I'll apply first aid
While the Speaker of Ancients works on the man (and takes a sample of the mold) he speaks to Kappi, "My friend, seek out booty my lad!" The chipper tone is completely inappropriate for the moment, but Davosh doesn't seem to notice.
Once the man is stable he turns to Vojtek, his tone turning back to serious, "This man deserves to be returned to his home and clan. Would you please carry him?"
Now that some others are on watch, the rogue searches the room.
Perception
Ali looks about for any of the man's effects (effectively helping Kappi)
Kappi doesn't find anything in the room, sadly.
Further spelunking reveals bones, a few long-abandoned campfires, and more bones.
Departing the cave and returning to the cabin, the woman Sylgia is overjoyed to see you and her beloved Finngarth. She helps bring him to consciousness, and he, too, is happy and grateful for your intervention.
However did you manage to defeat the moss troll? she asks. I could never have bested it alone. Fearsome beasts indeed!
"I htink we need to have a talk about taxonomy my dear. It wasn't a troll, it was a man covered in evil moss! Not just any man. YOUR man. He should be better now."
"I believe we had an arrangement?"
Evil moss...? Sylgia is confused by Davosh's words, but listens intently as he explains.
She is aghast that she didn't recognize her own husband beneath the carpet of moss, but is overwhelmed with gratitude that the party did.
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Don't let Fury see, she's got a fox tail! He'll be all over that.
** spoiler omitted **
Yes! Sylgja says, excited that you seem to have agreed. I can offer you shelter for the night, and a magical treasure that belongs to Finngarth if you will only return him to me!
Her long, flowing cloak dances around her as she spins and sets off to lead you to the mossy cave where the troll lives. It's a short few minutes, during which she effuses to Edward about Finngarth and trolls — she hates trolls — and the life in Irrisen: it's hard but she and Finngarth have each other and that's what really matters.
Back on page 58
S: indeed
Madam we are happy to return him. Our quest is one we hope to tell our children someday. Your part in that is not yet finished. May we rest and recharge here? We also promise to put your husband's treasure to use while he convalesces."
Both immediately agree to allow you board overnight, and Sylgia rummages about once inside to return with an insidious bear trap that Finngarth found in the woods one day.
Reminds me of a Thuvian contraceptive device..." Davosh is oblivious to the looks.
Reminds me of a Thuvian contraceptive device..." Davosh is oblivious to the looks.
Unsure if OjosLocos is making a joke or not, the lad doesnt get it either way. He considers asking Ali or Edward to explain it to him later.
He does however light up at the sight of the magical trap. His immediate thought is simply for added protection while the party is camped/resting.
He is sure some of the other party members can come up with some other uses.
Reminds me of a Thuvian contraceptive device..." Davosh is oblivious to the looks.Unsure if OjosLocos is making a joke or not, the lad doesnt get it either way. He considers asking Ali or Edward to explain it to him later.
He does however light up at the sight of the magical trap. His immediate thought is simply for added protection while the party is camped/resting.
He is sure some of the other party members can come up with some other uses.
Okay, so we saved mossman and got our magical loot. Are we continuing our journey w/ Nadya and her family?
We have a sample of the moss too I believe, is it possible to weaponize it? Is that inherently evil? What if we only use it on bad guys?
Killing the moss un-weaponized it, LOL.
Okay, we are back on the trail/road... Lets go.
Moving on, you spend another day or two on the road.
Cresting a small rise, you can see a sprawling, crystal blue lake in the distance. On its northeastern shore can be seen a city of tall towers and domed buildings atop tall cliffs. Vhitethrone, Nadya says in a hushed voice, though Ali notes that the name is said through clenched teeth. It is probably another day's journey before you near its outskirts.
Of more immediate notice is a ruined village visible from the rise just off the main road. The place looks old indeed, perhaps older than the Winter War itself, some 1400 years ago. Most of the buildings appear to be little more than piles of snow-covered stones with crumbling sections of their walls rising from the ruins.
Kappi notes one large structure inside the circular remnants of is wall, perhaps a cathedral of some sort, looks mostly intact.
"I'm sure there are countless treasures, mysteries, deaths, and stories. Come! Why do we delay?"
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Should we take a look at that ruined village?
"of course we should! Where else would we go?"
You're all suddenly unsure of Davosh... he may actually not see Whitethrone.
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Kappi leads the others toward the cathedral looking building
"of course we should! Where else would we go?"
You're all suddenly unsure of Davosh... he may actually not see Whitethrone.
Ali crinkles her nose and brow at Davosh, then approaches him. She puts one arm about his shoulder, and points at the village, then the city in the mountains, respectively. Some less intrepid adventurers might skip this...for THIS...
