Vesh's page

Vesh’s head is spinning. I fathered a child with Hela and then left. If only I had known! I could have . . . “I Could have what?” mutters Vesh to himself. Stayed? Been a proud father?

Vesh starts to shiver as the rain soaks through. He is hungry and has hiked all day in the wake of the tall Velashan. What would Salome think of this? Vesh thinks, not for the first time that day. Her Bazé is a father. An absent father. The thought sobers Vesh as he trudges through wet undergrowth. A better father than mine, at least.

“Tired, Moth?” Smirks Heller from up ahead. It is the closest thing to a smile that he has seen on the Velashan, and it is a disturbing sight—a smile to frighten small children and widows.

“No.” Vesh lies. “Where are we going?”

“The land rises to the north and east. We keep going that way as the land rises. When we reach the snow line, we turn east.”

Vesh frowns. “But we won’t reach the snow line until tomorrow, maybe the next day in this weather.”

“Turn back and I kill you,” grunts Heller. “It’s up to you.” He moves forward, pushing low-hanging branches from his path.

“My father,” starts Vesh. To his surprise, Heller stops. “My father always spoke highly of you and your clan, Heller.”

“Your father,” says Heller without turning, “spoke highly of our clan because ours was the only clan that would do business with him.”

Turning he adds, “Ours is the race of savages, remember? ‘Nothing but the horses they sleep with,’ you Moths would say. But a man in our clan found beating his children would be executed in front of his family. What did the ‘civilized’ Varisian clans do for you, huh? What did they do for your sister?”

Vesh feels the color drain from his face. “I killed him.”

“Good,” Heller turns and continues.

***

The air is still cold by mid-morning, the sky gray with marine clouds. It starts to rain lightly when Vesh and his captor reach a clearing. The bear-man is clad in skins and furs, but his bare arms show muscles that Vesh can hardly imagine belonging to anything but a giant.

He’s bigger than I remember.

Vesh stops in the middle of the clearing. “Is this where you plan on killing me, Heller?” Vesh asks in Shoanti.

The bear-man, Heller, stops and turns, landing a crushing blow on Vesh’s jaw that sends him sprawling and almost knocks him out. “I’ve wanted you dead for years, you little moth.” Heller’s scars, dark skin, and long, mangy black hair are all the same—as are the bloodshot eyes, so common with Velashans, a mark that their people migrated from beyond the borders of Varisia, inherited from the legendary Mammoth Lords they count as ancestors.

Vesh checks his teeth and spits blood upon the ferns, “Well, what’s stopping you? Hmm? Your sister is not here to stop you.” Vesh is sure this should instigate trouble, but Heller surprises him.

“No,” he replies quietly, “she isn’t.” He turns to continue into the forest on the other side of the clearing.

Vesh stands and draws his short sword. “Where is she?”

Heller draws his sword, an impossibly large broadsword. “Dead,” he says, breathing hard, “Gone. I don’t know. She was exiled because of you, dishonored because you defiled her.”

It is Vesh’s turn to get angry, “I loved her.”

“And doomed her! You dirty moth!” Heller lunges.

Steel clangs as the rain falls, both combatants shed water in all directions as they move and slash and thrust. Heller is powerful but Vesh is nimble and that saves them both. Vesh gashes Heller’s sword hand and sends the broadsword flying into the underbrush as Heller seats Vesh with a shoulder to the chest.

Breathing hard, wiping rain from his eyes, Vesh shouts, “What the nikh are you doing, Heller? You pursue me all these year because I lay with Hela? And now what? You drag me into the woods to save me from men more capable of killing me than you seem to be—”

Heller advances but stops, seeing Vesh’s sword, “I cannot kill you, you bastard, because you are my brother-in-law!”

Vesh frowns, a vision of beautiful, naked, Naelah-like, Hela intruding on his thoughts, “We never mar—”

But Vesh stops himself before he finishes and looks into Heller’s fiery eyes, “What was it, Heller? A boy?”

Heller bats Vesh’s sword away and lifts Vesh by the collar of his chain shirt. Though painful, Vesh does not resist.

“I don’t know, Moth.” He casts Vesh to the ground like so much sodden cabbage. He spits upon the heap that is Vesh, “You were my friend,” he says in a low voice, “when you had no other among my people, I was your friend. And you go and f+++ my sister.” He kicks the heap, hard.

“Then you abandon her when she is found to be carrying your child! I followed you to Riddleport after my father cast Hela out,” Heller says, his face close to Vesh’s as he pushes Vesh’s head into the mud. “I was going to kill you in the street, but you were already in league with the bastard Scarzni, and they threw me into the Donjon to rot for three years!” Vesh’s mouth fills with mud and blood as Heller forces him downward into the earth.

Suddenly Heller releases Vesh. “But I knew you’d run by sea, so I promised to help your family find you in return for the ransom to release me. Should’ve known the Scarzni only let me go to get at you.” Heller spits again. “Get up! I made a promise that I intend to keep so that I can be rid of you once and for all.”

As Heller circles the clearing looking for his sword, Vesh spits out the mud and the blood. My family? He thinks. My family doesn’t have enough money to pay anyone’s ransom. And they certainly wouldn’t pay that dog’s ransom just to find me.

Finding his sword, Heller heads into the woods once again.

“I didn’t know she was with child when I left.” Vesh says, but Heller makes no sign that he hears.

Vesh cleans his blade, sheaths it, and follows the Velashan into the woods.

***

Whoever finds these items the next day sees that Vesh has left through the window in his room. Inquiring with the guards at the north gate reveals that he--or someone matching his description--left alone in the last hours before sunrise.

Vesh jogs up the Lost Coast road at a brisk pace in the predawn cold. The air is still and has a woodsy, autumnal mustiness that Vesh finds confining within the closeness of the enveloping forest. He feels a thrill of nervousness wash over him and presses on, hoping that none of his friends follow him, hoping that the one of the several ravens he saw take wing near the town gate had not been Veran going to get his master. A choking feeling in his throat and Vesh shoves the thoughts of his companions deep down within him, along with feelings of guilt.

I’m doing the right thing. Vesh assures himself.

A feeling of dread, of confusion, swells within his stomach. He stops and looks back down the stretch of road he has just travelled and is surprised that he can just make out the top of the Cathedral spire through the treetops behind him, a black spike against the dark blue of the pre-morning sky.

