Bink's WotR part 2: The Gray Garrison and beyond!

[Farmerbink]

Filburn and Morevek lead the party towards, and after a brief inspection confirms it as unoccupied, into the stables. The sharp tang of musty decay fills the building. Its easternmost wall has largely collapsed into a steep pile of broken beams, bricks, and mortar that effectively blocks sight and travel across. presumably, there was once a matching exit on the far side, but it would be impractical at best to try and leave that direction, now. All of the less-sturdy walls that would once have formed dividers and stalls for crusaders' mounts have long-since fallen to pieces. Strangely, heaps of iron- mostly weapons, lie discarded amongst the rubble.

Map updated

Spoiler: OOC

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I've assumed your marching order as makes the most sense to me. If you prefer something else, please feel free. And yeah, the whole place is gonna get mapped out as we go :-)

[MuffinMan]

"What the demons have not ravaged, the passage of time surely has..." Waylan muses as the group surveys the empty stables. "Shall we move on to the temple itself?" He keeps an arrow nocked on his bowstring and one eye on their possessed prisoner as the groups makes its way deeper into the ruins.

[DarkOne-Rob]

"Wait a moment, please. Let's check it a bit more carefully. If it's safe, maybe we can keep her here while we finish exploring. That way we avoid losing her or having things go wrong with her still possessed..." he says, looking around for anything else of interest in the abandoned building, including something to which they could secure the prisoner.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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I don't see why we wouldn't have time to take 20 on this. Perception is either a 30 or (1d20+10)[28]. Anything that will work here? Maybe a hook or something to which we could attach the ropes with which she's bound?

[Gwynfrid]

Elrembriel shivers. This place, somehow, feels ominous to her, not just because of its decayed state. Is it because of the presence of the demon within the unfortunate woman's body? She nods in approval when Filburn urges caution, and reaches into an inner pocket of her cloak, revealing a dragon scale, silver in color; she gives it a light touch, and a low hum is heard for an instant as the ancient dragon's protective magic surrounds her.

Eyeing the large number of weapons lying around, she says: "That's a lot of war equipment, why was it abandoned just here... Let's see," and she begins to cast.

"Ce lieu désert
Cache des secrets
C'est notre affaire
De les percer."

"Y a-t-il magie
Devant mes yeux?
Peut-être ici
La voir je peux."

Her eyes light up with an inner blue glow as she surveys the room. Above, Sruech'ul flies silently, looking for either a prey, or a threat.

Spoiler

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Elrembriel activates Terendelev's Scale of Protection, then casts Heightened Awareness, and Detect Magic.
Sruech'ul flies around the room at half speed.

Perception for Elrembriel (1d20+13)[17]
Perception for Sruech'ul (1d20+17)[33]
Stealth for Sruech'ul (1d20+23)[43]

If given the time to take 20, Elrembriel gets a 33 and Sruech'ul a 37 on Perception.

Spoiler: Elrembriel

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71
Speed 30 ft
Init +3
Senses: Darkvision, sensitivity to light (dazzled in bright light, -1 to attacks and Perception)
AC 17
Fort +7 Ref +7 Will +8
CMB +3 BAB +3
Acid splash +7 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (+3) Con 13 (+1) Wis 12 (+1) Int 21 (+5) Cha 10 (0)
Effects: Resist Cold and Electricity 30 (190 minutes), Detect Magic, Heightened Awareness
Powers/day: Mythic Power 1/5, Prescience 4/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Spoiler: Sruech'ul

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Familiar, male Owl
Tiny animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +16
AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +2 size, +3 natural)
hp 35
Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +7 - Improved Evasion
Speed 30 ft., fly 110 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +8 (1d4–2)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Str 6, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse, Alertness, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Fly +7, Stealth +23
Skill from master: Craft(Alchemy) +0, Knowledge(Arcana) +5, Knowledge(Planes) +5, Perception +17, Sense Motive +10, Spellcraft +5, Use Magic Device +4
Familiar features: Alertness, Share Spells, Empathic Link, Improved Evasion, Deliver Touch Spells, Speak with Master
Effects:

[JWallyR]

"Wait a moment, please. Let's check it a bit more carefully. If it's safe, maybe we can keep her here while we finish exploring. That way we avoid losing her or having things go wrong with her still possessed..." he says, looking around for anything else of interest in the abandoned building, including something to which they could secure the prisoner.

Morevek turns his face toward their captive, and his clawed tail lashes twice, irritably, behind him, but the swordsman says nothing before directing his gaze to the ruined stable.

Spoiler: Actions

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Perception mod is +9, additional +3 vs traps.

[Farmerbink]

The party begins to search through the discarded weaponry and rubble, and quickly finds most of it to be ruined beyond repair. The vast majority has been reduced to little more than bits of metal and leather grips. However, with the aid of Elrembriel's magical efforts and the simple application of time (you're not interrupted for several minutes of searching, at least), you find a few serviceable pieces amongst the refuse.

