Grimwyrd: He Who Grows

[back from the break of mis-scheduling we resume. Stellers_J has abandoned the game at this point, ghosting us all quite hard without warning. I wont realize this for…weeks]

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Our Cast of Characters:
Aachen Silverleaf, Ranger of the Southern Reaches (NPC)
Gray, Scorned Beastman (Joush)
Falkirk, Humour Mage (GandalfG)
Horsa, Actor, Duelist (Stellers_J, now NPC)
Bomrek Zirilkeskal (Adolph/FuckingKevinGoddamnit)
Suðri Skornbrekker (P.P.A)
Ken (GM)

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12:11Ken (GM): (rechecking my notes)
-One-legged prisoner Ibixian, tied up
-found the Speaking Stone, checked it out between the mages
-nobody died horribly, but gandalf’s dude is down 99% of his FP, needs a rest
I miss anything major?

12:21Joush M.: So I was considering what to get Gray. Resistant To Disease (+8) seems like a flavorful option but if you want the danger of getting sick to be a big part of the game then it might not be a good fit

12:21Gandalf G.: as I recall I was 1 point from being winded. Yup 6/18

12:25P.P. A.: RIP stellers

12:25Gandalf G.: anyone got him on skype or something
could have forgotten cos the time changed

12:26Ken (GM): I dont; he’s only ever emailed me
@Gray; You could pick up resistant(disease), definitely. 😀 not to reveal anything to critical, but yes, disease is a possibility

[we recap a bit for everyones benefiet]

12:30Ken (GM): there was the actual session where you guys got ambushed by the beqastmen. Weird wizard booked it but you guys shot a minotaur and some ibixians.
You recoverd the stone, cleaned up the one survivor. Aachen lost his horse to the demon blood…shit was cray

12:30Gandalf G.: and I spent the fight playing Platoon with a horse

12:31Ken (GM): hahaha
yeah
“DONT DIE ON ME JIMMY”
“NEIGH”

12:31Gandalf G.: “YOU’VE NEVER GIVEN UP ON ANYTHING IN YOUR WHOLE DAMN LIFE, DONT GIVE UP ON ME NOW”

12:31Ken (GM): “NEIGH”

12:31Gandalf G.: anyway, we good to start?

12:32Ken (GM): I think so yeah

Ken (GM) WHERE LAST WE LEFT OUR HEROES

Ken (GM) SHIT WAS CRAY CRAY

Ken (GM) LIKE, YOU SHOULDA BEEN THERE MAN. IT WAS BALLER

12:32Adolf S.: I believe Bomrek got done poking around the disgusting non-person camp, found one of the seven dragon balls, and gave it to the wizards to poke at, yeah? So, Bomrek hears what they have to say (said, I suppose) about it, and then goes back to poking around the camp. Anything else around?

12:33Ken (GM): Yes! You had also found various living accoutrements; some game strung up near the fire from last nights cook. bits of trinkety belongings. most striking was the rich mahogany box though

12:35Joush M.: Gray was watching for trouble while horses screamed, a deamon watched them and they got rained on, I think.

12:35Ken (GM): The camp is otherwise empty. You note, that it seems lightly equipped. Implying that this is a forward scout’s position and most likely supplied from somewhere else

12:35Bomrek: Do the trinkets in any way compare to the quality of dwarven works? If not, Bomrek smashes them under his boot as he walks along.

12:36Ken (GM): nooo; baubles and bits of brass, Bone carvings, small totems of strange humanoid figures. Tufts of hair(fur?) bound in small strings. A small clay jug of (maybe) alcohol

Suðri Skornbrekker is done cleaning his musket and all that

12:37Falkirk: “We should rest, the horses need it too. We dont have much time to waste.”

12:39P.P. A.: [Where did the blood.demon go on the map? ]

12:39Bomrek: Disgusting filth, truly. “Aye, aye.. I could use a sit down after that I suppose. I’m reminded of that old saying, “Where there’s one rat, there’s also 20. So where are the other 20 rats?”

Gray settles his mask across rough features and finds little worth consideration among the tents, looking around the dark place then back to the older man. The brute nods to him and goes to tend the horses, brushing them down and at least cleaning the blood off them.

12:39Ken (GM): @PPA: west-ish; he’s hanging out perched in a tree, staring at you all

12:39Falkirk: “I think, master dwarf, it’s perfectly possible for there to be a single rat.”

12:40P.P. A.: ah

Suðri Skornbrekker keeps an uneasy eye on the bloodcurdling blood demon

12:40Ken (GM): Ulm chimes in “But a rat will have a nest, even when sneaking from the dark places. I fear the Ruins may be infested”
Ulm continues “But I am not a rat catcher, and I have mis-stepped in your deeds. I am a soothsayer and one of the voices of the fates, but my path only crossed yours here”

12:41Bomrek: “Bah, these vile creatures weren’t here for a fishing trip, Doctor. There was intent here. There are likely more, somewhere.” he sits on a log and calmly starts packing his pipe.

12:42Ken (GM): “I shall not be the undoing of your great works. My minions and I will guard the highways, speak with the Scorned who still must flee”

12:42Falkirk: “So you’re saying this is where we part ways?”

Ken (GM) Ulm speaks a few words to Aachen, shakes his hand, and turns his horse back Northward to the Reaches.

Gray works his jaw and looks to Ulm with undisguised mistrust and odium a moment, the beast then shaking his head and examining horse hooves to distract himself.

12:43Ken (GM): “yes, this is where we shall go on our journeys alone. Seek me out, and I shall provide sweet honey and a warm fire”

12:44Bomrek: “Farewell then, Beastman.” Bomrek gives him a quick nod and a wave.

12:44Ken (GM): Ulm calls back to your group as he rides out of the thicket “Be warned, son of Man, the Speaking Stone is a powerful tool! A sharp blade in the hands of blood!”

12:44Falkirk: “Aye. You’ve done well by us, beast. Safe travels.”

12:44Ken (GM): [exit Ulm, stage left]

Suðri Skornbrekker can’t say he’s unhappy having to part ways with the weirdo and his hellish horrors, but doesn’t want to see him off with scorn either, no need to make enemies.

12:44Falkirk: [pursued by bear]

12:45Ken (GM): [bear pursued by demons]
[no more bear]
[so, other than a rest, Next step for the troupe?]

12:45Bomrek: Bomrek’s posture relaxes and he shrinks about a half inch as the beastman rides away. “Not sad to see that devil creature gone, I must say.”

12:46Falkirk: “He was skilled in his craft. Worthy of respect, even if not a civilized creature.”

Gray nods in agreement. “Hopefully our paths won’t cross again.”

Falkirk nods thoughtfully, scratching his beard

12:46Bomrek: Oh, Bomrek is referring to the literal devil creature, incidentally.

12:46Suðri Skornbrekker: “At least he took his blood-sucking demons with him, if that’s the only thing they suck out of a being,” Suðri comments and shakes his head.

12:46Ken (GM):, it is a rainy midmorning. Overcast and gray, big wet drop falling everywhere

12:47Falkirk: I’m happy to skip ahead 20 minutes if everyone else is

12:47Ken (GM): dwarven innuendo

12:47Falkirk: short rest, get the injured horse vertical again

12:47P.P. A.: (actually referring to the soul but I guess that works too)

12:47Ken (GM): right, you popped it up to about 9 of 20 HP
and every 10 minutes resting gives you a FP back

12:48Falkirk: we rolling the standard 1FP for 10 mins?
yeah cool , don’t worry then, I’m keeping tabs on it

12:48Bomrek: Rain drops keep fallin’ on my head, somethin-something somethin-something something-ed.

12:48Ken (GM): ~throw in a hot lunch and you can have another~

12:48Falkirk: Sounds like a plan

12:49Bomrek: Rest, eat if it’s late enough but I doubt it. Keep an eye out for further ambushes.

Falkirk Sits on the log, eating some fire-toasted dried meat as he passes the time.

12:49Bomrek: Is this trail we are on actually commonly used, seemingly? Or is it an old one, inclining the beastmen to have their camp so close?

12:50(GM to Falkirk): You feel a nagging feeling. Something about the Stone keeps popping up into your mind. You cant put your finger on it, but it feels like youre forgetting something about it

Falkirk pulls the stone out of his robe, hunched over and squinting at the small spherical relic.

Gray fights the impulse to be impatient with the old man that must rest, even as he appreciates just how much healing the horse required. The towering horned man looking to the others in the group quietly for a moment, then back outward to watch for danger as he waits for them to get back on the road.

