Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

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Darkmane
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#141 Post by Darkmane »

Moorheeth

Moorheeth slowly advances as well, flanking out to the side. dewey, it may be the sword, have you ever seen it glow like that before??? We may have to wrest it from him!
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#142 Post by Nordbo »

Monsieur Rose wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 2:35 pm Sir Dewey

He suggests keeping both urns, if at all possible. "I know a guy who may be interested."
Cosmo

agrees, leaving the urns for M. Rose to deal with. Then tiptoes up behind Vann & co, miner's pick ready in right hand.

100 uncut rubies added to inventory, marked as 'group loot'
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#143 Post by Spearmint »

The Tomb of Magyar Varghoulis

After descending the dark fetid stairs from the entrance crypt, the adventurers have found themselves in a wilderness type setting rather than another chamber in a burial tomb. There is no sunlight, indeed no moon or starlight. A misty fog prevails, churning in thick impenetrable swirls around the circumference of standing stones and the central dais with the coffer of Magyar Varghoulis.

The atmosphere is unearthly and unnatural. The darkness all consuming except for the magical illumination from Bharazd'had and the baleful radiance of the Crypt Knight sword that Vann Hector wields.

He also wields a hand-held crossbow, pulling it from a side holster in a quick draw and triggering a bolt at Sir Dewey with deathly intent. The bolt is parried aside by the paladin, who halts to go nearer. The rogue returns back to the coffer and unsealing its ancient lid.

Moorheeth suggests the sword may be the source of the malevolence that has taken over Vann Hector.

Cosmo sneaks among the shadows, his small frame easily concealed behind the ring of standing stones. Cautiously he flits from one to another and hopes to get behind Vann Hector while he is distracted by the others.

Cosmo vs 20% MS [1d100]=10

a sneaky success. You manage to creep up unnoticed on the other side of the sarcophagus, hidden from the elf's sight.

Sigrid, casts a magic spell to try to identify the prevalent arcane auras. Apart from the items held by people, no other specific item in view radiates magic. Somewhere behind you are the steps up to the interior crypt though looking behind, those are very difficult to make out. The darkness is magical in the same way the Light spell is magical. The stairs probably have some kind of dimensional portal for you descended many steps but instead of going deeper under the mound you have arrived elsewhere.

You can go closer to one of the rune etched standing stones and brush the creeper vines aside to read the engraving underneath. The markings do not radiate any magic but each proclaim a Nergal virtue (if death cults could be said to have virtues). 'death, purgatorial sufferings, souls being warped in torment, corruption, decay'.

Sundance invokes a Light spell. It is cast but the words and arcane scripts are quickly erased from her memory.

Sundance Light spell vs 16 [4d6+1]=18+1=19LK guards, morale check [1d100]=61

The conscript guards are wary. This place is strange and begins to take a toll upon their own mental state. One or two begin to falter in their support and try to ascend the dark staircase. After a few steps the pair halt. "Hush, listen, a distant thumping, thudding?"

Bharazd'had "We should stop his foolishness." he says concerning the elf. Then he notices movement. Not from a person but from slow creeping vines. The rosy petaled flowers spreading long grasping, thorny stems that wriggle in silent motion across the verdant grasses towards the group.

Though standing or passing by the stones, Cosmo & Sigrid are not caught in any vine snare but the Soothsayer is struck about the ankles. He is shackled anyway but these creepers have an evil sentience and he is assailed by numerous thorny pinpricks.

The Sauron is thick skinned though and shrugs of the poisonous barbs. He grabs the vines to bite through them before they can entangle him further.

Bloodvein creeper vines [1d20]=6[1d20]=8[1d20]=15
Bharazd'had [1d20]=19

next actions please
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#144 Post by Stirling »

Vann Hector

Under a baleful influence and working by the baleful light, he heaves and pushes to get the coffer lid open.

Sensing movement around him, he turns and draws the second of his hand-held (and hip holstered) mini-crossbows.

"Back, back you curs. Flee while you yet draw breath. Harken the legion arises."
He points the weapon randomly and coerced by the compulsion exercised by the 'voices in his head', triggers a bolt at one of the group.

Initiative. Vann Hector [1d6+1]=2+1=3 Randomised target: guards 1-6, Bhz, Sun, Moor, Sig, Cos, SD [1d12]=2Vann Hector triggers HH-xbow [1d20+1]=19+1=20 [2d4]=6
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#145 Post by Monsieur Rose »

Sir Dewey

"Enough of this madness." The Knight exclaims as Vann pulls another crossbow and fires. "Strike at those vines, use torches to burn them! I'll deal with Vann"

Sir Dewey rushes forward to shield bash Vann away from the sarcophagus. Shield Bash: [1d20]=7
Failing that, he will grapple Vann and pull him away.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#146 Post by Darithe »

Sigrid

Sigrid retrieves a flask of oil from her backpack and attempts to pour it over the vines.

