Only one road provided access to the region: a long and winding track that became increasingly overgrown the further it stretched from Kintargo, the capital of Ravounel. As the travelers rounded the final corner to take in the sight of the long-abandoned settlement, a partially collapsed sign proclaimed the site to be "Crook Cove." The town's buildings had largely collapsed into rubble. Half-collapsed pilings of wood jutted from the surf, all that remained of many of the structures that once graced the shoreline.

None could miss the lone surviving building that stood within a clearing atop an otherwise wooded bluff overlooking the town to the northeast. Surrounded by a rusty iron fence, this manor was built so many years ago by Ioseff Xarwin, and among the town's buildings, it alone had stood the test of time. A short additional walk up the hill along a barely0discernible track lead the party to the front gates of the manor grounds.

The overgrown road came to an end at a pair of rusty, wrought-iron gates flanked by two stone pillars. Beyond, the woodlands receded before a large clearing of tall, dry grass, at the center of which loomed Xarwin Manor. The building's roofline rose in the middle to a third level surrounded by a walkway, while the closed dome of what appeared to be an observatory rose above. Slate shingles covered the steeply-slanted roofs below this central dome with more rusty ironwork adorning its eaves. The paint along the manor's wooden walls had mostly peeled away, leaving behind a weathered building clad in creeping vines that looked forgotten by the world. Even at a distance, the building's facade seemed unusually... moist, as if it had just weathered torrential downpour despite the dryness of the surrounding grounds.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:44, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

As the party reached the grounds, they encountered their first obstacle. A minor setback, and surely one that did not foreshadow more problems to come.

Swaths of moist green moss grew on the stone pillars that flanked this rusty wrought iron gate. Tangles of blackberry vines wove through the gate's bars. A rust metal coat of arms comprised of a series of overlapping circles, rings, and stars adorned the front of the gate.


There was no actual lock, but the tangle of vines held it closed. If the party wished to enter, they'd need to cut the vines, force their way through, or find another way in. Climbing over looked doable, but the rusty spikes at the top didn't look friendly to a misstep.

He took in the gate with mild disappointment. The research had told them of the basics of what to expect but it had been impossible to stop himself from envisioning a glorious welcome from the, nonexistent, townspeople and heroes welcome to the inherited manor. Instead, well, he thought he might have seen a raven circling on the way up. At least it wasn't a harpy he considered, trying to cheer himself.
He gave the iron gates an experimental push before pulling out a knife. "No time like the present to start trimming the hedges as it were." He declares jovially. With his intent stated he starts hacking back the barrier.

Booker examined the barrier as Saoirse began his very rough version of gardening. "There might be a better way." He drew his sword, and spoke a few words while carving a symbol in the air with the blade. The symbol became visible, a burning word hanging in space. Only for that fire coat the blade. "I shall try very hard not to burn the place down..." He said, touching the vines briefly just to cause minimal fires.

Athraz, stood up from his default three-point stance and gazed upon the gate with excitement in his orange eyes. A tantalizing obstacle before the main course, the kobold was brimming with excitement to unwrap this present.

As the others approached the gate and started working, Athraz was tempted to draw his weapon and join in; instead however he looked at the gate for a way to climb it, should his companions efforts proof to be a waste of time. His head bobbed and moved, his silver scales glittering in the sun before a cloud moved in, as he planned his climb.

Moments later his gaze returned back to the gate and his companions, trying to gauge their progress. "Not very inviting iss it?", the barbarian uttered with glee in his eyes to his companions.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

"I like it.  It's got the vibrant look of a growing place that's all too hard to find."  Ember added 'around the living' to himself silently.  "I suppose we should begin with some general assessment before diving in."

Behind the elf, the ghostly brute silently leaned on his crook.  Its attention, as much as could be gleamed from a rune burning from deep within the cloying darkness of its face, seemed locked on Ember alone.  The elf, as usual, didn't show any sign of being aware of the ghost's presence as he cast his detection spells.

