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After examining the magical field around the ship intently for a minute, Jayma relaxes. "The aura that surrounds the ship is meant to keep people away, but isn't completely foolproof as these poor dinners have discovered to their detriment. It shouldn't interfere with our mission."
Seeing the diner's bewildered expressions and listening to their comments, she adds, "It seems that whatever is haunting the ship affects people's memories. I expect we'll also be similarly affected when we encounter the source of this amnesia."
Meadow begins to question the people disembarking from the Golden Fortune.
"What's the last thing you remember? Do you remember your name? The names of your friends and family? Your profession? Do you remember anything at all that occured on the boat?"
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Immediately upon waking, Dr. Lazarus finds the magic book, strokes its spine, and places it carefully into the velvet pouch of his book bag.
Once the book is safely tucked away, Lazarus looks on in wonder at the amazing city of lights. "Ahhh, my colleagues. Goka is even more beautiful than the books claim." Holding up three long elven fingers, he continues, "In Volume 3 of the well-known Tian-Xia Travel Collection, "Going to Goka!", the author (a professor of geography whom I know quite well) doesn't do the lanterns justice."
The Doctor joins the others in asking the passengers about the ship. "Good day, Sir and Madam. Welcome ashore. How was your time aboard the Golden Fortune? Did you find anything interesting aboard? It's my first time, you see."
As the passengers describe their experiences, Dr. Lazarus retrieves his writing pad and takes notes.
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"Did you know that paper lanterns like those were invented right here in Goka over five thousand years ago? It seems that a fire wizard was copying fireball or some other fire spell into his spellbook and he made a big mistake that burned his whole spellbook up. While he was sitting there feeling sorry for himself he noticed that some of embers rose into the air and that gave him the inspiration to invent paper lanterns. He made so much money selling them that he never cast a spell ever again."
Meadow giggles and makes a dismissive gesture. "What am I saying, Professor? Of course you know that already."
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Dr. Lazarus looks up as Meadow gives a history lesson on ancient Goka. "Fascinating, dear Lady. I wasn't aware." He rubs his chin thoughtfully and adds, "You may not know this, but I pride myself on my knowledge of Tian-Xia history..." And under his breath, mutters, "...if I'm being honest, of all things having any historical significance whatsoever..." continuing aloud, "...but that lore is indeed new, even to me. Thank you for sharing." He looks at Meadow with a newfound respect.
The passengers disembarking the ship do remember their family. The old woman lights up when she tells you the names and ages of each and every one of her great grandchildren. But then she says, "I just hope I have a future with them.."
The man tells you that he is a very prosperous merchant in the import-export business, and even tries to get you invest in his business for a moment before descending into gloom. "...but perhaps it would be better if I were to sell it. One never knows what the future might hold, does one?"
Neither remembers anything about their time on the boat.
“The future isn’t set, that is cause for hope!”
Dr. Lazarus looks up as Meadow gives a history lesson on ancient Goka. "Fascinating, dear Lady. I wasn't aware." He rubs his chin thoughtfully and adds, "You may not know this, but I pride myself on my knowledge of Tian-Xia history..." And under his breath, mutters, "...if I'm being honest, of all things having any historical significance whatsoever..." continuing aloud, "...but that lore is indeed new, even to me. Thank you for sharing." He looks at Meadow with a newfound respect.
Silence stares at Dr. Lazarus for a moment before lightly bumping Meadow's leg with his head.
Meadow waves the owl away. "Shut up. This is good."
The passengers disembarking the ship do remember their family. The old woman lights up when she tells you the names and ages of each and every one of her great grandchildren. But then she says, "I just hope I have a future with them.." The man tells you that he is a very prosperous merchant in the import-export business, and even tries to get you invest in his business for a moment before descending into gloom, ...but perhaps it would be better if I were to sell it. One never knows what the future might hold, does one?"
Neither remembers anything about their time on the boat.
The ranger frowns. "The amnesia seems to only affect the events on the boat. I was hoping that we could write down some things to keep our memories." She pauses in contemplation. "Maybe we should do that anyway. Like write down our mission and such. Just in case." She retrieves a bag and reaches impossibly far into it. She pulls out a writing set.
