Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[lostsole31]

Mr. Evans comes in and out of the kitchen and then says to Othello at some point. "Your friends are talking about maybe going to the pub. I can finish up here if you wish to join them."

---

In the dining room ... Zauberei, what about you. Any interest in going to the pub?

[BuckGodot]

Mr. Evans comes in and out of the kitchen and then says to Othello at some point. "Your friends are talking about maybe going to the pub. I can finish up here if you wish to join them."

"My good Mr. Evans... I have already done a grave disservice to Mistress Kendra and dishonoured myself. I'll not do additional damage by leaving my tasks to someone else to finish. I thank you for the offer, but I shall decline." and that being said, he will do his best to go above and beyond in his tasks. If for example, he's asked to wash up the dishes, he will do so and then wash the cooking items as well. If he is asked to stack 2 cords of wood, he will stack 4, etc.

[lostsole31]

Mr. Evans writes something out and hands it to Othello. "Take this to Mr. Zokar at the address listed, please. He sells a particular savory condiment we enjoy here, and we are running low. With everything strange going on in town, perhaps have your tavern-visiting friends drop you off safely."

Zauberei, will you be going to the tavern with Hargrimm, or will the dwarf be made to drink alone?

[BuckGodot]

Othello will nod and take the note, and after cleaning up briefly will try to find the others. If they have already left, he will seek out the address on his own. If not, he will ask to accompany them until he can locate the address and fulfil the request.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei declines the outing, "My pardon, I must decline. I owe my God some obeisance. I will work on my magic."

[lostsole31]

That leaves the two dwarves to head out together ... one for drinks, one for an errand.

Hargrimm, do you end up declining after all, or do you want a repast at a tavern just to get a change of faces?

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm will head out with Othello before splitting off for the pub.

[lostsole31]

The two of them continue north along the road and get to town square. Hargrimm, knowing he smelled a tavern somewhere around here. For now, though, Othello follows Mr. Evans' written instructions on how to get to Zokar's place. From town square, they take the road that heads northwest towards the river. They pass another posting pole before getting to the place Mr. Evan's gave directions to ... which, as it turns out, is also the tavern: The Laughing Demon.

The two dwarves enter and find a much friendlier atmosphere than initially thought given the nature of the town. Well, that is until the c. 1952 Wurlitzer jukebox' needle skips and scratches the record when both dwarves walk in. The dwarves look at stunned townies; the townies look at awkward dwarves. This lasts for about five eternal seconds before the anachronous Wurlitzer resets and the music returns to normal (before the jukebox, never viewed, disappears).

A large, moustachioed man with ruddy complexion, gin blossom, and big smile greets them. "Zokar Elkarid at your-Oh! Master Dwarves! I remember seeing you at the cemetery. Come in! Come in! A friend of Professor Lorrimor is a friend of mine. Come, sit, sit!"

Othello and Hargrimm are seated before they realize it.

"The first round is on me, my friends. Would you daring souls, perhaps, like..." and here he bends down conspiratorially, "the house liquor special: 'liquid ghost?'"

Othello, though you came here for an errand, you have a host offering you a free drink. Do you insult a second host this evening?

Hargrimm, what do you do?

Both of you are seated center table in front of the stage, which is the entertainment platform for a trio of musicians piping.

[BuckGodot]

Othello, never one to turn down a free drink, accepts gratefully. Although he looks around, mildly suspicious at their so obvious placement on display at the center table.

But turning back to the Master of the House, he beams and says "Very gracious of you to offer, kind sir. At your leisure, I have a missive from Mr. Evans for you."

[lostsole31]

Zokar opens up the self-folded missive (directions were on the outside) excitedly. He peers very carefully at it as if trying to figure out something, even suspiciously, then turns back to the table. "Yes, of course. I will bring back my response with your Liquid Ghosts. Enjoy the show. They haven't finished warming up, but they should be starting any minute now. I hear they are well respected throughout the Palatinates."

He then rushes off, coming back with the drinks ... spirits which have a faint pale luminescence to them!

He looks to Othello apologetically. "I am sorry, I can't find something to write with. Can you remember a quick message so I can reply to Mr. Evans?"

[BuckGodot]

Othello nods, "Of course."

[lostsole31]

Zokar has an almost conspiratorial look about him, as if he has the secret to the universe, but with a seriousness that draws Othello inwards. "You tell that hopped up, squished barrel of a marionette ... 'Knight to queen's bishop three: Check!' You got it, Master Dwarf?"

He stands tall and proud, folding his arms as one who is unassailable in their position, and with a smile undaunted by the troubles of he world.

