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"So we have various contradictory rumours lets prepare for all of them to be true. We appear to have mention of red or blue sarini . Let us buy red and blue scarfs in case wearing your colours becomes important. If we are dealing with ghouls we may want to make sure the cleric has a couple of scrolls of remove paralysis and if ghosts a wand of magic missile may be a good purchase. I will get a grappling hook and restock on things to deal with swarms. Perhaps also a wand of protection from evil. If we have exhausted the intelligence gathering and made the appropriate purchases its probably time to head to the manor"
Grappling hook to attach to already owned rope which will now have some knots in it already. 3 flasks alchemists fire 4 flasks acid buying wand of protection from evil and 2 scrolls of 2nd level cleric spell remove paralysis (assuming 2nd level spells scrolls avaialble) scroll passed to dimple. 1+100+750+300 = 1151 for expenses
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Dimple walks with her arms full of equipment. "Well, I got stuff. Some of the stuff that melts bugs, a couple of bottles that melt things that are supposed to be dead but aren't (and try to eat people), and sticky bags. I'm late because I thought it was going to be full of honey or candy. It wasn't." She sets the items on the floor, "But, that's not the best thing. Guess who finally got her rainbow boots?" The gnome proudly presents her multi-hued footwear. "That's right. Me did! Aren't they just the best. It's like all of the colors." She looks askance at Vie, "All the realnotmadeup colors that is." Dimple licks her thumb, then bends over to rub off a scuff. "Yep, I gotta good feelin' about this trip."
She accepts the scrolls handed to her. "Oooo! Presents? But I didn't get you anything." She unfurls the first scroll to see what's inside. "Um, I think you forgot the actual gift. It goes inside. And why is all the scribbly design on the inside? It's like you've never wrapped anything before." The bard stares at the script for a moment. In a flash of realization, a sad sigh escapes her lips. "Wait, is this writing? You gave me stuff to read?" She starts walking toward the door, the length of the scroll dragging behind her in a long train. "Ugh! Reading is so boring. It's like a chore." She turns back to Fromagalli, "This is the worst present ever. It wasn't even fun to open cuz it was wrapped in itself. Who does that? It's like telling kids there's going to be dessert, then handing them bowl of cold wet broccoli." Dimple rolls the scroll back up, then points it accusingly at the ranger. "This may be the horriblest thing you have ever done. The next time you hand someone a present, make sure its fun...or cute...or a puppy. Not homework!" The gnome starts jamming everything into her pack "Stupid boys! 'Here Dimple, have a bunch of words so you can fall asleep'." She rips the scroll out again to view it on more time. "It's not even a poem!"
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"Catchy tune...'All Sarinis, red or blue, slit your throat or we’ll hang you too!'"
Smiling at the sight of the gnome, he offers "I bought a vial of stuff that makes stuff not sticky...so, if you throw yours at the wrong person...or something..."
"I also got me a new shiny piece of armor! Look it here."
"If you're all ready, shall we head out?"
The group finalizes any purchases and with all possible information gathered (as far as they know) they head out of town.
The Sarini Estate is located 10 miles northeast from Saringallow proper. It is along a road that is part of the trails known colloquially as the Conerica Paths; however, the specific path that leads to the Sarini Estate is known as Nobles’ Folly. The haughty Sarinis built the estate in a commanding position on a wooded hill looking out over the surrounding landscape, and for decades, it has remained virtually untouched. It takes roughly three hours for the PCs to reach the estate by foot, but two-thirds of the way there as the sun is setting into dusk, they hear a scream and see the following scene.
Some sixty feet ahead on the road, a villager is lying curled on the ground, his hands shielding his face from two ugly, blue-skinned creatures with oversized, wrinkly heads. A centipede as big as a large man hisses menacingly at the desperate, shaking villager, its mandibles oozing with venom. The monsters are covered in a greasy, purplish goo that seems to be growing from their very skin.
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis
Kasvot
Enemy Bug
Vie
Fromagalli
Dimple
Enemy Humanoids
Bold are up!
The blue humanoids are fiendish mites, CE Small sized Fey. They have a special connection to vermin, even being able to train them to be pets and mounts. They HATE dwarves and gnomes so... good luck! Lastly, you recall that they have an innate ability to cast spells, most likely something that instills fear in their target (doom).