If he does not move more swiftly, Vesh knows the others will be able to catch him on the road and will try persuading him to return with them to Sandpoint. He thinks of Ehlissa and her horse and knows that she would catch him within the hour were she aware of his absence.

Panic and uncertainty makes him shiver. Or is it something else?

Something brushes past his face, and makes him start. A butterfly hovers about his face and suddenly Vesh knows that something is wrong. He knows it in his bones and in his joints. He knows more than he knows anything else in that moment that something is on the road . . . or is it in the forest?

He is about to step into the forest when it slams into his back. A bear? A bull? One moment he is on the road, the next, he is not. He gasps for breath and turns, but such a weight falls on his chest that he cannot breathe. His jaw moves up and down, but no words, no sound, comes out.

Vesh is on his back in the forest underbrush, and as the sparks clear from his vision, he sees the black outline of a hulking man kneeling upon his chest. The man shifts his weight just enough for Vesh to inhale sharply, but a vice of a hand, a hand the size of a forest pig, slams down upon Vesh’s mouth before he can utter a sound.

“Sharatha,” the man says in a hissed Shoanti that sends fear shooting through Vesh. “Shata a sheth ath o ka.” Make a sound and you die. A Veleshan! Fear turns to dread as recognition comes to Vesh. He knows that this man means to kill him.

As if in answer, Vesh sees the man move his arm and feels a cold blade on his neck. He is suddenly aware, above the sound of his own blood rushing through his ears, that hoof beats are rushing up the road from the direction of Sandpoint. Ehlissa could not have gotten her horse so quickly, unless she was riding bareback.

He hears barding and mail as the horses gallop near. Not one horse, but two. Not Ehlissa, unless Zieke—no, he did not have a horse. The horses slow almost to a stop, and Vesh can hear male voices.

“You’re sure he was not aware of our leaving?” The voice of a snake says from the road. It is Horatio. “We should have caught up to him by now, certainly.”

“Unless he left the road, Master.” Vesh does not know that one. “We’ll never know until daybreak without the help of hounds.”

“We ride until sun brightens the road and then backtrack.”

Without reply, the horses are spurred and trot up the road in the direction Vesh had been travelling. The dark outline of the bear-man does not move from atop him and Vesh’s chest starts to ache. Ten heart beats, and still the man does not move. Twenty. Vesh tries to free his arms and suddenly the big man does move. Vesh moves, too, as he is hoisted to his feet as a parent lifts a child, or a child a rag doll.

“I should gut you now, moth.” Is all the man says in guttural Common before bounding deeper into the forest. “You’ll follow me quietly,” he says over his shoulder, not looking back, “or I’ll spit you over a fire and eat you for dinner.” He disappears in the underbrush. For one so big, Vesh cannot hear him moving through the forest and has difficulty keeping up with bear-man’s long stride.

***

"If this Nualia is under the influence of that stuff we found under the Glassworks, it'll have had a long time to work on her," Zieke comments. He can't help but stare at Vesh as he contemplates his next words, "But if we can shake him out of it, maybe we can do the same for her.

Vesh looks at Zieke and feels defeated inside. He is weary to his bones and thinks of his time at the docks earlier, watching the broken stick-butterfly float away. It has gone to the ocean, thinks Vesh.

A frown plays across his place, but Vesh is far away in his mind... and his heart.

As the men discuss plans for approaching Thistletop, a somewhat dusty woman enters the inn. Casting her eyes about, she spies some of her friends - Slidell Vesh and Malcom, all sitting together and chatting with a tall, blonde, muscular-looking stranger. At her heels is Naelah's ever present companion, Veren.

"We are brought together once more!"

Vesh smiles, but shocks himself with his lack of feeling. His lack of joy at seeing Naelah walk through the door. A joy that would have overflowed just a few days ago.

He greets her in traditional Varisian fashion, and scratches Veren's ears. But his greeting is with his words, and they feel hollow even to him.

Belatedly, she seems to realise that Vesh, Malcom, and Slidell have all changed.

"What has happened to you all?"

What has happened to me? Thinks Vesh as he looks at his companions. They talk and make plans, but Vesh is lost in thought. He thinks about his father...and stares at the scars on Salome's face. He thinks about Lamashtu, the mother of monsters and wishes he could blame her for the feelings--or the lack of feelings--that he has.

But Vesh knows that attacking Salome was just the fulfillment of the road that he has been cursed to walks since childhood. He has become the monster he used to hide from as a child. The monster he clashed with in his teens. The monster he killed before fleeing the plains. He has become his father.

FFW

As the others return to their rooms and he returns to the Rusty Dragon, Vesh maintains a brooding silence. He knows what he must do. Returning to his room at night, he sets his equipment in order and leaves the following items on his bed, to be found by Ameiko or his companions:

Any of the recently-gained loot from their most recent journey under Sandpoint that he was carrying, Vesh leaves on his bed. The dagger that Ameiko gave to him lies next to these items along with a small bag of gold coins. Next to the dagger is his butterfly medallion. And next to all of those, is a letter that reads:

"To My Companions, My Friends,

In wounding Salome, I have wounded all of you and myself. I have broken the trust that we had, Milk of Lamashtu notwithstanding. And it is a trust that is vital to your success if you are to face her minions in the next few days.

I have left what we recovered. Please return Ameiko's dagger to her. There is enough money in the bag to cover the expense of intruding on her hospitality these past ten days.

The butterfly medallion is yours to keep. May it bring one of you more luck than it brought me. Desna took me up only to return me broken and have me cursed by Lamashtu. I do not understand the road that I am on, but I know that Desna has removed her favor from me.

So I go it alone, now. A Varisian never really has one home, but a piece of me--a piece unsullied by the taint of Lamashtu--will always consider Sandpoint home. Perhaps now I will return to the plains to face the demons I have been running from for almost five years. Or, perhaps I am the demon that I have been running from. I don't really know.

May Desna give you the luck that you need to defeat evil in your way.

Yours,

Vesh

And in a slightly more illegible post-script below, is written:

Salome. If your heart ever truly heals from what I have done, seek out the plains and the Velashan Snow. Perhaps I will be there, and perhaps I will have forgiven myself. Love, Your Bazé.

