Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[Kvard51]

Abrax kicks another clod or two, then follows Wren to the crypt holding the equipment.

[lostsole31]

THE RESTLANDS ...

The false crypt mentioned in the professor’s journal is located in the northeast corner of the Restlands, near the junction of the paths known as the Eversleep and the Black Path. The crypt itself is a freestanding granite mausoleum, the roof of which is decorated with a pair of leering gargoyle statues. A single stone door with a rusty-looking lock sits in the mausoleum’s south facade, but anexamination of the lock reveals that the lock is broken, its clasp melted by acid and then put back into place so that to casual observation the lock appears intact. (Professor Lorrimor used a few vials of acid to disable the lock several weeks ago, then arranged it upon his exit to look like it had never been broken.)

What now?

[Kvard51]

Abrax stops a few feet from the stone door, again accessing his bestial senses. "Allow me a moment to examine the area around the door, here. I'd like to know if anyone else has been here recently."

Spoiler: Actions

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SA cast Detect Magic focused on the door. If their are no auras, finish up w/ Scent and visual inspection around the door. If there are detectable auras, then continue for 2 more rounds before moving on to Scent and visual inspection.

[lostsole31]

Abrax senses nothing about the door ... magical, or other than normal environmental for scent.

[Kvard51]

After inspecting the door and it's immediate surroundings using senses both bestial and magical, Abrax turns to the group, motioning them on, "It's clear. Perhaps I am becoming too suspicious. But too many things aren't adding up to suit me."

[lostsole31]

"Mr. Marewarden," says Wren, "to mollify our hyperencephalized, hirsute hero's paranoia, would you please make use of your armored bulwark in protecting the rest of us by opening those doors?"

[BuckGodot]

Othello approaches the doors and seems to crouch down slightly as he takes on a defensive posture, then reaches out and opens the doors.

Spoiler

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He enters Silver Crane Waltz.

[lostsole31]

Within, a flight of stone steps leads down into the cold earth to a large crypt lined with empty niches. It is dark down there, which will not be helpful to the two humans (Wren, and nameless Redshirt Acolyte).

[Kvard51]

”Well, I guess I’ll go first.”, Abrax says as he steps over the threshold. “Who’s with me?”

[BuckGodot]

Othello will of course step forward and accompany Abrax.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm looks around for a pebble, casts Light on it, amd offers it to Wren. Then he hustles after Othello.

[lostsole31]

The *light* pebble is now the most remarkable thing about anything Wren carries or wields. "Thank you, Father Saresun. I shall treasure this light-pebble always. As long as this light shines, let there be friendship between us," says while stepping down the stairs alongside the dwarven priest.

The acolyte follows a little bit behind.

No dead are interred here, it would seem from the lack of any memoriam. Everyone easily notes obvious tracks in the dust and dirt of the floor. Wren and Othello talk a few seconds regarding the tracks, but otherwise noting the obvious to and from to both doors, nothing else special is noted.

Spoiler: Othello

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It seems that Wren, at least for the purposes of tracking, is a hair more practiced than yourself at following and identifying such things.

What do you do in this space?

[Kvard51]

Abrax walks to the middle of the room, allowing the sights and the scents to filter through his brain. Once he reaches the center, he stops and begins seeking magical auras. He gives his spell the necessary time to completely search each cardinal direction before turning to the corners.

Spoiler: Actions

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Detect Magic from the center of the room, starting w/ relative north, then east, south, and west.
After trying each, he will begin again at NW, NE, SE, SW.

[lostsole31]

Abrax senses nothing.

[BuckGodot]

Othello looks to the acolyte... "Friend, where might the items we need be found?"

[lostsole31]

The acolyte shrugs, figuring you knew what you were doing.

Wren points to the north. Towards both the east and west along the north there are doors. It's a good thing he had that light, after all.

[BuckGodot]

Othello nods to Wren and makes his way to the door to the west.

”Can anyone check this door?”

[lostsole31]

Wren peers at it and then nods. "It is, in fact, a door. And Abrax would have sensed an illusion, right?"

[Kvard51]

”I sensed nothing. So it is, in fact, a door.”, Abrax said, smiling at the detective.

[BuckGodot]

Othello looks back at his fellow investigators with a wry smile… and then turns back and opens the door.

[lostsole31]

After opening the door, Othello notes that the space immediately beyond is some type of cross passageway that converges on a wide set of stairs going downwards. He thinks he sees another chamber at the bottom.

[BuckGodot]

Othello looks back at the others and waves them forward before cautiously continuing down the hall towards the chamber.

[lostsole31]

The party gets back in formation after passing through the doorway. The acolyte follows behind at a good pace.

