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Wadi slowly approaches the young woman his hands out showing no weapons in a gesture of peace, "Hullo there friend, we have traveled from afar and come here on the request of another soul, Adler Vanderhol, who says this village faces peril and needs help. Who may you be and what can you tell us of what happened here?"
"I see..." the woman remarks, her eyes flitting around between each of you before nervously shifting to the side, in the direction of the pounding surf. "I'm Lira Saruven, priestess of our simple temple here. While it may not look like much," she smiles wanly at Sheela, "we do our best for the Dark Prince." As she speaks, she pulls a tarnished holy symbol of Asmodeus from under her robe.
"As to Blackcove's current state...the sea nurtures, but it is a jealous mother not to be refused when the debt comes due," Lira remarks cryptically. "If you would help...if you're not afraid...then come to the lighthouse at sundown. That is where we were heading, if you'd like to walk with us?"
During Lira's little introduction and speech, Luurg takes the time to scrutinize the priestess and the three other congregants behind her. Though Lira's three companions have their hoods pulled down to shield themselves from the wind and rain Luurg catches glimpses of the same pallid, waxy skin and thin, wispy hair. Come to think of it, Nick and his fisherman buddies all bore similar features as well. They don't seem to be armed or armored.
Although Lira's holy symbol of Asmodeus is clearly the real deal, you get the sense that her possessing it is more a matter of keeping up appearances than real, genuine conviction or worship.
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McKieg's brow furrows, regarding the priestess of Asmodeus. Not a particularly zealous cleric, is she?
"A debt due the sea? That sounds ominous, indeed. From the looks of your hamlet, the debt must be more than you've been able to repay."
A paranoid dwarf might worry that the villagers see a way to settle the accounts by sacrificing a group of unsuspecting visitors offering to help.
He nods, agreeing to accompany the priestess and her trio of unhealthy-looking, "So tell us, Lira Saruven, what transpires at the lighthouse?"
What could be the cause of the villagers' pallid, waxy skin and thin, wispy hair? A curse? Disease? Malnutrition?
"My people know the dangers of tides and storms but have never found reason to stay ashore," Lira replies vaguely as she gestures for the group to backtrack down the stairs. "But that said...we're having what you might call a town meeting at sunset. To talk about the recent matters and...what to do about them."
McKieg studies Lira and her congregants as well, though his eye is specifically tuned towards their health. While it certainly could be possible that the remaining villagers are all suffering from malnutrition, he's quickly able to rule that out as he notes that all four individuals seem to be at healthy weights. As for disease...if it is a disease, or even a curse, it's got to be something extremely rare, that McKieg has never encountered before.
But there's also another option, one that carries its own disturbing implications. Lira and Nick and everyone else that the group have encountered in Blackcove are certainly human, no question about it. And yet...all of them bear the same odd physical features. Could it be possible that they were all simply born this way? But if so, how and why?
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Adyr eyes the priestess suspiciously.
"The SEA NURTURE?...JEALOUS MOTHER?"
Adyr has a perplexed look on his face as he continues, "I don't think Asmodeus has any dominion over the sea... of all the false gods... he's the worst...but HE is a HE... not a SHE. Do these people know what they are talking about?"
Lira furrows her brows, frowning at Adyr. "There's no need to be rude, you know. What do outsiders know of life here in Blackcove? Or in Cheliax? We do what we need to do so folks will leave us in peace."
She seems sincere, as best as you can tell. And tarnished though it is, the holy symbol of Asmodeus is the real deal.
While Lira's holy symbol of Asmodeus seems to be the real deal, you get the distinct impression that it may be more for show than genuine worship - especially given her words to Adyr.
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Luurg nods as the group goes to move down the stairs. He back tracks back down to the beach. Asmodeus. Name sound familiar but not someting I musta paid too close a look.
Luurg, being quite the shaman himself, also notices their weird skin "Why yous skin so weird for oomies? You need more fruits mebe. Luurg real gud med'cin man. Help fix you ok?"
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Wadi watches the interchange silently between the Asmodean priestess and correctly reads her actions. Being from Cheliax himself he knew all too well the lengths one must go through to 'worship' the Lord Asmodeus.
"Forgive us, we meant no offense. We all know how completely the Dark Prince is venerated in ALL of the land of Cheliax," Wadi adds smoothly, "It has been a long journey for us and a tiring one for some. Perhaps we should join you for this meeting. You say it is taking place at the lighthouse? Would you care to escort us there later?"
