GM Bret’s Outpost II Doom comes to Dustpawn! (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

"Abtaroh" rubs her chin and speaks admiringly of the gear So much disguise and deceit…

They'll use a potion of glibness before the interrogation as well — why not? They will also cast cultural adaptation before the interrogation. So to lie we're looking at +41 on bluff checks to convince others of the truth of Tycho's words, and +16 on diplomacy checks (if needed, that's less great).

I think the most important piece of info we might glean from these cultists is the location of the crash site.

Practically clones of each other except for the spell books. Mind if Warpac uses a potion of CMW instead of his wand for two of those CLW?

"I do wonder why... no I don't. These guys are really trying hard to recruit other idiots aren't they? Someone needs to help the poor deluded fools."

Warpac, of course, does not say this near the 'patients'.

Pick a color and place yourselves and Leeara on the map. Are you doing this outside or in the mine?

I think the most important piece of info we might glean from these cultists is the location of the crash site.

Alright, this is the second mention of this. You might want to review a few of the things you already found.

Practically clones of each other except for the spell books. Mind if Warpac uses a potion of CMW instead of his wand for two of those CLW?

I don’t mind.

Would prefer to keep Leeara away, especially while Tycho is disguised as her nemesis :) How about interviewing Yellow inside the cave entrance; anyone can feel free to join. Added to the cave map… I think that is where the entrance was!

Yes, that is the bottom of the shaft. The entrance itself is not mapped because it is just a small cave with a shaft and the lift in it.

Tycho tells you of his plan to take Yellow into the mine and question them. After shifting into Abtaroh and asking Melody to provide him with a Tongues spell, he picks the cultist up and goes into the mine entrance.

I have confirmation via chat that Melody will provide the spell.

Tycho in their Abtaroh disguise brings yellow into the mine and gets ready to revive them.

The Cultist has been striped of their gear but is not bound.

Go ahead and wake yellow once you are happy with the set up.

Tycho in their Abtaroh disguise brings yellow into the mine and gets ready to revive them.

The Cultist has been striped of their gear but is not bound.

Go ahead and wake yellow once you are happy with the set up.

This is on slide 7, right?

Slide 8, I think, down near the bottom.

Mongo sets up just out of sight around the corner so that he's available to help in case of trouble but won't otherwise ruin Tycho's play.

Yeah if we're in the entrance, we might be in theater of the mind?

This was the wizard, I believe. Tycho will cast Silence on a pebble and hold it in their pocket before waking up this NPC, in case they decide to try and and use a spell with verbal components. They will keep their hand in said pocket, out of line of effect but ready to pull it out if needed. (8 rounds, so probably not the whole conversaiton but if he wakes up angry, or if Tycho gives away their disguise, it should be still active)

"Abtaroh" taps their prisoner with a wand to wake them up. They hold her unholy symbol in their hand.

I have saved you for a moment from those peasants. They are coming! They are not worthy, but the fools will serve The Emissary from Beyond nonetheless. I will tell you how in a moment. But first — quickly! — what news do you bring for me?

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38 I'm never sure when exactly Glibness counts and when it doesn't.

Abtaroh didn’t have a unholy, I just double checked.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The man blinks a few times and looks around. “News? Oh, sorry. We did not find any more of the crystals.”

“How did I get here? Last thing I remember a big half-orc sticking me with his sword.” Then he pats himself, realizing he is missing some items.

“Where is my dagger?!?” He seems very concerned about it. “I need it, where is it?”

"Abtaroh" jumps up and down and tears at her hair. She screams in rage.

No crystals!? No CRYSTALS!? What were you hoping I'd say, when you returned back with NO CRYSTALS! Why do you think I saved you, if not for the crystals!?

Your dagger is far less important than the crystals. Tell me, what you think the The Emissary from Beyond would like us to do now? Hmmm? Do you even know how important those crystals are? Do you even know what we're using them for?

