FYI: check your character sheet - you have a good bit on there that's already provided. Also a potion of healing for each of the characters to start.

The Manor should be fun.

A couple of House rules: first level is max hp. since you're a multiclass th/mage/ftr, you take the max of all three, add them, then divide by three. In this case 4+6+10 = 20/3 = 6.67. In this case, I round up for HP, so your starting HP are 7 + constitution bonus.

Future HPs are per class and divided by three: so if you're a mage and you roll a four, you get 2 HP. Constitution bonus applies every time you level up!

Your characters level up each class as your achieve enough XP for the next level. You don't have to wait for all three levels to go up at the same time.

Your starting scores:
17 15 14 13 12 11

You can swap totals on a 1:2 basis. In other words, you want to bump 17 to 18, you have to give up 2 points somewhere else.

I should have put this in OOC thread...sorry!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:42, Wed 23 Oct 2019.

ooc: no worries, we'll get it sorted. It's a solo game after all...

Pious said, "Well, we've not a lot of gold, about 50 coin at my last accounting. Of course, sleeping in the wilds has provided little time to shop, but since we're here...

"And I've got a bit of change in my purse as well, so...tell me what you think we'd need, and I'll see if I can get it."

"Food, waterskins, tent, probably need an extra tinderbox, anything you can think of that might make a stay in the woods a bit more bearable. Thanks for this, I'll get going on the Guild first thing in the morning."

"We have food, water, Kalmus," Pious said. Somewhere behind him, Agrax was laughing, the sound a series of yips that were a bit disconcerting. "Don't you look in your pack from time to time?"

<See: Character Sheet>

ooc: here's how I figure it: you didn't just appear out of nowhere, naked and without any gear. I figure your kin sent you out to explore and see the world with some food, water and basic supplies. You're companions have similar kits - Pious has Holy Water and symbol to go along with that and Agrax has some tricks up her sleeve as well.


What Pious is really going for are eclectic items. We'll see what he can dig up.

Kalmus entered the Slayer's Brotherhood and looked around. A sleepy desk clerk with his feet propped on the desk took a look at him and Agrax and asked in a desultory tone, "Kin I hep you?"

When Kalmus asks how much dues cost, the man replied, "5 gold and 5 silver bits per person, per month."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Pious returns to the same inn they frequented the night before, a sack full of goodies carefully tied to the rope that secured his vestments. The inn reeked of stale ale and worse things. In the back came the clang of pots and pans - apparently someone was putting together the noontide meal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:57, Fri 25 Oct 2019.

Kalmus said, "Very well, Kalmus the Grey, joining up so that I am licensed to operate here. Here's your money."

OOC: The food was for an extended stay, he thinks maybe if they strike out at the Manor just go straight to the cave and skip a trip back to town...

After paying off the bureaucrat, Kalmus and Agrax make their way back to the Two Clucks Inn. It's daylight and the sign is barely legible, but after a long squint they're able to make it out. As they enter, they see one tired whore sitting at the bar. Sizing her up is Pious, at a table across the way.

As Kalmus and Agrax enter, he waves them over.

"Got some good deals on stuff," Pious said before Kalmus could speak. "Bought an extra ten days of rations for each of us. Got you both a whetstone to keep things sharp. Got five candles in case you need some divine services, and a small bell in case we need a cheap alarm system. Oh, and a pint of fine wine for me and a small barrel of ale for the two of you.

"To add to that, I got 100' of linen twine, five sheets of parchment, three pieces of vellum for your arcane work, a bar of scented soap and a skillet with a sealed tun of lard if we wish and extravagant breaking of our fast."

"And last, but not least: A spyglass. Now, before you get too excited, I bought it on discount as their's a crack in the lens. But you can still see most of the surrounds, from the eye piece. You just don't want to look through it too long as it'll give you a massive headache."

"Before you ask, I could not afford a horse and cart. Did I forget anything?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:08, Fri 25 Oct 2019.

Day One:

It is an early morning that wakes you. Eager, the three of you quickly break your fast before setting out. You distribute the supplies in fair fashion, your packs a bit heavier than before, with Pious taking quick hold of the wine skin, and soon regaling Kalmus and Agrax with tales of the Cudgel, from his strong arm to stern, dry wit.

For her part, the taciturn gnoll says little, but she looks like a force of nature, using her halberd as a walking stick and her recurved bow stowed with the quiver on her back. The only thought she shares: "Ugh, I should have bought a few silvered arrows." Other than that, she listens to Pious with half an ear, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounds with keen intensity.

An hour after setting out, she said, "I will scout." Jogging a fast pace she disappears from view in short order. Every thirty minutes, she returns to make a brief report, "Nothing," before heading out again. Once she comes back and says, "Garbed pilgrims of Death traveling north, away from us."

A half day's journey by mount is a full day's journey by foot; still it is not terribly arduous as you are young and hale, and filled with anticipation of your first big 'job.'

