<--- FAIL
<--- FAIL
Except poor filbert was not better, to everyone's horror neither Zarine's nor Zandomior's curative magic could affect him and he remained unconscious. The spells where cast correctly but they seemed to fizzle, upon closer examination you can see a patch of greyish discolored skin where the undead struck him. It feels unusually soft like a piece of fruit just before it turns moldy.
Seeing his spell fail, Zan grits his teeth and tries again with one of his own spells, substituting Remove Fear and Bless for Cure Light Wounds before his spell actually has an effect.
Zarine was very surprised when her spell didn't work, but at least Zandomir got it to work eventually, so Fil was okay.
She tried to think of what could be wrong.
But she couldn't think of anything she had done wrong.
"I think I hear a hammock calling my name, must say I had a lot more fun in the orchard...."
Filbert says with a grimace as he stands back to his feet.
"I can try to carry you to that hammock if you want, Filbert. We still don't know what is wrong with you and I'd rather not risk you passing out again. May I?"
Zan extends his arms toward the gnome, but doesn't push further. The warpriest will understand if Filbert prefers to walk, but Zan is genuinely concerned for the kineticist's well-being.
Zarine still wants to help, and is a little hungry, so she stops at the orchard before going back, picking fruit with mage hand, and then returns with the rest.
Lizzie likewise feels concerned for Filbert,
"Filbert, we should have Winter take a look at you."
Nodding "Yeah perhaps she should, thanks Zan but I think I can make it back on my own two feet."
Filbert heads towards the boat and his hammock, thinking it's time to sleep off his 'burn'.
Back at the boat you find winter pacing the rails and looking worried. Upon seeing you all she perks up, "Oh thank goodness you're alright! We all heard the most awful sounding fight..." When somebody tells her what happened to Filbert she gasps, hands going to her mouth, "Oh dear poor Filbert! Pharasma willing I think we can fix that but not until the morning."
With a bounty of fruit and vegetables loaded the Starling gets ready to set off once more down river.
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Zandomir respects Filbert's wishes and lets the gnome walks back on his own. The half-elf is never far away, though, keeping an eye on Filbert in case he collapses on the way back.
"Can you tell what's ailing Filbert, Winter?" Zan asks when they return. "He seemed to resist Zarine's and my healing. It took a few tries for us to be able to wake him up from the injuries he sustained. If there are any spells you think would be helpful, I can try to prepare them on the morrow."
"Don't ask me how i know, but when that thing that hit Filbert, hit me as well, i had a....vision, of what is was The Lady protected me from."
"It's a curse, one that is going to slowly drain Filbert's health. It's both a withering disease and a curse. If we are to help him, we need to lift the curse, and -then- get the disease out of his system."
She frowns in worry.
"Even then, if we manage all that, he'll need more than average means to recover."
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The next day filbert wakes up feeling awful. His skin looks positively ashen and covered with dark blotches and his eyes are jaundiced. The poor little gnome can barely get out of bed, and then only to vomit.
Before she prayed for her spells, Winter asked Zandomir, "How do you wish to proceed? We need to remove the curse first, should I request three remove curses just in case?"
Momijii was relieved that the fighting was over. It seemed that she was right, cut off the head and the other would fall. It wasn't until Filbert's predicament became known that she felt concerned. As discussion of how to carry Filbert came up she said, "I can carry him. I've reached a point where disease isn't an issue for me anymore." When they arrived at the ship Momijii was relieved to hear Winter state that she could cure Filbert on the marrow, she only hoped the small man would survive that wrong.
It was a relief that morning came and Filbert survived and that fact was what let Momijii perform her morning katas. She continued practicing them as the talk of what to prepare was discussed. That wasn't her area of expertise and so she let them discuss as they will.
To Winter, Zan says, "Perhaps pray for two and I'll pray for two opportunities to remove diseases. That way, if one of us somehow fails twice, we can get a third chance on the curse or the disease."
Winter nods and begins her meditation and prayers. Silently at first she produced a velvet bag which turned out to contain a variety of bones. Solemnly she laid them out in a spiral on the deck before laying down two scraps of parchment one at each ends.
She then started chanting hymns while trailing her black scarf on the ground behind her.
Later after breakfast, she attempts to break the curse which has afflicted Filbert. She directs you to lay him down on a rug in front of her, and she kneels down. Gently she holds his head in her hands while whispering something alien. Then she cried out, "Oh great and merciful Pharasma! Heed my call! Filbert was afflicted while doing as you taught us - he was fighting one of the accursed unliving! His fate should not be for the unclean to seal. Break this curse I beseech thee!"
Suddenly there was sound of tearing, like some great shroud had been ripped, and the crew who had clustered round agog murmured and where afraid!
<--- Success
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Zandomir notes the names on the parchments, but decides now probably isn't the best time to comment about them.
