Cop and a Half: Episode 16 - Death of an Angel

They stood before the tower.  Once considered one of the greatest monuments of Magnimar, the massive clocktower now loomed in disrepair and neglect.  Lem gulped involuntarily.  They had left no stone unturned in their search for the leader of the Skinsaw Cult.  He and Valeros hadn't slept for days, instead moving from one slum to another as they interrogated and intimidated their way to the source of this Skinsaw Cult.  

Lem 

Card Feat: Spell

Skill Feat: Carisma +3

Power Feat: 1D4 +2 to another character’s check

Starting Deck

BoPharasma x2

Toxic Cloud

Burglar x2

Holy Light

BoDesna

BoErastil

Cure

Sihedron Medallion

Lightning Bolt

Toad

Wand of Force Missile

BoShelyn

Frost Ray

Heavy Crossbow

    

Valeros adjusted the grip on his glaive.  This tower had long since been abandoned by those in power, and it was no surprise that something else now inhabited it.  The dark clouds overhead began to rain down upon the pair.  Valeros glanced down to his diminutive partner and nodded in reassurance before entering the tower.  

Valeros

Card Feat: Item

Skill Feat: Strength +3

Power Feat: Hand Size – 5, 1D4 +1 to another characters combat check

Starting Deck

BoSarenrae

BoTorag

BoIomedae

Sheriff Hemlock

Grizzled Mercenary

Masterwork Tools

Holy Candle

Staff of Minor Healing

Icy Longspear +1

Warhammer +1

Scythe+1

Glaive

Shock Longbow +1

Magic Shield

Magic Half-Plate

Magic Leather Armor

Once inside, the smell of the place nearly made Lem wretch.  Valeros, of course, showed no reaction to it, but it was vile.  Before he could catch his breath, he saw figures moving in the darkness of the room at the base of the tower.  A ghoul, flanked by another scarecrow golem, moved towards the pair without a word.  

Lem blasted the ghoul with a holy light, but the golem was too quick for the pair to react.  It lifted the halfling from the ground and threw him against the wall.  Lem heard something snap as he hit the stone wall and fell to the ground.  He hoped it wasn't anything important as he tried to regain his breath.

Turn 1

Lem – BoPharasma

Shadow Clock

Recharge hand and redraw

Ghoul – Holy Light + Valeros – D10+4 + 2D12 + D4+1 = 29 = Success

Recharge Holy Light = Fail

Discard BoDesna explore – Scarecrow Golem – Wand of Force Missile + Valeros = 4D4 + D4+1 = 11 = Fail = 1 damage

Recharge Wand = Success

  

The sounds of their battle had alerted others within the tower.  A pair of robed figures descended the ramp that led to the top of the tower.  Unfortunately, Lem had not yet recovered from the golem's attack.  One of the cultists stabbed downward with a wicked curved blade that pierced his shoulder deeply.  Lem cried out in pain, nearly blacking out.  Valeros hacked his way through the other cultist, and ran to his partner.  Valeros cleaved through the other cultist as easily as the first, and helped his partner up.  Lem took a moment to mend his wounds with magic while Valeros turned to face the golem.

Turn 2

Valeros – BoG

Shadow Clock

Recharge hand and redraw

Potion of Hiding – Intelligence = D6 = 5 = Success

Discard BoSarenrae explore – Skinsaw Ritual – Summon and encounter Skinsaw Cultist henchman

Lem – Strength + Valeros = D4 + D4+1 = 3 = All the damage ever – Sihedron medallion and discard everything else but Cure

Recharge medallion = Fail

Valeros – Glaive = D10+6 + D10 = 21 = Success

Each discards 1 card from the top of their deck for Lem’s failure

Lem Cure – 2

Cure recharge = Success

Lem could do nothing but lean against the damp stone wall and watch as his partner squared off against the monstrous creation.  He had managed to staunch the bleeding in his shoulder, but he was fairly certain that he had broken more than a few bones.  He had done all he could for now though, and focused on regaining his footing so that he could help Valeros.

Turn 3

Lem – BoDesna

Recharge hand and redraw

Treasure Map – Knowledge = D6+3 = 4 = Fail

Valeros had dropped his glaive in favor of the scythe he had taken earlier from one of the cultists.  It seemed appropriate, given the nature of his foe.  He performed a low, sweeping slash, and was relieved to see the magical blade sever the creature's legs.  Straw spilled from the rags that the golem was clothed in, and it fell lifelessly to the ground.

Turn 4

Valeros – BoAbadar

Recharge hand and redraw

Consecration – Auto-Fail

Discard BoIomedae explore – Scarecrow Golem – Reveal and recharge Scythe+1 + Lem recharge = D10+6 + 3D4+1 + D4+2 = Auto-Success

Banish Sheriff Hemlock to close location

"You going to make it?" Valeros asked.  Lem nodded.  He wasn't sure, if he were being honest, but he would see this through to the end.  

As the pair prepared to climb the tower, a great blast of arcane force erupted from the center of the room.  They were knocked to the ground as a hideous form appeared before them.  From the waist up, it appeared as a beautiful woman, clad in armor of shining gold.  Below the waist, however, her form was that of a serpent.  It moved with blinding speed, bursting from the doorway and out into the streets before the pair could react.  

Valeros and Lem picked themselves up and moved as quickly as they could after the creature.  The rain had become a downpour outside, and the streets were slick pools of mud and filth.  This made tracking the serpentine woman easy enough.  Unfortunately, she was not alone.  The pair were stopped in their tracks by the appearance of a humanoid creature the likes of which they had never seen.  

It was of average height, but it's flesh glistened in the rain, appearing rubbery and malleable.  It's face was featureless, and as it shambled towards them Lem swore he could see the skin moving, forming and unforming shapes.  Lem fired his crossbow at the thing, and the bolt struck home directly in the forehead of the creature.  Lem could only stare wide-eyed as the bolt appeared to be consumed by a mouth that opened around it.  The creature continued it's shambling pace towards them, unfazed. 

Turn 5

Lem – BoG

City Gate

Charmed Faceless Stalker – Fail Wisdom check – Heavy Crossbow + BoErastil = D8 + 3D10 = 1 = Fail = Bury top card of deck

Shuffle random monster from the box into location

"You got this?" Valeros didn't want to lose the trail of the serpent-woman.  

Lem looked up to his partner with a lopsided grin. "Not really, but I'll think of something."  

Valeros charged right past the monstrosity, moving too quickly for the thing to react.  He couldn't afford to lose the trail.  Too many lives were at stake if he did.

Turn 6

Valeros – BoG

City Gate

Acolyte – Diplomacy + Lem recharge = D6+2 + D4+2 = 13 = Success

Staff of minor healing on Lem

This was probably the dumbest thing he had ever done, Lem thought.  He was running as quickly as he could through the streets, leading the creature onwards.  As he ran, a man stepped into the street.  He had a wicked scar that stretched across his face that creased as he grinned at Lem, showing a few yellowed teeth.  The man unsheathed a scimitar and pointed it at Lem.

"Hold it right there, little man, and hand over yer gold." The man spat.

Lem didn't even slow as he leveled his wand and blasted the man away with arcane force.  He hated this city.

Turn 7

Lem – BoIrori

Mystic Inscription – Arcane + BoPharasma = 2D10+4 = 21

2 spells to hand – Web, Haste

Discard Haste to explore – Sickle+1 – Strength = Auto-Fail

Haste recharge = Success

Discard BoPharasma explore – Mercenary – Wand of Force Missile + Valeros = 5D4+1 = 16 = Success

Wand recharge = Success

His lungs burned, but Valeros pressed onward as quickly as he could.  The large trail that the creature left was still easy to follow, but the snake-woman was much faster than he was.  Still, she couldn't run forever.  He just hoped he could run longer.

Turn 8 

Valeros – BoAbadar

Merchant – Diplomacy = D6+2 = 8 = Success

Discard merchant explore – Potion of Fortitude – Intelligence = D6 = 2 = Fail

Lem had reached his destination, the Temple.  He risked a glance behind him and saw that the shambling faceless monster was still moving towards him.  It appeared that the man he had blasted was right behind the thing as well.  Lem wondered if the man realized what it was that stood in the street.  Either way, it was time for Lem to make his last stand.  