Silence bumps Meadow's leg again.
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Meadow's mouth opens wide in surprise. "Ohmygods you're right. They both specifically mentioned the future. That's gotta mean something, right?"
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Jayma listens to the passengers' stories as they disembark. When Meadow mentions the amnesia, she purses her lips prettily and says, "It does not appear to be merely a case of amnesia. For some reason, they also seem to have given up hope in their futures. Whatever it is that is doing this not only robs memories, but apparently the will to live as well."
Somewhat worried about what is ahead, still Tarcog knows that something has to be done.
He looks around for an area under the docks near the water. There he calls Amvolwatt to him and quickly fills the dragon in.
Then the two of them return to the top of the docks and head up the gangplank for ship.
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Before heading aboard the boat Meadow writes a detailed note to herself about their mission along with an affirmation about how much fun it is to be a pathfinder and how there are so many more fun and exciting missions ahead. Her intent is to forestall the despair that seems to affect people leaving the boat.
Once she is finished she sticks her entire arm into the bag again and pulls out a slender yew wand. She grins and waves it around. "This'll be good."
Turiik cinches his pack and follows the others onto the mysterious ship. "I'm not sure it's as gloomy as giving up on their lives, but they sounded like they had no hope for anything good in the future," he comments.
The ramp leads to the main deck of the boat, where guests are taking their seats at opulent darkwood tables and chairs with intricate carvings. An amethyst geode flickers as a middle-aged man with a bushy salt-and-pepper beard makes his way to the entrance, adjusting his maroon robes. “Welcome to the Golden Fortune! I've never seen you in these parts before, but it's never too late to make new friends! My name is Rui Longlai, the host and owner of this fine restaurant. Please, let me find you a seat so you can prepare for the finest dinner experience in all Goka!”
Two servers, a half-orc woman with a mwangi hairstyle of dozens of intricate braids and beads, and a human tian man with a dashing smile, pull up the ramp as the last of you enter. "What a feast! What an experience! You too will float amongst the many lights of Goka, enjoying a sumptuous feast for both mouth and eye!"
Dr. Lazarus and Jayma notice that the same passengers who just disembarked came back onto the boat, looking more than a little confused as they sit down once more for a meal on the river. "That's funny," the old woman says to Meadow. "Did my children buy me this ticket? I don't remember getting onboard. My mind must be wandering... I'm Grandma Wu. Who are you, dear?"
Tarcog and Amvolwatt smile and head for the table at the prow of the boat. “I wonder how far out into the water we will go.”
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Boarding the boat, Dr. Lazarus studies their host and watches his interactions.
The Doctor nods to the captain and says, "Ahh, my good man. Rui, is it? Excellent. I'm Dr. Lazarus, renowned forensics professor at the University of Osirion. You may have heard of me." Not expecting an answer, he continues, "I know much about sailing. In fact, I've been told, on several occasions, that I have ship for brains." He puffs out his chest, "Obviously, it's quite a compliment." After a quick pause, Lazarus reassures him, "But please ... don't be intimidated. Try to consider me as just another passenger."
After joining Jayma at a nearby table, Dr. Lazarus looks around at the familiar guests, and asks Rui, "If I may, some of these guests seem confused. We just saw them disembark. Why are they back on board?"
Rui Longlai blinks a moment. "Back on board? But... this is our maiden voyage! No one could have left, they only just arrived... didn't they?" He says the last two words with a slight note of uncertainty.
Then he looks shyly at Dr. Lazarus. "Or at least the maiden voyage of my relaunch of this restaurant. It failed twice before, never catching the excitement of the public. But each time I have refurbished the boat, making it grander and more delightful than before. I've researched the best dishes, and restored it to an even greater glory. And with guests like yourselves from far away places... Osirion, did you say? Oh, maybe this time we will become the restaurant that everyone will discuss. Thank you for joining us on our maiden voyage, Dr. Lazarus!"
He clasps your hands warmly, and says, "Ship for brains! Ha! What a clever man!"
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"That's funny," the old woman says to Meadow. "Did my children buy me this ticket? I don't remember getting onboard. My mind must be wandering... I'm Grandma Wu. Who are you, dear?"
