Chapter 30: The Horror at Hookhill

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Seeing a few of their companions leaving the tavern, the cleric asks the others what they should do next. I see a few of us leaving- should we all follow? Stay and wait for them to return? I don't like the idea of some of us wandering off alone at night in this unfamiliar city.

[ChubbyPixie]

"I think it wise we should stick together," says Telkis, rising from his chair (dropping from his chair?) and making for the door where Bo stands. Anyway, remaining here feels like a continuously renewed invitation to be robbed...

[Urson]

Jerome Sorry I flaked for a few days.
Jerome heads for the door. When he gets ouside, he waits a couple of minutes for any others who decide to join him.
We should pair off and begin patrolling the streets. Stay together, and keep to the side streets and alleys.

[jemmus]

Faron
Telkis, perhaps we should pair off together. A gnome and a human who doesn't look much different than the locals.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Ingrid makes for the exit and her companions. Good idea. Hmm. Perhaps we pair up so there is one human to each group?

[ChubbyPixie]

Faron
Telkis, perhaps we should pair off together. A gnome and a human who doesn't look much different than the locals.

Telkis nods to Faron, then says to the rest: “Let’s all stay within shouting distance. This is just a town, not a temple dedicated to death or whatever, but you never know. Sometimes I feel like whatever power runs this world does not have our best interests in mind.”

(wiiiiink!)

[Urson]

Jerome
Whatever we do, we should do quickly, before the madman does his work.

He heads to his left, hand on the hilt of his sword. Come with me, Urdur. He'll turn into the first side street or alley he comes to.

[Inferno]

Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day One. Night. Saturday, December 24th, 576 CY
Cold, overcast







In the wretched slums of the capital city of empire, where practitioners of magic are burned as witches, the doomed heroes realize the Hookhill Ripper kills young women on ancient feast days sacred to druids, witches and sorcerers. Like tonight, the first night of Winter Solstice End.

Noble Jerome exclaims, "If that's true, we should be out there, watching for this madman."

The strangers to Blackchapel escape the seedy ruffians of The Cross Keys with their lives and most of their belongings.

("Oi! Where the bloody hell are you lot off to?") Bold Dell asks through the wet ruin of his rotten teeth.

The heroes gather on the cold dark street among unsavory vagrants and loiterers.

Jerome suggests they divide their number and patrol the frigid squalor of Devil's Acre. He and Urdur form one pair and enter the first alley on their left. Faron and Telkis form another pair.

Meanwhile, Long Bo hails the young whore by name and, almost a block away, she looks back to see who might be calling her.




Actions?!





PC Status:

Ajax, Half-Orc Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 36/36
Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 22/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 25/25, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 23/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 38/38, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)

Player Resources:

Tale of Terror (the story so far)
A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Quietly, to their half-orc companion, Ajax, would you be so kind as to keep Bo safe? Then a bit louder, she continues, Mouser, would you care to be my escort this...fine...evening? I'd appreciate someone accompanying me who may be a bit more aware of someone interested in taking my possessions than I am.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Well, that was a short hunt. We found her. Now what?" says Telkis, standing in the street and feeling awkward.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser nods at Ingrid with his hand close to the hilt of his blades. Mouser quietly says to Bo, "Maybe we should hang back a little and keep an eye on her. Don't want to spook any hunters. I don't want to say she's bait - but, well, I said it anyway...."

[jemmus]

Rather than standing in the street like a stuffed dummy, Faron steps to the side and adopts his "inconspicuous down on his luck loiterer" guise. To have something to do while watching the working girl, he takes some hardtack out of his pack, hands a piece to Telkis, and slowly munches on it. As if it's all he has for a meal and he's drawing it out.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo nods at the logic of the groups thieves, willing to concede to the professionals after his botched attempt to gain information inside the tavern. Holding his coin purse even tighter in his grip, he simply smiles at sweet sister Mary when she looks in his direction, wondering if she even cares about her own safety in this hell hole.

"I agree, lets follow her from a distance to see where she goes. Ajax, if you're with me, then lets go. We cant let her out of our sight for very long, just in case she really is the next victim in this city filled with victims of one sort or another."

Seeing the party pairing up and heading off in multiple directions, the druid makes a suggestion. "Should we agree to meet back up here? Or are we sticking together and only moving around through the closest alleyways?"

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome is on a mission. He paces down the alley, his head on a swivel as he searches for the madman slaughtering women. Sure, he's a little drunk- but not much....

[jemmus]

Faron
Maybe stay together and continue following the woman in pairs? So as not to bunch up and appear too conspicuous. When she stops, then we really have to lay low. Maybe Mouser and I can conceal ourselves in shadows and be the eyes for the group. Then summon everyone if we see something happening.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur does his best to keep Jerome under control. If Urdur is close enough to Mouser, and if they seem to be secluded enough that no one will notice him casting a spell, Urdur suggests to Mouser that he make him Invisible.

[ChubbyPixie]

Faron
Maybe stay together and continue following the woman in pairs? So as not to bunch up and appear too conspicuous. When she stops, then we really have to lay low. Maybe Mouser and I can conceal ourselves in shadows and be the eyes for the group. Then summon everyone if we see something happening.

"I agree with Faron," says Telkis, "the members who are best at hiding should follow. The rest of us follow them from further back to help if needed."

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome replies with annoyance to Urdur's attempts to slow him. Shall we just let another poor lost soul be slaughtered for the sake of caution? This is a time for heroes, not cowards! He slows his pace, but he's clearly not happy about it.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The odds of us stumbling upon the next target of this killer are low, but if most of us go clanking after her, we'll scare away anyone who may wish to do her harm. That might keep her safe for the night, but might drive the hunter to find different prey instead. I think our best hope of ending the threat for good is to let our skilled slinkers keep an eye on her from a distance, sending word back to us if trouble arrives.

Ingrid will move off to the side, trying to get out of Mary's view. The rest of us can follow along a bit later, staying out of sight and hearing range.

[jemmus]

Faron
Agreed, the odds of the killer coming for this particular woman aren't good. But we couldn't get any information from the tavern to go on. Mouser, what do you think of the plan to be the eyes for the group? If you agree, I suppose if we see something, one should fetch the group and the other should keep an eye on things. A watcher and a runner, so to speak. Which would you prefer, if this is what we do?