Calming herself, "Abtaroh" takes a breath. She leans in close.

Why don't you tell me? Because honestly I worry you've lost it, worrying over a dagger when you have returned with no crystals! Do you even understand our mission? Have you lost your memories like the thief who stole from me? Prove to me you remember what we're doing here, and why you were tasked with retrieving the crystals.

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

That really sounded like an intimidation attempt to get information...

Sure. Tycho's intimidate is +10, feel free to use that d20 roll for an 18. They're disguised as this person's boss, so I figure they'd be pretty cowed already.

Herr’s a roll per our chat in hangouts:

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

“You know they are getting harder and harder to find! It was Jergo who said it was time to return!”

When Abtaroh goes into calm mode, he tries to think what to say.

“We are using them to prepare the way for the Emissary, by turning the townsfolk into an army The Emissary can control.”

Sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 lol

Of course… typical Jergo.

"Abtaroh" muses. I hope those in town are doing their part, and having more success than you. Have you heard how many in Dustpawn are… gifted, thus far? I have not heard anything from them and worry, with these peasants attacking my stronghold. Has our method been discovered in town, or is it still well hidden?

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28 Diplomacy is +14, for 20, if that works better here.

The Cultist gives Abtaroh a strange look.

“You said I was only to concern myself with finding the crystals, Ermeto reported directly to you,”

Hesitating, he asks “Do you want me to go into town? I’ll need my dagger back if I’m to be any use.”

this fixation on the dagger and being of use is quite interesting…

With plans in such disarray — no crystals — who knows who you've had contact with out there? Do not doubt me.

"Abtaroh" closes her eyes and smiles. Go back into town? Oh, yes... in a way.

I had a vision in the darkest hour before dawn. Of a pale worm, trapped inside the core of an apple; it did not bore its way there there, but was placed there as if by magic. As if by the Emissary. Like a seed it waited in this sweet prison, inside the meat, until the meat was swallowed by a strong young man. There, it multiplied in his stomach — the worm divided, and its divisions divided again and again — it became an army of thousands squirming within its host! It took his sustenance, and made the strong man weak! A writhing mass was then vomited forth from his screaming mouth, and twisted out of his eyes, spreading madness! She laughs.

Your dagger? No. This vision has told me that your place, now, is in Dustpawn's prison. You will wait. And you will hatch, to be fruitful and multiply when the moment is propitious! Her eyes roll back in her head.

Yes… I can see it. You will not need your dagger for this task. That chapter of your life is finished. Why would it possibly be of use to you, waiting to hatch in your prison?

In essence, Tycho wants to see what this cultist does if given a mission without the aid of the dagger and threatened with imprisonment.

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37 Glibness for another +20 if you think this vision stuff counts as "trying to convince someone of the truth of my words."

He says “Well then, best get started towards town.”
Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Higher than you can get on a Sense Motive

He stands up. Once standing, he tries to make a run for it!

I don’t see any real sense in going into combat. It isn’t like he can get away.

ok. Ready to move on. I think Tycho wants to take a closer at that dagger and will relay what they found out to the others.

Tycho and Mongo return with the (once again) unconscious Cultist.

Tycho looks at the dagger more carefully. It is not magical, but it is masterwork quality and has a name on it along with arcane runes for each of the schools of magic.

After a bit of thought, he suspects it is the Cultist’s arcane bond — assuming they are a wizard rather than a sorcerer. They did have a lot of spell components in their pouch, including things no sorcerer ever needs.

"Abtaroh"shakes her head. Profoundly disappointing. Profoundly unsurprising.

They change into Dalviss again before Leearah can see them. Should we head back to town with our new cargo? Or should we try to find that place marked on the map in my — I mean Abtaroh's — journal?

I will point out you have two people with negative levels, most of the group gets sickened in combat, a cook that barely knows her old life, and four prisoners.

Tycho would certainly vote to go back to town. They would also like to check in on the shady prospectors and see how Ice Cold Lemonade is faring. Tycho has a scroll of restoration by the way, but no diamond dust.

