Managal Campaign, Part 12

Scene 6, Afternoon: Action. Stake = 2VP (spend 1 Clue).

The PCs plan to find Aric and find out his involvement. It doesn’t take long asking at the fields, his house and his local haunts to discover that his seizures seem to have come out of the blue, and ever since then he seemed to be a different man, always muttering to himself, and making people uneasy in his presence with his smell and manner. Nobody has seen him for a while, and the PCs are starting to think they will have to search the ruins when a small girl runs up and delivers a message from the Plantation Gaffer - Aric was seen at the northern croplands, he passed through the fields and some of the farm hands simply walked off with him to the north west.

Is Aric responsible for Smell (50%) Graffiti (25%) or both (25%). 1d100 = 83, Both.

Is he the Enemy? 50-50 = No, but … trusted/empowered by the Enemy.

He is just 1 guy. What edge will he have?

Class, Racial, Magic, Minions, Tide, Roll Twice. 1d6 = 6. 2d6 = 4, 5. Tide and Minions.

How many Minions? 2d4 = 3.

Where is he found? Wilderness, Croplands, Ruins, Next Victim. 1d4 = Wilderness.

The heroes hastily gather their horses and arms, and ride. If Aric and his followers reach the woodlands, they may attract the attention of the Hill Giants who reside there. Mounted, however, the PCs are able to catch up with the enemy group before the tree line. Aric and his followers turn as they hear the approaching hoofbeats.

The PCs cannot be surprised, but do they surprise their prey? 1d6 = 5, No.

How many base moves to reach the trees? 1d20 = 11 (440 feet).

Encounter distance = 8 moves (320 feet).

Aric has become a Chanter, a Tide cultist possessed by a Whispering Demon, although he is not the main Enemy. His followers are L0 Humans and are slaves to his twisted words.

Chanter- Cultist possessed by a Whispering Demon. Treasure = D.

AC14, HD4, Att Shriek 60’, Dmg Weapon/1-10, Move 40, App 1/1d6, Save F4, ML12, XP280

Special: PCs adjacent hear horrible whispers and must Save vs Spell (WIS applies) to act.

Minion- Cultist lost to the Tide. Treasure = None.

AC11, HD1/HP3, Att 1, Dmg Farm Tool 1-6, Move 40, Save L0, ML12, XP15

Is the Chanter’s goal to return to his master’s lair? 50-50 = Yes.

The PCs decide to run down the Minions and carry on. Naki is on a Pony and only half speed compared to a horse, so Ghost will stay with him at a distance. This battle will take place using “range from the tree line” to make visualising a little easier

Round 1

Chanter distance to trees = 11. Move -2 (run) to 9.

Minion distance to trees = 11. Move +2 (run) to 13.

PCs (Horse) distance to trees = 19. Move -4 (gallop) to 15.

PCs (Pony) distance to trees = 19. Move -2 (gallop) to 17.

Ghost casts Protection From Evil. She is walking her horse with the Pony.

Round 2

Initiative:

Enemy = 3

PCs = 2

Chanter distance to trees = 9. Move -2 (run) to 7.

Minion distance to trees = 13. Move +2 (charge) to 14 then melee.

PC (Horse) distance to trees = 15. Move -4 (charge, melee, and keep going) to 11.

PC (Pony) distance to trees = 17. Move -2 (gallop) to 15.

Ghost activates the Onyx Dog , “Inquo, To Heel!” The Dog moves at “Pony” speed.

The farmers have a crazed look in their eye and they twitch their heads as though listening to something only they can hear. They slash at their foes with axe, hoe and rake, and the mounts under Morgan and Five come away bloodied (M1/M3 hit PC Horses, -3HP each, on 7HP each). Morgan’s horse stumbles from its wound and comes to a halt, panting hard (Mor fumble, save fails, move stops). Vasily cannot bring his huge sword to bear while controlling his galloping mount, so elects to ride his foe down, throwing the stunned cultist to the ground and breaking his bones (Vas hit M2, -4HP, on -1HP, dead). Five has lowered his spear at his foe in a classic cavalry charge and slams the point through the madman’s throat, slaying him instantly (Fiv hit M3, -4HP, on -1HP, dead)

Round 3

Initiative:

Enemy = 6

PCs = 3

Chanter distance to trees = 7. Move -2 (run) to 5.

PC (Horse) distance to trees = 11. Move -4 (gallop) to 7.

Minion & Morgan distance to trees = 14. Melee or face Parting Shot if move away.

Ghost (Horse) distance to trees = 15. Move -4 (gallop) to 11 (Inquo at 13).

Naki (Pony) distance to trees = 15. Move -1 (walk) to 14 outside melee, fire bow.

As Ghost waves and thunders by on her horse, Naki reins in Bess, who manages to snort in a way that is somehow both offended and grateful. Taking careful aim for a few seconds (Nak miss) the Halfling eventually relaxes the bow string - there was no clean shot. Morgan is hacked at by a bloody rake, but blocks the unwieldy attack (M1 miss) and in return makes a wild swing of his own (Mor miss).

Round 4

Initiative:

Enemy = 5

PCs = 2

Chanter distance to trees = 5. Turn and shriek.

Vasily & Five (Horse) distance to trees = 7. Move -2 (charge and circle back) to 5.

Minion & Morgan distance to trees = 14. Melee or face Parting Shot if move away.

Ghost (Horse) distance to trees = 11. Move -4 (gallop) to 7 (Inquo at 11).

Naki (Pony) distance to trees = 14 outside melee. Fire bow.