Do I need to roll an attack to do this?
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#147 Post by Spearmint »

no you can pour out the oil in a pool or over the standing stones but you might need to dodge grasping vines.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#148 Post by Darkmane »

Moorheeth

Continuing to follow Dewey as he engages Vann, Moorheeth pulls forth his holy symbol and moves quickly through the incantations and hand motions that allow him to open the Eye of Arcantryl seeing beyond the physical world and looking for unseen spiritual attack on Vann. He starts with Vann and the sweeps his sight across the borders of the room looking for the source of this possession.

Moorheeth casts detect evil.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#149 Post by Nordbo »

Cosmo

if any nasty vines hinder the party's activities, Cosmo will hack away at the ones he can get at, with his pick.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#150 Post by Darithe »

Sigrid

Attempts to pour the oil over the vines, trying to dance out of their grasping reach while doing so. Sigrid has had practice dancing from the grasp of overly friendly boys in her hometown.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#151 Post by Spearmint »

The Tomb of Magyar Varghoulis

Vann Hector triggers his other crossbow, unloading a barbed shaft that zooms to impale one of the conscript guards. He stumbles, severely injured and the men draw weapons, confused by the sudden betrayal. They back each other up on the stairs wondering from which flank the next attack will come. The haunting spirits torment them with more frightful imaginations.

Sigrid and Cosmo pour out flasks of oil, nimbly dodging the grasping stalks of the black roses that grow over the standing stones. Bharazd'had is not so nimble, shackled in his steps he once more is entangled by the creepers and they begin to twist and climb around his legs, piercing him multiple times with their thorns. imagine being caught in barbed wire.

Firebrands can be lit to burn the oil which ignites in a fiery conflagration but because the area has a background of unearthly darkness, the natural light from the flames is not seen unless in the aura if light shed from the shield or cast light spell. You do feel the flames though and hear the snapping of cracking twigs and burnings stalks.

At the sarcophagus, Moorheeth and Sur Dewey tangle with the elf gone rogue. He is however nimble enough to dodge the shield bashing of the paladin and heaves the stone lid from the coffer containing the body of Varghoulis.

Detecting Evil is simple, the body glows with Nergal essence and abyssal energy. A plate-mailed knight, imposing in height and girth. Haunting screams and ghostly spirits fill the air, those poltergeists that dwelt in the darkness swirl and coalesce together as one unholy swarm and you watch as Magyar Varghoulis takes a sharp intake of breath as these undead spirits firm to give new life to the host body.

Vann Hector spasms upon the floor as if in the throes of a violent epilepsy, sudden rolling over and coughing. But it is not phlegm or normal choke that he speed forth but the unholy baleful possession that struggled to control his mind (being the wanton scoundrel that he is, he succumbed to 'the dark side' quite easily once he took possession of the Crypt Knight sword. The baleful light shed by the sword is mirrored by the spirit he exhales and this too joins the legion of spirits that becomes the essence of life in the Dread Knight.

Watching in horror, awestruck in fascination by the turn of events, each character comes to senses to realise the danger they are in, especially as the pounding of doors in the chapel above echoes with more urgency.

Bharazd'had spits blood, his green scaled skin turning greener as he feels the effects of the Rose thorn poison and vampiric effect. He places a clawed hand upon his chest, invoking a prayer to Tiamat and slowing down the coursing poison. Slow Poison cast.
Magyar Varghoulis projects an aura like a Cause Fear effect to all within a 5'ft radius and normally all those by the sarcophagus would be affected by this is countered by the holy radiance of the Sunshield held by Sir Dewey.

Vann Hector, exorcised from the indwelling evil resident within the baleful sword can act as normal. The sword you wield no longer casts a baleful light.

actions everyone please.

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Magyar Varghoulis: Dread Knight.
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Stirling
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#152 Post by Stirling »

Vann Hector

Horrified by his inability to control his actions and face to face with the fearsome undead rising from his crypt, I will try to right some wrongs and attack Varghoulis.

Vann Hector's: Crypt Knight's longsword melee vs s/m [1d20+2]=6+2=8 [1d8+1]=2+1=3

and miss ...
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#153 Post by Darkmane »

Moorheeth

Staying behind the protective light of Sir Dewey's shield, Moorheeth hurls his hammer at the crypt knight.

Throw hammer [1d20]=3 , damage sm [1d4+1]=3+1=4 , l [1d4]=4

lol if he survives this Moorheeth has to have a turn of luck coming with this die roller, if these had been real dice they would have been tossed into a fire without mercy
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#154 Post by Monsieur Rose »

Sir Dewey

"Guards! Join us now or be damned to walk among them forever! Our true foe is revealed! Strike now!" Sir Dewey keeps his shield aloft and tries to rally his companions. "Free Bharazd'had! We need magic!"

