The Hauntening
The Hauntening
Player DM: Xenarchy
The Party
Zarr - Sith-makar Fighter 4
Arissa - Human Sorcerer 4
Karl - Human Ranger/Rogue 5
Jakub - Human Ranger 2
Purchases
Arissa - Alchemical Silver Morningstar (28 gp)
Jakub - 20 Alchemical Silver Arrows (3 gp)
Encounters
No real fights. Traps and tricky things set up to make the house seem haunted by devils!
Pit Trap - CR 1
Swinging Skulls Trap (custom) - CR 2
Stairs Trap (custom) - CR 1
Marionette - Fake monster fight!
The Scene Begins
The guild representative sits behind a sturdy desk, one marked with old signs of battle and held together with metal staples in a few places (hey, the guy has to deal with all kinds of adventurers, some more unruly than others). He rubs his rough beard and surveys the group gathered in his office. The man clears his throat. "Listen up. We received a letter requesting aid here in the city. A 'Gertrude Windermere' reported that she believes her house - a large manor that she lives in alone - is being used by diabolists and devils while she is out doing..." He reads the lines on the paper and coughs. "Things of personal interest. We'll leave it at that. She has arranged to stay at a friend's house while you go in and investigate. If you do meet any true devils, do not engage. We don't want this to turn into a suicide mission. Investigate. Find out what you can, and report back."
Devils. Passe`. For Zarr, there are more terrible questions to be answered, true horrors of the world that need explaining. And thus, he turns to the only one with the knowledge and wisdom for such matters.... Karl.
"...and they are *not* fighting for mating rights?" comes the query, rumbling voice still carrying an incredulous note. Zarr glances over at the rifleman, staring in mystification. "They are not hunting, because they pursue no food. They are not angry with rage, becasue they do not strike to kill. And now, they do not challenge for dominance for females?" Zarr stares down at the ground for a few moments, digesting the conversation. He spares a nod towards the guild representative before he glances back at Karl, Bearer of Great Wisdoms.
"....they are insane?"
Arissa had been paying calm and polite attention at first, and even showed no real reaction to the guild rep deciding to 'be diplomatic' about some of the job details. She does however wince and go tense at the last few things he has to say, now giving him very rapt attention. "Devils, you say. Thank you for telling us of this... I hope she has mistaken something else for hell's wretches, but it has to be investigated regardless." A sharp nod to him, then she glances around to faces both new and familiar, "We won't fail."
"No, no..." Karl shakes his head slowly, "It's for... well, you could consider it to be sort of for mating rights? The men who win these games gain great prestige amongst their people. It is-- like a rite of manhood?" It's difficult to explain things to the sith-makar at times. Gesturing a bit with a 'later' motion he nods to the guildsman, "Easy enough job. Hopefully there won't be any actual devils, but-- in case there is, well, that's what I carry silver shot for."
Jakub is leaning a little up against the wall in the crowded room. He looks from the girl speaking, to the Makar, to the rifleman, and then back to the guild rep. He smiles just a little bit at the description of the job, and then nods as the others talk. He appears to be a man of few words. The conversation between Zarr and Karl though, catches his attention for a moment or two.
"Ahh," Zarr rumbles, nodding sagely. Yus, all is explained, well and truly, by the wise hunter! At least for a few minutes, until the Makar's tail stops its slow twitching, that sign of thought percolating within the red-scaled brain.
"...but there are females fighting as well..." he says, glancing over for explanation. Eyes wide. "Do they fight for the females as well? Or for unclaimed males? Or better food? Or a special bloodline among the soft-skinned? Or...."
Endless questions. Some things carry over between scaled races.
"Here's the address." The guild representative hands over a piece of paper. "You're to go at night. She say she has looked for signs of them during the day and they are never there. The lady is a bit..." He makes an expression and twirls a finger by his head, "...elderly, but she hasn't acted up like this before so it's worth looking into." He makes a shooing motion with his hand. "Go on. There will be pay waiting for you when you get back, even if she's just been jumping at shadows."
"That's very smart of you," Arissa comments to Karl in soft approval. Then she looks to Zarr, not recognizing him... but she regards him with an amused air. "Some of us are as capable of battle as any other... I'll be delighted to show you when the opportunity arises." Then she looks over to accept the paper, making a curtsy to the guild rep. "Thank you. You'll have your report in good order." As she looks over the paper, she narrates its address to the others; so everyone knows where they're going once night-time is near.
