Not like I swallowed spider's eggs? Leonard is stunned. not like I swallowed spider's eggs?! He repeats with indignation, temperature rising, good god man, you... he curls and uncurls a fist, it doesn't...look. Leonard sits down, pulling out a blank sheet of paper and a pen.
This here's a drawing of you,
Is the head meant to be too small?
and as you can see, there's a tube in your throat.
Really, the head is much too small, I don't think you're made out for the artist's life.
That tube leads down to this here bag of acidic fluids called a stomach. Any spider's eggs will dissolve here very quickly, just like all the food you eat. Leonard taps the paper nervously, hoping he's got the point across.
Leonard silently keeps a hand on his sword throughout the encounter with the harbormaster. He doesn't intend to draw it, but the cold metal of the grip makes him more comfortable.
Come on now, he finally pipes up, we're professionals. Whatever troubles we'll get in, I'm sure we can manage them just fine.
"No, no, no, it wouldn't be right! I mean how could I let friends of Cesadia come to harm on my ship?" Captain Skywind protests vehemently. "I mean you've helped me enough already."
I'm not really sure how our helping you in the past would be relevant? If we get into trouble, we'll get out of it, and that means getting the ship out of it too. Leonard shrugs, that's all.
Vincent goes around Thrushmoor and finds a former mercenary, Lambert, who teaches him how to smack things harder. He comes back every night to the Sleepless Agency with muscles aching from hitting the pells.Lambert,knowing Vincent cannot stay for the final day of retraining, urges him to find an instructor wherever he is going.
"You've already inconvenienced yourself in having to get the Harbourmaster to cooperate, we wouldn't want to have you to do more for us. "Captain Skywind replies. "Having the ship stay out of trouble is my job. May Desna grant us safe travels."
The party is shown to a luxurious cabin with beds, writing desks and chairs, couches and a bookshelf with many books, mostly of aquatic creatures. The walls are lined with pictures of water dwelling creatures, like naiads, Selkies and undies, with little lamps of continuous flame ioun stones laying their warm cast of light among the room. The room itself is attached to its own bathroom. "Captain Skywind said 'tis yers. We'll send someone t' brin' grub t' ye at mealtimes, so ye don't needs t' squeeze at th' dinin' cabin. Should ye needs any further assistance, feel free t' ask any o' us. Should ye be feelin' unwell, our navigator, Damien, knows a bit o' healin' magic, but honestly he's better at plottin' courses 'n predictin' th' weather."
Once the cargo has been loaded properly, Captain Skywind orders for the ship to set sail.
Vincent spent the rest of the day training with one of Captain Skywind's burly crewmen.
The cuisine on board the Sellen Starling is good, if rather unconventional. It features dishes from aquatic creatures, such as garlic and parsley ray, fried eel on a bed of capsicums, baked pike, shrimp omlette and clam risotto.
Having a complete lack of anything to do on the boat, Vincent teaches the party the ritual and they perform it that very night.
The party sits in a circle as Vincent begins to chant the incantation with Howard, Leonard and Seamus supporting him.
"We, The Seekers, are bound by a common purpose - the thirst for knowledge."
He then passes the miniature ivory and horn staircase to Howard, who feels eager of its 70 steps. The continuous flame lights seem to dim.
"We have gathered this very night in order to open the gate to the Dreamlands."
Howard passes the miniature ivory and horn staircase to Leonard,who feels eager of its 70 steps. The miniature ivory and horn staircase is now heavier. The continuous flame lights seem to dim.
"For beyond lies the knowledge we seek."
Leonard passes the ivory and horn staircase to Seamus, who feels eager of its 70 steps. Seamus realizes the staircase has now grown bigger.
"Let the portal open between this world and the Dreamlands."
Seamus passes the now glowing with faint yellow light staircase back to Vincent,who feels each of its 70 steps.
Vincent takes a deep breath, then drops the stairs case in the center of the ring made by the party.
Vincent feels the staircase sap his life energy. The party sees the staircase sinks into the ship deck, expanding to the size of a normal staircase and leads downwards into darkness...
Seekers? What do we seek?
Lowls.
Why not leave him be? You still haven't been home, after all...
I don't think I have a home any longer. I think it's just the two of us again. I don't get to sleep easy.
...
Leonard draws Angiliath, not letting even a hint of his fear show. I suppose we shall lead the way, then?
Leonard’s foot touches the staircase then he falls instantly asleep, his body falling onto the floor in a boneless heap, and Angiliath falls out of his limp hand, clattering onto the ground. The party tries to rouse him, but find that they can’t.
You find yourself falling through cold darkness…then you see a speck of light in front of you. Moving towards it, you find yourself standing in a vast and featureless desert under a blistering sun, feeling slightly drained from the ordeal.
You check your equipment and find that you have everything on you. Strangely enough, Angiliath is sheathed, despite you drawing him earlier.
The heat shimmers in the distance, creating an air of unsettling illusion when looking towards the horizon. The only structure in sight is a partially ruined limestone caravanserai. The place looks like it has been abandoned for ears.
