You stand before the ruined keep, which squats atop a low, craggy
hill, its walls of toppled stone and massive granite blocks hinting at
forgotten battles and the clash of mighty armies. Now the ruins seem
host only to creeping vines and the foul miasma that drifts down
from the keep.
The air is overrun with pestilence. Fat flies bite at you incessantly,
and clouds of small black insects choke your every breath. The long-
abandoned land is strangled with thorny vines that drape the sickly
trees and hang from the ruined walls. There is an odor of rot and
decay, as if the hill itself were decomposing from within.
A sight gives you pause: a ragged banner, depicting a crimson skull
on a black field, stands high atop the ruined walls. Whatever lurks
within has terrorized you and your village for far too long.
You turn to your companions and ready your meager weapons. The
time for retribution has come.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:29, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

For years, the inhabitants of the Village of Misery put up with it.  The unexplained disappearances.  The horrible sounds heard at ungodly hours.  Then the crop circles and cattle mutilations started, and that was when the peons decided they’d had enough.  They may take our lives, but they will never take our wheat!

A peasant mob has formed and is approaching the castle.  More may be on the way... a lot more threatened to show up than actually did, at least so far.

Go ahead and list the characters you control who are present.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:47, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

Ducius, Thorrible, Brightwit, and Ron Hell.

Tordak, Adam, Squire Roland and Borrs

Durian, Ischium, Tarlton and Gristle.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

The keep looming high on the hill has long been a
source of fearsome tales and terrible legends. The
locals are steeped in superstitious lore surrounding
the keep; some of the tales ring with truth while others are
misleading wives’ tales or the fanciful mumblings of a town
drunk.


Each player, go to Dice Roller and roll 1d10.  (Just once, not four times.)  The link below should take you there, but you still have to hit the “Roll the Dice” button.

Roll 1d10
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

14:42, Today: Yeppo rolled 10 using 1d10.

“When I was drinkin’ in the Lazy Succubus, I heard a rumor that The keep was once ruled by a pair of brothers—chaos
lords, the foulest champions of evil to ever stalk the land!” Ducius says.

“Awww, shutup, Ducius!” Ron Hell replies, obviously not for the first time.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

21:06, Today: Oofi rolled 2 using 1d10

“I’ve heard this keep is so evil that just going in it is bad news.” Durian  volunteered.

Now that everyone currently playing has rolled for rumors, we can move on.  The party approaches the castle.

---

An old dirt road, now overrun with weeds and sickly vines, rises towards the ruined citadel. A
grisly sight bars your way: a pair of bodies, secured to poles by long
ropey vines. The wicked vines have wormed their way inside the bod-
ies’ eyes, ears, and mouths. To your horror, you realize the bodies are
still moving.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:49, Tue 06 Mar 2018.

"Does anyone see a way around them" asks Tordek

"I don't know but that sure is gross" says Borrs, thinking to himself, what have I gotten myself into.

"I guess we could try cutting around, avoiding the causeway and then coming up to the castle from another side.  But the brush surrounding the road looks mighty thick... it might take time.  And we could be attacked," Brightwit says.

"Awww, shutup," Ron Hell says in response.  He says this a lot.  But this time, he says it half-heartedly.

“Well,” Tarlton says cheerily, “I’ve got an idea. Any of you fine gentlemen got a torch? Maybe we could burn away some of these vines.”

Durian snorts. “May as well try sneaking by them in the dark.”

“I didn’t say it was a good idea. Just an idea.” Tarlton retorts.

Borrs "I have some oil"

As your discussion continues, you can’t help but notice that the vine-infested corpses are now walking toward you.  In a round or two, they’ll reach the party.  They seem hungry (or perhaps thirsty).

What will you do?

"Tordek, let's try and trip one up" say Squire Roland.

Roland pulls out his 10 foot chain and the two of them rush one low to the ground.

Adam and Borrs look at each other and follow up. Adam smashing with his club and Borrs slashing with his razor on (hopefully) the fallen target.

First you’ll have to get close enough.

Each player (NOT each character) roll initiative.  Use your most agile character’s agility modifier.

“My guys charge in, too.  Yeeeeehah!”

12:56, Today: Yeppo rolled 16 using 1d20.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

13:00, Today: Bigredtwenty rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Monster initiative.

13:23, Today: Smithy rolled 1 using 1d20.  Init.

And even here like my local group game. lol
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

14:13, Today: Oofi rolled 5 using 1d20

Smithy: in his excessive zeal to get at the monsters, Adam trips and drops his club.  He’ll be unable to attack this round.  (Luckily for him, he also won’t be attacked this round.

Initiative Order
16- npcs
11- monsters
9- Homund
5- Oofi
1- Smithy

(Note: technically, one round is spent closing range prior to attacking in the succeeding round.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:52, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Ducius and Thorrible take the one on the left.  Brightwit and Ron Hell go after the other one,

14:27, Today: Yeppo rolled 3 using 1d20.  Thorrible to hit.
14:27, Today: Yeppo rolled 17 using 1d20.  Ducius To hit.
14:28, Today: Yeppo rolled 4 using 1d20.  Brightwit to hit.
14:28, Today: Yeppo rolled 3 using 1d4.  Ducius damage.
14:28, Today: Yeppo rolled 12 using 1d20.  Ron Hell to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

The vine-mastered corpse shrieks as Ducius’s dagger plunges into its shoulder.  The monsters are quick to retaliate...

In a frenzy, the corpse on the left gropes hungrily for Ducius, but misses.

But Brightwit yelps in pain and terror as a vine thrusts into his belly.  He is still on his feet, however.

Next up: Oofi.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Four additional villagers are in the group of peasants approaching the structure: the Elven chandler Jandar Adnan, miller and baker Hudud Halan, the well-known barber Fasur Mista, and a wild-haired halfling mariner named Jander.

Rumor: 11:33, Today: Homund Willey rolled 5 using 1d10.

Initiative: 11:41, Today: Homund Willey rolled 9 using 1d20.

Jandar Adnan to hit: 11:44, Today: Homund Willey rolled 15 using 1d20.
Hudud Halan to hit: 11:45, Today: Homund Willey rolled 17 using 1d20+1.
Fasur Mista to hit: 11:45, Today: Homund Willey rolled 9 using 1d20-1.
Jander to hit: 11:46, Today: Homund Willey rolled 3 using 1d20+1.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Welcome to the party, Homund.  Your rolls will count for next round.  Go ahead and roll damage for Jandar and Hudud.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:54, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Jandar's dagger drinks deeply (12:04, Today: Homund Willey rolled 3 using 1d4.) as Hudud's makeshift club -- a rolling pin -- makes a solid thumping sound, connecting. (12:04, Today: Homund Willey rolled 5 using 1d4+1.)

15:12, Today: Oofi rolled 17 using 1d20.

Durian attacks with his crowbar. Ischiur, Tarlton and Gristle hang back, readying thier ranged weapons.


15:23, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4-1.

Durian gets in a good whack with his crowbar.

Durian thunks the head of the corpse that had already been stabbed by Ducius.  An ear drops off, followed by a spew of bright green ichor.

Next up: Smithy.

15:58, Today: Smithy rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Squire Roland.

15:58, Today: Smithy rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Tordak

Squire Roland drops the chain after seeing the chaos and attacks with his sword, Tordek swings with his hammer.

The hammer lands a solid blow
16:16, Today: Smithy rolled 4 using 1d4+1.  Club damage.

Adam fumbles around for his club and Borrs holds back this round.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:18, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Tordak hits. Go ahead and roll damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

The NPCs attack.  Ducius and Thorrible both hit.

16:18, Today: Yeppo rolled 4 using 1d4.  Damage Thorrible.
16:18, Today: Yeppo rolled 3 using 1d4.  Damage Ducius.

The previously untouched vine horror shrieks in pain and rage!

The monsters are quick to retaliate.  One hits Ducius, who screams as a vine-covered claw rends his shoulder.  He swoons but stays on his feet.  The other one grabs Tordek by the throat.  It inflicts 3 points of damage, enough to knock him unconscious!  He drops to the ground in a pool of blood.  But then Jandar and Hudud flank the monster, pummeling it.  One of the vine horrors goes down!

Next up: Oofi.  (Your characters with ranged weapons now have a reasonably clear shot, but it's still possible they could hit friendlies.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:33, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

16:39, Today: Oofi rolled 6 using 1d20
Ischium Takes a shot with his sling.


16:42, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d20.
Gristle  takes aim with his sling and fires.


16:44, Today: Oofi rolled 14 using 1d20
Tarlton aims carefully and fires off his dart.

Have Tarlton roll damage.  Does Durian Durian do anything?  He’s still on his feet.

For each missed missile attack (there are two), roll 1d100.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4.
Tarlton’s dart hits.

Durian goes in for another swing with his crowbar.
16:59, Today: Oofi rolled 20 using 1d20.

17:03, Today: Oofi rolled 35 using 1d100.  Ischium

17:04, Today: Oofi rolled 72 using 1d100.  Gristle


17:06, Today: Oofi rolled 2 using 1d4 Tarlton’s dart hits.


17:09, Today: Oofi rolled 7 using 1d20+1. Critical hit
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

The dart penetrates the remaining corpse’s palm.  Roll an extra 2d3 damage!

Also, your stray shots didn’t hit anyone.

17:21, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 2d3. Critical damage

The last vine horrors falls to its knees.  It clutches the wrist of its ruined right hand.  For a few seconds, vines dart in and out of the mauled appendage... trying to make it function again, perhaps.  Then they start to quiver.

As if suddenly giving up on deathlife, the monsters topples face-first into the dirt.  Some seeds spill from its wounds.

Combat is over.  Well done!

What will your guys do next?
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:27, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Squire Roland "You will be missed Tordek" as he removes Tordeks backpack, "would anyone like a hammer (club) to use?"

Borrs looks at his little razor "I guess I could use it"

As Roland picks up his chain, he says "You will have to do better Adam, keep a grip on your club"

Hudud gathers up some of the spilled seeds. "Mayhaps they'll make a crusty loaf!" he says, half-embarrassed.

Jander checks any of the sections of vine to see whether any is usable as a rough rope.

Hudud picks up the seeds.  They're slimy, and they feel like maggots crawling on his skin.

Jander thinks that if he wraps some of the vines together, they will probably serve as a decent rope.  (You may add it to your character sheet, if you wish.)

Smithy: did Tordek have any last words you want recorded in the record?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Thu 08 Mar 2018.

"Stop the evil that threatens us." Gasp, choke.

Adam looking sullen checks the bodies of the two monsters.

He braves the horrible stench of rotting human flesh and vegetation long enough to recover a short sword, a dagger, and five copper pieces.  (And seeds, if he wants them.)

