[TURN] Tobias
Matthias: Is that thing going to keep chasing us!?
[ROUND 6]
[TURN] Kelos the Wayfarer
Kelos the Wayfarer: Most likely.
[TURN] Matthias
Kelos the Wayfarer: I scan the houses behind us to see if anything is following.
[TURN] Shadrick Orcface
Kelos the Wayfarer: Do any of you see anything?
[TURN] Unidentified Creature
[TURN] Shadrick Orcface
[TURN] Unidentified Creature
Shadrick Orcface: I wipe the sweat off my forehead with my left hand.
GM: [d20 = 3]
Another rock rises up off the ground and hurls itself at Shadrick, but it bounces harmlessly off his armor.
[TURN] Jubal Corbin
Jubal Corbin: I look back towards the chapel to see if we're being followed.
You see no one around you except your companions.
Jubal Corbin: Keep running!
[TURN] Tobias
Shadrick Orcface: Dammit! I don't know if we can get away so easily.
[ROUND 7]
[TURN] Kelos the Wayfarer
Kelos the Wayfarer: We need to put some open ground between us and this creature.
[TURN] Matthias
[TURN] Shadrick Orcface
[TURN] Unidentified Creature
[TURN] Jubal Corbin
Jubal Corbin: I quickly scan the buildings to my east.
There's no movement to the east.
Shadrick Orcface: This thing is still hurling rocks at me! We may not be able to outrun it.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Let us head north and regroup.
Matthias: I think it's gone. Let's get out of here.
Jubal Corbin: Agreed.
Jubal Corbin: I check the post in front of me.
It's not clear what the post was meant for. They must have been in the early stages of building something.
Jubal Corbin: I think we're safe here for now.
Jubal Corbin: What was that thing?!
Kelos the Wayfarer: I scan the houses to the southeast looking for any movement.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Looked like some sort of cursed spirit.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I unsling my bow and keep it at my side, just in case.
Shadrick Orcface: It was some sort of ghost that's defiling the holy ground of that chapel.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Can anyone here purify it?
Shadrick Orcface: I can try.
Jubal Corbin: Maybe since it's not following us, we should check the nearby bulidings for clues instead of returning to that cursed chapel.
Shadrick Orcface: I agree.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Sounds good. Let us keep our distance for now until we know what we're dealing with.
Matthias: Agreed.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Perhaps we should explore the northern reaches of this settlement first.
Jubal Corbin: Yes, let's walk around the outside of the wall.
Shadrick Orcface: That sounds like a good idea. Let's survey the periphery of the outpost.
Matthias: Yes, we might find clues or something useful in these buildings.
Kelos the Wayfarer: If the rest of the town is similarly cursed we're going to have a rough time resettling this place.
Kelos the Wayfarer: We'll need to make a thorough assessment of the situation before we return to the convoy.
Matthias: Kelos, I can check that shirt you have with my magic.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Ahh yes, go ahead. I completely forgot about it in the heat of the moment.
Matthias: Detect Magic
Kelos the Wayfarer: I laugh in relief now that my nerves aren't as frayed.
Matthias: [CAST] Detect Magic
Shadrick Orcface: I brush the dirt and rock particles off my wounds.
Matthias: My spell detects all magical items within a certain range. It's best to hand me the shirt and move away from my spell's range, just to be sure.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Ahh, makes sense. Give me a moment then.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I carefully remove the shirt and place it on the ground.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I take a few steps away from it.
-> Matthias: You detect magical presence in that direction,
Matthias: I detect a magical presence in this shirt.
-> Matthias: The power of the aura is faint.
Matthias: The magical aura is faint.
Matthias: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+6 = 13]
Matthias: I was unable to detect the school of magic. My apologies.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Well, we know more than we did before. It's a step in the right direction.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I pick up the shirt and put it back on.
Shadrick Orcface: Let's continue.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Let us head to the northern edge of town and see what else we can uncover.
Jubal Corbin: I inspect the wall in front of me.
It's a simple palisade wall like all the rest.
Jubal Corbin: Let's go.
Matthias: Remember to stick together, men.
Dotted around the outside of the wall are several stumps of trees that have been cut down.
Kelos the Wayfarer: This settlement may be smaller than it seemed at first glance.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I keep an eye on the treeline to the northeast.
Shadrick Orcface: They barely began to build the palisade, it seems.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Yeah they didn't get very far. What bothers me though... where are all the bodies?
Matthias: That's what I was wondering.
Jubal Corbin: Probably eaten by those vile plants.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I check the ground around me for tracks.
Jubal Corbin: Let's not wander too far from Kelos.
