Whisper in the Mists Epic 6 (Inactive)

Game Master Davachido

@Dava - agree heading back makes sense.

"You're an honorable man, Drak, but you underestimate the corruption of poison. To kill with a mere nick of a blade or a drip in some food is to lose respect for life."

The party does their best to hoist Agatha up, even making a stretcher out of 10 foot poles and a sheet of cloth. The party meets up with Chara, Brice, Sventon and Beren. They make brief introductions before spending the rest of the day heading back to town. On the edge of town Chara stops and says to the group.

"I ain't returning there until I come back with my friends, tell Solstin I'm alright. Just don't tell him I'm here, I will make camp. Promise to come get me when you are leaving!" Chara ends stubbornly.

When the group arrives in the Rum Runner, Beltzer the half-orc bartender greets them then sees the state of Brice and Agatha. "By the gods, wait here I shall go inquire after Korina she might have something!" With that Beltzer rushes out the door as quickly as he can.

Misha an elven woman wearing leather armour and a pair of pistols around her waist comes downstairs from the bedrooms and sees the group. "Wow, you guys don't look so good. I hope the trip to the mansion wasn't a total bust."

The group starts to recount what they did in their minds and considers what to do next.

If anybody wanted to swing by the tower with goblins they could do so

Trying to close the loop on joining the party. I'm assuming Malthu would agree with Drak and Rybal, and then they would propose joining forces with the other adventuring company.

With Beltzer running to fetch Korina to tend to both Brice and Agatha, there seems little else Malthu can do immediately. His thoughts move from the present to the future. "Drak, Rybal, what do we do from here? We have lost two of our company, and Agatha is in deadly peril. We are few in number, and the enemies we face are strong. But there's great evil afoot that must be stopped. Do we continue on our quest?"

There's a reason those things back at the mansion looked like dogs--cuz that's all they were. When a dog bites, you can put it down, sure, but you can't get mad at it. A dog's a dog. I want who's holding the leash. Find him, make him pay for what his pets did to our friends. I say we follow these visions from the stones back to the source. I don't know much about visions, but any of you finds the guy responsible from this, well, I wanna be there

If anybody wanted to swing by the tower with goblins they could do so

How much time would that take? Trogg's first priority will be getting the wounded to safety, but if it's just a minor detour (or something that can be done quickly after they return to town), he'll push for it. He plans to use earth elementals to scout behind the door in the hillside the goblin reported, then leave.

We continue Drak says to Malthu, and then continuing after a pause I will not have the deaths of our friends be in vain

Davachido wrote:

If anybody wanted to swing by the tower with goblins they could do so

How much time would that take? Trogg's first priority will be getting the wounded to safety, but if it's just a minor detour (or something that can be done quickly after they return to town), he'll push for it. He plans to use earth elementals to scout behind the door in the hillside the goblin reported, then leave.

We have a goblin guide that may not be available to us if we leave it too much longer - at the least lets make an initial visit to understand the area for ourselves, understand what we are looking at in terms of environment, area and so on as well as question the goblin more on the inhabitants - it helps spell selection, preparation etc.

It should only be a minor detour to drop by the place as you just wanted to check up. Several of you can drop by while the rest take the road with the wounded.

Back in town

Beltzer walks back in with Korina, a very old blind catfolk lady with a walking stick. She has a very simple dress on with a small coat over her shoulders to keep her warm. She is very thin although she looks very solid, her movements aren't stiff they are very fluid and purposeful. Despite her blindness she finds her way to the group quite easily.

"I sense two very ill people..." She says, her phrase beginning with a perky inflection that drops be the end of the sentence.

"Let me have a poke." She poses her walking stick on one of the tables then runs her hands over the two wounded people. She has a good whiff of them and pokes them every so often in different places. Eventually she stops and sits down. "This boy here, is not beyond repair though I need to make some remedies for you so your organs are not rejected. Your body will otherwise fight against itself, I have no way to repair the damage it has done to you already but I can alleviate further problems arriving. You will have to stay with me, would this be acceptable?" Brice nods at Korina.

She then turns her head in the direction of Agatha. "This one, I can keep stable but her poison runs deep, it is a magical poison that is more powerful then my blessings of Esmariah can cope with. It will eventually kill her, it is slow acting due to the magical aid she has been given. However there is a way, there is a magical plant that grows for the earth of lava, found deep in the mountains. The plant is called Iridescent vine. If you able to return to me some of that plant I should be able to heal here." She shakes her head. "I can keep her safe but that is all I am able to do for the moment."

Malthu frowns at the news. "Korina, Agatha here is one of our companions. How long do you think we have to find this Iridescent Vine? And how will we recognize it?"

