Rise of the Runelords IC

[u-b]

Lizuga and Iris unleash their attacks, but the monster is not really exposed to begin with, possibly expecting something of the sort, so the attacks, passing more or less close to the corner, just hit empty air.

Spoiler

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I did not specify the exact degree of cover enjoyed by Malfeshnekor, but assume it is full cover unless you advance back to TU16 and attack from there.

[CasualViking]

Lizuga Manescu AC 20 (+4 counter), Touch 11, FF 19, CMD 17|Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +7|HP: 20/31 Lizuga takes a moment to recover her breath and bless Justin with fast healing. "Let's get out behind the door. We don't need this bastard to listen to every word we say." As said, so done. Lizuga retreats out behind the doors, and closes them once everyone is through. "Right. Let's head back to Sandpoint. We killed Nualia. This wolf demon has been trapped for gods-know-how-long, one day more or less won't make a difference now. We need to be at full strength and properly prepared to come back and kill it".

Triage 0/4. Maneuvers readied: Oaken Shield, Piercing Strike, Armor-piercing Thrust, Curate's Strike. Phalanx Lancer Stance.

[DrK]

Justen

Justen sighs with relief as the wounds from the massive claw slash and bite marks begin to fade slightly. "I agree. If we had back to the town we can rest and re-arm and then come back finish that thing." He looks at the others, "Do we need any special tools to deal with such a powerful and vile beast?"

He clutches his side a little as he joins the others in retreating. "At least the way in is not obvious and we can close that strange coin door as well."

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: Heightened Awareness (20ish minutes), Longstrider (3 hours) Adalbert shakes his head. I am not even sure it is smart we kill its mortal form here. Yes barghests need a sacrifice to be summoned to our plane, but destroying its worldly form just banishes it to the Abyss, where it can return after a set amount of time. I should consult Brodert in that matter. Yes, we should return. In the meanwhile, can you do something about Lebwen's sapped strength?

[Ghostfoot]

Iris

"Good thinking. It would be good to know how securely it remains bound, but I am no sage and I fear that anyone tarrying too long nearby that demon may be susceptible to it's powers.

Let's lock this area down and return with the knowledge and the tools that we need."

Spoiler: actions

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I'm good to leave. I assume we can somehow close the 'gold coin pillar door'.

We'll need to bring the prisoners too.

[Erloas]

"Agreed, let's head out. I'm not sure there is much we can do about the beast right now."

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: Heightened Awareness (20ish minutes), Longstrider (3 hours) The halfling is taken in by the plentiful oppulence around him finally. Cursed gold or not. I used up my last savings to come here and study the Thassilonian ruins. I would very much like to cover my expenses and take a few items to discuss with Brodert, if you like. I know we plan on coming back, but with an impending goblin invasion I do not know how long these items lay dormant now that we removed their guardians. Check for the most valuable light stuff, Lebwen and I should check for magic items again. We meet again in five.

[CasualViking]

Lizuga Manescu AC 20 (+4 counter), Touch 11, FF 19, CMD 17|Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +7|HP: 31/31 Lizuga dumps out the torches from her pack and starts preparing for the loot.

Triage 4/4. Maneuvers readied: Oaken Shield, Piercing Strike, Armor-piercing Thrust, Curate's Strike. Phalanx Lancer Stance.

[u-b]

From the room where you fought the crab, you fish 630 gp, 115 pp and 40 assorted gemstones. You speculate that much more has been washed to the sea through the breach and probably dispersed around, but you are currently ill-prepared for an activity that you expect would most resemble professional pearl-diving.

You heal your prisoner, Orik Vancaskerkin, to a contition minimally allowing him to walk, talk and haul stuff. You load yourselves with whatever seems to be most valuable to an extent limited by the bulk and weight of the loot and your carrying capacity, and leave for Sandpoint, crossing the rope bridge in ones and twos to avoid overloading it.

The journey passes mostly uneventfully, save for a few travelers whom you meet along the road and who invariably turn out to be very curious about your procession. It is about early afternoon when you are back to Sandpoint. You are met with cheers, questions and more than one invitation for a drink.

Spoiler

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Sorting, weighing and double-checking of the loot is left as an exercise for the players.

Feel free to tell whatever to those curious travelers and townsfolk and/or otherwise do whatever.

[Erloas]

Once back in Sandpoint Lebwen says "I'm going to see if anyone can help me with my sapped strength. That's probably in the same direction I'm sure you'll be heading Adalbert? Justin can you get the prisoner locked up? After that we should probably fill in the mayor on what we've found." Lebwen then heads towards the temple to see what help he can find.

