HP 72/72
AC 24 (+1 vs. traps), deny advantage, cold resistance 3
Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +11 (+1 vs. traps)
Hero Points: 2
Deviant backlash DC: 5
Effects:
Daehalya closes in on the monstrosity, hoping to give it something else to focus on.
Alvarius quickly rushes over to the profusely bleeding Nicky and does what he can to stem the blood flow with a premade poultice.
He curses when it comes apart, the material having rotted beyond usefulness.
"Step back! He's going to think you're Death come to take him. My friend, these wounds are all...erm...mostly...in your head."
Daehalya keeps watch as everyone's wounds are treated. "I feel those won't be the last bugs we find down here. And worse, whatever created that stitched skin thing," she muses.
Once everyone's ready, she moves to the door to make sure it's safe. Considering what they've encountered down here, she's not taking any chances.
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I'm still alive?! That is a big relief. The bleeding and the woozi'ness was making me doubt. That and Alvarius's attempts at medicine!
I really think he pulled out leeches from his bag. Did that happen or was it blood loss hallucinations?
Oh, many thanks Grundle. That is better.
Nicky looks to see if he has a healing potion in his supply backpack. He'll take one if it's there.
Nicky also pulls out the magnifying glass and looks over the room and anything that is there.
Given his unique situation, Alvarius tends to his own wounds.
When Daehalya moves on he follows but keeps a good ten feet back.
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Using his magnifying glass Nichy finds some useful items. In the heap of clothes and assorted gear, Nicholo finds four full waterskins, 2 weeks’ worth of rations, a wooden religious symbol of Desna, and a grim trophy talisman.
As yu work on patching each other up you hear a small whimpering coming from the north chamber. The walls in the northwestern corner of this otherwise earthen den have been reinforced with stone masonry. A few figures huddle together in the corner of the cell. "Help...is someone there? Please free us!"
Currently, there are three Reclaimers huddled in a cell, they appear to be in no state to fight or escape on their own.
"Who are you? How did you get here?" Daehalya asks, reaching for her lockpicks. She moves slowly, hoping to get some answers before deciding to actually open the cell.
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As Nicky downs the healing potion, he feels slightly better.
entry 233 Potion of Minor Healing.
Prior to hearing the voices for help. Nicky looks at the situation behind them.
I will set up an alarm to cover our backs, jut so we don't get snuck up on.
Nicky moves to the door and set up an alarm snare.
Nicky does the "cleaning hands" motion and says, Workin' , Workin'-- just puttin' in the work.
When he hears voices asking for help, he advances to the northern chamber.
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“We are Reclaimers. My name is....Vennesi. We thought this well was abandoned and entered it for shelter,” Vennesi says. “A sadistic skinner and his grotesque beetles were on us in seconds. Now he’s holding us prisoner!” She shudders. “We started with six, but he fed Dreikar to his pet... thing, which multiplied from one to two. The next time it was time for ‘feeding,’ Eijanna managed to escape, but she was chased by whatever Dreikar turned into, and I don’t know what happened to her."
“It’s feeding time again, and the monster took our leader Zeah to be consumed in that cave right over there! Please, you have to get us out of here!”
Daehalya suspects no ill intent as Vennesi seems to be truthful with her.
"Asmodeus' sweaty balls," Alvarius curses, making ready for a fight. "Why did you wait so long to say so?"
To the group he says, "Best we hurry so we don't have yet another golem to deal with."
"She was auivarin?" Daehalya asks, working at the locks as quickly as she can.
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Oh Yeah - Was she a half elf? For we encountered a wounded horse carrying a dead rider outside this area.
I'm sorry to say, but that might have been the escaping Eijanna.
On the bright side, her demise helped lead us here to save you. Thus, her escape and death is not in vane. It served a greater good. Your lives.
Speaking of saving lives, we'd better help your leader- Zeah - not get dead.
Nicky, not assuming everyone is honest and on the up and up - because he isn't exactly the honest type and he's an investigator - studies the captives with a squinted eye.
SO, if we let you out of the cages- are you going to backstab us or trick us in any way? I want answers from all ya all.
I know about the demon lurking inside the innocent prisoner that transforms when released from the cell. Old trick. Not gonna fool a Carnie person like me.
