As they reach the forest and the gargoyles break off their attack, Simon simply let himself topple over and into the grass, rolling around inhaling deeply.
"Awwwww-brrpurrurr.
Feels sooo good to be back in the green, don't you think?
Surrounded by primal life again, instead of muffy-old'n'evil undeads!
Now lets head back to town, I want to get rid of those ghosty faces everywhere-frch yeah you, go away already!"
At this he suddenly stops, eying the half-conceiled sword then Maglin.
"Maglin," (Magsi no more?)
"Could the sword be the reason those ghosty-things still haunt me?
I mean ... they haunt me since I was struck by the sword-miaur.
And it is still around, as are the ghosts ...?"
+++ As they approach town +++
Simon nodds at Dalkk's request.
"Sure, friend.
I will accompany you after the first day in town-meow.
A day should be enough to find someone capable of helping me, taking a good bath or three, a warm bed for a change... and to make sure this evil sword is handed to someone capable of ridding it from its evil.
I'll use the time to soak up nature in all its beauty before we head back down ... there-brrfrch."
"Here you go, Dalkk.
No more than a half-hour walk from the town border but far off any usually walked tracks or routes, deeply hidden by an area thick with close-standing trees and underwood-mehmehmeh.
If you dig out this bush, here take my shovel, and then push over this dead, rotten tree you have a nice, well hidden campsite!
I'll take the bush over an dig it in near the town later.
It will grow berries in a couple of months, the kids in town will love him for those-meow!"
You successfully find a small grotto in a depression that will make for an excellent camping sight unless it rains. You set your tents and most of you head into town.
The only one in town with knowledge of what you're even talking about when you address Simon's condition is Mr. Dark. He tells you to bring Simon in for "anaylasis".
Mr. Pye at the general store gladly accepts your more mundane items. He offers you 5 gold for the lead coins, 100 for the nails, and shows no interest in the map.
The more expensive items are a bit trickier, especially the powerful sword. I just don't have that kind of gold on hand. he says. But if you're willing to wait a couple weeks I could sail out to Quent and see what I can do. I know a guy that might be willing to take it.
"I don't know if I like the sound of his name ...
But if he can cure me-meowiii.
Vuzi ... would you ... ehm ... come with me to this Mr. Dark-miii?"
@Mr. Pye:
"Yeah that would be nice.
We will be here for a bit, so that should do, I guess.
But ... is this ehm... a nice guy-miii?
I ... we son't want this sword to cause even more damage to some unfortunate souls, yes?"
Mr. Pye shrugs. He's an artifact collector. I only know him through a friend. Unfortunately he's the best I got.
"a collector seems safe enough. Thank you sir.
1. Mundane items include the magical but basic such as the +2 warhammer?
2. For the 2 items that Vance pointed out (dwarven armor and throwing axe) where we able to get more or just book price?
3. Is Vance effectively secure for the next few days or are we still waiting to hear that out?
To whoever went to sell the loot as Dalkk is not there, are you selling the coins and nails?
Vuzi will use any spell slots she has left to heal everyone who needs it.
She looks at Vance and Dalkk, and then at Simon clearly torn between the two groups. She decides, and take a look at Dalkk's list.
"I vill go with you to this Mr. Dark. De weapon iz not de problem. It vas the creature wielding it."
Vizi asks for the note from Maglin, and then adds an a couple of items to it.
Morning - Dalkk awaits with hands at the ready, often pacing, while waiting for Vance's outcome to occur. If Vuzi's spell works, and after some waiting and testing to make sure it did, Dalkk unlocks and unties Vance. If it did not work, Dalkk remains posted throughout the day to keep Vance concealed.
Noon - The dwarf continues to make notes about the plants around them. He will catalog edible fungi around them and spend the next 2 weeks expertly cataloging their growth rates and growing conditions. If he is lucky enough to find the opportunity, he may even transplant part of a collective to an area of higher moisture and more sunlight to see how growth rate is impacted.
Afternoon - On a few days where Vance is secure and another of the party can sit with Vance and Vuzi he will venture into town and make friends acquaintances learn the name of an attempt to find the shops to resupply his alchemical pursuits. He will likely pester Maglin to aid in any translation issues. He will make way to the Inn for drink, fresher meals, and to visit L'Nshpad.