He said a prayer to the gods, followed by an arcane incantation.  The clouds above took on a green hue, and the rain in front of Lem sizzled as it struck the ground.  Man and monster alike melted in front of the halfling.  He felt some pity for the bandit, but none for the monster.  The flesh melted from the thing, showing a misshapen skeleton.  Lem took aim and fired at the skull.  He breathed a sigh of relief as the bolt shattered bone, and the thing slumped and fell with a splash of water and flesh.  

He saw a man running towards him from a distance.  Even from this distance, Lem saw the protrusions of at least a half-dozen weapons on the figure.  That had to be Valeros.  Lem quickly banished the acidic cloud and waved to his partner.  Valeros reached him, panting and wild-eyed from his run through the rain.

"She's here.  I tracked her here." He said between breaths.  

"The temple?  Are you sure?" Lem asked, but it was a rhetorical question.  Of course Valeros was sure.  They went inside, on guard for anything that might confront them.

Turn 9

Lem – BoG

Cure – 4

Recharge Cure – Success

Ghost – Web to bottom of deck

Recharge Web = Fail

Discard BoShelyn explore – Charmed Faceless Stalker – Fail wisdom check – Toxic Cloud + Heavy Crossbow + Valeros = D6 + D8 + D10 + D4+1 = 23 = Success

Toxic Cloud recharge = Fail

Summon and defeat Bandit henchman – recharge a card - Heavy Crossbow + Valeros = D8 + D10 + D4+1 = 19 = Success

Location closed

  

They entered just in time to see the snake-woman smash the altar on the far side of the room.  Valeros wasted no time, throwing his spear, and following up with a shot from his longbow.  Both hit home and the thing cried out in pain as it descended into a tunnel below the altar.  

"What is it with hidden tunnels beneath temples?" Lem grimaced as he peered over the edge of the pit.  

Turn 10 

Valeros – BoG

Temple – discard a card

Xanesha – 1st check – Icy Longspear+1 = D10+6 + D8+1 = 11 = Fail = recharge spear and reroll = 18 = Success

2nd check – reveal and recharge Shock Longbow+1 + Lem BoPharasma = D8 + D8+1 + D10 + D8 = 25 = Success

Location closed

They lit torches and descended into the tunnel, wary of movement around them.  The tunnels were spacious and ancient.  The walls and floor were not crudely-carved earth, but smooth stone.  Unfortunately, they didn't have time to admire the architecture.  A chittering nearby alerted them that they were not alone.  Lem fired at the sound with his crossbow, and saw a goblin body fall into the torchlight.  Those things were like cockroaches.

Turn 11

Lem – BoG

Shrine to Lamashtu

Goblin Raid – Lem summons and encounters a Goblin Raider henchman – Heavy Crossbow = D8 + D10 = 8 = Success

Moving deeper into the tunnels, Valeros barely noticed the goblin snake before it lashed out at him.  He grabbed it by the neck with his free hand and strangled the life from it as he continued his movement.  Lem shook his head as he watched.  He would never cease to be amazed by the man's capacity for violence.

Turn 12

Valeros – BoIrori

Shrine to Lamashtu

Goblin Snake – Melee + Lem recharge = D10+6 + D4+2 = Auto-success

Holy Candle – 4

Discard BoTorag explore – BoGorum – Strength = Auto-acquire

It was then that Lem noticed a third shadow moving along with them through the tunnels.  He blasted the shadow with a holy light, and was satisfied as it withered and faded away.  Valeros turned to look at him with a cocked eyebrow.  Lem shrugged and gestured for the man to continue.

Turn 13

Lem – BoAbadar

Shadow – Holy Light + Valeros = D10+4 + 2D12 + D4+1 = 20 = Success

Recharge Holy Light = Success

They neared the end of the tunnel.  Valeros could see a great chamber just ahead.  Standing in front of the entrance, though, was an indescribable monster.  That's OK, Valeros thought, because the thing wouldn't live long enough to be worthy of description.  He felled it with a single blow of his warhammer, and entered the chamber.

Turn 14

Valeros – BoG

Bunyip – Fail wisdom check - Warhammer+1 + Lem recharge = D10+6 + D8+1 + D4+2 = Auto-Success

Discard BoGorum explore – Monster in the closet – recharge masterwork tools

Lem followed behind Valeros, and tried not to gasp as he took in the details of the chamber.  Runes, like those that they had seen in the tunnels below Thistletop, glimmered and glowed in the darkness.  In the center of the room was a great stone well.  In front of the well, the snake-woman faced them.

"I am Xanesha, chosen of Karzoug, and angel of the Skinsaw Cult.  You have made a grave error in challenging our plans, and I will see that your souls feel the runewell."

Her voice was melodic, and echoed unnaturally off the stone walls.  The armor she wore was angular, coming to sharp points that gave her an almost avian appearance.  She had a greatspear shone with magical energy in the darkness, casting a cold blue light around her. 

Turn 15

Lem – BoG

BoTorag – 2 points of damage – Divine = auto-success

Valeros let loose a fearsome battle cry and charged towards her with his hammer.  He lashed out, and sparks flew as hammer met spear.  Xanesha was unmoved by the attack, and lashed out with her tail as she pushed Valeros back, hoping to sweep the man from his feet.  Valeros leapt backwards over the serpent tail, allowing Xanesha to push him backward.  He hoped that it would draw her off balance.  

As Xanesha's body leaned forward as she drove forward with greater ease than she had intended.  Valeros took the opportunity, coming down with his hammer as he landed.  The screech of twisted metal resounded in the chamber as Xanesha was pounded into the stone floor.  Valeros swung again and again, like a mad blacksmith, until the snake-woman no longer stirred.  

Turn 16

Valeros – BoG

Lem Cure – 4

Recharge cure = Fail

Xanesha – 1st check – Warhammer+1 + Lem recharge = D10+6 + D8+1 + D4+2 = 21 = Success

2nd check – Reveal and recharge Warhammer+1 + Lem recharge + Lem BoTorag = D10+6 + D8+1 + D6 + D4+2 + D10 = 24 = Success

The pair dared not examine the chamber any further, leaving that to wiser men.  They climbed out of the tunnel and back to the safety of the temple.  Valeros leaned on his new greatspear, and Lem sat on the steps of the altar.  Both were filthy and exhausted.  Lem looked to his partner and smiled.  

"So, what do we do now?"

Scenario Reward – Impaler of Thorns, Medusa Mask, Sihedron Medallion, Snakeskin Tunic

Adventure Deck reward – Card Feat

Lem – Spell

Valeros – Blessing

Post-Game Analysis

That does it for this adventure deck!  I still haven't picked up the third one, but am hoping to this week, which means the episodes should continue weekly uninterrupted.  I don't have much to say about this adventure.  Lem got his butt kicked pretty hard, but he was never in great danger thanks to his ability to almost always have a cure on-hand.  Valeros got a nifty new spear, but that was about the only boon worth mentioning.  

Next time: Off to Hook Mountain!

Cop and a Half: Episode 15 - Exposing the Cult

They were getting close, Lem could feel it.  They had spent several days in the Magnimar Academy and Temple, searching for references to a "Skinsaw Man" as well as associates of the late Foxglove family.  Any citizens they had questioned thus far denied any knowledge of these things, but their faces told another story.

Lem 
Card Feat: Spell
Skill Feat: Carisma +3
Power Feat: 1D4 +2 to another character’s check
Starting Deck
Sling
Wand of Force Missile
Sihedron Medallion
Toad
Burglar x2
Lightning Touch
Cure
Enfeeble
Aid
Holy Light
BoDesna
BoG
BoShelyn
BoPharasma x2

Valeros was restless.  While his partner had been poring over musty tomes and speaking with scholars, Valeros had hit the streets.  He knew his fair share of scumbags in this city, and he knew how to make them talk.  Thing was, whenever he brought up the word "Skinsaw", they wouldn't say a word.  Whatever this thing was, it was scarier than he was, and that was a disturbing thought.