"Does anyone need a short sword? I am not very good with one." Adam asks. Adam will hold onto the dagger and copper.

Hudud looks at the seeds. Are they actually moving like maggots or grubs? If so, he will drop them. If not -- and they're just slimy -- he will keep them.

Jander winds up some of the vines to make a makeshift but serviceable rope. How long a rope is he able to make?

Fasur Mista speaks up, remembering a rumor he heard in town: "The story goes that the keep was ruled by chaos lords," he says. "Even after they were defeated, their corpses were never discovered."

He then moves to Tordek's corpse and closes his eyelids with two fingertips, then touching his forehead. "Sleep deeply."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Thu 08 Mar 2018.

The seeds aren’t exactly moving, but they feel very alive.

You can make twenty feet of rope if you scavenge both vine horrors, but this will take a little time.

Hudud pockets the seeds, saying "I don't think we should plant these, so I'll keep them off the ground for now."

Jander will make rope as long as the party lingers, stopping when they prepare to move on. I don't want to delay or endanger our party by taking too long.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Thu 08 Mar 2018.

As Brightwit nurses his belly wound, he gazes further up the causeway.  “I see a portcullis up there, leading into the castle.  Or we could try going around, but if we go left it looks like there’s some rubble we’ll have to deal with.”

“Still talkin’ after all this,” Ron Hell adds.

Durian looks around at the others. “So...it’s the portcullis then?”

Ischium shrugs in semi-agreement. “Well, why go ‘round when we just killed these buggers?”

Tarlton laughs  - in agreement or contempt who knows?

Gristle remains silent for the moment.

Adam starts advancing on the portcullis hoping to prove his worth.

Borrs and Squire Roland both nod in agreement, "I appears as though we have a concession."

Hommund: if you want to have Jander continue forward immediately, you may write down 10' worth of vine-rope on your sheet.  Or have him linger behind for a little while, and make it 20'.  (Of course, it might be safer to stick with the party.)

As Adam advances, his eyes feast upon a grim sight.

---

The dark, moss-eaten gatehouse towers
above you, grim and forbidding. Murder holes, fashioned in the like-
ness of looming toads, threaten to gout forth flaming oil and tar.
Black arrow slits pierce the high stone walls. You can hear the flap
of the heretical banner above, hidden from sight by the vine-draped
battlements.
The ancient drawbridge has long since fallen away into ruin, leav-
ing only a few rotting planks placed across the ditch. The heavy iron
portcullis stands half-raised, the rusty spikes a mere four feet above
slots cut into the stone floor.

---

Tell me which characters are doing what.  If some characters are staying put, post that information as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:21, Thu 08 Mar 2018.

Jander stops making rope when the party continues to the portcullis. (10' it is!)

Adam, Roland and Borrs will cautiously advance across the boards one at a time. Then hug the wall as they approach the gate.

The three succeed in crossing over, and are now hugging the wall to the left of the portcullis.  Do you wait for more adventurers to join them, or proceed immediately?

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander watch Adam, Roland and Borrs move across the boards toward the gate. If they're able to make it under the gate safely, the four will follow carefully.

Homund: Are you waiting until the others have passed under the portcullis?

“If they made it across, I guess we can,” Thorrible says, in spite of his reluctance.

Ducius, Thorrible, Brightwit and Ron Hell cross over the boards and join the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

Once Adam, Roland and Borrs see that they are not alone on this side of the bridge they will slowly enter the courtyard with weapons at the ready.

Led by Adam, the seven of you boldly make your way into the courtyard.  Too late, you hear a mirthful snarling coming from the upper level of the gatehouse.  The portcullis slams down, trapping one of you.

It’s Thorrible!  His guts ooze out around the spike that has pierced him.  With his last breath, he mutters,

“It hurts... it hurts!”

Then he coughs, blood pouring from his mouth.  Soon he is still.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

---

The courtyard is overgrown with sickly
weeds and thick brambles. A deathly silence hangs in the air, as if
even the frogs and insects are afraid to draw attention to themselves.
The smell of rotting vegetation is pervasive, and the ground sucks at
your boots with every tentative step.
Nearly all of the courtyard’s buildings have fallen into ruin. A single
burnt-out shell set against the keep’s east wall is the only remaining
structure. Set near the heart of the courtyard is a well, framed with
a crude pulley system. To the east is the keep’s sole standing tower.

---

Reminder: only Smithy's characters and the NPCs have entered the courtyard.  All other characters are on the other side, and the portcullis (with Thorrible's impaled corpse) is down.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander have crossed what remains of the drawbridge, but they are outside the castle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

“Well that didn’t go very well, did it?” Tarlton  said with a sad chuckle.

“Now what do we do fellas?” Ischium asked

“Hey!” Gristle yells to the guys inside the courtyard. “You guys see a switch to re-raise the portcullis over there?”

Durian pipes up;  “ And lock it in place so the rest of us don’t become Shish Ka-bobs?”

Adam and Borrs will look around for a way to raise the gate while Roland keeps a watchful eye.

Adam and Borrs look around the lower level of the gatehouse (your present location), but they don’t see any levers or any other obvious way to raise the portcullis (which was only half raised to begin with).

You hear boots clomping overhead, and then a loud, ominous bell tolls.

(Those of you who are on the other side of the portcullis may also act.)

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander approach the portcullis. The first three try to raise it, lifting, while Jander collects any personal items of Thorrible's that might be of use.

Roland will try helping lift the gate. Adam will keep an eye out.
Borrs will search for something to put under the gate if it is able to be lifted up.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Roland manage to lift the portcullis up far enough to give about two feet of clearance, and for now, are able to keep it up.  Thorrible's body rises at first along with the gate, then slides off the spike, landing with a grisly plop.  Jander crawls to it and searches quickly, and takes the following items off his unfortunate comrade:

1 hammer (as club), 1 oz. Mithril, a small sack.

As for Borrs, where exactly is he searching?  He finds nothing in the gatehouse that could be used to prop up the portcullis.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

That's good for Borrs, he didn't want to stray too far.

Will wait for the other people make it through.

Jander holds up the 1 hammer (as club), 1 oz. Mithril, a small sack for others to see and says, "If anyone else needs this stuff, we have it now." He puts it in his pack.

Can two people hold up the portcullis? If so, one will slide under, as will Jander. They will then hold it up for the remaining people to come over.

Durian crawls carefully under the portcullis, muttering muttering promises to Gods that are forgotten as soon as he regains his feet.

Ischium and Gristle go through next, then Tarlton, pushing his backpack ahead of him.

They all stand silent as they scan the area, wondering about the source of the bell and the clomping boots.

Hold on, players.  You’re getting way ahead of yourselves.

Oofi, to perform the actions you just described, first your characters must cross the planks leading over the ditch. Only then will they be next to the gatehouse. Secondly, they need to address the problem of the portcullis.

Homund: can two people hold up the portcullis?  You won’t know until two people have tried.  At the moment, four people are barely holding it up, but only by a two foot margin.  If they continue doing that, characters may attempt to crawl through (past Thorrible’s corpse).  But there is no guarantee they’ll be able to keep holding it up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:29, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

Jandar says, "This is piecework, like making candles, sure enough." He nods. "What we need to do is have four people hold the portcullis up -- people moving under -- until we have four on the other side to hold it up. Then everyone on this side can get over there, and the four on that side can lower it."

He looks at Hudud. "You move Thorrible's body out of the way so there's more room." Hudud scowls briefly muttering, but does so.

Hudud succeeds in dragging most of Thorrible’s corpse out of the way.  The squishy parts that don’t move with the rest of him shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle.

However, as Hudud was one of the four who were holding the portcullis up, soon afterwards the remaining three are forced to drop it back down.  This thing is quite heavy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:16, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

In a fit of bravado, Tarlton decides to cross the planks leading over the ditch gliding backwards in a ‘moonwalk’ step.

The others wait, debating who should go next and how they should cross.

Give me an agility check for Tarlton.  (This is 1d20, with the modifier.)

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be cute...

[Other players: feel free to post character actions while I wait for this roll.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:59, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

12:35, Today: Oofi rolled 20 using 1d20.


Moonwalk successful?!

Tarlton effortlessly moonwalks across the rotten plank, and even manages to make it look easy.  (Through the magic of rolling a natural 20!)

“Okay suckers! Who’s next? The sooner some of you get over here, the sooner we can maybe do something about this portcullis.”

Is there anyone who does NOT want their characters to end up inside the gatehouse (in other words, who prefers to take another route into the castle)?  If so, speak up now.  I'm getting ready to move things along.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

Eventually, the party figures out that several guys at once can hold up the portcullis with a reasonable degree of safety.  All earnest adventurers pass through into the gatehouse.

[New players: your characters have also entered the gatehouse.]

Now what do you do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Gristle looks around the gatehouse area, seeking the source of the bell noise or the thudding boots sounds.

Joining the last members to scurry under the portcullis are Gurren, the trapper, Vance, the woodcutter, Boxby, the hunter, as well as Grumm the Dwarven Apothecary.

"Sorry we're too late to have helped out with that bad business on the road up, but we're hear now", says Gurren, taking a look around the gatehouse.

"Well met", says a grimly smiling Grumm.

Vance nods to the group and readies his hand ax while Boxby nocks an arrow and cautiously scans the courtyard, watching for any signs of movement.

The bell has subsided, and there is no further sound of boots overhead.

---

The courtyard is overgrown with sickly
weeds and thick brambles. A deathly silence hangs in the air, as if
even the frogs and insects are afraid to draw attention to themselves.
The smell of rotting vegetation is pervasive, and the ground sucks at
your boots with every tentative step.
Nearly all of the courtyard’s buildings have fallen into ruin. A single
burnt-out shell set against the keep’s east wall is the only remaining
structure. Set near the heart of the courtyard is a well, framed with
a crude pulley system. To the east is the keep’s sole standing tower.

---

There is no sign of movement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

The stopping of the bell and boots sounds ominous.  Gurren and Grum will look up at the ceiling of the gatehouse, looking  to see if there are any openings and/or other things that could be dropped on us.
Vance will step out into the courtyard approximately two feet and look up and try to see what is above the gatehouse.
Boxby would like to try to estimate the distance to the well and to the eastern tower.

Gurren and Grum find murder holes, arrow slits, etc.  So it is entirely within the realm of possibility that the party could find itself being targeted with burning oil and/or arrows in the near future, but at the moment none of that is happening.

Vance sees nothing but solid wall, and no apparent way into the upper level of the gatehouse.  It doesn't look as though there is anything above it, although he can't really tell from this angle.

Boxby estimates 80 feet to the eastern tower and 50 feet to the well, although he can't be precise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:35, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

Ischium takes out his 10 foot pole and begins tapping the walls, listening for sounds that may indicate a hollow space or door.

