The man looks you over, still frowning.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my home....speak up, and quit singing and blabbering all at once. These old ears are not what they used to be."
Meycho enters, having lowered but not put away, his bow, Falling Star perched on his shoulder.
"Harrumph....Aye....dark forces....everywhere.....I've been trying....answers. I’ve hunted for their source....big forest, though....not much luck."
The words come haltingly and his mannerism is a bit strained, as if he is unsure of himself or has to search for the right words. His eyes have an absentminded look, as if he is lost in deep thought and not quite focused on his immediate surroundings.
The man turns to the table and shuffles some of the papers on it back and forth. Then he looks back up at you.
"Say...you lot look like a hardy bunch....and bypassing the illusions of the stones and all....There are a few places I haven’t looked yet.... Maybe you could help me investigate?”
Meycho, feeling there's something not right with the man, concentrates a bit longer, trying to pin point the source of evil he felt earlier.
"Good, he's willing to help", Caelin thought to himself.
Sense Motive:
"Sir, is dere sometin' wrong with you? You seem a bit dis'tracted?"
Jervaise raises an eyebrow.
"Is that so?", he says evenly. "Well then, we should probably see what we can do..."
As Goodluck spoke, Caelin turned to look at the barnacle-covered Mwangi. He tilted an eyebrow, silently asking if everything was alright.
Goodluck frowns. "It's jus' that, well sir, you seem a little dis'tracted. Is every'ting alright wit' you?"
Ignoring Goodluck, the old man smiles warmly at Jervaise, and continues his shuffling of papers on the table.
"Ah, good, good...I'm sure you will be most helpful...get to the bottom of this right quick..right quick, right quick...now, the map, the map, the map...where did I put it."
The man's movements and speech seem somewhat jerky and energetic, and somewhat at odds with his elderly appearance. In OOC terms, it's as if he has been drinking extra-strength espressos for a week.
Goodluck begins coughing, a raspy hacking cough. He waves off any attempt to help him, mumbling "De land, it's too dry here. He steps outside, still coughing. He waits a moment, clears his throat and takes a long drink from his waterskin. He casts detect magic, keeping it up and steps just into the hut, scanning about.
The old man does not even seem to notice that Goodluck steps out and back again. He is still busy looking over his collection on the table, trying to get the group to gather round for a closer look.
As soon as you cast the spell, you notice the very strong, almost overwhelming illusion aura coming from the fey stones on the hill.
Once you step back in, you detect several auras near or on the man:
- the shield leaning against the wall (moderate abjuration)
- his scabbard, which looks like it holds a scimitar (moderate evocation)
- several objects in his belt pouches, likely potions (faint conjuration)
- the man himself (faint transmutation)
Goodluck focuses on the man, hoping to learn as much as he can. As soon as he's satisfied he's got everything he can get, he turns to Caelin. In a whisper, close to Caelin: "De old man, he's under some sort'a transmutation effect. Faint, but dere. Should I try to dispel it?"
My good man. Apologies if I seem frank, but have you been visited by these fell fey?
"Oh, I am well hidden here, well hidden indeed. Very hard to find. In fact, I'm somewhat surprised to see you."
You detect no falsehood in what he just said.
Caelin let out a soft exhalation as he examined the poor options available. Whispering back to Goodluck he said, "I would say 'yes' if it were an enchantment, but a faint transmutation might be a common, reasonable defense to such a druid. It would be rude to dispel that simply because he seems 'distracted'. Let's see what happens, as I imagine Meycho's keen abilities will uncover any ruse."
The old man looks up and narrows his eyes at Goodluck and Caelin.
"What, what...what are you muttering about back there...I told you, my old ears are not what they once were..."
He slaps the table in exasperation. "Ah, bullywynkle...where did I ever put that map? Nevermind, come outside, I'll show you the way from the top of the hill. It is not far, not far, not far at all...easy to find."
He bustles past you towards the door, only pausing to grab his shield on the way out.
"Can't be too careful..." he says, to no-one in particular.
Your Discern Lies reveals no falsehood in what he just said.
You get the impression that what the man said about showing you the way from the top of the hill is simply an excuse to get you out of the cabin.
Caelin tilts his head, worried now. As the old man moves towards the door Caelin begins to quickly search the cabin for hidden danger or foes.
