Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for July 31, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), and Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), accompanied by NPC companions Alleric Swiftblade (half-elf rogue) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

With their demon-delivered information, the team hit the streets of Caliphas seeking someone who could connect them with the underground. They spent hours talking to various sources, running down leads, filtering through myths, and puzzling out contacts. Finally, they ended up in a dark alley speaking with a dhampir named Quinley Basdel. He revealed his mother, a vampire, was the first murdered in the spree. He offered to help the PCs get to the leader of the vampire clans, Luvick Siervage, a several-millennia old elder vampire. He indicated the Vampire Underground was on lock down and they would need to fight their way in. Once in, they may be able to talk their way past various vampire factions and individuals but many need to do additional battle. The group prepared to fight vampires by purchasing a wand of death ward and numerous wooden stakes. They decided with the vampires physically underground, night or day didn’t matter and set out immediately.

Quinley led them to the Glass House in Restoration Park. The massive greenhouse was apparently an entrance to the Vampire Underground. The group picked the lock and went in where Dario detected the overwhelming presence of an undead. A group of shrieker mushrooms alerted any creatures within before the group could silence them. They discovered a massive flytrap plant that gobbled up Emelian! The group fought valiantly as the paladin began to be digested by the acidic carnivore! Several flame strike spells later, Dario killed the plant! From out behind several trees stepped a beautiful and mesmerizing half-elven woman clad in armor made of plants. She smiled, revealing her fangs, as she began to approach!

Game summary for July 24, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), Radimir Dragomirov (human cleric), and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (human abjurer/cleric/mystic theurge), accompanied by NPC companions Alleric Swiftblade (half-elf rogue) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

With no leads, the team returned to their tavern room and tied Zedd to a chair. They then had him activate the Face of Dagon and commune with the demon lord! Zedd asked him a series of 13 questions about the murders, the Whispering Way, and the vampires of Caliphas. Once finished, they examined Zedd and declared him “okay” from the ordeal and untied him.

Game summary for July 10, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Kelemen Ambrus (human cleric/transmuter/mystic theurge) and Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), accompanied by NPC companions Alleric Swiftblade (half-elf rogue) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

The team decided to investigate the murders and went about trying to find more details. They did not get much information and discovered Captain Hoptler was unable to bring them in any further on the investigation. They dropped by the church of Pharasma and had a somewhat cool meeting with Inquisitor Zetiah Mardhalas who told them she thought if vampires were being killed, she is okay with it. Desperate, the group used their spirit board to contact the other world and ask who killed the body they watched burn up. The spirit spelled out a single name, one letter at a time. “D.” “A.” “R.” “I.” “O.”

Perplexed, the team spent another night at the Hound’s Tooth and used a divination spell to try and learn more, but the spell failed. Next, they used the spirit board again and asked if it was the Dario they know that committed the murder? The spirit indicated “Yes.” They developed a theory that Dario had killed the individual in a fight and then the body was staged to make it look like murder. They at first thought it was the body of Rask, but they discovered Captain Hoptler and crew had just discovered the body of the headless horseman at the bridge.

Uncertain, the team went around town plotting all the murder scenes on the map. They were unable to find any pattern. The team then went back to the church of Pharasma and revealed the Raven’s Head mace! After some discussion and re-evaluating the Carrion Crown poem, they realized it is not just a recipe but prophesy. The Whispering Way does not need the mace for the formula; it seems to be named as the weapon that can undo what is happening! The team agreed to take on a priest of Pharasma into fold to wield the mace and bring the fight to the Way!

Game summary for July 3, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), and Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), accompanied by NPC companions Alleric Swiftblade (half-elf rogue) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

The team entered Caliphas and found the Hound’s Tooth tavern. The group had a good meal, a bath, a shave, and got their clothing stitched up and cleaned. They then got to know some of the townsfolk and found out about a contact in the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye named Abraun Chalest. They agreed to go to the Quarterfaux Archives the next morning to meet with him. The group then learned the city had several murders over the last few weeks with the bodies found drained of blood and crumbled to ash in sunlight!

The next morning they learned of another murder next door! They went over and met Captain Boverde Hoptler of the city watch. He was initially suspicious of the group, but he took a liking to the paladin, Emilian. The team discovered the bodies had been decapitated and impaled with a wooden stake. In this instance, there were 3 bodies, not just one.

