Vincent charges with his spear, putting magic to it with a sigil.
Vincent looks annoyed, moving to the front of the passage and readying his spear for when it approaches.
It flies downwards to get Seamus, then Vincent stabs it with his longspear.
It continues to try to bite Seamus. It manages to bite Seamus on the shoulder but does not manage to grab him.
Realizing that it is too close for good shots, Seamus drops his bow, draws his short sword and tries to stab the Byakhee. His shortsword does not penetrate its leathery hide.
Vincent also manages to stab the creature in its torso as it flies in.
It looks badly injured now.
Vincent steps back 5ft to stab at the flying nightmare again.
The Byakhee flutters its wings and lifts above Vincent's attempt to stab it.
Kaa manages to bite the Byakhee.
Seamus then shoots it in the chest, and it gasps, "The others will avenge me," before falling to the ground dead. As it dies, it starts melting at a rapid rate, giving a foul smell.
Searching the body in grey robes the party finds a book with ornate blue runes on it. Howard has no idea what it could be...
"Thanks for finding me a new home!" Kaa thanks the party. "Urm - do you want to do something about this?" He gestures at the body, "It smells bad."
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Howard nods.
"Sure thing, Kaa."
He then gestures in the direction of the egg-filled body.
"We may want to destroy that; we probably don't want those eggs hatching..."
Howard gives Kaa a friendly rub.
"I hope that you manage to settle into your new home; if I find a way to send you back to where you came from, I will come back and do it..."
He then turns to the others.
"Come on - we should head into town, and find somewhere to stay for the night; I'll Identify the other items that we have found in the morning."
"Ya I hope so too. There's a river so there should be plenty of fishes to eat, so I should be fine." Kaa answers then snuggles against Howard one last time.
Vincent uses the light mace and smashes open all the yellow egg sacs, which give a satisfying pop sound, but exude smelly yellow ichor. He then uses his longspear to roll the body into the river.
The trip back to Winter is uneventful. When the party gets to her, she looks on the party approvingly. "I see you've dropped off that creature. I don't want to know where - just make sure he knows how to stay hidden."
"So - what are your plans after this?" Winter asks the party.'The nearest town to here is Thrushmoor."
"Well, I'm not going to be waiting all day," Winter gestures at the darkening evening sky that threatens to pour. "I'm going to the Sleepless Agency in Thrushmoor to meet Accuser Omari and submit my report on the happenings in Briarstone Asylum. He was investigating Count Lowls."
"You're welcome to join me, else the only inn in town is the Silver Wagon."
Winter, Captain York and the chapel guards then head off down the road.
Kaa looks at Seamus curiously, ”What’s a puppet?”
"Good bye raven haired two-legger."Kaa bids Seamus a reluctant farewell.
Winter tells the party on the way to Thrushmoor that the survivors from Brairstone Asylum have now been given refugee by the Pharasman clergy at the New Chapel, while they are arranging for them to be to other asylums across Ustalav for those requiring treatment. Those who do not require treatment are free to go.
As they travel, out of the overcast sky pours a thunderstorm, and the party trudges through the wet cobblestone roads soaked to the bone. The party gets to the town to find that it is in barely brindled chaos. The townsfolk stare at the party suspiciously while under black umbrellas and Vincent hears whispered conversations that of late, there have been people mysteriously disappearing. Some of them of even of high station – Magistrate Padgett. A few voices even seem to hint the party has something to do with his disappearance.
Winter leads the party through the suspiciously pointing townsfolk to a large wooden building that appears to be dark and quiet. She knocks on the door several times, before a slot in the door is opened and a brown eye can be seen through an open slit through the door.
”It’s me – Winter – I’ve just gotten back from Briarstone Asylum and I need to report to Accuser Omari.” Winter tells the person inside.
”You’re fine. I can let you in. But the people behind you…they’re Count Lowl’s people.”The female voice answers, suspicious of the party.
”Meg - Its because of them that we were able to escape Brairstone Asylum! I will personally vouch for their trustworthiness. There are strange things afoot and we need to get in to discuss it with all of you immediately!” Winter snaps back.
”Yes – but they might have helped you for their own ulterior motives…” The voice answers, still suspicious. ”I can let you in, but them...how do we know they can be trusted.”
”Fine – if you’ll help us investigate the strange happenings around town we’ll let all of you in, and offer you a room. Night’s coming soon, and strange things lurk the streets. It’s better not to go out at night unless absolutely necessary.” The voice answers, then the door opens, to reveal a slim female human with short cropped brown hair, dressed in black leathers, with two daggers at her belt.
