Dr. Lazarus realizes that the Amethyst Geode is a Greater Pendant of the Occult.
Inside the office, Dr. Lazarus' eyes light up when he spies books on magic. He asks Rui, "Ahh, dear boy, do you dabble in the arts? I, Dr. Lazarus, have done extensive study. On many magical topics." He goes into sermon-mode. "As a forensics professor ..." He interrupts himself, "Did I happen to mention I'm a renowned professor?" He nods, "Yes, yes, of course I did ... where was I?" He recalls where he left off and continues, "... in forensics, I must be familiar with many magical effects to excel at my job ... which I obviously do."
Having the same idea as Tarcog, the Doctor asks Rui, "If you don't mind sharing, dear boy, which book in your library is the most interesting?"
"Er...." Rui pauses for a moment. "Most interesting, you say? I did like this one, Solving Your Problems. It was very helpful in making plans for my new restaurant. It would be unusual for a guest to eat dinner here, but since you are famous scholar..."
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Dr. Lazarus realizes that the Amethyst Geode is a Greater Pendant of the Occult.
Inside the office, Dr. Lazarus' eyes light up when he spies books on magic. He asks Rui, "Ahh, dear boy, do you dabble in the arts? I, Dr. Lazarus, have done extensive study. On many magical topics." He goes into sermon-mode. "As a forensics professor ..." He interrupts himself, "Did I happen to mention I'm a renowned professor?" He nods, "Yes, yes, of course I did ... where was I?" He recalls where he left off and continues, "... in forensics, I must be familiar with many magical effects to excel at my job ... which I obviously do."
Having the same idea as Tarcog, the Doctor asks Rui, "If you don't mind sharing, dear boy, which book in your library is the most interesting?"
"Er...." Rui pauses for a moment. "Most interesting, you say? I did like this one, Solving Your Problems. It was very helpful in making plans for my new restaurant. It would be unusual for a guest to eat dinner here, but since you are famous scholar..."
Meadow snorts as Dr. Lazarus refers to himself as a renowned professor and once again as when Rui calls him a famous scholar. She looks around sheepishly.
"Sorry. I think I drank that tea too quickly and got the hiccups."
Meadow frowns. "I don't know how we all remember. Maybe Tess's crazy book gave us some sort of protection. Maybe just knowing a little about what to expect gave us an edge." She shakes her head. "Never mind about that right now. What's this about a talisman?"Maika looks around stealthily from side to side, before pulling a talisman out from under her shirt. "I don't remember where I got this, or anything that happened before I got this. But... I think that these are... protective, somehow? Some diners disappear after only a few iterations. I've been here a while, and I think this is the reason."
Maika stuffs the talisman quickly down her shirt. "I like you and all, but I can't give you mine. It's how I've survived this long."
Meadow continues to ignore the tour and quietly question Maika.
"What's the first thing you remember after you got the talisman? Where were you? Who was around you?"
When they arrive back in Rui's office, Jayma sees the same books on magic scattered around. She hadn't had a good look at them earlier, but she finds it odd that he'd have a deep interest in such things. Stroking Twyl, she says to him, "My dear Rui, I can't help but notice your interesting collection of magical treatises. I am a practitioner of the arts myself, but I must admit to being a little surprised that a restauranteur such as yourself is similarly involved. What is your particular area of interest? Perhaps if I could have a closer look at your notes I could make some suggestions?"
"Oh, another scholar of the magical arts! I'll let you study a bit with the Professor and send drinks and food your way."
Turiik waits for the others to make their requests before asking a rather blunt question, "Have you made any magical or spiritual entreaties to improve your fortunes? I remember that the Golden Fortune failed its first two ventures."
Rui appears taken aback by the blunt question. "What man doesn't try to better his fortune?"
Meadow continues to ignore the tour and quietly question Maika.
"What's the first thing you remember after you got the talisman? Where were you? Who was around you?"
