HumanTemplate's Return to Elemental Evil

[HumanTemplate]

The town of Hommlet is in danger, but nobody in there seems to know, the storm is gathering and old enemies are around.

Spoiler: Big 16

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1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?

DND 3.5

2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?

Greyhawk module
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?

5-6
some will drop

4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?

OOTS

5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?

Level 4 midway into Lvl 5.

6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
Standard WBL

7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?

No homebrewed.
No psionics(no reason)
No Truenamers/binders(Don't like them)
No Incarnium (I like them but don't want to deal with it now)

It is an old module, so classical DND is prefereable, but ToB is allowed and so is Dungeonscape.

No Crit hunting builds, no nightsticks, avoid grapplers and trippers or loops. (I find them horribly slow on PbP)

8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?

Nothing with LA, the rest is possible upon my agreement.

9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
either point buy or 2 sets of 4d6b3x6(Re-rolling 1's). Point buy is 28 for Tier 1, 32points for tier 2, 36 points for tier 3-5

10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
Yes, it is important in this game. No Evil. No CN.


11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?

No problems with it. Just don't try to cheat the point buy. Even one dip in a tier 1 or two, lowers the points.

Waive tax feats if you can role play the requirements.


12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?

I'll do mine, you'll do yours. on a spoiler in the post.



13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.

-2Flaws

-Fighters get d12 and 4+int skill points. 1 free proficiency on any exotic weapon and 3/4 their level as initiator level (Rounded down)

-Paladin's Smite evil is x/encounter instead of x/day and affects all attacks in a round as well as ranged attacks, it ignores DR.

-Perception instead of Listen/Spot (all classes have it as class skill)

-Stealth instead of MS/Hide

-Rangers get full progression on animal companion, Druids get Ranger's animal companion progression instead. Evasion at lvl 6.

-BBN get DR at lvl 3 and every 3 levels thereafter. Instead of trapsense they get an effect similar to Iron Heart Surge usable 1/day at level 3 and every 5 levels thereafter.


14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?

Pitch me an idea and I'll give you a hook, you develop the rest.

15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?

Combination.


16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?


No Magic of incarnium, no psionics, No BoED, Only Fist of The forest and Battleblessing feat from Complete Champion, Dragon Magazine on agreement.

Spoiler: Dramatis Personae

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Wonderful art by MachuChang

Player	Race/Class	Sheet	Background
Almostdead/Andrew	Warlock	The international man of mistery[	Demon Haunted Nechayev
Simba/Shil	Cleric/Human	Hunk the Divine Meatshield	God's Wrath
Rex500/Veldrin	Paladin/Lesser Drow	Charistmatic Dritzz	Max Von Sydow
Razorback/Jart	Human/Fighter?	Dungeoncrashed	Do Giants dream of Large Women?
BtanH/Amanda	Human Beguiler/Wizard	Sheldonia	Black sheep of a wizard family
MachuChang/Thieren	Half Elf/Rogue	Tom Cruise in Magnolia!	Crazy Boy

[HumanTemplate]

Reserved for DM

Spoiler: NPC list

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Utreshimon: Big bad blue dragon. He currently uses the Moat House upper level as a den. He is a moody young dragon who has just recently became independent.

Spoiler: Areas cleared

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Moat house first level: three bodies. Thieren looted the woman. The other two were left without looting.

[HumanTemplate]

@Everyone:
-The rain has been persistent since last night, got worse over the course of the morning, getting particularly hard after lunch and now is a soft drizzle and the clouds are clearing. The usual late spring rain in this eastern valleys. There's a soft but chilling wind and the mud has taken over the roads.

@Shil- you have been riding for almost a ten-day now, a sealed letter in your pouch, from your Prior to the Cannones Y'Dei in Hommlet. The weather has been getting worse, and now you are not sure you are on the right track, having lost the road almost ten miles ago. You stop your march at a crossroads of a seemingly abandoned road. Grass and shrubs have taken hold of the road. the road runs northeast-west and a smaller road moves southeast, there's also a very narrow path coming from the northwest. One direction surely takes you to Hommlet. But which?

As you ponder, and the clouds open. You spot a peculiar sight. A man, taller than some of the tallest men in your order, turns around a small grove of trees coming down the northwest road, 200 yards from where you are. The large man visibly (even at this distance) shivers. A smaller and thinner figure walks beside him.

Even funnier, about 100 yards down the southeast road, which closely follows a noisy but narrow ravine, you see a very skinny woman kneeling next to a ditch.