Creature will DC. +1 Pursue a lead (PAL) bonus
I think this follow-up with a perception check. Base stat.+11 +1 (PAL) +1 (Magnifying glass) .
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Vennesi nods to Daehalya. "Yes, she had some auivarin blood in her." She looks saddened at hearing the news of the dead rider on a wounded horse outside. "So she didn't make it and the beast got her."
Daehalya unlocks the door wit her picks as Nicholo's very pointed question sets Vennesi on edge as she takes a cautious step back, not leaving the cage. "We are disarmed, on the edges of thirst, hunger and weakened greatly. We are grateful you are here to save us and will show you no harm." She seems unsure on how to prove she doesn't have a demon inside of her.
"Pot speaking ill of the kettle, Nicky? Ease up on them. They've seen things that most shouldn't."
Alvarius works to set them at ease, something that the skeleton has had little success with in the past.
"Stay here where it's safe, unless you think you can help. If we're not back in about 48 seconds, you may want to flee while you still can," Daehalya says.
Reclaiming her staff, she looks at her companions. "We can let this monster kill anyone else," she says. "I intend to stop it, but if you need, I'll try to give whoever else wants to leave time to get away."
Alvarius grins the grin of the skeletal dead. "I'm in. They say that you only live once. I'm nothing if not game for experimenting on that theory."
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You decide to head east to find the monster behind this atrocity. The ground in this corner of the burrow slopes down steeply, like the edge of a crater. In the center of the depression, a skull‑sized rock lies half-buried in the hard clay soil. Above, the packed dirt ceiling is much loamier than elsewhere and lacks roots that might give it structure.
A strange humanoid stands in the back of the chamber. His skin grey and in a perpetual state of decay, though he wears Mendevian armor. He watches intently as an enormous plant with thick, knotted trunks festooned with fanged blossoms seems to have already swallowed the Reclaimer Zeah. You watch as she struggles in a state of panic within the nearly translucent flowery pod. Still alive but quickly being crushed. The slowly decayed man covers a blood spattering cough as he notices your arrival. "More Reclaimers?" He grimaces. "Leave me be. I don't wish to return." Nicholo notices a twing of pain in the mans eyes.
"Not Reclaimers, but please stop what is happening to Zeah there! She's clearly in distress and I'm sure we can talk this over. She's being crushed!"
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Yes, let us talk! You are not a bad guy. You wear the Mendevian armor. You have fought for freedom and liberty and justice for all.
We have seen your home above- you have fought valiantly and obviously saved hundreds in your past. Save one more.
This meteor, this fanged plant. They are new and foreign. Cling to your roots. Cling to your past. Uplift your family name and the honor of Mendev one last time!
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The mans face contorts into a grimace. "I am left with no choice." He rips open his shirt to show his stitched together flesh. "A decade ago I became separated by from my troop. Through the night demons came from all sides. I slew several but eventually I became too wounded. Left to die I crawled to this area and was saved by an unlikely friend." He looks to the walls as small bits of skin beetles skitter across the surface. "My friends rescued me." Though he says the words with a bit of gratitude it is filled with disgust and hate at the same time. "A dying man, stitched up using demonic flesh..." He howls at his unholy fate. "I can't possibly return to civilization. I will be persecuted on isght." He shakes his head. "I just require this one Reclaimer." He runs his hand along the pod. "With this one Reclaimer I hope to find a way to use the Moonflower's pods for future skin grafts so I don't need to kill anymore living creatures."
"Yeah, uh, I'm pretty sure there's another way. And anyhow, you should take a look at some of us. Nicky and Ezgara for one, but hey even me for that matter. I've somehow ended up as part of the walking dead, and I promise you not by intent. But I still manage to wander about in civilized lands."
Alvarius shows a skeletal hand for good measure. "All I'm saying is maybe give yourself a break? Give society a chance to see beyond your current look? And also give that poor fellow a change at not being reclaimed by the Moonflower's pods? It doesn't look like a noble way to go."
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The man's face contorts as all manner of emotions crease across his face in a manner of seconds. His reflection a grotesque blend of human and demonic features. As he touches the scarred, stitched flesh, he winces, his mind wrestling with anger and fear. The demonic essence within him fights for control, whispering promises of power. Each movement feels like a betrayal of his own humanity, leaving him torn between the ultimate darkness and the remnants of his former self. "NO! This is worse. I will be hunted, or worse. I need to stay in isolation, but find a wy to no longer kill. Leave me be or you will force me to do more than I wish to do!" He screams.
