OMB's Masks of the Living God Module (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master James Martin

Finishing a lunch of cold chicken and cheese, you head towards the shop the addicts pointed you towards.

Below a sign depicting a faded crescent moon, a cracked glass door opens into a waiting room adorned in once-fine appointments, now worn and faded by age. You open the door and enter into a shabby 5' x 20' room lined with several old chairs. A single door leads deeper inside and at the door opening, a man in a large mustache steps through, nodding to you.

"May I help you?" He asks in a low, almost monotone voice.

Karnhia saunters over to the man, sizing him up and evaluating his ethnic background.

Is he Varisian or of Chelish stock?

Sorry for the delay guys.. I am back town and back in action.

Mikail appears at the table, disheveled and unkempt. Yawning, he plops down on the bench and begins to silently shovel food into his mouth while the others talk. Suddenly, all eyes are drawn to him by the clatter of a fork on the table.

Looking to him, his jaw hangs open and he stares at you with shock. "Thats not possible for ALL of us to dream the same dream, is it?!?!" he exclaims.

When the idea for the dream interpreter comes up, he is totally on board with this trip!

Stepping into the office, Mikail peers around, watching as Karnhia tries her charms on this most boring man.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Zora inclines her head and pale eyes at the man. "My companions and I have had a very strange dream. We have had it suggested to us that interpretation of such might be had, here," she says politely, while idly curious to see what Karnhia's so-assessing approach may result in. To Zora, the distinctions of ethnicities and cultures are mere surface, like the head of froth on a mug of ale; the souls beneath yet share similar natures.

He looks Varisian. His mustache is, anyway.

The man nods at Zora's words, a slight smile playing under his mustache. "Madame Carrington might be able to assist you. I will consult with her and see if she is seeing clients today. Pray remain here; I will return shortly." He bows his head and steps through the door in the back of the room. He's gone nearly three minutes before he steps back in.

"Madame says she is expecting you. Please follow me, but first, place any obvious weapons in the chest there," He gestures to an unlocked simple wooden chest. "Madame requires the room to remain calm in order for her powers to work at their highest."

If you comply, he smiles. If you refuse, he frowns, but does not press the issue.

The room beyond is 20' by 20', dimly lit, and filled with potted plants of a strange ilk. The patch of vines is ornamented with beautiful crimson and violet flowers, the petals of which seem to bear tiny faces. Six of these are scattered around the room. There are several wooden chairs, all placed in a semi-circle to face a couch and small table in front of it. On the couch is arrayed a middle aged woman. Her severely atrophied body is attired in a black mourning dress several decades out of fashion and her face is frozen in a grim rictus. Her eyes, however, reveal an active mind full of smoldering dignity.

On the table in front of her is a talking board and planchette, and as soon as you have drawn close enough to see the board, her eyes dart down to it and the planchette moves to spell the words, "Have you come to question the living or the dead?" before darting back to you.

Mikail looks from the man to his companions at the request to disarm. He hesitates, waiting to see if anyone else does so then moves to the chest himself. He takes all of his sharp and pointies and places them in the chest, but quick as a snake his hand hand covers his dagger and slides it back up his sleeve without even a glimmer of steel to give him away.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Moving into the next room, he carefully studies Madam Carrington as he approaches the board. However, as the planchette moves apparently of its own accord, he jumps back. "We come for both, I guess. We've had some weird dreams, but we are also investigating a number of disappearances and trying to track down some people that are selling bad shiver. Any shiver is bad enough, but this is a particular brand of bad, if you know what I mean. Anyways, where would you like to start?"

Zora shows no compunctions about leaning her simple spear, club, etc, against the wall as told. She has no intention of being parted from her Pharasmin spiral, however, where it hangs around her neck.

Following Mikail, she listens intently, while also surveying the woman with the eyes of a trained medic.

Heal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Mostly seeing if she can discern the nature of the woman's paralysis/atrophy and if it's genuine

Ferabras lays his weapons in the chest as requested, though he struggles a bit to get his great blade to fit within it. He enters Madam Carrington's chamber with the others, feeling a little uncomfortable as he wonders where the woman seeks her answers from, as the planchette moves and guides her words. He listens to Mika's statement, considers it, then nods, awaiting a reply from the interpreter of dreams.

