Mara healed Kat, and then used her wand to restore some of the woman's strength.
"Well, that bloody hurt. Just not my day for traps, 'suppose. Thanks, luv. That'll do me."
Theophilus begins to cast Guidance on Kat...then he instead hands her a clean handkerchief.
Inside the mausoleum, skeletal remains sit on a stone throne with carvings depicting a ghoul with a leering canine face and a haughty expression. The skull is long like a wolf’s and the teeth are still sharp. A metal rod with a flanged ball at one and six stud-like butttons along its length lays in the dead ghoul’s lap still gripped by its hand.
Mara peeked inside the mausoleum and declared, "I think that could be what we're looking for! Beware of more traps!" She focused her attention on Kat granting her good fortune, all the while maintaining her chant.
Theophilus sends Frederick to fetch the skull of the ghoul dude.
After that last debacle, Kat takes a moment to make sure that everything here is on the up-and-up and that the ghoul won't jump them or explode or some other bloody nonsense.
If the coast is clear, she'll take up the rod for the time being.
Both the ghouls skull and the Rod of Lordly might are acquired.
"Let's wake up and get out of here."
Theophilus nods.
But; don't we still need to fullfill our end of the bargain?
Mara replied to Theo, "I think we've secured our objective. We didn't promise to stick around."
Just as Rowan manages to wake up a pack of 20 or so ghouls approaches the plaza. They don't appear to be happy that you've stolen the skull, luckily Mara and the rest of the party manages to wake up before they do any real harm.
Day 44
Mopping his brow, the gentleman sighs.
That went splendidly.
When everyone had woken up from the dream, Mara used her magic pearl to recall a healing spell, and healed her team-mates and herself.
She declared, "That went better than I thought it would. You really did a number on your Gug there, Rowan!"
Since it would be soon time to eat, she checked the pantry and decided to make a seafood chowder for everyone.
Dervak goes up on deck and helps Captain Skywin with anything that needs doing.
"How much longer will we be in Razmiran? And what land do we reach next?"
He is willing to take a day or two before venturing back into the Dreamlands.
Mara peruses the horrid treatise The Forgotten Servants which collects rumors about the Great Old Ones. Within Mara discovers that the water lizard referenced is no mere animal—it is a representation of Bokrug, one of the unimaginably powerful Great Old Ones.
The book asserts that Bokrug lives in a vast, unnamed lake in the Dreamlands. A race of alien creatures founded the city of Ib on the shores of the lake and worshiped Bokrug there. An idol of green stone was central to their rites.
The quasi-historical dissertation The Illusion of the Weeping Ones relates how Ib was destroyed by proud and warlike humans disgusted by the aliens’ bizarre rites and unusual physiognomy. The victorious humans were from a city called Sarnath. After destroying Ib, the folk of Sarnath carried away a strange green idol and housed it in one of their temples. The idol disappeared from the temple soon thereafter.
Mara finds the needed pieces to travel to Sarnath, the last known location of the idol.
Kat is happy that whole affair ended smoothly. She was not looking forward to fighting another four gugs and a legion of leng ghouls. Being able to just "wake up" to pop out of the Dreamlands at any time was a great boon.
"That whole bother reminded me I need to get back to crafting more alchemical goods, especially with how much use we get out of consumables with the Dreamlands. Any of you lot got any requests? Some alchemical items make your spells better. Otherwise, I got a few ideas I might want to try."
Theophilus and the White Rabbit spemd the few days of down time; drinking, gambling and crafting new team clothing for the group (Dervak's actually does have a cape).
Skywin looks up at Dervak, "We'll be on Kallas Lake by next week and put to port in Riverton. I don't need your help, you are a passenger after all, but I won't turn down a strong back if you want to help." Skywin puts Dervak to work if he wants.
Mara replied to Kat, "A smokestick and a dose of antiplague would be good."
Kat pulls out an antiplague, tossing it and catching it before proffering it to Mara. ”Already got three of these. Take this one and I’ll just make myself another.”
Resplendent with golden filigree, high arched windows, and sumptuous tapestries, you find yourself in an opulent feasting hall is packed with thousands of people enjoying a grand feast. Golden torches affixed to the walls illuminate the festive throng, crowded balconies, and staircases looking over the vast hall. The attendees are draped in garments sewn from gorgeous silks, satins, and velvets; their arms and necks are hung with gold bands and their headdresses are studded with jewels and bright feathers. Tables of rich and exotic foods and intoxicating beverages line the walls, drawing partygoers who gorge themselves on the offerings and huddle closely in small groups or intimate embraces. Many guests dance to the otherworldly tones of an orchestra composed primarily of flutes, pipes, and drums. The north and northwest walls of the ballroom bear no windows and are constructed of thick slabs of stone. A plain stone staircase carved into the solid stone wall is partly concealed by thin screens.
Theophilus smiles widely.
Green, green, green....
Kat stands hunched over with her hands in her pockets. ”Sarnath, I presume.” She pauses to down three extracts then returns her focus to the revelry. ”We should be careful to not lose each other in this chaos.”
She scans the crowd to see if she can pick out anyone that looks like they might be the host.
Failing that, she’ll start asking around, staying within sight of her allies.
"Sarnath..."
Dervak wanders over to the wall, finds a cup, and pours himself a drink. "Rowan, one for you too? I wonder if you can get drunk in a dream..."
Nonetheless he will pace himself.
Dervak also asks around about the occasion, though he does not ask about the idol - he's nervous about even mentioning things that relate to the Great Old Ones. Still, he keeps his eyes open for such an idol.
1st lvl (5): Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds x2, Liberating Command, Remove Fear
2nd lvl (4): Barkskin x3, Calm Emotions
3rd lvl (3): Heroism x3
4th lvl (2): Threefold Aspect, Fear
Mara surveyed the crowd of revelers and tried to get her bearings. She recited a prayer, and then mingled with the partiers, looking for information about what this event was about.
