Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[Ason]

Marius nods at the suggestion and heads toward the tower as well. The young man offers, "The tower is fine for now. If the manor collapses in the meantime, truly I'd feel safer sifting through that rubble than going in as-is. That said, I would ask we delve into the largest building last. If--as I suspect--that's the prison block where the riot started, then I presume it is the most hostile place of all." At the mention of collapsing buildings and hostile presences, Marius eyes the tower's stonework suspiciously as they draw near.

[Tippnick]

"If we can come to a dead end in our search we can check it out but for now the tower is fine with me."

[BuckGodot]

"If we can come to a dead end in our search we can check it out but for now the tower is fine with me."

Othello lets out with a laugh… ”Dead end! That’s rich, friend! What about an undead end! Ha!” His laughter Echos spookily off the walls of the tower…

[lostsole31]

it doesn't take but a quick check to see that this southernmost tower is empty. There is another tower ~165' to the north.

What now?

[Moriar]

"Perhaps we should do a perimeter check first by heading to the next tower. We can look for any clues as we go?"

[Kvard51]

Abrax nods in agreement, "That is likely our best option. Circle the perimeter and move inward as we clear the outer ring."

[BuckGodot]

"Agreed." and giving his axe a quick spin he turns and heads off to the next tower.

[Ason]

Marius shrugs in agreement before heading off as well. "A sound plan. We don't want to be bottled inside a ruin by a flanking maneuver."

[lostsole31]

The group moves to the far northwestern part of the grounds. There are stairs leading up to this tower. In addition, there are stairs leading up to the (northern) balcony attached to Harrowstone.

Even a casual observation of the tower from afar reveals a dozen or so filthy rats watching from nooks and crannies in the stones; their fur is matted and filthy, their eyes dark and hungry.

Does the party move any closer?

[BuckGodot]

"I prefer that as suggested, we clear out any areas to leave our backs safe. LEt us proceed."and he steps forwards.

Spoiler: Awwwww rats...

Show

Assuming Silver Crane Waltz stance as he does so.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm nods and follows behind Othello.

[Moriar]

"I'm not sure how useful I will be with rats but you do speak wisdom."

Razvan will follow but stay back from the front.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei goes over what he knows about fighting rats and makes sure he goes over his spell list, wishing he had memorized acid splash or the like.
" I am ready."

[Ason]

"Rats... Why'd it'd have to be rats?" Marius mutters before he straps on his shield, draws his polearm, and shifts into a fighting stance.

"It's not glamorous, but I'm ready for pest control on your mark."

Spoiler: OoC

Show

In anticipation of fighting a swarm of rats, Marius shifts into the Aura of Misfortune stance, giving all enemies within 30 ft -2 on their saving throws.

[lostsole31]

Once the party starts going up the stairs and are w/in 15' of the tower, the rats begin reacting, chittering and squeaking ominously as more clamber into view.

Othello and Abrax, the latter who is now in front with Othello the way things turned out. Do you continue forward? If so, it is assumed the rest of the party follows as well.

[BuckGodot]

"I had hoped our first test of combat together would be against something a little more... Well... Less... ratty..." and he pushes forward his axe and shield at the ready.

[lostsole31]

Once the party makes their way mostly up the stairs and within 5' of the rats, that's it, the chittering gets really loud and they surge forward to swarm - be it hungry, protective of territory, or pushed by supernatural menace!

Round One Begins ...

R1T25: Othello, your silver crane has helped get you moving before the rats, but now that battle is on you your stance has dropped. Shield readied, waraxe in hand. What do you do? To step up 5' is actually worth 10' of movement because you're moving upstairs.

[BuckGodot]

Othello steps forward and lets loose with a battle cry that immediately boosts everyones confidence and he swings his axe at the nearest rat...

Spoiler: Swarm? Nah... S'cold!

Show

Activate Encouraging Roar maneuver.

Attack with axe:

(1d20+7)[21]

Damage:

(1d10+4)[10]

[lostsole31]

R1T25: Othello steps forward and lets loose with a battle cry that immediately boosts everyones confidence and he swings his axe at the nearest rat. He kills several, in fact, doing 6 mod to the group.

R1T23: Razvan, what do you do?

[Moriar]

"Rats are disgusting creatures..."

Razvan utters brief spell components and launches a green glob of acid at the rats further up the stairs.