Durian takes his crowbar and does the same to the floor, looking for hidden panels and doors.

Stepping to the edge of the courtyard, Jandar and Hudud look toward the burnt-out shell. Are the walls low enough to see over, or is it still fully enclosed?

Fasur and Jander look to the well, examining the pulley structure from afar. How complicated is it? Like for a rope and bucket, or for something more complex than that?

Did the footsteps appear to head to the tower?

In spite of much thudding and tapping, Ischium and Durian discover nothing.

Jandar and Hudud are unable to see anything but sky over the walls of the structure.  However, there is a huge gap in the castle walls further north, around the northeast corner of the courtyard.

There is currently no sound of footsteps, but it’s entirely possible that something may have fled to the east tower.

Vance has his hand axe out and will carefully move out 20 feet into the courtyard towards the well to get a better look at the pulley system and another viewing angle on the east tower and the gap beyond.  He's paying attention for movement from the weeds/brambles or from the tower.  Boxby will cover him with his bow and Gurren has his sling ready.

Vance follows a northeasterly path through the brambles.  He’s closer, but still not close enough to learn anything meaningful about the well.  The walls of the structure to the east have been scorched, and the door is barred with a large wooden plank.

Still no sign of movement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:45, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

Jandar, Hudud, and Fasur also move into the courtyard, toward the well. Jander follows them, turning back to look up above the entrance they just passed. All four are moving slowly, alert, hands ready at their weapons.

Looking back, they see solid wall over where they entered.  You are now several paces inside the courtyard.

Now what will you do?

They go toward the well, making their way carefully, alert.

Durian, Tarlton, Ischium and Gristle also approach the well.

Vance greets the group as they approach, “I don’t like the look of that place”, gesturing toward the burned out tower, “the barred door could be keeping something in.”

Gurren, Grum, And Boxby will join the group heading towards the well, weapons at the ready and alert for movement.

Vance will also go along to the well, keeping an eye on the east tower and the gap in the wall.

Jander nods in agreement. "Whatever it is, beast or prisoner, it'll keep with that bar in place until we're done otherwise," he says. "Let's check the well for scurvy dogs, and then the building if we can find an entrance other than that door."

A clarification: the burned-out structure is a rectangular building adjoining the east castle wall, not a tower.  Somewhat north of it, and south of the half-intact northeast tower, is a huge gap in the wall.  Even from here, through the gap you can see a massive sinkhole just outside the castle.  As you approach the well, you see that there is another gap in the northern end of the west wall, which is filled with rubble.

Don’t listen to this while you read what follows.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JmV9MsFnUbk

---

A barren ridge of black stone rises from
the overgrown courtyard. A low stone wall marked with eerie sigils
is built atop the crest of the stone, marking a well. A stout block and
tackle frame supports a single thick chain that plunges into the inky
blackness. A soft moan rises from the well, like a faint cry for help.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

Borrs, Adam and Roland will follow the group towards the well,  keeping an eye on the burned out shell to the east(?).

Grum will attempt to look into the inky blackness with his infravision, if he doesn’t see anything Gurren will look for a small stone to drop to try to judge the distance to the bottom (1 Mis-ery-Vil-lage, 2 Mis-ery-Vil-lage....).

Boxby will look back to see if Ducius, Brightwit, and Ron Hell have joined the group at the well or if he can see them back at the gatehouse.

Currently standing alone at the well, Grum gazes down into a yawning darkness.  What he sees confuses him, because the longer he looks, the deeper the well seems to be.  It’s as if its contours are fleeing his awareness.  He feels slightly disoriented.

Does he wish to gaze further, or will he now drop a stone?

Grum steps back from the well, steadying himself and rubbing his temples.  “There’s something not right in the well, it’s changing before my eyes!” He looks worriedly at it again.  “What say you all, dare we drop something down?”
Gurren adds, “we could pull the chain back up....”
“And hopefully no hellhounds come along for the ride”, says Vance, dourly.

Brightwit says he’ll throw something in, if you want him to.

Jandar looks at the chain and pulley system, touching the chain. "I wonder how this works," he says, voice thoughtful, as he experimentally moves the chain slightly, to see which direction lowers, raises, moving the chain the smallest of amounts. As he does so, he is concentrating on the device, watching the chain, the pulley.

Fasur nods at Brightwit. "Be sure you drop a rock, not a copper," he advises.

Give me an intelligence check for Jandar.  (Roll a d20, modified by intelligence modifier, if any.) (He won't have to roll high.)

Brightwit gives Fasur an irritated look, then reaches into the brambles for a loose stick.  Finding one, he drops it into the well.  And waits.

Jandar ponders the mechanism. 10:34, Today: Homund Willey rolled 11 using 1d20+2.

Durian, Ishchum, Tarlton and Gristle approach the well,  but stop about 6 feet away, all waiting to see what happens when (if) the stick hits bottom.

Jandar figures out that by pulling the rope, you can lift whatever heavy object is currently being supported by the chain (if any) out of the well.  This works because the rope runs through two pulleys, thus distributing the tension between multiple sections of rope, and giving the rope-tugger a mechanical advantage.  (Note: the chain is not currently supporting anything.)

Brightwit taps his foot impatiently, still waiting for the stick to hit bottom.

An eyebrow cocked, Jandar says to the group, "There's nothing at the end of the chain."

“An evil well for an evil place,” says Gurren, he looks at the sigils to see if they make any sense at all.

Vance looks around the well for any other implements, and also to make note of any other paths from the well and where they go.

Grum says, “shall we pull it up then?”  He takes the rope and starts to pull, “anyone lend a hand?”

Boxby nocks an arrow to be ready for the inevitable hellhound...

Grum pulls on the rope and gradually brings up some of the chain.  He finds that he has to step back a considerable way to continue doing this, since there is a lot more rope to pull than there is chain to be reeled in.

There is no path leading from the well except for the one the party followed to reach it.

Gurren is unable to make any sense of the sigils.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:07, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

Adam, Borrs and Roland will slowly advance on the burnt out shell to the east since nothing is jumping out at us.

Adam, Borrs, and Roland follow the path southeast for several paces.  This takes them closer to the burned building.  Now they can either choose to head south along the path, or enter the brambles to approach the barred door directly.  (Or they can wait and see if more party members want to follow them.)

Durian, Ischium, Gristle and Tarlton stay where they are, about 6 feet from the well. As Grum continues to pull on the rope they all listen carefully for sounds from the well.

Grum will continue to pull up as much chain as he can, without walking into the brambles.

Vance will take a peek periodically to see if he can see the end of the chain come into view and if there is anything at the end (hook, bucket,etc).

Gurren and Boxby will stand with their weapons ready.

Grum pulls up the rest of the chain.  At the end, Vance is interested to discover a leather harness.  Judging by the wear and tear on it, it’s been used quite often.

After the chain stops rattling, no further sound comes from the well.

Ducius, Brightwit, and Ron Hell are going with Adam, Borrs and Roland.  They want to check out that burned building.

Vance will examine the harness to see if he can tell if it was meant to lower a humanoid into the well or something else.  If it looks like it’s made for a humanoid, he’ll also wants to see if he can tell if it looks like said humanoid would be a willing participant.... or offering/victim.
Lastly, if it looks as if this harness is meant for a willing humanoid, he’d try to determine if the block and tackle set up allows for lowering oneself into the well.

Gurren will look toward the eastern wall with the sinkhole to see if there is anything he can make out from this distance.

Boxby will look to the western wall rubble-pile to see if there is anything of note in that direction.

Grum will take a look at the brambles to see if they look natural or a product of this foul place.

As Vance looks at the harness, Jandar does, too, also considering its size and whether the rope is long enough to lower yourself into the well -- but the rope was outside the well when they arrived (if he remembers correctly), so the last "passenger" wasn't self-propelled, perhaps.

 Hudud, Fasur, and Jander move with the others toward the small burned-out building with the barred door.

The harness, which definitely seems designed to support a humanoid, has straps that can easily be unfastened.  Make of that what you will.

Lowering yourself into the well slowly by utilizing the rope is probably not practical, as there is approximately 60’ of rope for roughly 15’ of chain.  On the other hand, if you aren’t worried about the chain breaking, you could simply put on the harness and jump.

The rope was indeed outside the well when you arrived.

The section of the eastern wall through which you can see the sinkhole, immediately south of what remains of the northeast tower, no longer exists.  It has been completely destroyed somehow.

The rubble pile in the gap in the west wall looks very rubbly.

Grum is no botanist, but he judges that those are some nasty, weird-ass brambles, unlike any he has ever come across in all of his bunny-trapping days.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 17:51, Fri 16 Mar 2018.

“Alright.  This will keep for now, maybe we’ll find the bottom of this well another way,” says Vance, “let’s join the others” and he sets off down the path to catch the others.

Nodding in agreement, Grum, Gurren, And Boxby follow him to catch up to the group going to look at the burned out building.

When they meet the group, Grum says, “I suggest we stay out of the brambles, they don’t seem natural.”

Ducius, Brightwit and Ron Hell head further down the path, heading closer to the burned structure.  They’re keeping an eye out for trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Fri 16 Mar 2018.

After heading south several paces, they reach a fork.  One path leads back to the gatehouse where you came in, and the other leads east/southeast to the southeast tower.  This latter path also leads much closer to the burned structure.

Gristle looks around at the others. “Well gentlemen, what do you think? We’ve investigated the gatehouse. Shall we try the tower?”

Your guys are still standing six feet from the well, Oofi.

Gurren, Vance, Boxby and Grum will join the others at the fork in the path, walking carefully weapons in hand.  Once they reach the fork, Gurren will look towards the gatehouse to see if there are other paths, perhaps one that leads directly to the burned building.

Boxby will look down the southeastern path towards the tower looking for anything noteworthy or unusual.

Vance is listening for any unusual noises from any direction.

Gurren looks over his shoulder back down the path to the gatehouse.  If there's a direct path to the burned structure, it sure isn't back there.

Looking down the south/southeastern path, Boxby sees that the party will have to enter the brambles at some point if they hope to reach the entrance to the burned structure.  However, by heading further down this path, they can greatly reduce their potential bramble time.

As for the southeast tower, it's looking rather... green.

Vance doesn't hear anything unusual (although this entire place qualifies as that).

Boxby will go carefully down the southeast path towards the tower, using whatever careful and quiet skill he may have from his hunting days and staying alert for movement or anything of note.

If nothing happens or draws his attention, he will try to go as far as the minimum bramble point for the burned out structure, if he makes it that far, he’ll also try to get a better look at the structure and the barred door.

If nothing else happens he’ll also look to see if being closer to the tower yields any additional details, such as why it is green.

The others will have their weapons at the ready and watching in case anything may happen.