The blue humanoids are fiendish mites, CE Small sized Fey. They have resistance to damage, but like many fey, are harmed by cold iron weapons (DR 2/Cold Iron). And just like the centipede, they also have Fire & Cold resistance (5) and Spell Resistance (5).
The blue humanoids are fiendish mites, CE Small sized Fey. In addition to what Dimple and Vie recall, you know that the mites' fiendish powers can harm good creatures more (Smite Good).
Liet-Gar rushes into battle, but leaves himself in position to take swipes at any enemies that come at the wary fighter. He has learned much since the last mission.
Niza moves forwards, her short legs trying to churn up the ground. While not getting very far, she does manage to activate a spell from her wand, warding her clothing. Kasvot uses the same type of magic, but doesn't move closer.
The many-legged fiend turns from its easy target and faces down with the half elf. As it moves in, Liet-Gar easily splits it down the middle, rendering it ineffective in combat as the two pieces writhe around in their death throes.
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis
Kasvot
Enemy Bug (-9 & DOWN)
Vie
Fromagalli
Dimple
Enemy Humanoids
Bold are up!
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Those are Mites from the First World. They are difficult to hurt with both fire and ice. Weapons of cold iron will work better on them. Looks at Liet-Gar, Though I suppose... cutting them in half works pretty well on most creatures.
While speaking, Vie steps forward and touches Niza on the shoulder.
Oddly enough, the purple goo covered blueish creatures do not seem to understand any of the yelling nor do they seem to care that the insect was bisected. One of them turns towards you all, confused and simply shrugs, "Yeung nung chak anak banteab daoy rngcham ven robsa anak." It stabs the human cowering on the ground who yelps in pain, but does not stop trying to protect his vital areas. The other one turns towards Liet-Gar and screams at him.
IC is up!
Liet-Gar
Niza (+1 to 1d20 rolls this round) & Albis
Kasvot
Enemy Bug (-9 & DOWN)
Vie
Fromagalli
Dimple
Enemy Humanoids
Human (-? HP)
Bold are up!
Fromagalli moves forwards with the inspiration from Dimple and Vie, his dagger zipping out, thunking cleanly into the chest of the far creature and then quickly snaps back into the half-elf's hand, blood dripping from the tip.
Just as it does, the other half-elf steps up and puts all his muscle into a downward swing at the south mite. The blade stops... about half-way through the creature's chest, jammed into its spine. With a gurgle it twitches once and stops moving, body stuck on the blade.
The other one glances over at his half-bisected ally, looks down at the blood spurting from the hole in its chest and collapses.
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Vie absently offers, One of you can use my wand on the villager if you want... Then he hurries over to examine the bodies. He will take samples of the goo, the mutated flesh, and the normal looking flesh. He intends to compare these with earlier samples to see if the magical signature is in any way different. I really need a baseline. Do any of you know where we might find some of these Mites that have not yet been altered by the morphologic colloid?
The villager continues cowering as the group appears to be frozen in inaction, other than Vie moving forwards to collect samples.
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Slowly wiping the weapon of destruction clean on his pantleg, LGZ turns to the cowering man. Keeping the weapon in hand, he inclines his head ever so slightly.
"Hello there. I'm Liet-Gar Zirulak. Judging by what we've seen that purple goo do lately, you're lucky we came along when we did. Did you get any on you? What are you called?"
"OH! Yes, by all means, you may stand. Can we call you a friend?"
The young man glances about at the dead creatures, body shuddering as the adrenaline fades. He slowly gets to his feet, "Oh god... I was sure I was done for. Tha... thank you." He checks himself over and winces as he puts pressure on the knife wound, ripping off a sleeve he quickly fashions a wrap and ties it round his chest.
With a sheepish glance, he looks around at the group, "I was uh... looking for a lost sheep. Yeah, that's it. These things just attacked me out of nowhere!"
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*YAWN*
"Uh.huh. I don't have time for this." pointing to the fallen creatures with his polearm, LGZ adds "You've seen what we can do, now don't lie to me. I don't care if you were out here playing pocket pool, everyone has to do something to enjoy life from time to time."