Valeros
Card Feat: Item
Skill Feat: Strength +3
Power Feat: Hand Size – 5, 1D4 +1 to another characters combat check
Starting Deck
Icy Longspear +1
Warhammer +1
Bastard Sword
Glaive
Shock Longbow +1
Magic Shield
Magic Half-Plate
Magic Leather Armor
Masterwork Tools
Holy Candle
Staff of Minor Healing
Sheriff Hemlock
Grizzled Mercenary
BoSarenrae
BoG
BoIomedae

Lem and Valeros had agreed to meet at the Temple to share their findings.  It was late, and Lem had surrounded the books he had been working through with a complement of candles.  As Valeros entered, Lem rubbed the sleep from his eyes and nodded to his partner.

They began to discuss the results of their research.  The reluctance of the citizens to speak, coupled with Lem's findings, pointed to this Skinsaw Cult being led by someone of influence.  They began to lay out the names of nobility in the city, to narrow down their list of suspects, when the candles blew out.

It was pitch black in the temple, and the pale sliver of a moon did little to light the room.  Valeros jumped up from his chair, throwing it backwards and drawing his sword in one motion.  Lem closed his eyes and listened.  A shuffle behind Lem warned him of the assassin only moments before the blade would have pierced his neck.  Lem blasted the cloaked figure with holy light.

Turn 1
Lem – BoShelyn
Temple
Potion of healing – Intelligence = D6 = 6 = Success
Recharge BoShelyn explore – BoErastil – Divine = Auto-Success
Discard BoPharasma explore – Skinsaw Cultist – Holy Light + Valeros = D10+4 + 2D6 + D4+2 = 27 = Success
Not closing Location
Recharge Holy Light = Success
Discard BoG explore – Cure – Divine = D10+4 = 14 = Success = Bury a card
Discard BoErastil explore – Heavy Pick +1 – Strength = Auto-Fail
Discard BoPharasma explore – BoG
Discard BoG explore – Detect Evil – Divine = Choose to fail
Potion of Healing – 1
Cure – 5
Recharge Cure – Success

Valeros leaned over the corpse, and took the blade that had nearly ended his partner.  It was a scythe that gleamed in the pale moonlight.  Valeros decided it best to hang on to it for the time being.  He reflected on the nature of the weapon as he admired it.  These guys sure had a thing for farms.  After the scarecrow golems, farmhouses, and now scythes, maybe these guys were just a bunch of pissed off farmers.

Turn 2
Valeros – BoShelyn
BoG – auto-acquire
Discard BoG explore – Scythe+1 – Melee + Lem recharge = D10+6 + D4+2 = 18 = Success
Discard Sheriff Hemlock explore – BoTorag – Strength = Auto-Acquire
Location closed automatically

Convinced that there were no more assassins in the Temple, they moved to the Academy.  If the Skinsaw cult had been waiting for them at the Temple, it stood to reason that they may attack the Academy as well.  Lem's theory was proven correct when they encountered a skeleton immediately upon entering the building.  As he blasted it with lightning, he saw another figure in the shadows of the room.  He turned and drained energy from it, preventing it from casting any more foul magic.

Turn 3
Lem – BoG
Academy
Skeleton – Lightning Touch = D10+4 + 2D4 = 14 = Success
Recharge Lightning Touch = Fail
Free explore from Location – Potion of Healing – Intelligence = D6 = 5 = Success
Discard BoG explore – Skinsaw Cultist – Enfeeble
Recharge Enfeeble = Success

Valeros charged the robed figure and cleaved it in two with his newfound scythe.  Never let it be said that he didn't have a sense of irony.  He began to search the rest of the building, securing it room by room.

Turn 4
Valeros – BoDesna
Academy
Skinsaw Cultist – Reveal and recharge Scythe+1 + Lem recharge = D10+6 + 2D4+1 + D4 + D4+2 = Auto-Success
Choose not to close location
Free explore from location – Aid – Wisdom – Auto-Fail

Lem followed suit, moving carefully from room to room.  It appeared that most of the place had been undamaged, which was a relief.  Most of the historical records of the city were contained here, and they would need those to narrow down their suspects.

Turn 5
Lem – BoG
Frost Ray – Arcane = D10+4 = 8 = Success = Bury a card
Discard BoPharasma explore – Force Missile = Choose to fail

While his partner continued moving through the rooms of the Academy, Valeros moved outside to secure the perimeter.  The streets were emptier than usual, and an unnerving silence hung in the air.

Turn 6
Valeros – BoIrori
City Gate
Holy Candle – 1
Throwing Axe - Dexterity = D8 = 5 = Fail
Staff of minor healing on self
BoTorag explore – Cloak of Elvenkind – Dexterity = D8 = 6 = Success

It was then that he heard it.  It started as a distant howl, but quickly grew in volume.  Several more cries answered it, and soon Valeros was under siege by a band of goblins that poured from nearby alleyways.  How did they enter the city?  Were they allied with the Skinsaw Cult?  Valeros had no time to ponder these questions.

He began to reap the small creatures like ripe wheat with his scythe.  These insignificant creatures posed no real threat, but their appearance here was troubling.  Lem had heard the disturbance and rushed outside to lend his aid.  Blasts of force knocked goblins off their feet and splattered them against nearby buildings.  Soon, the few goblins that remained ran back to the shadows of the city.  Lem looked to Valeros.
"We must be closer than we thought, if they're attacking us out in the open like this.  Give me a few more minutes in here, I'm just wrapping something up."

Turn 7
Lem – BoG
Mayor Kendra Deverin – Diplomacy = D10+6 = 14 = Success
Discard BoShelyn explore – Goblin Raid – Each character summons and encounters Goblin Raider
Lem – Wand of Force Missile = 4D4 = 12 = Success
Recharge Wand = Success
Valeros – Bastard Sword = D10+6 +D10 = 25 = Success
Discard BoErastil explore – Haste – Arcane = D10+4 = Fail

As the door closed behind Lem, Valeros turned back to the street and saw a lone figure there in the street.  It was robed like the assassins from earlier, and wielded a familiar scythe.  Valeros dropped his own scythe in favor of his bastard sword.  Gripping it in both hands, he assumed an offensive posture.  He leveled the blade at his opponent and charged.  He couldn't help but smile as he felt the massive blade strike the robed figure directly in the chest, shattering bone and lifting the assassin from his feet.

Turn 8 
Valeros – BoG
Skinsaw Cultist – Bastard Sword = D10+6 + D10 = 15 = Success
Summon and defeat Bandit henchman to close location – recharge a card – Bastard Sword = D10+6 + D10 = 16 = Success
Location closed

Lem had been through the Foxglove family history enough to know that they had ties to several wealthy and influential families in Magnimar.  Now that they knew the Skinsaw Cult was tied to one of those families, Lem had the last piece of the puzzle.  In the many ledgers detailing land purchases in the city, Lem had seen that the Foxglove family had formed a partnership with the Ironbriar family to purchase several plots of land directly outside of the city.  One of those was the mill, where they had encountered a horde of undead.

Lem went outside to his partner and informed him of his discovery.  It was time to go back to the mill.

Turn 9 
Lem – BoGorum
Lightning Bolt – Arcane + Valeros BoG = D10+4 + D10 = 12 = Success = Bury a card
Arcane 6 to close location – D10+4 = 13 = Success
Location closed = Shuffle Lightning Touch into deck

The mill loomed ominously as the pair neared it.  It seemed to look down on them as though it were a living thing.  It was silent, with not even the slightest breeze to move the rusted gears of the inner structure.  As Valeros peered into the gaping maw of the building, a horde of rats poured from it.  He cursed and began crushing as many as he could with his warhammer.  It would be a shame if he came this far only to succumb to some foul disease from these creatures.

Turn 10 
Valeros – BoSarenrae
Mill
Potion of Vision – Intelligence = D6 = 1 = Fail
Discard BoSarenrae explore – Rat Swarm – Warhammer+1 = D10+6 + D8+1 = 22 = Success
Discard BoIomedae explore – Heavy Crossbow – Dexterity = D8 = 8 = Success
   
Lem followed behind his partner, carefully stepping over the carcasses of the vermin that littered the entryway.  Once inside, lights sprang to life all around them.  Torches lined the walls, as did hooded figures like the ones they had encountered earlier.  Directly before them stood an elf, unhooded and in elaborate robes.  Lem recognized him as one of the chief justices of the city, Justice Ironbriar!
"You have come farther than any other, but you will not remove us. Our angel has looked upon you, and found you wanting."  The elf spoke, his voice booming in the small wooden mill.  He drew a longsword, and approached the pair.  The figures along the walls also lifted wicked scythes and closed in on them.

