The Whispering Cairn (Inactive)

Game Master Death-Lok

"Glurrr...bargl...whuh? Aw man, my bow! I hope we can get it repaired; it was my f-f-favourite."

"I agree, let's get the f-f-flock out of here!"

"UNNHH....agreed." Vulcan mutters forcing himself to stand slowly.

Valgrim leads the party out and back to the Crooked House for some recuperation and rest. Before the party rests, he addresses them:

"Five things on our to do list for the next coming days:
1. Identify and sell treasure
2. Pass along this information/documents on the doppelganger infiltration to a good higher ranking in this city, if they even exist. I think if Friar has a means of detecting good, then we can pass it along to someone safely without fear he/she is a doppelganger. I don't know but I don't think the doppelgangers would be able to imitate a person's general goodness.
3. Discuss methods on how to buff up for that mage's mind blast. The last one kicked our a$$! Owl's Wisdom is the only thing that comes to mind..
4. Shopping for items
5. Search for this cold forge."

BT, did my Knowledge (dungeoneering) check get me any info on the squiggly face mage?

You can tell the squiggly-face is a mind flayer and some basics about what they do (mind blast and extraction), but that's about it.

As you return to the Crooked house you are met with a disturbing sight. Ashka has been brutally butchered in her bed, with some sort of bladed instrument and a lot of fury. There is no trace of Allustan.

Know (nature): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

We ask the patrons and owner of the inn questions if they saw Allustan or anyone suspicious last night and alert the owner to the death of Ashka. "Bubba, with your knack for city folk, can you look into the cold forge? See if there are any forges in the city by that name or something similar...Chill Forge, Winter Forge, or some derivation. Also, we need to arrange a meeting with a higher up official in this city to pass on the information and documents we obtained on the doppelgangers. Can you arrange that? Or perhaps, Friar, as a representative of the church? I was going to ask Allustan but he's missing. Either he went into hiding because he saw danger or because he's been taken. We need to find this mind flayer's lair and quickly."

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"I knew it!" Bubba exclaims when he sees Ashka's body.

When he gets a chance Bubba will ask about the forge as well as the fungus on the elves' shoes.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

It takes Bubba less than an hour to locate the Cold Forge, a smithy run by a foul-mouthed man named Crusty Patten. His contact also explains that Beggar's Gold thrives on run-off from smithies and forges, so the sewers under it might be a good place to start looking.

Any news on the meeting with city officials?

Feres is distraught to find Ashka so brutally murdered at the Crooked House. The stout priest leaves the questioning of Tarquin and his staff to the others as he performs last rites over the slain lizardfolk. Once the religious ceremony is complete, he asks Master Tarquin for the loan of a cart and driver to help him take Ashka's body to the temple of the Dawnflower for cremation. "I'll take the documents we found in the doppelgangers' lair with me to the temple. Hopefully someone there can tell us how best to get them to the proper authorities," Feres suggests to his companions. "And hold onto the magic mirror for now. If we can find the right people to give the documents to, they may want the mirror as well to help them unmask the doppelgangers."

"Someone should go to Eligos' house to see if Allustan is with him - and to let him know what's happened if he's not."

With respect to buffing against the mind blast, Protection from Evil should help a bit. Although those of us with Cloaks of Resistance won't get as much benefit as those without. The duration is one minute per level, though.

Valgrim grumbles, "But the mirror's worth a lot and it was heavy as hell to fit into that bag...we'll let them borrow it, how about that? Or we can sell it to them? And be careful out there, you sure don't want company going to the Temple? You're wounded and out of spells, as are we all."

"We owe it to Ashka to see that she's given a proper funeral, and we should notify Eligos as quickly as possible. Perhaps we should all go to the temple together and then to see Eligos?"

"I would feel better if we all went, since every one of us is spent from the day's adventure."

"I agree, let's go. We owe that to her, Allustan, and Eligos."

"Those shapeshifting bastards will pay dearly for this."
Did Feres dispense any healing or are we still messed up?

"How could they do that to her? She never hurt anyone. Is it our f-f-fault?" Vug is distraught by the possibility. "Definitely, let's go see Eligos."

