DM Delmoth's Strange Aeons (Inactive)

Game Master Delmoth

"I know there's a way to bring Ellery along to the Dreamland," Mara declared. "We just have to figure it out. It's got to be in here somewhere!", she said, gesturing to the piles of books and notes.

"Of course, we still don't know exactly what to look for in the Dreamlands. I'm not sure that we would want to approach the Mad Prophet."

"Can you restore Ellery's speech? I know he doesn't see himself as broken but there is so much he can't do. Can't do rituals or scrolls or wands or talk to people or shout warnings.
But then, I am not whole right now either. Maybe we can wait a bit on the Dreamlands trip."

At -3 to everything and no Rage or spells, Dervak would basically be a War4. Not useless, but I would rather wait until we have the Restorations finished.

Ellery makes some hand signs, one of which at the end is simply extending his middle finger to Dervak, before walking far away from the rest of the group.

The rest of the day he will avoid anyone else from the party as best he can.

sorry the spoiler is sign language not a message to Delmoth, and I can't re-edit the post, sorry

"I'm not sure what that was about," Dervak says with a shrug. He doesn't understand most of Ellery's signs, but the last part was clear enough.
"He doesn't want his speech back. Can't do the Dreamlands ritual unless he can speak. So we leave him behind. Simple enough."

If Ellery seems to be acting unusual it’s because he is. Also try not to overthink what you need to do to get around the ritual, I can think of 3 ways around it 2 of which you can enact on the boat. It may take some experimentation. And feel free to surprise me with your creative solutions, you’ve done it before.

Day 7 - 21

Feel free to do things during this time, we can rewind.

Skywin regails you with tails from her time in Port Peril, ”So to get the jerk’s attention small Nickie put on this long blue dress and he ran up and down the street pushing a flower cart screaming about flowers. Meanwhile I sneak around back to pry open a window. Well the rumors about that kitsune captain were true, she was some kind of necromancer! A whole mess of skeletons, enough to crew a galleon, were guarding the statue of Besmara. Luckily Gishy planned for undead just on rumors, but she didn’t tell me! Those skeletons just poured through that window chasing me all the way back to port.”

On day 21 Dervak should have all his negative levels gone and Theo is back to his usual insane self rather than his delirious insane self.

Dervak doesn't really notice anything different about Ellery. Although he is much better at reading social cues now that he is human much better Sense Motive now, he has never understood this strange man. He was always a bit difficult.

After Mara's Restoration spell on him at the beginning of the fourth week since the purging of the Dark Whisper, he feels elated.

"I feel... it's hard to describe. I feel like I have the strength and power I had before, but under my control. I can feel the magic in my veins, but it is something more pure."

Dervak concentrates, and arcane energy crackles up and down the length of his falchion.

"Thank you Mara! You have done it!"

There is confidence and joy in the warrior's voice.

Theophilus seems a bit melancholy, wistful, and sad after the 3rd week.

Mara replied to Dervak, "I'm just glad that I was able to help you."

Have we exhausted our avenues of research with the materials at hand?

She conferred with her friends about what they should be trying to do next, "Do you think we should be trying to follow in Lowls' footsteps, and travel to the caravanserai that he picked as the start of his Dreamlands excursions? And would we actually want to talk to the Mad Prophet, if we were to find a way to do so?"

A caravanserai is a roadside inn where travelers can rest and recover from the day's journey.

You haven’t really touched the named books you picked up yet. But without something specific to look for it will take a very long time to find something useful.

It might be useful to sum some things up that you know: Lowls was researching the Star Stelae, through Zandalus he discovered a mysterious city lost to time that had Star Stelae exactly like those found in Thrusmoor, to find its location he sought out the Mad Poet in the Dreamlands, the Mad Poet requires gifts to appease him and when Lowls met with the Mad Poet, Lowls sacrificed your minds to him, the Mad Poet then told Lows to find a copy of the Necronomicon in Katheer.

Katheer to pick up his trail? Perhaps, us searching for the Necronomicon will also find him.

Katheer to pick up his trail? Perhaps, us searching for the Necronomicon will also find him.

Yep that's why you're on the boat to Cassomir because its on the way to Katheer. Also Lowls' alchemist (Miacknian Mun) lives in Cassomir and Lowls was corresponding with Mun about the Necronomicon.

White Rabbit gives Theo a pointed look that seems to say, "You're late! You're late for a very important date."

sorry I’ve been absent; busy at work and busy at home prepping the house to put it up for sale.

Over the course of a few days, Rowan tries to hang with Ellery and find why he is on edge (besides the obvious). He offers him sake from his magic flask, tries to play the slap game, and just tries to be a friend.

"Maybe if we go into the Dreamlands and find this Mad Poet we can make him give us our memories back. Find him the same way Lowls did. If Ellery wants to come and we can find a way to bring him along, fine. If he doesn't want to, or we can't find a way, we go without him."