"Is this 'Iridescent Vine' found in caves, or will we have to search solid rock or molten lava to find it?"

Not to show ingratitude but how do you even know of such a thing? Drak says suspicious but hopeful.

Drak is more used to catching criminals then talking with healers but if there is even a chance he can save Agatha's life he will take it.

Korina smiles at Malthu "Agatha is a wonderful name, she is strong and she shall last a while. I give her maybe 2 months in this state, provided it does not worsen but if I watch over the girl I thing she should be fine. The vine is easy to spot though hard to locate." She realises that sounds a little and clicks her tongue on the back of her fangs.

"Sorry dear, what I mean is that it is a brightly coloured vine that grows on cave walls near to the lava of the Volcano. It is multicoloured similar to the coloured earth around the mountain. However it requires the head provided from lava to grow as opposed to the sun so it is found deep in the caves." She takes her walking stick and rests her hands on it.

Korina tilts her head in the direction of Drak "I know of such a thing as I used to be like you all, a fine young lady that would wander the world in search of adventurer and glory. I have used the vine before though I much too old to find it now. As you can see my sight has abandoned me and my body will likely fold under the dangers that the world presents. My magic thankfully has not left so I use it to aid others that want to travel just like I did in my youth." She gives a short laugh then hums, likely reminiscing on her past.

"Well if the victims can be saved, then today has not ended completely in darkness. And the mystery is slowly unfolding, I can feel it. I think getting through that door in the mountainside should be our tomorrow's journey. The goblins have moved into the tower and are renovating it now, but seemed content and were not quarreling."

Rybal is quiet as he watches the blind woman. Though he is huge and imposing, he approaches a bit hesitantly, almost as if he fears Korina.

Thank you, ma'am, for helping our friend. We will see to it that you get your vine, and if it can do as you say, I will owe you one.

The half orc removes his breastplate with a wince. His back, chest, neck, and shoulders are covered in scars that create different arcane patterns around his body. Among them is a large wound, crusted with blood, fresh from the mistfiend's attack. Rybal rips off the shirt cloth covering the wound and picks at it, turning sheepishly to the kitsune healer.

Got anything for this? Looks like my armor didn't hold up as good as I remembered...

On the way back to town, Rikaku muses about the vision he saw... and then suddenly gasps, remembering where he had heard the name 'Lionel'.

"Jazz found from abandoned house. Rikaku and Trogg not there, but hear after. Letter to Lionel. Varis-friend! So we talk to Varis, we find Lionel."

----

Rikaku is strangely interested in the old cat-woman, curiously watching her in relative silence all throughout their time at her home. He seems much more interested in her than in the boring details of how Brice and Agatha would be healed. However, he grimaces when she starts talking about lava.

"Ergh. Rikaku no like volcano. Burning hot, always hot. Rikaku is cold-blooded!"

Korina sniffs the air. "Oh my, you were hiding that well underneath your armour. Let me tend to that."

The catfolk places her hands softly on Rybal's back. Slowly she waves her hands back and forth weaving them through the air. Rybal feels a sharp tug at his back as he feels the opening begin to close. She massages the gap, pinching each edge closed. The excess blood flowing out into the magic she is conjuring and then vanishing.

Healing: 3d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 2, 4) + 7 = 18

She then pats Rybal on the shoulder. "There we go dearie, should be as good as new. Don't forget to play nice" Korina gives Rybal a big smile.

Misha who has been watching the whole exchange sits down next to Rikaku "Doesn't that mean you would feel better near heat? I thought lizards like getting some energy into them through heat?" She asks the Kobold curiously.

The exploration of the mansion isn't completely finished but you could pick up the goblin, finish off the mansion and then keep going north as that is the direction you are headed in anyway if you are going to investigate the door. Up to you all how you tackle this though. :)

There is of course the house of the halfling someone brought up earlier, you could do that before going to sleep.

I like getting the goblin, finishing the mansion - we'll need some sort of Area attack to deal with flying leaches or a s++* load of salt.... hmmm - Idea

I am curious... thinking of that room of airbourne leeches, just how much salt can I get here? - I may need a couple of pounds of it. Would it be for sale in any large quantity? If not that then we'll need some sort of area attacking spell... or possibly splashing acid through the air, though that does sound like a poor enterprise at best.

Bestiary doesnt discuss salt and leeches so not sure if it will work but putting salt on a leech normally is bad for the leech...

Malthu marvels as Rybal's wounds are closed together, and then vanish. "Korina, your healing is very powerful. Do you have strength to heal the rest of us? Drak and I were singed by electricity from a mistfiend, though he was quicker about getting out of the way."

