"Victory" crows Mauro, and he continues "I thought the hag would pose more challenge, but I guess we got to her before she could prepare!"
When Talath and Becky propose to revisit and rescue the blind cyclops, he is willing to go along "I have no objections to aiding that poor prisoner, although but I suspect there are a few more hidey holes in this tower that we should visit before our magicks wear off. So let us visit it quickly, explore the rest of the tower, and then return to free it."
"Victory" crows Mauro, and he continues "I thought the hag would pose more challenge, but I guess we got to her before she could prepare!"
When Talath and Becky propose to revisit and rescue the blind cyclops, he is willing to go along "I have no objections to aiding that poor prisoner, although but I suspect there are a few more hidey holes in this tower that we should visit before our magicks wear off. So let us visit it quickly, explore the rest of the tower, and then return to free it."
"I understand the eagerness to explore for more enemies but we didn't have time to check on the health of the cyclops. I am loathe to leave it prisoner let alone risk having it die due to lack of care."
"Well, best be off: soonest begun, soonest done."
Mauro leads off back to the second level of the tower an the cyclops's prison...
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
After examining the Spell Lattice, the party determines it has False Life imbued in the crystal.
.
✦ Nal-Shakar: Ocularum Prison (area L12) * ˚ ✦
The party returns to the cyclops, who is in terrible shape. He's blind, exhausted beyond normal exhaustion, scarred, covered with his own dried blood, and badly injured. He treats you with deference and outright fear. He doesn't speak when you enter.
Talath will begin by trying to speak with the cyclops and see if they share a language. He will speak softly in Common, Elven (doubtful), Draconic, and Azlanti to see if he responds.
"We can do this--YOU can do this!" Becky says to Talath, invoking some of her magic to inspire her ally. Then she turns to the captive cyclops, casting a comprehend languages spell to better understand the creature should she get it talking.
"The sea hag is dead--she can never hurt you again. We'll set you free if you promise not to attack us. If you want to be left alone after that--fine. Or perhaps we could work out a deal--maybe you return to our settlement with us and do some chores in exchange for food and shelter. Would you be interested in such an arrangement?"
Sensing the situation perhaps slipping away, Talath makes a couple of gambles and prays for the divine guidance of Lady Luck...
He slowly casts a spell, exchanging one form for another, to heal the cyclops.
He then calls once more upon the Song of the Spheres to grant himself a measure of Her luck.
Assuming Talath can find a common language with the cyclops, he will start with asking for his name, where he's from, basic information to build rapport. He will also offer the cyclops food and water if he's hungry or thirsty. If he needs more healing Talath will provide that too. Once the cyclops is more comfortable with the party Talath will begin asking questions related to his current circumstance.
✦ Nal-Shakar: Ocularum Prison (area L12) * ˚ ✦
Even though Becky has honest intentions, the cyclops doesn't seem to trust her words. Luckily, her companion has better luck.
Talath manages to coerce the cyclops into speaking. The cyclops identifies himself as Aeroclyse and seems convinced escape from Nal-Shakar is impossible until you provide proof of Helekhterie's death. Aeroclyse accepts the food and water, but what really seems to make a difference is the healing. In fact, healing his prolonged injuries seems to shift his attitude toward you.
He's able to share much of what you've already figured out, but he didn't know anything about the oozes or hidden brick .
Aeroclyse claims to know nothing of any humans anywhere near here. All of Helekhterie’s victims that are locked in with him are aquatic creatures, such as locathahs, merfolk, sahuagin, sea elves, and the like. You take another look around the room and identify more aquatic humanoid bones, which corroborate Aeroclyse's claim.
Even though he's unshackled, Aeroclyse is still fatigued so he sits on the ground, moving his butt and limbs to reduce their soreness. His empty eyesocket stares blandly ahead towards the double-doors although he can't see.
Aeroclyse confides his primary goal is to return to his people in the Shackles, though traveling there in his current condition is infeasible, and few ships will likely take on a cyclops passenger without the party’ intercession. Once freed from Nal-Shakar, Aeroclyse is content to spend his days helping the party to the best of his ability for a while, though he is unlikely to be able to accompany the party on long journeys until they can remedy his afflictions.
