Marduk slashes the monster though she finds she doesn't do as much damage as she thinks she did. Senketsu jumps into the muddy ring and moves towards the fray. Darius doesn't have a clue about what this thing is but he knows enough to draw his bow. Hyglak summons a spider who is able to bite the monster, but it does no damage and the pig creature seems immune to any poison as well.
The pig-monster retaliates on Marduk!
As Marduk is bitten, the creature attempts to infect her with spores but her body resists!
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With no shield strapped to their arm, Senketsu grasps the hilt of their longsword in two hands and dashes forwards to the strange creature. The voices whispering inside the Wayang's head relishing the opportunity for violence, revealing a weakness in the enemy.
Raising the blade, Senketsu strikes.
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Senketsu and Marduk both score hits, the latter scoring two of them. Hyglak's spider again hits but fails to do damage while the Holy Bard inspires. Darius stays back unsure of what the creature is. The pig creature, attempts to fly away for its life.
And she drops the creature dead.
The villagers all act with fear and disgust but at the same time they don't seem surprised at what happened.
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Senketsu takes pains to shake the ichor off their blade, marveling at the corpse of the once pig. Sheathing the longsword at their hip the Wayang makes their way out of the pen and towards Yurei, giving a soft whistle to beckon the wolf closer.
Turning to a local, the Wayang looks up at them and asks them a question with almost child-like curiousity.
"This one wonders, what was that and why are you not shocked?"
“We get things like this around here now and then—there’s bad magic in the ground here that the Dream Tender normally protects us from, but now and then, animals get the badness in them.” The dead cythnigot is brought to a fire to be burned, but when its body proves unusually fire-resistant, a group of villagers drags it down to the river and throws it in, letting the current take the nasty creature away.
"I though most people at least knew of the Lady of Luck, Desna. That is surprising. We pray to her daily, as can you."
Before the party can get anymore answers the Mayor calls loudly for the feast to begin. As sundown approaches, the villagers light the bonfires lining the perimeter of the festival grounds, illuminating the area as the various preparations are drawn to the central tables, outspread quilts, and scattered benches. The feast itself begins without fanfare, as steaming-hot platters of the day’s labors are distributed among the families. You are all invited to sit at Mayor Kriegler's table along with important villagers such as the elder council and other festival event winners. The families responsible for particular aspects of the meal proudly make their way to each table or pavilion, serving everyone as much as he can eat. Once all are served, Mayor Kriegler stands for a short benediction to bless the meal and give thanks to “the slumbering dreamer whose gossamer cloak protects us.” Among the usual fare of whole fresh greens, roasted pig, and fresh baked breads, the feast’s more unusual offerings include the following: Black Mushrooms steamed to perfection, a nice Flayleaf salad, deep fried silkworms, smoked tick legs, and Stirge blood sausage.
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Senketsu accepts the invitation gladly, pondering over a name for Desna that the Wayang had not heard before, but this wasn't uncommon as they did not interact with people too much.
"Ahh yes, Desna, this one apologises for any offense"
Senketsu sits down and chats happily with the owner of Clawfoot, praising them on such a fine bird to win the contest. Eating happily along with the other villagers, the Wayang is taken aback at the rather strange cuisine but politely eats them.
"So," Senketsu asks whoever will listen, "Are these local delicacies?"
You realize that you've heard of flayleaf before. It is a mild intoxicant(drug) that is usually smoked.
The black mushrooms have a delicious flavor all on their own. The salad is tossed in a simple Malt vinegar which gives it a biting bitter flavor. The fried silkworms are salty, crunchy, and chewy. Eating the tick legs is much like eating boiled crab while the blood sausages are stuffed with spices and rye berries forming a briny sausage which is disturbingly delicious.
"Yes, you won't find anything like it anywhere else." The mayor replies answering the Wayang's question.
After the food is served and the villagers and the party have begun eating, Mayor Kriegler gains everyone’s attention as three families present their beautiful teenage daughters to the feasters. Each is dressed in white silk robes with intricately braided hair decorated with garlands of local flwers. Each girl takes a turn visiting family pavilions and tables, and recounting the story of Ravenmoor’s founding. After the complete story has been told in turn by the three girls,
Mayor Kriegler consults with the village elders seated near him, before declaring Shel Lupescu—a beautiful and charismatic young woman with long, blonde hair—the Founders’ Feast Queen, presenting her with a wreath of woven vines and flowers. The girl’s family then makes the rounds of the feast in a flurry of excitement and anticipation. Shel herself blows a kiss and winks at Darius. Once the Founders’ Feast is concluded and twilight slips into night, the villagers are quick to douse the bonfires and return home. Tradition holds that on the night after a Founders’ Feast, the Dream Tender is particularly active, so the villagers are eager to get home, burn a flyleaf fetish of the Dream Tender, and fall into a deep sleep to enjoy the dreams their god supposedly brings.
