'huh, no green light, ummm freelance squatter removal what?' Giving Howard a curious look, he moves forward and shoots two arrows at the squatter.
The first arrow strikes her on her shoulder, the other bouncing off her wooden armor.
"The Thrushmoor authorities don't even care enough to have a title deed for this place, so why the hell should you? You're loons!"
Dakash double moves in to harry the woman.
The woman's skin begins to take a wooden texture."And that's why you need dogs with you. Big dogs."She croons fondly at her fungal wolves.
The woman just casted barkskin. Then she backs off away from Dakash as she begins to sprouts spikes from her armor.
Claude claws the fungal wolf 3 times and it goes down.
"My doggy! How could you kill my precious doggy!" The woman yells.
Vincent charges the witch (~40 or 45ft movement, swift action arcane pool)
Vincent charges at the witch and runs her through with his longspear, killing her instantly.
The remaining wolf goes after Vincent, and Claude claws it as it passes.
Then it starts spouting spores around Vincent and Dakash.
Both Vincent and Dakash are unaffected by the spore cloud, for now.
Vincent smirks, shaking the priestess of his spear and stabbing at the dog.
Vincent did not manage to hit the wolf as it approached. However he manages to stab the wolf on the second try in the leg, and Claude rips off its head.
Both Vincent and Dakash manage to get out of the spore cloud before anything happens to them.
The party searches her body, finding a scroll of lesser restoration, a +2 wooden armor, a masterwork spear, a spell component pouch and a key.
A spiraling mass of tendrils with two long, descending tails is painted onto the wall in this chamber.
No one knows which it could possibly be.
The wooden worktable against the wall holds a wide selection of containers and vessels to aid in cooking all manner of concoctions. Jars and tins hold reagents and materials to produce the poisons, drugs, and potions. The potions look like the same make of those that were taken off the cultists. Most of the potions and drugs are incomplete except for the following -
potions of cure light wounds, three potions of barkskin, two potions of hide from animals, 4 doses of belladonna, 6 doses of bloodroot, 10 doses of flayleaf, and 1 dose of malyass root paste. A folded note sits on the table: a request for “more of your dream-inducing brews, as well as more of that oil,” signed by a person named Melisenn.All of the equipment on the worktable is treated as an alchemist’s lab.
A small tin pot sits cooling on the edge of table, and is filled with a nearly complete batch of id moss.
The damp limestone cave smells like wet mulch.
Twenty feet across at its widest, this rounded cave contains a scattered pallet of blankets, a wooden washbasin of clean water, and a sturdy chest.
As the party starts heading towards the chest, Vincent feels something bite at him on his ankle and the party briefly sees a three-stalked fungoid monster’s body, before it fades away.
Vincent recognizes it as a phantom fungus.
As a move action, a phantom fungus can turn invisible as if using greater invisibility (caster level 4th). A moment after it attacks with invisibility, the creature appears briefly as a semi-transparent version of its normal self. This allows any viewer with line of sight to the phantom fungus to pinpoint its location at the time of the attack (though if the creature moves after it attacks, opponents have to pinpoint it again). An opponent can ready an action to strike at the fungus when it momentarily appears, in which case the creature only has concealment instead of invisibility (20% miss chance). The fungus can turn completely visible as a move action, though it normally remains invisible all the time. If killed while invisible, it becomes visible 1d4 minutes later.
Vincent curses, backs up and stabs the place where it was.
It doesn't seem to be there and Vincent only hits empty air.
'Stupid thing, needs to stay where we can see it.' Not knowing what else to do, Seamus attempts to inspire his friends, but he couldn't get the witch dressed in green out of his head."Raven haired and ruby lipped, sparks fly from...
The phantom fungus does not manage to bite through Vincent's wooden armor.
Dakash moves around the small room near Vincent, systemmatically searching for the invisible phantom fungus. He eventually steps on it it, and it takes offense, and nips his ankle. "Found it!" He says as he get nipped.
He gives it a nice hearty smack.
