DMDM's Strange Aeons

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

After contemplating the creature for a few moments, Kyleen looks up at the others.
Pretty sure that was a doppleganger. Nasty creatures that take the form of another, some even claim that that can drink the memories of their victims.

My guess is that whoever was the doctor was killed by this creature. I suppose the stuff in the furnace might be the remains of the real doctor.

waiting to make sure the shears are gone before acting.

Oh yes: 1d20 ⇒ 15.

Dum de dum.

There's silence for a bit. The dream-things have fallen apart. The grey thing that used to be the doctor, and then not-Fritz, is just lying there, dead. The only sound is a faint muttering from the oracle and a frustrated hiss from the wizards.

Now what?

Recap: there's one unexplored exit -- the door at the end of corridor. It's shut.

Possibly there was something in the furnace -- not-Fritz was trying to climb in there.

The wizard, in addition to all your other issues, is obviously fighting off a complete hysterical breakdown from the absence of his spellbook and bound item. "It has to be here. I... I know it... it's right here..."

Ghelik approaches the Oracle, in a soothing voice, it's going to be okay, the thing is dead we killed it. I am ghelik what is your name?

Ghelik approaches the Oracle, in a soothing voice, it's going to be okay, the thing is dead we killed it. I am ghelik what is your name?

... no sleep ... Nameless looks fearfully at Ghelik, shaking her head.

"Your name is Bryvia, dear."

The oracle glances to the right. M-my name?

"don'tlietohimjustellthemyourrealnameisfuturemongooseoilbash"

... mongoose? The oracle glances to the left.

"<SiGh> StOp ToRtUrInG hEr. JuSt TeLl ThEm ThE tRuTh ..."

"Spoilsport."

The woman drops her spear and buries her face in her hands. Angrily: I ... I can't remember my name. I can't remember anything! I can't ... Finding a few steadying breaths, Nameless looks up at the man in front of her. Ghelik. That's a good name, but they won't tell me. I can't remember, and they won't tell me.

"MaYbE wE dOn'T kNoW eItHeR."

I don't remember much recently either...it may be that the creature they just mentioned, who was the doctor, damaged your memory as well.
Come with us we will help you get our of here.

and let's find what you are looking for, we need to move quickly. he say to Myrkala.

Ghelik will help him find what he is looking for if he is told what it is.

I believe this is enough proof that I am not that one?

He makes his way over to the corner where he finds his gear neatly stowed and packed away.

My name is Fritz Fritzman, devotee of the goddess Iomadae

I don't remember much recently either...it may be that the creature they just mentioned, who was the doctor, damaged your memory as well.

Come with us we will help you get our of here.

Nameless nods vigorously, and picks up her spear. Yes, let us leave this place.

"But which way should we leave?" Yordan says. "There might be allies of that creature out there. Let me see if there is a back way while the wizard tries to find whatever it is."

Yordan examines the furnace to see if there is a way out, or if you have to shapeshift to get out, or maybe some kind of secret passage around there. "Not-Fritz was trying to get out through here, or maybe get something... what?"

Perception +7 -- take 20 for a 27.

While there, he also gingerly pokes at the lumps in the furnace to see what he can find out about them.

Perception +7, Heal or Survival +6: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Maybe he's still distracted by the thought of being cut to pieces and burned in there

Vitæ hardly notices the dead thing at his feet. Death was it's Destiny, no more, no less.

Why did the Dreaming reject ME?!

After a few moments of what others would consider to be trauma or disbelief, Vitæ looks over and slowly studies the group again.

'We know each other ... At least I believe we do. I just ... I don't know how we are connected. Perhaps if we share what we do know we can spark memories. Or lost Dreams.'

DMDM with Fugue 3 feel free to add any info Vitæ can pass on here.

The pale, sand trailing figure goes over back to the large pile of discarded belongings and refuse, looking for the reminder of his items as well as other things of interest.

Investigating the pile for the 1st time, will take 20 if there is time if not
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Yordan examines the furnace to see if there is a way out, or if you have to shapeshift to get out, or maybe some kind of secret passage around there. "Not-Fritz was trying to get out through here, or maybe get something... what?"

There's a chimney or air shaft going up. A Small-size creature could go up without much difficulty -- it's brick, and there are some handholds. The brick is still hot, but not intolerably so. However, a normal-sized human would find it a very tight squeeze. You'd certainly get completely besmeared with soot, and you might get entirely stuck. In game turns, a fairly easy Climb check, and a less easy Escape Artist check.

While there, he also gingerly pokes at the lumps in the furnace to see what he can find out about them.