"The first thing I remember?" Maika frowns. "Getting back on the stupid dock to the boat again. I knew somehow that I'd been there before, and the talisman was back in my hand."
"Ah yes! I have Dining & Dragons right here. It taught me the best technique for dicing!" Rui hands Tarcog the book, beaming. It's full of different recipes that can be served at banquets with draconic guests.
Tarcog looks ecstatic when he reads the title on the book. “One I haven’t heard of before!”
He checks the author and quickly skims the contents as others are getting permission to look through the books. He quickly realizes that this probably will not help with the current situation.
Looking to Rui, he says “Thank you, this will make delightful reading on the trip.”
You settle in to read, while Banjau from time to time brings you dishes and tea from the banquet.
Tarcog discovers that his book on draconic banquets is fascinating. After a few minutes of reading about the differences between the festivals of cloud dragons and those of the Celestial Court, Tarcog reluctantly realizes that it does not pertain much to the situation at hand, so goes looking for something else, and immediately discovers a handwritten volume that appears to be Rui's journal. In it, Rui details that this is his third relaunch of the Golden Fortune. He's spent most of the family fortune chasing his dream of running a successful restaurant. Each launch, Rui gave an overhaul of the decor, the menu, and the staff, keeping on board only Banjau, whom he writes about with affection.
After some initial hype, business quickly dwindled and he felt compelled to reinvent the restaurant.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Jayma spends time searching in the library, and a book called Unleashing Potential (author unknown) immediately catches her eye. The first half of the book is all philosophy. In frenzied handwriting, it discusses how one unleashes potential by borrowing from others. Jayma, who has had her share of time on the stage enacting all sorts of scoundrels, recognizes at once that the intent behind the words is not as benign as it seems.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The Professor realizes that Solving Your Problems by Cantu Jai is indeed a fascinating read. The Professor becomes completely absorbed in the book, and makes several revelations reading it.
The first section of the book discusses how magic isn't a tool to solve your problems but rather to give you what you need to solve them yourself. It gives several examples of how the author just needed extra time to think about her problems from different perspectives to make lasting progress.
As Professor Lazarus reads more deeply, he comes upon some fascinating details in the middle chapters. The book describes how to summon the Knife of Trouble Elimination, an artifact that allows one to keep looking at their problems. Once the root of the problems is found, the wielder can cut it out as if it never existed and carry on with their life.
Tarcog quickly checks with Amvolwatt to make sure no one is outside the office where they could listen in.
“This looks to be Rui’s journal detailing his restaurant enterprises. What did you two find?”
Tarcog seems interested in continuing to study the material here, but willing to swap books.
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
When Rui refers to Lazarus as a famous scholar, Dr. Lazarus bows his head slightly acknowledging the captain. "Ahh, yes, my dear boy, I knew I was dealing with a well-read gentleman of refined taste."
Lazarus ignores Meadow's obviously fake hiccups in the background, not letting her interrupt the Mutual Admiration Society Meeting the Doctor is currently enjoying. He continues to Rui, "If you recommend Solving Your Problems, I'm excited to give it my rapt attention."
Lazarus turns to Tarcog and Jayma. "Exciting news, my dear colleagues. I've arranged to have food and drink brought to us here in the library while we research." The Doctor truly believes his status helped secure this VIP treatment.
Dr. Lazarus raises an eyebrow as he finishes chapter VI. "Fascinating. My book, written by the always-enigmatic Cantu Jai, talks about summoning the Knife of Trouble Elimination." The professor goes on to explain, "It's an ancient artifact that can theoretically be used to excise the root of one's problems."
When Tarcog offers to trade books, Dr. Lazarus reluctantly swaps and starts reading Rui's journal.
|
Jayma is pleased that she managed to convince Rui to let her look over his magical writings. She'd been planning to do so anyway but it would be a lot easier now without having to sneak around the ship while invisible. "Why thank you Rui dear. That is very generous of you. I will try to leave things as I found them."
