As per discussion, there is only a Betty and no gaggle so the trip will not be all that long. And since there is no gaggle to pick on, each of you gets a nocturnal visit on the last watch, though whoever is on last watch may ignore the save below because he will not be targeted.
(saves)
(fails)
(fails)
(fails)
(fails)
Which brings up the matter of watches. Should I scour the gameplay for your old watches or do you want to just establish new ones?
@Urah
Make me a perception roll
After his watch Tarak sleeps like a baby, dreaming of riding the wind at the head of a massive thunderstorm.
Waking up tired and grumpy after a night of bad dreams, Gnasher grumbles and growls as they get ready to leave, wanting to get back to his house in Kelmarane. Pointing a south westerly direction. "Gnasher had bad dreams, Maybe mute girl caught up with tribe."
Malgrim grimaces and stretches trying to relieve the tension in his lower back before saying, "I had nightmares, too. She apparently still wants the scroll. I am not sure how close she has to be to do it. Can you find tracks Gnasher or Tarak? I have never learned to track."
Tarak perks up as the group wakes and reports more bad dreams.
"Aye, I can take a look around and see if there be tracks." he answers.
Nodding in agreement with Malgrim's idea, Gnasher gestures towards Tarak, "Gnasher help too." He then begins to search in a spiral pattern, starting from where the slept carefully moving outwards, looking for any prints that weren't their own.
Your tracking skills leave something to be desired and you do not find out where she was. Then again, she can fly and that never makes for easy tracking :) But then again, she had to have slept somewhere, yet wherever that was it is not apparent.
Everyone but Tarak and Urah are fatigued from the nasty dreams.
"If she is following us, we will have other chances. For now we should start off." Malgrim says with a yawn and then begins trudging onwards.
Frustrated that he couldn't find any tracks, Gnasher mods in agreement with Malgrim. "Ghost right, Tribe will get other chances to end mute girl."
Gathering his gear, Gnasher waits to make sure everyone is ready then begins to head towards Kelmarane.
With half of you fatigued you make slow progress. You find yourselves needing to take frequent rests or suffer exhaustion, particularly Betty who has neither the constitution nor the reserves that the rest of you do. She can barely speak and when she does it is in short gasps. You can almost hear Syn's laugh echoing off the mountainsides.
Anything special you want to do during the night, or are you prepared to suffer the same indignations?
@Tarak
You going to alleviate things with a Lesser Restoration or 4?
As the group moved, Tarak offers what magical assistance he can, including allowing the former slave to ride on his back after shifting into a dire tiger.
"I think I can tell when the dreams are happening and the signs. Seems like she can only affect one of us at a time."
Urah is the first victim of the lustful dreams that night, during the first watch. DC 21 will save please.
Also, I need a DC 17 fort save from Tarak.
Betty has developed some nasty shakes during the day and is thrashing at night. There is something very wrong with her.
Nodding as Urah explains his hypothesis, Gnasher asks, "Gnasher wonder how close mute girl must be to use magic. How does tribe catch her?"
Seeing how badly thrashes at night, Gnasher furrows his brow in very human fashion. Looking towards Tarak, he asks. 'Any help for Betty?"
Malgrim looks at her to see if she is sick. He then shrugs.
Two DC 17 heal checks to determine what is going on with Betty.
Heck, you will be around her all day, so I'll give you the take 10.
Bubonic Plague: Claw—injury (now contact since Betty already has it and it is a plague); save Fort DC 17; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Str damage, 1 Cha damage, and target is fatigued; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Shakes: Contact; save Fort DC 17; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d8 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Urah struggles for a while in his dream induced state but manages it by imagining Syn with really bad makeup.
"She has the Bubonic Plague and a bad case of the shakes. I can tend to her on the journey and hopefully she will pull through. I do not think either of these will kill her. Or Tarak might be able to just cure the diseases if he wants. She will have a lot of trouble traveling as the diseases work their way through her. We may need to carry her. I could heal her some so she can walk today if we do not want to carry her, but I will have to take on quite a bit of Drain to get her moving." Malgrim says.
