Darkest Corners volume 2

Game Master Harakani

Aaaauuugh, it's like being the scout character in a dungeon... I have to make hard decisions.

"Hmm.. Because we definitely came here randomly to shake you down and didn't already track a bunch of guys related to the incident to this very establishment. Yup, yup, that's definitely what happened." Diene did a stage whisper equivalent of a "musing" gesture, hands on her chin.

"Still, we might find an easier scapegoat there, so sure, we'll take your advice for now. Your grandson's over there. Teach him how to take a punch or duck, your call, in case we come back."

Once they were outside, and a bit away from the place, Ophelia suggested in a low voice. "I agree with you Diene; the leads point to that place. But since we can't prove it - and not *legally* search it - we must find an alternative approach. Though for now I suggest we make sure to lose any potential tail. Or ambush them, should they foolishly follow."

Yeah, that guy's a smooth talker fer sure, but... those guys did run into his place... we need to figger out who in the Guard is allowing this to go on.

Fever Dream Alley

A tangle of plank-and-rope bridges crisscross precariously over this narrow, trash-strewn alley. Shiver addicts - including those currently slumbering in the street - have transformed the alley into a makeshift flophouse, which terminates at a hovel sheltering a rusted, potbelly stove.

Per: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Fewer Shivheads here than used to be. Can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing Isama points out Look, they used empty shacks to make a bigger one

"So...what now? Simply walk in there, see if some druggy seems to be at that fine line where he still maintains the mental presence to answer questions, but is far enough out there to actually do so?", Daria turns to Diene and Ophelia, questioningly. This kind of thing was out of her experience, and she's gladly follow the more experienced officers decision on how to approach.

I might be able to calm someone down, ask 'em why everything's changed around here. See if any Guards been bothering 'em differently lately Isama is incredibly uncomfortable amidst the desperation and the poverty

"Interrogating these guys is about as far out from my specialty as it is possible to be. I'm gonna just get somewhere overlooking and keep an eye out for bad guys. Those I know how to handle." Diene moved out and up, seeming quite uncomfortable in the presence of the druggies.

Isama takes a deep breath and heads closer to the one large shelter keeping an eye out on what might be happening around her. She'll talk to the first person she sees.

"Yes, that should be the procedure." Ophelia nodded and speculated. "Perhaps their decrease number is due to the influx of cheap stimulants elsewhere - or perhaps an increased lethality due to higher or more dangerous supply?"

She wasn't usually the one that the guard had conducting interviews, unless it was an emergency, for some reason. No matter. It can't be too difficult! So with steely resolve she followed Isama, heading for the nearest conscious user.

Only three addicts remain within the hovel that passes for shelter.
One sleeps, tears tracked through dirt on his face. As Isama approaches he twitches, then once again goes still.
The other two - a man and a woman, though age is hard to tell from their appearance - are apparently picking bugs off each other and throwing them into the open mouth of the stove. They are far gone enough that Isama is close enough to see that the bugs they're picking at are invisible when they finally notice her.

"Wotchasef!" yells the man, speech slurred. The woman is a little clearer "Hey! Get off! This is our patch! What you want?"

Easy now Isama says. This place used to have a helluva lot more people. Just want to know where they all want is all

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

The woman blinks, one eye slightly out of sync with the other.
"Why? You lot Guard?"
The man's eyes narrow suspiciously "Look like Guard." he points out.

"The guard would typically have uniforms and badges, would they not?" Ophelia interjects diplomatically. "We are simply concerned for a friend."

Isama crouches down a few feet away to try and ease the situation.

Look we got tangled up with some shiv dealers and they look like they're doing something real new. Hell it looks like these pushers are working with the Guards! We just want to know what the heck is goin' on! This used to be the place to find out stuff about Shiver but it's all changed. What happened?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

The woman continues to look unconvinced, but the man unbends a little.
"You stupid? Guards been on the take the whole time. You want in? Take a hit with us."
The man reaches a filthy hand into a pocket and pulls out a handful of equally filthy sweets. He smiles the smile of a man for whom healthy teeth is a long-gone memory as he holds his hand out to the group.
For the record, the module is not railroading you here.

Isama declines. Nah, keep it, friend, we ain't on shiv, we just got these new dealers moving in on our turf real hard and if we don't find out how the hell they're gettin' so high and mighty it might be the end o' us

It's all true so I don't think I need a Bluff roll

She sighs

Look, you give us good info on these new ones and we'll make it worth your while she pats her coin purse meaningfully.

Prof:Guard to know how much these kinds of contacts are usually paid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Is...is this the good stuff?", Daria asks, slightly trembling as she stretches out her hand for the offered sweets. "Where'd you get it...?"

