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Koddast finds...
1x shortbow & 30x Arrows
1x leather armor
1x wintery snow boots
15gp
133sp
1x flask of cheap Vodka
Nothing, its all burnt!
1x iron key ()
1x MWK dagger
1x studded leather armor
1x lady Arael's purse containing 75gp, 3sp, 34cp and a Ticket for the Wagon Service's last departure to Almas, leaving tonight.
Koddast collects the arrows adding them to his own quiver, the money he adds to his own belt pouch. He takes the cheap vodka and tosses the flask to Tamar. Here's for your trouble m' friend. He smiles. Then he takes the lady's purse and returns it to her. I believe this is yours m'lady. He makes a half-bow, and offers his hand to help her stand up. All the while he looks at Opo and stares hard, telling the goblin to keep his hands off the lady's purse with his eyes. Looks like you took a pretty good bump there. Here let's have a look. In the process of searching the thug's body, Koddast, using the dead thug's own masterwork dagger, for a bit of irony, cuts some of his clothing into strips to bandage up the young lady's wound.
I couldn't help but notice you have a ticket for Almas departing tonight in there... He says pointing at her purse. For a moment he says nothing else, letting that observation hang in the air for just a moment. Wouldn't be that you're running away from something would it? I have a thing against brutes that bully ladies into running. While he talks he slips the masterwork dagger into his belt, and the iron key into his belt pouch.
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Wouldn't be that you're running away from something would it? I have a thing against brutes that bully ladies into running.
Bandaged up by Koddast's kindness the lady staggers to her feet. Yes that is my ticket. Though I'm not exactly in the most trusting mood after these creeps just accosted me! She gives the thugs body three feisty little kicks before she comes to herself.
Taking a deep breath and brushing golden hair from her face, she remembers her manners: Forgive my outburst, Gentleman. I am grateful for your help. My name is Arael. I doubt you came to the carnival to find trouble, but I seem to be a magnet for it these past few weeks! She eyeballs Jan and Opo. My but you are an odd lot, aren't you? I mean, a GOBLIN? And a... she turns to Jan, ..a...What are you anyway?
needed before she'll reveal her saucy secrets to the likes of you!
Jan lets the spiders crawl back on itself.
"You cant have a healthy plant if the roots are sick, and those roots were very sick!". The ghoran shakes its branches in disapproval. "Let me take a look at the wounds" it says as it pulls its own healing supplies.
"Why I am a ghoran. From a seed I came, and to a seed I'll return"
I am the Amazing Opo, you have probably heard of me and my fireworks. I am the best at what I do. Opo says in a boisterous tone.
Tamar laugh aloud, "Our group is so unusual the Drow does not even put the human woman off. This is my first battle here on the surface, can we expect reprisals from what we have done here, from where come from it s a certainty..."
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You burn and bury the bodies. Everything is easily explained to passersby as Opo practicing for the fireworks show later. And as you work you are able to spend time getting to know Lady Arael Stardust of Almas.
As the sun begins to sink over the hills you share the thugs cheap vodka, and Arael tells you a peculiar story...
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My father was Lord Pierre Stardust, a Captain aboard a 21 gun Almasian Gallion. Upon returning from gadz-knows-where last month he was accompanied by a new person: a sickly looking man with pale skin. He wore a hideous headdress made of Ram's horns and He had with him a small wooden box. Inside the box was the most peculair thing...
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Arael lifts the hem of her dress and retrieves a small slip of paper from her garder belt. Unfolding it, she shows you an image of a Purple Crystaline Flower of great beauty.
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...It was this iridescent purple flower of living ice. It's Aura of Illusion was so powerful it made me swoon... She passes the page around for your inspection.
Knowledge Arcana
Tamar shakes his head, "This is not something I have ever heard of from my homeland. The item does appear to be special though..."
"It's a pretty flower! I wish I was related to something like that." Jan admires it for a few moments. "I think I have a cousin who lives in this forest; he told me that they have lots of fey in these woods who favor illusions. Perhaps it is from one of them. Perhaps your faerie friend knows something about it." Jan suggests to Aleon.
I have never liked flowers much myself. Fire is easier to keep a live and makes me warm. Opo largely ignores the lady talking about flowers and wooden boxes and keeps an eye out for additional fun times.
Jan shudders a bit as tge goblin blabbers on about fire.
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The man, if he WAS a man, said he would give my Father the Flower . All he had to do was host an innocent party for the noble lords and ladies of Almas. With my father's debts growing, the offer of such treasure sounded pretty good.
It was a grand ball, and the guests reveled. The finest cutlery was provided and the guests spent all evening carving fine meat for themselves from the wild roast beasts laid out upon the tables.
