NOOOO! Yan desperately lunges for the claw as he watches the spirit of his hero get snatched away, denied a peaceful passage on to the next life. It stands against everything he believes in as a followed or Ashava and a duskwalker.
He shouts at the floor, hoping the ghost can still hear him: We will free you, Otari! I swear it! Hold onto hope!
When the claw shows up, Scarred One calls for magic and throws a flame bolt at the ground, but it was already too late.
"May she be cursed in every life that she lives. No worries Otari knows that we will go and save him. Belcorra will suffer for all that she did."
Says the old one.
Scarred One begins to search what the remains of Vollruk had, he does hope to find spellbook. Maybe he could learn something from the spell that they casted.
Oorgatch is speechless after what happens to the ghost. He eventually shakes his head, and then starts searching around the room. Then, suddenly, he stops, and puts Otari's carefully into their own belt pouch. "Need to get some extra picks for these. Don't wanna risk breaking the one it has."
It's easy enough to make your way around to Volluk's study.
Among his papers are a scroll of comprehend language, a scroll of paralyze, and a scroll of worm’s repast. No sign of a spellbook, although his casting seemed closer to a sorcerer than a wizard so it's not too surprizing.
A strange Lantern, also rests on the desk. It will take some time to identify but eventually you can figure out its properties
By the time you've finished looting Volluk's study and returning to Otari Sendoski is also not feeling well with a few pock marks showing up on his skin as well.
Oorgatch suggests that the team go to the Dawnflower Library (and temple). "Ancient One, let us work together to treat the diseases they've contracted."
Yan purchases an anti plague and downs it for good measure. He suggests SSendoski do likewise.
Yan doesn't like being full of pustules; it hurts his natural charisma. He remembers the offerings at the library, and there to buy some spell casting services.
Vandy I'm sorry, The Midnight Dancer is in my room. I know it's overdue, I'd go get it right now but I'm just too sick and exhausted after meeting Otari and besting an ancient evil!, all while dealing with this skin condition. I don't know how much longer I can tough it out.
Scarred One arranges two rooms for Yan and Sendoski to rest. He cherished the same orcish love and caring that he experienced in his life. He walked over with his club in his hand, which he would threaten to use if any of the prisonerspatients would like to leave the beds.
"As my grandma used to say, for bone fracture to heal you don't have to be conscious."
He would spend the whole day trying to let them recover.
The following day, he prepares two Remove disease spells
Yan buys a remove disease but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe if he remembered to return his books the church would try harder...
They do inform you that they think the disease is passed through fecal-oral transmission and that anybody caring for you should not be in danger as long as good hygiene and such is practiced.
Vandy will also suggest that if things go particularly badly you should consider hiring transport to Absalom where you could likely find more specialized care.
Scarred One works deep into the night, alternating threatening his patients with clubs and treating their disease.
What is Oorgatch up to for the rest of today at least?
Yan buys another anitplague the next day. He will ask for healing again, and if needed he will attempt another fort save.
As the Scarred One treats their team mates, Oorgatch heads off to work on his cat's eye elixirs. He makes faster progress than he had in the past with his better skills.
When not brewing, or sampling Magiloy's concoctions, Oorgatch talks to Yinyasmera at the Crook's Nook. He compares tools and discusses tricks of the trade with the folks there, and he trades in his old rapier, picks and tools for some replacement picks for Otari's tools, not wanting to risk breaking the ones that Otari had left him. He wonders if he should sell his hand crossbow, but decides against it, again, for now.
He also arranges for the rune be transferred to Yan's armor, and sells the chain shirt that is left over.
Hanging out at the Crook's Nook Oorgatch gets a chance to see Carman Rajani hustling some travelers out of some coin at the knife throwing board.
Yinyasmera will chuckle to Oorgatch after that mess is over "We used to call him the 'Ace of Blades', best knife thrower I ever met. I think things settled down in his life though, used to see him a lot more back in the day desperate for coin, now days I think he just comes back in for fun some times."
---
You've got health to worry about first and maybe a bit more to explore but you've got at least some ideas for where to find the Roseguard Icons.
One wing of the Menhemes Manor is a museum of the town's history.
The Dawnflower Library has The Cooperative Blade on display in a glass case by its entrance. Sendoski knows that's the name of Vol Rajani's sword and Yan has passed by it many times.
The next day Scarred One prepares the spells to help his ill allies in fighting the disease.
