Chapter 32: From Beyond

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Seeing the approaching swarm of spiderlings, the cleric pulls a torch from her pack, using Urdur's lit brand to ignite hers so she may assist with repelling the scrabbling horde.

[jemmus]

Faron takes his one flask of oil from his pack and throws it onto a strategic spot, trying to maximize deaths of the spiderlings.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, The Dreamlands
Day Two. Night. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







The writhing torrent of demon spiderlings frantically flee the burning cadaver of their mother, and are narrowly kept at bay by torch and by oil!

Mouser slinks back into the grand entry hall, out of sight of his friends.

Meanwhile, Telkis peers into the shadows of the western corridor and his gnomish eyes detect no warmth lurking in the blackness.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Red area is the spiderling swarm.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Spiderlings are fleeing, not attacking.
Faron throws oil at spiderlings. To hit: [1d20]=16 Hits!

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 8/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Torch
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/23, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, Torch

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)

[OGRE MAGE]

Long Bo leaves the swarm to dissipate, hustling after Telkis and urging his friends to join them in their search of the next rooms.

"Don't forget about Faron's rats."

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur joins Bo to help search.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will edge forward carefully, peering down the hallway intently as the others catch up. Given what they've seen so far, he expects some new horror any minute now.

"I assure you I have not forgotten about the rats," he says, Cranach out and ready in his hand.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser seeing and hearing the incinerating swarm will dash back to the group to finish any of them off.

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome stays with Telkis, ready to slay the unrighteous.
Inferno: I'm guessing this is another of those places where "Detect Evil" is useless.

[jemmus]

Faron also stays with Telkis, glowing longsword held high.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, The Dreamlands
Day Two. Night. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







The doomed heroes drive back the torrent of crawling horrors that flame had unleashed.

Then they join Telkis in a barren pantry that reeks of death. (room 4)

The torches they bear illuminate the dark hallway that ranges west.



Once a servants' area, it now seems abandoned. None of the opulent magnificence of the entry hall and the dining room is to be found in this desolate, forgotten space.

Three shut doors stand waiting.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet. Red area is the spiderling swarm.





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 8/22, Glowing Sword
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Torch
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/23, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, Torch

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

I believe the door on the left should open to the room with the trap door. Do we wish to deal with the rats immediately or investigate the other rooms first?

[Urson]

Jerome
Knowing it's probably a waste of time, Jerome attempts to Detect Evil down the hallway.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo cautiously moves up to have a listen at the first door, pushing on the floor with his spear shaft as he moves forward.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser keeps his eyes to the rear and watches for any more surprise visitors.

[SocraticLawyer]

Torch aloft, Urdur follows the others cautiously. He nods at Ingrid's suggestion to open the rat door last.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, The Dreamlands
Day Two. Night. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY





Jerome senses an unspeakable Evil not of this world, permeating every wall of the ominous house! The wizened young paladin recalls Urdur's startling discovery that the entire manor is ensorcelled with invisible, sinister energies...



...enabling it to shift between the waking world and the Dreamlands when the stars are right!

Only Long Bo and Urdur dare enter the forlorn, abandoned wing of the accursed mansion. The floorboards creak beneath their feet and Bo's spear shaft. The grey druid listens at the first door but it betrays no sign of what dark terrors might lurk beyond its threshold.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 8/22, Glowing Sword
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 8/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Torch
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 10/23, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 1/2 2nd lvl, Torch

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)

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome moves up to join Urdur. He whispers prayers to St. Cuthbert as he goes, asking for blessings for himself and the crew.

[jemmus]

Faron moves forward and listens at the first door.

[OGRE MAGE]

Long Bo moves ahead in the same way, listening at the next door presumably leading to the rat room.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur stands ready with torch in one hand, dagger in the other. He expects something nasty to jump out at them at any moment.