Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[Tippnick]

"Less than a minute and two heroes lost their lives. I will remember each for their sacrifice. Both could of easily survived. But they gave their lives trying to help others", Zauberei says in sorrow.

[Ason]

Marius shakes his head, clearly wanting to say something but at a loss for words. "It should have been me," he finally mutters before returning to the grim work of clearing the building and recovering the bodies of the dead.

[lostsole31]

Mr. Evans shows up, a rat perched on his shoulder. "What has happened here?" he says almost absently while going to Marius, the obvious intent to take Paula off of his shoulder.

[Ason]

Stepping out the wreckage toward the butler, Marius stoops down with arms open, "Good work, Paula: come on back."

Picking himself up once his familiar is safely returned, Marius' face shifts into tight control as he sums up the situation to Mr. Evans, speaking to clinically, as one doctor might report on a case to another. "The council meeting was attacked by fiery undead. We couldn't stop them fast enough, and we lost Othello, Razvan, and possibly others too. We're still tallying the losses, but I believe Kendra and the council are safe. I'm sorry to drag you out here, Mr. Evans, but out of professional respect for your skills and as a courtesy given your relationships in town, I wanted to let you know sooner rather than later. I..." Marius' voice catches in his throat momentarily before he resumes his rigid self-control, "I am truly sorry. Misfortune seems to follow us this week."

[lostsole31]

Mr. Evans simply nods, and escorts a shaken Kendra home.

It turns out after some wreckage-looking and mustering amongst themselves, that the two strangers were the only two to die in the fire ... and the town accepts that they gave their lives to get all of the townsfolk out safely. So, it could be that their death was not in vain, but a heroes' death.

Father Grimburrow and some acolytes will show up, and will agree to hold onto and protect the bodies/ souls of the two fallen until they are to be buried or a cart is made for transport to their homes.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm sullenly goes around to the survivors and applies healing spells and channels until he runs out of patients or energy.

Afterwards he trys to be alone to sob uncontrollably. "It happened again." he repeatedly whispers as he rocks back and forth.

[lostsole31]

Abrax will realize the party returns quite late, and Mr. Evans makes a calming tea for everyone at the house, telling Abrax what happened, from what accounts he could gather, and of the passing of Othello Marewarden and Razvan Milosoveanu.

Everyone will go to bed for the night, full of emotions ... or emptied of them.

[lostsole31]

Moonday, 28 Calistril 4711 AR (Last Quarter-Moon)
Weather: 80/60F. Dry.

This ridiculously unseasonable warm, no ... hot weather ... continues. But at least it is a dry heat.

Everyone is awoken by Mr. Evans. "After last night, the signs are such that you cannot tarry on what you've been on about," he says to any who resist the daylight and would hide away in bed.

Wren says he will accompany the group into Harrowstone today. Mr. Evans will go for a more simple approach to housekeeping while he and Kendra continue to research about the other Five Prisoners from the prison notes.

Abrax has an confession to make. "Last night, while Town Hall was burning (unbeknownst to me), I had a dream where I was, I guess, a prisoner of Harrowstone, and the whole place started burning. My name was spelled out on the wall, and I woke up sweating, fearing I had died."

[Tippnick]

Zauberei goes about his morning spell preparations and devotions to Nethys quietly. He will respond will spoken to but ventures nothing. He packs his backpack for exploration and indicates he is ready.

[Ason]

Marius is quieter than normal as he goes about his morning routines. After Mr. Evans' encouragement, Wren's announcement, and Abrax's confession, Marius nods his head glumly and merely says, "Our path is set then, for good or ill. Let's not tarry, lest more people be lost."

Loading up his backpack as with his previous trip to the prison, Marius prepares to head out whenever the others are ready.

[lostsole31]

The five (six) of you - Abrax, Hargrimm, Marius (and Paula!), Wren, and Zauberei - set out for Harrowstone.

Wren has been asking some recap questions and so forth. Once outside of Harrowstone's main gate, Wren speaks up. "Okay, so I am in the middle with Zauberei - no armor, just a dagger, and a little light magic. Now, I have been listening and observing, and I have some suggestions. Are you willing to take them?"

[Tippnick]

"Sure Wren. I will listen", Zauberei agrees.

[Ason]

"Of course, Wren. You have some experience as an investigator, if I recall. Your advice is welcome," Marius chimes in.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm tries, and fails, to put on a happy face. "Of course Mr. Elbourne. I always appreciate advice."

[lostsole31]

Wren discusses situational awareness, how to notice symmetrical disturbances and broken patterns, common trap avoidance methodologies, and making sense of one's environment.

Spoiler: Careful Teamwork

Show

What does that mean, everyone gets GM-monitored bonuses on initiative checks, Perception & Disable Device checks, and Ref saves and AC vs. traps.

His actual recommendations, specifically, are to have Abrax in the lead, followed by himself, then Marius, a 5' gap, and then Zauberei, and finally Hargrimm in the rear.

He will cast light on his dagger, and is curious if anyone else will have light.