Winter's hymns are quite different than the Varisian travelling tunes Zan became accustomed to during his youth. They're not necessarily bad, but perhaps a bit too rigid and bland for his taste.
The warpriest smiles as Winter's spell breaks Filbert's curse.
Zan's also not used to actually praying out loud to Desna, so he feels a bit awkward when his time comes to try removing Filbert's disease.
Still, he doesn't want people to question his devotion, so he speaks a simple prayer. "Goddess of dreams, please show mercy to Filbert in the midst of his affliction. Please remove his disease that others may see your goodness once again."
Then Zandomir infuses Filbert with his divine spell and the remainder of the gnome's malady is removed.
Agrippa nods approvingly at the healing of Filbert. He's come to appreciate the young gnome's keen mind and other more...exotic...skills. He would have hated watching Filbert waste away.
Filbert rolls out of the bunk in the early morning of the day after their fight, and nearly falls face first into the waiting decking. Crawling back into his bunk, he nearly doesn't realize when Zandomir and Winter gather to begin their prayers. "Morning guys, feeling a bit under the weather think I'll just stay here for now."
As Cleric Winter finishes her own prayer, Filbert feels a great weight fall from his shoulder "T-thank Y-you, Winter" with Zandomir's own prayer a lightness returns to his step, even though he yet lies in bed. Feeling the need to rise , he does albeit a bit unsteadily. "Thank you Zandomir"
Feeling better than he had since their encounter the day before, Filbert looks back and forth between Winter and Zandomir "So I'll live?"
At the signs of everything having gone well, and Filbert asking if he'll live, Lizzie hugs her fellow gnome.
"Yes, yes you are.", before letting him go.
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At Filbert's question, Zandomir thinks about trying to make a bad joke, but his better judgment wins out this time.
"Yes, Filbert. You'll probably still need to rest for a couple days till any lingering effects are gone, but you're past the worst of it now."
Momijii had just finished her morning excersizes when the casting of spells over Filbert was completed and it was with a great relief that she found he would be alright. She moved to where Winter was and, with her palms flat against her thighs Momijii bowed deeply forward at her waste and said, "You continue to save us from our darkest problems. I thank you."
Standing straight again Momijii went to kneel next to Filbert and said, "I am glad you are alright my friend." She reached out to lay one hand over his, "But next time let me deal with the disease ridden monsters."
Several days later , once Filbert had fully recovered, the party undertakes the ritual and enters into the dreamlands... To recap, you found what appears to be a caravanseri time forgot in a world where the sun is permanently at the 2'o clock position. Fortunately the shade of the caravanseri provides some rest bite, it also provides a number of surprises. Not least of which is a discarded vorpal sword that Lizzie just picked up. What else might you find? Only time will tell!
Map.
Zan nods to the door on the east side of the wall. "Lizzie, would you mind doing the honors? Now that you have that fancy sword it's probably even more important that you lead the way."
The door immediately to the east (D) turns out to be a small forgotten cell, where the Caravanserai guards could place prisoners. There's nothing left there of interest.
Next you check the set of eastern double doors (B). These lead to a room containing two decorative fountains set in large basins held aloft by carvings of sleepwalkers. They once contained clean water for travelers to refresh themselves, but are now dry and empty.
With nothing to keep you here you move to explore the central courtyard. The sun is overbearing in the center but the sides of the courtyard are mercifully in shade. The courtyard contains several stalls for animals as well as two low stone posts bearing empty circular bins. Across from the wide passageway stand two small doors flanking a long trough. The bins once held straw or oats for the animals stabled here. The long, curved trough on the south wall of the courtyard once contained water, but it has been dry for many years.
"But next time let me deal with the disease ridden monsters."
<snort> shaking his head "Believe it or not I was not trying to get in the middle."
Filbert walks out into the middle of the caravanserai holding area, but wisely remains along the cooler sides of the walls.
Zarine keeps an eye out for anything of interest .
Zan follows Filbert's example and stays in the shadier parts of the courtyard. The place seems to have been abandoned for quite some time, which makes the half-elf wonder. Had this place ever been used? Or was this just a trick of the Dreamlands? Impossible to say for sure, most likely.
Scratching his head, Zan says, "I guess we should check the rest the caravanserai's interior? It's hard to imagine there's anyone or anything living in here anymore."
Lizzie nods at the question of 'taking the honors' nex time.
The double doors open to reveal a corridor which turns south, passing another dried up fountain. To the north a tattered curtain obscures the entrance to what might once have been a shop...
Map updated.
Zarine pulls the curtain aside to look in.
Zandomir stays close behind Zarine, bow at the ready in case something decides to jump out.
Agrippa follows behind, his new and improved Red Destiny in hand...
Agrippa follows behind, his new and improved Red Destiny in hand...