Whoever finds these items the next day sees that Vesh has left through the window in his room. Inquiring with the guards at the north gate reveals that he--or someone matching his description--left alone in the last hours before sunrise.

To all: I apologize for the abruptness of this post. Please see my comments in the discussion thread to be posted shortly.

"But Salome here's got an angle I think might work," he shares, "Her faith in Sarenrae and Hannah's profession as a healer should establish some common ground. And given she often deals with...and presumably is confided in...by mostly other women, I think a conversation with Salome or Ehlissa would get a lot farther than any of the rest of us."

Vesh nods, "Perhaps you're right. Okay then, Salome it is ... or perhaps Ehlissa."

Vesh listens as Zieke speaks about Hannah's possible involvement with the mysterious Nualia. He rubs his head and frowns, "we've got many threads, but still no rope." He looks to Slidell, "How are we to put all of this together? You're the wizard, conjure us up an answer."

*Punt*

Mal speaks up "I hate to be the one to suggest this, but Hannah might not be just a midwife..."

"She isn't just," says Vesh. "I've already talked to Hannah today. Let's go to the White Deer and talk, just like Salome suggested. Confronting Hannah might not be the best thing to do just now." Vesh seems weary, like he just climbed out of a dungeon this morning.

When the party arrives at the White Deer and settles into a private dining room where they can be served refreshment, but are out of earshot of the common room, Vesh tells the party about his encounter with Hannah.

(See posts on this thread on pg. 48 and Dreamer's clue list in the discussion thread.)

"I think that we might be able to draw her out. She's a healer, and I've whetted he appetite with what I've told her so far. Also, it seems like the Sheriff might be paying her a visit--as fast as he left the table tonight."

He sits back and takes another sip.

"So, how was your afternoon?"

Vesh scratches his forehead a moment before saying, "Well..."

He then relates the story of his encounter with Hannah in great detail, hoping that the mage might have some insight into her evasive behavior.

Vesh bends Mal's ear with tales from Riddleport--the first time he has done so with anyone from the party--as they sit a Risa's. After a time he rises, pays the barkeep some silvers for the drinks, and says to Mal as they leave, "I think we should pay some attention to things around town, make some inquiries about the local scene. I think we'd draw less attention to ourselves if we did so separately than together... But, perhaps we should be getting back to the Dragon. I hope that the others are there."

Vesh makes his way back to the Rusty Dragon and settles there until he meets up with the others.

Mal follows Vesh through the streets of Sandpoint, listening to his tale. "Aye, she knows more than she's telling." he says when Vesh finishes. "The question is, how important is what she knows? Is it just rumors and hearsay or some naughty, yet ultimately unimportant secret, or something else entirely. I wonder if there's anyone else who could tell us anything."

Vesh nods and steers Mal through a tangle of side streets and alleys before emerging on Undercliff way. In the shadow of the cathedral and the cliff it is perched upon is Risa's Place, a local watering hole supposedly popular with the locals because of it's out-of-the-way locale, Vesh explains.

"It's supposed to be run by a local Varisian woman and her sons. I'm in the mood to try her spiced potatoes," he says, "and try the locals for some insight."

Once Vesh enters and orders some of Risa's special potatoes and some hard cider, he puts his ear to the grindstone before continuing his conversation with Mal. Right now, he's just looking for what the talk of the town is. Vesh's Gather Information check (1d20+3=10).

After a while Vesh continues his conversation with Malcolm as discretely as possible at a side table. "Do you ever get the sense that Sandpoint is an under-ripened fruit, almost ready for the picking? Compared to Riddleport, anyway. I wonder what kind of guild runs the black market here. There are Scarzni, to be sure, but I wonder who really runs the place. And I wonder if there is anything we can do to balance the books in our favor, if you get my meaning."

Perception DC 12
** spoiler omitted **

Invisible castle has turned on me!Vesh perception check (1d20-4=-2).

Vesh is unceremoniously dumped on the street and is lost in his thoughts when he sees Mal approaching to meet him.

"Hello, my friend." Says Vesh to the rogue. Looking up, Vesh sees the afternoon dissolve into evening and says, "Shall we walk to a little watering hole I've discovered in my back alley jaunts? I have a story to tell you..."

Along the way, Vesh tells Mal about what just happened with Hannah, that he had hoped to see if she could identify the owner of the doll furniture ("I never got that far, as you can see."), and to find out what connection she had with Nualia ("She knows something, Mal.")

The two rogues walk to the little neighborhood bar under the cliffs (sorry, no map on me today) to plot their conquest of the Sandpoint underworld...

Vesh's perception check (1d20-4=14).

Her brow furrow, but only momentarily. Quickly her features soften and she pulls her chair closer to you. In a low voice, gentle and almost a little scretive, she implores you, "Tell me everything, Vesh. I cannot help you unless I know all the details."

Make a Bluff or Diplomacy check, Bluff if you lie; Diplomacy if you tell the truth.

Vesh's Diplomacy Check (1d20+5=9).

Vesh says, "I don't know what to say, Hannah. I'm not at liberty to discuss the matter in detail until we report to the Mayor. All I can say is this. I drank Milk of Lamashtu, not once, but twice. I was compelled by some strong magic to do so. I don't remember the events that followed my drinking of the milk, but I was told that I attacked my friends."

He puts his face in his hands for a moment. "That is all I ought to say, at least for now."

"But tell me, Hannah, where else have you heard the name of Lamashtu?"

"Please come in. Are you ill?"

After you are seated, she pulls a padded stool close by and offers you a cup of hot spiced tea.

"Wait. Have we met?"

Is Katrine sick? He pauses to look at her retreating form. Not a bad view, he realizes. Ven and Shayliss had mentioned something about that man at the funeral--Banny Harker was his name--her fiancee. Trails and markers! thinks Vesh suddenly as he takes in the room, drawn curtains, and incense. She's pregnant, Vesh coughs, or was.

Vesh takes the tea, gently drops his pack on the floor, and drinks, suddenly aware of the chill that has followed him into Hannah's cottage. Vesh proceeds at a cautious pace--as he would picking a lock or unsetting a trap--not wanting to trigger Hannah's emotional defenses. Something Kimri taught me well, he muses briefly.

