GM Xavier Kahlvet's Strange Aeons 2e

Game Master KingTreyIII

Shohreh continues her assault on the deros surrounding Kolgradd.

Daze, DC 30 basic Will vs Orange: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9

Starknife vs Orange: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 1 = 34
Slashing, Silver: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 1 = 7

◆◆ Cast daze
◆ Strike

Boodiddly winces at the sound of impact as Kolgradd hits the floor and then again at the sound of impact as blades hit Kolgradd.

Harmonize

Dang it! Forgot to move the cloudkill before.

Shohreh attacks Orange.

Orange Will: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

↻ Shootist’s Luck to reroll.

Reroll: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

And with the starknife, Shohreh downs Orange!

Boodiddly harmonizes.

Jevar sends an acid arrow at Red. Crit.

Kolgradd swings and finishes off Red, then attacks Purple!

Basically anything Purple would do is gonna trigger, so I’ll just resolve the AoO.

↻ Kolgradd AoO vs Purple; inspire courage: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 22 + 1 = 39
Damage; inspire courage: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4, 8) + 8 + 1 = 22 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

And the last of the deros is downed!

Just to save some time: the only thing left here is the opening in the northwest, which leads down for miles into the Darklands. Yeah…that’s not where y’all are meant to go. You could, but it’s not necessary, so I’m railroading y’all elsewhere.

So, it’s time to backtrack all the way back and explore the above-ground floors.

Backtracking up the elevator and going up the stairs

Bookshelves stacked with various books and folders, as well as bizarre curios, line two of the walls of this wide-open room. A sturdy wooden desk accompanied by a stuffed leather chair sits in one corner of the room, while a small table in the opposite corner holds a taxidermic monkey posed like it’s playing a tiny violin. Unnerving paintings cover the wood-paneled walls. Map Updated

As the former-amnesiacs reach the top of the stairs, they are met with a familiar face: Miacknian Mun, seeming to claw at the wall near another staircase. As soon as Mun sees Kolgradd come into the room, his eyes go bloodshot. The man lets out a guttural scream and rushes to attack without so much as a “how do you do?”!

The Belligerent
Round 1
==============
Shohreh
Boodiddly
Kolgradd
Miacknian Mun
Jevar
==============

As the man screams, Shohreh summons a magical starknife and flings it at him, hoping to cut his charge off before it can start.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
Force: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 2) + 6 = 16

◆◆ Cast 4th-rank spiritual weapon
◆ Cast shield

"For heaven's sake Mun, don't you remember me?!"

Suspicious that this might be another construct, Kolgradd rushes in to test it with his hammer. Keeping his distance, he swings, remembering the curious hollow feeling to the previous "Mun"

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
Long Hammer: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 5, 8) + 8 = 26 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

◆ Strike
Long Hammer: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 22 - 5 = 26
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) + 8 = 19 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Boodiddly is taken aback by the sound of sudden hostility, but decides that the staircase is a very safe place to stay for the time being - and the acoustics aren't bad either.

Harmonize

Shohreh manifests a starknife of force and sends it at Mun, but misses.

Boodiddly harmonizes.

Kolgradd moves forward and attacks Mun. First one hit, second one missed. Retroactively putting in the inspire courage.

Mun’s eyes become bloodshot as he yells at the top of his lungs! ◆ Rage; gains temp HP and extra damage to strikes in exchange for a penalty to AC. He then ◆ Steps forward and swings a fist at Kolgradd!

◆ Mun vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37
Damage: 2d10 + 24 ⇒ (4, 3) + 24 = 31

The Belligerent
Round 1 —> 2
==============
Shohreh
Boodiddly
Kolgradd (-29)
Miacknian Mun (-31; +20) {raging}
Jevar
==============

Staggering under the force of "Mun's" strike, Kolgradd steps back to steady himself, raises his shield, and then strikes back!

