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Faron follows through the steam of the oven, glowing longsword out for illumination. And anything else the weapon might be needed for.

Urdur follows the others, torch aloft.

Grateful for the healing, and seeing what Bo is up to, Telkis will use Cranach to help maneuver smoldering logs across the fireplace opening.

"We need only prevent them from coming this way. With luck, they'll find the... dead things on their own," he says as he rakes some glowing embers into the line.

"How do we get ourselves in these glausüg* situations?"

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. After Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







Countless dead men and women of Hookhill stand motionless and silent, unseen in the merciful darkness. (area 4)

The hot splatter of blood and the skulls of children (in area 3) keep back the crawling Brood Swarm as the doomed heroes escape through the heat and smoke of the immense fireplace! (A)



In the steam, Urdur's silhouette is eerily visible.

Bo and Telkis line up smoldering logs in the hearth behind them as Ingrid, Jerome and Mouser are the first to plunge past the other simmering cauldron of unspeakable contents, and emerge from the veil of smoke into the soaring entry hall of the house beyond the world. (area 1)




With alarm, they discover that something dreadful is waiting for them on the other side.




Some half dozen inhuman creatures in loincloths; filthy, leering, cunning, and with unnaturally long fingers. (A1-6)

They are almost Men.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. Red area is the Brood Swarm.

Map Detail:






PC Status:
PC Magic:
Player Resources:

Ingrid Esthof

Uh, guys, we have company! The cleric will present her Holy symbol, waiting to see what the new...complications?...may do. If any makes a move that appears threatening, she will attempt to turn them.

Faron steps into the room, ready to do his part with his glowing sword.

When he hears they have company, Telkis will sprint through the smoke to the other side. If the things have pounced when he arrives, he'll try to rid them of one with Cranach:

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=2+2=4, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=3+2=5, vs L [1d6+3]=4+3=7

Smoke can, however, be very disorienting.

Bo sees the party rush into combat, charging in himself once the others are engaged, trying to pick either the most vulnerable target, or the comrade who needs the most aid.

Spear Attack [1d20]=14 Damage [1d6]=2 (+2 for charge?)

Jerome
Even as Jerome moves to attack, he calls out a prayer. Saint Cuthbert, we ask your protection! Help us destroy these abominations!

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. After Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







The doomed heroes burst from the smoke-filled fireplace and surprise the lurid fiends that hunt them!

Before the depraved, feral things can pounce, Ingrid calls upon the power of her god to drive them off, believing them to be an evil from beyond the grave! In fear and hatred, three loathsome horrors cower before holy symbol! They flee beneath the grand staircase, near where Bo had been searching!

Three pale, unspeakable things remain. The heinous presence of the Almost Men is only more revolting in the elegant magnificence of the sumptuous mansion.

"Saint Cuthbert, we ask your protection! Help us destroy these abominations!" cries Jerome as he bares steel and moves to attack! Suddenly the paladin is overcome by the sickening stench of a charnel house! (Please Save vs Poison on 1d20 and post your action regardless of the outcome)


Actions?! (and please Save vs Poison if you come within 10 feet of these things, and post your action)


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. Red area is the Brood Swarm.

Map Detail:


Behind the DM Screen:



PC Status:
PC Magic:
Player Resources:

Jerome
Save vs Poison: 11 [1d20]=3

Jerome gathers the power of St Cuthbert. Begone, thou abominations! turn undead [1d20]=11

I know he probably can't, since he blew his save vs. poison

Urdur stays behind, ready to weave an incantation if anything gets to close.

Ingrid Esthof

Having called upon divine favor to force some of the foul beings to turn away from her holy force, the cleric does not hesitate. With righteous fury, the alcolyte of Holy Tritherion steps forward, fighting through the sickening miasma given off by the unholy beings. I said BE GONE! she shouts, as she swing her mace and makes heavy contact with the creature's chest, shattering ribs. A3

Faron, a thief and not a fighter, intends to get into position to attack the things from the side when the time is right. Or f time allows, from behind. He eases to his left, then forward at a diagonal. He watches the things and gauges their reactions as he moves. They seem pretty intelligent. He doesn't want to get isolated and rushed and fight them alone. Not for long, at least. Until the fighters can charge and get in blows from the side.

Bo attacks by throwing his spear at any unengaged targets.

Spear Attack [1d20]=5 Damage [1d6]=1

Telkis

Save vs. Poison (11): [1d20]=17

"I've smelled worse!" Telkis lies as he rushes forward, swinging Cranach at pelvis level:

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=19+2=21, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=7+2=9, vs L [1d6+3]=4+3=7

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. After Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY








In the otherworldly mansion beyond time and dimensions, the investigators encounter the heinous Almost Men, that they believe to be the nefarious Hookhill Ripper!




Feral, wicked, depraved; the unnatural carrion lunge at the doomed heroes to devour them alive! (Please Save vs Poison, everyone except Ingrid, Jerome and Telkis, and post your next action regardless of the outcome.)

Bestial nails and blood red teeth mercilessly rip and tear the mortal flesh of the priestess, the paladin and the dwarf-like gnome!



(6hp, 3hp, and 4hp damage respectively! Please each Save vs Paralysis at +2, to act next round!)

Even as a necromantic paralysis of icy terror threatens to overtake them, they valiantly, desperately strike back!

Jerome is overwhelmed by nausea at the stench of death! (-2 to hit) Resolute, he holds aloft the holy symbol of St. Cuthbert and cries, "Begone, thou abominations!" But his virtuous command holds no power over the debased hellions!

Urdur stands ready as Faron and Mouser skulk behind the ghastly depravities to strike with stealth!

Long Bo finds no opening to launch the spear poised and ready at his shoulder!

In the wild, frightening fray, Telkis hammers one unliving atrocity with a bone-crunching strike that does not kill. (A4)

Defiant, Ingrid shouts, "I said BE GONE!" and smites dead a despicable fiend with one blow of her blessed mace! (A3)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory. Red area is the Brood Swarm.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:



PC Status:
PC Magic:
Player Resources:

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric's mace strikes true, just after the foul creature rips into her with filthy claws. She watches as the walking atrocity falls lifeless, even as her own muscles begin to seize up, preventing her from moving at all. Eyes wide with terror, she knows that she is an easy target and may only silently pray her companions do not fall victim to the same cursed effect.

Jerome
Jerome grits his teeth, trying to force him self to overcome the nausea. He launches a vicious attack at (A2), and fails. [1d20+1]=7+1=8 melee

Urdur stays behind the group. He knows he is no match for these foul creatures in combat, nor will his sorceries affect them.

Urdur watches the melee, hoping that his companions can slay the undead.

Save vs Poison (14) [1d20+1]=9+1=10