Diplomacy +6, Religion +4, Perception +6, String +3, Sense Motive +4 Human Paladin of Iomadae Vital: HP 24/24 AC 21/11/20;San 24/24; Will +5 (+1 v evil), Ref +3 (+1 v evil)Fort +7 (+1 v evil) ; Smite 1/1 ;Guilty Smite 1/1 Lay on Hands 3/3
Fritz wanders, then he sets himself up near the troubled folk. Perhaps he could soothe them with some music. He pulls out his viola, and tunes it. Then he plays a song that celebrates Iomadae's wisdom in the face of danger. It is a soothing tune.
HP 13/16 Sanity 38/42 Init +6; Per +4AC 15/10/15 Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2
Sorry all, this week is extremely busy.
Nameless nods at Winter. I'll ... I'll see to the patients. She walks over and sees Yordan already working on them. Vitae's interaction with the pale, pudgy prophet does not entice her to approach. She stares at all the activity going on around her, time passing with increasing rapidity. A yawn escapes her lips and she settles down onto the opposite end of the couch from Birdy. The oracle smiles at the fine-featured woman, and then curls up to take a 'short nap'.
Just a short nap. Yeah ... that's ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Perform (Sing) to Aid Fritz:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Surprising all, Vitæ most especially, the pale figure has a very childlike voice, which rings around the center of the sanctuary, and slowly filters throughout the enclave.
Each individual is touched in a different way. Some remember long lost loved ones, others a favorite childhood toy or pet, in others tranquil autumn sunsets, and yet in others, the simple joy of a peaceful night's rest.
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
Tears trickle down Yordan's stubbly checks. "My... brother," he whispers to himself.
Fritz wanders, then he sets himself up near the troubled folk. Perhaps he could soothe them with some music. He pulls out his viola, and tunes it. Then he plays a song that celebrates Iomadae's wisdom in the face of danger. It is a soothing tune.
1d20+3 string
Nice! +2 Trust for you, and +1 to Vitae for his accompaniment. Count is Yordan 10, Kyleen 7, Vitae 3, Fritz 2, everyone else 1.
Rocksauce drifts over and stands motionless, listening. She's doing the hair-hanging-over-her-face thing, so it's hard to say how she's responding, but you definitely have her attention.
Meanwhile, assuming everyone sleeps: Please make a Will save now. The base DC is 10, but you subtract 1 for every point of San that you've lost. So, if you're down four points from your starting San, it's -4, and so forth.
Male Aasimar Mesmerist 1 (HP 11/11; AC 17/13/14; CMD 12 Fort +2; Ref +5 Will +3/+4, Init +3; Perception +7; Darkvision 60 ft)
I think the Orcale would have cast her final heal on our most hurt member before zzzzz.
Vitæ will offer Winter a Lullaby to aid her rest, and Rocksauce as well. If anyone has trouble sleeping he will tell them he can be of assistance.
The tall pale man will then sit cross legged inside the entrance of the chapel, occupyig the smallest space possible, then quickly attempts to find his way home.
DM, given Vitæ's background, does he notice anything in the Dreaming from the Chapel?
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
Yordan staggers out of the kitchen somewhere around local midnight, vowing to return in the morning to show why oatmeal should be boiled instead of soaked, and how to cut up fruit to go into it. He curls up on his bedroll in the corner, hunched around his painful injuries.
Will while sleeping: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 2 = 14
Whatever nightmares come to him, must come from another source.
Male Human Rogue (Swindler) 2 AC:14 HP 10/10 Perc:+5 Init: +3 F:+1 R:+5 W:+1 SAN: 37/40
DM_DM wrote:
Ghelik the Sly wrote:
Fritz, we seem ta be some of the better fighters here. We should see if Winter will share what she knows in exchange for us helpin' ta clear this place or make a better safe area.
What da ya think?
Ghelik doesn't see much use for talking at this point with people that aren't in charge, but that could change if he sees an opportunity to help or influence.
"We're running short on some supplies. We have enough food for a few more days, but we need drinking water and firewood," says Winter. "Some more blankets would be good too... not as essential, but it gets cold sometimes, and we don't have enough to go around right now. And, while I'm dreaming, some changes of clothes."
