Game summary for July 2, 2013, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Trial of the Beast adventure; PCs included Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk) and Irnadette Steelsoul (elan psion), accompanied by NPC companion Thorkatla Foamflagon (dwarf cleric).
The team investigated the Antiquities Department of Lepidstadt University looking for clues. They found the door had been smashed, which triggered an alarm spell. Booted footprints led to a rail where something, assumedly the Beast, had climbed over. The room was smashed, except for the area where the Seasage Effigy had been. They discovered the central window had recently been opened, but there were no tracks outside the window.
The group then traveled to the hamlet of Morast to investigate the 10 murders. They met with the village elder, Lazne. After some preliminary conversation, and Gnok vomiting after trying his horrendous dip, Lazne agreed to recount his tale of the Beast. He told how they ambushed the Beast and chased it into the swamp near their old boneyard. Just offshore, a blood caiman bit into the shoulder of the 7-foot monster and dragged it beneath the river never to surface.
The team talked him into taking them out to the boneyard island. They discovered an old campsite and the remnants of a darkvision extract. They, the found several of the graves had sunken in and were permitted by Lazne to dig one up to investigate. While digging, a manticore swooped out of the sky and launched a volley of spikes! Irnadette manifested energy missile repeatedly while Gnok climbed a tall tree in hopes of leaping on top of the manticore and Thorkatla swapped to a light crossbow. The manticore swung out in a wide arc over the river while Irnadette continued to blast it with augmented psionic power. Before it could fully come around again, she blasted it out of the sky! It died crashing into the swampy river!
The group continued investigating and found the remains of a dwarf in the manticore’s nest. They also found an old boat with dried blood in the bottom along with a moldy satchel. There was also a rope leading off into the water that was attached to a man-sized bloody sack. Within the satchel, the group found some old clothes and the detached face of a human being! After talking themselves into it, the team looked in the sack as well. It contained coils of rope, a rusty shovel, a rusted lantern, a trio of heavy knives, and a gag.
Finally, as the team was about to leave, they took one last look around, and Irnadette discovered a fine leather case filled with silver surgical tools! Perplexed, the team returned to Lepidstadt to report their findings to Barrister Kaple. He told them to go get sleep and be prepared to take the stand and present their findings by 12:30 the next day.
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