Round 6 recap
Toffitt 17-N - drops rapier goes to Finneas
Finneas 18-L - stable at -10
Glimmil 17-P - delays
Cog - 17-P - carrying Glimmil
Atol 18-N - Channels for 1
Silfir 17-L - Kills s2
Dyrant 19-M - Wards Atol
There is a flash of light as Silfir kills the downed creeper. Another creeper can be seen at 19-J. Yuathyb is at 16-J with his short sword in hand. They both cover their eyes to the explosion of light. Then it goes dark again.
Blind saves DC 13
Atol
Dyrant
Glimmil
Cog
Silfir
Toffitt
Round 7
More to follow
"We have them now! The flank the entrance to the far room, Yuathyb to the west and a sulker to the east! Glimmil, let us press the attack and fight them at the room entrance, now while their vision suffers as ours does!"
Yuathyb moves to 17-K and S2 moves to 18-K. They both hit Silfir. Party is up.
Round 6, Init 18, -L 17
Dr. Toffitt goes on total defense (without rapier in hand) and steps into Finneas' square.
"Friends, this makes no sense. Let us not forget the larger goal—saving the children below. It may seem an injustice to let this scoundrel go, but life is often unjust. Let us end this and seek justice another day."
"Think of the children whose safety brought you to this place! I implore you to guard yourselves but cease aggressions."
"As you wish Doctor. Seeing Finneas laid low by this kidnapper was grim indeed. Glimmil, please call for a truce, and both sides may withdraw. If they were blinded their desire to fight may have waned."
We know the Dark Stalker cannot escape to Cauldron without our help. While it is a pity not to bring him to the watch, we at least know he is afflicted by the vanishing ailment.
Gnomish: "I think they agreed!"
Common: "I'm telling him we accept his surrender!"
Yuathyb says something to the dark creeper and nothing happens.
The darkness remains.
I believe we're out of initiative unless I misread someone's attitude. Who will accompany Yuathyb and the dark creeper?
"I believe they stopped fighting, but I'm not sure why we can't see?"
Glimmil frowns in the dark, but nobody can see.
"I think he may be confused and think we are surrendering to him, instead of the other way around?"
He's clearly confused, since I know I'm not!
Dr. Toffitt starts to pantomine into the darkness. Pointing in the direction of the gnome's voice, he then points to his mouth and makes a gesture indicating speech. Then he shrugs in an exaggerated fashion as if to say he doesn't understand what he's saying, and finally moves his finger to the side of his head in a spiral fashion, indicating craziness. He then puts his hands akimbo as if to say, "I don't know what to do. Help me here."
"Glimmil get it straight. Who is dictating terms us or him?"
I'm happy either way. Fighting in darkness is horrible and our people are down!
Atol converts a Command into a Cure Light Wounds on Finneas for worth of healing.
"Finneas is alive, but still badly injured. Can someone else help him? I have but one channel left and I want to save that for an emergency. Unless everyone else is also tapped out..."
"Glimmil, what is happening? There is still magical darkness"
if we are out of combat he will cast a heal spell.
The spell : Words of Rapid Reconstitution, (Abridged Version)
"He wants me to take him up to Ghelve's shop. He says the darkness will go away on it's own or we need to go into another room."
Glimmil sighs.
I'm supposed to be a heroic warrior, not a translator!
"What do you guys want to do?"
"*gurgle* drip drip drip"
"Ah, so he is not asking for our surrender after all! He must think you are our leader if he insists on putting himself under your custody. And if we wait it out the darkness spell will expire. All has become clear!"
"What is that gurgling? I still am flash blinded."
"Atol, would you help me drag Finneas into the light...where I am, not towards seeing St. Cuthbert personally."
If Atol agrees, Dyrant will perform a heal check on him.
Heal
"It's quite alright, Dyrant. I have already stopped his bleeding."
*edit* "Glimmil, do you have the necessary keys? I fear for your safety if you go alone. Why not at least bring one more of us at sword point. I would gladly volunteer myself, and leave my rapier in Silfr's care."
"I also fear that I have forgotten about a tanglefoot bag that could entangle our foe..."
Glimmil sighs, detecting evil from the tall man one last time to assure himself that he is, in fact, not evil.
"I will go with him up to Ghelve's. Take care of Finneas while I'm gone."
Gnomish: "Let's go then, my friends will let you and I head to the door without attempting to attack you."