Perception +7, Heal or Survival +6: 1d20+6

Maybe he's still distracted by the thought of being cut to pieces and burned in there

It's still uncomfortably warm inside the furnace, and the smell of burning meat is very strong. You shudder a little as one of the ashen lumps splits open to reveal a chunk of jawbone with several teeth -- thoroughly calcined, but unquestionably human.

Oh, and: Kyleen the Bard, a Will save, please.

DMDM just posted above you in case you missed it's.

Also nice touch with the jaw bone. YIKES!

Why did the Dreaming reject ME?!

Why indeed?

DMDM with Fugue 3 feel free to add any info Vitæ can pass on here.

You don't have memories. What you have are... intuitions, feelings. And sometimes odd perceptions, like synesthesia. Things around you (including your companions) may suddenly seem to be accompanied by music, or give off odd aural radiances, or even smells.

Investigating the pile for the 1st time, will take 20 if there is time

There's time. Since you had Stuff 3, all your stuff is there. The complete contents of the pile can be found here.

The middle-aged man glances at Ghelik and rubs his stubbled face. "A book of spells. My book of spells. And a...a pendant."

"It's just a trinket. It's all we can afford right now."

"Don't remember her. Don't think of her. Don't--" The old man gives a shudder as a flash memory of screams, blood, and erupting viscera is snatched away.

"Sorry..ah..and an amulet. A pendant edged in silver with an etched sigil in bronze on the front and a picture on the inside."

Mrakala eyes the doppleganger's corpse and looks to where Yordan was poking at clumps in the furnace. He had just been about to do that until the jawbone is revealed. He wrinkles his nose and lets out a small hiss, moving to poke at the Not Fritz. Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

While we look ovr things in eer` why don't we say what err do remember.
Ghelik will start searching with the creature. As he searches tells his story...

As I said, me name is Ghelik. I grew up in the streets. I've done things done I ain't proud of but I've learned about about how to survive them tough streets. We gotta stick together now though to get out of here. I think whoever did this made me do bad things...or maybe I did em`, I can't remember anythin for the last couple o` years. Whoever this should pay though.

Mrakala eyes the doppleganger's corpse and looks to where Yordan was poking at clumps in the furnace. He had just been about to do that until the jawbone is revealed. He wrinkles his nose and lets out a small hiss, moving to poke at the Not Fritz. [dice=Perception]1d20+0

It seems pretty dead.

All your Stuff is in the pile *except* for those items -- spellbook, amulet, and pendant. They're all together, you know that. They're all together where you put them.

You know that sensation when you put an item down for just a moment, and then a few second later can't remember where you put it? You know you had it in your hand just a minute ago? In fact, you remember that you put it someplace specific just so that you would remember it, but you forgot where that specific someplace was, and now you're just completely at a loss, even though you know it has to be somewhere right here? Like that.

Yordan, still moving slowly and in pain, watches the wizard riffling frantically through the pile of stuff, then looks back at Ghelik.

"I was a hunter. I remember that. A hunter of men, of beasts, of ... other things." He looks at his glaive. "Whatever needed death, I hunted. I was in Ustalav, on the southern borders. I killed --" He flinches. "Someone --" and breaks off again. Tears well in his eyes. He glances over his shoulder at his bow, then turns away.

"I don't remember anything after that. I was supposed to--"

"Is this my punishment for -- ? I thought I had woken up in hell, after--" He clenches his glaive more firmly. "But I am older, by some years. I did not have these scars, before--." He turns his left hand over, showing a network of fine lines across the back of his hand, and continuing on to his forearm. "They are healed, long-healed. You rescued me, and... and I think, from somewhere, that I know you. Or knew you. Before. 'Where there is no safe guide, pick a trail and follow it.' So I will pray to the Lady of Graves that I did know you, and trust you, once."

Nameless returns to the Pile of Stuff and listlessly pokes through it with the butt-end of her spear. To everyone, and no one, she speaks. I know nothing. I can't recall ... anything. And there are -

"Are you *sure* you want to say this aloud?"

"ThEy MiGhT jUsT lOcK yOu Up AgAiN."

"don'tbeashamedofuspleasepleaseplease"

The woman closes her eyes, and the rest comes out in a whisper. ...there are ... voices. Saying it aloud seems to give the oracle a bit of confidence, and she continues. Some of them are friendly. Even helpful. Some are ... less so. I don't remember belonging in a place like this, but I suppose it's possible. She continues stirring the pile, clumsily sorting and separating the obvious refuse from potentially useful or hidden items.

