Pruolus, The Adventurers Guild story

Game Master Chyrone

Perception left: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Perception right: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Lariel says "I feel you're trying to sell us things. We're here for another reason. You're the reason she stopped talking." He doesn't say anything else since he doesn't feel eloquent enough to.

[dice=Perception left]1d20+8

[dice=Perception right]1d20+8

Lariel says "I feel you're trying to sell us things. We're here for another reason. You're the reason she stopped talking." He doesn't say anything else since he doesn't feel eloquent enough to.

Lol, bold however impossible. The spirit mentioned the siren was unable to speak since she was found as a little child. And the only people having met her from then were the four villagers.

To Lariel:
"Well yes, people usually come to a shop to buy things. But if anything is told about me by customers, is that i don't craft items that inflict harm on people. You must have been misinformed by someone holding a grudge towards my work. Also, my own patron wouldn't allow malicious disabilities."

Steve vaguely points towards a small statuette, that looks like a tiny gazebo, with ornate carvings of charms in it.

"The necklace costs 200 gold, the bracers cost 100 gold."

" Having one to not speak is not harm per say, but it is making life difficult. You are not convincing me much friend, but I will ask about your patron. Tell me about them, perhaps it is not you doing these task, but another of your faith, giving you all a bad name?"

Vasaam steps forward. "You didn't curse her, but someone did, and it is harming the village. A siren is charming anyone that threatens her. Normally she would release them by ordering them to leave. However, she cannot speak. This means that everyone around her is charmed and won't leave, and she can't release them. I'm not sure either of the items that you have will do the trick as she needs to be able to speak."

" Having one to not speak is not harm per say, but it is making life difficult. You are not convincing me much friend, but I will ask about your patron. Tell me about them, perhaps it is not you doing these task, but another of your faith, giving you all a bad name?"

Steve looks slightly disappointed at now 2 people somewhat blaming him for something, then shrugs and makes an open palm gesture to accent his explanation.

"Not yet familiar with Nuyan and Nuyen, the sister spirits, i take it? Their shrine stands within the city park. Nuyan is patron of harmless mischief and pranks, whereas Nuyen is a patron of romance and relationships. Of the prayers to Nuyan, none of the harmful ones were answered, as far as i know. I've heard any malicious intended pranks even can backfire, if praying to Nuyan for their success."

"So i would confidently say, that you are not dealing with a follower of Nuyan."
The fluffnik sits up straight, making merry sounds.

When Vasaam elaborates more on the problem, Steve stands more upright, more serious. "That's foul. However i would still ask you try the bracers. Even if she does not make sound by herself, attempting to speak will make the bracers emit the words you choose to put into them. Tell you what, you take the bracers now, and in turn please inform me about the solution to the curse, when you find it."

"But a question that does come to mind, is who would stand to benefit from a siren unable to release, and only gather?"

Seems like I completely misread Steve's involvement in this.

Lariel looks at the man a bit oddly. He is tempted to tell him they'd only pay him after realizing it works. However, bursting out speaking has done him wrong in the past, so he decides to think a bit about the man's question. Who is benefiting from the mute siren?

"Surely someone who wants to harm this village.", he says confidently.

To clarify, Steve's offering paying for the bracelets with info about breaking such a curse, instead of buying it with gold.

"Nuyan and Nuyen? I'm a wizard but I haven't studied religion yet. Another thing that I'm sorry for lacking...."

"The bracelet might work as at least a temporary fix. But we'll need to know the words that the Siren needs to say to release the charmed ones. There is a spirit at the entrance to the tunnel. Maybe she would know. So then we just activate it and say the words. And when she has it and tries to speak the bracer will speak those words for her? But it will only work once, right?"

Vasaam considers the question. Who would benefit from the Siren not being able to release her 'visitors? "Who would benefit? Good question. It seems to be a powerful curse, and the spirit said that she's had the condition since she found her as a child over a decade ago. That would likely rule out anyone local and I don't think the sahuagin have access to magic, or at least not that powerful."

"Personally I'd think it was someone with Crimson Armada. The spirit mentioned a ship with dark red sails dropped her and something else several miles offshore.... Take away the men from the village and they'll pretty much starve."

Lariel says to Vasaam "Or.... Maybe the child saw something she wasn't supposed to see and this was how they silenced her?"

"Nuyan and Nuyen? I'm a wizard but I haven't studied religion yet. Another thing that I'm sorry for lacking...."