12:51Ken (GM): The trail looks well worn; the old highway was a well built series of large flagstones. They still pop up here and there in the earth, but the trail is overgrown. No armies have trailed here recently

12:51(GM to Gray): the Bloody demon has left, no longer on it’s perch overlooking you all

12:52Gray: “I can’t see the deamon anymore.” He doesn’t sound happy about it.

12:53(GM to Bomrek): as well, you notice that the trail bears no markers of such a large beast as the minotaur passing through. Tracks in the camp show his mighty hoofprints, but nothing leading out of camp farther than a shit in the woods

12:53Bomrek: “Ah, here’s an idea” Bomrek sets his musket down where he was sitting, and goes over to the corpses. “We could leave a message for any others that come around. Something to put some fear in their steps, aye? Anyone object to taking the heads off and sticking them on sharpened sticks?

Suðri Skornbrekker thinks for a moment.

12:54Suðri Skornbrekker: Good idea.

Ken (GM) Aachen begins foraging sharp sturdy sticks

12:54Suðri Skornbrekker: Are the corpses diseased?

12:54Bomrek: “Right, well someone else do the deed, my bayonet might work for stabbing, but a butcher’s blade it is not.”

12:54Falkirk: “How very crude.”

Gray speaks in that deep voice. “Could send a different message by burying the dead.”

12:54Ken (GM): “yet effective; the Beastmen are superstitious, and scare easily enough” retorts Aachen “Would you preside over the funeral service, Gray? You a priest in your spare time?” Aachen spits sarcastically

12:55Bomrek: “And what message would that be? ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be treated good by us if you fall in battle’? The more reason they have to fear us the better, I say.”

Suðri Skornbrekker looks for a thick branch or a young tree which one could sharpen into a pole

12:55Bomrek: “Simple dwarven Wisdom, ‘that.” he runs his fingers through his beard, inspecting the area.

Ken (GM) Suðri locates such a pole among the tents

12:56Suðri Skornbrekker: “We can bury the rest of the body at least.”

Suðri Skornbrekker takes a suitable pole, sharpens the other end, and goes over to Bomrek and the corpses

12:57(GM to Falkirk):While they work, you investigate the stone. The stone is warm to the touch, and you feel the magical aura within. Strong, pulsing, like a heartbeat felt in a warm embrace.

12:57(GM to Falkirk): roll perception?

12:57Bomrek: “I think that wizard, the one who magicked himself away, might have somehow summoned that great best over there.” he lazily points towards the dead Minotaur. “It leaves some noticeable footprints, but I don’t see any besides around the camp. Maybe he magically transported the beast here?”

12:58(From Falkirk): 11v10

Gray frowns as he turns to the elf. “I’ve spoken words over plenty of the dead, and buried them. I’m not a fucking savage… It’s a message lost on many.” He tells the others, the brute scowling a moment, then nodding to Bomrek. “That is… unsettling. I wouldn’t have though even a sorcerer could do that.”

12:58Ken (GM): Aachen takes note of that theory, Bomrek, and he takes a closer look at the trails around you

12:59Falkirk: “I suppose there’s no reason why it couldn’t happen, especially considering he was able to disapparate himself.”

1:00Ken (GM): “There’s no trail!” Aachen “Absolutely no trail through here! No broken branches, not even through the thicket. The sorcerer must have done some working here!”

Suðri Skornbrekker takes his bardiche and strikes for a clear cut at the neck of one of the corpses.
Ken (GM) SPLORCH The Beastmans head cuts clean, and gushes ruddy red blood; you see no signs of black infection in these corpses

Suðri Skornbrekker then notes towards Grey: “I appreciate your respect for the fallen on either side, but this is not out of spite. Fear can be a more potent defense than any sturdy wall—if the enemy is scared enough, he won’t even try to reach your walls.”

1:02Suðri Skornbrekker: “I see this as a forward line of defense that’ll save us trouble and enemies down the road.”

1:02Bomrek: “Damn, say, Doctor. Do you know anything of spells or magics that allow a person to disappear like that? Or it’s limitations?” he says, taking a few steps towards Falkirk.

1:02Falkirk: I’d like to roll to see if I do ; thaumaturgy?

1:03Ken (GM): please do!

1:03Falkirk: 11v11
ayy

Gray nods to the dwarf, anger subsiding and seeming to accept the reasoning, even if he doesn’t like it. He sets the pikes for the dwarf’s grim work among the dead, the work unpleasant, but not particularly hard.

1:04(GM to Falkirk): it is possible through many means, to breach the veil between worlds. The mage demonstrated his own with a focused use of likely a personal talent; a very controlled gate through to another realm, which he stepped through. He has a very good control over it, most likely, with the ease he opened and closed it.

1:05Falkirk: “Aye, it’s possible. Hardly an easy feat though.”

Falkirk takes a thoughtful bite

1:05(GM to Falkirk): otherwise in general, breaching the ways is simple in principle, and dangerous in practice. Like jumping into a pool of water you cant see the edges of. It could be a bath, a lake, or a raging river

1:05Falkirk: “That was a mage with lot of experience in his art, I think.”

1:06Bomrek: Bomrek looks mildly angry, but more annoyed and let down than anything. “Now I wish I had killed him.”

Suðri Skornbrekker repeats the process for the other corpse, and then begins to dig a hole for the bodies.

1:07(GM to Falkirk): as well, if he is focusing his talents as well as he demonstrated there, he is likely using a powerful talisman to channel energies. Or using some other way of grounding his work. With portals like that, he probably has a ‘home gate’ he uses to focus his work, as a destination he can readily access

1:08(From Falkirk): Would this stone be possibly related to that?

1:08(GM to Falkirk): AYYYY; That’s what you were trying to remember! Yes! This is very likely a powerful focus!

1:08Bomrek: Bomrek’s mood brightens a little “Ah, how about we leave the pit open…” he looks back around him “Maybe throw in some of their camp material on top? Might make for a nasty surprise should they come looking later. Better effect.” Bomrek hops down with Suori and begins trying to dig into the earth with his pick.

Gray digs in the rain with the dwarf, the work hard and muddy, nodding to Suori as they work. “What of the captive then?”

1:08Bomrek: (Buy Today! ‘Bomrek’s Art of War’ )

1:09Bomrek: “We should question him. Find out information about how they got here, firstly. It’s almost more important than why they came here.”

1:09Suðri Skornbrekker: “Secondly if there are more of them, and thirdly where they went.”

1:09(From Falkirk): Alright, makes sense. So am I able to use the power for myself, or would destroying it cripple his ability to do his thing?

1:10(GM to Falkirk): Well, you’ve essentially stolen the keys to one of his cars. If he doesn’t have it, he can’t [do X], which is what he tuned his power to do with that focus. Just having it out of his grasp, you’ve done some damage to his repertoire.

1:10Bomrek: “Aye, aye.. I have a feeling he won’t be too happy to talk. Might have to pick up one of those poles and wave it at him a little, hehe.” Bomrek laughs a little and keeps digging.
(So, I figure if the guy doesn’t wake up, we throw’m on a horse and keep movin’? If he does, interrogation time. )

1:12Ken (GM): allrighty; so you fellows go to work, hauling corpses about and making a nice shallow grave for the bodies. the camp gets kicked in, and thrown in the heap, and you have two spiked heads(so far. Minotaur body? whats your plans? )

1:13Bomrek: Hm. The minotaur looks like it was torn to shit, right? Might as well leave that one there as is.

1:14Falkirk: “We should get back to the road.”

1:14Ken (GM): gutted from the blast through it’s torso, but otherwise intact. Just opened up violently

1:15Suðri Skornbrekker: “Not worth bothering. I suppose a dead minotaur is a decent deterrent even if not properly displayed.”

1:15Bomrek: That’s pretty spooky in of itself, I figure.

1:15Ken (GM): hah, yeah, I agree

Gray shakes his head in disapproval but offers no comment, thinking the task has already taken too much time. “Hopefuly they go in peace to whatever darkness waits for them. We should move again soon.”

1:16Ken (GM): so, roughly 30 minutes, I’ll say, working with the bodies and tending to things.
The horses are okay, (minus Aachens, poor thing), and the packs are all secure. Nothing went astray that didnt get fixed with some work from Gray.

1:17Bomrek: Well I guess we pack up then. Bomrek looks back fondly at the dead horse, wishing there was a cart and a nearby butchery. Cut down in it’s prime… rib.