◆ Step
◆ Cast Shield
◆ Strike
Long Hammer: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 4, 1) + 8 = 21 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Shohreh keeps up her assault on Mun, eyes widening at the force of his blows.

Spiritual Weapon vs Mun: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Force: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 3) + 6 = 15

Daze, DC 30 basic Will: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 = 18

Jevar moves out of the stairwell for a clear shot.

Coming through!

He turns to Mun. Ooookay, you asked for it. as he releases a bolt of lightning through him.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Cast a spell (somatic, verbal) Lightning
Electricity damage, DC30 basic reflex save: 4d12 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 7) = 16

Boodiddly suspects that his suspicions have been confirmed at the sound of impact and Kolgradd's grunt of pain.

Harmonize

Jevar moves forward and sends a bolt of lightning at Mun!

Mun basic Reflex: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (19) + 24 = 43

And by sheer anger, Mun completely dodges a BOLT OF LIGHTNING!

Shohreh attacks Mun. You forgot about the +1 from inspire courage.

Mun basic Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28

Boodiddly harmonizes.

Kolgradd moves back and attacks Mun! Forgot about the +1 from inspire courage. It is also a crit, so a couple things are gonna happen.

Mun Fort vs Crit Spec; DC 27: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
Mun Fort vs frost; DC 24: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
+1d10 persistent fire

Mun continues to growl in anger, ◆ Stepping forward to Kolgradd and throwing a one-two-punch!

◆ Mun vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense & shield: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42
Damage (doubled from crit): 2d10 + 24 ⇒ (3, 1) + 24 = 28

Gonna assume that Kolgradd ↻ Shield Blocks that

◆ Mun vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense & shield; 2nd: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 22 - 5 = 34
Damage: 2d10 + 24 ⇒ (8, 9) + 24 = 41

Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 6
DC 15 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 6

The Belligerent
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Shohreh
Boodiddly
Kolgradd (-107)
Miacknian Mun (-99) {raging; 1d10 persistent fire}
Jevar
==============

It hasn't been an hour since the last fight, right?

Okay, new tactic.

Jevar tries to cripple Mun's mind.

◆◆ Cast (somatic, verbal) Crushing despair

◆ Cast (verbal) shield

Kolgradd, I can't use battle medicine on you at the moment, but you can use an interact action while adjacent to me to get 5d10 healing.

Shohreh moves to support Kolgradd, while keeping up her own magical assault on the raging Mun.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 20 + 1 = 29
Force: 2d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 7) + 6 + 1 = 16

◆ Sustain
◆ Stride
◆ Cast shield
↻ Shield block

Mum's punch is so powerful Kolgradd can't even cry out as it knocks the wind out of him and he forces a long ragged breath in. While he's doing so, he steps backwards.

◆ Step

Away from Mun, he grabs Shohreh's offered hand and feels the positive energy flowing into him.

◆ Interact to touch Shohreh
5d10 ⇒ (3, 7, 6, 4, 6) = 26
Thanks!

Energised, he tries put and end to Mum's rampage
◆ Strike

Long Hammer: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) + 8 = 18 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5

I'm omitting inspire courage in case Boodiddly chooses not to continue it

Boodiddly chooses to continue his best impression of a dog trapped in a well from the safety of the stairwell.

Harmonize

Jevar sends a wave of negative emotions at Mun.

Mun Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Shohreh moves forward and sends her starknife at Mun and misses.

Boodiddly harmonizes.

Kolgradd heals himself then attacks Mun. And as he does so, he dents and rips Mun’s skin, revealing no internal organs whatsoever. This makes it clear that this is NOT Miacknian Mun, but one of his “sons,” like Ian from the front door.

Mun Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

Mun’s burning rage sears through Jevar’s magic for now, as he ◆ Steps forward and punches Shohreh!