[DrK]

Justin

Happy with a pouch full of gold sifted from the pool, happy with dispatching an evil clan of goblins and their insane leader to a vile god, and happy with stopping the threat to Sandpoint Justin enjoys the walk back to town nodding and chatting happily to the others they meet. He admires the sword and armour on Lizuga, but then shrugs, something will turn up for him and he has a nice axe now.

As they reach town he nods to Lebwen, Aye, no problem. Lizuga, will you help me with the prisoner, we can get him to the Guard house for them to deal with him then meet the others in the Inn afterwards. We have much to celebrate!" Assuming she agrees they head to the guard barracks where Justin is eager to meet the Captain and tell them everything has transpired, and wanr them of the Barghest still lurking in the ancient temple to warn others.

[Ghostfoot]

Iris

Iris accompanies Justin and Lizuga as they escort the captive to the barracks to hand over to the guards. She waits just behind the two warriors, leaving them to do the manhandling and the talking, content to watch for now.

[u-b]

You unload the prisoner and hand him over to the guards. Normally this would require a story and, in serious cases like these, even some paperwork, but Justin's story is clearly much more than sheriff Hemlock expected. He asks questions, takes notes and asks if and when are you going to report it to the mayor.

Lebwen comes to the newly constructed cathedral and asks if his condition can be cured. He gets a positive answer with one caveat: the bishop does not have the spell prepared. So it is either tomorrow or scrolls. Scrolls will be 150 gp a pop and you will need a few.

[Erloas]

After talking with the bishop Lebwen explains that he doesn't have the coins for the scrolls right now, but will have to check what is going on with the rest of the party first and see what the mayor has to say, waiting until tomorrow might be an easier option.

Lebwen then heads back towards where the rest of the party was going to meet. Checking with a few locals on the way to see if anything noteworthy happened while the party was out of town.

[CasualViking]

At the cathedral, Lizuga tells about their meeting with Nualia, her anger, and the necessity of ending her life.

[u-b]

The townsfolk are still busily discussing the recent goblin attacks on the town and glassworks. Topics less busily discussed:
- the upcoming funerals of Kaijitsus and the glassworkers
- Ameiko becoming the new head of Kaijitsu family
- pending restoration and re-staffing of the glassworks
- miscellaneous day-to-day activities

It seems that nothing noteworthy happened while the party was out of town.

Abstalar Zantus is shocked by the news of Nualia being alive, Nualia being what she turns out to be, and Nualia being back dead again. He promises that he will pray for her soul.

Spoiler

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Consider the stuff sold and the melee weapons bought. Brodert agrees to your pricing. The merchant won't provide you with the reward for the whole town, saying that it is the mayor's business for which he does pay his fair share of the taxes, but he thanks you very much and expects you back with the mayor's reward.

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: - Adalbert returned from his shopping trip. As expected he was rather pleased with Brodert's reaction, understandably the scholar was beyond happy to take the tomes. The encounter with the merchant was a bit more chilling. He provided his allies with the words, and added to Iris: The merchant could not be convinced but you wield powerful blessings. I thought it was better to get our warriors a good boost. I don't want to nearly loose a friend to the literal shadows again. Speaking of which, how is Lebwen holding up? He approaches the pirate wizard. So as I understand it you have to wait for a cure until tomorrow? We have a bit of money left over. Want me to buy two restoring scrolls off of Father Zantus?

[CasualViking]

Lizuga Manescu AC 20 (+4 counter), Touch 11, FF 19, CMD 17|Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +7|HP: 31/31 "Alright, friends. Let us enjoy an evening of good food and soft beds before we head out into certain danger again." After a hearty meal, on her third mug of ale, she whispers quietly. "Lady, tomorrow my friends will need your help more then ever. This foe is beyond any I have ever faced before. Please help me keep them alive."

Triage 4/4. Maneuvers readied: Dismiss, Encouraging Roar, Armor-piercing Thrust, Curate's Strike. Phalanx Lancer Stance.

[Erloas]

"I am fine for the time being, we might want to pick up a scroll of restoration no matter what, but unless we've got to go right away I think we can wait a bit on using it. I would like to see what the major has to say and see what else we can find out about this beast before we commit to any plan of action." While waiting for the others, and for a meeting with the major, Lebwen gets the spellbook from Adalbert and starts studying it to see what secrets it may hold.

Spoiler: OOC

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spells were discussed in OOC already, but not sure if they were finalized or not.

I have read magic prepared today. If I have to transfer them, I'll start with the lower level ones now and wait on the higher level one, if I can just keep and use the spellbook then I'll do that instead. Not much to really do at this point until the actual spells are determined.

[DrK]

Justin

After checking in Justin heads to see his aunt and offer help with the upcoming funeral of his great uncle. He will then join the others at the inn, grateful for the twin swords gleaming with faint magic. "My thanks my friends. I hope I can honour these blades!" Looking aruond at the bar and the menu, "But I agree with Lizuga here, for tonight lets eat and be merry." He pats Lizuga on the shoulder and thans her once more for saving his life several times over the past few days.