Meadow squirms uncomfortably. "Erm...I'm Meadow. We met outside. Don't you remember? You told me all about your great-grandchildren. What were their names again?"
The young ranger makes sure that her note is safely tucked away in a belt pouch. She pulls out her quill and ink and writes reminders of its location on both of her hands. She carefully blows on her hands and makes certain the ink is dry before touching anything.
"You've been at the docks for quite some time," Turiik comments. "You're saying that you've never left? Not even once? What year do you believe it to be?"
His voice then drops several octaves, "And where is this finest feast?"
Rui appears puzzled by the comment about being at the docks, as the boat has started sailing down the river. "My friend, you must be confused. Why it is the Year of the Rabbit! It is an ideal year for new ventures, longevity, peace, prosperity and hope!" Rui points as the boat starts traveling down the river. He starts pointing out some of the sights of Goka, from temples to shops to waterfalls.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Amvolwatt, focused on the water as always, notices that the currents of the river around the boat are not moving in sync with the rhythm of the boat. It appears that there is a different flow of current once the water extends thirty feet around the boat.
Dr. Lazarus notices a few glitches in the urban scenery as viewed from the ship. Did he see that same temple twice? It is nighttime, and the boat is moving quickly, but wasn't that the same building?
Meadow notices the breezes that affect the boat and its sails do not correspond to the same breezes from the shore, which might be blowing in a different direction entirely.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Rui smiles at Turiik when the deeper voice of hunger asks hims about the feast. "Ah yes, the feast! We will be enjoying eight lucky dishes, not counting rice and noodles and dessert, which are little bonuses that we consume with joy on tonight, our maiden voyage! But first, the alcohol! Unless some of our esteemed guests prefer tea?"
Hwarang Hahn comes out with a pair of alcoholic options, spicy Phoenix Spirits and Mijiu, a slightly sweet rice wine. He bows and offers some Mijiu to Jayma with a flirtatious smile. "Would the lovely lady enjoy a little warm Mijiu? It is delicate and lovely, just like you!"
Behind him comes the half-orc server, Banjau, balancing a tray filled with tea cups. She says with mwangi-accented common, "I have a light chrysanthemum tea or a more full-bodied green tea. Would either suit your fancy?"
The business man who introduced himself to you earlier, asks for a large cup of Phoenix Spirits and downs it instantly. "I think I may need this today. I'm... not fully myself." He turns to Amvolwatt and asks, "Gentle dragon, may I have the joy of your company? I'm Tai Fong, and I would love to have the luck of a dragon!" He reaches out a hand. "Please. I may need it."
Grandma Wu stares at Meadow for a long moment. "Did we meet before? You do look familiar..." She delightedly names off all her great grand-children, and shyly mentions that she has a grandson who loves animals. "He's a bit feather-brained at times, though. Maybe I could introduce you when--" she breaks off. "I don't know when I can introduce you... I suppose, when we leave this boat?"
There is another young passenger, Maika Kangal, who had not attempted to disembark with Tai Fong or Grandma Wu. She accepts her tea, drinks it, and then stares moodily at the leaves.
Tarcog waves to Banjau and says “Green tea, please.” Gesturing to Amvolwatt he adds “A cup for each of us.”
When Tai Fong asks, Amvolwatt says “Please do. I find a meal much more pleasant with company.”
Tilting his head, he asks “Why do you feel in need of more luck?”
"I'll take a chrisamumumum...chrisanaton...chrisamulum..chrissamama...green tea please."
"Oh of course! Right away!" Banjau comes up and happily fills the tea cups of Tarcog, Meadow and Amvolwatt. "So where do you all hail from? One of the things I love about working on restaurant boats is meeting far off travelers! Though perhaps, some of you being dragons, you are locals? I myself am from Nantambu, in the Mwangi Expanse!"
Tai Fong's brow furrows, and he downs a second glass of Phoenix Spirits brought by Hwarang Hahn almost as soon as he gets it. "I don't know... I mean, everyone wishes more fortune for themselves and their loved ones, but do you ever wonder if yours has run out?"
