Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone, Pt. II [IC]

[Tippnick]

"Hargrimm, I think enough of the party got hurt for you to use your channeled healing. Your are better at it than me", Zauberei suggests.

"Everyone gather around."

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm keeps blinking. "You make a good point Mr. Indistinct blob in my vision. How is everyone holding up?"

When everyone is gathered around again, Hargrimm sends out a wave of energy.

Spoiler

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Channel Positive Energy to heal the living: (2d6+1)[8]

[lostsole31]

By the time everyone gathers together and Hargrimm gives a single burst that heals everyone, the dwarf's vision is back to normal.

[BuckGodot]

Alexandru shakes off some soot and looks at the others...

"Everyone okay? I'm sorry I didn't speak up sooner..."

[lostsole31]

"That's okay," says Wren, "because at least you spoke up sootier."

[Ason]

"Sorry about that," Marius coughs as the smoke clears, "though I am ready to continue when you are, after the grease clears."

Crouching down low, Marius beckons Paula back to him and gently whispers, "You okay, little one? Maybe bring up the rear of the group so you're out of harm's way and can watch our backs? I don't want you getting hurt."

[lostsole31]

Paula squeaks and nods her head, vaguely sensing what Marius wants of her.

The party waits a mere three minutes for the grease to clear, though not everyone's benefit from Hargrimm has fully recovered.

Do you wait the extra two minutes for most people's akashic bond to be at full, or even seven minutes if waiting for Lexi's to be full?

[BuckGodot]

Alexandru will take 5 minutes to calm his mind and restore.

[Moriar]

Angelo will play with. Tippy to help pass the time until everyone is ready.

[Tippnick]

"Let's make sure to check the remains if any", suggests Zauberei.

[lostsole31]

In checking the remains, there is nothing but scorched earth and ash, though perhaps a little moreso given the nature of the undead you fought. It had a simple handaxe, nothing of quality, which Wren takes for now.

Meanwhile, Wren asks Hargrimm, "Okay, does it feel like everyone is given as much energy as you are giving them in your way?"

Spoiler: Hargrimm

Show

It would take another two minutes for Lexi to top off.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm gives a nod to Wren. "I don't believe it will be necessary to do anything further." Hargrimm looks the party over. "My bond with Mr. Alexandru should be replenished soon. If we work our way through here carefully it should be full around the next time we have to rip a door off its hinges."

[Ason]

Marius will take this time to mix an extract of Heightened Awareness, which he will drink right before the party sets off exploring again.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Also, Ant Haul should be marked off on Marius' sheet as used, but I don't think it was updated.

[lostsole31]

While the passage continues north past a raised portcullis into what looks like a an oubliette and a ring of cells, there is still the side room from which the burning skeleton came. The door to this room hangs slightly ajar. Within stands a table surrounded by a few rickety chairs, along with a pair of moldy but serviceable cots.

A winch affixed to the north wall raises and lowers the portcullis that allows entrance into area U4 (the area to the north). The portcullis can be locked from the closed position, but is currently raised.

Do you do a quick or deep search in here?

[lostsole31]

The party does a deep search in here, which takes 36 minutes, but finds nothing more of interest.

Having assured themselves of nothing hidden here, they make their way out into the hallway looking north into that section.

[Ason]

Putting a finger to his lips to indicate quiet, Marius gingerly peeks into this new room to get a decent look. If the coast seems clear, he creeps toward the edge of the grating in the center of the room.

[lostsole31]

Marius edges in, the two lights from the party backlighting him as he stares at a grate and yawning blackness below.

Surprise Round ...

S22: He is completely unready when there is a hideous, bloodcurdling scream as something launches at him through the grate from below. As if the grating wasn't even there it pops up to his height with a ridiculously oversized axe and then cuts low to strike clean through Marius' left knee for 4 NE (+1d6 bleed)! Even though the classic wounding appears at the strike zone, Marius' knee opens up with a free flowing laceration.

End Surprise Round, Begin Round One!

R1T23: Angelo, what do you do?

[Moriar]

"That fellow doesn't look very friendly," Angelo wryly observes.

He then utters an arcane phrase. Upon completion two magical darts erupt from his hand and strike the creature.

Spoiler: Crunchy time

Show

Stays where he is and casts magic missile at the creature.

Damage: (2d4+2)[6]

[lostsole31]

R1T23: "That fellow doesn't look very friendly," Angelo wryly observes. He then utters an arcane phrase. Upon completion two magical darts erupt from his hand and strike the creature for a total of 6 force.

R1T22: The spectral monstrosity just flies right through Marius and gains a little bit of altitude before dropping its axe to strike through Lexi's left lower arm to create a gash that does 3 NE (+1d6 bleed).

R1T19: Paula squeaks in alarm before retreating several feet and cowering against the corner of the entrance.

R1T16: Marius, you take 3 bleed. To everyone, that doesn't just drop on the floor, but the blood instead flows from Marius into the enemy, seemingly healing it of a like amount! Marius, what do you do? It looks like Paula took your advice.

[Ason]

"An axe!" Marius calls out, wincing from his injury as he does so, "Is this the Lopper?"

The young man then tries to tumble around the axe-wielding entity, hoping to avoid its attacks while on the move. Once in position, he swings the spiked head of his polearm at the monster as he enters into a defensive posture.