OOC: Good ole' detect magic

Elmelio watched the others with interest. His skills were necessarily needed at this point, but knew they would be eventually. He watched the ravens as well, given his small stature, they were more of a threat to him then most of the others. As he watches, he also looks at the wall. That brick there would just be right, there a perfect crack to get a toe into.

Options. Options were good.

Malcolm looked at the place shaking his head slightly and looking down towards the town the place would look down on before looking back. His eyes drawn to the birds.

The fence had plenty of handholds and wasn't terribly tall. It looked more like decoration, or a marker for the edge of the property, than an attempt to prevent someone from entering. Athraz thought it looked easy enough to climb. The sharp bits on top presented a potential issue; they wouldn't actually make it any more difficult, but they did promise pain to a climber that slipped.

But it was a non-issue. Saoirse's knife and Booker's fire magic proved entirely effective against the vines, which Ember determined were perfectly ordinary. He didn't sense any magic nearby at all, excepting that which the party brought with them.

The overgrown path leading from the front gate split into a crossroads. To the north, the path lead to the manor's front door maybe 150 feet away, while to the east, it curled around the manor's side. To the west, the path lead toward a collapsed building and an algae-chocked pond before winding around the manor as well. The rotting trunk of a fallen oak tree lay across the crossroads, almost as if forming a barrier to those who would approach the manner--or perhaps to keep something within from traveling out.

Or maybe it had just fallen over during some storm in the several decades the manor stood unoccupied.

Mezzaline never let the ravens truly out of her sight, not sure if they were omens or simply birds. "The woods; the woods; those are pearls that were his eyes - Ah." She says, mismatched eyes taking in the disrepair of the mansion now that the way had been cleared by Saoirse and Booker.

She gets as far as the crossroads before stopping and takes several moments contemplating each path before looking at the house expectantly.

"Hmm. I almost wish it could burn down, it looks... damp."

In reply to Mezzaline (msg # 10):

Booker leaves his blade out. He was not comfortable enough in this place to walk around unarmed. In fact his free hand draws out one of his ever present books. Instead of just reading it, it floats above his left hand. The book even moves like a shield, hovering before Booker's body.

"Well...let's go." He says, and begins to walk forward. His sword glows, and his floating book shield glows more intensely.

OOC-casting light on sword & activating arcane cascade stance.

He gives the fallen log a push with his boot to see if it is rotten or if it could be used for firewood in the future. Having gained that information he heads to the stump to investigate the cause of it falling. (Or if it is completely uprooted, he will take a look at what the roots have revealed.)

Elmelio follows the others, looking all around and on edge. but doesn't say anything. Perhaps its just his mindset having recently been set free, perhaps he just didn't want to be noticed by what might be watching them. A nervous tick causes him to absentmindedly pick at his clothing and adjust it regularly.

When Booker moves forward, the Halfling speaks up, "Master Booker," trying to get the human's attention, "perhaps we should check the pond first. Wouldn't be prudent to leave something to sneak up on us."

In reply to Elmelio (msg # 13):

Booker looked back at the halfling, and inhaled. "It's...just Booker. Don't call me that...other thing." His tone of voice was not insulted, it sounded more ashamed than anything else. "And you are right. We should leave no stone unturned."

He glanced back at the others. "I could electrify the pond, but that might just kill or provoke something needlessly."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:33, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

As the party got nearer to the front of the building, birds perched along the eaves of the run-down manor perked up and being to cry out in an eerie song. There did seem to be quite a few birds there, but they turned out not to be ravens--too small, for one thing.

But closer at hand than the house itself was the fallen oak...

Perception checks, please.

In reply to Pharasma (msg # 15):

Ooc-07:33, Today: Booker rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Perception .

Malcolm takes the area in and spends some time seeing if he notices anything.



05:46, Today: Malcolm rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Perception.


This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Mezzaline notices, then begins counting the birds; if they weren't ravens, then what?...

"One for sorrow, two for joy, three for-no, no...yes?"

