Chapter 34: Nightmare World

[Inferno]

Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Eight. Morning. Saturday, December 31st, 576 CY







A bleak grey dawn comes to the burned out workhouse where the doomed heroes shelter from the elements and the city guard. It is the morning of New Year's Eve... perhaps the last morning ever.

They begin to lay plans for how they will stop the final human sacrifice of "the Hookhill Ripper" and thus avert the ending of the world. They distribute holy water and oil; weapons in their coming battle against unspeakable evil.

Ingrid's palm sheds drops of blood. Yesterday, she had the triskelion symbol of her god tattooed there with blessed ink.



The doomed heroes consider using human bait to draw out the "Hookhill Ripper." Faron approaches a young prostitute that also shelters in the ruin of the workhouse. Earlier, he had given her silver and Ingrid, food and drink. The thief risks some truth on her, speaking of the serial killer that stalks the city's slums, murdering young girls. Faron speaks to her of demons and dreams, and of the haunted Blackchapel Manor that recently burned down. He asks her to volunteer as bait... Bait for demons. At peril to her life.



"You're mad aren't you?" the girl replies. Then she looks at Faron and his friends, and at their possessions. "'Ow much will you lot give me?"


Actions?





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 22/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 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, Invisible
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl, Invisible
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37, Invisible
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Jerome, Long Bo, Telkis, Urdur

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

Faron, I can't in good conscience allow you to use this poor soul as bait. We cannot guarantee her safety, so it is a risk we cannot take. Looking at the young woman, Ingrid realizes they are roughly the same size. If we wish to use a young woman as bait, we will use me. We can trade clothes so I may look the part.

[jemmus]

Faron looks ashamed. He says, I wouldn't have proposed it, if.... but cuts it off, knowing that the others would know why he suggested it. All lives-- everything-- are expendable today. Because they're worth nothing if today if the world ends tomorrow. It seems that he tries to think of the right thing to say. But just says, Thank you, Ingrid Esthoff.

He turns to the young woman and looks her in the eyes. He tries to earnestly implore, without arousing her (or the greater mob's) suspicion of group, Madam, I don't have any more coin left to share. But say to you honest, take care that you don't go out working tonight. you, your friends, colleagues, or even your competitors or enemies go out soliciting tonight. Not one of them. What people call "The Ripper" will very likely be out roaming tonight. It's his time for doing his horrid things. I'm as sure of it as I can be. If you value your life and the lives of your loved ones, and everyone-- down to little innocent newborn babies-- let this woman... He indicates Ingrid. Let her be The Ripper's target tonight. She's made of tough stuff, he says, hopefully reassuringly. He looks to Ingrid and bows his head.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof - Human Cleric

Smiling at Faron, she reassures the thief. I understand. Your intention is good, and not long ago I would likely have been right there with you- the ends justify the means, right? Risk one life to save everyone? But I had been walking a dark path that would have lead to my downfall if I hadn't been shown the error of my ways. Jerome saw it, but until I spoke with the priest at Tritherion's temple I was blind.

If we don't do the right thing every time, no matter how hard things may be, we are no better than the evil we fight. When I made the dead fight for us, it was evil. I had become that which we were fighting. We can walk in the light and still win the day without losing ourselves to the darkness. It does no good if we save the world but get lost in the process.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser happily pockets any oil or holy water vials should any remain from the supply run. He listens quietly at the persuasion attempt of the young girl to be used as bait. He holds his friends spell in reserve if the girl can't be bought....

[OGRE MAGE]

Long Bo cringes at the words of Faron asking the poor woman to act as bait, even if she might have considered it for the coin.

As he is about to convince the others that Urdur could make Bo look just like one of the dirty paupers they have been living with recently, so that he alone could act as their bait, Ingrid offers herself up instead.

Bo nods his head. "If this Ripper is some kind of demonic monster, he may have been able to see through the ruse I was about to suggest. I don't necessarily like the idea of ANY of us acting as bait, but I do understand the reasoning offered up by our brave cleric."

Bo will go along with the offered plan so far, wondering if their whore killing demon can see through his invisibility as well.

[ChubbyPixie]

Invisible, Telkis will hang back and keep quiet. His impulse is to drop a gold piece in the girl’s hand or pocket, but he feels certain he’ll be discovered if he tried.

[SocraticLawyer]

Invisible Urdur listens to the plan. Unseen, he nods as the others agree not to use the poor girl as bait, though he fears for the safety of Ingrid.

Still, the entirety of existence as he knows it may be at stake. Urdur ensures that he has all of his supplies, with holy water and oil within easy reach.

When the party is ready, he travels with his doomed companions to the site of the ritual. He dreads what the group may find there, and the eldritch realities within.

[Inferno]

Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Eight. Morning. Saturday, December 31st, 576 CY







"Fine love. Le's trade clo'hes," says the young prostitute to Ingrid Esthof. "I'd rather not be bait if I can 'elp it."

Faron urgently warns her to not walk the streets tonight.

"If I 'ave me money then I don' need to work tonigh'," the girl replies as she looks hopefully at the others.

When the invisible druid speaks, her back is to Faron and she assumes it was his voice or maybe Mouser's.