1:17Ken (GM): hah

1:17P.P. A.: heh

1:19Joush M.: Too bad we lacked the time to process it into rations. We could make our horses mean by feeding them nothing but cocaine and horse.

1:19Ken (GM): Aachen gets his old kit off his fallen mount, and rejiggers on the packhorse; he redistributes some of the weight of his bags amongst you, but he should be able to ride it Okay, if not very agile
[joush, no cocaine horses]

1:19Bomrek: peyote horses

1:19Ken (GM): [you bad bad man]

1:20Falkirk: hueh

1:20Ken (GM): [map change! Overworld travel music~]

1:20Bomrek: [“We’re off to kill the wizard, the horrible wizard of Gorgoth~”]

1:21Ken (GM): ‘mage of Gorgoth’ fits the timing better

1:21Bomrek: (t-that’s a wizard of oz reference)

1:21Ken (GM): NERD
😛
AND SO
THE RED X OF TRAVEL DID THUS MOVE ACCROSS THE WORLD MAP
AND THE DOTTED LINE OF EVIL DREW EVER CLOSER

Ken (GM) you travel further along, as morning makes way to a dreary day. A cold wind blows in from the South, out of the black, dead woods South of you, sometimes visible on the horizon, breaking through the mist and rain. The cold day drags into your bones, and dampness seeps into your bodies

Ken (GM) Aachen is Grim, and quiet. He gives direction on the trail ahead, but offers no quips, no levity, to the dreary day

Falkirk wraps his ratty robes tightly around himself as he rides, hood up

Gray walks with the others, ranging ahead with that relentless speed of his long limbs, waiting sometimes for the laden horses and ‘his’ horse now carrying much of their supplies to balance the loads. The beast’s shield across his back as he looks ahead, trying to get a look at the ruins that are their goal, adjusting his surcoat at the chill wind. He looks back with concern to Falkirk, trying to tell if the older human is holding up well in this grim weather.

1:24Bomrek: “Say, Elf, are we expected to meet anyone at the ruins? Some fellow soldiers of the king, maybe?”

1:25Ken (GM): “We’re scouts, remember Bomrek? I think they intended the Canons to be all we would need as reinforcements for the time being” He looks a bit disgusted with the notion. “I doubt the Marshalls knew the extent the Beastmen were already incurring into the Reaches. They made a lot of decisions based on their maps, not their travels, or the Ranger’s reports”

1:28Bomrek: “Paperwork, every soldier’s enemy.”

1:29Ken (GM): “The problem I see, is that the Men are all just sons of their fathers. The Kingdom is Marshalled by men without tested mettle! “he scoffs” The elves would be fine if their territory was breached, I’m sure. We still have some leaders who were there in the last war! Men are too young, too…thin-blooded a species. They don’t have the breadth of time. No experience. No ability beyond ‘book learned studies’ or ‘theories’ about the Beastmen”

1:30Falkirk: “We do what we can with what we have. Some would say a long lifespan is cause for complacency.”

1:31Ken (GM): Aachen look like he’s kicked a puppy “I meant no offence, Master Falkirk, I simply mean…I am frustrated at the lack of control the Humans have on their Kingdom. ”

Falkirk doesn’t make any obvious response, face hidden behind his hood.

1:32Ken (GM): “And you are too right; the Elven Empire is a torporous plodding beast. “

1:32Bomrek: “Bah, I heard tale in a tavern once of a traveler who went to the elf lands. Said that you aged just the same as men, but kept acting, pretending to be your forefathers. Something Horsa could respect I suppose.”

Gray considers that a moment. “I don’t know if I have any opinion about that. We should come into sight of the ruins soon, shouldn’t we?” His lips twitch to a faint smile at Bomrek’s suggestion that elven longevity is playacting.

1:33Bomrek: “How can a man tell lies when he’s had seven ales in him? A fine way to get the truth out of a guardsman, that much I know.”

1:33Ken (GM): NPC-Horsa: YES; ACTING. THAT IS A THING I DO. BEEP BOOP

Ken (GM) and so, the sodden trail disappeared by hoof-steps and long strides, until piercing the mists ahead came a sight: The Statue of Horns. White stone gleaming in the slick rain, shimmering like river stones even in the dim light. The image of the King of Greyhold, seated on the throne, overlooking the South with a grim stare. But! In his outstretched arm, where he should hold a replica of the Grey Blade, instead is a crimson mass of tangled root and gore, dripping in the wet rain.

Suðri Skornbrekker looks in awe at the great statue, and in shock at its disfigurement

1:37Bomrek: What kind of gore? Just what scale are we talking about anyway? The size of a minivan? The size of a city bus? the size of a house?

1:37Ken (GM): [map change! ]

1:37Bomrek: Neat

Ken (GM) something is not right here…

Gray pauses to watch the statue a moment before looking around to watch for dangers with bright eyes, hunting around them as the statue gleams in the wet.

1:39Falkirk: “That’s… unusual.”

Ken (GM) The King is seated on his throne; on his head is a crown of shining gold. The throne sits on a tall plinth, itself seated on the ruins of old below it. A mighty tower once stood here, or perhaps, once, a small keep. The hill rises up below the feature, covered in thick mosses and short grasses.

Before the statue, a large Brazier sits. Where it’s belly should be full of burning wood and coals, instead is a pool of red waters. Perched inside that pool is a bristling growth of red; something akin to a plant but it seems to have reaching arms of red rubbery skin, waving hypnotically and against the wind. How distinctly unnatural.

Suðri Skornbrekker grind his teeth in anger. “To see such a masterpiece defiled… Revolting!”

Suðri Skornbrekker strokes his beard in thought.

Ken (GM) around the statue’s base, you see small effigies of bones and… worse; offal arranged encircling it. Each is a strange affront to the statue. Fearsome. Striking.

1:41Suðri Skornbrekker: “It is strange that the crown has not yet been plundered, isn’t it?”

1:41Falkirk: “I dont think this was the work of bandits, master dwarf.”

1:42Bomrek: “What’s strange is that they keep the thing standing. I would think they would just tear it down if they wanted to dishonor it.”
(How big is the crown, approximately? Something comparable to it in real life. )

1:43Ken (GM): [It looks to be a few feet across. Several hundred pounds of gold, or at least several pounds of gold leaf]

1:43Bomrek: Oh baby

1:43Bomrek: Well shit, it’s not like anybody’s been here for a few decades.

Gray scowls a touch as he gazes at the obscene plant and the strange effigies, considering a moment and drawing his sword, settling himself slowly and speaking in his rough voice. “I don’t like this.”

1:44Bomrek: [“Oh, that gold hat thing? Yeah idunno, it was gone when we got there”]
I look at the plant. So it’s… moving on it’s own, slightly? Or is that just the wind?

1:45Falkirk: I’d like to see if I can recognize any of the weird and probably magical shit here
what’s the relevant skill?

1:46Ken (GM): The odd red plant has swaying fronds reaching up, much like a cactus flower. The fronds wave back and forth though, twisting about the plant, moving of their own volition.

1:46Bomrek: “I say we burn that plant, it looks demonic.”

Suðri Skornbrekker only now pays closer attention to the weird plant thing, his eyes having been affixed on the statue, and subsequently the other objects placed around it.

1:47Ken (GM): @falkirk: thaumatology please, for the raw magic understanding. You might have best results investigating it directly, poking and prodding, I mean

Falkirk hops off his horse, approaches the strange plant-like growth and produces a small knife from the sleeve of his robe

1:48Suðri Skornbrekker: “Sounds good to me, though my gut instinct tells me not to get too close to it. Perhaps we should remove these bones first, they might create some sort of magic circle that empowers it.” (Suðri Skornbrekker has no idea how magic works, but figures that would be a magicky thing to do )

1:48Ken (GM): around the far side of the brazier and plant, you also see the odd growth on the hillside, spilling out from what looks like a relatively recent unearthed ossuary

1:49Falkirk: “Well that’s cause for concern.”

1:49Ken (GM): the vines seem to grow out of the earth from the bone pile, and have taken to growing in the Brazier direct

Falkirk gently prods the growths with a sleeve-covered finger

Gray frowns and walks after the older man, watching to see if the man will be devoured by an evil plant. “That seems unwise.”

1:49Suðri Skornbrekker: “Careful, doctor.”

1:49Ken (GM): the red rubbery vines go “squish” as if they were hoses filled with liquid.

Suðri Skornbrekker dismounts and follows the doctor, weapon in hand.

1:50Ken (GM): The vine also wiggles a bit in response

1:50Bomrek: “Doctor, use that fire potion of yours, nothing from this land is safe I’m sure.”