If he has done evil things in his past, I know the Gods will judge him with this Vanishing.
"I'd like to have him in the light, whether you wish it or not. Atol, if you wouldn't mind helping."
Dyrant remembers hearing the Doctor's dropped rapier in the middle of battle, and again before when facing the grell.
I'd ask the Doctor to help, but I'm afraid he'd drop that too.
Yuathyb, the dark creeper, and Glimmil head off for the door. Ghelve is reluctant to provide the key, but eventually Glimmil convinces him. Once the door is open, Yuathyb advises Glimmil the secret door to the elevator is on the landing nearby (J2). However, don't pull the empty torch sconce as that will activate a trap. Yuathyb and the dark creeper disappear into the streets of Cauldron and Glimmil returns to the party. The room remains dark for an hour total if the party remains there that long or until someone figures to cover up the dark creeper's dagger.
And this is when Silfir starts to not feel so good as he begins to fade away.
CHA damage.
Silfir's failed saving throw if you're curious
Glimmil returns back to the others, astride Cog to make his trip swifter.
"Okay, he didn't try anything funny. If you guys are worried about what damage he can cause, he was vanishing at an alarming rate. The Gods will judge him soon enou..."
Glimmil's words catch in his throat as he sees Silfr has taken on a translucent quality.
Is this an effect from his armor?
"My needs are transparent to all. It seems I require healing magic beyond removal of centipede poison. I am hopeful that exiting Jzadirune will halt the Vanishing. But assistance drawn from the divine realms would be welcome."
Silfr will head back to the surface via Ghelve. What time is it outside?
Dr. Toffitt, having retrieved his rapier but not his good humor, has little to say. He does quietly fret over Finneas and Silfr (whose translucence he examines closely, with chirurgeon's gloves covering his hands).
"This is indeed a worrying affliction, Ser. We may be able to forestall the symptoms, but I believe the cure will take some greater magics. As you have no doubt already surmised..."
Toffitt also asks Glimmil to recite any old nursery rhymes that he was particularly fond of, in their original Gnomish. "It would calm my nerves, and 'twould be most instructive if you would translate into the common tongue." He attempts to inject good cheer into his request, but there is an edge to his voice that suggests other motives.
Atol shrugs, disappointed that there was no beating for him.. or other members of the party for their failure. I shall have to atone at the church for this I think.
On hearing we're headed for the surface to find aid for our deeper afflictions, he uses his last channel energy to heal Silfr and Finneas a bit more. The channel heals .
"Let us take care leaving this place. Do we have everything... and everyone?"
Finneas comes to his feet and searches about for his sword. After leaving the darkness he checks all of his gear twice to make sure it's there.
"What happened? Did we stop that evil creature from making it to the surface?"
Upon hearing of the groups failure.
"That's bad. Now instead of saving 4 children and keeping the others safe we've allowed a kidnapper free into the city. Once we're done down here we need to search this creature out and kill him. I'll go alone if I have to."
"Silf what is wrong with..."
How did that happen? Are we all going to catch it? What has Silfr touched that I didn't?
Male voice: You not smart enough to figure this out
Female voice: Leave him alone, he'll work it out eventually
Male voice: Not before his friend dies. He wasn't strong enough to stay conscious and he's not smart enough to save his friend
"We'll take you to the temple of Kord. The clerics there are powerful, they can purge this weakness from your flesh."
"Atol, thanks for getting Finneas on his feet. Now, as St. Cuthbert dictates we must also see to the old and infirm as well. Let us go see if Siflr will deign to be looked at by us."
Dyrant will look peaceably at Atol.
(if Atol agrees)
"Silfr, if it would ease your mind, we could look at your concern and see if we can delve a solution."
The old fart is proud, too proud to admit that he shares a language with me and probably too proud to admit he needs help, but, as St. Cuthbert suggests, I shall try.
"Atol, thanks for getting Finneas on his feet. Now, as St. Cuthbert dictates we must also see to the old and infirm as well. Let us go see if Siflr will deign to be looked at by us."
Atol looks confused at Dyrant. "Dyrant, what exactly do you want me to do? I already healed them both a bit. Long term healing can wait until we're ready to bed down for the night I think."
Dyrant ponders cudgeling Atol for a moment, both for his nonobservance and for his backtalk, but decides instead to act the teacher.