[BuckGodot]

"Knight to queen's bishop three: Check... Got it..." he smiles... Incomprehensibly... and quaffs his drink...

[lostsole31]

Back at Lorrimor Place, what is everyone doing with themselves for the evening as you gear down after dinner?

[Moriar]

Razvan will begin pouring through the records and discerning what information he can out of them.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm is more methodical with his drink. He looks it over, gives it a deep sniff and says "Is it called Liquid Ghost because it's a spirit?"

He takes a sip and swishes it around while doing his best to ignore talk of a knight's violent execution of a man of the cloth.

[Ason]

As Razvan sets off to work on the records, Marius says to him, "You know, I never did answer your question. We survived a haunted prison, so I count today's work a mild success. The ghosts and haunts seem to be our main weakness so far, but given our resources on-hand, I don't know what else can be done about them beyond wielding positive energy. At least my curative extracts can cover some healing needs so we can divert those resources into fighting the undead."

Marius then quickly begs leave, "If you'll excuse me, I wanted to do some personal writing and tend to Paula before the night gets too late. Once I'm finished up, I'd be glad to join you, though my offer of a relaxing game or two still stands."

[Tippnick]

Zauberei will begin writing a tutorial for beginning students of arcane magic. This is a refresher for him and an aid for anyone else who would start learning the glories of the arcane.

[lostsole31]

Lorrimor Place....

Razvan, Marius, and Abrax are both doing a general read of the materials procured from Harrowstone's records. Not being a comfortably couched narrative, however, means very dry clerical things ... which in turn mean Marius and Abrax discuss the supernatural threats they faced. As knowledge alone isn't enough (Marius' forte), Abrax is able to give Marius and Razvan some pointers on certain things to concentrate or meditate on when facing such horrors, particular in the resistance of necromancy and other phenomena that attack the spirit.

Wren, reading something else, listens in on the ability of the mind to overcome or endure in the face of horrors, but tries not to look interested in the conversation.

There is a loud, singular knock of the door. It is bad form for guests to open the door, so after 30 seconds the loud knock occurs again, but this time in slow triplicate. KNOCK ... KNOCK ... KNOCK.

The maid, in full night-gown, comes to answer the door, passing by the menfolk in the sitting room (for some reason, that was a more relaxing place to be than the study), and opens the door. Almost immediately, there is a scream of terror!

Marius (only), what do you do?

---

The Laughing Demon ...

The dwarves are drinking their Liquid Ghost when the sibling group from elsewhere in the Palatinates introduce themselves as the "Penny Pipe Paupers."

Only seconds after they begin their woodwind ensemble act, there is a fluttering from above straight down for the two dwarves below!

A strange hybrid of bat and insect flaps down and lands on Hargrimm's right shoulder, attaching itself with its many little legs. A little proboscis of some sort lances into Hargrimm's neck and sucks out blood, doing 1 CON!

Othello, what do you do? There is one of these things flying and flapping 10' above the ground, and one of them attached to Hargrimm.

[BuckGodot]

Othello will jump to his feet and (I presume he did not bring his waraxe to the pub) seeing the creature is attacking his compatriot, he attempts to dislodge said creature with a swipe of his hand.

Spoiler: Tech Info

Show

MA: Stand up and close to Hargrimm if needed

Use Silver Strike maneuver so swat the creature off of him:

Attack Roll 1: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]

Attack Roll 2: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]

Damage: Unsure what to roll for a basic hand attack

[BuckGodot]

Spoiler: Reroll

Show

Sorry. was rushing

Attack Roll 1: (1d20+7)[13]

Attack Roll 2: (1d20+7)[8]

[lostsole31]

The Laughing Demon ...

Othello jumps to his feet and he realizes that since he was on a simple errand, he didn't bring his waraxe with him. Seeing the creature is attacking his compatriot, he attempts to dislodge said creature with a swipe of his hand, but even attached to Hargrimm its wings are fluttering and it is just large enough and still in a bit of surprise that it jukes out of the way, causing Hargrimm to likewise roll his shoulder away as well.

Hargrimm, what do you do?

[Ason]

Marius jumps up from his reading spot and rushes to the door. "Ma'am, is everything all right?" he asks as he approaches the terrified maid and attempts to get a view of their nighttime guest himself.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm shouts in surprise and pain as his neck is pierced. His hand lights up as he brings it to bear against the bat-bug.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

Standard action: Attack the one attached to Hargrimm with Banelight Vortices.

Vortex: (1d20+3)[4] vs touch, (3d8)[17]

[lostsole31]

The Laughing Demon ...

