GM RePete |
You aren't quite sure what the first potion is. The fluid within is a clumpy bight purple syrup.
You realize the second is a unique mixture, a dull gray slime is a Potion of Protection from Alignments (Functions as all Protection from Good/Evil/Chaos/Lawful)
A third slightly hidden bulb lights up. Within is a viscous orange fluid.
One more Spellcraft Check DC 17 for following
It is a potion of resilience (Functions as Potion of Bear's Endurance and Barskin)
Inspecting the body, you determine it's been dead for about 2 months. The bite marks covering the corpse seem to match the maw of the cloaker you fought moments ago.
Lumbering into the cavern, Nira looks upon the body and quietly utters. "Murder. Murder cave." Shaking her head clumsily, she steps back out and points to the previous room. "Bad. Murdered Nira."
Finish anything you need here before the following.
Slowly making your way down the following corridors, you find yourselves entering a wide cavern. The temperature seems quite a bit warmer to the west end of the room. A tangle ov vines spins and twists out of the rocky ground to cradle an enormous seedling. Both the seedling and the vines glow with a vibrant green light.
Though unable to determine much else, your senses are assaulted with 2 equally overwhelming auras. Transmuation & Conjuration
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
Spellcraft DC 17 3rd Seed Pod: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
John pulls down the two seed pods he recognizes and hands them out to the group, explaining their uses and suggesting who might benefit the most from them.
Potion 1) Protection from "All" Alignments (combo potion) > probably most useful in a frontliner's hands who could feasible grapple a mind controlled teamate and force the potion down their throat.
Potion 2) Bear's Endurance and Barkskin (combo potion) > Definitely most useful in a frontliner's hands, either to boost up our tankiest (Thrugg) or as a nice buff to one of the other 3 frontliners.
____________________________________________________________________
When Nira comes into the room John stands there hoping for... something. As she walks out his composure cracks briefly, "DAMMIT! For craps sake that should have DONE SOMETHING!"
After his short outburst he regains his calm, "well, I guess the society could always pay to bring her back. We should take her body and Nira back when we leave."
____________________________________________________________________
John follows along as the group explores more of the cavern, muttering to himself. As they see the giant seedling and vines glowing, he flicks on his aura-vision. Recoiling back and dismissing it he staggers a bit, "OH WOW! That was a strong... combination of a summoned something and a transformed something is all I can guess."
Something triggers in his memory and he reaches into his scrollbox, "OH YEAH! I have this scroll that can let one 'speak to a plant' or something. Anyone want to give it a go before we wander to close?"
Jiggo Maelerant |
"I'm sorry, Nira. Amenira has been dead for maybe two months. Cause of death: Bloodloss due to cloaker bites here, here, and here." Jiggo points at the teeth marks. "Amenira must have noticed the strange bat patterns and came here to investigate, when she was ambushed. She may have transferred herself into the doll, but...hmm. Maybe her death warped the magic somehow. Somebody smarter than me will figure this one out."
He turns to Nira. "Nira, I'm sorry we were too late. We will do everything we can to at least bring your body back." He stands back up. "Maybe the priests back in Mercy can cast Gentle Repose to preserve the body until we get back to Alkenstar." He mutters a quick prayer to Erastil, praying to honor her death.
---
As they reach the room with the sapling, Jiggo is quite surprised. "You mentioned the tree growths were unnatural, Omar? This may be why. Let's try speaking to it with John's scroll. Maybe we can ask if it's nourishing this cave. Hey! Maybe we can ask if it's responsible for the big tree in Mercy, too!" Jiggo's mood is considerably better than better.
Azrael the Talon |
Azrael's eyes widen further, "Two months!?" He ponders momentarily at Jiggo's suggestion. "it's an idea as good as any. But it puzzles me, what's the aim of this cloaker? What does it gave to do with the unusual state of this village."
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
So I ran the math with the GM and checked a few things. 1) Scroll goes on whomever activates it. 2) Omar can activate it super easily. 3) John has to hit two UMD 23 checks in a row (his mod is +8) without getting a 1. Thus... the following occurs.