Drinking water: This should be the easiest! Go to the heating rooms (where you encountered the zoog and its rats) and fill a few buckets from the tanks there. Since this is fairly close to the barricade, Captain York will send a guard to accompany you. +2 Trust Points for up to two PCs.
Firewood: This will require either going into the courtyard (there was firewood in the shattered shed) or back downstairs to the cell block (burnable furniture and whatnot from the Pile of Stuff). +4 Trust Points for up to three PCs. Nobody will go with you.
Blankets and clean clothing: In the Laundry Room, of course. You haven't been there yet, but it's right across the hall from the Deputy Director's Office. +6 Trust Points for up to three PCs. Nobody will go with you.
Fritz, let's git some water. The room shud still be clear after killing whutever was in there.
We will get our weapons back and go get the water.
Male Human Rogue (Swindler) 2 AC:14 HP 10/10 Perc:+5 Init: +3 F:+1 R:+5 W:+1 SAN: 37/40
Ghelik will go around with a bucket of the water and see who is thirsty, pouring out some to those who want it.
If anyone seems amiable, he will chat with them but won't force it.
HP 13/16 Sanity 38/42 Init +6; Per +4AC 15/10/15 Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2
Before retiring somewhat involuntarily to the couch, Nameless passes by Fritz as he is tuning up his viola. She lightly touches his arm, warmth spreading from her hand into his wounds. Heals for the minstrel.
"Minstrel? Ha! If you like dead cats being tortured."
Diplomacy +6, Religion +4, Perception +6, String +3, Sense Motive +4 Human Paladin of Iomadae Vital: HP 24/24 AC 21/11/20;San 24/24; Will +5 (+1 v evil), Ref +3 (+1 v evil)Fort +7 (+1 v evil) ; Smite 1/1 ;Guilty Smite 1/1 Lay on Hands 3/3
Frtiz nods to Ghelik and follows.
A good idea. We must do what we can for the people here
Then he goes to the "disturbed folk". Rather than try to heal them, instead he just listens. Those that are not speaking he will say a prayer over them.
MY goddess, watch over these troubled souls. Help them in their battle against their own minds. Bring them back to sanity again.
later he sleeps 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 will +1 more vs evil
Someone has carefully plastered over all the corners, and the edges where walls, floor and ceiling meet. Instead of corners and edges, there are now smooth curves. The room is almost a sphere. Even the floor curves slightly.
The man has a large black beard and green spectacles. The beard is a thing of great vanity to him: oiled and trimmed, combed and groomed. Years ago, when you first met, you thought it looked... poofy. "Poofy Beard" is still a phrase that comes into your mind at least once per day. Of course, you would never ever actually say this.
But you're tempted to, right now, because he's being stupid. That's the mystery, it always has been: how someone can be so brilliant and so idiotic at the same time. "Stupid-smart" doesn't begin to cover it. "Genius - suicidal child" might get close.
But it's safe here!
No! No! It's not! Your voices are faint and distant, as if heard from another room. This protects against... intrusions. But not against the kind of infection the text warns against!
Poofy Beard sighs. It's a condescending sigh. Then he smiles. A condescending smile. Let me see if I understand your objection, Mrakala. You say that simply knowing is dangerous. Like looking upon a basilisk, yes? You can't see it without being destroyed.
Yes! No. It's actually worse than that. Your breathing is heavy. Your temper has gotten shorter, these last few years. But you can't lose your temper here. I used the word infection advisedly. Not only does it open you to... attention. The knowledge makes you want to spread the knowledge. By word, by writing, however. Causing others to be opened in the same manner. Soon there's a, a colony of persons who have been affected.
A cult.
No! Cults are nothing. No, even the Book of Cults only dares allude to this... phenomenon. As far as we can tell, every example, every instantiation has ended in catastrophe. Either someone intervenes to deal with the affected population -- and when I say 'deal with', I mean kill everyone, burn all the books, sow the land with salt --
Or? Poofy Beard is unimpressed, amused.
Or there's just a... disappearance. A gap in the chronicles. Absence so complete, we can't even tell exactly what happened.
