Ith's The Beggar's Pearl (PFS, IC) (Inactive)

Game Master ithuriel

"If you want to let them go, I have no problem with it. It doesn't look like we can communicate with them to get any knowledge they might have. Take their weapons and send them home would be my suggestion," Alie mutters. She was unsure about the hatred expressed toward her, but she certainly felt uncomfortable around those blue creatures.

Wadi gives Alie a dubious glance, but then shrugs, "I don't know if I trust these creatures, I mean they did hurt the dwarf. Still, it seems cruel to just kill them out of hand."

"I'd take a close look at them, Wadi. Who knows when you might need to play an angry blue creature in your next play?"

Wadi gives a hearty chuckle at Alie's comment. "Well, maybe they would like to come work for us, they look like natural actors, I am sure they will charm the audience, quite literally!"

"Not sure if they would charm the audience or freak them out, but I am sure there would be quite a reaction!" Looking intently at the characters, Alie pulls out a scroll and quickly sketches the general idea for a smart all blue ensemble for a male. Inspiration can come from the strangest places, she thinks.

Sekhemre looks up in dismay from the strange puzzle that is the dwarf's skull...

"Well, I am not sure what the heck exactly has been done to the dwarf's head, but he has certainly been badly wounded by the mites (that is what the little blue men are called) and their ant friend...

Still, since he remains alive, maybe the best way to get information would be to wait for him to wake-up? I think that at the very least, we should keep the mites tied-up until we talk to him."

He then begins to search the area for any clues...

Check out the heal skill for your options on getting him back up without magic:
Without help: 2 hp /day
Long Term Care (Heal DC 15): 4 hps for 8 hours
Long Term Care (Heal DC 15): 8 hps for a full day
Treat Deadly Wounds (Heal DC 20 + 2 uses of a healers kit or take penalties): 2 hps or more immediately.

You can try untrained and aid each other.

Sek>> Perception roll for your search.

Aid Another Heal Check 1d20 ⇒ 2

Aid another Heal, 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Well, we certainly have plenty of time, so I take 20 on the search = Perception 27

Working on the assumption that Kayluss has at the very least a positive Wisdom modifier, I too will attempt to assist on the heal check

Heal check assist 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

While we wait for the Dwarf to be roused, Sekhemre will also take the time to brew another dose of Mutagen, and then explore the back of the cave...

I'd just as soon not let the little buggers go just to wait for us to sleep and do what ever they did here.I don't think it is any crueler then what we might do to goblins or something larger that did this to a dwarf. eh? Dakram says holding the bag open for the little buggers with a bit of a heartless expression. they should be thankful for their wicked little lives.I think it is noble what you intend, but I also think you would be their first target.

if the mites are put in the bag then he will see to it being tied securely and set them on the ground, if not he will simply hand the bag over to who ever has the mites and allow them to decide. either way he joins on their attempts to finish off the dwarf X.X

Dakram kneels down over the dwarf wincing at the healing that is being carried on at the moment. If I might give it a go.

healing aid another.1d20 ⇒ 3

"I've no real skill in Healing, but will do what I can"

Heal Check: 1d20 ⇒ 3

...yikes, we are bad at this :)

"I've no real skill in Healing, but will do what I can"

Heal Check: 1d20

...yikes, we are bad at this :)

So, am I the designated healer now? He he.

As it turns out, your assembled team leave something to be desired in the medical department. Despite good intentions no one quite knows what to do with the dwarf to help him. With some help Wadi gently lays him out him out on a blanket and using the blanket moves him a little closer to the fire. During the move, he realizes that the dwarf's eyes have opened and are darting about. After some attempts to communicate you realize that his eyes aren't focused and he isn't responding or even aware of you all as far as you can tell.

In the meantime Sekhemre sets up his portable alchemy kit and begins working up the base of a mutagen with a mortar and pestle then adds water and transfers it to a thick glass vial which he brings it to a boil over the fire with a short pair of tongs. In a few minutes he sets it aside to cool takes a piece of wood from the fire as a torch and begins a thorough search of the cavern. It takes a while, but he comes to a few conclusions:

1) You don't have enough wood to keep the fire going during your stay, but you could gather more or break down the barricade and burn it.

2) The cave trails off into a narrow crevasse leading into the mountain. It looks both dangerous and too small for humans to squeeze through.

3) The fire has been built on top of freshly dug earth. Most of the cavern is made up of smooth organic looking stone, but the area near the mouth has collected enough soil over the years to have a dirt floor.

4) There is still a corpse of a giant ant in the middle of the cavern. That is going to draw scavengers unless you get rid of it, maybe by pushing it off the trail to let it roll downhill among the trees.

