Adventure: Get Me to the Church on Time (DM: BenBrown, Judge: Renau1g)

[bluesfella]

OOC: Zardi is ready to go as well. One new power = Blood Strike (Encounter).

[sblock=Stats]Zardi - Goliath Barbarian 2
Initiative: +1, Passive Perception: 11, Passive Insight: 11, Senses: Normal vision
AC:17, Fort:18, Reflex:11, Will:13
Melee Basic Attack Fey Strike Greataxe: +9 vs AC, 1d12 +6 damage (When charging, add 1d6 damage from Howling Strike)
Ranged Basic Attack Throwing Hammer: +8 vs AC, 1d6+5 damage
HP:48/48, Bloodied:24, Surge Value:12, Surges left:11/11
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: un-used
Powers: Howling Strike, Pressing Strike, Rageblood Vigor, Rampage
Stone's Endurance, Feral Might: Swift Charge, Great Cleave, Combat Sprint, Blood Strike
Bloodhunt Rage

Conditions:none[/sblock]

 

[BenBrown]

Mallaby awakens at first light. From is pack he produces a set of clothes, not much finer than what he has been wearing, but clean. He dresses in this new finery, cleaning himself with water from a rivulet nearby. When all the others are awake, he greets them.

"We have made good time, my friends," he says. "Barring further hindrances, we will arrive before noon. My beloved's party should be waiting for this, and from what she has told me, the ceremony will begin immediately.
"The book we found in the tower has some fascinating facts about the history of the ceremony. The ritual only takes place when the ruling house of Crovale changes, and is intended to signify the transfer of the blessings of the gods upon the rulers of this land. The house of Terconis has maintained its fortune in exile, while other noble houses of Allaria have fallen. The house of Mallaby is one of the lucky ones. While we have not kept the great riches of the Counts of Terconis, neither have we fallen into poverty ruin, as have so many, poor unhappy creatures.
"When there is no male heir to Crovale, as there is not now in the house of Terconis, then a ceremony must take place to mark the change of dynasty. The lord of the new ruling house--which, apparently, I am--is married in this ceremony. Traditionally, to the heiress of the previous house, if there is one. The blessings of the gods pass to the new family, and the fortunes of that family are secure as long as its house lasts as lords of Crovale.
"I have been given the inestimable honor of participating in this ceremony, and it will be the house of Mallaby that henceforward shall claim the blessing of the gods. It is not this blessing, though, that brings me to this place. It is love.
"When I first met the beautiful Elena, I was smitten, for such a paragon of loveliness is not seen twice in a hundred years. We talked that night in the garden of Lady Kesmir's house, and by morning, we were in love. At balls, at dinners, at the theater, I saw her again and again throughout the next three months. At last, I could wait no more, and asked her to give me the honor of taking her as my bride. To my eternal joy, she accepted, and again we were inseperable for two months. Then, one day, I came to her house, but she was not there. Her father, the noble count, said she had gone into seclusion, which is traditional for her family prior to the wedding. He then told me of their traditions and the ceremony. I was only allowed to see her once after that, when she presented me with a book of the wedding ritual, and her father gave me instructions as to how to reach Crovale.
"Now, here we are, upon this momentous day."

He looks at each of his companions in turn.

"Lord Goldenhorn, Master Sarak, Master Zardi, and Master Tyris, who has joined us so recently," he says, "to you, as well as to our other honorable companions that we were forced to leave behind, I give my thanks, and you will forever be able to count Lord Adelin Mallaby as a friend. Now, let us proceed to the chapel. My bride awaits, and surely, no man is ever happier than when a beautiful and loving woman pledges to spend her life with him."

He turns towards the path to Crovale.

"Come, friends, let us go."

 

[VanderLegion]

Tyris stands, ready to start on the final leg of the escort.

 

[Mewness]

"Onward, then!" says Goldenhorn. "I am eager to see this ceremony. Ancient rites have a resonance that keeps the spirits of the dead connected with the living."

 

[Tenchuu]

"Lor' Malabee, tell I an I da tru: do ya kno fo sho wa dis Ceremony issa like? Dey not gonna pray ta sum dark god an summin up a demon ta eat I an I, will dey?" Jarro asked, half in jest.

 

[BenBrown]

"Worry not, my friend," Mallaby says with a chuckle. "The book I was given has the complete ceremony in it, and there are no demons to be found. No, it is purely a ritual for uniting two people in love. There is nothing to fear at all once we reach the chapel--only great joy."

 

[bluesfella]

Zardi picks up his axe and backpack and stands ready next to Mallaby. He looks ahead for any sign of trouble, mainly because he doesn't have anything important to say. (Weddings make him uncomfortable - he's much more at home smashing things.)

 

[Tenchuu]

[sblock=No Internet Access]I will be without the internet again, until Monday Oct 17[/sblock]

 

[BenBrown]

After a leisurely few hours trek down the trail, Mallaby and company crest the last ridge and look down into the valley of Crovale. The fields are no longer cultivated and woods have encroached on many parts. Here and there the foundations of old buildings lie, moss-covered and tumbled. A small bourne flows south through the vale. On a low rise in the center of the valley stands the chapel. Built in a circular form with wide, open archways in the four cardinal directions, it was, when new, a shining example of Allarian Gothic architecture. Its conical wooden roof is now long gone, but the walls still stand, crumbling in some places, but complete enough that the form of the chapel is apparent.

No people can be seen from the ridge, nor any sign of them.

"Have we arrived first?" Mallaby says to nobody in particular. "If so, then my love will be pleasantly surprised to see us!"

The party descends down into the valley, crosses the little bourne, and makes their way towards the chapel. Though the grass is cropped short by grazing beasts, no animals can be seen, apart from a single large bird of prey, slowly circling over the chapel, high above.[sblock=perception 21]The bird, a large eagle, is carrying something in its claws, although it's too far away to tell what.[/sblock][sblock=map]

Stairs are considered difficult terrain.
Rubble is difficult terrain. If the middle of a square is occupied by rubble, it is considered difficult terrain. A bit of rubble at the edges is just artistic license.
The altar in the center is an extra square of movement to move into an altar space. Moving from one to the other is not an issue.
The altar also provides partial cover against ranged attacks.
The pillars in the alcoves are solid and tall. It could be possible to squeeze behind one.
The fallen pillar in L-M14 is difficult terrain.
In H7 and Q12 are big holes in the floor, leading down to the chapel undercroft, which is normally entered through the structure at E7.

The party is approaching from the east (left).[/sblock]

 

[Tenchuu]

"I an I tink dat issa demon!" Jarro said, pointing at the bird. He moved next to Mallabyand said, "Take cova!"

OOC: Perception roll: nat 1. DM: what are the red circles (like B4)?