OOC: 11:24, Today: Mezzaline rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

Athraz walks assisting his gait with his left hand as is typical for him. He is on guard and suspicious, he has his right hand on his sheathed sword; ready to draw at a moments notice. As the halfling and the human check-out the pond, the kobold takes a closer look at the manor, trying to peek through any windows or gaps.

OOC: 19:57, Today: Athraz rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Perception.

"I am sorry Mah," he stops himself with a look of embarrassment, "I mean, Booker. Old habits and what not, so I can't say it won't happen again, but I will try." He reaches up and strokes his key shaped cloak pin absentmindedly as he looked about them. The symbol of his faith calms his emotions. It was extremely odd for him and he was obviously struggling with his new found freedom. The birds concerned him, given his small stature, but there was little he could do about them right now.

19:19, Today: Elmelio rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  Perception.
Nat 20 if that matters.

I have a racial +1 to my Perception DC if it matters.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Poking around his new estate before entering appears to be just fine with him. "Let's not fry any fish just yet, shall we?" He says in response to the idea of electrifying the pond. "Wouldn't want to offend the local naiad after all."


OOC: 08:45, Today: Saoirse rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

While not usually the most alert, Ember's interest was peaked.  The last five ghosts he had run across all called themselves 'Boots' for independent reasons, and there wasn't much that could be done for anyone called boots in this life or the next.  One of them, depressingly enough, had still been lingering in the music hall alley he had choked to death in.  Well, he'd had help in choking, but that had been the most interesting thing about him.  This place, though, was a haunted dream.

OOC: Today: Ember rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

As they approached the fallen oak tree, most of the party noticed something strange. The wood of the rotten log was moving, pulsing slightly as though something was moving beneath it.

Not noticing, Saoirse pushed on the trunk--and his foot sank through the rotten wood. He did see several centipedes skitter across his stuck boot, but as he was extracting it most of the others noticed them.

Bugs, mostly centipeds, surging out of any crack or gap in the wood. There were so many of them, swarming together, climbing over the wood and over each other, lurid orange centipedes moving together as with one mind. In sufficient quantity that they actually posed a potential danger.


Elmelio, Malcolm, Mezzaline, Ember, and Athraz's turns. Ember has an idea that something dangerous is there and moving to attack, the rest can see the centipede swarms gathering under the rotting wood. You don't have to wait for each other to act in order.

Initiative: Elmelio, Malcolm, Mezzaline, Ember, and Athraz
Centipede Swarms (2)
Booker and Saoirse

Elmelio, not wanting the little nasty bugs all over his nice clothing, withdraws back and to one side for a clear shot. As he does so, he pulls out his sling and loads it for an attack.

Okay, new guy
I stride 20' diagonally away from the swarms.
Idk if I can draw my weapon when I move like in 1e, but I think loading a sling is one action
If I have one more left, I'll launch a sling bullet.

20:09, Today: Elmelio rolled 21,5 using 1d20+7,1d6.  Attack/damage.

As a reflex, Athraz draws his weapon before wondering if it would be much use against such a crawly swarm. After a split moment of indecision however, he hisses "Carefull; crawliess!" before mumbling some draconic words which causes his silver scales to harden and shine.

Then, with his sword at the ready, moves towards the swarms, trying to distract them from his companions.

OOC:
[1]: Draw Bastard Sword
[2]: Cast Shield
[3]: Move

Ember made a disgusted face at the sudden appearance of so many insects, to which he casually defaulted in clicking his fingers.  Sparks erupted as though fint and steel had clashed instead of flesh, from which a ribbon of electricity shot towards the bugs.

Meanwhile, Ember's shadow interposed itself between him and the crawling creatures.
OOC:
Ember:
Actions 1-2: Electric Arc (Today: Ember rolled 10 using 2d4+4.  Electric Arc. - Basic Reflex DC 10) - hits both swarms
Grey Shephard
Action 3: Movement to directly in front of Ember
This message was last edited by the player at 10:22, Sat 16 Oct 2021.

Malcolm scowls, "Oh my!"

Malcolm looks at the horde of insects and drums his fingers on his chest.
Melanie the things we get ourselves into.