Did Feres dispense any healing or are we still messed up?

Yes, Feres used his last Channel to heal everyone 12 hp. We also have 3 Cure Moderate potions available for use.

The temple of Sarenrae does not seem to be very infiltrated according to your papers, probably because they tend to keep aloof from politics. As you tell your story high priest Ralibarn the wise, a sturdy bearded Tharbrian, looks increasingly upset, and vows, among a stream of Tharbrian curses, to help you sort this mess out. They are more than happy to give Ashka a hero's funeral and to heal all your wounds.

Will you sell them the mirror or just let them borrow it for now?

Eligos is disconcerted at the disappearance of his friend and urges you to make haste to find him.

Valgrim defers to Friar on how he wants to handle the mirror (borrow, sell, give away for free). It may be expensive but Friar has saved Vagrim more than enough times that he will abide by whatever he wishes to do.

Vug doesn't care one way or the other, either. She's much more interested in the memory-sucking apparatus! (From a technical standpoint only, of course.)

Feres thanks High Priest Ralibarn for arranging Ashka's funeral, the healing provided to his friends, and the offer for assistance with the doppelganger problem. "Your Grace, we also recovered a magical mirror that allows one to see the true form of a creature that is physically disguising its shape. It only works once a day for up to 10 minutes, but could be useful in unmasking the doppelgangers infiltrating the city. Is this something that the Temple would wish to purchase?"

"Also, would it be possible for my friends and I to rest here this evening? It may not be safe for us at the Crooked House," Feres comments, indicating Ashka's slain form.

Waiting to hear from you, BT.

The temple is happy to buy the mirror from you and also to let you sleep there as long as you like. High Priest Ralibarn also expresses a hope that you "give those bastards hell" and asks if you need some berserkers to accompany you. They have also finished enchanting Feres's scimitar. Did I forget anything?

What price do they pay for the mirror?

They offer you 5000 gp for it.

Sold! The party rests for the night and in the morning, Valgrim does a little shopping per the OOC thread and once the party is ready, we head off to the smithy.

In the moning, feeling quite refreshed, Bubba announces to the others that he would like to try something that might yield some information about Allustan's condition and surroundings. He remains at the the temple while Valgrim does his shopping.

Feres thanks High Priest Raliburn for granting his friends sanctuary at the temple for for enchanting his scimitar (Feres pays the High Priest 2000 gp for enhancing the scimitar).

"Some berserkers might be helpful," Feres responds to the High Priest's offer. "Valgrim? What do you think?"

Feres would like to check on Ilya Starmane to make sure she returned safely from the doppelgangers' hideout and to retrieve his masterwork crossbow before we head for the sewers.

Vug will go shopping with Valgrim as well, looking for a Headband of Intellect +2 and a Cloak of Resistance +1.

She also prepares an extract of Detect Thoughts and scans the two magic crystals.

"Sure, more berserkers, as long as they can fight." Valgrim puts them through some sparring sessions, as long as they're willing, and if he can tell their relative level of skill, he will then determine if they can come or he's leading them to the slaughter. After that, he goes shopping with Vug.

Bubba:

Vug:

Feres:

Valgrim:

You can easily purchase all the things you mentioned.

Valgrim thanks the High Priest for his offer and commends the bravery of his berserkers but politely declines. "These men would fall quickly and violently to the type of enemies we will face and I do not want their deaths on my conscience. I think we will do okay on our own." After his shopping spree, Valgrim gathers the party. "Well, we can expect the mind flayer will be ready for us, with his mind blast and magic. We can also expect to probably fight more dark elves and doppelgangers, since they seem to be his thralls. Vug, could you prepare another Fly extract and Enlarge Person for me? Those proved very useful last time. Detect invisibility and purge invisibility spells would be helpful as well for any unseen foes. Vug, Friar, and Vulcan, be prepared for drow darkness. At least we know his lair is underground, which helps me a little. That's all I have for now." Are we ready to go or do we have to wait another day? When ready, we head to the forge.

