Chapter 33: Nightmare House

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur nearly buckles under the weight of his gear, almost dropping his dagger and torch, both of which seem unnaturally heavy.

If he can do so without provoking a free attack from the shadows, Urdur invokes the password and passes over the glyph, hoping the shadows follow and burn.

But if Urdur thinks that doing that would allow the shadows a free attack on him, instead he backs slowly away. Knowing he has no way to hurt these otherworldly creatures, Urdur can only use his magic to try to hide from them before they consume his soul.

Casts Invisibility on self.

[Inferno]

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







The rapacious living shadows are eager to devour life essence that they themselves shall never possess!

They greedily assail those whose essence burns brightest; the uninjured. They descend upon Ingrid, Faron and Telkis to feast!

Ingrid and Faron narrowly evade the frightful assault! Then, just as Urdur envisioned, two of the dark predators glide hungrily toward Telkis and are suddenly engulfed in the merciless flames of Ingrid's holy ward!



Their inhuman wails are piteous.

The two shadows narrowly survive the burning and enter the western reaches of the abandoned corridor, just as Telkis flees it. The gnome says, "Ingrid" and passes unscathed through the flames! Then he and Faron valiantly try to attack the ethereal specters, to no avail!

Urdur lowers the sudden weight of his torch and casts an incantation to render himself invisible!

Long Bo slowly staggers eastward, burdened by his gear. There, Mouser struggles to unbuckle his pack.

But Ingrid and Jerome stand their ground. They try to drive back the otherworldly shadows but the gods hear not their plea.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=4, Monsters: [1d6]=5 Monsters win.
S1 and S2 target Telkis who has the most life essence (HP and STR) remaining. They must move more than 1" and so cannot attack this round.
Shadow things attack Faron and Ingrid: [1d20]=6, [1d20]=7 S3 and S4 both miss.
Telkis fumble: [1d8]=5 "Opening: The target of your attack gets an additional free attack on you this round."
Here goes:
S3 free attack on Telkis: [1d20]=12, damage: [2d4+1]=5+1=6 Misses.

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: 1/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, -7 to STR
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl, Torch
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 1/23, Laying Hands: 0/1, -9 to STR
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 27/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, -8 to STR
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 3/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/2 2nd lvl, Torch on floor, -8 to STR

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Glyph of Warding (Ingrid)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self

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

Standing resolute in the face of their horrific enemy, the cleric begins to pray. O, Holy Tritherion, in this our most dire hour of need, I beseech Thee for aid and succor. Through your holy light, help us vanquish these unholy foes made of shadow, banishing them forever to eternal darkness, never again to threaten the living. Amen.

Ingrid casts Prayer.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser continues to struggle to do anything.

[OGRE MAGE]

Struggling to do anything of significance, Bo tries to aid those still able to fight, casting an alteration in the direction of the Shadows that should make them easier to target.

Casting Faerie Fire on as many as possible.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur considers picking up his fallen torch, but fears it is too heavy. He withdraws, and tries to help Bo and Mouser if he can.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis finally recovers from his wild swing, mentally willing himself to keep it together and focus. He doesn't know if these things can be hurt by weapons, but he intends to do so or (most likely) die trying:

Morningstar +2 (THAC0 17): To Hit:[1d20+2]=7+2=9, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+2]=7+2=9, vs L [1d6+3]=3+3=6

[Urson]

Jerome EDIT
Jerome drops his sword, drawing a dagger. He stumbles a bit as he moves, trying to stay between these shadow creatures and his friends.
St Cuthbert, Holy warrior! Give me power to defeat these creatures.
He stands firm, but his voice wavers a tiny bit, betraying his fear.

[Inferno]

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







In the house of nightmares, Long Bo summons nature magic to cause their voracious foes to be limned in a ghostly light! Through the smoke and the shadows, their shapes can be clearly seen!

Ingrid and Jerome cry out unto their gods once more. Trithereon hears Ingrid's prayer and her unwavering faith bolsters her friends' resolve!

Telkis hammers one shadowy assailant (S3), bludgeoning its insubstantial form! However, Faron cuts only empty air!

Both spectral horrors retaliate, and one feeds upon Faron's life essence! (-7 to HP and STR!)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=2, Monsters: [1d6]=2 A tie! Monsters will attack in the Melee phase, in DEX order.
Faron: THAC0 19 +1 Longsword [1d20+1]=5+1=6 , S/M [1d8+1]=8+1=9 Misses.
S3, S4 attack Telkis and Faron: [1d20]=5, [1d20]=17 Faron is hit.
Damage to Faron: [2d4]=7

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 1/22, Glowing Sword, -7 to STR
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 1/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, -7 to STR
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Torch on floor
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 1/23, Laying Hands: 0/1, -9 to STR
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 27/38, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, -8 to STR
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 3/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/2 2nd lvl, Torch on floor, -8 to STR

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Glyph of Warding (Ingrid)
Invisibility (Urdur): Target: self
Fairie Fire (Bo): +2 to hit S3 and S4. Duration: 19 rounds
Prayer (Ingrid): PCs have +1 to hit, damage and saving throws. Enemies have -1 to those. Duration: 4 rounds.

