[PBP GD VIII] GM MattMorris The Mosquito Witch (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

Erevan takes a look around the baker's house but nothing in it interests him. "You're very kind ma'am. But we're here to find out about the whereabouts of the so-called Mosquito Witch. Have you any information that could help us?"

No customer? How is it possible if the cake is good? The goblin is doubtful about the quality of the baker.

And what do you feel about the recent events in Shimmerford?

The ranger doesn't want a souvenir cake and is thinking that everything is really good to make money. Well to try to anyway.

"Ah, the famous Mosquito Witch! She used to be so great for business, but it seems she has turned on the town. I think it's because people didn't take her seriously." The bright-haired gnome scowls at the thought. "All the jokes and misinformation! She doesn't drink blood, you know, she drinks tears!"

The gnome pauses a moment to see if you are taking her seriously. "It's true! Her victims lose the ability to cry, then the ability to feel. They waste away and get colder and meaner as they get thinner and thinner! That's what happened to Ms. Mordha Lyons."

Marmazine shakes her head in sorrow. "That woman hasn't enjoyed a pastry in years!"

"It seems the gnomes resist some of the insanity pervading this town," Chulyin notes. "Do you happen to know much of the surrounding land or someone still in town who might? A stranger mentioned iron caves. He also mentioned missing shovels, but seemed quite mentally fatigued."

The gnomes have a blood not made for mosquitos or what? The goblin doesn't know why the gnomes would have an advantage. Over the humans, that could be, but over the goblins... Be serious.

But the iron caves should exist somewhere in the surrounds. What the woman will answer to this question?

"I mostly stick to baking--not much call for shovels there. Although, one time I was challenged to make a make a novelty pie 'big enough to feed a horse!' Well, I borrowed a shovel from Farmer Owens to mix up that one. Long story short: I take special orders!" The gnome pulls out a small notebook, seemingly from nowhere. "So, what can I put you down for? A dozen hard rolls? Hot cross buns for your sweet tooth? Or a signature Marmazine showstopper!?"

Well she wants to sell something. End of the story. The goblin prefers to eat meat than bread.

Miranda smiles at the excitable gnome. "I'm sure your pastries are scrumptious, but we're on a mission for the moment. This Mordha Lyons... where might we find her?"

"Oh, her house is on the west side of town, though I don't think she entertains many visitors. She's very disagreeable, which is understandable after having all of her emotions sucked away!"

You folks have interviewed Mordha already.

Ah, thanks. Getting confused. :)

Once he can tell something in secrecy:

Well I think we're done in Shimmerford. Or do you want to go back to this Mordha?

"While I do not mind spending time in the wild, in order to avoid wandering aimlessly, why do we not visit with Galia once more. Maybe she knows if this 'iron cave' is a real place or a red herring," Chulyin says.

ok ok, let's visit her once again.

The goblin says quickly.

Galia seems happy to see you, and her mostly-mosquito-free home is a nice respite from the relentless onslaught to biting insects outside.

"Have you talked to everyone? What have you learned?"

As nobody takes the lead, the little goblin says proudly:

We learnt that something is wrong up on Witchtop Hill. Up to the north, a little left of the three boulders and past the bend in the stream. Then someone disappeared after going there. And somebody disappeared as well after going in the forest on the East.

The he's looking at the others members of the party, in case they want to say something more.

The ranger says simply: The leads takes us forward into the forest. The the North or the East. As we want. It seems we have got more information about the North.

"Do you know of a place that might be described as 'iron caves'?" Chulyin asks the gnome. "Or about any pranks about town such as missing shovels?"

He looks to the others, "For that matter, are there any words written on the other paper dolls?"

The gnome answers, "I haven't heard of any kind of iron caves. Is that some sort of mining thing?" The gnome looks a bit sad. "I myself love a good prank, but there's not much patience with such things in town right now. People covered in mosquito bites don't have the best sense of humor."

There's nothing else written on any of the paper dolls you have found. If asked about it, Galia tells you that sometimes that have "mysterious and cryptic sayings!" on them, but she doesn't have any examples that immediately come to mind.

So do we go to Witchop hill?

The goblin is looking forward to continue the investigation.

"Agreed, I think heading into the forest is our next step. Unfortunately, I don't think that the number of mosquitos will be LESS as we venture into more wild territory. This will be uncomfortable, to say the least."

Though the mosquitoes are less visible through the thick fog in the misty woods, they can still be felt crawling on the skin, as Miranda predicted.

Survival check to navigate through the woods to Witchtop Hill, please. You have some information about it, so it will be slightly easier to find. One person should make the check, with the usual rules for Aiding. Feel free to strategize--you would naturally talk about who is the best in the wilderness.