"Give us back Zeah and we will leave you be," Daehalya offers, unsure if her companions (or even she, herslef) will truly accept that deal, but figuring it's a good test of what humanity is left in this man.
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You quickly calm a deformed man down momentarily, or at least enough for his more human sides to think rationally. He pats the moonflower in a series on its pd and it releases a gasping Zeah. "I will take my leave now. I cannot and will not return to civilization." He nods and ushers both himself and the Moonflower from the chamber at once. "Gather your items and leave at once before I return."
The meteorite itself is little more than a melon-shaped hunk of unremarkable space rock. But the moonflower wasn’t the only plant who caught a ride to Golarion: sprouting out the top of the meteorite is a single sprig of primeval mistletoe.
Helping Zeah to her feet the other Reclaimers rush in with fear on their faces. This fear relaxes by a small amount as they see Zeah alive. "YOu let that monster go!?"
"It let Zeah go. All things considered, that felt like a win. Because if we'd fought, they'd be dead now. And... I'd suggest leaving the 'monster' alone. Let bygones be bygones, you know? It'll be safer."
Alvarius will take a moment to study the mistletoe too. Because if it looks interesting, he's going to take it.
"Yeah, I can get behind that," Alvarius says, stowing the mistletoe and following Zeah out.
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Back in the Needleglens, Zeah makes proper introductions with the party. "I owe you my life. We came out here to investigate a meteorite we saw in the distance. When we got here we were instantly waylaid by that lunatic."[b/] Sakuachi grows excited. [b]"We saw it as well. We are in search of a “living god.”
Zeah smiles in response. “Sarkoris has a proud tradition of calling down gods. The overgrown vegetable in that murderer’s burrow is definitely no god—that I can assure you—but you haven’t traveled all this way for naught. Tell me, what do you know of the history of god calling?”
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Well, we did the right thing. We got out of that place ALIVE. I don't know how your eye sight is (looking at the reclaimers), but I'm bloodied, Onye is bloodied, and you are all mauled.
Avoiding a fight- especially with a person whose soul was so obviously tortured by The World Wound.
Nicky looks at exits.
Watch out, I have an alarm snare I need to undo. Plus we have some magic items we can now claim from Sir Sewed Alots.
I'm certain I heard him say he doesn't need these reminders of civilization. Right? Am I right?
Nicky looks to party loot claim the items we found.
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History of Godcalling? Nothing. Not a tiny drop. Sounds funky.
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Zeah smiles in response. “Sarkoris has a proud tradition of calling down gods. The overgrown vegetable in that murderer’s burrow is definitely no god—that I can assure you—but you haven’t traveled all this way for naught. Tell me, what do you know of the history of god calling?”
"I feel like I've heard of it. But my understanding is that folks who call themselves Godcallers tend to be operating more with minor spirits and not gods like Iomedae, Pharasma, or Gorum. You suggesting that there's more to it? If so, I'm-"
Alvarius stops suddenly, his skull making rattling noises as it shakes. The skeletal wizard once more opens his mouth, though this time instead of words a moth flies out.
Stunned silence follows from Alvarius as he watches the tan-coloured insect flit about. Tentatively, he holds out a bony finger and, much to his surprise, the moth perches on his hand. "You're a big one, aren't you?"
To make the situation even more strange, the moth responds. With a joke. "That's what she said."
Daehalya opens her mouth to speak. And then closes it. She repeats that process, seemingly wordless, unsure if a moth will fly out of her own mouth. Once satisfied that she won't have any such strange occurrences, she looks at Alvarius. "Are you quite all right?"
"Hrm?" Alvarius breaks off his staring at the moth that flew from his mouth to look at Daehalya. "Oh, right. Yes, I'm fine. Actually had a spider living in my ribcage at one point. She fed well, eventually outgrowing the space I could provide. But she didn't talk, so... this is new."
The moth, who has a surprisingly low and raspy voice, speaks again. "The name's Beatrice, though my friends call me Bee. Keep using that magic light you got and I think we'll become the best of friends."