"I'm glad there are a few among you who seem to understand," Lira replies with a small, knowing smile as she ushers you all back down the stone steps. "Since I understand now that you aren't with the government I'll say this - our beliefs shift with the tides and with the direction of the wind. There are nearly as many gods as stars in the sky...and we pay homage to each as our circumstances dictate."
Though it's not quite sunset yet all of you agree that accompanying Lira and her congregants to the lighthouse seems like the most sensible option at this point. As you follow her, she shoots a glance back at Luurg.
"As for our physical health...well, this is one of the many reasons we prefer to just be left alone. I know we look...unique...compared to other outsiders like yourselves but this is way it's always been in Blackcove." She shakes her head. "But outsiders don't understand. At best they just stare...at worst, they whisper of witchcraft and curses or even inbreeding."
Lira snorts derisively. "Just because we're isolated doesn't mean that we're depraved fools. There are other fishing communities that dot the coast; sometimes one of our own will marry outside the community and sometimes others will marry in. It's not discouraged at all."
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You follow Lira along the sandy path that hugs the nearby cliffs until you reach a series of rocks that jut out of the sea, leading out to Blackcove's lighthouse. The imposing structure rests on a jagged stretch of rock that juts out several hundred feet from shore. The crashing waves have worn away most of its paint, yet the lighthouse gleams a dirty bone white against the dark cliffs of the cove. Large windows punctuate the cardinal directions on the second floor, and the top story glows with a bright red light of obviously arcane origin.
Close by you can also see the grounded keelboat that Tiffany saw on her flight earlier, buried in the sand. Large piles of washed-up junk, nets, glass floats, and other debris litter the beach here. A gaunt-looking figure huddles nearby, apparently rifling through the piles of debris.
"Euhhh...that's Bartock," Lira mutters, noticing your curious looks. "He's a bit touched in the head, I'm afraid, always raving about this and that. But...he does often pull useful things from the sea and from the beaches. Sometimes we barter with him for that reason but otherwise...we try to steer clear."
Turning her attention back to the rocky path, Lira explains, "You can walk these rocks to the lighthouse but I don't recommend it if you're not used to it. It's quite slippery even at the best of times. That's why Gervus keeps his rowboat handy to ferry the young and the less spry. He should be close by."
The priestess squints for a moment as she peers around and then points at a figure down on the beach, a small rowboat beached on the sand nearby. "Ah, there he is! Gervus!" Lira calls and waves to get the man's attention. "We've got some more work for you to do!"
The man looks up and waves in return, beckoning everyone to approach.
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"You do look unique. If it helps, most of us would be hypocrites if we accused you of being unique." Sheela laughs and points at her pearl white skin and red-green locks of hair. "Luurg here can fly like a butterfly, with actual butterfly wings. None of us are going to accuse you of any trickery, we don't have a foundation to stand on."
Sheela gives a curious look to Bartock. Reminds me of some Goblins I met once... "Oh, Gervus. I'll certainly take a ride. I will have problems with those rocks."
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Luurg walks along with the others, enjoying his bare toes in the wet sand of the beach, remembering back to days long lost when he was young. Swim over dare, cut dem ropes Luurg just like we told ya else you'll get it!
He snaps to as they come across the guy and his boat and junk. Luurg squints his eyes and waves towards the creature, smiling. "Is ok, some people like being by dem selfs. Luurg lib by 'imself long time."
He waits for the boat with the others, rubbing his belly and dragging out a handful of half grapes, half raisins. "Ungry? Have some, gud stuffs."
"Oh yes, there's still time before the assembly," Lira nods to McKieg. "We mainly wanted to head over before the weather gets any worse. It's not too bad right now but if you live by the sea long enough...or have a connection to the elements...you learn to sense these things. And I'm certain that there's a storm coming in," she continues, staring up at the dark, cloudy sky.
Lira looks a little startled by Tiffany's sudden outburst but quickly collects herself. "Look, it's...well, if you go talk to him then you'll see for yourself. Some folks think maybe he found something washed up on the beach that he should've left alone. But me? I think he's just spent too much time out by himself, wandering the beaches and sailing the coastline."
"That said, the rest of us will go on ahead if you want to talk to Bartock and I'll tell Gervus to wait for you," Lira continues. "He won't mind, he's a chatty sort and likes talking with the visitors we do get."
With that, Lira and her congregants head down onto the beach and begin climbing into the small rowboat. You can see the priestess pausing for a moment to speak with Gervus and gesturing back up in your general direction. The man follows her gaze and then nods, flashing you all a surprisingly cheerful 'thumbs up' before shoving his boat into the water and making for the lighthouse.