The party not being able to wake Leonard up, sheepishly follows his example. Howard makes sure Claude also takes the stairway.
You find yourselves falling through cold darkness…then you see a speck of light in front of you. Moving towards it, you find yourself standing in a vast and featureless desert under a blistering sun, feeling slightly drained from the ordeal.
All of you check your equipment and find that you have everything on you. Claude gives Howard a couple of angry growls after ending up in this strange place.
The heat shimmers in the distance, creating an air of unsettling illusion when looking towards the horizon. The only structure in sight is a partially ruined limestone caravanserai. The place looks like it has been abandoned for ears.
You have been standing there for a while when suddenly out of thin air, the forms of Seamus, Vincent, Howard and Claude materialize from behind you. They look confused for a moment as they pet themselves to check on their equipment then find it all there.
His old friend and colleague, Miacknian Mun lives in his own laboratory in the southern part of Cassomir in a district called Admiral’s Fen.
I have never in my entire life heard of a single instance of that happening.
These are the dreamlands, we're looking for a fellow named the Mad Prophet. Heard of him? Leonard draws Angiliath again, more comfortable with the weight in his hand, and moves towards the building. It's for caravans to rest in and exchange gifts, or at least, that's what it would be for in the waking world. I do wonder what we'll find...
This stone building is the same pale tan colour as the sun bleached desert that extends to the horizon in every direction. A single, wide entrance, large enough to admit laden mounts, pierces the north wall of the structure and opens into a central courtyard. The north east corner of the building is wholly collapsed. Drifts of sand and tufts of weed indicate the building is long abandoned.
Piles of rubble block the hallway here. What looks like the remains of private bedrooms and stairs leading upwards has now collapsed into rubble.
The caravanserai is made of thick stone, cracked and crumbling with age. The doors within are made wood but feel as heavy and thick as stone, and Howard determines that the doors are enchanted. Despite the desert heat, the air inside the caravanserai is cool and pleasant. The heat is magically transferred from the interior rooms for the comfort of the caravanserai’s guests.
Vincent checks the door to find that it is neither locked nor trapped, nor does he hear any sounds from the door.
Leonard opens the door.
A wide doorway contains only the lower half of a door topped with a wide shelf, beyond which a cool, comfortable passageway leads into the caravanserai. A tattered curtain dangles from the lintel. The room beyond contains only a few bare tables and a narrow, barred door.
Vincent checks the barred door and finds that it is neither locked nor trapped, and he does not hear any sounds from behind the door.
Vincent removes the bars, and Leonard opens the door.
The barred door at the back of the room leads to a small cell. Leaning up against the wall of the cell is a rusty and forgotten scimitar. Howard scans the scimitar with his magical senses and realizes that the scimitar is magical but is unable to determine its properties.
Vincent checks the doors to find they are neither locked nor trapped. He also hears no noises from beyond the double door.
Leonard opens the double door.
These two decorative fountains are large basins held aloft by carvings of sleepwalkers. They appear to have once contained clean water but are now dry and empty.
In the western chamber containing a decorative fountain there is a passage opening to the north, half covered by tattered curtains.
This courtyard contains several stalls for animals as well as two low stone posts bearing empty circular bins. Across from the wide passageway stand two small doors flanking a long trough.The that once contained water but is now dry. The bins once held straw or oats and a few grains of oats and pieces of straw can be seen.
There are doors at the south end of the courtyard leading elsewhere. Vincent checks the doors to find they are neither locked nor trapped nor does he hear any noises beyond those doors.
The caravanserai has no windows, and the rooms and halls are lit with muted continual light spells.
The walls of this room are lined with shelves, and a long wooden table stretches through the room’s center. Although it obviously was once a shop, only dust and a few piles of rags remain on display.
Perusing one of the nearly empty shelves is a gaunt man with sunken cheeks. He straightens up when the party enters the shop. "Hello, good sirs, have you had a good trip? What brings you to the Cavanserai and how many I help you?"
Howard and Vincent notice that the man’s black robes trail off at the edges into smoke, as though he were insubstantial.
Howard and Vincent recognize the man as an advanced animated dream. It is incorporeal and it's touch can cause nightmares.
An animate dream’s touch puts horrifying visions in the target’s mind.
Curse—incorporeal touch; save will; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Wisdom drain and target is fatigued; cure 3 consecutive saves or dispel evil, dream, or remove curse.
We're here on business, trying to find someone... Leonard shoots a glance at Seamus, then over at Howard, I wonder if we can trust this fellow.
What can you tell us about this place? My name is Leonard by the way... he's obviously uneasy, but doesn't want a fight.
"Ahhh...I see. Who are you looking for? Do you need supplies then? I'm really sorry about the abysmal state of wares left in the shop - the supply caravans haven't come for a while and I've run out of stock." The man answers, regretfully.
Vincent thinks there's something fishy about this man, but the rest think he is genuine.
"This placed used to be a waystation for travelers to rest their weary feet and resupply for their next leg of their journeys. In the heydays, the courtyard out there would be filled with camels and horses and other exotic beasts of burden. And the halls of the Caravanserai filled with creatures from all over the Dreamlands enthusiaststically recounting the tales of their travels. " The man answers wistfully. "No one's come here for ages...right till all of you showed up."