@Vedrin and Jart: the drunk trapper, Dell, made a small sketch of a map on the back of a beaver skin (he charged you for the skin, mind you) indicating the rough location of the Moat House. Neither of you is a trailblazer and you have been walking in circles for a couple of hours now. Perhaps growing impatient. Luckily you managed to get some refugee from the heavy rain.

Jart, it is cold. And you hate it. But at least you notice the Rider standing at the crossroad, Veldrin is the weirdest elf you have ever met, and barely seems to notice that someone is looking at you.


@Amanda the rain and the wind are not your things, particularly the wind which blows you back easily. Oh, how you had to endure the mockings! "Ey lass, you must have DR 5/bludgeoning with that frame". And your wilderness abilities are on par with your physical might. So earlier this morning you decided to shadow the lanky lad you have seen in the road ahead of you. He seems to be going in the same general direction. Or at least he seemed to, before slipping awkwardly into that ditch.

You ran and tried to help him, but your combined strength would barely beat a goblin at arm wrestling.


@Andrew: after a while standing at the crossroads, you reasoned that Hommlet must be down the road that follows the stream. A village needs water. And so you set your self in motion. However, so distracted were you with your thoughts, the darkness of which mirrored the stormy day so closely it was almost poetic, that you didn't notice the very material nature of a boulder right under your nose and went rolling downhill into a ditch.

Extremely fortunate you were, as nothing is broken. And then a voice, and a thin shape cut against the clouded sky. "Are you alright there?".

[Almostdead]

Andrew spits dirt out of his mouth, and slowly sits up in the ditch. "For whatever's sake, would you shut up while I'm walking?" He shouts to the stormy sky. Knowing there is no answer, he tries to get up.
Suddenly, he hears a woman's voice: "Are you alright there?" Then he sees a skinny figure run towards him. Andrew feels embarrassed as she heard his soliloquy. He quickly replies:” I’m fine! I can help myself!”
After he climbed out of the ditch. He finally gets a chance to look at the woman. Then he realizes she was the women he saw this morning.
“Your concern is appreciated, lady. But I have to ask, are you following me?”

[Rex500]

Veldrin can't help but feel a little lost. "Feels like we already passed through this area," he says to Jart.

The Drow leans on one of the trees, arms crossed. Although he is a patient dark elf, he hopes to find Hommlet soon, as the whispers said the town would be in grave danger. Their swords would be needed.

Even worse, Veldrin had heard rumors of a great evil behind the attacks. He could only hope these were just that: rumors. Otherwise...

[razorback]

Jart looks around at Veldrin's comment and grunts something incoherent as he marched on, using his guisarme as a walking stick to keep upright. He took a few steps and sighed. It wasn't the elf's fault he was grumpy but the driving rain was wearing him down. Raising his head, which caused the brim of his hat to wash even more water down his back, he looked about. "I be no woodsman, but this all looks vaguely the same. But, that stump over there doesn't look familiar, at least. I think we are on a path we haven't travelled along but I wonder if its still the right one." He continued on in silence for some time, as the thought on the path and what had happened the past few days. "Do you be thinking that old trapper really saw a dragon? It would do well to explain them dead cows, eh?" he said loudly over the driving rain. With a quick scan of the skies, he quiped "Well, we do have no worries 'bout that, I think. Only the two of us are foolish enough to be out this weather." He pulls out the map that Dell made them, keeping it out of the rain as best he could, and looked around again then shrugged before putting it away. They either were or weren't on the right path, so as long as they were making some kind of progess, it was better than just standing in the rain was his thinking. He took a couple of more steps before looking around again, skin crawling a bit as if eyes were upon him. Sure enough, as a crossroad came into view, the weather lightened just a hair, enough for him to make out a rider. He kept just the one hand on his guisarme but he nudged Veldrin. "Got company." he said in a low voice, just loud enough for the elf to hear. His single grip tightened on his weapon as his pace slowed, and he slowly scanned about to see if the rider had any friends lurking about.

[Simba]

Shil

Curious about the lady kneeling beside the ravine and wondering if she might need help, Shil hesitates to turn his back on the strangers walking up the track towards him. The guy with the polearm looked strong and ready for a fight….but then, if the lady needed his help he wanted to be ready, so he looks towards the two strangers, giving a short nod, before turning his horse down the southeast road.

"A good day and Trithereon's blessing to you, lady. Can I be of any help?"

[Rex500]

Veldrin listens to Jart intently. Having a travelling companion makes things less dull!

"The trapper seemed honest enough!" answers the elf. "And it is not unheard for dragons to hunt cattle during their feeding raids. They possess quite an appetite, almost as much as giant humans." he grins. The Paladin seems to be in a better mood.

