to Liseth

Kerr Mollin

Full-round action:  Attack on Strange Woman

17:06, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Rapid Shot No. 2 at SW (PBS, DA, RF) with partial soft cover.
17:06, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Rapid Shot No. 1 at SW (PBS, DA, RF) with partial soft cover.
23:04, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 8 using 1d8+6.  Bow Damage to Strange Woman.

Result:  8 damage to Strange Woman (reduced to three by damage resistance).

Party Status:  Strange Woman has taken three damage.  Liseth has taken 13 damage.  Cato, Pisca, and Kellan are still cowering in fear.






This message was last edited by the GM at 23:30, Wed 20 July 2016.
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