Aric stops running and turns, pushing the hood of his robe back. His face looks like death warmed up, with grey and drooping skin. His mouth is constantly moving as if speaking, although nothing can be heard and no other listeners can be seen. Suddenly his voice becomes louder and higher pitched, and an ear splitting shriek is emitted at (1d4=Five) who grits his teeth against the sound reverberating in his brain (Ch hit Five, -3HP, on 3HP). Five’s horse gallops on, but his spear cannot find its mark (Fiv miss) and Vasily’s horse veers aside at the last minute (Vas miss). Vasily curses and dismounts, drawing his two handed blade and cautiously approaching the vile creature.

Meanwhile, the Tide-Cultist farmer lashes out with his rake, causing Morgan’s horse a series of deep gouges on its flank (M1 hit Horse, -4HP, on 3HP). Morgan has to fight to control the frightened horse, which lets Naki take a snapshot (Nak miss) however the arrow sails wide. Morgan stands in the stirrups and jumps off his horse, crashing into the Minion (Mor hit M1, -2HP, on 1HP) and they both scrabble to their feet to continue the battle.

Round 5

Initiative:

Enemy = 2

PCs = 1

Chanter, Vasily & Five distance to trees = 5. Melee or face Parting Shot if move away.

Minion, Naki & Morgan distance to trees = 14. Melee / Fire bow.

Ghost (Horse) distance to trees = 7. Move -2 (walk) to 5 outside melee. Inquo at 9.

Naki once again cannot risk a shot (Nak miss) but his curses distract the Cultist (miss) - not so much that Morgan can take advantage (miss). The Chanter looks back and forth between Vasily and Naki before finally giving a rictus grin and shrieking at (d3=) the charging Five, however the Elf ducks in the saddle and his poor horse shudders and writhes in agony (Ch hit Horse, -7HP, on 0HP) and collapses. Five (save vs Death fails) cannot jump clear and has to spend precious seconds extracting himself from tangled up reins and stirrups (lose attack). Vasily approaches the Chanter, sword raised - and suddenly the words from Aric’s mouth are heard, whispering terrible words about his fate and his family. Vasily’s arm droops and his heart pounds in fright (Save fails). Ghost shouts words of encouragement, and risks throwing a dagger, but it sticks into the ground harmlessly (Gho miss).

Round 6

Initiative:

Enemy = 5

PCs = 2

Chanter, Vasily, Five & Ghost distance to trees = 5. Melee / Ranged. Inquo at 7.

Minion & Morgan distance to trees = 14. Melee / Fire bow.

Naki distance to trees = 14. Move -2 (gallop) to 12.

Morgan blocks a mighty blow that sends pain up his shield-arm (M1 hit Mor, -2HP, on 6HP) but his riposte thuds into the Cultist’s breastbone with a loud crack. The madman coughs up a gout of blood, then collapses (Mor hit M1, -4HP, on -3HP, dead). Morgan says a quick prayer of thanks, then walks after his horse, waving Naki away - who steers Bess towards his other friends.

Nearer the trees, the Chanter gazes at (d3=) Ghost and a cacophony immediately assaults her, and she slumps over the saddle bleeding from the ears (Ch hit Gho, -8HP, on -2HP. 1d100=93, not dead). Inquo was already moving full tilt, and now targets the Chanter like a javelin (Finally we need Chanter HPs! 16. Inq hit Ch, -6HP, on 10HP). The Whispers clearly cannot affect the stone hound, unfortunately this is not the case for Vasily (Save fails). Five opts to pull out his crossbow and the bolt strikes true in the awful creature’s chest, yet Aric fights on (Fiv hit Ch, -6HP, on 4HP).

Round 7

Initiative:

Enemy = 3

PCs = 5

Main group distance to trees = 5.

Morgan distance to trees = 14. Move -4 (gallop) to 10.

Naki distance to trees = 12. Move -2 (gallop) to 10.

Inquo continues to gnaw on the arm of the Chanter (Inq auto hit Ch, -3HP, on 1HP) but the monstrosity fights with on with the indefatigable strength of madness. Vasily is slashing his sword at foes he only imagines (Save fails), so the Chanter focuses his terrible scream on Inquo, and while the hound seems to ripple like the ground during an earthquake, its powerful jaws do not slacken their vice-like grip (Ch miss).

Five rushes over to the motionless Ghost. The Elf can see no wound to bind to stabilise her, so he settles for dabbing water on her forehead, cleaning the blood from her ears, and crooning a gentle song that an Elven mother sings to her frightened child - a strangely gentle sight to see from the hulking warrior-mage. 

Does this help? Likely = Yes, stable, but only recovers to 0HP until magical healing received.

Round 8

Initiative:

Enemy = 3

PCs = 4

(Inquo auto hit Ch, -2HP, on -1HP, defeated). Inquo gives a mighty wrench of his jaws, tearing Aric’s arm off at the elbow. The Chanter’s voice and whispers are finally silent, then he collapses into the mud. Inquo returns to Ghost’s side - it does not whimper or lay down as a loyal living hound might, simply stands vigilant. Morgan runs up to Ghost and after a thorough examination declares “she will live, but needs help from the gods to awaken fully”. He unrolls his Cure Light Wounds scroll, and reads the prayer, and Ghost’s eyes flutter open to various cheers, prayers, sighs of relief - and even a loud bray from Bess (restores 6HP, full health). If Inquo is pleased to see its mistress recover, it gives no sign.

Then there is a cough from Aric.

PCs (win) +2 VP, -1 Clue.

Enemy (lose) 0 VP. 6th Inv / Act scene, (1d10=4) +1 VP.

Result. VPs 7 / 5 (Clues 1).