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Jayma looks around and is surprised to see what appears to be a fully functioning restaurant boat readying for dinner. She'd been expecting more of a spooky abandoned vessel full of ghosts. She follows Thurston to one of the tables and notices that some of the recently disembarked passengers have returned, still showing signs of confusion. Jayma is about to point this out to the investigator, but it seems he'd already noticed.
Not sure what to do, she sits and watches her surroundings looking for anything unusual. Apparently nothing stands out, though she notices that Thurston is looking at the views of Goka from the ship with a frown.
When Hwarang Hahn comes to offer Jayma a drink, she's delighted by the attention. Putting on her best smile and deciding a light blush would be sufficient in response to the flirting, she says, "Why, yes. The lovely lady would indeed enjoy a little warm Mijiu. My name is Jayma, what's yours?" After getting his name, Twyl appears in her lap and she starts petting him, causing him to emit a low-level trilling sound in pleasure. She continues, "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Tell me Hwarang, how long have you been working on the Golden Fortune? Have you noticed any strangeness anywhere on board? Something seems... off, somehow, but I can't put my finger on it."
Hwarang, a very handsome man, happily flirts with Jayma. "Me? I'm a new hire, along with my two friends, who are fabulous cooks." He whispers conspiratorially, "From what I understand, Banjau was with the boss on his other two launches of the restaurant. I wouldn't have kept her though... She might have been part of the bad luck that caused the other two ventures to fail. But never fear! I'm here now!"
Both Hwarang and Banjau start bringing out platters for the banquet. There is roast pork with a sweet and tangy sauce, firework shrimp with delicate sparks and mini-explosions as you crack the shell, delicate scallops, and drunken lobster coming out the kitchen, all with their own unique tastes and flavors. Hwarang serves the largest and most succulent lobster piece to Jayma with a wink.
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Looking out of one of the portholes, Dr. Lazarus notices some incongruencies in the landscape. "I say ... the scenery is most odd. It seems to be repeating itself. As if we're going in circles. Yet we're not."
The Doctor is about to pour himself some of his own brandy, but he decides to branch out. "When in Goka, after all..." Turning to Hwarang, "I'll try some of your Mijiu, dear boy." He notices Jayma getting a larger portion, but thoroughly enjoys his meal nonetheless.
“This shrimp is excellent! How do you get it to pop like that?”
He is greatly enjoying all of the seafood.
Looking to Tai Fong, he says “Why worry about that? Luck changes more swiftly than the currents. Rather than worry about how much luck you have, try to make the best of every bit you get. You’ll be a lot happier that way!”
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Jayma's eyes open wide when Hwarang serves her the lobster. Now this was real food compared to that camp slop she'd been nibbling on recently. "Why thank you Hwarang. How delightful. I didn't think I'd be enjoying this little cruise quite this much. " She beams him a coquettish smile to indicate her approval of the service she was receiving.
Tarcog tells Banjau “I’m from Absalom, while my friend here is from the astral plane.”
“We are Pathfinders, so we get to do a lot of travel. Some of the places I’ve been include Nidal, Ravounel, The Shackles and Minkai. I even had the privilege of befriending a mighty sea dragon there!”
“How is it that someone from Nantambu finds themselves working on a boat in Goku? Sounds like you have some tales of your own.”
Tarcog takes much more modest portions of the food. Although he also prefers the seafood, he does try some of the pork. As he is eating, he is more than willing to talk to Tai Fong, Banjau and any others who want to speak with him.
Having learned telepathically from Amvolwatt of the strange currents, he tries to keep an eye out for any other oddities. Watching for when there is a turn coming up, he sets his cup of tea down on the table and studies the tea leaves.
The easiest explanation would be some sort of illusion. Tarcog is going to investigate with Arcana +18 to try and determine if it is an illusion or some other magical effect causing this.
Banjau does an athletic dance performance in between dishes, dancing with bells, scarves, and little illusionary animal companions. Hwarang does some acrobatic leaps, juggles flaming torches, and then comes out with a bunch of crystal glasses that he juggles expertly as he delivers them to the tables.
The next course comes out with a quartet of small dishes, each sharing a single plate: soup with carved vegetable blossoms floating in it, dumplings filled with saucy filling, chile-glazed green beans, and crispy 5-spice tofu.