Evening - Hastily returning to the Grotto, Dalkk will meet with MAglin and Vuzi to ply their craft. At the end of the evening, Vance will be returned to rope and shackle, placed in a half coffin, and put in the ground for the night.
Day 1 - Peptus Salix - DC 20 Yield: 134/167
Day 2 - Antiplague - DC 25 Yield: 146/167
Day 3 - Antitoxin - DC 25 Yield: 164/167
Day 4 - Peptus Salix - DC 20 Yield: 219/167
Day 5 - Antiplague - DC 25 Yield: 285/167
Day 6 - Antitoxin - DC 25 Yield: 289/167
Day 7 - Bodybalm - DC 25 Yield: 121/84
Day 8 - Twitch Tonic - DC 25 Yield: 139/150
Day 9 - Twitch Tonic - DC 25 Yield: 310/150
Day 10 - Holy Weapon Balm - DC 20 Yield: 120/100
Day 11 - Holy Weapon Balm - DC 20 Yield: 228/100
Day 12 - Holy Weapon Balm - DC 20 Yield: 368/100
Day 13 - Holy Weapon Balm - DC 20 Yield: 508/100
Day 14 - Acid - DC 15 Yield: 72/34
Total - 1 Peptus Salix, 1 Antitoxin, 1 Antiplague, 1 Bodybalm, 2 Twitch Tonic, 5 Holy Weapon Balm, 2 Acid - 115.3 Gold Spent on Crafting, Opting to drop the remainder rather than hold for future crafts unless we're here for another week.
The two weeks pass without major hiccup. You do have to do quite a bit of convincing of the guard as to why you're running off into the woods so often with all your stuff, but after some detailed descriptions of what happens when things go wrong and other achemical nastiness they leave you alone.
Simon's appointment with Mr. Dark is... interesting. Simon arrives and is escorted by the mage to his basement which is full of arcane machinery, sigils, magic circles, and all manner of incomprehensible clutter. He instructs Simon to stand in the center of one of these circles and starts casting spells. The ghosts do not react well to this and become much more solid and vocal. They can actually be heard in the room at one very scary point.
For his part, Mr. Dark is mostly silent during the process except when giving directions or the odd comment under his breath, but he works with efficiency and enthusiasm.
When it's all done he says, You are very lucky indeed, Simon. You have met Saracek the Fallen and lived to tell the tale. All of you did. Very few people can claim that distinction. Tell me, what was it like?
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Simon follows the odd mage down to his basement, his eyes wide and body slightly trembling. He does everything Mr. Dark tells him to do, actually standing still like a rock in the midst of the circle, altough he cannot suppress low whimpering as the ghost faces starts to fight the counter-magic in earnest.
As everything is over, Simon exhales deeply, taking a seat on the ground - since his legs would have quit their service in a few moments anyway.
"Thank you Sir, those ... ghosts really unnerved me.
And they simply didn't want to go away regardless what I said to them-meowi!"
After a moment to rally his thoughts and feelings, he continues.
"It was ... like a stab to your soul with an icy dagger forged from pure evil-brrfrch.
I think ... he was mostly toying with us though, feeling almighty and invincible.
At least at the start and towards the end.
One of us, a mighty warrior, gave him quite a hard time though, but the evil just continued to heal everything we threw at him with a flicker of his cursed-bone-hand.
Then he felled me with a single strike of his blade and an evil touch, sucking away my life-brreow.
Only thanks to my friends did I lived through that.
They carried me away, while our warrior held the evil in check.
Then we run for it and ... and those ghosts hunted me ever since-mew."
He looks up at the man after finishing his story.
"I am deeply in your dept, Sir.
How can I repay you, for banishing those evil ghosts that haunted me-mii?"
+++
During the wait, Simon helps mostly by keeping away unfriendly animals, collecting firewood (the alchemist-party needs a lot!), ensuring that their experiments do NOT set the entire forest on fire, hunting small animals by bow and trap (for the party to eat and to sell their furs to the towners).
He is clearly enjoying himself, being back to the wilds and he really lives up again after having those ghost, that haunted him, banished. He plays on his bone flute during the evenings, playing all kinds of minor and always harmless pranks on his fellows (using a mix of his awesome stealth and sleight of hand talents). He swaps out sugar and salt, filling Maglins component pouch with leaves (his components are later to be found carefully stowed away in a couple of his own socks), 'stealing' all of Dalkk's flasks from his backpack (only to build a glass-pyramid on their improved working bench) and more.