Sense Motive:
Goodluck lingers behind the others, feigning a cough again, and peers around the hut, trying to see if anything is out of the ordinary.
Perception:
You see nothing out of the ordinary.
Goodluck shakes his head and follows the old man outside, confused and somewhat disturbed.
Jervaise shrugs, faintly amused, and more than a little bit puzzled, but follows the man and his new entourage out of the building.
Everyone follows the old man out of the hut, Goodluck and Caelin last, as they linger a few moments to carefully examine the cabin.
The man strides down the path towards the hill with the stones, clearly expecting the group to follow. He not as much as glances in the direction of the pit with the dead wolf.
Or maybe the GM knows that clever roleplayers expect foul play when they see lots of sense motive spoilers, and is using that to try and trick them into attacking a valuable ally...or is he deliberately counting on this to mask that there really IS something wrong with the old man - oh, and have you noticed how he consistently call him "the old man" and not "Devarre the Druid"?...of course, that might just be because none of you bothered to ask him his name...then again, maybe not....bet you are wishing you put some more ranks into sense motive and spellcraft, huh?....then again, I might just be messing with you, you know....no?....good! *evil GM grin*
Now that the man is walking, it is clearly apparent that there is something odd about the way he moves. His movements seem jerky and way too energetic for a man of his age, as if he somehow has to overcompensate of an abundance of energy within him.
Caelin stops short. "Good sir, what is the story on this wolf in the pit? How did the creature die, and for what purpose?"
GL: Yes, I do get that feeling...and yet I can't stop!
Jace: Dang you and you're virtual "rolling behind the screen"! :-)
Sense Motive:
Goodluck is increasingly disturbed by the old man's seemingly erratic behavior. His fingers twitch as he catches himself almost casting dispel magic at him, then stops just before he casts. He absent-mindedly picks at one of the barnacles on his face while he ponders what else to do.
When Caelin asks about the wolf, the man looks puzzled. "Wolf..?" he says. Then for the briefest moments he seems to remember somthing. In a low, pained voice, he utters a single word:
In the blink of an eye, the moment passes. He waves his hand at the pit and continues up the path."Ah, yes, yes, yes...wolves. Quite vicious lately. Had to put up traps to keep my hut safe. Not to worry, come, come" he says, now in the same rushed, energetic tone as before.
Jervaise frowns, deeply troubled.
There is something more than a little wrong going on here; is he possessed?
Stunned, Caelin stopped in his tracks. He was more than concerned now, he was angry.
"'Vicious lately'?! Traps!? Come to me old man and tell me how a druid of your stature cannot protect himself from 'vicious' wolves. And how Aspen came to be lying in that pit!" He gave the name a bitter emphasis.
"This cannot be a friend of the forest, but I do not see or guess the ruse!" Caelin cursed to himself. "Stay alert. Keep him here, keep him talking."
Perception
Goodluck stops, disturbed by the man's incongruous actions. He mutters to himself 'Gozreh guide me.
"Sir, dere's sometin' I must do. Forgive me."
Cast Dispel Magic on the old man, targeting that transmutation effect.
The man whirls to face Caelin, his eyes flashing with anger. Then Goodluck begins casting his spell
The man screams something at Goodluck which sounds like a confusing mix of wind and electrical noise.
Your character does not understand Auran
He then begins casting a spell of his own.
Init:
Showdown at Devarre's hut
Round 1
Initiative:
Meycho: 21
Caelin/Aumgwe: 20
Jervaise: 17++
Tae: 17+
"Devarre": 17
Goodluck: 6
Notes:
The grid on the map in the module is impossible to line up properly with Maptools, sorry about that. In case of doubt, refer to the coordinates.
Meycho, sensing danger, mutters an elven prayer of protection, and the ring on his finger and around Falling Star's leg glows briefly, linked by an invisible thread.
Caelin touched Aumgwe's leg, imbuing the bird with a magical boon. Giving a sharp screech, the elf commanded the bird to swoop wide around the angry druid and approach from the rear.
Turning his attention back to "Devarre", Caelin drew his greatsword and stepped forward to face his formerly friendly foe.
Cast Magic Fang on Aumgwe, draw sword and a 5-ft step.
Round 1:
Shrugging in bemusement, Jervaise moves adjacent to 'Devarre', and takes a swing with his greatsword...