1:50Falkirk: I’d like to try a thaumaturgy check to see if there’s anything I can discern at this point

1:50Ken (GM): (NPC Horsa volunteers to watch the horses)

1:50P.P. A.: does poking something first give you a bonus to identifying it

1:50Falkirk: “Calm yourselves, we’ll find out exactly what this is before rash decisions.”

1:50P.P. A.: I think it should!

1:51Falkirk: 6v11 +/- modifiers

1:52(GM to Falkirk): You suspect this plant is otherworldly, or not a “plant” at all; when you touched it, you can feel a pulse of magic. A strong aura of … something alive. Not just growing, but possibly sentient

1:52Ken (GM): nice roll

Falkirk begins speaking, addressing the fleshy mesh in one language after another.

1:53Falkirk: “Do you understand language, fleshy creature?”

1:54Bomrek: Bomrek’s expression changes dramatically, to angry confusion.

Gray frowns at the man with an expression that speaks of concern about the wisdom of this course of action.

Suðri Skornbrekker ‘s reaction to seeing someone speak in tongues to a plant is similar, though perhaps more subdued.

1:54Bomrek: Bomrek has his musket in hand in general, but puts out his two-pound weight gun powder barrel on the ground near his feet.

Suðri Skornbrekker can’t get that upset about it after seeing a demon suck the blood and possibly soul out of a horse just recently.

1:55Ken (GM): paranoia intensifies

Ken (GM) the plant doesn’t seem to react. Rain falls, bouncing off the rubbery hide of the tentacle growths. Gurgles of fluid travel about the veiny protrusions. Not much happens

1:56Falkirk: “Worth a try.”

Ken (GM) and then a strange noise, like ripping fabric, or tearing meat …and with a SPLORTCH a large inhuman SKULL forces its way up and out of the blossom in the Brazier!

Falkirk raises a robed arm, beckoning the others not to do anything rash.

1:57Suðri Skornbrekker: “If you say so,” Suthri comments cheekily.

Suðri Skornbrekker stops the cheekiness because suddenly skull

Ken (GM) it drips with a wet veneer of cherry-red fluid. The sickly smell of sugar and coppery tang of blood hit the air, even through the rainfall

1:57Suðri Skornbrekker immediately aims his musket at it

1:58Falkirk: “Seems somebody is indeed home.”

1:58Suðri Skornbrekker: “You have my apologies, but now I doubt the wisdom of trying to speak to the plant for an entirely different reason.”

Gray settles the shield and watches with a scowl on rough features, looking to the grim skull as rain drips from the blade in his hand.

1:59Bomrek: Bomrek swears in Dwarfish, backs up a step, and then circles around with his vision on the area, trying to ensure nobody else is around, or no other weird shit happens from the flank

2:00(GM to Bomrek): You see no approaching army in the mists, nor ambush in the rain. The horizon is clear in all directions

Ken (GM) the skull parts its maw, and sucks in a breath through sharp fanglike teeth. Wet sucking noises follow, and as it rasps in breath after breath, bubbling gasses pour through the pool of red it sits upon

Falkirk tries communicating, shouting up in the Infernal

Suðri Skornbrekker takes a few steps back, eyes and barrel peeled on the monstrosity

2:00(From Falkirk): “We bear you no ill will and hope that you return this. Who are you?”

2:00Ken (GM): At the sound of the forbidden tongue, the head whips about to face Falkirk!
And it somehow GRINS

2:00Bomrek: the skull grins
uh oh

2:01Falkirk: spooky

2:01(GM to Falkirk): You are wise to wish to appease me MORTAL for I am He Who Grows, and I will feast upon your bones!

2:02Ken (GM): The Skull barks back in the gutteral tongue, his voice slithering and screeching along the notes

2:02Bomrek: Bomrek switches to common language swears under his breath. He leans to Suðri and quietly says in Dwarfish “How many shots for the cannon do we have?”

2:02(From Falkirk): Can I take a roll to see if his name or the fact that he’s a big spooky skull rings any bells?

2:02(GM to Falkirk): What offering do you bring me, on this day of my awakening?

2:02(GM to Falkirk): Occultism please!

2:02(From Falkirk): 7v11

Gray resist the urge to growl at that, shifting his weight and watching the monstrous thing.

2:04(GM to Falkirk): This is most likely a Demon, and while his specific name holds no historical meaning to you, the flowery prose and method of speech implies he is a powerful spirit residing in this mortal coil. He is also most likely egotistical and demanding.

2:05P.P. A.: (Playing a low fantasy campaign is kind of satisfying, you get to have your characters actually react as you’d expect someone to, faced with horrors from out of this world)

2:06(From Falkirk): “You’re quite a majestic entity it must be said. I’m already feeling honored to have had a chance at talking with you. We have an offering of flesh and bone, but I’d humbly like to request something of your knowledge as a small boon in return.”

Suðri Skornbrekker replies to Bomrek, in Dwarvish too: “At least four… but none of them incendiary I’m afraid.”

2:06Bomrek: (Shit, what am I doing just standing around then?) Bomrek goes to unpack the big gun!

2:06Ken (GM): The Skeletal visage continues to speak in shivering tones with Falkirk

Falkirk continues to return the odd tongue

2:07Suðri Skornbrekker: “I have my doubts that this head is the… being’s head too, it might well be an outgrowth or some-such.”

2:07(GM to Falkirk): “You are wise to ask before I extract my price, MORTAL. I am already weary of this stinking world; flesh and bone will sustain me, and I shall have it NOW. Ask your boon”

Falkirk quickly turns to the group.

2:08Falkirk: “Fetch me the Beastman, hurry it up!” He turns to the skull and continues talking

2:09Suðri Skornbrekker: “Is this going to be another sacrifice? I’ve had enough of these for today.” Suðri goes to get him anyway, having faith in the doc.

2:09Bomrek: Bomrek grabs the beast man and drags him over to Falkirk, leaving his other job of untying the Cannon

Suðri Skornbrekker dumps the wounded Ibixian in front of Falkirk

Gray frowns at the suggestion and shakes his head in disapproval, turning to the others and letting the dwarf handle the job of collecting the beastman. He helps with the weight of the heavy gun.

Suðri Skornbrekker whispers: “The cannons are ready too, you know.”

Suðri Skornbrekker joins the other dwarf and Gray in handling the cannons

2:10(From Falkirk): “There is a rot that plagues these lands, turns flesh to phlegm and leaves none behind it – I imagine your knowledge is only matched by your grandeur so you could surely part with such paltry trivia in exchange for this?”

2:10Ken (GM): The great skull rises up and shivers; it writhes and rattles, like a great snake

2:11Bomrek: Like a great rain-stick. I love those things. Only place you can buy’m is disneyland.

2:11(GM to Falkirk): WHat. Is . This?!

2:11P.P. A.: what king rules disneyland
is it west of the elves’ lands?

2:11Bomrek: Anyway, Bomrek sets up the cannon a good ways back from the thing, further than the map allows. Don’t want a mouth full of ricochet, after all.

2:11(GM to Falkirk): What is this… unseasoned, unprepared, crude offering?!

2:12(From Falkirk): “Flesh, blood and bone, as promised.”

Falkirk backs up slightly

2:12(GM to Falkirk): WHAT IS THIS CHEAP THING?!

Suðri Skornbrekker watches tensely, feeling guilty in being an accomplice to feeding a sick, vile, demon—even if that beastman’s lowly soul is hardly innocent.

Ken (GM) The Thing rises up, barking sharp notes and hissing

2:13(GM to Falkirk): What KIND of low BEAST do you take ME FOR?!

2:13(From Falkirk): “Aye, perhaps it is not to your taste. We’ll simply take it out of your sight and continue on our journey. Your time has been appreciated.”

2:13Ken (GM): “Uhh, flakirk, everything okay?” asks Aachen quielty

Falkirk backs up more

2:14Falkirk: “Aye… you might want to get back on the horses.”

Suðri Skornbrekker follows his example and likewise backs up, in the direction of the cannon

Suðri Skornbrekker or the horses

2:14(GM to Falkirk): YOU WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR THE BARGAIN STRUCK MORTAL; OR I WILL EXTRACT IT FROM YOUR HIDES!

Ken (GM) the Skull rears up, out of the flowering bloom, onto a snaking tentacle growth of red bubbling flesh, snapping its jaws at Falkirk

2:15(From Falkirk): “We’ve paid your bargain, perhaps if it not to your tastes we could find something more suitable at a later date?”