Talath turns to the party and gestures them away from Aeroclyse (out of hearing range), "We must find and free the other captives. I'm guessing the floor where we heard the odd sounds is where they're being held. They may be in similar poor health so I'll conserve my healing until we gather them all together. The sahuagin are going to be a problem; I know my people consider them an enemy as do the locathah and likely the merfolk. They are a cruel and evil race and, despite them being captives, I have no sympathy for them and see no benefit in releasing them. In fact anything they learn from us or of this place may motivate them to return in greater numbers to raid. I also had not counted on beings wanting proof Helekhterie is dead."
He apologetically motions to Asher and Mauro, "My friends, it is a gruesome favor to ask but if you could return upstairs and first decapitate the hag and bring her head and all of her body back downstairs. I plan on on disposing of her remains in such a way that any of her followers will have great difficulty returning her from the dead."
Addressing the party again, "I cannot heal Aeroclyse's eye as I do not have access to such powerful magic. I don't know if anyone in the colony has it either. We will likely have another struggle on our hands getting the colonists to accept a cyclops in their midst. I do not have any influence with the Andoran ships coming in and no knowledge if they would even consider transporting a cyclops or go to these Shackles he speaks of."
✦ Nal-Shakar: Ocularum Prison (area L12) * ˚ ✦
The party discusses plans to finish exploring and dispose of the dead sea hag's corpse in a way that will make it difficult to resurrect her.
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✦ Nal-Shakar: Living Quarters (L5) * ˚ ✦
you descend the stairs back to the first floor and move to open the western double doors. As the doors are pulled open, the strong stench of troll hits your nose.
You realize that centuries of disrepair and water intrusion have caused considerable damage to this corridor. Mold blotches the walls and floor while the stink of sulfur mixes with a musky odor. A nest of filthy rags, damp cloth, seaweed, and bones occupy the corner by the northern door. The room is empty except for the filth left behind by the scrags.
In the rag pile, you find two more Necklace of Air Adaption.
.
✦ L5a Nal-Shakar: Ruined Kitchen (5a) * ˚ ✦
What may once have been a small kitchen now lies in ruin. Humanoid bones, strips of decaying flesh, and clusters of oyster shells and tangled seaweed cover the counters. The entire room smells of sweat and brine mixed with a tangy, sulfuric musk. A twisted nest of waterlogged cloth, partly dried seaweed, and gnarled animal carcasses fills the middle of the room.
A pewter cuff bearing the seal of Andoran , is placed obviously within the tangle of animal carcasses like a cherry on a sundae.
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✦ L5b Nal-Shakar: Ruined Communial Quarters (5b) * ˚ ✦
This spacious room contains the shattered wooden frames of beds and some dilapidated, threadbare cloth mattresses placed in a pile, atop which a foul nest of animal bones, seaweed, and other watery detritus is heaped.
You find a battered and rusted tower shield emblazoned with the spiral-and-star symbol of Nal-Shakar as a “headboard,” behind which there is a small assortment of gemstones pilfered from remote shipwreck, worth 350 gold pieces. The rusted tower shield is an interesting find, but it is non-magical and rusted beyond use.
"Well, I think we can safely say we have cleared the witches minions from this tower, although there might be more outside." Mauro turns, however, to the stairs back to the basement, continuing "But before we leave, there was that odd brick in the basement, and the Azlanti writings. Let us go investigate."
Once we go downstairs, Mauro (who speaks Azlanti as a language via the linguistics skill) take as long as needed to a) read the stone tables and b) figure out what the pushable brick does. He will use object reading on the brick as well as mundane inspection...
As Mauro does his object reading, Asher will look for any signs or tracks so we can see if there were any other opponents or victims walking around the tower.
Becky offers to lead Aeroclyse throughout the tower, still not giving up on befriending the tortured giant. She introduces herself and her friends by name. hoping that might put the cyclops more at ease.
Becky offers to lead Aeroclyse throughout the tower, still not giving up on befriending the tortured giant. She introduces herself and her friends by name. hoping that might put the cyclops more at ease.