Boxby travels several paces along the path to the southeast, until he realizes he’s about as close to the entrance to the burned structure as he’s going to get without entering the brambles.  He’s still too far away from the tower to be sure of the explanation for its greenish color.

Durian, Tarlton, Ischium and Gristle will join the others at the fork. All ready their weapons,  waiting for Gurren to finish his look about.

Boxby signals back to the group that it seems safe to proceed at least this far.

Vance will walk down to the point Boxby currently stands, walking carefully and with his hand ax ready.  Once there he’ll try to use his background as a woodcutter to weigh the odds that he could chop a path through the brambles to the burned out structure with his hand ax.

Boxby will then continue down the path towards the tower, moving carefully and alert.  He’ll be looking for other paths, either branching or running adjacent to his.  If he makes it to the point where the wall is destroyed and the sink hole lays beyond, he’ll stop and try to get some more detail on the wall/sinkhole and the green tower if he’s close enough.

“He’s a pretty good woodcutter but I’m not sure he’s going to clear the way with just that ax,” says Gurren to the assembled group, “what do we think?  Anyone got axes or torches?”

“Maybe we should see if we can get into the tower, I’m afraid if we go into this brush we’ll end up like those two outside!” Says Grum.

The sinkhole is located to the north of the burned structure (on the other side of the building).  The east wall of the castle between the burned structure and the southeast tower is intact.

Vance thinks it would take quite a while to literally clear a path to the barred door, but only a minimal effort to do enough work to enable the party to push through the overgrowth.

Boxby approaches the southeast tower.

---

Flanked by crumbling stone walls,
the moss-covered tower stands proud despite the ravages of time. A
tall, rust-bound portal bars the tower’s sole entrance, watched over
by a leering demonic gargoyle. Rings of deep arrow slits pierce the
thick walls, and overarching battlements loom high above.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:47, Mon 19 Mar 2018.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander stand at the edge of the brambles with the others, looking at them. "I have candles, but it might be easier to push through the overgrowth," Jandar says. "Though these candles are made with the finest of tallow and hand-woven string, I'd rather use them in darkness for light than to burn vegetation. Perhaps the best-armored of us pushes through first, to ease the way for those who follow."

“You’ve always made fine candles, Jandar, I think I can make the way easier for us all to push through,” says Vance.

Vance will use his hand axe to make it easier for the party to get through the brambles and to the burned building.

Boxby will return to tell everyone his impressions of the tower.

Gurren and Grum will join the group with Vance at the brambles, they’ll keep a sharp eye out while Vance chops.

After hacking away at thorny vines for a while, Vance makes his way to the charnal ruins.

---

This once-proud edifice has fallen
into ruin like the rest of the keep. All that remains of the building are
fire-scarred high stone walls and toad-faced gargoyles leering from
above. The singed, bronze doors—cast with hundreds of wailing de-
monic faces—are barred from the outside. The portal is marked with
a single word drawn in flaking red paint: REPENT.

---

(Meanwhile, back at the gatehouse, a fresh mob of villagers has arrived.  Several of them contrive to lift the portcullis, allowing some of them to crawl inside...)

After a brief debate among themselves Durian, Gristle, Tarlton and Ischium decide to join the group with Vance staring at the door.  Ischium arrives last, and is uncharacteristically silenced by the strange door.

Vance will look at the bar to see what it is made of and whether it looks heavy, also looking to see if the door opens in or out.

Gurren will join him at the door and examine it, seeing if, based on his trapper days, he sees any indication of booby traps. “Anyone have an extra hand weapon?”, he asks, “if we go in, my sling will be useless.”

(They’re being careful not to touch the door... yet)

Grum will walk back closer to the gatehouse to greet any of the new mob that come under the portcullis and to fill them in on what the group has discovered so far.

The bar is a large, heavy-looking wooden board.  You would guess that the door opens out.

Gurren sees no indication of traps.  Of course, he’s no Thief.

So far, no one is coming out of the gatehouse.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:55, Tue 20 Mar 2018.

Gatehouse-

A lawyer, a hippy, a chestmaker and a miner walk into a cursed as hell Keep.

Bergy says "Well, lets get going. This place needs to be brought under the weak arm of the LAW."

The Bergy troup begins following the path to the keep.

19:03, Today: Bergy rolled 5 using 1d10 ((5)) Rumor.

Bergy, Mort, Kramer and Morticia leave the gatehouse and enter the courtyard.  They see some armed peasants gathered in front of a scorched building build against the east wall.  A path also leads north to a well.

The three chumps follow their wimpy leader to the keep, seeing the other peasants gathered around the door. Feeling the apprehension in the air caused by the concerning "repent" sign and murder holes and also whatever the deal with vine-covered corpses from earlier was Bergy steps forth.

"This building is not up to CODE. These chaos-lord-whosa-whatsits are the most reprehensible charlatans I've ever seen." Bergy says, hiding behind his three much burler compatriots. "We ought to speak with their workers, see if they've been being paid proper. Let's knock on the door and see if anyone's got something to say."

Bergy nominates Mort the Elven Hippy as sacrificial door-knocking lamb.

Vance and Gurren step aside to let Mort through.

Grum nudges Jandar, “Would you look at that, Bergy the Lawyer and his crew have come out to join the mob.  Who’d a thought?  Well, this should be good.”

“We’re saved”, says Boxby with undisgused sarcasm.

Let me know when somebody touches or otherwise does something to the door.

The elven sage Mort walks up to the barred door, and slams his fist onto it.

"Hello, this is the Bergy and Huges milk-delivery and law service. Would you like some milk and/or law?" says Mort to the door.

The sage turns around and gives the mob a thumbs up, everything's gunna be OK.

There is no response.

"They aren't answering Bergy!" Says Mort. "Then give them the buisness Mort, the limp arm of the Law can't be stopped!" Says Bergy.

Mort shrugs and begins to attempt to lift the bar off the door.

The board comes loose with surprising ease.  The scorched brass double doors are equipped with large rings which are obviously used as door handles.

The demonic faces decorating the doors do give you pause, however.

Bergy says, cowering behind Morticia, "Whats the hold-up Mort?" "I don't know, I'm just fascinated by these knockers." says Mort. The elven sage then attempts to lightly caress the ornaments on the door.

ooc: are these things like, Beauty and the Beast alive or something? Should I roll Mort's persuasion for the door-nobs?

Gurren gives Mort a little shake to break his fascination, “my friend, I think the rings are meant to pull these open.”

Vance takes hold of the left ring, Grum takes hold of the right, “get ready everyone!”, shouts Vance and they attempt to pull open the door.

Gurren and Boxby will have their weapons ready in case something emerges.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander back up a step or two as they watch Vance and Grum begin to open the doors. They hold their weapons at the ready, eyes alert.

The doors seem to groan as you pull them open, revealing a horrific scene...

---

Six charred skeletons lie about the chapel, some crushed by burnt
fallen beams. At the head of the chapel is a fountain depicting a squat,
demonic toad. A foul, black ichor seeps from the toad’s broad lips,
pooling in the basin seated at the foot of the fountain.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Thu 22 Mar 2018.

Durian takes an involuntary step or two backwards and gasps. Ischium, on the other hand, takes a step forward, twisting his head around, trying to see as much of the chapel as possible without actually entering. Tarlton peers over Ischium’s shoulder.

Ischium gets a good whiff of that black ichor that is dripping from the toad statue's broad lips.  Needless to say, it doesn't smell like mama's chicken and beans stew!

“Ugh!” Says Grum, “what a stench!”

He holds a handkerchief over his nose.  He takes a tentative step inside and will try to judge the dimensions of the chapel, how far away the fountain is from the doors, and if he can tell whether the skeletons were human.

Gurren estimates the chapel to be about 60’ running North to South by 30’ running East to West.  The fountain is several paces to the east of the entance (where he is standing), or in other words, 20’.

The skeletons look human-ish, but he can’t be sure without examining them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Fri 23 Mar 2018.

The Bergy trupe pick Mort off the floor and enter in with the others. "Gods above, this place is awful. Look at these skeletons, left here to decay for eons. No burial site certifications in SIGHT. And this," Bergy gestures to the fountain of Ichor "is clearly not a legally acceptable amount of filth for a fountain. It should be a least a third less disgusting."

Bergy picks up one of the Skeleton bones and chucks it into the Iicor fountain, in an attempt to right these terrible workplace standards.

Bergy grabs a skeletal femur, intending to chuck it into the offensive fountain... only to yelp in pain as he is forced to drop it.  It’s hot to the touch!

Durian steps up and claps a hand on the shoulders of Ischium and Tarlton. Both jump slightly as Durian smiles. Looking over at Gristle to his right, then back to the two in front of him, he says “Well boys, are we going to let the others have all the fun? “

Tarlton smirks at Durian. “Age before beauty,” stepping to one side and making a sweeping gesture with his hands.

Durian smiles and steps forward, dagger in hand and eyes on the alert. He steps next to Bergy and asks him how badly he is hurt.

Bergy hasn’t lost any hit points, btw.

Vance and Boxby will enter the chapel as well, Vance will carefully move a few paces toward the far end of the chapel (south?) with hand axe ready to see if there are any more skeletons or perhaps an altar.

Grum will examine the skeletons to try to better see what they were and poke around the surrounding ashes with his staff to see if they may have had possessions that survived the inferno.

Gurren and Boxby will approach the fountain to better examine it, if the stench doesn’t prevent them from moving a little closer.
“Anyone happen to be well-versed in Chaos gods and recognize this fellow”, say Boxby, gesturing toward the demonic toad.

Adam, Borrs and Roland will also enter the chapel, they will search the outside walls.

Bergy, worst lawyer you've ever met, opens up his book of wimpy law. He searches it for any mention of chaos lords, chaos, a bounty list for the world most famous tax evaders, ect. "I'm sure the small lords of law wrote something about these people. Probably made them illegal right-out!"
12:40, Today: Bergy rolled 18 using 1d20 ((18)).

Meanwhile Morticia the destroyer of rock investigates the grim bones, fascinated. She attempts to place one of the bones in a leather pouch, to see if the pouch ignites. If it doesn't Morticia intends to crush the bones into a powder within the pouch. Who knows what good fire-bones could be for starting fires.

The north end of the chapel is just as far as the south end.  This room is rectangular, and the entrance doors are set in the middle of one of the long sides.

Vance moves south a few paces, and sees at least two charred humanoid skeletons toward the south wall.  There is also much ash, debris, and rubble, and several dark piles of something or other.  A thorough search will take time.

Adam, Borrs and Roland enter and begin searching the scorched, grimy walls.

Bergy discovers that the Chaos Lords owe MILLIONS in back taxes.  But until now, who was going to collect?