◆ Mun vs Shohreh w/inspire defense & shield: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26
Damage: 2d10 + 24 ⇒ (4, 8) + 24 = 36

◆ Mun vs Shohreh w/inspire defense & shield; 2nd: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 22 - 5 = 26
Damage: 2d10 + 24 ⇒ (1, 6) + 24 = 31

Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 8
DC 15 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 9

The Belligerent
Round 3 —> 4
==============
Shohreh
Boodiddly
Kolgradd (-81)
“Miacknian” Mun (-134) {raging; 1d10 persistent fire; no reactions & sobbing: Round 0 of 10}
Jevar
==============

Jevar takes a deep breath.

I've never used this one before. I hope the re-sealing afterward leaves the house undamaged... it wouldn't do to bring the place down on us!

With that thought his finger draws a line from in front of him, leading away through Mun. A thin crack rips through the floor, oozing with magma and then (as he hoped) swiftly sealing back up.

◆◆ Cast a spell (somatic, verbal) Blazing Fissure (120 ft line through Mun)

bludgeoning damage Mun, fire damage Mun: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 6) = 176d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 6, 6, 4) = 26

He then quickly retreats back and along the front of the stairway until he's safely behind his "dwarven shield."

◆ Stride 25 ft

Floor 2 is not solid ground, so blazing fissure does not make sense here. My mistake. Switching to...

Jevar wheels around behind Kolgradd and renders the dwarf invisible.

The same stride as before and...
◆◆ Cast a spell (material, somatic) Invisibility at rank 4
The spell lasts 1 minute, but it doesn't end if the target uses a hostile action.

Kolgradd grins under the cover of his invisibility, and moves in for a surprise attack!

◆ Stride
◆ Strike

Long Hammer vs. FF?: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4, 8) + 8 = 23 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3

◆ Strike

Long Hammer vs. FF?: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 22 - 5 = 21
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 7, 7) + 8 = 23 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Shohreh's eyes widen as the creature comes for her, but her usual confident expression as the combination of Boodiddly's song and her magical shield buys her just enough space to duck Mun's wild swings.

She maintains the shield as she retreats behind Kolgradd once again, covering her escape with another strike of her magical starknife.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 1 = 30
Force: 2d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 1 = 13

◆ Cast shield
◆ Sustain spiritual weapon
◆ Stride

Jevar turns Kolgradd invisible.

Shohreh sends her spiritual weapon and hits Mun.

Botting Boodiddly: Boodiddly harmonizes.

Kolgradd attacks Mun! First attack is a crit thanks to the invisibility. Retroactively applying inspire courage to it.

Mun Fort vs Crit Spec; DC 27: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
Mun Fort vs frost; DC 24: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30

So because he’s prone, the second attack would’ve been an Advantageous Assault, so that instead dealt 5 damage on a non-crit failure.

Mun Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31 Not slowed by the crushing despair this round.

Mun ◆ Stands. Triggers from Kolgradd.

↻ Kolgradd AoO vs Mun FF; inspire courage: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 22 + 1 = 42
Damage; inspire courage: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 8 + 1 = 20 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

And with one last swing, Kolgradd completely demolishes the skin-suit in Mun’s image.

To save time: there’s nothing else in this room that wouldn’t require outright robbery to take.

Up the Stairs

This chamber is a veritable museum. The dozens of books, jars, and glass containers of various sizes placed on nearly every horizontal surface in this lab contain chemicals, unidentifiable sludge, the dissected bodies and alien-looking parts of creatures, and a rainbow of various slimes, molds, and fungi. Some of the largest containers are draped with a thick brown cloth. The overpowering stench of bleach, ammonia, and other unidentifiable chemicals fills the air. Map Updated

As the former-amnesiacs come up the stairs, they see two hulking figures: patchworks of skin sewn together over a straw-filled form. One arm of these beasts is a sharp blade, while the other is some kind of wooden fist. Beetles crawl along the creatures’ forms, occasionally taking bites out of the patchwork of skin.