"silly. Silly. Silly."
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"silly. Silly. Silly."
Yes! I think "less intrepid" covers that, don't you? *wink*
Kappi leads the others toward the cathedral looking building
This
Liska gets eaten by a grue.
It is late afternoon when you approach the old temple. The front door has rotted away, but a smooth stone circle engraved with the outline of a butterfly can be seen mounted above the doorway.
Liska's Perception check doesn't reveal anything immediate.
I'll call Liska back.
(I can't fail that check.) "It's dedicated to Desna, but Liska says there's something bad there. I suggest you make naked those weapons and prepare to cleanse the Dreamer's House."
The rogue takes heed from Davosh, he pulls his favorite tomahawk and creeps forward on alert for traps.
Ali draws her bow and keeps Kappi covered.
Inside the temple entryway, Kappi sees what appears to be a pile of white and brown sticks piled chaotically on the ground. Beyond, there appears to be another, larger chamber, the doors to which have also long since rotted away.
The air seems very still within the remnants of the temple's courtyard wall.
"I trust none of this area. It's ancestors don't talk."
Detect Magic and spin with the Big Eye open.
Davosh's detect magic doesn't reveal any magic in the area he can see.
Davosh whispers to Kappi, "Your forebears want you to succeed. Now go in there." Liska rubs up against the lad, delivering a spell of Guidance from Davosh. She then makes her way through the party delivering one to everyone.
The rogue does not like the look of the strange pile of sticks. He gives Liska a quick pet as she rubs against his leg then gets a little closer to further inspect it.
However, if he can't verify the pile of sticks is a trap. He will do a quick recon around the outside of the building, mainly looking for another egrets inside.
if needed
Perception please add my +2 bonus for traps
Stealth for outside building recon
Kappi does not see anything that resembles a trap in the strange pile of sticks, so he tentatively edges a bit closer.
A palpable wave of despair sweeps over Kappi and onto his companions. Everyone (Liska included) needs to make a DC 16 Will save (compulsion, mind-affecting)!
You feel tremendous sadness and hopelessness as you are affected by a crushing despair spell-like effect.
This is the work of a haunt.
"It's haunted!"
Is the haunt over?
Is the haunt over?
Kappi will save
The lad stumbles back a few steps visably shaken. He chokes up telling his comrades about the haunting he saw and how many of the sticks are not only bones but the bones of children.
Though his hands are still unsteady he uses the corner of a scarf to dry his eyes.
Davosh moves to comfort the lad. Despite having absolutely NO training in the arts he's talking about, Davosh is confident, "This should help. It's an old Tien style remedy for things." He pokes the lad in the ribs and then the cheek. "You'll be over it in a few minutes I'm pretty sure."
As the cacophony of the haunt begins to subside, Kappi has stepped back slightly to compose himself from the sad scene he has just witnessed. The rogue hears a low voice coming from within the temple: Go, run along and play now, children. Your woes all be over soon... This last word devolves into a feral snarl, and he sees three figures dressed in ancient, rotting clothing — each robe, though ancient, has various butterfly patterns stitched into it — moving toward the doorway!
Round 1
Davosh — up
Ali — up
baddies — TBD
Kappi — TBD
Edward — TBD
Vojtek — TBD
GAH! It's the undead!"
Not sure if I needed light and a new angle, or just one or the other. I'll roll just in case
Davosh immediately snot rockets into his hand while invoking a spell. A massive network of webs appear and anchor the things into place
Web, DC 18 to avoid.
Ali tries to fight off the despair of the horrific scene...
...and onl lets out a single choked sob before swallowing her tears, and putting on a snarl of defiance.
Then, as the walking corpses close, she spits out Oh, you've picked the wrong playmates!. She looses an arrow at the nearest just before Davosh's unpleasantly somaticized spell flies
Ali catches Red flat-footed and hits with her arrow! She is alarmed when she realizes that the arrow doesn't do as much damage as she thought it should!
Davosh displays his reading comprehension issues :-P — — but the witch knows a threat when he sees one and casts web!
The walking corpses, mouths hanging open in a silent scream, try to escape and get to the party!
Red, free, moves desperately toward Kappi!
And gets grappled anew!
Now that the horrid thing is in view, Davosh can see that it is a huecuva, risen corpses of heretical clerics who blasphemed and renounced their deities before meeting death. He knows it has undead traits, but nothing more.
R 4
Round 1
Davosh — spider-witch
Ali — pew
baddies — stuck like glue
Kappi — TBD
Edward — TBD
Vojtek — TBD