Each time he laughs the loudest and always helps to revert the pranks if he's asked for. In addition, whoever was the target of the latest prank, will receive a 'gift' the next morning, usually in the form of a dead animal near his or her resting place.
Dark nods in rapt attention. It is as I suspected. You are cursed. These ghosts will not leave you until you are restored. I have a few things I can try, but success is far from guaranteed when dealing with magic of this caliber. It will cost you too. I'll need 180 gold for the components, 20 for my time and 100 for some contingencies. 300 total. Up front.
You pay the man and he goes to work. Bye sets up many holy symbols connected to the his of life and community and places sensors of holy incense carefully around the circle. The process is painfully slow.
When the ritual starts the ghosts streak and writhe, threatening to split your skull if things continued. Dark sprinkles you with several doses of holy water and chants holy verse louder. The fight for your sanity goes on for what feels like hours. The ghosts resist at every step and Dark counters, though sometimes in the nick of time.
Finally, they flee your mind. Dark, now breathing heavily, smiles for the first time. Success. he whispers.
Glad that the dungeon run had throw off quite some money, Simon hands over the coins before the process starts.
Afterwards Simon will quickly leave, certain that Emily will wait outside, deeply worried for him. Their connection would surely let her feel some of the pain, fear and approaching insanity he felt during the process.
In addition, he feels the great need for a bath, a good dinner and a long sleep in a soft bed after this torture. In exactly that order.
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Cain
On one of Vance's better days when Cain comes out to relieve Dalkk, the dwarf will start looking around for Skeets. Over the last few nights in his spare time the dwarf had taken a copper piece He heated it until it was pliable and worked it with his hammer. The dwarf leans down and places a very crude copper helmet on Skeets secured by a few pieces of thread. "There ye go ye little whatzzit." The dwarf seems to have a certain affinity for stone that can talk back.
He'll straighten himself out when he stands. He stretches and looks to Cain. "What are those blasted things that come out of ye arms anyway? I have nae seen anything like it Cain Marko Cain."
Vuzi
Dalkk tends to his fungi log and alchemical pursuit. Although he enjoys it there is a certain amount of mundane feeling that comes across his face. He is quite pleased with his progress with both Vuzi and Maglin working together. While he waits for the distillery to begin boiling a paste made of mold he speaks in Orc.
Simon
Dalkk stomps around the campsite picking up vials and lab equipment. "And where did my tweezers get to ya idget! I swear if'n ya weren't fresh back from the dead I'd---" The dwarf stops mid sentence and freezes. He brings his finger to his lips insisting that Simon remain quiet. After another pause Dalkk pulls his crossbow with great speed, turns on his heels and sends a bolt into a large nearby tree with a shout. He waits for a response that never comes and keeps staring. He speaks up again "Tell me.. did ya see it move Simon? Can't be too careful around their kind...."
Maglin
When they first met the wizard had offered to share his knowledge. Dalkk has done the same as Brigh encourages. It seems the Elf's education has paid off and there is much more Maglin has to share in this regard. One night while studying his spell book Dalkk sets the book down. "I can only use some of these Magsy, not all your magics can be replicated by my science, but this one here..." Dalkk points to a series of arcane symbols close to the start of the book (Prestidigitation). "It looks like it could be used for any number of things... including changing somethings color... could ye in theory use this to turn a Dwarf's skin orange Magsy?"
Skeets zips around in excitement at the helmet. "yes! This is the garb of a warrior! he immiedietly starts ramming things with the helmet on
"thanks for doing that for him, it means a lot to me.... he looks off to the side briefly, a tad embarrassed "if it's not too much trouble...I mean, I've been kinda just standing around these past few days... maybe I could maybe learn a bit of alchemy from you? I could work as your assistant or something?.... or use that to learn to cook?"
Vuzi traveled with Simon to Mr. Dark as he requested. She wasn't allowed to go in. Something silly about upsetting Mr. Dark's work.
She stays outside with Emily during the ritual. "It's alright. He'll be fine. He needs to get rid ov vat he's seeing and I cannot help him yet." She holds the cat tight and buries her face in the fur while waiting for the young cat to be finished with the remove curse ritual.
She works along Dalkk. Her tattoo detaches itself when it's safe and frolics with Skeets. The little scorpion enjoys skittering about and eating bugs.