Miranda tries to navigate, but it isn't REALLY her thing.
Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18 Surprisingly, she is able to see a lot more than she thought.

Perhaps guided by Desna herself, Miranda leads the group of Pathfinder investigators through the misty forest.

Before too long, you pass the bend in the stream and the three boulders described by Mordha Lyons.

Suddenly, you cross through a particularly thick bank of fog and emerge in a dimly lit grove of uncanny, bare-branched trees, with thousands of the Mosquito Witch dolls nailed to the bark. Witchtop Hill

A patina of grime suggests the dolls have been there for a long time, but the dolls themselves are in remarkable condition; they should not have survived so long in pristine conditions if exposed to the elements.

"This is a bit disturbing," Chulyin comments. Concentrates for a moment to feel for magical emanations before beginning to search the grove.

Detect Magic then Search.

Assuming everyone is going to have a look around.

Erevan, you find a tiny sword, balanced for a Small-sized humanoid, discarded in the grass near the base of one of the trees.

Oh, a nice sword. Is there something else? Or does the little one simply lost his sword over here?

Are there any footprints on the foil you can follow to track? That's what the ranger is asking himself. The guy couldn't be gone without marching.

Anyone who is interested in looking for tracks can make a Survival check.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Fin-thir finds the tracks of a Small, humanoid-like creature that approaches the tree and then flees to the northeast into the woods.

Nature: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Erevan informs the group that he can't tell the nature of the tracks, but he's sure that they're not made by gnomes, goblins, nor halflings.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Curious," Chulyin says, examining the tracks. "Not a civilized race or goblin. Maybe a pixie or gremlin? That might explain the strange tricks and odd behavior. Let us see where they lead."

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The ranger tries to observe the footprints, but without success.

The goblin approaches slightly with incredulity to have a look on the tracks.

Nature: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

That's not a goblin!

That's a good news.

Survival check if you'd like to follow the tracks.

The ranger tries to follow the tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The goblin observes the tracks and their direction.

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

You follow the tracks into the woods, the the trail soon becomes twisting and unsure.

Eventually, you arrive at a large, muddy pond looks nearly identical to many such ponds in the Shimmerford woods, except that it seems to be teeming with unseasonable life—the water is squirming with mosquito larvae.

At the edge of the pond, a man with fine brown hair and white clothing lies supine on the ground. The man is on the shore of the pond with his head and torso floating in the water, and his clothes are inexplicably pristine despite the mud.

Approaching more closely, you can see mosquitoes crawling out of his mouth and from underneath his eyelids onto his blankly staring eyes.

"Ewww... it looks as if this could be the source of the bugs, don't you think, friends?"

Miranda will actively search for dangers nearby.
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"At least once source to be sure. This no natural phenomenon," he says. "It may be best to burn it all."

As you come closer to the pond, the man coughs up a wet lungful of drowned insects and stirs. He's alive!

"He is alive?" Chulyin says incredulously. He moves to the man's side, swatting away the mosquitoes that swarm over him as he approaches. "He will not last long without treatment for this curse. Help me move him away from the water. I can try to temporarily heal the damage to his body, but it will take me most of the day to try to cure him."

The jaguar lays its ears flat as it paces at the edge of the woods.

Yes yes, will you save him?

The goblin is hectic with the situation. The first time he's confronted to such one.

I will help you to take him away from the water.

The ranger takes position near the druid.

Treating the Man

You can prevent the disease from progressing by treating him hourly, which involves succeeding at a DC 15 Medicine check to Administer First Aid or providing some means of magical healing to help him cope with the symptoms. PCs who are trained in Medicine can instead attempt to Treat Disease at the same DC in order to help him recover in the long term. Successful checks to Treat Disease also provide him with aid that lasts for two hours rather than one. The disease leaves the man at best able to limp around with assistance, though he’s ill-equipped to do much else beyond speak and wheeze.

If using magic to assist him, you'll need to do it at least once per hour.

Once the man is out of the mud and muck, Chulyin removes several herbs, a grinding bowl, and bandages from his bandolier then goes about trying to treat the man's disease as best he can for now.

Medicine (T) (Treat Disease - scenario modified): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The man's breathing steadies, and his eyes blink several times, eventually focusing on Chulyin.

"Where...where am I? Who are you?"

"Calm down. We're in the woods of Shimmerford. We found your body by the pond. I'm Erevan. The one who treated your illness is Chulyin and that is his feline companion." Erevan tries to assist in calming down the man as he introduces the rest of the group.

"And you are?"