Spoiler: Splash time

Show

Casts acid splash at the rats further up the stairs if possible to avoid hitting Othello without getting closer. Utilizing point blank shot.

Ranged touch (1d20+9)[20] and damage (1d3+1)[4]

[lostsole31]

R1T23: "Rats are disgusting creatures..." Razvan says before he utters brief spell components and launches a green glob of acid at the rats further up the stairs, killing a couple for 6 acid to the group.

R1T22: The rats surge foward. Othello swings ineffectually before he and Abrax are swarmed. Othello takes 4, and Abrax takes 3. Othello's nerves are steel, but Abrax is freaked out by the rats (distracted).

R1T15: Zauberei, what do you do?

[Tippnick]

Zauberei sees the swarming of the rats and says, "Multiple opponents calls for an area of effect."

Spoiler: channel energy

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MA: Moves to the south of the
rats
SA: Channel Negative Energy with selective channel excluding allies
(2d6)[4]

[lostsole31]

R1T15: Zauberei sees the swarming of the rats and says, "Multiple opponents calls for an area of effect."

He wants to move forward, but realizes the only space that is "open" has plenty of rats in it. Seeing as Othello and Abrax were wounded, he protects those two and Hargrimm from his burst, but he has not the focus to protect Razvan (whom he knows should be fine), and the burst still will wash over Marius (and unbeknowns to Zauberei over Paula as well). The swarm takes only 3 negative energy as they are shadowed by some of the stairs and the two heroes. Marius and Paul likewise see the dark storm coming and resist it so that Marius takes 4 NE, and Paula takes 3 NE.

Still, it was a tactical maneuver, as none of those in the party (except Paula, whom Zauberei doesn't notice) have taken damage from rats or dark energy beyond the fortification Hargrimm has given them, where as the rats have no such protection.

R1T13: Hargrimm, you feel ... icky. Zauberei protected you, you an tell, but dark energies still washed over the party from him. Still .. the rats. What do you do?

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm gives a queasy burp from the sensation of negative energy surrounding him. He shakes off the feeling and drops his staff, freeing up his glowing hand to send a vortex of light into the swarm.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

Free action: Drop quarterstaff.
Standard action: Make a ranged touch attack against the swarm with Banelight Vortcies.

Vortex: (1d20+3)[16], (3d8)[7]

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Hargrimm gives a queasy burp from the sensation of negative energy surrounding him. He shakes off the feeling and drops his staff, freeing up his glowing hand to send a vortex of light into the swarm. The light blasts into the rats for 9, scattering several.

R1T10: Abrax, because of time spent investigating and moving, your enhanced senses has gone away. You are having a freakout right now with the rats and can't concentrate on anything really useful.

Spoiler: Abrax OOC

Show

You are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action you can take is a single MA.

[Kvard51]

Abrax yells, "UNNGH! GET THEM OFF!" before leaping directly through the swarm and running up the stairs to get away from them.

Spoiler: Stress will do that to you!

Show

Run up the stairs 20' (Fast Movement for total of 40' x Difficult terrain = 20')

[lostsole31]

R1T10: Abrax yells, "UNNGH! GET THEM OFF!" before leaping directly through the swarm and running up the stairs and onto the observation walkway to get away from them.

R1T9: Marius, while disturbing, the dark energies Zauberei ripped off didn't do any actual harm (courtesy of Hargrimm's strange magicks). What do you do?

[Ason]

Marius swings his hammer down at the swarm with unnatural speed, as the gloom and doubt within him surge outward toward the rats.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Standard: Temporal Burn maneuver; (1d20+8)[26] to-hit; (1d12+1)[9] base damage, (2d6)[4] extra maneuver damage
Swift: Dark Claim the rat swarm to recover Temporal Burn

[lostsole31]

R1T9: Marius swings his hammer down at the swarm with unnatural speed, as the gloom and doubt within him surge outward toward the rats. The head of the hammer is enough to kill enough rats dramatically, that with everything else natural and unnatural thrown at them thus far, the rats scatter up the stairs, down the stairs, down the side of the stairs, and into nooks and crannies to get away from the pain of the people that came to intrude on their home.

Combat Ends ...

Once the party gets to the tower, they find nothing of value or interest.

What now?

[BuckGodot]

Heading back out, Othello looks around...

"There! That wasn't so bad! I think that's all the outbuildings. Let's tackle the main beastie!" and he starts heading towards the steps to the prison.