The phantom fungus continues to take offense at the fungus stepper Dakash.
It does not manage to nip Dakash this time. Then it pops itself semi invisible once more.
Dakash readies to clobber the fungus as soon as it appears, now that the party has it cornered.
'I hope I don't hit Dakash's feet' continuing his song, Seamus fires quickly at the invisible threat.
Claude bites into something...insubstantial. Something that feels like morning dew.
Seamus releases two shots into something and hears the thunk of his arrows.
Dakash does not get nipped by any more phantom fungus, as nothing happens. 4 rounds later the party sees the dead body of the phantom fungus. Vincent realizes that the chest by the bed is trapped! Even with the key used - there must be a secret button that must be pressed first.
He tries to disarm the trap but realizes he doesn't quite make it
And he triggers the trap.
He gets pricked by a poisoned dart but fights off the urge to pass out on the floor.
Opening the chest - he finds a few changes of clothes, a clay jar with 4 doses of muscaria and a leather pouch containing 1694 gp, and a journal.
The journal lists down the happenings of one Daridela Cornett - also known as the Witch of dreams originally coming from the forest near Illmmarsh. Her experiments with mushrooms and drugs had opened her eyes to the mysteries of the world led her to the discovery of the Inmmost Blot, the Great Old One of decay, parasites and transformation. She initially had wanted to bring Count Lowls as a sacrifice to Him, but found that Count Lowls had gone on a long trip, and so tried to insinuate herself with the Cult of Hastur by offering them her services as a potion maker to learn more about the Count's whereabouts. She has not been able to discover anything about the Counts whereabouts, thus far, though.
Returning to Toli - the rain has abated. "Found what you were looking for?" Toli asks the party.
"Well as part of our bargain - I want a safe place away from Avalon Bay - I don't want to be around when the smugglers come looking for me." Toli tells the party.
He then rows the party back to Avalon Bay.
On the way back to the lodgings, which Toli follows, a teenaged girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes approaches the party, "My brother, Sholn is a courier and was delivering a package to Fort Hailcourse - he hasn't come back yet. I could bring you to Fort Hailcourse - then could you help me find him?"
'Well she's pretty. Seamus places his hand on his hip and smiles his best smile. "How you doin'? My name is Seamus, even if we can't help you tonight why don't you tell me about this brother of yours." He offers his arm to the young lady, so she can walk with them and talk.
"I knew it! I knew there was a witch. Green lights are a sure sign of witches!" Toli seems proud of the fact."Good you dealt with her - god knows how many people stews she would be making if you didn't."
"Well I heard of your great deeds - you saved Hasok from the angry mob, and you managed to deal with the crazy doomsayer" She answers. "Besides you're the person who featured in the opera "Count Dracula" and slew the evil vampire, right? " She looks at Seamus.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Holissa, and I'd like to tell you I've always been a fan of yours."She looks at Seamus like an eager puppy.
"It'll be just like the opera right? You'll investigate Fort Hailcourse, kick evil doer arse, and rescue my brother and return triumphant. Won't it?" She beams at Seamus enthusiastically.
"Oh I understand if it's getting rather late tonight, I can always meet you at the Silver Wagon or any place you choose tomorrow morning."
"Sure, I'll see you there then." Holissa agrees.
The party returns to the Sleepless Agency, and this time the door is opened by a half elf in grey robes, with a dagger tucked at his belt. "Oh - so you're back. We've heard you've been doing good around the town, like rescuing Hasok from angry townsfolk. He's given you high praise."
"I'm Shevan, by the way." Then he holds out a hand for the party to shake.
As he notices looks the person following the party. "Urmm...who's that down there?"
"I'm Toli - and I want your help in getting me relocated - they promised they'd help me find a new place since I offended the local thieves guild when I helped them find the witch's cave."
Shevan furrows his eyebrows, "So there was some fire behind all that smoke..." he muses. "Fine, you can stay for the night, and we'll arrange for some more permanent accommodations tomorrow."
"Dinner's ready by the way," And Shevan ushers the party to the dining room.