"Simple fact is we've got to stop the spread of this here goo stuff or things will get much worse. If you withhold or lie, that could prevent or derail our quest."
Stepping within range of the man, he smiles. *YAWN* stumbling over a rock, he drops his weapon. "Sorry...these fights take a lot out of me sometimes."
The young man doesn't seem to understand what Liet-Gar is talking about, but then Kasvot makes himself known and his eyes open up widely as he stares at the green-skinned humanoid. His body starts shaking again and you see a small wet spot growing down the front of his pants.
After a few moments he is jarred into speaking, "Ooorc... please don't eat me! I just... I'm sorry, I went to the Sarini estate on a dare! I had to get something to prove it and these little buggers attacked me as I got close. I don't know anything else oh my god please don't cook me!!!"
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The simple villager seems even more confused than before, possibly still terrified, maybe just not that smart.
"What does that mean? There's a choir in the village, but they only sing at special events. I didn't hear any singing at the estate but I got attacked before I got close. I don't know anyone else who has gone into the place though, certainly not to sing. Who are you all anyway?"
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"Don't be daft, you young fool. You said you went to the estate to get something. Did you get anything? That's what acquire means, not some stinking singing group!!!" Kasvot's ire, at first calculated to get a response, now grows naturally with the youth's seemingly deliberate misinterpretation of what the Pathfinders are asking.
The kid seems about ready to run off into the woods crying as the jerk pathfinders bully him relentlessly. Then a kind word from Dimple calms him down. He turns to her with a small smile and kneels to look her in the eye, "Hey, I don't like your friends, they are really mean. I never made it to the house, can I go home now?"
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"Oh don't worry about them. Most of them are really nice. Did you meet the bird? I've never seen himheritthey be mean to anyone." She points toward Vie, "He's new though, so I don't know if he's mean yet. Although he talks a lot." The bard leans in close, "By the way, I think you may have soiled yourself. You might want to have yer mom clean that up for you. But you should probably lay here until we leave, because they WILL laugh at you for that."
She turns back to the team, "Well now, shall we be moving along? Nothing else to see here. Smell, maybe. But certainly nothing to see."
After taking a quick look around, Dimple seems ready to continue to the estate.
The group allows the boy to head back to town, assured he knows nothing else and not willing to babysit him as they investigate obvious dangers at the estate. It takes a little over an hour before they see glimpses of a large building ahead through the trees.
The rusted, badly bent iron gate to this walled estate is dirty and hangs ajar, creaking gently in the breeze. The lawn is overgrown, and a thick tangle of vines has crept up the walls of the opulent estate building. An abandoned stable occupies the southwest corner of the grounds, and to the east, more buildings lie partly hidden behind bushes and crooked trees.
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Resources Used
Fromagalli: Longstrider Wand (1)
Liet-Gar: NA
Kasvot: Mage Armor Wand (1)
Dimple: NA
Niza: Mage Armor Wand (1)
Albis: NA
Vie: Mage Armor Wand (1)
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"Wow, the town really buys into this demon-talk, eh?" Kasvot investigates the rusty gate and overgrowth. "Superstition, likely, but still, we should be on our guard. Shall we check these outbuildings first, then head into the manor house itself? Best to make sure nothing can sneak up on us from behind."
The group quickly confers and plans to enter the estate, check the stable and grounds for enemies before moving onto the house to attempt to complete their mission.
As Liet-Gar tries to quietly slip through the rusted gate, he steps inside and...
...two familiar looking mites pop up out of the bush to his right and whip darts at him! As he turns to watch the first blade zip past his face he feels a thump in his back. He can quickly tell a second dart has lodged into his shoulder, grinding against his bone .
for
for
While no one noticed the mites hidden excellently in the bush. Vie does manage to realize there is a creature hiding in the other bush, ready to pounce on Liet-Gar. It is quite ugly.
Mites
Vie (Surprise Round Action Only)
Ugly Thing
Liet-Gar (-3 HP)
Dimple
Kasvot
Mites
Vie
Ugly Thing
Niza & Albis
Fromagalli
Bold are up, the mites are the same as previously ID'd. LGZ can roll an AoO if he wishes in case the ugly thing charges him.