While Thurston starts with Solving Your Problems, she decides to take a closer look at Unleashing Potential. What she finds piques her curiosity and she decides to spend additional precious time delving into the second half of the book.
"Everyone wants to change their fate for the better," Turiik says as the tour continues on. "I wanted to know if you recently did so by magical means or through parlay with spiritual entities."
"Everyone wants to change their fate for the better," Turiik says as the tour continues on. "I wanted to know if you recently did so by magical means or through parlay with spiritual entities."
Rui blinks and then nods. "I did. But don't worry, what I did will bring everyone to a bolder future. My newest restaurant will change everyone's luck. It will be wonderful, you will see."
"What's the first thing you remember after you got the talisman? Where were you? Who was around you?"
A tear rolls down Maika's cheek. "That's the thing. I don't remember. I think something else may have killed me, maybe?" Then she takes a deep breath. "But the first thing I remember is being back on the deck, the cruise starting, with this talisman in my hand. Since then I've remembered everything else. That's why I positioned myself right next to the monster. I don't want to be stalked through the ship. I just want to start over as soon as possible."
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
"Well, that was the library!" Rui strides past a locked door. "This will be a private dining room, but it's not ready yet. Besides, the weather's too lovely tonight to stay inside!" He strides forward towards the kitchen. "Have you all met my newest chefs? Hwarang found them for me, and they've been delightful. Everyone, meet Fa and Kuen!"
Fa and Kuen both bow deeply. "A pleasure to meet such honored guests. But perhaps you should all return upstairs? We have so much more to cook for you!"
Rui Longlai's Journal Continues
Rui discusses feeling that he needs more than good food and grand decor for a successful restaurant. He wants influential people to visit and spread the word, of which Rui has had very little success in his past tries. He has spent much time collecting and studying rituals, looking for those that can subtly attract wealthy customers. He talks about asking his best friend, a gnome mage named Jiudu Xien, if she can help him make sense of some of the rituals he's been researching.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Unleashing Your Potential continues
The book discusses the summoning of a creature known as the morrowkin, a creature whose sole purpose is to “borrow” the future of others by making a feast for dozens. It collects a large wellspring of energy and grants it to its summoner before returning home. The book talks of how this wellspring can be used to change the fortunes of everyone, diners and summoners alike.
Skeptical Jayma recognizes conspicuous amounts of missing information here, and there is still more to read here.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Solving your Problems final section
The ritual for summoning the knife describes many different components while also revealing that the knife requires a final step to become properly empowered.
As the Professor reads onwards, he's not certain that Rui ever completed that final step. And where are the components he's gathered?
“This certainly doesn’t bode well. Anyone come across a ritual for summoning?”
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
While he's finishing reading Solving Your Problems, Dr. Lazarus overhears his new best friend talk about the next tour stop: the new chefs.
The Doctor bristles and mutters to Jayma and Tarcog, "Chefs indeed! I can imagine what those chaps are cooking up...." He returns his attention to the library and begins searching for Rui's components for empowering this Knife of Trouble Elimination.
You three toss the library thoroughly, but can't find any components. If they're on the ship, they're somewhere else.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"We should tell him," Turiik growls with the voice of the One Who Hungers. "He won't remember anyway. And probably won't believe us."
|
|
At Tarcog's comment, Jayma lifts her head. "Yes indeed. This very book talks about how to summon a morrowkin. It appears that Rui has been dabbling with magic beyond his ken and now it is up to us to deal with the consequences. There is yet more to read though." She knows that time is running short and that the morrowkin's reappearance is imminent, so she gets back to reading. "I hope we find something useful soon. We don't have a lot of time left in this loop, and we only get two more tries after this one before we lose our futures completely."
“How about I take notes and cross-index what you find Jayma? That will allow you to concentrate on the details.”
Frowning at mention of a limited number of loops, Tarcog asks “Was that something you found in that book?”