John moves over to Omar, "hey there, I think you will have to figure out this scroll and use it. I've been thinking it over in circles and I really don't think I'll be able to figure it out."
Omar Posada |
Omar expresses his condolences.
Sure, Nira. We will bring her back with us. Just not much we can do here.
He takes the offered scroll from John.
I will take a look and see if I can use it.
Ok, did a quick search for scroll...was it previously identified? I am assuming yes, but did not see it. Was that the "enter image" or something else
GM RePete |
I believe he is referencing the Speak with Plants scroll you guys found towards the beginning of the scenario.
Omar Posada |
Oh, got it. I did not go far enough back. Still a bit of a stretch for Omar to use it, but worth a shot. Assuming we want to use it here.
Well, here goes...stop me if you want to wait.
CL: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 vs DC10+1 ?
Whew. That was a tricky scroll. Lots of big magic words I haven't seen before.
Alas, I think it is working. Hey vines!
What happened here? Is anyone else in this area that can help or hinder us?
Tell me what you know, please.
diplomacy, hero vs plant?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13
Hey guys! Let me know if you want me to ask it anything. Hopefully it understands me.
Jiggo Maelerant |
"Ask the vines about the seedling. What does it do? Is it responsible for the growth in this cave?" Jiggo chimes in.
GM RePete |
As Omar begins to speak, the vines seem to quiver.
'OH! It talks to us! Does its understand though?' exclaims one particularly thick vine.
Another pipes up quickly 'Only way to find out is to reply Stalk! Uh, h-hi there. I'm Sprout Greenie Smoothvine the III. What you mean what happened here? We was born here.'
The first vine interrupts the second, enthusiastically 'Yeah. Tis our home!'
'Does it understand? Does it? Why is it here?'
'I don't know yet Stalk. Gotta let it have a chance to reply! Uh...what hinders you? What helps you? We like water...and earth. They are good. They help us, but 'It' is what gives us life!'
Both vines stop, silently waiting. Continuing to vibrate with excitement...two leaves on the thicker vine cross each other...
Omar Posada |
Omar smiles at the vines and moves closer
"Hello, my name is Omar and these are my friends. Nice to be able to speak with both of you. Do you know what happened to the woman in the prior area? Were there any others like her here? If so, where did they go? Do you have a leader? Hey don't you need lots of sun with the water to grow? And what makes the seedlings special? Sorry for all the questions...I am excited I can talk with you but not sure how long I can do it. Are there many others like you? ."
He will translate questions and responses for the party.
GM RePete |
Stalk responds first 'SQUEEEE! It does understand! Uh...look around. We's everywhere. Woman? Dunno bout a woman... That mean thing brought in some food a while back...'
'You lot only fleshies we've seen 'sides the mean one. Pod? It protects us. It keeps need for sun away. No leader.' adds Sprout.
A rather young looking vine, maybe a year or so old jumps in with 'Mommy helps us live! She gun 'elp whole world live!'
The over-sized seed pod stirs in the end of the room. 'Huh? Ooooo Fleshbags....aaarrreeen't my greeenies purrrdy?'
GM RePete |
I can't bot this section. But Omar stated he will translate for you guys. So with that in mind, feel free to ask/discuss with the plants and we'll assume Omar is translating back and forth.
Jiggo Maelerant |
"I see... can you ask the seedling if it's responsible for that large tree in Mercy? Maybe it is able to handle the mana storms around here."
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
John adds, "and butter up the seedling a bit. It seems to be the main thing here. Then ask where it is from and what it intends to do, other than grow and raise it's 'purrrdy little greenies'."
He will offer a few suggestions of compliments in an attempt to help with the 'buttering up'.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Azrael the Talon |
How does on butter a seedling? They are not bread.
"Ask about the cloaker, why does it inhabit this place, what does it want?" Azrael tries to put his point in there once more. "Who is mommy?"
Omar Posada |
Omar continues to translate back and forth for as long as the spell lasts.