Morticia tries moving one of the bones with her bare hands, but it’s too hot.  She’ll need to find another way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Sat 24 Mar 2018.

Morticia glares angrily at the bones as she sucks on her slightly singed fingers. Carefully she takes the leather bag and tries to use it to scoop some of the smaller finger bones into it.

"I knew it, indeed these chaos THIEVES care nothing for the community! Look at this symbol right here, it means actual nothing. They just put pentagrams hither and thither without the slightest care for meaning, aesthetics, and certainly not hygiene!" Says Bergy.

Morticia manages to get some of the hot little bones into her leather bag.  Beneath the bones, she sees some hot embers glowing on the floor.

The accoustics of this room provide Bergy’s speech with an impressive echo.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Sat 24 Mar 2018.

Vance will search the southern area with the two skeletons.

Gurren, Grum, And Boxby will look down the northern end of the chapel to see if there is more of the same.

Here is a crude map of the chapel.  Tell me which characters are searching, and the coordinates of the squares they're searching in.  And if you want to take a particular route to reach a square, tell me; otherwise, I'll assume you make a beeline from the entrance to the square.  Each character can search one square at a time.



The following squares contain skeletons: B1, B4, D4, E2, I2, and I4.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

Bergy is preaching out on E3, Morticia is fiddling with dead people over by B1, Mort and Kramer are being losers by the doors at E1.

Durian and Gristle will step forward to examine the skeleton at E-2.

Tarlton and Ischium will proceed toward the skeleton at I-4.  Ischium will tap the floor with his pole before stepping on them.

At B1, Morticia discovers that the skeleton is still wearing a scorched chainmail hauberk, and holding a blackened mace.  There is also a burned flail adjacent to the skeleton.

Durian and Gristle discover nothing but hot bones at E2.

Tarlton and Ischium tap their merry way to I-4, where they discover more warm bones wrapped in a chainmail hauberk and still gripping a mace.

Bergy shouts legal platitudes from E3.  He feels considerable heat coming from the altar in front of him.  He also notices something sparkly on the grotesque frog statue.

Vance will examine the skeleton at B4.

Gurren and Boxby carefully make their way to the skeleton at I2.

Grum will stick by Bergy and move to F3.

Near the skeleton at B4, Vance discovers a blackened iron coffer.  It's closed.

The skeleton at I2 is wearing a charred chainmail hauberk and clutching a singed mace.

At F3, Grum can feel the heat coming in sickly waves from the toad statue.  Bergy's presence reinforces his courage, however.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:56, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

Gurren will carefully see if the mace in the skeleton’s hand is hot: if it is not, he’ll try to remove the mace from the skeleton’s hand and examine it.

Vance will take a close look at the coffer, he’ll carefully check to be sure it’s not burning hot and if it has a lock.  “Hey! Kramer!  You’re a chestmaker, right?  Come take a look at this and see if we can get it open without dying hideously.  Durian, if you still have your crowbar we may need your help with this coffer”
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

 Morticia kicks the skeleton until the bones are shattered, loosening the chain shirt's grip on the bones. Then she takes off Mort's shirt, much to his hazey confusion, and uses it to handle the armor. Morticia the dwarf then shakes the chain shirt till the bones fall out, hands hopefully safe from it's heat with Mort's shirt.

 As Guren speaks next to the legalizing Bergy his attention falls onto the squat, tax-evading frog. There atop it he spies a hint of the chaos lords back taxes, and then tries to see what exactly it is. He steps closer to the back wall, going from E3 to C5, and then steps on the edge of the fountain to raise himself upwards. The waves of heat give him pause, but chaotic beings do weird things for no reason. So why give their mad inclinations meaning for them?

As Bergy approaches the fountain, the disgusting ooze pouring from the toad idol’s lips suddenly comes to life.  A smoldering pseudopod lashes out at Bergy, slamming his chest.  He is knocked out cold... and his body is burning!

Bergy takes 4 damage

(Needless to say, this interrupts the actions of the other characters.)

Bergy sees his life flash before his eyes. A life spent being the most pedantic and pathetic man he could be. What a shame that he will be burned to a crisp.

Morticia will spin around the sudden cessation of Bergy's endless noise. Seeing the pseudopod in the fountain moving, she takes her trusty club and slams it against the creature. Moves to D4.

18:55, Today: Bergy rolled 9 using 1d20-1.  Morticia Initiative .
18:48, Today: Bergy rolled 18 using 1d20.  Morticia club attack.
18:49, Today: Bergy rolled 2 using 1d4.  Morticia attempted Club Damage.

Mort yelps and dashes forward, swinging his dagger at the monster. Moves to E3

18:56, Today: Bergy rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Mort initiative .
18:50, Today: Bergy rolled 19 using 1d20.  Mort dagger attack.
18:51, Today: Bergy rolled 2 using 1d4.  Mort attempted Damage.

Kramer the chest-maker gets a fire in his eyes and lets out a beastial roar. He throws his dagger away and begins to try to pummel the strange being into submission. Moves to F3.

18:57, Today: Bergy rolled 16 using 1d20.  Kramer initiative.
18:54, Today: Bergy rolled 1 using 1d20.  Kramer unarmed attack.

Oh goody, what do I roll for fumbles? EDIT:
19:03, Today: Bergy rolled 3 using 1d4.  Kramer Fumble Roll.
Your weapon comes loose in your hand. You quickly grab it, but your grip is disrupted. You take a -2 penalty on your next attack roll.

Kramer's hand almost falls off it's joint. But he quickly screws his wooden fists back into place. He lost them in a tragic mimic chest accident.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:06, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Morticia and Mort manage to inflict some damage on the beast.  But then Kramer tries attacking a tar ooze with his bare hands.  You can file this one under N for Not Smart.  Even worse, he fumbles.  Unsurprisingly, there is a negative consequence to all of this.

Ooze hits Kramer.  3 points damage.

Like Bergy, Kramer is also on fire now.

Did Bergy the dungeon lawyer have any famous last words?

(Party’s turn to attack again.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:53, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Durian takes a stab with his dagger.
22:47, Today: Oofi rolled 7 using 1d20-1.
22:57, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4-1.  Durian damage.


Ischium and Gristle will fire off thier slings.
22:48, Today: Oofi rolled 15 using 1d20-1.  Ischium attack.
22:58, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4-1.  Ischium damage.


22:49, Today: Oofi rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Gristle attack.
22:59, Today: Oofi rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Gristle damage.


Tarlton will stay where he is and launch a dart.
22:56, Today: Oofi rolled 18 using 1d20.  Tarlton attack.
23:01, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4.  Tarlton damage.

Ischium and Tarlton hit, and do some modest damage.  (Other characters, go ahead and get your attacks in.)

From the ground Bergy gives what might be his final piece of legal advice "Show him the Adjudication of your fists Kramer"

Morticia rolls her eyes as the nutcases continues to burn. "Die. Both of you." She attempts to slam the slime.

22:40, Today: Bergy rolled 7 using 1d20.  Morticia club attack.

Mort feels Ischism's and Gristle's stones flyby his head. Panicking he slams his dagger into the black mass.

22:41, Today: Bergy rolled 18 using 1d20.  Mort dagger attack.
22:42, Today: Bergy rolled 3 using 1d4.  Mort attempted dagger damage.

Now literally on fire, Kramer takes Bergy's final words to heart. He clenches his wooden fists in the fury taught to him by the wolves that raised him, and slams his hands into the tar-hot mass.

22:45, Today: Bergy rolled 7 using 1d20.  Kramer unarmed attack*.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Sadly, Kramer’s final blow has little effect.  However, he does manage to distract the burning scum for one more round.

01:51, Today: Bigredtwenty rolled 3 using 1d4.  Damage to Kramer.

Kramer is unconscious  and on fire.  Mort’s blow, however, seems to have been more effective, and the ooze writhes and bubbles as though in outrage around the point where his dagger pierced it.

It is once again the party’s turn to attack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:54, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Durian will lash out again with his dagger.
02:13, Today: Oofi rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  Durian attack.
02:13, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4-1.  Durian damage.

Ischium and Gristle will again fire thier slings.
02:15, Today: Oofi rolled 2 using 1d20-1.  Ischium attack.
02:16, Today: Oofi rolled 1 using 1d4-1.  Ischium damage


02:18, Today: Oofi rolled 5 using 1d20+1. Gristle attack
02:19, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d4+1.  Gristle damage.

Tarlton will unleash another dart.
02:21, Today: Oofi rolled 9 using 1d20.  Tarlton attack.
02:22, Today: Oofi rolled 2 using 1d4.  Tarlton damage

Mort and Morticia perform their exceedingly straight laced dual-tech of both wacking the monster.

01:23, Today: Bergy rolled 19 using 1d20.  Mort Dagger Attack.
01:24, Today: Bergy rolled 2 using 1d4.  Mort dagger damage.

01:24, Today: Bergy rolled 5 using 1d20.  Morticia club attack.

Mort isn't sure where he his right now, but he knows he's doing a good job. Maybe he'll go back to look at those knockers latter.

Vance leaps up and chops at the horror with his hand axe.
08:30, Today: Gurren rolled 9 using 1d20.  Vance attack roll.
08:31, Today: Gurren rolled 3 using 1d6.  Vance attempted damage.

Grum shakes off his frozen horror from seeing Bergy killed and strikes the creature with his staff.
08:32, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d20.  Grum attack roll.

Gurren and Boxby hear Bergy’s final declaration and turn to see Kramer erupting into flame!

Gurren fires his sling.
08:32, Today: Gurren rolled 12 using 1d20.  Gurren attack roll
08:33, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d4.  Gurren attempted damage..

Boxby shoots an arrow.
08:34, Today: Gurren rolled 7 using 1d20-1.  Boxby attack roll.
8:35, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.

Gurren's sling seems to do the trick!  The tar ooze reaches out a trembling pseudopod to the ceiling as if to ask what it's all for, and then it dissolves into a spent puddle of useless muck.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander all swing their weapons futilely -- too little, too late -- after the pseudopod dissolves, crumbling.

Jandar and Fasur cheer, hopping.

"Did you see that?" Hudud crows. "The vile thing couldn't dare face me!"

Jander scowls. "Oh, poo," he groans. "Just when things were just getting interesting."

Grum looks sadly at his departed comrades, resolving that their sacrifice will lead to the end of the evil this keep harbors.

After taking a moment to calm themselves, Boxby and Gurren return to trying to carefully remove the armor and mace from the skeleton at I2.  No doubt there are other horrors awaiting to prey upon them and they can use the armor and weapons.

Vance says a silent prayer to the Lords of Law that they may welcome Bergy and Kramer.  After a moment, he turns his attention back to the blackened coffer to examine it, hoping it contains something that can help them extinguish the evil that resides within this accursed keep.