.
✦ Nal-Shakar: Library of Heavenly Prophecy (area L6) * ˚ ✦
Opening the connected doors, you see much of this cavernous library lies in terrible disrepair. The stone shelves set into the walls are cracked, chipped, and split and heaps of ruined, ancient tomes are scattered across the floor. A tile mosaic in the room’s center depicting a spiraling comet with a star at its center has been shattered by multiple blunt impacts from fragments of marble slab shelves. What few books remain on the shelves have crumbled into illegible scraps of long-lost lore.
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✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Lab (area L8) * ˚ ✦
After the party finishes exploring the library, you head back down to the basement. The stink of mold and sulfur hits your nose again as the dark lab surrounds you.
The brick compresses easily and you hear an audible click behind you. You turn and see a wall shelf with a full collection of alchemical reagents worth 1,250 gold pieces.
Inside the secret compartment, you find a chest containing 17 platinum, 457 gold, 3,770 silver, and 11,700 copper coins. Additionally, there is a +1 chain shirt, a +1 light steel shield engraved with the spiral-and-star symbol of Nal-Shakar, a +1 shortsword, a silver statue of Desna in Pharasma’s embrace worth 600 gold, assorted gemstones worth 550 gold, a scroll of corrosive touch, a scroll of darkness, a scroll of delay poison, a scroll of fox’s cunning, a scroll of mage armor, and a scroll of restoration.
6 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
✦ Nal-Shakar: Library of Heavenly Prophecy (area L6) * ˚ ✦
Mauro's voice is venemous as the speaks his thoughts: "Damn whoemever did this - if they'd left the books on the shelves, there might be something salvageable. As it is, this is simply garbage. Such a waste!"
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Lab (area L8) * ˚ ✦
Keen ears and sharp eyes lead Mauro to the compartment hidden in the furniture, "Oooh, this looks like quite a haul!"
"Oh no!" Becky wails when she sees the library in ruins, all of its ancient lore lost forever. She hears a click to the north that threatens to tear her attention away from the tragedy before her, but the little bookworm can't abandon the chance of finding something of value amongst the tattered scraps. She starts gathering copper sheets and glossy black stone tablets that have survived where paper has crumbled away. Looking at them closely, the bardic intellectual reads some of the engraved text. "Something about "veiled masters," secret rulers of ancient Azlant," she announces. "We should bring them back to Ramona."
Her eyes fall upon Asher and Mauro. Apparently "we" refers to one or more of the stronger men in the party.
"I do have some magic which I could use to try and repair some of the damage. It's a shame so much has been lost."
✦ Talmandor's Bounty (area a) * ˚ ✦
The party collects anything of worth and loads into the boat docked at Nal-Shakar's secret entrance. Aeroclyse, blind and exhausted, is slow but follows you without complaint. He feels his way into the boat and along the jungle path with you to Talmandor's Bounty.
The party journeyed to the highest point of Ancorato, which used to be a volcano. The mouth of the volcano was filled with water as a sort of hot springs. In the center of the caldera lake was the island on which Nal-Shakar was built by the Azlanti long ago.
The observatory Nah-Shakar is in good condition overall and could perhaps be turned into a hot spring resort in the future. While exploring the facility, you eradicated Helekhterie’s scrag minions and eventually fought the sea hag oracle herself!
Although the party was unable to find any of the missing settlers, it was time to return to Talmandor’s Bounty with the good news of Helekhterie’s defeat!
Carver invites you all and Ramona to his house for a celebratory dinner tomorrow evening. In addition, Ramona reveals to you that the resupply ship from Andoran arrived, loaded with trade goods and necessary supplies for the growing settlement.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty (area a) * ˚ ✦
Carver invites you all and Ramona to his house for a celebratory dinner tomorrow evening. In addition, Ramona reveals to you that the resupply ship from Andoran arrived, loaded with trade goods and necessary supplies for the growing settlement.