Mm. And yet, the benefits --
Power. Knowledge. Access. Yes. The bait on the hook. You shake your head. You could, potentially, know everything it knows, or has ever known. The knowledge of countless worlds, across time and space...
But the price would be, you would eventually become it. Or a piece, a tool, an organ of it. With the final outcome inevitable once that first irrevocable step was taken. The fish takes the bait, is caught and reeled in. Yes yes. Don't look so surprised. I do read your summaries, you know.
Yes. You let me do the hard and dangerous work of piecing together this lore, a task more delicate than laying gold leaf and more dangerous than milking snake venom bare-handed, while you play and dabble... temper. Your guts churn, and you taste bile on the back of your tongue: acid reflux. Your ulcer has been coming in strong, this last little while. The chalky white tablets help. You have some in your desk. Yes. Exactly. You spread your hands, let them drop. It's years of work. But... this is a false trail.
Perhaps. Poofy Beard purses his lips. But, you know, a clever fish can find a way...
* * *
This is bad. Fall further. Land somewhere else.
* * *
The Count shakes his head, smiles, tips his brandy glass. Two paces behind him, his strange servant stands with arms folded, face impassive. No, no, the pleasure is all mine. And, you know, there's the most amusing little story associated with that...
* * *
You want to cling to this, but it slips away. Still falling.
* * *
alone. Touch the desk, the smooth dark wood of the tree called abou driko. You earned this. It's yours.
And this gray spirit yearning in desire / To follow knowledge like a sinking star, / Beyond the utmost bound of human thought... It's quiet in your study. Outside, it's dark.
I'm sorry. Who are you speaking to? There's no one here.
* * *
Falling.
* * *
...quite sure he's guilty?
Sure? Of course, your lordship! Convicted by a jury and all, right proper! He hangs tomorrow! The man in front of you is grubby, unshaven. His eyes glisten in the torchlight. Blind drunk, killed his wife an' the little girl, too! Chopped 'em right up! Guilty as sin, sir! In the cart behind the man is a sack of burlap, six feet long. It moves, just a little.
This is distasteful. But necessary. Very well. Step aside, then. The tall man steps out of the shadows, making the grubby man start in surprise. He carries a body over his shoulder. The old gardener had died quietly, some days ago; he was found in his hut in the morning. A simple preservative spell has kept the corpse fresh since then... Lay him there, next to the other one.
The grubby man backs away as you begin murmuring and gesturing. The spell takes effect quickly: in a few moments, the corpse of the old gardener has changed. Now it's a much younger man, dark haired and burly, with a face scarred by years of hard drinking. Done. Now...? The tall man steps forward and neatly cuts the corpse's throat.
You turn to the grubby man. You see, somehow he found a knife. And killed himself, in guilt and fear, before justice could be properly administered. Make sure the body is returned to his cell and... appropriately displayed. The grubby man nods. All right then. Your payment, as agreed. You toss the sack of coins to the grubby man. He pulls one out, bites it, grins.
Always a pleasure, your lordship!
Be off with you.
And it would have been fine, except
except that later, in the special room under the manor, the man somehow got his gag off. And babbled, pleading, claiming his innocence... nonsense! He was given a fair trial! And it would be most difficult to hear anything outside that special room -- the walls had been made extra thick, and the door too, for just that purpose. And even if anything was heard, why, the inhabitants of the manor were used to strange sounds, and no one would ever question. So it was fine, it was fine, everything was fine.
Still: it was annoyingly difficult to get the gag back in with the man alternately screaming, begging, and trying to bite. This is really a young man's job. I should get an apprentice, or at least an assistant. You go to the desk, open the drawer. Inside is the neat little tray of surgical tools. But this is delicate work. And who can you trust? It's not like we can advertise. You select the appropriate instrument. It glitters and sparkles. It's... unfortunate. But corpses only take you so far. And there's so much to be learned. Needs must...
The man's eyes bulge. Behind the gag, he tries to scream. And scream.
M Human Wizard (Elder Mythos Scholar) 2|Init:+7;Per:+4|HP: 11/11;San: 36/39; AC:12(T:12,FF:10)| Fort:+1, Ref:+2, Will+5|
The old man scrambles away from the puzzle box, pulling it from his clothes and sitting nearby, clutching at his head. "It wasn't a doppleganger. It wasn't...it wasn't oh Desna. It wasn't a doppleganger! It was me! It was me!"