Then, the dark elf sees the human ride away, which is the reaction to be expected upon meeting him, although... this one didn't seem scared, strangely enough. Which would mean...

"Someone might be in trouble." he says to Jart. "Come on!" shouts Veldrin, and takes off, following after Shill.

[HumanTemplate]

As Veldrin and Jart race up the slope, they see Shil, chivalrously offering his help to a knelt woman.

[razorback]

As Veldrin charges forward, Jart lopes after him easily enough, long strides eating up the distance, as he looks about. Less trusting of his elven companion, he doesn't like being out here with little visibility with strangers in need. He looks around as he moves forward, damning the murky darkness as he goes.

[HumanTemplate]

Spoiler: OoC

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Ok, let's help you bond...

@Andrew, Amanda and Shilas you pull Andrew out of the ditch you notice the wet ground under your feet trembles, Shil's horse is nervous and hoof around. The mud in the walls of the ditch starts to collapse and you see an insect like head with huge antennae and even huger jaws sprout from the ground with violence. An ankegh, and a big one if you have ever seen one!


Roll initiatives.

@Jart and Veldrin

You reach the hilltop and see the how the rider and the skinny woman pull out someone from a ditch, ad then a giant ankegh appears from the ground.

Roll initiatives.

Spoiler: OoC

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Since this is a random encounter to get our feet wet and bond the team, we will not use a map. Position is simple. Three of you are standing within the ankegh reach on one side of the road. The ravine runs parallel to the road and the ankegh is backed against the ravine. The other two are 100 yards away. Treat the terrain as slighlty obstructed. Can't charge.

[Simba]

Shil

"Get behind me!"

Shil moves to stand between the strangers he just met and the charging monster, shield and sword held high, his feet planted firmly.
He utters a quick prayer to Trithereon, asking for protection from all harm.

Spoiler

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- Shil moves to stand between the Ankegh and the 2 strangers.
- Initiating Martial Spirit Stance (heal 2 HPs every time I hit an enemy)
- Casting shield of Faith for +2 deflection bonus to AC

Status: AC 23, HPs: 48

[Almostdead]

"Rats! Thunderstorm, a rock and this? Entropy!"

Andrew speaks command word of his gloves and then casts a dark blast at the ugly creature.

Spoiler

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-Swift action to activate gloves, 1 charge
-Standard action to cast eldritch blast at ankegh

Attack roll:(1d20+8)[19]
Damage: (4d6+1)[21]

(We are within 30ft I suppose?)

Status: AC 17, HPs: 24

[HumanTemplate]

The creature is quick to act when Andrew tries to blast it away, lunging out and closing its jaws on the warlock.

Spoiler: attack of opportunity

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(1d20+7)[25], damage (2d6+7)[17] + (1d4)[4] acid

The bite is terrible and you feel the pain of the acid, but you manage to shoot the creature and the Eldritch power opens a big wound on the creatures chitin, almost killing it.

[HumanTemplate]

@Thieren

Spoiler: Really! only for Machuchang

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Spoiler: One his own luck make

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Just when you were completely lost in the forest you spotted the ruined Moat House. A shadow of the past and a ruin of the present. The pouring rain over your head kept becoming stronger and stronger early in the morning. So you though it a good idea to at least find some refugee in the old place.

Coming from behind the Moat House you saw a spot to enter, where a part of the south tower had collapsed completely. Wet to the socks as you were, it was an easy decision to cross the pond around the wall with a quick swim. You enter from there into a large room, the thick beams of the ceiling are rotten but still stand. But there's no floor above you. Judging by the niches along the wall this must have been the Moathouse stable. In the middle of the room there's a hallway...

Spoiler: Only for your Eyes

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Be careful, you are alone, I'd recomend that you metagame a little bit until the others (a mile or so away) decide what they want to do. But until then... just stay alive.

[Machuchang]

Thieren

Spoiler: Thieren

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Thieren sat in the ruins of the moathouse stable, shivering. The rain was starting to lighten up, but even so, the damage had been done and he was drenched to the bone.

Ah, if only Maridosen could see him now! Surely she would laugh at his folly. If only she could see everything he was putting himself through for her, then she would surely understand that his love was true! Thieren shook his head as he squeezed water out of his ponytail. Where did things go wrong?

...well, Mari never did like when he would speak to other girls. But it was harmless! He would never have actually followed through with his flirtations, probably! Couldn't she see she was the only woman for him? He would prove it. He had to! And once he arrived in Hommlet, he would make it all up to her.