The atrophy seems to be an advanced form of some degenerative muscle disease. You spot a few of the lesser known symptoms that tell you it's genuine, and quite serious.

Furthermore, looking at the woman, you're all shocked to feel a pang of recognition - this is the shining woman who appeared in your dreams last night!

The planchette moves, again of its own accord. "You recognize me? One moment, do not be alarmed, but this may be a simpler means of communication." The woman's eyes close and she seems to exhale a cloud of green mist that resolved into a handsome Varisian man in his early twenties. He's made of the pale translucent green mist, but otherwise looks human. He bows to you, then turns to the medium and leans down to kiss her forehead gently. "Cea dulce, you must not tire yourself so. Allow me to speak for you, please?"

She smiles lovingly and before he turns back you notice he sports a wicked blade wound in his back, clearly a mortal blow. He grins with a charming smile. "I am Giurescu, and Lora is my love. I was killed by a murderous scoundrel, but our love allows me to remain to aid my love. You seek the truth of the shiver and the dreams, eh? They are connected, the spider's poisonous webs that ensnare the mind of the dreamer, making the dream into more reality than reality. The drug enhances the dreams of the taker, making the dreams more real, until... We do not know the end-game, but something means to use these dreams made flesh for ill. Tell me more of what you seek." He hands almost unconsciously have drawn a deck of spectral Harrow cards that he shuffles reflexively.

Karnhia looks at the box, sees her companions set their weapons aside but does not follow along. Nice try, but I've played that game myself.

The scene behind the curtain halts any explanation she might have given to Zora's look of curiosity. She stands, flabergasted. This isn't a trap for giorgos. Zeii din ceruri...

Composing herself, she asks the apparition: "We seek the source of the Shiver that killed Frell Tran and Snoot the Pathfinder samsar. But why was one of the people,Lora văzătorul walking down dream paths? And what was she doing with an eater of dreams? It is perhaps rude to ask, but if we must speak, from one Varisii to another, we must speak in plain language, with nothing hidden."

"They may be tied together," Mikail says to the ghost "But they are two different questions. As Karnia says, lets start with the Shiver, then we will get to your obvious involvement here.. Not bad involvement.. you were helping. You took away the bad dreams.."

Mikail rambles for a moment as he tries to put pieces together one at a time. Finally he shakes himself like a dog and looks back to the ghost. "Right. Sorry.. Shiver first, Dreams second!"

Zora's eyes widen slightly at the appearance of the spectral shade, and her lips thin fractionally. She gives the shade a measured, careful nod.

Kn Religion: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

(Zora is trying to tell if Giuresco is an undead as she recognizes undead, or something else)

Mikail and Karnhia's questions seem good to Zora, so she adds no more of her own right now.

Zora ponders this creature, but discovers it seems more like a creature of the planes (outsiders) than an undead abomination.

Giurescu smiles at your words and turns to Madame Carrington. Some form of unspoken communication passes between them. "Very well, we will speak. But please, sit, make yourselves comfortable."

Giurescu speaks once you're seated. "Lora did not know your pathfinder friend, but Tamm sought her out several days ago. He had in his possession a journal of the faith of Desna, and a strange key, but his price was exorbitant and he would not allow her to examine the artifact closer. He left, to pursue other buyers and he did not return here." He smiles. "As for why my love walks the dreams- that is her gift, to see beyond the waking world. The creature is a baku, a dream eater who has taken refuge here from the turmoil of the dreamworld. She uses its gifts to quiet the dreams of those around here as best she can, though it tires her to use her gifts so. Still, it provides a respite for these poor people."

Kharnia appraises the woman, noting her health, and wonders if perhaps there exists some healing magic that could restore her. Being of the Varisii is not enough these days; she should be able to see to her own protection she thinks to herself as she takes a seat.

"What would scare a dreamwalker so? Who else would want such a book? And what did he say the key was?"