He nods at her second question. "We have met," he says a little quieter than normal, "and...I may be sick."

"My name is Vesh, my companions and I came to you a few days after the goblin attack on the town. We were trying to unravel a mystery that I think you knew ought t'be left alone."

He pauses for any response before proceeding.

"I should not go into details, but suffice to say that my friends and I journeyed to the source of Sandpoint's recent problems with goblins and discovered a great evil. An evil that I think we suppressed for the time being, but not before I fell under its sway briefly."

Again, he falls silent and waits.

"Have you ever heard of the Milk of Lamashtu, Hannah? Because if you have, then I need you help. I feel defiled, and I do not think Father Zantus can help me."

He looks at her earnestly.

Vesh is trying to make in-roads with Hannah. He is not really looking to be healed. He wants to create an ally and is doing so by making it seem that he needs her to help him. (Bluff check 1d20+8=21) His eventual goal is to learn as much about Nualia and her relationship to Father Tobyn and any friends she may have had in town.

"Does it look like we got anything good from the demon's chapel?"

Vesh shrugs. "I suppose that'll be for Slidell to determine. I've got the dollhouse furniture," he says, patting his pack.

"I'm sure we'll find something." Mal says with a chuckle. "At the moment, I'm content to eat my breakfast. Like I said, I only woke up a short while ago. Just wanderering the town maybe; since it looks like we'll be here for a while, it might be best for me to get a little more familiar with the place. What about you? Any shennagins you're interested in?"

"A couple of things," Vesh leans forward, "some things I'd like your opinion on. But, you eat your breakfast." Vesh stands.

"I'm headed down to the docks. Towards the shipyard." Vesh looks around to see if he's being watched or overheard (Perception 1d20-4=6). "You can meet me there after you're done, or I'll come back here and ask after you. We can go for a walk then."

Vesh stands and exits, taking his pack with him.

He walks to Hannah's cottage and knocks on the door.

...Vesh asks, "Have you seen my companions? Is Ameiko arou--"

"--Morning Vesh!" Slidell says with a chipper tone. He stops, frowns. "Or is it 'afternoon'? I swear, I hate underground excursions!"

Vesh spares a smile at the interruption of the exuberant mage and is more than a little surprised by the sheer amount of food the slim man can put away. Vesh paces himself and enjoys the spiced tea that Bethana has placed in from of him. As they eat, they talk about the items retrieved from the dungeon. Vesh retrieves those in his possession, slips the dollhouse furnishings in his pack, and meets Slidell in his room.

Arrayed before them are the rod, the glasses, the goblet, and the unopened jewelry box. "The box is magical--I couldn't see the nature of the aura, though. It was very strange to handle: there's no lock, the wood feels cold and lifeless--no grain to the touch--and even though the damn thing in smooth, I could've sworn that I'd cut myself on it."

...Slidell furrows his brow in concentration. "This isn't as easy as doing it by rote,..." He mutters. Slowly the shadows near him begin to deepen, and his eyes almost disappear into the gloom. He blinks, and his eyes become a solid black, pulling in all light, and reflecting nothing. He stares at the items.

"Well, this is interesting,..."

As Slidell become engrossed in identifying the uses of the items, Vesh looks out the window at the position of the sun--even more towards the early evening than when he woke up. Not wanting to disturb Slidell, Vesh puts finger to lips in a shushing motion directed at Veran, and discretely backs out the door. Quietly, he closes the door, shoulders his pack full of dollhouse furniture, and returns to the common room expecting to see Ameiko...he spots Mal instead.

Mal looks up from his breakfast as Vesh comes down the stairs. "How are you this morning? Come on, get some breakfast. Ameiko really is a fine cook."

Vesh smiles. "Good afternoon." he replies, "It's Wealday...still."

Perhaps it's more difficult to quietly leave the Dragon than I thought! He thinks as he pulls up a chair next to the rogue. He plops his pack on a chair next to him. "I've already eaten breakfast this afternoon. Slidell has eaten two."

He accepts another mug of tea from Bethana, happy to have the rogue's company. "I've just left him examining the items that we took from the dungeon last night...or this morning," says Vesh discretely. "I think he'll do just fine without my help."

Vesh takes yet another warm roll and start to chew and speak simultaneously. "What shall we do? Salome was off to pray and rest. Zieke to report to the mayor. Slidell won't be coming down any time soon, and I have no idea where Ehlissa is." Leaning back in his chair, Vesh takes a swig of hot tea.

"What kind of trouble do you suppose we could get into?"

Vesh sleeps deeply, well past midday. He wakes up hungry but rested and thanks Desna for a soft bed and no dreams. Stretching, Vesh notices that someone in the party must have returned his pack to his room while he went for a walk with Salome.

He rises and throws open the windows which affords him a partial view up Cog street over the rooftop of Ameiko's rear apartment. Leaning out the window and looking left, he notices the courtyard at the rear of the Rusty Dragon and a view of Mud Street. Looking right he sees the rooftop of the stables next door--barely a few feet from the Dragon itself.

It wouldn't be too hard to leave this room without being noticed, especially at night, Muses Vesh, wondering if Ameiko had chosen the room for him. I'll have to figure out where Mal is. I thought he was in the next room, He thinks, looking at the window next to his.

Vesh grabs his pack and then overturns it on the bed. He sorts his equipment and re-packs, puts valuables and gear in a footlocker and pockets the key that sticks out of the lock (had Ameiko put that in here recently?), cleans himself in the wash basin, dresses, and--wearing his dagger and shortsword--heads downstairs to the common room to get a bite to eat and to see if Ameiko or his companions are around.

When he spies Bethana, he asks, "Bethana, good mor-er-afternoon. Your wound looks to have healed, how are you feeling?"

After listening to her response and ordering food, Vesh asks, "Have you seen my companions? Is Ameiko around?"

Because Mal'd say something; retconning a bit.

Mal shakes his head when Vesh offers to leave "It was just bad luck that it happened to you. Any of us would've fallen under it's sway. Me, Zieke, Ehlissa, Slidell, Salome; any of us. I'd hate to lose a good companion and a friend because of one day's bad luck."

Vesh nods at the rogue, a glint of relief in his eyes.

Good to see Mal's back in action!