Becky briefly considers heading straight to Ramona to report to the colony leader but ultimately decides against it. First, she checks in with her mom to let her know she's fine. The teen also changes out of her enchanted eelskin. Though she loves wearing the specialized armor in the water, she feels like (and believes she looks like) a beached seal when wearing it on overland journeys. Slipping back into her comfier and more distinguished mithral shirt, Becky gives her mom a peck on the cheek and heads off to give her exhaustive report to Ramona. After that, she drops by the Harleau home to say Hi to Sighra and hang out with Medrinnah for a while. She tells no one of the harrowing magic the sea hag used that drained about half her life force in one fell swoop.
As the hour of Carver Hastings's dinner party draws near, Becky considers maybe wearing something a little more formal...more 'girly.' Her mother smiles and says she brought a distinguished outfit along for her daughter for a special occasion. The white dress she digs out of a chest looks rather like a no-frills wedding gown, not something one would wear to a dinner party.
"Well, dear, you are getting to that age," Perrell says with a beaming smile. "And those Asher and Mauro fellows both seem like nice young men...."
"Mom!"
Perrell rolls her eyes and sets her sights lower and in an entirely different direction. "Or, if you prefer, I suppose Medrinnah might've caught your fancy. Her father, Sighra, is a handsome gentleman, come to think of it. I wouldn't mind...."
In the end, Becky goes 'adventurer casual,' wearing her mithral shirt and a clean pair of trousers. Though she listens intently to anything and everything Ramona and Carver have to say, she uncharacteristically doesn't kiss up to either, instead enjoying the company of the friends she's spent the last few weeks facing many dangers with. I'm lucky to have them!
✦ Talmandor's Bounty (area a) * ˚ ✦
The party is thoroughly exhausted upon returning to Talmandor's Bounty. The settlement is a comfort on an island jungle full of dangers.
Becky's mother Perrell is overjoyed to see her daughter again. Perhaps she sees her young daughter blossoming into a young adult because she hints at marriage.
The party spends their Sunday resting, selling, briefing Ramona about Nal-Shakar, and doing whatever else they desire. While being debriefed, the colony leader listens intently, nodding and occasionally making a note in the colony journal. "It's good you went. It seems like this sea hag - Helekherie, was it? Was responsible for all the strange things that have been happening here. Her vampire mists must have been the ones draining our livestock. I'm glad we can put that mystery to rest; the other colonists will be relieved." Ramona also asks if you happened to find the ship's manifest and resupply schedule.
The sky is blue and clear - a perfect day for sailing. The supply ship at the port is called The Argent Cornucopia and is filled to the hull with supplies and goods. All day, sailors load goods off the ship to be taken to storage areas and a makeshift market along the shore. Several colonists have set up their own wares. There are baked goods, carved toys, mundane household items, and Eskelda, whom you saved from the mob, is selling potions. Some are still wary of her, but Eskelda has been filling the void that Alba left when she closed shop.
Around midday, a few representatives from Skalorah's tribe arrive. The strix curiously observe the market and trade a few mundane art objects with sailors and colonists alike.
Koloshkora arrives later with several other locathah. They saw the ship arriving and decided to swim over with their wares to sell and trade. They set up a net of goods on the sandy shore.
The overall mood of Talmandor's Bounty seems to have improved. It's better than it's been for the past week, though still not as optimistic as having first cleared the settlement. News from Andoran and tales of your victory against Helekherie are the only things anyone seems to be talking about.
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✦ Talmandor's Bounty (area a) * ˚ ✦
Trading continues and spirits continue to rise. Relations between the colonists and their trade partners improve slightly as talks about a routine market day are suggested in conversation.
The evening eventually arrives, and the party prepares for dinner at the Pathfinder's, Carver Hasting's, home. He lives in a modest wooden house outside the palisade walls. The evening air is still hot and humid, but the sun is setting so it'll begin to get cool soon. Today was another beautiful, clear sky day. There are a lot of people out on the dirt streets, walking home or to other various places.
On Sunday, Becky gives her masterwork darkwood buckler to Koloshkora to get it enchanted, hoping that the item will be ready by the time of Carver's dinner party the next evening. She spends much of Moonday with her BFF, Medrinnah, shopping among the vendors from the colony, the newly-arrived Andoran vessel, the strix, and the locathah. Becky buys some neat gifts for her friend and herself, including matching shark-tooth necklaces from the locathah and small feathered hand-fans from the strix.