Ferabras is about to ask a question, when the quick-witted Karnhia beats him to it. "Yes," he echoes, "Who else would Tamm go to with this book and the key?" He pauses a moment, then his yellow-tinted eyes light up as another question occurs to him, "Could your Lora, or the creature you describe, track these troubled dreams back to their source, to whatever is disturbing them so? I'd hate to put her in danger, but it seems it would be a kindness to find this source, and perhaps we can put an end to it."

A heads-up: I will be out of country from March 11-17. My internet access will be iffy. So if I don't respond during that time, don't worry! I will as soon as I get back and back onto the correct time.

The phantom gets a bit nervous. "The book might be of use to the Book-sellers, or a collector, but the key... The key was something special. I wish he had let me examine it, so I might know more, but... He was too nervous, too scared. He seemed... pursued. As for the dreamscape, the plane of dreams is not like our mortal plane. It is the collected dreams of mortals, a wild place and finding a specific dreamer's dreams is not easy. But Lora, she says the baku is scared. Something in the dreams of Korvosa has changed, awakened, a great evil. It sought refuge with her because it is scared. And what is coming is powerful." He lowers his voice. "Power to rival the gods."

"Power to rival the gods?" Karnhia ponders this information. "Do you speak of a specific group of book-sellers?"

Was that word capitalized on purpose?

Mikail sits back in his chair and huffs out a long breath. Looking to Fera, he says "Why does it seem to always be us??" in an almost mournful tone.

Turning to the spirit, he says "Ok, Let me make sure I've got this straight.. We know something is messing with peoples dreams, and turning them to waking nightmares. We also know that this something involves the new brand of Shiver that is being distributed.. and we know that Barvosi's gang is involved in distributing the tainted drugs. We have a creature who comes from the dreamworld that is terrified of something coming for us, and you guys have been trying to help out and clean up the nightmares. However, you have no idea where to locate the source of the nightmares.. right?"

He pauses for a minute, thinking. On an off chance, he pipes up once again. "It seems that we still have to find this Barvosi and at least find out what he knows, if not shut his operation down for good. I would be great with this idea to begin with, but am more than ready as more and more evidence points his way. You wouldn't by chance know where to find him or any of his crew, do you??"

Garret sits on the floor, not feeling comfortable in the chairs made for larger creatures. His legs are crossed in front of him as he takes in the words from the woman and her former lover.

I am back!

WB, Garret, and sorry I've been slow, gang.

Zora listens with her usual gravely serious expression, whilst still frowning slightly at the shade-that-is-not-a-shade.

Kn Planes? Heh: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Does your love, or you, have any knowledge of where these ill dreams ply thickest in the city? Some particularly dense area these misguided people are choosing to spread this taint?"

Giurescu smiles. "I do not know which book-seller he was taking it to, but he mentioned the Night Market. Esoteric dealers flock there, for the strangeness of the place lends itself to gathering strange things." The phantom turns back to Carrington. "Lora says she has seen vague visions, and in one of these she saw a vision of Breakwater Pier. Something waits there, something dark and wet." He frowns. "It is not a reassuring vision, but it may provide you with answers."

Karnhia nods, rising from her seat. "I believe that is all we can ask about. I pray that should the road ahead take me back to your door, I will find it open and welcoming." She looks to the others, Riddywhipple flapping on her shoulder. "Nao ker?"

Fera stands as well, nodding his thanks to the woman and the phantom. "Since we have a little time before the Night Market," he suggests to his companions, "perhaps we should see what waits at Breakwater Pier? I'd prefer that whatever dark and wet thing is there face us, rather than someone more vulnerable."

Climbing to his feet, Mikail answers Ferabras. "That sounds like a good idea.. and one better investigating in the daylight anyway!"

As Karnhia leaves to follow her companions, she bows to the seer, perhaps a little deeper and with a little more reverence than she displayed at the beginning. Stepping out into the sunlight after they have gathered whatever weapons they had left aside, she comments: "The problem with monștrii noaptea is that they stay in the darkness that has birthed them. I wouldn't hope too hard to see something. Unless the fog is sufficient for it."

"Thank you for your insights" Garret says to the lady and her ghost.

"I hope the dark and wet thing is a stout or other dark beer" he jests while the others retrieve their weapons

Zora offers a measured nod to the ...creature, and its tie to the world of the living, and collects her spear, etc., again, following the others back into the light.