Skin and Bones
Round 1
==============
Boodiddly
Shohreh
Black
White
Kolgradd
???
Jevar
==============

Shohreh recoils from the sight of the monstrosities and, almost as a reflex, bathes the pair of them in a burst of holy flame.

Flame Strike, DC 30 basic Reflex: 8d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 3, 6, 6, 2, 5) = 31

◆◆ Cast flame strike
◆ Cast shield

I know Boodiddly’s player is going through a tough time right now, so I’m just gonna bot him. Boodiddly Harmonizes.

Shohreh sends a mass of pure flame at the skinstitches.

The skinstitches are weak to fire.

Black ◆◆ moves through the tables, then swings at Kolgradd.

◆ Black cudgel vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30
Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15

White ◆ carefully slides the central table over about 5 feet, then ◆ moves over and attacks Kolgradd.

◆ White cudgel vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 4) + 10 = 15

Skin and Bones
Round 1
==============
Boodiddly
Shohreh
Black (-36)
White (-67)
Kolgradd
???
!!! (-34)
Jevar
==============

With Boodiddly's song in his ears, Kolgradd just manages to spin out of the path of the blades flying at him. He continues the spin, turning it into a strike at the more badly singed monstrosity.

◆ Strike
Long Hammer, Inspire: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 22 + 1 = 36
Bludgeoning, Inspire: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6, 3) + 8 + 1 = 23 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5

◆ Strike
Long Hammer, Inspire, MAP: 1d20 + 22 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 22 + 1 - 5 = 29
Bludgeoning, Inspire: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) + 8 + 1 = 22 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6

As he's bringing the hammer around to maintain balance, he shouts a word of power for his shield.

◆ Cast Shield

Kolgradd swings his long hammer and easily destroys White, then follows up with another attack against Black. Crit kills White, then second attack redirected at Black.

Out of the skin-and-straw remains of White, however, crawls a swarm of black, white, and yellow beetles, each about half-an-inch in size—apparently they were nesting inside of the skinstitch. The swarm ◆ Strides over to surround the former-amnesiacs. Triggers from Kolgradd

↻ Kolgradd AoO vs Blue; inspire courage: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 22 + 1 = 43
Damage (doubled from crit); inspire courage: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8, 5, 5) + 8 + 1 = 27 Fire Damage (doubled from crit): 1d6 ⇒ 1 Cold Damage (doubled from crit): 1d6 ⇒ 4

Kolgradd’s always done bludgeoning damage with his weapon, so that’s what I’ll presume here. It did run into some resistances.

Not gonna bother with the Fort save vs the frost rune since the result is irrelevant on an AoO.

Blue Fort vs Crit Spec; DC 27: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

When the beetles surround some of the former-amnesiacs, they do a ◆ Swarming Bites, biting at the former-amnesiacs’ skin and attempting to completely flay their skin!

Blue then attempts another ◆ Swarming Bites

Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9
DC 15 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Crawling out from inside of Black is yet another swarm of these black, white, and yellow beetles. These beetles ◆ Stride forward, out from its nest inside of Black, to surround Kolgradd because I don’t like putting multiple swarms in the exact same space. and does two ◆ ◆ Swarming Bites!

Skin and Bones
Round 1 —> 2
==============
Boodiddly
Shohreh (-7)
Black (-72)
Kolgradd (-22)
Red
Blue (-107 from “1” attacks [before resistances]) {1d10 persistent fire}
Jevar
==============

Shohreh tries to force the biting insects from her mind so she can concentrate on her spellwork. After only a few seconds, a cold wave rushes out from her and over the bugs, Kolgradd, and the remaining skinstitch.

Negative damage from Harm, DC 30 basic Fort: 5d10 ⇒ (1, 8, 2, 1, 3) = 15

Using Directed Channel for a 60-foot cone straight north and excluding Kolgradd from the effects.
◆◆◆ Cast 5th-rank harm
↻ Blood vendetta

thank you bard for my crit successes on saves :)!