He closes his eyes briefly and sings a soft hymnal focused at a swarm directing himself so as not to harm his friends. Then he backpedals away from the nasty crawling masses.


1 Haunting Hymn at a mass of insects.
2 Stride 20' away

Mezzaline recoils slightly from the mass of insects and lets a strange dirge echo from deep within her as she directs the sound towards the wriggling mass of centipedes and keeps a safe distance between herself and the swarm.


OOC: Okay, so newbie as well, so what I think I can do is this -

Cast Haunting Hymn (2 actions)

Move away from Swarm (1 action)

Elmelio's sling bullet struck in the center of one of the swarms. Singular strikes against a surging mass of tiny creatures weren't highly effective, but nonetheless he squished a few of them and set a few more scurrying away from the larger swarm.

Ember still wasn't quite able to make out what the others had seen, but he knew where they were. He wasn't quite lined up with the first group, but the electricity shocked through the second. They were quick, and scattered around the blast, but it still left some dead centipedes.

Malcolm and Mezzaline's discordant music burst through the entire mass.

As one group converged on Saoirse, it seemed already to have lost nearly half its number already, twitching under the fallen tree. The other half of the centipedes, though, charged forward as those Mezzaline's spell had no effect on them. These swarmed over Athraz.

A centipede is normally no real danger to a person. Even if they should manage to bite, the tiny pinprick is harmless and the dose of venom ineffectual.

In this number, though, the mass of creatures crawling all over the two adventurers had the strength of sheer numbers. Both Saoirse and Ahtraz felt tiny needles all over their bodies, and dozens or hundreds of tiny doses of venom threatened to overwhelm them.

Loading a sling does indeed cost an action, but I'm cool with assuming you had a weapon ready. Elmelio hits and deals some damage after resistance.
Is that a typo? Your spellcasting DC is 19, Ember, not 10. Ember fails to target one, and the other succeeds on its save.
Haunting Hymn affects an area, so you can both get both. Could you both include your spell DC and damage in the future, though? Against Malcolm's spell, the first succeeds and the second fails. Either way, they take extra damage from weakness to area damage.
Against Mezzaline's, the first succeeds, but still takes enough damage to reduce it to half HP (shorthand as "Bloodied on the Status page). The second critically succeeds and takes no damage.
I should... definitely get a map up. I suppose, since the lack of map is my fault, it's only fair to assume you're spreading out.
Swarm A Strides into Saoirse's space and uses its Swarming Bites twice.
Friendlier damage rolls this time--4 and 2--but the saves are the same for you--DC 20 Reflex for each damage roll, and Fort save against venom if either Reflex is a failure.
Since they moved out of their hiding place, everybody knows where they are now.

In reply to Pharasma (msg # 29):

Booker whirls the tip of his rapier in the air, and forming from the metal blade is a large ball of fire. It moves, directed by Booker's weapon, and lands in the midst of the most damaged swarm. Then the Magus moves back, lest the swarm is clever enough to reason out who is the source of the fire.

ooc:
Actions 1-2: casting flaming sphere. Next round I plan to sustain it. It does 9 fire damage and it's a dc 18 reflex save. It is area of effect spell, but it only wffects a single 5 foot cube. So I will make sure it is in one of the hexes of the wounded swarm, but close to the players.

Action 3-move away from swarm.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:06, Sun 17 Oct 2021.

Saoirse feels the heat of the flames wash over him, as the centipedes attacking him drop away.

There were still enough to be considered a threat, but the swarm was more tiny charred bodies now than active centipedes.

The swarm makes its save, but still takes extra damage from its weakness.
All other PCs' turns.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:43, Sun 17 Oct 2021.

Elmelio stays where he's at so long as the swarms stay at least 10' away from him. Otherwise he launches another sling bullet into the bugs.

05:17, Today: Elmelio rolled 29,1 using 1d20+9,1d6.  Attack/damage.

Actions
Load, Launch, Load

If they are closer than 10', I'll use my last action to move another 10' away
This message was last edited by the player at 10:40, Thu 21 Oct 2021.