He is glad that Yan looks better but worried about Sendoski, so in the morning he will focus on the boy.
"Just stay in the bed and drink water. Try not to move too much, if it pains, that means it is working. Leave any weapon behind."
He turns towards the cat "You were supposed to protect him, so whatever you have in your sleeve this is the time."
Scarred One prepares by drawing symbols of animals on the ground: wolf, bear, eagle and shark. Then he stands next to Sendoski's bed and moves his hands. Soon the energy begins to gather and drawings begin to shine with bright green light. After a couple of seconds, the magic spills on the whole bed flowing through Sendoski's body.
Scarred One fights the disease.
Scarred One takes a break, he drinks some water, and wipes the sweat off his face. "Ok Ruindelver, you need to fight this. I will not make it without you."
Then again he channels magic through the boy's body. Trying to cleanse it from the disease.
When he is done with Sendoski he goes to Yan. "Ok Worddancer, I see your condition is getting better. Let me see what I can do for you"
It takes much work from Scarred One, and both spells but he's able to fix Sendoski's condition.
Yan in the meantime is clearly recovering but not perfect.
Presumably Scarred One looks over him while he rests and recovers.
That largely uses up the day for both of them though aside from any minor errands.
What does Sendoski want to do with his day now that he's cured enough that Naught can distract Scarred One long enough for him to get away.
Yan sips his medicine with a shaking hand and whispers weakly to his physician. Scarred One… listen. Tell Sendoski… I wanted to give his book back… but now… tragically… I must stay… in quarantine.
Yan neglects to tell Scarred one he rubbed bleach on the cover to sanitize it, not realizing he should have diluted it a lot more.
Oorgatch has completed 2 days of downtime.
Sendoski has 1 day of downtime.
Yan is healthy
Oorgatch can freely memorize spells today.
What's the plan for the new day now that filth fever is done.
After his allies are fine Scarred One goes to visit Wring for a moment. He finds a spot to sit and gets out the scroll of Worm's repast he reads it and tries to memorize how to cast it.
"Look Wrin what we found, I never heard of such a spell. Maybe I will be able to learn it"
In his free time, Scarred One takes a small cask of beer and heads to Giant's Wheel to chat with Klorte
"Hey there Lumberjack, would you have some time to tell me about the times when you were fighting? What was the worst fight that you had?" asks the old one opens a small barrel and pours a mug that he gives to Klorte
In the evenings he would head to Crow's Casks and work as a drink tester
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Yan heads to Mayor Oseph Menhemes' home and introduces himself. He tells the mayor about their adventures, but perhaps focuses a bit too much on their alliance with SKRAWNG.
You see? So any information you have on these artifacts would be useful. If you lend it to us, The Cooperative Blade could be in no safer hands, and I'll personally make sure to return it in a timely fashion and in the same pristine condition. As a Champion, I see this sort of thing as my sworn duty.
Oorgatch spends another week working on his elixirs. He is so close to finishing them, he can practically taste them, but is stubborn enough to not just finish them off the easy way.
Wondering if perhaps he's been limiting himself too much in his choice of weapons, Oorgatch spends some time at Blades for Glades, trying out other weapons for weight and style, while discussing the craftmanship with Carmen Rajani. They have a friendly discussion over the merits of metal versus leather armors, and in the end, agree to disagree.
Scarred One makes some coins trying out new beverages in the evening, most of them are pretty tasty but having to deal with at least a minor upset stomach is not uncommon.
Klorte is happy to share stories with Scarred One "Back when I fought in the Irorium I used a pair of hatchets and they called me 'The Lumberjacker' after this one time I fought a hill giant, damn thing was nearly 15 feet tall... That's all behind me now, other than scaring off wildlife I haven't had need to swim dem hatchets in a long time. If you ever need work there's plenty of wildlife to keep away from the flume and the last time I hired a local kid she almost got her friends kiilled riding down the flume..."
---
Yan visits the Mayor's house, as before he spends the first half of the day handling public business, and the later half running Otari Lumber.
While waiting to meet with the Mayor Yan gets to peruse the eastern wing which is a museum of Otari's history. The museum contains replicas of the Roseguard’s adventuring gear and even a few common items that the adventurers once owned, the specific icons Otari Ilvashti’s ghost described are not here.