Lem and Valeros readied themselves, standing back to back.  Lem unleashed lightning that crackled through the room, sending Ironbriar flying into a wall.  The dry, decaying wood went up like tinder.  Soon, the entire building was ablaze and filled with smoke.  Coughing, Valeros hacked away at the cultists foolish enough to get between him and the exit.

Turn 11
Lem – BoG
Mill
Justice Ironbriar – Valeros summons and encounters a random monster
Siren – Wisdom + Lem recharge – D4 + D4+2 = 8 = Success
Ironbriar – Lightning Bolt + Valeros = D10+4 + 3D6 + D4+1 = 22 = Success

Soon, he and Lem were panting on the dew-covered grass outside the mill, staring at the mill as it collapsed in on itself in flames.  No cultists had made it out, but Valeros was certain they hadn't seen the end of them yet.  It was time to kill an angel.

Scenario reward – Random Spell
Lem – Consecration
Valeros – Toxic Cloud

Post-Game Analysis

This was a quick one!  I loved the idea of presenting Valeros as Magnimar's Batman, roughing up the criminal element.  It was also fun to try and tie all the Skinsaw stuff together.

This was one of the first times I felt strong enough to separate the pair and let them tackle different Locations, and I think it worked out quite well.  Valeros was able to get another magic weapon, and Lem got quite a few nice spells!  One more scenario left in this Adventure Deck.  Thanks for reading!

Cop and a Half: Episode 14 - 'Tis the Season for Foul Misgivings

After days of reciting holy prayers and drinking his fair share of medicine in one of the many taverns that lined the city streets, Lem found himself back at the farmhouse where he and Valeros had encountered the foul ghoul that had injured him.  He shuddered involuntarily as he recalled the feeling of the thing's slick, rotted flesh on him.  They were back to look for clues; evidence that would lead them to the mastermind of these undead attacks.  They had yet to find anything of note.

Lem 

Card Feat: Spell

Skill Feat: Carisma +2

Power Feat: 1D4 +2 to another character’s check

Starting Deck

Sling

Toad

Aldern Foxglove

Burglar

Wand of Force Missile

Sihedron Medallion

Aid

Cure

Lightning Touch

Holy Light

Enfeeble

BoShelyn

BoG

BoDesna

BoPharasma x2

Valeros moved through the house, kicking over empty bottles and other garbage that littered the floor.  This place had been abandoned, at least by the living, for some time.  They were close though, he could feel it.  There was a rot that plagued the city of Magnimar, and he would destroy it.  

Valeros

Card Feat: Item

Skill Feat: Strength +2

Power Feat: Hand Size – 5, 1D4 +1 to another characters combat check

Starting Deck

Icy Longspear +1

Warhammer +1

Bastard Sword

Glaive

Shock Longbow +1

Sheriff Hemlock

Grizzled Mercenary

Masterwork Tools

Holy Candle

Staff of Minor Healing

Magic Shield

Magic Half-Plate

Magic Leather Armor

BoSarenrae

BoG

BoIomedae

Lem examined some bottles in what used to be the kitchen.  As he picked up one of the bottles, the movement disturbed the brackish liquid inside.  Lem dare not open the bottle, for fear that it would smell as bad as it looked.

Turn 1

Lem – BoG

Farmhouse

Potion of Ruggedness – Int = D6 = 5 = Fail

Just then, one of the guards entered the building.  He was dragging an unkempt woman behind him.  She struggled against his grip while cursing and spitting at him.  Valeros moved to the man.

"Who is this woman?"

"I found her skulking around the barn.  I thought we might question her." The man tightened his grip as the woman's struggling renewed.  One of her arms slipped from the guard's grasp, and she leveled her free hand at Valeros.

"The Skinsaw Man will flay the flesh from your bones!" she cackled as she unleashed a blast of force from her outstretched hand.

Valeros dove to one side, crashing into broken furniture and garbage.  As he rolled to his feet, he unsheathed his broadsword and plunged it into the woman.  Her crazed appearance did not change as the sword impaled her.  She simply stared forward with a lopsided smile upon her lips.  As her blood ran onto his blade, Valeros cursed as it erupted into flames.  

Turn 2

Valeros – BoGorum

Farmhouse

Guard – Charisma = D6+2 = 6 = Success

Bury Sheriff Hemlock explore (Bury due to Location) – Enchanter – 1 Force Damage = Banish Guard, Reveal Bastard Sword = D10+5 + D10 = 14 = Success, 1 Fire damage

Lem watched the whole altercation in horror, dropping yet another container of filthy liquid he had found in shock.  The corpse of the woman, now blackened to a crisp, lay on the floor.  Valeros' sword stuck straight up out of it like some grisly gravestone.  The whole scene only made him more anxious to leave this place.

Turn 3

Lem – BoSarenrae

Potion of Glibness – Int = D6 = 2 = Fail

Valeros broke the leg off of a nearby table that had been overturned, and used it to poke at the corpse.  Satisfied that she was truly deceased, he retrieved his sword.  The guard that had brought the woman simply stared at him, dumbly.  

"Go back and tell the chief what you saw here.  Tell him to have some people start looking up anything they can on this 'Skinsaw Man'.  Hopefully there's some record of that name somewhere in the archives."

The man nodded, still wide-eyed, and stumbled out of the house.

Turn 4

Valeros – BoG

Quarterstaff = auto-success

Use Staff of Minor Healing

Shortly after the guard had left, the sound of shattered glass brought Valeros and Lem to the front room of the house.  One of the front windows was shattered, and a flaming arrow was lodged in the opposite wall.  Valeros motioned to Lem to get down, and he leaned against the wall near the window, trying to get a glimpse of what had fired the arrow.  A small band of goblins stood in front of the house, bows drawn.

Valeros turned to Lem and attempted to pantomime to him the scene outside.  He then adjusted the grip on the broken table leg he still held, and nodded to the halfling.  He kicked the door open and charged at the goblins, booming a mighty war cry.  Lem followed behind, unleashing blasts from his wand.  Some goblins fell, and others were clubbed by the wild swings of Valeros' makeshift club.  Soon, what was left of the small band had scattered back into the nearby woods.  

Turn 5

Lem – BoG

Goblin Raid – Summon and encounter Goblin Raider

Valeros – Reveal and recharge Quarterstaff = D10+5 + D6 + D6 = 14 = Success

Lem – Wand of Force Missile + Valeros = 4D4 + D4+1 = 13 = Success

Recharge Wand = Success

Valeros was sure that the goblin attack was no coincidence.  Someone, or something, had sent them to stop their investigation.  He frowned as an explosion inside the small house signaled that the flames had reached some of the potions that Lem had been examining earlier.  He turned back to Lem, and as he did, he was shocked to find himself face to face with the ghost of a woman.

The transparent glow of her form shimmered in the light of the fire behind them.  She must have been beautiful in life, but in afterlife her appearance was nothing short of haunting.  She gazed at him with a face full of sadness and anger.  Her voice was a moaning whisper, and it said only one word: "Foxglove", then disappeared.

They could only guess as to what that meant, but they both agreed that the farmhouse would offer no further clues.  They made their way back to the city with more questions than answers.

Turn 6

Valeros – BoG

Holy Candle – 2

Haunt – Placed in front of him

D6 to encounter Iesha – 7 = Encounter her

Diplomacy + Aid + Lem Recharge = D6+2 + D6 + D4+2 = 12 = Fail = 1 damage 

Recharge Aid = Success

Summon and defeat random monster to close location – Skeleton -  Reveal Warhammer+1 =  D10+5 + D8+1 = 14 = Success = Location closed

They decided that the best place to start their search was at the Magnimar Academy.  Most knowledge, both magical and mundane, could be found there.  They flashed their badges at the head librarian, and Lem began piling musty books upon the table to pore over. 