Maglin sleeps in town the first night, then moves to stay out in the woods with the others after that. Shaking off the drear of the dungeon requires a soft bed, after all.
Each morning, he can be heard rustling around inside a small tent he's built for himself. He's very secretive, and won't let anyone in. It sounds like he's setting up some sort of elaborate lab, but that wouldn't make sense, as the lab Dalkk set up is perfectly adequate. When asked about it, he replies that he's doing some important work. Maglin heads into town each day in the early afternoon, visiting the stables and the inn for some tea, which he considers to be extremely mediocre. In the afternoon, when he returns, he's often carrying some oddly shaped glassware, the kind that can't fit in a portable alchemist's lab. He takes it into his tent, emerging empty-handed each time.
He then sits in the centre of the camp and begins working on whatever project he's got for the day. Odd powders are mixed, incomprehensible runes are scribbled, and arcane words are chanted. Maglin works until it's time to help Dalkk and Vuzi. He doesn't break for meals. After the others have gone to bed, he stays up, sitting beside the fire and working tirelessly away.
Maglin looks closely at the book, reading the page over carefully, even though he already knows what it says. Hmm...well...yes, he strokes his chin ponderously, see here? He points to a completely blank spot on the page. There's an invisible rune here, one which only I can see. Would you like to know what it says? No dwarves, that's what. He winks.
Maglin approaches you one spare moment, looking around to make sure they are alone. Hello, Vuzi, I've been meaning to speak to you for a few days, about Vance. He's a potential danger if you are indisposed or hurt for some time, and I was wondering if you have given any thought to a long term solution to his condition? Maglin sighs, sitting down beside you. He seems to be good at heart, but his heart is rotten and corrupted, and there's no getting around that.
When you cast create water to fill up your waterskin one fine sunny morning, you find it fills until about midway, at which point a thin stream of water sprays out at low pressure. It's not enough to keep you from filling the skin, but it will slowly drain, and make you wet if you try to drink without care.
You also notice Maglin's rabbit, looking up at you with beady eyes and breathing obnoxiously.
One evening, as the shadows grow thick and the trees menacing, Maglin sits idly around the fire, warming his hands in it's red light. I love when it gets like this, he says to himself, almost surprised to hear the words come out of his mouth. Looking up, Cain is the only one within earshot, and Maglin smiles at him. The trees, the smoke, the sunset, the sky still blissfully black...have you ever ridden a horse, Cain?
Maglin emerges from his tent early, a smile upon his face. Gather round everyone, gather round, this is an occasion. Now, you may be wondering what I've been doing in my tent every morning, and I'm about to show you. He steps closer to the tent, fingers steeped, in here, you will find a marvelous apparatus. One which will give you a reason to wake up each morning. He steps closer still, reaching out to take hold of the flap, prepare to be amazed.
With a dramatic step to one side and a deep bow, he pulls the flap open, revealing a curious set of tubes and glass containers which distill and inject precise amounts of fluids. Beneath one, a thin flame burns, the liquid above bubbling gently. With a hiss of steam, perfectly timed, it begins to whistle loudly.
I give you Maglin's Excellent Tea! He nods, finally, and turns to pour out five glasses.
Cain
Dalkk reaches out and puts his hand on Cain's elbow, for it would be awkward to reach as high as his shoulder. It is out of place for him, but it shows his sincerity. The stout dwarf looks up at Cain, "Brigh teaches that the sharing of knowledge is the highest honor that can be attained, second only to the pursuit of knowledge." Dalkk's stoic sincerity breaks into a sly grin, and one could swear there is a twinkle in his eye. "Let's start with some basic acid Cain Marko Cain. Start by drinking this." Dalkk hands Cain a small vial of Crafter's fortune.
Dalkk sets up a his stil, a pot, and strainer. He goes about explaining that we can talk common thistle, a mild irritant at best, boil the hell out of it to infuse the bothersome bits into the water. Next they'll boil it down leaving only the most concentrated portion. "This is the same way ye make a good sauce. No joke, for awhile rats were the high end of my diet. Ye grind the gizzards down after drying them out, boil them in blue moss, add a touch of flour and it makes a fairly tolerable gravy. No hidin' that it still be rat, but a better rat." A few thickening agents from an apothicary are added next.
Vuzi
Vuzi looks amazed at the loud contraption that Maglin had created. She gives Simon a look as if to say [i]all that effort for tea?[i] She takes a cup and sips it warily.