"The bracelet might work as at least a temporary fix. But we'll need to know the words that the Siren needs to say to release the charmed ones. There is a spirit at the entrance to the tunnel. Maybe she would know. So then we just activate it and say the words. And when she has it and tries to speak the bracer will speak those words for her? But it will only work once, right?"

Steve nods.

Vasaam nods to Steve, "It seems like it should. But with magic I've seen that even a slight error of wording, or sometimes tone, can cause a spell to fail. If the Siren has to use specific wording.... And I wouldn't want to assume and find out the hard way that it was wrong. We'll try to ask the spirit as we get back to the cave. If we don't get an answer there we'll try that. The spirit also mentioned that two things were thrown from the ship. We don't know what the other one is but it was years ago so even if it was heavy and didn't wash away it would be encrusted and near impossible to find. I'm not a great swimmer and don't breath water.... so searching for it would make it more than impossible."

Lariel says "Well, I suppose if you're trying to help, you're not as bad as I thought." In fact, the half-elf is not sure why he was so angry at the prankster. He had a very good gnome friend once.

He tells the others "Maybe we should try this solution, though it might be dangerous, we could get attacked again."

" I think going and trying this may be more a blessing from more than one god. We are righting a terrible wrong done to a friend, along with protecting the village. I believe that is worthy, and worth getting harmed again."

It looks like the plan is made.

With a short goodbye and wishing of luck from Steve, you leave the shop.

It is currently between 15:00 and 15:30 or so, you'll be at the caverns around start of evening. Or still morning if you decide to do this tomorrow.

Would you want to do this today, or tomorrow? The village has improvised lodging in a storehouse/barn.

"If we go now I at least need a weapon that can reach more than twenty feet. Maybe a sling?"

Wizards aren't proficient with slings for some reason, but Vasaam doesn't have enough coin for a crossbow.

@Vasaam: slings are simple weapons. Everyone is proficient with those.

Lariel actually feels a bit tired but still suggests they sleep at the village to make good time the next day.

I will assume you take Lariel's suggestion to lodge at the village.

The storehouse's attic you sleep at, has some makeshift beds of cloth on soft hay matrasses. But they include comfy blankets. A single wide window, which can be opened from the inside, gives an overhead view of part of the village and the cliffs in the distance.
It is a clear sky this night, with stars and moon fully visible.

And so the first day of your actual first day on a job coming to a close.
======================

The following day..

Your venture into the caverns is pleasantly uneventful, and you navigate your way back to the part where the siren resides. You notice that 3 more sahuagin now also try to appease her. The leader of the hunting group seems not among them.

But at some point, you draw the attention of all in the area...

Lariel takes out his bow and asks one of the others to light up one of his arrows so he can try and shoot it to have some light. As the arrives at the siren, he is once more impressed by her, but does not lower his guard. He says "I don't want to be the one to deal with this magic stuff. I am sure I'll do it wrong." He is talking to the others, but his voice is accidentally loud enough for all present to hear him.

Vasaam prepares different spells, hopefully to be better able to handle what they encounter. He also looks around to see if he can get a sling and a few small rocks.

"Coraline can cast light on an arrow for you, but I also prepared Dancing Lights. It doesn't last as long but it creates a floating light that I can move over 100' around us. I can keep it refreshed so it doesn't die out when we need light."

Seeing the sahuagin with the others he calls out, first in aquan, then in common. "We come in peace. We may have a solution for the problem here. Please let us approach."

The people gathered recognize you, and as per previous let you come closer. With 5 fishmen present, you figure your chosen words must be carefully chosen. While the villagers were friendly with the siren, the sahuagin sure were not.

Lariel looks at Coraline, who clearly is better at talking to people.

She would converse to the fishmen in Aquan

She attempts to keep the conversation light, but focused.

One of the sahuagin from previous, the one who was nearly gutted before you saved him, replies.

At the last sentence, he points to a simple earring that is in one of his head-fins, where a humanoid usually has earlobes. It's made of the edge of a grey shell.

The siren is watching everything with attention, but the conversation is lost on her, and she focuses on sticking strands of weed through punctured little stones, various of color.

Lariel turns to Coraline and says "I don't really understand what you two are talking about. Do you think we'll be able to try the magic item on the siren? I mean, without angering the sahuagin?"

"It's a bracelet. She might like it, but we should explain it to her so she knows that she needs to wear it."