JSL:

…"When you drank the Milk of Lamashtu, Lamashtu took your Self from you, filling your qahld'rah with hate, turning your qhor cold, darkening your qaaft, and stealing your qa. I know it was not you--" she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes "--I know that, but..." she looks up at him, her amber eyes wet and shining, "...mijn bazé, you attacked my soul."

Vesh’s gaze drops as Salome touches the wound that he caused with his bare hands.

"Look at me. I kept my promise. And I will keep my promise. I will heal you and I will not leave you. But right now, I need healing too. My qa...hurts."

Vesh opens his mouth to reply, but no sound comes out. His voice is caught in his throat and his eyes well-up with tears.

Salome looks up at the cathedral now looming in front of her. "I need to pray. May I suggest you do the same?" With that, she takes her leave and heads toward the shrine of Sarenrae to perform her morning devotionals.

But Vesh does not follow her. Vesh does not pray. He walks—taking a circuitous route of back alleys and side streets down to the water. He returns to the docks where his life began to change drastically a little more than a week ago.

“Where would you go?” Slidell had asked. Where am I? is probably a better question. Vesh turns and looks at the town rising above him, the towers of the cathedral catching the filtered rays of the sun coming up over the forests to the east. Salmon street had looked longer on the day that he arrived in Sandpoint. It was all of two blocks long he realized now.

He turns once more and walks to the end of a vacant dock. Fishing in his pocketed scarf a moment, he produces the broken sticks of the butterfly the little girl had given him. He tries to think of words to pray to Desna, but words once again fail him. He simply stands there, listening to the lapping sounds of the sea against the pilings.

This butterfly and I have much in common. He thinks—he can see the excitement on the little girl’s face as she handed it to him in the cathedral square.

"Vesh, do you believe in a qa, a soul?" Salome had asked.

Yes. Yes, I do. I have two qa…the soul of a lost Varisian, running from shadows… Thinks Vesh. He crushes the pieces of the broken butterfly in his hand and drops them into the water.

…and the soul of a monster. From a long line of monsters.

Weary, he walks back up Salmon street, returns to the Rusty Dragon, and nods to Bethana on his way to his room—whether the others are still gathered at the table or not, Vesh doesn’t notice. He slinks out of his chain shirt as he climbs the steps to his room and collapses on his bed in exhaustion.

He sleeps more deeply, more soundly than he has in days.

A slight retcon to keep things a-moving since my level of posting goes down over the weekend:

Vesh acknowledges Slidell's protests over him departing and Zieke's wariness of Vesh's stability with the same half-hearted smile. As the two continue their back-and-forth, Vesh tries to listen but is distracted by his own thoughts...

...and by the locked jewelry box. He eyes it on the table and then turns it over in his hands a few times as the others talk. He then...

1. Searches the box for traps (1d20+8=19),
2. Casts Detect Magic on the box and looks to see if it's trapped that way (Spellcraft check for aura ID [1d20+6=10]),
3. After determining it is safe to do so, Vesh tries to pick the lock (1d20+10=16).

...until Ehlissa's exuberance brings his attention back to the table...

Hope that keeps things moving along. Enter Salome...or whomever.

Vesh acknowledges Slidell's protests over him departing and Zieke's wariness of Vesh's stability with the same half-hearted smile. As the two continue their back-and-forth, Vesh tries to listen but is distracted by his own thoughts until Ehlissa's exuberance brings his attention back to the table.

..."The shrine's been destroyed, the demon defeated, and we have more clues! Jolly good work all round, I'd say!"

She raises a glass, "To us! Cheers!"

As Zieke and the others share a drink, Vesh can't help but feel lost. He feels a gentle hand on his shoulder and looks up to see Salome standing next to him.

"Come," she whispers. "We walk."

Vesh leaves a half-full cider on the table, stands, and exits the Rusty Dragon with Salome.

Still standing, Vesh stares at the food on the table, feels ill, and slinks out of his pack. He slumps into his seat and sips his cider gingerly to settle his stomach.

To those at the table he finally asks, "What is to be done now? Hmm? If there is more for us to do, I'll do it. If you'll still have me. If you won't, speak, and I'll collect my share and be on my way."

Though just barely, Vesh does register that Slidell is trying to be kind on his behalf. As Slidell and Malcolm release his bonds...

"You better be sure you're over your moment of madness," he threatens before the final bond is loosened, "Because you lay hands on me or the priestess again and it won't end well for you. Third time's the charm, they say. You've had your first two. The next one, I'm pulling no punches. Because if Lamashtu has any further hold over you, you're a threat to Sandpoint...and that's something I'll be forced to deal with on a more permanent basis...before someone gets really hurt."

...Vesh rubs the circulation back into his hands.

He nods in response to Zieke. "Agreed." And to the rest of the party he says, "Thank you, and...I'm sorry." He walks back out of the room, retrieves his pack, and re-enters. He looks tentative upon returning and then remembers that the shrine is toppled and the room divinely cleansed.

He shoulders his pack and walks out past the others in the same direction that Salome took. Stopping in front of her as she sits against the wall, he cannot bring himself to turn towards her but says a quiet, "I'm sorry. I..." But he has nothing else to say.

Suddenly turning back to the others he says, "let's get out of here, this place leaves a bad taste."

Without waiting for a reply, Vesh turns to make his way back towards th surface--waits for Slidell to activate the door--and continues on in silence.

To the surface!

"Does it really matter?" Zieke's voice drifts down from somewhere in the dark above. His 12-foot frame still hasn't returned to normal yet and the lights from Ehlissa's sword and Slidell's lantern can't seem to illuminate the big warrior's face that high up.

Vesh's face goes from puzzled to astonished and back as he sees Zieke looming over him. He closes his eyes, as if the sight of a twelve-foot-tall Zieke is too much to accept.

"You're alive," he continues, "Salome's faith has driven away the madness of Lamashtu from this place. And you caused no permanent damage to anyone. Be happy with that. Because anything more specific..."

But Vesh's attention is drawn to Salome as Zieke speaks...

...her eyes involuntarily well up. Still with her hand to her cheek, she purses her lips, turns her back, and leaves the room she just purified.

Vesh feels acid burning in his stomach--a feeling of shame or some after effect of the milk he's not sure. He says nothing as he sees Salome retreat.

After a moment, he says quietly, "Someone please unbind me."

"How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened? How many fingers am I holding up?" Holding up a single finger with the last, almost poking Vesh in the nose with it as he intensely stares at Vesh's eyes.

"Not well--disoriented. No. And, I'm not sure as I've yet to open my eyes," says Vesh quietly without hint of sarcasm.

Slowly, he opens his eyes. He flinches at Slidell's finger, but you see nothing in them but the dark brown you've grown accustomed to. He looks at each of you and seems to gather himself for the answer as he says, "Tell me. What did I do?"

300 XP. (100 for wrathspawn, 200 for shrine).

My count is at 6405xp total.

Also, if someone can give me a list of party loot that you might be looking to unload, I'll get back with prices.

"Wrathspawn" MWK. Dagger (200gp), jewelry box (locked), one goblet, six more candles (total number of candles from study and alcove = ???), dollhouse furniture, three green gemstones (statue eyes), twin silvery daggers (from shrine).

That's what I've recorded as party loot on Vesh's character sheet. Am I missing anything?

Vesh's eyes flutter with the surge of warmth that comes from Salome's healing prayer. As the warmth fades, he feels the cold stone floor against his face. His muscles ache. He discovers--rediscovers as he remembers--that his hands are bound behind him. He does not remember who he attacked or when, he doesn't remember being subdued, but with a sinking pit in his stomach, he knows what must have happened if he has been tied up.

Eyes still closed, unable to right himself and look around, Vesh says a muffled, "Can someone please untie me?" His voice is hoarse, he must have been screaming he realizes.

"Whatever came over me has passed."

Vesh struggles against his bonds, but it is no use. He sees Mal hovering above, and he renews his struggle.

Slowly, Vesh recognizes the rogue. The rush of adrenaline wears off. Pain assaults Vesh's senses. As he forms the question, What happened?, in his mind, darkness closes-in around him.

Vesh passes out.

Vesh feels nothing. Not Zieke starting to tie him up, not Mal finshing the job...

I am hunted, chased across the grasslands like a wounded horse being chased by feral dogs. Zig-zagging, zig-zagging, faster and faster, the sound of shushing as I run--flying almost--through the grass.

My feet are soft, though, not hooves like a horse's. Am I a feral dog? I sniff the air, a mix of blood and grass and wind and fear assaults my nose. And something else. Recognition. I am a wolf...but not the hunter, not this time. The fear I smell is mine.

I break through a wall of grasses, into a circular clearing where the grass is crushed and lying flat, as though some giant beast had bedded-down there. There is a woman in the middle of the clearing, the stench of terror comes off of her in waves on the wind. I cannot see her clearly. Dark clouds make it night-like. I can hear her, though. She is calling to me. Growling my name.

She steps forward and for a moment I can see that she has the head of a dog. A Jackal. My hackles are raised. I growl and bare my fangs but do not move. She touches my furry forehead with a long finger like a knife.

Lightning peels thunder off the roof of the sky, and I am alone in the clearing. The dog-woman is gone, the scent of metal hangs in the air. White flower petals are falling from the sky--they stand out against the darkness--landing on something in the middle of the clearing.

I approach slowly and sniff around it--nothing comes to my nose. A man. I lick his face--cold--and recognize him. She called him Vesh. He used to scratch my head. He lies motionless. Then his eyes open. They are lifeless, white. His scent finally comes to me. He smells like death, like a corpse.

He makes to stand as I back into a crouch. He opens his mouth, but makes no noise. I lunge before he is up. My fangs sink into him--cold skin, cold blood--this thing was once a man I knew. She called him Vesh, and he used to scratch my head.

I tear out his throat.

Vesh jerks awake on a cold stone floor and screams. He tries to feel for his throat but cannot.

His hands are bound firmly behind him.

Hope that helps...

Immensely. Thank you.

I'm glad things ended this way--I like that Sli took him out with the sleep spell instead of a repeated pummeling. I do need one thing clarified for my own education. Sli casts sleep from a scroll, right? Does that effect the casting time? I thought sleep is a one rounder, meaning it wouldn't have taken effect until the beginning of Sli turn on R3. Again, I'm happy to let this go--I want this episode to be over, and I am happily returning the reigns where they belong (thanks for letting me test-drive, everyone). I just want to know if I'm missing something--like Salome's quickened PfE spell.

Also, JSL, could you let me know when and how Vesh wakes up, and how much he remembers? Oh, and the long-lasting effects of the milk, if any. Thanks.

Vesh's WILL (1d20=5). Phew.

Vesh makes an involuntary gurgling sound in response to Zieke that is cut short as the warrior's arm cuts off his windpipe.

Vesh's Grapple Check (1d20+5=11).

That's 17 points subdual dmg. to Vesh for those of you who're counting--almost there!

Slidell's up.

Aww, man!

To paraphrase some old John Wayne line, "Don't make us hafta kill ya, Vesh." :)

You've no idea...I'm sitting here wondering if the Invisible Castle gods are laughing at me. Vesh gets the good rolls now of all times.

This is what I get for opening this can of worms. Sorry for the hasty post, here goes the corrections...

Vesh's grapple check (1d20+3=16).

Vesh slips under Salome's grasp.

Ehlissa's R1 action goes here, can I assume that she double moves to close with Vesh? Let's say, for the sake of resolving this, that she now flanks Mal, and that Zieke and Salome flank one another. Vesh is surrounded!

Round 2:

Vesh's round 2 actions remain the same: missed attack on Zieke; hits Salome for 8 hp.

Mal's will save (1d20+1=21)

Mal closes and attempts to sweep Vesh's legs out from underneath him...

Mal vs. Vesh (Touch AC); STR check (1d20+4=23, 1d20+1=13)

Vesh doesn't get another AoO "this round," I'm saying that he doesn't get one until Salome's init. count in R2. Vesh's opposed STR check (1d20+3=21).

...but his attempt fails. Their feet momentarily entangled, Vesh attempts to return the favor but cannot.

Zieke is up, then Slidell.

-----------------------------
INIT:

Vesh 25
Mal 19
Zieke 8+
Slidell 8-
Salome 7
Ehlissa 6

Vesh, preoccupied with Zieke, sees Salome closing with him and make a hasty attempt to swat at her, but cannot connect.