Tarak looks over poor betty with Malgrim, satisfied that his diagnosis is correct.
”We be needing to treat her as best we can for the day, I can prepare magics to remove the disease on the morrow.”. He aids Malgrim with his care of the young woman as best he can while they travel, offering to take a large shape and carry her for a few hours when needed.
Indeed it does. When you minister to her using your heal skill, you make contact and have to make a save. If you cast a touch spell on her, you make contact and have to make a save.
The number to beat for the remove disease is a 17 for each. Naturally, that being a touch spell you will also have to make saves for each of the diseases, though the plague is a 22 DC for the contracting roll.
Similarly situation if you Treat Disease using the heal skill.
Malgrim tends to her for today.
Though she is still a little shakey, fatigued, and weak, she is feeling better after the aid and Malgrim feels OK. While he is at it a couple of those floating heads come sailing into camp to harass you. Again, you dispatch them with ease, their being more of a nuisance than anything.
By the end of the day it seems Betty has the plague under control, though she is still suffering from the shakes. A good nights rest will take care of the fatigue and strength loss. But wait! Not with the dream invasions she won't.
Unable to help with keeping the girl healthy, Gnasher keeps his guard up, watching to the mute girl. Pleased that Betty seemed to doin better, Gnasher wasn't surprised when the 'attack heads' showed up. After dispatching the heads, he called out. "Show yourself Mute Girl! Come Fight us!" Shaking his head, not surprised that she doesn't come fight. He realizes that they will probably struggle with bad dreams and fatigue until they reach Kelmarane.
Despite understanding the signs Urah is slightly frustrated that he is unable to help the rest resist the dreams. He could only watch and hope as they make it back to their destination.
Tarak wakes up refreshed and ready to go, blissfully unplagued by dreams once again he prepares his spells and meditates facing the rising sun. Checking up on their plagued companion, he growls in a cheerful manner, "Lets see if we can get ye ship shape."
"There ye be, seem to be feelin' better." He will then offer up restorations to anyone who had bad dreams.
Betty is no longer suffering from the diseases, but she is still feeling the lingering effects (-3 STR) if you care to alleviate that. You think a good night's rest would fix her right up, but she is not likely to get a good nights rest. Gnasher and Malgrim are both pooped from the nasty dreams. Ket me know who is getting the lesser restorations so I know how far you get during the day.
So one restoration on Gnasher, one on Malgrim, and 2 on Betty. That will effectively clear things up. Even if you rolled 1's on Betty she would only be at a -1 which has no mechanical effect.
Your travel that day is a lot swifter now that noone is fatigued or exhausted than and you start making progress.
I made wandering monster rolls but nothing came to bother you so we can fast forward to your arrival at Kelmarane if you would like to.
Pleased that the girl was feeling better and not slowing them down as much, Gnasher could not wait to see the walls of Kelmarame and sleep in his own bed.
Malgrim is pleased to see the city again.
Despite the ever present threat and dealing with disease and fatigue, Tarak enjoys the remainder of the trip and is seemingly the only member of the group not entirely pleased to see the city again.
"I suppose we need to being reporting in, eh." he asks, then with a sigh, "May as well get it done right away, rest later."
The harassments stop once you exit the mountains and there is no place for Syn to hide. And if she is following you she is making dang sure you are unable to spot her. Finally you reach the town, bustling with activity, though even with the tender ministrations of the druid, you are all pretty beat.
Garvel greets you at the main gate, the town walls mostly repaired and leads you in to Almah without asking any questions. Being a man of efficiency he does not make you repeat the story twice and waits for the debriefing from his boss.
Almah greets you with interest as you are ushered in, with Filliped tagging along. As usual Almah looks busy and the piles of papers have grown, if anything, larger. But she has a certain expression of satisfaction in spite of the increased work load.