Spoiler: OoC

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Free: Knowledge check to identify the creature, especially any weaknesses
Swift: Aura of Misfortune stance
Move: 10 feet east, 5 feet north such that Marius ends up flanking with Wren; Acrobatics to avoid AoO (1d20+10)[20]
Standard: standard action attack with defensive stance (1d20+8)[9] (does not include flanking or any other bonus, does include -1 for defensive stance attack, gains +1 dodge AC from defensive stance); damage (1d12+1)[10]

Notes on Marius' Sheet: 1) Marius' ant haul extract and heightened awareness extract are not yet marked on his sheet as used up. 2) Marius has taken 7 damage so far in this fight, but he is only 2 hp short of his max hp. I assume there were some temporary hit points I'm forgetting about (and no longer see due to said damage), but I wanted to point out the issue, just in case he should be more injured.

[lostsole31]

R1T16: "An axe!" Marius calls out, wincing from his injury as he does so, "Is this the Lopper?"

The young man then tries to tumble around the axe-wielding entity, hoping to avoid its attacks while on the move, but he is not so lucky as the monster's axe slices across Marius' neck for 3 NE. Once in position, he swings the spiked head of his polearm at the monster as he enters into a defensive posture, missing wildly. He also realizes now that he's here that its elevated position means he isn't really flanking, either.

R1T12: Alexandru, you take 4 bleed, and your blood likewise seems to turn into red mist that is absorbed by the specter. What do you do?

[BuckGodot]

Alexandru quickly looks over his foe to assess its capabilities and then swings his hammer.

Spoiler: Technical Information

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Assess

Attack using Risky Strike
(1d20+6)[7]

Damage: (1d8+9)[11]

Undead Exterminator (Ex): +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, & Survival checks when dealing w/ creatures of the undead type
* +2 bonus on weapon attack & damage rolls vs. undead.

Combat Reflexes (Ex): He may make 4 AOOs /rd (1 + 3 [DEX]). He may also make AOOS while FF'd.

Step Up

[lostsole31]

R1T12: Alexandru quickly looks over his foe to assess its capabilities and then swings his hammer so violently that he is overcome by the fog of war (dazed).

R1T6: Zauberei, what do you do?

[Tippnick]

Zauberei steps closer to the combat and will try to determine what is while spellcasting

Spoiler

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FA: assense the creature
If he determines what it is
He shouts, "It is a ..."
He will utter a spell
SA: casts Ghostbane dirge on the creature
"You might be able to hit it with normal weapons now."

[lostsole31]

R1T6: Zauberei calls out, "It's a special type of wraith endemic only to this soul and this place. If it kills you, you become like him, but under his control." He then holds his symbol of Nethys and casts a spell and advises, "You might be able to hit it with normal weapons now."

R1T5: "Lady of the Northern Lights," begins Wren as he takes out the Lopper's blood-stained handaxe and steps north, "I beseech you guide me to victory and away from curses."

He drops his dagger before the draw, and now has axe and hammer in hand. With a speed fast and true Wren strikes the spirit as hard as he can for 14! It definitely bit in deep as if made of flesh, and the creature screams in pain. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner, and his name is The Lopper!"

R1T4: Hargrimm, what do you do?

Angelo on deck, Lopper in the hole ...

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm moves in a bit closer to the front lines and lets loose another wave of light.

Spoiler: Combat

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5ft step northwest.
Swift action: Shift 2 essence from Banelight Vortices to Veil-woven Channel.
Standard action: Channel Energy to heal the living, and grant the Veil-woven Channel bonus to AC.

Channel: (2d6+1)[8]

[lostsole31]

R1T4: Hargrimm moves in a bit closer to the front lines and lets loose a wave of light that washes over the allies with healing and protective energies, fully healing Marius and stopping bleeding from he and Lexi.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T23: Angelo, what do you do?

The Lopper on deck, Paula in the hole ...

[Moriar]

"Normal weapons affect him now eh?" Angelo asks. "Then let's see if his axe can be separated from him."

Angelo slides his whip into hand and with a crack of the weapon aims to disarm the Lopper.

Spoiler: Crunch

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MA to draw whip.

SA to disarm. Cmb roll of (1d20+8)[23]

[lostsole31]

R2T23: "Normal weapons affect him now eh?" Angelo asks. "Then let's see if his axe can be separated from him."

Angelo slides his whip into hand and with a crack of the weapon aims to disarm the Lopper. His whip passes through the Lopper's wrist beautifully .... with no effect.

"This axe ..." Wren begins, gesturing to the blood-stained handaxe for emphasis....

R2T22: The Lopper does a 5' aerial step, now directly over top Alexandru and swings at Hargrimm, but the dwarf knew what was coming and ducks out of the way.

"...once belonged to..."

R2T19: Paula stays in total defense to the south ...

"...The Lopper. He's ..."

R2T16: Marius, what do you do?

Zauberei on deck, Wren in the hole ...

[Ason]

"If you have the magic, genuine sunlight might help!" he calls out hopefully to the party.

Marius then heeds Zauberei's advice and zig-zags after the spectre, his polearm turning into a blur as he stabs at the spirit.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Move: 5 feet diagonal southwest, 5 feet south
Standard: Temporal Burn on the Lopper; attack roll (1d20+9)[29]; normal damage (1d12+1)[11] + bonus damage (2d6)[8] that bypasses DR and hardness

Immediate (if triggered): Bad Karma on the Lopper if he targets Marius with any of the options listed in the maneuver

AoOs (if triggered): Marius will do a risky strike attack on the Lopper if he triggers an attack of opportunity