Turn 7

Lem – BoG

Academy

Quarterstaff – Strength = D4 = 2 = Fail

Free explore from location - Inflict - Divine = D10+3 = 12 = Success

Valeros wondered how useful he would be here, since research wasn't necessarily his forte.  He began to explore the other areas of the Academy instead.  He brushed aside a few stacks of books, looking for something more interesting.

Turn 8

Valeros – BoG

Academy

Fiery Weapon – Intelligence = D6 = 1 = Fail

Lem continued his search through the shelves.  After a time, he did spy a book that looked that it might have some answers.  The title on the spine identified it as "A Brief History of Magnimar Nobility", but that wasn't what caught his eye.  What stood out was the author's name: Thaddeus Foxglove.  Lem pulled at the tome, and heard a faint 'click' as he did so. He did not react in time to dodge the curved blade that swung out from the shelf towards him.  He cried and staggered back as the blade bit deeply into his midsection.

Turn 9

Lem – BoErastil

Slashing Blade – Dex + BoPharasma + Valeros BoG = 3D8 = 5 = Fail = D4 damage to both

Lem – 3

Valeros – 1

Valeros ran back to his partner, having heard his cry from outside the room.  He found Lem slumped back against a shelf, bleeding from his chest.  Farther down the row of shelves, Valeros saw an opening in the stone.  From this opening, great boar sprang from the darkness.  It's eyes were wild and foam lined it's mouth.  It charged directly towards his partner.  Valeros moved quickly in between them, bringing his sword down upon the beast before it could reach Lem.

Turn 10

Valeros – BoG

Tickwood Boar – auto-fail wis check – reveal and recharge bastard sword = D10+5 +2D10 = 24 = Success

Free explore from location – Archer = Diplomacy = D6+2 = 3 = Fail

Lem took the opportunity to murmur a healing prayer.  Feeling the warmth of the spell work on his chest, he allowed himself a moment of respite before examining the shelf where the trap was sprung.  He identified the mechanism that triggered the blade easily, and disarmed it.  Valeros had turned back to check on him after dispatching the boar.  He nodded to the man, then pointed at the opening in the wall.

"What's that?"

Turn 11

Lem – BoCalistria

Cure – 2

Recharge cure = Fail

Slashing Blade – Dex + Recharge Burglar + BoDesna + BoSarenrae = 3D8 + D10 = 17 = Success

Free explore from location – Augury = Divine = D10+3 = 6 = Success

Use Augury – Monster – reveals Skinsaw Man, Cloak of Elvenkind and Lightning Bolt

Skinsaw Man on bottom of deck

Recharge Augury = Fail

They moved into the darkness cautiously, not knowing what other creatures might lurk within.  They were relieved to find no more beasts within, but there were a few objects worth examining.  Valeros picked up a cloak that hung on a nearby wall.  It had not been there long.  Clearly, this place had recently been inhabited.  

Turn 12

Valeros – BoShelyn

Cloak of Elvenkind – Dex = D8 = 1 = Fail

Lem was looking over some papers that rested on a small desk in the chamber. The writings were clearly arcane, but he could not make them out.  Retrieving the book that had opened this place, he showed it to Valeros.  They were certain that this was an important clue, and went back to the station to see if they could uncover any more information about this Foxglove family.

Turn 13

Lem – BoShelyn

Lightning Bolt – Arcane + Aid = D10+3 + D6 = 7 = Fail 

Recharge Aid = Fail

They were directed to the dilapidated ruins of Foxglove Manor.  It was a large mansion that rested just outside the city walls, atop a cliff that overlooked the sea.  The Foxglove family had once held a position of high esteem in the city, before some unidentified tragedy caused their downfall.  No one would speak of the event, but many referred to the family estate as "cursed".

They resolved to waste no time, and moved towards the outskirts of the city.  They could see the mansion in the distance, silhouetted by the sunset reflecting off of the calm sea.  The mansion must have been beautiful at one time, but had fallen into disrepair for many years now.  As they neared the structure, Valeros spied a large hole in the ground.  Investigating further, it appeared as though something had clawed it's way from the earth below.  

The hole itself was deep, large enough for Lem to stand upright in.  Valeros looked to his diminutive friend.

"No.  No way am I going down there.  Forget it." The halfling cried, backing away from the pit.

"Fine, you big baby, hand me a torch then."

Valeros descended, and was shocked to see that the hole was in fact connected to a tunnel that extended towards the house.

He was about to tell his partner when a rock whistled past his head, shattering on the earth behind him.  Valeros hurled his glaive into the tunnel where the rock had come from, and heard the thudding sound of a body hitting the ground.  He motioned to his partner to come down.

Turn 14

Valeros – BoG

Warrens

Soldier – Melee = D10+5 = 8 = Fail (Thanks, Haunt)

Discard BoIomedae explore – Scout – 1D4-1 ranged damage = 0

Glaive = D10+5 + D10 = 19 = Success

Random monster gets put on top of Foxglove Manor

  

Lem stopped any pretense of not entering the hole and clambered down to join his partner.  As he did so, another rock flew at him from the darkness.  Lem shot lightning back towards the source.  The bright sparks briefly illuminated the depths, showing the pair that these tunnels went even deeper than they had supposed.  It appeared that there was a great labyrinth that rested underneath the manor.

Turn 15

Lem – BoDesna

Warrens

Scout – 1d4-1 ranged damage = 0

Lightning Touch + Valeros = D10+3 + 2D4 + D4+1 = 15 = Success

Random monster gets put on top of Foxglove Manor

Recharge Lightning Touch = Success

Discard Toad explore – Mending = Divine = D10+3 = Auto-Success

Valeros moved cautiously forward, disabling many simple traps that he found in the tunnels as he did.  He could not even imagine what would be lurking down here, but he was determined to find out.  The earth had not been dug by tools, but instead appeared to have been clawed by human hands.  The thought was disturbing.

Turn 16 

Valeros – BoG

Slashing Blade – Recharge Masterwork Tools

Lem followed Valeros closely.  Something in this place terrified him, though he could not identify the source of his uneasiness.  They had lit torches to see in the roughly-hewn tunnels.  The smell down here was earthy, as one would expect, but it was tinged with something else.  Decay.  Lem's thoughts drifted back to the ghoul again, and he moved closer to Valeros.

Turn 17

Lem – BoDesna

Exchange Enfeeble for Cure

Cure – 5

Recharge Cure = Fail

Longsword = auto-fail

Discard BoG explore – Haunt

Dex to close = D8 = 5 = Fail

Random monster on top of Foxglove Manor

They continued on for some time.  Valeros was beginning to worry that they would be unable to find their way back.  The tunnels wormed through the earth in random directions, twisting and turning.  It was impossible to know which direction they now faced.

Turn 18 

Valeros – BoG

Burglar – Diplomacy = D6+2 = 7 = Success

Staff of minor healing on self

Lem's nose caught a new scent: rotten wood.  He informed his partner of this new discovery, and Valeros let the halfling in front of him.  Following his nose, Lem worked his way towards the new smells.  As he neared the source, he caught other, less identifiable, scents as well.  He reached the terminus of the tunnel they had been travelling along, and saw that it opened up directly into the manor above.

Turn 19

Lem – BoPharasma

Cape of Escape – Auto-Fail thanks to Haunt

Discard BoShelyn explore – Mace – Auto-fail thanks to Haunt

Dex to close location – D8 = 7 = Success

As he and Lem emerged from the pit, Valeros was set upon by a mass of feathers and talons.  Valeros unslung his bow and began firing in all directions, hoarse squawks answered him.  Within moments, he was surrounded by the corpses of several birds.  They were decayed, pustulent and wretched things.  These birds had clearly been reanimated by some dark magic.  They must have been disturbed by the pair exiting the tunnels. 

Turn 20

Valeros – BoG

Foxglove Manor

Carrionstorm – Reveal and recharge Shock Longbow +1 = D8 + D8+1 + D10 = 24 = Success

Lem moved to examine the room they were in, satisfied that they were no longer in immediate danger.  He staggered backwards in shock as he looked at the painting that adorned the rotted wall.  It was the woman that they had seen in spectral form earlier!  With her was a man; both looked noble and wore fine clothing, and the placard below read "Aldern and Iesha".  