Having the centipedes swarm all over him makes Athraz focussed and angry. He swings his sword around, trying to sweep as much of the swarm around as he can.

OOC:
[1] Rage
[2] Shield
[3] Attack: To Hit: 12, Damage: 13+4<Cold>
19:39, Today: Athraz rolled 12,17 using 1d20+10,1d12+4+4.  Tohit +10, Bastard Sword Damage +4<str> +4<cold>.
Reflex: 9 -> Critical Failure (08:18, Today: Athraz rolled 9 using 1d20+7 (2))

08:59, Today: Athraz rolled 14,24 using 1d20+9,1d20+7.  Fortitude Save, 2nd Reflex Save.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

Malcolm repositions hopefully with Mezzaline to catch more of these swarming centipedes in his haunting hymn. Will reposition if necessary to try to avoid being overrun.


Haunting Hymn again
Damage will be 3
DC: 10 + 3, + Proficiency Trained (I believe this is 5 ?) 18.

He pulls his boot out of the rotting tree with a bit of a suck. As the pandemonium explodes around him he feels the pointy legs on his flesh. "GYAah! They're in my pants! They're in my pants!" He shouts while slapping at his thighs just below his crotch then bounces into the air and starts a jig that would impress Michael Flatley.


16:01, Today: Saoirse rolled 29 using 1d20+9.

16:00, Today: Saoirse rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Ref Save.
I will use actions to run towards pond

Elmelio's sling stone landed in the center of the swarm, but did no notable to the teeming mass swarming around it.
Ahtraz, too, had difficulty throwing the bugs off of himself.

Malcolm's spell was more effective, though. As Saoirse moved away from the centipedes, Malcolm scattered them and splattered several against the logs. A few living bugs remained, but without their numbers they were harmless and scurried back toward safety.

His spell wasn't as effective against the quantity of critters menacing Athraz, but it did still blow quite a few of them away.

Elmelio crits! Unfortunate time to roll a 1 on damage, though. Doubling that to 2 doesn't overcome the swarm's bludgeoning resistance.
Ahtraz misses.
Swarm A fails its save against the haunting hymn, taking a total of 8 damage after its weakness, and is destroyed. Swarm B succeeds, taking a total of 6 damage, and is bloodied.

Ember and Mezzaline's turns.

With his Shephard guarding him, Ember casually snapped his fingers and flicked more pin-point lightning at the fleeing insects.  Many of the others might be dancing a rather bizarre jig.  Ember might as well have been waiting to be checked for contraband by a city guard.

OOC: Sorry, yes; Basic reflex DC 19. My laptop doesn't have a full keypad so I do that a lot

Actions: Ember:
1 and 2 - fry remaining insects with Electric Arc
3 - Casting Protect Companion
Ember rolled 9 using 2d4+4.  Electric arc.

The shower of sparks yielded a shower of dead centipedes. There were still enough to be dangerous, but it was barely a swarm at this point.

They make their save, taking 4 damage.
Mezzaline's turn.

Mezzaline's spell cut through the swarm again, but they bore it surprisingly well.

They surged forward to swarm over the Shepherd, who felt the tiny itching bites all over.

Mezzaline casts haunting hymn again. The centipedes make their save and take a total of 6 damage after weakness. Not quite enough.
The swarm Strides to the Shepherd's space and uses its swarming bites twice. 5 and 4 piercing damage, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save for each. If he fails either save, he can also make a Fort save against the venom.

All PCs' turn.

In reply to Pharasma (msg # 39):

In reply to Pharasma (msg # 39):

Booker directs the flaming orb over the swarm, but away from his friends. Then he blasts them with lighting from his blade.

Ooc: Both spells have a dc 18 reflex save.

Action 1-sustain spell

Action 2 & 3-lighting arc

16:37, Today: Booker rolled 5 using 2d4+3.  Correct lighting arc damage.

16:32, Today: Booker rolled 6 using 3d6.  Flaming sphere fire damage area effect.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Sat 23 Oct 2021.