"I'm not sure how to help him yet. De spell that I haf heard of iz very expensive, and I cannot cast it yet." She looks over at Vance. "He vants a chance, and I vant to give it to him. He's proven helpful so far. I think his heart iz good. It's his body that betrays him."
[spoiler=Orcish]"My powers are sometimes considered divine. I have been chosen to have revelations from the gods. I didn't choose it, it chose me. When I was a young girl. They take something, and then give power back. I am not pretty, but I don't get diseases. It's a trade off. "
+++ Vuzi @ Un-Cursing +++
Simon returns from the un-cursing, his face white like chalk, sweaty and staggering on his feet, but with a weak smile as he sees the slightly-scary half-Ork cuddling with Emily.
"Thank you, Vuzi for coming-mew.
And thanks for taking care of Emily, she appreciates it.
Let's go to town, find a comfy bet and something yummy to eat-meow!
He was successful, praised be Gozreth, the ghosts are gone."
+++ Dalkk +++
Simon stops laughing abruptly, scanning the area Dalkk pointed to, sniffing the air.
His voice drops to a whisper as he asks the dwarf what he had seen.
"What's it, Dalkk-iii?
What did you see?
I didn't see it ...
I can't even smell it!
You're sure you saw something-miii?"
Simon
Still in a hushed voice Dalkk steps closer, "The tree lad... I'd swear it were a half inch to the left yesterday... Ye can't take yer eye off'm fer too long." Dalkk closes in on his target like a hunting beast. Once he gets close he yells and charges, striking it once with his fist in hopes of catching it off guard.
Vuzi
Dalkk would take a moment to look at his hands in deep reflection. He shakes off his thoughts and refocuses on his work, trying to change the subject.
Maglin
The dwarf glares up, stone faced to Maglin. "Its a good thing yer so pretty Magsy, cause yer not very funny." Dalkk rolls his eyes and resumes his tea,
which Dalkk has taken quite the liking to . "we should go blow something up"
After various shananigans the party forms up to go find some dwarves. You get rough directions from Pye's wife and set off. The road north takes you a good distance. A couple days of travel later and you arrive at the place where you to begin your trek west through the bog that covers most of this side of the island. It's rough going and you have to fight off routine attacks from ROUS's, giant insects, and the like. It's nothing you can't handle.
Late one evening as you are settin up camp in a place that's about three inches higher than the surrounding muck and therefore only about 1/3 drier, you hear deep snuffing and snorting coming from the ever-present mist. You soon localize three such noises coming from all around you. Scant minutes later three forms lumber into sight. They appear to be enormous humans with broad, thick shoulders and two solid, tree-trunk arms stretching down to almost drag on the ground. At further glance, its skin is a sickly, greenish hue and its eyes are pools of inky blackness. Its face is long and angular, with a solid, pointy chin and a crooked, hawkish nose, and its hair looks more like a mat of forest weeds and rests tangled and greasy on its heavy brow. There is an air of unsettled violence about it—its hands end in razor-sharp claws and its body seems taut and agile despite its size.
They all notice you at the same time and roar!
Trolls, Maglin says as he sees the forms, a faint wind emanating from his alert figure. Use acid and fire. Raising his hands, the wind intensifies, and he intones a series of ever faster words.
Marco grins and extends his bone blade which immiedietly catches fire "that can be arranged
Dalkk wipes the remnants of Mutagen from his lips. "He can do that? Magsy, did y'know he can do that?" Dalkk readies his crossbow, relieved that they are not actually trees.
"Cain, Simon, take the one ta' the North, I'll keep the other ladies in waiting until ye finish! Vance... We're going to need a hell of a fire, get to it"
Trolls. They come in all kind of forms, but he and Emily already fought one or two in the past.
Luckily he had read about these beasts in one of the books back in the time and the ways to beat them.
Quickly, he touches Emily and offers a quick prayer.
Droplets of greenish-black liquid starts to tripple down Emily's fangs as soon as the last word is spoken.
The Black feline shuffles to Simons front, facing the northern Troll with her yellow eyes, watching his every move.
+++ Dalkk +++
Simon carefully and silently stalks towards the tree, using his keen senses to check it over.
"You're right Dalkk, there are moving trees and some of them are not always friendly-meow.
But this one, is really just a tree.
And a well grown and good looking one at that!