Looking to Dr. Lazarus, he then asks “Can you think of any spices that would be particularly distressing to this morrowkin?”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
While he waits for Meadow's answer, the One Who Hungers addresses the cooks through Turiik. "You should be proud. Your meals are worth killing for. And dying once."
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Unleashing Your Potential final section
The ritual itself is detailed properly, but Jayma recognizes something is wrong with the feast. The runes in the example in the book indicate the feast is not for a dozen guests, but is of those guests. Jayma, because she is such a good liar herself, recognizes that this “mistake” in the diagram is an intentional deception. She gains confirmation that since the morrowkin is sustained by the metaphysical feast, taking an action to present it with food - any food, no matter the type - will sicken the Morrowkin, and this is a cumulative effect based on the number of characters presenting food.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Rui Longlai's Journal final section
In this section, Rui discusses and tosses out numerous other rituals as being not powerful enough to solve his problems. The two rituals that Rui decides are most fruitful are “Tomorrow's Feast” and “Problem Cutting.” The relevant entry for Tomorrow's Feast follows.
You make a lot of food for a guest and then he arrives and fixes your future! How simple! I'll get help from Jiudu and have the feast ready in the private room tomorrow.
The relevant entry for the Problem Cutting entry follows.
I'm not sure about this one... I don't need to spend all this time doing the same things over and over, do I? I've made the knife but I'll use it if the Feast doesn't work, I guess.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
While he waits for Meadow's answer, the One Who Hungers addresses the cooks through Turiik. "You should be proud. Your meals are worth killing for. And dying once."
Fa and Kuen look sidelong at each other and then bow deeply. "Honored guest is a philosopher! But we are but poor and simple chefs who cannot decipher his metaphors. Please, let us continue cooking our humble food."
Click. Whirr.
I'm a world class PC emulator, and the GM has me on Clock Duty. Please, don't concern yourself with this criminal misuse of my talents.
Loop 1 Elapsed Time: 30 Minutes
|
|
When Tarcog asks about the limited number of loops, Jayma shakes her head. "No. It's not in the book." She thinks a moment before continuing. "It was based on how much hope in the future it felt like I'd lost after we came back from dying. I calculated that we could possibly survive three more such cycles before there was nothing left of us to salvage. We are currently in the first of those three, so we better figure out how to deal with the morrowkin soon."
She finishes up the book and finds herself somewhat disappointed. "Nothing new here. It says the morrowkin will be sickened by any food we present to it, but we'd already figured that out". She look over at Thurston. "Did you discover anything that could be of help, doctor?"
“Some of the passengers seem to have already lost hope. Will they be able to regain it once we destroy this morrowkin? Will it matter how many attempts it takes?”
Maika looks around stealthily from side to side, before pulling a talisman out from under her shirt. "I don't remember where I got this, or anything that happened before I got this. But... I think that these are... protective, somehow? Some diners disappear after only a few iterations. I've been here a while, and I think this is the reason."
Maika stuffs the talisman quickly down her shirt. "I like you and all, but I can't give you mine. It's how I've survived this long."
"Waitaminute! You said that some diners disappear? What about the restaurant staff? Have any of them disappeared? Has anyone, staff or diners been through his as many times as you> How many times have you been through all this?"
"Okay Maika, my friends and I are gonna figure this out and kill this monster once and for all but we're gonna need a bit of help from you. From now on you're on countdown duty. Keep an eye on your watch and give us warnings at 20 minutes, 10 minutes 5 minutes before the monster appears. Hmm...Also a 10 second countdown would prolly be good too. Can you handle that?"
"For now Imma see what I can find out down here. I'll be back in time for the monster attack. Just keep up with the time announcements, Maika, even if you don't see any of us. We might be sneaking around. Sound good?"
The ranger turns to Turiik. "I'm super interested in what's behind that locked door. Zaza taught me a bit about lockpicking and I bet I can use the new lockpicks I got in Aspenthar and get in while the team bookworm nerds study in the library. How sneaky can you be?"