"what is with the mean creature? How long has it been here? And what of mommy you speak? ."
Thrugg |
......"Is he uh, talking to the plant"
Omar Posada |
With allghe talking back and forth Omar gets mixed up and speaks plantish to the party and common to the vines half the time.
"Oops sorry - this is trickier than you'd think ."
Kaminari Raijan |
What's the "It" that gives them life?
GM RePete |
The seedling replies in a singsong voice. 'Oooo yes. I keeps all my baaabies alive. I eeeeveeen keeepin da fllesshies aliivvee. Maaking 'em better. Lessss flesshhy e'en.'
'Iiii connected ta allll my ggreeenniiesss here. They get biiig an strrrong. Even they fleshies in town getttt big an strong. I's care for all in my domain. I transforming all to be bettter with my embrace. Sooomeday, I maaaybe embrace whole of the world. '
"The mean one? Dunnnooo been here awhile now...tried to hurt my greeenies, but then found other fooods."
While the seedpod speaks, the vines remain silent.
Jiggo Maelerant |
Jiggo ponders what he's heard. "The fleshies in town get big and strong? Is that the townsfolk of Mercy? Maybe it's a protector- maybe the seedling protected Mercy from the Mana Storms."
Jiggo recalls the mission briefing.
Pausing a moment, to allow you to skim the document, he clears his throat. “One of my contacts at the temple received this missive from her four months ago, and he hasn’t heard anything from her since. I’m sending you to Mercy to figure out why. If she’s still there, ask her why she hasn’t contacted anyone in months and help her finish her investigation; if she isn’t, find out what happened to her."
"While you are there, see how much of the mystery of Mercy you can unravel. Several of the clergy within the temple are intensely curious about why the mana storm didn’t level the town, and so am I. I will gladly provide you with additional pay for the information that you retrieve.”
"That's the best idea I've got. We found out what happened to Amenira and I think we know what protected Mercy. Is there anything else we need to do here?"
Omar Posada |
"I guess it is possible she could be blessing the city water supply."
Omar continues to translate for others as well.
"Thank you for helping the fleshies grow strong. Are there any other fleshies down here?."
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
John muses, ”making the fleshies less fleshy? That and the world domination seems a bit ominous. Ask her more about what she is doing to the townsfolk. If harmful we might want to consider taking action in their interests.”
GM RePete |
'Townsfolk? I's helpin all I caaan. Tis plllaaaccce brrrutal. They waaas soft. Fer yeaars I heelpin fleeshy live...get sssstronger.'
'No more. Jussst yooous down heeere. I prrrotect allll I can reach.' replies the seedpod.
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
”Ask if she is Robori and what she was doing to make them get stronger.”
Kaminari Raijan |
Ask if she could come with us, even Roderus might want to see this to believe it.
GM RePete |
'Robori?...hmmm...Rrrobori...Yes. That isss one of mmmmy chillldren. I deflected ssssstorrrrm frrrommm hitting my children...yes IIII did.'
'Ssstronger? Fleshy onnnnes weeeak. I hhhelp them trransform with mmmy love to bettter ssssurvive this place. I watch ooout for them. Fleshies weeere ignorrant and 'urt my Robori.'
'I ssssstay hhhere.'
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
John shrugs and looks at the group, "well alrighty then, I don't see a massive issue here. As Jiggo reminded us it looks like we completed our mission."
He does a quick summary and waits for comments, "we have taken out the cloaker, which directly threatened the town. We found Amenira and can return her body with Nira, hopefully resuscitating her. We found the thing that at least claims to be protecting the town... and the townsfolk worship at least part of it. I think we are done here. Any thoughts or disagreements?"
Kaminari Raijan |
I don't like keeping people in ignorance. We should at least tell the Sheriff. As much as I hate to rely on the local guard, at least one of their leaders needs to know the source of their protection. That way if there are problems they can send us a message, or at least know where to start.
Especially if Robori's roots are sick.
GM RePete |
As the information is relayed, the plant responds 'Yous mmmost welcome. Perhhhaps my love sshhhalll reach yous again.'