”Now let me get my boss to explain what’s been going on,” Meg answers then shows the party into a simple wooden room furnished with seats furnished with maroon cushions, a table and a lit fireplace in the corner.
The room itself is strangely bare, except for cupboards around the wall, and a shoerack, an umbrella stand and a coat stand near the door.”Please put your muddy boots at the rack, and your wet coats at the stand” Meg tells the party, before entering the door at the back of the room. There is the sound of whispered conversation, then Meg comes out with cups of hot coffee, laying them on the table, together with a container filled with sugar cubes and a jug of milk. ”Have a seat and help yourselves.”
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Howard pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs.
"Please ignore my erstwhile colleague's blathering. Look, we may have worked for Lowls, but we have no memory of it - in fact, we have lost several years worth of memories. I can't vouch for what we have done in the past, but right now, we just want answers; specifically, what Lowls did to us, and where he is."
Howard nods, and seats himself comfortably, waiting for Meg's boss to put in an appearance.
"Meg Thalen." The female human in black leathers answers.
A freckled woman with short curly red hair, dressed in a black suit and a purple shawl, steps out of the door. ”I am Cesadia Wrentz. Head of the Sleepless Agency.” The woman answers. ”We have quite a number of strange happenings occurring, and the town is in the state of panic. Usually Magistrate Padgett would be able to handle it – but no one has been able to contact him for days – he’s gone missing.“
”There’s been a doomsayer, one Elgrior Nasmeth who’s been wandering around the Silver Wagon, the Stain or one of Thrushmoor’s markets. He proclaims that the Brairstone witch has returned and has seen her rising from Avalon bay, plucking townsfolk from their homes with her wicked long nails.”
”Furthermore, a fisherman named Toli Remsatter claims he caught sight of a glowing light in small cave along the shore a mile out of Avalon bay, which he swears is the lair of the Brairstone witch.”
”And strange Sigils have been appearing on the houses of the people living in the Stain, and they claim a half elven artist who painted the New Chapel, Lelwyn Hasok, is responsible for it. And they’re even blaming him for the priestess’s disappearance, but that’s utterly rubbish – since I told him to keep an eye on the chapel after the priestess’s disappearance. I’m worried about his safety.”
”People have also reported a translucent, monstrous figure roaming the street at nights for the last few weeks.”
"We're a little short handed at the moment. Help us, and we can help you."
"Priestess Trilliss went out with a couple of chapel guards – she said she saw a byakhee and suspects it has a nest somewhere, and needs to deal with it. She left a note with the acolytes but told them to keep it secret in case word got out to the creature. Superstitious peasants really.” Winter gives a sniff. ”Though what has been causing these horrors to appear, I don’t know…someone might be Calling them.”
”And where’s Accuser Omari? He said he’d be waiting for me here?” Winter asks Cesadia.
”We’ll talk about it in later, privately.” Cesadia answers while looking at the party.
When Vincent shows Cesadia the notes, she muses over them, ”Interesting…but as I said earlier, if you help me, I’ll help you. I will offer you more information about Count Lowls once I’m sure you can be trusted.”
”Excellent – I hope it’s the only one, but I suspect not. They usually don’t show up alone. Anyway Priestess Trilliss will back after her hunting trip. She was rather circumspect on where she was headed to even, since if that beast was Called – it means they are working through human agents.”
Meg shows the party into another room, simple and utilitarian like the sitting room, connected to a bathroom, with hot water supplied. It holds four beds and drawers by the beds. Meg grabs an extra blanket for Claude and Vincent’s mongoose. ”We have breakfast early at 7 am in the dining room.” She shows the directions to the dining room, then mentions to the party,”Please make good use of the washing facilities, you smell.” She tells the party before leaving them to their own devices. Winter is offered another room all to herself.
The night passes uneventfully, with the party sleeping on a proper bed for once. They wake up, refreshed, to the cock crowing. Well, except for Dakash. Dakash has black spots all over his body and is feeling weak and feverish.
They go to the dining room for a breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham , feta cheese and bread. Winter is happily tucking in. ”Mmmph. I haven’t had a good meal for waay too long.”
Howard then tries to identify the magic items.
Bar – Traveller’s any tool
Bracers – Bracers of armor +2
Cloak – Cloak of resistance + 1
Talisman – Greater Talisman of beneficial winds
Amulets – Amulet of natural armor +1
Book - Book of Extended summoning (standard)
Mace - + 1 light mace
Howard identifies the second talisman as a lesser talisman of healing power.
The coffee is delicious. It's rather strong, but judicious application of sugar cubes and milk makes it sweet and creamy.