As the bugs swarm around his feet Jevar sighs.

Great, so when the other slasher goes down we're getting more of these things...

He quickly dances away from their area and incants a sickly green ray of enfeebling energy at the remaining brute.

◆ Stride 20 ft
◆◆ Cast a spell (somatic, verbal) ray of enfeeblement (1 minute)
Spell attack BLACK: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28

Jevar sends a ray of energy at Black and hits the skinstitch. Unfortunately, it seems to do nothing. It’s a construct; it’s immune to necromancy.

Botting Boodiddly: Boodiddly harmonizes.

Shohreh sends forth a wave of negative energy in front of her. Again, Black’s immune to necromancy, so it’ll just affect the swarms.

This completely kills all of the beetles crawling over her, as well as a good chunk of the other swarm.

Black ◆ Steps forward and raises its blade-arm in an attempt to ◆◆ Flay Kolgradd! Makes a blade Strike that deals an additional 1d6 persistent bleed, plus some other stuff that won’t happen immediately.

Black blade vs Kolgradd w/inspire defense & shield: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12

Skin and Bones
Round 2
==============
Boodiddly
Shohreh (-7)
Black (-72)
Kolgradd (-22)
Red (-38)
Jevar
==============

Kolgradd makes a gutteral cry of instinctual primeval fear as the bugs crawl all over him. As the insects wither and die from Shohreh's magic though, he masters himself and attacks the construct.

◆ Strike
Long Hammer, Inspire: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 22 + 1 = 36
Bludgeoning, Inspire: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 4) + 8 + 1 = 23 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1

◆ Strike
Long Hammer, Inspire, MAP: 1d20 + 22 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 22 + 1 - 5 = 33
Bludgeoning, Inspire: 3d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8, 6, 1) + 8 + 1 = 24 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3

He then speaks a word of power.

◆ Cast Time Jump

With the world safely frozen, he spares a quick second while unobserved to scream dwarven obscenities while rubbing his beard with the back of his hand, and moves out of the swarm.

Thats just a flavour freak out, two strides really

Hero Points reset in a week

Kolgradd attacks Black and completely annihilates it! Crit, downs Black. Redirecting the second Strike to Red.

Red ◆ Steps over to surround Shohreh, then does two ◆◆ Swarming Bites!

Skin and Bones
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Boodiddly
Shohreh (-15)
Kolgradd (-22)
Red (-70 from “1” attacks [before resistances])
Jevar
==============

Jevar exhales in relief when no more swarms emerge from the freshly downed hulk body.

He directs magical fire at the remaining swarm, with the casual disposition of a gardener watering plants (or spraying for pests :)).

◆◆ Cast (somatic, verbal) produce flame vs RED
Spell attack RED, fire damage: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 285d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 4, 3) + 6 = 20
On a critical success, the target takes double damage and 5d4 persistent fire damage.

He steps a little further away.

◆ Stride 10 ft

Keeping as distant as he possible can (ostensibly from the flames and void energy being thrown around, but maybe a little to avoid getting any more bugs in his beard), Kolgradd edges back toward the swarm and tries to squish some.

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
He'll stick with bludgeoning as it makes the most sense to me to use against a swarm
Long Hammer: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4, 7) + 8 = 23Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1

◆ Strike
Long Hammer, MAP: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 22 - 5 = 33
Bludgeoning: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 3, 5) + 8 = 21 Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 2Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Shohreh runs free of the swarming bugs, flinging her starknife at them in a pair of parting shots.

Starknife vs Swarm: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 1 = 33
Slashing: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 1 = 4

Starknife vs Swarm: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 1 = 29
Piercing: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 1 = 6

Jevar sends a mass of flame at the swarm. Hit. You forgot the +1 from inspire courage.

Botting Boodiddly: Boodiddly harmonizes.