5) The mites had several darts and one dagger each. They are too small to be easily used except by Alie. Also one of them had a pouch full of uncut amethysts.

6) Both the ant and the mites show signs of the same fungal growth that was clinging to the dwarf's stitches.

Moving the fire pit also takes some time, but you are able to get it going a few feet away and put out the original in order to see what was buried under it. Sekhemre brushes the still warm earth away from a stone slab covered in dwarven runes. The slab was too hot to lift as it retained the heat from the fire, but about half an hour later it was more manageable. The stone was thicker and more heavy than anyone realized at first- around 40 pounds and once it was free of the pit, you could see another one under it and then, another one below that. All in all 120 pounds worth of ancient dwarven runes that none of you can read.

We'll wait for Kayluss to chime in on heal attempts before I close the door on that part. Also if you are spending the night Kayluss could probably catch or find something for dinner with a survival roll- actually he could take 10 to provide food for himself and 3 others. You could make up the remainder with rations or Aid rolls.

I kept describing the guys as tiny, but I should be more clear. I didn't mean "Tiny" like the game mechanic size category. They are around 3 feet tall and about 40 pounds. Roughly the same as Alie or a goblin.

"Well, I doubt the dwarf came in from the back entrance... it looks like he had set-up some sort of defensive position?"

Pointing at the dead ant...

"Since it looks like it will take a while for the dwarf to recover consciousness, unless anyone has a particular interest in eating ant (they are a bit acidic for my taste), may I suggest disposing of that outside? I am happy to roll it down the hill."

Knowledge (Nature) on the fungus... 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Since this looks like a relatively defensible position (not to mention having the benefit of limiting wind-chill), I would suggest collecting some firewood and rebuilding the barricade. Any objections?"

Forgot to include the dwarf's stuff...

The dwarf's clothing is fairly ragged cold weather gear and he had a battle axe near where he fell. Tucked into a crevice is a pack which must have been his. It has some assorted mining tools and a couple of scrollcases with more scrolls like the ones given to you back in Almas.

Re the fungus - Kn Nature 25

Sekhemre's face is a mask of concern...

"Oh dear... I would strongly recommend cleaning the Dwarf's wound and clearing away that fungus; if I am not mistaken, it is a species native to the Darklands, and prolonged exposure to it is linked to hallucinations!

Perhaps its removal will hasten his recovery from delirium?"

..but then his face lights up...

"Ooo! Of course, a phosphorescent, hallucinogenic extract could have... other uses... I think I need to take samples!"

He then rummages around for a vial to collect some specimens for later culturing...

"If whoever is gathering firewood can gather some extra, I think it would be a good idea to block the back of the cave as well. I'm going to see what I can do about the fungus."

Khedon thinks for moment, then moves each of the mites so they can watch what he is doing. If necessary, he'll give each a light slap to get their attention.

He'll point his fingers to his eyes, then to the Dwarf. As soon as he has the mites' attention, Khedon casts Prestidigitation and cleans the dwarf, making sure to separate some of the fungus into a small pile rather than just make it disappear. He'll continue until he is sure that all of the fungus has been cleaned off. He tilts his head towards Sekhemere, "There's your sample. Is it possible to make a counter to its effects?"

Khedon turns back to the mites and makes sure he has their attention, then points at the dwarf and at each mite, "I know you can't understand me, but I mean you no harm. Do not resist."

Khedon will then cast Prestidigitation on each of the mites, thoroughly cleaning off the fungus.

Sekhemre smiles and nods.

"That should do nicely. I am not sure whether I can craft a anti-hallucinogenic/restorative tincture, but I can try..."

Craft(Alchemy) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

After a while, and some experimenting with his portable alchemy lab, Sekhemre shakes his head.

"Maybe if I had more time, and access to my main lab rather than my field kit, I could come-up with a solution, but as things stand, I am afraid I do not have the necessary resources..."

Alie points at the quiet guy, and says "Let's get some wood, Dakram, I think you said your name was. Gonna be a cold night, I am sure. Sorry about your father. That is never easy to deal with."

Wadi looks over at the mites, and asks, "Should we let them go now, I think we should wait until we move on before freeing them."

He says to Sekhemre, "That is a good idea, for the barricade, I bet that is how the ants got in here."

He will move to help Alie, and Dakram to get the extra firewood. If necessary he will help dispose of the ant corpse as well.

[ooc]Sorry to hold everything up[/occ]
"I'm not much with healing but I'll take a look at him."
[ooc]Heal:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21[/occ]
After attempting to patch up the Dwarf he goes about searching the cave as well.
[ooc]Perception:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16[/occ]
As everyone prepares to set up camp Kayluss tosses the ant down the hill and then heads out to the woods to look for food, keeping an eye out for anything unusual while doing so.
[ooc]Taking 10 on survival= 17[/occ]
[ooc]Perception:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7[/occ]
When he returns he gestures to the bagged mites.
"Well anyone have any more thoughts on our little guests? I was thinking Dakram there might have a point, though the though of killing them unarmed seems a bit cruel."