After looking around the crime scene, the party went to the Quarterfaux Archives and met Abraun Chalest. After talking for a while, they convinced him to introduce them to the local chapter of the Esoteric Order and seek admission to the fabled Esoteric Vaults. The next meeting would be at the Haraday Theater on Oathday.

Game summary for June 26, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure and Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), Varus Archlight (elf magus/arcane archer), and Zedd Zu’l Zorander (human abjurer/cleric/mystic theurge), accompanied by NPC companions Goldar (human barbarian) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

The group attempted to leave the tunnels but was attacked by a previously invisible gug savant! The horror tore into the group and activated a spike stones effect. The razor-sharp floor tore into the party’s feet while the monster slashed and bit. It grabbed up Varus and ripped him in half! The magus was thrown to two different sides of the cavern! The party tore into the gug, and soon Goldar hit it with a critical blow from his axe! Zedd then cast dispel magic to disperse the spike stones.

The team exited the caverns and returned to the surface via the sub-aqueous research and exploration vehicle. They then returned to Illmarsh and slept at Horace Croon’s. Zedd began studying the Book of Abstruse Geometries. The team then set out on horseback toward Caliphas.

On the third day, the team came to a stone bridge guarded by a headless horseman astride a flaming nightmare! The dullahan called out asking the party’s names, which they offered. It then called out to Dario, affected him with its death call. As it came thundering over the bridge, a pair of rotting dire ghoul wolves darted from the woods! One bit Goldar and paralyzed him! As he lay helpless, the wolf ripped out his throat! Emilian unleashed a barrage of arrows while the second wolf paralyzed Zedd. Fortunately, Emilian was able to provoke the creature to attacking him, which likely spared Zedd from Goldar’s fate. The paladin switched to his sword while Dario engaged the dullahan one-on-one.

Nyssa, and Zedd once he recovered, layered spell enhancements upon Emilian. He quickly cut down the dire ghoul wolves while Dario strategically fought a withdrawal to lure the horsemen closer to the team. Zedd unleashed two lightning bolts while Emilian and Dario fought in melee. Zedd warded the team from fire, and soon Dario cut down the headless undead!

The group searched the body and discovered powerful armor and weapons along with an exotic amulet of powerful and evil necromantic magic!

Game summary for June 17, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure; PCs included Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk) and Zedd Zu’l Zorander (human abjurer/cleric/mystic theurge), accompanied by NPC companions Goldar (human barbarian) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).

As the dark young of Shub-Niggurath spawned, Zedd and Nyssa cast a number of enhancing spells while Gnok consumed potions. The team then surged into the dome to engage the monstrosity! Nyssa cast haste while Zedd cast blessing of fervor. Gnok charged the creature and found his punches did little damage. He quickly changed stances to tiger style and slashed into its hide! Goldar entered a rage and began hacking with his axe! The dark young tore into Gnok and Goldar with flailing tentacles and grappled Gnok. Nonplussed, the dwarven monk continued to strike it repeatedly from within its coils. Zedd unleashed magic missile along with a critical scorching ray! Nyssa tried using acid arrows from her wand but missed. Gnok and Goldar continued to wear down the monster, but it was Zedd’s magic that finally took it down. As it died, the manifesting form of Shub-Niggurath outside the sphere vanished in a violent flash that cracked the dome. The team snatched up various items, including the Seasage Effigy (actually the Face of Dagon) from the area before the dome came down!

The group nursed their injuries and read a letter discovered in the dome.

“Necrophagous secrets whisper Through chronicles of Raven’s tongue”

These words, no doubt familiar to you, are your next task. Take the Seasage Effigy to G.L. in Illmarsh. He will exchange it for the legendary mace. When the item is in your possession, join your partner in Caliphas, and the Carrion Crown can finally be completed.

For the glory of the Whisperer,

A.A.