"Well, what did you find in the House of the Beast? Is that nest of vipers dealt with, I hope, and we can continue to see peace?"
Entering into Almah's office, Gnasher bows politely, answering the question directly, he nods his head. "Tribe kill carrion King. Tribe find strange cave and scroll. Tribe kill odd priest Zayifid but mute girl got away."
Remembering that he'd given the odd scroll to Urah, he turns to his friend, expecting him to produce the odd sigil.
(Princess) Mayor Almah listens to Gnasher's explanation and pauses afterwards, expecting more than the terse summary, though by now she should know better.
"I can see that there is a story to be told here. Zayifid, I remember, but I thought he was an ally. Mute girl? Not sure why the fact that a mute girl got away matters. But let's start with the scroll. Do you have it?"
Seeing Gnasher turn to Urah, she looks expectantly at him.
"The mute girl was some strange succubus like creature. She has been hitting our dreams at night and enchanted me earlier to try and gain access to the scroll." Malgrim says to them.
Tarak starts to report in, but the group beats him to as much of an explanation as he had, so I reflexively wanders a few steps away and stares at the sky.
Urah waits until the Attention is turned to him.
He first produces the scroll and places it on the table.
"This is the scroll Zayifid, the false priest was looking for. I would like to point out that he's a Janni and didn't seem to have very cordial relationship with Mute girl who was a Div in disguise. We did find a secure place to rest and it even had berry carrying bushes in it. The Div however has being hounding us every chance she gets and our inability to catch her means, she'll be invading our dreams as much as she can. She might even be in this city with her ability to shape shift and disguise herself. She slaughter the other slaves baring one just to make a point."
"As for the scroll." he pauses.
"I have no way to destroy it and the magic it radiates is blinding." he points to said scroll.
Her face grows alarmed at the mention of a Div.
"Show me the scroll and tell me as much as you can about this Div."
Garavel is sent to retrieve an expert on Divs as Almah examines the scroll. The symbol that shows is unknown to her and her experimental tugs and folds yield the expected results, though she does not go as far as you did and handles it relatively gently.
With a sigh, she puts the mysterious scroll down. "Why is it that as soon as we deal with one problem another pops up, or two. I'm afraid I cannot help you with the scroll and, it seems, the Div has now become a problem for all of us, if what you say is true."
You fill the time with chit chat, reminiscing, and discussions around people you both know until Garavel returns with Filliped, Father Zastoran, and some scholor. After some lively discussion they come to a conclusion.
"The conclusion we have come to is that this is a Pairaka. The diseases were the clue that cinched it. First of all, what is a Div you might ask. Divs strive to ruin and despoil all things created by mortals. Spawned from corrupted genies exiled to the accursed depths of Abaddon, divs harbor an ancient hatred against all mortalkind, doing all in their power not simply to destroy but also to torment all that lives. Patient and vicious, divs seek to spoil all things beautiful and joyous, dooming their victims to existences full of frustration and suffering before succumbing to lengthy, painful deaths."
"The most ancient of myths claim that divs were the aides and architects of numerous magical and forgotten mortal empires in an age of wondrous and mysterious antiquity. During this unfathomably ancient time these masters of creation served as helpful genies, allied to thankful and gracious masters. However, this bond with mortals soon frayed, as generations of the shorter-lived races ebbed and flowed like ripples in a puddle, forgetting the oaths and respect their forbearers gave divs; some began to abuse and neglect their otherworldly allies, while others merely turned away from genies to rely upon and extol the creations of mortalkind. As the contributions of geniekind were ignored and the deities celebrated the rise of their mortal creations across the worlds, many of the ancient architects rose in rebellion against mortals and the ancient deities who shepherded them. In turning from the paths of inspiration and creation, these genie rebels fell under the sway of a power of destruction known as Ahriman, who granted them not only the vicious might to avenge themselves against mortalkind, but also twisted forms marking them as paragons of depredation, havoc, and ruin. Thus did first divs come into being."