After he visits Ilya Starmane, Feres returns to the temple and repairs Vug's bow. Cast Make Whole on Vug's bow.

Do we want to talk to Eligos and see if he knows any more than we do about mind flayers and dark elves?

Sure, might help.

Bubba tells the others:

"As far as I can determine Allustan is safe and sound back in Wolfstone."

Bubba takes 20 on a knowledge check to learn something about squid-face Knowledge (dungeoneering) 20 + 9 = 29

Vug lovingly strokes her mended bow, but interrupts at the suggestion of entering the sewers. "Hang on, f-f-folks. These crystals have the memories of the nobleman Syra Viniira and the captain of the militia Durgan Shatterhelm. We better warn someone that they've probably been replaced by doppelgangers!!"

Vug prepares an extract of Fly and an extract of Enlarge Person for Valgrim, and an extract of Communal Darkvision for everyone to share. She'll also prepare an extract of See Invisibility for herself, and another for anyone else who wants one.

"I'll take a see invisibility drink. Does it taste as bad as the one that was supposed to make me grow wings?"

"Nice job, Vug. Let's share this information with the High Priest, so he can use the mirror he just bought from us to uncover the doubles. Maybe there's a reward from the city for us or the Church."

I don't think you can take 20 on a Knowledge check, but you can get a +5 by consulting the local library. Or ask Eligos or someone else knowledgeable.

Eligos is happy to receive you and a little confused at the news that Allustan is back in Wolfstone. It makes him wonder if if was the real Allustan that he met with.

With the information you provided the temple of Sarenrae and others, the remaining doppelgangers are captured or flee (you think). At least the back of infiltration scheme is broken.

Eligos can fill you in about the dungeon-dwelling menaces to about the level of what is common player knowledge - i e mindblast, extraction, spell resistance, poison use and so on.

You ready to go get them?

I say we go make teach those worthless bastards a lesson. Besides I think I may have picked up that lightning trick.

"Yes, let's go. But before we start nosing around, we should all take a sip from these two f-f-flasks. The f-first will let us see in the dark -- I guess Valgrim can skip that one -- and the second should protect us from electricity. The f-first will last a couple of hours, but the other one will only last about fifteen minutes."

"Oh, and to answer your question, Bub -- no, they don't taste terrible. They taste..." She gropes for the right word. "...distinctive. They definitely taste distinctive."

Extracts:

Any requests for spells you all would like Feres to prepare?

"Distinctive, eh?"

Not that it matters this time, but the Loremaster Bard class feature allows Bubba to take 20 on a knowledge check once per day, and take 10 on any Knowledge check he is trained in.

"Yes. You know...unforgettable," she adds vaguely.

Forgot about Loremaster, sorry. A 29 means that you can basically crack open a 3.5 MM if you need to. At least you can tell that they are not innate spellcasters, even if they have some spell-like abilities.

Feres, I would prefer you prepare another FoM. In my opinion, best spell in the book, arcane or divine.

How about Magic Circle against Evil or Communal Protection from Evil (from Ultimate Combat)? Note that Communal Resist Energy is also a cleric spell, but Vug prepared one anyways.

Yeah the Protection from Evil defense against mental influence is a big one in this scenario."

Vulcan chuckles at Vug's description of the concoctions. "As long as they keep us alive they're fine by me. We should save the electricity protection ones until just before we engage them."

Pro. Evil is also a good choice, as it will help with charms and/or possession. Freedom of movement helps with grapples, difficult terrain, underwater, slow/hold person spells, entangle, etc. And it's got an 80 minute duration if cast by Friar. Just sweet.

As the party heads over to the Cold Forge, Valgrim tells the group, "I feel I haven't been using my full skills to their maximum potential. Believe it or not, I can be quite quiet and stealthy, if I wish it. I feel I should be 30' in front of the party. I've got great movement and the best eyes in the party with darkvision so I should be able to spot any traps. Maybe this way, we'll catch surprise on someone instead of always reactin' to danger. I'm the hardiest so if there's danger, I can take a beatin' while dishin' some of my own. Same if I attract area spells from casters, I'll only get hit. What do ya think?"