"Atol, the man fades from our sight. Look again at his visage and arms. It is our duty to try to attend to him. Would you do nothing as an ally wastes away? Atol, bring your kit and let us see if he wishes our help."
Dyrant notes that Atol could use a bit of wasting away around the waistline. Maybe this effect could be targeted?
"I think powerful cures would be required in any case. I happily accept the aid of any good aligned church. Perhaps the explosive strength from a Kordite will blast the Vanishing away. Or St. Cuthbert, though I am rather old to have an ailment beaten out of me. There is also the light of Pholtus, which seems appropriate considering the nature of this effect. Perhaps our time in magical darkness inspires searing light as a counter. Minutes felt like days when fighting Yuathyb. In any case, I am ready to check with each church."
As ex-Heironeaus I am not eager to return to them for aid. Their constitution care plans for the old and level drained left much to be desired.
To Finneas, "We were under the impression he has surrendered to us, actually. It is grim indeed to learn he walked free and can now seek to cure his own Vanishing affliction. The rescue must remain our first priority, though once accomplished I would find tracking down Yuathyb an appealing challenge."
Dyrant is pleased to have a chance to ply his trade on the scholar.
"Atol, your kit please. Let us both see what we can ascertain."
Cast Detect Magic. Scan for a bit. Try to help Silfr:
Heal Check
Arcana
Nature
Planes
Spellcraft
"Oh. oh. The healer's kit! Yes, that would be useful now, let me see if I can find it."
Atol rummages around in his pack and sack and eventually procures his healer's kit. He then spends the next ten minutes or so trying to cure the wasting on Silfr first by treating poison then by treating disease.
"Hmm..." Dyrant looks over the fading body of Silfr.
"Atol, do you think a good cudgeling will beat the fell magics out of him?" Dyrant looks at Atol. "Mayhaps black and blue marks will show through? Maybe we should test that?"
"Excellent idea."
Atol grabs his cudgel.
"No Silfr, this won't hurt much, and it may teach us valuable things about the vanishing if it doesn't purify you already! Things the Gnomes almost certainly did not try to learn."
Atol swings his cudgel for non-lethal damage. He assumes Silfr is standing still to take the blow for his health.
Dyrant harumphs at the noodle armed cudgel swing.
"Nope, on second thought, Atol, maybe we should wait til we get above ground before we try that. We've had a tasking day and mayhaps the sunlight itself will reveal more."
Dyrant, having finished with his examination, addresses the group.
"Shall we return to the surface? Silfr...it is really up to you as you are so grievously affected...and also that fading effect too. Do we wish to explore more or return to the sky?"
Glimmil nods his willingness to share an old Gnomish nursery rhyme with the doctor.
Gnomish: "Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn;
Wire, briar, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock.
One flew east,
And one flew west,
And one flew over the cuckoo's nest."
He translates it in common, humming along and keeping the meter.
As he witnesses Atol and Dyrant discuss (and potentially administer) a cudgeling of Silfr, he rushes forward trying to block the two Cuthbertites from inflicting any further bruises on the old man.
"Hey hey! There's no need to hammer at our friend. I'll ask the gnomes what we should do."
Perhaps Skie would know?
"Excellent idea."
Atol grabs his cudgel.
"No Silfr, this won't hurt much, and it may teach us valuable things about the vanishing if it doesn't purify you already! Things the Gnomes almost certainly did not try to learn."
Atol swings his cudgel for non-lethal damage. He assumes Silfr is standing still to take the blow for his health.
Silfr will stoically accept the clubbing. "Oof!"
It is amazing how popular St. Cuthbert is and how many will show up to be cudgeled.
"My preference would be the surface, and my reasons grow more apparent as I less so."
Knowledge: Religion +6 re: vanishing
Atol watches with satisfaction as the black and blue marks rise on Silfr. Then he frowns as he sees it does NOT affect the vanishing.
"We should take you to St. Cuthbert's church. They will know what to do, and they'll help you too seeing you are a true penitent."
Atol has growing respect for Silfr. Truly an impressive man!
Dr. Toffitt avoids taking part in the Cuthbertite antics.
If the gods had a solution to the Vanishing, they should have found it a long time ago... Then again, perhaps we can conjure up enough gold or prestige to have one of Cuthbert's favorites pay heed. They might not admit it, but it would seem that the greater miracles come at a premium.
