DM Fang Dragon's Strange Aeons (Inactive)

Game Master FangDragon

With the others standing firm, Zandomir does the same. He infuses his bow with some of Desna's energy before firing twice at the tentacle monster.

Longbow Attack 1 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Longbow Attack 2 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 2 + 1 = 31
Longbow Attack 2, Confirm Crit? (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 2 + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

I'm hoping Zan can shoot over Lizzie's head so he doesn't get the soft cover penalty, otherwise that'll probably apply.

You had already moved me by the time I got that posted so I thought I'd ended up there on entrance.

Now in the thing's "face" Momijii lashed out with all of her fury after drawing on a bit of her ki to make her strikes burst with fire.
unarmed strike w/ds/ef/patk: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 2 = 111d8 + 7 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 6 + (1) = 18
unarmed strike w/ds/ef/patk: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 = 141d8 + 5 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 + (4) = 16
unarmed strike w/ds/ef/patk: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 2 = 71d8 + 5 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 + (3) = 16
Wow, I suck this round....

Spent the evening waiting on a windows update to process <sigh>

Filbert gathers more aether into himself, loudly drawing attention before sending it winding past Heinrich's hip at the active pool of goo.

electric blast(RT)+PBS(precise shot): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
damage: 4d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 1) + 6 = 19 counts as magic for DR

Unsettled by the seeking tentacles, Momijii's attacks lacked conviction and the amorphous horror was able to deftly evade her strikes!

Zandomir, by RAW she provides soft cover but it's tall so I'm going to say in this situation you can shoot over her with no penalty.
Zandomir stands firm and infuses his bow with Desna's blessing. His first shot goes wide but the second one disappears up to the fetchings into the great writing mass. He got the impression he hurt it, but how much he couldn't say.

Zarine starts gathering power and chanting to summon something to swarm the horror!

Heinrich thrusts with Red Destiny which humms and buzzes as he does so. He manages to strike one of the flailing tentacles which was much harder than he expected however to his consternation it didn't seem to do anything. DR 10/- sorry.

Tentacled Horror

Momijii
Zandomir
Zarine
Heinrich
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE
Filbert Springbit Action posted

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 2 ----

Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beackon of Luck (69 rounds)
Zandomir Beackon of Luck (69 rounds)
Zarine Beackon of Luck (69 rounds)
Heinrich Beackon of Luck (69 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (699 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beackon of Luck (69 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beackon of Luck (69 rounds)
---- Round 3 ----
Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zandomir Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zarine Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Heinrich Beackon of Luck (68 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (698 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)

Lizzie "beads" Tamar' is up. PS Lizzie, it's eeeeeviil!

"Shining lady, grant me the power to hurt this evil foe!", the gnome shouts, as she holds the vorpal sword pointed upwards.

It starts glowing and shining, and she swings it at the freaky tentacle thing.

SMITE EVIL!!!!!!!
AC vs the monster becomes 26, attack rolls go up by +4.
If it is an evil outsider, my 1st hit will be 2x my pally lvl in dmg.

Sword, smite: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 4 = 36 Dmg, smite: 1d6 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 14 = 20
Sword, smite: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 4 = 26 Dmg, smite: 1d6 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 7 = 14

I realize now that if that is a flat DR 10 then the only thing a swarm can do is distract on a low roll. Which I suppose could be useful if a low roll is possible. But just FYI, the swarm definitely isn't going to save the day because it won't even be able to scratch the thing. Luckily, it looks like Lizzie might save the day. :)

Tell you what Zarine, if you prefer you can change your action.

Lizzie calls the wrath of the higher planes down upon this abomination! Her wickedly sharp sword suddenly becomes too bright too look at and it's motions send crazy shadows from the tentacled horror. With a palpable SNICK SKICK it carves through tentacles as if they weren't there. The sliced off bits fall to the floor and loose all cohesion, however new tentacles write up out of the smokey morass to replace them. It's not an outsider but you hurt it for sure!