As he stared at the haunting figured in the painting, he found himself transfixed in place.  His eyes began to burn, and he felt pressure begin to build in his skull.  He could not move nor speak.  The painting would not let him.  The eyes of the couple locked onto his, and he was helpless against their power.  

Turn 21

Lem – BoG

Foxglove Manor

Reveal Aldern to banish haunts

Satyr – Dex = D8 = 4 = Fail = 5 damage!

Valeros could see Lem standing in the hallway, and he saw his partner staring at the wall, unmoving.  He could tell instantly that the halfling was not himself.  As he moved towards him, a hand reached from the doorway next to the halfling.  Rags hung from the arm that followed.   Whatever it was, Valeros wasn't going to wait to find out.  He hurled his spear at it, and the shaft knocked the arm aside.  Running to the creature, Valeros swung his glaive in a wide arc, knocking the thing backwards into the room.

Turn 22

Valeros – BoG

Academy

Skinsaw Man – Difficulty increased by 2 – Icy Longspear +1 = D10+5 + D8+1 = 18 = Success

2nd check – Glaive + Lem Aid = D10+5 + D10 + D6 = 24 = Success

Recharge Aid - Success

Location closed

The disturbance broke the spell that had ensnared Lem.  He slumped against the wall, holding his aching head.  He focused and said a prayer of healing, and felt the healing light enter him.  He was recovered enough to pick himself up and help his partner.

Turn 23

Lem – BoIrori

Exchange Augury for Cure

Cure – 5

Recharge Cure = Success

Potion of Healing = Intelligence = D6 = 1 = Fail

Discard BoDesna explore – Potion of Healing – Intelligence = D6 = 1 = Fail

Valeros was chasing the thing through the manor.  He was focused only on catching it.  The details of the manor were a blur as he ran through decayed halls and leapt over rotted furniture.  

Turn 24

Valeros – BoAbadar

Foxglove Manor

Longsword – Auto-success

Lem lagged behind the chase, still working to clear his head.  What was it that Valeros was chasing?  What connection did it have to the undead cult that plagued Magnimar?  It was almost too much for him to wrap his mind around.  

He was snapped out of his reverie by a voice. "Foxglove" it whispered in a low moan.  Lem stopped in his tracks.  He turned and immediately shut his eyes tight involuntarily.  It was the spectral woman again.  He stammered out an inquiry.

"Are you Iesha?" he said in a terrified whisper.

"Yeeees.  Ieeeshaaa was my naaaame." the moan was like wind whispering through dead trees.

"Who killed you?" Lem didn't know if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Aaaaldern." 

Lem dared to open one eye, and saw nothing but darkness.  The spectre was gone.  Lem sat on the dusty floor and cried softly.

Turn 25

Lem – BoG

Guidance – Auto-success

Discard BoShelyn explore – Haunt

D6 to encounter Iesha – 7 = encounter her

Diplomacy +BoPharasma = D10+5 + D10 = 24 = Success = Undefeated due to no magic

Arcane to close Location -  Guidance + BoPharasma = D10+3 + 2D10 + 1 = 22 = Success

Location open with Skinsaw man being the only card left

Recharge Guidance Automatically

Valeros had cornered the thing in an upstairs bedroom.  It turned to face him, and Valeros saw the thing clearly for the first time.  It was clothed in filthy rags.  In one hand, it held a wicked knife.  It's face was covered in a full mask made of the same rags that covered it's body.  

"Who are you, and what do you know about the Skinsaw Man?" Valeros said as he took a defensive stance with his glaive.

At the mention of the word 'Skinsaw' though, the posture of the thing changed.  It lunged towards Valeros with a feral growl.  Valeros swung twice with his glaive, and pieces of the creature hit the floor around him.  He reached down and pulled the rags from the head of the thing.  Looking up at him with pale, vacant eyes was the face of Aldern Foxglove.

Post-Game Analysis

I'm still recovering from a pretty nasty cold/flu, so I likely made many mistakes this time around.  Nevertheless, there was some good story to be told here.  I kind of cheated by leaving Skinsaw man at the Academy and then sending Valeros back there after the Warrens had closed, but there are going to be situations in the game that don't translate to a narrative well. 

Missing out on that Lightning Bolt was really crappy, and the haunts prevented me from getting a couple other boons, but overall I was pleased by the events of the game.  I have a healthy backlog of episodes now, and will be posting up one a week for the foreseeable future.  Till next time!

Cop and a Half: Episode 13 - A Feast for Scarecrows

Lem yawned as he rose from his child-sized bed.  He glanced outside the window of his room, still bleary-eyed from sleep.  The sun was setting, so his shift at the guard tower would be starting soon.  

He had begun to settle into his new life in Magnimar over the past week or so.  The tall stone buildings and bustling streets still felt strange, but at least he knew his way around now.  He and Valeros had taken to covering the graveyard shift in one of the guard towers along the city wall after the disappearance of some of the local guard.  It was not uncommon of late for citizens to go missing, but it was no less unsettling.  

Lem 

Card Feat: Spell

Skill Feat: Carisma +2

Power Feat: 1D4 +2 to another character’s check

Starting Deck

Sling

Burglar

Toad

Aldern Foxglove

Sihedron Medallion

Wand of Force Missile

Cure

Aid

Enfeeble

Holy Light

Lightning Touch

BoPharasma x2

BoShelyn

BoDesna

BoG

He descended the stairs of the small house that he shared with his partner and found Valeros already at the table eating some leftover soup.  The man nodded at Lem as the halfling crossed the room to grab a bowl of his own.  When Lem had first met Valeros, he would never have imagined surviving a day with him, much less sharing a home with him. But through their ordeals they had formed a bond that only those who had survived horrific experiences together would understand.  

Valeros didn't love taking over the graveyard shift in the tower any more than Lem did.  He would much rather be out on the streets, getting to the bottom of these deaths and disappearances.  They hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary after the night at the mill, but they could feel it.  Something sinister was out there.

Valeros

Card Feat: Item

Skill Feat: Strength +2

Power Feat: Hand Size – 5, 1D4 +1 to another characters combat check

Starting Deck

Glaive

Spiked Chain

Warhammer +1

Bastard Sword

Shock Longbow +1

Sheriff Hemlock

Grizzled Mercenary

Magic Leather Armor

Chain Mail

Magic Half-Plate

Holy Candle

Staff of Minor Healing

Masterwork Tools

BoSarenrae

BoIomedae

BoG

After finishing their meal and donning their uniforms, they proceeded to the tower.  As usual, the streets were still teeming with merchants, sailors and a variety of others humanoids of all shapes and sizes.  

As they neared the guard tower, the alarm bells began to ring.  The tower was under attack!  The pair broke into a sprint, weapons drawn.  Just outside the stone guard tower, they could hear the clash of steel on steel.  Lem turned his gaze to Valeros and smiled.

"Well, at least our shift will go by quickly." he said wryly as he blasted the tower door off it's hinges with his wand, sending it flying into a bandit.

Turn 1

Lem – BoAbadar

Guard Tower

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Wand of Force Missile + Valeros = 5D4+1 = 15 = Success

Recharge Wand = Fail

Potion of Hiding – Intelligence = D6 = 2 = Fail

But this was no ragtag band of raiders.  As they entered the tower, they could see all manner of creatures running through the staircases and hallways of the place, wreaking havoc on the defending guardsmen.  Valeros kicked one bandit square in the face, grabbing the man's sword in mid-air.  He then spun and buried the sword into a malformed creature that was loping towards him.

Turn 2

Valeros – BoLamashtu

Guard Tower

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Bastard Sword = D10 + 5 + D10 = 12 = Success

Short Sword = Auto-Success

BoIomedae explore – Bunyip – Fail wisdom check – Reveal and recharge short sword + Lem Recharge = D6 + D6 + 5 + D4+2 = 15 = Success

Use Staff of Minor Healing on self

Lem jumped backward to avoid an axe swing from another bandit.  His back was against the stone wall that faced the outside of the city.  In the din of battle, he swore he could feel the stone walls shake.  Before he could investigate further, the stones of the wall exploded inwards with a thunderous crash. Lem was quickly buried, his cry muffled by the debris.