The doomed heroes confer. The shape of a plan is forming... a plan to avert the awakening of the Great Old Ones from their aeons-long slumber within the minds of all Mankind.

17 hours remain until the stars are right, and the "Hookhill Ripper" makes the final human sacrifice to usher in the end of everything they know.


Actions?





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 22/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 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, Invisible
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl, Invisible
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37, Invisible
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Jerome, Long Bo, Telkis, Urdur

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Once the young woman has been paid and gone (Telkis will contribute gold secretly to this end as necessary) he'll speak openly to the group.

"Shall we keep this simple? Ingrid could simply walk to the center of the burned ruins of the house at the appointed time, accompanied invisibly by myself. Others may conceal themselves as they see fit. When the Ripper shows itself, we might then have one chance to surprise and ambush the thing. Then, of course... er... one of you magic types can do what you do while I beat it senseless...and that's the problem all wrapped up."

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo nods his head at the plan, though none of the others can actually see him do it.

"Oh, yes, silly me. I keep forgetting.......... I wholeheartedly agree with that plan of attack."

He wracks his brain trying to come up with other ideas on how to approach this situation, but so far has nothing else to offer.

[SocraticLawyer]

That's a good plan says invisible Urdur.

When The Ripper comes, those of us that are unseen can douse the foul thing with holy water, which ought to at least slow it down. Hopefully long enough for Cranach to do its thing.

If that doesnt work, we've got oil as well, and as they say, fire cleanses Evil.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser offers to fearlessly lurk in the shadows at first to maybe get a deadly sneak attack in…

[Inferno]

Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Eight. Night. Saturday, December 31st, 576 CY







That night, perhaps the last night ever, the investigators go out into a city haunted by a lurking doom.

Having paid the young prostitute to not work tonight, they set out grimly resolved to meet their fate. Bo, Jerome, Telkis and Urdur remain unseen to mortal eyes by sorcerous falsehoods woven by the dark gnome illusionist. Virtuous Ingrid is disguised as a whore, and Faron and Mouser pull up their cloaks to conceal their faces from the city that hunts them.

Passing through darkness, smog and a fear that is palpable among the men and women of Devil's Acre, they reach the Blackchapel Estate which holds the fire-blackened ruin of the house that can stride the gulfs of reality itself to "the Dreamlands."

Long Bo and Telkis had investigated the grounds and know it well. They also know the wreck of the mansion is unpassable. Mouser is familiar with the neighborhood, having cased it for days.

The doorway they were led to by the footprints of the Almost Man is gone now. But it had faced south on the gated estate. So south is the direction from which the doomed heroes approach.

Less than one hour before the appointed time, they begin to lay their trap for "the Hookhill Ripper," in the hopes of averting the end of the world.


Actions? (Positions please? Please use the grid letters and numbers for clarity. Good luck everyone!)


Map:

North is the top of the map.




PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 22/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 21/21, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 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, Invisible
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 41/41, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl, Invisible
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 37/37, Invisible
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 15/15, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Jerome, Long Bo, Telkis, Urdur

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 - Human Cleric Prostitute

Ingrid will begin walking along the street south of the Estate, going from H14 to the end of the street at H12, then back toward the east end of the street at H17, repeating this pattern of walking back and forth along the street. She will portray a street walker plying her trade, though she does not want to attract too much (any) attention from potential mortal customers. At this point, she is wearing the clothes she got from the hooker and the Signet of Khorst. She has her two vials of Holy Water each in a pocket on her outfit. The rest of her gear would have been either hidden back at their hideout or in the care of one of her fellow party members. Somebody would have been given her mace to carry. She is purposely NOT wearing the silver triskelion lest it give her away should the evil being sense it. She will rely on the tattoo on her palm if it becomes necessary to use her holy symbol. She knows that though the others are hidden nearby, they may not be close enough to help immediately. She is afraid, but not as terrified as one might think to be out here- unarmed and unarmored, but not completely alone, for Holy Tritherion walks with her and guides her steps.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo looks around the area, trying to determine which direction a monster might travel to reach its prey.

The druid moves into the wreckage to await their unknown foe while Ingrid makes her rounds, (G-12ish) remaining close to her path, but watching in the rubble, trying to spot any disturbances within.

[jemmus]

Faron takes Ingrid's mace and stores it in his pack. He stays with her, 10 feet ahead as she moves.

[SocraticLawyer]

Unseen Urdur takes up a position inside the estate, with his back to a wall, but maintains line of sight with the entrance D14ish?. He keeps holy water and spell components at the ready. He'll also set an unlit torch on the ground next to him, within easy reach.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser takes up a watch quietly and in the shadows at the eastern corner (H17 or so) of the Estate, keeping eyes on his comrades.

[Inferno]

Unseen Urdur takes up a position inside the estate, with his back to a wall, but maintains line of sight with the entrance D14ish?.

Hi Socratic! The entrance faces south...

The doorway they were led to by the footprints of the Almost Man is gone now. But it had faced south on the gated estate. So south is the direction from which the doomed heroes approach.

...so I'll position you south along column 14.


Sorry, Pixie. That's three and a half days. I'll use this post to determine Telkis' actions. Onward!