| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
According to Dalviss, Leeara's hideaway is an old cave located on the opposite bank of the Grackle River at a long-abandoned fishing hole. You travel south along the disused road that skirts the edge of Old Frog Swamp notice the trail where it winds down into the swamp.
The narrow path winds along a low ridge that snakes its way through the boggy landscape all the way to the banks of the Grackle. A loamy smell assaults the senses, while the ever-present croaking of frogs permeates the air, giving the impression that they converse with visitors to this area. The croaking seems to grow louder as you approach the river.
A relatively dry track winds up to the southern bank of the Grackle River, bordered on either side by tangles of marshy undergrowth. Across the river, a thirty-foot-high ridge rises up into densely forested mountains, but directly across the river, a dark cave entrance beckons.
The Grackle River is only 30 feet wide at this point, but it's 20 feet deep. The waters are calm, so it's only a DC 10 Swim check to cross.
In the water, you see four dire bullfrogs sitting silently. Their eyes have turned to look at you, but they do not move or react to your approaching the shore.
The frogs are near the other side of the bank, probably 20' away at the closest.
|
Grimdoc will heft his lucern hammer and wade into the water as well.
I am sure lots could happen. First being me getting my britches wet. HAhahahhaaarrr!
Besides, did I mention I don't like swamps? Well I ain't none too fond of rivers, swimming...water in general.
Grimdoc is happy he had updated his armor after his last watery ordeal.
However he starts to sink as soon as he steps into the river.
|
"We need to go that way, right? Don't those frogs look a little big to you though? I don't really know much about swamps or their inhabitants, but they seem a little... overly healthy."
Nonetheless Ali moves away from the frogs (upstream) so he can swim across without their interference. Ali has a little trouble swimming but eventually makes it across by taking his time.
Grimdoc floats along the river as he sinks below the current, dragging him 20' further down from his initial choice, but the frogs seems to analyze you as you bumble your way towards the cave entrance, however they do not react to your presence with any malice.
After a short, damp tunnel, the passageway widens into a modest and relatively dry cavern. Several bulging burlap sacks are stacked next to a barrel on the far side of the cave, before which lie two bloody, robe-clad corpses.
The secret door leading to the next area of the cave consists of a cleverly painted canvas sheet that looks like a cave wall. Leeara seemed to use this cave to store supplies for her stays here, and to stash freshly gathered ingredients before returning to Dustpawn the next day on her overnight trips based on its current contents. She's also stashed a personal nest egg of treasure here as you sees bunches of bags in the corner.
The two bodies are those of cultists that entered the cave, likely without Leeara's approval. Obviously, the cultists were not equal to the task-Leeara savaged them. Both bodies still wear their distinctive black amulets of natural armor +1. Neither body carries any potions or scrolls, but both carry a masterwork dagger, and one of them still has a wand of magic missile (CL 5th, 4 charges remaining). These bodies and their garb remind Vladek of his vision.
|
|
What are Dominion cultists again? Whose dominion? Do you think fussbudget was a member too? I do not recall if she had a similar necklace. This Leeara did not seem none too fond of them.
Grimdoc wrings out some of the river water from his beard and cloak as he studies the scene.
then checking for tracks around the cave (numbers/kind)
finally looking for and details on the cause, timing or motive of death.
Then he pauses in deep thought.
Yep, just as I thought. It's time for lunch.
|
|
Ali excitedly scoops up the wand and twirls it around in his fingers. "Excellent! This is far better than the ones I've had."
Ali then listens blank-faced to the discussion of evil cultists and non-evil evil cultists. Eventually he adds, "Well, she has it now and if she starts doing something bad we can take it back I guess." He shrugs. "So where is Leera then? She can clearly look after herself and must have known something about these guys. Maybe she can answer our questions about what is going on here."
Ali starts investigating further in to find any traces of Leera. "Hello? Leera? Are you still here?"
The wounds on the men, according to Grimdoc, look bad. Enough to cause death. Some puncture wounds and some slashes, but definitely enough to cause a man to die.
He also sees some light tracks in the dirt on the cavern floor and they move behind the false wall.
Ali calls out into the cave system, but there is no response to his inquiry into the darkness.
This wide cavern has an unusually low ceiling, only twelve feet high. Tangles of roots protrude from the southern ceiling and walls, and the entire chamber feels damp and moist. A large nest of leaves, furs, straw, and blankets is heaped to the northeast. Sheets of canvas have been pinned to the northern walls, onto which numerous pockets have been stitched. A small firepit sits near the entrance to the cave, but it is currently unlit.
In the corner, you see a woman who seems to cringe and rock back and forth, grasping her knees. She seems harmless as she seems to be overcome with fear.
The 'poor thing' appears to be afraid and scared and the darkness appears to be wet and moldy, according to Qadathra.
|
|
"Well hello there!" Ali announces with gusto, his voice booming and filling the whole chamber. "You must be Leera. I am," with a snap of his fingers bright sparkling lights flow over Ali's head to spell out his name, "THE AMAZING ALI! And these are my assistants." He gives a casual wave back at the others. "Luckily for you, we are here to rescue you and fix whatever ailment you might have picked up... we noticed some of the others have taken on bestial traits so no need to be shy, Leera! Tell us what is wrong and we will help."
As Grimdoc and Vladek approach to try and see what is wrong with the woman, her face snaps upward and she screeches at the pair. Her features have shapen into that of a bat and, as you get closer, you can see leathery wings behind her, protruding from her ripped tunic.
The trio in the back is led by Ali when he starts to try and act diplomatically, however the woman seems unfazed by his attempts.
As Joesef pulls back the nearby canvas, he spots a 1-inch diameter sphere of colored basalt painted with tiny craters in the recess hidden by the canvas. The stiff fur on Leera raises as her eyes focus on him and she looks ready to pounce.
|
"What's ailing you, friend?" she asked Vladek with a genuinely concerned look.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Ali takes the sphere from Joeseph and studies it closely. "Well, see! She probably can't use it without that missing sphere anyways so even if she is an evil backstabbing cultist of unknown horrors and we just handed her an instrument of worldwide destruction... well, at least we have this... rock!" Ali holds the sphere aloft, then fumbles it and narrowly catches it before it drops to the ground.
"So... what do we do about Leera? I bet she'd tell us more if only...." Ali's eyes then light up with inspiration.
"Leera? Would you like to see a true marvel? Well you're in luck! The AMAZING ALI is here! Now watch!" With a wave of his hand Ali pulls a never-ending scarf from mid-air and continues to throw colorful fabric about the cave.
"Wasn't that FANTASTIC? Now, maybe for my next trick I can try to help you with your affliction... but we need you to tell us what happened first."
Joesef, unwisely ignoring Leera's obvious anger towards him for remarks and inspects the globe, drawing Grimdoc's attention to it. Her hackles raise as she is about to attack the small man, but Ali, choosing to do what he does best, incants a spell.
Ali, weaving his magic on the mutating woman, sends a burst of rose petals and multi-hued light in the direction of Leera and the woman's anger seems to dissipate instantly. She looks at you without emotion on her face but appears unable or unwilling to speak.
Leera, without malice, walks up to Joesef, towering over him by a bit and stares directly at him. She extends a single hand, open and expectant as her gaze moves to the orb.