Kelos the Wayfarer: [SKILL] Survival [d20+7 = 9]
A well-worn path in the grass rises up a slope toward a cluster of buildings to the east. The buildings are arranged in a rough triangle, with each point ending in a wooden circular enclosure with rectangular notches cut intermittently, like battlements. These round enclosures are clearly meant to be three points of a wooden palisade fence, which would enclose this first group of buildings once completed. The palisade fence, however, is complete only along the southeastern side of the triangle and is obviously unfinished elsewhere. The grass around the settlement looks like it was cropped at one point, and many paths exist between locations in the settlement, but in less well-trafficked spots, the grass has started to regrow.
All the buildings are constructed of either rough timber or mud bricks set in a wooden frame, and have pitched thatch roofs. Many have open window frames, but only a few have actual shutters or even a canvas curtain for privacy. Doors are basic, wooden affairs, too simple for locks, and some buildings lack them entirely. The construction is new, quite rough and unfinished.
Kelos drops to the ground to search for tracks in the immediate area, but finds nothing.
Kelos the Wayfarer: The ground is too pliable around here. Usually that's a good thing but I think the rain may have washed away any traces.
Jubal Corbin: Catch up Kelos! You should take point.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Let us circle the town and see if we can get a clearer picture on what we are working with here.
Jubal Corbin: Let's keep going around this bend.
Kelos the Wayfarer: It seems we've found the gate, not that it did this town much good.
Jubal Corbin: I scan the area to the south.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I glance at the field.
Nothing stirs to the south in general, or on the vegetable patch.
Jubal Corbin: Let's not get any closer to that chapel.
Jubal Corbin: I suggest we check the buildings in the north for clues and survivors.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Good idea. Let us start in the north and work our way down.
Matthias: Let's inspect this large building on the left.
Jubal Corbin: I scan the building in front of me.
These two long, rectangular buildings are constructed entirely from planks on a wooden frame, with a pitched thatched roof. Each building has two doorframes on the side of the buildings opposite the palisade, but lacks doors. Four window frames open into either side of the long walls, a few of which have no cover and others only a canvas draped across the inside. A partial view of the interior is possible from the doorways. Inside, the floors are hard-packed earth, and along the walls are wooden bunk beds. Many of the pallet beds are covered with blankets that now gather dust. Those beds have sacks or tied bundles of clothes sitting at their feet.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Strange of them to leave their clothing behind. Whatever happened must have been sudden.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Maybe they just disappeared? Nothing else makes sense.
Jubal Corbin: Let's go inside and see if we can find anything.
Jubal Corbin: Stick together now!
Shadrick Orcface: Standing next to the door, I try to peek inside.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I cover the windows with my bow.
Shadrick Orcface: Form behind me, just in case.
Jubal Corbin: Are you guys coming?
Shadrick Orcface: Sissies don't want to get injured.
Matthias: After you.
Jubal Corbin: We don't want to end up looking like you.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I sweep my bow from side to side as I look for any movement.
[TURN] Matthias
[TURN] Kelos the Wayfarer
Shadrick Orcface: [SKILL] Perception [d20+4 = 8]
[TURN] Tobias
[TURN] Ankheg Nymph
Effect ['Flat-footed'] -> [to Unidentified Creature]
Effect ['Flat-footed'] -> [to Shadrick Orcface] [by Unidentified Creature]
Unidentified Creature: [ATTACK (M)] Bite [d20+4 = 24]
Attack [24] -> [at Shadrick Orcface] [AUTOMATIC HIT]
Unidentified Creature: [ATTACK (M)] Bite [CONFIRM] [d20+4 = 11]
Attack [11] -> [at Shadrick Orcface] [CRIT NOT CONFIRMED]
Unidentified Creature: [DAMAGE (M)] Bite [TYPE: piercing,slashing,bludgeoning (3d4+1=5)] [3d4+1 = 5]
Damage [5] -> [to Shadrick Orcface] [STATUS: Heavy]
Shadrick Orcface: ARGH! Enemy!
[TURN] Kelos the Wayfarer
Kelos the Wayfarer: I drop my bow and draw my blade as I rush in through the door to support Shadrick.
Kelos the Wayfarer: [ATTACK (M)] Longsword [CRIT 19] [d20+3 = 17]
Attack [17] -> [at Unidentified Creature] [HIT]
Kelos the Wayfarer: [DAMAGE (M)] Longsword [TYPE: slashing (1d8+2=3)] [d8+2 = 3]
Damage [3] -> [to Unidentified Creature] [STATUS: Wounded]
[TURN] Tobias
[TURN] Unidentified Creature
Unidentified Creature: [ATTACK (M)] Bite [d20+4 = 22]
Attack [22] -> [at Kelos the Wayfarer] [HIT]
Unidentified Creature: [DAMAGE (M)] Bite [TYPE: piercing,slashing,bludgeoning (2d4+1=4)] [TYPE: acid (1d4=2)] [3d4+1 = 6]
Damage [6] -> [to Kelos the Wayfarer] [STATUS: Heavy]
Shadrick Orcface: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [UNTRAINED] [d20 = 9]
Knowledge (arcana): This is an ankheg nymph, a immature ankheg between its larval and adult stages in life. You also realize that there must be an egg-laying adult somewhere close by, as well as other ankheg nymphs.