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Nicky drops to the floor laughing. He can not control himself. It's as if he was hit with Tasha's uncontrollable laughter. The belly shakes and he might even snort a bit. He's there for a while with the "that's what she said" comment.
Perfect Nicky humor. Even coming from a talking moth that flew out of a skeleton's mouth - just adds to the hysterics.
Oh, my sides hurt. Oh, they hurt. I haven't laughed that hard since seeing a person get hit with a nut shot while doing the hammer and bell carnival game. Oh, Oh it hurts to laugh so hard.
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Zeah explains, "Many people of Old Sarkoris were animists who venerated religious leaders called god callers. These god callers summoned and communed with powerful manifestations of nature which they called gods. Sakuachi might be able to recruit a “living god” by taking up the mantle of this ancient tradition and becoming a god caller. If there’s anywhere such a feat is possible, it’s the ruins of Domora to the west."
"Though Sarkorians have practiced various god calling customs since antiquity, many regard the city of Domora as the place where god calling’s modern incarnation took root. Since the Worldwound opened and destroyed Sarkoris, the city of Domora has been in ruins. Even now, it’s a shattered place overrun with demonic stragglers. “Old faiths never really die, though,” Zeah says with a grin. “Dyzad—or other gods like her—no doubt remain buried somewhere beneath the city’s wreckage.” Zeah stops for a moment to let all of it sink in. That and the talking moth catches her attention as it floats out of Alvarius' ribcage. "Huh, that's new. Normally I just have those flying out of my coin purse. None of those were able to talk though."
"Well that seems like as good a direction as any. I'm up for heading to Domora."
Daehalya ponders. "Perhaps a gift from Desna. A good sign if we are in search of another god, even if not one of the great deities."
She nods in agreement with the plan to head to Domora. "Perhaps this living god may also help us if we should encounter the Blackfrost Whale again. But I think we should rest and recover first. That was a harrowing journey into the hive."
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Nicky really doesn't know the area this far north. Domora. Does anyone know cool tales about the city of Domora? I've never heard of it. I heard of Sarkoris - because that was a whole country.... well it was until the WorldWound.
Daehalya has it right on both levels. The Blackfrost Whale is still a huge future concern -pun sort of intended. She's also right about resting before heading to destination mystery - the city of Domora.
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"Domora is about 8 days from here." Zeah sees a weary look on your faces. "Don't worry. You’re with the Reclaimers now,” she says by way of explanation, then produces some dried jerky from her rucksack to share with the group. It’s surprisingly peppery. Vennesi casts produce water to give the characters something to wash down the food.
Sakuachi eagerly accepts the Reclaimers’ offer, quickly getting over her disappointment at what came of the meteorite. "Sometimes my visions aren't as precise, but they always seem to point in the right direction."
As additional thanks for saving their lives, the Reclaimers give you a ring of energy resistance (acid) and a scroll of air walk before lying down for the evening.
"Our thanks," Daehalya says before settling down to watch over the group for the start of the evening until she can rest herself. "Everyone should rest. It sounds like we have another long trip ahead of us."
Grundle nods at Daehalya's words and falls back asleep.
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After a peaceful night’s rest, your new friends start leading the way to Domora. The journey itself is uneventful; the travails within the city, though, are anything but. The Reclaimers help them find food and drinkable water, and aid in securing shelter.
After a week of walking, the group reaches Hume’s Pool, a dried-up lakebed on whose northern shore stand the ruins of Domora. Ahead, ruined stone monoliths and crumbling wooden structures loom over the dry lakebed that was Hume’s Pool. The winter sun beats down on the cracked soil but does little to warm it. The earth is muddy from melted snowfall, and ancient skeletons of fish poke out here and there. Somehow, the rotting smell of a low tide still wafts through the air.
The Reclaimers set up a base camp behind a cracked, chalky mound out of sight of the broken road leading toward the city. Zeah looks to you. "We have our own agenda nearby so will not be able to accompany you farther. All the same you are welcome to use this base of operations as long as you require it."
Sakuachi sighs. “The god I’m seeking might be anywhere,” Sakuachi notes. “Let’s not leave any stone unturned.” The Reclaimer Zeah suggests four locations for you to investigate: