Gameday XIII - 'Gallows of Madness - A Foul Breed'

Game Master Shadow Dragon

That's a good idea. I suppose the potion maker is a good candidate to tell us more about it. Afterward, we could also report back to the mayor with our findings. Maybe they'll put together more clues from their own observations, based on what we've found.

"That sounds like a p-p-plan to me!"

Is that the group consensus?

”Its either that or a quick cat nap, so let’s go with the somewhat productive option.”

"That sounds like a good plan to me."

Works for me...

When the group enters Pricknettle's she looks up and asks, "Back so soon? Did you forget something or find that you need something?"

We thought you might be able to tell us about... this.

He holds up the container of demon bile for her to inspect.

A flurry of words follows from Cannoli, ”Yeah it’s purple and gooey and we found it on the giant evil bugs in the graveyard and the orchard and it was hurting trees too and it’s probably also evil and cold iron makes it fizzle away but we need some more information and maybe where it would be found or at least a lead or something and discretion is really important here too thanks.”

Maybe a catnap would have been beneficial.

Majara blinks at the rapid fire delivery of words from Cannoli and remarks, "And the humans around here think I speak quickly."

She takes the vial from Guardian XI and inspects it, then hands it back to him, "What is this? It's nothing I've seen or read about it."

Guardian's course mechanical parts approximate a frown.

Hrm, who in town do you think might be able to say more about this.

He accepts the vial back.

Cannoli looks exasperated and sighs, finding a place to sit down.

Didnt I just say what it was? Are people deaf? Jeeze, explains why no one even noticed giant evil bugs and a bunch of kidnappings and murders. This town is full of idiots.

Something pops into her mind and she suggests, ”Well, if it’s evil goo, maybe we should go check with the priest?”

”Good idea, Cannoli!”

Jakeric whispers "M-maybe it's of demonic origins! I know that c-cold iron swords are used by some of the crusaders in the Worldwound!"

Jakeric only has a couple of Knowledge skills, so if religion or planes is relevant, let me know :)

Knowledge (Planes) but I think Vreekka had a decent check on it earlier.

Vreekka had a result of 18 for Knowledge (Planes) here.

"Well, Majara, I believe this substance is called demon bile, but I do not have more information than that. Maybe you do?"

Grizzlebin rolls his eyes at Jakeric.  « Ya gotta pay attention, kid. »

oh oh oh!

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

We'll see what Jakeric rolls for his Knowledge (Planes).

Unforunately, my knowledge of tge planes is, well...non existent...Daegon says with a shrug.

Jakeric blushes with embarrassment. "Oh, s-sorry--I guess I missed that. It's just--I notice there's tiny flakes of something shiny like p-platinum mixed in with the purple, and I vaguely recall reading about something like that somewhere . . ."

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Or m-maybe that was in my aunt's recipe book for porridge? Sorry, I really can't recall."

Guardian XI remembers that sometimes when creatures are exposed to energy/substances from the Abyss they can become 'corrupted' - such as the trees dying and the vermin growing to much larger sizes and becoming aggressive.

He also knows that such 'augmented' creatures are resistant to magic.

Basically they have a small amount of SR equal to CR+5.

A flurry of words follows from Cannoli, ”Yeah it’s purple and gooey and we found it on the giant evil bugs in the graveyard and the orchard and it was hurting trees too and it’s probably also evil and cold iron makes it fizzle away but we need some more information and maybe where it would be found or at least a lead or something and discretion is really important here too thanks.”

Maybe a catnap would have been beneficial.

Majara asks, "Where did you find cold iron? Or did you already have it with you?"

Cannoli pats her new and totally hers and not anyone else’s morningstar, ”Graveyard. I think the priest apprentice lady maybe dropped it. I doubt she wants it back though.”

Cannoli pats her new and totally hers and not anyone else’s morningstar, ”Graveyard. I think the priest apprentice lady maybe dropped it. I doubt she wants it back though.”

Majara's eyes grow wide, "Doubt she wants it back? Unless Father Ruvarra suddenly became wealthy such an item would represent a considerable amount of money. And Nolaria dropped it you say? What else have you found? Besides the giant evil bugs and the trees being hurt."

"In both of the places where we found the goo and insects there were also signs of people having struggled with each other. The struggle in the graveyard looked like it may have involved Nolaria as there were a few dropped items that belonged to her. The one in the orchard involved one bigger person and a smaller person. It looks like the smaller person won the latter confrontation and it also seems someone dropped this sap." says Victor indicating towards the sap that the party found.

Majara's face drains of color, "Oh my. Have you discovered any other information during your queries?"