The group then investigated the side chambers by-passed earlier. Within they discovered an insane cerebric fungus oracle! It posed several nonsense questions. “How do crustaceans propagate with barns?”, “Why are three ears better than seven?”, and “What is the orbital declension of the Lilac Star when sea snails cry beryllium tears?” Furious when the party could not respond, it attacked! It unleashed a star-shriek and then cast black tentacles. The grasping, grappling tentacles began crushing the party, but the team had gotten close enough to lay numerous attacks on the orb. Soon, it exploded with a sickening plop of goo!

Game summary for June 12, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), Varus Archlight (elf magus/arcane archer), and Zedd Zu’l Zorander (human abjurer/cleric/mystic theurge), accompanied by NPC companions Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric) and Pavlos Zervas (human fighter/rogue).

The group moved into another chamber and found a pair of mi-go and a dimensional shambler throwing bodies into a corpse chipper! Among the stack of bodies was the Mayor! A battle erupted instantly. The dimensional shambler seized Emilian and hurled him into the corpse chipper! He was hurled out the other end and landed in a bloody, injured heap. Pavlos closed in with a mi-go and was suddenly grabbed and eviscerated! In moments he was flayed open and killed. Dario, Varus, and Gnok began engaging the creatures and finding their attacks of various effectiveness. They began determining which attack forms were optimal against these foes. Meanwhile, Zedd unleashed a barrage of spells such as magic missile, lightning bolt, and telekinetic charge.

The mi-go were not out of the fight by a long stretch. One went toe-to-toe with Gnok while the other unleashed blast after blast from its mist projector. This caught several of the party repeatedly, harming them with frigid cold! Nyssa moved from party member to party member healing them. Meanwhile, the shambler picked up Pavlos’ body and hurled it into the corpse chipper, spraying it all over Emilian. Emilian attempted hitting the enemies with arrows with a limited effect.

Things began to turn around for the party as Dario was affected by an enlarge person spell and Varus hit all the enemies with a fireball. Nyssa blessed the group, and Zedd channeled positive energy. One by one the enemies fell. The group collected the mist projector and considered saying a few words about Pavlos. They then headed down another passageway and watched in horror as they witnessed the birth of a dark young of Shub-Niggurath!

Game summary for May 29, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure; PCs included Varus Archlight (elf magus/arcane archer), accompanied by NPC companions Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric) and Pavlos Zervas (human fighter/rogue).

The party moved further into the tunnels beneath the Tern Rocks and found a series of branching corridors. Entering a chamber, they discovered seaweed beds and cradles along with a hand-knit baby blanket with fish scales stuck in the fibers. A half dozen ulat-kini skum came charging forward with their tridents! The six fishmen were frightening in appearance due to their absence of an upper cranium! Each had its skull removed, and its fishy, squishy brain was exposed to the world! Pavlos moved in sneak stabbing while Nyssa cast haste, good hope, and bless. Varus unleashed a hail of deadly arrows, and the team quickly mowed down the skum.

Varus led the group further into the tunnels and opted to pass up a corridor to explore a larger chamber up ahead. They discovered a large cavern with a defiled statue of Dagon and a pedestal with a bizarre raven-headed mace sitting upon it. All around the room were symbols of Dagon that had been defaced and overlaid with new carvings of Shub-Niggurath! A pair of skum sentries with exposed brains charged forward as a plump ugly ulat-kini dressed in priest robes began chanting, “Iä! Iä! Shub-Niggurath!”

The priest unleashed a flame strike into the middle of the party, but Varus countered with a fireball! Enraged, the skum assaulted Pavlos and Nyssa while Varus fell back to use his bow. The priest summoned a large water elemental into the room, and it closed in with Pavlos immediately! Arrows flew while fishman tridents scored nasty wounds. The priest then summoned a giant scorpion to attack Pavlos as well! Varus used magic to dismiss the elemental and then used his magic wand to blast the scorpion and priest with a lightning bolt! As the skum fell, the team was able to focus upon the priest. The creature cast chaos hammer to almost no effect and went down under Pavlos’ deadly daggers. Moments later, the scorpion was dissolving back into the misty ether from which it spawned.

They investigated the strange mace, which Nyssa recognized as a minor artifact of the priesthood of Pharasma! Known as the Raven’s Head, weapon is particularly potent against undead. Varus took the mace, and they looted the corpses of the dead ulat-kini.