Vasaam speaks aquan, but his diplomacy.... pure dice +0

" That is what I am inquiring on. I can not guarantee that, because we are unsure what exactly caused the loss of the voice in the first place. Without knowing, I do not wish to promise them no harm to her. Really, I feel very out of water with this, because what can cause one to lose their voice? I may not can sing, but... but I do enjoy talking"

Lariel says "Well, just explain the situation as we know it. Basically, we have something to help her, and we are confident it will, although we may be wrong."

"Well it is a start and could lead to a hint in fixing the root of the problem."

Any inspiration on what you'll say into the bracelets?

"You are all released from service and free to leave." ????

"You are all released from service and free to leave." ????

That is fairly general, including both villagers and sahuagin. Is that the intent, or release only the villagers? In which case you'll need to be distinct in words.

I vote to release all of them. We don't want to anger the sahuagin. Hopefully they'll see that we're releasing them as well as the humans and not immediately re-start hostilities.

Any other thoughts/opinions/votes?

I am all for freedom for everyone! Aletha pipes up after being strangely absent for a while, as if... out of sync.

Lariel says "I also agree with saving everyone."

" We can save everyone who wants it, but some of those will not enjoy it, nor welcome the curse they had."

Lariel knocks an arrow, but doesn't raise his bow. He is not anxious to fight, but he's nervous about the ordeal.

" We can save everyone who wants it, but some of those will not enjoy it, nor welcome the curse they had."

The enthralled are not aware they need saving, in that sense, or at least think they are not in a situation where saving is needed.

Ok, so most agree to break the enthrallment on both villagers and sahuagin. Can i get a diplomacy to convince the siren of your plan?

Vasaam would try to help if possible?

Diplomacy aid?: 1d20 ⇒ 14

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

I will assume this means Leona and Vasaam do the convincing.

Given past interactions, the siren listens to your explanation.
She would be able to dismiss the enthrallment, but speaking would not remain an option afterwards.

She agrees and puts on the bracelets.
Whatever you speak into them first, the moment she tries to as well.....is repeated! Steve's bracelets work as described. And a gentle voice repeats your words.

The enthralled stare motionless a moment, before blinking a couple of times. The siren has a moment of fascenation at hearing something she had never heard in her life. Sadly this turns to some tears as it is gone like a candle's flame in the wind.

But both sides are now wary of eachother, the sahuagin and villagers plus you.

Lariel is tense about the sahuagin being free. He looks at them hoping they won't start attacking. After a while, he turns to the siren and says "This was a very brave thing you did. If I even encounter a way to undo your curse for good, I will bring it to you."

He then turns to the sahuagin and is about to speak. Then he remembers they don't speak the same language. He asks Coraline "Maybe tell them in a very friendly way to go back to their lives and be wary of what happens when they come here? I mean, it was very lucky of them that miss siren here released them." After a moment's thought, he adds "Who knows, this could be the start of a friendship between the species?"

Finally he turns to the villagers and says "Your families and friends are waiting for you, but we should leave the caves carefully. I think you should come with us."

Seeing the people regain control of their thoughts Vasaam looks to the sahuagin. He calls out as clearly as he can manage, "All have been freed from the curse that was put on the siren. None of us want hostilities. The villagers desire just to go home. Will you return home as well?"

Diplomacy?: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Lariel's promise is received well, she slowly nods, wiping the tears from her eyes. It won't mean the end of the visits from the four villagers, but all three parties know what the song of a siren can do.

The villagers nod to leave, but assure the siren they will be back soon.
The youngest gets a hug from her, before they pick up their own belongings to leave.

The sahuagin keep some distance from the surface folk, intending to make a wide berth around you.

Since the sahuagin replied Vasaam continues to the one that did so.

Nobody is shooting anyone else? Great!

Aletha whisper to herself

Since the sahuagin replied Vasaam continues to the one that did so. ** spoiler omitted **

She was tossed overboard when little, i'll go with that said. :)

The sahuagin who spoke looks to two othrrs, one shrugs, the other points back at you with its head.

They still cautiously walk near the wall towards the exit, assuming you let them.

Lariel still clutches his bow nervously as the sahuagin walk away. Although reluctant to relax, he is glad they are going without a fight. He asks the others "What did you talk about? The weather or friendship?" He isn't the best at quipping jokes.

After gathering her thoughts, and the information given in Aquan, she calls back to them in Aquan

Vasaam thinks for a moment as Coraline is speaking. He continues,