Fritz listens with half an ear as he gathers his gear, then he stops and looks, he moves aside some cloth and pulls out a Viola , with bow.

I have never played on before...but I feel I should...

He lifts it to his chin and draws the bow across it

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23

Yordan looks around the room. "We could try to climb the chimney out of the furnace, but it is narrow enough one of us might easily get stuck, and I do not know where it goes. Worse, the doppleganger was trying to flee that way -- perhaps there are more of its friends there, or some path only it could traverse. I think we should try going the other direction, through the door."

He pauses. "If we can open it."

For some reason, as a player, I feel Fritz timing and playing is perfect right here. Bravo. There is a West Wing episode with either a Viola or Cello that would fit perfectly here.

And DMDM very nicely done with your interpretation of how Vitæ would possibly connect to the others and The Dreaming, I was wondering how to communicate that and you helped me nail it down further. Thank you.

Vitæ, his gaze transfixed elsewhere, listens to the music, searching cues to lost memories.

Yordan knows he has never heard the music before.... and listens silently, tears running down his cheeks.

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Kyleen looks to the others and listens to their discussion. Finally at a pause, she realizes that she should speak.

Um . . . I . . . I don't know who I am. Or who you are. Or where we are. I think I know a lot, like that this thing was a doppleganger. But . . . what are we doing here? She looks at the pile of stuff. I don't think that anything in there is mine. She looks at the ragged excuse for clothing that she is wearing. Guess this is all I have.

"At least you can carry this," Yordan says, handing Kyleen a dagger. "Unless you can find something better in that pile."

I should be able ta get us through locked doors...from what I can remember.

We will get outta ere, and make someone pay fer this.

What's the difference between a the doctors uniform and the scholars outfit? Which looks more 'official?'

Vitæ still listening to the music played by the Paladin, inspects the pile of curios further and after some consideration takes the 2 uniforms from the mound of husks of lives lived.

He looks at the assembled lost souls

'We may have use for these.'

The doctor's uniform looks more "official", but might require a more convincing explanation if challenged.

At this point you see two ways out: up the chimney and via the (still unexamined) door.

Note that the wizard is still without his spellbook or bound item, which makes him basically a Commoner with some skills and an unusually good Will save.

Just confirming that my search turn up nothing as well? I was helping the wizard look.

What there is to find, you've found.

(I think we may be doing the thing where something got discussed weeks ago, "dealt with" in some way, and everyone has since completely forgotten it. Not so much an issue in FTF, but a recurring problem in PBP.)

After playing a little, Fritz snaps out of it, and carefully wraps the Viola and puts it away, drawing his sword and holding his shield.

Shall we go figure out what in the world is going on here?

ready to move on when you guys are

Ghelik nods towards the double doors and then goes and listens at them.

perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"I think Ghelik should disguise himself as a doctor, and myself as a patient, and let us scout ahead a little bit, while the others follow." He looks over at Mrakala. "Maybe your spellbook and amulet are somewhere out there."

The only thing I can think you'd be referring to would be the box?

Running a hand through grey hair, the man scowls and moves around the room. He looks up with a mildly confused look when Fritz begins to play an incredible improvised song on the viola, but says not a word and resumes stalking around the room.

Yordan's query seems to jolt him awake and he looks up with a scowl. "No. It is..I can feel it."

Suddenly, his head snaps around and his eyes settle on Voices, as his interior monologue was now categorizing the black-haired Chelaxian. "Where did we put the box?"

He moves closer, holding his hands out to her. "The box emanated conjuration magic!" While he began walking toward her almost listfully, his stride gains confidence with each step. His eyes light up like a man obsessed. "I know what it is! I know what it is! Let me see it. Please, the sixth volume of Orandar's Inter-Planar Adventures mentions this.."

I see your tricks.

Kyleen looks around a little confused. When Yordan mentions Ghelik dressing as the doctor, she chuckles.
Nothing personal, but you did notice that the doctor-doppleganger was a girl. Unless you plan on stuffing bloody rags in your shirt, none of you men are going to pass for the doctor unless the person is blind.

He moves closer, holding his hands out to her. "The box emanated conjuration magic!" While he began walking toward her almost listfully, his stride gains confidence with each step. His eyes light up like a man obsessed. "I know what it is! I know what it is! Let me see it. Please, the sixth volume of Orandar's Inter-Planar Adventures mentions this.."

Assuming the Oracle has no objection to handing the box over to the obviously crazed and demented excited wizard...