Finishing the mansion seems good to me.

Drak nods in agreement with Malthu, then realizes it was probably a wasted gesture based upon the fact he is dealing with a blind healer.

Errr.. He begins rather embarrassed We had the worst of it treated immediately yet some lingering effects remain. It would be most kind of you if you could relieve the rest of the injuries. A light touch is all I require.

Rybal is shocked as a mere touch from the woman instantly heals his grievous wound.

He fidgets nervously, as though he can't comprehend the kindness of a stranger.

Thank you, ma'am, I...I have no coin to pay you with, but I do have this here bauble.

The soldier produces the colorless orb that was once a mistfiend.

The creature that gave me that wound, it turned into this gem when we killed it. I don't know if it's worth much, but you're welcome to it as payment.

Rybal hands it over if she'll take it, steps back, hesitates, then continues: I think its energy is spent now, but when I picked it up I saw a man in white speaking with a halfling. Do you know of any halfling families here in town?

I like getting the goblin, finishing the mansion - we'll need some sort of Area attack to deal with flying leaches or a s@%! load of salt.... hmmm - Idea

I am curious... thinking of that room of airbourne leeches, just how much salt can I get here? - I may need a couple of pounds of it. Would it be for sale in any large quantity? If not that then we'll need some sort of area attacking spell... or possibly splashing acid through the air, though that does sound like a poor enterprise at best.

Bestiary doesnt discuss salt and leeches so not sure if it will work but putting salt on a leech normally is bad for the leech...

"I could summon swarms of bats, they might distract the leeches long enough for us to kill the thing on the ceiling," Trogg says, then glances at the rest of the party. "Besides my sling and Rikaku's magic, do we have any ranged weapons? That thing was out of reach of polearms."

"Do we have any other magical options to take out the swarm? I had hoped to call earth spirits to scout around the door into the hillside, then break down the rock to get around the door." I've got 2 second level slots, so I'll probably put Summon Swarm (or Stone Call?) into both of them then turn any that remain after the leeches into SNA II (earth elemental).

Would it be possible for Trogg to buy or otherwise acquire a scroll of Soften Earth and Stone?

@Variel: There is nothing in the monster block but I'll make something up if you go with that plan. Probably like they do less damage or you do more damage to them or turn it into a damaging attack all to its own.

Korina takes the orb and nods. "I do not need a reason to help you but thank you all the same. I shall treasure this orb." She has a think and shakes her head at the question about the halflings.

Beltzer (The bartender) having overheard the conversation says "There are several families, they all live in the same part of town. It is the area nearest to the smithy. Can't miss 'em the houses are a little smaller than the rest." Beltzer continues to clean the bar while the others talk.

Korina smiles at Malthu when he asks for healing "Of course child" she walks up to Malthu and takes him by the hand. Korina then leads him next to Drak and she embraces both of them in a hug.

"May Esmariah protect you both." As she says this you feel almost like her arms a sanctuary. It feels like a mother's arms.

healing: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6) = 10 This is to both of you.

She pulls away, "Play nice out there." She poses one index finger on each of the pair's noses and gives them a soft poke. Before going to check on the wounded again.

@Trogg: Yes it would be easy to find a scroll in the local shops.

Misha who has been watching the whole exchange sits down next to Rikaku "Doesn't that mean you would feel better near heat? I thought lizards like getting some energy into them through heat?" She asks the Kobold curiously.

Rikaku stares at Misha incredulously, somewhat shocked, somewhat mocking. "Silly big-folk, no understand! Rikaku not lizard. No need to sun self on rock. Dragon connect to magical energy in world around. White dragon live in snow and ice. Cold energises us! But fire melts us away."

With the group discussing their next plan of action, Rikaku pipes up. "Rikaku want see Varis as well, ask about Lionel."

Giant leeches have a vulnerability to salt so a flying leech swarm might have something similar! Maybe we could fill a couple of flasks up with salt to use like alchemical weapons?

Also, Rikaku would like to go pay Varis a visit either this afternoon or before they leave tomorrow.

So is the plan then people investigate around town? Rikaku is going off to Varis, a few of the others to investigate the halflings? Then in the morning swing by and grab Gora, go to the mansion then go to the doorway?

Variel goes shopping for a pair of pound back of salt before they leave.

Any of you more...gentle folk wanna come with me to find this halfling? To the little ones I can look a bit fearsome.

That seems to be the plan, yes. :)

"Thank you, Korina. We are honored by your gift to us and truly in your debt for helping Agatha. Ask of my help and I will aid you. May Sarenrae light your way." Malthu bows to the motherly catfolk.