Varus then led them further south and then took a side corridor toward a bright glow. They emerged into a worked stone chamber of horrors! Around the room sat 23 pedestals occupied by strange metal cylinders with globes of bluish liquid adorned with numerous knobs and switches. Fourteen of the containers were filled with pulsing brains! Varus picked one up and began playing with the knobs which caused a filament to glow with a pale light, and a modulated voice emerged… the voice of Mayor Early Greedle!

The team questioned the crazed mayor and learned some “worm bugs” had removed his brain and placed it in the jar! He was excited because they would soon take him to their home deep in the Dark Tapestry far, far from the world of Golarion. He cackled and rambled a bit before revealing the creatures intend to bring Shub-Niggurath into the world and had already awakened a dark young of Shub-Niggurath! Varus then decided to put the mayor out of his misery and smashed the brain jar. The team then left the chamber to explore further.

Game summary for May 22, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), and Varus Archlight (elf magus/arcane archer), accompanied by NPC companions Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric) and Pavlos Zervas (human fighter/rogue).

After dealing with the lake octopus, the group set sail to the edge of the Tern Rocks. The party piled into Horace Croon’s subaqueous exploration and research vessel and began to descend toward the lake bed. At about 200 feet down, they were attacked by a gutaki sorcerer who summoned a pack of fiendish sharks. The gutaki sprayed an unholy blood cloud into the submersible making Varus and Nyssa nauseated. It then grappled Dario but seemed unable to pull him into the water. After activating some water breathing magic, Gnok, Emelian, and Pavlos dove into the water to bring the fight to the devilfish. It was Varus who struck a killing blow by opening a major artery in a tentacle, causing the creature to bleed to death. The summoned sharks soon disappeared into the Abyss, much to Gnok’s disappointment as he had just grappled one with the intention of riding it around the battlefield.

Continuing the descent, the team saw a strange metal dome with blue luminescence on the lake bed. Nearby a blast of air bubbles erupted from a fissure in the rocks. The team made it to the lake bed and went to the source of the bubbles. They found a strange force field holding the water back from some air-filled caverns. The group entered and were soon ambushed by a pair of dimensional shamblers! The strange monsters clawed at the party but soon proved no match to the group’s combined might.

Game summary for May 15, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Wake of the Watcher adventure; PCs included Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), and Varus Archlight (elf magus/arcane archer), accompanied by NPC companions Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric) and Pavlos Zervas (human fighter/rogue).

As the group looked around the Mayor’s house, Sheriff Anders arrived and started ask lots of questions. They showed him the badges given them by the Mayor, and he went off to investigate rumors of missing priests at the temple. The party then located the house of Horace Croon and explained the whole situation with the Neighbors and fostering. He was appalled and horrified and told them he once had a sister who was fostered! He agreed to help them go to the ulat-kini caves in his subaqueous exploration and research vessel the next day. Knowing that the fostered girl with them was quite distraught over the lack of a fresh sacrifice at the temple, the team decided to sleep in shifts and keep an eye on her and Nyssa, who was behaving erratically. They put the women in two separate rooms, and around 3:00 a.m., Dario realized the girl had slipped out of a window!

Dario woke the team, and they rushed out into the night. They found tracks leading to the temple. They arrived and used light spells to illuminate the way. It was obvious the authorities had been investigating and roping off the crime scenes. The team moved to the inner most sanctum of Dagon and discovered a terrible sight—the girl had sacrificed herself on the demon’s altar! As they left, Emilian believed he saw the great eye of Dagon move! He used detect evil and was overwhelmed by the dark presence. For a few moments, Dagon himself had manifested due to the extreme act of faith! As soon as he had appeared within the eye, however, he was gone.

The group convinced Croon to start preparations of the Isinglass for a dawn departure to the Tern Rocks. As the group stood on the docks helping prep the ship, an enormous lake octopus rose up from the dark waters! It quickly dragged Nyssa and Emilian under! It began to chomp on Nyssa while Varus unleashed a lightning bolt from his wand. Pavlos dove in and began stabbing the creature. Dario hurled himself through the air and viciously chopped the beast as he plunged into the water. The team chopped away quickly and killed the beast in a few moments. Relief, and oxygen, flooded through Nyssa and Emilian as they bobbed to the surface!