"I can be fairly quiet," Turiik says in a whisper . In the deeper voice of the One Who Hungers, he says, "It'd be easier for me to claw through it."
Trying to be quiet and fighting for control of his body with the One Who Hungers to avoid the spirit bear's rash and likely loud efforts, Turiik applies slow, constant pressure to the edge of the door.
"Would you be careful and let me do this the sneaky way? You're going to get us caught."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Nobody is going to remember anyway," Hunger grumbles back through Turiik's mouth.
"I'm trying to be quiet," Turiik whispers.
"Waitaminute! You said that some diners disappear? What about the restaurant staff? Have any of them disappeared? Has anyone, staff or diners been through his as many times as you> How many times have you been through all this?"
"Okay Maika, my friends and I are gonna figure this out and kill this monster once and for all but we're gonna need a bit of help from you. From now on you're on countdown duty. Keep an eye on your watch and give us warnings at 20 minutes, 10 minutes 5 minutes before the monster appears. Hmm...Also a 10 second countdown would prolly be good too. Can you handle that?"
"The diners disappear. The staff doesn't but I think it may be because that thing only kills them. I think... I think it may want the staff to keep bringing new diners in. I've lost count of how many times I've been through this. More than ten, less than twenty..."
"Yes, I can keep the time."
Turiik attempts to slowly press the door off of its hinges, while Meadow manages to put her brand new lock-pick skills to work. Just as the other team finishes with the library, she's making her way through the last of the vary intricate combinations of this lock. In fact, now Meadow can reverse-engineer the combination, and find her way to this room much more swiftly.
A ritual circle takes up the center of this room, its perimeter outlined by several silver talismans. Ornate dining tables are pushed to the side. The scent of burnt sandalwood and medicinal herbs hangs in the air. Hanging in the middle of the circle is a translucent gnome, who looks at you with eyes white with rage.
"You stole my future and now you will die!'
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Tarcog & Amvolwatt
Jayma
Dr. Lazarus
Turiik
Ghost
Meadow & Silence
|
|
When Jayma and Tarcog pepper him with questions, Dr. Lazarus shrugs. "Alas, I've shared all that I know." He quickly corrects himself, "That is, all I know of the Morrowkin and the book. It would take an eternity to share all that I know. It's legitimately staggering, I'm afraid." He seems genuinely apologetic.
Finishing up in the library, the Doctor heads into the corridor just as Meadow and Turiik open the northern door. Upon hearing the commotion, he enters the room to see what's going on. And with his long elven strides , he moves to the far side of the gnome ghost to provide a flanking opportunity.
Seeing its eyes white with rage, Dr. Lazarus says matter-of-factly, "The poor chap seems to be having a bad day." Not having time to devise a proper attack strategy, he draws his ghost-touch elven curve blade, and swings.
|
|
Jayma finishes up with her reading and is leaving the office with Thurston when the hullabaloo in the next room erupts. She moves over behind Meadow for a better look inside and spots the angry ghost. She curses the close quarters below decks and selects a spell unlikely to do more damage to her friends than to the ghost.
Tarcog moves to where he can see the ghost as Amvolwatt moves up adjacent to it. Realizing that Hunger could take better advantage of the position, Amvolwatt moves past the ghost.
Then Tarcog channels magical energy into Amvolwatt as the dragon attacks.
Tarcog asks the ghost in Tien “So are you Jiudu Xien? Is there anything we can do to free you from this?”
Amvolwatt releases a flurry of attacks!
(deadly d8, finesse, magical),
(agile, finesse, magical, trip, knockdown)
(agile, finesse, magical, trip, knockdown)
As the threat manifests, Turiik is consumed in a flurry of flames and snow to be replaced by the blood-stained polar bear. With a roar, the beast bounds into the chamber and tries to take s bite out of the ghost.