The blood. The screams. The drive to do...unspeakable things.
He groans, holding his head and shaking it back and forth. Gray, stringy hair sticking to his sweat-covered brow. "Oh Desna..The Beard. It was..it must be his fault. No..I knew. I KNEW!"
The hallway. The mirror. Something had told him something was wrong. He didn't fall for the bait. Not that time. Not that time.
"Asmodeus's Fork..The thrice-damned child was right."
Knowledge corrupts. Wizards are all the same. Power and knowledge. Knowledge and power. But it wasn't the same. "I knew..I knew better. It was the Beard. But something writhes. Something infested...an infestation." He looks up, eyes wild.
I must find out what Winter knows of our arrival. Did we arrive together? Did we write anything that was kept?! Dear Asmodeus I hope not.
A small crowd has formed around the flailing, babbling wizard. People murmur angrily at having their sleep broken. The guards finger their weapons uncertainly.
Rocksauce steps forward and stares at the wizard. Her eyes are judgmental and cold. "Losing it completely?" she says. "Good."
On the bleak shore, a little distance away, tall figure in yellow is stalking slowly along the water's edge, like a stork on the lookout for frogs. There are things perched on its shoulders (?). They look vaguely birdlike but they are not birds. (They are the tiny little fish who swim beside the shark.)
The thing in yellow cocks its head (?) at you. Haven't I seen you before...?
-- Maybe I can talk to it now...?
-- Attack it.
-- Stand very still.
-- Run.
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
Given that right now Yordan has a -3 Diplomacy roll, even an assist isn't guaranteed, even with 10 trust. I'll try to assist if someone else makes a roll, but... Maybe we need to work a bit more at building trust before trying anything.
Assuming Mrakala doesn't get us all lynched first.
Male Human Rogue (Swindler) 2 AC:14 HP 10/10 Perc:+5 Init: +3 F:+1 R:+5 W:+1 SAN: 37/40
DM_DM wrote:
A small crowd has formed around the flailing, babbling wizard. People murmur angrily at having their sleep broken. The guards finger their weapons uncertainly.
Rocksauce steps forward and stares at the wizard. Her eyes are judgmental and cold. "Losing it completely?" she says. "Good."
Ghelik walks up next to Rocksauce, woken from his sleep, Maybe....maybe not...either way were goin' to use the old man as best we can if'en he's got magic.
Walks over to the old man, he prods him with his boot, Quiet, yer scarin' the others.
To the rest, Go back ta sleep, probably not the ferst time ya've seen someone scream like an old milkmaid in their sleep.
Male Human Rogue (Swindler) 2 AC:14 HP 10/10 Perc:+5 Init: +3 F:+1 R:+5 W:+1 SAN: 37/40
The next morning, Well Fritz, let's gather up some firewood. Say we take the rest o'them with us. Whatcha say? pointing to the rest of the ragtag bunch.
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
Yordan helps bring in firewood, then returns to the kitchen to explain the importance of scouring pots after use, and of stacking the flour bags on the shelves instead of in the low corner under the leak.
The woman with no knowledge of her past wakes up when the mage begins his soliloquy. She struggles to wipe the exhaustion from the prior day from her mind as the wizard completes his statements. Deciding that she will be unable to get back to sleep on the hard floor, she rises and looks for any way that she might be able to aid the guards or others in the area. First she goes to the guards at the front and examines the barricade a little more carefully. Knowing the skin shifters have many ways to deceive, she tries to redesign the barricade, to make it both more difficult to breach by placing spiked pieces of wood and metal pointing out, while also creating sort of a holding area where new arrivals can be kept, that is safe from attack from without, but also provides a place that the arrivals can be kept until Winter or others have had a chance to examine the arrivals.
Knowledge(engineering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 <-- no clue if it will work, but is worth a try
Diplomacy +6, Religion +4, Perception +6, String +3, Sense Motive +4 Human Paladin of Iomadae Vital: HP 24/24 AC 21/11/20;San 24/24; Will +5 (+1 v evil), Ref +3 (+1 v evil)Fort +7 (+1 v evil) ; Smite 1/1 ;Guilty Smite 1/1 Lay on Hands 3/3
Fritz nods and gathers firewood as requested. Upon his return he, again goes to those that are disturbed and prays with them.