But it is good to know, that your senses are always alert friend-purrurr."
+++ Maglin 1 +++
Simon curses as he is sprinkled by a thin stream of water after filling his waterskin, jumping back with a surprised hiss.
"What's this-iii?
It's not that old and already damaged-frch?!
Ahh, well, anyone having needle and thread for me?"
+++ Maglin 2 / Vuzi +++
Simon already tried twice to get a sneak-view into Maglins tent, but he was always found and stopped by the Elf.
He now actually bristles with curiosity, only to have his chin drop down and open as the Mage presents them his tea machine.
A side-gaze to Vuzi shows the same, but slighly less obvious, surprise on her face as well.
"Don't .... Don't you just heat water, add in some picked leaves and that's tea-miii?
What's all those glass and .... thingies for?
Is this Elf-Tea-iii?
Does it taste different?"
He obviously will take an offered tea.
Out of ... scientific reasons. Or to still his curiosity.
+++
During the weeks of staying together, you start to notice that Emily seems to grow.
Were her shoulders slightly below Simons hip at the start of you knowing the cats, it is now slightly above.
As they get to sleep, curling together in a fluffy heap of white-grey and black, the fraction of black is now certainly greater than before.
Vuzi grins. "I finally get to try out my new spell. They aren't undead." She pulls out a bone with some rattles on it. She shakes it, and the troll to the north's body begins to shake and rattle.
The troll doesn't seem over phased by the shaking of his skeleton.
They all roar and charge! One goes after cain, the other Dalkk, and the third charges Simon!
Only Dalkk's extensive training against foes such as this saves him from the ferocious bite at the end of the charge. Both Cain and Simon feel the troll's berserker wrath!
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The brute, ugly and incredibly foul smelling creature (why does everything they encounter has to stink!) charges the black pantheress, biting her viciously.
But this game can be played by two!
She retailiates with a bite of her own while the creature is still recovering from his own attack, followed by another bite as the creature reels.
The thing will pay for it's attack! It shall bleed! Falling to the ground in shreds!
Maglin's hand stretches out slowly, languidly, fingers rubbing together. Slee nomouri, he claps, a shower of dust falling on the troll in front of Dalkk.
The troll starts blinking and shaking it's head.
The rabbit lazily hops away, glancing back at you before disappearing into Maglin's tent. A moment later, Maglin himself walks out, stony faced. He has a small amount of soot on his face, and his fingertips are black. I'll fix your waterskin, if you head into town to pick up a replacement beaker. Make sure it has a tapering head and is big enough that you can't wrap your hand all the way around the base.
Pretty? Me? Maglin runs a hand through his hair. Blowing something up actually sounds like a good idea. I've been wondering what the most powerful bomb we could make is, and if there isn't some way to create a timed firebomb to roll down those rat tunnels. Any thoughts? Maglin reaches for a spare piece of paper and his pen.
He certainly has been helpful, Maglin looks at him now, stacking stones around the firepit, and it would be good to help him. He makes me wonder about all those other ghouls we killed in that star shaped room. What were their lives like? What is it like to be dead?
These are no mere picked leaves. They are the finest selections Zelkor's Ferry has to offer, curated artfully and reliably by my own integrated system so that only superior specimens ever reach the clear spring water which was filtered and then mixed, in a process of my own devising, with a special regent to help it absorb slightly more of the rich but delicate scent. The result can only be described as a powerful but gentle brew that massages the tongue with its superlative flavors and misty aroma. Your position is unique, Simon. I suggest you begin by wrapping your hands tightly around your warm mug and bringing it gently to your mouth. First, the mists of vapor will waft like gossamer, faintly turning this way and that, filling your nose with the scents of heaven. Inhale deeply before bringing the tea into a warm embrace and offering it a sweet and soft kiss. For you will love it already, even before you've tasted the smooth liquid. And you will find, as you drink deeper, that your only wish is for more. He holds up a finger, halting for an achingly long second.
Would you like a cinnamon stick?
Vuzi looks very disappointed that her spell didn't work as well as she hoped. "Why would I learn this if it didn't work? She sighs, and pulls out her longspear. She stabs at the closest troll using her Draconic Heritage.
Vuzi raises an eyebrow at Maglin as he explains how to drink his tea properly. She sips carefully not sure what to expect. "It's not orc tea but it vill do. Very nice Maglin." She looks slightly surprised at the taste.