Yes, yes, you know this box. The weight of it in your hand is instantly familiar, like you've held it hundreds or thousands of times. The smooth dark wood is made from a tree called abou driko. It's a tall tree and the wood is heavy and strong. There was one... somewhere. You saw it every day. At the beginning of the Long Rains, monkeys and birds would come to eat the small sour fruits. The brass rings on the box will move smoothly when turned, once a moderate amount of pressure is applied. The number are Azlanti, but that's an affectation -- the box isn't nearly that old.

You have never seen this box before in your life.

The box is yours. Absolutely yours. You... got it by... earning it. Yes. You did something, difficult or remarkable, and you earned this box. Why did you let the woman have your box? You must have been mad. Nobody should touch the box but you. You should keep the box on your person at all times.

You have never seen this box before in your life.

The box is safe. It fits just right in your hands, comfortable as a pair of old socks. You can open it easily! Just turn it until the symbols line up. Easy simple.

The box is... dangerous. You feel a prickle of unease. Unknown magic item radiating conjuration? Only a fool would meddle with something like this. That's basic. You should put the box away until you are somewhere safe and can study it properly.

I see your tricks.

Mm hm.

I have never played on before...but I feel I should...

He lifts it to his chin and draws the bow across it

A bell tolls thrice. Laughter of children echoes. Jasmine after rain.

The oracle stops stirring the refuse pile and stares blankly at the floor, quietly humming some forgotten melody. Quietly: Music quickens memory, she used to say ...

He moves closer, holding his hands out to her. "The box emanated conjuration magic!" While he began walking toward her almost listfully, his stride gains confidence with each step. His eyes light up like a man obsessed. "I know what it is! I know what it is! Let me see it. Please, the sixth volume of Orandar's Inter-Planar Adventures mentions this.."

"The void is *ours*. He has no right."

The woman looks up, watching the intensity growing in Mrakala's eyes with each step. The box? Oh. Yes. The void. Rifling through her backpack, her hand settles on the brass rings adorning the faces of the cube. She winces and yanks her hand out of the bag.

We have no claim, as we have no memory. Also, it is ... wrong.

"I fOr OnE wOuLd Be RiD oF iT. It WeIgHs On Us AlReAdY."

"can'teatitwhocareswhocareswhocaressmashit"

No. We should not smash it. Nameless/Voices takes a deep breath, reaches quickly into her bag and almost tosses the cube into the white-haired man's outstretched hands. She quickly draws her hands to her chest and begins to wring them as if to remove a stain. It is colder than it should be. And too heavy.

"It will be ours again. We can wait."

Note that the wizard is still without his spellbook or bound item, which makes him basically a Commoner with some skills and an unusually good Will save.

I see your commoner and I raise you 1 Expert cannon foder.

"I think Ghelik should disguise himself as a doctor, and myself as a patient, and let us scout ahead a little bit, while the others follow." He looks over at Mrakala. "Maybe your spellbook and amulet are somewhere out there."

Vitæ has Bluff +8, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +4 (ran out of Skill points), Stealth +8 should be one of the scouts.

Was thinking of being the doctor because of my Bluff but if someone has a better Disguse then I'll be the assistant.

DMDM did Vitæ notice anything about the box in his soujourn into The Dreaming?

DMDM did Vitæ notice anything about the box in his soujourn into The Dreaming?

Nobody reads my flavor text.

Vitæ Somnium wrote:

DMDM did Vitæ notice anything about the box in his soujourn into The Dreaming?

Nobody reads my flavor text.

Its coming back, in my defense that post was a few bottles of tequila and sake ago.

Angular eyes narrow and slant even further, Vitæ focuses on the Box that the majority of the assembled have made a focal point of their conversation.

'We may all be tied to the Box, I don't know how, why or what it is but I know ... I know it will prove to be important.'

'I and others would certainly want to study it but we have tempted Time and The Fates by staying here longer than we should. Those knowledgeable should see what they can divine from it in the little time we have. But a few of us should see what lays through that door. Others like our former host may come here seeking us and The Fates my not be as kind.'

'We need to arm, armor and heal ourselves as best we can and tarry no more.'

'And ... whatever animated those weapons may reform ... we may very well not have seen the last of it.'

Suggestion, Vitæ and Ghelik scout ahead, the rest heal and arm yourselves, those with Knowledge Skills see what they know of the Box for now, but keep it close, keep it safe.

Who needs healing and who else needs a weapon?

I still need some healing -- I can use our healing kits but it takes an hour or so to actually restore hit points. Not sure we have that kind of time.

"It might ... reform? AIIIIIIEEEEE!" Yordan steps over to the remains of the shears and starts trying to break them with his bare hands.

Oh, and I'm OK with Vitae and Ghelik doing the scouting.