Thieren closed his eyes and smiled. He could see exactly how it would play out. He would burst into the inn and find her there, wiping a table. She would turn and gasp, shocked by his sudden presence. Then, he would look deep into her beautiful blue eyes... Or maybe they were brown? Hazel? Well, whatever the case, he would gaze deep into her shining eyes and say he was sorry. Then they would share the sweetest, most tender, passionate kiss and live happily ever after. Just like the good old days.

Thieren gave a contented sigh. Alas, he wasn't in Hommlet yet. But he was close, or at least, he was pretty sure he was. Maybe he got a liiiiiittle bit lost in the woods, but he he was definitely, probably, in the Flannaes, so he had to be close right? Maybe there was something in the stable he could use to orient himself.

Spoiler: Actions

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Thieren's going to Search the room, and if he doesn't find anything, he'll try to hug any available cover and sneak into the hallway.

Search: [roll0]
Stealth: [roll1]

[BtanH]

It has not been Amanda's day. Her wet clothes are nearly doubling her weight and she is getting cold. It's hard to generate body heat when you aren't much more than skin and bones. Following the tall lad had seemed to be working alright, up until he fell in a ditch. Attempting to help him up, he declined all aid and began interrogating her instead. She opened her mouth to answer his question only to get some dirt in her mouth as an enormous beast burst from the ground. Spitting out the dirt, she started backing away trying to find a safe vantage point

Spoiler: Actions

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Pretty sure I can't act as my initiative is 13.
If I can act, Amanda is going to withdraw, getting as far from the beast as she can while still remaining in sight of the road (preferably as close to the road as possible (on the road would be ideal)).

[HumanTemplate]

The creature is terribly hurt. Enough to give away its food and burrow to safety.

It lets go of Andrew's leg and snapping its ugly head it produces a last resort effort to escape and then burrows under the ground at the speed of a dwarf walking downhill.

Spoiler: Actions

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Free: letting Andrew go. Standard, spitting acid to Shil' face. (4d4)[6] of acid damage, Reflex DC 14 Movement: burrow down 20' (this generates an AoO from Shil)

[Simba]

Shil

Shil tries to dodge the blob of acid spit out by the Ankegh but fails and groans as the viscous liquid starts to dissolve the flesh on his face.

Still, he is not out of the fight and as the monster tries to flee he swings his sword in a low arc, trying to finish it off.

Spoiler: rolls

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AoO: (1d20+8)[18] damage: (1d8+5)[13]

in case of a critical hit:
confirmation: (1d20+8)[13] additional damage: (1d8+5)[8]

[HumanTemplate]

@Shil You managed to raise your shield in time, but still, some of the acid burns your cheek.

Not enough to distract you from an open opportunity. You swing your weapon and it clangs hard against the solid chitin of the ankegh, you feel the chitin braking under the might of your hit and the a green fluid explodes over you and the prone Andrew as the Ankegh, half of its body still burrowed, collapses.

@AndrewYour leg is probably broken, it's hard even to try and move it. And the acid has burned your tunic. But this guy just saved you.


@Amanda Still in shock and awe you almost stumble on a rock, you lose balance and scratch your shin, that takes you out of the shock. A voice in your head says: This is combat. Better get used to it.


@Jart and Veldrin As you reach the three combatants, you can see the lifeless body of the Ankegh still twitching.


all af you From this spot on the road. As the sky clears up, you make the top of a ruined tower, about a mile ago down this road. The ravine flows in that same direction.


@Thieren

Spoiler

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There's nothing in this room. It looks abandoned, and even with the recent rain, there's a layer of thick old filthiness on the walls. You move down the hallway. The sunlight passes through the exposed beams of the what used to be the upper floor. You stick to the wall, the remains of a stone stairway to the second floor are a good cover.

The hallway is about 40' long and 10' wide. Under the stairs there's a door. And another one in front. The hallway opens up to a wider hall with more doors. There's a stench of death that becomes stronger as you come closer. You have many options.

The beams of light light the floor with stripes. And peeking from behind the cover of the stairway, you can see there's a body, or something that used to be a body, right in the middle of the main Hall.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1...it?usp=sharing

[Simba]

Shil

As his sword takes the Ankheg's life some of the acid burns on his face heal.

Shil turns around and kneels beside the fallen guy next to him, a healing prayer already on his lips. As he touches Andrew's leg the worst of his wounds heal.

Spoiler

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Healing 2 HPs from Martial Spirit, taking them for himself.
Casting CMW on Andrew: (2d8+1)[11]

[Almostdead]

"Nine hells! I'm almost dead! Cough!Cough!"
Andrew can barely stand. And he is clearly in pain.
After checking his wound, he uses his healing belt to heal himself.