"It's probably nothing, but, worth checking out just in case," Karl replies with a shrug--and then Zarr sets in again, and he brings a hand up to rub against his forehead as they move for the door. "They, too, compete for prestige. This way they're known widely as fine warriors and athletes, and-- I mean, you've heard legends of legendary warriors from other tribes, right, Zarr? It's like that. They're trying to become legends."
Jakub glances at the address -- it does not seem to mean much to him, perhaps he is new in the city -- and then goes back to watching. He asks a single question though, probably aimed at the priestly Arissa, "Have you dealt with this sort of thing before? Evil clerics summoning devils from beyond our world?"
Zarr rumbles thoughtfully, nodding as matters settle into place. "Ah, I see now. They challenge for new bloodlines, to winnow the old; they support old glories with new legends, to show that they are still supreme. I understand." The subtle sussurrus of tailblades rattle, the metal attachments shivering briefly as the long, lithe tail curves. He spares a glance towards the Guildman, glancing back to the priestess. "The Question is resolved. Let us go find these demons, for the honor of Matron Wind'mere."
Before another Question comes up. Poor Karl.
"Yes," Arissa faces Jakub, calm and patient. "Several times. There are those who share their goals, seeking only profit and pleasure in ruining the lives of others. Really I hope this report is mistaken, but if it is true... I would greatly appreciate your help. They are dangerous."
She then makes a soft, short laugh at Zarr's declaration. "Thank you very much. We will have a little time to prepare if you wish, though I am ready at any time."
"I would prefer to face the undead. They at least are from this plane and...easy enough to handle if you can stand and face them. Devils are something I have little knowledge of." Jakub says, before he turns and starts for the exit, "I have a few preparations to make, shall we meet at the address in two hours?" he asks of the group.
"Both are unacceptably vile," Arissa comments to Jakub. "But you are right to prepare. I will gather a few materials of my own and see you there. We meet at..." She repeats the address to the group, then nods once and walks for the door.
The scarlet Makar rumbles in assent, tail lashing slowly. It is a sea-change-- from thoughtful lizard to hunter's measured pace. "I shall go there now," he replies, "And watch. If it is not dead-things, and more man-things instead, well....." Zarr grins, toothily. And *THAT* can mean a few things, none of which are pleasant.
"But I will wait to share glory," he adds. "Unless one must strike first. Ssst."
"If it is a devil," Karl observes mildly, glancing to Zarr, "Try not to eat it. Their flesh and blood is rather... corruptive."
Zarr glowers unrepentantly at Karl. The frill along his neck rises, but he nods with a sigh. "Very well, wise one," he mutters.
By the time everyone has gathered at the house, the sun has fallen below the horizon. The light from manalamps gives only the vaguest illumination of the manor's shape. It creaks ominously. They always creak ominously. The place stinks of old wood and dust and hardly looks lived in. It is in a poor state of misrepair. The long steps up to the door await.
"Maybe we should just pool our money and buy the woman a new house," Karl suggests as he gazes up at the house with a frown pursing his lips, "I don't like the looks of this place one bit. I don't think it's haunted, I'm just worried the floor is going to collapse when we go inside."
Zarr has spent the time gazing at the house from across the way, patient as the stone. Only the quiver of his tail evokes the degree of annoyance he feels, eyes a glittering flash of agreement with Karl's words. "Did Lady Wind insult the gods?" he asks, growling with a low, dark venom. "Lose some ancient challenge and never recover? She is an Elder of the city. This.....!" He gestures towards the house, its state of disrepair. "This is an insult! Honored Ones should never be forced into such things, when others are able to live as dragons in all but name!"
Arissa joins the others pretty well on time; she had little to gather... primarily a morningstar from a local shop, the new silver weapon held in one hand as they meet near the steps... and she gives Karl a quietly reserved look. "She has been living in it until recently. Perhaps it could use repairs, but I do not imagine it is imminently dangerous on its own?" She's guessing, clearly. "And if the report is true... simply relocating her will be no help to others. Though," A hand is held up. "I know you speak only in jest and really do not mean to ignore this." She might say more, but Zarr's outburst cuts her off... and Arissa can only answer with a quiet, "You may be right."