Ember winced in tandem as his specter was assaulted, though he maintained the sense to activate the ward he placed on Gray Shephard for just an occasion.  Any craliws that had escaped Booker's elemental onslaught got a further taste of Ember's, and Gray Shephard's crook.

OOC:
Reaction: Activating Protect Companion to block 106 points of damage from triggering effect. Save made on second attack and on poison.

Ember
Action 1+2: Lightning Arc
Today: Ember rolled 9 using 2d4+4.  Electric Arc. Basic Ref DC 19
Gray Shephard
Action 3: Strike
Ember rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Strike.
Ember rolled 4 using 1d8+3.  Strike.

Malcolm repositioned so as not to hit his friends and once again sung a hymn to Pharasma.

His haunting hymn playing over the stragglers of the centipede swarm.

DC 18 Damage: 3 Though it is an AoE.

The haunting, magical music blasted away most of the remaining centipedes, and sent the rest of them scurrying.

The dead critters littered the area, and would make a fine meal for the birds. All else was quiet.

It makes its save, but it only had one HP.

Awwww. I just rolled a potential crit. Shrug

Elmelio lets his sling slow down until he can stop it safely and looks around for any potential threats that might have been called to the sudden light and sound.

I've got a +9 to Perception, +1 to my Perception DC if applicable.

Booker puts away both sword and his tome, only to bring out his healer's kit and a book on medical knowledge.

"Let's take care of the poisoned folk frist, then I can patch people up."

OOC-what is the parties medical status?

Nothing else moved, although some of the watching birds began to call. It was a pleasant sound.

They looked like whip-poor-wills.


That's in the Status thread. Saoirse took a grand total of 1 damage, Athraz took a bit more, and Ember still needs to roll Reflex saves for the Gray Shepherd. Athraz is poisoned.

Ember eyed his ghost as the dead bugs fell off of it.  The hulk was never one to complain, even if made infirm by poison or injury.  Te latter only stopped it because Ember himself lost consciousness after enough abuse, and Gray Shephard faded away as a result.  Not that that was a commonplace occurrence....

"He won't speak up, but please check over Gray Shephard as well."  Ember requested, breaking his eyes off of the spirit.  "I suppose I could assist with such a task; both in the case of Gray and any others."

OOC: Sorry; actually did the rolls and apparently forgot to post them;
Sat 23 Oct: Ember rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  Shephard Ref save 1. - Damage reduced via Protect Companion (doesn't prevent poison)
Sat 23 Oct: Ember rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Shephard Con save 1.

Sat 23 Oct: Ember rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Shephard Ref save 2.

Malcolm smiled listening to the pleasant sound of the whippoorwills and wondered if they were happy they would be having a good meal of the bugs.

He would help those providing medical aid.



07:14, Today: Malcolm rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Assisting with medical aid.

In reply to Malcolm (msg # 48):

First helping with the posion, Booker treats wounds using Malcolm's help.

ooc-10:00, Today: Booker rolled 12 using 2d8.  Healing for Athraz.

09:59, Today: Booker rolled 15 using 1d20+9.  Attempting treat wounds with +1 assistance bonus.

For the poison, using assurance to get a medicine result of 17, most likely adding +2 to the next posion save.

Athraz just needed a little patching up from all the tiny, itchy wounds. Booker and Malcolm were able to do so effectively.

"Well, at least we won't need to call an exterminator for those." He jokes with a chuckle. while the others are patching up he starts exploring the nearby area. He avoids the pond for the time being. No point tempting fate. Not after the last time anyway.

"Give me a moment. I need to prepare in case there are any more swarms in our future." Booker pulls out his spellbook and starts reading.

OOC-spending 10 mins to prepare a different cantrip.

Nothing bothers the party as they rest and prepare. The woods around the manor are almost eerily quiet, other than the occasional bird song.

A few of the birds flutter down from the manor's roof and approach tentatively, feeding on the centipedes.

"I'm no expert on living things, but shouldn't normal creatures have fled from significantly larger creatures wielding elemental power?  Kinda makes me wonder if they're not more scared of something else here, or were manipulated by a local presence.  Spooky.  I like it."  Ember watched the birds descending to feast for a moment as he spoke, then tore his attention away.  "I'd keep an eye on the birds next."