"Ever since, divs have arisen from the spirits of the most nefarious and spiteful evil genies. Rather than returning to the Elemental Planes upon their destruction, these foul genies find their way into the claws of Ahriman, a spirit of annihilation who has haunted geniekind since the earliest days of creation. Having forged a realm upon the ruined hinterlands of the foul plane of Abaddon, Ahriman uses the innate corruption of that realm along with his own immortal evil to inspire wickedness in the souls drawn to him, warping such profane spirits into div servitors of a variety of terrible forms. Indifferent to the genie race from which the soul hailed, the Lord of the Divs sees only the evil within and grants it an abhorrent shape particular to the vices that brought the genie to his domain. What emerges from Ahriman’s grip is a dreadful new fiend, an enemy of mortalkind and the deities of good, a hateful spirit given a form with which to wreak its revenge. The dark god’s touch leaves behind nothing of the individual genie that once was—only hatred, entitlement, and vengeance remain."
"Pairakas embody the corruptive nature of unbridled lust. Pairakas spend little time in their true form while on the Material Plane, choosing to cloak themselves instead in alluring forms to seduce potential victims, ruin relationships, and foment obsession. In its true form, a pairaka’s body is a foul landscape of blazing rashes, oozing pustules, and taut blisters suggestive of the corruptions it harbors, bodily and spiritually. Apparently, and not surprisingly, she never revealed her true form to you."
"Pairakas pride themselves on perversion. They love nothing more than turning lovers against one another or destroying the bonds of friendship. Pairakas feed off this slow torment and savor each broken heart or disappointment. They use lust and sexuality as their primary tools, wielding taboos and carnal appetites to sever once-friendly relationships. Pairakas also use their seduction to spread disease, charming victims into physical contact. this one seemed rather patient. Spending days observing you in her guise as she made plans. Not sure what her long term goals are, but probably not good."
So you can spend some down time reequipping or whatnot. Almah as a bit to consider before determining a course of action.
Nodding in agreement with Malgim as he describes the Div's actions, Gnasher watched as Urah handed the scroll to Almah, thankful that Urah was willing to explain the strange events. Raising an eyebrow as Almah pulled at the scroll, Gnasher waited patiently until Father Zastoran was able to explain everything there was to know about Pairaka.
As the lesson came to an end, Gnasher nodded he understood. "Mute girl bad, tribe will kill if tribe can." He furrows his brow, gesturing towards the scroll, "How tribe learn what rune means?"
As the other conversations wain, Gnasher asks his companions. "Gnasher considering magical items, Maybe fly so could have caught mute girl, or way to see true form?"
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"I think I need to find a way not to fall for all the bad girls." Malgrim says as he heads off to shop.
Do you guys stick together or are shopping by yourselves?
Just an innocent question. I mean, what could I possibly be thinking of when I ask that question?
@Gnasher
As you are going around minding your own business you are attacked by a very angry man with a butcher knife. You are a little surprised to be attacked out of the blue like that and it hits, opening a small gash in your arm.
"You stay away from my wife! I can't believe it - a gnoll!"
Which surprises you. You know this butcher and have seen his wife, but any exchange between you two has been monosyllabic.
Feeling something bite at his arm, Gnasher turns realizing he's being attacked by the little man who cuts up meat. Rearing back as the fool says something about his wife, Gnasher begins to rage. As he enlarges, his paws grow into overly large claws, his eyes glow red, his fangs enlarge and he begins to froth at the mouth. While his brown hide takes on a red-orange cast to it, giving a peculiar laugh. Standing several feet above the little man, Gnasher, lifting his claws threateningly, growls at the man. "Meat cutter should run back to wife now!"
As the butcher runs off Gnasher scratches his head, releasing the rage he draws out his wand of infernal healing casting on himself. As the wound begins to mend he continues on his way back to his mansion.