"So you don't dirty the sheets. Geez, do I have to point out the obvious?" Meg rolls her eyes heavenwards.
"Night was good. At least there weren't doppelgangers trying to kill me in my sleep."Winter answers drily."Cesadia did tell me last night that Accuser Omari was headed to Fort Hailcourse to seek Constable’s Cesyll’s help. Let's give him a few days more before looking for him. The negotiations are of a sensitive matter and we don't want to barge in and spoil them. Especially since the Constable is as stubborn as a mule."
Vincent grunts, settling in and then eating breakfast.
"You mentioned many things that you need assistance with. Which is most pressing? I am anxious to get started so that we may more quickly move on to more relevant activities, like finding this Lowls."
"I didn't tell you to do anything - it's Cesadia. I'd assume you'd use your own discretion in deciding which order you'd want to do them."Winter answers. "I'll probably go and check on the patients of Briarstone Asylum at the New Chappel after this. I'll be shuttling between here and there, in case Accuser Omari shows up here. He is in the process of securing aid from the Constable to investigate Lowls estate on Iris Hill. I strongly recommend you wait for him before looking for Count Lowls yourself. He's got an unsavory reputation."
Seamus puts on his game face, then asks a gaggle of old ladies, who's hearts start fluttering at the sight of Seamus's handsome features and are all too happy to give him directions to the nearest magic item store. The party stops at the magic shop whose directions they were given and does the necessary transactions.
The party spots, in a busy marketplace, near the Inn the Silver Wagon, a pudgy man with warts all over him, unkempt and tangled shoulder length brown hair, smelling like an open sewer standing on a makeshift “stage” of crates, proclaiming loudly, ”Doom is coming! The second vanishing is upon us! Pray for your salvation that the Brairstone Witch doesn’t take you!” He has drawn quite a large audience, all circled around him, listening raptly as they make the sign against evil. ”How should we save ourselves from the Brairstone Witch, Master Elgrior?” One member of the audience asks. ”Oh you must give praise to beetles, for they are actually guardian spirits in disguise and will protect you and your family. Also kill every cat you see – they’re her most foul servants!”
"Urm...I don't know." A middle aged man with curly black hair remarks worriedly. "If everything down here is going to hell, if I were you I'd get your family out. In fact I'm going back to convince my family to leave before we get kidnapped or worse..."
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Howard pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs.
Just what we need. Some poor disturbed soul fanning the flames of hysteria.
"Now good sir, that is certainly one point of view, but hardly the most prosaic; there is already more than enough evil already in this world, without conjuring up the ghost of a long-gone bogeywoman. Yes, this town is certainly under a lot of stress, but there is no need to panic."
He then turns to the doomsayer.
"Come on - let's get you cleaned up, and a nice warm meal in your belly; I'm sure you will feel better after that..."
"I saw her! And I wasn't the only one too!" But the promise of a nice warm meal is sufficient for Howard to urge him off the streets. Howard brings him to the Silver Wagon as it's the nearest establishment selling food.
The proprietor of the inn, a middle aged woman with wavy brown hair tied in a pony tail, a strong jaw and steely grey eyes glares at Seamus and Elgrior as they enter and puts her hands on her hips. "First you bring that ranting demagogue that's been running my business in, then you bring in that @sshole, Seamus. He still owes me 39 gold pieces and 6 silver pieces clearing up the mess left from his last Party! "
"That tab is a year old and you'd better pay up!" She scold Seamus.
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Howard winces.
Why am I not surprised...
He then smoothly glides forward, and does his best to placate the tavern-owner.
"Of course dear lady! It was most remiss of him to leave such a blight upon the books of so fine an establishment. Here," he says, pulling out a pouch of 50gp. "that should cover the tab, emotional pain and suffering, and the bill for the meal for this man." he says, pointing at the doomsayer. "We had hoped that if he got cleaned up and had a good meal, he might view the world a bit differently."
”Right. “She pockets the change eagerly, her eyes lighting up. ”The meal’s on me. Since if you hadn’t come I’d probably have not had a chance to recover the bill.” She then returns Howard 10 gold pieces. ”That way is the bathhouse,” She gestures to the back. ”Make sure he scrubs himself properly. And you can have these. “She throws Howard a grey shirt and a pair of grey breeches and briefs. ”People are forever leaving things behind. Would have sold them second-hand, but you really should get him out of that dirty green tunic he’s in too.”
”But…you see – my house is full of guardian beetles! And when I’m out of my house, I need to be protected from the Brairstone Witch, so I made sure I’m too smelly to eat!”Elgrior tries to explain.