The party descends shallow, but long stairs into another chamber that includes a sarcophagus with a lid on it that is turned partially sideways.

Surprise Round ...

S19: Something darts in from the west to strike Wren in the chest for 4!

S8: Just a hair's breadth later, the same thing happens as Abrax gets bit in the right shoulder for 3. Immediately after that strike, Abrax begins to feel sluggish and with dulled reactions.

Spoiler: Sluggish

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Sluggish: A character rendered sluggish by Dexterity poison has dulled reactions. He takes a –2 penalty on Reflex saves and all Dexterity-based attack rolls, ability checks, and skill checks, as well as to AC. (Sheet updated.)

Round One ...

R1T21: Wren calls out, slurring his words a little, "I am poisoned! Giant centipede! Paralytic!"

He is visibly more sluggish and stiff, but manages to get up on the steps away from the centipede, behind Hargrimm. He immediately attempts anti-venom field medicine on himself.

R1T19: The giant centipede that attacked gives chase to its poisoned prey, biting Wren in his lower left arm for 1 NL.

R1T13: Abrax, you continue to suffer as your joints and limbs are now stiff.

Spoiler: Stiffened

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* Stiffened: A character stiffened by Dexterity poison feels numb and stiff. He is considered flat-footed and is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, even if he has uncanny dodge. He can’t make attacks of opportunity.

There is a giant centipede looking right at you that hasn't recovered from its charge. What do you do?

[Kvard51]

Abrax strikes out hard and (not very) fast at the creature that poisoned him, hoping to occupy it before it can get anyone else.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Flurry of Blows (1d20+8)[9] for (1d6+4)[8] Bludgeoning damage and (1d4)[2] Bleed damage

(1d20+8)[26] for (1d6+4)[5] Bludgeoning damage and (1d4)[3] Bleed damage

Crit 20/2d6

[Tippnick]

Zauberei wonders how the others are doing and goes back to organizing documents and piecing torn pages together.

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Abrax strikes out hard and (not very) fast at the creature that poisoned him, hoping to occupy it before it can get anyone else. He tries to smash the thing with an elbow but misses and pulls his elbow up short in fear of smashing his humerus. The problem is that his head kept going and slams into the dais he stands next to. His ears are now ringing. Abrax doesn't take the time to worry and lifts up and smashes down with his foot - what you should do with a bug in the first place - as his foot hits for 5 and he turns his foot at impact to rip open the chitin more.

R1T9: Othello, what do you do?

[BuckGodot]

Othello draws his waraxe, steps away from the creature closest to him, and lets forth with a battle cry so inspiring that the others feel a boost in their confidence and focus.

Spoiler: Technical information

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FA: Draw axe

SwA: Encouraging Roar [GL1, B, SwA, Allies w/in 30' +2 morale attk/ dmg]

MA: 5' step to the east

[lostsole31]

R1T9: Othello draws his waraxe, goes to step away from the creature closest to him before realizing Abrax is right there, and lets forth with a battle cry so inspiring that the others feel a boost in their confidence and focus.

R1T8: The centipede Abrax stomped takes 3 bleed, but is no longer overextended from its charge. It bites Abrax in his right shoulder again for 4 and the compounding of the poison continues to overwhelm Abrax as he is now staggered

Spoiler: Staggered (Poison definition)

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Staggered: A character staggered by Dexterity poison is so slowed and stiffened that he gains all the effects of the staggered condition (except that he can take a full-round action if it is purely mental).

R1T5: Hargrimm, what do you do?

Wren on deck, Giant Centipede to west in the hole ...

[SwordChucks]

Light travels up Hargrimm's and forms a spiral horn on his forehead. He quickly uses it to add more oomph to a headbutt aimed at the centipede to the west.

Spoiler: Combat

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Swift action: Reinvest 2 essence from Banelight Vortices into Sparkling Alicorn.

Standard action: Attack the centipede to the west with the +1 gore attack from Sparkling Alicorn.

Pretty Pony Power: (1d20+5)[9], (1d8+3)[7]

[lostsole31]

R1T5: Light travels up Hargrimm's and forms a spiral horn on his forehead. He quickly uses it to add more oomph to a headbutt aimed at the centipede to the west, but misses.

The acolyte screams in terror, too paralyzed to move.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T21: Wren nods stiffly and sluggishly, but with a sheepish smile. "I'm good now. Still poisoned, but I stopped the progress."

With his dagger he stabs at his enemy from high ground, slicing a surgical line up the creature's underside for 10 and dropping it.

R2T13: Abrax, roll a Fort save vs. poison. What do you do this round as you are currently sluggish, stiffened & staggered (see above)?

Othello on deck, centipede in the hole ...