Falkirk looks distinctly concerned with this turn of events

2:15Suðri Skornbrekker: “Run!”

2:15Ken (GM): INITIATIVE!

Gray swears with the passionate intensity of a man that expected this and is still pissed.

2:16 Gray: rolling 1d6 (6)= 6

2:16Ken (GM): hahaha

2:16Falkirk: 1
WELP

2:16Bomrek: aw crap, got distracted, time to read what happened.

2:16Gray: That’s 6 + 6 = 12 for Gray

2:16Suðri Skornbrekker: rolling 1d6+5 (3)+5 = 8

2:17Ken (GM): and combat reflexes! +2 Gray!

2:17Gray: Ah, yeah. 14

2:17Bomrek: rolling 1d6 (1)= 1
welp

2:17Ken (GM): boourns
falkirk is 7.75
rolling 1d6 (3)= 3 aachen is a … 10

2:18Bomrek: Okay so mine is 1 + 5.5 + 1

2:19Ken (GM): +2, not +1, you and Gray was all prepared and watchful like
and last horsa rolling 1d6 (4)= 4

2:19Bomrek: So 8.5

2:20Ken (GM): and IT (rolling secretly )

GRAY! The beast is all snippy about something! WAT DO

2:21Gray: Uhh.. Fuck. Gray will move some. Try to get over nearer the old man

2:22Ken (GM): kk; runnin to get into the fray
HORSA! yells out for the dwarves “Bomrek! Suthree! Help me kill this thing with your damned cannon!” He draws his blade, and steps up to the canon

2:23Ken (GM): AACHEN! Draws his sword, and leaps to interpose himself between the beast and Falkirk “YOU SHALL NOT HAVE HIS BLOOD TODAY!”
SKORNBREKKER!

2:24Falkirk: “Aye, here’s hoping you’ll be buffer enough.”

Suðri Skornbrekker runs towards Bomerk with haste

2:25Ken (GM): (you callin’ Aachen tiny?! :P)

2:25Falkirk: elves

2:25Bomrek: oh man

2:25Falkirk: oh also, did I regain any FP on the ride
not sure if a horse ride is relaxed enough to count

2:25Ken (GM): yeah, you’d have +3 FP from the rest back there

2:29Ken (GM): lulz you guys are in position with the gun, you firing it? (forgiving moving your tokens around there)

2:31Bomrek: Oh, is it my turn?
Because yes, after figuring out SM stuff, and maybe aiming.

2:31Ken (GM): aim would be good

2:32Bomrek: Right, well assuming it’s my turn – Aim.
What are the penalties and or bonuses to hit this thing, anyway?

2:32Ken (GM): cool; its a heavy gun, but mostly just awkward; its mean t to be mounted and you guys have it braced on the ground in its frame
the beast is SM +2, really, you’ll just need to contend with the 13M strength requirement on the gun
BUT! you have aimed!
THE BEAST goes! (got an 8 initiative)

2:34Bomrek: (Wait, I’m holding the cannon? I thought we had this baby set up? )

2:34Joush M.: (when it’s mounted you get to ignore Bulk and ST requirement, and it’s braced. Gray really could just fire it as a handheld gun without penalty, beyond that of carrying around an extra almost thirty pounds. It’s braced in it’s tripod/frame now )

2:34Ken (GM): braced in its mount on the ground, yes. Your aiming, nudging it with your hands, minor adjustments

2:35Bomrek: Ah, right, right.

2:35Ken (GM): so THE BEAST! it lunges for Falkirk! Frothing red from its maw!

2:35Falkirk: oh boy

2:36Bomrek: Bomrek is scrambling to aim and make sure this shot counts, and says “We’re going to need a bigger cannon” in Dwarvish as he sees THAT happen.

2:36Ken (GM): it’s squelching vine of a body thrusts out of the pool and flower, forward! For Falkirk!

Ken (GM) splorch splorch splorch [having way too much fun with a mutli-token body here, Roll20 is very forgiving though. Three segmented sections with vine limbs]

2:36Ken (GM): But Aachen interposes himself! Sacrificial dive dodge!
rolling 3d6 (4+3+5 )= 12 to hit!
rolling 3d6 (3+2+6) = 11 dive dodge!
yeah!

2:37Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 (4+2+2) = 8 random hit location
in the 8’s!

2:37Falkirk: oh lord so he’s taking the hit for me?

2:37Ken (GM): direct in the right arm!

2:37Joush M.: Falkirk’s getting our elf killed

2:38Ken (GM): rolling 1d6 + 4 (3) + 4 = 7 impaling bite!
bam!

2:38Falkirk: oh christ

Ken (GM) red blood and red spittle mingle, as Aachen leaps to Falkirk’s defense! He thrusts his arm in the maw of the beast, deflecting the blow, but suffering a terrible bite!

2:39Ken (GM): Aachen screams, high and panicky! You can see bone, Falkirk!
rolling 3d6 (1+1+5) = 7 HT10 vs major wound

2:40Falkirk: “What are you waiting for? Get that cannon fired!”

2:40Ken (GM): He’s still standing! and the arm isnt severed!

2:40Falkirk: Crippled? I can fix crippled maybe.

2:41Ken (GM): hoepfully! FALKIRKS turn!

Falkirk yanks a bottle of black, viscous liquid from his belt and swears in an obscure and ancient tongue

2:42Falkirk: and that’s my turn

2:42Ken (GM): woo!

2:42(GM to Falkirk): details

2:43(From Falkirk): Alchemist’s fire from my potion belt.

2:43(GM to Falkirk): fun!

2:43Ken (GM): GRAY!

2:44(From Falkirk): Hopefully

2:44(GM to Falkirk): even if it’s disaster, thats still fun

2:44Gray: Humm.. Move up and hit it with All Out Attack (Double)

2:44Ken (GM): cool! you get up to half move

2:45Bomrek: “Fire the Cannon Bomrek, fire the Cannon’ Well I told you it takes time! You should have thrown your blasted fire bottle at the start like I said! No good comes from magic and BEASTMEN!”

2:45Gray: rolling 3d6 (6+2+4)= 12

2:45Gray: rolling 3d6 (4+6+1)= 11

2:46Gray: Two hits then. Could have gone for deceptive or something. Should have, ah well.

2:46Ken (GM): The beast attempts a dodge! rolling 3d6 (3+3+1)= 7
it wiggles shy of your first blow! second attack?
rolling 3d6 (5+5+3)= 13
it fails to dodge your second blow!
choppy choppy

2:48Gray: rolling 3d6+1 (4+2+3)+1 = 10

2:48Ken (GM): goddamn

2:48Gray: 10 CUT

2:48Ken (GM): Thwack!

2:49Falkirk: woah

2:50Ken (GM): Yeah, so you hew into the massive thing! Like wood, it parts, and you deal 15 wounds to the beast! and it keeps on wriggling!

Gray lunges forward, past the smaller writhing vines to strike at the thick stalk that writhes out of the way, then on the backstroke the blade catches it deeply, red ichor from the twisted plant released.. but he’s left himself open for a counterattack.

2:50Ken (GM): HORSA!
does nothing useful but look nervous with his sword in hand! mutters something about dwarven cannons (Takes an all out defense, dodge)

AACHEN!
screams! In PAIN! And tries to wriggle free! [caught in a bite/grapple]

2:51Bomrek: Oh, I’m intent on eventually shooting the bowl it’s wriggling out of, by the way, if that wasn’t clear.

2:51Joush M.: Nervous, but at least we will die looking at something pretty.

2:51Ken (GM): (sounds good bomrek)
rolling 3d6 (2+1+2)= 5
Aachens Wriggles actually free him! The maw drops his arm! it is streaked with two tones of red ichor!
SKORNBREKKER!

2:52Falkirk: wew

2:52P.P. A.: Is there a way to assist in setting up the cannon to give Bomrek a bonus when firing it?

2:54Ken (GM): assuming you take his lead? Yeah, you can grant a +1 bracing the thing with him. Beat a gunner; cannon roll?

2:54P.P. A.: Sec, gotta look up the default since I don’t have it trained (gotta fix that)

2:54Adolf S.: >Suori doesn’t even know the SPORT of dwarven cannonmanship
How embarassing

2:55Bomrek: dx-4 I think?