Here the Lady Arael begins to sob...
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The next morning was the worst of my life. I returned home from my outings that night to find horrible carnage! Little did the guests know know that the Crystal Flower is enchanted to The nobility of Almas had not been cutting and feasting on wild beast but cutting and feasting upon each other all night! The screams were unbearable as lords and ladies awoke to find their limbs sawed away, and the taste of each others body flesh still fresh between their own teeth!
Regaining her bearing, Lady Arael finishes the horrible tale:
I've chased the bastard all the way here to Falcon's Hollow. But I fear I'm too late. I've sensed the Crystal Flower's magic has already begun to lay over this festival. I'm not staying around to see the carnage. I'm leaving tonight...
"Hmm, maybe flowers aren't so bad. Thank you for that nice story lady." Opo remarks with a grin.
The Ghoren frowns disapprovingly. "Tsk, tsk, tsk; nasty, nasty, nasty! Those poor people. It could have been worse, I suppose; they could have been eating a salad! Still, eating their own kind must have done terrible things to their minds."
I've heard of such things, in fact I've actually seen similar flowers in the wilds of the Darkmoon Wood. Dangerous fey-magic, and not to be taken lightly. Some can be used for powerful potions, but their magic is always treacherous, just like the fey! Koddast growls again, and Vysla howls at the sky, sensing his anger. If such a flower exists here we'll have to find it right away, as who knows what terrible things could be occurring under its influence! With that he turns to his new-found friends with a stern gaze. My friends, though we came here for revelry, I fear this evening's work will be more butchery. We must find this flower and destroy it, trust no one, not even your own senses. Vysla! Koddast says, and with no less quickness grabs the faerie from Aleon's shoulder.
He holds the faerie right in front of Vysla's nose, and then commands. Track! Let's follow Vysla's nose, my friends. If there are other fey about, or their scent, she'll find it. He unceremoniously drops the faerie back on Aleon's shoulder. You'll want to keep her in that jar, or she's liable to warn her kin when we come across them. Koddast says in a tone of voice that brooks no argument. He then follows after Vysla as she sniffs the air and pursues their prey.
"Yes we should retrieve this flower, after all we do not want it to fall into the wrong hands..."
Azalia, what is going on here? What should we do? How do we protect against the magic until we find it?
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Brushing the Ranger-Grime from her leaf-clothing where he man-handled her, Azalia responds: Crystal Flowers are dangerous. I have never heard of them growing outside the feywild though. I've only seen a few in all my life. There is only one person I know powerful enough to cast spells to protect against them. She looks nervously at Koddast. Queen Syntira.
"Is that the fey queen? Why does a fey queen care about the nobles of this world?? The ghoran ponders, confused, until it gives a yelp of "Maybe she can tell us!"
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MAP UPDATED.
You follow Azalia through the carnival.
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the Monster, Gradzaal. It's a frickin MINOTAUR! It takes no special dungeoneering knowledge to discern this: he could bust out of that cage any time he wants...
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the entrance to the fabulous Ice Labyrinth. It must have taken the carnies weeks to erect. You watch as starcrossed lovers and young families laugh and go in and out of the maze, and deep within you can hear the sound of young children and women scream as the silly carnies jump out at them with fake lumber-consortium contraptions from behind every bend!
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A stout goblin approaches you as you are following Azalia. He addresses Opo! Master, where be you going in such a hurry? All preparations are prepared according to the instructions you instructed. The fuses are lined up so neatly all in a neat row! Only but 15 minutes until the sun sets. See how the people gather? Come! Light off your creations with us!
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Here you see something disturbing. A trio of bizarre little gnomes furtively scurries about, struggling to lug tremendous blocks of ice onto a small field on the northern riverbank. The area is roped off and signs posted about read “Do Not Enter!” As ice blocks are moved into rows, the strange creatures drape the blocks with blankets to obscure them from the public view all the while shooing away fairgoers attempting to watch. A banner above the field reads “Gruttlemugger’s Traveling Ice Carving Contest! 100 gp to the Grandest Chipper.”
I'm sorry, did you say Queen Syntira? As in the queen of all the fey of Darkmoon Wood? How is she possibly going to help? More than likely she is in control of the flower herself, and seeks to use the carnival as her own brand of malicious torture. You bring me to her, yes, please do. I'll parley with her. She is a queen after all, and deserves my respect, but if I sense even the slightest fart outside of diplomacy, I'll let fly a barrage of fiery arrows hellbent on consuming her and her entire queendom. If she's willing to help, I'll hold my ire; as a wise warrior once said, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Come Vysla, no need to search for what someone is willing to lead us to on her own. Koddast says and follows the floating faerie as she flitters through the festival.