Spoiler: OOC (loot)

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There's a masterwork Battleaxe, three cold iron daggers, a +1 cold iron dagger, and a +1 cold iron longspear. There's also roughly 300 pounds of ruined weaponry, if you care to come up with a clever application of it.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Finally confident that they've found a (relatively) safe place from which to work, Filburn shrugs at the pile of scrap metal. "Nothing much to do there, but those are good," he mutters, gesturing to the axe and cold iron weapons. "And we can secure her safely here, not have to carry her around and watch her every moment. Maybe we should though...what do you all think?" he asks his allies, glaring at their prisoner with distrust.

Filburn looks around the ruined building, trying to imagine a good place to fight the shadow demon possessing the paladin woman. Casting the Message cantrip himself he addresses the party in private. "When the possession is over, will the demon be physically here? Will it be able to hurt her? Or us? How is this going to work? Should we wait here, where it's relatively safe, and...ambush it?" he asks, trying to think tactically...

[BelGareth]

Grace follows along with everyone else, trying to stay behind and allow the more sneaky types to scout ahead, painfully aware of her loud noise and armor. once inside the building she pulled their captive along, trying not to bruise or hurt her. Seeing the pile of weaponry, she pulls out a spear with a cold iron tip, that should help and giver her an alternate weapon.

"This could work, if we get into a fight, one of us will have to tend to her, unless we risk her interfering. Does anyone have and immovable rod? or maybe one of those unseen servants to hold the cord?" she asks earnestly. Turning to Filburn "How do we force it out of her?"

She kept eyeing the main chapel, it was plainly obvious she wanted dearly to go there, but was forcing herself to wait.

[DarkOne-Rob]

"I don't think we can force it out, at least not without more advanced magic than I know...Elrembriel? Have you had any new ideas?"

[Gwynfrid]

"I have no better magic than what we tried before", Elrembriel responds. "I think our hope lies in the Inheritor. This was once a chapel dedicated to her. Let's explore it as completely as we can, and perhaps we will find a place, still consecrated, or some other thing that may help?"

She makes to leave the stables and go check out another door the group saw on their way in.

Spoiler

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Goes to see RS-16 on the map.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Filburn sees Elrembriel about to leave the relative safety of the abandoned building and moves to stop her. "Please, let Morevek and I scout. We know something carnivorous is out there - don't want you to be it's next meal..." he says as he gestures to Morevek to join him. Then he heads towards the nearest door to listen and try and see if he can tell what might be on the other side...

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Stealth (1d20-1)[16]
Perception (1d20+10)[15]

[JWallyR]

Morevek is hot on Filburn's heels as the latter moves to halt the elven woman. "Yes... please, allow us."

The slender swordsman moves to join Filburn at the fore.

Spoiler: Actions

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Stealth: (1d20+13)[15]
Perception: (1d20+9)[17], add'l +3 vs traps

[Farmerbink]

Leaving the stables and the possessed paladin (bound securely atop Auspice) behind, the party's scouts round the corner into the narrow alley between chapel and stables. The thick stone walls come to an end spanned by the shattered remains of what was once a heavy wooden gate. Beyond, you can just make out the tops of a few dead trees and something made of stone- perhaps a dilapidated statue or fountain? Either way, you'll have to get closer to see past the drunkenly-askew wooden planks.

At the door, both swordsmen pause to listen. For the time being, the chapel still appears abandoned outright more than anything else. The bones scattered among the ruined entry gate remain a worrying thought, but there's no other sign of whatever caused them to lie there.

Map updated (precise positions flexible)

[DarkOne-Rob]

Filburn makes eye contact with Morevek before gesturing his intentions. Then the half-elf creeps over to the corner of the building, black blade drawn, looking for threats there. With a quick incantation he casts the Message cantrip and uses it to whisper, "I'm going to look through the stained glass window on this side. If something attacks I will retreat back, if not, listen for sounds inside the ruins..." Then the swordsman does that, approaching the window slowly and peering into the interior of the building and trusting his elven heritage to enhance his sight into the darkened space...

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Stealth -1 until/unless he goes invisible. Message to include the entire party. Perception +10 with low-light vision. Note that with Baerlyon drawn the sword also gets Perception checks identical to Filburn.

[Gwynfrid]

"Yes... Er... You're right, we need to be cautious..." Elrembriel mumbles, chastised. But, as she sees her companions following, she doubles back.

"We don't want to leave her out of our sight, I think, unless we really have to." Through the open doors to the stables, she checks to see if everything is all right with the bound paladin.

Spoiler

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Move to L9.

[Farmerbink]

The stained glass proves thicker and more obstructive perhaps than Filburn expected. Still, he can make out several shapes near the window despite the distracting hues and relative dimness inside the chapel. Through the thick colored glass it's impossible to be sure precisely what the shapes are, but for now they are still and silent.

Map updated

[DarkOne-Rob]

Filburn reports what he sees over the Message spell. "Maybe furniture - big stuff, but hard to see any details. I'm going to go a bit further and see the next one," he says as he continues to go south, looking for threats and checking the windows as he goes...