"Let's go back to town and regroup. We have a lot to think about!"

Tycho has a scroll of restoration by the way, but no diamond dust.

Look up how much you paid for the scroll. To be valid, you must have paid for the materials, but there are two different costs depending on if it is a temporary negative level or permanent negative level.

Yeah it's an 800 GP scroll (700+100 material). Only good for temp negative levels.

Theodric nods "Back to town..."

GM Bret wrote:

but at this point you potentially have more prisoners than you can easily transport.

Tycho can conjure a shadow carriage to bring them all back to town.

Tycho summons a carriage to hold all your captives.

You check the bindings on Abtaroh and Elbris, then load them into the carriage. You dump the other two Cultists in with them, keeping their equipment with you.

You then get on your horses and get ready to leave.

Leeara watches with interest.

Do you want her to join you or not? You are confident you could convince her to come.

Probably better to have her with us than wandering the forest.

"Dalviss" beckons to Leeara, opening the door to the carriage. Please, Leeara, come with. I would like you to smell the smells and taste the tastes and see the sights of your old life. You can leave again if you want.

Mongo steps out of his spot around the corner, right into the path of the fleeing cultist. The man slams full-speed into the armored half-orc, tumbling backwards to the ground.

"Gee, I'm sorry mister" Mongo says, giving the sprawled cultist his best toothy grin. "Were you going somewhere?"

-----

"Yeah, I don't know 'bout everyone else, but I'd like to head back. Those ghosts did a number on me."

“What!” yellow cries, at seeing the half-orc that nearly killed him. “Why are you here?” he asks, glancing back at Tycho in Abtaroh’s form and again at the half-orc.

Then you knock him out.

——

Leeara hesitates, saying “They not force me out because monster now? Town not like monsters!” You do convince her to get in the carriage though.

She sits as far away from Abtaroh as she can.

——

You make your way back to Dustpawn along the mining paths. You arrive in the late afternoon.

Where in town do you want to go?

Before

When yellow glances back at Abtaroh for the second time, he is horrified to see a strange little gnome grinning hugely at him.

Then Mongo knocks him out.

Now

First the jail to deposit our wards, then to the inn to check in on gossip and try to find a safe place for Leeara? Tycho would also like to link up with Ice Cold Lemonade, Tycho's shadow-conjured scout; it should last 8 days unless was destroyed.

Meet me here [the window of Tycho's room at the inn] at noon and tell me what they've done and where they've gone, and anything else you think is interesting. If I'm not here, go find the prospectors if you can and follow them more, and them come back again at nighttime. Repeat this every day until we meet again, or you stop existing.

"Are we sure about the inn? Do you think that's where we got poisoned? What about those four troublemakers?"

"I'm pretty sure the poisoning happened in the first cave. I, for one, desperately wand to get rid of this nasty condition before I go any further. Cursed, poisoned, and drained. Maybe more. Ack. I'm hoping those spheres we picked up will allow us to cure some of this."

The inn sounds good to me. We at least have (or had) an ally in the innkeeper.

Sounds like most of you want the Inn. I don’t think you got a full tour of the town, so Kn: Local for the location of the jail,
You can also try Gather Information, but it takes time and you recall the locals weren’t exactly friendly.

Is Tycho still in his Dalviss form?

The carriage and horses pull up outside the Inn. You can lead your horses into the attached stables.

Those of you going into the Inn see Dalvis there talking with a woman in garb adorned with the religious symbols of Sarenrae. The woman is a good looking middle aged human, looks to be of Chelaxian decent.

As you enter, Dalviss smiles and gestures towards you. “Here they are now, Alyssia! I don’t know what kept them, but if you give them a chance to clean up after their travel I’m sure they would be willing to hear your concerns!”

Turning to you, he explains “This is Priestess Alyssia Turpin, from the local church of the Dawnflower.” as he gestures to the woman. She gives a small curtsy at the introduction.