Theophilus retrieves a drink for himself and the White Rabbit. The two then wander about the throng. Theo ducks behind a window curtain to cast his buffs; while the White Rabbit--noisily--juggles plates.
”Worth trying to find out!”
He takes a normal draw from his flask.
The food includes delicacies from distant cities: roasted spider soup, shakloom jerky, and marjool to name a few, as well as large trout captured from the nearby lake. The drink is potent and plentiful: fellip nectar and raslak are the more exotic offerings.
Kat corners a lean young man with tanned skin wearing a fashionable but simple robe with minimal jewelry. He seems uncomfortable in the crowd but is still eager to make conversation. "I'm Nardan. You must be visiting from some other city. We're celebrating our victory a thousand years ago over the city of Ib, a city full of horrid monsters. I don't know anything about an idol."
Mara talks to a woman dressed in the of nobility at first it appears that her eyes are dazzling but it turns out they're just watery. Between bouts of sneezing she introduces herself as Aurnia Pylutani. "You know I once was a childhood playmate of princess Les-achooo-own." Aurnia goes on and on droning about the latest gossip and scandals. But she does mention one thing, "And of course you know -achoo- that that temple held something that was taken from -achoo- Ib! But it's been empty as long as anyone can -achoo- remember. But let me tell you about -achoo- ..."
Dervak ends up talking with a gruff middle-aged military veteran; she is tall with calloused hands. She starts the conversation by propositioning Dervak but quickly backs down if he accepts. She laments, "Even though I led the last campaign and earned a silver cluster, there is just no opportunity to advance beyond a military career. Did you know the last person to go from general to a viscountship was Sirtano Ubalnu? And that was 120 years ago."
Rowan feels a little buzzed as he drinks. While White Rabbit draws an enthusiastic crowd with his antics.
Kar makes her excuses and parts from Nardan to meet up to exchange info with the others. ”Sounds like we should go check out that temple, eh? This lot’s probably not got much else worth gabbing about.” She stuffs her hands in her pockets and shakes her head in disapproval at the party. ”Buncha bloody posh wankers.”
"A warrior woman, are you?" Dervak checks out her muscles. "Why yes, I'd love to... oh, you meant later in the evening? Okay." He accepts the delay with good cheer and resumes the conversation.
"I've never been in command. My grasp of tactics is more instinct. But I have learned a few things. Who was the last campaign against? Ib is long destroyed?"
At some point Kat or another of the PCs interrupts his conversation. He bids farewell to the general and says "I'll see you in a bit..."
Stepping out from behind the curtain, the gentleman nods in appreciation of the White Rabbit's display of cutlery shannagins.
How marvelous! Poor sod does look in need!
Theo grabs his magnificent hat, deftly tossing a few coins on to the brim and making them dance.
Mara asked Aurnia where the temple was located, "I'd like to have a look at the architecture."
After taking her leave of Ms Pylutani, she spent some more time asking around for more information about the temple.
Just when you decide to go look for the temple shouts of terror from some higher level of the palace shatter the revelry. The music stops as panicked, screaming people push and shove each other down the fanciful staircases and along the balconies from the upper levels, further crowding the room. A rivulet of clear water runs down the staircase in the sea wall.
Four nauseatingly green shades descend the staircase in the sea wall. Their hands and feet are webbed and its body is limber and lithe, with a sunken belly. The ghost's face is froglike, with wide flabby lips but their overly large eye sockets contain no eyes. Its ears are long and taper to three points backwards at an angle. The incorporeal beings touch nearby citizens and they develop wracking burns and deep bruises.
Mara gazed in horror as the spectral, froglike things descended upon the revelers. Recovering her composure, her eyes turned pitch-black as she concentrated, speeding up the flow of time for her friends.
Knowledge religion also.
Dervak draws the Furious Falchion, rages (Dex +4), and casts Shield.
AC against incorporeal touch is 21 (Dex +3, Shield +4, Deflection +1, Haste +1, Luck +2).
Kat settles into her fighting stance as she draws her merciful longspear, then reaching for an extract. She pauses, glancing back to the spectral creatures, and frowns. She’s not sure what they are, and there are plenty of ways something could be or seem spectral without being undead, but the safest bet seems to her to just turn off merciful.
The otherworldly frogs continue to attack the throng of people who are desperately trying to escape. The crowd pushes and heaves against the party as they desperately try to escape, more people pour from stairs and even risk jumping down to the floor below, crushing those unlucky enough to be underneath.
Theo looks at the ugly--and, quite misbehaved--slimers with disgust.
The Witch grants Dervak some good Fortune.
Good luck!
He Cackles.
Rowan runs up to what he thinks is a door. He enters Crane style and prepares to fight defensively.
Wading through the crowd Rowan pushes up to the ghosts. Perhaps sensing a greater threat from him now ignore the fleeing people and surround the monk. One of the monstrous shades grazes his shoulder; burns and bruises instantly appear on his flesh. From beyond the seawall a sudden low vibration sounds some far off doom approaching closer.
Mara took out her magic rod and prayed, "Mommy, give Dervak some of your courage!"
Theo touches Dervak.
He Cackles.
Dervak uses Barroom Brawler to pick up Ghostslayer (move), uses Arcane Strike (swift), then casts Bladed Dash (standard).
A cascade of shimmering Dervaks race through the crowd and into a flank with Rowan.
Kat drinks her extract of Shield, then advances to enter the melee.
Dervak cuts into the shade spilling ectoplasm over the crowd.
The White Rabbit scurries off to the coat room. He begins to carry one umbrella out at a time to the group.