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Repeat the same process as before, first stopping at K22 and then at K26. He will peer inside from both windows and look over his shoulder (towards the ruined wall and collapsed stone) so as not to be surprised by a hiding enemy. Stealth -1, Perception +10.

[MuffinMan]

Waylan nods wordlessly in response to Filburn's report. He takes a step forward for a clearer view of the doors to the cathedral, an arrow nocked for any enemies that might emerge...

(Move to M/13 for clear line of sight to the double doors.)

[BelGareth]

Grace nods at the words of Elrembriel, she did not think it was a wise course, so she stepped into the room with the paladin, and kept Elrembriel within visual contact.

Spoiler

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Move to P9

[Farmerbink]

Filburn's brief exploration reveals more of the same. The southern window is damaged, but the shattered glass is kept too high to see through. With some effort (and probably a lot of noise), you could break the window further and would certainly be able to see inside more clearly...

[DarkOne-Rob]

"Only way further that way will make noise and give us away. Let's try the door - quietly and carefully, but be ready to fight," says Filburn as he returns to the door. Looking to the others he waits until everyone is ready before trying the handle...

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Move to P15. Do we have someone with trapfinding? If so, they should check the door and such, just in case, before Filburn opens it...

[JWallyR]

As Filburn reaches for the handle, Morevek lifts a hand to ward off the fellow swordsman. "Allow me..." he murmurs, before scrutinizing the door.

Spoiler: Actions

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Perception is at +12 vs traps. Morevek will take 20 if possible.
Disable device is +14, if required.

[Farmerbink]

Morevek does not find any traps on the door. It's heavy wood, and appears to have been well shielded from the elements in the narrow alley between chapel and stable. Despite the occasional ruin around, this door seems fully intact.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Once Morevek confirms the door is safe Filburn draws his blade and moves to open it, as quietly as he can.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Stealth: (1d20-1)[16]

[Gwynfrid]

"We shouldn't separate like this... Lady Grace, please... Can you lead the horse outside?". Elrembriel is alarmed, having to watch both for the bound paladin and whatever risks her companions are taking.

[MuffinMan]

Waylan inches closer to the door, keeping an ear out for Elrembriel and Grace's movement behind him.

Spoiler: Positioning

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Waylan will step to N/14 and wait for the door to open.

[BelGareth]

Seeing no where for the 'Paladin' to go, Grace moves out to watch what everyone else was doing.

[Farmerbink]

Filburn gently leans into the door, pressing it open fairly quietly. It's immediately apparent that the relatively unscathed exterior is left so deliberately. Scrawling angular runes mar almost every visible surface of the interior of the chapel- a noteworthy feat for it's 30-foot tall vaulted ceilings. Shards of stained glass litter the floor, thinly enough to be no serious obstruction. Four grand angelic statues occupy the corners of the desecrated chapel, their faces and wings broken almost beyond recognition. An altar, befouled with suspiciously reddish-brown grime and filth stands in a place of prominence on a shallow raised dais at the far side of the hall.

A pair of ghouls look up from a grisly meal on the steps of the dais, hissing angrily at the disturbance. Within a moment, 4 more heads arise from apparent sleep.

Map updated
Begin combat!

Spoiler: OOC

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Somewhat entertainingly, only Filburn, Morevek, and Elrembriel top the enemy initiative. What with them being the first to see the enemy and a divination-focused wizard, I find it to be totally appropriate.

Those three to act, then the bad guys, then block.

[JWallyR]

Black-pool eyes invisibly moving to count the foes that make themselves apparent, Morevek murmurs and gestures in spellcasting...

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard: Cast Shield
Swift: Spend Arcane Point to grant +1 and Keen to Katana.

Spoiler: Stats

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Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 5, HP 65/65, Speed 30
AC 30, Touch 21, Flat-footed 20, CMD 24, Fort 7, Ref 9, Will 7, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex+1, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Armor, +4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Medal of Valor: +2 CMD
Medal of Agility: +1 Init
Mage Armor: some hours, +4 AC
Shield: +4 Shield AC. 59 rds remaining
Arcane Point: +1, Keen to weapon. 9 rds remaining

Todo: scribe Vanish with spell-scars

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: Filburn's Status, Round 1

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Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 9, HP 23/59, Speed 30 ft.
AC 20, Touch 12, Flat-footed 18, CMD 20, Fort 4, Ref 4, Will 5, CMB +8, Base Attack Bonus 3
Black Blade (+2 Falcata) +10 (1d8+7, 19-20/x3)
+1 Chain Shirt, +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, +1 Natural)
Abilities Str 20, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 9
Condition Arcane Reservoir 6/9 Uses Available
Black Blade Arcane Pool 2/2 Available
Mythic Powers 4/5 Available

With a slam Filburn closes the door again, holding it shut with both hands.

Spoiler: Aklo

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"Just going to hold this closed while we prepare to kill some undead..."

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Not sure on the actions here, but I suspect that closing the door is at least a move action and that bracing to hold it closed will be a standard. If I can get another action in there I will have him cast Bull's Strength on himself too.

Strength Check to hold closed the door? (1d20+5)[6]