"The Mad Poet is dangerous unless appeased. Maybe we have to bring him gifts too. I don't like the idea, would prefer to just fight him, but it is really Lowls to blame and not the Mad Poet. And Lowls thought he was dangerous; given Lowls' mother I don't think the Count scared easily."

"Like Theophilus said, once we get to Katheer we can track down Lowls, hopefully before he can get his hands on the book.
I'm willing to read through these other books and see if there is anything else useful. It would take a while but we have a long journey."

Theophilus frowns at the White Rabbit.
Fashionably late, my dear Rabbit.

He shakes his head at Dervak.
I am thinking that we need more information before venturing into this Dreamland to confront the Mad Poet.

I do like the name though.

Rowan also does reading and research in his non-friend time.

”Maybe someone already thought of this, but what gift could we offer to the Mad Poet? We need to figure that out before we arrive.”

"Lowls spent time at the caravan stop asking other travelers what to bring to the Mad Poet. We could do the same thing."

The White Rabbit hops up onto Theo's lap, smacks the Hatter a few times, and speaks.
Ok. We have been on this stinking contraption for 3 weeks! We have done all the studying needed to go to the Dreamland! We have...
He counts silently.
We have 67 days left before our arrival! You people can figure this out! You can even get the Mute to go!

Theo smiles and shrugs his shoulders at the group.

Mara observed Ellery's behavior, and tried to figure out if he was suffering from a mental affliction, like Rowan and Theo were previously.

Heal, taking 10, crone aspect: 10 + 20 + 1 = 31 If it's Sense Motive instead, the total result would be 9 less: 22.

Do we have any diamond dust left?

You have exactly the amount of diamond dust for restorations to fix Dervak's negative levels. You could ask Skywin to stop at a nearby port but it would mean stopping in Razmiran.

Mara clearly senses that Ellery is being extremely paranoid in his behavior. Mara would have realized this soon after Rowan was cured, and would have roughly 10 or so days to do something about it before Dervak is restored. Whether he allows anything to happen is another story, extreme paranoia and all.

Over the course of a few days, Rowan tries to hang with Ellery and find why he is on edge (besides the obvious). He offers him sake from his magic flask, tries to play the slap game, and just tries to be a friend.

Ellery does his best to avoid Rowan for the first few hours but stops constantly moving away from him after awhile. While Ellery completely refuses to eat or drink something handed to him from Rowan. When Rowan suggests the slap game Ellery gets an odd smile on his face but declines that as well. Ellery then makes sure to keep more than an arm's distance between himself and any of the rest of the party. By the end of the second day Rowan has worn him down enough that he does make a few short and cautious replies to Rowan's questions.

Any time the rest of the party is sleeping, after Ellery wakes, he spends reading the private books we picked up.

Rowan doesn’t act pushy or make any sudden movements over those several days, just acts mellow and non-threatening.

On about the 5th day of this, he says ”This flask does more than get you drunk.”

He whispers the command word under his breath and takes a draw from the flask.

He blinks twice, then says ”Uh oh.”
reduce person!

The effects don’t last long, but tiny Rowan looks hilarious parkouring around the deck of the ship.

After the effects wear off, he goes back to leaning against the side rail of the ship like nothing happened.

Ellery feels as though he can trust Rowan the tiniest bit. Probably a good idea to keep an eye on the fool though.

Mara figured it was going to be a challenge to cure Ellery of his paranoia. She was going to have to gain his trust before she could even start to treat his affliction. She commented to him, "Rowan seems to be doing a lot better the last few days. I'm glad he's back to his old tipsy self, as opposed to his passed-out drunk state. He had me worried there for a bit.

"If you're feeling out of sorts, I could help you feel more at ease, too. It's a gradual process, though; mental trauma is slower to heal than physical trauma. Anyway, I just want you to know that I'm here, if there's something you think I could do that would be beneficial."

She felt that she'd said enough for now, and let the matter drop for the moment.

Theophilus offers to play card; and not cheat (much).
The White Rabbit begins to shuffle up and deal!

I'd say Mara and Theo could assist Rowan as a confidante but it wouldn't actually change any results at this juncture. Did someone want to try the ritual to move forward or should we see if Ellery can make the saves to get lesser resto cast on him?

We need to figure out how to include Ellery for the Dreamland venture.

Restore his speech. If that's a Regenerate spell, it would probably have to wait for Cassomir. Quicker and cheaper to kill him and Reincarnate him into a body that has a tongue. Other than that, I've got no idea. I don't think he'd be very useful if he was drugged. And I don't know of any magic to make a mute character talk. A Riffle Scroll of Possession, maybe? So he can possess a body that can talk?

Mara Heal: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Rowan Heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

There is an in character reason why regeneration or any other magic for that matter won't solve that problem. And Mara would know it but its not for me to spoil otherwise.

The next day, Mara spoke to Ellery again, waiting for a moment when she could speak privately with him.