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

Knowing that the divine power possessed by the paladin may be the very thing that can help the party defeat the dreadful terrors they face, Ingrid once more calls upon Holy Tritherion to infuse Jerome with healing energy.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=1
Seems Jerome worships the wrong diety and is pretty much on his own.

[jemmus]

Faron, only seconds before, agrees with Lo Bo's call to just flee and get out of here. But tries one strike with his glowing longsword. Futile. He calls, the strength sucked out him, Flee! Run! Runs! Get out of here, friends! We can't fight these things! Not here, at least! Go, and be quick!

Faron down to HP 1 and Strength 1. He's not looking very early morning cheerful.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo gets no closer to the dangerous foes, helping Mouser discard any items he can’t lift, ready to run away if the strength sucking shadows get any closer to them.

“Is there nothing more we can do against these evil abominations?”

In lieu of doing anything productive, the druid lights a torch, hoping fire might be something they avoid.

1 torch removed from sheet

[ravenn4544]

Mouser clings to his sword and scalpel - unwilling even now to let those fall. They've been through too much together...

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur takes a cue from Bo, hoping that light may drive back or otherwise distract the creatures. He weaves an ancient incantation, summoning 4 torchlights which move towards the dark undead.

Casts Dancing Lights

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis notices that Cranach is somehow different in his hand, but he doesn’t take time to examine the feeling. He prays that the efforts of the godly types will have some effect against these unnatural and terrifying foes, but until they do, he keeps doing what he knows and hopes it will be enough:

Inferno, for some reason I can’t connect to the dice roller - could you roll it for me?

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome knows he's in deep trouble. His strength is gone, and he was unable to banish these unholy entities. He sees no other choices. Save yourselves! Go now, and I'll try to stop them.

He faces the Shadows and begins to pray aloud, shouting the words.
Holy Saint Cuthbert! Wisest and mightiest of us all! Bless me in this crisis, that I may do your work. Smite these creatures that would destroy the good, let them be laid low! The Righteous will overcome, and the Evil will be thwarted.

Inferno- Jerome is just trying to ramp up any 'holiness' he can, in the vain hope that it will help him survive. He doesn't really have a plan, he's just trying for a good death.

[Inferno]

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







The living shadows slide along the walls with greedy hunger, inching toward those whose life essence is still undiminished: Ingrid and Telkis!

Ingrid heals Jerome (+1hp) as the paladin selflessly urges everyone to flee, ready to sacrifice himself that his friends might somehow be spared this dark fate!

Faron doesn't need to be told twice. Struggling beneath the burden of his possessions, the thief staggers east toward Mouser and Bo. There, Mouser clings to his weapons as the grey druid's enervated hands barely get a torch alight.

Inspired by Bo's idea, Urdur casts an incantation that conjures four torchlights and sends them flying toward the deathly specters! The invisible gnome suddenly reappears as the hallway is flooded with light and every shadow in the corridor disappears in a harrowing wail of spine-tingling shrieks!




Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:


Behind the DM Screen:

Initiative: Party: [1d6]=6, Monsters: [1d6]=6 A tie again! Monsters will attack in the Melee phase if they have the chance.

PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 1/22, Glowing Sword, -7 to STR
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 1/19, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl, -7 to STR
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 2/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Torch on floor
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 2/23, Laying Hands: 0/1, -9 to STR
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 27/38, Spells: 2/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, Torch, -8 to STR
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 27/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 3/11, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, 0/2 2nd lvl, Torch on floor, -8 to STR

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Glyph of Warding (Ingrid)
Fairie Fire (Bo): +2 to hit S3 and S4. Duration: 18 rounds
Prayer (Ingrid): PCs have +1 to hit, damage and saving throws. Enemies have -1 to those. Duration: 3 rounds.
Dancing Lights (Urdur): Duration: 7 rounds

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)

[jemmus]

In the chaos of the situation, with some fleeing and some still fighting, Faron is deeply ashamed of his panic and the way he run away. He looks around by the light of his glowing longsword with its tip resting on the corrider's floor. The same narrow passage beside leads onto the desperate fight ahead. Behind is an open room, where the companions might find a way to defend side by side, or positioned each according to their best abilities. But there's no time for moving around and rearranging like that.

With tired arms the thief raises the glowing blade, and on unsteady legs rushes he forward to the fighting line. He raises the lightly enchanted blade high, if just to illuminate the spectres or whatever they are and the narrow corridor beyond. He tries to think of a joke to lighten the mood, but can only come with, Hell, isn't it?

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis hold up a hand as he glances around dubiously.

"Faron, easy... I think they've gone..." he says. He edges away from the charred bodies lying in the hallway. "Nice work, Urdur. But i suspect they will return if these lights fail."

He looks down the hall at the party members who've been drained.

"You look like schvløøst," he says.

[OGRE MAGE]

After some of the horrors witnessed over the years with this group, Bo has no qualms about running away. Looking back at Telkis, he mumbles, “I feel like schvløøst, master gnome.”

“So, do we continue looking through these rooms in this dilapidated condition? We may only have so much time, but most of us are nearly physically useless currently.”