MY goddess, watch over these troubled souls. Help them in their battle against their own minds. Bring them back to sanity again
Any of them who try to speak he will listen, not responding. Perhaps he offers a hand to them if he thinks they might need something tangible to hold on to.
Male Aasimar Mesmerist 1 (HP 11/11; AC 17/13/14; CMD 12 Fort +2; Ref +5 Will +3/+4, Init +3; Perception +7; Darkvision 60 ft)
Yordan Patar wrote:
Given that right now Yordan has a -3 Diplomacy roll, even an assist isn't guaranteed, even with 10 trust. I'll try to assist if someone else makes a roll, but... Maybe we need to work a bit more at building trust before trying anything.
Count me in as part of the next mini quest, we should ask for some information though.
M Human Wizard (Elder Mythos Scholar) 2|Init:+7;Per:+4|HP: 11/11;San: 36/39; AC:12(T:12,FF:10)| Fort:+1, Ref:+2, Will+5|
A flash of irritation flies through Mrakala's troubled mind. He sneers at Rocksauce but quickly shakes his head. Just a child. Likely traumatized by magic at some point...do not alarm her or harm her further than whatever has already.
An image of a slit throat and terrified eyes greets that thought and he growls it away. He gives Ghelik a deathly glare as he nudges him.
"Do you know why we are here, Ghelik? There's something insidious lurking. And I don't mean the dopplegangers. They are nothing but a symptom, not the cause."
He pushes himself to his feet with a glower, and brushes rudely past the pretty boy.
"So eager to help. Winter mentioned sheets, no? Let us go then to the laundry room."
------------------
Spells prepared: 1: Summon Monster I, Snowball, Color Spray + Identify
0: Message, Daze, mending
+ Preparation Trick for Guardian Trick
------------------
Before leaving the safety of the encampment, Mrakala will retrieve his dagger, sling, and net. If no one else will go with him to the laundry room, he' retrieve water first and wait for the others. Seems only Ghelik and Kyleen retrieved water so far.
Male Human Rogue (Swindler) 2 AC:14 HP 10/10 Perc:+5 Init: +3 F:+1 R:+5 W:+1 SAN: 37/40
Mrakala wrote:
He gives Ghelik a deathly glare as he nudges him.
"Do you know why we are here, Ghelik? There's something insidious lurking. And I don't mean the dopplegangers. They are nothing but a symptom, not the cause."
He pushes himself to his feet with a glower, and brushes rudely past the pretty boy.
No clue, but I aim ta find out! Sure we will all ave bad dreams o'this place for years to come.
Ghelik would follow the old man for more water if that what he really wants to do but suggest that he come with us for firewood since we just got them water.
You should come with us to git the firewood. Laundry room's next.
Male Aasimar Mesmerist 1 (HP 11/11; AC 17/13/14; CMD 12 Fort +2; Ref +5 Will +3/+4, Init +3; Perception +7; Darkvision 60 ft)
Mrakala wrote:
"Do you know why we are here, Ghelik? There's something insidious lurking. And I don't mean the dopplegangers. They are nothing but a symptom, not the cause."
Trust count in the morning (after water but before wood) is Yordan 11, Kyleen 8, Fritz 5, Vitae 4, Ghelik 5, Oracle 2, Mrakala 0. Once you're around 10, you can consider trying a Diplomacy check.
Also: those of you who got a good night's sleep can make a one-time only DC 20 Will save. (You only get this once, the first time you sleep well.) Make it and regain 1 point of Sanity.
M Human (Ustalavian) Ranger (infiltrator) 2 -- HP 13/16, AC 16, init +5, Per +8 Fort +5 Refl +6 Will +2, San 32/34, distracted (-4 CHA), sickened (-2 to all)
Yordan joined the firewood crew as well -- shouldn't take very long, after which he can get back to finishing up kitchen instruction.
Will save to regain sanity: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 Apparently Yordan is still haunted by his torture.