Shohreh throws her starknife at the swarm, which does absolutely nothing. Resistances reduced both damages to 0.

Kolgradd moves forward and swings his hammer, absolutely smashing the remainder of the swarm!

This room contains a massive amount of alchemical items and equipment. Again, not going to specify them because I’m presuming that you’re not gonna rob this guy’s house.

Lurking in a recessed cupboard is an odd object—a sealed brass and translucent green glass bottle that contains what appears to be a human brain. A curved horn made from metal and ivory sprouts from the top of the bottle, and a brass nameplate is stamped onto its base that reads “A. Weigs.” Periodically, the horn emits the quiet sound of whispered lullabies.

Shohreh notices that, at the eastern wall, there is a ladder that has been rendered magically invisible. This ladder leads up to a hidden passage in the ceiling.

Jevar moves over to the containers that are covered in a tarp and uncovers them. Several ov the jars contain the eviscerated and dissected flesh and bones of a human(s)! Another contains the upper torso and head of a ghoul. Another contains a severed wing, and where it was severed it has seemed to grow white filaments—like the mycelium of a fungus. And the final container holds what appears to be a drowned sheet caught in an unseen current, resembling some strange, amorphous sea creature. This last container contains a label that simply says “Number 61.”

As the former-amnesiacs continue watching the container labeled “Number 61,” the sheet moves to a particular angle where the former-amnesiacs realize in horror what it actually is: it seems to be skin that has been surgically removed from someone’s face! And worse, the face-skin seems to “look” at the former-amnesiacs with hollow holes instead of eyes, and its mouth and lips move. The former-amnesiacs are unsure if this is their minds playing tricks on them, but they could swear they saw the face-skin mouth ”Help…”

The next time the face-skin comes around in its constant swirl, it seems to peer up at the large rubber stopper on top of the jar in which it floats.

What do you do?

Pacing around the room, the wizard seems to take in the major affects in stride. He's not really sure what to think about any of it.

This jar with one A. Weigs seems to be... soothing them with a lullaby? He does not give it any more thought for now and continues around the room.

Arriving at the container for "Number 61," Jevar just catches the movement finishing and jumps in surprise. He stands completely still for several moments to try to catch it again, not entirely believing his own senses.

You... all saw that, didn't you?

He points at the skin-face on the jar.

It tried to say "help" and wants us to let it out. Is this entity friend or foe? Don't touch it.

He mutters and incantation and gesticulates at the container...

Cast Mind Reading (DC 30)

Basically he wants to see via surface thoughts if intentions match the communication or if it would be Very Bad (TM) TM to pull off the rubber stopper.

This jar with one A. Weigs seems to be... soothing them with a lullaby?

Kolgradd peers at the brain curiously.

"The mi-go can keep extracted brains alive, or so I've heard. But this looks more ... home-made"

To the brain he tries an experimental "WEIGS? HELLO?" and monitors the horn for any changes.

You... all saw that, didn't you?

He points at the skin-face on the jar.

It tried to say "help" and wants us to let it out. Is this entity friend or foe? Don't touch it.

"I did see it. It wants death like as not, and I'll be happy to offer it"

He grabs his hammer in both hands but does as he's bid and waits for the results of the spell.

Having gleaned the surface thoughts and deeming the entity safe, Jevar sighs and removes the rubber stopper. He steps back and waits...

Jevar removes the rubber stopper from the container, and soon after, the former-amnesiacs hear a faint, burbling voice coming from the fluid within.

”Thank…you…You…are…new…here…Are…you…Father's…assistants…?”

Shohreh, baffled by the entire situation, blurts out "What is all this?"

Jevar rubs the back of his neck unconsciously, grimacing as he thinks of how to answer the “jar pet.”

Certainly not assistants. In fact your “father” didn’t welcome us at all to this place. How long has it been since you were… made? Contained within that jar?

He asks to quickly divert from discussing the “father’s” fate. He imagines the truth might upset this creature.

