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Vol is a little bemused by the events unfolding in the small village, and isn't too pleased at an old lady using him for target practice, but the mission comes first.
You are not here to ruin the mission, you are here to ensure it is completed. The more personable members of the group seem to have smoothed things over already.
"Perhaps we have knowledge that could help solve this problem ma'am. We are here to assist however we can."
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Dacius has been strangely quiet since his last adventure. With his half burned face covered by a hood, he observes his fellow adventurers as they talk to the people of the town.
Once by the Lucky Lantern, he takes out his mace on his hand and makes sure his buckler is well set. Whispering a prayer to Asmodeus, he sets himself near the door and tries the boarded door, not using his full strength, to make sure if its well secured - Maybe there's another entrance to the building- he adds - what do you think?
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Dragos waits for the two priests to check the building, asking Tarantio to, politely, get off his shoulders and walk for a while. The Drake gives his business associate a dark look before gliding down.
"A capital suggestion, I shall check the other way in case there are nasty surprises whilst good Dacius here watches the front door!"
Dragos then proceeds to walk around the building in the opposite dorection to Therin.
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Therin notes two windows on the North side of the tavern.
Two windows and the back door to the east.
Three windows along the south wall.
The front door and four windows from the west.
From the windows marked with arrows, dim, flickering candlelight can be spotted through the gaps in the wood. Surely candles would have burned out long ago.
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Dragos shrugs elegantly as they circle the Lucky Lantern, with the windows boarded and the door barred it looks to be a difficult task to get in. Regrouping at the front of the tavern with the others the Druid sighs.
"Well, it would seem we have the option of ripping boards from windows, breaking through the front door, or breaking through the back door. No option offers chance for subterfuge I am afraid. Krudenk, why don't you pick ol' chap?"
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It takes a little bit of effort, but you are able to eventually pry the boards off the front door.
This musty common room is coated with thick layers of dust. Dozens of black candles, animal skulls, and occult idols are arranged as decorations through the room. One table near the center of the room is decorated with human skulls and a crystal ball. A spread of harrow cards lies face down on the table and two chairs are pulled up to it. One chair sits empty and the other holds a skeletal corpse. At the third chair a robed figure sits. The heavy robes hide the figure’s features, but you notice the figment has clawed hands and hooved feet.
A tentacled mouth wriggles beneath its cowl as it greets the PCs.
“Welcome, travelers. Have you come to seek the wisdom of my harrow reading? These are strange times and those without guidance risk great peril. Stand before my table and learn your fate.”
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Drawing his imposing scythe, though looking distinctly like he is not sure exactly what to do with it, Dragos steps into the tavern with the others, Tarantio crawling behind his business partner. Looking around in awe at the set up and strange hooded greeting them, Dragos takes a bow.
"Well met sir? Mayhaps we have the pleasure of your name before our game?"
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As Krudenk sits, the creature lays out nine harrow cards in a 3 by 3 grid and then flips over the first column.
“The Eclipse is strong in the past. This card represents loss of purpose. I see a curious creature that fell from its original path. Now it wanders blindly, far afield under shadows of the mind.”
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Dragos approaches cautiously, standing behind the seated Half-orc his scythe blade held low to the ground as he peers over his hulking comrade's shoulders at the cards being drawn. He has little knowledge of the Harrow as the reader's like to tell it but is amazed at the robed figure's knowledge.
"Well we have a purpose now eh? We mist solve this riddle for the Professor eh?"
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Without answering Krudenk's question, the creature turns over the middle column of cards.
“Ahhhh, The Midwife. She is a conduit of creation, but she does not create alone. I see a creature in the present that also creates many things. It dreams of strange places and uses its mind to make these places real. But The Midwife is misaligned. The world will not like what this creature makes.”
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“The Carnival is a card of illusions and false dreams. Danger lies in your future, but it is not the danger you expect. The Carnival is the most important card for you because it is a card for fools. It was foolish to come here…”
As the last words are uttered you reflexively stand up, reaching for weapons in reaction to the threat, but before you can act, the creature disappears and all the candles are extinguished, plunging the inn into pale moonlight.
The skull of the dead man seated next to Krudenk suddenly detaches from its spine as it becomes wreathed in green flames. Around the common room, several of the animal skulls begin to float, the one closest to the table also wreathed in flame.
One of the animal skulls buzzes around Roy, but the flaming skull that belonged to poor Veny slams right into Krudenk, burning him.
<=== UP!
<=== UP!
<=== UP!
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With a start, Dragos cries out at the sudden animation of the skulls before regaining his composure and calling out the ancient power of Druidic lore to enchant Tarantio's maw, the Drake's fangs gleaming maliciously.
He then politely asks his Drake companion to take out the skulls whilst moving further into the room to avoid being pinned against a table.