Tarcog studies his tea leaves, but does not get much of a read on them. The pattern keeps swirling, then resetting. He does not think that the effect is caused by an illusion, however. Meanwhile, Dr. Lazarus thinks there may be some sort of temporal effect going on... but he needs more data to make a theory.
Maika Kangal stares moodily at all the dishes that come out. "Same, same, same..." She sighs and pokes sparingly at the meal.
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Turiik leans over to whisper to Lazarus, "Hwarang is a thief. He filched a medallion and some coin off the businessman, Tai Fong--FOOD! YES!" Then his hair turns white and whatever more Turiik could have told the elf investigator is lost to the One Who Hunger's prodigious appetite.
Meadow politely extricates herself from Grandma Wu's matchmaking attempts and moves over to Maika. "You don't seem happy with your meal or your tea. What seems to be the problem?"
Maika raises an eyebrow and studies Meadow with a cocked head. "Well, that's different." She stares at Meadow a second longer, and then admits, "The meal's pretty great the first time you have it."
As Meadow watches, Maika keeps moving her purse out of reach every time Hwarang comes near, but finally, just drops it in his hand. "I guess this doesn't matter, either, does it?" She giggles in a half-hysterical way. "You know what the definition of insanity is? It's always doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Like I keep sitting here, hoping that I'll get to taste the last dish on the banquet menu, when I really should have just slipped into the kitchen to steal it directly."
She glances at a pocket watch, and says apologetically to Meadow, "For what it's worth, it's nice meeting you. Even if you won't remember that we talked." She clutches a talisman around her neck, and starts counting off with her fingers.
One.
Two.
Three.
Rui calls out, "And for our next dish, a real showstopper!"
There's a flash and bang of fireworks in the sky, launched from the nearby luxury Dragonhead district. Startled by the sudden noise, Grandma Wu drops a copper cup of Phoenix Spirits, which clangs against the table, then the ground.
Rui drops the platter of exquisite foods that he was holding. "No, no, no!"
A strange humanoid form with no distinct features appears on the dining deck, bathed in scintillating purple light. Images of haunted faces ripple slowly across its body. Though it has no mouth, it speaks as it raises its hands toward the guests. “We've come for your futures,” it hisses.
Although the guests should be screaming, most sit there, staring at it in despair.
The Morrowkin slashes at Maika. "Gah!"
◈
Oddly, Maika seems to resist some of the attack, taking only physical damage.
Then the creature swallows your futures, inhaling and drawing forth the future deeds of all creatures around it. This is when Maika crumples to the floor, and everyone screams.
◈◈
Dr. Lazarus realizes that this creature, a morrowkin, is some sort of unique time aberration, and that because it eats metaphysical things like a creature's future potential, that it might actually be sickened by an offer of real food.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Morrowkin
Meadow + Silence
Dr. Lazarus
Jayma
Turiik
Tarcog + Amvolwatt
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The white haired Turiik grabs his ears and roars in pain. His eyes turn black as he glares at the aberration. "You ruined my meal!" In a flurry of snow and flame, Turiik is replaced by a red-mawed polar bear. He leaps across the floor and tries to make a meal of the ephemeral invader.
+
The red-mawed polar bear takes a bite out of the creature, surprising it. "Non-futile resistance? How unusual."
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Morrowkin (-29)
Meadow + Silence (DC 39 Will Save)
Dr. Lazarus (DC 39 Will Save)
Jayma (DC 39 Will Save)
Turiik (-82)
Tarcog + Amvolwatt (DC 39 Will Save)
"Screech!"
Silence collapses.
Tarcog’s scales loose some of their luster as the creature attacks everyone.
Amvolwatt is caught in the worst of the effect. Their scales look tarnished.
Meadow watches, horrified, as Silence falls.
Acting quickly, the ranger reaches for her healing kit and treats the owl's wounds.
She sighs heavily with relief as the bird coughs and recovers. She turns to the creature with fire in her eyes and uncharacteristic venom in her voice. "I'll kill you for that."
She raises her bow and whispers to it as she carefully draws an arrow and fires.