Filbert used the distraction caused by Lizzie's attack to send a cracking ball of arcing power slamming into the central mass of the tentacles. Miniature lightnings arc between them accompanied by the stench of burnt tarmac. This seemed to hurt it but not as badly as Filbert hoped.

Burnt by the power invested into Lizzie's sword, the thing recoils for a moment before counter attacking with all it's might! The central pseudo-pod rises up near to the ceiling before crashing down upon the spot where Lizzie was moments before. All it's tentacles come flailing in, aiming to strangle her. She manages to fend off several of them, but four is too many and what they touched was shredded by hundreds of miniature teeth and hooks!

Bite vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13 <--- OOH YOU LUCKY GNOME! It has swallow whole.
Tentacle vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 <--- HIT
Tentacle vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 <--- MISS
Tentacle vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 <--- MISS
Tentacle vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 <--- MISS

Tentacled Horror

Momijii <----- WE ARE HERE
Zandomir
Zarine
Heinrich
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Filbert Springbit

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 3 ----

Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zandomir Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zarine Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Heinrich Beackon of Luck (68 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (698 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beackon of Luck (68 rounds)
---- Round 4 ----
Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beackon of Luck (67 rounds)
Zandomir Beackon of Luck (67 rounds)
Zarine Beackon of Luck (67 rounds)
Heinrich Beackon of Luck (67 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (697 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beackon of Luck (67 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beackon of Luck (67 rounds)

Momijii, Zandomir, Zarine, Heinrich, Lizzie "beads" Tamar' and Filbert Springbit are up. @All if nothing else, aid another on Momijii & Lizzie might be quite effective. Also you all have inspiration...

LoH on self, for 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) = 8.

Lizzie continues slashing away.
Sword, smite: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 4 = 21 Dmg, smite: 1d6 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 7 = 12
Sword, smite: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 4 = 20 Dmg, smite: 1d6 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 7 = 14

Perhaps a few aid-other can lift those rolls. Dmg output is decent this way.

Lizzie if you wish to you can burn an inspiration point to reroll that d20.

Momijii lashed out at the thing once more in an effort to help take it down. She pulled on a tactic she rarely used when she struck the first blow and sent. She figured that such a creature couldn't be stunned given it's amorphous nature but thought maybe she could use the ripples to make it feel badly shook up instead.
unarmed w/ds/ef/ss/patk/stunF: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 = 241d8 + 7 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 + (4) = 18
flurry: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 = 241d8 + 5 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 6 + (6) = 24
itterative: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 2 = 61d8 + 5 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 + (5) = 18
Substituting the shaken condition instead of stunned for stunning fist.

Zandomir strains his bowstring more than he usually does. They have to get through this monster's thick hide by whatever means necessary. With luck, maybe they can kill it before it kills them.

Longbow Attack 1 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 12 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17 (Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Longbow Attack 2 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 12 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 18 (Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Okay, if I can change my action here are actions from last round and this round:

Last round: Start bardic performance.

Derring-do (Su) +2 morale on Reflex saving throws and +2 competence on Dexterity-based skill checks. Allies who move at least 10 feet get +2 dodge to AC until the start of their next turn. Goes up at 11th.

I don't think that really helps us because we aren't rolling saves, but I need to have some sort of performance up to do the next thing.

This round: Cast Reviving Finale

Requires ending a bardic performance, then allies within a 20 foot radius regain 2d6 hit points.

Reviving Finale: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Well, better than nothing, I suppose. :) Everyone on the good guy team gets 4 HP

Aid Lizzie: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Agrippa uses Red Destiny's blade to distract and assist Lizzie in finding a place to strike.

Whoops I forgot two things. 1: Style strike (shattering strike) only applies to one hit from the flurry. 2: This sucker has fast healing.
Fort? Save DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 <--- PASS

Momijii's first punch lands with such force it shatters the tarry liquid, sending little splatters all over the place. Her second strike was even more fearsome sending a fine mist of black liquid across the floor. If she'd hit a human you think that would have been the end, but this monstrosity was surprisingly resilient...