Once his more godly party members have dispensed with their ministrations, Dr. Toffitt quietly consults with Silfr. "Ser, I cannot say whether St. Cuthbert or Kord have it in them to cure this condition. Clearly, my own skills as a chirurgeon lean toward the theoretical."
"If you will consent, however, I would bend my research to the task of a cure—one that might be administered on a larger scale than priests of a temple are likely to achieve. It will require me, I'm afraid, to examine samples of your humors."
If Silfr consents, Toffitt also examines him, testing his theoretical knowledge of anatomy and actual healing arts to gain greater insight into the condition. He dons his chirurgeon's mask and gloves while performing the examination.
Not much of a clue at the moment, but perhaps with time.
Once the party exits the city's underbelly, Dr. Toffitt goes about supplying himself with the ingredients for potions and more effective armaments.
"Honestly I'm not sure beating Silfr or telling him jokes is going to cure him, but I leave you madmen to it."
The large half-orc is visibly angry and his tone is churlish, but his shoulders are slumped as if in defeat.
"What is our next destination? The Church of Kord or cuthbert to see to Silfr? Or should we meet back here tomorrow, assuming Ghelve's hasn't been burned to the ground in the night of course."
It's no use snapping at them, the bickering at the beginning harmed us as much as the darkness, and we were taken by a stronger opponent. I must become stronger in order to prevent this happening again. I cannot rely on the others to be strong if I fall again. Except Atol, he is a rock of courage and faith in this adversity.
"I suggest the church of St. Cuthbert first, but we should leave a guard here as usual and I need to go to the church, er, for a time."
I hope my penance isn't too damaging, I want to be fresh for another run tomorrow!
"I volunteer Dryant to guard the door, as no maps will be needed and his lack of divine spark and subsequent de-flocking cannot help us at the church of St. Cuthbert."
To Doctor Toffit, he asks "I would like to know more about your humour extraction process before I consent to such a non-magical procedure. I would scarcely want to end up a joyless husk."
"Finneas, do you have influence within the church of Kord? Since Atol must be held in high esteem at the church of St. Cuthbert I consider there as the initial destination."
Silfr proposes starting at St Cuthbert's , then Kord's, and last Pholtus.
We should inform the guard but I do not wish to ask Finneas to perform that task alone. Perhaps once we rescue some orphans."
Dyrant and others examine Silfir and the Vanishing presents like any other disease they've encountered before. However, their usual treatments have no immediate affect and they doubt things will change over the next day. While unable to treat the disease, they are confident they can treat the symptoms, the charisma damage, normally. Without a cure it will be a battle of rest to recover the damage versus the continued loss of charisma. Without intervention, it will be a battle his body eventually loses. How he became infected remains a mystery aside from the information you've already learned elsewhere.
Who and how will Glimmil go about inquiring about the Vanishing? Give me a sample of your typical inquiry.
@Toffitt. There is a treasure spreadsheet. treasure I think it is up to date, but let me know. You're actually ahead of the curve. I hadn't realized how much masterwork gear you had equipped.
The party exits around 4pm. There is time for some quick shopping or inquiries aside from a tavern. It sounds like at least the poisoned and diseased are headed for St Cuthberts.
Unless Glim needs to him to flesh out information about the Vanishing, Dyrant will retire to his stew eating place and enjoy another bowl of fine mystery stew while the others are in the Church of St. Cuthbert.
While he is eating, Dyrant will compose a mental shopping list and a things to do list.
"Do we have anything to sell? Perhaps Glimmil would do that while attending Skie's court."
Silfr will goto Cuthbert's then home to rest overnight. The other churchs in the morning if Cuthbert's only offers tenderizing.
At the church, Atol requests an audience with the high priest, or the highest priest he usually meets with.
"I humbly request aid for my companion Silfr. He has the Gnomish Vanishing Sickness which we believe is a disease effecting the material body through their life energy. I hope for a Remove Disease to be cast upon Silfr to attempt to counter the disease before it spreads further within him or to others."
"We are getting close to finding the missing people. In fact we have gotten much closer than the city watch and plan to dutifully turn over our findings to them when we have more information. Additionally Silfr is properly penitent and accepted a beating both to show his respect for Cuthbert and to try and drive the disease from his body."
Atol points to the bruises.
He'll also tithe whatever his party cut is from the last share, unless the church demands payment for this service and he gets no cut.