2:55P.P. A.: Default: IQ-5. Artillery

2:55Bomrek: This would be gunner, since it’s a straight shot

2:55Ken (GM): nope, Gunner Cannon; DX-4

2:55Bomrek: and not just an arch shot related thing.
Shooting a gun =/= as shooting a mortar,

2:56P.P. A.: yeah, dx-4 then

2:56Falkirk: mhm

2:56Bomrek: shooting a cannon directly at something =/= shooting a cannon super far and calculating archs and such.
Basically.

2:56Falkirk: but you can use both skills for one weapon

2:56Bomrek: Yup.

2:56Falkirk: in the right circumstances

2:56Ken (GM): depending on how you use it yes. in this case, gunner

Suðri Skornbrekker helps brace the cannon 10v(12-4)

Suðri Skornbrekker isn’t very useful

2:57Ken (GM): I AM HALP

2:57Suðri Skornbrekker: Shouldn’t negatively affect it unless it#s a critical fumble though, right?

2:57Ken (GM): you didnt fuck up too bad; +0 for bomrek!

Suðri Skornbrekker is helping!

2:57Ken (GM): speaking of which!

2:57P.P. A.: now I know where to put some of the XP I accumulated
after this session

2:58Falkirk: mhm

2:58Ken (GM): BOMREK turn!

2:58Bomrek: My turn? Turn order isn’t showing up for me still so I’m basically blind. Great.

2:58Ken (GM): do da shooty!

2:58Bomrek: What’s the SM and distance stuff?
For the .. what’s the word. Fire-bowl dealy.

2:58Ken (GM): aiming on the brazier?

2:58Bomrek: Mmhm.

(Gray to GM) Gray remembers to try to resist going berserk in combat [13]

2:58Joush M.: Forgot to roll that before, sorry

2:59(GM to Gray): no worries, good on ya for rolling it

2:59Bomrek: I figure something important to it is in there, but if not, I imagine it’ll at least fuck it up somewhat.

2:59Ken (GM): 7 hexes away, SM +4, and it’s not dodging

2:59Bomrek: Right. Any penalty for that hex distance?
rolling 3d6 (6+5+6)= 17

2:59Ken (GM): yep, standard -3 distance penalty

2:59Bomrek: Hm.

2:59Falkirk: wow
wooooooooooooow

2:59Bomrek: I may have a chance.. may.

2:59P.P. A.: fug

2:59Bomrek: No, not so much.

2:59Bomrek: wait.

2:59Ken (GM): oh dear

2:59Bomrek: What was my aim benefit

2:59Ken (GM): lol

2:59Bomrek: or does this not count as that.

2:59Ken (GM): Acc +2

3:00Joush M.: Did Bom just shoot our elf?

3:00Ken (GM): “maybe”

3:00P.P. A.: or the statue

3:00Falkirk: pretty sure that’s a malf regardless

3:00Bomrek: So +4 for size, +2 for aim, -X amount for distance, with a skill of 13.

3:00Falkirk: like, critfail and target skill aside
these cannons rarely have malf higher than 16 iirc
assuming we’re using malf rules that is

3:01Ken (GM): -3 for distance

3:01Joush M.: You killed mah gun! I was going to make it a pistol!

3:01Ken (GM): so you got 17 on a 16 roll

3:01Bomrek: At this point it’ll be faster just to strip the other cannon out of it’s box, than reload, I think.

3:01P.P. A.: yeah

3:02Falkirk: I wouldn’t bother with cannons at this point

3:02Ken (GM): we need an unmodified 3d6 roll for Malf, Bomrek

3:02Bomrek: rolling 3d6 (2+2+1)= 5
>wouldn’t bother
Eh.

3:02Ken (GM): yay!

3:03Bomrek: Depends how easy this thing is to kill. If it’s as simple as shooting it’s skull, yeah, but that might not mean jack shit.

3:03Ken (GM): The cannon goes “PHUNT” and farts its load. the gunpowder got wet(?) and it simply needs a repack! You didnt died!

3:04Joush M.: Makes sense. hard to get a wheellock working in the pissing rain

3:04Ken (GM): it will take a ready maneuver to diagnose/fix. Armory +2 or IQ based gun roll BUT NOW ITS THE BEASTS TURN!
It rears back, and snaps at Gray!
rolling 3d6 (4+1+3)= 8 and bites!
Gray cannot defend!

3:05Ken (GM): rolling 1d6 + 4 (2)+4 = 6 impaling!
Gray! whats ya Torso DR again?

3:06Joush M.: Gray has 6 DR over the torso

3:06Ken (GM): noice so! youve been clamped down in it’s maw!

Ken (GM) chew chew chew

3:06Ken (GM): FALKIRK!

3:07Joush M.: Ooh, you want to grapple do you? YOU ARE IN MY TOWN NOW, BITCH

3:08Bomrek: “DAMNED MIST! The powder was wet!” he screams in Dwarvish. “Souri, the other cannon!”

Gray snarls as the thing grasp and shakes him, holding it’s attention and trusting the dwarves to handle this. They could leave, if they wanted. It’s not as if a plant could chase them. But killing this thing seems a worth task.

3:09Falkirk: All-out attack with my flask to the base of this thing’s stem; what’s the range/pen on that?

3:10Ken (GM): 7 hexes/ -3, +4 to hit the Hex

3:11Falkirk: okay so that’s a +2 modifier including +1 for all-out
10v13

3:11Ken (GM): woo!

3:11Falkirk: wewlad
okay so

3:11Falkirk: the numbers on alchemist’s fire

3:11Ken (GM): flask breaks!

3:12Falkirk: 2yd radius of fire

3:12Ken (GM): hahah FUN
3:12Falkirk: 1d-1 burn in that radius

3:12Ken (GM): kk

3:12Falkirk: with 1d-3(5) burn on the target
per second
for 30 seconds

3:13Ken (GM): hahahsh fuck

Falkirk shakes and hurls the bottle

3:13Ken (GM): gimme radius, then target, both apply

3:13Falkirk: “How’s this for flesh and bone you overgrown graveyard!?”
how do you mean?

3:14Ken (GM): roll us some damage my man! you damaged it!

3:14Falkirk: OH
oh
ok

3:14Ken (GM): lol

3:14Falkirk: 3
2

3:15Bomrek: Neat.

3:15Ken (GM): nice
okay then! The brazier bursts to alchemical life and fire engulfs the base of the Beast’s stem! It howls in pain!
rolling 3d6 (1+6+6)= 13
and does not drop Gray!
Gray! you have been bit, it is latched on stubborn like, do the killy
GRAY! turn

3:17Joush M.: with the torso grappled my arms are free, but I’m at C and can’t use the sword?

3:18Bomrek: Gray is strong isn’t he? Might be able to pry some of that shit off him?

3:18Ken (GM): well, you can use the sword(only your torso is grabbed) but you can only hit reach 1 distance. so the body, but not its head. Also, -4 for it not being a C range weapon, used while youre grappled (awkwardness penalty)
And yeah,@Bomrek, Gray has a nice roll vs breaking free if it comes to that

3:19Falkirk: if you have a knife

3:19Joush M.: Well Gray has one C weapon readied. Bite for the neck. What are my modifers on that? Knives are for people without RAZOR SHARP FANGS

3:19Falkirk: now would be a good time to drop and draw

3:19Ken (GM): nice

3:19Falkirk: a bite works too

3:19Ken (GM): hahah hit location is normal, but i’ll throw a +1 to hit for that being firggin awesome (and for optimal reach/placement)
and dont forget, it’s SM+2, so bonus to hit there too

3:20Gray: rolling 3d6 (2+3+5)= 10 Hit!

3:21Ken (GM): yay! it attempts to wriggle (dodge) out of the way, but grapple penalties !
rolling 3d6 (4+4+1)= 9 FAIL!
you have bit! 1d+1 imp! yikes!

3:21Gray: rolling 1d6+1 (2)+1 = 3 IMP

3:22Ken (GM): (do not fuck with gray) you bite back! sinking your fangs and tearing a chunk; [its a bit like biting hard rubber ]

3:22Joush M.: The scary part is he can grapple normal sized people with his fangs and drag them off like a mountan lion with a deer.

3:22Ken (GM): red ichor splashes your mouth : roll HT

3:23Bomrek: Saw this coming, don’t bite into something made of magic

3:23Ken (GM): magic-AIDS

Gray growls savagely and worries with throat of the monster with his fangs, savage and brutal as the ichor stains his mouth.. 12 vs HT (+1 for Fit, +8 for Resistant to Disease, -? for You Seriously Bit The Graveyard Plant Monster ???)

