Cataclysm (AD&D Ravenloft -> PF1 Conversion) INC Thread

[DarkOne-Rob]

As they get closer to the house-on-stilts, Cheyanne rubs her eyes and looks around to ensure she isn't somehow entranced or bewitched by something in the swamp and seeing things. "What a strange home...Everyone alright? Shall I pole us underneath? I think there's a door there..." she asks as she slowly begins to bring them closer...

[kinem]

Ted says ”That house looks creepy as hell. If I were an undead monster, I would want a house like that as my headquarters. We’d better check it out.”

[samduke]

we should use caution that could be a trap as well

[Bunny Commando]

Grey - HP: 17\17 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Cloak of Darkness (1 Hr.)

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"Better than wander aimlessly through these swamps." Grey says in response to Cheyanne's inquiry, readying himself to face whatever trouble may wait for them in the house. As before, shadows around Grey start flickering before they wrap themselves around the ashen man that jokes a bit to raise morale in the party "Hope Valana wasn't talking about me when she spoke about darkness."

Spoiler

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Grey uses Cloak of Darkness (+4 AC, +2 Stealth)

[DigoDragon]

"Could be a trap... but could also be something to deal with as part of this, stop the murderer and the rising of the undead. I say let's check it out," Rose says.

[Ancient]

Miss Pendagrast - AC: 17 - HP: 0/14 - Perception: +9

"The Lost One has called you...", Amelie thinks that perhaps this creepy ass shack is not perchance, but no stone must be left unturned, RAVENLOFT, Someone must has seen or encountered Trystan. "Probably a trap, but if it is not reptilian or amphibian, I'm in."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

As you approach, bringing the raft underneath, suddenly a rope ladder drops from the doorway underneath. No figure steps into the light to greet you, and not even a shadow passes the open door. The ladder, constructed of wooden steps and thick rope, simply rolls out with a brief clatter knocking wood. The last step hangs just above the surface of the fetid waters of the swamp, inviting you up into the house.

[DigoDragon]

"Huh. A trap with an invitation?" Rose whispers to her teammates. "I'm curious now."

[kinem]

Though the rope ladder reminds Ted of a fishing line, he grabs hold and climbs up into the house.

[samduke]

Millie will climb the ladder 3rd, ever so cautious

[Darius Vibrtrar]

The little house has only one room. All told, more than two dozen lanterns hang from pegs on the wall and sit on the warped wooden floor, flooding the shack with light. To the right of the door, unopened boxes have been neatly stacked against the wall. An open-topped barrel sits beside the boxes.

In the center of the room, facing the door, is a young man. He sits within a circle of five burning lanterns, with his large, blank eyes fixed in place. The young man unusually thin and pale, and his long, blond hair hangs limply to his shoulders. His features are tortured. The simple shirt and pants that he wears are clean and fresh. He clutches a small book in his lap, but makes no move to get up or greet you-except to slowly struggle out an incomprehensible phrase:

“The on descend shall evil of night the land,
at near signs of hexad this when hand."

Then he returns to his quiet state, neither speaking or responding in any way.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Cheyanne looks for a way to secure their raft, unwilling to let it drift away. "What's up there? I'm holding onto the raft down here..." she calls up curiously.

[Bunny Commando]

Grey - HP: 17\17 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Cloak of Darkness (1 Hr.), Detect Magic (2 min.)

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"Something you should see." Grey says to Cheyanne down there, quite creeped by what they have found in the house. He draws a dagger, mostly to feel himself a bit safer than because he really believes he's going to need it - the pale man does not seem to be a threat, but there's definitely something really wrong. And given the "wrongness" he feels in this whole situation, Grey wonders if there's magic at work here; he speaks words of power in language rarely spoken by humans so he could see magical auras around him.

After a few moments, he then announces "Hm. There's no magic at work here, at least for now."

Spoiler

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Grey casts Detect Magic and looks around.

[DigoDragon]

Rose's curiosity poked awake, she ascends the rope ladder and looks around. Her eyes settle on the book in the lap of the strange man. She looks to see if there's a title on it.

"We... aren't intruding, are we, sir?" Rose asks politely. Maybe it's a bit late for permission, but there's always forgiveness.

[kinem]

Though Ted is tempted to make light of the situation - something he sometimes does to keep his nerves in check, but which can be interpreted badly by others - he controls the impulse.