Zandomir fires another pair of crackling arrows. The first one narrowly missed a large tentacle which smoothly parted to let the arrow through harmlessly. The second one moved faster than the eye could see and sunk entirely within the tarry liquid.

Zarine's song of bravado finished with a rousing agreppo that cured some of the party's many wounds.

Heinrich feinted with red destiny, proving a distraction which let Lizzie strike! Good thing too, she'd have missed otherwise.

Lizzie took full advantage to plunge her painfully bright blade deep within the oversized tarry puddle, searing it terribly! It was beginning to look increasingly ragged, however some of the oozing liquid from the tendrils that Lizzie cut had flowed back into the great writhing morass of tentacles, seeming to bolster it against the wounds you inflicted on it.

Tentacled Horror

Momijii
Zandomir
Zarine
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Filbert Springbit <----- WE ARE HERE

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 3 ----

Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beacon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zandomir Beacon of Luck (68 rounds)
Zarine Beacon of Luck (68 rounds)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Beacon of Luck (68 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (698 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beacon of Luck (68 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beacon of Luck (68 rounds)
---- Round 4 ----
Tentacled Horror
Momijii Beacon of Luck (67 rounds)
Zandomir Beacon of Luck (67 rounds)
Zarine Beacon of Luck (67 rounds)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Beacon of Luck (67 rounds), Clay Skin (25hp left) (697 rounds)
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Beacon of Luck (67 rounds)
Filbert Springbit Beacon of Luck (67 rounds)

Filbert Springbit is up.

Frowning as the creature seems to shrug off a bit of his attack, Filbert gathers in more aether to himself and mutters to no one in particular. "Sometimes you just need to use a sledgehammer

Empowered Telekinetic blast+PBS(precise shot): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
damage(empowered): 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 4, 6, 2) + 12 = 25 + (13/2=6) = 31

Filbert's telekinetic blast hit the amorphous morass of tentacles like a steam train, shattering it into a thousand shards which rained lifelessly down upon the room and everyone in it.

COMBAT OVER

"Wow!", Lizzie lets out as the thing explodes, and she raises her shield above her head to avoid getting icky bits rained down upon her.

Does this fix our phobia?

Yes it does.

Zandomir nods to Filbert as the gnome deals the decisive blow against the tentacle monster.

His clerical instincts kicking in, Zan gathers everyone close before offering a channel.

Channel Positive Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

He then pulls out a wand and says, "If you need healing, please let me do so now. Better not take the chance of finding another one of those things with unhealed injuries."

Just roll for however much healing you still need and I'll mark off the CLW charges.

Zarine uses Prestidigitation to clean all of the tentacle bits off of everyone.

HP 15+9=24

Cure Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 31
Cure Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 38/41 (good enough)

A rush of lilac tinted power washes over the party leaving the faint impression of butterflies. As it dissipates a number of the many cuts and abrasions you all suffered vanish with it!

I'm going to push us forwards.

After defeating the formless spawn, the party venture further east. The corridor passes a room whose door stands ajar, wedged open by a ledger that tumbled to the ground from within the room. Inside is a dusty office which contains a low table and several dozen ledgers. The ledgers are brittle to the touch and crumble if not handled lightly, but each contains hundreds of pages of cramped handwriting. If the text was to be summed up in a word, baffling might suffice with illegible a close second. Your eyes feel tried just after a couple of pages.

A steep staircase on the southern wall ascends to the area above. Map updated.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Filbert thanks Zarine and walks up to the up to the wall behind Zandomir, Hrmmm, let's see, this crack doesn't belong here....perhaps a push right here.....yep that's it." opening the section of the wall Filbert looks through. "Just another entrance to the inner courtyard, that's what 3 now?"

Joining the others as they moved on, he enters the office, briefly looking in the ledger. he snickers. "You know Agrippa, I believe this fellow's writing might just be worse than yours. I'm gonna check the stairs."