In reply to Ember (msg # 54):

"Assuming everyone is healthy again, maybe we should get inside? Less open space to defend at the very least..." Booker said after researching his magics.

Shrugs slightly, "I suppose that wouldn't be a bad idea. Are we sure were done checking around everything outside ?" Malcolm runs a hand through his hair and then puts his top hat back on.

"We barely got started gentle sirs and ladies," the halfling says with his voice low. Being outside wasn't ideal for the halfling that spent most of his life inside, but it was what it was. "Perhaps we should continue to the pond?"

As the party drew closer to the manor, dozens of whippoorwills perched along the eaves of the run-down manor perked up and began to cry out in their eerie song.

There were hundreds of the birds, and they took to the air, flying in a spiral in the sky above.

Once the group was at the building, they saw that the strange dampness of the house was actually some kind of transparent, moist webbing clinging to the manor's exterior surfaces. It covered the wall, the door, the windows--everything--but was only a thin layer that did not hinder access to the doorknob.

"Excuse me," the halfling says moving forward, "this is my job," as he pulls out his tools and begins to sweep the doorway for traps and locks.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Wed 10 Nov 2021.

"What is this substance is it mere dew ?"

He looked for a stick and prodded at the odd wetness coating the manor.

While the others searched the pond and scouted out for other dangers, Ember simply stood tall, eyes slitted closed.  Slowly, his head tilted back with a breath, arms rising outward until two fingers from each hand formed a diamond over his forehead.  It was a big show, but that was expected of mediums.  The elf muttered out a few arcane syllables, then suddenly broke the 'third eye' formed by his fingers and gestured with both hands at the door.

OOC: Detecting Magic on the goo.

Elmelio found no sign of a trap, nor was the door locked. He and Malcolm both found the webbing to be slimy, slippery, and stringy. It clung to their tools in thin strands that had a slight green hue, and when those strands snapped it dropped away and dissipated to nothing before hitting the ground.

Ember could sense magic in the area.

"How very interesting, it is as if the whole of the place is covered in ectoplasm. This much is very suggestive of well severe crossing from the Boneyard. I may need to consult."

Malcolm steps away and focuses on calling Melanie from the Boneyard to him to discuss his findings and if he was honest with himself to just see her again.

The psychopomp appeared--and immediately slumped over, as though she'd been struck. She was in pain, and felt quite unwell. She wasn't quite sure why, though she and Malcolm could both sense a feeling of hatred radiating from somewhere in the mansion.

Melanie is Sickened 3 and cannot reduce her Sickened condition. The reason for this is not clear.

"Something is wrong, something is very wrong. Melanie Oh no, no no no. Can't have you suffering like this." Malcolm looked pained, "I had best send you back."

Malcolm looked to his Eidolon with sympathy.

He sent her back to the Boneyard.

Looking at the Manor, "This place ? I wonder if this whole place will effect her, so and if so we may be more of a liability."

Booker drew his blade and readied a book in his left hand. His sword glowed with light, while his book floated open over his other palm, and a protective aura settled over him. "Maybe I should go inside. If there is a magical effect, I can resist it better than those unprotected."

OOC-Casting light, activating Arcane Cascade Stance.

Ember prepared to share the same information, then winced as his thunder was suddenly stolen.  "I take it magical goo is something you are well versed in.  Splendid."

Still, the mage approached it closer, though after watching Malcokm's issues with his eidolon motioned to Gray Shephard to remain distant.  As an added precaution, Ember kept his marked palm as far from the caul as he could while examining it more closely.

OOC: This looks like a job for Lore; Hauntings
Ember rolled 16 using 1d20+11.  Lore (Hauntings).
...or, you know, not....

"Well," the halfling says, tucking away the tools of his trade, "I don't see anything material that will injure us. Do you wish for me to creep in and have a look around?"

While the material was very likely some type of ectoplasm, Ember wasn't familiar with anything quite like it.