Turn 3

Lem –BoG

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Enfeeble – Evade Bandit

Recharge Enfeeble = Fail

Ambush – Dexterity + Aid + Valeros BoG = D8 + D6 + D8 = 20 = Success

Recharge Aid = Success

Scarecrow Golem – Gets ass kicked – Buries one of the damage cards per scenario

As the dust settled, a behemoth lumbered into view the likes of which Valeros had never seen.  It appeared to be a scarecrow, but was massive in both height and width. It's featureless face was impassive as it continued it's forward movement, stepping over the rubble that had entombed Lem.  Valeros took a step back, trying to think of a way to stop this creature and rescue his partner.

Turn 4

Valeros – BoErastil

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Bastard Sword – D10+5 + D10 = 14 = Success

Longsword – Auto-Success

Lem was lost in darkness.  There was muffled sound, but it was all indecipherable.  He slowly came to his senses, trying to shake off the almost certain concussion.  He hurt everywhere, but he could not tell how grievous his wounds were.  He pushed upward with all his might, desperate for air.  

With a loud grating sound, the slab of rock directly over him began to shift.  Once he had moved it aside enough to squeeze out, he looked for his partner while gasping for fresh air.  As he stood, he saw the axe-man from before bearing down on him with a sinister grin.  Fortunately, his sling had not been lost in the rubble.  He took aim and fired one of the many stones that surrounded him at the man.  His shot was true, and the man fell.  Relieved, Lem took a moment to gather his wits and say a healing prayer.  Convinced that nothing was broken, he turned his attention to the huge construct that strode towards Valeros.

Turn 5

Lem – BoG

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Sling + Valeros – D8 + D6 + D4+1 = 9 = Success

Exchange Lightning Touch in hand for Cure in discard

Cure – 5

Recharge Cure = Success

Shield of Fire Resistance – Constitution = D6 = 3 = Fail

Toad Explore – Thieves’ Tools – Dexterity = D8 = 5 = Success

Still considering the best course of action in taking down the monster, Valeros helped the surviving guards escape the ruins of the tower.  As for how to deal with the golem, Valeros was at a loss.  This thing had no vital organs, and was much too large to cut apart with a sword.  He was running out of time.

Turn 6

Valeros – BoIomedae

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Warhammer +1 = D10+5 + D8+1 = Auto-success

Guard – Diplomacy = D6+2 = 3 = Fail

Sheriff Hemlock explore – Guard (really?!) = Diplomacy = D6+2 = 4 = Fail

Lem, on the other hand, had plenty of ideas.  This thing had been created with magic, and so could be undone by magic.  He first let loose a stone at the creature, to grab it's attention.  As the golem turned, Lem readied his wand.  Let's see how the creature liked being blasted.  Arcane force pulsed from the wand impacting the creature directly in it's torso.  There was a brief shimmer around it as the energies struck the magic that held the thing together.  

Turn 7

Lem – BoCalistria

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Sling + Valeros = D8 + D6 + D4+1 = 12 = Success

Scarecrow Golem – Wand of Force Missile + Valeros + Bury Grizzled Merc = 5D4+1 + D8 = 27 = Success

Recharge Wand = Success

Strength 5 check to close + BoShelyn = 2D4 = 4 = Fail

The spell that bound it could not stand against the force missiles.  The magic shield warped and then shattered under the barrage.  Straw and rags erupted behind the blast, showering Valeros. Just when Valeros started to forget, Lem always had a habit of reminding him of his usefulness.  He walked to the halfling. 

"You OK?"  He looked down and saw that beneath the layer of dust, blood caked his partner's face and hands.  The sounds of battle in the tower had died down as the rest of the bandits were taken down by the defending guards.

"Yeah, I'll live." He stopped and looked out into the fields that could be seen through the hole in the wall. "Whoever did this won't, though."  Lem grumbled.  He walked towards the gaping hole in the wall, prepared to track down whoever, or whatever had sent that monster to the city.

Turn 8 

Valeros – BoTorag

Summon Bandit Henchman per location – Recharge a card

Warhammer +1 = D10+5 + D8+1 = Auto-success

Strength 5 to close – Auto-Success

The pair made their way through the fields that surrounded the city.  This area was largely populated by farmers and their livestock.  The golem's trail was easy to follow, even in the dim moonlight.  Large footfalls could be seen in the mud, thanks to recent rains.  It led them to a small farmhouse that bordered an inlet from the sea. 

Lem scouted the area, trying to ignore the aching pain that coursed through him.  In the darkness, he managed to spot metal leaning up against a nearby barn.  Moving towards it, it became apparent that it was a fine spear.  Even more interesting was that the tip was cold to the touch, completely covered in frost.  The spear was more than twice his size, but he took it anyway, and motioned his partner to join him.

Turn 9

Lem – BoG

Farmhouse

Icy Longspear +1 – Strength +Aid + BoPharasma = D4 + D6 + 2D4 = 12 = Success

Recharge Aid = Fail

He and Valeros entered the barn cautiously, looking for anything out of the ordinary.  Valeros spied a pouch that sat atop one of the many barrels that lined the walls of the interior of the barn.  He opened it and was rewarded with a nice set of lockpicking tools.  Between the weapon and these tools, it was clear that ordinary farmer dwelled here.  Whatever had made the golem must be nearby.

Turn 10

Valeros – BoIrori

Farmhouse

Masterwork Tools – Dexterity + Lem Recharge = D8 + D4+2 = 9 = Success

Movement from above snapped them out of their reverie.  Barrels began to fall upon them, followed by a cackling laughter.  As they dove out of the way, something dove upon Lem.  The stench of it nearly overpowered him as it clawed and gnashed at his face.  It smelled rotten, but it was no mindless zombie.  This thing was fast, with long limbs that ended in talons sharp as razors.  Though human in appearance, it's limbs were unnaturally long and thin, powered by unholy strength.  

Lem forced his newfound spear between him and the creature as they rolled on the floor of the barn in struggle.  The speartip pierced the creature and it recoiled, screeching in a pitch that left Lem nearly deafened.  As the creature staggered back, Valeros swung his sword, burying it deep in the ghoul's side.  To Valeros' surprise, it pulled itself off the blade and ran into the darkness outside, leaving behind it a thick noxious trail of ichor.

Turn 11

Lem – BoSarenrae

Rogors Craesby – Fail Con check – Icy Longspear + Valeros = D4 + D8+1 + D4+1 = 176 = Success

2nd Check – Valeros – Reveal and recharge Bastard Sword + Lem Recharge = D10+5 + D10 + D10 + D4+2 = 17 = Success

Location closed

   

They ran after it, nearing a wooden bridge that crossed the gap of the inlet.  This creature must be responsible for the attack on the city.  Or at the very least, it could have valuable information regarding whoever or whatever was responsible.  

Turn 12

Valeros – BoCalistria

Wooden Bridge

Archer – Diplomacy = D6+2 = 5 = Fail

As the pair reached the bridge, Lem spied a chest next to the wooden posts that held the bridge.  He motioned to his partner, and started towards it.  A foul goblin snake struck from the tall grass nearby, but Lem had not let his guard down.  The snake quickly rested on the frosty point of his new spear.  

The lock on the chest was easily picked, but unfortunately examination of the items inside would have to wait.  Lem quickly stuffed the contents of the chest in his pack and the duo carried on across the bridge.

Turn 13

Lem – BoG

Wooden Bridge

Goblin Snake – Fail Con Check - Icy Longspear +1 + Valeros = D4 + D8+1 + D4+1 = 14 = Success 

Discard BoDesna Explore – Battered Chest – Discard Thieves Tools = D4 items = 4

Blast Stone, Potion of Vision, Potion of Energy Resistance, Tome of Knowledge

The bridge swayed beneath them, but it was in good repair.  They crossed without incident, still following the trail of the ghoul.  It appeared to have run into the nearby woods that lined the opposite side of the bridge.

Turn 14 

Valeros – BoTorag

Merchant – Diplomacy + Lem recharge = D6+2 + D4+2 = 11 = Success

Discard Merchant Explore – Burglar – Diplomacy + Lem recharge = D6+2 + D4+2 = 8 = Success

Looming before them, the woods appeared ominous in the moonlit night.  Unlike the woods surrounding Sandpoint, the trees here were gnarled, and rotten, showing little signs of life.  It was silent, and it was dark.