Dakram nods as he gives up on whatever ill attempt he was trying to do on healing the dwarf, Its not a dwarf/elf race issue, I swear! Eh smiles slightly as Kayluss makes good work on binding the dwarfs persistant wounds.

He purses his lips as he notes the mold, and Khedon's work on both the dwarf and the mites. "we might see about ensuring our imediate area is fungus free before setting up bedrolls." He says to the group in general but will happily scour the area as well after they return with fire wood.

Dakram nods his agreement to the little lady. " absolutely, firewood it is. I would be more than happy to be nice and warm tonight."

As Kaylus, Wadi, Dakram and Alie move into the wood to gather wood and meat Dakram decides to speak a bit and softly about his father.

"I suppose it can be difficult but he was aman of preperation and he has the house in order so that it will change hands to my eldest brother and his wife with out missing a beat, A good man, but he was busy as well, truth be told, I hardly knew him, but dut to that I think I will miss him all the more. But enough sad talk! the week of mourning and silence is so that we can move into the future with out sorrow in our hearts." and with thought the slight pout in his lips is dissmissed again and begin on the task at hand collectiong wood.

Wadi is quiet for a few moments after hearing about Dakram's father, and continues quietly, "I sympathize with your loss. I...no longer keep in touch with my parents, although they are alive and well, last I heard. I guess I am the 'black sheep' of the family."

Dakram smiles genuinely to Wadi I do believe the Pathfinders would be signifacantly short handed if it wasn't for black sheep. the lot of us are a flock of black wooled wild children, at least in my eyes. My parents bred and raised me to be a quiet accountant that might make a good match for a popular local lord's duaghter. I however had other plans. a sparkle in his eye says there is a lot of story behind the comment. but that is a story for when we have a campfire around us. he shivers slightly.

By sunset when Kayluss makes it back to the cave with a couple of rabbits, a small pouch of mulberries, and some wild greens the dwarf was beginning to stir. He groans and tries to sit up before settling on half rising, "Oh gods I feel like death. What happened? I... wait, do I know you?"

Heal 21 (Kayluss) +2 Aid (Wadi) -4 (no healer's kit) = 19
The -4 only applies to "treat deadly wounds" but it is just enough to make it not possible. You make the Full Day long term care DC with ease though. +8 hps, +4 restored ability score points.
By 7pm that night he is conscious having half of those hps regained at that point.

"Ah, Torvic, right? It is good that you have regained consciousness! You were attacked by a giant ant and these mites."

Sekhemre gestures towards the blue creatures.

"What happened to you? Did you end-up finding the Gallery of Wonders?"

He recoils when he sees the mites then sighs, "Thank Cayden you arrived when you did. I'd be shuffling through Pharasma's gates by now for sure. The Gallery? No. Some bastard we met on the road made off with my pearl and scrolls a couple days ago. We're close though. There's supposed to be one elaborate fountain chronicling the downfall of Tar Khadurrm, but when we found it the whole thing was overgrown with some kind of fungus." Torvic stops at that, confused and considering what he just said. "Where are Jorlin, Merisk, and Lyrehawk?"

Sekhemre frowns.

"I am afraid that we do not know what happened to them. However, happily, we *do* have the pearl and the scrolls that were stolen from you! Perhaps with them, we will be able to track down the Gallery, and your friends?"

Wadi chimes in, "Once you have recovered a bit more, maybe you can lead us to where you last saw your friends, or if you are not up to traveling, we could attempt to track your friends down. We just need to get some directions to where you encountered this fungus."

"My name is Wadi, by the way."

"The thing is... the fountain is supposed to be inside the Gallery. Why do I know it was overgrown with fungus?" He reaches up to rub his temple and feels the shaved scalp and then stitches. "What the hells? What happened to me?"

Also he thinks the pearl and scrolls were stolen two nights ago. You've personally had them for over two weeks not counting how long it took before Beggar sold them to the lodge and they assembled your team.

"It seems you have been held and maybe experimented on, Torvic. We have had the pearl and scrolls for quite awhile. Maybe these little blue fellas might have some answers for you."

"Torvic, we did capture the mites that attacked you, but we cannot understand their native language. Do you understand them?"

"Torvic, it has not been days since the scrolls and pearl were stolen, it has been weeks. The fungus that covered the fountain is likely the same we found in your wound; it causes hallucinations...I expect you have been wandering confused for some time."