Drawing the aether around him he moves upstairs, invisible to normal eyes anyways.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 10 = 30
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
Linguistics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Zandomir notes the secret door as well and wonders what all these doors are for. Were the proprietors of the caravanserai up to no good, or just extremely paranoid? In any case, one or more could prove useful if the group needs to make a quick exit.

Carefully examining the ledgers, Zan notes, "I'm guessing whoever wrote this stuff was illiterate. Looks like the person was only mimicking written text. Not sure we'll find anything profound, assuming we could even keep the ledgers from completely crumbling apart long enough for us to read them all."

Zandomir stays near the foot of the stairs with bow in hand while Filbert does his reconnaissance. As anxious as one of the group going off on their own makes Zan, he knows the gnome has proven to be more than capable. All there is to do is wait.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Zarine quietly follows Filbert up the stairs, but only halfway, to the point where she can see the upper floor. She waits there with her bow ready in case he needs help.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Filbert creeps up the stairs, followed at a distance by Zarine. On the landing above, is another much tidier office which is sparse but tastefully decorated. Framed paintings of landscapes from the Dreamlands hang on the walls, including a many-spired city with marble walls and brass gates; a windswept waste beneath a distant, ominous mountain; and a gloomy port city constructed primarily of basalt.

All separate rolls.

This isn't what really captures your eye however, for standing behind a desk in this room is an eccentric individual who styles himself the Yellow King. Dressed in tattered yellow robes crafted from frayed caravanserai curtains, the Yellow King is bending over the desk examining one of the ledgers below. He flicks through a few pages and makes some notes before muttering, "Infernal thing, sent to torment me... I shall decypher this code and reveal in triumph the cosmic mysteries that must lie within!"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
He doesn't seem to notice Filbert and carries on flicking through the ledger and taking various notes.

Map updated. PS the figure ought to be instantly recognizable to you, although he looks rather strange to your eyes.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Oh, well. It was a long shot anyway.

Why is he recognizable? Is this the guy we worked for? Sorry again if I am missing something obvious.

Zarine has an urge to shoot the guy, but she manages to resist the impulse, and instead waves the rest of the group over so the party won't be split if there is a confrontation.

Yes this is a rather disheveled looking Count Haserton Lowls IV, your former employer. You can't quite put your finger on why, but he seems weird to your eyes.

stealth: 1d20 + 18 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 10 = 29 uggh

Moving back down the stairs while remaining invisible, Filbert touches Zarine's elbow lightly as he moves by so that she knows it is him. Reaching the bottom he describes the room above.

"There's some creepy paintings above, similar to the ones that guy back in Thrushmore painted. What was his name Zandalus? or something like that? Also someone dressed like the Yellow King is above, could it be Count Lowls?"

GM, pardon me is I've guessed wrong

Zandomir listens to Filbert's description of the room above, then raises his eyebrows when the gnome mentions Lowls. Not sure it's been long enough since I last saw him...

"We should be ready for anything if we're all going up there," Zan whispers in reply. "At least we know who we face now."

Ready to head up there if everyone else is.

Agrippa recognizes all those locations from his readings on the Dreamlands.

Agrippa whispers This is almost certainly some dream...Lowls is no more the Yellow King than I am a fishmonger.

Agrippa, Filbert's description doesn't strike you as that of a particularly rational man.

"I'm going back up and will be across the room opposite the steps, once you're ready I join in."

hiding amongst the Aether Filbert heads back upstairs and across the room.

stealth: 1d20 + 18 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 10 = 39
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Zarine gets impatient and goes the rest of the way up the steps, moving into the room.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Quieter than ghosts, Filbert and Zarine creep upstairs to find 'The Yellow King' exactly where he was, nose buried in a ledger full of gibberish. He seems to be taking notes as he flicks back and fourth between several pages while absentmindedly pulling on his beard as if in deep thought.