Jakub wanders towards the door of the building. He smiles just a little at Karl's solution to the problem, and looks about to speak up when Zarr gives his commenrary on the building. He shrugs slowly, and asks, "Why not light a fire to burn out those who dwell inside?" He moves up one of the first steps, and adds, "Were it up to me, I would. But, I suppose a fire also would not do what is required to rid us of a devil." As he moves towards the door, he gives it a slight inspection, perhaps making sure it doesn't bite him.
Karl shakes his head slowly from side to side, the feather in his hat swaying lazily with the motion. "Unfortunately," he says quietly, "Life isn't always just..." He moves along up with the others, heading towards the door, "Maybe we should knock? I'm not sure if she's home or not..." A pause, "Fire'd be a bad idea. Someone lives here."
Zarr moves up the steps toward the door and makes a check to notice the broken steps. (damage is nonlethal) GAME: Zarr rolls Perception: (5)+0: 5 GAME: Zarr rolls Reflex: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Jakub rolls reflex: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d6: (8): 8 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Zarr for 8 points. 32 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d6: (11): 11 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Jakub for 11 points. 6 remaining.
As Zarr moves up the steps, one thing that he doesn't notice is that the creaking sound beneath his feet indicates... CRASH. One of the boards splits and the rest of them break in sequence, taking Jakub down with him. They both fall through into a chamber below the house, collapsing through the stairs, the sodden ceiling below them and into a pile of musty sacks. It's perfectly dark down there.
Zarr's red scales are not just for show. The scarlet sworls, the glitter of crimson-- all speak of a bloodline founded in dragon's fire, hot and wild and fierce, with the temper to match. The warrior's focus is single-minded, and the stomp up the steps is one of pure challenge, heavy metal, hard weight....
...so, small surprise that 300+ pounds of metal and Makar can shatter those steps, and send the lizard spiralling down into the darkness with a roar!
Arissa's eyes go wide at Jakub's suggestion. "We mustn't! Destroying her home, even as poor as it is, would only serve to make her suffer... and as you suspect, flame may do little to harm any true devils within. Please don't suggest such things anymore..." Then to Karl, "She is not. The guild representative said she has made arrangements to stay elsewhere during our investigation, and I...!" She cuts off, alarmed as Jakub and Zarr fall. Running over to the gap, she stops near it and begins chanting in hurried Celestial, attaching magical light to a single coin and trying to see what happened to them beyond the obvious part of 'they fell.'
Karl stops in his tracks. Then he looks up at the sky. "Tarien," he sighs, "You were listening to me say that, weren't you? Very funny." He rubs a hand over his face, moving to step slowly towards the shattered steps, craning his neck to look down and call, "Zarr? Uh-- Jakub? Are you alive?"
The look that passes over Jakub's face might be comical, if it weren't for the fact that the floor just fell out from under him. He totters, and then, is gone down into the dark. He lands with a loud OOF and crunching. He groans as people speak his name above him, and then sort of answers, "I can still feel..."
The coin spills light into the cellar below. The old food in here has been left for years and gone off badly. It stinks. The celestial light washes over the walls dimly, granting glimpses of red smears and blasphemous sigils.
A growl answers from beneath Jakub, followed by a positively red-eyed glare. "Get OFF!" Zarr snarls up at Jakub. Landed upon, by humans! Oh, the humanity....
Jakub attempts to comply as best he can, and, eventually he gets into a sitting position. He winces mightly as he grasps one of his ankles. He is feeling it for damage, and, after a few moments he reaches into one of the pouches on his belt and starts digging around, "Give me a moment, to see if I might walk. I think I landed funny on my ankle.."
Arissa does several things quickly. First, she puts her morningstar away in favor of retrieving a small wand, offering it to Karl with a hesitant and ashamed expression. "Forgive me... my control over these is not yet what it should be. When I retrieve them, would you use this to see them tended to?"
Then she begins to lower rope into the hole, looking at the revealed symbols even as she braces herself and advises, "Use this to climb back up!"
"Oh--" Karl hesitates, then reaches over for the wand, "Of course." He flashes her a quick smile, then eases down to a crouch beside the hole, "Wait. Before you start climbing back up... is there anything down there that's interesting or worth looking at?"