To Rybal's statement:

"The big ones find us fearsome as well, but that's never stopped us. Let's be on our way."

"I'll go with Rikaku to question Varis about this Lionel character somewhere, and then we'll find you afterwards at the Halfling houses."

If my skills may of ever be of use please call upon me.

Drak gives a respectful bow - a gesture he reserves only for the most special of occasions but this one is certainly fitting.

So far it seems Rikaku + Jazz to Varis, Rybal + Malthu to the halflings. For the others pick where you'd like to go and read on or suggest something else if you wish

Near the Blacksmith

The group arrives at the Smithy's shop, quite easy to spot it is as Beltzer says the largest building out amongst a small group of shorter buildings. As the group approaches they can hear the clanking of a hammer against steel. The air of the bellows accompanying the sounds in a symphony any smithy learns to love. Inside the shop the group sees a human blacksmith working away with some halflings helping pack some things up for days end. One of the helpers spots the group and walks over, she is carrying several fresh weapons wrapped in a cloth.

The halfling woman is clad in workers overalls and a bandana protecting her hair. She is quite perky despite the weariness that is plain across her face. "Good evening fellas, what can I do ya for? We can sell a few things now but repairs will have ta wait till morning."

Varis's house

The group approaches Varis's house and knocks on the door. Varis opens it shortly after and welcomes his guests inside. The place is far more homely that the last time a few came to visit, the papers have been tidied away. There is no poisonous drink left behind and most of the gear has been packed away again. Varis has a worried look on his face.

"Hello again friends, should I be happy for your visit or sad? It would be wonderful news to hear that you've found the missing people but I don't think that's what you are here to discuss. Might I offer you a drink?"

Drak will go with Rybal and Malthu.

Looks like we are off again eh fellas. Also if you need someone to talk you know I'm your guy although Malthu has a way with words as well.

"Good evening, miss." replies Malthu to the halfling. "No weapons for us this evening - instead, we have some questions. Do you know of any halflings that have gone missing lately?"

The halfling rubs the back of her neck. "Oh ay, this tidbit. Yes ser, there has been disappearances I'm afraid. One whole family in fact. For different reasons I suspect, draw your own conclusions though. The Autard family, the parents and one of their children disappeared on a trip towards Two sisters to the South. I think there were attacked by bandits, but what do I know I work here." She shrugs and then continues her story.

"The daughter Betina was distraught, cooped up in her home all day. Then just one day, poof. No longer there. No-one saw her leave town, not even the town guard. She didn't even leave with anything, all her stuff is still in her house. Most of my kin think her house is haunted so we left it alone. Hows about you, what you think happened?" The halfling asks.

Fey influences I fear... and something worse. We must investigate further

Between Mistfiends, and an encounter with a Siren this provides a picture of Fey involvement but there is powerful magics driving things behind the background that we are unsure of when it comes to who is directing this and why

"That's what we're here to find out. Who went into the house after Betina disappeared? And can you describe where we'd find the Autard home?"

Feel free to chime in with any other questions.

Drak chimes in.

That is what we are trying to determine.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Tell me my halfling friend, is there any other assistance you could provide? A map of the place prehaps or a way into the place that might not be commonly known? It really is in the best interest of everyone that we get to the bottom of this.

Sorry, busy day. Just wanted to say I'm still following along. Rybal isn't always the best conversationalist anyway, hehe.

"Hello again friends, should I be happy for your visit or sad? It would be wonderful news to hear that you've found the missing people but I don't think that's what you are here to discuss. Might I offer you a drink?"

"Hi there. Rikaku want just water," the kobold chirps up, not bothering with too much in the way of politeness. He skitters inside of Varis' home, quick to take a seat on a comfy-looking chair before he continues with his line of questioning.

"Who Lionel?" he asks directly, obviously not one to beat around the bush. "Jazz found letter you written to Lionel. I think he involve with disappearings. Varis know where Lionel is now?"

Blacksmith

Oh the home is easy to find, just go over yonder" She points in a direction. "It'll be the only halfling house without any lights on or a lamp on the front door. After all no-one to maintain it."

The halfling thinks a minute then shouts behind "Hey Robbie, which one found the Autard house empty?!" A voice shouts back "Ruber, ya loon! He was worried that Clarissa hadn't turned up for work for a few days!"

The halfling looks a little embarrassed "Ah yes that makes sense, Ruber is the blacksmith here. He walked into the house to looks for Clarissa."

The halfling looks around, then up at Drak "Oh for you?" She gives the man a warm smile "Well, all the halfling homes have an escape route in them. Check downstairs usually behind a bookcase or under the carpets. Shh, though don't let that go around. We're pretty sure Clarissa didn't leave through there since they are locked from the outside and weren't opened."