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You carefully pick your way down the western side of the rocks and onto the beach, curiously but cautiously heading towards Bartock and his piles of junk and debris. As if sensing that he's being watched he looks up and over his shoulder, eyes widening as he sees the unique procession of visitors heading his way.
Leaping to his feet he starts ambling towards you, picking sand and bits of seaweed from his clothes. "Praise th' sea, praise th' sea, our deliverance is at hand! Knew ye'd come, knew Adler would send us some help," he crows, hands and arms outstretched towards you. Though he bears the same 'look' as Lira and all the other villagers you've met Bartock is also surprisingly gaunt and sunburned, with a long, scraggly beard and a wild-eyed stare.
"Bartock knew, Bartock knew ye'd come t' save us," the man continues, nodding as if to himself. "And Bartock always pays his debts, he does. What can Bartock do for th' saviors of Blackcove?"
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Seeing how no one else wanted some grap-sins Luurg pops them in his mouth with one swift motion and heads with the others towards the pile of stuff and its keeper. "Hey dare mang, I'mma Luurg n yer right, we's here ta help!" He smiles and offers a handshake.
"You lookin' ungry, you ungry? Luurg got some real gud fruits, eatsum." He pulls out a couple ripe oranges and holds them out for the taking.
"You're here to save us, ain'tcha?" Bartock asks, giving McKieg a squinty-eyed stare. "Then that means Bartock owes ye a debt! And Bartock always repays his debts, he does."
He accepts Luurg's oranges, ravenously ripping the peeling from one and simply biting into it like one would bite into an apple. Juice sprays in all directions as he continues speaking, "Thank ye Mister Luurg, this hits th' spot, it does! Saviors of th' town an' happy to share a meal with an old man t' boot - Bartock owes ye many a debt an' Bartock'll repay 'em, just you see."
After taking a moment to finish eating his oranges Bartock wipes his hands on his shirt. "Now ye had questions an' Bartock'll give answers, the best answers he can muster..."
"Bartock, have you seen anything strange here? Other than, well, no one really being here. Those fishermen were weirdos, and we found a skum inside the alchemist's shop. Maybe the alchemist himself!"
Bartock glances around nervously and leans in close, replying in an almost conspiratorial tone, "Ye watch out fer that 'un! He tried t' take th' water's gift from our very veins, he did!"
"What's in the lighthouse, anyway?"
"Have you seen anyone else trying to flee, or possibly anything approaching the lighthouse, or anywhere else?"
"Us! What's left of us, anyway," Bartock replies. "Bartock's watched 'em creep from their houses an' shops, all headed for th' lighthouse. Safest place, safest place, only one way in an' only one way out!"
To both Luurg and McKieg's trained eyes Bartock certainly seems to be a few bricks shy of a load but likely harmless. While it's hard for McKieg to get any further read on the rambling man Adyr's more aloof approach grants him some insight...
He's definitely a little crazy but you get the feeling that he's being truthful about his desire to help you and with his answers to your questions, as vague and rambling as they are.
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Luurg smiles as the man enjoys his offering "Real gud eh mang? Real good." He repeats to himself for his own confirmation as he takes out another, expertly slicing away the rind with his teeth and enjoying the sweet juices.
"So dem people go to the bright house but don't come back out? Where all dem ladies and kiddies? Dat holy lady only one we seen. Luurg not much for orc ladies, but you don't see mang wid no ladies much." His eyes start to wander to the man's pile of scavenged treasures.
"You find anyting gud from da sea? We found big squid arm up dare." He turns and points up into the town. He sticks Leafy deep into the sand as he talks, liking to use his hands for both speaking and eating. He quickly realizes his mistake though and pulls it out and apologizes to his sapling friend "Whoops, real sorry Leafy, Luurg forget you no like salty water so gud. Get you some gud water soon ok? Ok."
Luurg is obviously very at home speaking with the man. He gets along well with loners and outcasts for reasons you can likely pick out quickly.
"Squid, ye say??? Was it fresh? Might make for some good eatin' if it's still halfway fresh," Bartock asks with a toothy grin. But as quick as it appeared it's gone as Luurg asks about the lighthouse and the missing citizens of Blackcove.
"No, ye got it all wrong," he shakes his head rapidly. "The lighthouse is safety, y'see? Can't leave Blackcove, can't leave our home. Where else would old Bartock and his neighbors go? No one'd want the entire lot of us."