3:24Ken (GM): boo; thats all sorts of pass; no GM fun allowed

3:25Ken (GM): HORSA! In a thready voice “WHY DIDNT THE GUN FIRE?! OH GOD ITS EATING GRAY! OH GOD GRAY IS EATING IT BACK!?”
3:25Ken (GM): AACHEN! “OH god my arm oh jeez i use that arm!~~~”
SKORNBREKKER!

3:26Bomrek: Unpack my man! Unpack!

Suðri Skornbrekker does just that

3:26P.P. A.: How many rounds will that take?

3:27Ken (GM): cool, you step around the horse and haul on the straps to the next box. With a yank Aachens pack-ties release the box with only a ready action. You has a box
(1 more round for open box, 1 more round for ready gun/point at enemy)

Suðri Skornbrekker carries the box over there (if there’s still time) and dumps it

3:28Bomrek: I’d like to make my turn into a “unpack this shit” turn, if that’s possible.

3:28Ken (GM): kk Bomrek shows up and helps!

3:28P.P. A.: good enough

3:29Ken (GM): the box delatches, and opens! theres a cannon in there!
THE BEAST!
it picks up Gray!

3:29Joush M.: I’m getting eaten over here and the dwarves are makeing an unboxing video

3:29Bomrek: [“Kinda shoddy honestly, I expected more packing information and maybe some quality infographics. Oh, here’s the user’s manual, it’s in spanish on this side as you can see”]

3:30Ken (GM): and IT laughs! as it retreats into the burning brazier! Gray! an opposed grapple?

3:30Ken (GM): your choice of ST, grappling or escape

3:30Gray: rolling 3d6 (6+6+1)= 13 vs STRONK

3:30Gray: That’s uh.. 7 degrees of sucess on ST based grappleing

3:30Ken (GM): noice
rolling 3d6 (5+1+2)= 8

3:31P.P. A.: [“Here’s the free collector’s card that comes with every cannon… Ooh, it’s the rare ‘Bomrek Buster’ card, and it’s the shiny variant too!”]

3:31Ken (GM): Beat by 11 from the beast, size difference included (your +1 vs his +2 = +1 for him here)
the two of you get toasty in the fire
it cackles

Gray gets dragged, lifted, pulled into the burning hell of the brazer filled with offal and fire. Burning sends a fission of fear the monster failed to inspire, it’s one of the few things that forces him to heal nearly human slow.

FALKIRKS turn!

3:33Falkirk: so grey’s in the skull’s mouth, right? not being tentacle’d ?

3:33Ken (GM): grappled all fun-like! yep, just held by the mouth

3:33Ken (GM): which has retreated into the FIRE

3:33Falkirk: do I have LoS on said skull?

3:33Bomrek: Aw shit.

3:33Ken (GM): yes; but it is grappling Gray!

3:33Falkirk: hmm I’d only hit him on a miss though right?

3:34Ken (GM): one sec
ugh “shooting into a grapple” fuck

3:35Falkirk: heheh

3:36Ken (GM): I know the modifier; I thnk its on the GM screen easily enough
shit; fuckit
call it -2 for now, ill look it up again some other time

3:37Falkirk: improv something meng
okay

3:38Ken (GM): when im not holding us up
but! wat do?

3:38Falkirk: okay actually I’m gonna go and
make all that a waste of time

3:38Ken (GM): lol
OF COURSE

3:38Falkirk: and just move

3:39Ken (GM): luls, go full force

3:39Falkirk: okay [MOVES] I’m good

3:39Ken (GM): BAM GRAY it is initiative count 0! And youre in a fire!

Falkirk turns to run, steering clear of the fleshy biomass

3:40Joush M.: For large area it’s the average DR between your least armored non-eye location and torso, right?

3:40Ken (GM): falkirk! 1d-1 burning on him please! (and yeah, thats the DR rule for area effects)

3:41Falkirk: 5

3:41Ken (GM): whee!

3:41Falkirk: D:

3:41Bomrek: oh god.

3:41Gray: So.. I have 4 DR if you average Neck (2) and Torso (6) for 2 damage?

3:41Ken (GM): yep
toasty!
it is now your turn GRAY at top of order!

Gray attempts to throw off the monster’s grasp, snarling.

3:42Gray: rolling 3d6 (5+2+1)= 8 vs ST

3:43Ken (GM): nice! beat by 10?

3:43(From Falkirk): What would be the most likely outcome of me disturbing that there circle of skulls, do you think?

3:43(GM to Falkirk): roll vs thaumotology!

3:43Bomrek: “Oh god, it ate gray! And now it’s going to eat us too!”

3:43Joush M.: 11 I think. I’ve got Wrestling at ST +1 for escaping grapple, ect from Power Grappling.

3:44Bomrek: “Nooooooooooooo!”

3:44Ken (GM): ah right
rolling 3d6 (2+6+5)= 13
you beat the beast! Pried yourself from it’s maw, you stand in roughly knee-deep burning blood!

Gray withdraws from the grasp after twisting away, roaring, fire licking at his huge body. There will be painful burns later, but he can endure this a moment.

3:45(From Falkirk): 11v11

3:46Ken (GM): HORSA! “OH GOD NOW HES ON FIRE!” Horsa kicks the cannon that misfired, in anger “Come get ME you stupid demon! Come fight us over here!”

3:46(GM to Falkirk): Cool; assuming the skulls are part of the binding (which it looks like) you’ll definitely be breaking up whatever Working that was done here. It might banish the beast. It might not, but odds are likely it will do something at least

Suðri Skornbrekker is desperately trying to keep a cool head and to focus on the damn cannon

3:46Ken (GM): lol AACHEN! retreats from the fire and such to accompany Falkirk with his limp swordarm. Also, he dropped his sword [adjusts map]

3:47Ken (GM): SKORNBREKKER unpacking? setting up canon with Bomrek?

Suðri Skornbrekker unpacks the cannon and helps set it up indeed

3:48Ken (GM): woot woot

3:48Bomrek: Well, suori took the cannon off the thing, I unpacked it, I guess now we set it up? Either that or aim.

3:48Ken (GM): pick a Hex?

3:48Bomrek: Depends what step we’re on. yeah, right about there. [adjusts map token]

3:49Ken (GM): cool; it is setup, and pointed, and now Aiming!

3:49Bomrek: +2 baby.

ZE BEAST!

3:50Ken (GM): The beast roars, aflame and howling. It screams in the infernal tongue, a keening wail following

3:50(GM to Falkirk): “IMA EAT YA BONES!” in infernal

3:52Ken (GM): BONY TENTACLES BURST FROM IT’S BODY, AND THRUST OUT, DRIPPING WITH FLAMING GORE
REEEEEEEE

FALKIRK!

Falkirk continues running now, breaking into a sprint (+1 hex move)

3:52Bomrek: [“REEEEEEEEEEEE DWARVES GET OOOUUUUTTT”]

3:53Ken (GM): initiative 0!
fire damage from falkirk!

3:53Joush M.: This is fine. I’m okay with events are unfolding currently.
https://goo.gl/images/J6hUPZ

3:53Falkirk: 1
…dont worry guys!

3:53Ken (GM): right
gray is undamaged (DR!), the beast burns more (no DR!)
GRAY! back to you! it has flaily arms now!

Gray knows that even with his toughness and armor he won’t survive long in the flames, and so retreats..

3:55Ken (GM): [zoidberg noises]

Gray drops down from the bowl and staggers back, then slaps the fire out on his arm, turning to hold off the monster, between it and the dwarves that prepare the heavy gun.

3:56Ken (GM): The horses dont deal well with the demonic screaming, and HORSA spends his turn keeping his from bolting

AACHEN accompanies Falkirk

SKORNBREKKER!

3:57P.P. A.: Hm, the cannon is unpacked and loaded already

3:57Bomrek: I’m already aiming it actually.

3:57Ken (GM): save the horses?

3:58P.P. A.: Guess I’ll do that ; another attempt to help aim it with a target of 8 wouldn’t be very useful

3:58Ken (GM): cool; two of them in immediate reach, theyre kinda panicked, but do well to simply be reigned in

BOMREK
SHOOT THE SHOOT

3:58Falkirk: inb4 critfail
:3c

3:58Ken (GM): lulz

3:59Bomrek: I do one’a those determined wassit calleds, for +1 [all out attack, determined]

3:59Ken (GM): kk acc +2 as well

3:59Bomrek: Soit’s +2 for aiming.. +1 for that determined wassit… what was the SM again?
and then range penalty.

3:59Ken (GM): distance is -2 form here, SM +4 for brazier
+5 total!