As the sun starts to fall, you approach the entry to the manor where you find both gates leaning awkwardly from their posts, corrosion patiently turning to rust as time does its thing. You can see the manor, about 100 yards from where you stand. All is quiet; even the crows seem reserved as the sun nears its nadir. Actions?


This message was last edited by the GM at 11:20, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

"Let's find a good spot to set up camp, hidden as well as possible. I want to have a look around the manor before we get some sleep." Unloading what's not needed, Kalmus set off stealthily toward the manor, senses keen for any movement or sound.

ooc: Not going to go charging into a ghoul's nest or anything, just a quick look around.

There is plenty of scrub and brush, along with some towering oaks and elms and you find a place to stash your stuff. Places to lay low are plentiful, and you leave excess gear and head toward the mansion which is now but 50 yards away.

Your first impression is that the place must have been impressive when the original owner built it. Gables and spires and other such adornments catch the eye - it doesn't take much to imagine what social engagements must have been like in the place's heyday.

But...

It's old and decrepit now, the stained glass in the windows long since shattered, paint chipped or gone altogether, shingles falling from loosened nails and laying forgotten on the ground.

As you draw near, you see a wide staircase leading up to the landing before the front door. From your vantage at the bottom of the stairs, you can see one of the doors is open, while the other seems to have been torn off its hinges, as evidenced by the deep grooves that likely were made by a crowbar.

What would you like to do?

Pausing a minute to listen, Kalmus cautiously approached the door. It wouldn't hurt anything to have a quick look around. Just because some moron with a crowbar had violated the place didn't mean they'd found everything. With a bit of luck, some was hidden and Kalmus would be able to find the hiding places.

Cautiously, he moved into the structure and looked around carefully.

As dusk slowly gathers, Kalmus leads the way up the stairs and into the entryway of the mansion. A great square antechamber greets you, perhaps 50'x 50'; fallen in the middle of the floor is a huge chandelier, broken glass in evidence throughout the surrounds.

The walls are bare except for old implements for hanging pictures and tapestries - though none are in evidence. Papers are strewn about the chamber, leftovers perhaps from squatters. Of certain such poor souls have stayed here though you wonder where they might be; it isn't cold, per se, but a break from the wind would be welcomed by folks in need.

The most notable thing you note are twin staircases, one leading up and left, the other leading opposite to the right.

Approaching them, you find the carpet, once rich, now in tatters.

What do you wish to do?

Kalmus thought a minute and decided up and right, checking for any booby traps as he went...

With Pious and Agrax waiting at the bottom of the stairs, Kalmus does a careful search of the stairways, slowly moving up each step in a back and forth march. It takes a good 10 minutes for him to complete the short meander, but he seems to find nothing.

Go ahead and roll to find/remove traps 1x.

01:38, Today: Kalmus the Grey rolled 57 using 1d100 ((57)).

er.... uhmmm....

And...nothing happens. Either you didn't find the trap, or one doesn't exist on the stairs. Reaching the top of the stairs, a broad hallway stretches before you, 20' wide and about 100' long. Through the windows, you can see that dusk in in full bloom. Agrax can see fine, you start to get that in between feeling as your eyes adjust to the dark, but Pious breaks out a torch.

"Don't wanna stub my toe," he said a bit sheepishly. "Ya mind if I light one o' these?"

"Sure. Fire it up, might help." Kalmus looked about in the light of the torch. A hall had to got somewhere for some purpose, so he followed it cautiously, hoping to find something, anything, secret passage, hidden compartment, magical trick... it's an adventure after all!

After twenty feet, you notice a door to both the left and right, facing one another. The door is wood framed, with basic patterns that might indicate that the former owner was not as lavish inside as he was without. Still, it is intact, though the wood of both seem dry to your eye. Glancing further, you can see the recesses of two more doors some 20' from the first set, in the same configuration. The torchlight fails beyond that.

You could try one or both the doors, or continue down the corridor.

Kalmus decided to try both, checking for traps and locks...

Will be out of town Starting Sunday, probably won't post on my games tomorrow. Won't be back active until at least Monday week. Winter

The door on your left opens to your touch so that you don't need to check for locks or traps.

The door to the right seems locked. Roll for traps.

ooc: House rule - I require one role for finding and removing traps, not two separate rolls.

23:22, Today: Kalmus the Grey rolled 88 using 1d100.  Locks/traps.

ooc: die roller still hates me...

You have four choices - try to open the locked the door using force, go to the door that opened to your touch, continue down the hallway or retreat back to your impromtu camp.

Head for the easily opened door, worth a look. If it looks completely plundered, we'll head down the hallway.

You enter a spacious guest chamber, with a canopied bed against the far wall. Alas, the canopy is fallen, the curtains gone to ruin, but you get the gist that this was a well appointed room for important guests.

On the left side of the room is a wardrobe. On the right and escritoire tight against the wall. A porcelain bedpan sits overturned in the far right corner, a large piece chipped out of it.

In the middle of the room sits a divan, facing a wide hearth long gone cold. A brief glance notes paper sitting in the hearth.

Agrax watches outside the room as Pious awaits you nearby.

What would you like to do?