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.