They neared the edge, looking for any sign of the creature's passage.  Following the trail as it wound through the lifeless vegetation, Lem failed to notice a taloned hand until it closed around his throat.  The creature had left a false trail and doubled back behind them!  Lem stabbed behind him with his spear and felt it strike something soft.  The scream that followed told him that luck was on his side and he had found his mark.  

The hand that had gripped him suddenly loosened and Lem dropped to one knee, gasping for air.  Valeros jumped towards the creature with his glaive, but tripped over an exposed root, landing on his face.  The ghoul ran deeper into the wood in desperation.

Turn 15

Lem – BoShelyn

Rogors Craesby – Fail Con check – Icy Longspear +1 + Valeros = D4 + D8+1 + D4+2 = 17 = Success

2nd Check – Valeros – Glaive = D10+5 + D10 = 13 = Fail = Recharge Glaive to reroll = 14 = Fail = 1 damage

Rogors escapes

Valeros picked himself up.  He was furious at his own carelessness.  It would not happen again.  He sensed movement in his peripheral vision and struck out with his warhammer, throwing it at the darkness.  Snatching his glaive off the ground, he went to see what he had hit.  It was not the ghoul, but some other foul creature.  Grimacing in disgust, he retrieved his hammer and continued after the trail of the ghoul.

Turn 16

Valeros – BoSarenrae

Bunyip – Fail Wis Check – Warhammer +1 + Lem Recharge = D10+5 + D8+1 + D4+2 = Auto-Success

Lem followed after Valeros, knowing that his partner was now fully lost in his bloodlust.  The man had a tendency to be nearly single-minded in his fury, losing sense of anything else.  It was up to Lem to protect him from the other dangers that surrounded them.  He lodged his spear into a man that took aim at Valeros from nearby foliage.  If nothing else, Valeros was a great distraction for their enemies to focus on.  Lem couldn't help but wonder what kind of men would ally themselves with a ghoul, though.  It was a disturbing thought.

Turn 17

Lem – BoGorum

Chain Mail – Con = D6 = 6 = Success

Discard BoG explore – Scout – D4-1 combat damage = 3 = Bury Chain Mail

Icy Longspear +1 + Valeros = D4 + D8+1 + D4+1 = 16 = Success

Valeros had reached a small clearing that seemed to act as a border between the sparse, dead wood that they had crossed, and the living woods beyond.  These woods were still far from welcoming, and likely a great deal more dangerous in the night.  Valeros doubted that any moonlight would benefit them in that dense network of trees.  

From that wood, a horrid creature crept into the clearing.  The light of the clearing shone on pale flesh that was covered in the rags that one would normally use to dress a scarecrow.  Saliva dripped from cruel fangs in the creature's mouth, it's face mostly covered by rotted burlap.  It circled Valeros, waiting to make it's move.  

In this clearing though, Valeros had the advantage.  He charged at the thing as he bellowed a battle cry.  No unholy abomination would get between him and the ghoul he pursued.  He swung with his hammer again and again.  Though the creature was unnaturally fast, it could not avoid the blows from his magical hammer forever.  It crumpled to the ground, lifeless.  Valeros continued to swing until he was satisfied, then moved deeper into the dark woods before him.

Turn 18 

Valeros – BoG

BoG

Discard BoG Explore – BoG

Discard BoG Explore – Ghoul Scarecrow – Warhammer +1 + Lem recharge = D10+5 + D8+1 + D4+2 = Auto-Success

Dex Check to close + Lem Rechage= D8 + D4+2 = 9 = Success

Lem watched from the edge of the clearing as Valeros took off into the wood.  Lem followed the man, taking care to steer clear of the mangled corpse that he had left in his wake.  As they moved into the wood, Lem said another prayer of healing.  Though he was not at risk of death, he was still in a great deal of pain.  

Suddenly, a figure rose out of the darkness before him.  The ghoul had been lying in wait for them!  It clawed Lem's face in a frenzy, leaving deep gashes.  The halfling stumbled backwards in a mixture of pain and surprise.  The ghoul loomed over him menacingly.  Where was Valeros?

Turn 19

Lem – BoG

Woods

Cure – 3

Recharge Cure = Success

Rogors Caesby – Fail Con check – Icy Longspear +1 = D4 + D8+1 = 8 = Fail = Discard Icy Longspear to reroll = 7 = All the damage ever = Bury 1 card

Rogors escapes again

Valeros heard his partner's cry, and looked around him frantically.  They had gotten separated in the labyrinth of darkness and foliage.  He lit a candle from his pack and attempted to follow his own trail which he hoped would lead him back to Lem.  As he cleaved another snake in two, he could hear movement ahead.  He hoped he was close.

Turn 20

Valeros – BoG

Woods

Holy Candle – 4

Goblin Snake – Fail Con Check - Reveal and recharge short sword = D10+5 + D6 + D6 = 18 = Success

Lem had lost all feeling in his body.  His muscles refused to listen to his commands.  The ghoul must have paralyzed him!  He could only watch in silent horror as the creature stooped over him, it's saliva dripping on the halfling's armor.  The ghoul's talons reached toward his face.  Lem had never known fear like this before.

Turn 21

Lem – BoG

Battered Chest – Dex + Aid = D8 + D6 = 3 = Fail

Recharge Aid = Fail

Valeros could hear that he was getting closer to something, and he hoped it was Lem.  Suddenly, a vibration shook the earth near him, then another, and another.  A tree beside Valeros was knocked aside with ease as another scarecrow golem charged towards him.  Valeros steeled himself and readied his hammer.  

Lem had taught him something today. This thing had been created with magic, and so could be undone by magic.  It was a valuable lesson indeed.  Just as the golem reached him, he swung upwards with his hammer as hard as he could.  purple-tinted sparks flew from the thing's torso as the magic in the hammer fought against the magic that held the beast together.  The hammer reached the golem's head, and it erupted in straw like a great volcano.  The energy that had bound the creature was broken.

Valeros moved forward into the clearing just in time to see the ghoul beginning to set it's talons into Lem's flesh.  He threw his hammer with incredible force, knocking the ghoul into a nearby tree.  Valeros did not break stride, but instead sprinted towards the body of the creature, grabbing his hammer from the ground as he ran.  

The ghoul sat up against the tree just in time to see the flat of Valeros' hammer before it crushed the ghoul's skull against the wood.  The rotten body slumped and fell lifeless.

Turn 22

Valeros – BoAbadar

Staff of Minor Healing on self

Ghoul Scarecrow – Warhammer +1 + Lem Recharge = D10+5 + D8+1 + D4+2 = Auto-Success

Remove all cards but Rogors

Discard BoIomedae explore – Rogors – Pass Con check

1st Check – Warhammer +1 + Lem recharge = D10+5 + D8+1 + D4+2 = 18 = Success

2nd Check – Reveal and Recharge Warhammer +1 + Lem recharge = D10+5 + D8+1 + D6 + D4+2 = 23 = Success

Lem awoke, bleary-eyed, and glanced around his room.  He started and tried to sit upright, but searing pain forced him back down.  He cleared his vision and glanced down.  His entire body was bandaged, from head to toe.  This was quite possibly the worst first aid he had ever seen.  The bedroom door opened, and Valeros stepped in with a bowl of soup.

"Ah, good, you're awake. You've been sleeping for 3 days." A note of concern sounded in Valeros' voice.  Realizing this, he quickly added, "You lazy ass."

Beneath his bandages, Lem smiled. 

Scenario Reward - Random Armor

Lem – Magic Shield

Valeros – Chain Mail

Post-Game Analysis

I'm really enjoying watching the bond between these two continue to grow as we move along the AP.  We're getting closer to uncovering the foul mystery of Magnimar, then who knows where our heroes will end up (Spoiler alert - Adventure Deck 3 ).

I was glad to get another magic weapon this time around.  Unfortunately, Valeros isn't going to let Lem keep it.  With D4 strength, Lem was lucky that he could even lift the thing to begin with.  That was probably our biggest coup this time around, but it was another solid outing overall.  Till next time!