Cannoli adds, ”Yellow foot was blamed for being a bad guy by a raven, if you can trust a bird. And one of the apprentices, I don’t remember who, had yellow boots. So we are trying to find them. But every single one of the masters we have talked too have NO IDEA where the kids might be. I guess we could ask every person in town if they saw someone getting kidnapped.”

Daegon watches as Cannoli gives a recounting of what's happened. He nods at the appropriate parts.

Any information we can get...no matter how trivial you might think it is could be crucial.

Guardian continues to let others do most of the speaking for now. Warm, fleshy organisms respond better to... other warm, fleshy organisms.

"There was also that note that Alice Kruptin found asking her missing apprentice Morvinarr to meet at the 'usual place at midnight', although it wasn't clear where that might be, only that Morvinarr was worried about something."

"There was also that note that Alice Kruptin found asking her missing apprentice Morvinarr to meet at the 'usual place at midnight', although it wasn't clear where that might be, only that Morvinarr was worried about something."

Pricknettle asks Victor, "May I see the note?"

Cannoli adds, ”Yellow foot was blamed for being a bad guy by a raven, if you can trust a bird. And one of the apprentices, I don’t remember who, had yellow boots. So we are trying to find them. But every single one of the masters we have talked too have NO IDEA where the kids might be. I guess we could ask every person in town if they saw someone getting kidnapped.”

Majara looks even more worried, "Gellion was recently gifted a pair of bright yellow boots..."

"Of course." says Victor retrieving the note and handing it to Majara.

"Of course." says Victor retrieving the note and handing it to Majara.

Majara takes the note, reads it, and immediately loses what little color remained in her face. In fact Victor thinks Pricknettle may be on the verge of fainting!

She staggers a bit, grabs a key from her pouch, and says, "Come with me, quickly!" and hurries out the door to her shop, waiting for all of you to follow.

Do you follow her?

Cannoli quickly recognizes the urgency and sprints after the lady, ”When in doubt, follow someone who seems to know where they are going!”

Vreekka silently follows Cannoli and Majara.

Guardian follows at the back.

"C'mon kid, finally sumpthin's happenin' in this burg!"

Victor likewise rushes out the door after Majara.

”That’s the attitude, G-Rizz! Let’s do this thing. You and I provide the loud distraction and all our sneaky stealthy quiet friends uh… sneak up and bash em!”

I'm going to assume Daegon is following along. Otherwise the city guards will beat him up. ;)

Majara rushes through the streets of Saringallow, drawing some looks from other people, and leads your group to a familiar location - the Administration Building.

She barges through the first door and you see Caleria Axillus, the secretary, dealing with a complaining citizen. Huffing in exasperation at the sudden intrusion, without even knocking, Caleria tells the man, "Let me show you the door - THERE'S THE DOOR!" and points to the exit.

Muttering about 'lousy service!', the man pushes through all of you and leaves, slamming the door behind him.

Once he's gone Caleria leans over her shoulder and loudly (the lungs on her again!), "Your 'intrepid heroes' complete with air quotes have returned and they brought Majara Pricknettle with them so they'd look even weirder!"

A barely audible sigh is heard and the voice of Mayor Sandra Trinelli says, "Thank you Caleria, please show them in."

To which Caleria grunts and says, "You know the way." and jerks a thumb over her shoulder at the door to the Mayor's Office.

Majara barely waits and rushes through the Mayor's door ushering the rest of you to enter. She then closes the door behind all of you.
From the other room Caleria says, "Don't worry I can still hear you."

Mayor Trinelli slumps a bit in her chair and shakes her head. She then turns to Majara and says, "It seems you're in a rush. What's wrong?"

Majara, at Gnome speed, says, "MayorTrinellithanksforyourtimesorryabouttheinterruption"

At which point the Mayor holds up a hand and says, "Majara...breathe...and try again."

Majara takes a deep breath and says, "You need to hear what they have to tell you." She then urges you forward to relate what you've found.

I don't want anyone typing everything out - again - so I'll just ask if you're going to 1) Disclose everything you've learned or 2) Hold one or more pieces of information back?

Stepping forward Victor begins to talk Mayor Trinelli through the various pieces of information that the party have discovered as part of their investigation.

Victor is happy to share anything the party have learned which would seem to be relevant to the investigation.

Vreekka sees no point in holding back any information the party have learned.

Daegon watches the reactions, in case of posdible deception.sense: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

"And d-don't worry Mayor Trinelli, we've tried to be subtle!"

"Yeah, if ya call accostin' every old lady walkin' down the street and fightin' giant bugs in the orchard 'subtle'" growls Grizzlebin.

”Or being a hated arcane creation screaming out our mission in the middle of a crowded bar. Ya know, that too.”

"Ah, everyone's a critic!"

She taps her lips with a sharp claw, ”I believe everyone was indeed a critic at that point, yes.”

:D