"All the same, it is the first lead we have. And perhaps even something from the darkness leaves a trail. Let us go look."

Breakwater Pier isn't a far walk, but as it's day, you get a chance to see native Korvosans at work. They look... tired. Tired and suspicious. However, as you move along, you notice you're being followed. A young man, about 14, seems to be watching you closely, though he's not being particularly furtive about it. Finally you stop and turn to confront him, but he rushes up to you before you can!

He's dressed in shabby clothes, clearly a size too small and he doesn't have any weapons you can see other than an equally shabby belt knife. "Heya! You folks are the ones investigatin', right? Askin' questions at the Night Market, lookin' in on the addicts in the Alley? You need information! I happen to have such information, for sale, for a reasonable price. I'm the Kestrel and for a mere ... 50 gold, I can tell you what you wanna know, eh?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Karnhia raises an eyebrow. "Fifty gold is a lot for what might be nothing. Give us a tease giorgo boy."

Kestrel spreads his hands in a 'what, me?' gesture. "Not the way the trade works. You pay, I tell. Not I tell, you don't pay and I am bad at my job."

He considers, though. "Alright, 25 gold. Half price. I'm practic'ly giving this away!" He looks pained at his own generosity.

Mikail steps forward eyeing the boy. Strip away his expensive gear and well made clothes, (and add a layer or 5 of dirt) and it would seem that they came from the same streets. He looks hard at the boy, sizing him up. Finally Mikail gives a nod and gestures everyone off to the side where they could speak more freely and without blocking the roadway.

"Ok, kid. I've been where you are now, and I can see you've quite a bit of the same stuff that I had.. have. Here's 25. It's steep, and your information better be worth it. If it is, I will give you another 25.. and if we make it out of this alive and you really want a way out of this sewer I will clean you up, get you a new set of clothes, then take you over to the Lodge. It's where I started, and if nothing else, we can get you a job as a page or something to get you started until your able to make a go of it as an agent. Thats my offer.. now whats your information?"

SM: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Kestrel looks a little taken aback that you paid and that you seem to care about him. He looks uncertain, but he blurts out the rumor he's heard. "You're looking for a Shiver dealer, the one that sold to the Tamm guy, right? His name is Moses Greeley. He's running the Shiver trade 'round here as money for his cult, buncha spider-lovers. I have a network, ya see, kids who hear things because adults are stupid and talk too much. They tell me Greeley's been using that shack on the pier over there as a supply house, to move his stuff. Greeley's slippery slick, rumor is he never sleeps in the same place twice, ya know? Anyway, that's the news. Worth your gold, innit?"

A wide and carnivorous grin splits Mikails face as he reaches into his pouch for the rest of the promised gold. "Here's my end, kid. That's well worth the gold, trust me. Now, when this mess is all over, I'm going to come looking for you if you want me to keep the rest of the bargain, that is. Until then, look sharp and stay safe. If you hear any other rumors, come let us know, will you?"

He watches the boy scurry off, a far away look in his eyes. Finally he gives himself a bit of a shake and turns for his companions. "I should have known to do that in the first place! I've forgotten my roots.. anyway, Shall we pay a call on Mr. Greeley? I think we can all agree that it shall be most unpleasant for the man and his cultists.. why keep them waiting?"

"Give me a moment to prepare" Garret takes a wand from his pouch and holds it out "this one gives somebody magical armor. Unfortunately I am not able to use it, but maybe one of you can? Please use it on me and feel free to also use it on the others"

"Dragul meu" says Karnhia with a smile, grabbing the wand. "This spell is well known to me." With a few words and a gesture, she taps the wand against Garret's shoulder, turning to the others to see if anyone will partake of his offer before handing it back and casting her own version. "I will need an alley and about ten minutes before we step into the giorgo Greeley's lair." She stops and looks Ferabras in the eye. "I will be using a poison from lumea întunericului de mai jos that makes people unconscious. I might use other poisons that paralyze people, or ones that sap their life-force. Tell me which are abhorent to you dragul and I will set it aside."

Before we burst in, I would like a chance for a sneak and peek around the place. Just to speed things up, I will roll them now, and it can be worked into things as we move forward!