Also, he will ask if anyone is trained on sabotaging mechanisms (such as traps), especially magical ones. He claims to be very good at mundane mechanical traps, but completely unskilled against magical traps.

Are there any other pre-entrance preparations?

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm shakes his head."I've no experience with traps of any sort. Thankfully it never came up at the abbey."

"I can hide three of us from the senses of the undead for half an hour. The spell ends after one of us tries to strike an undead, but it might be useful to set up an ambush."

[lostsole31]

The latter will only be useful if you know where/ when there is an undead to ambush.

Anyone else with any preps? Reminder, you are outside the gate to Harrowstone, NOT at the house.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei will cast Mage Armor on himself and light on his quarterstaff.

[lostsole31]

The party steps past the entrance foyer and into the haunted foyer.

The offices were to the west.

Closed double doors to the north.

The "auditorium" and cold spot was to the east.

Wren says, "Unless you think better of it, now that you know a little more about the nature of the cold spot, I say Zauberei and Hargrimm step in, wait for it to manifest, and then posi-bomb it. What do you say?"

[Ason]

Marius agrees to Wren's initial advice, helpfully sharing that he has a journeyman's experience with traps both mundane and magical and offering to partner with him on such tasks for safety's sake.

As they are about to enter, Marius drinks an extract of Ant Haul to make movement easier for the next six hours. At Wren's suggestion, Marius notes, "The door on the other side is locked, so you and I should be ready to jog over to unseal it once it's gone. If we fail at picking it or undoing the haunt, there's always west past the offices or north to try."

At that, Marius--with shield on his back and polearm in hand--checks to make sure his thieves' tools are in easy reach before nodding to the others that he is ready.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei agrees to the plan and will coordinate with channeling positive energy to hurt the haunt.

[lostsole31]

Marius ...

Wren ... claims to be very good at mundane mechanical traps, but completely unskilled against magical traps.

Wren looks to Marius, "Wait for Hargrim and Zauberei to finish. Nobody else has any reason to go in there until that's done."

[Tippnick]

Zauberei will step into the room and wait for the haunt to present itself. Then will call on the divinity of Nethys to temporarily disable this haunt.

Spoiler: channel positive energy to harm undead

Show

Readying a standard action. To channel right after Hargrimm
(1d6)[2]


Then will channel.each round till.it is no longer ger manifesting. You can bot those rolls

[SwordChucks]

Once he's sure the others are in position, Hargrimm heads into the haunted room. He takes a position by the bars to allow him to cover as much of the room as possible. When the haunt appears, he gives Zauberei a nod and channels energy.

Spoiler: Channel Positive Energy to Harm Undead

Show

(2d6)[6]
Hargrimm will continue channeling until the haunt is subdued.

[lostsole31]

Hargrimm and Zauberei go into the next room. Sure enough, they notice a temperature drop, but don't do anything until there is an active freezing effect.

Round One ...

R1T11: At the point that there is frost forming over the bars, that is good enough for Hargrimm. He gives Zauberei a nod and channels energy for 6 PE.

R1T7: Unfortunately, getting Zauberei's attention also made him unwittingly delay as it affects the heroes, with Zauberei barely keeping from suffering worse effect: Hargrimm (5 cold), Zauberei (4 cold).

R1T4: Zauberei quickly recovers his focus and lets loose with his own channel to do 2 PE.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T11: Hargrimm does another 6 PE.

R2T7: Hargrimm takes 4 cold, and Zauberei takes 5 cold.

R2T4: Zauberei fires off a full-power channel that does 6 PE!

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T11: Hargrimm falters a little this time, ony doing 4 PE, and the energies in the room quickly return to normal, though the pain and frozen flesh that Hargrimm and Zauberei suffered still remains.

Combat Ends ...

[SwordChucks]

"Well, that was an experience. I believe we've dealt with the issue if someone wants to take a look at this gate." Hargrimm calls into the next room while brushing frost from his beard. He goes to each of his allies to connect them to his essence.

Spoiler

Show

Investing 1 essence into each party member via Akashic Bond and the Speed Vivification. Moving 1 essence from Veil-woven Channel to Banelight Vortices.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei will. Gannett 2 more times to heal him and Hargrimm.

Spoiler: channel

Show

(2d6)[7]

[lostsole31]

"Well, that was an experience. I believe we've dealt with the issue if someone wants to take a look at this gate." Hargrimm calls into the next room while brushing frost from his beard. He goes to each of his allies to connect them to his essence.

And each of the rest of the party are assumed to enter and are included in the bond with Hargrimm (sans Paula).

Zauberei will channel 2 more times to heal him and Hargrimm.

... for 7 healing each.

As a reminder, there are bars ... but no "gate" at the bars. Other than the door you came in, there's a door to the east.

[Tippnick]

"Let us search the room. There might be some mechanism to bypass the bars",Zauberei suggests.

[lostsole31]

It is only a little over a minute on a quick-look, but there doesn't appear to be any interesting clues or anything to find in this section, let alone any means of bypassing the bars.