Khedon turns to the group, "We don't know what may have occurred in during that time. It's possible that these," he points to the mites, "were provoked in some way."

"That is possible, Khedon, but I think we should find out for certain before simply releasing them...

Torvic, can you understand these creatures?"

Torvic has gone quiet, brow furrowed as he tries to remember. "I think I was there! But something happened... something terrible. I can't make sense of it. It's just flashes of images. There was a pulsing brain... and those blazing eyes..." His eyes go wide and he grabs Sekhemre by the arm, "DO NOT go to sleep! That's when it finds you! It's always there stalking through our dreams, digging into your brain with those too long fingers... That's how Jorlin died. He screamed and screamed, but I couldn't wake him."

Torvic blinks and looks around the cave slowly, dazed, "You say you have the pearl? We were foolish enough to go on without it before and I have this feeling we were punished terribly for that mistake. You MUST have the pearl to walk the halls of the Gallery! This time we'll do it right."

When Wadi asks if he can understand the mites, Torvic nods. "Should be able to. I've learned most of the more common darklands dialects over the years on these expeditions." He addresses the mites, "Shlu'ta dos kampi'un uns'aa? Ele ph' dos ghil?"

One of the bound mites gives him a hateful smile and replies, "L' jallil hthelie dos ulu ilta paar'ti. Ol zhahus ves kke whol dos ulu z'haan tarthe saph nindel!"

Torvic looks shaken, "He says the lady invited me to her party and I shouldn't have run out like that. I can't remember any lady..."

The Osirion elf narrows his eyes as he looks at the blue creatures, its no telling how long they have been at this foul game of torture the dwarf.
He doesn't care for the tales of the dream hopping, long fingered creature, but Torvic has just awaken from a bought of hallucinations.
Dakram's eye narrow at the small azure creature. Do they need to have a bit of respect slapped into them?

Sekhemre pats Torvic on the shoulder.

"Calm yourself, Torvic; we will make sure that nothing further happens to you, and we will find out what has happened to you and your friends.

If as you say, the pearl is the key to safe passage, then we should be alright, as we do indeed have it."

Turning to his companions, Sekhemre purses his lips and comments,

"Although I would take some of what poor Torvic says with a grain of salt, given the obvious torture he has been through, I am disturbed by his talk of a monster that attacks when you sleep - should we push on, or are you committed to resting for the night?

As for the mites, well, I think we just got the answer we were looking for... it sounds like they were caught-up in whatever evil thing happened to Torvic, so I think that they should be... disposed of."

"Torvic, do you remember resting here before, with the rest of your group? I think it should be safe here but caution is warranted at this point."

To Sekhemre, he nods, and gives him a throat slashing gesture.

"I'm not sure. I think we might have. It seems familiar. I don't think we are far from the Gallery though. Once I can see the landmarks I think I should be able to find it again."

Not to rush things, but at this point we need decisions on what to do with the mites, whether you are going to stay the night, and some of you might have faction business to take care of. Once we know what the plan is I'll jump ahead a little.

Wadi comes over to Sekhemre, looking over the fungal samples he has gathered, "Have you learned anything else about these fungi, and the fungal properties? Also if I may, do you have any spare samples for me to look at?"

I apologize if it is harsh but we can't risk leaving these predators alive and behind us, I don't like what they did to Torvic and I don't like what they want to do to Alie. That doesn't mean we have to be cruel do this here though. Someone else with a solid stomach grab the other one.SO I must agree with Sekhemre. Dakram grabs one of the ties up Mites and halls them away.

Alie did not put up a fight at Dakram's suggestion. She would not have preferred to kill the mites, but understood the decision.

DM, what time of day is it now? If it's still early I am fine with pressing on, but if it's late, my suggestion is to rest here for the night.

About 7pm when Torvic first stirred.

Osirians

"At this late hour, I think we need to bed down here for the night. It will be freezing out there at it gets dark. This is the best shelter we are going to find."

I'll move this to the next scene tomorrow morning for me. Until then the cave is yours ;)

Kayluss keeps to himself while the rest of the group addresses the dwarf. When Dakram offers to take the mites out of the cave Kayluss grabs the second one and follows him out to the woods. As the carry the mites out or site Kayluss says in a low tone.
"This is why I'm not a fan of magic it always leads to unforeseen problems."
After a pause he adds
"I too wish to offer my condolences on the passing of your father." Kayluss says nothing more on the subject unless Dakram wishes to talk. They go about their business silently and return to camp.

Sekhemre nods to Wadi.

"Certainly Wadi, you can have a sample; I assume that if we go to the Hall, we will find more of it, though."

"I am afraid that I do not know any more beyond the information I relayed before, though. Perhaps if we get a closer look at a full-blown infestation, we may learn more."