Zarr rumbles noncommittally as Jakub turns to tending his leg. Irritation swelled by the rather unorthodox method of entry, the Makar's eyes quickly refocus as the new light is added to the situation. And steps back with a hiss, eyes flashing across the smeared walls. "Yesssss," comes the Makar's response, followed by the rattle of steely blades. Zarr assumes a combative position, eyes slowly curving across the old basement walls. "Red things. Evil things. Insulting things."
Slowly Jakub pulls himself upwards. He winces as he puts weight on his injured ankle, and then stares at the sigils on the wall. "It looks like the lair of cultists," he calls up, before starting to hobble in the direction of the rope. "Give me a moment and I will be up. Unless you would prefer to go first?" he says to Zarr.
"If it's a cultist's lair," Karl suggests, "Maybe we should go down there."
Zarr's reptillian eyes can make out that there's a closed door on the opposite wall, with a great and complex pentagram carved into it.
Arissa uses Heavenly Fire on Jakub. GAME: Arissa rolls 1d4+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Jakub for -6 points. 12 remaining.
Arissa lets Karl take the wand, then sets the climbing rope down momentarily as her hands emit gold-white fire. "Please hold still. I assure you despite appearances this cannot harm you, and it may set your injuries right." She then flings the holy flame down at Zarr and Jakub, and each has something different happen to them.
Zarr finds he feels very wonderful for a split-second, before the sensation vanishes... as does the flame. Harmless, but also not particularly helpful.
Jakub however finds that the flames make contact with him and change form, becoming sparkles of light... holy energy coursing through him, and rewarding his inner kindness with a mending of some of his injuries. Then to Karl, "You may be right. Would you hold this," She indicates the rope with a foot, "While I climb down? I had only thought to bring them back up here such that we may enter through the front door and work our way down, but you have a good plan regardless." If he agrees, she will then climb down...
"I've got it," Karl affirms, bracing himself and taking hold of the rope; the wand tucked into a belt as he waits for her to go down, calling after them, "Just stay down there until we're down, don't open any doors or anything."
The Scarlet's gaze slowly wanders along the malevolent sigils, finally settling on the door at the far end of the basement. Steely claws rake together with a *ker-snickt*, and he bends to scoop up the enchanted coin. "We have discovered something," he rumbles aloft, suddenly pausing, caught with the touch of gold-white fire with a shivering hiss. It riples along red scale, dark armor, leaving a silent trembling behind before it vanishes with a rattle of metal-capped tail. Slighjtly disturbed, but... calmer. Sparing a glance towards Jakub before stepping forward towards the door, he moves with a more careful step than previously. Cautious, he stands well back from the entryway, cautious eyes curving across what must be magic. "An entry. Door. It has evil on it. Come down, and we may hunt further."
Jakub steps away from the rope as he's instructed, after the healing fire has touched him that is. He bows to the priestess above him, standing still on firm ground, "My thanks." he says, and then starts to take his bow off of his back. The man quietly notches an arrow, and waits, facing the closed door.
Zarr examines the door. GAME: Zarr rolls Perception: (2)+0: 2
To Zarr only: 'You test the handle and check out the hinges. This seems like a totally ordinary door with nothing unusual about it at all (aside from the sigils)!'
Zarr waits for others to descend, waits for the confident cover of bow and rifle before he gives a gruff nod. Metal shimmers in the light of the coin as he steps over to the door, staring at it intently as if it might give him some secret knowledge....
And then snorting as he grasps the handle, wrenching it open with a growl.
"It is a DOOR," the Makar says, glancing back towards the others. "Only poorly decorated."
Zarr triggers the trap. GAME: Zarr rolls Reflex: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d6: (4): 4 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Zarr for 4 points. 28 remaining.
It's too late to detect the weight pressing on the door from the other side. It swings open and a bar clatters to the ground. That bar was wedged between the handle and something on the ceiling in the corridor beyond, releasing animal skulls on ropes to swing down and smash into the lizard.
"Zarr," Karl drops himself down off the rope, twisting to look after the sith-makar, "Wait, let me check the--" He said 'don't open any doors' or something along those lines, didn't he? He could've sworn he did. Sigh. "Well, that answers that. The stairs were purposefully weakened. This place is a deathtrap. Zarr, you alright?"
Jakub stands idly by and this time watches the lizard get hit with falling skulls. He does not flinch, but instead seems rather unsuprised by this turn of events. "From now on, might I suggest either myself or...the rifleman here check the doors we're about to cross?" he asks of the group.