The Knight positions himself between Varghoulis and the others, striking at him with his flail.
Flail(19): [1d20+1]=17+1=18
Flail Damage: [_2d4+2]=(1+3)=4+2=6 L:[1d6+2]=1+2=3
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#155 Post by Spearmint »

I do keep forgetting about NPC Sundance in the updates. So she will attack the entangling Black Roses to help free the Soothsayer.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#156 Post by Darithe »

Sigrid

Lacking in offensive spells, Sigrid is not content to stand there doing nothing so she brings out her sling and fires.

Attack Roll: [1d20]=18
Damage: [1d6]=6+1
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#157 Post by Nordbo »

Cosmo

if space permits, joins in the fracas and helps attack Vargoulis with his magic miner's pick: Magic miner's pick: to hit [1d20+1]=11+1=12, DMG S/M [1d6+2]=1+2=3 L [2d4+1]=2+1=3
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#158 Post by Spearmint »

The Tomb of Magyar Varghoulis

The anti-paladin, a knight sworn to unholy vows begins to rise from his crypt. Resurrected by the undead spirits that energise his form, the Blossom of Death once more blooms.

Vann Hector, Cosmo, Moorheeth, Sigrid; all launch a flurry of ineffective blows against Varghoulis. The sling stone does bounce upon the undead's helm creating a dent that might ordinarily brain quash a living being. Instead, it is merely an irritant to the knight who places his sword point down, kissing the hilt in worship on bended knee and rises from his sarcophagus.

Sundance hacks at the thorny vines that restrain the lizardman Soothsayer. "Fear not. He was defeated once, holdfast in heart and hope. He will be defeated again!" Bharazd'had encourages. He casts a Chant spell to help strengthen morale and douse some of the fearful aura emanating from the dread figure. While he remains stationary and concentrates, a blessing (+1) comes upon those nearby while a bane (-1) overshadows Varghoulis.

Sir Dewey rallies the men who hold the line rather than break but alarmingly they face a wave of onrushing skeletal warriors. The paladin smites the rising figure, -7hp who staggers under the crushing blow. He turns to face you. "A worthy champion." Magyar Varghoulis exclaims, he salutes you with his blade acknowledging his injury, "unlike this craven soul. Nergal and I thank you for your service". he says and stabs out at the elf rogue who lifted the lid and broke the seal of his sarcophagus, wounding Vann Hector -4hp

Magyar Varghoulis: longsword melee [1d20+2]=14+2=16 [1d8+3]=2+3=5

Health and Status:

Dread Knight: Magyar Varghoulis -7hp

Sir Dewey: 18/19hp
Vann Hector: 6/12hp
Cosmo: 10/12hp
Sigrid: 10/10hp
Moorheeth: 7/8hp

Sundance: 6/7hp
Bharazd'had: 7/12hp. (Chant spell in effect)

G1: 7/8
G2: 3/8
G3: 8
G4: 8
G5: 8
G6: 8


next attacks please.

the Chant gives a +1 to hit, damage and any saving throws to the party and penalises -1 to hit, damage and saves of Magyar. I will automatically modify rolls to account for this so you don't need to adjust macros. The guards are out of range of this effect.

Sunburst shield: emanates a Protection from Evil radiance within a 15'ft radius of the wielder. It does not stack with the Paladin's own holy aura. But you all gain the benefit if you line up nearby Sir Dewey, a -2 on MV on attacks against you. Again I will factor this into rolls.

Magyar Varghoulis: noted that he wears platemail and bears a shield that rested by his feet. His visored great helm has shining rubies for eyes.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#159 Post by Stirling »

Vann Hector

Great. The thanks I get from waking the dead!

Vann Hector's: Crypt Knight's longsword melee vs s/m [1d20+2]=5+2=7 [1d8+1]=3+1=4

I try and stab out in retribution but my martial skill is lacking. I think we just have to try and overwhelm him in another attritional combat.

"Is there anything in his coffer that may be off help?". I shout to Sigrid to check. I figure best to keep those with magic weapons in the fight directly and others search for any extra help. "Sundance, keep the Soothsayer singing. Every bonus helps."

Any one got holy water? Can this undead even be turned? If he can't, we need to not fight on two fronts. The skeletons could be turned and can be hit by normal weapons. Reinforcing those guards on the dark stairway against the Legionnaires is also crucial to our survival.
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Re: Barrow Mounds: Blossom of Death.

#160 Post by Darithe »

Sigrid

Sigrid tries to reach the coffer and check inside it, hopefully without incurring skeletal wrath in the attempt.
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