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Having travelled for the morning and spent the afternoon at the feast, Senketsu yawns and stretches dramatically. Senketsu turns to the others with a quizical look once the villagers have busied themselves with other tasks.
"This one wonders why Narcotics are used with food? Is this common among some human villages or just this one?" The question is innocent enough, a product of the Wayang's curiousity.
Once the other villagers start making their way to bed, the Cavalier leads Yurei back to the Mayor's mansion and their assigned bed for the night.
You all get separate rooms in the Mayor's mansion. Darius is awoken by something at his window around midnight. Apparently the Founder's Feast Queen, Shel Lupescu has been throwing small rocks at his window to get his attention. She winks again and beckons for him to join her. Her suggestive dress and body language make clear her intentions.
She nods. "And more.." She adds beckoning you with her finger.
She nods with a wink. She leads you to a farmhouse at the edge of town. She starts kissing Darius and the pair start rolling around for a bit before she stops. "I really am sorry about this, but it's you or me. And I'm too pretty to die." She says standing up which is when Darius sees a figurea with a mosquito-like mask on their face wielding a sickle. Shel picks up a sickle from nearby as well.
Darius takes off running. As he does so, Shel starts crying rather sincerely. "No, I'm supposed to be sacrificed tonight. I thought the Dream Tender sent you to take my place. Please, they'll kill me.." She sobs. The masked individual drops their sickle and removes the mask revealing Shel's mother, Anya who also starts to cry.
Darius ignores the crying pair and makes his way back to the party and informs them of what has occurred.
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Darius catches his breath a little after a dash across the village and a fast retelling of what just happened.
"I was initially more concerned that i was not the one to replace her. And did i mention that funny mask the older woman was wearing? It certainly doesn't remind me of any other Desnan religious practices that is for sure! I certainly agree that we must do our best to stop this sacrifice."
The party makes its way back to the farmhouse. A wicker-and-gourd scarecrow of a moth-winged woman leans against a rickety frame in the front yard of this derelict farmhouse. The house’s windows are boarded up, and its front porch is overgrown with thick curtains of ivy. Cornfields left to grow wild surround the building itself, and the constant hum of insects fills the air. As you approach, it starts to move!
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Hyglak steps back as he draws his long spear then touches the holy symbol on his shoulder that holds his cloak on and chants a quick prayer. "Drunken Hero give us bravery to fight the unknown!!"
Creatures affected by fear may attempt another saving throw and receive a channel bonus on the roll. A creature unaffected by fear gains a channel bonus to its Armor Class until the end of your next turn and on its attack roll if it makes a charge attack before your next turn.
Hyglak channels the power of Cayden! The scarecrow narrows its gaze at Marduk!
It then walks up to the party.
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Senketsu rubs their sleep filled eyes as a worried Darius awakens the rest of their companions and fills them in on the weird happenings. Unsure what to do other than investigate, the Wayang calls Yurei to them and mounta swiftly, following the Archaeologist to the bar .
Arriving at the field, Senketsu holds back a gasp at the animated Scarecrow ahead of them and winces as Marduk takes a powerful swing. Throwing back their arm, Senketsu lunges forwards and strikes with their powerful lance, the voices once more offering safe advice.
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Marduk lands one devastating hit as does Senketsu. Darius tumbles away and lands a good shot with his bow.
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Hyglak moves to flank the beast then stabs at it with his spear to distract it.
You are skilled at supporting your allies in the heat of battle. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Heal checks made to stabilize a dying creature. In addition, when you successfully use the aid another action in combat to grant an ally a bonus on her next attack roll, the bonus you grant increases by 1.
Hyglak aids Marduk in her offense. The scarecrow retaliates on Marduk.
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Urging Yurei around to circle the strange creation, Senketsu ends at the opposite side to the mad rager, wincing as they attempt to take a mouthful of straw and bit the animated creature. Seeing how well they hit before, the Wayang leans back and strikes out with their lance once more, this time the voices staying quiet.
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Hyglak blesses the party while Marduk takes some time to shake off her fear. Senketsu misses with his strike.