Zarine pulls aside the desiccated rags that once where curtains made of finest midnight blue velvet. They disintegrate in her hand to reveal a room lined with shelves, and a long wooden table which stretches through the room’s center. Although it obviously was once a shop, only dust and a few piles of rags remain on display. Perusing one of the nearly empty shelves is a gaunt man with sunken cheeks. He straightens up when enter the shop and makes an expansive gesture with his arms as he welcomes you "Ah customers! Come in, come in. Have you had a good journey? Surely you must have, you look well fed and healthy and we are so very far from anywhere here... You have stories to tell no doubt. Perhaps I could interest you in some supplies?" He looks around and sighs, "I must apologize for the lamentable state of my wares. I've been expecting a supply caravan for some time, I'm sure it will arrive presently."
As the Shop keeper welcomes them to his shop, Filbert looks around trying to see what he thinks he might want to sell them, His shorter stature gives him a perfect view of the robes as they trail off into smoky edges.
reaching up he pulls on Agrippa's waistcoat, "Um, Grip???" pointing at his find....
Zarine thinks about calling the guy on his absolutely empty shelves, but then thinks maybe he is just a little crazy. Best to humor him.
We would love some supplies, but it looks like you might be out of what we need. Stories though would be great. I'm willing to pay for a good one. How did you come to be here?
Agrippa knows what this creature is, but nothing is real here in the Dreamlands. Or rather, nothing is as real as it might be....until it is.
A wisp of a memory. Some shopkeep's psyche run off to open a shop here in the Dreamlands Agrippa murmurs to the gnome
Zandomir notes the oddity, but figures they might could still learn some useful things from the shopkeeper.
Once the man answers Zarine’s question, Zan asks, “Is anyone else around? We only recently arrived, so if there’s anyone or anything to look out for, we’d appreciate knowing about it.”
We would love some supplies, but it looks like you might be out of what we need. Stories though would be great. I'm willing to pay for a good one. How did you come to be here?
The man smiled, "Don't let the spartan shelves fool you, things can always be bought by special delivery. The Trygalle Trade guild are most reliable and operate in this area? Hmm, that word doesn't quite suffice. Neither does plane, this isn't really a plane - those are much too uh... Boring? Anyway they're very good, able to deliver anywhere anywhen. Pricey mind you. How do I know? I signed on for an eighteen month tour, went through Avernus, the Feywild - that was exciting some of the local wildlife thought we where food. We uh, oh we lost several agents there. Then there was the problem in Sigil with the Lady of Pain." He looks at you quizzically, "Don't me wrong, we didn't actually anger her. Much. Anyway we uh spent some R&R time here, the Caravanserai was in it's Heyday. Seemed like a good idea to stay. I thought it might be safer." Then he stopped abruptly.
"Is anyone else around? We only recently arrived, so if there’s anyone or anything to look out for, we’d appreciate knowing about it."
"Not so much these days..." the man seemed Sad before brightening up, "Well actually there is that one calling himself the Yellow King... Only thing is, he's a few cards short of a full house if you know what I mean!" He tapped his head to emphasize his point.
Safer than Sigil with someone named the Lady of Pain after you? I imagine you're right.
Delivery anywhere, anyWHEN? Wow. I definitely don't have that kind of money, but right now I sure wish I did. Maybe I could send myself a note back in time, reminding me not to get mixed up with...
Zarine reddens, and stutters to a stop. Then, forcing a smile, she continues.
Oh, you know. A nice dream, erasing the mistakes of the past.
Zandomir listens silently to the odd shopkeeper. The Desnan isn't quite sure what to make of the man... if he can even be properly called a man.
When the shopkeeper mentions the Yellow King, Zan's ears perk up and he replies, "Do you know where we could find this 'King'? Maybe we could help him out with his card game. Or at least try to determine what exactly his malady is."
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"Oh I'm sure he's about somewhere. He hasn't left that much I am certain. Now lets talk about supplies. I'm afraid my suppliers are rather more humble than the mighty Trygalle Trade guild, and so their prices are correspondingly humble. Still they offer delights from all the realms, swords of power, captured dreams, exotic concubines, and the like. Perhaps we could place an advance order?"
Sticking his head out from behind Agripa, Filbert determines to see what the fellow has to offer...
4' +4'(bonus elevation for exceeding DC16) = 8X2 (doubled by Air's Leap) = 16'
Jumping lightly from the ground to the top of the shelf he settles into a crouch, "I've been learning to fly, what can your friends help me with?"
Element air; Type utility (Su); Level 1; Burn 0
You are always considered to have a running start when jumping, you add your kineticist level as a bonus on all Acrobatics checks to jump, you jump twice as far or high as the results of your check indicate, and you can accept 1 point of burn when jumping to double the distance you jump again (to a total of four times as far).
Zandomir finally catches on to the shopkeeper's act and says, "You seem like a nice enough fellow, so I'm sorry to have to say I don't believe you. You're clearly lying about something, so why don't you tell us what that is and what the truth actually is. Also, if you want something from Heinrich, it's politer to go ahead and ask rather than continue staring."