He gestures out towards the lighthouse where you can see Gervus helping Lira and her companions out of his small boat. "So th' lighthouse is where we all be headed, y'see? Safe there, only one way in, only one way out. Safer in numbers, from th' things that creep out of th' sea. What's left of us, they're all there - th' women, th' youngins, everyone."
Bartock pauses and peers intently at each of you. "An' I reckon you'll be goin' too, eh? Nick'll prob'ly want t' speak to ye if ye ain't met 'im already; he's th' law here in Blackcove an' since you're here t' save us then he'll likely want t' know."
"But don't ye worry, Bartock'll treat ye well until ye go, do what can t' help ye. Bartock pulls all sorts of treasures an' things from th' sea, he does..."
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"Ain't seen nothin' different than what anyone else here's seen which's been a whole lot of nothin' 'till recently," Bartock responds, either unperturbed by or possibly ignoring Adyr's intensity. "Used t' be they'd come for folks in th' night but lately, lately they've been growin' bolder an' bolder, snatchin' folks even in broad daylight!"
"An' of course they looked like fish-men! What else d'think they'd look like??" he continues, an incredulous expression on his face. "But if you're wantin' to know more 'bout 'em then that's one question Bartock can't help ye with. Nick or Gervus or one of th' others, they might be knowin' more, though. Bartock just does his best t' keep pullin' treasures from th' sand an' waves without gettin' snatched up too!"
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"Oh, ladies n kiddies up in dat bright house, gud gud. We goin' dare next. Wanna come wid us ok? Keep from gettin' snatched up down here mebe?" Luurg offers, concerned for the man's safety, especially now that there is no one else for the skum to drag off.
"Luurg kinda tinkin' mebe deez skummies are 'ungry, no more fishies around so now dey comin' 'ere fer peoples. We better find out n quickie." He nods seriously to anyone and everyone.
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McKieg looks over whatever the man has managed to scrounge. "We might have to pursue these creatures beneath the very waves. Anything you have that would make that easier would be useful. Potion sponges, air crystals, potions of water breathing, anything that would make us better swimmers, especially underwater?"
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Wadi chuckles, though there is no mirth in his tone as he replies, "I don't think these Skum want to eat anyone here...I think they intend something more...fiendish for these citizens!"
He nods in reply to Sheela's idea, "The lighthouse should yield some answers as to what the skum are truly after."
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Adyr lights up as Bartock mentions treasure being found in the sand of the beach...
"Treasure... can you elaborate? Do you mind showing us what you have found so far?"
Adyr might be over-confident but suggests a different course of action.
"Maybe we are approaching this from the wrong angle. Why don't we AMBUSH them? We go down to the beach, light a couple of big fires and just start camping out? It would be a great trick... all the time we will be ready to spring upon them... and get some payback for these people. We might even be able to catch a few of them alive."
Adyr pauses...
"What do you think?"
"Mighty kind of ye but don't worry too much 'bout Bartock. Bartock'll make for th' lighthouse soon as he's finished sortin' through th' rest of t'day's haul," Bartock remarks, waving away Luurg's invitation to journey to the lighthouse now.
When McKieg inquires about specific items to make traversing the waves - above and below - easier, Bartock scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm...yeah, yeah, Bartock might be able t' help ye with that. Th' waters further up an' down th' coast be dangerous close t' shore, rocky. Many a unsuspectin' ship's learnt that th' hard way over th' years."
He moves over towards one of the piles of debris and detritus that sit near his ruined keelboat and kneels down, digging through the pile. "Bartock takes what's left, what th' sea don't see fit t' keep fer herself. No crime, no crime if don't belong t' anyone anymore is it?"
"An' sometimes, Bartock finds bounty that's a little more special than th' usual things that wash up," he looks back over his shoulder at you and grins. "Funny little bottles an' vials, sometimes a pretty carved stick...Bartock keeps it all, he does!"
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Luurg looks at Adyr and nods slowly "Dat mebe werk, but mebe after we go to bright house, talk to deez mang, mebe we learn sumting first. Ok? Ok." He looks on very curious as to what Bartock has claimed from the sea, a trade he too practiced in before he became a Pathfinder.
"You n me be gud friends Bartock. When we finish helping dis place we have good talk, eat much fruit!" But for now Luurg heads off with the strange Dwarf towards the bright house.
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When it appears that his companions are ignoring his suggested ambush plan... Adyr gets somewhat indignant.
"Yeah, none of you appears to have what it takes to have made it in the LEGION... I guess a good ambush and ass-kicking is just too much to expect from this rag-tag group."
Adyr won't mention his plan again and will sullenly accompany everyone else to the lighthouse.