"When we return to the Temple, how shall we approach the barghest? I think speed will be important to prevent it getting its magical defences up and hopefully catch it before it is magically hidden from sight."

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: - Adalbert is vehemently against fighting the Barghest another time. The creature is sealed away, incredibly powerful to the point where mere contact with it almost killed Justin, and you want to go again? And for what gain exactly? I will not support his decision, neither will I let Master Lebwen leave without being at full strength, literally speaking. You haven't seen the slender halfling as irate since the moment he realized goblins had murdered the crew of Sandpoint's glassworks. We will need powerful abjurations against demons for this endeavor, consecrated weapons and more than just a healthy dose of luck. We have to pour our full skill into that, we cannot skimp out of this fight. Lebwen's lightning magic is useless against demons, any other element is diminished. We also need something do deal with its invisibility magics. Spoiler Show We know the following: 1) The creature is resistant to magic weapons. We managed that problem. 2) Adalbert and anyone else with divine powers knows that demons cannot strike through a Protection from Evil spell, notably Iris's spell. 3) Consecrated weapons means just a fancy way of using holy weapon balm. (makes weapons strike true vs. shadows and demons). Adalbert should probably pick up at least 3-4 holy water vials. 4) Its invisibility is a very annoying thing. Glitterdust or Faerie Fire could deal with that, but a well aimed bag of flour could be a solution as well. (Glitterdust technically does not remove the concealment so...) 5) The fight is literally almost pointless. We can do it, but I do not expect everyone to survive, as we struggled with the shadows already, and that was technically just a gimmick fight even though shadows are TPK gods.

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: - The halfling continues his monologue. We should rather deal with the Runewell of Wrath. We can deplete it ourselves by using its anger inducing properties. We do not know what repeated exposure does to a body, but I volunteer for testing. Under two conditions however. One, someone should come with to hold me back to not hurt someone or myself. Two, someone should take notes, so we understand the runewells better. After all, I came here for an essay on the ruins, and this I shall do.

[u-b]

It takes Abstalar Zantus three castings to cure most of Lebwen's strength damage. After this is done, the party descends into the catacombs. The faintly-glowing triangle pool of hate does not seem like it is going anywhere. Adalbert gets disarmed and removes his boots. Lizuga grabs him from behind and dips an inch into the pool, quickly yanking the halfling out afterwards. Adalbert feels extreme cold in his feet even though the pool he is dipped into seems bubbling, flies into rage, trying to break free, hit Lizuga, pull at her facial features, screaming and cursing while at it as Lebwen holds his hands preventing most of these activities. Blood starts to drip from Adalbert's mouth. Eventually, the fit of rage is over and you take all necessary measures (aka gag) to make sure Adalbert does not bite off his tongue for good during whatever fits of rage might be coming out of further dips. On the good side, the pool seems noticiably dimmer. You repeat the process, with Adalbert flying into another fit of rage on the very next dip, but seems able to control himself from then on, the pool becoming dimmer and dimmer with each successful dip until it seems to stop glowing completely. You let Adalbert stand on its floor and wade around a bit through the waters. Nothing much seems to happen. The pool does not seem to be cooler or hotter than the surrounding stone. You detect magic on it and it still registers as magical, which certainly means that it is not destroyed, but neither did you expect it to be. As for it actually becoming dormant and nonfunctional, you don't devise a quick way to check it.

Spoiler

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Restoration (lesser): (1d4)[1]
Restoration (lesser): (1d4)[4]
Restoration (lesser): (1d4)[4]
Add one for the night's sleep and observe that only one point of damage is left, to go away by next morning.

Adalbert cold (2d6)[5] and will (1d20+4)[7]
Adalbert cold (2d6)[2] and will (1d20+4)[10]
Adalbert cold (2d6)[9] and will (1d20+4)[17]
Adalbert cold (2d6)[5] and will (1d20+4)[22]
Adalbert cold (2d6)[6] and will (1d20+4)[18]
Adalbert cold (1d6)[5] and will (1d20+4)[13]

Adalbert takes full damage every time unless you do something to mitigate it, but even if not, I assume you are able to restore Adalbert's health as needed, if at expense of some resources.

Spoiler: Adalbert

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Write "Wrath: +1" somewhere on your sheet.

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: Wrath +1 The wet halfling kneels on the pool's edge, reeling for air. His lungs have locked up, with gritted teeth he presses out every breath. Every muscle in his small and untrained body ached as if he climbed a dozen walls in a minute. Once the gag comes off, he breathes again. That... he breathes hard. was worse than anticipated. He crawls out of the pool, looking into her nervous companions' eyes. I am fine now. Like I said, I am not match for you. Just let's not do something like that ever again. We should go back to the mayor's office and finally debrief her.