De undead in that room didn't seem to hav intelligence. Vance spoke to us first before attacking. De did not. I see a difference. I think de did not know much ov life."
Dalkk ducks the trolls attack with a laugh. He grins and shouts at the big ugly "All that work and ye dinnae even hit, what's wrong ye overgrown shrubbery? Pardon me runt, I'm going tah fight with tah adults, try me again when your elderberries drop boyo!"
Dalkk takes a 5-ft step south (out of the Trolls reach) and shouts to the Troll attacking Emily. "Did a cat piss on yer leg, or did ye really wake up today thinking that fighting a pair'o'cats would be a suitable challenge!"
3 Bolts are pumped from the Heavy Crossbow at the troll attacking Emily. All the while he is anticipating an upcoming attack from the troll that attempted to attack him.
Simon
Dalkk yanks the bolt from the tree. "Aye lad ye may be right... but their kind is deceitful.. ye can never be too careful. Come, I want to show ye some things I made." Dalkk starts to walk away, and after a few steps turns back around suddenly with fist raised, and a final shout, hoping to catch the tree off guard. Satisfied in Simon's analysis, he'll spend the day explaining all of his Alchemical Healing and curative items to Simon and where he stores them. Dalkk has taken note of Simon's knowledge of the body and how to repair it so he makes sure Simon can find what he needs to on Dalkk's body should he need it.
"Simon m'lad... do ye think ye could teach me to talk like a cat?"
Maglin
"Well... we could try to make a grenade wit'a fuse... the casing isnae cheap though. O'course, if it's size ye be after, just build ye bomb to ta brim. Getting that much explosive in a smaller container may require some extra gold though. Speaking of such things.. have ye ever combined yer love for ta science and magic? I was thinking about that grease ye make.. have ye ever tried using Acid in that spell? It may encourage people more than the grease alone."
Wincing audibly as Emily takes an ugly bite that was obviously intended for him, Simon circles the stinking creature, just as a volley of bolts sails above him towards the troll from behind (accompanied by a stream of ludicrous dwarven obscenities).
*** Blackened Elf ***
Laughing loudly at Maglin's sooted face (just know remembering that particular joke he set up a couple of days ago), he agrees to do that deal.
*** Tea party ***
Simons curiosity is well awake after Maglins explanation and he will do as ordered. The catfolk closes his eyes, taking several deep sniffs before drinking.
From his mimic, you can already tell, that he really likes it.
After the first sipp, he starts purring audibly too.
"Your right Maglin-purrurr.
This is really, really good tea!
Did you know that it has the smell of a spring flower field in the morning and moss-grown bork after a summer rain-purrr?
It's really something!
*** Dalkk ***
Simon jumps again, as Dalkk suddenly turns around, threatening the tree. Again.
He remains silent, while having a slightly worried expression in the eye, and follows Dalkk over to his craftings.
He follows the explanation of Dalkk intently, taking careful note, asking questions about used ingredients from time to time.
Often nodding at the explanation.
[b]"You alchemists are a wondrous bunch-purr.
Most of your ingredients are known to work in a similar but weaker way by their nature.
Marvelous that you can unlock their full potential by combining them with all those other ... things!"
At the question of cat-talking, Simon leans his head to the left, mustering the dwarf.
"Maybe.
But you'll have problems with some of the more difficult words since they require special purring sounds mixed in, depending on the situational meaning-meow.
I don't know if other races can produce them properly-miii?
But we can try, of course!"
Seeing that the cat folk is hampered by the creature's reach he decides to help by flanking with him, swinging his flaming bones, briefly distracted by the thought that he should be exceedingly glad for the minimum of nerves in those psychically enhanced bones
The combined weight of the party brings down the first troll. The remaining two engage Vuzi and Dalkk with a vengeance!
Once again Dalkk's training against giant kind saves his leathery hindquarters as he defty side steps three savage attacks. Vuzi isn't so lucky. She is bitten and gouged in quick succession!
The cats turn in union once the stinking creature falls to the ground, slowly dissipating due to a combination of acid and flames.
Witnessing the slashes against the half-Ork, Simon cries out, falling to all four, crossing the distance within the blink of an eye .
"Hold out Vuzi, we're coming-meew!
Come on Cain, together again, Dalkk can watch for himself!"
Steel and teeth (and bone?) striking in union!