At Varis's house

Varis pours a glass of water for Rikaku and places it on the small table next to where Rikaku is sitting. "Lionel involved with the disappearances?! He lives miles away from here, I don't see how he could be. Lionel was a conta.. friend really who was providing me with equipment and potions to keep the maddening visions down." Varis shifts uncomfortably around in his chair "If .. if it helps he was on the run from a shady sort, something about people he's killed. He didn't murder no-one but he was a soldier a good one at that. Maybe he just tangled with the wrong person one day I don't know..."

"No doubt you feel inclined to protect your friend Lionel, if his past is as shady as you let on, but we need to talk to him. We don't suspect him of being behind these disappearances, but our research shows that he is involved somehow, and he could hopefully answer a few of our questions."

"Where can we find him, please?"

Diplomacy 1d20 ⇒ 10

Thank you, miss Rybal says awkwardly. He moves a couple steps toward the Autard house and waits for the others, fidgeting a bit.

Trogg catches up with his new-found allies outside the Autard house. "So they say the house is haunted, do they?"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Also casting detect magic and using Spirit Sense. What is the house made of?

Malthu nods at the halfling. "Thanks miss. Your secret is safe with us. One last question from me: Where might we find Ruber?"

Blacksmith

Trogg sees that house is mostly made out of wood. Spirit sense does not gain much however detect magic has a strong lingering aura left behind by something.

The halfling says "Oh, he's still smithing away back there. Oy, Boss? Some nice folks want to talk to ya here!"

A human with a smithy overalls and a hammer in one of the pockets walks up to the group. He is whipping his hands down with a cloth. "Good eve to y'all. Might I be able to help you?"

Dividing the scene a bit but we can do the house inspect at the same time as this conversation. Just in terms of timescale the inspections happens afterwards.

Varis's house

Varis fidgets a little "Lionel lives ages away from here, unless you want to travel a few weeks to see him I doubt you'd get to him. Is this of vital importance? I mean I can send a hawk like I usually do, he usually replies to those letters." Varis looks at the pair in front of him for a bit.

"I have some of his old work stuff, are you just trying to find out what he does? That might help?" He says trying to find something else that might help you.

"Hmmm... give us the things you have on him. We might be able to piece it together with some more information. Rikaku here knows the most about Lionel's involvement..." Jazz looks at the Kobold to let him decide if a hawk should be sent to bring Lionel for questioning.

Rikaku frowns at Varis, wondering why he is so fidgetty about Lionel. He takes a long sip of his glass of water as he observes the half-elf.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17 Does he seem like he's hiding something or knows something more?

"Rikaku want talk Lionel really. But anything is okay. Let me look old stuff, then we see to write letter after. Maybe, maybe not?" He smiles toothily, something that probably seems more horrifying than the kobold intends. "No worry Varis. Lionel no in trouble. Don't need anything much. He not really much related, just think he know someone that disappear is all."

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Once Varis is out of ear-shot to get whatever of Lionel's he owns, Rikaku switches languages to Draconic to speak with Jazz, careful to keep his voice low.

"I think those orbs the mistfiends dropped have memories in them. People who agree to have their 'desires' met by this man in white maybe get turned into the mistfiends, or maybe a part of them is used to create them... I'm not sure. In any case, I don't think we'll get much out of sending a hawk to Lionel. If I'm right... he's not there anymore. It might even be dangerous... it might alert the man in white that we're looking into him."

"In the vision I saw... the man in white asked, 'do you and your friends need safety?' And we know that Varis was taken to the tower... maybe that was part of the man in white's bargain. He'd 'save' Lionel's friends, like Varis... at the cost of... well, who knows. Anyway, we should read this stuff about Lionel and try to understand more."

Malthu heads to the back of the smithy to find Ruber. "Well met, Ruber. I'm Malthu and I and my companions here are trying to figure out what happened to the Autard family. We heard you discovered them missing a little while back. Can you tell me what you remember from that day?"

"Memories from the people who've gone?" Jazz says, squatting down next to Rikaku to better communicate in the still unfamiliar Draconic tongue. "I don't like the idea that the mistfiends all once were people... because then we be killing someone every time we kill mistfiends. But let's read about Varis and talk to the others at the Halfling housing."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"Indeed. I'm Drak, catcher of thieves, but right now what interests us are the disappearances of several halflings. Anything you could provide would be of great assistance. Several of our friends have already fallen and I would not see them pass in vain"

Drak trails off then continues after a moment "Please think hard friend" Drak tells the smith.