Vesh v. Salome (AC)--AoO (1d20+5=9, MISS).

To your horror, you notice that Vesh is starting to foam at the mouth. He lunges once again at Zieke...

Vesh v. Zieke (AC) (1d20+5=16, MISS)

He misses the big warrior, stops, and with the frenzy of a cornered animal, spins and swipes a razored hand at Salome connecting with her head for a fierce blow. She takes 8 hp of damage.

Vesh v. Salome (AC) (1d20+5=22, 1d6+3=8)

This is a good reminder of how much more clear I need to be if I ever DM for reals. This is what I intended to have happen:

First, from where the party was in the hall outside the shrine (and since we don't have a map), I imagined that all characters would need to double-move (or "hustle") to get into the room--essentially two move actions or one standard action.

Second, those characters who got to act in the surprise round (by making the perception check and seeing that Vesh was acting fishy) were pretty much able to get into the shrine room using their one standard action for that round. Thus, Vesh, Zieke, and Salome all busted tail during the surprise round. Everyone else (including Sli) needs to double move on round one just to get into the shrine room--that's why Mal's description is just running into the room.

In any case (unless there are circumstances I'm forgetting a la Salome), Sleep takes one round to cast, so here it is for Sli: surprise round=no action; round 1=getting into the room; round 2=start casting Sleep; round 3=Sleep takes effect at the beginning of Sli's turn, so Vesh, Mal, and Zieke act on round 3 and the Sleep hits and then Sli take his round three action(s). This by itself may make a case for 4E.

Slidell: you may retcon your actions now that you've got all the information, otherwise I'll assume you move on round one and start casting Sleep as your full-round action on round two.

Salome: you've casted PfE and have moved into the room during the surprise round. You can take your normal menu of actions during round one.

Everyone: sorry for the confusion.

Vesh wrote:

Salome wrote:

Protection from Evil
Ugh! Now what?

Sorry, didn't see that. Salome uses her surprise round action to cast PfE, so she'll need to hustle to get into the room on round 1.

I think it can be cast as a swift action.

Unless you've got a feat/special ability/previous dispensation from the real DM that I'm not remembering, Protection from Evil is cast as a standard action. Feel free to make a "do over" for Salome if you don't want to cast PfE.

Tell you what, if you can convince JSL to allow True Strike to be cast as a swift action, I'll let Salome cast PfE as a swift action! I'm a negotiator--I mean, if Vesh can drink Milk of Lamastu (Milk of Magnesia?) as a swift action, we may have a case!

Protection from Evil
Ugh! Now what?

Sorry, didn't see that. Salome uses her surprise round action to cast PfE, so she'll need to hustle to get into the room on round 1.

Ehlissa's Perception/INIT (1d20+1=21, 1d20+5=6)

No surprise round for Ehlissa.
-----------------------------
Mal's INIT (1d20 3=19)
-----------------------------
INIT:

Vesh 25
Mal 19
Zieke 8+
Slidell 8-
Salome 7
Ehlissa 6

Zieke and Slidell, as far as I can tell, have equal Dex mods and BAB. I gave the + to Zieke cause he rolled first in the PbP.
-----------------------------

Vesh hurls head-long into the shrine room with Zieke and Salome following...

(Round 1)

Vesh slides across the floor to the overflowing milk, which he starts to lap up like a dog (swift action as per JSL).

Vesh's FORT (1d20+2=15; -2 from previous effects = 13).

He turns, a feral look to his face, and springs at Zieke, raking his fingers at the man's face.

Vesh v. Zieke (AC) (1d20+5=8, MISS; 1d20+5=23, 1d6+3=6)

Vesh connects with one hand for 6hp of damage.

Mal enters the room at full-tilt (double move to get into the room).

Zieke is up, and I have a feeling this is going to hurt. Slidell and Ehlissa also have to hustle (double move) to get into the room.

"Bazé," Salome whispers to Vesh, "are you all right?"

"Hmm?" Vesh responds absently. "Oh...yeah! I'm okay. Fine."

Salome:

"Yeah...let's do that," Zieke regards Vesh with a highly suspicious and unwavering gaze, "And unless you want to go for round two in a wrestling match, I'd suggest you stand far back and don't even think about coming in there. If you do, it won't be pretty..."

Vesh says nothing; he seems to be weighing Zieke's against something else...

"Okay." Says Vesh.

Zieke:

Slidell watches as Salome prepares her items for the task ahead. "If I may... Perhaps we could... It may not work... it is an idea. How long will it take...? Will it save time if...? I am familiar with..."

(3 of 4)

Salome ignores the overeager mage's questions and offers to help..."Look," she says, focusing her penetrating amber eyes on his face, "if you want to be useful, let me concentrate on my job so I can get this right the first time. In the meantime, you and Malcolm keep an eye on Vesh. Lamashtu wants him back and I refuse to allow that to happen."

(4 of 4)

"You could use the rope to pull the statue over," says Vesh and he stoops to rummage in his pack. Suddenly, he bolts towards the Shrine.

All: Roll initiative.

Salome, Zieke, and Vesh can take a standard action in the surprise round. Vesh is running towards the shrine room; his initiative roll is (1d20+6=25). Beat it to attack him in the surprise round before he bolts. Lose and you've got to use the surprise round to run after him.

Ehlissa rolls initiative and can act in the surprise round as above if she makes that pesky DC 22 Perception check from before.

Mal, and Slidell cannot act in the surprise round.

JSL, you said to go for it! Feel free to take over the "encounter" or grab some popcorn and enjoy the show. If you do the latter, please interject in the spots where I make glaring mistakes.

This didn't really stand out in Vesh's previous post, but once everyone starts conferring outside of the Shrine, please make a Perception Check (DC 22) and refer to the above spoiler labeled "Success" if you succeed. It's in Vesh's previous post. Thanks!

"Heavy, this," he hefts the box and tosses it to Vesh.

"Hmmm." Says Vesh, inspecting the box.

"You guys looked like you needed company. And it's getting to loud down there." the raven says by way of explanation in it's reedy voice. "What did you find? Anything,... shiny?"

Vesh says to Veran, completely deadpan. "If Slidell plans to hole-up down here, this could be your room."

After Sliding down the rope, Vesh relates to the party what he and Mal found.

FFW...