Zarine tries to wait for Zandomir since he is always telling her that she is too hasty. She counts to 10.

Zandomir moves up the stairs, hopefully making it to the top before Zarine can get too far ahead. No telling what trouble she would get into on her own.

Not sure what else to do, Zandomir clears his throat and addresses Lowls, "Uh, Lowls? Do you remember us?"

When Zandomir spoke, the man stopped and looked up from his text with an expression of surprise that quickly turned to delight. He maked an expansive gesture, "Friends! Acquaintances! Romans? Er What? Ahm. Please come in come in! " He looks vaguely puzzled, "You're quite a distinguished fellow, I feel like I should know you from somewhere..."

I'm assuming you all came up.

His eyes passed over Momijii and Lizzie, "And you too. It's puzzling. Anyway my name is The Yellow King, as you can no doubt tell from my raiment!" He gave a twirl causing the yellow rags he's in billow out.

He scratched his head before giving a rueful smile, "So I must admit to being somewhat confounded, I can't can not place you. So please tell me what brings you to this lonely corner of the multiverse? Have you too come to research these tomes and unlock the secrets of the multiverse that must be hidden within for those with the wherewithal to apprehend their meaning?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Thankful that Zandomir knew what to do, Zarine relaxes. She still sort of wants to shoot the guy, but at least he isn't attacking them.

He also seems sort of insane, so even though Zarine enjoys a good puzzle, she isn't interested in reading what he's reading. She just assumes it is gibberish.

Momijii entered the room with the others and saw the man claiming to be "The Yellow King". She looked at him in confusion as he claimed to know but not know them. Truthfully his words were confusing her greatly. She arched an eyebrow at him in question and asked, "Are you not Lowls, the one who somehow got us locked up in that asylum and took our memories?" Truthfully she wasn't entirely sure what she just said was accurate but she thought that was the way of it.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Zandomir relaxes ever so slightly when Lowls doesn't immediately attack. In hindsight, it was probably ridiculous to think the man would strike against so many, but then Zan's not confident he remembers all that Lowls was capable of.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Noting Lowls's confusion, Zan decides to humor the man for a bit, if only to get whatever useful information they can from him. If Lowls gains some recognition from Momijii's words... then it might be necessary to change tactics.

"Your Highness, we've traveled far to come here. To find one such as yourself here is quite the accomplishment in and of itself. If you could share the secrets you've discovered, I would be grateful."

SM: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

Lizzie looks up at Agrippa with a questioning look about this man.

"Has irony shown itself, and him having some memory loss as well?"

Filbert remaining silent and invisible, eases around the room to investigate the table Lowl's the Yellow King is studying.

stealth: 1d20 + 18 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 10 = 36
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"Are you not Lowls, the one who somehow got us locked up in that asylum and took our memories?"

Looking rather perplexed he replies, "No I am the Yellow King, can you not see? I know nothing of an asylum."

"Your Highness, we've traveled far to come here. To find one such as yourself here is quite the accomplishment in and of itself. If you could share the secrets you've discovered, I would be grateful."

Looking pleased that Zandomir had asked, he replied, "Well I have spent many days studying these tomes. I have discovered the writings are in no language I have ever heard of, they are not in common or aklo or in varisian or azlanto or or in tekritanin or in infernal or celestial or in necril or thassilonian or even orvian. Most peculiar, whoever wrote them inverted a language all of their own - possibly two. Look I have run an analysis of the glyphs and there appear to be over a hundred of these in two possibly three distinct groups. See?" He shows you a page with nonsense looking symbols neatly tabulated with a frequency analysis. He carries on sagely, "All this secrecy goes to show that the secrets encoded within are of the utmost importance. Why else go to all this effort? The secrets of the very foundations of the universe must be encoded within. Alas however they have eluded me thus far."

"Has irony shown itself, and him having some memory loss as well?"

Lowls apparently has sharp hearing for he looked at you sharply and asked, "Eh? What! You have memory loss and you believe I do too? What! Please elucidate! I must admit to being bamboozled by certain oddities such as my origin, I can remember naught beyond a certain point."