”You…are…not…Father’s…No…Mun’s…assistants…? I…have…been…here…I…don’t…know…Hours…? Days…? Years…? All…is…misery…And…Mun…has…left…with…Lowls…I…heard…it…how…long…ago…? Please…the…blue…vial…pour…it…in…and…give…me…peace…”

Boodiddly gulps and starts searching the table for the requested blue bottle. “You didn’t happen to catch where they were headed?” he asks as he works.

Formatted this different for readability.

“They ... were ... planning ... a ... theft ... Lowls ... and ... Mun ... were ... worried ... about ... the ... guards ... at ... the ... Mysterium ... in ... Katheer ... Lowls ... decided ... that ... bribery ... would ... be ... their ... best ... bet ... Their ... goal ... was ... to ... steal ... a ... book ... called ... the ... Necronomicon ... from ... a ... part ... of ... the ... library ... called ... the ... Soul ... Lowls ... greatly ... desired ... the…book ... and ... the ... secrets ... within ... claiming ... it ... would ... restore ... his ... reputation ... in ... Ustalav ... and ... bring ... him ... unspeakable ... success ... and ... fame ... He ... kept ... talking ... about ... the ... library…and ... the ... dangerous ... wards ... in ... the ... Soul ... of ... the ... Mysterium ... He ... also ... spoke ... fearfully ... of ... the ... Mysterium’s ... guardian ... a ... being ... known ... only ... as ... the ... Keeper ... Although ... he ... didn’t ... know ... what ... the ... guardian ... is ... he ... was ... very ... worried ... that ... hemight ... end ... up ... meeting ... it ... and ... not ... be ... able ... to ... complete ... his ... mission ... in ... the ... library ... Lowls ... also ... spoke ... about ... contacting ... his ... old ... friend ... the ... kholo ... slaver ... Biting ... Lash ... in ... Okeno ... to ... help ... organize ... a ... trip ... to ... find ... a ... hidden ... city ... and ... acquire ... slaves ... and ... hirelings ... to ... serve ... as ... porters ... and ... guards ... but ... seemed ... to ... regard ... the ... slaver ... with ... some ... amount ... of ... fear ... and ... trepidation ... The ... pair ... then ... gathered ... a ... number ... of ... objects ... here ... and ... from ... other ... places ... in ... the ... building ... before ... leaving ... my ... ‘brothers’ ... in ... charge…”

Kolgradd freezes when the face begins imparting crucial information, not wanting to disturb it. Afterwards he helps looks for the blue bottle in gratitude.

"The Mysterium in Katheer. If we could beat them there, we could get the book first and burn the blasted thing. They needed this slaver and porters, but if we could travel light... Could a spell get us there Jevar?"

That they may be there already need not be said, because it's plain in Kolgradd's glum delivery.

Kolgradd easily finds what he’s looking for on a nearby workbench: a glass bottle filled with some kind of dark blue liquid. As the dwarf speaks, though, the face-skin continues speaking, some of its words inaudible over Kolgradd’s own out-loud thoughts.

”…business...partners...upstairs...looking...for...him...They...fear...the. ..thing...in...the...attic...Mun’s...‘anomalous...friend’...I...know...not. ..what...is...in...the...attic...but...the...friend...provides...Mun...with ...‘the...mother’s...milk’...The...milk...is...Mun's...magnum...opus...he.. .says...”

Maybe we could study it a bit before burning it...

Jevar comes to attention and thinks on the question.

I don't have one prepared today. Actually I don't have that in my spellbook either. But... let's go shopping after this.

Now would be a great time to level up :D

"Upstairs? In the attic?"

Kolgradd looks up at the ceiling to see if there's a hatch or something.

"Where's the roof access?"

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

Or not!

"Do you know what items Mun and Lowl's took?"

Then remembering the vial in his hand, he wants to prolong the moment before using it.

"What will this blue liquid do?"