Eventually, Boxby and Gurren get the armor and weapons away from the overheated bones.  As they do, a bed of glowing orange cinders is revealed.

If you wish to try to use the items, roll 1d6 for each of them.  On a roll of 1-3, the item is still intact enough to be used.  A mace does 1d6 damage, while the chainmail hauberks provide +4 armor.

Vance discovers that the iron coffer is locked, but discovers no other clues.

As the ooze deflates into a puddle of innate tar, Morticia grunts and returns to the skeleton from before. If she successfully retrievs the armor and mace off of it, she leaves the chapel. "Nothin' left for smashing here" she says.

Meanwhile, Mort the sage collects Bergy's prize possessions. A lantern, a book, and 23 cp. Then, remembering his other teammate, he pokes Kramer to see if he's really dead.

04:19, Today: Bergy rolled 1 using 1d20.  Kramer "rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" Roll.
This fucking guy.

06:04, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d4.  Chainmail usability check.

06:04, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d4.  Mace usability check.

Gurren and Boxby find the mace and chainmail are intact and useable, they will walk back over towards the door. Gurren will don the armor and take the mace for now.

Grum is going to examine the last skeleton (D4) in the hope that maybe he’ll find a key to the coffer.

Vance will walk over and pick up the flail near B1.

08:04, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d4.  Flail usability check.

It looks in good shape, he gives it a few tentative swings, then offers it to Mort, ”Morticia left this behind.”

Jandar stoops to examine the still-red embers. How recent was the fire that caused this burning?

Unfortunately, Kramer is basically a burnt marshmallow by now.  Unlike Paul McCartney, the rumors concerning his death have turned out to be true.  Did Kramer have any last words?

Mort is unable to retrieve Bergy’s possessions, as they are now covered in fiery gunk.

Morticia needs to roll 1d6 for each of those items to determine if they’re useable.  If she leaves the chapel without rolling, we may assume that they’re not.

At D4, Grum discovers a charred censer (which a priest uses to hold burning incense).  But no key.

Vance picks up the flail, but a d6 roll is required to determine if it’s useable.

Jandar knows that the fire was supposed to have happened long, long ago...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:32, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

13:53, Today: Gurren rolled 5 using 1d6.  Chainmail usability check.
13:53, Today: Gurren rolled 5 using 1d6.  Mace usability check.
13:52, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d6.  Flail usability check.
Rerolled the chainmail and the mace.  Sorry about that, I read it wrong earlier.

Vance looks sheepish as the flail falls apart in his outstretched hand, while Gurren realizes the chainmail and mace are far more damaged than they seemed at first and he discards them, back to relying on his trusty sling.

Grum will get a closer look at the fountain, now that the creature is dead.

No, no, no!  All of those items are useable.  Since you rolled ones, I’m counting your previous rolls, even though you rolled d4s.

Looking at the frog statue, Grum sees that it has red gemstones for eyes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

13:57, Today: Bergy rolled 4 using 1d6.  Morticia Chainmail Usable check.
13:58, Today: Bergy rolled 3 using 1d6.  Morticia Mace Usability .

As Morticia walk out of the building, the charred chainmail she was carrying just falls apart. She throws the useless chainlinks to the side. Thankfully the mace is still intact.

As the sage hucks the tar ridden items he hears Kramer's final words "Why did the chest have teeth..."

Mort shrugs and follows Morticia out to the courtyard.

Jandar furrows his brow. "If the fire was supposed to happen a long, long time ago, how can it be that there are still coals?" he asks aloud. "That's not how fire works."

He stands and moves to the entrance of the building, to look back outside into the courtyard. Does anything seem odd to him? As though time has moved at a brisker pace outside, or slower inside?

Jandar is unable to think of any way to prove that time is passing either more quickly or slowly.  The sun is right about where he would expect it to be, for example.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

He focuses on the brambles. Are they more or less overgrown, pathways more or less covered, plants flourishing or dead? (If time's going faster outside, it might be detectable in the plants, but I'm fine letting go of the idea. ^_^)

He shakes his head and turns back inside, looking around for anything salvageable or valuable.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

It’s hard to tell if the brambles are living or dead.  Judging by their appearance, if they’re not dead, they probably wish they were.

Vance will hold onto the flail, he turns back to the coffer judging how big it is and if the fire has weakened it enough to perhaps break the lock or the lid off.

Gurren has the mace and the mail and will stay near the door..

Boxby looks at the embers that were beneath the skeletons: do they show any sign of going out since the bones were moved?

Grum is going to search the fountain area a bit more, look into it to see if there is anything in the basin and tapping the wall behind with his staff looking for secret doors

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander begin looking for goodies in Row J, 1-4.

Ischium will head back to I-4 and examine the chainmail hauberk and the mace.

2:37, Today: Oofi rolled 3 using 1d6.  Mace usability

22:41, Today: Oofi rolled 6 using 1d6.  Chainmail hauberk usability.

He will put on the Hauberk and pick up the mace, giving it an experimental swing or two.

Does Vance try to open the coffer?  That’s the only way to tell.  It’s just a small chest, perhaps 18 inches long and half as wide.

Ischium discovers that the mace is still good, but the armor must have been made by completely unreliable a-holes.

Do Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander each search one of these areas, or are they sticking together?

Boxby so far has seen no sign that the embers are dying out.

The basin is full of gunk, so it’s hard to tell if there is anything in there.  The wall behind the statue sounds solid.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:12, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

One character searches each square.

Oh look... Jimmy Hoffa!  Just kidding... they find nothing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:22, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

Vance will attempt to open the coffer, carefully.

It's locked.

Jandar, Fasur, Hudud, and Jander move to I1-I4, one per square, looking. If no one's already pilfering the two skeletons in that row, they pay special attention to them.

If he can carry it, Vance will pick up the coffer and take it out of the chapel.

Gurren has had enough of the chapel and will go back out with the others.

Boxby is going to retrieve the censer and will try to scoop up some of the embers into it.

Grum takes a long look at the toad idol and it’s ruby eyes.... ”not pushing my luck today” he will also exit the chapel.

The skeletons at I2 and I4 have already been pilfered.

Vance successfully leaves the chapel with the coffer.  Gurren follows him.

Boxby tries to scoop some embers into the censer, but burns his fingers.

Grum could swear that he hears the idol call him a pussy.  But no... it must be his imagination.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

Jandar, Hudud, Fasur, and Jander join the others leaving the chapel.

Boxby is going to take one of his arrows and poke around in the muck of the fountain.

Vance is outside and is looking to see if he could reasonably use his hand axe to ease the way through the brambles over to where the sinkhole has destroyed the wall.

The brambles immediately surrounding the chapel are minimal.  Does Vance want to head north along the building until he’s close to the sinkhole?

Probing the muck, Boxby manages to get his arrow quite mucky.

Yes, he’ll head north along the building to get closer to the sinkhole.

Boxby will see how those ruby eyes are attached, if he can reach them without getting into the muck.  He’ll try to remove them if he can reach them.

Vance walks several paces until he reaches the north end of the building.  The lip of the sinkhole is only a few paces away from here, and he sees that there is hardly any vegetation between him and it.

---

A yawning sinkhole has devoured nearly
a third of the courtyard, causing a tower and wall to collapse and
plunge down into the depths. Mist billows up from the sinkhole, ob-
scuring sight. Tortured faces and writhing forms appear briefly in
the mists above your heads, only to dissolve back into nothingness as
quickly as they appeared.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:15, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

Boxby realizes that retrieving those gems will be well nigh impossible without stepping into the pool of muck surrounding the fountain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:18, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

Ischium will throw aside the armor, and keep the mace in hand.

He, Durian, Gristle and Tarlton will leave the chapel and join the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Boxby is going to join the others outside, he’s going to take a closer look at the censer in the daylight to see if it has any writing on it or any symbols.

Vance will walk back to the assembled group and tell them about what he saw at the sinkhole then plunks the coffer on the ground, he addresses his comrades, ”does anyone have a tool we can use to open this coffer?” he asks, “my suspicion is that those folks”, he gestures toward the chapel door, were going to perform some sort of ritual but the creature got them first.  I’m hoping in the coffer is some sort of weapon or artifact we can use against the evil here.”

Gurren adds, “Then we should decide where we go next.  I think our biggest asset is numbers, so I think we should stick together and if we do it looks like we have three choices:
Creepy well
Creepy hole in the ground
Creepy tower”

“Unless we want to try to search in the brambles to the northwest”, says Grum.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:58, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Boxby finds no symbols or writings.  However, as the censer is quite filthy, he realizes that a thorough cleaning might reveal something.

While waiting to see if anyone can help with the coffer and has any ideas on what the next move should be, Boxby will use his shirt, and maybe a little bit of spit to and see if that is enough to clean up the censer a bit.

Swapping equipment around, Vance is going to give Gurren the flail and Grum is going to take the mace.

Boxby is amazed to discover that underneath the grime, the censor is made of gold!

Go ahead and update your characters' equipment sheets.

Grum smiles and slaps Boxby on the back, “and usually I’m the lucky one, but I left that laying on the floor.  Good find lad!”

Inspired, Vance is going to take a closer look at the coffer for writing and/or markings.

Ischium will also take a closer look at his mace as Vance looks over the coffer.

“I agree we’d do better together.” Durian says.

“So, shall we start in the well and work our way up?” Tarlton asks the group.

“Or start in the tower and work our way down?” Gristle says.

Following a cursory examination, Vance finds no writing on the coffer.

Vance turns to Durian, ”Durian, can you try to pry this coffer open with your crowbar?”

“I like Gristle’s idea about trying the tower and working our way down”, says Gurren, addressing the assembled group, ”that hole Vance saw sounds like a one-way trip and there no telling what could pick us off one by one at the bottom of the well.  Hopefully we’d at least have a way to retreat by using the tower”

“Plus, since it doesn’t seem like you could lower yourself down the well, the last person would need to stay here in the courtyard....alone.” adds Boxby.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Mon 02 Apr 2018.

Durian takes the coffer and begins to try to pry it open with his crowbar.

Ischium and Tarlton meanwhile, voice support for checking out the tower.

Roll an unmodified d20 for Durian.

22:39, Today: Oofi rolled 10 using 1d20.

Try as he might, Durian just can’t get it open.

Vance has a thought: he gets up from the group and goes back to the chapel — he didn’t specifically search the skeleton nearest the iron coffer and he’ll go do so now, hoping maybe he’ll find a key.

He finds nothing.

Vance will walk back to the group and, momentarily borrowing Durian’s crowbar, will attempt to open the coffer.

Roll d20.

13:33, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Vance coffer open attempt.

Grum impatiently steps up to give it a try, ”step aside, dwarf at work!”

13:39, Today: Gurren rolled 20 using 1d20.  Grum coffer open attempt.