Agrippa believes this is some trick of the Dreamlands. This isn't really Lowls.

What do you remember dear King? What have you spent your days doing here? And...where are we? Agrippa asks in his kindest sounding voice.

Lowls replies, "I remember my work of course, deciphering the secrets within these tomes! It is painstaking work that takes the entirety of my attention. Oh and this way-station is the default entrance to a pocket dimension known as The Dreamlands. You clearly aren't from here so you must have traveled far. It seems alas I can not remember where I was from..."

Her reverently puts down the tome he was studying and paces before sighing, "I have come to suspect I have been permanently deconstructed from a greater whole, a splinter as it where. There is a sense of loss among you too, you also have been shorn but not quite so savagely - perhaps it can be reversed. Yes you’re already deconstructed, I posit, and seek to be reconstructed in the inverse of my experience. In short, you can retrace this one you call Lowls’s steps to regain your memories and your whole selves. I can’t recall all of those steps—that was ‘after my time,’ so to speak, but I know the outcome: Lowls spoke with an ominous yet perspicacious prophet called the Mad Poet. This Mad Poet—an apt appellation, I assure you—has unimaginable power here in the Dreamlands, but he is fickle. Approaching the Mad Poet without the proper collection of gifts provokes his ire; worse, he might have nothing to do with you. Lowls learned some great truths from the Mad Poet; some truths so mind-shattering that I came into being as a result. I deem it serendipitous that I do not know what these truths are. “Good gifts for the Mad Poet are scattered throughout the Dreamlands. They are rare, esoteric, and never easily gained. Lowls identified six or seven of these gifts. I recall writing them down on the flyleaf of Dichotomous Translations of Aklo Syntax, but I can’t recall what they were. Lowls painstakingly scoured his tomes to research each gift, learning where to find it in the Dreamlands and then dreaming of that location. I recommend you do likewise. Some of the gifts required trickery or guile to obtain; others, delicate negotiation or brute force. I don’t know the minimum number of gifts the Mad Poet will accept, but Lowls acquired all the gifts on his list. If you want to make do with fewer gifts, or if you have some problem acquiring them all, the Mad Poet might condescend to converse with you anyway. That’s up to you. “Once you acquire sufficient gifts, return here. I’ll escort you to the Mad Poet’s oasis, and you can petition him for the answers you seek."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Sound like a good plan. I think we have that book back on the ship, don't we?

Filbert let the invisibility drop once he's on the far side of the table from the lLowl's version of the Yellow King. Taking a moment to investigate the books on the table he looks at the others and shakes his head, pointing downstairs and mouthing "they look just as unreadable"

SoH: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Would Comprehend Languagues help in understanding the book?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Zandomir isn't sure what to make of the King/Lowls' words. But if there's any chance of fully regaining his memories, Zan thinks it's worth a shot.

"What else can you tell us about this Mad Poet? Does he have a real name? Do you where he comes from? If we are to seek out these gifts, is there an easy way to traverse the Dreamlands? Outside of this caravanserai, they seem quite inhospitable."

A dream that realizes its a dream. Curious. Agrippa thinks to himself

Indeed. says aloud, his hand on his chin in a thoughtful pose.

Gentlemen. Ladies. I believe we know our next step. We should retrieve these "gifts" and meet with this "Mad Poet". Our friend the Yellow King here has made things much clearer.

Well there's one way to find out Zandomir!
Lowls strikes a classic thinking pose, his chin resting upon his hand as he considers his reply. After a few moments he tells Zandomir, "Is a real name as good as an original name? In truth I'm not sure! Anyway he was once called Abdul Alhazred and was famous or perhaps infamous in certain circles as the author of the Kitab Al-Azif. That goes by another name now that I can't for the life of me remember... Oh as for accessing other locales, I'm afraid you'll have to adjust the ritual. It should all be in the notes."