The door looked like it had been shut for a very long time and would probably stick slightly, but the stringy material was thin and did not look like it would offer any resistance. A good tug should open it.

That is a failure.

The door does stick a little, but easily cracked open with a bit of effort.

As it did, the sticky ectoplasm immediately burst like an oily bubble, showering the party in stringy strands of... nothing, as it vanished in an instant of foul-smelling smoke.

The bird song immediately stopped, and all present were glad it did as they all experienced a sudden realization that they utterly loathed all birdlife. This strange sensation lasted only a single heartbeat, and as it faded everyone felt a little better.
Something about the area had felt mildly imposing, mildly enough that nobody had really felt it as they approached. It was obvious only in its absence. For one thing, Malcolm felt certain it would be safe to manifest Melanie now.

And then there was a small thud. And another. Thud. Thud. Thudthumpthud.
It was a shower of tiny bodies. The circling birds had not simply stopped singing, the entire flock had suddenly died and now plummeted from the air. It was over in seconds, the yard littered with the small, unmarred birds.


New hints mean you can retry Recalling Knowledge, but any such checks to investigate the Caul take a -4 penalty while it's inactive.

"What the ?" Malcolm shielded himself from the falling birds and rand over to some of the fallen bodies and looked at them trying to see what may have killed them and then looking skyward. Feeling better he did manifest Melanie again.

"Did anyone see what happened ?"

"What in the layers of hell is going on? Did we just trip a trap that killed avian life? Glad none of us are Tengu." He muttered. Going closer to the door he began to inspect everything more closely.

OOC: What would you like me to roll? Or would you like to do it in secret?

In reply to Pharasma (msg # 70):

Booker pulled out a different book. Had it hover over his hand, flipping it's own pages. However the answers did not seem forthcoming. "Looking..." he said, sounding annoyed at his failure.

ooc-11:29, Today: Booker rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Using arcana with book bonus and -4.

The halfling just keeps quiet and out of the way, obviously out of his element.

18:23, Today: Elmelio rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  know nature.

with a -4 that a 6. .. lol

Ember raised a hand as though to shield his face as the ghostly material flew at him.  He clicked his fingers a few times as though such a display might be on the very tip of refreshing his memory about something.

OOC: Ember rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Lore (Hauntings) retry. -4 already included in roll

Booker and Elmelio considered a variety of possibilities--perhaps this wasn't a haunting at all, but something to do with the fey?
Ember was confident it was a haunting, that the material was a type of ectoplasm. He did not, however, recognize precisely this type of manifestation.

With the material gone from the door, it could be clearly seen. It was a double door of dark oak standing in the middle of the manor's facade, carved with a series of overlapping circles with a stylized "X" at their center. It resembled the design of the front gate.

The door opened on to a large entrance hall. The air inside was musty, and as the door opened air from outside swirled into the manor, giving the eerie sensation that the mansion just took a deep breath around you.
Motes of dust drifted through the air of the room. To the north, a pair of wide staircases ascended to a balcony that encircled the room above. An old, musty carpet on the otherwise-bare wood floor partially lead the way to a double door between the stairs. Four other doors provided exits to either side, while the southwestern and southeastern walls had tall cabinets and coat racks set against them. On the upper floor, the railed ten-foot-wide balcony circled this room, leaving the central area open to the second floor's ceiling twenty feet above.

That's a couple of critical failures, but you have no Research Points to lose. Then Ember earns one! Which isn't enough for actionable information yet, but it's a step in that direction.
And oh right, I should describe the room if the door is opened.

Elmelio walks in first to look around. His gloved hands held clasped in front of him. Then he gets to work looking for hidden objects, traps, and possible damaged floor that could either collapse on them or above them.

I'm going to use the Investigate action to look for the above. The rules say it's a secret check, but I chose the skill. I think. Anyway, I'll use Perception at +9

Walks away from the fallen birds to the others by the door ready to head in after Elmelio checks for hazards.

Booker flips through his hovering book. Trying to find something...anything that might help. Sadly, all the answers could not be found on these pages.