Shadrick Orcface: A vermin nest!
Kelos the Wayfarer: Great, just what we needed...
[TURN] Shadrick Orcface
Shadrick Orcface: [ATTACK (M)] Greatsword [CRIT 19] [d20+1 = 19]
Attack [19] -> [at Ankheg Nymph] [HIT]
Shadrick Orcface: [DAMAGE (M)] Greatsword [TYPE: slashing (2d6+1=9)] [2d6+1 = 9]
Damage [9] -> [to Ankheg Nymph] [STATUS: Heavy]
[TURN] Jubal Corbin
Jubal Corbin: [ATTACK (R)] Shortbow [-3] [d20 = 16]
Attack [16] -> [at Ankheg Nymph] [HIT]
Jubal Corbin: [DAMAGE (R)] Shortbow [+1] [TYPE: piercing (1d6+1=6)] [d6+1 = 6]
Damage [6] -> [to Ankheg Nymph] [STATUS: Dying]
Kelos the Wayfarer: Shadrick, you said nest? There may be more.
Shadrick Orcface: This Gorum servant... can live another day...
Matthias: A bit reckless, orc.
Shadrick Orcface: You both have my thanks.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I go and pick up my bow and then return to Shadrick.
Shadrick Orcface: Kelos, That was an ankheg nymph. A juvenile. Most likely it's not alone.
Kelos the Wayfarer: There will likely be an adult nearby.
Channel energy - positive (1d6) 4/5
Shadrick Orcface: [d6 = 5]
Kelos the Wayfarer: I check under the rest of the beds.
Kelos the Wayfarer: And the piles of clothing.
Kelos the Wayfarer: [SKILL] Perception [d20+7 = 15]
[1 CP] -> Kelos the Wayfarer
[1 CP] -> Jubal Corbin
[1 CP] -> Matthias
[1 CP] -> Shadrick Orcface
Distributed across the Party. [4 CP]
[1 GP] -> Kelos the Wayfarer
[1 GP] -> Jubal Corbin
[1 GP] -> Matthias
[1 GP] -> Shadrick Orcface
Distributed across the Party. [4 GP]
GM: [Delete the treasure entries above.]
Kelos's search turns up 87 gp and 321 sp in total, spread out between the piles of clothing in the form of loose change of perhaps two dozen people.
No items assigned for distribution to the Party.
[21 GP, 80 SP] -> Kelos the Wayfarer
[21 GP, 80 SP] -> Jubal Corbin
[21 GP, 80 SP] -> Matthias
[21 GP, 80 SP] -> Shadrick Orcface
Distributed across the Party. [320 SP, 84 GP]
In addition, Kelos turns up a talisman inscribed with various symbols.
Jubal Corbin: I'd like to take a look at that talisman you found.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Jubal, have any idea what this is?
[PARTY] -> [Kelos the Wayfarer] : Talisman inscribed with symbols found in far north building
Kelos the Wayfarer: I hand it over to Jubal.
[Kelos the Wayfarer] -> [PARTY] : Talisman inscribed with symbols found in far north building
[PARTY] -> [Jubal Corbin] : Talisman inscribed with symbols found in far north building
Jubal Corbin: I take it.
Jubal Corbin: I look over the talisman.
Jubal Corbin: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+5 = 21]
-> Jubal Corbin: The talisman is inscribed with symbols of good luck.
Jubal Corbin: These are symbols of good luck.
Jubal Corbin: It's probably a lucky charm.
Shadrick Orcface: We need some of that.
Shadrick Orcface smiles.
Jubal Corbin laughs.
Matthias: Place the talisman on the bed and I can inspect the talisman with my magic. Please step back.
Matthias: Detect Magic
[Jubal Corbin] -> [PARTY] : Talisman inscribed with symbols found in far north building
Matthias: Detect Magic
Matthias: [CAST] Detect Magic
Matthias: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+6 = 9]
-> Matthias: The talisman appears to be magical with a moderate aura, but you fail to determine anything about the school of magic.
Matthias: This talisman has a moderate magical aura. It is somewhat powerful. I am unable to tell which school of magic it is from.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Maybe it'll help keep Shadrick safe.
Kelos the Wayfarer laughs.
Kelos the Wayfarer: We should probably investigate the house next to this one. If there is a hive we'll need to deal with it soon.