+
Laz crits the ghost, leaving her flat-footed to the rest of the party. Jayma attacks with a Horizon Thunder Sphere, that does not crit, and whose damage is partially resisted by the ghost.
Tarcog asks the ghost if she is Jiudu Xien, and asks to help. For a moment the eyes shift to brown from white, and then shift back again. "Maybe I was, but who can help me now?"
All of Amvolwatt's attacks hit, but the resistance eats most of the damage.
Turiik comes in with a mighty bite that attempts to show the ghost down, but she resists!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The ghost releases a frightful moan. "Why was I punished so? I was only helping a friend!" Then she cries out in pain and anguish as objects fly in all directions, battering you.
◈ Frightful Moan (DC 31 basic Will Save, Frightened 1 on a Success, Frightened 2 on a Failure)
◈◈ Telekinetic Assault (DC 31 basic Reflex Save)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Tarcog & Amvolwatt
Jayma
Dr. Lazarus
Turiik (+14 Temp Hit Points)
Ghost (-138, Flatfooted to all until the start of Laz's turn)
Meadow & Silence
The One Who Hungers' eyes go wide, and he roars. His blood-stained jaws snap at the ghost. The bear then scoops the elf professor off the ground and tosses him to the other side of the ghost.
+
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Despite her fear, Meadow steels herself and rushes into the room. She holds her arms out in an attempt to stop the fighting.
"Wait! What are you all doing? Stop this at once! Can't you see she needs help? We helped Walter and those other ghosts. I bet we can help her too. I think we're all on the same side here."
Turiik takes another bite out of the ghost and tosses Lazarus to the other side. Then Meadow shows pity on the ghost and calls out to her with kindness.
The ghost's eyes once again turn brown and she settles back down to the floor. "My name is Jiudu Xien, and I need your help to break this continual loop. But first, let me give you a phrase to keep me calm should I lose myself again. It's something my mother always said to me, and it should help bring me back. 'Little chick, grow your wings and be strong.'"
|
|
Now that the fight is over, Jayma takes a closer look around the room. She notices the ritual circle and the silver talismans. "This is almost certainly the place where Rui carried out the ritual to summon the morrowkin." She turns to the now placid ghost. "Ah, so you're Jiudu Xien, the gnome mage that Rui mentioned in his journal. What is your part in all this then? Did you help him with the ritual? Why are you now a ghost? I take it the ritual didn't exactly go according to plan."
“According to who’s plan is the question. I thought you found some part of the ritual that were questionable, Jayma. If the author was misleading people, maybe the whole ritual is a trap.”
Meadow pulls out her paper and jots down Jiudu's calming phrase. "Little chick... Okay got it. Can you tell us anything about that future-eating monster and how to stop it?"
The young archer examines the talismans closely.
"These might come in handy. Maika has a talisman that she thinks helps her against that monster somehow."
With a flurry of snow, the polar bear is gone and Turiik stands in his place.
|
|
Jayma nods at Tarcog's comment. "Yes. You are quite correct, my dear. The ritual as written differs in certain rather significant ways from the accompanying description. Instead of the summoned creature being a feast for a dozen guests, it is instead to make a feast of a dozen guests. I suppose the morrowkin would fit that bill." She turns back to the poor ghost and her voice softens slightly. "I suppose you became the first of those dozen guests then? It must have been quite a shock."
|
|
Dr. Lazarus manages to avoid the worst of the ghost's attacks. When Meadow makes a new friend, Lazarus sheathes his blade. He retrieves his writing pad and jots down 'Little chick, grow your wings and be strong.'
The Doctor says, "Dear Lady, please accept my apologies for the attack. I'm Dr. Lazarus, renowned foren ... never mind." He explains, "We've been doing some reading on what occurred here. I was learning about an artifact called the Knife of Trouble Elimination. How can we help break the loop?" He continues jotting in his writing pad.
After stowing his pad, he asks, "Can I offer you any healing, dear lady? I can't help but feel partially responsible for your recent wounds."