3:59Bomrek: spookt’
rolling 3d6 (4+3+3)= 10

4:00Ken (GM): BOOM!!! THE BRAZIER FAILS TO DODGE

4:00Bomrek: Yup, that’s a success.
13 gunner skill, too good.
h-hhow do I even roll dodge for this beast, anyway?

4:00Ken (GM): 5d+1 pi++ please!

4:00Bomrek: oh man.
rolling 5d6 + 1 (6+3+6+1+5)+1 = 22 PI++

4:00Falkirk: 44 injury holy shit

4:00Ken (GM): lol
fug :DDD

4:01Bomrek: “FIRE IN THE HOLE!” KABOOM

4:01Ken (GM): THE BRAZIER SHATTERS, throwing fire and boiling blood in all directions!

4:01Joush M.: [If that gets on me I’m killing all of you ]

4:01Ken (GM): the Beast’s Keening wail reaches a fever pitch and keens up into the most painful of registers

4:02Bomrek: “Hahahaha! Take that you potted plant!”

4:02Ken (GM): the rubbery mass of tentacles and beast burn and froth, writhing an wriggling in the fire

4:03Bomrek: Shit, Bomrek takes his musket and puts two shots into the thing at this point, too.

4:03Ken (GM): haha
NEXT TURN MAYBE

4:03Bomrek: Oh, it’s not dead? Fuck.

4:03Ken (GM): ITS THE BEASTS GO

Gray snarls at the scream digs into his sensitive ears, a spike of pain from the sound as the monster flails there.

4:03Ken (GM): REEEEEEEEE

4:03Bomrek: More like EEEEEEEEEEE for everybody’s ears but Bomrek’s.

Suðri Skornbrekker wishes this thing would finally die already

4:03Bomrek: Enjoy Tinitus forever, courtesy of the Royal Dwarven Cannon Works.

4:04Ken (GM): ITS COMING FOR YOOUUUUUUUU
hiss
flop
wiggle

4:04Bomrek: Quick, Gray, jump into it’s mouth!

4:04Ken (GM): FALKIRKIO!

4:04Falkirk: I’d like to make a move-and-attack to punt one of those skulls and also cast my contact acid spell

4:04Bomrek: More fire bombs, JESUS It’s Ireland up in this bitch

4:05Ken (GM): okay then ; so move up, splash skull with magic corrosion?

4:05Falkirk: I’ve got two versions

4:05Ken (GM): oh right, slap with the hand

4:06Falkirk: I want to use the stronger close-quarter one, I only have the reach to technically kick it tho

4:06Ken (GM): ah, okay

4:06Falkirk: but it shooould still be castable since I’d be making contact

4:06Ken (GM): GM agrees

4:06Falkirk: okay

4:06Ken (GM): do the kick!

4:07Falkirk: I’ll burn an FP to remove the penalty for move-and-attack [EE option from Marital arts] iirc it’s +6 for attacking something immobile
you can confirm/deny that ?

4:07Falkirk: -5 size modifier?

4:08Ken (GM): yeah, burn the Fp, based on the Martial arts options, makes sense
youre flailing hard, hitting an immobile target, frantically high kicking acid so SM cancells out +0 (its a big effigy) rollio?

4:09Falkirk: so +6 total modifier then
15v14
wow
thanks dice you dicks

4:09Ken (GM): DIIIICKS you do mis…
but! fire damage vs the beast (it has tentacle entrails in the fire still !)

4:10Falkirk: 2

4:10Ken (GM): woo GRAY!

4:11Bomrek: “Doctor, now would be a good time for more fire!”

4:11Ken (GM): (horses panic and move a bit)

Gray calls to the others. “Should we withdraw?” Ask the beast as he slashes with that brutal sword at the monster.
5 vs 15

4:12Ken (GM): swordo choppo!

4:12Joush M.: Hey, is that a crit with skill level 15?

4:12Ken (GM): hells ye sit is!
rolling 3d6 (6+4+6)= 16
and the beast utterly FAILS to critically dofge out the way

4:13Gray: rolling 3d6+1 (2+1+6)+1 = 10 CUT

4:13P.P. A.: good thing it isn’t 11 again

4:13Ken (GM): nice, also, 3d6 for crit effect!

4:14Gray: rolling 3d6 (5+1+5)= 11

4:14Ken (GM): always! with the normal damage onlys! but thats still 10 cutting, 15 wounds!
it goes REE and swings its fearsome maw to look at gray (hint hint, wink wink)
HAVE AT THEE! HORSA, charges!

4:15Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 (2+4+1)= 7 move and attack

4:15Suðri Skornbrekker: “Sounds like a good id—”

4:15Ken (GM): and shanks!
rolling 3d6 (6+3+2)= 11 and hits, dodge fails!
rolling 1d6 + 1 (4)+1 = 5 impaling!
thunk!

4:16Ken (GM): Aachen follows falkirk, takes falkirks lead, tried a failing kick
rolling 3d6 (6+6+2)= 14
almost pulls his groin! but manages to bash he bones!

4:17Falkirk: it’s like the under-12s football league up here

4:18Ken (GM): bashed! SKORNBREKKER!

4:19Suðri Skornbrekker: “Oh whatever, if there are too many of us it can’t possibly devour us all.”

4:19Bomrek: “Kill it!”

Suðri Skornbrekker takes his bardiche and charges! (move and attack )

Suðri Skornbrekker slashes, too

4:19P.P. A.: (oh wait, I have range, I don#t need to kmove that far lol)

4:20Ken (GM): right, long things

4:21Bomrek: How high up is this thing’s skull head, anyway?

4:21P.P. A.: Ah, so skill-4 , MAX 9. Do I get a bonus for the size though?

4:21Ken (GM): you get +2 to hit him, and yes, you can reach all his bits

Suðri Skornbrekker aims for the head then

4:22Ken (GM): burn a FP, and you can ignore the wild swing bit and roll like a normal person just like falkirk and Aachen did

Suðri Skornbrekker does just that, putting it all into a mighty, controlled swing at its head 8v14+2

4:22Ken (GM): yeah it attempts to wriggle out the way
rolling 3d6 (6+5+1)= 12 fails to do so!
(why do I even roll dodge :P)

4:23Suðri Skornbrekker: rolling 1d6+2+3 (1)+2+3 = 6 CUT

4:23Ken (GM): hah, yay! chop chop You hew a chunk, and it goes REE
BOMREKKA!

4:25Bomrek: Hm. Can I hit the head without issue of risk of hitting my companions? Or is it not tall enough for that?

4:25Ken (GM): yep, you can Line of Sight to the face, no worries

4:25Falkirk: (main advantage of dwarves. the other being that they’re stackable )

4:26Bomrek: Wew. Okay, what’s penalty to hit when combined with SM at this range?

4:26Ken (GM): -2 range, +2 SM, -5 for face (or -7 for skull/brains)

4:26Bomrek: Hm. I could shoot now, or i could aim.. Then again I have another shot, so I think I’ll just fire. Er, does this thing.. have vitals?

4:27Ken (GM): probably not a heart/lung/liver. not a humanoid shaped torso

4:27Bomrek: I guess I aim for the head then and give it a try. Firing,
rolling 3d6 (1+4+5)= 10 Wew, That… is a failure by 1.

4:27Ken (GM): “torso” hit!

4:27Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 (2+5+5)= 12 and it failed to dodge!
so yeah, normal damage, torso hit location

4:28Bomrek: rolling 3d6+1 (4+1+6)+1= 12 pi++ !

4:28Ken (GM): 12
hahah
it goes WHUMP into the rubbery vine-lump of torso
the beast responds
REEEEWHARBLEGARBLE

4:29(GM to Falkirk): You shall not fell the mighty tree that is He Who Groooows!”

4:30Bomrek: You too pal! Turn end\

4:30Ken (GM): He swings a tentacle arm at gray!
rolling 3d6 (4+4+6)= 14

4:31Gray: rolling 3d6 (2+1+1)= 4

4:31Ken (GM): NICE FUCKIN CRIT

4:31Gray: Yep, that’s some defending right there/

4:31Ken (GM): lol

4:31Falkirk: nice, that turns his attack into a critfail

Gray swings the shield hard into the tentacle, driving it back with a snarl.

4:33Ken (GM): the Beast kinks a tentacle trying to lash you , and flails in frustration otherwise

so !
4 XP each!
and then next week, in media res back to the combat!

[We end for the week, hitting the cap on nerd-hours. Luckily Roll20 is a static field and we just leave the field in state until next session]