He says "Greetings, sir. Have you also spoken to the Vistani? What do you know of their prophecy? Perhaps we could help each other."

If the strange man still offers no response, he tells his companions "Or, perhaps, we should leave him be."

[Ancient]

Miss Pendagrast - AC: 17 - HP: 14/14 - Perception: +9

Amelie climbs cautiously up the rope ladder. This place, Ravenloft, it just gets creepier and creepier. She sees the young man, the blonde hair, and just for a second, she almost thinks...Trystan!?!, but no, it couldn't be, this broken shell is NOT her brother, no way. She composes herself and approaches the young man, carefully, with gentleness as if approaching a scared child.

"Excuse me, good sir. Could you tell me your name?"

[DigoDragon]

"Hmm, seems a little peculiar that he has a book of children's poems," Rose points out.

[samduke]

Millie Observes and listens to the goings on's in the hut

[Darius Vibrtrar]

The Young man stares blankly in the distance, he has not noted your presence, or responded in any way to your entry.

“The on descend shall evil of night the land,
at near signs of hexad this when hand."

His voice repeats these words in metered time, much like that of a poem.

[Bunny Commando]

Grey - HP: 17\17 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Cloak of Darkness (1 hr.)

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"Let's check for whatever might be of use and leave, don't believe we should linger here." Grey says quite concerned after the weird man has spoken those words again, the feeling of being where he should not be growing every second he spends in the shack. So he goes for the crates and barrel, being careful to check for traps before trying to open any of them but doing so as quickly as he can.

Spoiler

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Perception Roll (1d20+4)[6]
Grey checks the crates and the barrel.

[kinem]

Ted says ”Stop it, Grey. We are not desperate, and this man has not tried to harm us. What right do we have to steal his supplies? Have we already become nothing more than another group of predators roaming this land?”

[Ancient]

Miss Pendagrast - AC: 17 - HP: 14/14 - Perception: +9

Amelie crouches down in front of the man to meet him eye to eye.

"We are not here to hurt you," Miss Pentagrast says gently. "But what you are saying doesn't make any sense..."

“The on descend shall evil of night the land,
at near signs of hexad this when hand."

"The evil of night? shall descend on the land.."
Then the sign of the hexad is near at hand?"

[Darius Vibrtrar]

This close to him, if eyes are windows to the soul then this man's body is empty. When you begin saying the phrase back at him, his fingers tighten on his book of poems reflexively.

“The on descend shall evil of night the land,
at near signs of hexad this when hand."

[DigoDragon]

"This poor man seems broken of the mind," Rose says softly, glancing around the room. "He does seem to clutch that book tight. Wonder if there's some clue in it? ...would have to wrestle it from him."

[samduke]

Well if you are to wrest it away from him, try to be gentle as he does not yet pose a threat

[Bunny Commando]

Grey - HP: 17\17 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Cloak of Darkness (1 hr.)

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Grey rolls his eyes - it was to be expected someone would not agree with his pragmatic view of their predicament. He groans and chimes his own opinion on the matter "Doubt the fellow would mind if we help ourselves a little. Doubt there's enough between his ears to even register what we're doing." but still he closes the lid on the barrel he was checking, cracks his fingers and approaches the man "But if you need to lighten him of his book, I could give it a try. People usually complain about their gold long after I'm gone." he says with a grin before kneeling and carefully trying to pickpocket the man.

Spoiler

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Guess Sleight of Hand, will take 10 if possible for a check result of [20].

[Darius Vibrtrar]

The book slides easily from the young man's hand, as if there was no need for subtlety. The inside of the cover has a note written inside.

To Luc,
My beloved brother
~Marcel

This indeed is a book of poems you'd expect for children, written in rhyme and metered prose. Colored artwork alongside the colorful words.

The food stores here seems to be much more than a single person can eat, you could in fact eat your full without truly denting this man's stores.

[kinem]

Ted says ”My guess, the brother left him the supplies to last until he can return, and left him the book hoping his broken mind could understand what a child might. I think we are done here.”

[DigoDragon]

Rose looks at the stores and considers. "Well Grey, I suppose if some of us need a little bit for rations on our travels it wouldn't hurt. I think I have enough for a few days until we reach a settlement of sorts."

[DarkOne-Rob]

Cheyanne does not enter the cottage until she's able to secure their raft, so she looks around for some way to tie it to the rope ladder...