Dinner is Beans with Hocks, Beef Tripe Soup and stuffed bellpeppers. Coffee is generously provided.
Midway through dinner, the party hears knocking on the door and the door is opened by Shevan and Winter walks in looking worried. "Priestess Trillis is back in the New Chappel - she said she managed to get one of those Byakhees, but the other flew towards Fort Hailcourse and managed to evade her. She asked Constable Barawyn if she could search the grounds for the Byakhee - but was denied permission. That's odd - usually no one denys permission for a ground search, especially when they're trying to hunt a monster down."
"And she was told that Accuser Omari never headed there either..." Winter's voice trails off.
Vincent offers to meet the party and goes to gather information on the girl and anyone else they've heard about.
Vincent knows that Holissa works for a fish pickling business but has recently asked for leave as it's been two days since her brother, Sholn, who serves as a courier for the All Weather Delivery Courier service, went missing.
The Stain is now calmed down since Priestess Trilliss has returned, if in a rather foul mood. The townsfolk are unsure why she is in such a bad mood.
As Vincent investigates later into the night, he catches a glimpse of a pale translucent figure in the distance.the figure does not quite look human.
Vincent doesn't want to get into a confrontation alone and potentially outnumbered, but he follows at a distance to try to discover more about it's path and intentions.
If it notices him, he books it to the party. If not he follows as long as he can until he is satisfied with the information and then returns to the party.
On closer inspection, Vincent realizes that the figure might have been human, once. But now the figure seems strangely distorted in shape and has tendrils sticking out of its form.
Luckily for Vincent, it does not notice him, intent in its search. It just ghosts around... as if looking for something. Then it walks through a wall.
Vincent makes note of the location and goes back to share information with the party.
Vincent tells Cesadia about the doings of the party, and she nods thoughtfully. "You've done good work. I will uphold my end of the bargain. Well - Accuser Omari went to the Fort Hailcourse to seek aid from Constable Barawyn to do a full grounds search of Count Lowl's property - Iris Hill."
"It would be helpful if you could see if anything has happened to Accuser Omari - they really shouldn't be taking this long, and neither should Priestess Trilliss have been denied permission to look around. If you could secure Accuser Omari and Constable Barawyn and Magistrate Padgett's aid - it could make your search of the grounds easier." Cesadia replies."Of course - I'll admit I'm not being fully altruistic. I'm hoping you'll find Magistrate Padgett - so that he can quell further disturbances in the town that may come up." She admits.
"Howard and Dakash - feel free to peruse our library - there may be some magical texts you're interested in down there." Cesadia answers."There may be other texts that interest the rest of you as well." Cesadia looks meaningfully at Vincent.
The night passes uneventfully with Howard keeping watch.
Breakfirst this time is of cold cuts, olives, feta cheese, saukeraut and bread. The party heads to the Silver Wagon - to see Holissa waiting for them there.
"Oh hi there! You're pretty early!" She greets the party. "So you're willing to help right? If you can help me find Sholn, I'll give you my grandfather's magical shield."
"If you're ready we can set off for Fort Hailcourse now."
"I'll come along with you!" She offers. "You guys can protect me, right?"
'Nice girl, a little young.' Seamus watches Holissa leave, then turns to the others. "we should be able to help her right?"
Arriving at the Sleepless Agency Seamus shakes Shevan's hand smiling his second best smile. "I'm Seamus and were here to help."
He then follows Shevan to the evening meal and helps himself to the Dinner of Beans with Hocks, Beef Tripe Soup and stuffed bellpeppers. sipping the Coffee after dinner he asks Winter "Why wouldn't Constable Barawyn let her search? Did he give a reason?" He stops and thinks for a moment "Hey were going to the fort first thing in the morning, you want to go with us?"
After eating a quick breakfast and heading to the 'Silver Wagon' Seamus listens as Holissa and Howard talk. Finally looking from his friend to they young girl. "Um sometimes it's hard enough to protect ourselves. Why don't you tell us where it is and wait here for us to return with your brother."