[Ghostfoot]

Iris

Iris kneels at the edge of the pool, a pained expression on her face as she distractingly sings a beautiful hymn of her faith. "Must we?....he's in pain....it's not right" she is torn with between her knowledge of the necessity of the task at had versus her compassion for her brave companion. Tears stream down her cheeks as she uses what divine aid she can to ease the suffering. Adalbert! Your stature belies your bravery. A true hero is before me.

[DrK]

Justin

Justin helps bind the halfling then holds him, "Hold a second Adalebert, are you sure you want to go back in?"... After the third time he shakes his head, "Can we really do this." Thankfully after a while the pool seems drained and the halfling more or less recovered. His cold skin shielded by the magic from the worst of it. The worst over Justin stares at the pool, "Can we fill it with rocks or cover it somehow to prevent it being filled again?"

At Adalbert's mention of the mayor he nods, "Aye, she'll want to know that it lies down here. Also we can find out what she wants to do about any remaining goblins that may be in the area."

[CasualViking]

Lizuga Manescu AC 20 (+4 counter), Touch 11, FF 19, CMD 17|Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +7|HP: 31/31 Lizuga tends to Adalbert's wounds. "Master Adalbert, you truly are ten pounds of courage in a five pound sack". "Rocks, eh? Let's get some sand in there too. Lebwen and I can do most of the heavy lifting".

Triage 4/4. Maneuvers readied: Dismiss, Encouraging Roar, Armor-piercing Thrust, Curate's Strike. Phalanx Lancer Stance.

[Spore]

Adalbert Halfling Archivist Bard AC: 20 HP: 25/25 touch: 15, ff: 16, CMD: 15 Conditions: Wrath +1, Protection from Cold 10 (40 mins) As much as I fear it will not remove the magic either, filling the pool area is actually ingenious. But I feel cracking the basin first to let the liquid seep underground could mean the magic breaks. If you break a magic wand or sword, it ceases to function. I assume the same can be said for a huge magical pool. He nods at the others, particularly Lizuga with a blunt powerful instrument. This could take quite a while of hacking and crashing, meanwhile I will create a sign. He goes at the back wall of the pool and starts painting a warning sign. He steeps two fingers into his ink vial and scribes on the rock. Ye who enter here, turn back before the Pool of Wrath takes you.

[u-b]

Whatever you do to the pool, you then go to the mayor's office. You don't have an appointment, but the mayor receives you after a reasonably short delay. She welcomes you to report. Yo do so. Halfway through, the sheriff comes in and sits in a chair to the right. He does not interrupt your report. You have an impression that the mayor is already familiar with the course of events, but she does not interrupt you either.

When you are finished, the sheriff adds some details.

"The man you have brought to the jail is Orik Vankaskerkin. There is one thousand gold reward on his head, if delivered to Riddleport. They probably would not mind if we also deliver the body. The man does not want to go there, of course, and is promising to be very cooperative, but I tried asking him questions and it turns out he does not know much. For one, he does not know where Nualia's money came from, and that, I think, is the most important."

"As for the woman, she was seen here in town yesterday. Came through the gate and told the guard goblins attacked her and burned her with alchemist's fire. Was helped by Abstalar, bought a horse and rode south. I propose we make some drawings of her and post a reward notice throughout Magnimar. Not sure if we would be able to catch her, but she would not pass for a local so at worst we make sure she flees a good distance and stays there."

Then the mayor speaks.

"Thank you. We will finish breaking apart that magical pool, filling it with concrete and sealing that whole dungeon, so that we don't have to worry about it anymore. As for the barghest, it's more problematic. We cannot just warn people, it would do no good. And if the word spreads about a barghest imprisoned at Thistletop, it would attract all sorts of bad people trying to contact him to make evil deals and what not. On the other hand, I don't want you to enter his prison any time while he is alive. We could try to figure out how we can safely kill him at a distance, I'm sure Magnimar has more information about barghests. Hm. Magnimar. You've said the barghest mentioned riches? I think we can post some guards at Thistletop and put out a notice to open up a sporting event. This way good people are sure to come ahead of evil people and will find a way to get rid of the barghest in a matter of weeks. Magnimar is frequented by all sorts of adventurers and it would be a sporting event of the year. What do you think?"

[CasualViking]

Lizuga Manescu "I have had my fill of that damnable fiend myself. I'll be happy to let someone else have the glory."

Spoiler: Stats

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AC 20 (+4 counter), Touch 11, FF 19, CMD 17|Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +7|HP: 31/31

Triage 4/4. Maneuvers readied: Dismiss, Encouraging Roar, Armor-piercing Thrust, Curate's Strike. Phalanx Lancer Stance.