Except for her... she's a total shivhead Isama says rolling her eyes.

"The sentiment is moving and appreciated." Ophelia carefully plucks one of the filthy candies and holds it up to get a closer look. She hums a little, as if thinking, then hands it back. "But I'm afraid it is not for me either."

Craft(Alchemy): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 Trying to recall what she knows about Shiver and candy-form then apply it to the specimen before her!

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"No...no war. We...we want in on it.", Daria stammers, as she watches the man go pale, pointing: "He a goner?"

Per: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Perception: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 15 + (6) = 39

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 (+2 vs Illusions/to disbelieve)

Even me? I was up on a roof nearby. If this is a targetted effect, can I take a stealth check first?

Stealth if helpful: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 +2 vs Enchantment, Immune to Sleep

Profession Guard is that a normal way to die of Shiver overdose?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Kn:Nature what are these spiders: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

@Isama: I don't think you made the Perception, so you my not have realized there's spiders involved, even if I pointed out that the guy goes limp.
Knowledge Take 10(all): 10 + 10 = 20 //what are those spiders, because the question is good, regardless.

There may be more context in other spoilers...but Daria has no reason to take any actions beyond the question already asked. If the junkies become hostile or something, I guess she did not catch that. So I guess I'm delaying until something noteworthy happens?

Diene watches concernedly from her perch about 50 feet away as the crow is thrown, but doesn't take action unless her friends do, taking a look around to see if there's someone responsible for it she can see.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

"Erp!" Ophelia squeaks and raises her hands defensively. "That's odd?!" She looks up and struggles to get herself free, as if tangling with an invisible opponent or very insistent bedsheet.

Still delaying

"Mechie? You just touched the drugs. You can't even consume them...so much about 'a contruct won't get high'...", Daria only takes a moment to stare at Ophelia, then looks back at the druggies to see their reaction.

Any rolls we can make to find out what's happening to her?

"No, I'm mostly worried about where the spiders are!" Ophelia quickly replies and continues to flail wildly.

"Umm..." Diene's brow furrows as she tries to puzzle out what's going on down there.

The female addict screams, also wrestling some sort of invisible... thing.
"Nomi?" asks the male addict, concern in his voice "You okay?"
"Spiders!" shrieks Nomi.

SM: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

They're having a.. shared hallucination? What could be causing that?

Some sort of knowledge check possible?

Daria will grasp her cloak, then speak calmly:"Mechie, focus. Look, then feel.", waving the end of her cloak as high as she can, trying to cover the area where Ophelia is flailing. "Whatever you see, it is not real."

Trying to prove to Ophelia she is hallucinating/seeing something illusionary so she gets another save with +4 bonus, IF applicable here.

As far as I can tell it isn't subject to normal illusion rules. Still, Ophelia on your round you can make another will save (no bonus)
Round 2

Those club bastards sent us into a damn trap! Something is making them see... spiders?

Kn:nature to know what kind of creature might cause this: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"Interesting. Perceptive issues aside, I assure you I appear thoroughly restrained. Additionally there seems to be spiders exiting through the orifices the sleeping and screaming ones. And my joints, which is a bit curious ..."

Will Save!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 +5 vs Illusions (costs 1 inspiration!)

Assuming that is not enough to break the spell/thingy:

Break free?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"Huuhh.." Diene stealths badly from her rooftop position, still taking her time to look around.

"Oh, whatever...", seeing the junkies thorougly occupied with the spiders only they saw, Daria decides to drop part of the act, casting detect magic and starting to scan their surroundings :"Remember that lucid dream you had recently when we visited for tea? You also talked about spidery stuff then...", she keeps casually and calmly talking to Ophelia, to reassure her that us others are not affected by anything.

In fact, Daria was unsure if sentient constructs even were prone to panic, but being reassuring wouldn't hurt, even if it was unnecessary.

Going the easy option
Somehow Mia's actions, or Ophelia's will, work. Ophelia's vision clears, and she sees the alleyway clearly: free of webs and spiders.
The female addict continues to convulse, flailing way. Then stops.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Isama goes down on a knee to carefully check the addicts.

Hope they're not dead...

"..." Ophelia looks around in confusion as the spiders and stuff fades from her view. "That is odd." she states as she carefully moves her arms and find them free of restraint. Hmm. With a quick comparative glance between herself and the woman laying on the ground she concludes. "It appears as the effects were not physical. Although that does not seem to be making them less dangerous...!"

Isama taps the dying woman with a charge of her CLW to see if she comes around.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The colour returns to the woman's face for a second - then she quickly starts sinking back down into the deeps.