Grum easily opens the iron coffer.  Inside, he discovers a folded black cloth with strange golden symbols embroidered on it.

”Ha! All too easy!  Hmmm...”

Grum carefully takes the cloth out of the coffer and examines it and the symbols.

He doesn’t recognize the symbols.  Does he unfold the cloth?

yes, he'll carefully unfold the cloth.

Inside, he finds three cones of incense.  They give off a sinister smell, and they aren't even burning yet.

“Not quite the weapon I was hoping for”, says Vance gloomily.

“Not quite the gems I was hoping for”, says Grum.
He hands them back to Vance, who carefully folds the cones back into the cloth and back into the coffer, “but maybe they’re worth something to the right person.”

Packed up, it’s time to try to get into the tower, if no one objects (or wants the toad’s ruby eyes...).

Boxby will go down the path to the tower, he has an arrow nocked in his bow and is alert for trouble.

Flanked by crumbling stone walls,
the moss-covered tower stands proud despite the ravages of time. A
tall, rust-bound portal bars the tower’s sole entrance, watched over
by a leering demonic gargoyle. Rings of deep arrow slits pierce the
thick walls, and overarching battlements loom high above.

---

The rusty door to the tower is closed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:47, Thu 05 Apr 2018.

Boxby will listen at the door and see if he can make out any noise from within.  He’ll also put a hand on the door to see if it is warm, thinking of the recent encounter with the tar creature.

If all is quiet and there’s no heat or ungodly cold, he’ll attempt to open the door.

When he presses his ear to the door, Gurren hears a faint groaning.

The others will also join him at the tower door, Vance will have his axe ready, Gurren and Boxby will step back a few paces with their bow and sling at the ready.  When everyone is in position, Grum will try to open the door...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Sat 07 Apr 2018.

The door seems to be stuck.

Ducius, Brightwit and Ron Hell are making their way to the tower.

Grum will examine the door more closely, trying to determine why the door is stuck... or if he can tell if it’s blocked from the inside.

Boxby and Gurren will look up at the tower to see how many stories tall it is and if there are any windows beyond the arrow slits that could possibly be reached by climbing.

Durian, Gristle and Tarlton wil ready thier weapons and join the others in front of the door.

Ischium will shove his sling in the waistband of his pants, and carrying the mace will also join the others.

Grum sees no obvious explanation for why the door is stuck (or possibly locked).  If you want, you may describe how he tries to determine this.

Grum will examine the edges of the door where it meets the frame, looking to see if the door looks rusted shut or if there are any objects driven into the edges to wedge the door shut (such as a nail).

He will then look more closely to see if there is a lock/keyhole and what kind of handle the door has, if any.  If there is a ring or handle, he’ll try the “push/pull” method where he’ll push and pull on the door back and forth to see if there is any play in the door at all or if it loosens up to any detectable degree.

After finding no wedges or other obstructing objects, Gurren tries the push/pull method using the door’s ring handle.  Based on the amount of give, he decides that the door must be barred from within.  (The door is rusty, but obviously not rusted shut.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

Does the door seem sturdy or does it seem rusted to the point that it’s weakened enough to possibly break through the door?  He’d test this theory by wrapping on the door in places to see how it sounds and if he can tell if it’s rusted through in any places.

Failing that, Gurren will step back and look at the tower: are there any windows that could be reachable if we formed some sort of villager pyramid or could we boost a halfling up into an arrow slit?

The door isn’t completely rusted through, but it has definitely seen better days.  He thinks that he may be able to break through, if he pounds it long enough.

Gristle steps up and offers to help Gurren break open the door.

Gurren smiles and nods at Gristle, “thank you, my friend,”

He’ll look around for some stones to use to save wear on their hands and weapons, if there are any in the vicinity, then they’ll set to work breaking the door.

Vance is nearby with his hand axe, on the off chance whoever’s groaning in there is hostile and comes out to play.

(Boxby is ready with an arrow and is looking nervously around the courtyard in case the noise brings anything from hiding from some unexplored nook or cranny.  Grum imagines there are lots and lots of gems just beyond the door.)

Let me have d20 strength checks for Gristle and Gurren.

16:30, Today: Gurren rolled 5 using 1d20.  Gurren door strength check.
Didn’t eat Wheaties today

02:48, Today: Oofi rolled 15 using 1d20+1.

Gristle asks to borrow Durian’s crowbar to work on the door.

Neither of you is able to immediately break down the door.

Grum starts to get antsy. ”let me take a crack at this”
07:26, Today: Gurren rolled 19 using 1d20.  Grum door bash attempt .
Vance will also give it a try.
07:27, Today: Gurren rolled 6 using 1d20.  Vance door bash attempt.

Still no dice.  However, some tiny cracks in the door are now showing.

Hudud and Jander step to the door, as well, to push and pry. 15:59, Today: Homund Willey rolled 10 using 1d20+1. 15:59, Today: Homund Willey rolled 4 using 1d20+1. They are unable to find much purchase.

Round 2 of trying to break the door

21:21, Today: Gurren rolled 17 using 1d20.  Grum Door attempt 2.

21:21, Today: Gurren rolled 6 using 1d20.  Gurren door attempt 2.

21:21, Today: Gurren rolled 3 using 1d20.  Vance Door Attempt 2.

Boxby still has an eye out in case the noise attracts... something.

If you’ve already rolled, you don’t need to roll again.  Simply describe how you attempt to break through.

Gurren, Grum, and Vance will use rocks (if available) and kicks to try to break the door, focusing their efforts on the places where it appears to be cracking.  If in this process an area develops on the door where it looks the most weakened, they’ll concentrate on that spot.

(Boxby will continue to stay alert, as someone whose job as hunter relies on being quiet, all the noise has him a bit on edge)

Give me an unmodified d20 roll for each character who is kicking the door.

07:56, Today: Gurren rolled 13 using 1d20.  Vance door kick.
07:56, Today: Gurren rolled 10 using 1d20.  Gurren door kick.
07:55, Today: Gurren rolled 11 using 1d20.  Grum door kick.


Boxby joins to get the noise over as quickly as possible

08:00, Today: Gurren rolled 14 using 1d20.  Boxby door kick.

This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Fri 13 Apr 2018.

Kicking the door isn’t getting the job done.

With their efforts to break down the door frustrated, Team Gurren is going to go back to the chapel to look at the fallen timbers.... are they all completely destroyed or would any of them be suitable and/or the right size for a makeshift battering ram?

You find one that seems rock solid and seems long enough for the purpose.  Will you ram the door repeatedly until it’s open?

Yes, they will take the timber back to the door, enlist anyone else by the tower who may want to assist, and ram the door until it (hopefully) opens.

The Homund Willey four help as needed.

You ram the door perhaps a dozen times until it finally gives way.  This is what you find...

---

The hot stench of rot rolls from the tower, raising bile in the back of
your throat. The floor of the wide tower is covered in rotting hides of
cattle, sheep and men. A narrow staircase spirals around the tower
wall. Dark forms hang from chains spiked through the wall—surely
these are your fellow countrymen!
A pack of snarling beast-men slowly emerges from the shadows,
bloody spears clutched in their gnarled hands!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

Each player (not character) roll initiative.

"For the Village!"

21:11, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d20.  Initiative.
Sigh.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

23:16, Today: Yeppo rolled 2 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Nothing happens.  Your characters are caught flat-footed, but the monsters seem reluctant to come out, prefering to shake their spears at you from the other side of the doorway while making bestial sounds.

What will you do next?

00:38, Today: Oofi rolled 12 using 1d20.  Initiative.

10:10, Today: Homund Willey rolled 3 using 1d20.

The Homund Willey four ready their melee weapons, just outside the doorway.

Stepping back to stay outside of spear-thrust range, Gurren will take a closer look at the beast-men:  how many are there and are they literally just inside the door to the tower...or further back trying to entice us to step inside to fight?  (this is a long shot but... he'll look at their faces -- is there any sense they are trying to ask us for help and can't speak our language?)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Fri 20 Apr 2018.

They are lurking in the shadows, apparently not too eager to come out.  But a horrible snorting ‘voice’ is barking orders at them, and it’s not hard to figure out that someone (or something) is trying to goad them into attacking.

You see a humanoid with the tusked face of a boar, another with a face like an ape only covered in slimy scales, and another like a huge black spider.

They have one thing in common: the hatred burning in their eyes for you.

Grum’s face twists with rage as he takes in the scene before him, he tightens his grip on his mace but, as he starts to move forward, Gurren’s arm shoots out to stop him.

“Lemme go! Can’t you see what those beasts are doing to our people!”

“Think about it for a second,” says Gurren, “why aren’t they rushing to attack or running away? We saw what they did with the portcullis, and I smell a trap here too”

Grum tamps down his rage for a moment and will prod the floor inside the now ruined door with his staff to make sure there’s no trap there.

Boxby will keep his arrow trained through the doorway on the beast-men in case they advance, while Gurren readies his sling.

Vance will ready his hand axe and with as much authority as he can muster, address the beast-men, "Put down your spears!  You are greatly outnumbered and whatever master you serve here is sending you to certain doom!  We want our people back unharmed and if we have to add your rotting carcasses to the pile, so be it but it does not have to be that way if you surrender now!"

When Grumm taps the floor with his staff, one of the beastmen (the one with the scaly ape face) lunges for him and hits, spearing him for two points of damage.

Actions?

Boxby and Gurren will fire their bow and sling, respectively, through the doorway at the scaly faced apeman.

Grumm will retreat from the doorway holding his wounds and swearing revenge.

Roll it.

16:34, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack.
16:34, Today: Gurren rolled 14 using 1d20.  Boxby bow attack.
16:35, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.

Boxby’s arrow sinks deep into the thickly-muscled, furry flesh between the beastman’s shoulder and chest.  The monster, in a state of apparent shock and confusion, tugs at it, but is unable to find the courage to simply yank it out.  From behind him comes much jabbering, as if the other beastmen cannot decide who will emerge next.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Fri 27 Apr 2018.

Boxby and Gurren will continue their attacks on the ape face beast-man:

21:55, Today: Gurren rolled 19 using 1d20.  Gurren Sling Attack.
21:56, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack.
21:57, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d4.  Gurren attempted damage.

Vance turns to the other villagers present, “concentrate your fire on them one at a time: if they won’t come out, let’s shoot them down where they stand”.

Grumm really wishes he had a missile weapon.

The first beastman falls dead, but two more immediately run out, brandishing spears.  You will get the first attack.

Ischium and Gristle will fire off thier slings, and Tarlton a dart.

Go ahead and roll it.

01:31, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d20.  Ischium attack

01:32, Today: Oofi rolled 14 using 1d20.  Tarlton attack.