She waits for the dust to settle and things to quit falling, and comments in a soft but raised voice, "Please show some patience. This is indeed a haven for those with sinister aims and they are clearly making plans for if they are discovered. We will fall prey to so many traps if we do not slow ourselves. Please wait a moment while you are tended to, then we may proceed."
The corridor beyond is dark and the floor is slick with red. A staircase up waits at the end.
"When I discover who has done this," he says, voice a soft, sibillant hiss. "Then I shall do unkind things to them. Yessss...."
That said, he does his level best NOT to look utterly sheepish. Even covered in bone dust. "I will wait," he adds with a mutter, though he glances down towards the stairs. Curious, but.... not moving. This time.
Karl walks along slowly over to stand beside Zarr, looking around the heavily armoured lizardfolk and staring at the corridor--the luminous barrel of his rifle directed in the direction of the floor. "Is that... blood?"
Upon closer examination... it's blood.
A child's voice whispers, the sound coming through the walls, "The only way out is before you. Flee! Flee!" The voice breaks into laughter.
Jakub flinches a little at the child's laughter. He tilts his head a little, and then says, "What do you figure the odds are that the hallway is littered with traps?" He does not move into the bloody hallway, yet. Instead, he remains in the room, waiting.
At that laughing whisper, Karl recoils a step. Then he pauses. "No it's not. There's a rope," he points out to the disembodied voice, "I'll give you full marks for effort, though..." That said, he leaves Zarr to wait for a moment as he heads back to the archer, pulling the wand out of his belt, "Alright. Hold still so I can fix you."
Karl uses Arissa's wand of cure light wounds on Jakub. GAME: Karl rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6 GAME: Arissa used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Jakub for -6 points. 17 remaining.
"Extremely high. You have already met with one of them," Arissa remarks to Zarr. "I imagine we will see many more and they will be waiting to strike us afterward. Really I would like for us to climb back up and approach this from another direction, rather than straight into their plans." She then waits quietly, watching as Karl begins to use her wand, the tip glowing gold much like her flames did...
Zarr's teeth reflect the light from the coin in his hand, opposite claws grinding together with a metal-squealing tightness. "Can you see any reason we should not go up, hunterrrr?" he asks, head tilting towards Karl. He waits for the moment, though hardly with patience; the metal-bladed tail lashes behind him, energetic to be about its sharp-edged task. "I would be to gutting any foul enough to do such to an Elder's home!"
Karl uses the wand on Zarr. GAME: Karl rolls 1d8+1: (6)+1: 7 GAME: Arissa used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Zarr for -11 points. 39 remaining.
Jakub lets the healing pass over him, and then starts to step forward. He says, "Unless someone has a different idea, I think the way forward needs to be checked. Then...we can go up those stairs. I am fairly well versed in searching for traps, but, I suspect you," he nods to Karl, "might be more experienced than I."
The voice replies, "W-what? You're not the old bag! Who are you? Er, I mean. Come forward to your doom, mortals! Ah ha ha ha!"
"I've done my share of trapping in the past," Karl admits, glancing back down the hallway as that voice stutters a bit, "Oh. What do you think... bandit? Trying to fleece an old woman've her money? Let me see what they've got set up..." He pauses to look at his gloves and boots. That hallway is going to absolutely destroy them. A sigh, and then he steps forward carefully, "Well, into the spider's web, then." He crouches a bit, checking the corridor for further deadfalls and traps as he moves into it.
Arissa blinks a few times at the taunting, then flicks a hand through her hair and looks rather calm. "I cannot tell whether this is so much bluster, or simply bizarre behavior masking genuine malice..." Nonetheless, she stands ready to follow a short distance behind Karl...
Karl searches for traps. GAME: Karl rolls Perception+1: (12)+10+1: 23
To Karl only: 'The blood-slicked floor is slippery and requires caution to move across it. The stairs are slick as well and a misplaced step could send one tumbling down. That's not hard to spot. What your keen eyes do detect is that the balustrades on the sides have been sawn half-through so that any weight put on them will make them snap off.'
Glittering eyes widen as the voice breaks character in startlement, narrowing again with an unmistakable snarl of rage. "Wretch!" Zarr hisses, eyes ablaze with molten fury. "Kin hunters, we deal with no devils here. Traps? Trickery? These things are banditry?" The metal-clad Makar strides up just behind Karl, nestling the gleaming coin in a curve of the Sith's helmet, freeing the steel-clawed hands to clasp in murderous anticipation.