"Let's get this done with and get out of here," says Vesh quietly as the party deliberates on how to best consecrate the shrine.

Make a DC 22 Perception Check.

Success:

JSL only, please:

I thought Salome had picked up the dagger, as JSL had listed it under Salome's name in his layout! Oh well! :)

I didn't mean to snag it for Vesh--I simply put it on his character sheet under "Party Loot" (a new section at the top of his sheet so you won't have to scroll down to see stuff). I just wanted to make sure that it got recorded as ours somewhere. I am happy for Vesh's character sheet to be the repository for that stuff...a holding place for party stuff until we actually go about splitting loot during an extended rest (Ooooh! 4E terminology spill).

IS there anything we missed in here? Did Vesh & Mal spot anything up top?

You'll know when I know...as you know.

"The Quasit seemed pretty sure of herself, and her control over her environs." Slidell Offers to the group in general as he finishes off a sketch of the last rune on the seventh column.

Vesh responds as he repacks his rope and other gear, "Yes, but I think she overestimated her own abilities." He looks at the bodies piled into the Runewell. "This mess has the stink of desperation on it."

Someone should pick up the wrathspawn's dagger. 200 gp will help finance some leveling-up stuff.

Seeing that no one has done so, Vesh pulls the dagger out of the dead wrathspawn and tests its weight. "Nice," he comments flatly, "this should get us a nice bonus."

Taking a corner of his burnt and mostly-ruined cloak, he starts to clean the blade.

I'll record it as "party loot."

Vesh absently wipes the dust off of his clothing as he walks a few circles about the landing and alcove. "Vaelaer eisae," he commands as he revolves, hands outstretched.

He casts Detect Magic and makes up to three Spellcraft check to identify auras (1d20+6=16, 1d20+6=26, 1d20+6=23). JSL, those rolls were in order first to last, left to right. Use any that apply.

"You," she glares accusingly, "are the most selfish, spoiled-child majji I have ever seen!"...

He frowns as the battle of words ensues below, he tries to block it out, but the increasing volume and venom in their argument makes it difficult.

"Ah, Salome, YOU are indeed a true treasure of the desert!" ...

Vesh's frown deepens as the bickering from below continues. He turns to Mal in exasperation and then turns to the balcony.

"Both of you, please!" He calls down in frustration. "Shut your mouths until we get out of this hell-hole, or take my place up here. Between your incessant arguing [indicating Slome and Slidell] and those two [nodding to Zieke and Ehlissa] flirting with one another...it's maddening...and distracting!"

He turns back to Mal, "And to think that I was the one to succumb to the Milk of the B!7$h Queen. You'd think it was one of them." He says a little too loudly.

Vesh returns to searching the balcony and alcove for more clues or for secret passages or traps (1d20+8=26).

After making his search, Vesh carefully removes and confiscates the unlit candles if it seems safe to do so. JSL, how many are there?

When Vesh is finished making what he believes to be a thorough search of the balcony and alcove, he turns to Mal. "I think I'm done up here. Did you find anything?" After conferring with him, he makes his way down.

"Perhaps we should start arguing," he says to Mal, "I'm feeling a little left out, frankly." He flashes one of his rare, crooked smiles at the rogue and descends. At the bottom, he carefully retrieves his grappling hook and coils his rope as he quickly relates the details of the search to Slidell and the others.

After any reaction posts from the party members that Vesh has now just alienated himself from (ahem, everyone except for Mal). Let's (1) let Slidell make notes/charcoal rubbings, (2) make whatever preparations we need to--including tying Vesh up before the shrine-room, which Vesh consents to, and (3) shut down the shrine and get top-side. We can compare notes up there. If no one objects, I posit that this is what we do and that JSL posts accordingly. So, post other actions now or forever hold your peace. *Finger poised above FF button.*

Vesh puts away his bow, muttering something about the extra expense of cold iron arrows that he's not used. He then pads into the runewell room towards Mal, if for no other reason than to escape the banter that has flowered between Ehlissa and Zieke.

Following Slidell's lead, Vesh makes a search of the runewell for clues (1d20+8=23)...

After making his search, Vesh enlists Malcolm's help to carefully secure a way up to the balcony using his silk rope, grappling hook, and one remaining piton. (Vesh takes a 20 on his Use Rope check.)

Here's what the SRD says: You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, any time before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition.

Now, I can see (as a result of Vesh's abysmal perception checks) not being able to act just before the creature as would normally be the case with a readied action (init. +). However, it seems to me that Vesh ought to be able to react to the creature's attack on it's initiate count (init. -). I may have lost out on the perception check, but I still rolled a higher initiative. It's not listed, but I assume that its initiative count is somewhere between 11 and 7 based on the description of events.

Due to lousy Perception checks, Vesh does not see the attacker in time to fire

Does this mean that Vesh is back in his original initiative spot? I'm pretty sure that's how the SRD reads, right? If you can't take the readied action, you lose it and simply wait until your original init. count comes back up. I just want to clarify for my own info.

Vesh, like Mal, has no light source in his hand--only his bow and arrow and whatever light is coming from the party around him.

Vesh steps up to just under the arch to give himself the widest possible field of fire into the room and readies his bow.

Stealth and Perception checks to approach quietly and peer into the room (1d20+5=23, 1d20-4=-1).

Readied action: If anything comes towards him that isn't Mal or another PC, Vesh plugs it with an arrow.

Wait. Can Vesh move up and then ready an action? If he can't, then he'll just ready the action from where he's at.

Vesh sees Zieke pull up and signal, but hears no noise.

Perception; Initiative (1d20-4=8; 1d20+6=18).

"I apologize for my reaction," she whispers to Vesh. "After the fire blast, I thought the djini had prevailed and had taken you again. I will do all in my power to protect and heal you from that poison. I am sorry I let you down before."

Vesh's faces once again reddens as Salome whispers to him. He manages to reply, "You did not let me down. I let you down...all of you. And myself. And my..."

He shakes himself as if waking from a bad dream. "We have a job to finish." He says to Salome with a conciliatory smile. "Wrathspawn first, talk later."

He walks in silence next to Slidell as Salome relates her story about the storyteller. His bow is readied.

Who's steering? Back to the Runewell, I presume? There was a balcony and broken stairs in that room as I recall.