Hargrimm shouts in surprise and pain as his neck is pierced. His hand lights up as he brings it to bear against the bat-bug. Of course, Let's not call it "fear" of hitting himself (because remember, the party is protected from fear for the remainder of the day, n'est-pas?) ... Let's call it proper caution. So, the banelight goes very wide and hits the floor. Meanwhile, Hargrimm is moving about so frenetically that he ends up getting his belt and gear tangled with the chair he's in, entangling him!

As an aside, while Hargrimm focused on sermon-making, he still had a well-rounded clerical upbringing, which included some musical instruction at least for the purposes of explosure, so he has the most rudimentary understanding of rhythm. Well, in the few seconds that these creatures have been about, it seems that their movements aren't entirely random or frenetic, but are in time with, or at least influenced by, the musicians piping!

The other insect-bat flies in to attack Othello, but he puts his arms up defensively, and low and behold, the thing cuts itself on a joint of Othello's armor (1 bleed).

The musicians stop playing immediately as they see the ruckus and there are screams and shouts about the bar.

The insect-bat attached to Hargrimm continues to suck his blood up (1 CON).

Othello, what do you do?

---

Lorrimor Place ...

Marius jumps up from his reading spot and rushes to the door. "Ma'am, is everything all right?" he asks as he approaches the terrified maid and attempts to get a view of their nighttime guest himself. The maid has fainted from fright.

It has been some time since Marius has seen Professor Lorrimor in the University of Lepidstadt. When Marius came for a funeral, it was a closed casket. Now Marius sees why. His whole lower jaw was crushed in and ripped away. And at this point, the gentle repose that was likely placed on him by Father Grimburrow when the body was first discovered has since expired, leaving about two weeks of decomposition.

The other side of it all is that Professor Lorrimor ... is quite animate! He steps forward and backhands Marius in the upper left arm with a blow likely more powerful than Lorrimor had in life, as Marius takes 5.

Abrax, you hear the sound of someone hitting someone else. What do you do?

[BuckGodot]

"Master Zokar, you need to hire exterminators!" Othello yells. He then rears back with his hand and punches at the second flying creature.

Spoiler: Technical Information

Show

FA: If he makes contact and does damage to the bat, he places Armiger's Mark upon it.

Armiger's Mark (Ex): FA, when he attacks a foe in combat and inflicts at least 1 hp damage, he may mark them as his foe, even w/ AOO when not his turn.
* The target is aware of being marked, and the mark remains for 4 rds [WIS, min 1].
* Marked targets suffer a -4 penalty to attack rolls against foes that are not him.
* Arcane spellcasters suffer an increase in arcane spell failure of +11% (10 + 1 [1/2IL]) until the mark expires.
* He may only maintain up to 7 marks (3 + 4 [WIS]) at a time, and he may make no more than 5 (1 [1/2IL] + 4 [WIS) armiger's marks/ day.
* This ability functions on creatures with INT of 1+, allowing him to mark animals and other beasts as well as sapient beings.
* Multiple armiger’s marks overlap (do not stack).

Attack: (1d20+7)[20]

Gauntlet damage: (1d3+4)[7]

[lostsole31]

The Laughing Demon ...

"Master Zokar, you need to hire exterminators!" Othello yells. He then rears back with his hand and punches at the second flying creature, connecting powerfully for 7 and getting its attention.

Hargrimm, insect-bat attached and draining you of your blood. What do you do?

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm steps back from the table so he doesn't spill his drink, and throws another vortex at the bat thing.

"Hey 'thello, tha music mighta set em off." he slurs from the blood loss.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

5ft step away from the table.
Standard action: Attack with Banelight Vortices at the bat-bug.

Vortex: (1d20+3)[17] vs touch AC, (3d8)[12]

[lostsole31]

The Laughing Demon ...

Hargrimm steps back from the table so he doesn't spill his drink, and throws another vortex at the bat thing, hitting the thing hard and causing it to drop off onto the ground.

"Hey 'thello, tha music mighta set em off." he slurs from the blood loss.

The other bat-bug takes 1 bleed and closes on Othello, landing on the top of his head and putting a proboscis right into his nugget while attaching with its legs. It sucks up some of Othello's blood (1 CON).

The bat-bug that Hargrimm hit, flaps weakly on the ground.

Othello, what do you do?

[BuckGodot]

"What in the... Get it off!" shouts Othello as he swipes at the creature stuck to his nut.

Spoiler: Technical Information

Show

Attack: (1d20+7)[18]

Damage: (1d3+4)[6]