Shadrick Orcface: Kelos, I think you're right. If everyone agrees, I'll equip it. What do you say?
[PARTY] -> [Shadrick Orcface] : Talisman inscribed with symbols found in far north building
Shadrick Orcface: May Gorum smile upon me... we're not sure what this does.
Jubal Corbin: Let's search this building more before we check another one.
Jubal Corbin: First I want to get a better look at that monster's corpse.
Shadrick Orcface: [SKILL] Perception [d20+4 = 17]
Jubal Corbin: [SKILL] Perception [d20+2 = 8]
Matthias: [SKILL] Perception [d20 = 17]
The three of you set up thoroughly searching the room, but find nothing of note. Just when you're about to give up the effort, Shadrick notices a kind of stick hidden inside a small tear in one of the mattresses.
It bears the initials "U. H."
Shadrick Orcface: I found a wand. It may come handy.
Shadrick Orcface: Maybe Matthias can see if it is useful.
Jubal Corbin: I look around the room for arrows.
Jubal Corbin: [d10 = 10]
Jubal rummages around the people's possessions looking for arrows, but doesn't find any.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I move towards the door and peer outside.
Matthias: Shadrick, let me see that wand. I can inspect it.
Nothing has changed outside. The colony remains deserted and dead silent.
Matthias: Detect Magic
Matthias: [CAST] Detect Magic
Shadrick Orcface: I hand over the wand to Matthias.
Matthias: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+6 = 23]
-> Matthias: The wand is definitely magical. It's from the illusion school and its aura is faint.
Matthias: This wand has a faint magical aura. It comes from the magic school of illusion.
Kelos the Wayfarer: This building has been thoroughly searched. Let us move on to the next. We have many more buildings left to investigate.
[PARTY] -> [Matthias] : Wand found in mattress in far north building
Jubal Corbin: I want to check the monster's corpse before we move on.
Kelos the Wayfarer: Go ahead. I will keep watch.
Jubal Corbin: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+5 = 12]
Spit Acid (Ex) Once every 6 hours, an ankheg nymph can spit a 15-foot line of acid. Creatures struck by this acid take 2d4 points of acid damage (Reflex DC 13 half). Additionally, in the 6 hours following the ankheg nymph's use of this ability, its bite attack doesn't deal any additional acid damage. As a result, an ankheg nymph doesn't use this ability unless it's desperate or frustrated, such as when reduced to fewer than half its hit points or when it can't successfully grab an opponent. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Ankhegs are an all-too-common plague upon the rural areas of the world. These horse-sized burrowing monsters generally avoid heavily settled areas like cities, but their predilection for livestock and humanoid flesh ensures that they do not keep to the deep wilderness either. Their preferred habitat is rural farmlands, as the loose soil of such regions makes it easy for the creatures to burrow. Tales speak of larger ankhegs that dwell in remote deserts—such creatures likely feed primarily on giant scorpions and camels, and rarely come in contact with civilization due to their remote locations. (A desert ankheg is a Huge advanced ankheg.)
Matthias: I examine the monster.
Matthias: [SKILL] Knowledge (Arcana) [d20+6 = 15]
GM: In combat, an ankheg prefers to attack with its bite. Against multiple foes, an ankheg often grabs one of the available targets and then attempts to retreat to safety, burrowing into the ground. A creature carried underground can still breathe with difficulty (the ankheg needs to breathe as well, so its tunnels are relatively porous), but is often eaten alive before its allies can rescue it. Ankhegs burrow with their legs and mandibles, moving with unsettling speed through loose soil, sand, gravel, and the like—they cannot burrow through solid stone. Burrowing ankhegs can construct tunnels by pausing frequently to shore up the walls with a thicker, less caustic secretion from their mouths. If an ankheg chooses to make a permanent tunnel when burrowing, it moves at half speed. A typical ankheg tunnel is 10 feet tall and wide, roughly circular in cross-section, and from 60 to 150 feet long ([1d10 + 5] × 10). Clusters of ankhegs often share the same territory and create intricate winding networks of tunnels under farmlands, sometimes resulting in sinkholes where too many burrow at once.
This discussion on the ankheg's abilities reminds Kelos that he found the shallow hole under the bed through which it had burst through.
Kelos the Wayfarer: I remember the burrow and go to investigate it.
Kelos the Wayfarer: [SKILL] Survival [d20+7 = 8]
Kelos checks the hole but can't determine anything from it.
Jubal Corbin: [SKILL] Survival [d20-2 = 8]
Shadrick Orcface: [SKILL] Survival [d20+3 = 20]
Matthias: [SKILL] Survival [d20 = 2]
Shadrick examines the hole and realizes that the creature must have come from a northern or northeastern direction.