"Pray to your gods, 'Demons'," Zarr growls. "The fall alone could have injured the Elder. Perhaps killed her. Pray that your ancestors take you before I visit my mercy..."
"I have heard tell of poltergeists, or other phantoms acting in such a manner. Taunting their opponents...but, rarely have I heard of such faltering on their part." Jakub observes from the back of the group. The man turns around to keep an eye on the rear of the group, perhaps hoping to stave off any suprise attacks or delated action traps that might spring up behind them.
"Careful've the floor, it's slippery as hell... stairs too, looks like it-- ah-ha." Karl pauses, glancing back, "They've sawed through the rails. Try and lean on them as you go up the stairs, and you'll get a nasty fall."
"So many falls," Arissa comments as she puts her morningstar away in favor of... an umbrella? Apparently so. This might seem ridiculous, but a sharp eye would notice that she has unfurled a gnomish gyroparasol, held in one hand. "Thank you for the warning."
Zarr all but vibrates as he glowers upward, hissing breath like a steamkettle as he quivers in place. That he would rather leap up the stairs in immediate pursuit is obivous; likewise, that such an action is anticipated, desired even, by their unseen assailants. Instead, the giant Makar turns from the stairway, stomping back towards the rotten bags of grain stacked in the back. The first one grabbed utterly excplodes in the Makar's hands; so old, it takes a more careful hand to lift such ruined sacks. The second is more careful though, and he moves toward tooo uncermoniousyl rip it open, scattering it all across the floor with a heave.
"Help me," is all he says to the others, gesturing back toawrds the old sacks of grain. "Let us ruin their plans with our hunters' own!"
"Hmm? You mean to..." Arissa stares at first, then gets what Zarr means and puts her parasol away, moving to help with grain bags as well. She may not be as strong as the others here, but she's at least willing to do what she can.
Jakub attempts to tread lightly up the hallway. He glances over his shoulder occaionally to make sure that he's not about to bump into the individual he is following after. He steps aside as the Makar stomps past him, and then, rather ruefully goes to aid in the task of sowing seeds across the floor to give the group some traction. He spreads the grain out as best he can from the semi-ruined sack he chooses.
It takes Karl a moment to figure out what the sith-makar is doing... and then he grins broadly. "Zarr, you're a genius," he compliments, stepping over to haul a bag of his own from the pile, "Get to it! We'll make it easy as anything to get up these steps in no time..."
With the dust and grain scattered across the slippering flooring, the Makar rumbles with a hunter's relish, grinning toothily as he begins the careful step up the stairs. Heavy tromping is set aside; now, he stalks up the semi-slippery flooring, clawed fingertips raking along either wall as he strides higher, eyes glinting from beneath the sharp helm.
"I'm coming for you...." he purrs, a velvet, sinister hiss. "Hungry for blood I am, oh yessss...."
As soon as the party reaches the top of the stairs, able to climb them safely thanks to their layering of old grain over the slick blood, something terrible rushes out of the dark. Ahead of them, a figure eight feet tall, cloaked in ragged black and with the horned skull of a ram for a head surges forward to meet them. Its skeletal hands are outstretched.
Arissa attempts to see if it's an outsider. GAME: Arissa rolls Knowledge/The Planes: (14)+2: 16
To Arissa only: 'That's... not a demon or devil you've heard of. In fact, something seems very wrong about it.'
Jakub attempts to see if it's undead. GAME: Jakub rolls intelligence+2: (12)+3+2: 17
To Jakub only: 'While skeletal, it's not any kind of undead you've ever heard of. Its motions and appearance lack the sense of animating energy you're familiar with.'
Initiative
Round 1
Jakub attacks the marionette. GAME: Jakub rolls ranged: (17)+5: 22 GAME: Jakub rolls d8+2: (2)+d8+2: 4
There is no hesitation from Jakub when he spies the skeletal hand. The arrow he had nocked earlier comes up quickly with his bow and he lets it fly towards the creature. In nearly that same moment he realizes something about the entity, and calls out, "This is not an undead creature." His shot zips right into the being, and splinters of bone and wood fly out.