01:33, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  Gristle attack.

Boxby and Gurren will fire at the spider faced beast-man:

10:40, Today: Gurren rolled 15 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack.

10:40, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.

10:40, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack.

10:44, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d4.  Gurren attempted sling damage.

Oofi: roll damage for Tarlton’s attack.

20:28, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d4.  Tarlton attack damage.

The two beastmen fall dead, unable to withstand your attack.  The remaining monsters seem reluctant to come out, at least for the moment.

(Nice work!)

Vance will look to see if he can tell how many beast-men remain inside, if the leader has appeared yet, and if he can tell how the prisoners are doing.

Boxby and Gurren will attack any beast-men they can see through the door (especially the leader if they can see it)


18:02, Today: Gurren rolled 15 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack.
18:02, Today: Gurren rolled 6 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.
18:03, Today: Gurren rolled 9 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack.
18:04, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d4.  Gurren attempted damage.

How close to the door do they get?  And do any of them go inside?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Fri 04 May 2018.

Boxby and Gurren are hanging back when they shoot their missiles through the door, even if they can’t hit anything, hopefully it is distracting enough for Grum and Vance to quickly see what’s going on:  After the missles fly,  Grum will take one of the Spears from a fallen beast-man, he will carefully approach the door with Vance (who has his ax ready as well). Grum will keep  the spear tip through the doorway opening to dissuade any remaining beast-men from coming charging out? Vance will attempt to take a quick peek from the doorway at the status of the prisoners and the number of remaining beast-men.

Roll initiative (one time).

17:09, Today: Gurren rolled 17 using 1d20.  initiative.

Nice roll!

As Grum is picking up a spear and Boxby is getting ready, a huge, snorting bull-headed man charges through the door and attacks you.  But your guys are just a little bit too quick for him.

Boxby and Grum attack first.  Then the monster attacks, and then your remaining guys may use their ranged weapons.

Surprised by the sudden appearance of the bull-faced man, Grum and Vance attempt to attack

18:25, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Grum spear attack.
18:25, Today: Gurren rolled 1 using 1d8.  Grum attempted damage.

18:26, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Vance hand axe attack.
18:26, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d6.  Vance attempted damage.

Gurren and Boxby are getting ready

The bull-headed beastman swings his massive axe in Vance’s general direction, but misses badly.  He roars in frustrated rage!

Your move.

21:05, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack.
21:05, Today: Gurren rolled 9 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack.

The size and ferocity of this beast-man seems to have rattled everyone during this initial attack.

The bullish beastman swings at Vance and chops his head clean off.  A fountain of blood spurts in all directions, causing the monster to chuckle with glee.

Seeing this, another beastman emerges from inside the tower, eager to get in on the glory.

All of your surviving men attack next.  (Did Vance have any last words?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:49, Tue 08 May 2018.

Vance misses his attack and snarls at the bull man as he regains his balance, “Beast-man! You should have surrendered when you had the cha—“

Grum sees the fountain of blood as his friend falls in two pieces, “WAAAAAARRRRRGGHHH!!”
He attacks the bull man with fury in his wide eyes.

08:07, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Grum spear attack.

Gurren mouths a prayer and Boxby feels a cold thirst for revenge take hold, they both fire at the bull man.

08:08, Today: Gurren rolled 13 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack.
08:08, Today: Gurren rolled 15 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack.

08:08, Today: Gurren rolled 2 using 1d4.  Gurren attempted damage.
08:09, Today: Gurren rolled 5 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage .

The beastman champion foams at the mouth as he is battered by stone and arrow.  Blood pours down his bull snout, and he staggers.  But then he seems to get a second wind, and he winds up his axe for another strike.  He charges clumsily at Gurren, but his swing misses the mark.

Your turn.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:30, Thu 10 May 2018.

Grum sees his chance and attacks the bull man once again,
“Die, you bastard!!”

08:02, Today: Gurren rolled 15 using 1d20.  Grum spear attack bull man.
08:03, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d8.  Grum attempted damage.

Boxby and Gurren fire at the second beast-man.

08:04, Today: Gurren rolled 12 using 1d20.  Boxby arrow attack second beastman.
08:04, Today: Gurren rolled 4 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.

08:05, Today: Gurren rolled 8 using 1d20.  Gurren sling attack second beastman.

Gurren rams his spear through the bullheaded beastman’s lower abdominals.  In fact, it goes through its very lower abdominals.  With a pitiful groan, it collapses to the ground, twitches a few times, and then is still.

From inside the tower, you hear shocked gasps...

Grum gives the bull man a few extra stabs and stares into the doorway giving a rage and grief filled scream.

Has the other beast-man retreated or is he still in the mix?

If the second beast-man is not a concern at the moment, Grum will take a quick look at the fallen bull-man’s axe to see if it looks like something he could wield or if it looks like it is made for giant abominations only.

From inside the door, you hear some whining and whimpering but see not beastmen.  You know there are more in there, however.

The beastman champion’s axe is huge and poorly balanced.  You doubt that you could use it effectively.

Gristle steps up in front of the doorway, sling raised and ready to fire. “Throw down your weapons and come out!” He says forcefully.

You see a couple of beastmen cowering in the back of the room.  They still clutch their spears, but show no sign of wanting to fight.  Obviously, the death of their leader has un(beast)manned them.

As they do not respond to your threats, you are inclined to think they may not understand you.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:42, Sun 20 May 2018.

Grum will take Vance’s coffer of incense and place it in his sack.

“Goodbye, my friend.”

Gurren will find Vance’s head and place it with his body, “may your gods of law be already welcoming you into the next world, I will miss you.” He will take one of the Spears from one the fallen beast-men.

Boxby will take his hand axe and pile of wood, torch and copper pieces.

Boxby will search the body of the beast man Champion and the other fallen beast men.

Grum and Gurren will join Gristle in the doorway, they will test the floor inside the doorway with a spear to be sure there’s no pit lurking beneath the skins and carcasses that cover the floor.

Gristle keeps his weapon ready and his eyes on remaining beast men as Grum and Gurren tap around the floor.

You find nothing on the beastmen grunts, but their deceased leader is wearing a large silver necklace of bleached skulls.  The skulls have strange symbols carved into them.

Inside the tower, one of the cowering beastmen throws down his spear and slowly approaches the entrance with his hands spread.

Gurren and Grum will pantomime throwing the spear to the ground and try to get the other beast man to follow suit.  Boxby will cover them with his bow while they do this.

If they can get the other beastman to surrender, they will attempt to walk the two beast men back to the chapel at spearpoint, put them inside and close and bar the door.

The second beastman throws down his spear.  Will all of you assist in escorting them to the chapel?

Yes, all of my guys will escort, they’ll ask any other villagers in the area for assistance, if they are willing.

While escorting, who is standing where (in front of the prisoners, in back, etc)?

Gurren and Grum behind prisoners with spears sort of poking them forward, Boxby will be a pace or two behind them with an arrow ready to fire.  If I remember, we left the doors open, so the plan is to poke them inside and close and bar the door (Boxby would close and bar the door)

Roll a single d20, Gurren.  (Higher is better.)

14:44, Today: Gurren rolled 10 using 1d20.  Prisoner escort.

While you are escorting the prisoners, another beastman rushes out from inside the tower and tries to spear Boxby in the back!  Although he takes you by surprise, you are fortunate: his attack goes astray.

Actions?

Boxby will turn with his Hand Axe and strike at the new beast-man.

14:54, Today: Gurren rolled 9 using 1d20-1.  Boxby Hand axe attack.
14:57, Today: Gurren rolled 6 using 1d6.  Boxby attempted damage.

Gurren will press the point of his spear hard into the back of the beast-man he's escorting in an attempt to demotivate him from trying anything.

Grumm will try to shove his corresponding beast-man to the ground, with a high cross-check in the hope he will go down on his face and free up Grumm to help Boxby if need be.

15:02, Today: Gurren rolled 13 using 1d20.  Grumm Beast-man cross-check.

Gurren’s beastman wails pitifully but does not attempt to escape.  Grumm’s falls down before him, making nary a sound.

The attacking beastman is unharmed by Boxby’s attack, and once more tries to pierce his guts.  Unfortunately, it succeeds...

22:04, Today: Bigredtwenty rolled 6 using 1d6.  Damage.
22:04, Today: Bigredtwenty rolled 19 using 1d20.  Beastman to hit.

Does Boxby have any last words?

Next round...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:05, Mon 18 June 2018.

Gristle will try to get off a shot at the attacking beastman.

1:04, Today: Oofi rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Attack.

01:14, Today: Oofi rolled 4 using 1d4+1.  Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:15, Mon 18 June 2018.

Nice!  The stone hits the beastman in the temple and instantly falls dead.

Actions?

Once again readying his sling, Gristle will first kick the fallen beastman to ensure he’s truly down for the count, then step back up to the doorway to try and spot anymore lurking beastman.

While Gristle has his eyes on the door, Gurren and Grum will continue with their plan to place the surrendered beast-men into the chapel:  Gurren will prod his forward with the spear, Grum will drag his to its feet (with a few obscenities) and do the same.  If they can get them in the door Gurren will close and bar it.

Boxby’s last words were, “Save the village.... you.... bastards...” (he always was a bit anti-social).

Oofi: while you see plenty of imprisoned villagers, no more beastmen come out to attack.

Gurren: you successfully lock the prisoners inside the chapel.  They obviously don’t like it, and begin cursing frantically in a language your guys are unfamiliar with as soon as they are out of sight.  But a few curses never hurt anybody.

What do you do next?

Durian will step up next to Gristle, his dagger out and ready for action. “Anyone else in here feeling lucky?” Durian says loudly, making his voice as rough and gravely as possible.

Except for the moaning of the prisoners, there is no response.

Gurren and Grum will stop to take Boxby’s things and say a few quick words over his body.

Then, with their Spears at the ready, they will join Gristle and Durian at the doorway!and cautiously enter the tower ready for trouble.

You encounter no further trouble (yet).  I’ll repost this:

The hot stench of rot rolls from the tower, raising bile in the back of
your throat. The floor of the wide tower is covered in rotting hides of
cattle, sheep and men. A narrow staircase spirals around the tower
wall. Dark forms hang from chains spiked through the wall—surely
these are your fellow countrymen!

Grum will keep an eye on the stairs, spear at the ready, while Gurren will go to the prisoners,

“We are from the village!  Are there any more beastmen?”

Gurren asks as he examines how the chains are attached and looks for the best way to free the prisoners.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Mon 09 July 2018.

The prisoners’ chains are hanging from wooden wedges thrust through arrow slits.  You find it easy to free them.

(Gurren: if you wish, you may now have two new characters to replace the fallen.)

The inmates tell you they *think* you got all of the beastmen.