As the afternoon grows late, she checks in with Koloshkora to see if her shield's ready. After saying goodbye to Medrinnah, the teen bard takes a bath and prepares for the dinner party. Meeting up with her comrades-in-arms, she makes one last stop at the makeshift market to pick up some pastries as a gift for Carver (just in case he forgot to procure dessert).
"It's good you went. It seems like this sea hag - Helekherie, was it? Was responsible for all the strange things that have been happening here. Her vampire mists must have been the ones draining our livestock. I'm glad we can put that mystery to rest; the other colonists will be relieved." Ramona also asks if you happened to find the ship's manifest and resupply schedule.
"Close, her name was Helekhterie. I'm not sure we can ascribe all of the strange things happening here to her. Unfortunately we weren't able to find any evidence, witnesses, or victims who could tell us what Helekhterie was up to or the nature of the...devices?...at Nal-Shakar."
Talath will make sure to meet and speak with both Skalorah and Koloshkora to make sure both of their peoples are doing well.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty (area a) * ˚ ✦
It really is a beautiful day. When you consider it, the past two days have been exceedingly pleasant. The settlement keeps growing, trade relations have never been better, and all threats to the island have finally been resolved. Fellow settlers smile and nod as you pass. The dirt streets are busy with evening activities. You hear people gossiping about your contributions to Talmandor's Bounty and about the latest news and trends from Andoran.
You're not too far from Carver's house, when a group of six settlers begin to surround you, smiling.
The child closest to Mauro tugs at his shirt, asking: "Mister, mister! Is it true you killed a real witch?"
Remember: weapons are not drawn while walking around in town. I will roll the initiatives next post.
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...
Mauro smiles a the kid and replies "She looked dead to me at the end of that mess..."
Talath tells the others, "We're under attack!"
And casts a spell centered on himself:
Becky, like Talath, senses the weird "wrongness" of the situation. She might've frozen or panicked, but the aquatic elf's voice steels her nerves. Drawing her rapier, she takes a careful step south, giving Talath a safe spot in the group's interior in which to cast his spell unhindered.
Becky, like Talath, senses the weird "wrongness" of the situation. She might've frozen or panicked, but the aquatic elf's voice steels her nerves. Drawing her rapier, she takes a careful step south, giving Talath a safe spot in the group's interior in which to cast his spell unhindered.
[dice=Becky Beys Sense Motive Check]1d20+5
Asher sees the colonists coming up to them.
Asher also steps to the side to cover Crispin, drawing his Nodachi as part of the Move action, leaving Huntress to cover their rear.
Crispin follows the party around but seems to be rather subdued. He is also constantly scribbling notes in his journal and stays in the background for the social occasions.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Broken Masks (area M) * ˚ ✦
Talath, Becky, and Asher all feel like something is deeply wrong and act accordingly. The cleric casts Magic Circle Against Evil, the bard draws her rapier, and the ranger draws his nodachi.
You can hardly hear Talath because a woman begins to scream somewhere nearby. What at first seems like a welcoming party for the local heroes soon turns surreal. One by one, townsfolk let out wailing, inhuman shrieks before their physical forms twist and contort in gruesome fashion, revealing horrific, faceless visages beneath!
You have an up-close and personal observation of the transformation, as even the small smiling child's skin ripples and distorts into a hairless, leathery biped with unsettling whorls and slits instead of actual features. Worst of all, is your realization that they are all still wearing the colonists' clothing after transforming.
"R- Ronald?!" a female villager screams. All along the streets, you see that not everyone has transformed. In addition to your party being flanked, other colonists face an immediate threat.
The purple creature slams into Crispin but the arcanist evades being grabbed!
The red creature slams into Mauro, but even flat-footed the occultist resists the weakened attack!
the yellow creature takes a five-foot step towards Talath, but the cleric sidesteps the slam!
Round 1 Music (link)
(3 damage)
(Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party-wide buffs:
Bold may act!