Later, as they pass the promised "monster" Gradzaal, Vysla growls low and her hackles raise in fear and defense. Good gods, that is a monster! Koddast all but screams. Where in all Andoran did they get that beast? Also, does anybody else think that cages is just for show? I think Gradzaal could snap those bars like so much tinder in a heartbeat if he so chose. Shadows! I wouldn't wan to be around if he decides it's time for freedom. Let's keep moving.
After Opo's worker explains that all things are prepared for the fireworks show, Koddast pauses. Bugger me, we did say we'd watch Opo's show...? But what if whoever has this crystal flower is just waiting for that moment to unleash hell on us all? It's your call Opo. If you want to go do your fireworks thing, I'll come along, but I fear doing so puts us all in more jeopardy.
"Kortos is known for such creatures - perhaps they brought it from the slave markets on that island. They are cunning and intelligent - it is strange to see one caged here. I thought the Andoran's despised enslaving of sentient creatures. Although, perhaps they only care if it is their own species."
WOW! A minotaur! I had a friend that was a minotaur once, but then I showed him my fireworks. I miss my minotaur friend."
"I don't like ice. Its too cold. I went up north once to a place called Irisen where its cold and mean ice women made me work the mines."
"Yes! LET'S BURN!BURN!BURN!"
I will attempt to steal some or all of the explosives when the goblin is not paying attention or looking away in C. Especially when distracted by talking to others like opo.
Goblins should not play with fire
And then head onto D. As I see the sign, I scratch out the word Not with whatever I can find, so the sign says DO Enter.
"What are you doing you silly ogre? That's not how you light them. Let me show you." Opo will demonstrate lighting the fireworks for Aleon.
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Aleon pockets a few fireworks. And though everybody saw him do it, who is going to stop an Ogre??
The last of the twilight fades as Opo and his crew light off the first battery of fireworks. Purple, emerald and azure hues flash off the low clouds as they burst. Sweethearts skating together on the river stop, embracing each other to watch the show. Children on the river bank cheer as this dizzying display of sparkling color fills the sky and reflects off the snow.
A goblin says: We should light off all the rest at once Oh great Opo! May we light off all the rest at once?
Opo knows this would be unsafe. But he's pretty sure he could pull it of...
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As Aleon scratches out the words on their sign the Gnomes shout: Move along, customers. Or we'll be forced to escort you out!
But something just isn't right...
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The Ghoran idly suns itself as the the gnomes and ogres (studies in opposites?) harass one another.
There are people in these blocks, release them.
As I quickly pull out my earthbreaker and swing and the nearest one if surprised, that would be vs flat footed.
FIREWORKS FOR EVERYONE!
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Um, are you sure that's a good idea? Says Arael, but the Great Opo only grins at her as pushes the lever down on the blasting detonator!!!
Perception
Perception
The drow groans as the fireworks display is lit by Opo, he takes several steps back, Mage Armor or no, that is a dangerous amount to light at once...
As the Ogre starts smashing the blocks the drow observes him at his work but says and does nothing, Let us see how this plays out. A strange carnival indeed.
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Opo's goblin apprentices screech and leap with delight. And Opo stands there over the detonator, strangely calm, and you fancy you can hear emotional music as the night sky erupts in color.
The Amazing Opo commiserates with his fellow goblin enjoying the fireworks as only goblins can. His fanatic dancing and jumping about looks to be almost like some form of tribal worship to the passersby believing it is part of the show they pay him no mind, and it is probably best that they remain ignorant of Opo's true arsonist tendencies.
What in the name of all the benevolent gods! Koddast points at the ice blocks, and just like Aleon said, sees people buried deep, frozen in the centers of the blocks. Your lives will pay the forfeit of this treachery foul gnomes! Vysla! Kill! He screams and draws his bow, firing an arrow at any gnome in his line of sight.
Vysla's chomp misses widly, as the dastardly gnome jumps quickly out of the way.
To the hells with you fey-kin! Koddast shouts.
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The monsters see Aleon and Koddast comming...
(A) begins to cast some kind of spell.
(B) slices at Vsyla as she reaches him...
for plus
for plus yip yip yip cries the poor puppy!
(C) tries to hack at the massive ogre approaching him...
for plus
miss
Aleon swings wildly at the nearest one (B) but it dodges nimbly, only to have Koddast's Arrow sinks into it's chest. It howls in pain...
monsters
Opo
Aleon
Tamar
Jan
Koddast