The assorted vines also bid you farewell, thanking you for the pleasant conversation.
Making your way out of the cavern, the doll accompanying you seems stoic, as if deep in thought. Perhaps she's just sleeping? The strange appearance of the figurine makes its hard to determine such things. Stepping out into the darkness beyond the cave, your arms suddenly begin to itch.
You get a Fort Save...You get a Fort Save...Everybody gets a Fort Save!
Seriously though...all of you need to make a Fort save DC 15 vs Disease and you all take a -2 penalty on the save. :-)
Do you plan on camping out overnight? Or going back to Mercy to sleep?
Jiggo Maelerant |
Fort Save plz!: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 2 = 21
Jiggo emerges from the cavern. "Phew, that was enlightening. We should definitely tell the Sheriff. I don't want to bring Amenira's body back to the town, but she has been gone for two months."
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
Fort Save - Penalty: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16
John agrees, "yeah, we should definitely take her body with us and at least tell the Sheriff and Priest." A lightbulb goes on in his head, "they seemed to like her, maybe they would even help with some preparations to make it easier to transport home."
When they get back to her body he uses his hammock to wrap her up tightly and slings her body over his shoulder for the trek back to town. As the cool air hits them, he scratches absentmindedly a bit and then keeps walking un-bothered.
Kaminari Raijan |
Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Back to mercy makes sense to me
Omar Posada |
Fort , heroism, penalty: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 14 vs D.C. 15
"Wow it is dark. Hey is anyone else really itchy? ."
Would probably press on to get back to town .
Thrugg |
fort: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
"No idea what yer talking about Omar. Maybe some sort of allergy to all those plant things?"
GM RePete |
Con: 1d3 ⇒ 11d3 ⇒ 2
Cha: 1d3 ⇒ 31d3 ⇒ 3
Raijan you take 1 Con and 3 Cha damage
Omar you take 2 Con and 3 Cha damage
Suddenly, Raijan and Omars arms sprout thick yellow growths. The smell of rotting fruit begins to seep out of these small, stem like masses. Both feel drained as you make your way back to the town.
You easily retrace your steps to the gate, where the Sheriff quickly appears. "Oh, good! You're still alive." he exclaims. Glancing over his shoulder, he inquires "Did...did you handle the vampire?"
Jiggo Maelerant |
"Oh! We should get those checked..."
Jiggo tries to diagnose the strange growths. Is it poison? Disease?
Heal Raijan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Heal Omar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Jiggo spends some time understanding the nature of the growths, and tries to treat them if he can.
---
At the gates, Jiggo gives his report. "Hello Sheriff. We met the so-called vampire and killed it. It won't threaten you or this town anymore. We also found Amenira's body. It's about two months old, bitten by the Cloaker who people confused for a vampire."
Jiggo looks at the odd growths on his allies' backs. "Something happened when we left the cave the cloaker was in... we'd like to stop here for the night and maybe preserve Amenira's body. Would your priests be able to help, or is the magic beyond their power?"
Omar Posada |
Omar is not too happy with the affliction.
What in the world? Sheriff, where is that priest located?
Looking for a removal of the disease or poison.
John "the Antagonizer" Carlos |
John's eyes grow wide when his allies' affliction kicks in, he looks at his arms intently and imagines that they are starting to itch. His willpower is focused intently on not scratching at them on the way back to town. He allows his armor spell to lapse.
As they get close, he removes his blue vest, slips it into his pack and then refreshes his armor spell.
He adds on, "and we would like to speak with both you and the head priest. We have discovered something that we think we should let you be involved in how to proceed."
Azrael the Talon |
Azrael makes no sense of the sudden growths, and is visibly relieved that he had not fell to similar fates, but shares a common concern with the rest of the group.
Throughout the return journey, the human is lost in thought at how one plant could be do powerful, but accepts the fact and says no more with regards to it.
Being a man of few words, he allows his allies to do talking but listens intently.
Kaminari Raijan |
Well. That's just the worst. I suppose I'm just lucky I didn't get blue growths.