Turning back to her, he then introduces each of you by the name you gave him.

Let me know who is going in and who is with the carriage. If the carriage is taking off for the jail, let me know that as well.

Tycho will switch back to their Prospector disguise. Might be a good idea to get rid of these prisoners, though. Tycho doesn't have knowledge local and looks to the others for help.

No help here. At least as far as knowledge local goes.

"Sarenrae, huh! Pleased to meet you. I am a priest of Desna, though more an ax slinger than a cleric. Let's swap stories. We have a lot to share too, including 'news' of the cook, Leeara, and a potential site of the meteor."

He emphasizes news, as it is more than just news that they brough with them.

"I'm rather hoping you might be able to help us out too. Our travels have left us a bit of a mess and I think we may be cursed and, at the very least, poisoned. And then there were the spectres that sapped me and Mongo here."

Dalviss turns and looks to Warpac with hope. “You found her? Is she alright?”

Alyssia smiles at the mention of Desna. At hearing the word curse, Alyssia gets a worried look. “Tell me of your need, I will see what can be done.”

"Yes, we found her, and she's here. Now for the bad news. She seems to be in the later stages of a transformation. One which I'm afraid some of us may be in the early stages of."

Warpac looks a bit grim as he announces this.

"Oh, and from what we learned, most likely a number of the townspeople are also affected by something. Not sure what. But the loonies kept talking about enchanting you good folks and raising an army of loonies."

Warpac shakes his head.

"It's all a bit confusing involving a being from the dark tapestry, a ship that travels through the dark tapestry, and a number of dulusional followers that are eating up the meglomaniac plans..."

Warpac halts, realizing that he is not good at this kind of thing.

"I'm probably making a mish mash of the details, but hopefully you get the idea."

Melody can't fail the Knowledge (local) check!

"You didn't notice the jail when we got here? It's right over there. It doubles as the town hall."

Theodric has decent knowledge local and will spend some time tracking down info, like where the jail is while others get situated.

know local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Dalviss and Alyssia give Warpac a horrified look.

Dalviss asks “Changed how?”

At almost the same time, Alyssia asks “Who is doing this and how?”

"Uh, some emissary guy. Not sure how, but I think its poison or something. We captured a batch of it."

Warpac rummages around in his bag of holding and tries to find the poisonous concoction.

"Here, see what you can make of it."

Tycho wants go to the jail — however, it might be good to have some backing from a local authority figure like Alyssia or another respected individual before making that trip.

Dalviss points to the vial of toxin and says “There is a gnome in town, Gorbnash Alembic-Breaker, who might be able to analyze it.” Dalviss sounds unsure of if he can even do it. He goes on to explain “Gorbnash normally tests mineral samples for the miners. Hopefully he can analyze that as well.”

He gives brief directions to the gnome’s shop.

Dalviss asks “Changed how?”

Ahhh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Tycho laughs nervously. Funny thing… well… really, no, not funny at all, no. Quite sad, ha, ha, ha… ha… Tycho's sorrowful laugh trails off.

We found Leeara in the cave you mentioned. She misses you, Dalviss. She misses her old life… though she doesn't always know it. It's not safe where she was. She is in danger and has nowhere to turn. Are you her friend? Will you help your friend? Can she stay here until this blows over? Say "yes," and I will bring her in.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Earlier:

"I'm pretty sure the poisoning happened in the first cave."

"Well, I'm sure you know more about these things than I do. I was worried it might have been that stew."

-----

Mongo waits outside by the carriage as others go in to the Inn.

Dalviss gives Tycho an odd look. “We generally protected each other, but if you remember I was the one who asked you to find her.”

He waves for Nalan to bring some drinks and sits back down, “Bring her in, seems there is a lot to discuss.” He grabs one of the drinks when Nalan sets them down and takes a big gulp of it.

Tycho brings her in. Leeara, you safe are among your old life, and friends.