The Mayor listens to Yan but starts on a different topic. "Keeleno said you finally dealt with Jaul, to think he'd been living so close for all these years. I'm surprised you hadn't come to collect the reward any sooner, 50 gold is quite the sum. As for The Cooperative Blade, you're barking up the wrong tree. The Dawnflower Library has it on display and has for at least as long as I've been mayor. I know you lot keep going out there to Gauntlight and there's weird stuff going on below but tell me, why do you want Vol's old blade?"
Also an assistant with an armed guard comes in with a wooden box. In the box are 5 stacks of 10 gold coins. The assistant pulls them out 1 by 1, counting as they go. Once they are all accounted for the mayor and the assistant both sign off, the coins are carefully returned to the box which is handed over to Yan along with a receipt. Both the assistant and guard then leave.
---
Over at Blades for Glades Oorgatch gets a chance to chat with Carman Rajani, who doesn't seem in a particularly good mood and based on their stock is clearly on the side of metal, not even offering leather armor for sale despite his otherwise nice collection.
|
Sendoski goes to visit Morlibint at Odd Stories.
"You won't believe it, but, down below the Gauntlight, we spoke to Otari's ghost!" Sendoski goes on to share details of the exciting event, including the claw that pulled Otari away.
"But he asked us to take up the mantle of the Roseguard and sent us on a mission to find his tools, Aesephna Menhemes' holy symbol, Zarmavdian's spellbook and Vol Rajani's trusty longsword. Do you know anything about them?"
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Morlibint listens in fascination to Sendoski's story before inviting him to the back room.
"Rajani's cooperative blade is on display at the Dawnflower Library, but have I something to show you."
Leading you to the back Morlibint shows you to a locked cabinet which he opens and pulls out Thresholds of Truth Zarmavdian’s spellbook.
"I'm sure the wizard would be pleased to see it in use defeating Belcorra once more. But please you must take extra care. That friend of yours, Yan, I think he mistreats the books so you have to promise me you'll keep it safe and of course come back and tell me of all the magical things that happen below."
Zarmavdian’s spellbook, Thresholds of Truth, was once a straightforward treatise on arcane and occult lore containing several useful spells. It’s been so heavily annotated, however, that the original text is hard to read. It’s clear that Zarmavdian wanted to prevent eldritch creatures from manipulating innocent minds, but his spellbook is a treasure trove for those seeking dangerous or inscrutable lore.
Thresholds of Truth provides access to the Eldritch Researcher archetype and contains the following spells:
Cantrips: chill touch, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, electric arc, ghost sound, mage hand, light, prestidigitation, read aura, shield
1st Level: alarm, charm, color spray, mage armor, magic missile, true strike, unseen servant
2nd Level: comprehend language, dispel magic, false life, glitterdust, web
3rd Level: haste, lightning bolt, locate, paralyze, slow
4th Level: clairvoyance, daydreamer’s curse*, resilient sphere
*New Spell.
Yan's ears feel like they're burning. Odd. A lingering effect of his disease?
Yan explains to the mayor about Otari's ghost, Ballacora, and how they must discover the icons of the rose guard — among them the sword.
What do you think? Can we have your backing?
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Oorgatch makes his way to the Dawnflower Library, trying to get there before Yan has a chance to "borrow" some more books. Once he gets there, he talks to Vandy Banderdash. "Sorry I didn't bring this up when we were here last, but I was more worried about Yan and Sendoski. No books are missing, are they?
"Oh, no, no reason for asking. Just idle curiosity.
"Any way, as you probably heard from Yan's babbling while sick, we met Otari. Yes, the very one, though he wasn't quite alive at the time. Well, he told us some things about how to save the town from the undead plagues that are likely to by Belcorra.
"So, what Otari told us was that in order to save the town... indeed, to save Absalom from burning as well, we needed to collect the four icons of the Roseguard together to have any chance at defeating her.
"So, of course, for the good of the town, you will be able to release The Cooperative Blade to our safekeeping.
"No, we'll make sure Yan doesn't misplace this artifact. You have my word, good priestess!"
Oseph Menhemes, the Mayor listens to Yan's story "I can't see how Otari can be safe with Belcorra trouncing around back there, and to think you got to meet Otari, that poor tortured soul. If only he had known the wonderful town here that bares his namefor all these years... Now come, follow me."
The Mayor leads Yan to a music room in the private wing of the Manor. A grand piano dominates most of the room but several smaller instrunmanets rest on stands and shelves as well as various boxes of supplies.