Zarr attacks the marionette. GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Zarr rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11
Zarr's roar of challenge carries over the voices of his companions. He has a *target* now for his aggression, and patience be damned! The scarlet Makar springs forward, leaping the last series of steps to deliver a brutal blow, claws lashing through cloth and wood, bony chips splintering away beneath the wild slash.
Toby manipulates the marionette to attack Zarr. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+2: (1)+2: 3
The creature swings an arm at Zarr, bits falling off it as it does. The skeletal arm jerks and flails unnaturally and achieves absolutely nothing useful. Parts of the cloth are falling away, revealing carved wood and bone underneath.
Toby's sleight of hand check to manipulate the marionette without giving it away. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23
The party get perception checks to see what's really going on. GAME: Arissa rolls Perception: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Zarr rolls Perception: (3)+0: 3 GAME: Jakub rolls perception: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Karl rolls Perception: (1)+10: 11
Karl attacks the marionette. GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+11: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Karl rolls 1d10+7: (3)+7: 10
"What the--" Karl reacts instantly--pulling up the rifle, snapping off a shot that smashes more wood, more bits of cloth and bone away in a rain across the hallway.
GAME: Arissa casts Grease.
Arissa has an odd reaction to the tall, cloaked figure advancing on them: Her eyes glaze over fully gold and she looks rather dazed, starting to smile... then looking conflicted, even before Jakub speaks. His own words only serve to further puzzle her and she hastily adds: "Nor is this any devil, nor even demon, I have come across in any way! I believe this to be a ruse..." She hurriedly chants in Celestial, a hand held overhead as blue-white gel forms beneath the figure rushing them... and it doesn't even /start/ to slip. She stares, puzzled as no footsteps fall; only two explanations come to mind for this.
Jakub attacks the marionette. GAME: Jakub rolls ranged: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Jakub rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5
For Jakub, there is no question: this thing continues to attack a companion of his, so he will attack as well. He fires off a second arrow, and tries to maneuver a bit to get a better shot. His last shot blasts off a few more chunks of wood and bone.
Zarr full-attacks the marionette. GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Zarr rolls 1d6+5: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Zarr rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11
Savagery is the hallmark of Zarr's attack; no finesse, simply brute force, applied as quickly and as ruthlessly as possible. A metal-clad fist drives into the "creature"'s midsection; the other lashes upward, a gutting rake. The Makar reaches up to grip the monster at either arm, and with a cloth-wrenching tear, he pulls it down, shattering it into so many heavy hunks of wreckage on the floor.
"A doll," Zarr snarls, glaring down at the ruined marionette. He stomps on the thing's head with one hard food, smashing bone into splinters.
Combat Ends
"Another trick..." Karl's brow furrows, "Trust nothing. Whoever's taken over this place is trying to fool us... well, it's not going to work." He reloads his rifle, snapping the breach closed sharply, "Any fool that'd go to all this trouble to go after an old woman..."
Black cords dangle uselessly from the ceiling. A child's voice calls out in anger, "Hey!" A small figure in a rough black robe runs into the room and stares. "I spent a whole month making that!" The slack other ends of the cords are in his hands. He freezes when he sees the armed gathering.
"A doll, a ruse, a prop," Arissa offers lots of possible words for it. "I believe we are not facing so many monsters of the hells, as we are a frightened or mischievious child sending so many dressed up toys at us. I would ask you all that when we confront the 'mastermind' behind this, no matter his appearance and words, that you subdue him in good health."
Her theory gains some weight seconds later, as a child confronts them angrily... then freezes up. She puts her morningstar away, trying to approach the robed figure with soft steps and voice. "Tell me... is all this your doing? Rest assured we are not here to put you to the sword, and you are in no danger for speaking with us honestly."
Jakub had his next arrow ready to go, and the rushing on of the child catches his attention. He does not let the projectile fly. Instead, he lowers his weapon upon hearing the child's voice and Arissa's questions. The man smirks just a little at how this situation has developed.
Toby fires an acid splash at Arissa. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+2: (19)+2: 21 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d3: (2): 2
"You can't tell me what to do!" yells the child, petulantly. He swings an arm up and utters in a dark tongue. His voice echoes with the tones of the hells and a tiny bit of acid shoots out of his finger and splats onto Arissa, sizzling but doing no harm. The child looks absolutely terrified when he sees how little that did. He starts crying.
"A young sorcerer...?" Karl brings a hand up as if to stop Zarr from just devouring the small child. Which one must admit might be a danger. He steps forward with a frown, "Who are you, kid?"