Spoiler

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Healing belt 2 charges :(3d8)[22]

Andrew feels better. Then he nods gratefully to those who came to his rescue, especially the knight.
"Thank you friends. I recognized that I do need help sometimes. I'm Andrew. A traveler. May I have your names?"

[Simba]

Shil

"My name is Shil and I live to serve Trithereon. You are welcome."

[razorback]

Coming up besides Veldrin, Jart slows his pace as he realizes the creature is dead. "Well done. Those creatures can be nasty in a fight." the towering human says with admiration. "I am Jart and this is my friend Veldrin. We may want to move out of the area as I think these things might have hives like ants. That is, unless you seek to root it out?"

[Rex500]

"We thought you could use some help. Thankfully, you dispatched the monster quickly." explains the dark elf. "Veldrin Teken'afin, humble follower of the Dragon, at your service!" the drow bows with a flourish.

"Now, shall we keep going, Jart? I believe we both have had enough rain for the day, and that tower looks promising."

Spoiler

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Diplomacy check btw!
[roll0]

[Machuchang]

Thieren

Spoiler: Thieren

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Thieren's nose crinkled as a rank odor slowly overpowered the smell of the rain. There was something familiar about that scent, but it was stronger and harder to ignore than he remembered. He absentmindedly traced his fingers along the grimy wall as he crept toward the smell.

Then he caught sight of the body. Thieren stifled a gasp as the stench of death grew even stronger. What had he gotten himself into this time?

He would need to take a closer look to find out.

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

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Thieren's going to continue to creep along toward the body and he's going to keep an eye out for any potential dangers. If the coast is clear, he's going to search the body.
Stealth: (1d20+10)[25]
Pereception: (1d20+8)[12]
Search: (1d20+9)[29]

[razorback]

To accentuate the point, Jart tips his hat forward, make the water pooling at his feet a hair wider. "Aye, my body feels shriveled with water from toenails to the top o' my head.
Perhaps there is a spot we could start a fire and dry our things while cooking something warm to give heat to our bones." he turns and looks at the others "Unless you have something more pressing, I think it might be the last dry spot we can find before nightfall."

[BtanH]

Amanda picks herself up off the ground and works to slow her breathing. "Holy ****," she murmurs to herself. Guess she's in the real world now, no more school, no more safety. Pros and cons she shrugs to herself, better get used to it. "Sorry about that," she calls out. "First time I've come across a monster before. Bit of a shock to the system..."
"Are you all headed to that tower? I'm headed that way myself."

[HumanTemplate]

@Everyone but the rogue
The rain is now really soft, but persistent. That tower seems as good as anything you are likely to find in the immediate vicinity. And it is only about a mile away.
You follow the ravine, while the conversation takes place. And as you turn around a grove of trees you see the ruins.

Spoiler: Ruins

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Not the best option. But perhaps better than a night under the rain. You should be able to reach Hommlet in the morning.

@Shil

Spoiler: Only for Shil Knowledge History

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Immediately upon seeing the ruins, an image strikes you: This must be the old Moat House from where, 25 years ago, the Elemental Evil tried to stablish and control the area.

@Thielen:

Spoiler: Stench of death

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As you carefully approach the body, you notice a shadow on the corner of your eye, and discover two more bodies against the wall. Everything is quiet, the ceiling here is in better conditions than in the rooms behind you. If it weren't for the terrible stench, it would be the perfect spot for setting up a camp.

The body in the center of the room is a curious sight. It is the body of a woman cladded in leather armor. Her head is missing. And her body seems rigid, she clasps a fine looking shortsword tightly in her right hand, so tight that the blood has congelated there. Something must have killed her instantly. Her armor is very well crafted, and there's a quiver with a bow and some arrows. lying on the floor next to her there's a medallion, a black metal circle bearing a triangle with an inverted Y in the center.

The other two bodies are in far worse conditions, both show signs of decomposition and are the cause of the smell. One is a gnoll, but it is almost enterily destroyed, eaten by something big, only the head and limbs remain as the ribcge is completely exposed.

Next to it, the body of a male human wearing some kind of robes. His face presents three open wounds and he is missing one eye. his mouth is open in terror and flies go in and out of it. The same symbol hangs from his neck: a triangle with a Y.

[razorback]

Jart talks sparingly, not comfortable with his new companions yet. He keeps an eye out around them as the rain slacks off a bit. As the turn the corner and the moathouse comes into view, he audible groans.
"Well, we can hope there is still a dry spot to be found... at least sum'in covered so we can start a fire." he shivers roughly in the damp and cold. "You probly don't want a rip-roaring fire, but I'm dyin' for it."