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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6193280" data-attributes="member: 16069">Let's Play #7 Free RPG Day Into The Shadowhaunt (Level 1)Session 1.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/9939684294/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9939684294_98ffd91d59_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Encounter #1 The Shadowhaunt Mausoleum (Area 1.)Encounter #6 in total for this group of adventurers.[sblock=The Map]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8893134802/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/8893134802_d55a91dbfd_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> The Map- apologies I couldn’t find a better copy of this. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8903077060/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/8903077060_52dde185c8_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Area 1. The Shadowhaunt Mausoleum [/sblock]“Well?” Harann asks with a grunt.The adventurers, being smart folk, have spent the last few hours visiting various contacts within the city, trying to find out anything they can about the Shadowhaunt Mausoleum, and discover if anything suspicious or odd has happened their recently.Good call! And this was the kid’s idea- I forget who came up with it but in that wonderful way that kids have they arrived at this option. I think one of them pointed out that they’d not heard of this mausoleum before, not that they had heard of any mausoleums- they get in to character very quickly. I therefore required each of the guys to come up with the name and occupation of someone they knew in the city that they thought might be able to help them, and then went straight to roleplaying each of these encounters. They mostly fared well.Bharash pipes up, “I went to see Constable Bozo, he works for the Guard too- and his family have lived in Fallcrest for generations, I remember him telling me when we were back at school together.”The adventurers nod, Bharash goes on- “It’s funny, he said the crypt was the last resting place of the Kaius family- they were quite famous back in the days of the empire, like royalty. Bozo said that the family were killed in the Bloody Hand Orc attacks over a century past, all except the head of the household- a warlord who fought with the royal family, the Markelhay’s against the Orcs. He wasn’t in the city when his family was killed. Bozo went on to say that the warlord is supposed to haunt the mausoleum.”The adventurers look ahead at the mausoleum, a little spooked.“And?” Harann nods at Mr. Benn.The priest smiles, and the speaks- “I visited the temples of the city, they told a similar story…” Mr. Benn nods at Bharash, the dragonborn nods back.“However, they also said that the family were worshippers of Pelor, the god of light and Bahamut, the platinum dragon- they were a martial bunch; all warriors and warlords.” Mr. Benn finishes.“Good.” Harann states, but Mr. Benn jumps in.“That’s not all, an old priest at the temple of Erathis- Father Jedward, said that the tomb itself was guarded by mighty warriors!” Mr. Benn finishes, with a flourish.“That can’t be…” Harann starts.“Ghosts!” Quarion states.“Ghoulies!” Harann adds.We break for a minute of giggling at the mention of the word “Ghoulies”, I digress.“Anyone else?” Harann asks.“Stinky Pete.” Quarion states- to stares.“I went to see Stinky Pete.” Quarion adds, a partial explanation.“Who’s…” Bharash grunts.“Oh. He’s a tramp, a vagrant- and a look out for the Shadowmen. Anyway he hangs around Tombwood sometimes, sleeps there sometimes- only he’s not been there recently.” Quarion adds.“Why?” Varis asks.“Said he saw three shady looking guys- two of them chunky looking, not human; they were carrying two large, and heavy looking, sacks. The other guy looked nasty- like he’d been in a fire. Anyway Pete decided he’d give the place a wide berth for a while.” Quarion finishes.The guys look over at mausoleum, Harann nods, they wander over.Quarion goes forward first, with Varis quickly following behind, the crypt is a stone affair, a large set of rusted metal doors lead in to the tomb, Quarion stops and points- “Tracks, three people, two very heavy- one much lighter tread; they go inside.”The eladrin closes on the doors, checks them over and then nods back at the dragonborn, the pair lumber forward and push the metal portals open.Within is an enclosed tomb, lit by guttering torches (odd?)- dotted with sarcophagi, six in total and a central raised section- an obelisk made of stone.“Spread out! Check it out.” Harann whispers.The adventurers spread out and investigate the place, two or three minutes later they reconvene to share their finds- the sarcophagi purport to hold the remains of family members- warlords and warriors all; each has a niche close by- in each niche a statue, either dedicated to Pelor or else Bahamut. The torches it turns out are magical, Quarion is certain- everburning and without heat or burning flame, the adventurers take three of these for future. Lastly, the central obelisk lists the names of the various Kaius family members deceased, tales of their heroics, prayers and kind words abound.Varies however is suspicious, the elf can feel a breeze close to the obelisk, the elf suspects a secret entrance is somewhere close by.At which Bharash suddenly spots something else, the dragonborn draws his sword, hovering over once side of the chamber is a ghostly figure, the adventurers are quickly to their feet, likewise with weapons drawn. They do not attack however.The ghostly spirit is an old man, although armed and armoured for battle- his beard is long.“Interlopers, beware. If you trespass you will not realise the wisdom of my words. From entry sinister, the way becomes clear when son follows sire.” The spirit speaks, but maintains its distance.Bad Guys 250 XP Level 1 EncounterShadow Spirit Level 4 Lurker, orSkill Challenge The Shadow Spirit’s Riddle- 250 XP reward.[sblock=The Monster Manual]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8893108278/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/8893108278_c3263173fc.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The guys quickly cotton on that this is a riddle for them to solve- and here’s the thing, they solve it; although it takes a little time.“Say it again.” Harann shouts at the spirit, who huffs once, and then repeats his riddle.“He said son.” Quarion states, “like sun- for Pelor… the statues.” The eladrin grins.The adventurers examine the statues in the niches, and then wonder aloud what is being alluded to by the word ‘sire’ in the riddle. Eventually Mr. Benn comes to the rescue, after a little hint and a Religion check.“Bahamut is the sire- he’s king of all of the dragons, hence he’s called sire.” The priest states.“We need to arrange the statues- Bahamut, Pelor, Bahamut, Pelor and so on…” Varis states.It’s as simple as that.The adventurers set about their task, and when the last statue is placed in its niche there’s a grinding sound and one face of the great obelisk descends- a set of stairs lead down in to darkness.The spirit begins to fade, but not before Harann has chance to speak.“We’re sorry for your loss Mr. Kaius- your son. We’re searching for two young lads… they’ve been taken.” Harann looks suitably sorry.“You don’t know where they are?” Mr. Benn adds.The spirit looks forlorn, and then points to the stairs leading down.“Take care little ones.” The spirit hisses and then disappears.And that’s pretty much what happened, not the exact wording but close enough- Spider, the nearly five year old kid who plays Harann, apologises to the Shadow Spirit. I love it when this kind of stuff happens, when players just get in to it- even if it’s only for a moment.250 XP Level 1 EncounterShadow Spirit Level 4 Lurker, orSkill Challenge The Shadow Spirit’s Riddle- 250 XP reward.Quarion, and then Varis, lead the adventurers on- down the stairs.Comment: Lovely opening encounter, and so glad to see that in this section and the conversations previously, with the guy’s friends with info in Fallcrest, the kids just dived in to the role-play. I did voices for the various citizens, slightly comic at times, but it was a conversation between me and the player- first person. Still makes me smile remembering it.And down they go…</blockquote>

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