"Dant lagor anin gyth nîn."
extra damage on the first hit.
[dice=Amvolwatt's Will (E)]1d20+17
[dice=Amvolwatt's Will (E)]1d20+17Amvolwatt is caught in the worst of the effect. Their scales look tarnished.
In Draconic Tarcog screams “Feel my dragon bite!” and then he casts a spell that causes a huge dragon maw to form above the creature and then bite down on it!
As Tarcog is casting his spell, Amvolwatt moves towards the creature with a skewer of the fireworks shrimp still in his claw.
He holds the food in front of the creature’s face and says “Eat this!”
(deadly d8, finesse, magical),
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Studying the strange temporal phenomena outside, Dr. Lazarus mutters, "We're experiencing a highly localized distortion of the space time continuum."
When Turiik mentions Hwarang is stealing from the passengers, Dr. Lazarus studies the waiter carefully, glaring at him. He whispers to Jayma, "Watch your belongings, my dear. Apparently your new suitor is a pickpocket. A well-placed hammer to his thieving fingers might deter him...."
As Lazarus considers pursuing Hwarang as a lead, the new enemy appears. Unable to avoid the mental damage (which he assumes affects him more than most, due to his superior mental acuity), he quickly pursues the morrowkin as a lead.
The Doctor lectures, "My colleagues, this is a dangerous Morrowkin. It's an aberration in time. Not many know this, but it can be weakened, oddly enough, by the presence of food." To demonstrate, Lazarus picks up a plate of food and holds it up high, in view of the enemy.
The investigator then devises a strategy against the latest subject of his lead, trying to recall more information about it.
Seeing an opening, Lazarus draws his hammer and hurls it at the creature.
+2 Striking Returning Flaming Cold Iron Grabthar's Hammer (w/ Stratagem): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
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When Thurston warns Jayma about Hwarang's sticky fingers, she frowns slightly in incredulity. "Are you sure doctor? He seems like such a charming young man, and this lobster is delicious! If he keeps bringing me food like this he's welcome to whatever he finds in my pockets."
Jayma downs the lobster and is about to dig into her dumplings when all hell breaks loose. The Morrowkin appears and Jayma manages to say, "What in the all the heavens is go..." before her future is drawn from her...
...and she lets out a yelp of pain and clutches at her head. "Ow! Ow, ow, ow"
Jayma decides to make sure that she at least bloodies the creature once before heading off to the Boneyard. She says, "force flashes find future filching fiend", and clapping her hands quickly nine times, sends nine bolts of force at her assailant.
Most of the people on the Deck have been slain outright, and most of the party is barely standing. Silence crumples to the ground.
The good doctor gives a lecture, and both he and Amvolwatt offers the creature food to sicken it.
The creature goes, and clutches its stomach, looking even more sickened than if just one person had offered it food.
Then it succeeds and takes half damage from Tarcog's negative energy effect.
Meadow's anger arrow hits... only because it is sickened 2. The good doctor's hammer hits.
Jayma throws full action magic missiles at the creature.
The creature claps. "Oh, I can see all your future potential will be delicious!"
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
The morrowkin has two creatures within reach, one of which offered it food, and the other talked about food.
It uses its tomorrow's future ability to claw at everyone in reach, with the multi-attack penalty only counting after this attack. As if this creature needed more boosting!
◈◈ Tomorrow's Future
Tarcog and Amvolwatt die instantly to the crit. Turiik survives the hit, and then the creature strikes again!
The creature misses and Turiik survives another round.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
[ooc] RK on any topic
Dr. Lazarus gives a +1 bonus to hit to all survivors. He also realizes a number of things: one, the creature gets sickened the more food it is offered by different creatures (and offering food is an action). Two, there is a thirty-foot radius on its Swallow Futures ability, and it can only use that once a minute. Three, if you do manage to kill it, it can come back after a minute unless you find a way to keep it from doing so...
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Morrowkin (-118)
Meadow + Silence (-48, Silence Dead)
Dr. Lazarus (-48, Doomed 2)
Jayma (-48, Doomed 2)
Turiik (-111, Doomed 4)
Tarcog + Amvolwatt (DEAD)