Zarr does not smile, not even a little. Makar do not smile when they are chipper or cheerful or delighted; they especially do not smile when they are angry. And Zarr is *angry*...
He takes a step towards the child, menace sketched in every angle of his frame. "Kinslayer...." he hisses, a sibillant snarl of malice. Metal claws curve down to either side, glittering metal gleaming with a razor's edge. The splash of acidic droplets does nothing to convince the lizard, but the hand upon his shoulder.... Zarr glares back at Karl, rumbling before he rises out of his combat pose.
If barely.
Jakub actually barks a laugh at the shot of acid hitting Arissa. He then bites on his lower lip, and shakes his head slowly, turning to look slowly around the little shop of horrors the prodigy has built for himself.
Arissa blinks as the child begins chanting... she has some idea of what he's about to do, but by the time her mind finishes understanding it, it's too late; the acid strikes, and... sizzles, but leaves her skin completely unmarked! She simply smiles and continues to walk toward him, even as she points a palm back at Zarr in a 'stop' gesture. "Please stay your hand. He did not even harm me, and he seems more frightened than vile of heart... though his speech worries me."
She nonetheless continues to approach, trying to show patience and understanding. "Really none of us are here to make demands upon you. What you did just now... that's new to you, isn't it? Would it surprise you to learn I had similar experiences at your age, questions as to my newfound magic and its origins?"
Through the tears, he whines, "The dumb old lady never let me play here! Her house is so dark and creepy and so fun, but she just kicks me out and makes the guards take me home!" The boy kneels down by the broken scraps of his freakish marionette. "So I had to take it for myself and get rid of her! I just wanted to have fun!"
Zarr snorts as he turns his head away, cold eyes raking the walls. "Vutha'iejir," he rumbles, draconic words sliding from his tongue. 'Black blood', for they who understand it, it leaves very little room for compromise in the Makar's standing. But he refrains... this is a human thing, not Makar. Not yet.
"Is there someone who can... take care of this boy? Maybe the Academy could teach him to calm his impulses, or..." Karl slides a hand to the nape of his neck, trailing off and letting Arissa handle the matter, watching the pair with a frown.
GAME: Arissa rolls Diplomacy: (8)+8: 16
"Ahh..." Arissa responds in a quiet, understanding way. "Certainly this must seem bold and exciting to you. I would warn you that it only becomes deeper from here however, and if you persist in your ways... you may find yourself despised by all, left to play alone in the dark for all time. That is a horrible way to live, and a way you don't yet deserve."
She tries to kneel down beside him, mindful to keep her voice soft... never raised, never with an edge of anger. "I truly do know what is going through your mind. Would you let us help you, both with your new magic and in finding ways to be entertained that do not harm yourself and others? I assure you the excitement you feel now..." She looks back to Karl with a smile, then faces the child again, "Is very temporary. Surely even now you begin to grow tired of being alone and working to frighten others, and wonder why you feel compelled to behave so?"
Jakub turns around from his inspection. The man watches the pair talk. He does not interject, though, he does try and free the two arrows he put into the puppet from the wood that they have become embedded in.
Eventually, the child stops crying. "My name is Toby," he says weakly. "Um. If you don't tell anyone I did this, I'll go with you. Don't tell anyone or they'll lock me up forever!" His anger over being defeated has turned to fear of punishment.
A swift pang of both genuine understanding and concern runs through Arissa... she knows someone else in Toby's situation, and looks back to the others with a soft but pleading expression. "Please respect his wishes. It may sound absurd, but his heart is subject to so many suggestions that do not truly reflect who he is. There are those in society who would not be understanding until he has fully mastered his new nature. Please do not let Toby's secret leave this room."
Then she smiles down to Toby. "That is fair enough. I will do even more than that... if you promise to meet me regularly so that I might help you learn, you will come out of this experience much better off. Will you allow that, Toby?"
Zarr keep his silence. There is nothing for him to say, just now.... And looking back at young Toby might only remind of too many unpleasant things.
"If he is not planning on raising the dead, I am content to let his secret remain that." Jakub replies.
"If," Karl says quietly, "You agree to let Arissa guide you. And you promise not to do this sort of thing ever again, alright, boy?"
Toby looks up and with a quivering smile, he takes Arissa's hand and says, "Yes."