"My name? I had a name once..." The man furrows his eyebrows. "I can't remember it now. But you may call me Wang Shan. It's as good as a name as another."
Right, well, we're looking for a person by the name of the Mad Prophet. Does the name Hasteron Lowls mean anything to you?
"The Mad prophet - it is rumored he was human once...or maybe the Dreamlands stripped him of his humanity. He is an unpredictable one...rumor has it he has power to stop the sun, if he so chooses."
"Many come, many go. Names from long forgotten conversations, all so long ago." Wang Shan answers cryptically.
"You have no memories, and no recollection? Are you sure you can't recall, no one...had a...distinctive...'
Erection?
Leonard trails off, shaking his head in indignation.
"I have been bound here for a long, long time, for some misdeed I have done in the past. Once perhaps, I had a family, a place...but the past only holds misery. And the future, eternal solitude. "Wang Shan answers.
"You can't really do anything. I am cursed to take the place of the one I tried to steal from, a long time back." He gives a pained grimace. "There is no release for me."
"Now go - before I decide that I would like keep you here for eternity."Wang Shan warns the party."There's a long way to go before the world ends."
The party heeds his warning and scats out of his shop. The party heads down towards the passage. Vincent also notices the secret passage leading to the courtyard.
Vincent, Howard and Leonard here the sound of conspiratorial whispering from the southern chamber.
When Leonard pulls aside the tattered curtains he uncovers a room that has 3 elegant wooden tables and stools of varying sizes, all lacquered in a rich black. A few plates and a pitcher are stacked on a sideboard, covered in dust. Howard realizes that the pitcher is magical.
However, Vincent, Howard and Leonard know that the room is haunted. Vincent senses that this room, the communal dining hall, was the focus of activity at the caravanserai, where travelers brokered alliances and hatched plots - some of which involved poisoning or knifing someone here in this dining hall. With each murder committed, a psychic imprint of betrayal remained and the long years of abandonment have strengthened this haunt to such a degree that it is ready to sow discord amid any creatures that enter.
How about those long arms, Vincent? Think you could reach out and hook it with your spear?
Vincent nods and does as Leonard suggests.
Vincent drinks an extract of long arm, then reaches out with his exceptionally long arms and hooks the pitcher as out by its handle, using his longspear. Howard, now having a closer look at it, identifies it as a decanter of endless water, with its command words inscribed on its base.
Decorative tiles with irregular geometric shapes cover the walls of this pool, distorting perspective and obscuring the room size. Three deep baths are separated by narrow walkways and hanging curtains of tattered fabric.
Everyone is not sickened by the room's apparent distortion.
As the party enters the room, a shuddering blot of living tar surrounded by a mass of writhing tendrils, rises up from one of the bathtubs and attacks the party.
Leonard is grabbed by the horror and is swallowed whole.
It then continues smack Claude with his tentacles.
Claude is badly battered by two of its tentacles.
Howard and Leonard realize it is a formless spawn, and it is an intelligent ooze. It is damage resistant - DR 10/- and has spell resistance. It is also immune to piercing damage. Vincent has no clue what it is.
Vincent takes the sheathed sword cane in both hands and clubs at it with his long arms, charging it with magic.
At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal.
Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property’s base price modifier. These properties are added to any the weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added.
Is your sword cane enchanted to begin with?
Also...you had a long time to enter the Forsaken Caravanserai but did not indicate any buffs. In fact, no one did. So I assume that the non buffs is a choice of yours.
Vincent does not manage to connect with the formless spawn as the tentacles get in the way.
Leonard curses soflty as the creature appears out of nowhere, then suddenly disappears down it's gullet.
Inside, he draws his Kukri. With a crackle of electricity, his hand glowing faintly blue, he tries to cut himself out.
Leonard does not manage to get his spell off as the crushing of the stomach walls against his flesh interrupts his concentration.
Leonard tries to slash through the walls of the stomach lining, but finds that his kukri does no damage.
|
Howard sighs.
"Well, I *was* wanting to save this, but I guess that what needs to be done, needs to be done..."
Stepping around the corner, he intones:
"Yig! Your faithful beseech thee! Protect them from the spawn of nothingness!"
He then casts a spell, and reaches out to touch Claude.
Claude's form then warps and twists, expanding horrifically into a swollen mass of scales, which gradually resolves itself into a large reptilian creature, a humanoid torso rise from a writhing snake-like body.
The Claude-beast then attacks the ooze!
As Howard tries to move away, the creature twists a tentacle around his ankle, tripping him.
Howard gets tentacle slapped as he begins to cast the spell.
Howard loses concentration of the spell he tried to cast on Claude and Claude does not grow.
Sorry...but huge creatures have large reach, especially cthullu-esque thingies. You'll have many more opportunities to do it in the future though!
With a sudden flash of inspiration, Vincent thwacks the ooze, though it is not fully effective. The frost and flame of his sheathed swordcane damage it.
More cursing can be heard from inside the beast, Leonard apparently not enjoying his time there.