Ellery eyes Mara suspiciously as she speaks, his eyes narrowing a bit as she continues. When she finishes Ellery responds with some rapid hand signs.

He then grabs whichever of the books he had been reading and storms off.

Its not terribly important that Ellery be there the first time around. Also you should probably force him to take his medicine. Even with the Tatterman's ring he still has to sleep sometime.

Mara told the Dervak, Rowan and Theo, "It's going to take some time to cure Ellery of his affliction. He's not going to be cooperative at the moment.

"In the meantime, I think we should try out the Dreamlands ritual, and see what we can find out."

Mara has one Lesser Restoration memorized, for when the opportunity presents itself to cast it on Ellery.

"What affliction? Do you mean you can actually fix his voice in time? But I am willing to go without him."

"I meant his paranoia," Mara said in a low voice. "There's not much way to work with him until he's over that. His speech is another matter."

"Paranoia? The man has been skittish and distrustful since we met him. I can't read his finger-talking but he seemed really distrustful of Cesadia and the others in Thrushmoor. Are you saying it was a sickness all along? Or is the sickness just making it worse?"
"I'm no saint. I know I can be surly... though I don't feel that way so much anymore. You and Theophilus helped with that ritual. Ellery and Rowan too, by defeating the... the thing."

I did say you have 10 days to treat him so 10 days worth of paranoia saves incoming.

Mara diligently tries to cast spells on Ellery that she knows will help Ellery. Luckily after the first couple of days she's able. Slowly Ellery's madness lessens and lessens until it returns to his normal state of paranoia, that is trusting no one except the party members. It still does nothing to cure his prickly attitude. On the 20th day of the trip, the day before Theo insists on doing the Dreamland Excursion ritual Ellery is cured.

After Ellery comes back to himself he makes some hand signs to the group.

”Ellery, if we all go into the Dreamlands, I want someone back here watching over us. Protecting us while our minds are free and our bodies are vulnerable. You trusted us before; maybe not a lot, but you did trust us.”

“Also, if we go into the Dreamlands, we can’t desert you. The only place to go is back out where you will be waiting.”

Dervak looks very uncomfortable at the thought of the inscrutable rogue watching over his vulnerable body.
"Well, maybe we can drug him like Lowls did and bring him along... But can somebody tell me what is going on? Why would Ellery think we were going to desert him? I can't even understand why he is still with us, but his skills are useful at least. And hey - if he does that finger-talking again, somebody tell me what he said. Or get him a slate and chalk."

There is a reason why I have not spent a skill point on sign language, and it is not to annoy Ellery or his player. But I am sure Ellery's player has reasons why he chose to make a mute character, and I know they were not to annoy me.

At some point Mara has said that she will continually translate what Ellery says. Whether that remains in effect I'm not sure.

Theophilus frowns, then laughs.
The White Rabbit just laughs.

Dervak reconsiders. "Ellery has seen the horrors we face. He can imagine what would have happened in those battles without my sword. I don't trust him and he doesn't trust me, but we can both recognize how useful the other is. He's not stupid enough to harm my body when we are on our dream-quest. So let's get on with it."

Dervak sees the flaw in his logic. His strength is only an asset to Ellery until a more powerful entity offers its aid for Ellery to turn on Dervak. But he tries to push this doubt aside.

Ellery shrugs and makes a few quick signs.

Theophilus falls on the floor. It looks like he may be choking.
The White Rabbit gives Dervak a thumbs up!

"What was that you said? Some funny insult to make yourself feel better? For a mute you've got a real obsession with getting the last word."

"Someone tell me what he said."

Mara translated the gist Ellery's comments, trying to put things a bit more diplomatically where possible. In reply to Dervak's last question, she simply said resignation, "He says you're moody."

She tried to move the conversation in a more positive direction, "What sort of preparations does everyone need to make? Are we ready to do the ritual today?"

"Oh, the guy who wanted to knife an innocent man in broad daylight is calling me moody. I'm so hurt.
Look Ellery, if you really are concerned about me wanting to ditch you, maybe you should stop insulting me. As in now."

"Tell me everything he says about me from now on. Every 'funny' comment behind my back. I have the right to decide if I value his skills more than I dislike his disrespect, or if I want to take my chances on my own."

"Mara, I appreciate the role model you are and I am trying to be more moral and good. You are like another Sarenite I knew.
Theophilus, I appreciate you being a friend and solving so many of our problems. And you're funny.
Rowan, you're fun to have a drink with and good in a fight and I think I know where you stand.
Ellery... I have not the slightest clue what you want. Or why you are still with us now that you are rich enough to live like a king. What does this mission mean to you? Why come with us? You didn't seem to have much interest in helping the people of Thrushmoor. What drives you?"

Ellery cocks an eyebrow and makes quite a few hand signs.

Theophilus frowns.
You folks do realize that this craziness is something being done to us. We have a known source. Together we have hampered his plans, and we have the avenues to continue to really stick it to him!