Oseph eventually opens a shadowbox and withdraws a broach. "Borrow this as long as you need Aesephna Menhemes’s and Erastil I'm sure would be glad to see it in use once more in the fight against Belcorra."
UNIQUE DIVINE INVESTED POSITIVE TRANSMUTATION
Price 80 gp
Usage worn; Bulk L
While wearing this silver religious symbol of Erastil, you can cast the disrupt undead cantrip as an innate divine spell.
Activate [three-actions] command, Interact; Frequency once per day; Effect By touching a weapon you wield to the symbol and uttering a plea for Erastil’s steadying hand, you grant that weapon the deadly d12 trait. Against undead, the weapon instead gains the fatal d12 trait. This blessing lasts for 1 minute, until you score a critical hit with the weapon, or until you aren’t wielding the weapon.
Scarred One comes back to see others and looks at the assembled treasures. "Those looks like some powerful items"
Looking over what they've acquired so far the party Arrives at the Dawnflower library Oorgatch finds it one fire!
There are acolytes running around with buckets in a bit of a panic and while the structure is unlikely to burn down many previous books and the like are in serious danger.
NOOO! Don't let them ruin books!
Yan springs into action, helping carry buckets, climb ladders, and quickly move valuable books out of harm's way.
Scarred One looks at the fire, he burnt a lot of libraries. Books burnt well if the fire is big.
"You! Boy, take two buckets and follow me. We need to stop fire from spreading! Stop coughing, this smell reminds me my youth"
Oorgatch immediately starts in by helping to put out the fire in every way he knows.
Where he can, he will try to shore up weakened structure, so as to protect people and the books.
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Between your help and the blessing of Sarenrae's protective embrace the fire is put out without it causing any serious damage though.
Pretty quickly a likely reason for the fire is discovered as the glass case surrounding The Cooperative Blade is broken and the sword is missing!
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Who could have done this?! Yan looks around in a panic, then freezes. Wait I read about something like thin in Ms. Peabody’s book Bake, Borrow, Steal. No one touch anything or move... otherwise you might contaminate the crime scene... of course there was more flour and frosting in the book, and there are more ashes here but... never mind that. We need to look for clues!
Clues are hard to come by, having been largely covered up by the fire. It doesn't take the town guard very long to find Carman Rajani is missing and identify him as the prime suspect.
Captain Longsaddle explain "He's been asking after the sword for years, said it belonged to his family, thought it might finally be enough to win him the mayor's race. He's not at home and his shop is all locked up..."
” Carman? Isn’t he the knife thrower? So, why would he steal it all of a sudden?”
Oorgatch pulls the mayor aside. ”Would you like someone to check out his shop and his home? We’d want a writ or warrant or something, but we’d be willing to help. ”
Scarred One walks out of the library stinking with smoke and dirty with ash. He takes out his bottle of water and drinks waiting for a couple of minutes.
"Wasn't Carmen Rajani the one who bragged about being related to Vol Rajani? The founder of Otari? There are not that many places to hide here. Let's go and find them."
The Mayor points Oorgatch at Captain Longsaddle who explains "We've already checked his house and shop, he's not home and he's clearly packed a few bags. We're still looking though."
It's well known that Carmen Rajani is descended from Vol Rajani. Vandy will confirm that he's asked after the sword repeatedly as will the Mayor and several other prominent townsfolk.
Let's check with Yinyasmera, and if we learn something we can have a better question for Ann augury.
”I guess we can try and track him down?”
Checking in with Yinyasmera she's in a foul mood but seems glad to see the lot of you and brings you upstairs. "The ole Ace of Blades' finally did it. Went off the deep end... Never could be subtle, why he didn't make it in the club despite his knife skills. Dunno what next hairbrained scheme he's got planned next but somebody should go smack some sense into him. Captain Longnuts would probably mumble something about jurisdiction even if I told him where I thought Carmen was hiding out. He's probably hiding out at Smuggler’s Refuge's an old cave system at an abandoned fishing camp about an hour north."
”Seeing as we need the sword to defeat Besmara, We don’t have a choice. We need to go after him ” says Oorgatch. ”Yinyasmera, do you think that he can be reasoned with? Will he put his desire for the blade over the fate of the town?”
Scarred One nods his head and grunts "Hmm, old caves. Carmen knows us, maybe he will give us the blade. Thanks, Yinyasmera"
The old one turns to his allies
"If it comes to fight we should make sure that he is all right. Ideally, we should solve it without a conflict." he looks at Yan