Sneak+ Vanish: 1d20 + 20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 14 = 36
Peek: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 + an additional 4 to Hear conversation or find concealed stuff

Ferabras grins as Mika talks to the boy, restraining himself from laying an affectionate hand on the friendly kitsune’s shoulder. It does my heart good to see him returned to his true nature, after the dark turn he took when we took on the cultists of Lamashtu.

”I thank you again for asking, Karnhia,“ Fera replies to the Varisian woman, his tone now grim, ”but it seems those poisons may be too good for the people we’re after. Do what you will to them, I will kill them if I can.“

"Dragul, we will need to speak to someone about the dreams" she chides.

GM, before entering and provided my companions give me an opportunity to do so, Karnhia will cast See Invisibility and prepare two special bullets after using Blackfingers paste: One with Medium Spider Venom, and another with four doses of Drow poison, for a nice DC 19 Fort save to whoever gets hit with that puppy.

Mikail slips closer while Karnhia prepares her chosen weapons. Mikail spots a shaky looking guy on lookout, and inside several other addicts with improvised weapons. However he gets the feeling he's being watched as he gets close to the shack.

Being watched even though I am using Vanish?? And do I spot anyone that may be Moses or anyone who looks like they are in charge?

None of the people in or out of the shack look like anyone in charge. Instead they just look like addicts in need of a fix- jumpy, ragged and desperate. But yes, it's definitely feeling like you're being watched even as you're invisible. It's a creepy feeling!

Garret waits patiently for Mikail to return to the group, knowing that an invisible scout should beat him at the game of stealth.

Sorry for being quiet AGAIN :( , been feeling a little under the weather and lost track of time.

Zora stands patiently with the others, her pale fingers tracing the spiral that hangs around her neck. Souls may be ascending shortly to the goddess; her duty is merely to make sure it is not those of her and her companions. Unless it is time for that meeting...

When (let's hope it's a when, not an if!) Mikail returns to the group I'll cast deathwatch (duration 70 minutes) and, once we're actually ready to go in, a shield of faith on both Mikail and Garret if they wish (it looks like neither of you have a deflection bonus to AC, so that would be another +3 ac for both of you (duration 7 minutes).

"Pharasma, guide us; Pharasma, protect us," Zora whispers as they wait for Mikail's reconnaissance.

Yes please for that shield of faith! Garret will also cast his barkskin

Fera shifts his shoulders with impatience, wanting to get inside and deal with those who would commit such evil, rather than waiting for Mika to return - all the while hoping his inquisitive friend is all right. He notes his companions preparing for the fight and does nothing more than assure himself that his blade is loose in its sheath, muttering quietly, ”Come on, Mikail, let’s get this done.“

Sorry guys!!

Mikail quickly returns to the group and fades back into view before he fills them in on what he saw, finishing with "So, there isn't anyone there that looks like they may be in charge at all.. just a bunch of addicts. So we are probably going to have to be extra careful with this and not just send them out the door. What was REALLY REALLY weird though is that even though I was invisible, it really felt like someone was watching me!!! Crazy, I know.. but the hair all along my ta.. back stood straight on end! The excitable young man nearly makes a slip and quickly darts his eyes to Ferabras.

"So, what do we do? I can use one of my scrolls of Haste before we go in there, but it really looks like there may not even be a fight."

No problem Mikail

"Did you see any other exits that they might use? If you tell me where it is and I will try to be there before they can use it, I am rather quick on my feet and not afraid to get into the middle of a fight, especially with that protective spell Zora just placed on me."

There are windows around the shack, but only one door in and out.

"Hold the Haste, vulpea întuneric" whispers Kharnia, her hands dark with dried blackfingers paste. "Let us walk on in. Tupeu has aided many a man accomplish the impossible."

Hey! Yall aren't supposed to know I'm a fox! He's still in human shape, and Garett is the only one that made the perception roll lol!

Mikail looks baffled as Karnhia addresses him, completely unsure of what she is speaking of in the foreign language. "I'm not sure what that means, but ok.. if you wish." he puts the scroll back into his pack and turns for Ferabras.
"You want to lead the middle while Garret and I cover the sides, or do you want a bull rush right up their.. kisser?"